“Chisum” (1970) starring John Wayne / Z-View
Chisum (1970)
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Screenplay: Andrew J. Fenady, based on the short story Chisum and the Lincoln County War by Andrew J. Fenady
Stars: John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Glenn Corbett, Bruce Cabot, Patric Knowles, Richard Jaeckel, Geoffrey Deuel, Pamela McMyler, John Agar, Robert Donner, Ray Teal, Edward Faulkner, Ron Soble, William Conrad (voice), Lee Meriwether and Lynda Day (George).
Tagline: THE LEGEND – John Wayne is “Chisum”
The Plot…
John Chisum (Wayne) and Lawrence Murphy (Tucker) are the biggest land owners in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Murphy has been buying up land and businesses by exerting behind-the-scenes pressure. Murphy goes too far when he pays off the sheriff and hires outlaws to rustle cattle.
Chisum, aided by his trail boss Pepper, along with Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett take a stand against Murphy and his gang.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
John Wayne was 44 years into his career when he made Chisum. Wayne was the #2 Money-Making Box Office Star for 1970. Paul Newman was #1.
Christopher George and Lynda Day had met before, but during filming of Chisum they fell in love and were later married.
The ranch house John Chisum lives in will be reused the following year for Wayne’s ranch house in Big Jake.
This was Geoffrey Deuel’s feature film debut. Geoffrey is Pete Duel’s younger brother. They look enough alike to be twins. Pete changed his last name for professional reasons. Pete would become famous for his role on Alias Smith and Jones. Sadly Pete Jones died from a self-inflicted gunshot on December 31, 1971.
Lee Meriwether’s only appearance in the film is in a photograph in Chisum’s pocket watch.
John Wayne was reportedly disappointed that his stuntman was so obvious in the big fight scene with Forrest Tucker. Tucker’s stunt man was Jim Burk who performed stunts on over 50 movies including Tango & Cash, Conan the Barbarian and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Chisum is based on the Lincoln County War of 1878. Although fictionalized, several of the characters in the film were based on real people and events.
Chisum (1970) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“The Flood” (2023) starring Casper Van Dien & Nicky Whelan / Z-View
The Flood (2023)
Director: Brandon Slagle
Screenplay: Chad Law, Josh Ridgway
Stars: Casper Van Dien, Nicky Whelan, Louis Mandylor.
Tagline: Danger is rising.
The Plot…
Sheriff Jo Newman (Whelan) has her hands full. A hurricane is about to hit and the water is rising. A prison transport bus just pulled in. They need to house the prisoners until the storm passes. Little does anyone know, armed outlaws are about to attempt a breakout.
What could make this worse?
The rising waters have brought a nest of alligators into the jail. If the crooks don’t kill ya, the gators will.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Flood is a drive-in movie at best. A low-budget genre film with poor CGI, headlined by a star who never quite made the A-List.
The Flood (2023) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Batman by Michael Cho!
I’m a huge fan of Michael Cho’s art. I’d love to see a book full of Batman stories by Cho.
“Kongo” (1932) starring Walter Huston, Lupe Velez, Conrad Nagel & Virginia Bruce / Z-View
Kongo (1932)
Director: William J. Cowen
Screenplay: Leon Gordon based on the play Kongo by Chester De Vonde, Kilbourn Gordon
Stars: Walter Huston, Lupe Velez, Conrad Nagel, Virginia Bruce, C. Henry Gordon, Everett Brown and Forrester Harvey.
Tagline: A MADMAN WREAKS HIS VENGEANCE on a woman’s soul!
The Plot…
Deep in the Kongo jungle, a crippled white man called “Deadlegs” Flint (Huston) rules. Using stage magic to frighten the masses and a few natives (paying them in sugar cubes and booze) to keep the rest in line, Flint is seen as a god.
Flint wasn’t always in a wheelchair. That happened because the man his wife was cheating with crushed his spine in a fight. Now Flint hates the world and lives for the day when he will have the ultimate revenge.
Soon, Flint’s vengeance, years in the making, will come to pass. Only a twist that no one sees coming will change everything.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Kongo is a remake of West of Zanzibar (1928) directed by Tod (Dracula) Browning and starring Lon (The Phantom of the Opera) Chaney. Some exterior footage from West of Zanzibar was re-used in Kongo.
The film’s revenge storyline and the twist are made thanks to Kongo being a pre-code film.
Kongo (1932) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Marv and Nancy by RM Guera!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have Marv and Nancy by RM Guera. This piece is exceptional. Truly a thing of beauty.
Source: Adam Tomlin.
“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (2024) directed by George Miller, starring Anya Taylor-Joy & Chris Hemsworth / Z-View
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
Director: George Miller
Screenplay: George Miller, Nico Lathouris, based on characters created by George Miller, Byron Kennedy, Nico Lathouris
Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, Lachy Hulme, John Howard, Angus Sampson, Elsa Pataky, Nathan Jones, Josh Helman, Goran D. Kleut and David Field.
Tagline: Fury Is Born.
The Plot…
In an apocalyptic future, we learn the backstory of the warrior woman, Furiosa. Kidnapped as a child by Dementus’ biker gang who murdered her mother, Furiosa was then traded to Citadel Warlord Immortan Joe. Furiosia was doomed. Using her wits and tenacity, Furiosa escapes and plans for the opportunity to get her vengeance.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
George Miller had everything (screenplay, concept art, etc.) in place in regard to Furiosa’s backstory prior to the filming of Mad Max: Fury Road. Fury Road actors were given access so they knew each character’s complete arc.
Chris Hemsworth (Dementus) and Elsa Pataky ( plays two roles: Vuvalini General and Mr Norton) are married in real life.
Where Furiosa takes place in regard to Mad Max and The Road Warrior is hard to pin down since George Miller doesn’t have a strict timeline laid out. Miller views each tale as a legend.
Mad Max: Fury Road was highly anticipated and still exceeded expectations. The belief that Furiosa would raise the bar even higher was prevalent among many fans. While Fury Road is an extended chase, Furiosa is a character study disguised as an action film.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Noir Art by Dana Black!
The noir art above was created by Dana Black. Dana has done a few Stallone pieces from me in the last couple of years. I’ll post them soon. If you’re an art collector, Dana is easy to deal with and is very reasonable with his prices.
“Sergeant Rutledge” (1960) starring Jeffrey Hunter, Woody Strode & Constance Towers / Z-View
Sergeant Rutledge (1960)
Director: John Ford
Screenplay: James Warner Bellah, Willis Goldbeck, novelization SERGEANT RUTLEDGE by James Warner Bellah
Stars: Jeffrey Hunter, Woody Strode, Constance Towers, Billie Burke, Juano Hernandez, Willis Bouchey, Carleton Young, Judson Pratt, Phil Adams, Rafer Johnson and Toby Michaels.
Tagline: “I want the truth about that night.”
The Plot…
First Sergeant Braxton Rutledge (Strode) stands accused of the rape and murder of Lucy Dabney (Michaels) and the murder of her father, Major Custis Dabney. Despite being a respected and decorated soldier, the evidence points to Sergeant Rutledge’s guilt. He was wounded and seen leaving the scene of the crime before going AWOL.
Now on trial, with an mob ready to hang him, Sergeant Braxton knows he has little hope, despite his claims of innocence. Who is going to believe a black man when he says he didn’t rape and kill a young white girl and her father? Lt. Tom Cantrell (Hunter), Rutledge’s commanding officer has everything stacked against him as he works to prove Rutledge is innocent.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
This was Billie (best known as Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz) Burke’s last film role.
Rafer Johnson, who plays Corporal Klump, won a Gold Medal in the 1960 Olympics in the decathlon.
Toby Michaels plays Lucy Dabney, the young girl who was raped and murdered. Michaels is not listed in the credits.
The reveal of who committed the murder is worthy of Perry Mason.
Sergeant Rutledge (1960) rates 4 of 5 stars.
THE BIG EMPTY: AN ELVIS COLE AND JOE PIKE NOVEL by Robert Crais is Coming!
Any new Robert Crais release is cause for celebration. If the book is an Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel, then lock the doors, cause the party is going to be off the chain. Get ready to bar the doors.
THE BIG EMPTY: AN ELVIS COLE AND JOE PIKE NOVEL drops on January 14, 2025. Here’s the lowdown…
Private investigator Elvis Cole and his enigmatic partner, Joe Pike, face a cryptic case and a terrifying, unpredictable killer in this twisty, satisfying thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Robert Crais.
Traci Beller was thirteen when her father disappeared in the sleepy town of Rancha, not far from Los Angeles. The evidence says Tommy Beller abandoned his family, but Traci never believed it. The police couldn’t find her dad and neither could the detectives her mother hired, but now, ten years later, Traci is a super-popular influencer with millions of followers and the money to hire a new detective: Elvis Cole.
Taking on a ten-years-cold missing person case is almost always a loser, but Elvis heads to Rancha where he learns an ex-con named Sadie Givens and her daughter, Anya, might have a line on the missing man. But when Elvis finds himself shadowed by a deadly gang of vicious criminals, the simple missing persons case becomes far more sinister and dangerous. Elvis calls in his ex-Marine friend, Joe Pike, to help, but even Pike might not be able to help.
As Elvis Cole and Joe Pike follow Tommy Beller’s trail into the twisted, nightmare depths of a monstrous evil, the case flips on its head. Victims become predators, predators become pray, and when everyone is a victim, can Elvis Cole save them all?
In a case that tests Elvis Cole’s loyalty to his clients and himself, the truth must come out no matter the cost. Elvis must face The Big Empty and see justice done.
Chandler by Steranko!
Chandler by Steranko. This is a piece that was touted as part of the Steranko re-colored, remastered edition that sadly never came out. At least I still have my original, autographed copy. ; )
Source: Paul Chadwick.
“The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die” (2023) / Z-View
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023)
Director: Edward Bazalgette
Screenplay: Martha Hillier based on THE SAXON STORIES by Bernard Cornwell
Stars: Alexander Dreymon, Harry Gilby, Mark Rowley.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
When Edward, King of the Anglo-Saxons, dies without designating an heir to the throne, it sets off a chain reaction of lessor kings battling to become the one true king. Expect brother versus brother, double-crosses and deceit.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023) is a spin-off of the The Last Kingdom series which ran for five seasons. You don’t have to watch the series to enjoy the movie, but it probably would enhance the film if you did. (I had not seen the series prior to watching the film.)
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“The Warriors” Come Out to Play in an Alt. Poster by Huan Do!
Huan Do brings The Warriors out to play in a cool alt movie poster.
“Under Paris” (2024) / Z-View
Under Paris (2024)
Director: Xavier Gens
Screenplay: Yannick Dahan, Xavier Gens, Maud Heywang, Yaël Langmann
Stars: Bérénice Bejo, Nassim Lyes.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Three years ago Sophia, a marine researcher, barely survived a shark attack that killed everyone else in her group. Now Sophia, still not fully recovered from the attack, works at an aquarium in Paris. She keeps up with the location of the killer shark thanks to a tracking beacon on it.
When the beacon shows the shark has traveled into the Seine River, Sophia can’t get anyone to believe her. When mutilated bodies begin to appear, it becomes clear that sharks have mutated and are indeed in the river. Despite this, the mayor refuses to cancel a huge event that includes a triathlon in the, you guessed, Seine River.
Didn’t anyone learn anything from Jaws, Jaws II, Jaws 3-D and Jaws: The Revenge?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Under Paris suffers from bad cgi, cliched characters and supposedly smart characters who die because of simply stupid choices. The mayor knows there are mutated sharks in the river and still allows hundreds of swimmers to compete there. A “smart” woman who has survived several shark attacks and has had her boat destroyed decides to swim towards the shark feeding frenzy. Bombs from World War II are inadvertently detonated by sharks destroying bridge after bridge. And so on…
I made it through the whole thing so it barely earns a 2 star rating.
After writing this, I saw a Tweet (er, X) from Stephen King which read…
I thought UNDER PARIS would be a jokey movie, like SHARKNADO, but Twitter convinced me to give it a watch, and it’s really quite good. The last 25 minutes were amazing.
Now, I’m not one to argue with Stephen King. My opinion stands, as does King’s. So, I’ll just say, “Your mileage may vary.”
Under Paris (2024), (for me) rates 2 of 5 stars.
