Category: Trivia

“Chrome and Hot Leather” (1971) starring William Smith / Z-View

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Chrome and Hot Leather (1971)

Director: Lee Frost

Screenplay by: Michael Haynes & David Neibel and Don Tait from a story by Michael Haynes & David Neibel

Starring: William Smith, Tony Young, Michael Haynes, Peter Brown, Michael Stearns, Larry Bishop, Kathrine Baumann, Wes Bishop, Herb Jeffries, Bobby Pickett, Cheryl Ladd (aka Cherie Moor), Robert Ridgely, Erik Estrada, Dan Haggerty  and Marvin Gaye.

Tagline: A terrifying look at Motor Cycle Savagery – from the same studio that made “Born Losers”

The Story:

When a US Special Forces sergeant learns that his fiancé was killed by the member of a motorcycle gang, he recruits three of his service buddies to track down the murderer.  Four Viet Nam vets against an entire motorcycle gang?  Yeah, that sounds about right.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

William Smith and Peter Brown co-starred in the television series Laredo before working on this film.

Chrome and Hot Leather features some interesting cast member trivia…

  • Cheryl Ladd made her feature film debut billed as Cherie Moor.
  • Marvin Gaye, best known as a multi-Grammy award-winning singer, made his feature film debut as well.
  • Bobby Pickett, best known as the writer/singer of the classic The Monster Mash appears.
  • Herb Jeffries, a popular jazz singer and actor in films made for African-American audiences in the 1930s/1940s, shows up.
  • Erik Estrada can be seen in an uncredited role in only his second feature film.
  • Dan Haggerty also has an uncredited role.  He plays a bearded member of the biker gang.

Chrome and Hot Leather (1971) was made to cash in on the biker craze of the era.  It’s a low-budget drive-in film.  William Smith was built for biker films.  If he was a bit younger, he’d have been an action movie star of the 80s.  Still playing Conan’s dad is quite a notch on your resume.

ALFRED HITCHCOCK STORYBOARDS by Tony Lee Moral

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ALFRED HITCHCOCK STORYBOARDS by Tony Lee Moral will appeal to Hitchcock fans and movie lovers.

A one-of-a-kind historical document and celebration of the artwork behind several of the Master of Suspense’s greatest films.

This stunning coffee table book focuses on the storyboards for nine of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic movies – Vertigo, The Birds, Psycho, North by Northwest, The 39 Steps, Torn Curtain, Marnie, Shadow of a Doubt and Spellbound. It includes never before-published images and incisive text putting the material in context and examining the role the pieces played in some of the most unforgettable scenes in cinema. Hitchcock author and aficionado Tony Lee Moral takes you through the last 100 years of cinema, with the Master of Suspense as your guide.

ALFRED HITCHCOCK STORYBOARDS drops February 6, 2024.

“The Bride of Frankenstein” (1935) directed by James Whale, starring Boris Karloff, Colin Clive & Elsa Lanchester / Z-View

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The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Director:  James Whale

Screenplay by:  William Hurlbut, story by William Hurlbut, John L. Balderston based on premise suggested by FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Starring: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Elsa Lanchester, Valerie Hobson, Ernest Thesiger,  Gavin Gordon, Douglas Walton, E.E. Clive, Dwight Frye, Billy Barty, Walter Brennan, John Carradine and Una O’Connor.

Tagline: A BRIDE FOR THE MONSTER COMES TO LIFE IN A SCIENTIST’S LABORATORY!

The Story: 

The Bride of Frankenstein picks up immediately where Frankenstein ended.  Miraculously, although severely injured, Henry Frankenstein (Clive) is not dead. As the crowd breaks up, some carry Henry back home to recover.  Meanwhile the monster, also thought to be dead, has survived the destruction of the windmill.  It climbs out and begins to wander the countryside.

Once healthy enough, Henry pays a visit to his friend Doctor Pretorius (Thesiger).  Pretorius shares results of his experiments and encourages Henry to continue efforts to create living creatures from cadavers.  Henry is hesitant.  Despite Pretorius’ pleas, Henry refuses.

Things heat up when the monster returns, Pretorius prevails and Henry is forced to create The Bride of Frankenstein.  We learn there’s one thing worse than an upset bride.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

It’s rare that a sequel is better than the original.  The Bride of Frankenstein is one of those rare ones.

Universal wanted a follow up after the success of Frankenstein.  Director James Whale was hesitant to return.  It took four years and multiple writers to come up with a suitable script.  Once Whale and the script were in place, Karloff, Clive and Frye returned to reprise their roles.

Elsa Lanchester isn’t listed in the opening credits instead a ? is used to name who was playing the Bride. The same was done in Frankenstein when a ? was listed instead of Karloff’s name as the actor playing The Monster.  Despite being the title character the Bride only appears for a few minutes at the very end of the film.

The scene where Henry visits Doctor Pretorius and is shown the little people he created has always seemed a bit out of place to me.

The Bride of Frankenstein has more humor than the original, but the balance is right and it doesn’t detract from the film.  I’m looking at you, Una O’Connor.

There are some surprising uncredited cameos in The Bride of Frankenstein. Billy Barty plays a baby, while Walter Brennan and John Carradine show up as town folk.

The Twilight Zone’s Best Twist Endings!

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Devin Meenan came up with a list of The 6 Best Twist Endings In Twilight Zone History, Ranked. The list is a good one. Before you click over to read Devin’s rankings and rationale, below is how I’d rank them.  I also included three that didn’t make Devin’s list and my rationale for each.

Beware of spoilers!

06. Eye of the Beholder
05. A Nice Place To Visit
04. Time Enough At Last
03. The Midnight Sun
02. The Invaders
01. To Serve Man

  • Nightmare at 20,000 Feet:  We know there really is a creature on the wing of the plane. THAT isn’t the twist.  The twist is when we realize that if Shatner’s character hadn’t taken drastic action, the gremlin would have crashed the plane killing everyone! We learn this as Shatner’s character is strapped to a gurney to go back to a mental institution.
  • The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street: This episode has one of the great twists of the series.  Neighbors have turned on each other resulting in at least one murder.  Each thinks the other could be the “alien”.  The things leading to this are mundane.  Lights going on and off.  A car starting.  In the midst of the mayhem the camera pulls back and we see the two aliens causing the events.  The aliens realize it doesn’t take much to get humans to turn on each other.  A world takeover will be easy.
  • Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?:  This episode contains a double twist.  We’ve spent the episode wondering who is the alien (if there really is one).  The reveal is that one of the passengers is indeed an alien.  He/It brags to the counterman that an invasion to take over the earth is coming.  Then we get the 2nd twist.  The counterman reveals that he/it is an alien as well.  His race is aware of the other aliens’ plan to take over the earth.  His “people” have intercepted and wiped them out.  The earth will be theirs!

“Batman & Bill” (2017) / Z-View

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Batman & Bill (2017)

Director: Don Argott, Sheena M. Joyce

Stars: Marc Tyler Nobleman, Bill Finger, Fred Finger, Portia Finger, Thomas Andrae, Jerry Bails, Otto Binder,
Athena Finger, Judy Flam, Stacey C. Friends, Carmine Infantino, Stan Lee, Todd McFarlane, Daniela Nobleman  and Bob Kane.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

For decades one of the biggest “secrets” that insiders knew was that Bob Kane wasn’t the sole creator of Batman. Despite this knowledge, every appearance of The Dark Knight contained the credit “Created by Bob Kane”.  The truth of the matter is Bill Finger was the creator of Batman’s costume, Robin, Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler, Commissioner Gordan, the Batcave, Gotham City and more.  Yet Bill Finger received no credit or compensation while Bob Kane got rich and famous.

Batman & Bill is the story of one man’s quest to right this wrong.  Despite overwhelming odds justice finally prevailed.  This is that story.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Although the general public didn’t know about Bill Finger, it wasn’t a secret among comic book professionals and many fans. Bob Kane for years claimed he was the sole creator of Batman.  The publishers of Batman and all its spinoffs knew differently.  It wasn’t until after Bill Finger’s death that Kane started to give Finger some credit.  Still, Kane was the only one listed on any Batman comic, movie or merchandise.

When Marc Tyler Nobleman learned of this injustice, he made it his life’s mission to right that wrong.  He had nothing to gain, but like a true superhero wanted justice to be served.  And it finally was.

Batman & Bill (2017) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Poseidon Adventure” (1972) starring Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine & Shelley Winters / Z-View

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The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

Director: Ronald Neame

Screenplay: Stirling Silliphant, Wendell Mayes based on The Poseidon Adventure by Paul Gallico

Stars: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Jack Albertson, Pamela Sue Martin, Eric Shea, Arthur O’Connell, Sheila Allen, Byron Webster, John Crawford, Bob Hastings and Leslie Nielsen.

Tagline:  Who will survive-in one of the greatest escape adventures ever!

The Plot…

On New Year’s Eve with a full ship, the S.S. Poseidon is hit by a 90-foot tidal wave and capsizes.  Now the ship is floating upside down.  Dozens of survivors are in the dinning room.  There is confusion on the best course of action.  Some believe that everyone should make their way up to the hull.  They reason rescuers will be able to cut them out where the ship’s metal is the thinnest.  Another group, argues that a distress call was sent.  Everyone should just stay in the dinning room.  Attempting to move through the upside down damaged ship would be dangerous.  Most agree that staying put is the best course of action.

Reverend Scott (Hackman), who is not your typical Reverend, leads a group up to the next level.  Joining Scott are:

  • Rogo (Borgnine): a tough NY City cop
  • Rogo’s wife, Linda (Stevens): a former prostitute Rogo met (and arrested several times) while working the streets
  • Susan (Martin) and her younger brother Robin (Shea)
  • Grandparents Manny (Albertson) and his wife, Belle (Winters)
  • Acres (McDowell): one of the dinning room waiters
  • Nonnie (Lynley): one of the ship’s singers
  • Martin (Buttons): a retired business man

Just as they make it up to the next level a series of underwater explosions occur.  The ship begins taking on more water and sinking.  It’s too late for those below.  As Scott leads his group up, the dangers mount. Not everyone will survive!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

The Poseidon Adventure (1972) did well at the Academy Awards:

Academy Award Wins:

  • Best Music, Original Song: Al Kasha, Joel Hirschhorn – for the song “The Morning After”
  • Best Music, Original Dramatic Score: John Williams
  • Special Achievement Award: L.B. Abbott, A.D. Flowers – for visual effects.

Academy Award Nominations:

  • Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Shelly Winters
  • Best Cinematography: Harold E. Stine
  • Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: William J. Creber, Raphael Bretton
  • Best Costume Design: Paul Zastupnevich
  • Best Sound: Theodore Soderberg, Herman Lewis
  • Best Film Editing: Harold F. Kress

The Poseidon Adventure features five Academy Award winning actors – Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Jack Albertson and Red Buttons; and one Oscar nominee: Arthur O’Connell.

Shelly Winters was 51 when she played Belle, a much older character.  Ms. Winters gained 35 pounds for the role.  I was 14 at the time.  I remembered a younger Shelly Winters in older movies playing a “hottie”.  It was hard to wrap my head around seeing Ms. Winters older and heavier.  Stars do age.

Reverend Scott is my favorite Gene Hackman role.

Ernest Borgnine is always great.  His wife in the movie Stella Stevens made quite an impact on this 14 year old  ; )

I have many great memories of seeing The Poseidon Adventure. A few of my friends and I took the city bus down town to see it.  We felt like big shots.

It’s funny (ironic?) now seeing Leslie Nielsen playing it straight.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“D.O.A.” starring Edmund O’Brien / Z-View

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D.O.A. (1949)

Director: Rudolph Maté

Screenplay: Russell Rouse, Clarence Greene

Stars: Edmond O’Brien, Pamela Britton, Luther Adler, Beverly Garland, William Ching, Neville Brand, Frank Cady, Hugh O’Brian, Jerry Paris and Bill Baldwin.

Tagline:  A picture as excitingly different as its title!

The Plot…

Frank Bigelow (O’Brien) learns that he was poisoned with a a “luminous toxin” that will kill him in a few days.  The toxin has no antidote.  Bigelow is determined to discover who and why he was marked for death,  The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

What starts out as a fun weekend in San Francisco turns into one of the noirest noirs.

Sadly the copyright on D.O.A. wasn’t renewed so there are many poor copies out there.  Beware!

This is Neville Brand’s first credited role.  Look for future tv stars in small roles: Beverly (My Three Sons) Garland, Frank (Petticoat Junction / Green Acres) Grady and Jerry (Dick Van Dyke) Paris.  Hugh O’Brien, who would go on to star in feature films and more than one tv series, has an uncredited role.  Bill Baldwin, perhaps best known for his role as a fight commentator in Rocky, Rocky II and Rocky III, also has an uncredited role!

There’s a scene where Edmund O’Brien is running down a crowded city street.  O’Brien bumps into pedestrians as others look around confused by the man running past them at full speed.  That scene is an example of Gorilla Filming.  The filmmakers made the shot without any permits or permission.

I’m a D.O.A. fan and like to revisit it every so often.

D.O.A. (1949) rates 4 of 5 stars.

The 10 Most Underrated ’90s Movie Heroes!

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Robert Vaux came up with his list of the 10 Most Underrated ’90s Movie Heroes.  Vaux’s list is an interesting one, although we only had one hero in common.  Before you click over, below is my list and rationale for my choices of the 10 Most Underrated ’90s movie heroes.

10. Frank Horrigan from In the Line of Fire (1993): Horrigan was a young Secret Service agent who was part of the team assigned to protect President Kennedy the day he was assassinated.  Now he’s older, guilt ridden and determined to save the current President from a clever psycho.  Horrigan could be retired on a beach somewhere, but he’s still willing to give his life to protect the leader of the free world.  Yeah, that’s a hero.

09. Butch Coolidge from Pulp Fiction (1994): Although Butch accepts money to take a dive, he gets two chances to redeem himself (and does both times).  Butch doesn’t follow-through on the set-up.  Later Butch and the a man who wants to kill him are captured by two sadistic rapists.  Butch has a chance to escape but puts his life on the line to save the man who wants him dead.  Wouldn’t you say that qualifies as a hero?

08. Samantha Cain (Charly) from The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996): Samantha begins the movie as a small town school teacher.  We could stop right there since most teachers are heroes.  But if that isn’t enough for you, by the end of the movie the President offers Samantha a chance to return to the CIA.

07. Lornette “Mace” Mason from Strange Days (1995): Mason is a bodyguard who puts her life on the line repeatedly to save a friend.  Hero?  Check.

06. John Patrick Mason from The Rock (1996): Despite being held without a trial for 30 years, Mason agrees to help take down an elite military unit threatening to kill untold thousands.  Qualifies as a hero in my book.

05. Cameron Poe from Con Air (1997): is a former Army Ranger which by itself makes him a hero.  Then when three men attempt to assault his wife, he takes them on.  Hero again, right?  Well, since Poe accidentally kills one and is sent to prison, maybe not.  But when Poe is on a flight of convicts who take over the plane, Poe works to assist the police.  So, hero again, right?

04. William Wallace from Braveheart (1995): William Wallace led the battle to free his Scottish countrymen from the rule of the tyrant King Edward I of England.  Anyone willing to give their life for the greater good is a hero.

03. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan from The 13th Warrior (1996): Ahmed is a lover and poet.  When he is banished to the North, Ahmed ends up traveling with Viking warriors.  Ahmed, despite his fears, joins the warriors to defend a small village from bearlike human cannibals.  John Wayne said, “The definition of a hero is someone who is scared but saddles up anyway.”  Ahmed qualifies.

02. Freddy Heflin from Cop Land (1997):  When Heflin learns of the corrupt police living in his community, he risks his life to save another cop and expose the criminals.  Heflin does this despite the NY Detective shutting down his investigation and no other cops willing to take a stand.  Heflin is a hero.

01. Hawkeye from Last of the Mohicans (1992): Hawkeye risks his life repeatedly to save others, even people who have wronged him.  Hawkeye even offers his life in exchange for the life of another.  Hawkeye is recognized as an honorable man by his friends and enemies.  If only all heroes were as worthy of the title “HERO” as Hawkeye.

“Blazing Saddles” (1974) directed by Mel Brooks, starring Cleavon Little & Gene Wilder / Z-View

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Blazing Saddles (1974)

Director: Mel Brooks

Screenplay: Mel Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew aBergman, Richard Pryor, Alan Uger story by Andrew Bergman

Stars: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, Mel Brooks, Burton Gilliam, Alex Karras, David Huddleston, Liam Dunn, John Hillerman, George Furth, Jack Starrett, Richard Collier, Dom DeLuise, Richard Farnsworth, Sally Kirkland, Hal Needham, Rodney Allen Rippy  and Count Basie.

Tagline:  Mel Brooks and the West! Together for the last time!

The Plot…

Quicksand forces the new railroad to change its route.  When the dastardly Hedley Lamarr (Korman) learns the railroad will have to go through the town of Rock Ridge, he sees an opportunity to get rich.  If Lamarr can get the town’s citizens to leave, he will become owner of all the land.

Lamarr sends his thugs to scare the people into leaving.  Instead, they wire the Governor that they need a Sheriff to protect them.  Lamarr tricks the Governor into sending an African American who was about to be hung.  Lamarr figures that a black Sheriff won’t be much protection and will upset some town folk enough to leave.

Boy, was Lamarr wrong.

Let the fun begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Blazing Saddles was nominated for six Academy Awards:
Nominated for
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Madeline Kahn)
Best Film Editing (John C. Howard, Danford B. Greene)
Best Music, Original Song (John Morris – music, Mel Brooks – lyrics, for the song “Blazing Saddles”)

Blazing Saddles wouldn’t be made today.  It almost wasn’t in 1973.  John Wayne turned down the Waco Kid role.  Wayne thought it would tarnish his image.  Gig Young was hired but collapsed during the first scene.  It was later discovered Young suffered from alcohol withdrawal.  Gene Wilder was brought in to replace Young.  Richard Pryor was the first choice to play Bart.  The studio wouldn’t hire Pryor due to previous drug arrests.  Cleavon Little got the role.

The film makes fun of classic western troupes, breaks the fourth wall, features sight and verbal gags.  It is all over the place.  Everything is fair game.  Blazing Saddles isn’t for those easily offended.  Everyone else is in for a comedy guaranteed to entertain.

Blazing Saddles (1974) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“High Noon” (1952) starring Gary Cooper / Z-View

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High Noon (1952)

Director: Fred Zinnemann

Screenplay: Carl Foreman based on The Tin Star short story in Collier’s by John W. Cunningham

Stars: Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Otto Kruger, Lon Chaney Jr., Harry Morgan, Morgan Farley, Harry Shannon, Lee Van Cleef, Sheb Wooley and Jack Elam.

Tagline:  Simple. Powerful. Unforgettable.

The Plot…

Will Kane (Cooper) and hi bride are ready to start a new life.  It’s their wedding day. Kane is retiring as Marshal of a small western town.  He and his young wife Amy (Kelly) are moving to another town to open a store and raise a family.

Shortly after Will and Amy are married, they learn that Frank Miller is set to arrive on the noon train. Miller is a killer that Kane sent to prison.  Miller’s trial resulted in a death sentence. Miller swore he would return to kill Kane.  Instead of being hung, Miller’s death sentence was commuted.  Now Miller is on his way to keep his word.  Things get worse when Kane learns that three of Miller’s gang are already in town..

Will Kane knows it’s too late to run. Nobody in town is willing to help Kane face down the killers.  What chance does one man alone have against four gunslingers?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

High Noon was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four:
Nominated for…
Best Picture
Best Director (Fred Zinnemann)
Best Writing Screenplay (Carl Foreman)
Won for…
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Winner – Gary Cooper)
Best Film Editing (Winner – Elmo Williams, Harry Gerstad)
Best Music Original Song (Winner – Dimitri Tiomkin: music, Ned Washington: lyrics, for the song “High Noon aka Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'”)
Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (Winner – Dimitri Tiomkin)

John Wayne hated High Noon.  Every time I revisit the film, I like it better.  It’s a great film, expertly directed, with a first rate cast and a story that rings true.  At first Will Kane is willing to leave before the train arrives.  Then he realizes that Miller and his gang will track him down.  Kane thinks it’s better to meet them head on. Kane is sure that he will get support from some of the town members.

It’s interesting the way each person he approaches finds a rationale to not help.

Standouts in the cast include Gary Cooper, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Lon Chaney Jr., Lee Van Cleef and Harry Morgan.  High Noon was a comeback film for Gary Cooper.  Lloyd Bridges is great as the cocky, immature Deputy who wants to be Marshal. Katy Jurado owns every scene she’s in.  In High Noon, Lon Chaney Jr. gives the finest performance of his career.  Harry Morgan is a coward doing his best to not appear so to his wife. High Noon was Lee Van Cleef’s feature film debut! Look for Jack Elam in a cameo as a drunk. His part was supposed to be bigger, but it was determined it took away from the suspense of the impending gunfights.

High Noon (1952) rates 5 of 5 stars.

The Top 10 Best Action Adventure Movies!

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Josh Keslinger at CBR came up with a list of The Top 50 Greatest Action Adventure Movies.  I decided to play along and using just his list of 50, came up with my top ten.  Below you can see my top ten compared to his, as well as some movies that didn’t make his top 50 that would have made mine.

The Top 10 Best Action Adventure Movies

Keslinger

Zablo

10. Terminator 2: Judgment Day

09. Raiders of the Lost Ark

08. Police Story

07. The Dark Knight

06. The Matrix

05. Leon: The Professional

04. Aliens

03. Gladiator

02. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

01. Die Hard

10. Terminator – Arnold was originally going to be Reese and O.J. Simpson the Terminator!

09. Highlander – There can be only one. All the sequels fell short.

08. Predator – THAT Predator design was so unique!

07. Mad Max: Fury Road – Took “car” movies to a new level.

06. Terminator 2: Judgment Day – A rare sequel that improves on the original.

05. Last of the Mohicans – A movie I can watch anytime.

04. John Wick – Took Keanu Reeves to the next level of stardom and kickstarted a franchise.

03. Aliens – James Cameron did it again. He made a sequel that improved on the original.

02. Enter the Dragon – Bruce Lee’s finest film and the best martial arts movie, by far, of it’s time… or ever.

01. Die Hard – Gets better with every viewing. Spawned a ton of “knock offs”.

Movies That Didn’t Make Keslinger’s Top 50 That Would Have Made Mine Include:
Rambo (2008); World War Z; The Army of the Dead; Extraction; Apocalypto

The Greatest TV Shows of All Time…

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Katie Doll at CBR came up with her list of The 10 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.  Before you click over to read her thoughts on each, here are how I’d rank her choices, my thoughts and some shows that would have made my list that didn’t make hers.

The 10 Greatest TV Shows of All Time

Doll

Zablo

10. Mad Men (2007-2015)

09. Succession (2018-2023)

08. Lost (2004-2010)

07. Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

06. Seinfeld (1989-1998)

05. The Simpsons (1989-present)

04. The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

03. The Wire (2002-2008)

02. Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

01. The Sopranos (1999-2007)

* Mad Men (2007-2015) // Succession (2018-2023) // The Wire (2002 –
2008) // The Simpsons (1989-present) – Never Seen

06. Lost (2004-2010) – Watched every episode. Thought it went off
the rails towards the end.

05. The Sopranos (1999-2007) – Watched every episode. Great show!

04. Game of Thrones (2011-2019) – Watched every episode. Loved it!

03. Breaking Bad (2008-2013) – Watched every episode. Loved it!

02. Seinfeld (1989-1998) – Watched & rewatched. Loved it!

01. The Twilight Zone (1959-1964) – Often imitated, never duplicated!

Shows I would have included: Justified; The Wild, Wild West; The Passage; The Strain; The Shield; Columbo.The English, 1883; Tulsa King

“Mighty Joe Young” (1949) / Z-View

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Mighty Joe Young (1949)

Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack

Screenplay: Ruth Rose from a story by Merian C. Cooper

Stars: Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Robert Armstrong, Mr. Joseph Young, Frank McHugh, Douglas Fowley, Nestor Paiva, Regis Toomey, James Flavin, Primo Carnera, Karl ‘Killer’ Davis, William ‘Wee Willie’ Davis, Man Mountain Dean, Richard Farnsworth, Phil Olafsson, Henry Kulky, Ivan Rasputin, Sammy Stein, Irene Ryan and Sammy Menacker.

Tagline:  Striking! Startling! Staggering!

The Plot…

The year is 1937.  Jill Young is an eight year old living on her father’s small estate in Africa.  Jill is in the front yard when two Africans pass by carrying an orphaned baby gorilla.  Jill makes a trade and becomes the owner of the infant gorilla.

Twelve years pass.  Max O’Hara (Armstong) has organized an African safari to capture lions for his nightclub show.  Greg (Johnson) is a cowboy who leads the group capturing the beasts.  They are about to leave when they spot a giant gorilla.  Max and Greg try to capture the huge ape but they only end up angering it.  Jill shows up and calms her now grown gorilla.

Soon enough Max convinces Jill if she comes to Hollywood with her giant ape, they will become famous with everything money can buy.

What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Mighty Joe Young won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects!

I first saw Mighty Joe Young when I was a child.  I loved it then,  I’ve rewatched it several times over the years and I still love it.  How could you not?  It has a misunderstood monster (Joe), lions fighting Joe, cowboys!, a test of strength between 10 strong men and Mighty Joe, a love story, and redemption.

The strong men who try Mighty Joe in tug of war include former world heavyweight boxing champion Primo Canera and nine professional wrestlers.  One of them was Sam Menacker.  I knew Mr. Menacker because he was the color commentator for professional wrestling in Indiana.  Menacker was a former wrestler himself.  I thought it was so cool to a young Slammin’ Sammy Menacker in a movie!

This was the first film to feature Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion animation effects.

Mighty Joe Young (1949) rates 5 of 5 stars.

Twilight Zone’s Most Disturbing Episodes

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Robert Vaux at CBR.com posted his choices for the 10 Most Disturbing Twilight Zone Episodes, Ranked.  Before you click over to read his thoughts, here is how my rankings (using just his choices) compare.

Twilight Zone’s Most Disturbing Episodes

Vaux

Zablo


10. Number 12 Looks Just Like You
(Season 5, Episode 17)

09. To Serve Man
(Season 3, Episode 24)

08. Eye of the Beholder
(Season 2, Episode 6)

07. Nick of Time
(Season 2, Episode 7)

06. Deaths-Head Revisited
(Season 3, Episode 9)

05. Nightmare at 20,000 Feet
(Season 5, Episode 3)

04. The Dummy
(Season 3, Episode 33)

03. The Shelter
(Season 3, Episode 3)

02. It’s a Good Life
(Season 3, Episode 8)

01. The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
(Season 1, Episode 22)


10. Number 12 Looks Just Like You
(Season 5, Episode 17)

09. Eye of the Beholder
(Season 2, Episode 6)

08. The Dummy
(Season 3, Episode 33)

07. Deaths-Head Revisited
(Season 3, Episode 9)

06. Nick of Time
(Season 2, Episode 7)

05. It’s a Good Life
(Season 3, Episode 8)

04. Nightmare at 20,000 Feet
(Season 5, Episode 3)

03. The Shelter
(Season 3, Episode 3)

02. To Serve Man
(Season 3, Episode 24)

01. The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
(Season 1, Episode 22)

Robert McGinnis’ Censored Art for “Dr. No”!

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Tony Stella shared this on his Twitter feed and I thought it was interesting.  The bottom art by the great Robert McGinnis was used to promote James Bond in Dr. No.  Compare it to the top art and you can see how it was censored prior to use.  Bond is given shorts.  The lady isn’t as well endowed and what she has is better covered.  Also note the changes in her face.  In the top art she seems to enjoy her, uh, job at hand much more.  ; )