Category: Z-View

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

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Tarzan’s Savage Fury (1952)

Director: Cy Endfield

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

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

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

The Plot…

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

Cue Tarzan’s yell!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

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

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

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

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

THE LAST FEW MILES: A CARTER MCCOY NOVEL by Eric Beetner / Z-View

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THE LAST FEW MILES: A CARTER MCCOY NOVEL by Eric Beetner

First sentence…

Carter McCoy closed the menu and handed it back to the waitress.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Carter McCoy doesn’t have long to live.  Six months give or take a few.  The doctor told him the name of the disease that’s killing him, but does the name really matter at this point?  There’s no cure.  McCoy is 72 years old.  Other than the disease he’s in great shape.  Some might say that’s ironic.

You might think that since McCoy’s wife and daughter are dead, he has nothing to live for.  You’d be wrong.  The man who caused his daughter’s death escaped justice and is still alive.  McCoy has wanted to kill the man for years.  Only thing stopping him was his wife.  Now she’s gone and Carter’s time is running out.

And there’s one thing he’s going to do before his time is up.

+++++

I’m a huge fan of Eric Beetner’s tales.  THE LAST FEW MILES: A CARTER MCCOY NOVEL is another winner.  An old man with just months to live wants to kill the man responsible for his daughter’s death.  The man isn’t a killer, he’s old and he’s dying. In any good writer’s hands that’s a great set-up for a crime novel.  In Beetner’s mits it’s just the kick-off for his yarn.

Soon a young woman in a tragic situation will against odds become Carter’s friend.  She’s in a terrible situation.  Perhaps Carter and a bullet could save her.  Carter’s dying so he has nothing to lose.  And if he’s successful she could have a chance at a good life.

The only thing that could stop him are the police that are getting close and the disease that’s even closer.

THE LAST FEW MILES: A CARTER MCCOY NOVEL is a fast read, with twists, suspense and ever increasing stakes.  I applaud the ending.  It wasn’t what I was expecting but works perfectly.

Rating:

“Lady Without a Passport” (1950) starring Hedy Lamarr and John Hodiak / Z-View

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Lady Without A Passport (1950)

Director: Joseph H. Lewis

Screenplay: Howard Dimsdale, story by Lawrence Taylor; adaptation written by Cyril Hume

Stars: Hedy Lamarr, John Hodiak, James Craig, George Macready, Steven Geray, Nedrick Young, Steven Hill, Robert Osterloh, Trevor Bardette, Charles Wagenheim, Don Garner and Richard Crane.

Tagline: M-G-M THRILLS!

The Plot…

Immigrants refused an entrance visa to the United States have found a smuggling operation through Cuba. A man named Palinov (Macready) who fronts as a cafe owner runs the illegal racket.  Pete Karczag (Hodiak) is an American agent sent undercover to Cuba to get the goods on Karczag.

Once there Pete meets Marianne Lorress (Lamarr).  Marianne is a refugee from a Nazi concentration camp.  She wants to go to the United States to start a new life, but lacks the money to make it happen.  Karczag has other ways she can pay.  Initially Pete plans to use Marianne to get to Palinov. That changes pretty quickly when Pete falls in love with Marianne.

That’s not all that changes.  Palinov discovers that Pete is an American agent.  Palinov knows he’s safer if Pete and Marianne are out of the picture… permanently.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Much of the film was shot on location in Cuba.  Unfortunately, those scenes often come off as outtakes of a travelogue.

Lady Without A Passport (1950) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Planet Terror” (2007) written & directed by Robert Rodriguez, starring Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodríguez, Josh Brolin and Bruce Willis / Z-View

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Planet Terror (2007)

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez

Stars: Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodríguez, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Jeff Fahey, Michael Biehn, Rebel Rodriguez, Naveen Andrews, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Fergie, Nicky Katt, Tom Savini, Carlos Gallardo, Quentin Tarantino, Michael Parks, Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Zoë Bell, Robert Rodriguez and Bruce Willis.

Tagline: Humanity’s last hope… rests on a high power machine gun!

The Plot…

When an experimental military gas is accidentally released outside a small town, those exposed, after a short incubation period, turn into zombies.  The first sign of a problem occurs when the hospital gets an influx of victims.  Some show signs of being bitten, while others suffer from huge boil-like pustules.  Then all hell breaks loose as the infected become mindless zombies.

Meanwhile at other locations, zombies are attacking.  As people become aware, they seek shelter and plan for survival.  A stripper (McGowan), her ex-boyfriend Wray (Rodriguez), J.T. Hauge (Fahey) and his brother Sheriff Hague (Biehn) and others find themselves working together to survive.

Then they discover that the zombies aren’t their only problem.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino teamed to create a “double feature” known as Grindhouse.  Rodriguez directed Planet Terror.  Tarantino’s effort was Death Proof.  The idea was to make their films appear to have been made in the 1970s for drive-in theaters.  The films have scratches, 1970s style previews, drive-in “let’s go to the lobby” type ads and more.

Michael Parks played Sheriff Earl McGraw in four movies: From Dusk Till Dawn (1996); Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003); Kill Bill Volume 2 (2004) and Planet Terror (2007).

Planet Terror (2007) rates 3 of 5 stars.

YOU ARE HERE by Kyle Baker

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YOU ARE HERE by Kyle Baker

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Noel Coleman has it all. He’s a successful artist. Helen, his beautiful fiancée, loves him. He owns an attractive house in the country.   For the past year that Noel and Helen lived together, life has been perfect.

Noel plans to ask Helen to marry him.  It’s just… he has secrets.  Noel wants to come clean.  But how do you tell your future (hopefully) wife that you were a criminal when you met her?  Noel decides he’ll figure out how to tell her when the time comes.

So Noel informs Helen that he’s going into the city to clean the last things out of his apartment. When he gets back, he’ll pop the question.

Noel heads in to the city and runs into his old crime partner.  They decide to have a drink.  The more they talk the more Noel realizes he misses the life.  His partner talks about a job he’s set up. He offers Noel a piece of the action if he wants to come.  Noel is tempted.  He decides once he comes clean to Helen, her reaction will decide the life he’ll live.

Then Noel learns that an infamous serial killer just got released from prison.  The killer has made it known he’s going to kill the bum that slept with his wife.  Noel is that bum!  Noel realizes he needs to get out of the city and quick.  Thank God Helen didn’t come with him.

Noel sees Helen at about the same time as he catches sight of the killer.  Unfortunately the killer has seen them.

Noel will have a lot of explaining to do if they survive.  And odds are they won’t.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The art feels very Disneyish and yet the story is noir.  The combination works.  Baker sets us up to expect one thing and gives us another.  The bathtub scene (in the preview below) is just one example.  I love the cartoony style used in this tale.  I also thought telling the story without word balloons was creative.  Having the serial killer resemble Robert Mitchum was icing on the cake.

This isn’t a story for kids.  There is sex and violence.  Happy endings are for Disney and this is noir.

YOU ARE HERE gets my highest recommendation!

YOU ARE HERE by Kyle Baker rates 5 of 5 stars.

Rating:

“Let Us Prey” (2014) / Z-View

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Let Us Prey (2014)

Director: Brian O’Malley

Screenplay: Fiona Watson, David Cairns

Stars: Liam Cunningham, Pollyanna McIntosh, Bryan Larkin, Douglas Russell, Niall Greig Fulton and Brian Vernel.

Tagline: Darkness shall rise.

The Plot…

In a remote small town police station it’s going to be a strange night.  Police officer Rachel Heggie (McIntosh) has booked Caesar Sargison.  He’s the driver of a hit and run.  Sargison is placed in a cell with Ralph Beswick.  Reggie is charged with domestic battery for beating his wife.  Police officers Jennifer Munday and Jack Warnock (Larkin) arrive with the man Caesar drove into.  Except for a few scratches the man seems okay.

Dr. Duncan Hume (Fulton) is brought in to check the mystery man for injuries.  Suddenly Dr. Hume attempts to stab the man.  Hume is stopped and placed in a cell.  The man has no identification and when his fingerprints come back, they belong to a person that died decades ago.  The man is carrying a small notebook full of people’s names.  When he talks he makes references to the Old Testament.

As the evening progresses, secrets are revealed, murders are committed and murders are solved.  It’s going to be a hell of a night.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Let Us Prey has an interesting set-up.  It just didn’t resonate with me.

Let Us Prey (2014) rates 2 of 5 stars.

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

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Halloween II (1981)

Director: Rick Rosenthal

Screenplay: John Carpenter, Debra Hill

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

Tagline: The Nightmare Isn’t Over

The Plot…

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

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Halloween II is more of a slasher movie than Halloween.

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

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

Halloween II (1981) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Untold: The Murder of Air McNair” (2024) / Z-View

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Untold: The Murder of Air McNair (2024)

Director: Rodney Lucas, Taylor Alexander Ward

Stars: Steve McNair.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Steve “Air” McNair had a wonderful NFL career.  McNair was the third player chosen in the first round.  He played for 12 years.  McNair was an all-pro, a passing leader and very wealthy.  McNair was married with two sons (and two sons from relationships before he was married).  At the age of 35, Steve McNair retired with a family farm in Mississippi and a restaurant he owned in Nashville.

Life should have been great.

On July 4, 2009, Steve McNair was found dead in his Nashville apartment.  He has been shot multiple times. Next to him, also dead from a gunshot wound was Sahel “Jenni” Kazemi.  McNair and Kazemi had been involved in an affair.  The person who found the two didn’t call 911 straight away.  He needed to do some things first.

When the police finally got the call the investigation ruled it a murder/suicide.  But was it?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you’re looking for a one and done murder documentary, this might fit the bill.  It clocks in at 57 minutes.

Untold: The Murder of Air McNair (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Gilbert” (2017) starring Gilbert Gottfried / Z-View

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Gilbert (2017)

Director: Neil Berkeley

Screenplay: Neil Berkeley, James Leche

Stars: Gilbert Gottfried, Joy Behar, Richard Belzer, Lewis Black, Bill Burr, Dick Van Dyke, Jim Gaffigan, Whoopi Goldberg, Penn Jillette, Richard Kind, Artie Lang, Jay Leno, Howie Mandel, Patton Oswalt and Arsenio Hall.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Gilbert takes us behind the scenes to show us the quirky comedian’s lifestyle.  We learn about his family, his idiosyncrasies, the reason he busted out The Aristocrats joke a Hugh Hefner’s roast, the joke that got Aflec to fire him and more.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’ve always enjoyed Gilbert Gottfried in small doses.  This documentary helps fans and non-fans to better understand Gottfried’s humor.  Early in his career Gottfried didn’t work blue (use dirty words) but over the years morphed into a foul mouthed, dirty joke king.  It always amazed me that didn’t hurt the work he got for kids’ movies.

Gilbert (2017) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Union” (2024) starring Mark Wahlberg & Halle Berry / Z-View

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The Union (2024)

Director: Julian Farino

Screenplay: Joe Barton, David Guggenheim; story by David Guggenheim

Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, J.K. Simmons, Mike Colter, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Lucy Cork, Juan Carlos Hernández, Adam Collins, Dana Delany, Lorraine Bracco and Jackie Earle Haley.

Tagline: Old flame. New mission.

The Plot…

Mike McKenna (Wahlberg) works the same job he got when he graduated high school 25 years ago.  His life is a string of meaningless relationships and hanging out with his local friends.  So when his high school girlfriend, Roxanne (Berry) shows up one night, he’s shocked.  He hasn’t seen Roxanne since she left for college.  They had just drifted apart.

Mike and Roxanne have a great evening.  Until she tranquilizes him.  Mike wakes up in London.  Roxanne explains that she’s a secret agent working for a government department known as The Union.  Because on a recent mission several agents were killed, The Union needs new recruits.  Roxanne has recommended Mike for the job.  The Union is made up of everyday people that are given special training.  Because they haven’t stood out in any areas, they are not on anyone’s radar and make good spies.

Mike reluctantly agrees.  Let the good times roll.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you’re willing to go with the silly idea of The Union’s rationale for recruits, you will have a relatively good time.  Much of this is because of the casting: Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, J.K. Simmons, Mike Colter, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Dana Delany, Lorraine Bracco and Jackie Earle Haley.

The Union (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

ROBERT B. PARKER’S BULL RIVER: A COLE AND HITCH NOVEL by Robert Knott / Z-View

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ROBERT B. PARKER’S BULL RIVER: A COLE AND HITCH NOVEL by Robert Knott

First sentence…

We rode hard up the road to the governor’s mansion.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

US Marshall Virgil Cole and his Deputy Everette Hitch are tasked to escort “Captain” Alejandro Vasquez to San Cristobal.  Vasquez, a Mexican desperado, is accused of killing two men. Vasquez claims he’s innocent.  Virgil’s woman, Allie French is worried that they won’t be back in time to attend Appaloosa’s huge citywide celebration.

The trip to San Cristobal is uneventful .  Cole and Hitch transfer Vasquez to the local authorities.  Before Cole and Hitch head back, the local bank is robbed.  One of the robbers is Henry Strode, the bank’s President.  The sheriff asks Cole and Hitch to assist.  Fairly quickly Strode is found.  He’s lying badly beaten and unconscious in the middle of the road.  They take Strode into a house and leave him with a local deputy hoping he’ll regain consciousness.

Strode does come to.  He steals a gun and makes his escape.  Turns out Strode isn’t his real name.  He only assisted in robbing the bank because his brother had his wife and threatened to kill her.  Now Strode’s brother has the bank money, his wife and is headed to Mexico.  So is Strode.

Cole and Hitch prepare to head to Mexico to capture Strode, his brother and hopefully return with the bank’s cash.  Then they learn that Strode isn’t his real name!  “Captain” Alejandro Vasquez says that he knows the real identity of Strode and his brother.  Vasquez also says he knows where they’re heading.  If Cole and Hitch get him released from jail, Vasquez will show them the way.  Oh, and he’ll want Cole to put in a good word to the judge.  Cole says he’ll tell the judge the truth about whatever help Vasquez gives, but makes no other promise.

Vasquez may be lying and his plan may be to escape.  Cole decides to chance it.  Cole, Hitch and Vasquez head into Mexico looking for the desperados.  Little do they know that a worse problem is brewing in  Appaloosa.

+++++

Robert Knott was an excellent choice to continue Robert B. Parker’s Cole and Hitch series.  Each new yarn is an automatic pick-up.

Rating:

“The Glass House” (1972) directed by Tom Gries, screenplay by Tracy Keenan Wynn, starring Vic Morrow, Alan Alda, Clu Gulager & Billy Dee Williams / Z-View

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The Glass House aka Truman Capote’s The Glass House (1972)

Director: Tom Gries

Screenplay: Tracy Keenan Wynn; story by Truman Capote, Wyatt Cooper

Stars: Vic Morrow, Alan Alda, Clu Gulager, Billy Dee Williams, Kristoffer Tabori, Scott Hylands, Roy Jenson, Alan Vint, Luke Askew, G. Wood and Dean Jagger.

Tagline: The most brutal prison story ever filmed!

The Plot…

It’s Brian Courtland’s (Gulager) first day on the job as a prison guard.  The same day a new  bus load of prisoners arrive. In the new group is college professor Jonathan Paige (Alda) and a nineteen year old named Allan Campbell (Tabori).  Paige is there on a manslaughter charge for accidentally killing a man.  Campbell was caught selling marijuana.  Neither Paige nor Campbell are built for prison.  The jury is still out on Courtland.

All three quickly learn that Hugo Slocum (Morrow) is the inmate who runs things.  Slocum leads a gang of convicts.  He also has at least one guard on the take.  What Slocum says goes.  Failure to fall in line leads to a beating or worse.  Slocum and his crew think nothing of killing to keep their power.

Paige warns Allan about Slocum.  Allan is young and naive and doesn’t see how he’s being played. Slocum is treating Allan good, offering protection with no strings attached.  Or so it seems.

The Warden (Jagger) wants Paige put to work in the prison pharmacy.  Courtland warns against that.  He knows Slocum’s man works there.  To switch him out will cause problems for Paige.  The warden doesn’t want to hear it.

When Paige starts work in the pharmacy, he learns about Slocum’s system to get drugs into the prison.  Paige refuses to play along.  He becomes a marked man.  Slocum decides to make an example out of Allan in the worst possible way.

What chance does Paige have?  He’s a college professor in a corrupt prison, marked for death by the con who runs things.  Don’t expect a happy ending.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Glass House was nominated for three Primetime Emmys and won one…

  • winner for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama – A Single Program: Tom Gries
  • nominee for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama – Adaptation: Tracy Keenan Wynn
  • nominee for Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Entertainment Programming – For a Special or Feature Length Program Made for Television: Gene Fowler Jr.

The Glass House was filmed at Utah State Prison.  Real prisoners were seen in the movie.

The Glass House was filmed for television, but a cut released for theaters and video features slight male nudity and profanity.

I saw The Glass House when it premiered on television.  I was thirteen.  It opened my eyes to things I’d never considered.  Over 50 years later it still is powerful filmmaking.  You might not believe it was made for tv.

Director Tom Gries directed episodes of many television programs and feature films that I enjoyed as a kid.  He’s probably best known for directing Charles Bronson in Breakheart Pass and Breakout in the same year.  The Glass House is my favorite of his films.

Screenwriter Tracey Keenan Wynn was the son of actor Keenan Wynn.  He had written the excellent television movie The Tribe starring Darrin McGavin and Jan-Michael Vincent two years prior.  Wynn won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama – Original Teleplay.  He followed The Glass House with The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman.  For that he won another Primetime Emmy for  Best Writing in Drama – Adaptation.  Wynn followed with the screenplays for The Longest Yard starring Burt Reynolds and Harper starring Paul Newman.  Wynn was on quite a roll.

Vic Morrow should have won or at least been nominated for a Primetime Emmy.  This is arguably his best performance ever.

A young Bill Dee Williams coming off of Brian’s Song has a co-starring role.

The Glass House aka Truman Capote’s The Glass House (1972) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Dead Ringer” (1964) starring Bette Davis, Karl Malden & Peter Lawford / Z-View

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Dead Ringer (1964)

Director: Paul Henreid

Screenplay: Albert Beich, Oscar Millard; based on The Other aka Dead Pigeon by Rian James

Stars: Bette Davis, Karl Malden, Peter Lawford, Philip Carey, Jean Hagen, George Macready, Estelle Winwood, George Chandler, Cyril Delevanti, Monika Henreid, Ken Lynch, Henry Beckman and Bert Remsen.

Tagline: Mirror, mirror, on the wall, now who’s the fairest twin of all?

The Plot…

For nearly two decades, twin sisters Margaret and Edith (Davis) haven’t spoken.  Their friendship ended when Margaret cheated with Edith’s fiancé Frank DeLorca.  To add insult, Margaret faked being pregnant and married the extremely wealthy man.

So Margaret got the life of luxury.  Money, a mansion, maids and a butler.  Edith barely got by.  With each passing year Edith has grown more bitter.

So when Edith sees a funeral notice for Frank, she decides it is time for revenge.  Edith and Margaret are identical sisters.  No one can tell them apart by looking.  So if Edith killed Margaret and took her place who would know?

Who would know indeed.  The best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Director Paul Henreid is best known as the actor who played Laszlo in Casablanca.

Dead Ringer (1964) rates 4 of 5 stars.

MUMBAI CONFIDENTIAL by Saurav Mohapatra & Vivek Shinde / Z-View

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MUMBAI CONFIDENTIAL BOOK ONE: GOOD COP, BAD COP by Saurav Mohapatra (writer), Vivek Shinde (artist)

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Five years ago life was good.  Arjun Kadam was happily married.  He was a cop with a bright future.  Kadam was personally selected by the Chief to join the Mumbai Encounter Squad.  The squad was a strike force authorized to use whatever force necessary to take down the worst criminals.

But that was then.

After Kadam’s wife died, things began to spiral.  The Squad was crossing lines in the name of justice that were questionable at best.  Then a hit and run driver put Kadam in a coma and killed the little girl he was talking with.

Now Kadam has recovered. He’s no longer a cop.  Kadam’s dealing with depression and drug dependency.  The thing that keeps Kadam going is his determination to find the little girl’s killer.

Kadam’s journey will take him from slums and back alleys to the richest Bollywood nightclubs.  As Kadam digs deeper into the Mumbai Underworld the difference between gangsters and cops becomes blurred.  No longer a cop, Kadam is on his own.  Survival is unlikely when mobsters and out of control cops want you dead.

Arjun Kadam doesn’t care.  He’s going to take them all down… or die trying.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you’re a fan of noir, The Shield, and 100 Bullets, then MUMBAI CONFIDENTIAL is for you.  Featuring a non-linear storyline and wonderful art, it reads like a novel.  Saurav Mohapatra has the tough guy dialogue down.  Vivek Shinde’s art compliments the story with his exciting visuals and muted colors.  (It was originally conceived to be done in ink wash.)

As the story unfolds we get interludes by different artists that take us deeper in the world of MUMBAI CONFIDENTIAL.  I found the different art styles interesting and added to my enjoyment of the main storyline. The interludes are…

  • Remaster by Sid Kotian
  • House of Cards by Saumin Patel
  • Missed Call by Vinay Brahmania and Shounak Jog
  • Full Moon by Vinay Brahmania
  • Demand and Supply by Devaki Neogi

MUMBAI CONFIDENTIAL gets my highest recommendation!

MUMBAI CONFIDENTIAL BOOK ONE: GOOD COP, BAD COP by Saurav Mohapatra (writer), Vivek Shinde (artist) rates 5 of 5 stars.

Rating:

“The Long Riders” (1980) directed by Walter Hill, starring the Carradine Brothers, the Keach Brothers and the Quaid Brothers / Z-View

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The Long Riders (1980)

Director: Walter Hill

Screenplay: Bill Bryden, Steven Phillip Smith, Stacy Keach, James Keach

Stars: David Carradine, Stacy Keach, Dennis Quaid, Keith Carradine, Robert Carradine, James Keach, Randy Quaid, Kevin Brophy, Harry Carey Jr., Christopher Guest, Nicholas Guest, Felice Orlandi, Pamela Reed, James Remar, Fran Ryan, Savannah Smith Boucher, Edward Bunker, Tim Rossovich and Sonny Landham.

Tagline: They were nine men from four families. They rode together from Missouri to Minnesota, and from Texas to Tennessee. This is their story…and it’s as close to the truth as legends can ever be.

The Plot…

The exploits (and eventual demise) of The James Gang.  After the Civil War ended three groups of brothers Jesse and Frank James, Cole, Jim and Bob Younger, plus Ed and Clell Miller became famous for their daring stagecoach, train and bank robberies.  Although they were stone cold killers, they became legends.

This is their story.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

After James and his brother, Stacy Keach played the Wright Brothers in a tv movie, James got the idea for them to play Jesse and Frank James.  The story was developed as a play and ultimately an off-Broadway production ran.

When James Keach and Robert Carradine starred together in the television film, The Hatfields and the McCoys, they discussed the proposed James Gang movie.  Robert though he and his brothers should play the Youngers.

When the film was first announced Beau and Jeff Bridges were to play the Millers.  When Jeff became unavailable, the Quaids came on to play the Millers.

Everything was coming together as a six hour mini-series called The Bandit Kings.  When Fred Silverman became NBC’s President he cancelled all mini-series set up before he came on board.

Walter Hill agreed to direct, David Carradine gave up his normal profit participation, and the Keach Brothers gave up their Executive Producer pay to get the film made.

Director Walter Hill was on a roll.  The Long Riders was his fourth time at the helm.  His previous three films were Hard Times, The Driver and The Warriors.  After The Long Riders his next three movies were Southern Comfort, 48hrs. and Streets of Fire.  What a start!!

The Long Riders (1980) rates 4 of 5 stars.