O.G. (2018) starring Jeffrey Wright, William Fichtner and Boyd Holbrook / Z-View

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O.G. (2018)

Director: Madeleine Sackler

Screenplay: Stephen Belber

Stars: Jeffrey Wright, William Fichtner, Boyd Holbrook, Mare Winningham, Yul Vazquez, Ryan Cutrona, Ato Essandoh, Kevin Jackson and David Patrick Kelly.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Louis has spent the last 24 years in prison for murder.  Over time, Louis turned his life around.  He distanced himself from prison gangs.  He worked to make his life a positive contribution.  Louis’ good behavior and true rehabilitation has earned him parole in the next few weeks…

… if nothing changes.

Gang tensions are rising.  When a new young inmate is brought into the prison, Louis sees the kid being set up to take a fall.  If Louis intervenes he risks his own release.  If he does nothing, the kid could be killed or worse.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jeffrey Wright is an amazing actor.

O.G. was filmed at the Indiana Pendleton Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison.  Many of the prisoners and guards were actual prisoners and guards.

O.G. (2018) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“36 Hours” (1964) starring James Garner, Eva Marie Saint and Rod Taylor” / Z-View

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36 Hours (1964)

Director: George Seaton

Screenplay: George Seaton; story by Carl K. Hittleman, Luis Vance; based on “Beware of the Dog” by Roald Dahl

Stars: James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, Rod Taylor, Werner Peters, Russell Thorson, Alan Napier, Oscar Beregi Jr., Ed Gilbert, Sig Ruman, Celia Lovsky, Karl Held,  Martin Kosleck, Marjorie Bennett, Henry Rowland, Otto Reichow, James Doohan  and John Banner.

Tagline: “Give Me Any American for 36 Hours And I’ll Give You Back a Traitor”

The Plot…

The Nazis know that the Allies are preparing a massive attack.

But where?

German Major Walter Gerber has devised an elaborate plan to get the needed info.  U.S. Army Major Jeff Pike is drugged and kidnapped.   The Nazis know Pike has been in meeting about the planned invasion.

When Pike awakens he appears to be in a U.S. Army hospital.  Major Gerber, posing as a US Army Doctor tells Pike that the year is 1950, and that the U.S. won the war back in 1944.  Pike is tricked into believing that since the war he has suffered from bouts of amnesia.

Gerber tells Pike that they need Pike to remember back as far as he can and they will slowly work to bring his memory back.  Pike’s last memory is leaving a meeting.

“Excellent.  And what was the meeting about?…”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

36 Hours is an under-rated classic.  I’m surprised more folks don’t know about this one.

Three actors who gained fame in television series shortly after their appearances in 36 Hours include:

  • James Doohan who gained fame as Scotty on Star Trek appears uncredited as a British orderly.
  • John Banner who gained fame as Sgt. Schultz on Hogan’s Heroes and who “knew nothing, NOTHING” definitely knows something in his role here. 
  • Alan Napier who gained fame as Alfred the butler on Batman.

36 Hours (1964) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Dracula” On Broadway Starring Bela Lugosi and Edward Van Sloan – Rare Publicity Photo!

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Before becoming a Hollywood star, thanks to the 1931 movie Dracula, Bela Lugosi was a Broadway star.  Bela Lugosi and his Dracula film co-star, Edward Sloan, also appeared in Dracula on Broadway at the Fulton Theater for 261 performances.

Above is a rare publicity shot for the Dracula Broadway run featuring Edward Van Sloan, Terence Neill, Bela Lugosi, Herbert Bunston, and Bernard Jukes.

Source: Universal Monsters Universe

“Vincent N Roxxy” (2016) written & directed by Gary Michael Schultz, starring Emile Hirsch & Zoë Kravitz / Z-View

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Vincent N Roxxy (2016)

Director: Gary Michael Schultz

Screenplay: Gary Michael Schultz

Stars: Emile Hirsch, Zoë Kravitz, Emory Cohen, Kid Cudi, Jason Mitchell, Jeff Gum, Jared Bankens, Lance Tafelski, Hunter Burke  and Beau Knapp.

Tagline: Love is a Crime

The Plot…

Vincent is driving through a small town when he sees a man beating a woman.  Vincent rams the man with his car.  Then the woman jumps in Vincent’s car and they speed away.

Vincent learns the young woman’s name is Roxxy.  He says that he is returning home for the first time in a while and offers her a place to stay until she gets on her feet.  Vincent’s brother is happily surprised at Vincent’s return.  He is getting ready to open a garage and offers Vincent a partnership.  Vincent agrees.

Things are going well with the garage, and Roxxy’s job as a bartender.  Vincent and Roxxy are falling in love.

And then a secret from Vincent’s past surfaces… and the man who beat Roxxy learns where she’s at.

Things are about to take a turn for the very worst.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’m a Zoë Kravitz fan.

Beau Knapp is very good as the jealous ex-boyfriend of Roxxy’s friend.

Vincent N Roxxy (2016) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Psycho” Alt Poster by by Sahin Düzgün!

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I dig how creepy this Psycho alt poster is.  Not only does it showcase the two very different sides of Norman Bates, but it also includes mother’s house.  This beauty was created by Sahin Düzgün. Sahin is a graphic designer, poster artist  and movie lover from Berlin, Germany.

Here is what Sahin had to say about his design:🔪 A shadow, a scream, a moment that redefined suspense. A personal design tribute to Hitchcock’s chilling masterpiece.

Norman Bates: I think I must have one of those faces you can’t help believing.

Alex Ogle Gets Carter!

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Alex Ogle’s riff on Sly Stallone as Jack Carter is a banger.

Alex Ogle is a freelance artist and storyteller.  I love Ogle’s use of stark contrast and negative space.  He says, “My favorite part of my illustrations are the sections I don’t draw.”  That reminds me of Alex Toth’s famous quote: “Strip it all down to essentials and draw the hell out of what’s left.”  That’s not easy to do, but Ogle has mastered it.

You can see more of Alex Ogle’s art at his website and his Instagram page.

“Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965) starring Sal Mineo, Juliet Prowse, Jan Murray and Elaine Stritch / Z-View

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Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965)

Director: Joseph Cates

Screenplay: Arnold Drake, Leon Tokatyan; story by Arnold Drake

Stars: Sal Mineo, Juliet Prowse, Jan Murray, Elaine Stritch, Frank Campanella, Bruce Glover, Tom Aldredge, Rex Everhart  and Daniel J. Travanti.

Tagline: Recommended for Mature Audiences

The Plot…

Norah Dain dreams of being an actress.  In the meantime she works as a nightclub dj.  Norah’s life is turned upside down, when she begins receiving obscene phone calls.  The caller knows what she is doing daily.  It’s frightening to think that he’s stalking her.  Norah gets the police involved when a decapitated teddy bear is left in her apartment.

Detective Dave Madden is assigned to the case.  When Madden suggests that anyone, including himself could be the caller, Norah becomes concerned.  She learns that Madden is still dealing with the loss of his wife who was raped and murdered.

Could Detective Madden be Norah’s stalker?  Or someone even worse?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Arnold Drake who came up with the story and co-wrote the screenplay for Who Killed Teddy Bear had a career writing comic book stories.  Drake was the co-creator of many characters including The Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadman, The Doom Patrol, Havok, Polaris and others.

 The camera loves Juliet Prowse. Sadly Who Killed Teddy Bear? would be the last time she would appear in a feature film.  For the remainer of her career she performed on television and stage.

The film straddles the line between noir and exploitation.  And features some suprising scenes for its time.

Watch for a young Daniel J. Travanti, who would in 16 years gain fame for his role as Captain Frank Furillo on Hill Street Blues.

Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Dirty Hands” – starring Patrick Muldoon, Denise Richards, Michael Beach and Kevin Interdonato – The Poster and Trailer is Here!  

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The poster and trailer for Dirty Hands, starring Patrick Muldoon, Denise Richards, Michael Beach and Kevin Interdonato is here!

Deal me in!

When a routine drug deal goes sideways a kingpin’s son is murdered. The Denton Brothers, Richie (Patrick Muldoon) & Danny (Kevin Interdonato) find themselves in a fight for their lives just to survive the night.

Richie’s girlfriend, Sheila (Denise Richards), struggles between her loyalties to Richie and his boss (Michael Beach) as rival leader, Rodney (Guy Nardulli), and his gang are out for blood.

Dirty Hands is written and directed by American actor/filmmaker Kevin (The Bastard Sons) Interdonato.

Dirty Hands is produced by Peter Dobson, Kevin Interdonato, Nicholas Larrabure and Guy Nardulli. With action scenes by fight coordinator Jason Mello.

Frank Frazetta’s “A Man Called Dagger”!

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This is a rare Frank Frazetta piece.  Titled A Man Called Dagger, it was created around 1968 for a proposed movie of the same name.  A Man Called Dagger was to be a new entry into the popular James Bond knockoff genre.

The painting was never used.  Producers ran into budgetary issues and the production came to a halt.  Although the film was eventually made by a new studio, the art was never used.  It is thought that the new studio didn’t know about Frazetta’s contribution.

Frazetta’s A Man Called Dagger art was discovered in 2020 and added to later editions of Frazetta art books.

Click on the art to see a biggie-sized version.

Source: Frazetta Art Museum.

“Black Tuesday” (1954) written by Sydney Boehm, starring Edward G. Robinson, Peter Graves & Jean Parker / Z-View

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Black Tuesday (1954)

Director: Hugo Fregonese

Screenplay: Sydney Boehm

Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Peter Graves, Jean Parker, Warren Stevens, Jack Kelly, Hal Baylor, James Bell, Vic Perrin, Russell Johnson, Lee Aaker, James Bacon, Harry Bartell, Arthur Batanides, David Bond  and Milburn Stone.

Tagline: Rough… ruthless… real!

The Plot…

Vincent Canelli sits on death row.  In just a few minutes he will walk his last mile.

At least that was what was supposed to happen.

It didn’t.  Canelli with the help of his crime partners, pulled off an exciting, clever and deadly escape.  From death row!

Now Canelli is on the lam with five hostages, the prison priest, the prison doctor, one of the guards who made Canelli’s time in prison miserable and a young reporter covering the execution.  Caneilli has also brought along Peter Manning, another con on death row.

With the entire police force on alert, Canelli and his crew’s odds of escape are low.  Therefore they are willing to kill anyone who tries to stop them.  The police are also ready to shoot to kill.

What chance do the hostages have?

Sound the alarm, there’s been a prison break!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Black Tuesday is surprisingly dark even for noir movies of the era.  It was banned by the Memphis Censor Board because of its brutality.

Black Tuesday, along with Key Largo and Double Indemnity, are my three favorite films starring Edward G. Robinson.

Lee Aaker of Hondo and Rin Tin Tin fame appears uncredited.  Also look for Russell Johnson (best know as The Professor on Gilligan’s Island) as one of the convicts.

Milburn Stone co-stars along with Peter Graves in Black Tuesday.  Graves would go on to fame in the television series Mission Impossible.  Milburn Stone would get his most famous role as Doc on Gunsmoke which starred James Arness.  Arness is brother to Peter Graves.

Hats off to Sydney Boehm for writing such a bold, brutal noir.  Boehm also wrote The Big Heat (one of my all-time favorite films).

Black Tuesday (1954) rates 5 of 5 stars.