RIP: Bert I. Gordon

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Bert I. Gordon died on March 8, 2023 at the age of 100.  Mr. Gordon was a writer, director, producer, editor, special effects artist… perhaps it would be best to simply say, he was a filmmaker.

Bert I. Gordon had an interest in making films from an early age.  He received a 16mm camera for his thirteenth birthday and began making home/fan movie.  Mr. Gordon served in the air force during World War II.  After the war he began making television commercials and editing films for television.

In 1955, Mr. Gordon co-wrote and directed his first feature film, King Dinosaur.  He would go on to direct (and often serve as producer, special effects artist, writer/co-writer) on 23 additional films throughout his career.  Most of Mr. Gordon’s films were in the horror or science fiction genres.  Because his initials were BIG and many of his films dealt with giant monsters, Bert I. Gordon was nicknamed Mr. BIG.

Some of Bert I. Gordon’s best known films include: The Cyclops, The Amazing Colossal Man, Attack of the Puppet People, War of the Colossal Beast, The Spider, Village of the Giants, The Food of the Gods and The Empire of the Ants.

Bert I. Gordon’s films were and still are a staple of horror hosts and horror movie fans everywhere.  My favorite of his films is The Amazing Colossal Man. If you’re a regular viewer of Svengoolie on MeTV, you’ll see several of Mr. Gordon’s films each year.  What director wouldn’t love to have his movies in regular rotation?  What an honor that these low budget films still attract huge audiences.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bert I. Gordon’s family, friends and fans.

“The Last Thing He Told Me” starring Jennifer Garner – The Trailer is Here!

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The trailer to The Last Thing He Told Me starring Jennifer Garner has me interested.

How far would you go for the people you love? Starring Jennifer Garner, The Last Thing He Told Me premieres April 14 on Apple TV+ https://apple.co/_TheLastThingHeToldMe

This gripping limited series follows Hannah, a woman who must forge a relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter Bailey in order to find the truth about why her husband has mysteriously disappeared.

Based on the #1 New York Times bestselling novel, the series is created and adapted by author Laura Dave, alongside series co-creator, Academy Award winner Josh Singer. Garner also serves as executive producer alongside Hello Sunshine’s Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter.

“Charlie Chan in the Secret Service” (1944) starring Sidney Toler & Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944)

Director:  Phil Rosen

Writer: George Callahan based on characters created by Earl Derr Biggers

Stars: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Sarah Edwards, George J. Lewis, Benson Fong and Gene Roth

Tagline:  The screen’s most daring sleuth!

The Plot…

Charlie Chan (Toler), now a government agent, is assigned to investigate the murder of a scientist working on a new type of weapon for the war effort.  The scientist was killed by an unknown method right before a dinner party he was hosting.  The house was filled with guests who are now suspects.  Chan is assisted by his #3 son, his #2 daughter and  a limo driver named Birmingham Brown (Moreland) Chan has just met.  The security of the United States rests with Charlie Chan solving this murder!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This is the first Charlie Chan to feature Mantan Moreland!  It is also the first Charlie Chan film made by Monogram Pictures.  Monogram’s films featured a lower budget, but this often adds to the charm of their Charlie Chan movies.

Charlie Chan in the Secret Service earns 4 of 5 stars.

“To Catch a Killer” – The Trailer is Here!

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I like the To Catch a Killer trailer.  Deal me in.

Baltimore. New Year’s Eve. A talented but troubled police officer (Shailene Woodley) is recruited by the FBI’s chief investigator (Ben Mendelsohn) to help profile and track down a disturbed individual terrorizing the city.

Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo
Directed by: Damián Szifron
Release Date: 4/21/23

“Jeepers Creepers: Reborn” (2022) / Z-View

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Jeepers Creepers: Reborn (2022)

Director:  Timo Vuorensola

Writer:  Sean-Michael Argo

Stars: Sydney Craven, Imran Adams, Jarreau Benjamin, Georgia Goodman and Dee Wallace

Tagline: Death gives it life.

The Plot…

Laine (Craven) and her boyfriend Chase (Adams) are heading to the Horror Hound festival held outdoors in a remote wooded area.  The festival is for fans of famous monsters, killers and all things horror.  Chase is a believer in the paranormal.  What they don’t know is an urban legend known as The Creeper is about to return.  Every 23 years for 23 days, the creature comes alive.  It then hunts and eats people.   The Creeper has it’s sights set on the Horror Hound festival.  Especially Laine.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I liked the original Jeepers Creepers.  I thought Jeepers Creepers 2 was even better. Jeepers Creepers 3 was just okay. I went into Jeepers Creepers: Reborn hoping for some scary fun.  Sadly, Jeepers Creepers: Reborn was worse than JC3.

Jeepers Creepers: Reborn is set at a Horror festival and sadly the Creeper looks like a bad cosplay.  If you don’t get the Creeper right in a Jeepers Creepers film, it’s just not going to work.  I make it through most movies, but I gave up on this one.  I just didn’t care about the characters and the Creeper just wasn’t as frightening as it should have been.

Jeepers Creepers: Reborn earns 1 of 5 stars.

Alexander Graham Bell: Surprising Facts You May Not Know!

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Most everyone knows that Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone.  After reading 10 Things You May Not Know About Alexander Graham Bell at History.com, I learned more interesting trivia about him.  Before you click over, here are three of my favorites…

Bell developed a wireless telephone. (He called it a photophone which used light to transmit sound! This is ore than 100 years before cell phones.  Although technology of the time prevented it from being used widespread, Bell considered it his greatest invention. – Craig)

He invented a rudimentary metal detector in a quest to save the life of a president. (Bell was brought in to assist in an attempt to save President Garfield’s life.  Sadly, Bell was unsuccessful, hampered by Garfield’s doctor and wire bedsprings! – Craig)

Picking the last item was tough so here’s a combo: Thanks to Bell, Helen Keller met Annie Sullivan; Bell designed a world record holding speedboat; the unit of sound measurement, decibels is named for him and all phone service in the US and Canada was silenced for one full minute the day Bell was buried.  Click over to the article for full details on these and other facts about Alexander Graham Bell. – Craig

“It Ain’t Over” – The Trailer is Here!

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While I’m not a regular viewer of baseball (by any stretch), I’d like to see It Ain’t Over.

Only in theaters in the New York Tri-State Area and Los Angeles May 12. Coming soon to a theater near you.

Directed By: Sean Mullin

Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra is one of baseball’s greatest. He amassed ten World Series rings, 3 MVP awards and 18 All-Star Game appearances. He caught the only perfect game in World Series history. Yet for many his deserved stature was overshadowed by his simply being himself and being recognized more for his unique personality, TV commercial appearances and unforgettable “Yogi-isms,” initially head-scratching philosophical nuggets that make a lot more sense the more you think about them. In telling the whole story, It Ain’t Over gives Berra his due in following the life of a savvy, commanding, bad-ball hitting catcher with a squat frame but also a D-Day veteran, loving husband and father and, yes, product endorser and originator (mostly) of his own brand of proverbs now ingrained into everyday life. Granddaughter Lindsay Berra tells his story along with his sons, former Yankee teammates, players he managed, writers, broadcasters, and admirers (such as Billy Crystal), plus photos and footage on and off the diamond. Berra famously said, “I’d be pretty dumb if I started being something I’m not,” and It Ain’t Over lovingly makes clear he stayed who he was for the benefit of baseball and everyone else.

“Duel” (1971) directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Dennis Weaver / Z-View

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Duel (1971)

Director:  Steven Spielberg

Writer:  Richard Matheson

Stars: Dennis Weaver, Jacqueline Scott, Gene Dynarski, Lucille Benson, Tim Herbert, Charles Seel, Shirley O’Hara and Carey Loftin.

Tagline: A duel is about to begin between a man, a truck, and an open road. Where a simple battle of wits is now a matter of life and death.

The Plot…

David Mann (Weaver), a salesman, is having a bad day.  He had an argument with his wife and she’s still ticked.  He has another stop to make before heading home and it’s a long drive both ways.  Mann’s day is about to get a lot worse when on a remote section of road an old tanker truck is creeping along.  Mann finally gets a chance to pass and does.  Almost immediately the tanker takes the lead back and then quickly slows down.  As Mann tries to pass again, the trucker tries to force him off the road. The trucker makes it clear he plans to kill Mann.  Miles out on a deserted road, what chance does Mann have?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Duel was the tv movie that put Steven Spielberg on the map.  He had directed a some television episodes (Marcus Welby, Night Gallery, The Name of the Game, The Psychiatrist, Columbo and Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law) prior to helming Duel.  The response to Spielberg’s tv movie was so good that Spielberg was brought back to shoot additional scenes to bring the film to feature length.  Duel was given a release in Europe, Australia and even a limited US release.

Richard Matheson provides the screenplay based on his short story of the same name.  Matheson’s resume contains so many winners and Duel is on that list.

Dennis Weaver does an excellent job of acting especially since he’s often the only person on screen.  It’s interesting to note the number of other performers who actually appear in the film because it’s Weaver and the trucker from hell that we remember.

I watched Duel when it premiered.  I was spending the night at my grandparents.  My grandpa and I watched together. (We both liked it a lot.)

Duel earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Corny Casanovas” (1952) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Corny Casanovas (1952)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard and Connie Cezon.

Tagline: None

The Plot…

The boys decide to clean up their house (with their usual brand of success) just hours before they are all to be married. Once their house is tidy, they will all head off to get hitched to their future brides.  Surprisingly none of our guys have seen the others’ fiancés.  What they don’t know, but will soon learn is they are all expecting to marry the same woman!  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Surprisingly, Shemp and Larry give Moe the business more than they get it from him in this one!

Corny Casanovas earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Silo” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I’m not familiar with the Silo series by Hugh Howey (and why didn’t Howey get credit in the trailer when it said, “based on the best selling book series”).  The poster doesn’t sell the series to me, but that trailer has me wanting to see it!

The truth will surface. Silo premieres May 5 on Apple TV+ https://apple.co/_Silo

In a ruined and toxic future, thousands live in a giant silo deep underground. After its sheriff breaks a cardinal rule and residents die mysteriously, engineer Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) starts to uncover shocking secrets and the truth about the silo.