Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Werewolf by Night was a surprise hit. Just as cool is JK Woodward’s inkwash art featuring the character… and if you look in the background you might find a guest appearance of another Marvel comics horror character! You can see more of Woodward’s art on his Twitter stream.
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:
Out of the Past (1947) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Laurent Carbonelle is killing it with alt posters for classic movies! How about this sweet one for Night of the Hunter? You can see more of Carnonelle’s art here.
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.
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.
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.
One of my favorite noir movies is The Big Heat, directed by Fritz Lang, starring Glen Ford, Gloria Grahame, Jocelyn Brando (Marlon Brando’s sister), Lee Marvin and Carolyn Jones. This nice alt poster was created by Erik J. Kreffel. You can see more of Kreffel’s art at his website or by following his Twitter stream.
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.
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
This may be my favorite piece of Alex Ross art ever. You can see more of Alex Ross’ art at his website or by following him on Twitter.
Mighty Joe Young (1949)
Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
Screenplay: Ruth Rose from a story by Merian C. Cooper
Stars: Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Robert Armstrong, Mr. Joseph Young, Frank McHugh, Douglas Fowley, Nestor Paiva, Regis Toomey, James Flavin, Primo Carnera, Karl ‘Killer’ Davis, William ‘Wee Willie’ Davis, Man Mountain Dean, Richard Farnsworth, Phil Olafsson, Henry Kulky, Ivan Rasputin, Sammy Stein, Irene Ryan and Sammy Menacker.
Tagline: Striking! Startling! Staggering!
The Plot…
The year is 1937. Jill Young is an eight year old living on her father’s small estate in Africa. Jill is in the front yard when two Africans pass by carrying an orphaned baby gorilla. Jill makes a trade and becomes the owner of the infant gorilla.
Twelve years pass. Max O’Hara (Armstong) has organized an African safari to capture lions for his nightclub show. Greg (Johnson) is a cowboy who leads the group capturing the beasts. They are about to leave when they spot a giant gorilla. Max and Greg try to capture the huge ape but they only end up angering it. Jill shows up and calms her now grown gorilla.
Soon enough Max convinces Jill if she comes to Hollywood with her giant ape, they will become famous with everything money can buy.
What could go wrong?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Mighty Joe Young won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects!
I first saw Mighty Joe Young when I was a child. I loved it then, I’ve rewatched it several times over the years and I still love it. How could you not? It has a misunderstood monster (Joe), lions fighting Joe, cowboys!, a test of strength between 10 strong men and Mighty Joe, a love story, and redemption.
The strong men who try Mighty Joe in tug of war include former world heavyweight boxing champion Primo Canera and nine professional wrestlers. One of them was Sam Menacker. I knew Mr. Menacker because he was the color commentator for professional wrestling in Indiana. Menacker was a former wrestler himself. I thought it was so cool to a young Slammin’ Sammy Menacker in a movie!
This was the first film to feature Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion animation effects.
Mighty Joe Young (1949) rates 5 of 5 stars.
The LEAD CITY graphic novel by Eric Borden and Kyle Brummond comes out today. I bought LEAD CITY when it was first on Kickstarter. If you didn’t, here is your chance to get the complete series in a single trade paperback. The synopsis from the publisher…
A farmer enters a deadly gunfighter competition in order to save his family.
Doesn’t exactly make you want to shell out your hard-earned cash, does it? That’s too bad, because LEAD CITY is a fun story with cool art. Let’s try the write-up from Kickstarter. If LEAD CITY sounds like something you’d like, you know what to do.
Krzysztof Domaradzki created this amazing alt Rocky poster. As Mickey would say, “It’s a thing of beauty.” You can see more of Domaradzki’s awesome art at his website. I’d plan to stay awhile.
Point Break (1991)
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Screenplay: W. Peter Iliff from a story by Rick King, W. Peter Iliff
Stars: Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Lori Petty, John C. McGinley, James Le Gros, John Philbin, Bojesse Christopher, Julian Reyes, Daniel Beer, Chris Pedersen, Anthony Kiedis, Lee Tergesen and Christopher Pettiet.
Tagline: 27 banks in three years. Anything to catch the perfect wave!
The Plot…
Johnny Utah (Reeves), a rookie FBI agent, is assigned to a task force assembled to bring down a gang of bank robbers dubbed “The Ex-Presidents”. They earned their nickname because each member of the crew wears the mask of, you guessed it, an ex-president. The Ex-Presidents have successfully hit 27 banks over a period of three years. They leave few clues and are in and out within 90 seconds.
The leader of the FBI task force, Pappas (Busey) believes that the Ex-Presidents may be surfers. Pappas gets clearance for Utah to go undercover. Soon Utah befriends a charismatic surfer named Bhodi (Swayze). Bhodi’s crew distrusts Utah at first, but begins to warm to him when they see he’s as much of an adrenaline-junkie as they are. As their friendship develops, Utah begins to suspect Bhodi and his crew are the Ex-Presidents. Loyalties are about to be tested…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Patrick Swayze did his own skydiving and surfing for the film.
Point Break was Keanu Reeves first action movie. Kathryn Bigelow wanted Reeves for the Johnny Utah role. The studio wanted a higher profile star. Stars considered included Johnny Depp, Val Kilmer, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen and Matthew Broderick.
Kathryn Bigelow’s next feature film following Point Break was Strange Days which is another excellent film!
Point Break (1991) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Berlin Express (1948)
Director: Jacques Tourneur
Screenplay: Harold Medford from a story by Curt Siodmak
Stars: Merle Oberon, Robert Ryan, Charles Korvin, Paul Lukas, Robert Coote, Reinhold Schünzel, Otto Waldis, Fritz Kortner and Tom Keene.
Tagline: BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF SILENCE… into Berlin’s forbidden zone!
The Plot…
World War II is over, Germany has been divided into four zones of occupation under the control of the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin, although located in the Soviet Zone, is also divided among the four governments.
On a train to Frankfurt, a bomb explodes in an assassination attempt on Dr. Bernhardt, a German working for a peaceful solution between Germany and the occupying governments. Although Bernhardt survived, his bodyguard was killed. When the train arrives at the busy railway station, Bernhardt is kidnapped. Several of the travelers including a US business man, a French woman, and a Russian soldier put aside their differences in an attempt to find Dr. Bernhardt.
Before it is over the group will face betrayal, mistaken identities, shootouts, fistfights, murders and more.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Berlin Express was the first Hollywood production filmed on location in post-war Berlin, The bombed out city is a somber and terrifying backdrop. The opening and closing of the film features narration that gives the move a documentary feel. This didn’t work for me.
What did work were the scenes in the cabaret, the abandoned warehouse, the fight on the high dilapidated walkway, and the identity of the true murderer. Oh, and let’s not forget the scene towards the end of the film showing Dr. Bernhardt being strangled — a very cleaver reveal. It’s also interesting to note that the Russian soldier wasn’t treated as a caricature.
Berlin Express (1948) rates 3 of 5 stars.
