Category: Trivia

“Fargo” (1996) written & directed by The Cohen Brothers, starring William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi & Peter Stormare / Z-View

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Fargo (1996)

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Screenplay: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Stars: William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, Kristin Rudrüd, Harve Presnell, Steve Reevis, Larry Brandenburg, Bruce Campbell and Melissa Peterman.

Tagline: Small town. Big crime. Dead cold.

The Plot…

Jerry Lundegaard (Macy) has screwed up badly.  Jerry embezzled money from the car dealership that he works for and his father-in-law owns.  In an effort to raise the money quickly, Jerry decides to have his wife kidnapped.  His rich father-in-law will pay to get her back.  Jerry will use the ransom money to return the embezzled cash.  Problem solved.

Unfortunately, the lunkheads that Jerry hires to do the job are well, lunkheads.  The kidnapping goes sideways in more ways than three.  People are killed.  Jerry’s dad has some stipulations before he’ll cough up the cash to get his daughter back.

Police Chief Marge Gunderson (McDormand) is on the case.  Most folks underestimate Marge’s abilities.  They look at her and see a small, quiet, pregnant woman… not the intelligent, determined investigator that can see connections in crimes that appear random.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fargo was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning one…

  • Best Picture (Nominee)
  • Best Actress in a Leading Role (Winner – Frances McDormand)
  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Nominee – William H. Macy)
  • Best Director (Nominees – Joel Coen, Ethan Cohen)
  • Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Nominee – Ethan Coen, Joel Coen)
  • Best Cinematography (Nominee – Roger Deakins)
  • Best Film Editing (Nominees – Ethan Coen <as Roderick Jaynes>, Joel Coen <as Roderick Jaynes>)

When Steve Buscemi’s character says, “In thirty minutes, we will wrap this up” if you time until the end of the movie, it will show thirty minutes have passed.

Although the film is titled, Fargo, most of the movie takes place in Brainerd, Minnesota.  The Cohens thought Fargo made a better title than Brainerd.

Frances McDormand and Joel Cohen are married.

Bruce Campbell appears (uncredited) in the background of a scene on a television screen.

Fargo was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2006.

Although the title card at the start of the film indicates it is based on a true case, it’s not.

Fargo has everything you’d expect in a Cohen film: great writing, directing and acting with memorable characters.

Fargo (1996) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Judge Dredd” (1995) starring Sylvester Stallone, Armand Assante & Diane Lane / Z-View

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Judge Dredd (1995)

Director: Danny Cannon

Screenplay: William Wisher, Jr., Steven E. de Souza, story by Michael De Luca, William Wisher, Jr., based on  Judge Dredd by John Wagner & Carlos Ezquerra

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Armand Assante, Rob Schneider, Jürgen Prochnow, Max von Sydow, Diane Lane, Joanna Miles, Joan Chen, Balthazar Getty, Maurice Roëves, Ian Dury, Christopher Adamson, Ewen Bremner, Peter Marinker, Angus MacInnes, Adrienne Barbeau (voice), Mitchell Ryan, James Remar, Scott Wilson and James Earl Jones (voice).

Tagline: In the future, one man is the law.

The Plot…

In the future the world has become a wasteland.  Most of humanity survives in megacities.  The rich live well and far above the riffraff below.  The justice system changed to meet the challenges of an overtaxed judicial system.  Now there are Judges who serve as police officers, judges and executioners.

Judge Dredd (Stallone) is legendary.  Although Dredd trains new recruits, and is respected by the Chief Justice, Dredd prefers to be a street Judge.

Judge Dredd is framed when a reporter is killed and Dredd’s DNA is found on the murder weapon. He’s arrested and sentenced to life in prison.  Unaware of the depths of the conspiracy (by those close to him) Dredd must prove his innocence.  The clock is ticking…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sly and the director had different visions for the film.  Sly wanted an action/comedy while the director wanted a darker, more serious approach.  This didn’t make for a smooth running set.

In the comics, Dredd was never seen without his helmet on.  There was no way that the producers were going to pay Stallone’s salary and not have audiences see his face.  This upset many comic “purists”.

The scene where Fergie (Schneider) imitates Dredd (Stallone) was improvised.

John Wagner, the co-creator of Judge Dredd, said, “the story (movie) had nothing to do with Judge Dredd, and Judge Dredd wasn’t really Judge Dredd even though Stallone was perfect for the part.”

This was the second time Sly Stallone and Armand Assante played brothers.  The first time was in Paradise Alley.

Both Adrienne Barbeau and James Earl Jones voices are heard in the film.  James Remar and Scott Wilson appear in the film.  None of these four actors are listed in the film’s credits.

It’s unfortunate that Sly, the director and the screenwriters weren’t on the same page in regard to the tone of the film.  There wasn’t enough comedy for it to be seen as an action/comedy.  The comedy that was there made sure it wasn’t seen as a serious/dark action film.

I’ve enjoyed each new viewing of Judge Dredd a little better as the years go by.

Judge Dredd (1995) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Chisum” (1970) starring John Wayne / Z-View

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Chisum (1970)

Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

Screenplay: Andrew J. Fenady, based on the short story Chisum and the Lincoln County War by Andrew J. Fenady

Stars: John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Glenn Corbett, Bruce Cabot, Patric Knowles, Richard Jaeckel, Geoffrey Deuel, Pamela McMyler, John Agar, Robert Donner, Ray Teal, Edward Faulkner, Ron Soble, William Conrad (voice), Lee Meriwether and Lynda Day (George).

Tagline: THE LEGEND – John Wayne is “Chisum”

The Plot…

John Chisum (Wayne) and Lawrence Murphy (Tucker) are the biggest land owners in Lincoln County, New Mexico.  Murphy has been buying up land and businesses by exerting behind-the-scenes pressure.  Murphy goes too far when he pays off the sheriff and hires outlaws to rustle cattle.

Chisum, aided by his trail boss Pepper, along with Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett take a stand against Murphy and his gang.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

John Wayne was 44 years into his career when he made Chisum. Wayne was the #2 Money-Making Box Office Star for 1970.  Paul Newman was #1.

Christopher George and Lynda Day had met before, but during filming of Chisum they fell in love and were later married.

The ranch house John Chisum lives in will be reused the following year for Wayne’s ranch house in Big Jake.

This was Geoffrey Deuel’s feature film debut.  Geoffrey is Pete Duel’s younger brother.  They look enough alike to be twins.  Pete changed his last name for professional reasons.  Pete would become famous for his role on Alias Smith and Jones.  Sadly Pete Jones died from a self-inflicted gunshot on December 31, 1971.

Lee Meriwether’s only appearance in the film is in a photograph in Chisum’s pocket watch.

John Wayne was reportedly disappointed that his stuntman was so obvious in the big fight scene with Forrest Tucker.  Tucker’s stunt man was Jim Burk who performed stunts on over 50 movies including Tango & Cash, Conan the Barbarian and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Chisum is based on the Lincoln County War of 1878.  Although fictionalized, several of the characters in the film were based on real people and events.

Chisum (1970) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (2024) directed by George Miller, starring Anya Taylor-Joy & Chris Hemsworth / Z-View

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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

Director: George Miller

Screenplay: George Miller, Nico Lathouris, based on characters created by George Miller, Byron Kennedy, Nico Lathouris 

Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, Lachy Hulme, John Howard, Angus Sampson, Elsa Pataky, Nathan Jones, Josh Helman, Goran D. Kleut and David Field.

Tagline: Fury Is Born.

The Plot…

In an apocalyptic future, we learn the backstory of the warrior woman, Furiosa.   Kidnapped as a child by Dementus’ biker gang who murdered her mother, Furiosa was then traded to Citadel Warlord Immortan Joe. Furiosia was doomed.  Using her wits and tenacity, Furiosa escapes and plans for the opportunity to get her vengeance.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

George Miller had everything (screenplay, concept art, etc.) in place in regard to Furiosa’s backstory prior to the filming of Mad Max: Fury Road.  Fury Road actors were given access so they knew each character’s complete arc.

Chris Hemsworth (Dementus) and Elsa Pataky ( plays two roles: Vuvalini General and Mr Norton) are married in real life.

Where Furiosa takes place in regard to Mad Max and The Road Warrior is hard to pin down since George Miller doesn’t have a strict timeline laid out.  Miller views each tale as a legend.

Mad Max: Fury Road was highly anticipated and still exceeded expectations.  The belief that Furiosa would raise the bar even higher was prevalent among many fans.  While Fury Road is an extended chase, Furiosa is a character study disguised as an action film.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Sergeant Rutledge” (1960) starring Jeffrey Hunter, Woody Strode & Constance Towers / Z-View

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Sergeant Rutledge (1960)

Director: John Ford

Screenplay: James Warner Bellah, Willis Goldbeck, novelization SERGEANT RUTLEDGE by James Warner Bellah

Stars: Jeffrey Hunter, Woody Strode, Constance Towers, Billie Burke, Juano Hernandez, Willis Bouchey, Carleton Young, Judson Pratt, Phil Adams, Rafer Johnson and Toby Michaels.

Tagline: “I want the truth about that night.”

The Plot…

First Sergeant Braxton Rutledge (Strode) stands accused of the rape and murder of Lucy Dabney (Michaels) and the murder of her father, Major Custis Dabney.  Despite being a respected and decorated soldier, the evidence points to Sergeant Rutledge’s guilt.  He was wounded and seen leaving the scene of the crime before going AWOL.

Now on trial, with an mob ready to hang him, Sergeant Braxton knows he has little hope, despite his claims of innocence.  Who is going to believe a black man when he says he didn’t rape and kill a young white girl and her father?  Lt. Tom Cantrell (Hunter), Rutledge’s commanding officer has everything stacked against him as he works to prove Rutledge is innocent.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This was Billie (best known as Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz) Burke’s last film role.

Rafer Johnson, who plays Corporal Klump, won a Gold Medal in the 1960 Olympics in the decathlon.

Toby Michaels plays Lucy Dabney, the young girl who was raped and murdered.  Michaels is not listed in the credits.

The reveal of who committed the murder is worthy of Perry Mason.

Sergeant Rutledge (1960) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Tomorrow is Another Day” (1951) starring Ruth Roman & Steve Cochran / Z-View

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Tomorrow is Another Day (1951)

Director: Felix E. Feist

Screenplay: Art Cohn, Guy Endore, story by Guy Endore

Stars: Ruth Roman, Steve Cochran, Lurene Tuttle, Hugh Sanders, Ray Teal, Morris Ankrum, John Kellogg, Walter Sande, Philip Carey and Lee Patrick.

Tagline: They take their lives in their hands… when they take each other in their arms!

The Plot…

Bill Clark (Cochran) was thirteen when he murdered his abusive father.  That was 18 years ago.  Clark is now 31 and just released from prison.  Although a man, Clark still has the naivety of a child.  Clark quickly learns that life as an ex-con won’t be easy.

When Clark meets a dance hall girl named Cathy (Roman), straight away he’s attracted to her.  Cathy rejects his offers of dinner, saying that she prefers gifts.  When Cathy gets off work, Clark is waiting.  He gives her a beautiful watch.  After a night on the town, Cathy invites Clark up to her apartment.

Almost immediately after they enter, George Conover (Sanders), Cathy’s “boyfriend” busts in.  Conover pulls a gun and orders Clark to leave.  Clark goes for the gun and in the struggle the gun is dropped and Clark is knocked  unconscious.  Cathy grabs the gun and instinctively shoots George when he lunges for her.  George staggers out and into a taxi headed for the hospital.

Clark comes to.  Cathy asks him what he remembers, which is everything leading up to the struggle for the gun.  Cathy leads Clark to believe that he was the one who shot New York Detective George Conover.  When they learn that Conover has died from his wounds and the police have launched an investigation, Cathy and Clark decide to take off.

If they’re caught Cathy will let Clark take the rap.  And if they make a clean getaway, she can always dump him.  Funny how the best made plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Both John Garfield and Burt Lancaster were considered for the role of Bill Clark.

Tomorrow is Another Day has the set-up to be a classic noir film.  Bill Clark was an abused kid who did time in prison but wants to now lead a good life.  He meets up with a beautiful woman that he’s drawn to, but she takes advantage of the relationship.  When she murders another lover, she lets Bill think that he did the crime.  They go on the run.  Everything lining up to be an excellent noir.  Then in the last couple of scenes we get an ending that makes everything “sunshine and roses” (as Rocky Balboa would say).  Still, Tomorrow is Another Day isn’t a bad film, just one that falls short of being really good.

Tomorrow is Another Day (1951) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Assassins” (1995) directed by Richard Donner, starring Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas & Julianne Moore / Z-View

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Assassins (1995)

Director: Richard Donner

Screenplay: Lilly Wachowski (as Andy Wachowski) & Lana Wachowski (as Larry Wachowski) and Brian Helgeland from a story by Lilly & Lana Wachoswski

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas, Julianne Moore, Anatoli Davydov, Muse Watson, Steve Kahan, Kelly Rowan, Reed Diamond, Kai Wulff and Stephen Liska.

Tagline: In the shadows of life, In the business of death, One man found a reason to live…

The Plot…

Robert Rath (Stallone) is a hitman ready to retire.  Working as an assassin has taken a toll even though Rath has a moral code. He refuses to murder women, children and men undeserving to die.

Miguel Bain (Banderas) is an assassin who loves his job… he wants to be the best hitman in the world.  Bain considers Rath number one… for now.

As Rath prepares to take out a mark, he is shocked when Bain assassinates his target.  The two exchange gunfire until the police arrive.  Rath realizes that Bain is determined to kill him.  He also learns that Bain’s other target is a woman known as Electra (Moore).   Rath plans to save Electra and eliminate Bain.

Of course Bain has other plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Wachowski’s sold their Assassins screenplay to Joel Silver at the same time he bought their screenplay for The Matrix (for one million dollars each).  Silver wanted Richard Donner to direct and offered him ten million dollars.  Donner refused unless the screenplay’s violence was toned down and Rath was made more sympathetic.  Silver brought in Brian (L.A. Confidential) Helgeland to adjust the script.

The Wachowski’s didn’t like the changes and asked for their names to be removed from the credits.  The request was denied by the Writers Guild Association.

Donner praised Stallone and Banderas for their performances: “I thought Stallone did one of the best jobs he’s ever done. He totally underplayed, he was quiet, he found the character and he went with it. I thought Antonio Banderas was wonderful.”

Electra’s cat is the same feline that appeared with Stallone in The Specialist.

I am a huge fan of the opening scene when Rath is walking an assassin deep into a swamp to execute him. Their dialogue tells us all we need to know about Rath and his business.

Kudos to Banderas for his manic performance as the hitman who wants to be the best.

I’d always hoped that Richard Donner and Sly Stallone would work together.

Assassins (1995) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) directed by Neil Jordan, starring Tom Cruise & Brad Pitt / Z-View

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Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

Director: Neil Jordan

Screenplay: Anne Rice based on INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE by Horace McCoy

Stars: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Antonio Banderas, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater, John McConnell, Bellina Logan, Thandiwe Newton, Indra Ové, Helen McCrory, Roger Lloyd Pack and Stephen Rea.

Tagline: Drink From Me And Live Forever

The Plot…

Daniel Molloy (Slater) is a writer looking for a story.  After a chance meeting with Louis de Pointe du Lac (Pitt), he may have found it.  Louis claims to be a vampire.  Although Molloy is skeptical at first, Louis quickly proves he is what he says.

As Molloy records and takes notes, Louis tells his story. In 1791 Louis was a young, wealthy Louisiana plantation owner.  That changed the evening the vampire, Lestat (Cruise) turned him.  No longer human, Louis and Lestat moved through the night.  Undead but living.  Forced to leave Louisiana, when folks began to suspect Louis and his new friend were behind many disappearances, Louis and Lestat head to New Orleans…

Louis’ tale spans 200 years.  New Orleans.  A new vampire joins them.  Betrayal.  A journey to Europe where they discover the Théâtre des Vampires.  True Vampires putting on plays where they pretend to be humans playing vampires! The victims are real.  To tell more of Louis story would be to say too much.

But I will leave you with this… can an interview with a vampire end well?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles was nominated for two Academy Awards

  • Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: Dante Ferretti Francesca, Lo Schiavo
  • Best Music, Original Score: Elliot Goldenthal

Anne Rice was not initially happy when Tom Cruise was cast as Lestat.  When Rice wrote the novel she envisioned Rutgar Hauer in the role.  She thought of Alain Delon when writing the screenplay.  Then when it was time to cast the role she suggested John Malkovich, Peter Weller, Jeremy Irons or Alexander Godunov.  When Cruise and Pitt were selected for the two leads she suggested that Pitt play Lestat.  That wasn’t to be.  When the film was released, Rice had come around to the Tom Cruise casting.  She said he brought something to the role that she had not foreseen.

While I’m a fan of many of Tom Cruise’s movies and I do really like Interview with a Vampire, I think he was miscast as Lestat.

River Phoenix was set to play Daniel Malloy before his untimely death.  Christian Slater then got the part.  Slater donated his salary from the film to two of River Phoenix’s favorite charities.

The initial scene Stephen Rea shares with Brad Pitt is both funny and a bit scary.  It’s a favorite of mine.

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Mayor of Kingstown”: Season 1 (2022) starring Jeremy Renner / Z-View

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Mayor of Kingstown: Season 1 (2022)

Created by: Taylor Sheridan, Hugh Dillon

Director: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1, 3); Ben Richardson (Eps. 2, 4); Guy Ferland (Ep. 5-6); Clark Johnson (Eps. 7-8); Stephen Kay (Eps. 9-10)

Teleplay: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1-10) <Ep. 1 story by Taylor Sheridan, Hugh Dillon>

Stars: Jeremy Renner, Dianne Wiest, Hugh Dillon, Tobi Bamtefa, Taylor Handley, Emma Laird, Derek Webster, Pha’rez Lass, Aidan Gillen, James Jordan, Michael Beach, Nichole Galicia, Michael Reventar, George Tchortov, Scott Gibson, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Necar Zadegan, Derek Basco, Joe Parro, Connor Smith, Mandela Van Peebles, Andrew Howard, Adam Clark and Kyle Chandler.

Tagline: You can’t bury the past.

The Plot…

Kingston, Michigan is a prison town.  The McClusky brothers, Mitch (Chandler) and Mike (Renner) have become unofficial powerbrokers at getting things done.  Their connections to the prison, the cops and the gangs have helped keep the peace, solve crimes and ease tensions.

But there is always a cost.  And sometimes the cost isn’t cash.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although Kingstown, Michigan is a fictional town, many of the prison scenes were filmed at the Kingston Penitentiary, in Kingston, Ontario.  Series co-creator, Hugh Dillon is from Kingston, Ontario.

Mayor of Kingstown is well written, well directed and well acted.  The production values rival those of feature films.

Taylor Sheridan wrote all episodes and directed two.  The other season one directors include…

  • Ben Richardson directed episodes of Yellowstone, 1883, 1923 and Tulsa King.
  • Guy Ferland directed episodes of Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead, The Strain and Yellowstone.
  • Clark Johnson directed episodes of The Shield, The Wire, The Walking Dead and Luke Cage.
  • Stephen Kay directed Get Carter and episodes of The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, Yellowstone and 1883.

Jeremy Renner is perfect as the no-nonsense Mike McClusky.  Other standouts in the acting department include Dianne Wiest, Hugh Dillon, Emma Laird and Nichole Galicia.  Tobi Bamtefa, Hamish Allan-Headley and Pha’rez Lass are new to me, but actors to watch for.  Actually, I should probably list every supporting actor/actress because they are all perfectly cast.

The surprises, twists and ever building tension make each episode must-see tv.  I look forward to season 2 and beyond.

Mayor of Kingstown: Season 1 (2022) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Cahill U.S. Marshal” (1973) starring John Wayne and George Kennedy / Z-View

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Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973)

Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

Screenplay: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink, story by Barney Slater, Jr.

Stars: John Wayne, George Kennedy, Gary Grimes, Neville Brand, Clay O’Brien, Marie Windsor, Morgan Paull, Dan Vadis, Royal Dano, Denver Pyle, Jackie Coogan, Rayford Barnes, Harry Carey Jr., Walter Barnes, Paul Fix, Vance Davis, Hank Worden and Pepper Martin.

Tagline: Break the law and he’s the last man you want to see. And the last you ever will.

The Plot…

United State Marshal and widower, J.D. Cahill (Wayne) is often away from home tracking down robbers and killers.  While Cahill is gone, his two sons are left in the care of an old man. Abe Fraser (Kennedy) sees an opportunity to con the boys into helping him and his gang rob the bank.  He promises no one will get hurt.

Sadly, during the robbery the town’s sheriff and another man are killed.  Cahill’s youngest son hides the loot and refuses to tell where.  Fraser tells the brothers that he will return in a short time and will get the cash or kill them.  When Marshal Cahill returns the boys are afraid to tell their father what happened.

As Marshal Cahill tracks the robbers, he begins to suspect there’s more to the story.  If he doesn’t figure it out, more will die… including his sons.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Director Andrew McLaglen directed John Wayne in five films.  Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973) was the last.

John Wayne wasn’t a fan of the way the film turned out.  He was quoted as saying, “It just wasn’t a well done picture. It needed better writing, it needed a little better care in making.”

Part of the problem may have been the fact that Wayne’s mentor, director John Ford died from cancer during filming.  Wayne, himself had to have a cancerous lung removed 9 years earlier.  Wayne also suffered from emphysema.  Ford’s death and Wayne’s declining health made for a rough shooting schedule.

John Wayne’s co-stars in Cahill U.S. Marshal often appeared with Wayne in other films: George Kennedy (3), Clay O’Brien (2); Marie Windsor (3); Royal Dano (2); Denver Pyle (5); Rayford Barnes (3); Harry Carey Jr. (15); Walter Barnes (2); Hank Worden (17) and Paul Fix (26).

Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink also were screenwriters for Big Jake (John Wayne); Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, The Enforcer, Sudden Impact, and The Dead Pool (all starring Clint Eastwood).

Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Countdown” (1967) starring James Caan & Robert Duvall / Z-View

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Countdown (1967)

Director: Robert Altman

Screenplay: Loring Mandel based on THE PILGRIM PROJECT by Hank Searles

Stars: James Caan, Robert Duvall, Joanna Moore, Barbara Baxley, Charles Aidman, Steve Ihnat, Steve Ihnat, Bobby Riha, Robert Buckingham, William Conrad (voice), Mike Farrell and Ted Knight.

Tagline: The motion picture that puts a man on the moon … and you will follow him every terrifying second of the way …

The Plot…

The time is the late 1960s.  Russia and the United States are in a race to be the first to land a man on the moon.

At NASA astronauts training to be on the first team to land on the moon have their session cut short.  The mission commander, Chiz (Duvall) is called to a meeting.  The Russians have moved up their timeline.  They are launching in just four weeks.  There is no way the US squad will be ready, but there was a contingency plan in case something like this happened.

The US will send up one astronaut to land on the moon.  Supplies and a pod will be sent up first.  The astronaut will then live there for several months until a properly trained team will be launched to retrieve him.

Chiz is excited.  He will be the first man on the moon!

Then Chiz learns that Russia, in a political move is sending up civilians to prove that theirs is a nonmilitary operation.  The President has decided that NASA must do the same.  Because Chiz is an Air Force colonel, he is eliminated from the mission.  Lee (Caan), a civilian being trained as part of Chiz’s team, will be the one to go.

Chiz argues that Lee isn’t ready, he doesn’t have the training and will die if he’s sent.  When it becomes clear that Lee is the chosen one, Chiz demands to lead the completion of Lee’s training.

The race is on…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

NASA gave complete cooperation for filming and it shows!  Cape Canaveral was a location.

Countdown was Robert Altman’s return to feature films after directing television projects for ten years.  Things did not end well.  When Altman had completed shooting, he was fired.  Further, he was not welcome on the studio lot.  The studio head, Jack Warner, hated that in some scenes Altman had two actors speaking at the same time.

Altman would go on to use overlapping dialogue in his future feature films.  Robert Altman was an Academy Award nominee as Best Director five times (M*A*S*H; Nashville; The Player; Short Cuts and Gosford Park).

Because of Altman’s firing, new footage including a more upbeat ending was filmed by William Conrad.  Conrad was an Executive Producer on the film as well as the voice of the television announcer.  Altman’s ending had James Caan’s character, as his air supply ran out, walking in the wrong direction from the lunar pod.

Countdown was released a year and a half before the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Countdown (1967) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Roadblock” (1951) starring Charles McGraw & Joan Dixon / Z-View

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Roadblock (1951)

Director: Harold Daniels

Screenplay: George Bricker, Steve Fisher story by Richard H. Landau, Daniel Mainwaring

Stars: Charles McGraw, Joan Dixon, Lowell Gilmore, Louis Jean Heydt, Peter Brocco and Milburn Stone.

Tagline: A DAME IN MINK…A STOLEN MILLION and a red-hot payoff in bullets!

The Plot…

Joe Peters (McGraw) is a straight-arrow insurance investigator.  He’s honest, smart and one of the best in the business.  When there’s a tough case, they call Joe Peters.  On a flight home, Joe meets Diane (Dixon).  When bad weather forces an unexpected overnight stay at a hotel, they wind up in the same room.  Joe’s attracted to Diane, but she makes it clear she wants the finer things in life.  Things Joe could never afford on his salary.

As an insurance investigator Joe gets information that passed to the wrong people would result in scores that could set a man for life.  Against his better judgment Joe decides on a one-and-done scheme.  If successful he will be a rich man and get Diane.  But if not it could mean his death.

The best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Roadblock is one of the first movies to film in the Los Angeles River.  Other famous films using this location include Them!, Point Blank, Grease, Terminator 2 and To Live and Die in L.A.. 

Roadblock (1951) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Follow Me Quietly” (1949) / Z-View

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Follow Me Quietly (1949)

Director: Richard Fleischer

Screenplay: Lillie Hayward story by Anthony Mann, Francis Rosenwald

Stars: William Lundigan, Dorothy Patrick, Jeff Corey, Nestor Paiva, Paul Guilfoyle, Frank Ferguson, Douglas Spencer, Paul Bryar and Fred Aldrich.

Tagline: Police baffled by the FACELESS KILLER!

The Plot…

Police Lieutenant Harry Grant (Lundigan) is frustrated.  A serial killer known as The Judge has struck again.  At the crime scene a note from the killer taunting the police was found. How many more people have to die before The Judge is brought to justice?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Lawrence Tierney was scheduled to star, but off-screen antics (arrests for public intoxication and fighting) led to a change.

Follow Me Quietly (1949) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Crazies” (1973) written & directed by George A. Romero / Z-View

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The Crazies (1973)

Director: George A. Romero

Screenplay: George A. Romero based on The Mad People by Paul McCollough

Stars: Lane Carroll, Will MacMillan, Harold Wayne Jones, Lloyd Hollar, Richard France, Ned Schmidtke, George A. Romero and A.C. McDonald.

Tagline: Why are the good people dying?

The Plot…

When a military plane crashes near a small town, the water supply is contaminated with a powerful bio-weapon.  Soon townspeople are starting to act violent towards themselves and each other.  When the military shows up the town is put on lockdown.  As more citizens and soldiers become infected, the decision to nuke the town becomes more likely.

Will anyone survive?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Romero was given a micro-budget for filming.  Most of the actors had little to no training and were locals.  Even some high school students played soldiers in hazmat suits.

The burning house was actually being used by local firefighters for a training exercise.  Romero got permission to film it.

Remade in 2010 starring Timothy (Justified) Olyphant and Radha (Pitch Black) Mitchell

The Crazies (1973) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Evil That Men Do” (1984) starring Charles Bronson / Z-View

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The Evil That Men Do (1984)

Director: J. Lee Thompson

Screenplay: John M. Crowther, David Lee Henry based on THE EVIL THAT MEN DO by R. Lance Hill

Stars: Charles Bronson, Theresa Saldana, Joseph Maher, José Ferrer, René Enríquez, John Glover, Enrique Lucero, Roger Cudney, Joe Seneca, Conrad Hool and Raymond St. Jacques.

Tagline: Most criminals answer to the law. The world’s most savage executioner must answer to Bronson.

The Plot…

Holland (Bronson) is a retired hitman living a peaceful life on a remote beach.  When an old friend asks Holland to kill a sadistic torturer known as the Doctor, Holland initially refuses. After seeing video evidence of the number of people the Doctor has killed and maimed, Holland decides to come out of retirement for one more hit.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jill Ireland (Bronson’s wife and co-star in many of his films) was originally slated to play the role that went to Theresa Saldana.  Ireland lobbied for Saldana to get the part.  Theresa Saldana had survived a brutal stabbing by a stalker and was looking to get back into feature films.

The Evil That Men Do is based on a book written by R. Lance Hill.  Hill also received credit as screenwriter on the film, but chose to use the penname David Lee Henry.

This is the 5th of 9th films that starred Charles Bronson and was directed by J. Lee Thompson. The films in order are: The White Buffalo (1977), St. Ives (1976), Cabo Blanco (1980), 10 to Midnight (1983), Murphy’s Law (1986), Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987), Messenger of Death (1988) and Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989).

The Evil That Men Do (1984) rates 2 of 5 stars.