Category: Movies

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

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Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Director: Don Siegel

Screenplay: Daniel Mainwaring based on a story by Jack Finney

Stars: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates, Carolyn Jones, Sam Peckinpah, Whit Bissell and Richard Deacon

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a smart monster movie!”

Tagline: “Something is happening! Send your men of science quick!” The panic stricken cry went over the phone to Washington D. C. until the lines went dead!……

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

When a couple of Dr. Miles Bennell’s patients show up with the concern that their family members have been replaced by identical look-alikes, he becomes concerned.  He wants to find out what is causing the delusions, but discovers that they ARE being replaced by things from outer space.  Now Bennell is their next target!

 

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“John Wick” Coming to Dynamite Comics!

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Fans of the John Wick movies may want to check out the new comic series coming from Dynamite Comics.  Written by Greg Pak with art by Giovanni Valletta, the series will delve into John Wick’s world and even feature stories about his origin adding to the John Wick mythos.

(On a side note, I’ve commissioned Valletta for a Jack Carter & John Wick sketch! And if John Wick’s father ever makes a movie appearance he should be played by Sylvester Stallone.)

Souce: SlashFilm.

The Set-Up (1949)

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The Set-Up (1949)

Director: Robert Wise

Screenplay: Art Cohn based on the poem by Joseph Moncure March

Stars: Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter and George Tobias

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a boxing movie!”

Tagline: The Sensational Picture You’ve Been Hearing and Reading About!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Bill “Stoker” Thompson (Ryan) is an over-the-hill fighter on the club circuit.  Although he still packs a punch, his best days are gone.  Stoker’s manager sets up a fixed fight with an up-and-coming prospect backed by the mob.  His manager is so sure that Stoker is going to lose, he doesn’t tell Stoker about the set-up.

 

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The Curse of the Werewolf (1961)

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The Curse of the Werewolf (1961)

Director: Terence Fisher

Screenplay: Anthony Hinds (as John Elder) based on the novel by Guy Endore

Stars: Clifford Evans, Oliver Reed and Yvonne Romain

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a werewolf movie!”

Tagline: Even the innocent girl who loved him was not safe… once the full moon rose!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Leon (Reed), the son of a nobleman, is born with the curse of the werewolf.

 

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Too Late for Tears (1949)

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Too Late for Tears (1949)

Director: Byron Haskin

Screenplay: Roy Huggins

Stars: Lizabeth Scott, Don DeFore, Dan Duryea

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make movie about a woman corrupted by money!”

Tagline: That’s just to remind you… you’re in a tough racket now!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

When Jane and Alan Palmer accidentally come into possession of a satchel full of money things quickly go south.  Although they know it’s mob money, they can’t agree what to do with it.  Jane wants to keep it.  Alan wants to turn it over to the police.

Soon enough a rough character shows up wanting the money.  Jane is willingly to do anything to keep at least part of the cash… even if it means murder.  And it does.

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Faster (2010)

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Faster (2010)

Director: George Tillman Jr.

Screenplay: Tony Gayton & Joe Gayton

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Maggie Grace, Tom Berenger, Carla Gugino and Mike Epps.

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a revenge flick with The Rock!”

Tagline: Justice is swift. Vengeance is faster.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Newly released, ex-con, Driver (Johnson) has one thing on his mind: to kill every one involved in the doublecross that left his brother murdered and him barely alive.  As the bodies pile up, a veteran cop and hired killer get closer and closer to finding Driver.  Will anyone get out of this alive?

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Scarlet Street (1945)

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Scarlet Street (1945)

Director: Fritz Lang

Screenplay: Dudley Nichols

Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Dan Duryea

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a really dark movie with Edward G. Robinson!”

Tagline: The things she does to men can end only one way – in murder!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Chris Cross (Robinson) on the night of his retirement is feeling melancholy when he stops in a bar for a night cap.  Leaving his job of 25 years where he was surrounded by people who cared about him, Cross now faces a life with a mean wife who belittles him at every chance.  In the bar Cross meets and becomes enamored with Kitty March.

Cross makes her think he’s a wealthy artist.  She makes him think she’s a young girl in need of help (despite the fact that she’s a con woman being encouraged by her “boyfriend” to take him for everything she can).  Before it is over their lies will lead to murder — but whose?

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Harper (1966)

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Harper (1966)

Director: Jack Smight

Screenplay: William Goldman based on the novel by Ross MacDonald

Stars: Paul Newman, Lauren Bacall, Julie Harris, Arthur Hill, Janet Leigh, Robert Wagner, Robert Webber, Shirley Winters and Strother Martin.

The Pitch: “Hey, get Paul Newman to play Ross MacDonald’s PI Harper!”

Tagline: This is a different kind of cat named Harper… and excitement clings to him like a dame!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Private Eye, Lew Harper (Newman) is hired by the very wealthy, Mrs. Sampson (Bacall) to find her missing husband who is probably shacked up with some broad.  Harper starts digging and things change from a missing persons investigation to a multiple murder case with Harper on the killer’s list.

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“Murder, My Sweet” (1944) starring Dick Powell / Z-View

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Murder, My Sweet (1944)

Director: Edward Dmytryk

Screenplay: John Paxton based on the novel by Raymond Chandler

Stars: Dick Powell, Claire Trevor, Anne Shirley, Otto Kruger and Mike Mazurki

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s turn Farewell, My Lovely into a movie!”

Tagline: An Original Philip Marlowe Mystery

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Private Eye, Phillip Marlowe (Powell) is convinced by Moose Malloy (Mazurki), a hulking, dense, ex-con to find his girl Velma.  Trouble is Velma hasn’t been seen for six years.  Marlowe’s digging puts him in the middle of bribery, theft and murder.

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Nosferatu (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau, starring Max Schreck / Z-View

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Nosferatu (1922)

Director: F.W. Murnau

Screenplay: Henrik Galeen; based on DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Stars: Max Schreck, Greta Schröder, Ruth Landshoff

Tagline: A thrilling mystery masterpiece – a chilling psycho-drama of blood-lust.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Nosferatu is an unauthorized retelling of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA.

Thoughts…

Nosferatu was based on Bram Stoker’s novel.  The filmmakers changed characters’ names in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid a lawsuit.  Stoker’s wife sued and won.  All prints of Nosferatu were supposed to be destroyed.  Luckily enough survived for film restoration.

Nosferatu was banned in Switzerland until 1972.

Considered a classic, your mileage may vary, as I find it to be good but not great.

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John Avildsen – R.I.P.

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I am sad to report that John Avildsen died today at the age of 81.

I first became aware of John Avildsen’s work with W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings in 1975. Lightning struck when Avildsen directed Rocky to 10 Oscar nominations (winning three including Best Picture, Best Editing and Best Director for Avildsen).  The success of Rocky led to Rocky II but an agreement to return couldn’t be reached. Avildsen later said the decision was “one of my greatest mistakes.”  Avildsen’s star ascended again when he steered all three Karate Kid movies to box office success.

John Avildsen was known as the King of the Underdogs, but I will always be grateful for his part in making my all-time favorite movie, Rocky.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his friends and his fans.

The Blue Gardenia (1953)

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The Blue Gardenia (1953)

Director: Fritz Lang

Screenplay: Charles Hoffman

Stars: Anne Baxter, Richard Conte, Ann Sothern, Raymond Burr, George Reeves and Nat “King” Cole

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a murder mystery with Anne Baxter!”

Tagline: There was nothing lily-white about her!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Norah Larkin (Baxter) is on the rebound having just learned (on her birthday of all days!) that her fiance is leaving her for another woman.  When a man she just met offers to take her to dinner, she accepts.  He proceeds to get her drunk at his apartment and starts to take advantage of her.  When she attempts to leave, they struggle, she hits him with a poker and passes out as well.  She awakens to find him dead.  She quickly leaves believing she’s killed him.

Soon she is the subject of a police hunt… but what she really the murderess?

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