Category: Trivia

“The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald” (1964) / Z-View

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The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (1964)

Director: Larry Buchanan

Screenplay: Larry Buchanan

Stars: George R. Russell, George Edgley, Arthur Nations and Bill Thurman.

Tagline:  Not a Newsreel…A Full Length Motion Picture, Filmed Secretly in Dallas

The Plot…

This low budget film simulates/speculates how the trial of Lee Harvey Oswald would have went down had he not been murdered.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

With a running time of 98 minutes we get an abridgement of the “Cliff Notes” version of the trial.

It’s hard to believe that the trial for the murder of the century could be so boring.

The actors who appeared in this film didn’t go on to become big stars.  Bill Thurman appears as a witness.  The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald is the first credit on his resume.  Thurman would go on to appear in films such as The Last Picture Show; The Sugarland Express; Close Encounters of the Third Kind; Places in the Heart and Silverado.

The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (1964) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Love Lies Bleeding” (2024) directed by Rose Glass, starring Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian & Ed Harris / Z-View

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Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

Director: Rose Glass

Screenplay: Rose Glass, Weronika Tofilska

Stars: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Ed Harris, Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, Matthew Blood-Smyth, Tait Fletcher and Keith Jardine.

Tagline: Revenge gets ripped.

The Plot…

Lou’s (Stewart) life sucks.

Lou and her dad, Lou Sr. (Harris) don’t talk. He’s a major drug dealer and a killer.  Lou Sr. appears to be a business man that owns a gun range and a warehouse gym.  They’re just fronts.  Lou manages the gym.  FBI agents have tried to get Lou to turn against her dad.  As much as she hates him, Lou refuses to cooperate. The only reason Lou sticks around is her sister Beth.  Beth’s in a terrible marriage.  Her husband is physically and mentally abusive.

So yeah, Lou’s life sucks.

Then one night Jackie (O’Brient) comes into the gym.  Jackie is a bodybuilder on her way to Vegas for a competition.  Lou and Jackie hit it off.  One thing leads to another and Lou invites Jackie to stay at her place.  In no time, Lou and Jackie fall in love… or at least a volatile relationship.

Who would guess it would lead to murder and reveal her father’s buried secrets?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Katy O’Brien used to be a competitive body builder and is a former three time champion.  She exudes charisma.

There are a couple of times where what we see on screen isn’t actually happening but is instead a metaphor for changes the character is feeling.  It’s a bold move.

Love Lies Bleeding (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Variety Picks the 100 Greatest (Best?) Horror Movies of All-Time!

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Variety came up with their list of The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time.  Before we get into that, how about the sweet cover by Franco Francavilla?  You know he loved that assignment.

I’ve seen 69 of the 100 films that they chose. 

The cover says Variety chose the 100 Greatest, while the article says the 100 Best.  To me there’s a difference.  The greatest, in my mind, refers to the film’s quality and the impact it had on the genre.  The best would take into account, just the film’s quality.  With that said, here in alphabetical order are my top ten choices for the greatest horror movies of all time.

  • 28 Days Later (2002) – reinvigorated zombie films (although many argue the monsters aren’t zombies) and let them run fast. 
  • Alien (1979) – a haunted house movie in space, but instead of a ghost we got a new kind of alien.  Spawned a franchise.
  • Dracula (1931) – one of Universal’s classic horror monsters. 
  • Exorcist (1973) – based on the best selling novel of the same name.  The Exorcist is a film that will stay with you and provide scares even when the film is over. 
  • Frankenstein (1931) – another of Universal’s classic horror monsters.
  • Halloween (1978) – John Carpenter’s low budget film spawned a new type of horror film.  Most focused not on the suspense but on the big, brainless killer that cannot be stopped.
  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) – One of the best horror films from the 1950s and an all-time great.
  • Night of the Living Dead (1968) – If George Romero made a dime from every zombie movie, tv, comic book, or novel his film influenced, he’d have been a multi-millionaire.
  • Psycho (1960) – Groundbreaking.  I love how Hitchcock morphs a crime movie into a horror film.
  • Thing, The (1981) – Considered a box office failure on its release, it is now considered a classic.

“Murder by Death” (1976) written by Neil Simon, starring Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, James Coco, Elsa Lanchester,David Niven, Maggie Smith, Nancy Walker, Estelle Winwood and James Cromwell / Z-View

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Murder by Death (1976)

Director: Robert Moore

Screenplay: Neil Simon

Stars: Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, James Coco, Elsa Lanchester,
David Niven, Maggie Smith, Nancy Walker, Estelle Winwood and James Cromwell.

Tagline: By the time Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, James Coco, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Elsa Lanchester, David Niven, Peter Sellers, Maggie Smith, Nancy Walker and Estelle Winwood figure out whodunnit, you’ll die laughing.

The Plot…

The eccentric and wealthy Lionel Twain (Capote) invites the five greatest detectives in the world for dinner. The guests include…

  • Sam Diamond (Falk) and his sexy assistant Tess Skeffington (Brennan)
  • Sidney Wang (Sellers) and his son Willie Wang
  • Monsieur Milo Perrier (Coco) and his chauffeur, Marcel (Cromwell)
  • Jessica Marbles (Elsa Lanchester) and her nurse, Miss Withers (Winwood)
  • Dick (Niven) & Dora Charleston (Smith) and their pet pooch, Myron

The guests arrive to Twain’s remote creepy old mansion.  They are  unaware that others were invited.  When everyone sits down for dinner, Twain pushes a button that locks all doors and windows.  He then announces that someone will be murdered at midnight.  Twain says that he will give one million dollars to the detective that solves the crime.

Slightly before midnight the butler is found dead.  Then right after midnight, Twain’s body is discovered.  He’s dead from twelve stab wounds.

Let the game begin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Murder by Death is a parody of the great “old dark house” and movie detective whodunits of the past.  Sam Diamond is a hardboiled dick from the mold of Sam Spade.  Sidney Wang and his son is based on Charlie Chan and his #1 son.  Monsieur Milo Perrier is modeled on Hercule Poirot.  Jessica Marbles was inspired by Miss Marple. Dick & Dora Charleston are stand-ins for Nick and Nora Charles.

The theatrical film debut of James Cromwell.  It is also the final theatrical film of Nancy Walker.

The animated cartoon drawings of the detectives at the start  of the film were created by Charles Addams, the creator of The Addams Family.

The doorbell screams are Fay Wray’s from King Kong.

If you’re a fan of the type of movies parodied, you should enjoy this.  Everyone gets a moment to shine.

Murder by Death (1976) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Tarzan’s Revenge” (1938) / Z-View

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Tarzan’s Revenge (1938)

Director: D. Ross Lederman

Screenplay: Robert Lee Johnson, Jay Vann, based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Stars: Glenn Morris, C. Henry Gordon, Hedda Hopper, Joe Sawyer, George Meeker, Howard Hickman and Al Thompson.

Tagline: TARZAN CALLS AGAIN…and new thrills sweep the jungle wilds!

The Plot…

An expedition into the jungles of Africa runs into trouble with a dangerous tribe.  Tarzan to the rescue.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Tarzan’s Revenge is really bad.  Poor acting equal to the poor story and direction.  Tarzan’s yell will make you laugh.

Glenn Morris gets the least amount of screen time of any actor who has played Tarzan.  For that you’ll be thankful.

Tarzan’s Revenge (1938) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“Curse of the Demon” (1957) directed by Jacques Tourneur, starring Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins and Niall MacGinnis / Z-View

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Curse of the Demon (1957)

Director: Jacques Tourneur

Screenplay: Charles Bennett, Hal E. Chester based on Casting the Runes in MORE GHOST STORIES OF AN ANTIQUARY By M. R. James

Stars: Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins, Niall MacGinnis, Maurice Denham, Reginald Beckwith.

Tagline: Who will be the next in line to defy the curse?

The Plot…

Dr. John Holden (Andrews) arrives in London to attend a paranormal and psychic phenomena convention.  Holden’s friend, Professor Harrington is set to expose  Dr. Julian Karswell (MccGinnis) as a fraud.  Shortly before the convention is to begin Professor Harrington is found dead in his car on a remote road.  The cause of death is listed as electrocution.

Dr. Holden is approached by colleagues of Professor Harrington.  They believe that Karswell was behind Harrington’s death.  Holden is skeptical.  At Professor Harrington’s funeral, he meets the Professor’s niece, Joanna (Cummins).  Joanna shares her uncles’s diary with Holden.  It describes Karswell’s power over the black arts.  Holden is skeptical.

Holden is openly skeptical when he meets Karswell.  Even after Karswell gives a demonstration of his power, Holden brushes it off.  Karswell is insulted and tells Holden he will die within three days.

When Holden learns the truth it is too late.  Someone will face the curse of the demon, but how can Holden make sure it’s not him?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’ve always liked Curse of the Demon.  I’ve found that I enjoy it more with each viewing.  It’s a smart, psychological thriller with a great payoff.

Niall MacGinnis steals the show as Dr. Julian Karswell.

Kudos to director Jacques Tourneur for creating a stylish thriller in what could have been a 1950s drive-in monster movie.

In England, the country where the film was made, it was titled Night of the Demon and the running time was 13 minutes longer.

Martin Scorsese has listed Curse of the Demon as one of his favorite films.

Curse of the Demon (1957) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Bikeriders” (2023) starring Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy / Z-View

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The Bikeriders (2023)

Director: Jeff Nichols

Screenplay: Jeff Nichols, based on THE BIKERIDERS by Danny Lyon

Stars: Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Boyd Holbrook, Damon Herriman, Beau Knapp, Emory Cohen, Toby Wallace, Happy Anderson, Paul Sparks, Paul Dillon and Norman Reedus.

Tagline: Freedom belongs to the fearless.

The Plot…

The history of the Vandals Motorcycle Club laid out through stories told by Kathy Bauer (Comer) to a photographer planning a book.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s interesting to see how the Vandals Motorcycle Club morphed from a small bikeriders outfit into a motorcycle gang with chapters throughout the country.  It became so big that those that started the club could no longer control it.

The Vandals are a real motorcycle club.

Tom Hardy and Judy Comer are standouts in an excellent cast.

The Bikeriders (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Scandals! Then & Now (1998) / Z-View

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Scandal! Then & Now (1998) 

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Scandal! Then & Now explores six scandals that shocked the world…

  • Resurrection in LA: The Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson.  Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of the Foursquare Church and one of the first evangelists to use radio to spread the word was world famous.  Her sermons and faith healing drew thousands.  When McPherson went swimming one day and disappeared, it was thought she drowned.  The world mourned. Then weeks later, McPherson reappeared saying she had been kidnapped.  But the facts didn’t add up…
    Written and directed by Simcha Jacobovici and David Harel.
  • Silenced Star: The Rise and Fall of Fatty Arbuckle.
    Written and directed by Tim Wolochatiuk
  • Unspoken Lies: George and Viola McMillan and the Windfall Mine Fraud.
    Written and directed by Simcha Jacobovici
  • Brothers in Blood: Leopold and Loeb.
    Written and directed by Tim Wolochatiuk
  • Southern Knights: The Murder of Mary Phagan and the Lynching of Leo Frank.
    Written and directed by Yuval Daniel
  • Crossing the Line: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, the First Black Champion Boxer
    Written and directed by Roger Pyke

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I enjoyed the series.  I was aware of the Aimee Semple McPherson, Fatty Arbuckle, Leopold and Loeb and Jack Johnson scandals.  Still it was interesting to revisit them.  The Viola McMillan and the Windfall Mine Fraud and the  Murder of Mary Phagan and the Lynching of Leo Frank scandals were new to me.

Scandal! Then & Now (1998)  rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Hypnotic” (2023) directed by Robert Rodriguez, starring Ben Affleck, Alice Braga & William Fichtner / Z-View

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Hypnotic (2023)

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez, Max Borenstein

Stars: Ben Affleck, Alice Braga, JD Pardo, Jeff Fahey, William Fichtner, Zane Holtz, Ruben Javier Caballero, Ryan Ryusaki and Jackie Earle Haley.

Tagline: Control is an illusion.

The Plot…

Detective Danny Rourke (Affleck) is on a stakeout with a response team.  They had received a tip on the robbery of bank safe deposit boxes.  Through their monitors they see a suspicious well dressed man.  They will learn later his name is Lev Dellrayne (Fichtner).  Dellrayne speaks to a woman waiting for a bus.  As he walks away the woman begins stripping.  The disrobing woman causes a commotion including vehicles crashing into each other.

Dellrayne then speaks to two police officers.  They turn and walk into the bank following Dellrayne’s commands.  Within seconds, Dellrayne gets into the safe deposit box area, opens the targeted box and escapes.  He appears to just disappear.

Detective Rourke checks out the open safe deposit box.  The only thing left inside is a photo of Rourke’s daughter Minnie.  Minnie has been missing for three years since she was kidnapped.  “Find Lev Dellrayne” is written on the photo.

Obviously his daughter’s kidnapping and the robbery are linked.  If Rourke can capture Dellrayne, there is a chance he will find his daughter alive.

Rourke has no idea what he is about to learn.  Nothing is as it seems.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Rouke visits a BBQ joint called The Bone Shack.  The restaurant has the same name and logo of a BBQ eatery featured in Planet Terror (also directed by Robert Rodriguez).  In Planet Terror, Jeff Fahey played the owner of The Bone Shack.  Although Fahey appears in Hypnotic, he isn’t the owner of this Bone Shack.

Be sure to watch the credits, there is a scene that changes the ending!

I could see Hypnotic as a limited or on-going television series.

Hypnotic (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Darker Than Amber” (1970) starring Rod Taylor and William Smith / Z-View

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Darker Than Amber (1970)

Director: Robert Clouse

Screenplay: John D. MacDonald, Ed Waters based on DARKER THAN AMBER by John D. MacDonald

Stars: Rod Taylor, Theodore Bikel, Suzy Kendall, William Smith, Janet MacLachlan, Robert Phillips, James Booth and Jane Russell.

Tagline: Travis McGee is having a conference with one of his clients. Business as usual.

The Plot…

Late one night Travis McGee (Taylor) and his buddy are quietly fishing under a bridge.  Suddenly a woman is thrown off the bridge and quickly sinks below the water.  McGee jumps in.  He is shocked to find the woman’s hands and feet are bound.  A dumbell tied to her ankles is pulling her down.  McGee frees her and gets her to the surface.  She’s in bad shape.

McGee takes her home.  Her name is Vangie.  She refuses to go to the police.  McGee learns that Vangie was almost killed by cold-blooded body builder named Terry (Smith).  Terry uses women to drug lonely men.  Terry then robs and sometimes kills them.  Vangie became a target when she discovered Terry was a killer.  As the days pass, McGee and Vangie fall in love.

Despite McGee’s objections Vangie heads to her apartment to get some things.  Terry has been watching and kills her.

McGee is going to get revenge even if it kills him.  It just might.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The final extended fight scene is considered a brutal classic.  Reportedly it was the reason that Bruce Lee wanted Robert Clause to direct Enter the Dragon.

Darker Than Amber is the last time Jane Russell appeared in a feature film.

Darker Than Amber was scheduled to kick off a franchise.  The plan was for Taylor to star in a series of Travis McGee films based on John D. MacDonald’s novels.  Poor box office for this film killed the idea.

Filmed in 1970, the film is a product of it’s time.  It probably felt hip and cool when it was released.  Now it feels dated.

Darker Than Amber (1970) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Tarzan’s Savage Fury” (1952) starring Lex Barker and Dorothy Hart / Z-View

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Tarzan’s Savage Fury (1952)

Director: Cy Endfield

Screenplay: Hans Jacoby; based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Stars: Lex Barker, Dorothy Hart, Patric Knowles, Charles Korvin, Tommy Carlton, Darby Jones, Peter Mamakos and Bill Walker.

Tagline: THIS YEAR’S ALL-NEW TARZAN THRILLER!

The Plot…

Tarzan (Barker) is tricked into leading government agents deep into the jungle land of the Wazuri nation.  Too late Tarzan learns that the men are crooks after Wazuri diamonds.  With Wazuri warriors attacking and the criminals out to kill him, Tarzan must rescue Jane and Joey.

Cue Tarzan’s yell!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Lex Barker played Tarzan in five films.  Tarzan’s Savage Fury was his fourth outing.

Tommy Carlton played Joey, Tarzan and Jane’s adopted child.  It was his first and only film.\

In Tarzan’s Savage Fury, Tarzan isn’t very savage or very furious.

Tarzan’s Savage Fury (1952) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Halloween II” starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence / Z-View

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Halloween II (1981)

Director: Rick Rosenthal

Screenplay: John Carpenter, Debra Hill

Stars: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Charles Cyphers, Jeffrey Kramer, Lance Guest, Pamela Susan Shoop, Hunter von Leer, Dick Warlock, Leo Rossi, Gloria Gifford, Tawny Moyer, Ana Alicia, Ford Rainey, Cliff Emmich, Nancy Stephens, John Zenda, Catherine Bergstrom and Alan Haufrect.

Tagline: The Nightmare Isn’t Over

The Plot…

At the end of Halloween, Michael Myers escaped after being shot by Dr. Loomis (Pleasence).  Halloween II picks up immediately after this.  Loomis and the police begin searching for Myers.  Laurie Strode (Curtis) is taken to the hospital to treat her injuries.  Michael Myers is also headed to the hospital.  He kills anyone who crosses his path.  Soon he and Laurie Strode’s path’s will cross.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Halloween II is more of a slasher movie than Halloween.

John Carpenter chose not to direct Halloween II.  He was against a sequel, but became involved in order to be paid since the movie was going ahead with or without him.

Although Jamie Lee Curtis receives top billing she has less screen time than Donald Pleasence.  Also since this is more of a slasher film, several other young people get screen time before their deaths.

Halloween II (1981) rates 2 of 5 stars.

RIP: Pete Rose

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Pete Rose died yesterday.  No cause of death was given.  Mr. Rose was 83.

Pete Rose played professional baseball for 23 years…

  • Cincinnati Reds (1963–1978)
  • Philadelphia Phillies (1979–1983)
  • Montreal Expos (1984)
  • Cincinnati Reds (1984–1986)
    As manager for the Cincinnati Reds (1984–1989)

Pete Rose’s Honors and Awards…

  • 17 time All-Star Team (1965, 1967–1971, 1973–1982, 1985)
  • 3 time World Series champion (1975, 1976, 1980)
  • National League Most Valuable Player (1973)
  • World Series Most Valuable Payer (1975)
  • National League Rookie of the Year (1963)
  • 2 time Gold Glove Award (1969, 1970)
  • Silver Slugger Award (1981)
  • Roberto Clemente Award (1976)
  • 3 time National League batting champion (1968, 1969, 1973)
  • Cincinnati Reds retired his No. 14
  • Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame
  • Major League Baseball All-Century Team

Pete Rose holds Major League Baseball records for…

  • Hits: 4,256
  • Games Played: 3,562
  • At-Bats: 14,053
  • Singles: 3,215

For all of these achievements and records that he still holds, Pete Rose is not in Baseball’s Hall of Fame.  The reason: Pete Rose bet on baseball.  Although he denied allegations, there was enough evidence to support the charges.  Pete Rose was banned from baseball and made ineligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Mr. Rose finally admitted admitted that in addition to betting on horse racing, basketball and other things, he did bet on baseball.  Pete Rose claimed that he only bet on his team to win.  Still baseball players are not allowed to bet on baseball.  So Pete Rose was made ineligible for the Hall of Fame, despite many requests for reconsideration over the years.

I had always hoped that Pete Rose would make it into the Hall of Fame during his life.  You would think that these days where every sporting event has commercials for legalized betting and Major League Baseball is entering partnerships with sports betting services, the attitude toward Mr. Rose would have changed.  I am not in any way defending Pete Rose’s lying about betting.  Nor am I saying that he shouldn’t have faced a severe penalty for violating baseball’s rules against betting.  What I am saying is, Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame.

When I was a little kid growing up in Terre Haute, Indiana, the Cincinnati Reds were my favorite team.  I loved watching Pete Rose play.  He always gave it his all more than earning the nickname Charlie Hustle. Pete Rose was still playing and at the top of his game when I graduated high school and headed into college.  What a career!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Pete Rose’s family, fans and friends.

Clint Eastwood’s Five Best Films (According to Craig)

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Clint Eastwood has 73 credits on his acting resume.  Picking his top five film performances isn’t an easy task.  Depending on my mood, there could even be some changes.  With that said, these are my choices for his five best (in alphabetical order)…

  • Dirty Harry (1971) directed by Don Siegel.  Eastwood’s best known character and the movie that started the Dirty Harry franchise.  

 

  • Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The (1966) directed by Sergio Leone.  The third and best of the trio of Leone/Eastwood westerns.  The final film in the Man With No Name franchise.

 

  • In the Line of Fire (1993) directed by Wolfgang Peterson.  Eastwood played aging secret service agent Frank Horrigan who is taunted by a former CIA agent out to kill the President.  

 

  • Outlaw Josey Wales, The (1976) directed by Clint Eastwood.  There are days I consider this Eastwood’s best western.  Yeah, I know… 

 

  • Play Misty for Me (1971) directed by Clint Eastwood.  What a year Eastwood had in 1971.  Play Misty for Me released in November and in December we got Dirty Harry!