(Re)Discovering Hitchcock’s Rope

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When movie fans talk about the films of Alfred Hitchock the first ones mentioned are usually, Vertigo, Psycho, North by Northwest, and Rear Window.  Often the list goes on a bit more before Rope is mentioned.  And that’s too bad because many folks never get around to seeing it.

Rope stars Jimmy Stewart in Hitchock’s adaptation of a play based on the infamous Leopold-Loeb murder case.  (Another excellent movie based on the Leopold-Loeb murder case is Compulsion starring Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell and Bradford Dillman.)  It’s interesting to note that Hitchcock filmed Rope as if it was done with one continuous shot to keep the feel of a stage play!

Justin Jordan Seeks Revenge in DEAD BODY ROAD

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Dead Body Road by Justin Jordan and Matteo Scalera is a six issue mini-series that tells the story of an ex-cop named Gage who is killing those he feels are responsible for his wife’s death.  According to Jordan it’s amodern-day western, crime thriller, with noir sensibilities.

You can see more of the art and read an interview with Justin Jordan over at Newsarama.

1960’s Batmobile Recreation Available

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Over the years, I’ve always said if I was a very rich man, I’d commission a recreation of the Batmobile used in the 1960’s tv series.

Although I’m not a rich man (so I won’t order one) Hammcher Schlemmer has a recreation that you can pick up for $200,000.  Here’s what you’ll get for your dough:

Built on a custom Lincoln chassis, this crime-fighting cruiser comes standard with a 430-horsepower, 383 Blueprint Crate engine and a Monster TH350 automatic transmission. Though equipped with neither atomic batteries for power nor turbines for speed, a rear-facing propane tank creates the same afterburner effect as the original. The vehicle’s cockpit honors the gadgetry of the TV series with a blinking Batphone, switch-operated electric actuators that open the hood and trunk, and a rotating red beacon to alert citizens while in pursuit of fiendish criminals. Other intriguing, if less functional, accessories include a glowing detect-a-scope screen, a Batbeam ray that raises from a hood-mounted antenna, and empty rear parachute packs. The vehicle’s exterior bears all the hallmarks of its namesake, from bubble-canopy windshields to chrome “rocket” tubes behind the rear windshield…

So, if any of you decide to pick up the Batmobile, how about giving me a ride sometime.  I’ve always wanted a chance to say “Atomic turbines to power…”

Source: CBR.com and Time.

Z-View: “Rififi”… Means Trouble

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The Pitch: “Hey, Jules Dassin the director behind American films such as “Brute Force” and “The Naked City” has been blacklisted in America.  I bet we could get him on the cheap to make a low-budget heist film!”

“Let’s do it!”

 

The Tagline:  “Rififi …means Trouble!”

The Overview:  After returning home after a five-year stint in prison for a jewelry heist, Tony le Stéphanois is recruited by his old crime partners for a hit and run heist on a jewelry store.  Tony declines, but later counters with a bigger plan… against all odds they’ll pull a robbery that will get them millions if they’re successful and dead if they’re not.  Before it is over one of the crew will betray them.  A child will be kidnapped and both the cops and gangsters will be after them.

 

The Good:

  • The planning for the heist.  It’s interesting how the characters work out their elaborate plan where any mistake – any sound – could cause it to go sideways.
  • The heist itself – around 30 minutes without dialogue.  It’s tense, brilliant film-making.
  • The fact that the robbery isn’t at the climax of the film.  It would be the endgame in a normal film.  In “Rififi” it is the catalyst for a bigger story.
  • The characters in this film are perfectly cast.
  • The director’s stylistic choices.  I love this movie! “Rififi” is a classic!

 

The Bad:

  • What happens when Tony finds out his girl has taken up with a mobster.
  • How a foolish mistake [to impress a dame!] causes everything to unravel.
  • What happens [even when you are sincerely sorry] for breaking “the rules.”

 

The Ugly:

  • Even the best laid plans…

Rating: 5 out of 5

Z-View: “Red Dawn” 2012

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The Pitch: “Hey, we could remake ‘Red Dawn’!”

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “Welcome To the Home of the Brave”

The Overview: When North Korea invades the US, a group of high school resistance fighters [led by Thor on leave from the Special Forces] decide to become resistance fighters.

The Good:

  • The original movie.
  • The scenes when North Korea parachute into town and the kids make their getaway is exciting.
  • Making the Patrick Swayze character a military man is a nice touch.

The Bad:

  • The invading force was originally filmed as Chinese.  Producers decided to change the invaders to North Korean in post-production so as to not alienate the Chinese box office.  “Hey, the invading force looks Chinese… but they are really Korean?”  “Those clever ********.”
  • The invading army in the original 1984 movie was the Soviet Union, which no longer exists.  Now you know just how bad the “original” Wolverines were!
  • These high school kids go in and out of the occupied town easier than they could sneak out of their parents homes at night before the takeover.
  • Hiding in the woods, the students shoot off dozens [hundreds?] of rounds of ammo, without a worry that the invading force will use the sound to locate them.
  • Hiding in the woods, the students shoot off dozens [hundreds?] of rounds of ammo, without a worry that they will run out.  [I guess there is no worry since it is so easy to sneak in and out of town and get more.]
  • What teenage love will cause a freedom fighter to do… or not do.

The Ugly:

  • What happens to Thor when he doesn’t have his hammer.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Tomer Hanuka is an Amazing Artist

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Tomer Hanuka created the piece above.  The art, of Rocky Balboa in battle with Apollo Creed as Adrian looks on, appeared recently in The New Yorker accompanying a preview of Rocky on Broadway.

I liked Hanuka’s art a lot and decided to do a search.  I discovered Mr. Hanuka’s website and spent a good amount of time checking out all the art he had on display. Hanuka not only shares his art, but often breaks down his process in creating a piece.

Recently my friends started e-mailing me links to the piece below. Tomer Hanuka created it as a limited edition silk screen print, for Mondo.  The Rambo piece wasn’t at Tomer’s sitewhen I first checked, but it is now.  What a beautiful poster!

Tomer Hanuka is an amazing artist and I look forward to seeing what he does next.

Z-View: “The Evil of Frankenstein”

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The Pitch: “Hey, I think Frankenstein is in the public domain.  Let’s make a Frankenstein movie!”

“We can but Universal has a copyright on the look of the monster.”

“Oh well.  Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “He’s never been more shocking! shocking! shocking!”

The Overview: Dr. Frankenstein is at it again.  He creates a monster that he can’t control.  So Frankenstein gets an assist from a carnival hypnotist.  The sideshow mentalist hypnotizes the monster and then secretly sends it in to steal from the townspeople.  This does not sit well with either the townspeople or Dr. Frankenstein.

The Good:

  • Minute 85.  [The movie runs 84 minutes.]
  • Actually, if you’re watching with the right crowd, this is a great movie to goof on as it plays.  MST3K, anyone?

The Bad:

  • The story.
  • The look of the monster.
  • Dr. Frankenstein and his partner wearing masks that make them look like cosplayers.
  • The carnival hypnotist’s name is Zoltan.

The Ugly:

  • Have you seen the monster?

Rating: 2 out of 5

Rare “Thing from Another World” Photos

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One of my favorite sci-fi movies/monster movies is The Thing from Another World.

Jame Arness (who would later go to fame as Marshall Matt Dillon in the long-running western series Gunsmoke) played the Thing.  Arness is seen in a rare photo above without full make-up as they prep him for a shot.

The photo below is Arness in full Thing make-up (and in a shot clearer than any ever seen in the movie)!

Source: Vic’s Movie Den and Classic Horror Movies.

“Devil” / Z-View

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The Pitch: “M. Night Shyamalan has an idea for a story about 5 people trapped in an elevator and one of them is not what they seem.”

“What is this person who isn’t what he/she seems?”

“Well, let’s just leave it at the movie will be called ‘Devil.'”

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “Five strangers trapped. One of them is not what they seem.”

The Overview: Five people find themselves trapped in a high-rise elevator.  Help is on the way, if they can live long enough for it to arrive.

The Good:

  • The concept.
  • The movie starts off immediately with action.
  • The movie has some creepy/scary moments but isn’t a gorefest.
  • One person almost immediately figures out what is going on, but no one believes him.
  • The way suspicions constantly shifted.

The Bad:

  • Being stuck in an elevator is bad enough, but stuck with the devil someone who is not what they seem really stinks.
  • Be stupid enough to step in water with a live wire sparking.

The Ugly:

  • Being able to look behind yourself while facing front.

Rating: 3 out of 5

All Time Top Ten Best Film Noir

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Recently The Guardian posted their choices for the Top Ten Film Noir.

Their list is a good one and included:

10.  They Live by Night
09.  Kiss Me Deadly
08.  Blood Simple
07.  Lift to the Scaffold
06.  The Third Man
05.  Out of the Past
04.  Double Indemnity
03.  Touch of Evil
02.  Chinatown
01.  The Big Sleep

Yeah, that’s a nice list.  I’ve seen 8 of the 10 [missing out on They Live by Night  and Lift to the Scaffold].

If I were to quibble, I’d move Double Indemnity  to the #1 spot and move something out to bring in The Postman Always Rings Twice  [original version, thank you].

Have You Seen Goran Parlov’s Art?

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I have to admit I am really late to the Goran Parlov party.

I was cruising the web and came across the drawing above.  I liked it and decided to do a search for more of Goran’s work.  The sketch below came up next.

Then I remembered that I had seen Goran’s art in the Punisher story “Welcome to the Bayou” written by Victor Gischler (#71-74, 2009).    Why I didn’t follow-up on what Goran did after that story, I’m not sure.  Thankfully it’s not too late.