Category: Z-View

“Triple Crossed” (1959) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Triple Crossed (1959)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Warren Wilson

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser, Diana Darrin and Shemp Howard.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Larry is having an affair with Moe’s wife and trying to move in on Joe’s girl.  When Moe catches on that his wife is cheating, Larry sets up Joe to be the fall guy.  It all comes to a head when Larry, Moe and Joe as well as the girls end up in the same room.

Let the hijinks begin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Triple Crossed is a remake of the Stooges 1952 short, He Cooked His Goose.  Triple Crossed not only uses footage from that short, but sharp eyes and eyes will see/hear Shemp in the remake.  You can also notice the word “Joe” dubbed in when characters are saying “Shemp” in the reused footage.

Triple Crossed (1959) earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Oil’s Well That Ends Well” (1958) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Oil’s Well That Ends Well (1958)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys receive a letter from their dad saying that he needs surgery.  Dad suggests that our guys go to land that he owns and search for uranium.  So our boys do just that.  They find oil!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

While Oil’s Well That Ends Well reuses some footage from Oily to Bed Oily to Rise, the 1939 Stooges short, it is in service to a new story.  The footage used shows Curly atop the spout when the boys strike oil. Oil’s Well That Ends Well is also the only Stooges short that has no supporting actors.  It’s just Larry, Moe and Joe from start to finish.

Oil’s Well That Ends Well (1958) earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Frasier” – Season 1 (2023) starring Kelsey Grammer / Z-View

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Frasier – Season 1 (2023)

Based on: Frasier by David Angell & Peter Casey & David Lee; Frasier Crane by Glen Charles & Les Charles; developed by Chris Harris, Joe Cristalli

Director:  James Burrows (Eps.1 – 2); Kelly Park (Ep. 3; 6); Kelsey Grammer (Eps. 4; 7 – 8; 10); Phill Lewis (Ep. 5);

Teleplay by: Joe Cristalli & Chris Harris (Ep. 1); Stephen Lloyd (Ep. 2); Lauren Houseman (Ep. 3); Bob Daily (Ep. 4); Farhan Arshad (Ep. 5); Joe Cristalli (Ep. 6); Sasha Stroman (Ep. 7); Miles Woods (Ep. 8); Robb Chavis (Ep. 9); Janene Lin & Jenna Martin & Naima Pearce (Ep. 10)

Starring:  Kelsey Grammer, Jack Cutmore-Scott, Toks Olagundoye, Jess Salgueiro, Anders Keith, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Jimmy Dunn, Bebe Neuwirth and Peri Gilpin.

Tagline: None.

The Plot: 

Frasier Crane, a Harvard educated, wealthy and famous television psychologist moves back to Boston after the death of his father.  Frasier hopes to rebuild a relationship with his grown son, Freddy.  Freddy is now a firefighter, having dropped out of Harvard.  Frasier buys the apartment building where Freddy lives, moves in and returns to Harvard as a Professor.

Let the good times roll

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

The season starts off a bit shaky but really hits stride with episode 6 which reaches the high bar set by the original series.

Many scenes take place in a bar called Mahoney’s.  This is a tribute to the late John Mahoney who played Frasier’s father in the original series.  It’s interesting to note that Kelsey Grammer is older than John Mahoney was when he played Frasier’s dad.

Frasier – Season 1 (2023)

“Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire” (2023) directed by Zack Snyder, starring Sofia Boutella / Z-View

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Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire (2023)

Director:  Zack Snyder

Screenplay:  Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, Shay Hatten

Stars: Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Bae Doona, Ray Fisher, Charlie Hunnam, Staz Nair, Stuart Martin, Alfonso Herrera, Cary Elwes, Rhian Rees, Jena Malone and Anthony Hopkins.

Tagline: War comes to every world.

The Plot…

A peaceful farming village is informed by Admiral Atticus Noble (Skrein) that he will return with his warship to collect all of their crops once the harvest is complete.  When the village leader complains that his people will starve without crops, Noble kills him in cold blood. Admiral Noble posts soldiers in the village and leaves in his warship.

Kora (Boutella) informs the villagers that once the crops have been collected, Noble will kill them all.  She believes that the villagers only chance is to recruit soldiers of fortune to teach them to fight.  Seeing no other alternative, they agree.  Kora sets out to find warriors willing to go to battle against the empire in a suicide mission.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s a well known fact that Zack Snyder at one point pitched this as a Star Wars story.  Some folks are complaining Rebel Moon is too derivative.  Let’s take that head on.  George Lucas was influenced by westerns, movie serials, the Vietnam War, Flash Gordon and more to create Star Wars.  Zack Snyder has been very open that he wanted to create a movie influenced by Star Wars and The Seven Samurai.  I also felt nods to Riddick, Gladiator, the Third Reich, Tarzan, Conan, westerns, Vikings and more.  Whether you like or dislike these homages is up to you.

If you’re familiar with Snyder’s directing style, you know what to expect.  I’m a fan.

Rebel Moon: Part One – Child of Fire has an excellent cast.  Each character gets a brief spotlight as they are introduced or brought on to the team.  Standouts include Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein and Ray Fisher.

The pacing isn’t what you’d normally expect.  Time is taken to set up the village dilemma. Each character gets an action scene as they are brought onto the team.  This takes most of the film.  Then there is a twist. What would normally be an extended sequence, the recovery and ultimate battle gets wrapped up fairly quickly.  BUT, keep in mind this is just part one.  Also, there is a second plot twist (that I don’t think works as well).

I enjoyed Rebel Moon: Part One – Child of Fire.  It’s not my favorite Zack Snyder film, but I didn’t expect it to be. I’m looking forward to his director’s cut and then Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver.  (And of course, I’d be remiss not to say we need more Army of the Dead!)

Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire (2023) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Flying Saucer Daffy” (1958) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Flying Saucer Daffy (1958)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Jack White

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser, Emil Sitka, Gail Bonney and Diana Darrin.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Joe lives with his Aunt and cousins, Larry and Moe.  They treat Joe terribly.  When Joe accidentally gets a photo of a flying saucer and wins $10,000 things change… for the worse.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Flying Saucer Daffy was Joe Besser’s favorite Stooge short.  It is also the last Stooges short to be filmed.  Since the studio didn’t release them in order, it wasn’t the last to be shown in theaters. Sappy Bull Fighters is the answer to that trivia question.

Moe was actually older than the actress who played his mother.

A snippet of footage from Earth vs the Flying Saucers is used in this one.

Flying Saucer Daffy (1958) earns 3 of 5 stars.

Pies and Guys (1958) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Pies and Guys (1958)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser, Emil Sitka and Milton Frome.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys’ sister, Birdie, has died and been reincarnated as a horse.  Birdie lives with the boys. At breakfast one morning, our guys learn that Birdie’s mate, Schnapps is a famous circus horse.  They also discover that Schnapps was injured and is scheduled to be put down.

It is up to our guys (and Birdie) to save Schnapps.  What could go wrong.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Pies and Guys is a remake of the Stooges’ 1947 short, Half-Wits Holiday which was a remake of their 1935 short Hoi Polloi. Pies and Guys used stock footage, so some of those pies had been around for a while.  ; )

Pies and Guys (1958) earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Horsing Around” (1957) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Horsing Around (1957)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser  and Emil Sitka.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys’ sister, Birdie, has died and been reincarnated as a horse.  Birdie lives with the boys. At breakfast one morning, our guys learn that Birdie’s mate, Schnapps is a famous circus horse.  They also discover that Schnapps was injured and is scheduled to be put down.

It is up to our guys (and Birdie) to save Schnapps.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Horsing Around is a sequel to Hoofs and Goofs released earlier in the year.  The weird part (well, if there is a weird part when it comes to The Three Stooges) is that Hoofs and Goofs was supposed to be a dream.

Horsing Around (1957) earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Fifi Blows Her Top” (1958) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Fifi Blows Her Top (1958)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser, Philip Van Zandt. Christine McIntyre. Heinie Conklin, Al Thompson  and Joe Palma.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Larry’s former girlfriend, Fifi moves in the apartment across the hall.  Only now she’s married to a jealous husband.  So when Fifi’s dress gets ruined in the boys’ apartment, you know the husband is going to show up.  Let the hijinks begin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fifi Blows Her Top is a reboot of the Stooges’ Love at First Bite and incorporates footage from it.

Fifi Blows Her Top (1958) earns 2 of 5 stars.

Outer Space Jitters (1957) starring The Three Stooges and Dan Blocker! / Z-View

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Outer Space Jitters (1957)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Jack White

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser, Emil Sitka, Philip Van Zandt. Dan Blocker. Diana Darrin and Joe Palma.

Tagline:  The planet of Sunev – Somewhere in outer space – “Sunev is Venus spelled backwards”

The Plot…

Moe, Larry and Joe travel to the planet Sunev.  The rulers there seem nice, but in reality they are planning to take over the planet Earth!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dan Blocker, who would become famous playing Hoss Cartwright on Bonanza appears as a monster.  Sadly, he’s billed as Don Blocker in the opening credits.

Outer Space Jitters features a weak script with a weaker ending.  The boys deserved better.

Outer Space Jitters (1957) earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (2023) starring Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge & Mads Mikkelsen / Z-View

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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Director:  James Mangold

Screenplay: Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, David Koepp, James Mangold based on characters created by George Lucas, Philip Kaufman

Stars: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renée  Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, Mads Mikkelsen  and Olivier Richters.

Tagline: A legend will face his destiny.

The Plot…

The year is 1969.  Man has landed on the moon. The world is a very different place than the one Indiana Jones (Ford) knew as a young man.  Indy’s about to retire, but his golden years ain’t so golden.  His wife, Marion (Allen), has filed for separation.  She still grieves for their son who was killed in the Viet Nam war as does Indy.  Things change when Jones’ goddaughter, Helena (Waller-Bridge) shows up.

Helena wants information about the Archimedes’ Dial.  The Archimedes Dial is an ancient artifact that legend says can find “fissures” that allow time travel. Indy and Helena’s father stole the Dial from Nazis at the end of the war. Her father nearly went crazy trying to figure out how to use it.  He finally gave it to Indy to destroy.  Instead Indy had it placed in storage at the college where he taught.

Indy takes Helena to the room holding the artifact.  Just then Dr. Voller (Mikkelsen), a Nazi, arrives with gunmen who attack Helena and Indy.  Helena (with the Dial) and Indy escape, but are separated.  Voller and his gun thugs give chase.

Voller believes that with the Dial of Destiny he can go back in time and assassinate Hitler!  Voller will then lead Germany to victory and rule the world!  Indy, on the run and framed for two murders, must get to Helena before Voller can track her down.  Helena’s life and the future of the world count on it.

“Give ’em hell, Indiana Jones!”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Director James Mangold was the perfect choice since Steven Spielberg decided not to return for Indy’s final outing.

The de-agging of Harrison Ford is effective.  Some have nitpicked that the voice sounded older and some of his de-agged movements seem like those of an older man.  Either I didn’t notice or this things didn’t bug me.  I was having too much fun on Indy’s last ride.

Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones.  It was great to see Karen Allen and John Rhys-Davies back. Mads Mikkelsen was an excellent choice to play the Nazi Voller.  I am a huge Boyd Holbrook fan and loved that he’s in the cast. Toby Jones makes a fun partner for younger Indy.  I’d love to see more of their adventures in animated tales.   If ANY movie needs a huge bad guy, Olivier Richters proves here that he’s up for it. (How about getting him to go against Reacher?)

I’d put the first 25 minutes of Dial of Destiny against ANY segment in the Indiana Jones franchise.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a nice bookend to Raiders.  Kudos to all involved.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Black Angel” (1946) starring Dan Duryea, June Vincent, Peter Lorre & Broderick Crawford / Z-View

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Black Angel (1946)

Director:  Roy William Neill

Screenplay: Roy Chanslor based on the novel THE BLACK ANGEL by Cornell Woolrich

Stars: Dan Duryea, June Vincent, Peter Lorre, Broderick Crawford, Wallace Ford, Robert B. Williams and George Ford.

Tagline: DURYEA! …that fascinating tough-guy of “Scarlet Street”!

The Plot…

Martin Blair (Duryea) wants to see his estranged wife, Mavis Marlowe.  It’s their anniversary and he’s sent Mavis a large ruby brooch in an effort to win her back.  Yet, she’s told the doorman to NOT allow Martin up.  Dejected and rejected, Martin goes to get drunk.  He then stumbles to his room, where a friend locks him in for the night.

Later, Kirk Bennet goes up to see Mavis.  He finds her on the floor.  She’s dead.  Kirk notices she’s wearing a huge ruby brooch.  When Kirk hears a noise in the apartment, he realizes he’s not alone.  As he carefully makes his way through the bedroom, he hears someone running out.  Kirk goes back to find the brooch missing and the front door open.  Kirk realizes he’s in a bad spot and runs to the stairwell.  He’s seen as he flees.

When the cops pick up Kirk, it becomes clear that he was having an affair with Mavis, despite being married.  Kirk’s wife, Catherine (Vincent) doesn’t believe her husband is a killer.  Kirk claims Mavis was blackmailing him. This just gives the cops more reason to think he killed Mavis.

Catherine is grasping at straws to find evidence to clear her husband when she meets Martin.  Catherine believes he could be the killer.  Martin says the police thought so too at first.  Except he couldn’t have killed Mavis since he was knock-down drunk and locked in his room when the murder occurred.  Martin takes pity on Catherine and offers to help her find the killer.

Kirk is on death row and the clock is ticking.  What chance does a housewife and functioning alcoholic have of finding the real murderer?  Tick tock tick toc…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Black Angel is loosely based on Cornell Woolrich’s novel of the same name.  Woolrich is said to dislike the film because of the changes made.  Since I haven’t read the book, I wasn’t hindered by expectations. I thought I knew how it would play out.  Boy, was I wrong.  I was surprised by twist ending.

This was the last film directed by Roy William Neill.  He died shortly after the release of Black Angel.  Neill is best known as the director of several Sherlock Holmes‘ films as well as the classic Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman.

Dan Duryea, on the other hand, had a career that was heating up.  He’s even the subject of Black Angel‘s tagline.  Broderick Crawford has a small but important role.  Four years later Crawford would win an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for All the King’s Men.

Black Angel (1946) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Leave the World Behind” (2023) starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la and Kevin Bacon / Z-View

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Leave the World Behind (2023)

Director:  Sam Esmail

Screenplay: Sam Esmail based on the novel LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND by Rumaan Alam

Stars: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la and Kevin Bacon.

Tagline:  There’s No Going Back to Normal

The Plot…

Amanda (Roberts) and Clay Sanford (Hawke) rent a modern isolated house away from the city for a spur of the moment vacation with their two children.  As the weekend progresses strange things happen.  They lose internet access.  Several deer wander onto the property and just stand still.  At the beach an oil tanker loses control and runs ashore as beachgoers scramble for safety.  That evening the wifi is still out and television channels are off the air.

Later that night, Amanda and Clay are awakened by two well dressed strangers.  The man claims to be George H. Scott (Ali).  He says that the young woman with him is his daughter, Ruth (Myha’la).  George says that the house is his and a blackout in the city is the reason for their return home.  Ruth immediately distrusts them.  George cannot prove who he is. He claims to have lost his wallet.  His wife, Ruth’s mother is due back from a business trip later that day.  George is not asking Amanda and her family to leave. He just wants to stay with Ruth in his own home.  Despite reservations, the two families agree to share the house.

The next day, they learn that the United States is under some sort of attack.  Planes are crashing.  GPS and electronics no longer work.  The emergency alert system warns that the US is at war.  Their worst fears have become reality.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Leave the World Behind reminded me of a M. Night Shyamalan movie written by Rod Serling.  In other words, I loved it. It was well written, well directed and well acted.  Sam Esmail who adapted the screenplay and directed made interesting choices that helped build tension as strange things began happening.  Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la and Kevin Bacon are excellent.  I think this may be the first movie where I didn’t care for a Julia Roberts character.

I like movies that make me think, “What would I do”. Once Leave the World Behind kicks in, I did that a lot.  There were no easy answers since no one was sure what was going on.  I’ve seen a few bad reviews and they’re unanimously because the movie doesn’t wrap things up with a definitive answer.  That’s one of the things I enjoyed about it.  So, as always, but with this one a little more, your mileage could vary.

Leave the World Behind (2023) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Guns a Poppin!” (1957) starring The Three Stooges

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Guns a Poppin! (1957)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Jack White, Elwood Ullman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser,  Frank Sully, Vernon Dent and Joe Palma.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Moe is on trial for assaulting Larry and Joe.  As Moe explains to the judge what happened we see the story told through flashback.  Moe’s nerves were on edge.  He was deep in debt and had lost his business.  The boys decide a relaxing weekend at a cabin in the woods is just what is needed.  Add in a bear, some outlaws, and our guys’ usual hijinks and you can see why Moe was ready to commit murder!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Guns a Poppin! is a reboot of Idiot’s Deluxe with Joe replacing Curly.  More new scenes were shot for this than you might expect. Reused footage included only Moe in court, as well as the bear and Moe eating breakfast.

Guns a Poppin! (1957) earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Rustin” (2023) directed by George C. Wolfe, starring Colman Domingo, Chris Rock & Glynn Turman / Z-View

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Rustin (2023)

Director:  George C. Wolfe

Screenplay: Julian Breece, Dustin Lance Black from a story by Julian Breece

Stars: Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, Johnny Ramey, Jeffrey Wright and CCH Pounder.

Tagline: Own Your Power

The Plot…

Most everyone knows about the 1963 March on Washington which brought together 250,000 people to protest for civil rights.  Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his I Have a Dream speech at this event.  Bayard Rustin was the man who came up with the idea and against all odds (even the NAACP was against the idea at first) was able to build support and bring the idea to reality.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Rustin (2023) has been nominated for two Critics Choice Awards: Best Actor – Colman Domingo and Best Song -Lenny Kravitz – “Road to Freedom”

Rustin (2023) has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama – Colman Domingo and Best Original Song, Motion Picture – Lenny Kravitz – “Road to Freedom”

Director George C. Wolfe who last directed Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is back with another winner.

Colman Domingo gives an amazing performance as does his supporting cast.  Glynn Turman also deserves special recognition for his powerful performance.

Rustin isn’t a documentary, so I’m not clear what liberties were taken with the story.  Bayard Rustin isn’t shown as simply a heroic figure. There are shades to his character as well as other better known figures from history. Rustin, the film, works as a biographical drama with strong performances and direction.

Rustin (2023) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“A Merry Mix-up” (1957) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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A Merry Mix-up (1957)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser and Diana Darrin.

Tagline: Hilarious?  Better Than Ever!

The Plot…

Three sets of triplets (played by Larry, Moe and Joe) lose track of each other after the war.  Moe, Larry and Joe are single.  Morris, Luke and Jeff are engaged and soon to be married.  Max, Louie and Jack are all happily married.  None of the brothers have told their girls about the brothers that they haven’t seen in years.

As luck would have it, all the brothers and their girls show up at the same nightclub at different times.  Unfortunately when the girls arrive they mistake the wrong set of brothers as their guys.  All of the girls think their guys are cheating and the guys have no clue what is going on.

Let the hijinks begin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The one-sheet poster for A Merry Mix-up lists the Stooges as Shemp, Larry and Joe!

Most of the shots when there is more than one set of twins was accomplished with doubles for each Stooge.  The final shot with a 9 brothers in the same scene was accomplished with a matte shot using a triple exposure.

A Merry Mix-up (1957) earns 4 of 5 stars.