Category: Movies

SPILLANE: KING OF PULP FICTION by Max Allan Collins and James L. Traylor

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SPILLANE: KING OF PULP FICTION by Max Allan Collins and James L. Traylor is coming!

The first-ever biography of the most popular and most influential pulp writer of all time, written by the collaborator who knew him best

There has never been a full-length biography of Mickey Spillane, the most popular and influential mystery writer of his era―until now.

Beginning in 1947 with I, the Jury, and continuing with his next six novels, Spillane quickly amassed a readership in the tens of millions, becoming the bestselling novelist in the history of American publishing. Surrounded by controversy for the overt violence and suggestive sexual content of his iconic Mike Hammer private eye novels, Spillane was loathed by critics but beloved by his readers.

There is, however, more to Spillane’s life than the books. He also starred as Hammer in a movie, was a circus performer, worked with the FBI in capturing a notorious criminal, and starred in Miller Light beer commercials that were so popular they ran for a quarter of a century.

Max Allan Collins became Spillane’s friend and collaborator, continuing the Mike Hammer series for years after the author’s death, building upon unfinished manuscripts the writer left behind. Now, with co-author James Traylor, Collins has produced the first comprehensive and authoritative profile of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master. It is a must-read for any fan of the author―or of the generations of crime writers that were influenced by his work.

“Dark Alibi” (1946) starring Sidney Toler & Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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Dark Alibi (1946)

Director:  Phil Karlson

Screenplay: George Callahan, based on characters created by Earl Derr Biggers

Stars: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Ben Carter, Benson Fong, John Eldredge, Tim Ryan, Ray Walker and Milton Parsons

Tagline:  THE MASTER OF MYSTERY EXPOSES A GENIUS OF CRIME!

The Plot…

When Thomas Harley is sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit it will be up to Charlie Chan to prove his innocence.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Mantan Mooreland, who plays Charlie Chan’s valet, Birmingham, is the reason I started watching.  Mooreland is one of my favorite comedians from that era.  His timing and physical comedy are pure perfection.  Mooreland has three scenes in Dark Alibi with his former vaudeville partner, Ben Carter, that are shoehorned into the film.

The Charlie Chan films are low-budget and run just over an hour.  They’re a great way to close out a day.  The Chan films often set the viewer up to think one person is the villain only for it to turn out to be another.  Thankfully, we have Charlie Chan to set us straight.

Dark Alibi earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Knutzy Knights” (1954) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Knutzy Knights (1954)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay:  Felix Adler, Edward Bernds (uncredited)

Stars: Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Jock Mahoney, Vernon Dent, Christine McIntyre, Philip Van Zandt and Kenner G. Kemp

Tagline:  Hits a New High in High-Jinks!

The Plot…

Princess Elaine (McIntyre) loves Cedric the Blacksmith (Mahoney). Unfortunately the King (Dent) has promised his daughter’s hand in marriage to The Black Prince (Van Zandt).  When the boys learn that the Black Prince has evil intentions, our guys are determined to help the young lovers.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Knutzy Knights has the same basic plot as the Stooges short Squareheads of the Round Table made just six years earlier.  Although slight changes occur in the remake there’s a lot of re-used footage.

This is the last Stooges short to feature new footage with Vernon Dent who regularly appeared with the boys.  Dent was suffering from diabetes and going blind.

Jock Mahony appeared in Squareheads of the Round Table.  When Knutzy Knights was made six years later, Mahony was a much bigger star, regularly appearing in films and starring in his own television series.  Despite his increased star status, Mahony returned to film new scenes for the update. (Mahony would go on to a long career in movies and television.  He played Tarzan in two feature films,  He was also the stepfather of Sally Field.)

Knutzy Knights earns 4 of 5 stars.

“My Name is Vendetta” (2022) / Z-View

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My Name is Vendetta (2022)

Director:  Cosimo Gomez

Screenplay: Sandrone Dazieri, Franco Fraternale, Cosimo Gomez

Stars: Alessandro Gassmann, Ginevra Francesconi

The Plot…

Santo, a former mob hitman, has been living a quiet life with his wife, daughter and brother for years.  When his former boss learns where Santo lives, a hit team is sent in to kill him.  The team takes out Santo’s brother and Santo’s wife.  His daughter gets away.  Santos arrives home to the massacre.  He finds his daughter and then begins to take revenge…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was expecting better for My Name is Vendetta.

Santos’ daughter creates the situations that leads to her mother and uncle’s death by not listening to her dad.  Then after they are murdered she disobeys him again causing their location to be known again.  This makes her character pretty unlikeable from the start.

The action ranges from good to boring.  The fact that Santos’ former mafia employers have access to technology that can find him so easily is just too unrealistic.  The ending was also unsatisfying.  All of these issues point to a need for tighter writing.

My Name is Vendetta earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Matri-Phony” (1942) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Matri-Phony (1942)

Director:  Harry Edwards, Del Lord (uncredited)

Screenplay: Monte Collins, Elwood Ullman

Stars: Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Vernon Dent, Bobby Barber, Cy Schindell and Max Wagner

Tagline: Goofiest comedy you ever saw!

The Plot…

When a woman on the run enters the boy’s Ye Olde Pottery shop they learn that Emperor Grabus plans to marry her against her will.  The boys help her hide.  When she is discovered they are taken into custody.  Grabus condemns the boys and moves forward with his marriage plans.  The boys must escape and save the young lass.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Matri-Phony was plagued with problems, most of which were caused by the director, Harry Edwards.  Most Stooges shorts were filmed in 3 to 5 days.  Matri-Phony took three weeks to complete.  Edwards was abusive towards the actors and crew.  Reshoots were needed.  Some shots are out of focus, some scenes lacked coverage for smooth edits.  The Stooges worked with him on one other short and then asked to never have him direct them again.

The highlight is an extended scene with Curly in drag and chased around the room by the nearly blind Emperor Grabus!

Matri-Phony earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Bill Russell: Legend” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I’m looking forward to this documentary on Bill Russell.  The fact that it is on Netflix makes watching a no brainer.  Deal me in.

On the court, Bill Russell was a force to be reckoned with – a champion who sacrificed himself for his teammates and love of basketball. Off the court, Bill Russell was a force in the fight for human rights – marching with the great Martin Luther King Jr., pioneering NBA boycotts and fighting against racism. BILL RUSSELL: LEGEND tells the remarkable life and legacy of an NBA superstar and civil rights icon.

RIP: Lance Kerwin

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Lance Kerwin, one of the most popular children actors of the 1970s, died on January 24, 2023.  He was 62.

Lance Kerwin began his career in 1974 with guest appearances on seven popular television series and two made for tv movies!  Mr. Kerwin stayed busy with roles in feature films throughout his career.  He retired from acting in 1995.  Lance Kerwin is best known for the television series James at 16 and the tv movie Salem’s Lot.

Some of Lance Kerwin’s television appearances include: Emergency!; Shazam; Little House on the Prairie; Police Story; Cannon; Gunsmoke; ABC Afterschool Specials (5 episodes); The Loneliest Runner (tv movie); Wonder Woman; The Bionic Woman; James at 16 (21 episodes); The Boy Who Drank Too Much (tv movie); Hotel; Trapper John; Simon & Simon and Murder She Wrote. 

Some of Lance Kerwin’s feature film appearances include: Enemy Mine and Outbreak.

My favorite Lance Kerwin role was in the made-for-tv adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot.  If Mr. Kerwin was only known for that film, his passing would still be noted due to the impact that movie has on horror movie fans.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lance Kerwin’s family, friends and fans.

“65” starring Adam Driver – A Second Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Here we have a second poster and trailer for 65 starring Adam Driver.  I like this poster even better than the first.  The outline of the T-Rex behind them is ominous.  The trailer kicks the action up a notch as well. Deal me in!

They must fight to survive. From the writers of A Quiet Place and producer Sam Raimi, #65movie is Only In Cinemas March 17.

After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills (Adam Driver) quickly discovers he’s actually stranded on Earth…65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa (Ariana Greenblatt), must make their way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures in an epic fight to survive. From the writers of A Quiet Place and producer Sam Raimi comes 65, a sci-fi thriller starring Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, and Chloe Coleman. Written and directed by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods and produced by Sam Raimi, Deborah Liebling and Zainab Azizi. Also produced by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.

Written and Directed by:
Scott Beck & Bryan Woods

“We Have a Ghost” starring David Harbour, Jahi Winston & Anthony Mackie – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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We Have a Ghost starring David Harbour, Jahi Winston and Anthony Mackie looks like a lot of fun.  Deal me in.

Finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin’s family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest go rogue to investigate the mystery of Ernest’s past, they become a target of the CIA.

“The Black Phone” (2021) starring Ethan Hawke / Z-View

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The Black Phone (2021)

Director:  Scott Derrickson

Screenplay: Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill based on “The Black Phone” short story by Joe Hill

Stars: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies and E. Roger Mitchell

Tagline: Never Talk to Strangers

The Plot…

A sadistic serial killer of children has been dubbed The Grabber by news media.  Despite multiple kidnappings and murders, the killer leaves no clues.  When Finney, a thirteen year old boy, wakes up in a locked basement, he comes to realize that The Grabber plans to torture and kill him… unless Finney can find a way out.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although The Grabber’s “name” isn’t that scary, the masks he wears are.  The scene (picture below) of the serial killer sitting shirtless, in a mask, whip in hand waiting in the kitchen to see if Finney will come up is truly creepy.

The Black Phone has a supernatural aspect to it that makes it less scary in my opinion.  A kid, alone in a serial killer’s basement is frightening.  When he begins getting “help” from beyond, it is much more likely that he’ll survive.

There are couple of cool plot twists and the ending works well.

The Black Phone earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Restless Knights” (1935) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Restless Knights (1935)

Director:  Charles Lamont

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Stanley Blystone and Walter Brennan

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys learn they’re royalty!  Larry is the Duke of Durham, Moe the Count of Fife  and Curly is Baron of Grey Matter.  They are tasked with protecting the Queen.  Little do they know that a plan is underway to kill her and make our boys the fall guys!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Restless Knights was the first Stooges short to feature the now famous triple slap!  The castle sets were originally created for Boris Karloff’s The Black Room.

Restless Knights earns 4 of 5 stars.

“G.I. Wanna Home” (1946) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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G.I. Wanna Home (1946)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Symona Boniface and Al Thompson

Tagline: The Stooges on a Hilarious Hunt for a Home!

The Plot…

The boys are discharged from the army ready to marry their girls.  First they need housing. Our guys search everywhere but nothing is available.  In desperation, the boys turn a deserted lot into their new home.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Curly’s health had deteriorated to the point that much of the business scripted for him was given to Larry.  It was obvious from Curly’s weight loss, the lines now creasing his face and his timing that his career was coming to an early end.

G.I. Wanna Conga earns 4 of 5 stars.

“They Stooge to Conga” (1943) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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They Stooge to Conga (1943)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay: Monte Collins, Elwood Ullman

Stars: Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Lloyd Bridges, Vernon Dent, Dudley Dickerson and Christine McIntyre

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

The boys are are door-to-door repairmen hired to fix a doorbell.  When they discover that the house belongs to Nazi spies, it is up to them to save the day.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

They Stooge to Conga was often edited to exclude the violence where Curly climbs the power pole.  Curly on his way up (and wearing spikes) steps on Moe’s head, then spikes him in the ear and eye! Other violent scenes include: Curly getting his rear set on fire, Moe pulled through a wall, a grinding wheel to the nose, wrench to the nose, multiple electric shocks, sitting on a hot waffle iron, exploding telephone as it is answered, multiple hammer strikes to the head… NYUK-NYUK-NYUK.

Lloyd Bridges has a cameo!

This is the third time that Moe parodies Adolph Hitler.  It cracks me up every time.

They Stooge to Conga earns 5 of 5 stars.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 10 Best Movie Characters!

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Simon Bland at /Film took a look at his choices for The 10 Best Arnold Schwarzenegger Roles That Aren’t The Terminator.  I thought I’d play along, so before you click over, here are how are choices play out (in no particular order)…

Bland

Zablo
Dutch – Predator Dutch – Predator
John Matrix – Commando John Matrix – Commando
Jack Slater – Last Action Hero Mark Kaminski – Raw Deal
Julius – Twins Ivan Danko – Red Heat
Dt. John Kimble – Kindergarten Eraser – Eraser
Mr. Freeze – Batman & Robin Rottmayer – Escape Plan
Quaid – Total Recall Quaid – Total Recall
Trench – The Expendables Series Trench – The Expendables Series
Harry Tasker – True Lies John ‘Breacher’ Wharton – Sabotage
Conan – Conan The Barbarian Conan – Conan The Barbarian