Category: Trivia

“Suspiria” (1977) directed by Dario Argento; starring Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini and Joan Bennett / Z-View

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Suspiria (1977)

Director: Dario Argento

Screenplay:  Dario Argento, Daria Nicolodi; based on Suspiria de Profundis by Thomas De Quincey

Stars:  Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé, Barbara Magnolfi, Susanna Javicoli, Eva Axén, Alida Valli and Joan Bennett.

Tagline: The Only Thing More Terrifying Than The Last 12 Minutes Of This Film. Are The First 80.

The Plot…

Suzy Bannion, a talented American dancer is excited.  She was accepted to study at the prestigious Tanz dance school in West Germany.  Just prior to Suzy’s arrival a student at the academy was murdered.  That was just the start.  As more students turn up dead, the truth of the school will be revealed.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dario Argento’s (co-writer & director) original idea was the story would take place at a dance school for children.  The producers and studio rejected the idea.  They felt having children experience the violence in the film would result in a banned film.  Argento revised the screenplay to consist of young adults… BUT he didn’t rewrite the dialogue.  This explains why some of the dialogue seems childlike.

Most folks like Suspiria much more than me.  I thought it was slow, predictable and not very scary.  Of course, your mileage may vary.

Suspiria (1977) rates 2 of 5 stars.

KILLING TOWN: THE LOST FIRST MIKE HAMMER THRILLER by Mickey Spillane & Max Allan Collins / Z-View

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KILLING TOWN by Mickey Spillane, Max Allan Collins

First sentence…

The blonde dame in the sleeper car window was damn near naked in front of the mirror on the back of her closed door, and ready to finish the job.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

World War II is over.  Mike Hammer made it back.  Many of his fellow soldiers didn’t.  Now a civilian, Hammer has a promise to keep.

Which is why he sneaks under a train and rides into Killington on the sly.  As Hammer exits from under the train, through a window in a car across the tracks, he spies a woman undressing.   She’s a looker, but Hammer isn’t a Peeping Tom and wants to get out of there before the railyard cops catch him.

So Hammer scoots.

But it isn’t long before Hammer is picked up for murder.  The murder of the woman he saw in the railyard.  The cops get rough trying to get Hammer to confess.  Things look bad.  He was in the railyard.  He saw the woman.  He has no alibi.

And then the cops turn Hammer loose.  Melba Charles, Senator Charles’ beautiful daughter says that Hammer was with her at the time of the murder.  In fact, she says she and Hammer are soon to be married!

Hammer is happy to be free.  He came to Killington to keep a promise.  That’ll get done after.  Now he needs to find the mystery woman’s killer.  But first he needs to meet his future bride and find out why she provided an alibi for a man she’d never met.

+++

KILLING TOWN takes place before Mike Hammer became a private eye.  It was actually an unfinished novel that Mickey Spillane started but never finished.  Max Allan Collins, Spillane’s friend was selected by Spillane to complete the tale.

KILLING TOWN is my one of my favorite Mike Hammer tales… on par with I, THE JURY.  (And I don’t say that lightly.)

Rating:

“The Man Who Laughs” (1928) starring Conrad Veidt & Mary Philbin / Z-View

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The Man Who Laughs (1928)

Director: Paul Leni

Screenplay:  J. Grubb Alexander, Walter Anthony, Mary McLean, Charles E. Whittaker; based on THE MAN WHO LAUGHS by Victor Hugo.

Stars:  Mary Philbin, Conrad Veidt, Olga Baclanova, Brandon Hurst, Cesare Gravina, Stuart Holmes, Samuel de Grasse, George Siegmann, Josephine Crowell.

Tagline: The Man Who laughs With Conrad Veidt as the clown on whose face was carved a horrible, leering grin.

The Plot…

Lord Clancharlie is executed when refuses to kiss the hand of King James.  Vengeance is also taken on Lord Clancharlie’s young son, Gwynplaine. His face is cut so that it appears he always sports a horrific impossibly wide smile.

Exilled young Gwynplaine struggles to find shelter in a winter storm.  He discovers a baby girl still in the arms of her dead mother who froze to death.  Gwynplaine picks up the infant and continues his search for shelter.  Ursus, a traveling showman takes them in.

Years pass. Ursus raises both Gwynplaine and the baby he named Dea. Dea loves Gwynplaine.  Even though he loves her, he feels unworthy due to his disfigurement.  Ironically, Gwynplaine’s disfigurement has made him famous as “The Laughing Man”.   Ursus, Gwynplaine and Dea travel from village to village to perform plays Ursus has written for them.  People come to see the show.  What they really want to see is the freak… the Laughing Man.

Word of The Laughing Man reaches the royal court.  Could this laughing freak be the heir to Lord Clancharlie?   If so, can he be allowed to live?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

To get Gwynplaine’s horrific smile, Conrad Veidt had to wear dentures with metal hooks that pulled back the corners of his mouth.

Conrad Veidt’s appearance in The Man Who Laughs inspired writer Bill Finger and artists Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson to create The Joker, who is the most famous of all Batman villains.

The Man Who Laughs (1928) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Dr. Jack” (1922) starring Harold Lloyd & Mildred Davis / Z-View

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Dr. Jack (1922)

Director: Fred C. Newmeyer

Screenplay:  Hal Roach, Sam Taylor, Jean C. Havez, H. M. Walker

Stars:  Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis.

Tagline: Here is your “Fountain of Youth.” Here is Joy, Laughter and Inspiration. Here is Lloyd’s Master-piece of Mirth that turns old wrinkles into new smiles, puts electricity in your funny bone and spreads health and happiness.

The Plot…

Dr. Jack Jackson is a young country doctor who prescribes medicine as a last resort.  He keeps his fees low, accepts barter or doesn’t charge patients low on funds.

When Dr. Jack is brought in to consult on the case of a young woman who has been “ill” for years, he suspects her problem is more than a sickness.  The woman is heir to a fortune.  Her father has depended on Dr. Ludwig von Saulsbourg for a cure.  Saulsburg has strung them along with expensive therapies and medicines.

Dr. Jack knows to tread lightly, but knows he’s right.

When the young woman and Dr. Jack begin to fall in love, Saulsbourg decides to use that as a wedge to convince the woman’s father Jack is up to no good.

Will love prevail?  Will the young woman be cured?

The doctor is in.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

A year after the release of Dr. Jack, stars Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis were married.  They had three children and remained married until Mildred’s death in 1969.

Dr. Jack (1922) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Normal” (2025) starring Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler and Lena Headey / Z-View

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Normal (2025)

Director: Ben Wheatley

Screenplay:  Derek Kolstad, Bob Odenkirk.

Stars:  Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, Lena Headey.

Tagline: Small town. Big secret.

The Plot…

Ulysses Richardson, the interim sheriff of Normal, Minnesota, has an easy gig.  Normal is a small, quiet town full of friendly people.

That all changes when two bumbling crooks try to rob the town’s only bank.  Ulysses goes into the bank to talk the thieves into giving up.  Meanwhile the Mayor, the deputies and many of the townfolk have lined up outside.  They’re armed to the teeth and out for blood.

Inside, Ulysses and the two crooks are shocked.  The vault contains waaaaay more money and gold bars than the small town bank should have.  Way more.

The Mayor informs Ulysses that the goods in the bank belong to a Japanese Yakuza crime syndicate.  The town safeguards the syndicate’s goods and the townfolk get a monthly check.  If Ulysses kills the two robbers, they’ll make him the permanent sheriff and he’ll get paid too.  If Ulysses refuses, the citizens of Normal will kill the Ulysses and the robbers.

Ulysses refuses.

Oh, and the crooks tripped the alarm that notified the crime cartel of the robbery.  A squad of angry Yakuza are on their way now.

Things are about to get crazy.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Normal is the third film that Derek Kolstad has written or co-written to star Bob Odenkirk.  The others were Nobody and Nobody 2.

If you’re looking for an over-the-top actionfest that doesn’t worry to much about anything but delivering fun and thrills, then give Normal a go.

Normal (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Kid Brother” (1927) starring Harold Lloyd / Z-View

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The Kid Brother (1927)

Director: Ted Wilde, J.A. Howe, Harold Lloyd (uncredited), Lewis Milestone (uncredited)

Screenplay:  Howard J. Green

Stars:  Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston.

Tagline: THAR’S LAFF IN THEM THAR REELS! A Gold Mine of mirth…HAROLD LLOYD AS “THE KID BROTHER”

The Plot…

Jim Hickory is the respected Sheriff of Hickoryville, the town named after his family.  Big Jim has three sons.  Leo and Olin are huge, strong barrel chested men like their father.  The youngest son, Harold, has none of their qualities.  Although they love Harold, he doesn’t get the same respect.

The residents of Hickoryville have finally raised enough money to get the state to build a much needed dam.  Big Jim is entrusted to hold the cash until a state representative arrives to collect it.

A traveling show comes to town.  Harold is attracted to Mary, the daughter of the show’s recently deceased owner.  Since her father’s death Mary is influenced by a couple of con men.  Big Jim knows the con men mean trouble.  Harold gets the chance to prove his manhood by shutting down the show.

Things go from bad to worse when the money Big Jim was holding turns up missing.  Big Jim is taken into custody.  There’s talk of lynching Jim if the money doesn’t appear and fast.

It will be up to Harold to save the day… and his father.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Kid Brother was Harold Lloyd’s favorite of all his films.

Lewis Milestone was the original director.  He left after directing a few scenes because of contract issues with Warner Bros.  Ted Wilde to over.  Wilde became ill and was unable to continue.  J.A. Howe picked up the reins with Harold Lloyd assisting to finish the film.  Lloyd helped direct most of his films, but never accepted credit.

If you look closely, you’ll see the list of “Subscribers to County Dam” are actual names of supporting cast members.

The Kid Brother is one of Harold Lloyd’s best silent films but doesn’t get the same respect as Safety Last or The Freshman.  It should.

The Kid Brother (1927) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Predators” (2010) starring Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Oleg Taktarov, Mahershala Ali and Danny Trejo / Z-View

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Predators (2010)

Director:  Nimród Antal

Screenplay:  Alex Litvak, Michael Finch; based on characters created by Jim Thomas, John Thomas

Stars:  Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Oleg Taktarov, Mahershala Ali and Danny Trejo.

Tagline: They are the most dangerous killers on the planet… but this is not our planet.

The Plot…

Seven killers awaken in a jungle.   They are…

  • Royce, a mercenary
  • Isabelle, a sniper
  • Stans, a death row inmate
  • Nikoli, a Russian Special Forces soldier
  • Cuchillo, a cartel enforcer
  • Hanzo, a Yakuza enforcer
  • Mombasa, a rebel warrior

With the group is a doctor named Edwin.

Each of them have no memory of how they got there.  In short order they discover they’re on a distant planet.  The animals are dangerous and will kill them.  Worse still, they learn that they’ve been brought to the planet to be hunted by Predators.

There only chance of survival is to band together.

The hunt is on.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The script described Cuchillo as a guy who looked like Danny Trejo.  Danny Trejo got word and called Robert Rodriguez (one of the producers) and said, “Hey, I heard there’s a guy in the script for ‘Predators‘ who looks just like Danny Trejo, and guess what, I look just like Danny Trejo!”

Adrian Brody was an interesting (and unexpected) choice to play the lead.  He does a great job.

Predators is my second favorite movie of the franchise.  (Predator is first.)

Predators (2010) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Enter the Dragon” (1973) starring Bruce Lee, John Saxon and Jim Kelly / Z-View

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Enter the Dragon (1973)

Director: Robert Clouse

Screenplay:  Michael Allin; Bruce Lee (uncredited)

Stars:  Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Ahna Capri, Bob Wall, Shih Kien and Jim Kelly.

Tagline: Their deadly mission: to crack the forbidden island of Han!

The Plot…

Han is a crime lord.  On his private island his word is law.  Han runs a worldwide drug distribution and human trafficking operation.  Each year Han invites the world’s best martial artists to take part in a competition that he hosts on the island.  The winners are potential recruits to his organization.

British Intelligence wants to bring down Han, but they need firsthand evidence. They approach Lee, a martial artist and Shaolin monk.  Lee agrees to go undercover as a participant in the tournament.

Roper, a gambler who loves the good life, is in debt to the mob.  He heads to the island hoping to win money in Han’s tournament.

Williams heads to the island to particpate in the tournament after an incident with racist cops.

Lee, Roper and Williams find themselves under suspicion when Han discovers that someone (but who?) is on his island for reasons other than the tournament.

Whoever it is must die.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jackie Chan plays one of Han’s henchmen who battles Lee.

Bruce Lee died three weeks before the premiere of Enter the Dragon.

Enter the Dragon is a classic.

Enter the Dragon (1973) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Lighter That Failed” (1927) starring Charley Chase / Z-View

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The Lighter That Failed (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charley Chase, Edna Marion, May Wallace.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

It’s Charley’s birthday and his entire family has gathered for the party.   One of Charley’s gifts is a nice cigarette lighter.  Only problem is it won’t light. Charley’s frustration (and scenery destruction) grows as Charley repeatedly tries to get it working using the objects on hand.

Perhaps using gasoline as fuel for the lighter wasn’t the best idea…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

The Lighter That Failed was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.

The title The Lighter That Failed is a play on Rudyard Kipling’s novel THE LIGHT THAT FAILED.

The Lighter That Failed (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Cape Fear” Season 1 (2026) starring Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, Patrick Wilson, Joe Anders, Lily Collias, CCH Pounder, Malia Pyles, Jamie Hector, Ron Perlman and Juliette Lewis / Z-View

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Cape Fear: Season 1 (2026)

Created by: Nick Antosca; based on THE EXECUTIONERS by John D. MacDonald; Cape Fear by Wesley Strick and Cape Fear by James R. Webb

Director:

  • Morten Tyldum (ep. 1)
  • SJ Clarkson (ep. 2)
  • Amanda Marsalis (ep. 3)
  • Reed Morano (ep. 4)
  • Steven Piet (ep. 5)
  • Trey Edward Shults (ep. 6)
  • Jon S. Baird (ep. 7)
  • Stephen Williams (ep. 8)
  • Amanda Marsalis (ep. 9)
  • Jonathan Van Tulleken (ep. 10)

Teleplay:

  • Nick Antosca (ep. 1)
  • André Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton (ep. 2; 7)
  • Alan Page Arriaga (ep. 3; 8)
  • Tara Shivkumar (ep. 4)
  • Peter Blake (ep. 5)
  • Brian Evenson (ep. 6)
  • Diana Pawell & Peter Blake (ep. 9)
  • Nick Antosca & Peter Blake & Tara Shivkumar (ep. 10)

Stars:  Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, Patrick Wilson, Joe Anders, Lily Collias, CCH Pounder, Malia Pyles, Jamie Hector, Ron Perlman and Juliette Lewis.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

From the outside Anna and Tom Bowden look like they have it all.  They’re both successful attorneys.  The have two children, a boy and a girl… a big house… nice salaries.  Yeah, from the outside it looks like all is good.

It’s not.

The marriage isn’t smooth sailing.  Their son is going through mental issues.  Their daughter feels isolated due to their parents’ and brother’s issues.

Then Max Cady shows up.  Max was just released from prison after seventeen years.  Cady has been convicted of killing his pregnant wife.  Cady was released due to someone else confessing to the murder.

Cady blames  Anna and Tom Bowden for his seventeen years in prison.  Anna was his defense attorney.  Tom was the prosecutor.  Cady believes they were having a relationship at the time of his trial.  Worse still they did something to make sure Cady was convicted.

But Cady is out now.  And he will have his revenge.  On Anna.  On Tom.  And their children.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Cape Fear is based on John D. MacDonald’s novel THE EXECUTIONERS, as well as the two movie adaptations of it.

There’s a definite attempt to give this adaptation a Hitchcock-feel from the way some of the scenes are shot to the soundtrack.

I am a huge fan of the Cape Fear movies.  I believe the series suffers because it’s hard to root for the Bowden family, because they are so unlikeable.

Bardem had big shoes to fill, following Robert Mitchum and Robert DeNiro.  He does an admirable job.

Ron Perlman has a small but important role.  He’s a welcome addition to the cast.  Same could be said for CCH Pounder, Jamie Hector and Juliette Lewis.

Cape Fear: Season 1 (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The 24th” (2020) starring Trai Byers, Bashir Salahuddin, Aja Naomi King, Mo McRae, Tosin Morohunfola, Mykelti Williamson and Thomas Haden Church / Z-View

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The 24th (2020)

Director: Kevin Willmott

Screenplay:  Kevin Willmott, Trai Byers

Stars: Trai Byers, Bashir Salahuddin, Aja Naomi King, Mo McRae, Tosin Morohunfola, Mykelti Williamson and Thomas Haden Church.

Tagline: Courage isn’t just fighting the enemy — it’s standing up for justice.

The Plot…

1917.  An all black US army unit is stationed just outside the city limits.  Although the soldiers are trained and want to help in the war effort, because of segregation they’re not allowed.  Worse still, the men face racial discrimination every time they go into the city.  Not only are the local police of no assistance, they often participate in the mistreatment of the soldiers.

Tension and frustration continues to ratchet up.  Soldiers have been beaten and worse.  When word reaches the camp that an armed white mob was headed for the base, the soldiers arm themselves.  The soldiers decide to not wait and take the fight to the mob.  They head into the city and begin shooting locals on site.

It isn’t until after 11 civilians and 5 policemen are gunned down that the soldiers learn that there never was an armed mob coming to the base.

There will be repercussions.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The 24th is the true story of the 1917 Huston riot.  Although I had heard of the riot, I had no idea of the specifics.

The riot lasted two hours.  Nineteen people were killed.  Fifteen were white (including five police officers).  Four were black soldiers killed by friendly fire or suicide.  118 black soldiers were charged and went to trial.  One soldier was found mentally unfit to stand trial.  Eight were acquitted of all charges.  Sixty-three soldiers were sentenced to life in prison.  28 received shorter prison terms or other sentences.  19 were sentenced to death and executed.

The 24th does a good job of dramatizing a terrible time in our history.

The 24th (2020) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“King Kong” (1933) directed by Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack, starring Faye Wray, Robert Armstrong & Bruce Cabot / Z-View

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King Kong (1933)

Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack

Screenplay:  James Creelman, Ruth Rose; story by Edgar Wallace, Merian C. Cooper

Stars: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher and Noble Johnson.

Tagline: A Monster of Creation’s Dawn Breaks Loose in Our World Today!

The Plot…

Carl Denham, known for his wildlife films, has plans to create his greatest movie yet!  With his small film crew and Ann Darrow, a struggling actress he just discovered, they set sail for a mysterious uncharted island.

On this strange land dangers abound.  There are natives, prehistoric beasts and KONG!  Kong is a giant ape that the natives worship.

Denham gets a brainstorm.  They will capture Kong, bring him to New York City and make a fortune.  People will pay good money to see… KING KONG.

Of course Denham doesn’t consider what would happen should Kong escape in New York City.

He should have.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Kong’s fur appears to move.  This was caused when animators held the figure in order to change its position.

King Kong co-stars Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong also co-starred in The Most Dangerous Game released the previous year. King Kong re-used some of the jungle sets of The Most Dangerous Game.

King Kong is an undisputed classic.

King Kong (1933) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Manchurian Candidate” (1962) directed by John Frankenheimer, starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh & Angela Lansbury / Z-View

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The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Director: John Frankenheimer

Screenplay:  George Axelrod; based on THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE by Richard Condon.

Stars:  Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva, Leslie Parrish, John McGiver, Khigh Dhiegh, James Edwards, Barry Kelley, Lloyd Corrigan  and James Gregory.

Tagline: If you come in five minutes after this picture begins, you won’t know what it’s all about! When you’ve seen it all, you’ll swear there’s never been anything like it!

The Plot…

Captain Ben Marco and Sergeant Raymond Shaw are returned to the US, along with other surviving members of their platoon.  The soldiers had been captured by Soviet and Chinese forces during the Korean War.

Once home Marco repeatedly has nightmares where he and fellow US soldiers are on a stage.  They sit calmly as enemy soldiers see a presentation about new mind control techniques.  In the dream  Sergeant Shaw is ordered to kill one of the US soldiers on stage.  Shaw takes the weapon walks over to the identified soldier who calmly sits as Shaw blows his brains out.

Since their arrival back to the States, Shaw has been awarded the Medal of Honor for saving fellow soldiers in Korean Combat.  Shaw’s father is a US Senator, his mother guides his father’s career.  A Presidential run is in his father’s future.  The family is through and through “red, white and blue”.  Yet, Marco can’t shake the feeling something is not right with Raymond Shaw.

And he’s right…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Manchurian Candidate was nominated for two Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Film Editing – Ferris Webster
  • Nominess for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Angela Lansbury

The Manchurian Candidate is famous for a blurred scene with Marco.  It is out of focus and shows Shaw’s confused perspective.  Director John Frankenheimer was greatly praised for his creativity.  Years later Frankenheimer admitted it was accidentally shot out of focus.  When he called Frank Sinatra for a re-shoot, Sinatra refused.  The out of focus scene had to be used… and became a happy accident.

Angela Lansbury (who is excellent) plays Laurence Harvey’s mother.  She was only three years than Harvey in real life.

Truth is stranger than fiction.  Robert Kennedy, who was running for President, was assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan.  Sirhan later claimed that he had been brainwashed to commit the murder.  The Manchurian Candidate‘s director, John Frankenheimer drove Robert Kennedy to the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles where the assassination took place.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“I, The Jury” (1982) starring Armand Assante, Barbara Carrera, Laurene Landon, Alan King, Paul Sorvino and Geoffrey Lewis / Z-View

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I, the Jury (1982)

Director: Richard T. Heffron

Screenplay:  Larry Cohen; based on I, THE JURY by Mickey Spillane.

Stars:  Armand Assante, Barbara Carrera, Laurene Landon, Alan King, Paul Sorvino, Judson Scott, Jessica James and Geoffrey Lewis.

Tagline: He’s charming, he’s sexy, he’s tough, and he’s too hot to cool down! He’s “The Hammer”.

The Plot…

PI, Mike Hammer gets word that Jack Williams, an old army buddy, was murdered.  Jack lost his arm saving Mike during the war.  Despite being warned off by the cops, Hammer decides to look into Mike’s murder.  Hammer hopes to find the killer before the cops.  That way he can make sure justice is served.

The leads point to a sex clinic, the C.I.A., mobsters and a psycho killer.

The movie is I, the Jury and court is in session.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I, the Jury features Armand Assante in his first feature film starring role.  Assante makes a great Mike Hammer.

Larry Cohen, the screenwriter also started as the film’s director.  He was replaced after six days of shooting since he was already $100,000 and a day over budget.

I, the Jury is based on Mickey Spillane’s classic novel.  Changes to the film include setting it in the 1980s, adding the CIA/Mafia subplot and more.  Thankfully Hammer’s final line in the novel was kept for the movie.

Larry Cohen planned to do a trilogy of Mike Hammer films since he had the rights to two other Hammer novels by Spillane.  Sadly, this never happened.

Laurene Landon is excellent as Hammer’s secretary Velda.

I, the Jury features one of my all-time favorite movie posters.  It was created by Drew Struzan.

I, the Jury (1982) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Deep Blue Sea” (1999) directed by Renny Harlin / Z-View

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Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Director: Renny Harlin

Screenplay:  Duncan Kennedy, Donna Powers, Wayne Powers

Stars:  Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, LL Cool J, Jacqueline McKenzie, Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgård, Aida Turturro, Samuel L. Jackson and Ronny Cox, Renny Harlin.

Tagline: Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.

The Plot…

At a remote research facility located on the deep sea, Dr. Susan McAlester leads a small group of scientists working to find a cure to Alzheimer’s disease.   McAlester’s research involves using proteins from the brains of three captured sharks.

When one of the sharks uses an object as a battering ram to bust through an observation window, McAlester admits that she genetically altered the sharks’ brains to make them bigger.  Now the small research team is stranded in a sinking research facilty surrounded by sharks that are…

Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ronny Cox appears uncredited as an Executive.  Renny Harlin appears uncredited as a worker.

*** SPOILERS – MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW***

In the original cut at the end of the film Saffron Burrows was the hero.  Audiences in test screenings hated it because she was the reason the sharks were changed.  Some of her scenes (that made her more sympathetic) were cut.  Reshot footage had a shark kill her and made LL Cool J’s character the hero.

Suddenly killing off Russell Franklin (Samuel L. Jackson) well before the end of the movie was inspired by Tom Skerritt’s character’s demise in Alien.  Killing the best known actor and lead character put the survivors in more jeopardy.  When I first saw Deep Blue Sea, I was totally shocked when Samuel L. Jackson was killed.  Well played, Renny Harlin.

Deep Blue Sea (1999) rates 3 of 5 stars.