Category: Movies

Five Under-Appreciated Crime Films of the 70s by Joey Portelli of The Flix Zone

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Joey Portelli at The Flix Zone came up with a list of five Under-Appreciated Crime Films of the 1970s.  Portelli’s choices are good ones.  I love crime films and haven’t seen any of his picks.  Before you click over (and if you love crime films, you should), here are my quick thoughts on each.

Darker Than Amber (1970, Robert Clouse): How have I never heard of this one?  Rod Taylor plays John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee. The very-good and under-rated William Smith plays a sadistic bodybuilder antagonist.  Robert “Enter the Dragon” Clause directs.  Wait until you read the plot.

The Last Run (1971, Richard Fleischer): George C. Scott plays an aging getaway driver for the syndicate on his last job.  Richard “Compulsion” Fleischer directs.  This one may have been ahead of its time.

Fear is the Key (1972, Michael Tuchner): Portelli describes this one as “a pure 1970s adrenaline rush” with “a terrific plot twist that completely shifts the films gears half way through”.  I’ve heard enough to know I’m in.  When you click over you’ll learn the cast and more.

The Nickel Ride (1974, Robert Mulligan): Jason Miller, hot off of his starring role in The Exorcist teamed with Robert “To Kill a Mockingbird” Mulligan for this crime drama.  Bo Hopkins and John Hillerman co-star.

Newman’s Law (1974, Richard T. Heffron): This one takes a different spin.  George Peppard plays an honest cop set up to take a fall. Richard T. Heffron (who directed the very under-rated I, the Jury starring Armand Assante) helms this one.

Thanks to Joey Portelli.  I’m going to put these five on my list of movies to be seen.

“Squareheads of the Round Table” (1948) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Squareheads of the Round Table (1948)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer: Edward Bernds

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Christine McIntyre, Philip Van Zandt, Jock Mahoney, Vernon Dent and Joe Garcio.

Tagline:  The Stooges Start a Knight Riot in King Arthur’s Court!.

The Plot…

Our boys are troubadours for the king.  His daughter, Princess Elaine (McIntyre) and Cedric the Blacksmith (Mahoney) are in love and wish to be married.  But the evil Black Prince (Van Zandt) has plans to kill Cedric and marry the Princess!  It’s up to the Stooges to save Cedric and see that true love wins.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Christine McIntyre did her own singing for this one.

The Guard says, “The king commands your presence.”  Shemp replies, “We ain’t got any presents.”

The Stooges would rework Squareheads of the Round Table using plot elements and footage for the 1954 short Knutzy Knights.  Even though Jock Mahoney was a bigger star in 1954, he returned for pick-up shots.

Squareheads of the Round Table (1948) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Pardon My Clutch” (1948) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Pardon My Clutch (1948)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer:  Clyde Bruckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Matt McHugh, Stanley Blystone,  and Emil Sitka.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

After Larry and Moe have a series of mishaps trying to remove Shemp’s aching tooth, they decide a camping trip is just the thing they all need.  The only problem is they don’t own a car.  Our guys end up buying a jalopy that needs work.  Let the hijinks begin.  Oh, and one more thing, the “lemon” may actually be an expensive collector’s car!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Writer Clyde Bruckman was known for recycling plots and gags.  Pardon My Clutch borrows from the Laurel & Hardy shorts Perfect Day (1929) and Them Thar Hills (1934).  The tire rolling into a gas station gag was used before in I’m the Sheriff (1927) and Slightly at Sea (1940).  Interestingly enough, the Stooges using footage from Pardon My Clutch reworked it into Wham-Bam-Slam (1955).

Pardon My Clutch (1948) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Shivering Sherlocks” starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Shivering Sherlocks (1948)

Director:  Dell Lord

Writer:  Del Lord, Elwood Ullman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Christine McIntyre, Vernon Dent, Stanley Blystone, Duke York  and Blackie Whiteford.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

When the boys’ friend, Gladys (McIntyre) learns that she has inherited a house, they go with her to look it over.  Turns out it is a spooky old joint in a remote area.  To make it even worse, crooks along with a big, scary looking goon are using the house as a hideout.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Moe brings back a classic Stooges’ gag when he attempts to eat a bowl of clam chowder but the clam gets the best of him.

There’s a funny gag involving the cops, our guys and a lie detector.

Duke York plays Angel a big, dumb, scary-looking thug.  Love the look of this character.  And any time a monster is after our guys, it is the best.

Shivering Sherlocks (1948) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Out West” (1947) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Out West (1947)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer:  Clyde Bruckman, Thomas Moore

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Christine McIntyre, Jock Mahoney, Stanley Blystone, Heinie Conklin, Vernon Dent and Blackie Whiteford.

Tagline:  The Stooges are shootin’ up the West!

The Plot…

The doctor tells Shemp that the climate out west would be good for his enlarged vein.  So he, Larry and Moe head out.  A crook overhears the boys talking about Shemp’s vein and think he has a gold mine.  The crook and his gang decide they’re going to steal the boys’ gold.  Let the hijinks begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jock Mahoney who would go on to star in many television and feature films (he played Tarzan in two films) is billed as Jacques O’Mahoney.

Out West (1947) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Fright Night” (1947) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Fright Night (1947)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer:  Clyde Bruckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Dick Wessel, Claire Carleton, Stanley Blystone, Heinie Conklin, Sammy Stein and Evelyn Venable.

Tagline:  The Stooges are punchier than ever in a knockout of screwy joy!

The Plot…

Our guys are managers of heavyweight boxer, Chopper Kane.  When gangsters tell our boys that Chopper loses his next fight or they lose their lives, they know what they have to do.  Chopper has to take a dive, but Chopper refuses.  Let the hijinks begin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fright Night is Shemp Howard’s first Three Stooges’ short.  He agreed to play a Stooge until Curly regained his health.  Sadly Curly never did.  Fright Night is Shemp’s favorite Three Stooges short.

There’s a very funny extended scene when our boys are running from gangsters in a crowded warehouse.  The scene was later copied on The Abbott and Costello Show in the episode Public Enemies.  Clyde Bruckman wrote that episode as well.

Fright Night (1947) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Monkey Businessmen” (1946) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Monkey Businessmen (1946)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer:  Edward Bernds

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Wade Crosby, Kenneth MacDonald, ‘Snub’ Pollard and Jean Willes.

Tagline:  It’s shock-full of hilarious laughter!

The Plot…

After getting fired, the boys need to get away and recharge.  They decide that Mallard’s Rest Home is just what’s required.  Little do our guys know that Mallard’s is run by crooks!  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Curly’s health had deteriorated from a series of strokes to the point that Moe had to teach Curly his parts line by line.  In one scene Moe calls Curly by his pet name “Baby” and this mistake was left in the short.  Moe can also be seen nudging Curly to say his line in Dr. Mallard’s office.  In another scene Moe was coaching Curly out of camera range.  Curly was supposed to yell, “Moe and Larry!” but Curly remembered this line and yelled, “I know!  Moe and Larry!” and this also stayed in.

Moe and Larry enter a room after a loud crash.  Curly is on the floor wrapped around a ladder.  Moe says, “You lame brain, why don’t you be careful when you climb up a ladder?” Curly says, “I only climbed up seven steps.” Moe responds, “The ladder has six steps.”

Monkey Businessmen (1946) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Uncivil War Birds” (1946) – The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Uncivil War Birds (1946)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Clyde Buckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Theodore Lorch, Robert B. Williams and Blackie Whiteford.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

The American Civil War has started.  The boys decide to join the fight.  Larry and Moe come back in Union uniforms, while Curly has signed up with the Confederacy!  Suddenly the war is raging around them and the Union Army controls the area… but just as quickly the Confederacy wins it back.  Our guys are going crazy trying to keep up with which side has the power and to protect the boy(s) in the wrong uniform!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Clyde Buckman recycled his Buster Keaton script Mooching Through Georgia adapting it for the Stooges.  Buckman would later re-work the story for The Abbott & Costello Show.

When an officer orders the soldiers with the command, “Forward march, you fools!” Curly doesn’t move.  The officer yells, “What’s the matter with you?”  Curly responds, “I’m no fool.”  The commander is exasperated and yells, “Forward march, you idiot!” Curly answers, “That’s different” and begins marching.

The boys, in an attempt to escape dress up in blackface and try to pose as minstrel singers. While blackface is not their proudest moment, it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence during that era.

Sadly, because of strokes, Curly’s career was coming to an end.  More of the funny bits and dialogue are given to Moe and Larry.  Still, Curly makes the most of what he is given.

Uncivil War Birds (1946) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“A Gem of a Jam” (1943) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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A Gem of a Jam (1943)

Director:  Del Lord

Writer:  Del Lord

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Dudley Dickerson and Al Thompson.

Tagline:  Crammed with rib-tickling comedy!

The Plot…

The boys are night shift janitors working their way through a floor of offices.  They’re about to clean a doctor’s workspace when crooks on the run from the law bust in.  One of the gang members has been shot.  Thinking our boys are doctors, the crooks say if they don’t fix up their pal, it’s lights out for Larry, Curly and Moe.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Curl was injured when the gurney gag tilted too far and he busted his head requiring several stitches.

The boys accidentally drop the wounded crook out of the office building window.  Curly gets under the blanket and the boys act as if they are about to operate.  One of the thugs threatens that if any harm comes to their friend, he’ll shoot them.  Moe responds, “Don’t worry, when we get through with him he’ll be a different man.”

As the boys are running for their lives they hide in a dark storage room filled with creepy stuff.  Curly trips into a trough filled with plaster.  He’s covered from head to toe and looks scary.  Curly playing like a statue and his interactions with the night watchman (Dickerson), Larry & Moe and the crooks are classic!

A Gem of a Jam (1943) rates 5 of 5 stars.

Rambo by Tim Shinn!

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Tim Shinn is a freelance artist. He’s known for his storyboarding, advertising and comic work. Tim’s done art for Hasbro, Disney, Dark Horse and Fun Publications. Tim takes commissions and regularly posts art for sale. When I saw this sketch of Sly Stallone as Rambo,  I didn’t hesitate. Hopefully there will be more Tim Shinn art in my future.  You can see more of Tim Shinn’s art on his Instagram page and his Twitter feed.

“I Can Hardly Wait” (1943) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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“I Can Hardly Wait” (1943)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Clyde Buckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Bud Jamison, Adel Mara and Al Thompson.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

The boys decide on a midnight snack before night-night.  While Larry and Moe share a single slice of ham and an egg, Curly gets the whole ham bone and the whole egg shell.  Sadly Curly breaks a tooth eating his meal. Now it’s up to Larry and Moe to fix Curly’s broken tooth.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

A classic Stooge sight gag that leads to slapstick appears in “I Can Hardly Wait” – the boys sleep in triple bunk beds with Curly on the top!

Of course everything Larry and Moe try to help ease the pain of Curly’s broken tooth fails.  Moe suddenly says, “I’ve got it!”  Curly replies, “Every time you got it, I get it.”

“I Can Hardly Wait” (1943) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Hidari” – The Stop-Motion Samurai Film Teaser is Here!

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Hidari is a short stop-motion proof of concept video designed to get funding to create a feature film.  The trailer is mesmerizing.  I’d love to see a Hidari feature film.

After being betrayed by his peers and lost both his father and his right arm, legendary craftsman “Jingoro Hidari” is on a journey of revenge with his partner “Sleeping Cat” and his mechanical prosthetic arm. Finally, Jingoro faces one of his adversaries “Inumaru” in a fight to the death…

This is a pilot version of the stop-motion samurai film that tells the story of “Jingoro Hidari,” a legendary Edo-era craftsman. All the characters are made by wood and animated frame by frame, just like how Jingoro’s wooden sculptures came to life in his many anecdotes. We hope you enjoy this film, which mixes dynamic actions as seen in Japanimation, and the rich analog expressions of stop-motion animation.

Our intention is to use this pilot film as a starting point to create a full length feature film. We have started activities to raise the necessary partners and funding to achieve this goal.
Please contact us here for any inquiries: info@hidari-movie.com


Source: Check This Out: Stop-Motion Samurai Project ‘Hidari’ in Development at FirstShowing,net

“Back from the Front” (1943) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Back from the Front (1943)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Jack White, Ewart Adamson

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Stanley Blystone, Heinie Conklin, Vernon Dent, Bud Jamison and Adele Mara.

Tagline:  Any resemblance between the characters in this picture and other human beings is a dirty shame.

The Plot…

Larry, Curly and Moe are merchant marines during World War II.  After some misadventures they end up on a German war ship!  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Moe disguises himself as Adolph Hitler (as he did in 1940’s You Nazty Spy and 1941’s I’ll Never Heil Again – I never get tired of this) and tells the German officers, “Use your heads and shoot out your brains.”  The commandant replies, “But mein Führer, we’re Nazis. We have no brains.”

The Nazi warship our guys sneak aboard is the the SS Schicklgruber.  “Schicklgruber” is Adolph Hitler’s father’s real last name.  He changed it to Hitler later in life.  The British often referred to Hitler as Schicklgruber for propaganda purposes and it is the only name the Stooges would use when referring to him.  “Schicklgruber” pops up in other Stooges shorts.

There’s a dog named Terry on the ship. This dog also played Toto in The Wizard Of Oz.

When the boys sneak aboard the Nazi warship, Moe says, “If we’re discovered, we’re lost.”  Curly responds, “You’re crazy. If we’re discovered, we’re found.”  NYUK-NYUK-NYUK.

Back from the Front (1943) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“What’s the Matador?” (1942) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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What’s the Matador? (1942)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Jules White, Saul Ward

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Suzanne Kaaren and Al Thompson.

Tagline: World’s Champion Bull Throwers!

The Plot…

Larry, Curly and Moe are comedians headed to Mexico.  After a few chance encounters with a beautiful woman, and her very jealous husband, our boys are in for it.  Then when suitcases get mixed up, our guys decide to sneak into the woman’s house to get theirs.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There’s a scene with Moe, Curly and Larry trying to get directions from a Mexican citizen that’s not typical Stooges’ humor, but is funny.

What’s the Matador? (1942) rates 4 of 5 stars.