Category: Z-View

“Vampyr” (1932) directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer / Z-View

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Vampyr (1932)

Director: Carl Theodor Dreyer

Screenplay:  Christen Jul, Carl Theodor Dreyer;  based on the story In a Glass Darkly by Sheridan Le Fanu

Stars: Julian West, Maurice Schutz, Rena Mandel, Jan Hieronimko, Sybille Schmitz and Henriette Gerard.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Allan Gray, a drifter walking through the countryside takes a room at an inn.  Late that night he is awakened from his sleep by a stranger in his room.  The man leaves a note, “To Be Opened Upon My Death” and quickly leaves.  Gray attempts to follow the man and arrives at a castle.  Looking in he sees an old woman and shadows of people although no one else is seen.  The shadows appear to move on their own.

As Gray investigates further he will find the old man shortly before the gent is murdered.  Gray opens the note which speaks of demons called vampyrs.  Gray believes that the old man’s young daughter is becoming a vampyr.  

Can she be saved?  Must she be destroyed?  Gray must decide.  The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Many consider Vampyr a classic.  For whatever reason it didn’t resonate with me.  Your mileage, as always, may vary.

Although it was created when sound films had arrived, it still presents much information in title cards used in silent films.

Most of the characters in this film were not played by professional actors.

Vampyr (1932) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Atomic Blonde” (2017) directed by David Leitch, starring Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman & Sofia Boutella / Z-View

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Atomic Blonde (2017)

Director: David Leitch

Screenplay:  Kurt Johnstad based on The Coldest City by Antony Johnston, Sam Hart

Stars: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman, Toby Jones, James Faulkner, Bill Skarsgård, Sam Hargrave, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Til Schweiger, Declan Hannigan and Sofia Boutella.

Tagline:  Talents can be overrated.

The Plot…

1999.  The cold war rages.  When a MI6 agent is executed and microfilm containing The List of every active secret agent is stolen, Lorraine Broughton (Theron) is sent undercover to Berlin.  Her mission is to recover The List at all costs.

Lorraine is warned that a KGB double agent only known as The Satchel is active in the area.  Immediately after arriving in Berlin, an assassination attempt on Loraine is attempted.  She barely survives. Loraine then meets her contact David Percival (McAvoy), an MI6 deep undercover agent.  As Loraine works to find The List, she encounters Delphine Lasalle (Boutella) who claims to be a French agent.

Not sure who she can trust, Lorraine must find The List before it falls into enemy hands.  Failure to do so will cost the lives of dozens of agents… including her.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

David Leitch co-directed John Wick.  He decided to do this film rather than John Wick Chapter 2.

Charlize Theron and Keanu Reeves trained together.  Reeves was getting in shape for John Wick Chapter 2.

There is a fight scene that moves up/down stairs and through several rooms that last about ten minutes.  It appears (thanks to clever editing) to be done in one continuous shot.

Charlize Theron, James McAvoy and Sofia Boutella are perfect.  The supporting cast is amazing.

David Leitch has created an action classic.

Atomic Blonde (2017) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Ghost and the Guest” (1943) / Z-View

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The Ghost and the Guest (1943)

Director: William Nigh

Screenplay:  Morey Amsterdam; original story by Milt Gross

Stars: James Dunn, Florence Rice, Anthony Caruso and Sam McDaniel.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Webster Frye (Dunn) and his bride, Jackie (Rice) plan to honeymoon in the old remote house her father bought her.  When Webster and Jackie arrive they are surprised to find Ben Bowron.  Bowron says that the famous jewel thief Honeyboy left him the house in his will.

Before you know it Honeyboy’s coffin is brought to the house.  Then a bunch of criminals show up for Honeyboy’s burial service.  They are followed by some cops and a lawyer.  If this sounds like a great mix for a fun romp, it is.  Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t live up to the potential.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Morey Amsterdam of The Dick Van Dyke Show fame wrote the screenplay.  You’d think it would be funnier.

The Ghost and the Guest (1943) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Curucu, Beast of the Amazon” (1956) / Z-View

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Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (1956)

Director: Curt Siodmak

Screenplay:  Curt Siodmak

Stars: John Bromfield, Beverly Garland, Larri Thomas, Ray Barlow, Sue Bernard, Stuart Lancaster, John Furlong (voice) and Paul Trinka.

Tagline: Actually filmed in the Amazon Jungle in spectacular Eastman Color!

The Plot…

Rock Dean (Bromfield) and Dr. Andrea Romar (Garland) are on an expedition deep into the jungles of the Amazon.  Dean hopes to discover a legendary beast.  Dr. Romar wants to get samples of a drug used by natives to shrink heads.  She believes the drug could be used to reduce cancerous tissue.

As Dean and Dr. Romar venture into areas never seen by white men, they must be prepared for wild animals, head hunters and Curucu, Beast of the Amazon.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Curt Siodmak who wrote and directed Curucu, Beast of the Amazon was a novelist (DONOVAN’S BRAIN; THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS; FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN); screenwriter (The Wolfman; Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman; Tarzan’s Magic Fountain) and director (Bride of the Gorilla; Love Slaves of the Amazon; The Magnetic Monster).

Curucu, Beast of the Amazon was shot on location in the Amazon River in Brazil.  Siodmak shot so much footage that he couldn’t use, he brought back some of the actors.  He created a new screenplay, Love Slaves of the Amazons and used the leftover footage in the new film.

Curucu, Beast of the Amazon uses quite a bit of what feels like stock footage of wild animals.  Except for the final shot, the movie is very run of the mill.

Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (1956) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” (1966) directed by Russ Meyer, starring Tura Satana, Haji, Lori Williams & Sue Bernard / Z-View

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Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1966)

Director: Russ Meyer

Screenplay: Jack Moran; story by Russ Meyer

Stars: Tura Satana, Haji, Lori Williams, Ray Barlow, Sue Bernard, Stuart Lancaster, John Furlong (voice) and Paul Trinka.

Tagline: Go-Go for a Wild Ride with the ACTION GIRLS!

The Plot…

Varla, Rosie, and Billie are three young, wild women living on the edge.  When they’re not working as go-go dancers, they’re on the prowl for thrills.  They race cars… flirt… fight… tease or whatever strikes their mood.

After a desert race goes bad, they kidnap a teenage girl.  Then they hear about a rich old man living alone in a remote house.

The best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! is a low budget exploitation flick that made only a modest profit on its initial release, over the years it has become a cult classic.

The movie feels like it is set in an alternate universe.  Filming it in black and white enhances this.

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1966) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Lone Star” (1996) written & directed by John Sayles, starring Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Kris Kristofferson & Matthew McConaughey / Z-View

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Lone Star (1996)

Director: John Sayles

Screenplay: John Sayles

Stars: Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Stephen Mendillo, Stephen J. Lang, Oni Faida Lampley, Joe Stevens, Richard Coca, Clifton James, Tony Frank, Miriam Colon, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Morton, LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Matthew McConaughey .

Tagline: John Sayles invites you to return to the scene of the crime.

The Plot…

Sam Deeds (Cooper) is Sheriff of Frontera, Texas, a small border town.  When a skeleton, a Masonic ring and Sheriff’s badge are found in a shallow grave just outside of town, Deeds opens an investigation.  The remains appear to be those of Charlie Wade.

Wade was the infamously corrupt Sheriff of Frontera twenty years ago.  Sheriff Wade vanished under mysterious circumstances. At the same time $10,000 of county funds was missing.  To add to the puzzle, Wade’s disappearance happened after a public argument with one of his deputies.  That deputy was Buddy Deeds (McConaughey), Sam’s father.  During the argument each man threatened to kill the other.  Many thought Buddy made good on his promise.  That didn’t stop Buddy from becoming the new Sheriff.

But that was years ago.  Although Buddy is dead, his legend lives on.  And now his son,  Sheriff Sam Deeds is determined to discover the truth.

No one could have predicted the lies and deceptions about to surface.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Lone Star was nominated for one Academy Award…

  • nominee Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – John Sayles

Kudos to John Sayles who wrote, directed, and assembled an all-star cast to create an interesting mystery with heart.  I loved Sayles’ inventive transitions from present to past done without a cut.

I also get a kick out of the fact that the movie appears to be about solving the mystery of who was in the shallow grave and who killed him.  But neither of those hold the answers to the biggest secrets that will be revealed.

Lone Star (1946) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Searchers” (1956) directed by John Ford, starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter & Natalie Wood / Z-View

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The Searchers (1956)

Director: John Ford

Screenplay: Frank S. Nugent; based on THE SEARCHERS by Alan Le May

Stars: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Natalie Wood, John Qualen, Olive Carey, Henry Brandon, Ken Curtis, Harry Carey Jr., Antonio Moreno, Hank Worden, Patrick Wayne  and Lana Wood.

Tagline: He had to find her… he had to find her…

The Plot…

1868.  The Comanches are on the warpath.  They’ve been attacking homesteads along the frontier.  One of the farms belonged to the Edwards’ family.  The Comanches killed everyone except little Debbie. They kidnapped Debbie to raise as part of their tribe.

Ethan Edwards (Wayne) is Debbie’s uncle.  He’s a former Civil War soldier who hates Indians. (Ethan’s mother was killed by Comanches years earlier.) Ethan learns that his brother’s family was wiped out.  He forms a posse to rescue Debbie.  They trail the Comanches into the badlands.  As time drags on and they move farther into the frontier, some posse members give up.

Refusing to quit, Ethan and Martin Pawley (Hunter) press on.  Martin stays because the Edwards’ family adopted him when he was young.  He wants to bring Debbie safely home.  Ethan plans to kill Debbie.  He cannot stand the thought that she’s now a squaw.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Searchers was John Wayne’s favorite of all the movies he made.  Ethan Edwards was also his favorite of all the characters he ever played.  Wayne even named his youngest son Ethan.

The Mose Harper (Worden) character comes off as half-crazy,  Surprisingly the character is based on a real Indian fighter known as Mad Mose.  And yes, he loved rocking chairs.

Reportedly Buddy Holly’s song “That’ll Be The Day” was inspired by John Wayne’s repeated use in The Searchers.

Natalie Wood’s character when she was small was played by her younger sister, Lana.

The Searchers was in the first group of 25 movies chosen for preservation in The National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

The Searchers has it all.  Adventure, humor, suspense, action and even romance.  It is rightfully considered a classic.

The Searchers (1956) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told” (2024) / Z-View

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Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told (2024)

Director: P. Frank Williams

Stars: André 3000, The Notorious B.I.G., Big Boi, CeeLo Green.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

How a small black college picnic grew and grew to become an annual event known as Freaknik.  The event started out as a get-together for college students who didn’t have the resources to return home for Spring Break.

Each year the event grew bigger.  It began to attract out-of-towners from all over the country.  Many were not college students.  The event became so large it shut down the city.  Drugs, sex and sexual assaults turned the powers that be against the event.

This is the story of the rise and fall of Freaknik.

Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Shadows Over Chinatown” (1946) starring Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland & Jimmy Yung / Z-View

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Shadows Over Chinatown (1946)

Director: Terry O. Morse

Screenplay: Raymond L. Schrock; based characters created by Earl Derr Biggers

Stars: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Victor Sen Yung, John Gallaudet, Paul Bryar, Mary Gordon, Mira McKinney and Franke Fontaine.

Tagline: Chan follows the trail of a blood-chilling wave of torso slayings!

The Plot…

Charlie Chan (Toler) has been called to San Francisco to investigate a series of murders.  On the way, someone takes a shot a him. Chan is not deterred, but even agrees to help a couple looking for a missing woman.  They’re worried that she has become a victim of the serial killings.

Now that Chan, his number two son, Jimmy (Yung) and faithful assistant Birmingham Brown (Moreland) are on the case, things are about to heat up.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Because Sidney Toler had terminal cancer, but wanted to continue the series, his character is often seated.  Also Mantan Moreland and  Victor Sen Yung were given more to do.

Frankie Fontaine has an uncredited cameo doing his bit as a drunk.  I recognized him from his appearances as Crazy Guggenheim on The Jackie Gleason Show.

Shadows Over Chinatown (1946) rates 3 of 5 stars.

CURTAIN CALL by Lupano Wilfrid & Rodolphe Guenoden / Z-View

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CURTAIN CALL by Lupano Wilfrid (writer) and Rodolphe Guenoden (artist)

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Vinent and Gaby Rocket are unlikely partners in crime.  At least they plan to be.  Their get rich scheme is to knock over an armored truck.  The thing is neither of them are criminals.  The only reason they’d dare such an outrageous crime is they need the money.

Gaby needs the cash to get off the booze and finally live a better life.  Vincent plans to use his cut to return to Senegal, the home of his true love and their baby that he’s never seen.  Vincent also wants to give a share of the loot to armored truck’s driver.  The guy isn’t in on the robbery.  He’s just a down on his luck schmo that Vincent feels sorry for.  Gaby’s not sure he’s okay with that.

Despite the best laid plans, things go sideways in ways no once could imagine.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Lupano Wilfrid and Rodolphe Guenoden have created an unconventional crime story.  The characters are flawed and their motivations are real.  The twists are not those expected in a crime story, but are believable thanks to the set-up of Wilfrid’s story.  Guenoden’s art is on the mark.  I love how he has just the right touch of cartoony-ness.

CURTAIN CALL by Lupano Wilfrid (writer) and Rodolphe Guenoden (artist) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Rating:

“Open Range” (2003) directed by Kevin Costner, starring Robert Duvall & Kevin Costner / Z-View

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Open Range (2003)

Director: Kevin Costner

Screenplay: Craig Storper; based on THE OPEN RANGE MEN by Lauran Paine

Stars: Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, Diego Luna, Abraham Benrubi, Annette Bening, Michael Gambon, Michael Jeter, James Russo, Peter MacNeill, Cliff Saunders, Julian Richings, Ian Tracey, Diego Diablo Del Mar and Kim Coates.

Tagline: No place to run. No reason to hide.

The Plot…

“Boss” Spearman (Duvall) and Charley Waite (Costner) are cattlemen driving their herd across country.  Along with them are Mose and Button, two young hired hands.  They decide to bed down for a few nights.  Mose is sent into a nearby town for supplies.

When Mose doesn’t return, Boss and Charley ride into town.  They find Mose in jail and badly beaten.  It turns out that rancher Denton Baxter (Gambon) doesn’t tolerate cattlemen crossing his land.  Baxter has the Sheriff on his payroll and the town afraid to do anything.  Baxter and the Sheriff release Mose with the warning to Boss and Charlie to be gone by nightfall.

That ain’t going to happen.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Kevin Costner got the project going, starred in and directed it.  Touchstone gave him top billing until he requested that Robert Duvall be credited first.

Open Range is just about perfect.  Great story, cast, acting, and direction.  Robert Duvall is a national treasure.  I rank Open Range higher than Dances with Wolves.  It’s that good.

Open Range (2003) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Twisters” (2024) directed by Lee Isaac Chung, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell & Anthony Ramos / Z-View

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Twisters (2024)

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Screenplay: Mark L. Smith; story by Joseph Kosinski; based on characters created by Michael Crichton, Anne-Marie Martin

Stars: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney, Kiernan Shipka, David Corenswet, Katy O’Brian, David Born and James Paxton.

Tagline: Chase. Ride. Survive.

The Plot…

Kate Carter (Edgar-Jones) was a young scientist/storm-chaser on the verge of a way to quickly reduce the intensity of a tornado.  But that was five years ago.  Kate quit her research when a tornado chase went sideways.  Three of her friends were killed.  Only Kate and Javi (Ramos) survived.

Now Kate works at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in New York City.  She monitors conditions from the safety of a control center.  Kate is surprised one day when Javi shows up unannounced.  He is part owner of a new company, Storm Par, that uses cutting edge technology to predict the paths/strengths of tornadoes.  Although hesitant at first, Kate agrees to work with Javi for one week since the new technology could save lives.

Back in Oklahoma, in tornado alley, Kate experiences a panic attack.  She’s worried how she’ll respond when the team closes in on a tornado.  Another problem is a competing group of tornado chasers.  Tyler Owens (Powell) aka The Tornado Wrangler along with his team are an internet sensation.  They’re all about the “views” and their hotdogging is liable to get people killed.

This is a bad mixture as the worst tornado weather in years is predicted.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Twisters isn’t a direct sequel to Twister, but Bill Paxton’s son, James Paxton has a cameo as the upset hotel guest.

Twisters works because of the direction of Lee Isaac Chung, the charm of Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos, the chemistry between Edgar-Jones and Powell and the special effects.

Twisters (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies” (2001) / Z-View

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Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001)

Director: Ray Greene

Screenplay: Ray Greene

Stars: Ray Greene, Roger Corman, Maila Nurmi, Dick Miller, Samuel Z. Arkoff, Forrest J. Ackerman and Peter Bogdanovich.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Movies that qualify as “schlock” are low-budget, genre films that usually focus on horror, sex and/or violence.  These films were made quickly and usually the second feature on a double bill or drive-in fare.  Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies explores (as the title suggests) the history of these types of movies.  It’s an interesting topic to see how these movies changed over time and influenced popular culture.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you have any interest in schlock cinema, this one is for you.

Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Docks of New Orleans” (1948) starring Roland Winters, Virginia Dale & Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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Docks of New Orleans (1948)

Director: Derwin Abrahams

Screenplay: William Scott Darling based on Charlie Chan by Earl Derr Biggers

Stars: Roland Winters, Virginia Dale, Mantan Moreland, John Gallaudet, Victor Sen Yung, Douglas Fowley, Stanley Andrews, Emmett Vogan and Rory Mallinson.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

The owners of the LaFontaine Chemical Company are shipping out a boatload of a secret cargo.  This is going to make them a, pardon the expression, a “boatload” of money.  They decide to sign an agreement that if one (or more) of them were to die, the money would be spent by the survivors.

No sooner done, then one of them is murdered.  How this was done is a mystery.  No signs of death and the victim was alone in a room that no one entered.

Thankfully Charlie Chan has been called in.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Mantan Mooreland gets more to do in this one.  This includes Mooreland’s famous “Indefinite Talk” routine.

Docks of New Orleans (1948) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Hitchcock” (2012) starring Anthony Hopkins & Helen Mirren / Z-View

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Hitchcock (2012)

Director: Sacha Gervasi

Screenplay: John J. McLaughlin; based on ALFRED HITCHCOCK AND THE MAKING OF PSYCHO by Stephen Rebello

Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Danny Huston, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael Wincott, Jessica Biel, James D’Arcy, Richard Portnow, Kurtwood Smith, Kai Lennox, Tara Summers, Wallace Langham, Paul Schackman, Currie Graham, Spencer Garrett  and Ralph Macchio.

Tagline: Behind every Psycho is a great woman.

The Plot…

Alfred Hitchcock coming off the success of North by Northwest is looking for a new project.  The studios have offered high profile projects, but Hitch has his sights on adapting Robert Bloch’s novel PSYCHO.  The studio is against the idea.  Hitch is determined to make the film even if he has to finance it himself.

He does. The studio is offering little support. So Hitchcock risks everything to see the project through.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hitchcock was nominated for one Academy Award…

  • Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling – Howard Berger, Peter Montagna, Martin Samuel

The scenes of Hitchcock’s office on the Paramount lot were shot in Alfred Hitchcock’s actual office!

Michael Wincott is excellent in the role of Ed Gein, the real life murderer that inspired Robert Bloch to write PSYCHO.

Hitchcock (2012) rates 4 of 5 stars.