Category: Trivia

“The Lighter That Failed” (1927) starring Charley Chase / Z-View

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The Lighter That Failed (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charley Chase, Edna Marion, May Wallace.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

It’s Charley’s birthday and his entire family has gathered for the party.   One of Charley’s gifts is a nice cigarette lighter.  Only problem is it won’t light. Charley’s frustration (and scenery destruction) grows as Charley repeatedly tries to get it working using the objects on hand.

Perhaps using gasoline as fuel for the lighter wasn’t the best idea…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

The Lighter That Failed was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.

The title The Lighter That Failed is a play on Rudyard Kipling’s novel THE LIGHT THAT FAILED.

The Lighter That Failed (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Cape Fear” Season 1 (2026) starring Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, Patrick Wilson, Joe Anders, Lily Collias, CCH Pounder, Malia Pyles, Jamie Hector, Ron Perlman and Juliette Lewis / Z-View

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Cape Fear: Season 1 (2026)

Created by: Nick Antosca; based on THE EXECUTIONERS by John D. MacDonald; Cape Fear by Wesley Strick and Cape Fear by James R. Webb

Director:

  • Morten Tyldum (ep. 1)
  • SJ Clarkson (ep. 2)
  • Amanda Marsalis (ep. 3)
  • Reed Morano (ep. 4)
  • Steven Piet (ep. 5)
  • Trey Edward Shults (ep. 6)
  • Jon S. Baird (ep. 7)
  • Stephen Williams (ep. 8)
  • Amanda Marsalis (ep. 9)
  • Jonathan Van Tulleken (ep. 10)

Teleplay:

  • Nick Antosca (ep. 1)
  • André Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton (ep. 2; 7)
  • Alan Page Arriaga (ep. 3; 8)
  • Tara Shivkumar (ep. 4)
  • Peter Blake (ep. 5)
  • Brian Evenson (ep. 6)
  • Diana Pawell & Peter Blake (ep. 9)
  • Nick Antosca & Peter Blake & Tara Shivkumar (ep. 10)

Stars:  Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, Patrick Wilson, Joe Anders, Lily Collias, CCH Pounder, Malia Pyles, Jamie Hector, Ron Perlman and Juliette Lewis.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

From the outside Anna and Tom Bowden look like they have it all.  They’re both successful attorneys.  The have two children, a boy and a girl… a big house… nice salaries.  Yeah, from the outside it looks like all is good.

It’s not.

The marriage isn’t smooth sailing.  Their son is going through mental issues.  Their daughter feels isolated due to their parents’ and brother’s issues.

Then Max Cady shows up.  Max was just released from prison after seventeen years.  Cady has been convicted of killing his pregnant wife.  Cady was released due to someone else confessing to the murder.

Cady blames  Anna and Tom Bowden for his seventeen years in prison.  Anna was his defense attorney.  Tom was the prosecutor.  Cady believes they were having a relationship at the time of his trial.  Worse still they did something to make sure Cady was convicted.

But Cady is out now.  And he will have his revenge.  On Anna.  On Tom.  And their children.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Cape Fear is based on John D. MacDonald’s novel THE EXECUTIONERS, as well as the two movie adaptations of it.

There’s a definite attempt to give this adaptation a Hitchcock-feel from the way some of the scenes are shot to the soundtrack.

I am a huge fan of the Cape Fear movies.  I believe the series suffers because it’s hard to root for the Bowden family, because they are so unlikeable.

Bardem had big shoes to fill, following Robert Mitchum and Robert DeNiro.  He does an admirable job.

Ron Perlman has a small but important role.  He’s a welcome addition to the cast.  Same could be said for CCH Pounder, Jamie Hector and Juliette Lewis.

Cape Fear: Season 1 (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The 24th” (2020) starring Trai Byers, Bashir Salahuddin, Aja Naomi King, Mo McRae, Tosin Morohunfola, Mykelti Williamson and Thomas Haden Church / Z-View

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The 24th (2020)

Director: Kevin Willmott

Screenplay:  Kevin Willmott, Trai Byers

Stars: Trai Byers, Bashir Salahuddin, Aja Naomi King, Mo McRae, Tosin Morohunfola, Mykelti Williamson and Thomas Haden Church.

Tagline: Courage isn’t just fighting the enemy — it’s standing up for justice.

The Plot…

1917.  An all black US army unit is stationed just outside the city limits.  Although the soldiers are trained and want to help in the war effort, because of segregation they’re not allowed.  Worse still, the men face racial discrimination every time they go into the city.  Not only are the local police of no assistance, they often participate in the mistreatment of the soldiers.

Tension and frustration continues to ratchet up.  Soldiers have been beaten and worse.  When word reaches the camp that an armed white mob was headed for the base, the soldiers arm themselves.  The soldiers decide to not wait and take the fight to the mob.  They head into the city and begin shooting locals on site.

It isn’t until after 11 civilians and 5 policemen are gunned down that the soldiers learn that there never was an armed mob coming to the base.

There will be repercussions.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The 24th is the true story of the 1917 Huston riot.  Although I had heard of the riot, I had no idea of the specifics.

The riot lasted two hours.  Nineteen people were killed.  Fifteen were white (including five police officers).  Four were black soldiers killed by friendly fire or suicide.  118 black soldiers were charged and went to trial.  One soldier was found mentally unfit to stand trial.  Eight were acquitted of all charges.  Sixty-three soldiers were sentenced to life in prison.  28 received shorter prison terms or other sentences.  19 were sentenced to death and executed.

The 24th does a good job of dramatizing a terrible time in our history.

The 24th (2020) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“King Kong” (1933) directed by Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack, starring Faye Wray, Robert Armstrong & Bruce Cabot / Z-View

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King Kong (1933)

Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack

Screenplay:  James Creelman, Ruth Rose; story by Edgar Wallace, Merian C. Cooper

Stars: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher and Noble Johnson.

Tagline: A Monster of Creation’s Dawn Breaks Loose in Our World Today!

The Plot…

Carl Denham, known for his wildlife films, has plans to create his greatest movie yet!  With his small film crew and Ann Darrow, a struggling actress he just discovered, they set sail for a mysterious uncharted island.

On this strange land dangers abound.  There are natives, prehistoric beasts and KONG!  Kong is a giant ape that the natives worship.

Denham gets a brainstorm.  They will capture Kong, bring him to New York City and make a fortune.  People will pay good money to see… KING KONG.

Of course Denham doesn’t consider what would happen should Kong escape in New York City.

He should have.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Kong’s fur appears to move.  This was caused when animators held the figure in order to change its position.

King Kong co-stars Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong also co-starred in The Most Dangerous Game released the previous year. King Kong re-used some of the jungle sets of The Most Dangerous Game.

King Kong is an undisputed classic.

King Kong (1933) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Manchurian Candidate” (1962) directed by John Frankenheimer, starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh & Angela Lansbury / Z-View

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The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Director: John Frankenheimer

Screenplay:  George Axelrod; based on THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE by Richard Condon.

Stars:  Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva, Leslie Parrish, John McGiver, Khigh Dhiegh, James Edwards, Barry Kelley, Lloyd Corrigan  and James Gregory.

Tagline: If you come in five minutes after this picture begins, you won’t know what it’s all about! When you’ve seen it all, you’ll swear there’s never been anything like it!

The Plot…

Captain Ben Marco and Sergeant Raymond Shaw are returned to the US, along with other surviving members of their platoon.  The soldiers had been captured by Soviet and Chinese forces during the Korean War.

Once home Marco repeatedly has nightmares where he and fellow US soldiers are on a stage.  They sit calmly as enemy soldiers see a presentation about new mind control techniques.  In the dream  Sergeant Shaw is ordered to kill one of the US soldiers on stage.  Shaw takes the weapon walks over to the identified soldier who calmly sits as Shaw blows his brains out.

Since their arrival back to the States, Shaw has been awarded the Medal of Honor for saving fellow soldiers in Korean Combat.  Shaw’s father is a US Senator, his mother guides his father’s career.  A Presidential run is in his father’s future.  The family is through and through “red, white and blue”.  Yet, Marco can’t shake the feeling something is not right with Raymond Shaw.

And he’s right…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Manchurian Candidate was nominated for two Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Film Editing – Ferris Webster
  • Nominess for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Angela Lansbury

The Manchurian Candidate is famous for a blurred scene with Marco.  It is out of focus and shows Shaw’s confused perspective.  Director John Frankenheimer was greatly praised for his creativity.  Years later Frankenheimer admitted it was accidentally shot out of focus.  When he called Frank Sinatra for a re-shoot, Sinatra refused.  The out of focus scene had to be used… and became a happy accident.

Angela Lansbury (who is excellent) plays Laurence Harvey’s mother.  She was only three years than Harvey in real life.

Truth is stranger than fiction.  Robert Kennedy, who was running for President, was assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan.  Sirhan later claimed that he had been brainwashed to commit the murder.  The Manchurian Candidate‘s director, John Frankenheimer drove Robert Kennedy to the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles where the assassination took place.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“I, The Jury” (1982) starring Armand Assante, Barbara Carrera, Laurene Landon, Alan King, Paul Sorvino and Geoffrey Lewis / Z-View

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I, the Jury (1982)

Director: Richard T. Heffron

Screenplay:  Larry Cohen; based on I, THE JURY by Mickey Spillane.

Stars:  Armand Assante, Barbara Carrera, Laurene Landon, Alan King, Paul Sorvino, Judson Scott, Jessica James and Geoffrey Lewis.

Tagline: He’s charming, he’s sexy, he’s tough, and he’s too hot to cool down! He’s “The Hammer”.

The Plot…

PI, Mike Hammer gets word that Jack Williams, an old army buddy, was murdered.  Jack lost his arm saving Mike during the war.  Despite being warned off by the cops, Hammer decides to look into Mike’s murder.  Hammer hopes to find the killer before the cops.  That way he can make sure justice is served.

The leads point to a sex clinic, the C.I.A., mobsters and a psycho killer.

The movie is I, the Jury and court is in session.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I, the Jury features Armand Assante in his first feature film starring role.  Assante makes a great Mike Hammer.

Larry Cohen, the screenwriter also started as the film’s director.  He was replaced after six days of shooting since he was already $100,000 and a day over budget.

I, the Jury is based on Mickey Spillane’s classic novel.  Changes to the film include setting it in the 1980s, adding the CIA/Mafia subplot and more.  Thankfully Hammer’s final line in the novel was kept for the movie.

Larry Cohen planned to do a trilogy of Mike Hammer films since he had the rights to two other Hammer novels by Spillane.  Sadly, this never happened.

Laurene Landon is excellent as Hammer’s secretary Velda.

I, the Jury features one of my all-time favorite movie posters.  It was created by Drew Struzan.

I, the Jury (1982) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Deep Blue Sea” (1999) directed by Renny Harlin / Z-View

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Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Director: Renny Harlin

Screenplay:  Duncan Kennedy, Donna Powers, Wayne Powers

Stars:  Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, LL Cool J, Jacqueline McKenzie, Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgård, Aida Turturro, Samuel L. Jackson and Ronny Cox, Renny Harlin.

Tagline: Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.

The Plot…

At a remote research facility located on the deep sea, Dr. Susan McAlester leads a small group of scientists working to find a cure to Alzheimer’s disease.   McAlester’s research involves using proteins from the brains of three captured sharks.

When one of the sharks uses an object as a battering ram to bust through an observation window, McAlester admits that she genetically altered the sharks’ brains to make them bigger.  Now the small research team is stranded in a sinking research facilty surrounded by sharks that are…

Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ronny Cox appears uncredited as an Executive.  Renny Harlin appears uncredited as a worker.

*** SPOILERS – MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW***

In the original cut at the end of the film Saffron Burrows was the hero.  Audiences in test screenings hated it because she was the reason the sharks were changed.  Some of her scenes (that made her more sympathetic) were cut.  Reshot footage had a shark kill her and made LL Cool J’s character the hero.

Suddenly killing off Russell Franklin (Samuel L. Jackson) well before the end of the movie was inspired by Tom Skerritt’s character’s demise in Alien.  Killing the best known actor and lead character put the survivors in more jeopardy.  When I first saw Deep Blue Sea, I was totally shocked when Samuel L. Jackson was killed.  Well played, Renny Harlin.

Deep Blue Sea (1999) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Outlaw Josey Wales” (1976) starring Clint Eastwood / Z-View

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The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Screenplay:  Phil Kaufman, Sonia Chernus; based on GONE TO TEXAS by Forrest Carter.

Stars:  Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Bill McKinney, Paula Trueman, Sam Bottoms, Woodrow Parfrey, Joyce Jameson, Sheb Wooley, Royal Dano, Matt Clark, Will Samson and John Vernon.

Tagline:  …an army of one.

The Plot…

As the Civil War rages, Josey Wales tries to make a go of it as a peaceful farmer.  That changes when Union Soldiers burn down his farm and kill his wife and young son.  With nothing left to live for, Josey joins a group of Confederate renegades.

When the Civil War ends, the Confederate renegades are given a chance to surrender with their lives.  They’re told if they come in, swear alliegence to the Union, they will be pardoned.  All of the renegades except for Josey Wales goes in.

Josey watches from a distance.  As he suspected it is a death trap.  Josey rides in, killing several soldiers as he takes over a gattling gun.  Josey continues to mow down Union soldiers using their weapon.

Josey makes his escape.  Now he has a price on his head.  Every bounty hunter as well as a squad of Union soldiers wants Josey Wales dead.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Outlaw Josey Wales received one 1977 Academy Award Nominaton for Best Music, Original Score – Jerry Fielding

The Director’s Guild of America instituted a new rule after Clint Eastwood replaced director Philip Kaufman after filming had started.  It bans any crew of cast member from replacing a director.  It was dubbed the “Eastwood Rule”.

The Outlaw Josey Wales is the first of six times Eastwood and Sondra Locke co-starred.

David Geffen says he was a young executive at Warner Bros. asked to provide notes after an early screening of The Outlaw Josey Wales.  None of the other execs had any.  Geffen suggested to Eastwood that the film be shortened by a half hour.  Eastwood’s response was that he could cut it, if that’s what was needed.  Geffen asked, “Where will you be?”  “Across the street at Paramount cutting a new deal.”  Needless to say, the movie was not cut.

I prefer The Outlaw Josey Wales to Unforgiven… or any of Eastwood’s other westerns.  It is a classic.

Chief Dan George is a treasure.

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955) starring Brian Donlevy / Z-View

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“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955)

Director: Val Guest

Screenplay:  Richard Landau, Val Guest; based on the 1953 tv series The Quatermass Experiment by Nigel Kneale

Stars:  Brian Donlevy, Richard Wordsworth, Jack Warner, David King-Wood, Margia Dean and Maurice Kaufmann.

Tagline: It’s coming for YOU from Space to wipe all living things from the face of the Earth! CAN IT BE STOPPED?

The Plot…

The first manned rocket ship into space was was a success thanks to Professor Bernard Quatermass.  He was the scientific genius behind the design, manufacture and launch of the ship.  While in space contact with the three man crew was lost.

When the ship returns Quatermass finds that two of the three astronauts are gone.  The only thing left of them is their empty space suits.  The third astronaut is in shock and unable to speak. Quatermass discovers that an alien organism killed the other two astronauts and is now in the third… mutating his body into something deadly.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jane Asher plays the little girl trying to befriend the astronaut as he is mutating.  Asher would grow up to be one of Paul McCartney’s fiancées.

The film’s title spells Experiment as Xperiment as a way to draw attention to the fact that The British Board of Film Censors gave the film an X rating meaning the film had themes that might be too strong or intense for persons under the age of 16.

The Quatermass Xperiment was released as The Creeping Unknown in the US.

“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Fallen” (1998) starring Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland & James Gandolfini / Z-View

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Fallen (1998)

Director: Gregory Hoblit

Screenplay:  Nicholas Kazan

Stars:  Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini, Elias Koteas, Robert Joy.

Tagline: Don’t trust a soul.

The Plot…

Detective John Hobbes is surprised to find serial killer Edgar Reese is so cheerful when he is about to be executed.  Reese shows no remorse as he taunts the witnesses and sings “Time is On My Side” as justice is served.

Following Reese’s execution, a new series of murders occur.  The killer uses the same methods as Reese.  Detective Hobbes and his partner Jonesy believe a copycat is at play.  As they investigate the new murders, friends and strangers begin to say and do strange things around Hobbes.  It is almost as if they are taunting him.  It is especially disconcerting to hear them sing “Time is on my side”.

Then Hobbes discovers an occult connection to Reese.  Could it be possible that a demon took possession of the humans behind the murders?  If true, this demon can transfer from one body to another simply by touch.  Hobbes cannot believe that a supernatural force, a demon, could be involved.

Then the demon makes it’s presence known.

Hobbes is at a loss.  How do you defeat a demon that can possess anyone around you?  One thing is for sure… he can’t trust a soul.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fallen is better than I thought it would be.  Much of that credit goes to the cast — especially Denzel Washington, John Goodman and James Gandolfini.

Other taglines for the film include:

  • I ALMOST died… – this  is a good one, but only makes real sense after seeing the movie.
  • Detective John Hobbes is searching for a criminal he’s already met… already caught… and already killed – is a bit too spot on and long
  • Time is on my side…. – is perhaps my favorite (along with the one on the poster I used).

Fallen (1998) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Escape From New York” (1981) directed by John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton & Adrienne Barbeau / Z-View

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Escape from New York (1981)

Director: John Carpenter

Screenplay:  John Carpenter, Nick Castle

Stars:  Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, Season Hubley, Tom Atkins, Charles Cyphers, Douglas “Ox” Baker, Jamie Lee Curtis (voice) and Frank Doubleday.

Tagline: 1997. New York City is now a maximum security prison. Breaking out is impossible. Breaking in is insane.

The Plot…

In the future New York City has been turned into a maximum security prison.  Forty-foot walls with armed sentries make sure anyone imprisoned there never gets out.  Inside there are no guards.  Gangs created by the worst of the worst rule.  Marauding cannibals live in the tunnels underground.  New York is hell on earth.

The United States, Russia and China are on the verge of war.  US President John Harker is scheduled to speak at a peace conference in a little over 24 hours.  Harker has in his posession a tape that explains a secret process for nuclear fusion.  This would create an endless energy source for all nations — if peace can be achieved.

When an attack on the President’s life brings down Air Force One, the President survives in an escape pod… that lands behind the New York City prison walls.

A rescue squad is sent in only to be met with the news the President is alive but the prisoner of The Duke of New York, leader of the prison’s biggest gang.  The squad is given 30 seconds to leave or the President will be killed.

They leave.

Deterrmined to save the President, and retrieve the cassette he carries, a plan is developed.  Snake Plissken, a former Special Forces soldier, recently arrested will be offered immunity for his crimes, if he successfully rescues the President in time for the Peace conference.  Plissken reluctantly agrees.

Worried that Plissken won’t follow through, he is injected with an explosive micro-capsule that will explode in 23 hours.  If he returns with the President before time has expired, the capsule will be neutralized.

Plissken is on his way in.  The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jamie Lee Curtis provides the opening narration as well as the computer’s voice in the first prison scene.

Kurt Russell has said that Escape from New York is his favorite of all his film and that Snake Plissken is the favorite of the characters he’s played.  It was also Russell’s idea to give Snake an eyepatch. Also once Lee Van Cleef was signed, it was Russell’s idea to imitate Clint Eastwood’s delivery.

Although most consider Snake Plissken to be Kurt Russell’s signature role, studio execs were not sold on him.  At the time Russell was still best known as a Disney star.  Execs wanted someone like Charles Bronson, Chuck Norris, Nick Nolte or Tommy Lee Jones.

Snake was written with Kurt Russell in mind. Same for Adrienne Barbeau as Maggie and Ernest Borgnine as Cabbie.

James Cameron created the matte-painted buildings.

Season Hubley and Kurt Russell share a scene and were also married at the time.  John Carpenter and Adrienne Barbeau were also married when the film was made.

Warren Oates was originally signed to play Brain.  Oates became ill and suggested Harry Dean Stanton for the role.  Stanton was perfect.  Sadly Oates died later that year.

Frank Doubleday, who plays Romero, is only in a couple of scenes, but is so memorable.

I saw Escape from New York the weekend it was released (and many, many times over the years).  It remains a favorite.

Escape from New York (1981) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Long Walk” (2025) / Z-View

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The Long Walk (2025)

Director: Francis Lawrence

Screenplay:  JT Mollner; based on THE LONG WALK by Stephen King.

Stars:  Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Jordan Gonzalez, Roman Griffin Davis, Josh Hamilton, Judy Greer and Mark Hamill.

Tagline: The task is simple: Walk or Die

The Plot…

Following a civil war, the US has become a military dictatorship.  Each year and event known as The Long Walk is held.  Fifty boys, one from each state, is randomly selected to particpate in the televised event.

The boys are given food and water.  Once The Long Walk starts it goes until there is one winner.  Participants must walk at a sustained speed of atleast 3 miles per hour.   Fall below that speed and a warning is issued.  After the third warning, the walker is executed.

The Long Walk ends when only one person left.  The winner gets a big cash prize and one wish answered.  The event is held to inspire patriotism and work ethic in a country working to recover from a great economic depression.

Friendships are formed as the boys begin their trek… but there can be only one survivor.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In Stephen King’s novel the participants must maintain a walking speed of 4mph.  King asked that the speed be changed to 3mph for the movie.  He felt that 4mph was unrealistic for the distance they had to cover.

Way back in 1988, George “Night of the Living Dead” was attached to direct an adaptation of The Long Walk.

In a cast of exceptional actors, David Jonsson and Mark Hamill are standouts.

Kudos also to JT Mollner for his excellent screenplay.

I thought the ending was the weakest part of an exceptional movie.  I have since learned that there was an alternate ending.  I would have preferred the alternate ending much more. ***SPOILER ALERT***  In  the alterate ending, Pete spares the Major’s life. A postscript reveals Pete mails three envelopes filled with cash are mailed each month to Hank’s widow, Ray’s mother, and Art’s grandmother.

The Long Walk (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Wild Angels” (1966) directed by Roger Corman, starring Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, Bruce Dern & Diane Ladd / Z-View

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The Wild Angels (1966)

Director: Roger Corman

Screenplay:  Charles B. Griffith, Peter Bogdanovich (uncredited)

Stars: Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, Bruce Dern, Diane Ladd, Buck Taylor, Norman Alden, Gayle Hunnicutt, Dick Miller and Michael J. Pollard.

Tagline: Their credo is violence…Their God is hate…and they call themselves ‘The Wild Angels’

The Plot…

When “Loser’s” motorcyle is stolen, his Wild Angels’ brothers head down to Mexico to get it back.  A run-in with another gang and the cops leaves Loser in bad shape.  When Loser dies, the Wild Angels decide to give him a grand send-off.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Roger Corman used real Hell’s Angels as extras.

The Wild Angels features Diane Ladd’s feature film debut.

The Wild Angels (1966) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Little Big Man” (1970) starring Dustin Hoffman / Z-View

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Little Big Man (1970)

Director: Arthur Penn

Screenplay:  Calder Willingham; based on LITTLE BIG MAN by Thomas Berger

Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Martin Balsam, Jeff Corey, Chief Dan George, Faye Dunaway, Aimee Eccles, William Hickey, James Anderson, Alan Oppenheimer, Thayer David, Annette O’Toole and Richard Mulligan.

Tagline: Little Big Man Was Either The Most Neglected Hero In History Or A Liar Of Insane Proportion!

The Plot…

Jack Crabb is 121 years old.  A historian records Jack as he recounts his life story.  According to Jack, his parents were killed by Indians.  Jack and his sister were taken captive.  His sister escaped, and Jack was raised for a few years by the Indians.  Jack was given the name Little Big Man.

While still in his teens, Jack is “rescued” and sent to live with Reverend Silas Pendrake and his young sexually unfulfilled wife.  From there Jack’s life took unexpected twists and turns including…

  • Jack’s time with a traveling snakeoil salesman
  • Jack’s adventures as a feared gunslinger known as the Soda Pop Kid
  • Jack’s time as Wild Bill Hickok’s close friend
  • Jack’s married life as a partner in a general store
  • Jack’s travels west, attacked by Indians (again) and reunited with his Indian family
  • Jack’s troubles with a Contrary brave
  • Jack’s run-ins with General George Armstrong Custer
  • Jack’s claim to be the only white man who survived the Battle at the Little Big Horn
  • and even more

Jack aka Little Big Man is Either The Most Neglected Hero In History Or A Liar Of Insane Proportion!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Chief Dan George was a 1971 Academy Award Nominee for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role.  This was the first time a Native American received an Academy Award nomination.

There was an actual historical figure named Little Big Man.  He was an Oglala Lakota warrior who did fight at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

When Dustin Hoffman’s character is adopted, Faye Dunaway plays his new mother.  Hoffman is four years older than Dunaway in real life.

Little Big Man features Annette O’Toole’s film debut.

Little Big Man (1970) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Pitch Black” (2000) directed by David Twohy, starring Vin Diesel, Radha Mitchell, Keith David & Cole Hauser / Z-View

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Pitch Black (2000)

Director: David Twohy

Screenplay:  Ken Wheat, Jim Wheat, David Twohy; story by Ken Wheat, Jim Wheat

Stars:  Vin Diesel, Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Claudia Black and Keith David.

Tagline: Don’t be afraid of the dark. Be afraid of what’s in the dark.

The Plot…

A transport spaceship crashlands on a remote planet.  Only a handful survive:

  • Carolyn Fry – ship’s pilot
  •  Imam Abu al-Walid – an Islamic holy man, escorting three students to a New Mecca
  • Ali, Hassan and Suleiman – students traveling with Imam Abu al-Walid
  • Jack – a young person traveling alone
  • Shazza and Zeke – a couple
  • Paris – a wealthy man
  • William J. Johns – a bounty hunter/cop traveling with his prisoner
  • Riddick – a dangerous killer in the custody of Johns

The survivors come together in an attempt to assess their situation and chances of survival.  Their ship is beyond help.  When they discover a deserted outpost, their hopes rise…

But they soon discover that the planet is about to enter a prolonged eclipse.  The planet will be in complete darkness the entire time.  On this planet when the sunlight fades, dangerous creatures return to the surface.

Don’t be afraid of the dark. Be afraid of what’s in the dark.  It’s about to get very dark.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The ship’s crash landing is amazing — especially seen on a theater screen.

Pitch Black is the film that made Vin Diesel a star.

In the original Pitch Black screenplay Riddick dies at the end.  Diesel and Twohy liked the character and thought they could make more films about him.  So far we’ve gotten The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury (an animated video) which bridges Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick film. Another feature film, Riddick, was released in 2013.

Pitch Black (2000) rates 5 of 5 stars.