RIP: Ray Stevenson

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Ray Stevenson died today.  He was 58.  No cause of death has been released.

Ray Stevenson was an Irish actor known for his roles in theater, television and feature films.  He is best known for his starring roles as The Punisher in Punisher: War Zone and Volstagg in Thor franchise films,

Some of Ray Stevenson’s television appearances include: The Dwelling Place (3 episodes); The Tide of Life (3 episodes); Band of Gold (9 episodes); City Central (21 episodes); Walking the Dead (2 episodes); Rome (22 episodes); Dexter (9 episodes); Black Sails (11 episodes); Rellik (6 episodes); Reef Break (13 episodes); Vikings (11 episodes) and Das Boot (9 episodes).

Some of Ray Stevenson’s feature films include:  The Theory of Flight; King Arthur; Punisher: War Zone; Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant; The Book of Eli; The Other Guys; Kill the Irishman; Thor; G.I. Joe: Retaliation; Thor: The Dark World; Cold Skin; Thor: Ragnarak; Accident Man; RRR and Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday.

My favorite Ray Stevenson role was in Punisher: War Zone. He was excellent in the role and I’m surprised that they didn’t do sequels with him.  It was also a pleasant surprise to see him in RRR.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ray Stevenson’s family, friends and fans.

“Scrambled Brains” (1951) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Scrambled Brains (1951)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Emile Sitka, Vernon Dent and Pamela Britton.

Tagline: Those cut-up kings in their funniest free-for-all fun frolic!

The Plot…

Shemp is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.  He is hallucinating and nothing seems to help.  In desperation, Larry and Moe call in Dr. Gesundheit (Sitka).  If he can’t help Shemp then it’s back to the  sanatorium.  Let the good times roll.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Larry Fine considered this his favorite of all the Stooges’ shorts.

Muhammad Ali was famous for saying, “I’d fight that chump in a phone booth.”  There is an extended scene with our boys fighting Vernon Dent in a phone booth!

Scrambled Brains (1951) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Don’t Throw That Knife” (1951) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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“Don’t Throw That Knife” (1951)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Jean Wiles and Dick Curtis.

Tagline: The nonsense kings take the census – the hard way

The Plot…

The boys are census takers.  They get to the apartment of Mr. and Mrs. Wykoff, a famous knife-throwing act.  The husband isn’t home but the wife is.  The boys barge in to ask her census questions.  She warns them that they must get out of the apartment because her husband is insanely jealous.  He would kill any man caught alone with her.  And wouldn’t you kn0w it, just then, they hear the husband coming through the door.  Let the festivities begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The boys: “What does your husband do?”  Mrs. Wykoff: “He’s a magician.  He makes things disappear.”  Shemp: “I got an uncle who can make things disappear.”  Moe: “Is he a magician?”  Shemp: “No.  He’s a kleptomaniac.”

The best scene is when the husband finds his wife is hiding a man… no, two men… wait, three men!! (And the nonsense that follows.)

“Don’t Throw That Knife” (1951) rates 3 of 5 stars.

RIP: Jim Brown

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Jim Brown died on Thursday, May 18, 2023.  He was 87 years old.  Jim Brown was an athlete, civil rights activist and actor.

Jim Brown attended Syracuse University where he excelled at basketball, track and field, lacrosse, and football. Many consider Jim Brown to be one of the best lacrosse players of all time.  While at Syracuse, Jim Brown was a unanimous selection for the All-America team and they retired his number 44.  In 1995, he was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Jim Brown was a running back for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 – 1965.  He led the league in rushing 8 of the 9 seasons he played.  When he retired (while at the height of his career) he was the all-time leading rusher.  Jim Brown was a named a Pro Bowl player each season that he played.  Three times in the 9 seasons he was named the NFL Most Valuable Player.  He led the Browns to a Championship in 1964.  Jim Brown is the only professional football player to average over 100 yards per game.  He is considered by many to be the greatest player to every take the field.  Mr. Brown retired from football to pursue a career as an actor.

Some of Jim Brown’s television appearances include: I, Spy; Police Story; CHiPs (3 episodes); Knight Rider; TJ Hooker (2 episodes); The A-Team and Soul Food (4 episodes).

Some of Jim Brown’s feature films include: Rio Concho; The Dirty Dozen; Dark of the Sun; Ice Station Zebra; The Split; 100 Rifles; Slaughter; Slaughter’s Big Rip-Off; Three The Hard Way; The Running Man; I’m Gonna Git You Sucka; Mars Attacks and Any Given Sunday.

Jimi Brown was one of the few athletes to speak out about civil rights in the 1950s and he continued to do so throughout his life.  Mr. Brown was the founder of the Negro Industrial Economic Union, later renamed as the Black Economic Union which helped find opportunities and promote minority owned business.

I was a fan of Jim Brown’s football prowess.  My favorite Jim Brown films are The Dirty Dozen and Dark of the Sun.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim Brown’s family, friends and fans.

Lee Marvin’s All-Time Best Movies!

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Ben Sherlock at ScreenRant came up with his list (and rationale) for the 12 Best Lee Marvin Movies Ranked.  Sherlock’s list is a good one, but leaves out some of Marvin’s films that I’d have included.  So before you click over, here’s how Sherlock and I compare and the movies that would have made my list that didn’t make his.

Sherlock

Zablo

12. Paint Your Wagon (1969)

*** Monte Walsh (1970) (Haven’t seen yet.)

11. Monte Walsh (1970)

*** The Iceman Cometh (1973) (Haven’t seen yet)

10. The Killers (1964)

10. Paint Your Wagon (1969)

09. The Comancheros (1961)

09. The Big Red One (1980)

08. The Iceman Cometh (1973)

08. Cat Ballou (1965

07. The Professionals (1966)

07. The Professionals (1966)

06. The Big Red One (1980)

06. The Comancheros (1961)

05. Bad Day At Black Rock (1955)

05. Bad Day At Black Rock (1955)

04. Cat Ballou (1965)

04. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

03. The Dirty Dozen (1967)

03. Point Blank (1967)

02. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

02. The Killers (1964)

01. Point Blank (1967)

01. The Dirty Dozen (1967)

I would have included The Big Heat (one of my all-time favorite films), The Emperor of the North (Marvin and Borgnine in one of the most violet fights ever filmed) and Death Hunt. (Marvin vs Charles Bronson and Carl Weathers with Angie Dickinson for good measure). 

“Three Arabian Nuts” (1951) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Three Arabian Nuts (1951)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer: Elwood Ullman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Philip Van Zandt, Vernon Dent and Dick Curtis.

Tagline:  Your Favorite Cut-Ups Cut Loose in a Harem-Scarem Comedy Riot!

The Plot…

The boys are warehouse workers unpacking expensive Arabian antiques.  When Shemp comes across a magic lamp, he thinks it is a syrup dispenser.  He wipes it off and a genie appears!  Unfortunately, two Arabian killers are close by and ready to steal the lamp!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Shemp realizes he has a magic lamp, but thinks the genie is called “genius”.

Shemp gets trapped by an Arab with a sword.  Shemp: “I suppose you think I’m scared?” Arab: “Yes!” Shemp: “You’re right!”

Three Arabian Nuts (1951) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Slaphappy Sleuths” (1950) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Slaphappy Sleuths (1950)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Stanley Blystone, Emil Sitka, Gene Roth and Blackie Whiteford.

Tagline:  The Stooges fuel around with their own brand of laughing-gas.

The Plot…

The boys are detectives hired by an Oil Company to catch crooks who are robbing their gas stations.  The boys are to pose as gas station attendants and catch the robbers in the act.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ethel is worth the price if you can afford her.

Slaphappy Sleuths (1950) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro – The Trailer is here!

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The trailer for Killers of the Flower Moon co-written and directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro is here!

Killers of the Flower Moon. In theaters October 6.

Based on David Grann’s broadly lauded best-selling book, Killers of the Flower Moon is set in 1920s Oklahoma and depicts the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation, a string of brutal crimes that came to be known as the Reign of Terror.

Directed by Martin Scorsese and Screenplay by Eric Roth and Scorsese, the film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, and Jillian Dion.

Hailing from Apple Studios, Killers of the Flower Moon was produced alongside Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions and Appian Way. Producers are Scorsese, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas and Daniel Lupi, with DiCaprio, Rick Yorn, Adam Somner, Marianne Bower, Lisa Frechette, John Atwood, Shea Kammer and Niels Juul serving as executive producers.

RIP: Superstar Billy Graham

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Superstar Billy Graham, the Hall of Fame Professional wrestler died yesterday at the age of 79.  He had been on life-support and ill for some time.

Superstar Billy Graham was born Eldridge Wayne Coleman.  He became interested in weightlifting while in fifth grade.  In high school he threw the shot put and participated in the Golden Gloves.  In 1961, Mr. Coleman won the Teenage Body Building Contest West Coast Division. (Frank Zane was the winner of the East Coast Division!).  By 1968, Eldridge Coleman was working out at Gold’s Gym where he became friends with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu and other famous body builders of the era.

In 1970, Mr. Coleman began his career in professional wrestling working for various territories around the country.  In 1972, he took on the moniker Superstar Billy Graham and he became world famous.  Over the course of his career he was a three-time World Champion and inducted in the the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.  He retired in 1988 and became an author and ringside announcer.

Superstar Billy Graham was the inspiration for the next wave of pro wrestlers that included Ric Flair, Austin Idol, Hulk Hogan and Jesse The Body Ventura.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Superstar Billy Graham’s family, friends and fans.

“Three Hams on Rye” (1950) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Three Hams on Rye (1950)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Clyde Bruckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Christine McIntyre, Emil Sitka, Ned Glass and Blackie Whiteford.

Tagline: THE STOOGES’ SLAP-HAPPIEST LINE-UP OF GAGS AND GALS!

The Plot…

The boys are stagehands and bit actors for a theater production.  Already on the bad side of the producer, he orders them to keep a theater critic from sneaking in.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although this one ends with a positive outcome for the Stooges, it just doesn’t resonate with me.  Your mileage could vary.

Three Hams on Rye (1950) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” starring Tom Cruise – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Although I prefer movies to not be split up, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One does have my attention,  Deal me in.

In Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and dark forces from Ethan’s past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission – not even the lives of those he cares about most.

“Self Made Maids” (1950) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Self Made Maids (1950)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard

Tagline: Oh Baby… It’s the Stooges’ Screwiest Comedy!

The Plot…

The boys are artists in love with models named Larraine, Moella and Shempetta.  The girls accept our guys’ marriage proposals.  The problem will be getting the ladies’ father to agree.  Let the fun begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Self Made Maids is unique in that the Stooges play all the characters!  Larry, Moe and Shemp play the artists, their girlfriends and their children.  In addition, Moe plays the girls’ father,  Larry and Shemp appear as a couple in a painting.

While playing one of the girls, Moe actually tripped, twisted an ankle, hit his head and needed crutches to get around the next day.  Filming continued.

Self Made Maids (1950) rates 2 of 5 stars.