“Night of Terror” (1933) starring Bela Lugosi / Z-View

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Night of Terror (1933)

Director:  Benjamin Stoloff

Screenplay: Willard Mack, Beatrice Van, Lester Neilson, William Jacobs

Stars: Bela Lugosi, Wallace Ford, Tully Marshall, George Meeker, Matt McHugh, Dave O’Brien and Oscar Smith.

Tagline: A mad murdering midnight menace!

The Plot…

A serial killer known as The Maniac is on the loose.  He was last seen near the estate where a rich man was murdered.  When the family comes together they learn they are heirs to the fortune left behind.  As family members turn up dead, survivors wonder if the killer is the Maniac or someone in the family attempting to get a bigger share.

How many will have to die before the truth is known?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although Bela Lugosi gets top billing, he plays a supporting character.

The best part of the film is after the mystery is solved.  The killer is caught. The Maniac is lying dead on the floor.  The family exits and we’re expecting “THE END” to appear.  But instead the Maniac gets up, walks close to the camera and speaks directly to the audience.  He warns them that if any tell how the movie ends he will find and haunt them! (Oh, and the Maniac isn’t the killer!)

Night of Terror (1933) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Roundup: Punishment” starring Don Lee – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Don Lee is back and we have the trailer and poster for The Roundup: Punishment.

IN THEATERS MAY 3.

During the investigations of a drug trafficking app, the Monster Cop Ma Seok-do (Don Lee) and his team discover a connection between the wanted app developer, who was killed in the Philippines, and a massive illegal online gambling organization. Meanwhile in the Philippines, Baek Chang-gi, a former elite soldier, has been controlling the Korean online illegal gambling market, terrorizing it with kidnap, assault and murder. His partner, the IT genius CEO, Chang Dong-chul plans an even larger scheme in Korea. To put an end to the escalating threat, Detective Ma expands the operation by proposing an unexpected alliance to Jang, and unfolds the biggest roundup mission to hunt down the criminals, collaborating with the cyber unit and Metro Investigations.

“Civil War” – The Last Trailer is Here!

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Civil War will get me back to a theater.  Looking forward to this.  Here’s the last trailer!

From writer/director Alex Garland and starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Cailee Spaeny.

CIVIL WAR – In Theaters April 12, 2024.

RELEASE DATE: April 12, 2024
DIRECTOR: Alex Garland
CAST: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Cailee Spaeny

“Apocalypto” (2006) directed by Mel Gibson

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Apocalypto (2006)

Director:  Mel Gibson

Screenplay: Mel Gibson, Farhad Safinia

Stars: Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Max Trujillo, Gerardo Taracena, Jonathan Brewer and Iazua Larios.

Tagline: No one can outrun their destiny.

The Plot…

When Jaguar Paw’s village is attacked, he manages to hide his pregnant wife and young son in a deep hole right outside their jungle settlement.  He then goes back to fight the attackers.  With overwhelming numbers, the attacking Mayans kill or capture every man and woman in the village.  The prisoners will be marched to the Mayan city.  The women then sold into slavery and the men publicly sacrificed.

Jaguar Paw is determined to escape, survive and get back to his family.  Odds are against it.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When people talk about Mel Gibson’s directing ability they usually mention Braveheart, Hacksaw Ridge and The Passion of the Christ.  Apocalypto should be included in that group.  It’s arguably the best film he ever directed.

Many of the roles in Apocalypto were performed by Mayans who had never acted before.

Apocalypto was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Achievement in Makeup (Aldo Signoretti, Vittorio Sodano); Best Achievement in Sound Mixing (Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell, Fernando Cámara) and Best Achievement in Sound Editing (Sean McCormack, Kami Asgar).

Apocalypto (2006) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Road House” (2024) starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior & Conor McGregor / Z-View

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Road House (2024)

Director:  Doug Liman

Screenplay: Anthony Bagarozzi, Charles Mondry, story by Anthony Bagarozzi, Charles Mondry, David Lee Henry based on Road House by David Lee Henry, Hilary Henkin

Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Conor McGregor, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams, B.K. Cannon, Joaquim de Almeida, Austin Post Malone, Lukas Gage, Dominique Columbus, Beau Knapp, Hannah Love Lanier, Travis Van Winkle and JD Pardo.

Tagline: Take it outside.

The Plot…

Ex-UFC cage fighter, Elwood Dalton (Gyllenhaal) is offered $5,000.00 a week to become head bouncer at the Road House beach bar.  A biker gang has been terrorizing customers.  Dalton reluctantly takes the job.  He then discovers that the bikers are pawns used by a drug runner who wants the Road House for reasons of his own.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Road House is Conor McGregor’s film debut.

Director Doug Liman keeps the action moving and the shots interesting.

Jake Gyllenhaal is great as the “keep it cool” character with a savage dark side once a line is crossed.

Conor McGregor is as over the top in the movie as he is in real life.  Let that sink in.

While not as good as the original, I enjoyed it more than most folks.  Road House (2024) currently has a 6.2 out of 10 rating at IMDb.  At Rotten Tomatoes it has 59% rating among reviewers and a 54% audience rating.

Road House (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Pushover” (1954) starring Fred MacMurray, Kim Novak, Philip Carey, Dorothy Malone & E.G. Marshall / Z-View

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Pushover (1954)

Director:  Richard Quine

Screenplay: Roy Huggins based on THE NIGHT WATCH by Thomas Walsh and RAFFERTY by Bill Ballinger

Stars: Fred MacMurray, Kim Novak, Philip Carey, Dorothy Malone, E.G. Marshall, Allen Nourse, James Anderson, Tony Barrett, Phil Chambers, Alan Dexter, Anne Loos, Marion Ross, Paul Richards and Dick Crockett.

Tagline: HOT-BLOODED BLONDE…COLD-BLOODED GUY…and MURDER!

The Plot…

Detective Paul Sheridan (MacMurray) is sent undercover to befriend Lona McLane (Novak).  Lona is the girlfriend of Harry Wheeler (Richards), the prime suspect in a bank robbery where a security guard was killed and the thieves made off with over $200,000.00.  Paul and Lona hit it off.

The police have placed Lona’s apartment under 24 hour surveillance by Paul, an alcoholic cop named Paddy (Nourse) and Detective Rick McAllister (Carey).  Paul is surprised when Lona shows up at his house when he’s off-shift.  Lona tells Paul that she knows he’s a cop.  That she loves him.  That if Paul will kill Harry, they could run away together with the bank cash.

Paul refuses… at first.  But he’s in love and the temptation is too great.  Paul and Lona come up with a plan, but like the best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although Kim Novak’s credit says, Introducing, this wasn’t her first on-screen appearance.  She was just 21 when Pushover was released.  She definitely comes off as sexier,  older and more world-weary than a 21 year old.

Roy Huggins’s script was based on two books not written by him. Huggins was himself a novelist and screenwriter.  He was also writer, creator and/or producer of television series that include Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip, The Fugitive, Hunter, and The Rockford Files.

Marion Ross of Happy Days fame appears uncredited as Mrs. Crockett.

Fred MacMurray and Kim Novak are excellent.  Kudos also to Philip Carey, Dorothy Malone and E.G. Marshall.

Pushover (1954) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Die Hard” Trivia!

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Rob Hunter at Film School Rejects posted 37 Things We Learned from Steven E. de Souza’s ‘Die Hard’ Commentary. (Sadly the piece is no longer available.) But here are three of my favorites and my thoughts on each…

8. Sinatra was actually the first of many actors to decline the role. “You have to view this movie in the context of the time it was made. In the 1980s there had been all these action movies with these muscular, steroid, pumped up, roid rage heroes.” He adds that he played a role in that, “mea culpa,” as a reference to films like Commando (1985) and The Running Man (1987). The only one he mentions by title, though, is 1985’s Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) — which he didn’t write. The point being that McClane spends a big chunk of the time trying to hide and call the cops, something action stars of the decade weren’t too keen on. “So in that context, this guy is a coward, he’s a pussy.” (The fact that McClane didn’t act like an action hero made him more believable.  It made the film better. – Craig)

12. After Sinatra said no, Fox took the script to other stars, but they were turned down by “Arnold, then Sly, then Clint Eastwood, then Mel Gibson, then Richard Gere, then Don Johnson, then Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Kurt Russell, James Caan, and Burt Reynolds who was a Hail Mary call from our producer.” In desperation, the studio made the offer to Willis whose management was well aware of the film’s hard release date — and negotiated a killer deal as a result. (I believe Willis ended up getting $5million for his role.  It was interesting that when the movie was first being advertised it didn’t focus on him being the star. The feeling was that the studio had waaay overpaid.  Turns out they got a bargain. – Craig)

7. The novel is actually a sequel to 1960’s The Detective, also based on a Thorp novel, which stars Frank Sinatra in the lead role. When Fox moved forward on Die Hard they has to approach Sinatra and offered him the role. “He said ‘I’m too old and too rich to do this, and the chases in the building would have to be on Rascal scooters.’” The character names were all changed to sever that connection, and they also took the opportunity to age down the retired cop character to a younger, active police officer. (I am so glad that Sinatra had the good sense to pass.  I’ve read the novel (NOTHING LASTS FOREVER) and it isn’t near as good as “Die Hard” turned out to be.  As you’ll see if you click over to Hunter’s article, many of the things fans love about “Die Hard” happened by accident or good luck. Everything came together to make a classic movie. – Craig)

“The Crooked Circle” (1932) starring Zasu Pitts & James Gleason / Z-View

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The Crooked Circle (1932)

Director:  H. Bruce Humberstone

Screenplay: Ralph Spence (original screenplay), Tim Whelan (additional dialogue)

Stars: Zasu Pitts, James Gleason, C. Henry Gordon, Raymond Hatton, Berton Churchill, Spencer Charters, Robert Frazer, Frank Reicher and Christian Rub.

Tagline: WHAT TIME IS IT WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 13? THRILLS will creep on you-LAUGHS will leap on you! IN ZASU PITTS FIRST FEATURE PICTURE

The Plot…

The Crooked Circle, a secret group of criminals, has vowed to kill Colonel Theodore Walters.  Walters is a member of the Sphinx Club, a group of amateur detectives.

When the Sphinx Club meets at a creepy, old mansion, the Crooked Circle plan to make good on their vow.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Crooked Circle is a variation on “The Old Dark House” movies that were popular in the era.  Hidden passageways, ghosts, bad guys and a touch of comedy are staples of this genre.

Zasu Pitts and James Gleason were the top billed stars, but their characters aren’t the main focus of the film.

Zasu is her real name.  Her mother made it up taking the last two letters of Eliza and the first two letters of Susan.  Her mother’s sisters were named Eliza and Susan.

Zasu Pitts was the inspiration for Popeye’s girlfriend, Olive Oyle!

The Crooked Circle (1932) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Fallout” – The “Behind the Scenes” Clip is Here!

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I’ve never played the game, but I’m looking forward to Fallout the series.

Hear from the legendary Todd Howard, executive producer James Altman, and more on the process behind adapting the iconic RPG series to Amazon’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi series.

Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. Two-hundred years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind—and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them.

The series comes from Kilter Films and executive producers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. Nolan directed the first three episodes. Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner serve as executive producers, writers, and co-showrunners.

Fallout stars Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets), Aaron Moten (Emancipation) and Walton Goggins (The Hateful Eight). Athena Wickham of Kilter Films also executive produces, along with Todd Howard for Bethesda Game Studios and James Altman for Bethesda Softworks. Amazon MGM Studios and Kilter Films produce in association with Bethesda Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks.

The series cast includes Moisés Arias (The King of Staten Island), Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks), Sarita Choudhury (Homeland), Michael Emerson (Person of Interest), Leslie Uggams (Deadpool), Frances Turner (The Boys), Dave Register (Heightened), Zach Cherry (Severance), Johnny Pemberton (Ant-Man), Rodrigo Luzzi (Dead Ringers), Annabel O’Hagan (Law & Order: SVU), and Xelia Mendes-Jones (The Wheel of Time).

Fallout will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide starting April 11, 2024.

“Where Danger Lives” (1950) starring Robert Mitchum / Z-View

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Where Danger Lives (1950)

Director:  John Farrow

Screenplay: Charles Bennett, story by Leo Rosten

Stars: Robert Mitchum, Claude Rains, Faith Domergue, Maureen O’Sullivan, Ralph Dumke, Harry Shannon, Philip Van Zandt and Jack Kelly.

Tagline: She’s tempting to look at – dangerous to know!

The Plot…

Dr. Jeff Cameron (Mitchum) is about to leave work when an attempted suicide named Margo Lannington (Domergue) is brought in.  Jeff saves the young woman.  In short order, Jeff falls in love.  Suddenly one evening, Margo says that her father is taking her on a trip out of the country the next day.  Jeff attempts to talk Margo into not going.  She says she has no choice and leaves Jeff in the restaurant. After several drinks Jeff decides to ask Margo’s father for permission to marry her.

Jeff arrives at Lannington’s mansion.  He is invited in by Margo’s father (Reins) who listens to Jeff speak about his whirlwind romance of Margo.  Margo enters the room and is surprised to see Jeff.  She tells him to leave.  Jeff says, that he’s there to ask her father for permission to marry her.  Margo’s father says, “I don’t know why you kept calling me her father.  I’m her husband.”

Jeff is shocked. Margo says she loves Jeff, but he’s upset because she lied to him.  As he walks out, Jeff hears Margo scream.  He runs back in.  Margo is on the floor.  She’s obviously been struck by her husband.  Jeff and the husband struggle.  Jeff is struck several times with fireplace poker, but manages to knock her husband unconscious.

Jeff leaves the room to get a bandage for his head.  When Jeff returns he’s shocked to find that Margo’s husband isn’t knocked out.  He’s dead.  Jeff wants to call the police, but Margo convinces him that they’d never believe it was self-defense.  They had been seen dating and no court would believe their story.

Reluctantly, Jeff leaves with Margo.  Their plan is to cross into Mexico and escape.  But like the best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Before Jeff meets Margo, he’s dating Julie Dorn (O’Sullivan).  Despite dumping her, going on the run and being wanted for murder, she immediately takes him back.  It didn’t ring true, but it did give the movie a happy ending.

Maureen O’Sullivan was director, John Farrow’s wife. Speaking of John Farrow, I’m a fan of other movies that he directed.  They include: 5 Came Back, The Big Clock, Hondo, Back from Eternity (a remake of 5 Came Back) and The Unholy Wife.

Mitchum’s star power, Claude Rein’s small (but important) role and a nice twist at the end which gets Mitchum’s character off the hook for murder elevate this film.

Where Danger Lives (1950) rates 3 of 5 stars.