Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
The first sneak previews of Sylvester Stallone’s Paradise Alley took place on September 8, 1978. Sly wrote, directed, starred and even sang the title song. As Dave Buzan says…
This incredibly underrated Stallone film had the misfortune of following “Rocky,” so audiences were expecting something quite different.
It’s a strong movie that deserves more recognition than it has received over the years.
Source: Dave Buzan.
Scared Stiff (1953)
Director: George Marshall
Screenplay: Herbert Baker, Walter DeLeon; based on The Ghost Breaker by Paul Dickey, Charles W. Goddard
Stars: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Lizabeth Scott, Carmen Miranda, Dorothy Malone, William Ching, Jack Lambert, Leonard Strong, Henry Brandon, Chester Clute, Earl Holliman, Frank Fontaine and Bing Crosby & Bob Hope.
Tagline: They’re making a spook-tacle of themselves!
The Plot…
Mary Carroll (Scott) receives word that she has inherited an island estate. She also receives death threats and warnings that the place is haunted. Throwing caution to the wind Mary boards a ship to claim her inheritance. Joining Mary on the trip is nightclub singer, Larry Todd (Martin) and his buddy Myron Mertz (Lewis).
They three arrive at Mary’s castle… cue the ghosts and zombies!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Scared Stiff is based on the play The Ghost Breaker. It was previously adapted in the movie The Ghost Breakers starring Bob Hope. George Marshall directed both Scared Stiff and The Ghost Breakers.
Scared Stiff features Carmen Miranda’s last film appearance.
Frank Fontaine has an uncredited cameo as a drunk. I recognized him from his appearances as Crazy Guggenheim on The Jackie Gleason Show.
Bob Hope and Bing Crosby have an uncredited cameo. The previous year, Martin & Lewis made an uncredited cameo in Hope & Cosby’s Road to Bali film.
Scared Stiff is advertised as a comedy/horror film. It takes forever to get to the horror aspect and then it’s not that funny. I prefer the Bob Hope version, The Ghost Breakers.
Scared Stiff (1953) rates 2 of 5 stars.
At War with the Army (1950)
Director: Hal Walker
Screenplay: Fred Finklehoffe; based on the play At War With the Army by James Allardice
Stars: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Mike Kellin, Danny Dayton, Polly Bergen and Douglas Evans.
Tagline: America’s Funniest Guys Are GI’s!
The Plot…
Vic Puccinelli (Martin) and Alvin Korwin (Lewis) were nightclub performers before the war. Now Vic is a Sergeant and Alvin a private at a stateside army base. The change in their status has caused some problems between the two.
To complicate matters, Vic wants a transfer to active duty. Alvin just wants a weekend pass to see his wife and new baby. Add to the mix confusion about a woman that may be pregnant and who the father is.
Martin and Lewis are at war with the army.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
At War with the Army is in public domain. Beware of shoddy copies.
Although Martin and Lewis had appeared together in films twice before, At War with the Army was their first starring roles as a team.
To Catch a Killer (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Tall in the Saddle (1944)
Director: Edwin L. Marin
Screenplay: Michael Hogan, Paul Fix; based on TALL IN THE SADDLE by Gordon Ray Young
Stars: John Wayne, Ella Raines, Ward Bond, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Audrey Long, Elisabeth Risdon, Donald Douglas, Paul Fix, Russell Wade, Emory Parnell, Harry Woods, and Clem Bevans.
Tagline: A Man Looking For TROUBLE…could always find it in Santa Inez!
The Plot…
Rocklin (Wayne) a big stoic cowboy arrives in Santa Inez. Rocklin has come to town to take the foreman job at Red Cardell’s ranch. Only problem is Red was recently murdered.
Despite some run-ins and encouragement to move on, Rocklin is determined to find out who killed Red.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Ward Bond was a friend and regular co-star of John Wayne. They appeared in 23 films together.
If you’re a fan of old school westerns, you should enjoy Tall in the Saddle.
Tall in the Saddle (1944) rates 4 of 5 stars.
The trailer for Mr. McMahon is here.
I haven’t watched wrestling regularly since my boys were young, but I plan to watch this.
Deal me in.
Mr. McMahon chronicles the rise and fall of Vince McMahon, controversial businessman and co-founder of WWE. From his transformation of the WWE from a small, regional business into a global entertainment powerhouse to the explosive sexual misconduct allegations that led to his eventual resignation, this six-episode series offers a deep dive into McMahon’s life and his enduring franchise.
Culled from over 200 hours of interviews with McMahon himself (prior to his resignation), his family members, business associates and some of the most iconic names in wrestling history, as well as the journalists who uncovered McMahon’s allegations — filmmaker Chris Smith (Tiger King) and executive producer Bill Simmons (30 for 30) present an unflinching, no-holds-barred look at one of the most enigmatic figures in sports entertainment.
To Catch a Killer (2023)
Director: Damián Szifron
Screenplay: Damián Szifron, Jonathan Wakeham
Stars: Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo, Ralph Ineson, Richard Zeman, Dusan Dukic, Jason Cavalier, Darcy Laurie, Mark Camacho, Marcello Bezina and Maurizio Terrazzano.
Tagline: A city at the center of chaos. A detective with special skills. A madman testing her limits.
The Plot…
A sniper from a high rise begins shooting New Year’s Eve rooftop partiers. Dozens of people are killed. The sniper is fast and efficient. One shot. One kill. Police throughout the area are called to respond. An explosion rocks the building used by the sniper. As people begin pouring out of the structure, street cop, Eleanor Falco (Woodley) begins recording faces and tells other officers to do the same.
Special Agent Lammark of the FBI (Mendelsohn) is put in charge of the case. He learns that Eleanor had the presence of mind to record those exiting the building. Lammark speaks with her and is quickly impressed with her frankness and intuition. Lammark invites Eleanor to join him and FBI agent Jack McKenzie (Adepo) on the case. She accepts.
Lammark gets some pushback from higher ups at the FBI. Eleanor had applied to the Bureau and been rejected. She had no college and things in her background that made her unacceptable. Lammark stands his ground and Eleanor is kept on the team.
The sniper killed dozens of people. Another mass killing is coming soon. As Lammark, Eleanor and McKenzie work the case, the public outcry intensifies. Politicians and FBI brass put the pressure on Lammark.
Then they get the break they need…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I absolutely loved To Catch a Killer. Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn and Ralph Ineson give power house performances. This is Damián Szifron’s first time directing an English language film and he hit a home run. Kudos also to Damián Szifron and Jonathan Wakeham for their screenplay.
To Catch a Killer (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Director: Richard Donner
Screenplay: Shane Black; Jeffrey Boam (uncredited)
Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitchell Ryan, Tom Atkins, Darlene Love, Traci Wolfe, Jackie Swanson, Ebonie Smith, Bill Kalmenson, Lycia Naff, Don Gordon, Jimmie F. Skaggs, Jason Ronard, Blackie Dammett, Mary Ellen Trainor, Jack Thibeau, Ed O’Ross, Joan Severance and Al Leong.
Tagline: After 20 years on the force, police detective Roger Murtaugh has come face-to-face with the most dangerous killing machine in Los Angeles… his new partner.
The Plot…
Martin Riggs (Gibson) was a Special Forces Ranger. Now he’s a Los Angeles police Sergeant. Since the unexpected death of his wife, Riggs’ behavior has become erratic. Riggs’ Captain thinks Riggs is faking it to get early retirement. The police psychologist isn’t so sure. So the Captain teams Riggs with 20 year veteran Homicide Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Glover). The Captain figures Murtaugh will keep Riggs in line.
Murtaugh quickly discovers Riggs ain’t faking it.
An old friend of Murtaugh contacts him for help. The friend’s daughter is into drugs, prostitution and pornography. When Murtaugh and Riggs investigate, they discover a high level para-military organization acting as a drug cartel.
Now Murtaugh and Riggs are marked for death. If the cartel doesn’t kill them, Riggs’ death wish might.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Director Richard Donner dedicated the film to legendary stuntman, Dar Robinson, who died shortly after filming was completed.
Gibson was 30 playing a character that is 38. Glover was 40 playing a 50 year old.
Blackie Dammett whose real name is John Kiedis plays a drug dealer that gets The Three Stooges treatment from Gibson. Dammett is the father of Anthony Kiedis from Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Richard Donner brought in Jeffrey Boam for an uncredited rewrite of Shane Black’s script. Donner thought Black’s take was too dark. Boam was brought in again for a clean-up on Lethal Weapon 2. Boam then wrote the screenplay for Lethal Weapon 3.
Traci Wolfe played Murtaugh’s teenage daughter that had a crush on Riggs. At the time of filming Wolfe was 26 and Gibson was 30.
Lethal Weapon is one of my all-time favorite films. Notice I didn’t just say “action films”. Everything about this one is right.
Lethal Weapon (1987) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Vampyr (1932)
Director: Carl Theodor Dreyer
Screenplay: Christen Jul, Carl Theodor Dreyer; based on the story In a Glass Darkly by Sheridan Le Fanu
Stars: Julian West, Maurice Schutz, Rena Mandel, Jan Hieronimko, Sybille Schmitz and Henriette Gerard.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Allan Gray, a drifter walking through the countryside takes a room at an inn. Late that night he is awakened from his sleep by a stranger in his room. The man leaves a note, “To Be Opened Upon My Death” and quickly leaves. Gray attempts to follow the man and arrives at a castle. Looking in he sees an old woman and shadows of people although no one else is seen. The shadows appear to move on their own.
As Gray investigates further he will find the old man shortly before the gent is murdered. Gray opens the note which speaks of demons called vampyrs. Gray believes that the old man’s young daughter is becoming a vampyr.
Can she be saved? Must she be destroyed? Gray must decide. The clock is ticking.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Many consider Vampyr a classic. For whatever reason it didn’t resonate with me. Your mileage, as always, may vary.
Although it was created when sound films had arrived, it still presents much information in title cards used in silent films.
Most of the characters in this film were not played by professional actors.
Vampyr (1932) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Atomic Blonde (2017)
Director: David Leitch
Screenplay: Kurt Johnstad based on The Coldest City by Antony Johnston, Sam Hart
Stars: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman, Toby Jones, James Faulkner, Bill Skarsgård, Sam Hargrave, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Til Schweiger, Declan Hannigan and Sofia Boutella.
Tagline: Talents can be overrated.
The Plot…
1999. The cold war rages. When a MI6 agent is executed and microfilm containing The List of every active secret agent is stolen, Lorraine Broughton (Theron) is sent undercover to Berlin. Her mission is to recover The List at all costs.
Lorraine is warned that a KGB double agent only known as The Satchel is active in the area. Immediately after arriving in Berlin, an assassination attempt on Loraine is attempted. She barely survives. Loraine then meets her contact David Percival (McAvoy), an MI6 deep undercover agent. As Loraine works to find The List, she encounters Delphine Lasalle (Boutella) who claims to be a French agent.
Not sure who she can trust, Lorraine must find The List before it falls into enemy hands. Failure to do so will cost the lives of dozens of agents… including her.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
David Leitch co-directed John Wick. He decided to do this film rather than John Wick Chapter 2.
Charlize Theron and Keanu Reeves trained together. Reeves was getting in shape for John Wick Chapter 2.
There is a fight scene that moves up/down stairs and through several rooms that last about ten minutes. It appears (thanks to clever editing) to be done in one continuous shot.
Charlize Theron, James McAvoy and Sofia Boutella are perfect. The supporting cast is amazing.
David Leitch has created an action classic.
Atomic Blonde (2017) rates 5 of 5 stars.
The Ghost and the Guest (1943)
Director: William Nigh
Screenplay: Morey Amsterdam; original story by Milt Gross
Stars: James Dunn, Florence Rice, Anthony Caruso and Sam McDaniel.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Webster Frye (Dunn) and his bride, Jackie (Rice) plan to honeymoon in the old remote house her father bought her. When Webster and Jackie arrive they are surprised to find Ben Bowron. Bowron says that the famous jewel thief Honeyboy left him the house in his will.
Before you know it Honeyboy’s coffin is brought to the house. Then a bunch of criminals show up for Honeyboy’s burial service. They are followed by some cops and a lawyer. If this sounds like a great mix for a fun romp, it is. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t live up to the potential.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Morey Amsterdam of The Dick Van Dyke Show fame wrote the screenplay. You’d think it would be funnier.
The Ghost and the Guest (1943) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (1956)
Director: Curt Siodmak
Screenplay: Curt Siodmak
Stars: John Bromfield, Beverly Garland, Larri Thomas, Ray Barlow, Sue Bernard, Stuart Lancaster, John Furlong (voice) and Paul Trinka.
Tagline: Actually filmed in the Amazon Jungle in spectacular Eastman Color!
The Plot…
Rock Dean (Bromfield) and Dr. Andrea Romar (Garland) are on an expedition deep into the jungles of the Amazon. Dean hopes to discover a legendary beast. Dr. Romar wants to get samples of a drug used by natives to shrink heads. She believes the drug could be used to reduce cancerous tissue.
As Dean and Dr. Romar venture into areas never seen by white men, they must be prepared for wild animals, head hunters and Curucu, Beast of the Amazon.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Curt Siodmak who wrote and directed Curucu, Beast of the Amazon was a novelist (DONOVAN’S BRAIN; THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS; FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN); screenwriter (The Wolfman; Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman; Tarzan’s Magic Fountain) and director (Bride of the Gorilla; Love Slaves of the Amazon; The Magnetic Monster).
Curucu, Beast of the Amazon was shot on location in the Amazon River in Brazil. Siodmak shot so much footage that he couldn’t use, he brought back some of the actors. He created a new screenplay, Love Slaves of the Amazons and used the leftover footage in the new film.
Curucu, Beast of the Amazon uses quite a bit of what feels like stock footage of wild animals. Except for the final shot, the movie is very run of the mill.
Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (1956) rates 1 of 5 stars.
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1966)
Director: Russ Meyer
Screenplay: Jack Moran; story by Russ Meyer
Stars: Tura Satana, Haji, Lori Williams, Ray Barlow, Sue Bernard, Stuart Lancaster, John Furlong (voice) and Paul Trinka.
Tagline: Go-Go for a Wild Ride with the ACTION GIRLS!
The Plot…
Varla, Rosie, and Billie are three young, wild women living on the edge. When they’re not working as go-go dancers, they’re on the prowl for thrills. They race cars… flirt… fight… tease or whatever strikes their mood.
After a desert race goes bad, they kidnap a teenage girl. Then they hear about a rich old man living alone in a remote house.
The best laid plans…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Although Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! is a low budget exploitation flick that made only a modest profit on its initial release, over the years it has become a cult classic.
The movie feels like it is set in an alternate universe. Filming it in black and white enhances this.
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1966) rates 4 of 5 stars.
The Searchers (1956)
Director: John Ford
Screenplay: Frank S. Nugent; based on THE SEARCHERS by Alan Le May
Stars: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Natalie Wood, John Qualen, Olive Carey, Henry Brandon, Ken Curtis, Harry Carey Jr., Antonio Moreno, Hank Worden, Patrick Wayne and Lana Wood.
Tagline: He had to find her… he had to find her…
The Plot…
1868. The Comanches are on the warpath. They’ve been attacking homesteads along the frontier. One of the farms belonged to the Edwards’ family. The Comanches killed everyone except little Debbie. They kidnapped Debbie to raise as part of their tribe.
Ethan Edwards (Wayne) is Debbie’s uncle. He’s a former Civil War soldier who hates Indians. (Ethan’s mother was killed by Comanches years earlier.) Ethan learns that his brother’s family was wiped out. He forms a posse to rescue Debbie. They trail the Comanches into the badlands. As time drags on and they move farther into the frontier, some posse members give up.
Refusing to quit, Ethan and Martin Pawley (Hunter) press on. Martin stays because the Edwards’ family adopted him when he was young. He wants to bring Debbie safely home. Ethan plans to kill Debbie. He cannot stand the thought that she’s now a squaw.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Searchers was John Wayne’s favorite of all the movies he made. Ethan Edwards was also his favorite of all the characters he ever played. Wayne even named his youngest son Ethan.
The Mose Harper (Worden) character comes off as half-crazy, Surprisingly the character is based on a real Indian fighter known as Mad Mose. And yes, he loved rocking chairs.
Reportedly Buddy Holly’s song “That’ll Be The Day” was inspired by John Wayne’s repeated use in The Searchers.
Natalie Wood’s character when she was small was played by her younger sister, Lana.
The Searchers was in the first group of 25 movies chosen for preservation in The National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
The Searchers has it all. Adventure, humor, suspense, action and even romance. It is rightfully considered a classic.
The Searchers (1956) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told (2024)
Director: P. Frank Williams
Stars: André 3000, The Notorious B.I.G., Big Boi, CeeLo Green.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
How a small black college picnic grew and grew to become an annual event known as Freaknik. The event started out as a get-together for college students who didn’t have the resources to return home for Spring Break.
Each year the event grew bigger. It began to attract out-of-towners from all over the country. Many were not college students. The event became so large it shut down the city. Drugs, sex and sexual assaults turned the powers that be against the event.
This is the story of the rise and fall of Freaknik.
Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Open Range (2003)
Director: Kevin Costner
Screenplay: Craig Storper; based on THE OPEN RANGE MEN by Lauran Paine
Stars: Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, Diego Luna, Abraham Benrubi, Annette Bening, Michael Gambon, Michael Jeter, James Russo, Peter MacNeill, Cliff Saunders, Julian Richings, Ian Tracey, Diego Diablo Del Mar and Kim Coates.
Tagline: No place to run. No reason to hide.
The Plot…
“Boss” Spearman (Duvall) and Charley Waite (Costner) are cattlemen driving their herd across country. Along with them are Mose and Button, two young hired hands. They decide to bed down for a few nights. Mose is sent into a nearby town for supplies.
When Mose doesn’t return, Boss and Charley ride into town. They find Mose in jail and badly beaten. It turns out that rancher Denton Baxter (Gambon) doesn’t tolerate cattlemen crossing his land. Baxter has the Sheriff on his payroll and the town afraid to do anything. Baxter and the Sheriff release Mose with the warning to Boss and Charlie to be gone by nightfall.
That ain’t going to happen.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Kevin Costner got the project going, starred in and directed it. Touchstone gave him top billing until he requested that Robert Duvall be credited first.
Open Range is just about perfect. Great story, cast, acting, and direction. Robert Duvall is a national treasure. I rank Open Range higher than Dances with Wolves. It’s that good.
Open Range (2003) rates 5 of 5 stars.
