“John Wick” – The 10th Anniversary Poster is Here!
It’s hard to believe ten years have passed since John Wick was released. But here is the 10th anniversary poster that shows it’s true.
Category: Crime
“Black Cat” (1941) starring Basil Rathbone, Hugh Herbert, Broderick Crawford & Bela Lugosi / Z-View
Black Cat (1941)
Director: Albert S. Rogell
Screenplay: Robert Lees, Frederic I. Rinaldo, Eric Taylor, Robert Neville based on The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe
Stars: Basil Rathbone, Hugh Herbert, Broderick Crawford, Bela Lugosi, Anne Gwynne, Gladys Cooper, Cecilia Loftus, John Eldredge and Alan Ladd.
Tagline: Even Ladd Is Scared!
The Plot…
Rich, old, Henrietta Winslow (Loftus) is dying. She called her family to her big, creepy remote house. While still alive, Henrietta wants everyone to know what they’re getting once she’s dead.
The family members arrive along with realtor Gil Smith and antiques dealer Mr. Penny. Smith and Penny were invited by a family member anticipating the sale of Henrietta’s home and valuables.
The family members learns what each will get. There is one surprise. No one will get anything until Henrietta’s housekeeper dies! Surprise turns to shock when Henrietta is found murdered!
Who is the killer? Who will be next to die?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Another in the “old, dark house” genre with a group of people trapped with an unknown murderer in a creepy old isolated house full of secret passageways.
This one had potential to be much better. For some reason it just didn’t resonate with me.
Black Cat (1941) rates 2 of 5 stars.
The Strangler (1964) starring Victor Buono
The Strangler (1964)
Director: Burt Topper
Screenplay: Bill S. Ballinger
Stars: Victor Buono, David McLean, Diane Sayer, Davey Davison, Baynes Barron, Russ Bender, Jeanne Bates, Byron Morrow, James Sikking, Selette Cole, Fred Aldrich and Ellen Corby.
Tagline: Based on the terror that has shocked the nation!
The Plot…
A serial killer has strangled several women in a short amount of time. Police have few clues and no good leads. Little do they know that in one of their roundups, they had the killer. He’s a mild mannered overweight lab technician. He offered to take a lie detector test and passed with flying colors.
How many more women will die at his hands?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Strangler was inspired by the serial killer known as The Boston Strangler. The police had not caught the Boston Strangler when The Strangler went into production. At one point, the producers were going to call the movie, The Boston Strangler. They decided to go with the shorter title and not name the city in the film.
The Strangler (1964) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Nocturne” (1946) starring George Raft & Lyn Bari / Z-View
Nocturne (1946)
Director: Edwin L. Marin
Screenplay: Jonathan Latimer; story by Roland Brown, Frank Fenton
Stars: George Raft, Lynn Bari, Virginia Huston, Joseph Pevney, Myrna Dell, Edward Ashley, Walter Sande,
Dorothy Adams and John Banner.
Tagline: Whose legs are these? 10 of Hollywood’s most beautiful brunettes all had motives for murder!
The Plot…
Keith Vincent (Ashley), a famous Hollywood composer and womanizer is found dead from a gunshot to the head. Most of the cops on the scene are ready to call it a suicide and close the case. Police Detective Joe Warne (Raft) feels differently. Vincent’s housekeeper is a woman who has served time. Vincent keeps photos of his past conquests. One is missing. Detective Warne pushes to investigate the case. His Captain gives him one day.
As Warne digs deeper things aren’t adding up. He wants more time, but the Captain calls him off the case. Warne refuses to back off. If he continues his investigation it could cost him his job… and maybe even his life.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
John Banner, best known as Sgt. “I know nothing” Schultz on Hogan’s Heroes appears uncredited as the character Charles Shawn.
Nocturne (1946) rates 3 of 5 stars.
THE SEMINARIAN by Hart Hanson
THE SEMINARIAN by Hart Hanson
First sentence…
Jutting a quarter of a mile into the Pacific Ocean, the Venice Pier was less gritty than the beach.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Xavier “Priest” Priestly. Most would think his nickname is shortened version of his name. Truth is Xavier was studying to be a priest before he dropped out. Now Priest is a private detective. So when one of his best friends, Dusty Queen needs help, how can he refuse?
Dusty is a professional stunt woman and occasional body guard. Dusty’s the toughest person Priest knows. She’s more than capable to handle any situation. Except this one. Dusty’s girlfriend is missing. Dusty fears the worst.
Then Priest wakes up on his garage floor. All he remembers is a blue wigged woman tried him. As Priest works to determine if the missing woman and the attack on his life are related, a boy shows up. He says he’s Priest’s son. The timeline works. Priest could be the boy’s father. That might be great if the kid didn’t have such an attitude. Or a rich grandfather with connections.
As Priest tries to build a relationship with the son he never knew, find Dusty’s girlfriend and figure out who tried to kill him, we learn that Priest’s dad is serving time and may have hidden a fortune.
If you like quirky characters, great dialogue and a mystery or two, you should enjoy THE SEMINARIAN.
Rating:
Marv by Dave Fowler!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have Marv by Dave Fowler.
“Team Foxcatcher” (2016) / Z-View
Team Foxcatcher (2016)
Director: Jon Greenhalgh
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Billionaire John DuPont was always a bit off. DuPont’s eccentricities were overlooked because of his philanthropy. He was very generous. Mr. DuPont supported his city police, athletic sports and various charities. When John DuPont took an interest in Olympic wrestling, he went all in.
John DuPont built a million dollar facility on his sprawling estate. In addition to his mansion, there were several houses, a state of the art weight/workout center and a gigantic wrestling room with multiple mats. DuPont hired a full-time trainer. John reached out to Dave Schultz, the United States most decorated world champion/Olympic champion wrestler. Dave Schultz agreed to come on board. DuPont then contacted other of USA’s best wrestlers to join his team. He provided them housing and a stipend to come train as part of his team.
This was seen as a godsend by the invited wrestlers. They no longer had to worry about supporting themselves. They could train every day with the best wrestlers in the world. DuPont’s system worked. The USA team begin to win consistently.
DuPont had always been off kilter. He was slowly getting worse. DuPont thought he was capable of wrestling competitively. The wrestlers, not wanting to upset him, played along. When he began seeing “things” in the woods around his house, most of them went along. Then he wanted to get rid of anything black in his life. He sold his black horses. He told one of the wrestlers living on the compound to get rid of his black car. He then fired all of the black wrestlers on Team Foxcatcher. Even when he pulled a gun on one of the wrestlers, it was played off as “John being John.”
Then one morning John DuPont drove over to the house Dave Schultz was staying. Dave and his wife were out front. DuPont rolled down his window and shot Dave Schultz in the chest. Murdered him in cold blood.
This is the story of how too much money blinded too many people to the warning signs that increasingly indicated a man becoming a danger to himself and others.
Team Foxcatcher (2016) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“I Walk Alone” (1947) starring Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott & Kirk Douglas / Z-View
I Walk Alone (1947)
Director: Byron Haskin
Screenplay: Charles Schnee, Robert Smith (adaptation), John Bright (adaptation) based on Beggars Are Coming to Town by Theodore Reeves
Stars: Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott, Kirk Douglas, Wendell Corey, Kristine Miller, Marc Lawrence, Mickey Knox, Bobby Barber and Mike Mazurki.
Tagline: He Fell for the Oldest Trick in the World. If You Want to Pump a Guy… Send a Dame.
The Plot…
Frankie Madison (Lancaster) and Noll Turner (Douglas) were best friends and bootlegging partners. It was 50-50 right down the line. On their last run, they got into a gunfight with thieves who attempted to hijack their load. The noise brought the police. Deciding it was best to split up, Frankie stayed with the truck of bootleg hooch, and Noll split.
Frankie was caught, convicted and sent to prison. That was 14 years ago.
While Frankie was in prison, Noll took the money he and Frankie had, and invested it in a bar. He then sold the bar to buy a better nightclub. It took work, but Noll built it into an exclusive hotspot. Noll became very rich.
Now that Frankie’s out, he’s ready to join Noll. They’d always agreed that everything would be 50-50. Frankie never ratted out Noll. Frankie did the time. He and Noll were best friends and business partners. Noll would never double cross Frankie.
Would he?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster made seven movies together. This is the first.
Eddie Muller called I Walk Alone a landmark crime film because it marked the first time movie outlaws moved from working outside the system to becoming legitimate operators working within the system.
I Walk Alone (1947) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“This is Zodiac Speaking” (2024) / Z-View
This is Zodiac Speaking (2024)
Director: Phil Lott (Eps. 1-3), Ari Mark (Eps. 1-3)
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Arthur Leigh Allen has been one of the top suspects, if not THE top suspect, of being the Zodiac killer for years. David, Don and Connie Seawater were children when their mother had a relationship with Arthur Leigh Allen. As kids they thought Mr. Allen was just a nice man. He treated them and their mother well. Now as adults they believe he was the Zodiac killer and they have evidence to prove it.
Robert Graysmith who investigated the case and wrote ZODIAC: THE SHOCKING TRUE STORY OF AMERICA’S MOST ELUSIVE SERIAL KILLER weighs in as well.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
This is the Zodiac Speaking does an excellent job of summarizing the case as well as presenting the new evidence in an interesting and compelling manner. While many documentaries would have padded several episodes, the story is presented in just three.
This is Zodiac Speaking (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“The Long Kiss Goodnight” (1996) written by Shane Black, directed by Renny Harlin, starring Gena Davis & Samuel L. Jackson / Z-View
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Director: Renny Harlin
Screenplay: Shane Black
Stars: Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Yvonne Zima, Craig Bierko, Brian Cox, Patrick Malahide, David Morse, Joseph McKenna, Melina Kanakaredes, Alan North, Edwin Hodge, G.D. Spradlin and Rex Linn.
Tagline: Eight years ago she lost her memory. Now, a detective must help her remember the past before it buries them both. What’s forgotten is not always gone.
The Plot…
Samantha Caine (Davis) is a small town schoolteacher. Life is quiet. Life is good. Samantha is happy. She lives with her daughter and boyfriend. Samantha has come a long way in eight years. That was when she was found on a Jersey beach, pregnant and with no memory of her past.
At first Samantha hired the best detectives to try to discover her past. They all struck out. Mitch Henessey (Jackson) is a shady PI. Mitch lucked onto a suitcase with info that may help Samantha.
Samantha is shocked when a crazed convict breaks into her house to kill her. Samantha is even more dumbfounded by the fighting skills she didn’t know she had. The killer calls Samantha by a different name. He obviously knew her. In a fight to the death Samantha wins.
Mitch shows up. Samantha and Mitch decide to follow the clues the suitcase provides. Samantha will discover the truth to her past. The people that thought Samantha was dead will realize the job needs to be finished.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Long Kiss Goodnight came at the right time. Writer Shane Black was at the top of his game. His screenplay provides the right mix of over-the-top action and humor. Director Renny Harlin was also killing it. He’s supported by a great cast. Gena Davis is perfect as the school teacher/assassin. Samuel L. Jackson wasn’t yet THE Samuel L. Jackson and is perfect as the guy who just wants to do one thing right. Kudos to Craig Bierko for owning all of his scenes. Brian Cox and David Morse are also perfectly cast.
Samuel L. Jackson has said that this was his favorite role.
Gena Davis and Renny Harlin were married when this film was made.
The Long Kiss Goodnight was ahead of it’s time. Now female action heroes are fairly common, but this was a groundbreaking role by Gena Davis.
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“TMZ Presents: OJ How He Did It” (2024) / Z-View
TMZ Presents: OJ How He Did It (2024)
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Harvey Levin was a young reporter who covered the OJ Simpson murder trial. Levin was there from the start and has insights never before shared. Levin shares how he believes OJ Simpson’s murder of Nicole Kidman and Mark Goldman went down.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Levin’s theory is plausible. He does a good job of presenting the background of the trial with news footage and new interviews with some of those involved.
Levin’s theory is new, but not groundbreaking. Now if he had gotten an interview and Al Cowlings opened up, THAT would be the story!
TMZ Presents: OJ How He Did It (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Lake George” starring Shea Whigham & Carrie Coon – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
I like the poster and trailer for Lake George. Shea Whigham always picks interesting roles and always delivers.
Deal me in.
When ex-con Don (Shea Whigham), fresh out of prison, visits mobster Armen (Glenn Fleshler) to collect some money he’s owed, he’s instead assigned a final task: to take care of Phyllis (Carrie Coon). Don tries to carry out the job, but he finds he can’t pull the trigger.
Instead, the pair of misfit oddballs set off on a road trip together, as their lives and standing with Armen become entangled. Phyllis soon reveals that she has designs of her own and proposes a little tag team action to Don: combine forces with the aim to steal money – a lot of money – from the people who want her dead. Don must decide whether his allegiance lies with Armen, or with the wily, charismatic woman he was supposed to kill.
Starring Shea Whigham, Carrie Coon, Glenn Fleshler and Max Casella
Directed by Jeffrey Reiner
In theaters and on digital December 6
“The Hidden” (1987) starring Kyle MacLachlan & Michael Nouri / Z-View
The Hidden (1987)
Director: Jack Sholder
Screenplay: Jim Kouf (as Bob Hunt)
Stars: Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Nouri, Claudia Christian, Clarence Felder, Clu Gulager, Ed O’Ross, William Boyett, Larry Cedar, Katherine Cannon, John McCann, Lin Shaye, James Luisi, Frank Renzulli, Duane Davis, Kristen Clayton and Danny Trejo.
Tagline: A new breed of criminal.
The Plot…
Los Angeles Police Detective Tom Beck (Nouri) is informed that he will partner with FBI Special Agent Lloyd Gallagher (MacLachlan) to capture Jack DeVries. DeVries until recently had never committed a crime. Then without warning DeVries went on a crime spree robbing, killing and leading police on a high speed chase. DeVries was now at the hospital suffering from multiple gunshots and injuries from a car crash. He was not expected to live through the night.
Gallagher tells Beck to join him. They rush to the hospital. They find DeVries dead body on the floor. Strange thing is, that Jonathan Miller, the comatose man that shared the room is missing. Gallagher tells Beck to put out an APB on Miller. But it is too late. Miller has already beaten a store owner to death, killed three people at a Ferrari dealership and stolen one of their best cars.
Beck begins to realize that this crime wave isn’t of this Earth. What else could he be missing?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Watch for Danny Trejo to show up long enough to get killed.
The most interesting part of the film to me takes place as Nouri’s character comes to realize what he’s dealing with.
The Hidden (1987) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Marv by David Williams!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have Marv by David Williams.
“The Corpse Vanishes” (1942) starring Bela Lugosi / Z-View
The Corpse Vanishes (1942)
Director: Wallace Fox
Screenplay: Harvey Gates; story by Sam Robins, Gerald Schnitzer
Stars: Bela Lugosi, Luana Walters, Tristram Coffin, Vince Barnett and Angelo Rossitto.
Tagline: KIDNAPPED BRIDES Are The Victims Of His Terror! Prepare to shudder when you see the strange practices of this doctor who sacrificed beautiful women for the sake of a mad love!
The Plot…
Someone is killing young brides on their wedding day. No one can figure out why they are dying. Or who is stealing their corpses. Then Patricia Hunter (Walters), a young reporter, notices the brides are all wearing orchid corsages. She decides to investigate.
The clues lead Patricia to Dr. Lorenz (Lugosi). Lorenz lives in a remote mansion with his younger wife. Dr. Lorenz seems nice enough, but the wife is a bit cold. When a terrible storm hits and washes out the bridge to town, Patricia is forced to spend the night.
What Patricia doesn’t know is…
- …Dr. Lorenz has been behind the murders of the brides. Lorenz takes their glandular fluids for injection into his wife. These fluids make his elderly wife appear young for a brief time.
- …in the Doctor’s cellar laboratory a crazy old hag and her two sons live. One of the sons is a cruel dwarf. The other is a feebleminded hulk. The three assist Dr. Lorenz with the murders.
- …also in the cellar is a room with the bodies of the dead brides.
Patricia doesn’t know these things… but she is about to find out.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Beware of poor copies. The movie is in the public domain.
Angelo Rossitto plays the dwarf son. Mr. Rossitto is best known for his roles in Tod Browning’s Freaks and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. His career spanned 60 years and over 100 resume credits.
The Corpse Vanishes is a low-budget, quickly shot B picture and it plays like one.
The Corpse Vanishes (1942) rates 2 of 5 stars.
