Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Max Allan Collins, the author of the Nate Heller novels, the Road to Perdition graphic novel (turned into the Tom Hanks/Paul Newman feature film) and a whole lot more, is the subject of an in-depth interview conducted by J. Kingston Pierce. Like anything that MAC writes, it’s worth a read.
Tarzan’s New York Adventure (1942)
Director: Richard Thorpe
Screenplay: William R. Lipman, Myles Connolly based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Stars: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O’Sullivan, Johnny Sheffield, Howard Hickman, Charles Lane, Matthew Boulton, Mantan Mooreland, Elmo Lincoln and Chill Wills.
Tagline: IMAGINE THE THRILLS OF THE JUNGLE SUPERMAN TURNED LOOSE IN NEW-YORK!
The Plot…
Tarzan (Weissmuller), along with Jane (O’Sullivan) must travel out of the jungle to New York City in an effort to save Boy (Sheffield) who was kidnapped by crooked circus owners.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Tarzan’s New York Adventure is Johnny Weissmuller’s 6th outing as the Lord of the Jungle. He would make at total of 12 Tarzan movies. This was Maureen O’Sullivan’s last outing as Jane.
Tarzan’s New York Adventure was one of the most profitable MGM Tarzan movies, but it was also the last one produced by MGM. The series would continue at other studios.
Elmo Lincoln who played the movie’s first Tarzan (back in 1919) appears in a cameo as a circus roustabout. Mantan Mooreland also has a cameo has a nightclub janitor.
This was one of my favorite Tarzan movies when I was a kid. I loved the idea of Tarzan making his way through the concrete jungle. I especially remember his rooftop escape, climbing skyscrapers, swinging from one building to another using a flagpole rope and of course the daring dive off the Brooklyn Bridge.
Tarzan’s New York Adventure (1942) earns 3 of 5 stars.
Ryan O’Neal died on December 8, 2023. Mr. O’Neal was 82. No cause of death was given.
Ryan O’Neal’s mother, Patricia Ruth O’Callaghan, was an actress, His father, Charles O’Neal, a novelist and screenwriter. While in high school Ryan O’Neal was a Golden Gloves boxer. Later, while still in high school, Ryan O’Neal’s family moved to Munich, Germany when his father got a job writing for a television series. His mother got Ryan a job as a stand-in. Soon he was working as a stand-in and stuntman. This led to Ryan O’Neal’s career in acting. He would continue to act on television and feature films for the rest of his career.
Ryan O’Neal’s Awards include:
Some of Ryan O’Neal’s television projects include: The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis; The Untouchables; Laramie; Westinghouse Playhouse (3 episodes); Leave It To Beaver; My Three Sons; Empire (31 episodes); The Virginian; Perry Mason; Wagon Train; Peyton Place (501 episodes); Small Sacrifices; Good Sports (15 episodes); 1775; The Larry Sanders Show (2 episodes); Bull (6 episodes); Miss Match (18 episodes); Desperate Housewives; 90210 (3 episodes) and Bones (24 episodes).
Some of Ryan O’Neal’s feature film projects include: The Big Bounce; Love Story; Wild Rovers; What’s Up, Doc?; Paper Moon; Barry Lyndon; Nickelodeon; A Bridge Too Far; The Driver; Oliver’s Story; The Main Event; Tough Guys Don’t Dance; An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn and Zero Effect.
I have fond memories of going to The Wild Rovers starring William Holden, Ryan O’Neal and Karl Malden. I was 12 and went by myself to the theater. My favorite Ryan O’Neal performance is in Paper Moon.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ryan O’Neal’s family, friends and fans.
During a 1939 Son of Frankenstein color test, Boris Karloff clowns in full monster gear, strangling legendary makeup artist Jack Pierce.
According to the documentary Universal Horror (1998), Son of Frankenstein was intended to be shot in color and some Technicolor test footage was filmed, but for artistic or budgetary reasons the plan was abandoned.
No color test footage is known to survive, but this rare clip from a Kodachrome color home movie filmed at the studio shows Boris Karloff in the green monster makeup, clowning around with makeup artist Jack Pierce (Janus Piccoula).
Tarzan’s Desert Mystery (1943)
Director: Wilhelm Thiele
Screenplay: Edward T. Lowe Jr. based on a story by Carroll Young based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Stars: Johnny Weissmuller, Nancy Kelly, Johnny Sheffield, Otto Kruger, Joe Sawyer, Lloyd Corrigan, Philip Van Zandt, Bobby Barber, Frank Faylen, Nestor Paiva and John Dehner
Tagline: THRILL AFTER AMAZING THRILL…as savage hordes…inflamed by crafty foes…hunt down TARZAN and the lovely maiden he is guarding!
The Plot…
Tarzan (Weissmuller), along with Boy and Cheetah, is on a mercy mission to deliver a serum that will save service members wounded in the war. His errand will take him across the desert. Along the way, Tarzan meets Connie Bryce (Kelly). Connie is a performer who has been entertaining the troops. Connie has a secret message she is to deliver to an Arab king. When foreign agents attempt to kill Connie, Tarzan comes to the rescue… along with Boy and Cheetah.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Tarzan’s Desert Mystery is Johnny Weissmuller’s 8th outing as the Lord of the Jungle. He would make at total of 12 Tarzan movies.
Ben Johnson, who would become a star himself and an Academy Award winner (1972 – Best Supporting Actor in The Last Picture Show), was Johnny Weissmuller’s stunt double for the horse sequences.
I have fond memories of watching Tarzan movies, especially this one, with my grandpa. He particularly got a kick out of the last scene when Nazis finally get someone on the radio. They think they are talking to Hitler and get up to salute. It’s actually Cheetah they’re talking to.
Tarzan’s Desert Mystery (1943) earns 3 of 5 stars.
I like the looks of Mayhem! I just hope the violence doesn’t get too graphic.
Opening in theatres January 5.
Starring: Nassim Lyes, Loryn Nounay, Olivier Gourmet
Director: Xavier GensA martial artist and ex-con Sam (Nassim Lyes) starts a new life in Thailand to escape a local gang lord, but a kidnapped family member sucks him back into the underworld he’d left behind in this propulsive action spectacle.
Rumpus in the Harem (1956)
Director: Jules White
Screenplay: Felix Adler, Jack White
Stars: Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Vernon Dent and Everett Brown
Tagline: Ha-Ha-Harem Hi-Hi-Hijinks!
The Plot…
The boys are diner owners whose customers end up wearing more food than they eat. After the boys learn that their girls need money to pay off debts, the overhear two crooks discussing the whereabouts of a stolen diamond. Shemp, Larry and Moe decide to recover and return the gem for a reward. What could go wrong?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Rumpus in the Harem is a reboot of Malice in the Palace. Rumpus in the Harem was the first to make use of a “fake Shemp” for new scenes.
Rumpus in the Harem earns 3 of 5 stars.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith looks like fun.
Deal me in.
Two lonely strangers land a job working for a mysterious spy agency that offers them a glorious life of espionage, wealth, world travels and a dream brownstone in Manhattan. The catch: new identities in an arranged marriage as Mr. & Mrs. John and Jane Smith. Now hitched, John and Jane navigate a high risk mission every week while also facing a new relationship milestone. Their complex cover story becomes even more complicated when they catch real feelings for each other. What’s riskier, espionage or marriage? Mr. & Mrs. Smith Premieres on Prime Video February 2nd, 2024.
Deal me in!
“Horrific things are happening inside Ongseong Hospital right now”
Spring of 1945
There were humans and creatures
in a hospital of GyeongseongBehold, the powers of destiny.
Beware, the powers of karma.Gyeongseong Creature Part 1 | December 22, only on Netflix
I like the looks of The Brothers Sun. Since it is on Netflix, it’s a no-brainer to check it out.
Blood runs in the family.
When the head of a powerful Taiwanese triad is shot by a mysterious assassin, his eldest son, Charles (Justin Chien) heads to Los Angeles to protect his mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh), and his naive younger brother, Bruce (Sam Song Li) — who’s been completely sheltered from the truth of his family until now.
But as Taipei’s deadliest societies and a new rising faction go head-to-head for dominance — Charles and Bruce must figure out what brotherhood and family truly means before someone takes them out.
Streaming only on Netflix January 4th, 2024.
This cool alt Die Hard poster was created by Nuno Sarnadas. Sardanas went with the “less is more” design and felt like it worked best in black and white. From his results, I couldn’t agree more.
Nuno Sarnadas has more art on display at his webpage.
Rambo by Mike Giblin. Mike said he would normally ink his morning sketch, but he didn’t because he liked the looseness of the piece. I agree.
For Crimin’ Out Loud (1956)
Director: Jules White, Edward Bernds (stock footage)
Writer: Felix Adler, story by Edward Bernds
Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Christine McIntyre and Emil Sitka
Tagline: None
The Plot…
When Councilman John Goodrich (Sitka) receives a note from a serial killer saying Goodrich will be his next victim, he hires our boys to guard him. When our guys arrive they are greeted by Goodrich’s niece who says her uncle is missing. Little do Larry, Moe and Shemp know, but the niece and her two accomplices are behind this!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
For Crimin’ Out Loud is a reboot of the Stooges’ 1949 short, Who Done It?. They shot a new opening scene and the rest uses scenes from Who Done It?.
Who Done It? is one of my favorite Shemp shorts. It contains the mansion with hidden panels, a scary looking monster/creep and the hijinks that come when our boys are running for their lives from room to room.
Moe sprained his ankle crashing through a door and so in scenes where he’s limping, the limp is real!
For Crimin’ Out Loud (1956) rates 5 of 5 stars.
One of the most popular scenes in Rambo III is Rambo’s Thai Stickfight with Harold Diamond. There aren’t many photos of the scene, so when a rare one surfaces we like to share it.
Source: Brian Stooss.
