“Shane” (1953) directed by George Stevens, starring Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur & Van Heflin / Z-View

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Shane (1953)

Director: George Stevens

Screenplay: A. B. Guthrie Jr., Jack Sher based on  Shane by Jack Schaefer

Stars: Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Brandon De Wilde, Jack Palance, Ben Johnson, Edgar Buchanan,
Elisha Cook Jr., Douglas Spencer, John Dierkes, Ellen Corby, Edith Evanson and Leonard Strong.

Tagline:  There never was a man like SHANE. There never was a motion picture like SHANE.

The Plot…

Shane (Ladd), a gunfighter hoping to escape his past, befriends Joe Starrett (Heflin), his wife Marian (Arthur) and their young son Joey (De Wilde) when he stops for water at their small farm.  When Joe invites Shane to stay on, Shane sees the possibility of a quieter life.  But when Rufus Ryker’s men show up trying to run Starrett off, Shane knows that his gunfighter days aren’t over.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Shane was nominated for six Academy Awards: Best Picture; Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Palance); Best Actor in a Supporting Role (De Wilde); Best Director; Best Writing Screenplay; and won for Best Cinematography, Color (Loyal Griggs).

Shane is a classic western.  Everything came together to make it so.  George Stevens’ direction, coupled with a first rate story, and top notch cast make for a film deserving the accolades and love it’s received.

Shane is Alan Ladd’s best film and it reinvigorated his career.  It is Jean Arthur’s final feature film.  She came out of retirement to make it as a favor to director George Stevens.

Shane (1953) rates 5 of 5 stars.

The Greatest TV Shows of All Time…

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Katie Doll at CBR came up with her list of The 10 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.  Before you click over to read her thoughts on each, here are how I’d rank her choices, my thoughts and some shows that would have made my list that didn’t make hers.

The 10 Greatest TV Shows of All Time

Doll

Zablo

10. Mad Men (2007-2015)

09. Succession (2018-2023)

08. Lost (2004-2010)

07. Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

06. Seinfeld (1989-1998)

05. The Simpsons (1989-present)

04. The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

03. The Wire (2002-2008)

02. Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

01. The Sopranos (1999-2007)

* Mad Men (2007-2015) // Succession (2018-2023) // The Wire (2002 –
2008) // The Simpsons (1989-present) – Never Seen

06. Lost (2004-2010) – Watched every episode. Thought it went off
the rails towards the end.

05. The Sopranos (1999-2007) – Watched every episode. Great show!

04. Game of Thrones (2011-2019) – Watched every episode. Loved it!

03. Breaking Bad (2008-2013) – Watched every episode. Loved it!

02. Seinfeld (1989-1998) – Watched & rewatched. Loved it!

01. The Twilight Zone (1959-1964) – Often imitated, never duplicated!

Shows I would have included: Justified; The Wild, Wild West; The Passage; The Strain; The Shield; Columbo.The English, 1883; Tulsa King

“While the City Sleeps” (1956) directed by Fritz Lang, starring Dana Andrews & Rhonda Fleming / Z-View

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While the City Sleeps (1956)

Director: Fritz Lang

Screenplay: Casey Robinson based on The Bloody Spur by Charles Einstein

Stars: Dana Andrews, Rhonda Fleming, George Sanders, Howard Duff, Thomas Mitchell, Vincent Price, Sally Forrest, John Drew Barrymore, Ida Lupino, Robert Warwick, Mae Marsh, Larry J. Blake and Celia Lovsky.

Tagline:  Sensational LIPSTICK Murderer

The Plot…

The Lipstick Killer has the city on edge.  He continues to murder women and leave taunting messages.  The killings are coming with greater frequency. The news media is having a field day.

Amos Kyne (Warwick) died leaving his son, Walter (Price) in charge of the Kyne News Media conglomerate (newspaper, television, wire service).  Walter has little business sense. He decides his best bet is to create an Executive Director to run the corporation.  Walter offers the job to his top reporter/television commentator, Edward Mobley (Andrews).  Mobley turns him down flat.

Walter then tells the head of each arm of the conglomerate that whoever breaks the story of the capture of The Lipstick Killer will become the new Executive Director of Kyne News Media.  All three men want the job and are willing to go to great lengths to get it.  Although Mobley doesn’t want the position, he agrees to help his friend get it. Mobley goes on live tv and taunts the killer.  This puts Mobley and his fiancé in the killer’s path.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Vincent Price is perfectly cast as the smarmy son placed in charge of a business that he has no idea how to run.

There’s a lot of romance drama at the expense of serial killer drama.

There was a real serial killer dubbed The Lipstick Killer a decade prior to the release of While the City Sleeps!

While the City Sleeps (1956) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Out of the Past” (1947) directed by Jacques Tourneur, starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and Kirk Douglas / Z-View

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Out of the Past (1947)

Director: Jacques Tourneur

Screenplay: Daniel Mainwaring based on Build My Gallows High by Daniel Mainwaring

Stars: Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming, Richard Webb, Steve Brodie, Virginia Huston, Paul Valentine and Dickie Moore.

Tagline:  A MAN – Trying to run away from his past… A WOMAN – Trying to escape her future!

The Plot…

Jeff Markum (Mitchum), a private eye, is hired by an underworld figure named Whit (Douglas).  Whit wants his girl back.  She shot him and stole $40,000.  Whit doesn’t care about the money, he just wants Kathie back.  Whit promises no harm will come to Kathie (Greer).  He loves her.  Whit says Markum will understand once he meets Kathie.  Money is no object.  Kathie could be anywhere in the world, but Whit trusts Markum will find her and Whit will pay for it.

Markum catches up with Kathie in  Acapulco.  She is beautiful. There’s a mutual attraction between Markum and Kathie.  Kathie admits she shot Whit, but denies taking his money.  Markum doesn’t contact Whit.  As the days (and nights) drag on, Markum and Kathie decide to run away together.

They know that Whit will send someone to find them…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Much of Out of the Past is told in flashback that brings us up to speed and then the story is carried forward.  This storytelling device is effectively used.

Out of the Past is a classic for many reasons:

  • Director Jacques Tourneur is at the top of his game.
  • Mitchum was born to play these kinds of roles.
  • Jane Greer is excellent as the good girl/dangerous dame.
  • Kirk Douglas had only played supporting roles up to this point in his career.  I cannot think of a better actor for the role of the rich, confident man who always gets what he wants.
  • Steve Brodie plays Mitchum’s PI partner who turns out to be not much of a partner.
  • Paul Valentine is impressive as Douglas’ right hand hood.
  • Out of the Past is as noir as it gets.  There are tough guys, beautiful but dangerous dames, multiple double crosses, murders, and a shocking ending.  I love this movie more with each viewing.

Out of the Past (1947) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Stormy Weather” (1943) starring Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, The Nicholas Brothers & Dooley Wilson / Z-View

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Stormy Weather (1943)

Director: Andrew L. Stone

Screenplay: Jerry Horwin, Seymour B. Robinson (story), Frederick J. Jackson, H.S. Kraft (adaptation)

Stars: Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Fats Waller, The Nicholas Brothers, Dooley Wilson, and Matthew ‘Stymie’ Beard.

Tagline:  If you like good singing, dancing and fun you are sure to get your money’s worth from this picture! We heartily recommend it as a cure for “the blues.”

The Plot…

Through a series of flashbacks Bill Williamson (Robinson) tells the story of his life from his return from fighting in World War I to being a respected performer.  He tells of the struggle to get started and all of the ups and downs along the way… and of meeting the love of his life, the talented performer Selina Rogers (Horne).

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Bill Williamson’s story is the fictionalized account of Bill Robinson’s life.  The character played by Lena Horne was created for the movie.  Although it is Bill Robinson’s story, Lena Horne got top billing.

The flashback aspect of Bill talking to some children and then fading to scenes he’s describing took me out of the story and reminded me each time, we’re watching a movie.

My favorite scenes (other than the performances) occur early in the film when Bill and his buddy, Gabe (Wilson) are just back in the states from the war.  Gabe is broke, but trying to impress a girl and things keep getting worse and worse as he convinced her money is no object and she believes him!

As to the performances, they are the reason to watch the film.  Performers include Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Fats Waller (in his final film; Waller died at the age of 39, before the year was out), The Nicholas Brothers, Dooley Wilson and Cab Calloway.

Stormy Weather (1943) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Justified: City Primeval” – The Season 1, Episode 7 Trailer – “Showdown” is Here!

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Raylan and Mansell show down. Watch new episodes of Justified: City Primeval Tuesdays on FX. Stream on Hulu.

Starring Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis and Boyd Holbrook. Raylan Givens left the hollers of Kentucky and is balancing life as a U.S. Marshal with being a part-time father. A chance encounter sends him to Detroit and on a collision course with a violent sociopath and a formidable defense attorney.

“My Animal” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for My Animal has my attention.  This one looks like a winner.

Bobbi Salvör Menuez (Euphoria) and Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies) ignite in this genre-bending supernatural love story. Tormented by a hidden family curse, Heather is forced to live a secluded life on the outskirts of a small town. When she falls for the rebellious Jonny, their connection threatens to unravel Heather’s suppressed desires, tempting her to unleash the animal within.

“Billy Jack” (1971) written and starring Tom & Delores Laughlin, directed by Tom Laughlin / Z-View

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Billy Jack (1971)

Director: Tom Laughlin as T.C. Frank

Screenplay: Tom Laughlin (as Frank Christina), Delores Taylor (as Theresa Christina)

Stars: Tom Laughlin, Delores Taylor, Clark Howat, Richard Stahl, Howard Hesseman, Bert Freed and Kenneth Tobey.

Tagline:  When you need him, he’s always there!

The Plot…

Jean Roberts (D. Taylor) runs Freedom School, an educational center for troubled youth outside a small southern town. Most of the town thinks that the school is full of Indians, liberal hippies and dangerous kids.  Jean is in love with Billy Jack (T. Laughlin).  Billy Jack is half white, half Navajo.  He’s a former Green Beret, Hapkido master who struggles to keep his temper in control.

When a busload of Freedom School students go into town, they attract the attention of Bernard Posner and his big, dumb friend, Dinosaur.  Posner and Dinosaur follow some of the kids into an ice cream shop.  The shop owner refuses to serve the kids because they aren’t all white.  When Posner is put in his place by one of the girls he was flirting with, he humiliates the kids.  Dinosaur knocks the wind out of one of the boys just as Billy Jack enters the shop.

Posner yells for someone to go get his dad who is one of the town’s corrupt bigshots.  Billy Jack makes sure the kids are okay… he then proceeds to teach Posner and Dinosaur a painful lesson.

This of course puts Billy Jack at odds with Posner Sr. and his corrupt cronies.  This will not end well.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Billy Jack is a success due to Tom and Delores Laughlin’s determination.  They wrote the screenplay, he directed it and supported the slow roll release that saw Billy Jack become a pop cultural phenomenon.  Many of the actors in Billy Jack had never acted before.  Billy Jack was made for approximately $800,000 and earned $32.5 million in the US and $98 million worldwide.

The Billy Jack character first appeared in Born Losers (1967) also starring and directed by Tom Laughlin.

Delores Taylor received a Golden Globe nomination as Most Promising New Actress.

Bong Soo Han was Tom Laughlin’s body double.  Han was a Hapkido master and choregraphed the fights.

Billy Jack features so many memorable scenes and dialogue…

I love to revisit Billy Jack and Born Losers to bring back a great period of my youth (and to enjoy a couple of fun films).

Billy Jack (1971) rates 5 of 5 stars.

LONG PAST MIDNIGHT by Jonathan Maberry!

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Jonathan Maberry has a book of short stories coming out on August 22nd.  Here’s the lowdown on LONG PAST MIDNIGHT…

Five-time Bram Stoker Award-winner Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of the Pine Deep Trilogy, weaves a chilling web of small-town terrors, local legends, and hair-raising haunts set in the eerie world of Pine Deep, Pennsylvania. Eleven terrifying tales are gathered here for the first time in a single volume — including one exclusive, brand new story!

Foreword by Josh Malerman, New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box

Four children explore an abandoned house that’s supposed to be haunted—and discover something far more terrifying than any ghost. A rash of fatal accidents in the town of Pine Deep keeps a cemetery worker busier than ever—because the dead won’t stay buried. Ex-cop Joe Ledger searches for a missing witness in “the spookiest town in America”—but finds there is no protection program against the forces of evil. . .

SOME STORIES CAN ONLY BE TOLD . . . LONG PAST MIDNIGHT