Category: Movies
RIP: Joss Ackland
Joss Ackland, the English actor of stage and screen died yesterday. Mr. Ackland was 95.
Mr. Ackland began his professional career in a stage production of The Hasty Heart after graduating from London’s Central School of Speech and Drama. He was just 17. For the next 60 years Joss Ackland would act on stage, television and in feature films.
Some of the television shows Joss Ackland appeared in include: Destination Downing Street; ITV Play of the Week (2 episodes); First Night (2 episodes); The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling (25 episodes); David Copperfield (6 episodes); Lord Raingo (3 episodes); Theater 625 (3 episodes); Armchair Theater (2 episodes); The Further Adventures of the Musketeers (16 episodes); The Wednesday Play (2 episodes); Mogul (5 episodes); Mystery and Imagination (2 episodes); Z Cars (42 episodes); The Avengers; Canterbury Tales (7 episodes); BBC Play of the Month (2 episodes); Thirty Minute Theater (2 episodes); Six Faces (2 episodes); Play for Today (3 episodes); Aquarius (2 episodes); The Crezz (12 episodes); Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; A Question of Guilt (8 episodes); BBC2 Playhouse (2 episodes); Shroud for a Nightingale (5 episodes); A Killing on the Exchange (4 episodes); Queenie (2 episodes); Tales of the Unexpected (2 episodes); Codename Kyril (4 episodes); A Quiet Conspiracy (4 episodes); The Justice Game (2 episodes); A Woman Named Jackie (2 episodes); Ashenden (4 episodes); Jackanory (10 episodes); The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles; Screen Two (2 episodes); Testiment: The Bible in Animation (2 episodes); Above and Beyond (2 episodes); Pinocchio (2 episodes) and Crusoe (3 episodes).
Some of the feature films Joss Ackland appeared in include: Landfall; Ghost Ship; Rasputin The Mad Monk; The House That Dripped Blood; The Three Musketeers; S*P*Y*S; Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe; Watership Down; Saint Jack; Rough Cut; The Sicilian; Lethal Weapon 2; The Hunt for Red October; Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey; The Mighty Ducks; D3: The Mighty Ducks and K19: The WIdowmaker.
My favorite Joss Ackland role is Arjen Rudd in Lethal Weapon 2. He was perfect.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Joss Ackland’s family, friends and fans.
“Born Losers” (1967) directed by & starring Tom Laughlin / Z-View
 |
 |
Born Losers (1967)
Director: T.C. Frank (Tom Laughlin)
Screenplay by: James Lloyd (Elizabeth James)
Starring: Tom Laughlin, Elizabeth James, Jeremy Slate, William Wellman Jr., Jack Starrett, Robert Tessier, Jeff Cooper, Stuart Lancaster, Delores Taylor and Jane Russell.
Tagline: KITTEN ON WHEELS WITH HER BIKE, HER BOOTS and HER BIKINI! Out for kicks… in for trouble! She’s going to Join the… BORN LOSERS
The Story:
The Born Losers motorcycle gang has begun to terrorize a small California town. Victims and witnesses alike are terrified to testify against them.
Billy Jack is a former Viet Nam vet who lives a quiet life in the mountains. On a trip to town, Billy Jack sees gang members savagely beating a man. Although no one else is willing to help, Billy Jack grabs his rifle. He orders the gang to stop. One gang member says he doesn’t have enough bullets to get them all and they begin to surround him. Billy Jack shoots one in the leg. The police arrive and arrest everyone including Billy Jack. Billy Jack later learns that his fine for firing the gun was more than the gang members got for assault.
News spreads that gang members have raped some young women. Only one is willing to testify. She is being kept in protective custody at a hotel. When gang members lure the cop guarding her away, others go to kidnap her. Billy Jack intervenes.
Billy Jack plans to keep her safe until the trial.
What chance does one man have against an outlaw biker gang?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Tom Laughlin had the character Billy Jack in mind for years before he ever made it to the screen. Born Losers was written to cash in on the biker craze and be a springboard for Billy Jack. Elizabeth James, the movie’s co-star wrote the screenplay using the name James Lloyd. The thought was who would want to see a biker movie written by a chick?
Tom Laughlin, who played Billy Jack, directed Born Losers. He used the pseudonym T.C. Frank. His three children are named Teresa, Christina and Frank. His wife Delores Taylor has a quick cameo as a mother with two children (played by Teresa and Frank).
Movie tough guy, Robert Tessier, makes his film debut in Born Losers!
Born Losers was successful enough for Laughlin to get financing to make Billy Jack. When Billy Jack became a breakout hit, American International re-released Born Losers. They advertised it with a new poster that focused on Billy Jack. The box office of Born Losers ended up being American International’s highest grossing release until 1979.
Born Losers generated 3 more Billy Jack movies; Billy Jack (1971), The Trial of Billy Jack (1974) and Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977).
Jack Starrett plays a deputy much like the deputy character he played in First Blood.
Most folks may be surprised my rating for Born Losers is so high. The film resonates with me. I saw Born Losers on a double feature with Billy Jack when I was in 9th grade. (The perfect age for both those movies.) My “date” was my girlfriend and future wife. I love that Tom Laughlin had a vision and despite many, many obstacles (losing financing, losing distribution, etc.) was able to make his dream come true and create a legendary character. Your mileage may vary.
“Island of Lost Souls” (1932) starring Charles Laughton, Bela Lugosi, Richard Arlen & Kathleen Burke / Z-View
Island of Lost Souls (1932)
Director: Erle C. Kenton
Screenplay by: Waldemar Young, Philip Wylie based on THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU by H. G. Wells
Starring: Charles Laughton, Bela Lugosi, Richard Arlen, Leila Hyams, Kathleen Burke, Arthur Hohl, Stanley Fields, Paul Hurst.
Tagline: THE PANTHER WOMAN lured men on – only to destroy them body and soul!
The Story:
After a dispute with a supply ship’s drunken Captain, Edward Parker (Arlen), is left stranded on the remote jungle island of Dr. Moreau (Laughton). Moreau welcomes Parker to his home. Parker thanks him for the hospitality and says he will leave on the next supply ship. Parker is warned that many wild creatures live on the island. He is then introduced to Lota (Burke) and Montgomery (Hohl), Moreau’s assistant.
Later as Lota and Edward are talking they hear terrible screams coming from Dr. Moreau’s lab. Lota tells Edward the lab is called “the house of pain”. Edward bursts in to find Moreau and Montgomery operating without anesthesia on some sort of human-animal hybrid.
Edward decides to take a small boat and leave. As he walks from the safety of the house, Edward sees dozens of half-human beasts coming towards him. Dr. Moreau shows up with his whip and drives them back into the jungle. Moreau explains that the creatures are results of his failed experiments to turn animals into humans.
Edward is trapped on the island with the crazy Dr. Moreau and his assistant Montgomery. As the jungle creatures get more daring, Edward knows that time for survival is running out.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Paramount decided the role of Lota the Panther Woman would go to an unknown actress. Kathleen Burke, a fashion model and radio actress who had never appeared in a feature film, won the role beating out 60,000 hopefuls. The opening credits read Lota…. the Panther Woman, but the final credits list Kathleen Burke by name. It’s interesting to note that Lota does not appear in H.G. Wells’ novel.
Island of Lost Souls (1932) was made before the Hays Code, which prohibited profanity, suggestive nudity, graphic or realistic violence, sexual persuasions and rape, went into effect. Subsequently, the movie was censored in many countries and re-releases.
H.G. Wells reportedly felt that the film focused on horror at the expense of the “novel’s philosophical themes”.
“Cry Terror!” (1958) written & directed by Andrew L. Stone, starring James Mason, Rod Steiger, Inger Stevens, Neville Brand, Angie Dickinson, Kenneth Tobey & Jack Klugman / Z-View
Cry Terror! (1958)
Director: Andrew L. Stone
Screenplay by: Andrew L. Stone
Starring: James Mason, Rod Steiger, Inger Stevens, Neville Brand, Angie Dickinson, Kenneth Tobey, Jack Klugman, Jack Kruschen, Carleton Young, Barney Phillips, Chet Huntley, Jonathan Hole, Mae Marsh and William Schallert.
Tagline: TERRIFYING…as the time-triggered explosive of a mad bomber ticking-ticking-ticking!
The Story:
Jim Molner (Mason) is sickened to discover that his old army buddy, Paul Hoplin (Steiger) duped him. Molner created a small, but powerful bomb design. He was told it was for the U.S. army. Hoplin instead used it to extort money from an airline. He had one of the bombs placed on a airplane where it would be found with a note demanding $500,000.00. The note said there were other bombs on other planes and gave a deadline for payment.
Now Jim, his wife, Joan (Stevens) and their small daughter are being held by Hoplin’s crime partners. Molner and his daughter are captives of Vince (Klugman) and Eileen Kelly (Dickinson). Joan is at the mercy of Steve (Brand), a convicted rapist. Jim and Joan realize that they and their daughter are going to be killed even if the money is delivered. It will be up to them to figure a way to survive. The clock is ticking.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers
Cry Terror! features an awesome cast:
- James Mason, who had earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination three years prior was the star.
- Rod Steiger, who also earned an Oscar nomination three years prior, for Best Supporting Actor, co-starred. Steiger is great as the nerdy, creepy but dangerous mastermind.
- Inger Stevens in only her second feature film played Mason’s wife. Her life would end tragically by suicide when she was just 35.
- Neville Brand is excellent as a pill-popping sexual predator.
- Angie Dickinson plays a woman as tough as the men and even more cold-hearted. She’d hate to kill a kid, but she’d despise losing the payoff even more.
- Jack Klugman as a bad guy!
- The rest of the cast features many familiar faces: Kenneth (The Thing From Another World) Tobey, Jack (The War of the Worlds) Kruschen, Carleton (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) Young, Barney (The Twilight Zone) Phillips, Chet (The Huntley – Brinkley Report) Huntley, Jonathan (The Twilight Zone) Hole and William (The Patty Duke Show) Schallert.
Kudos to Cry Terror! writer and director Andrew L. Stone for writing/directing a movie that still holds up. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. The year before Cry Terror! was released, Stone wrote and directed a film called Julie. It starred Doris Day as a woman who learns that her insanely jealous husband intends to kill her. Julie featured many of the same actors (Barney Phillips, Jack Kruschen, Carleton Young, Harlan Warde and Mae Marsh) as Cry Terror! Andrew L. Stone received a Best Writing, Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination for Julie.
“Rocky IV” Limited Edition Print by Carles Ganya!
Carles Ganya created this wonderful alt poster for Rocky IV. It is available as a regular and variant, limited edition (0f 75) fine art giclee print.
“The Killer” (2023) directed by David Fincher, starring Michael Fassbender / Z-View
The Killer (2023)
Director: David Fincher
Screenplay by: Andrew Kevin Walker based on The Killer by Alexis “Matz” Nolent, Luc Jacamon
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard, Sala Baker, Endre Hules and Monique Ganderton.
Tagline: None
The Story:
When a professional assassin misses his target, his employers mark him for death. The assassin realizes in order to survive he will have to kill his way up the chain of command to get the hit on him called off.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers
This movie is based on the graphic novel The Killer written by Alexis “Matz” Nolent and illustrated by Luc Jacamon.
Fans of 1970s sitcoms will get a kick out of the aliases the Killer uses: Felix Unger (The Odd Couple), Archibald Bunker (All in the Family), Oscar Madison (The Odd Couple), Howard Cunningham (Happy Days), Reuben Kincaid (The Partridge Family), Lou Grant (The Mary Tyler Moore Show / Lou Grant), Sam Malone (Cheers), George Jefferson (The Jeffersons), and Robert Hartley (The Bob Newhart Show).
This is the second teaming of David Fincher and Andrew Kevin Walker. Their first was Se7en.
The Killer features an awesome fight scene between The Killer and a huge guy.
“Terminator” Alt Poster by Tony Stella
If you follow Tony Stella you’ve probably already seen his amazing Terminator poster. Even so, it’s worth another look.
“A Haunting in Venice” (2023) directed by Kenneth Branagh, starring Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh &Tina Fey /Z-View
A Haunting in Venice (2023)
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Screenplay by: Michael Green based on Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Riccardo Scamarcio.
Tagline: Death is just the beginning.
The Story:
The year is 1947. The world famous detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh) is retired and living in Venice. Because of Poirot’s fame, people from all over the world attempt to hire him. Poirot turns down every offer.
When Poirot’s old friend, mystery author Ariadne Oliver (Fey) visits, she tells Poirot about psychic Joyce Reynolds (Yeoh). Poirot scoffs. All psychics are frauds. Ariadne agrees, but says that she couldn’t figure out how Joyce Reynolds pulls off her readings. Ariadne says that if the smartest person she knows (herself) can’t figure it out, perhaps the second smartest (Poirot) can.
Ariande invites Poirot to attend a Halloween séance. It will be held in a building that was once an orphanage. It is now said to be haunted by orphans who were locked in and left to die during a plague. Joyce Reynolds will lead the séance. Poirot agrees to come along. Ariande figures Poirot will either expose Reynolds as a fraud or not. Either way she will have a story.
Everyone invited arrives for the séance. Reynolds while channeling a spirit says that one of the people in attendance is a murderer! In short order, Joyce Reynolds is found impaled on a statue. Periot locks everyone in. One of them is the killer.
Hercule Poirot is out of retirement.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers
Kenneth Branagh filmed on location in Venice. He also didn’t tell the actors in advance about things like doors slamming, lights suddenly going out, etc. He wanted to get their actual responses to startling events.
This was Tina Fey’s first appearance in a feature film or television production that wasn’t a comedy. She was excellent as Ariadne Oliver.
This is Kenneth Branagh’s third outing as Hercule Poiroit. He starred and directed Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Death on the Nile (2022) as well as A Haunting in Venice (2023). I hope he does more.
“Fast Charlie” starring Pierce Brosnan – The Trailer is Here!
Fast Charlie is based on Victor Gishler’s novel GUN MONKEYS. I read the books years ago. If the movie is as good, we’re in for a treat. The trailer looks like it might be.
Deal me in.
Charlie Swift is a fixer with a problem: the target he’s whacked is missing his head and the only way Charlie will be paid is if the body can be identified. Enter Marcie Kramer, the victim’s ex-wife and a woman with all the skills Charlie needs.
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Morena Baccarin, James Caan
Directed by: Phillip Noyce
Release Date: 12/8/23
Rare Behind-the-Scenes Photo of Jean-Claude Van Damme in the Original “Predator” Suit!
Here’s a rare behind-the-scenes photo of Jean-Claude Van Damme in the original Predator suit design before he was let go and the design changed.
Source: All the Right Movies.
“The Bride of Frankenstein” – Here’s a Deleted Scene Photo!
The Bride of Frankenstein is a classic. Here’s a photo from a deleted scene.
Source: Hammer Horror Films.
“The Wolfman” (2010) starring: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt & Hugo Weaving / Z-View
The Wolfman (2010)
Director: Joe Johnston
Written by: Andrew Kevin Walker, David Self based on The Wolf Man by Curt Siodmak
Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Art Malik, David Schofield, Roger Frost, Geraldine Chaplin, Rick Baker and Clive Russell.
Tagline: The legend is alive.
The Story:
The year is 1891. Lawrence Talbot (Del Toro), the famous actor, received word that his brother has disappeared. By the time Lawrence arrives at the family estate, his brother’s mutilated body has been found in the woods.
Some townsfolk believe that a wild animal did the deed. Others blame a group of gypsies that have moved into the area. A few believe that a werewolf has returned. When Lawrence visits the gypsy camp, a wild animal attacks killing several people and badly wounding Lawrence.
When Lawrence makes a unnatural recovery from wounds that should have been fatal, people believe that he was bitten by a werewolf. Anyone who survives such a bite, becomes a wolfman when the moon is full. Now Lawrence is marked for death. They believe he will turn into a werewolf at the coming full moon.
The truth is much worse.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
The Wolfman won Rick Baker and Dave Elsey the 2011 Academy Award for Best Achievement in Makeup. Their werewolf design looked like a cross between the monsters in The Wolf Man (1941) and Curse of the Werewolf (1961).
Benicio Del Toro and Emily Blunt would reteam five years later for Sicario. I’m a fan of both. Kudos also to Hugo Weaving for his performance as Inspector Francis Aberline.
Danny Elfman did the score. When the film was recut for release, Elfman was already at work on another movie and couldn’t return to adjust his music. Ultimately other composers were brought in to reshape Elfman’s work.
The Wolfman has an excellent cast. Rick Baker created a great looking werewolf. I wish Art Malik, as Singh, got more to do. He was an interesting character. You can never go wrong with Del Toro and Blunt. Getting Hopkins was a bonus.
“Rebel Moon – Part One”: A Child of Fire – The Official Trailer is Here!
Rebel Moon has Zack Snyder and an excellent cast. Looking forward to this.
From Zack Snyder, the filmmaker behind 300, Man of Steel, and Army of the Dead, comes REBEL MOON, a 2-part movie event decades in the making.
After crash landing on a moon in the furthest reaches of the universe, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a stranger with a mysterious past, begins a new life among a peaceful settlement of farmers. But she soon becomes their only hope for survival when the tyrannical Regent Balisarius (Fra Fee) and his cruel emissary, Admiral Noble (Ed Skrein), discover the farmers have unwittingly sold their crops to the Bloodaxes (Cleopatra Coleman and Ray Fisher) — leaders of a fierce group of insurgents hunted by the Motherworld.
Tasked with finding fighters who would risk their lives to defend the people of Veldt, Kora and Gunnar (Michiel Huisman), a tenderhearted farmer naive in the realities of war, journey to different worlds in search of the Bloodaxes, and assemble a small band of warriors who share a common need for redemption along the way: Kai (Charlie Hunnam), a pilot and gun for hire; General Titus (Djimon Hounsou), a legendary commander; Nemesis (Doona Bae), a master swordswoman; Tarak (Staz Nair), a captive with a regal past; and Milius (E. Duffy), a resistance fighter. Back on Veldt, Jimmy (voiced by Anthony Hopkins), an ancient mechanized protector hiding in the wings, awakens with a new purpose. But the newly formed revolutionaries must learn to trust each other and fight as one before the armies of the Motherworld come to destroy them all.
RIP: Robert Butler
Robert Butler, the award winning director and writer, died on November 3, 2023. Mr. Butler was 95.
Mr. Butler began his career in entertainment as a CBS usher after graduating from UCLA with a degree in English. Robert Butler also worked as a production clerk, stage manager, before getting the job as an associate director where he worked with mentor directors such as John Frankenheimer and Arthur Penn.
Mr. Butler’s first directing job was for the television series Hennesey. Robert Butler would direct television and feature films for the rest of his career. Mr. Butler became known as the go-to guy for directing television pilots which set the tone for the series. Some of the pilots that Robert Butler directed include: Hogan’s Heroes (1965), Star Trek (1966), Batman (1966), The Blue Knight (1973, TV’s first mini-series), Hill Street Blues (1978), Moonlighting (1985), Sisters (1991) and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993).
Mr. Clark was an award-winning director…
- 1974 Winner Primetime Emmy Director of the Year – The Blue Knight
- 1974 Winner Primetime Emmy Best Directing in Drama – A Single Program of a Series with Continuing Characters and/or Theme – The Blue Knight
- 1981 Winner Primetime Emmy Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series – Hill Street Blues premiere episode
- 1982 Winner DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series – Hill Street Blues premiere
- 2001 Winner Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award
- 2015 Winner Lifetime Achievement Award – Television Direction
Mr. Butler was also the co-creator of the television series Remington Steele.
Some of the television shows Robert Butler directed include: Hennesey (3 episodes); The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis; The DuPont Show with June Allyson (5 episodes); Peter Loves Mary (2 episodes); Have Gun – Will Travel; Bonanza; The Dick Van Dyke Show (2 episodes); The Gertrude Berg Show (2 episodes); The Rifleman; Follow the Sun (3 episodes); The Detectives (5 episodes); Stoney Burke (2 episodes); The Untouchables (7 episodes); Dr. Kildare (2 episodes); The Greatest Show on Earth (2 episodes); Ben Casey (3 episodes); The Lieutenant (2 episodes); The Twilight Zone (2 episodes); The Defenders (2 episodes); The Virginian; Mister Roberts (4 episodes); Hogan’s Heroes (5 episodes); The Fugitive (6 episodes); Batman (6 episodes); Shane; Star Trek (3 episodes); I Spy (4 episodes); The Invaders (3 episodes); N.Y.P.D. (2 episodes); Judd for the Defense (2 episodes); Ironside; Cimarron Strip (2 episodes); The Felony Squad (3 episodes); Mission Impossible; Then Came Bronson; Lancer (4 episodes); Death Takes a Holiday; Nichols; Gunsmoke (3 episodes); Hawaii 5-0; Kung Fu (4 episodes); The Blue Knight; The Waltons (3 episodes); Columbo (2 episodes); The Magical World of Disney (12 episodes); Insight (4 episodes); Hill Street Blues (6 episodes); Remington Steele (5 episodes); Moonlighting; Out on a Limb (2 episodes); Sisters (2 episodes); Sirens (2 episodes) and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (2 episodes).
Some of the feature films Robert Butler include: Guns in Leather; The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes; The Barefoot Executive; Now You See Him, Now You Don’t; Hot Lead and Cold Feet; Night of the Juggler and Turbulence.
It’s difficult for me to pick my favorite show that Robert Butler directed because he helmed so many that I watched and enjoyed. My sentimental favorite is probably the premiere of Batman. That show brings back so many good memories. We all anticipated the premiere and it was the talk of our elementary school the next day. Mr. Butler also directed a Twilight Zone episode, The Encounter, that was kept out of syndication in the United States until 2016 for “overt racism and revisionist history”. It’s a testimony to Robert Butler’s talent and professionalism that he directed so many (and often multiple episodes) of the best television shows in the years he worked.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Robert Butler’s family, friends and fans.
