Category: Trivia

“The Eternaut”: Season 1 (2025) created, co-written & directed by Bruno Stagnaro; based on “The Eternaut” by Héctor Germán Oesterheld, Francisco Solano López / Z-View

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The Eternaut: Season 1 (2025)

Created by: Bruno Stagnaro, based on The Eternaut by Héctor Germán Oesterheld, Francisco Solano López

Director:  Bruno Stagnaro

Teleplay by: Bruno Stagnaro, Ariel Staltari, and Gabriel Stagnaro (Eps. 1-2, 6), Bruno Stagnaro and Ariel Staltari (Eps. 3, 5),  Bruno Stagnaro, Ariel Staltari, and Martín Wain (Ep. 4)

Starring: Ricardo Darín, Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra.

Tagline:  None

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

One summer evening snow begins to fall.  Juan Salvo and some friends move to the window to check it out.  They’re shocked to see anyone outside suddenly drop dead as the snow touches them.  The snow falls though the night.  Juan rigs together a suit with gas mask so that he can venture out to search for his daughter.

As the days go on, it becomes clear that few have survived.  Many of those who did are just as dangerous as the snow.  Then they learn about the arriving aliens.   Juan and his friends will need to band together in order to live.

Thoughts 

The Eternaut is an Argentine television series created by Bruno Stagnaro.  It is based on the comic strip The Eternaut created by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López.  The strip ran from 1957 through 1959.  In 1977, Héctor Germán Oesterheld, along with his four daughters were taken into custody by Argentina’s last military dictatorship. Oesterheld’s writings against the military junta made him a target.  He and his daughters were never seen in public again.

I liked the pacing of season one.

Bring on season 2!

 

“Marked Woman” (1937) starring Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart / Z-View

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Marked Woman (1937)

Director:  Lloyd Bacon, Michael Curtiz (uncredited)

Screenplay: Robert Rossen, Abem Finkel, Seton I. Miller (uncredited)

Stars: Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Isabel Jewell, Mayo Methot, Eduardo Ciannelli, Raymond Hatton, William B. Davidson, Kenneth Harlan, Robert Strange and Allen Jenkins.

Tagline: A Star Teaming You’ll Never Forget!

The Plot…

Johnny Vanning (Ciannelli) controls all the rackets.  Vanning owns all the city’s hot spots. If  you want a night out with booze, gambling and women, Vanning will be getting a kickback.  Vanning’s latest purchase is a night club he names Club Intimate.  Before the club reopens Vanning meets with the “hostesses” – Mary, Gabby, Emmy Lou, Florrie, and Estelle.  Vanning makes it clear he expects the girls to push the booze, encourage the gambling and give the men whatever they want.

Mary (Davis) doesn’t like the new direction or Vanning.  She needs the money though, since she’s putting her kid sister through college.  One of Mary’s dates drinks waay to much (and orders drinks for the group). He then tops it off by losing big time at the craps table.  At the end of the evening he writes a check for his loses and the booze.

On the way to dropping Mary off, the man laughs, telling her the check will bounce and he’s had a great time.  Mary is shocked.  This rube thinks he’ll catch a plane back home and all will be forgotten.  Mary makes it clear that Vanning has killed for a lot less.  The man’s only hope is to leave right away.  He agrees.

The next morning, the police show up at Mary’s door.  Her “date” was found murdered.  David Graham (Bogart), the District Attorney, knows that Mary could be the witness that finally brings down Vanning.  Mary knows how Vanning deals with snitches.  Plus there’s her sister she needs to worry about.

Mary’s in a tough spot and it’s about to get worse.

 

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

For a hospital scene, Bette Davis’ character is to have been badly beaten.  Her face is bruises and her head bandaged.  The make-up department didn’t want to obscure Davis’ face. So few bandages were used.  When the crew broke for lunch, Bette Davis went to her personal doctor. She described the damage her character was to have.  The doc then put on appropriate coverings.  When Davis returned to the lot, the gate guard saw her and phoned Hal B. Wallis (the film’s executive producer) to say Miss Davis had been in an accident.

Although married, Humphrey Bogart fell in love with  Mayo Methot during filming.  Once Bogart divorced his second wife, he married Methot.  That marriage lasted until 1945 when he fell in love with Lauren Bacall during filming of To Have and Have Not.

Michael Curtiz filmed some scenes when director Lloyd Bacon was on his honeymoon.

Bette Davis shines in this role.

Marked Woman (1937) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Catch-22” (1970) directed by Mike Nichols, starring Alan Arkin / Z-View

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Catch-22 (1970)

Director:  Mike Nichols

Screenplay: Buck Henry based on CATCH-22 by Joseph Heller

Stars: Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Buck Henry, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, Bob Balaban, Susanne Benton, Norman Fell, Charles Grodin, Austin Pendleton, Peter Bonerz, Philip Roth, Bruce Kirby, Richard Libertini and Orson Welles.

Tagline: The nice thing about war is that the person who kills you really has nothing against you. Personally.

The Plot…

Captain John Yossarian is a U.S. Army Air Force B-25 bombardier during World War II.  A bombardier’s job is dangerous enough, but Yossarian’s commanding officer, Colonel Cathcart, is making it worse.  Normally once a bombardier has flown 25 missions, he’s rotated out.  Colonel Cathcart keeps raising the required number of missions before rotation out.  It now stands at 80.  Which is basically a death sentence.

Yossarian decides if a doctor agrees he is no longer fit for duty, he will be taken from the flight rotations.  When Yossarian talks to the doctor, he learns of Catch-22.  Because bombing flights are so dangerous, you’d have to be crazy to do them.  But if you ask to be relieved of duty because of the danger, it shows you’re not crazy, just prudent.  If you’re not crazy, you have to fly.

Yossarian is haunted by the bloody death of a young turret gunner who was killed on a flight with Yossarian.  But that doesn’t make him crazy, just someone who cares.  As Yossarian looks around he sees the madness of war.  Their squadron commander, Major Major has never flown a single bombing mission. Further, Major Major refuses to see people while he’s in his office.  They must see him when he’s out. But they must make their appointments when he is in. Colonel Cathcart is more concerned with getting good press than the safety of his men.  And those are just tips of the iceberg.

But Yossarian has a plan.  He’ll prove he’s insane.  But how do you look crazy among all the madness?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Catch-22 features Art Garfunkle and Bruce Kirby film debuts.

Bob Newhart, Peter Bonerz, and Jack Riley all appear in the film.  Bonerz and Riley would go on to be regulars in The Bob Newhart Show.

Stacey Keach originally had the role of Colonel Cathcart.  Director Mike Nichols fired him over creative differences and brought in Martin Balsam to fill the role.

Paula Prentiss has a scene with full frontal nudity.  It was one of the first times a major Hollywood actress bared all in a Hollywood production.

John Jordan, the second unit director, refused to wear a harness during a bomber scene.  Jordan died when he slipped out of the open tail turret and fell 4,000 feet into the ocean.

Catch-22 (1970) rates 4 of 5 stars

“The Time Machine” (1960) directed by George Pal, starring Rod Taylor, Alan Young and Yvette Mimieux / Z-View

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The Time Machine (1960)

Director:  George Pal

Screenplay: David Duncan based on THE TIME MACHINE by H.G. Wells

Stars: Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux, Tom Helmore, Whit Bissell, Doris Lloyd, Paul Frees and Sebastian Cabot.

Tagline: You Will Orbit into the Fantastic Future!

The Plot…

New Year’s Eve 1899… George Wells (Taylor) has created a time machine that works!  Wells decides to go into the future.  He wants to see what kind of utopian society awaits.  Wells is disappointed to learn that instead of paradise, World Wars await.  Wells decides to go far into the future hoping for something better.

Wells lands in the year 802,701.  What at first seems like a perfect world turns out to be anything but.  Humans are treated like cattle by creatures called Morlocks.  Making things worse, Wells’ time machine is now in their possession.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Time Machine won one Academy Award for Best Effects, Special Effects – Gene Warren, Tim Baar

Alan Young (best known as Wilbur on the Mr. Ed television series) is the only actor to appear in this film and the 2002 remake.

The Time Machine features the first starring role in a feature film for both Rod Taylor and Yvette Mimieux.

The Time Machine (1960) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Three the Hard Way” (1974) starring Jim Brown, Fred Williamson and Jim Kelly / Z-View

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Three the Hard Way (1974)

Director:  Gordon Parks Jr.

Screenplay: Eric Bercovici, Jerrold L. Ludwig

Stars: Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, Jim Kelly, Sheila Frazier, Jay Robinson, Richard Angarola, Marian Collier,
Alex Rocco, Corbin Bernsen and Howard Platt.

Tagline: Action explodes all over the place when the big three join forces to save their race!

The Plot…

When Jimmy Lait’s (Brown) friend unexpectedly shows up with a gunshot wound, Lait gets him to a hospital.  Almost delirious and dying, Lait’s friend says “they’re going to kill us all… just us”.  Later that night, Lait’s friend is executed.

Lait does some digging and learns that a white supremist group plans to poison the water supply of Detroit, Washington, D.C. and LA.  The poison is fatal only to African Americans.  Lait recruits two of his friends, Jagger Daniels (Williamson) and Mister Keyes (Kelly) to help him take down the Neo-Nazis before they can wipe out thousands.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When I was in ninth grade my girlfriend and I went to see Three the Hard Way.  It was playing as part of a double feature with Return of the Dragon.  When my girlfriend (now my wife) realized the plot of Three the Hard Way, she whispered, “We’re the only white people in here.”  I said, “We’ll be alright.”  And of course we were.  I liked Three the Hard Way a lot better seeing it in a theater in the ninth grade.

Three the Hard Way features Corbin Bernsen’s first credited feature film role.  Corbin’s father was co-producer of the film.

If you’re a fan of kung fu and blaxploitation movies, you should enjoy Three the Hard Way.

Three the Hard Way (1974) rates 2 of 5 stars

“Black Belt Jones” (1974) starring Jim Kelly / Z-View

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Black Belt Jones (1974)

Director:  Robert Clouse

Screenplay: Oscar Williams, story by Fred Weintraub, Alexandra Rose

Stars: Jim Kelly, Gloria Hendry, Scatman Crothers, Alan Weeks, Andre Philippe, Eddie Smith, Alex Brown, Earl Jolly Brown, Marla Gibbs, Ted Lange, Robert Wall  and Eric Laneuville.

Tagline: Enter Jim ”Dragon” Kelly. He clobbers the mob as BLACK BELT JONES.

The Plot…

When the mafia learns of a new civic center set to be constructed, they buy up all of the land except for one building.  It is owned by “Pop” Byrd and houses his karate dojo.  When “Pop” refuses to sell out, they send in a local drug dealer and his crew.  They figure after a beating or two, “Pop’ will happily sell out.

They didn’t know “Pop” was friends with Black Belt Jones.  Their mistake.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 Warner Bros. made Black Belt Jones after the success of Enter the Dragon (and death of Bruce Lee).  Black Belt Jones reteams Enter the Dragon‘s director, Robert Claus and co-star Jim Kelly.  The film was marketed to make sure fans wouldn’t miss the connection.

If you’re a fan of kung fu and blaxploitation movies, you should enjoy Black Belt Jones.

Black Belt Jones (1974) rates 3 of 5 stars

“A Southern Yankee” (1948) starring Red Skelton / Z-View

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A Southern Yankee (1948)

Director:  Edward Sedgwick

Screenplay: Harry Tugend, written by Melvin Frank, Norman Panama; based on  Buster Keaton‘s The General.

Stars: Red Skelton, Brian Donlevy, Arlene Dahl, George Coulouris, Lloyd Gough and  John Ireland.

Tagline: HE’S A SPY FOR BOTH SIDES!

The Plot…

The year is 1865.  The Civil War is winding down, but spies are still a danger. Especially in a Union Army town. Aubrey Filmore (Skelton) is a hotel bellman who dreams of catching a rebel spy.  Problem is, Aubrey struggles to be an effective bellman.  He just isn’t soldier material.

When word arrives that the rebel spy known as The Grey Spider is coming to town, Aubrey goes on full alert.  Totally by accident, Aubrey discovers The Grey Spider’s identity and plans.  When The Grey Spider discovers Aubrey, Aubrey accidentally knocks him out.  Aubrey then turns The Grey Spider over to Colonel Baker.  Because nobody knows what The Grey Spider looks like, it is decided that Aubrey should impersonate him and go behind enemy lines.

It’s a suicide mission, but as Colonel Baker, “What do we have to lose.”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 A Southern Yankee is loosely based on Buster Keaton’s The General.  Buster Keaton was on set some during filming of A Southern Yankee and helped come up with the gags.

A Southern Yankee (1948) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Raging Bull” (1980) directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert DeNiro, Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci / Z-View

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Raging Bull (1980)

Director:  Martin Scorsese

Screenplay: Paul Schrader, Mardik Martin; based on RAGING BULL: MY STORY by Jake LaMotta, Joseph Carter, Peter Savage

Stars: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, Mario Gallo, Frank Adonis, Bernie Allen  and Charles Scorsese.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

The rise and fall of former middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta.  LaMotta was known as the Raging Bull because of his quick temper and violence in the ring.  Sadly out of the ring, he was just as fast to fly into a rage and get physical with his family and friends. Life is hard on everyone when you’re your own worst enemy.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Raging Bull was nominated for eight 1981 Academy Awards and won two…

  • Nominee for Best Picture – Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Joe Pesci
  • Nominee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Cathy Moriarty
  • Nominee for Best Director – Martin Scorsese
  • Nominee for Best Cinematography – Michael Chapman
  • Nominee for Best Sound – Donald O. Mitchell, Bill Nicholson, David J. Kimball, Les Lazarowitz
  • Winner for Best Film Editing – Thelma Schoonmaker
  • Winner for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Robert De Niro

Robert DeNiro worked for over four years to convince Martin Scorsese to make Raging Bull.  Scorsese was coming off New York, New York, which had failed to live up to expectations, and a cocaine overdose.  Although he didn’t like sports movies, Scorsese gave in.  The movie revitalized Scorsese’s career and shot DeNiro to superstardom.

DeNiro gained sixty pounds to play LaMotta in later life.  They shot the early scenes and then shut down production for a four months to give DeNiro time to add the weight.

Jake LaMotta gave his autobiography to Robert DeNiro with an inscription saying DeNiro was the only actor to play him.  When the film was made LaMotta was often on the set.

Raging Bull features Cathy Moriarty’s film debut.

John Turturro makes his film debut as the man at table at Webster Hall.

When Jake LaMotta saw the finished film, he asked his former wife, Vickie LaMotta, if he was really that bad.  ‘Worse” she replied.  And he really was.  The movie just touches on some of the worst aspects of his life.

Raging Bull (1980) rates 5 of 5 stars

Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday by Steve Bryant!

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My favorite Val Kilmer role is Doc Holiday in Tombstone.  It’s a shame that Kilmer didn’t win a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for that performance.  In fact he wasn’t even nominated.  Kilmer’s performance may not have won the Academy Award, but movie fans have not forgotten how amazing he was.

Steve Bryant created the awesome piece above.  You can see more of Bryant’s art here.

“The Narrow Margin” (1952) starring Charles McGraw and Marie Windsor / Z-View

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The Narrow Margin (1952)

Director:  Richard Fleischer

Screenplay: Earl Felton, story by Martin Goldsmith, Jack Leonard

Stars: Charles McGraw, Marie Windsor, Jacqueline White, Queenie Leonard, David Clarke, Don Beddoe, Paul Maxey, Peter Brocco, George Chandler  and Harry Harvey.

Tagline: ‘THAT BULLET’S MEANT FOR ME!” – Suspense every speeding second aboard a stream-lined limited…as syndicate killers seek to find and silence mystery woman headed for the Grand Jury!

The Plot…

Detective Sergeant Walter Brown (McGraw) and his partner, Sergeant Gus Forbes (Beddoe) are tasked to safely bring Mrs. Frankie Neall (Windsor) from Chicago to LA.  Mrs. Neall is a big time mobster’s wife.  She’s turning state’s evidence that will bring down the mob. So she’s been marked for death.

The plan is to get Mrs. Neall on a train that is going straight from Chicago to LA.  Problem is, more than one mob hitman will be on the train as well.

All aboard!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 The Narrow Margin was nominated for one Academy Award for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story – Martin Goldsmith, Jack Leonard

Much of The Narrow Margin was made using a handheld camera.  It was one of the first movies to be filmed this way.

Howard Hughes, who owned RKO (the studio that made the movie), liked The Narrow Margin so much, he wanted to not release it and immediately remake it with Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell.  Hughes thought with the new cast and a few script changes the remake could be a major hit.  The Narrow Margin‘s release was held up for two years until Howard Hughes decided to get out of the movie business and sold his interest in RKO.

The Narrow Margin has a great plot twist that most folks probably won’t see coming.

The Narrow Margin (1952) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Merton of the Movies” (1947) starring Red Skelton / Z-View

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Merton of the Movies (1947)

Director:  Robert Alton

Screenplay: George Wells, Lou Breslow based on MERTON OF THE MOVIES by Harry Leon Wilson and Merton of the Movies by George S. Kaufman, Marc Connelly

Stars: Red Skelton, Virginia O’Brien, Gloria Grahame, Leon Ames, Alan Mowbray, Douglas Fowley and Morris Ankrum.

Tagline: Red Skelton’s Howling Hit About Hollywood!

The Plot…

Merton Gill is a theater usher who loves movies.  Not only does Merton love them, but he dreams of being a movie star.  Only thing is, Kansas is a long way from Hollywood.  When Merton accidentally stops a robbery, he gets his fifteen minutes of fame.  The story even reaches Hollywood.

A movie star and his manager decide to cash in on Merton’s fame.  They make a big production about bringing Merton to Hollywood to be the star’s protégé.  When Merton arrives in Hollywood, there are press conferences, and Merton is treated like a king.  After a few days, the publicity dies down and the star gives Merton a ticket home.  Merton is crushed.

Despite having no experience, Merton decides to stay.  He’s more determined than ever to become a star.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Merton of the Movies featured Virginia O’Brien in her last starring role.

Buster Keaton was announced to star at one point.

Merton of the Movies (1947) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Maisie Gets Her Man” (1942) starring Ann Sothern and Red Skelton / Z-View

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Maisie Gets Her Man (1942)

Director:  Roy Del Ruth

Screenplay: Mary C. McCall Jr., Elizabeth Reinhardt, story by  Elizabeth Reinhardt, Ethel Hill, based characters created by Wilson Collison.

Stars: Ann Sothern, Red Skelton, Leo Gorcey, Allen Jenkins, Donald Meek, Lloyd Corrigan, Walter Catlett, Fritz Feld, Willie Best, Esther Dale and Rags Ragland.

Tagline: Roar with Red Skelton in the Funniest Maisie Hit of All!

The Plot…

Maisie Ravier is an out of work vaudeville performer.  Her former partner, Dr. Orco went crazy when his girl left him.  While looking for work, Maisie meets Hap Hixby.  Hap dreams of being a big time comedian.  Everyone in his small town thought he was the funniest.  So when Hap offers Maisie the opportunity to be his partner she accepts.

Only thing is, it turns out Hap has stage fright.  Good thing Hap has a back-up plan.  He sunk all his saved money in a business guaranteed to succeed.  Bet you can guess the odds it’s a scam.

Maisie is falling for Hap, who has already fallen for Maisie.  About that time, Hap’s former flame shows up.

Poor Maisie… what’s a girl to do?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Maisie Gets Her Man is the sixth in the ten film series.  Ann Sothern played Maisie in all of them.

Rags Ragland and Leo Gorcey show up in small parts!

Maisie Gets Her Man (1942) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Panama Hattie” (1942) starring Red Skelton, Ann Southern and Rags Ragland / Z-View

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Panama Hattie (1942)

Director:  Norman Z. McLeod, Roy Del Ruth, Vincente Minnelli

Screenplay: Jack McGowan, Wilkie C. Mahoney (as Wilkie Mahoney), Herbert Fields, Mary C. McCall Jr. (uncredited), Lillie Messginer (uncredited), Vincent Minelli (uncredited), Joseph Schrank (uncredited), based on the 1940 American musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Herbert Fields and B. G. DeSylva.

Stars: Red Skelton, Ann Sothern, Rags Ragland, Ben Blue, Marsha Hunt, Virginia O’Brien, Alan Mowbray, Dan Dailey, The Berry Brothers and Lena Horne.

Tagline: Swing as Ann Sings – Laugh as Red Clowns – Thrill to the Navy Stirring Battle-cry

The Plot…

Panama Hattie is Hattie Maloney, a nightclub owner/singer in the Panama Canal Zone.  Hattie has three Navy buddies, Red, Rags and Rowdy.  They want Hattie to perform at big party they are organizing.  Hattie is also getting ready to meet her fiancé’s young daughter for the first time.  Kitty-Belle, an Admiral’s daughter also wants to marry Hattie’s fiancé.  Oh, and Red, Rags and Rowdy think that they’ve discovered some Nazi spies.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Panama Hattie is all over the place.  But considering the movie was based on a play, brought to the screen with eight writers and three directors, it isn’t surprising.  There’s a little something for everyone if you’re looking for music, comedy and dancing.

I like Red Skelton and the under-rated Rags Ragland.  My favorite parts of the movie involve them.  As to the musical aspects, Virginia O’Brien has the best songs (especially about her getting drunk at the Savoy!), and The Berry Brothers the best dance.  Oh, and Lena Horne made her MGM film debut in this film.  Ms. Horne sings in a nightclub.  Her scene was easily cut (without effecting the plot) when the film was shown in the South.

This film was made during World War II and the entire cast joins to sing the final song about the US joining the fight.  The movie ends and immediately a card for War Bonds appears.

Panama Hattie (1942) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” (1982) directed by Carl Reiner, starring Steve Martin

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Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982)

Director:  Carl Reiner

Screenplay: Carl Reiner, George Gipe, Steve Martin

Stars: Steve Martin, Rachel Ward, Reni Santoni and Carl Reiner; archival footage: Alan Ladd, Barbara Stanwyck, Ray Milland, Ava Gardner, Burt Lancaster, Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Veronica Lake, Bette Davis, Lana Turner, Edward Arnold, Kirk Douglas, Fred MacMurray, James Cagney, Joan Crawford, Charles Laughton, Vincent Price, William Conrad, Charles McGraw, Jeff Corey, Brian Donlevy, Norma Varden, Edmond O’Brien.

Tagline: Laugh… or I’ll blow your lips off!

The Plot…

When Juliet Forrest’s (Ward) scientist father is killed in an auto accident, she hires Private Eye Rigby Reardon (Martin) to investigate.  Searching her father’s lab, Reardon finds two lists of names.  A mystery man wings Reardon and steals the lists.

More determined than ever to solve the case, Reardon will follow clues that lead him down mean streets, into dark alleys, searching for hidden truths, dealing with hard cases, low-lifes, doublecrossers and beautiful dames.  What Reardon discovers is a conspiracy that could be the end of the good-old-USA.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid is a film noir parody that seamlessly integrates characters/scenes from classic noir films into the new story.

Director Carl Reiner says that Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid is the favorite film that he’s directed.

The film is Costume Designer Edith Head’s last feature film and is dedicated to her. It was also the final film of film composer Miklós Rózsa who re-scored music from films he had worked on in the 1940s.

The one city that the Nazi plot destroys is Terre Haute, Indiana.  That is where I was born and lived through eighth grade.

Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982) rates 4 of 5 stars

“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (1963) directed by Stanley Kramer / Z-View

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It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

Director: Stanley Kramer

Screenplay: William Rose, Tania Rose

Stars: Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, Phil Silvers, Terry-Thomas, Jonathan Winters, Edie Adams, Dorothy Provine, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Jim Backus, Ben Blue, Joe E. Brown, Alan Carney, Chick Chandler, Barrie Chase, Lloyd Corrigan, William Demarest, Andy Devine, Selma Diamond, Peter Falk, Norman Fell, Paul Ford, Stan Freberg, Leo Gorcey, Sterling Holloway, Edward Everett Horton, Marvin Kaplan, Buster Keaton, Don Knotts, Charles Lane, Mike Mazurki, Charles McGraw, ZaSu Pitts, Carl Reiner, Madlyn Rhue, Roy Roberts, Arnold Stang, Nick Stewart, Sammee Tong, Jesse White, Jimmy Durante, Jack Benny, Paul Birch, Paul Clarke, Stanley Clements, Minta Durfee, Roy Engel, Nicholas Georgiade, Stacy Harris, Don C. Harvey, Allen Jenkins, Robert Karnes, Tom Kennedy, Harry Lauter, Ben Lessey, Bobo Lewis, Jerry Lewis, Tyler McVey, Eddie Ryder, Doodles Weaver, Lennie Weinrib and The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe DiRita).

Tagline: It’s the biggest entertainment ever to hit the Cinerama screen!

The Plot…

A car is racing down a remote California desert highway.  When the driver misses a turn and his car goes careening down a steep incline, drivers of four vehicles pull over to see if they can assist.  In the vehicles are five men and four women.  The men make their way down to find the driver of the crashed car barely alive.  With his dying breath, the man tells the group that he buried $350,000 of stolen money in Santa Rosita park under a big “W”.  The man then literally kicks the bucket.

The men and women discuss the dying man’s claim.  They then decide he wouldn’t waste his final minutes lying.  The group then begins to argue about how to split the money.  When they cannot come up with a way agreeable to all, they rush to their cars.  Each plans to get to the park, find the bury cash and keep it all!

Let the good times roll!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World was nominated for six 1964 Academy Awards, winning one.

  • Nominee for Best Music, Score – Substantially Original: Ernest Gold
  • Nominee for Best Music, Original Song: Ernest Gold (music), Mack David (lyrics) For the song “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World”
  • Nominee for Best Film Editing: Frederic Knudtson, Robert C. Jones, Gene Fowler Jr.
  • Nominee for Best Sound: Gordon Sawyer (Samuel Goldwyn SSD)
  • Nominee for Best Cinematography, Color: Ernest Laszlo
  • Winner for Best Effects, Sound Effects: Walter Elliott

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World features the film debut of Jonathan Winters.  It also contains Jimmy Durante’s final feature film appearance.  It also has ZaSu Pitts final feature film appearance.  She died just four months before the film’s premiere. The movie contains Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson’s final feature film appearance.

Harold Lloyd, Bud Abbott, Edward Brophy, Wally Brown, and George Burns were all offered roles, but declined.

Bob Hope was to be in the film, but his studio refused to allow it.

Don Rickles wanted to be in the movie, but was never asked.  Rickles would tease Stanley Kramer about this “snub” from then on.

Stanley Kramer didn’t ask Charlie Chaplin to appear since Chaplin was living in exile in Sweden.

Red Skelton was to film a cameo but salary demands led to it not happening.

Ernie Kovaks was to play Melville Crump, but Kovaks was killed in an auto crash before filming began.

Joe Besser (best known as one of The Three Stooges) was asked to play one of the garage mechanics, but as co-star of The Danny Thomas Show, he couldn’t get the time off.

The Three Stooges have a cameo as firemen which is a callback to their 1930 short, Soup to Nuts, where they played firemen.

If you’re of the right age, or a dedicated film fan, spotting all of the cameos is fun!

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is a classic.

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) rates 5 of 5 stars