After making what many people cite as the greatest film ever made, “Citizen Kane” (1941), multi-talented actor, writer, director and producer Orson Welles struggled to live up to the success he achieved when he was just 26 years old. Yet seen today, many of the films he made afterwards have attained a similar acclaim. Let’s take a look back at all 13 of his completed feature films as a director, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1915, Welles first came to prominence as a stage director, mounting groundbreaking productions of “Macbeth,” “Dr. Faustus,” and “The Cradle Will Rock” before forming his own repertory company, The Mercury Theater. In addition to Welles, the Mercury Theater Players included Joseph Cotten, Ray Collins, Agnes Moorhead, Everett Sloane, George Coulouris, Norman Lloyd, Martin Gabel and Paul Stewart, many of whom would go onto appear in the director’s films.
It was the Mercury Theater’s transition into...
Born in 1915, Welles first came to prominence as a stage director, mounting groundbreaking productions of “Macbeth,” “Dr. Faustus,” and “The Cradle Will Rock” before forming his own repertory company, The Mercury Theater. In addition to Welles, the Mercury Theater Players included Joseph Cotten, Ray Collins, Agnes Moorhead, Everett Sloane, George Coulouris, Norman Lloyd, Martin Gabel and Paul Stewart, many of whom would go onto appear in the director’s films.
It was the Mercury Theater’s transition into...
- 5/4/2024
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Paul D’Amato, the actor who played the gloriously vicious Tim “Dr. Hook” McCracken opposite Paul Newman in Slap Shot, died Monday after a long battle with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare brain condition that is similar to Parkinson’s disease. D’Amato was 76.
The news was shared online by his longtime partner (and fellow actor) Marina Re.
D’Amato got the role in Slap Shot in part because he could hold his own on the ice. He played college hockey at Emerson and also for a team called The Reds in a Burlington, Vt, league in 1975.
But D’Amato also had screen presence, going toe to toe with Newman as his character’s wild-eyed nemesis from the Syracuse Bulldogs who earned his nickname through his scalpel-like skills with a hockey stick. Newman’s Reggie Dunlop called out McCracken by name during a pregame radio interview, referring to him as the...
The news was shared online by his longtime partner (and fellow actor) Marina Re.
D’Amato got the role in Slap Shot in part because he could hold his own on the ice. He played college hockey at Emerson and also for a team called The Reds in a Burlington, Vt, league in 1975.
But D’Amato also had screen presence, going toe to toe with Newman as his character’s wild-eyed nemesis from the Syracuse Bulldogs who earned his nickname through his scalpel-like skills with a hockey stick. Newman’s Reggie Dunlop called out McCracken by name during a pregame radio interview, referring to him as the...
- 2/21/2024
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
When director Michael Winner and screenwriter Wendell Mayes adapted Brian Garfield's novel "Death Wish," it's doubtful that they had any idea they'd be launching a film franchise that would change the landscape of vigilante thrillers forever, and solidify Charles Bronson as one of the greatest stars of action cinema. The "Death Wish" films start out as a twisted character study of a man named Paul Kersey as he slowly descends into a life of vengeance and violence, bearing arms and serving as a one-man judge, jury, and executioner. There's a real allure to righting wrongs outside of the American justice system, but as Kearsey's arc shows, his desire to kill has perhaps always been a part of him -- which makes him part of the problem.
As the franchise went on, the "Death Wish" films cared less and less about the moral conundrums of its hero and instead wanted...
As the franchise went on, the "Death Wish" films cared less and less about the moral conundrums of its hero and instead wanted...
- 1/22/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The Chevrolet Corvette, which turns 70 this week, was unveiled on Jan. 17, 1953, at the General Motors Motorama, held at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The sleek two-seater, named after a small warship, was a concept car, but interest was so high that it went into production later that year, with 300 hand-built models in Polo White. The Corvette would star in CBS’ Route 66 from 1960 to 1964, turning it into an emblem of American freedom. But its first major screen appearance was in 1955’s Kiss Me Deadly, a subversive film noir from director Robert Aldrich, who went on to direct What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) and The Dirty Dozen (1967).
Based on the 1952 Mickey Spillane novel Kiss Me, Deadly, the film, adapted by screenwriter A.I. Bezzerides, veered wildly from the book, putting Spillane’s P.I. Mike Hammer at the center of a web of intrigue involving a dead woman (Cloris Leachman, then 29, in...
Based on the 1952 Mickey Spillane novel Kiss Me, Deadly, the film, adapted by screenwriter A.I. Bezzerides, veered wildly from the book, putting Spillane’s P.I. Mike Hammer at the center of a web of intrigue involving a dead woman (Cloris Leachman, then 29, in...
- 1/12/2023
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Image Source: Getty / Rob Verhorst
Rapper Coolio died at the age of 59 on Wednesday, his manager confirmed to The New York Times. A rep did not immediately respond to Popsugar's request for comment. The artist, who achieved massive success in the 1990s, was perhaps best known for his song "Gangsta's Paradise."
From the moment Coolio first heard producer Doug Rasheed playing around with an early version of the song in 1995, the Compton-raised rapper knew it was meant for him. He had been visiting his manager Paul Stewart's house in Hollywood to grab a check, he said on a 2016 episode of "Hot Ones," when he heard the song playing in another room. "I went to Doug, said, 'Yo! What's this?' He said, 'It's just a song we're working on.' And immediately I said, 'It's mine.' Just like that," Coolio recalled.
Stewart and Rasheed were roommates, but until he heard "Gangsta's Paradise,...
Rapper Coolio died at the age of 59 on Wednesday, his manager confirmed to The New York Times. A rep did not immediately respond to Popsugar's request for comment. The artist, who achieved massive success in the 1990s, was perhaps best known for his song "Gangsta's Paradise."
From the moment Coolio first heard producer Doug Rasheed playing around with an early version of the song in 1995, the Compton-raised rapper knew it was meant for him. He had been visiting his manager Paul Stewart's house in Hollywood to grab a check, he said on a 2016 episode of "Hot Ones," when he heard the song playing in another room. "I went to Doug, said, 'Yo! What's this?' He said, 'It's just a song we're working on.' And immediately I said, 'It's mine.' Just like that," Coolio recalled.
Stewart and Rasheed were roommates, but until he heard "Gangsta's Paradise,...
- 9/29/2022
- by Eden Arielle Gordon
- Popsugar.com
A thousand releases down the line, Criterion gives us a special edition of the most creatively brilliant & innovative movie in history, as the label debuts selected 4K releases. It’s a four-disc set, with three Blu-rays that hold a huge quantity of well-chosen and well-produced extras. What can be said about Kane that hasn’t been debated decades ago? Our Declaration of Principles is to just try and tell the truth: we try a ‘civilian’ approach, sketching the film’s wonderments without assuming the reader is already a true believer in the Cinema God Orson Welles. Which Welles definitely is.
Citizen Kane 4K
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 1104
1941 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 119 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date November 23, 2021 / 47.96
Starring: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead, Ruth Warrick, Ray Collins, Erskine Sanford, Everett Sloane, William Alland, Paul Stewart, George Coulouris, Fortunio Bonanova.
Cinematography: Gregg Toland...
Citizen Kane 4K
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 1104
1941 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 119 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date November 23, 2021 / 47.96
Starring: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead, Ruth Warrick, Ray Collins, Erskine Sanford, Everett Sloane, William Alland, Paul Stewart, George Coulouris, Fortunio Bonanova.
Cinematography: Gregg Toland...
- 11/30/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
A genuine ‘sleeper’ hit, this ‘all in the family’ noir pits innocent childhood against cold blooded murderers. Little Bobby Driscoll witnesses Paul Stewart and Ruth Roman committing a murder, and can’t get Mom and Dad to believe him because of a habit of crying Wolf. But the killers believe him … and they live right upstairs. The beautifully made film evokes a rough, broken-down block in New York City in great detail. Rko’s new boss Howard Hughes did what he always did with a hot feature ready to release: he shelved it for more than a year. The Wac’s restoration is eye-opening.
The Window
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1949 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 73 min. / Available at Amazon.com / Street Date September 21, 2021 / 21.99
Starring: Bobby Driscoll, Barbara Hale, Arthur Kennedy, Paul Stewart, Ruth Roman, Anthony Ross, Richard Benedict.
Cinematography: Robert De Grasse, William O. Steiner
Art Directors: Sam Corso, Albert D’Agostino,...
The Window
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1949 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 73 min. / Available at Amazon.com / Street Date September 21, 2021 / 21.99
Starring: Bobby Driscoll, Barbara Hale, Arthur Kennedy, Paul Stewart, Ruth Roman, Anthony Ross, Richard Benedict.
Cinematography: Robert De Grasse, William O. Steiner
Art Directors: Sam Corso, Albert D’Agostino,...
- 11/9/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
John Schlesinger’s adaptation of Nathanael West’s novel is one of the best ‘Hollywood on Hollywood’ pictures ever, even if it soaks everything about The Golden Age of Tinseltown in an acid bath of cynicism. The perverse dystopia of dreams and vice is beautifully rendered in every respect, and culminates in a finale that caught ordinary audiences by surprise. Is this an indictment of the shallow aims of America’s Fantasyland, or one misanthrope’s vision of self-loathing and apocalyptic wish fulfillment? Don’t look for anyone to root for, as even the benign characters are moral freaks. Karen Black, Burgess Meredith, Donald Sutherland and William Atherton give utterly original performances; [Imprint] has a secured a great new interview extra with Atherton.
The Day of the Locust
Blu-ray
Viavision [Imprint] 13
1975 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 144 min. / Street Date November 6, 2020 /
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Karen Black, Burgess Meredith, William Atherton, Geraldine Page, Richard Dysart, Bo Hopkins,...
The Day of the Locust
Blu-ray
Viavision [Imprint] 13
1975 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 144 min. / Street Date November 6, 2020 /
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Karen Black, Burgess Meredith, William Atherton, Geraldine Page, Richard Dysart, Bo Hopkins,...
- 11/28/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
One of Vincente Minnelli’s best is this glamorous ‘Hollywood Looks At Hollywood’ exposé of sin and conniving among the actors, directors and producers that make Quality Entertainment for us unglamorous nobodies. It’s overstated and often grossly overacted but still carries a grandiose charm. Lana Turner gets to play an idealized version of herself. Gloria Grahame generates additional heat, and for her trouble walked away with an Oscar. And composer David Raksin contributes one of his most melodic music scores — the main theme is a winner, right up there with his Laura. CineSavant runs amuck critiquing the way MGM’s movie slams Hollywood creatives, while pretending that the studio bigwigs are infallible Gods.
The Bad and the Beautiful
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1952 / B&w / 1:37 flat Academy / 118 min. / Street Date November 19, 2019 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Barry Sullivan, Gloria Grahame, Gilbert Roland,...
The Bad and the Beautiful
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1952 / B&w / 1:37 flat Academy / 118 min. / Street Date November 19, 2019 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Barry Sullivan, Gloria Grahame, Gilbert Roland,...
- 11/19/2019
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
“A free, independent and professionally-trained press is irrefutably both the backbone of a democracy and the foundation upon which a free civil society is built; without which a democratic nation simply cannot exist.” – Sir Howard Ding
The cult TV classic, reality-based TV show Deadline (Not Seen Since 1961) Debuts on DVD Nov. 19 from Film Chest Media
Lost and forgotten in a garage in New Jersey for over 50 years, the Deadline TV series (1959-61), which dramatized stories drawn from actual newspaper headlines of the 1950’s, has been rediscovered to remind us of a time when newspaper reporters were revered as heroes and the guardians of truth and justice. Reporters are the first line of defense of the principles rooted in our Constitution and protected under the first amendment. They uphold everything that our civil society stands for. At a time when print news media is rapidly disappearing and news reporters are being...
The cult TV classic, reality-based TV show Deadline (Not Seen Since 1961) Debuts on DVD Nov. 19 from Film Chest Media
Lost and forgotten in a garage in New Jersey for over 50 years, the Deadline TV series (1959-61), which dramatized stories drawn from actual newspaper headlines of the 1950’s, has been rediscovered to remind us of a time when newspaper reporters were revered as heroes and the guardians of truth and justice. Reporters are the first line of defense of the principles rooted in our Constitution and protected under the first amendment. They uphold everything that our civil society stands for. At a time when print news media is rapidly disappearing and news reporters are being...
- 11/11/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
1960: Search for Tomorrow's Alison dealt with her mother-in-law.
1980: General Hospital's Monica faced a divorce decision.
1989: As the World Turns Paul shot his father, James Stenbeck.
2008: Hollyoaks' John Paul found Kieron's body."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1938: Radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful premiered on CBS, starting a successful 16-year run. Life Can Be Beautiful quickly became known to radio insiders by its initials, and widely referred to as "Elsie Beebe." It was the story of Carol Conrad, a disadvantaged child who--still...
1980: General Hospital's Monica faced a divorce decision.
1989: As the World Turns Paul shot his father, James Stenbeck.
2008: Hollyoaks' John Paul found Kieron's body."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1938: Radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful premiered on CBS, starting a successful 16-year run. Life Can Be Beautiful quickly became known to radio insiders by its initials, and widely referred to as "Elsie Beebe." It was the story of Carol Conrad, a disadvantaged child who--still...
- 9/6/2019
- by Unknown
- We Love Soaps
Orson Welles would’ve celebrated his 104th birthday on May 6, 2019. After making what many people cite as the greatest film ever made, “Citizen Kane” (1941), the multi-talented actor, writer, director and producer struggled to live up to the success he achieved when he was just 26 years old. Yet seen today, many of the films he made afterwards have attained a similar acclaim. In honor of his birthday, let’s take a look back at all 13 of his completed feature films as a director, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1915, Welles first came to prominence as a stage director, mounting groundbreaking productions of “Macbeth,” “Dr. Faustus,” and “The Cradle Will Rock” before forming his own repertory company, The Mercury Theater. In addition to Welles, the Mercury Theater Players included Joseph Cotten, Ray Collins, Agnes Moorhead, Everett Sloane, George Coulouris, Norman Lloyd, Martin Gabel and Paul Stewart, many of whom would go onto...
Born in 1915, Welles first came to prominence as a stage director, mounting groundbreaking productions of “Macbeth,” “Dr. Faustus,” and “The Cradle Will Rock” before forming his own repertory company, The Mercury Theater. In addition to Welles, the Mercury Theater Players included Joseph Cotten, Ray Collins, Agnes Moorhead, Everett Sloane, George Coulouris, Norman Lloyd, Martin Gabel and Paul Stewart, many of whom would go onto...
- 5/6/2019
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
1978: Ryan's Hope's Pat called Delia on her miscarriage deception.
1987: Days of our Lives' Patch made chili.
2007: All My Children's Zoe performed.
2009: Drew Garrett debuted as Michael on General Hospital."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1959: NBC Radio soap The Woman in My House aired its final episode after an eight year run. One Man's Family creator Carlton E. Morse produced Wimh about the Carter family of Miami.
Carlton E. Morse1959: Carlton E. Morse's long-running One Man's Family ended its run on NBC after 27 years.
1987: Days of our Lives' Patch made chili.
2007: All My Children's Zoe performed.
2009: Drew Garrett debuted as Michael on General Hospital."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1959: NBC Radio soap The Woman in My House aired its final episode after an eight year run. One Man's Family creator Carlton E. Morse produced Wimh about the Carter family of Miami.
Carlton E. Morse1959: Carlton E. Morse's long-running One Man's Family ended its run on NBC after 27 years.
- 4/24/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1972: Jingles the clown scared Andrea on Somerset.
1986: Robert S. Woods debuted as Paul on Days of our Lives.
1986: James Stenbeck returned from the dead with, "Hello, Barbara"
1995: All My Children's Julia found a surprise in her closet."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1957: On The Edge of Night, Roger (Allen Nourse) worried about Mary.
1972: On Somerset, Andrea Moore (Harriet Hall) was terrified when she was woken up in her bedroom by Jingles the Clown. When Carter Matson (Jay Gregory) ran into the room after hearing her screams, he didn't see anything and told...
1986: Robert S. Woods debuted as Paul on Days of our Lives.
1986: James Stenbeck returned from the dead with, "Hello, Barbara"
1995: All My Children's Julia found a surprise in her closet."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1957: On The Edge of Night, Roger (Allen Nourse) worried about Mary.
1972: On Somerset, Andrea Moore (Harriet Hall) was terrified when she was woken up in her bedroom by Jingles the Clown. When Carter Matson (Jay Gregory) ran into the room after hearing her screams, he didn't see anything and told...
- 11/7/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1975: One Live to Live's Tony and Pat got reacquainted.
1984: Guiding Light's Lillian and Phillip mourned Beth.
1995: Y&R's Victor vowed to prove Nick didn't shoot Matt.
2003: "Death" came for Sheridan Crane on Passions."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1932: General Mills-sponsored Betty and Bob debuted on NBC Blue radio. It was the first daytime show to be produced by Frank Hummert and Anne Ashenhurst. Married in 1935, the Hummerts became known as the "King & Queen of Soaps". Betty and Bob was the first true network soap opera on the air, using melodrama at its core.
1984: Guiding Light's Lillian and Phillip mourned Beth.
1995: Y&R's Victor vowed to prove Nick didn't shoot Matt.
2003: "Death" came for Sheridan Crane on Passions."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1932: General Mills-sponsored Betty and Bob debuted on NBC Blue radio. It was the first daytime show to be produced by Frank Hummert and Anne Ashenhurst. Married in 1935, the Hummerts became known as the "King & Queen of Soaps". Betty and Bob was the first true network soap opera on the air, using melodrama at its core.
- 10/11/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1960: Search for Tomorrow's Alison dealt with her mother-in-law.
1980: General Hospital's Monica faced a divorce decision.
1989: As the World Turns Paul shot his father, James Stenbeck.
2008: Hollyoaks' John Paul found Kieron's body."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1938: Radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful premiered on CBS, starting a successful 16-year run. Life Can Be Beautiful quickly became known to radio insiders by its initials, and widely referred to as "Elsie Beebe." It was the story of Carol Conrad, a disadvantaged child who--still in her teens--ran into the Slightly Read Bookshop seeking shelter and...
1980: General Hospital's Monica faced a divorce decision.
1989: As the World Turns Paul shot his father, James Stenbeck.
2008: Hollyoaks' John Paul found Kieron's body."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1938: Radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful premiered on CBS, starting a successful 16-year run. Life Can Be Beautiful quickly became known to radio insiders by its initials, and widely referred to as "Elsie Beebe." It was the story of Carol Conrad, a disadvantaged child who--still in her teens--ran into the Slightly Read Bookshop seeking shelter and...
- 9/8/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
Netflix has released a chaotic trailer for Orson Welles’ unfinished final film “The Other Side of the Wind,” just before its premiere Thursday at the Venice Film Festival.
John Huston stars as a high-profile Hollywood director making a comeback, much like Welles was attempting. The trailer mixes black-and-white and color footage, and two other filmmakers of the era — Peter Bogdanovich and Dennis Hopper — appear as characters.
Several characters in the trailer offer brutal assessments of Huston’s character, saying, “What he creates, he has to wreck. It’s a compulsion,” and, “He’s just making it up as he goes along.”
Welles shot the film-within-a-film between 1970 and 1976, and then worked on it until his death in 1985, leaving behind a 45-minute work print that he had smuggled out of France. Huston portrayed a temperamental film director battling with Hollywood executives to finish a movie — just like Welles did throughout his career.
John Huston stars as a high-profile Hollywood director making a comeback, much like Welles was attempting. The trailer mixes black-and-white and color footage, and two other filmmakers of the era — Peter Bogdanovich and Dennis Hopper — appear as characters.
Several characters in the trailer offer brutal assessments of Huston’s character, saying, “What he creates, he has to wreck. It’s a compulsion,” and, “He’s just making it up as he goes along.”
Welles shot the film-within-a-film between 1970 and 1976, and then worked on it until his death in 1985, leaving behind a 45-minute work print that he had smuggled out of France. Huston portrayed a temperamental film director battling with Hollywood executives to finish a movie — just like Welles did throughout his career.
- 8/29/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Morgan Neville's documentary on the making of Orson Welles's The Other Side Of The Wind is a 56th New York Film Festival Special Event Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced the 56th New York Film Festival Special Events program: Orson Welles's The Other Side Of The Wind with John Huston, Peter Bogdanovich, Oja Kodar, Edmund O’Brien, Susan Strasberg, Lilli Palmer, Paul Stewart, Mercedes McCambridge, Cameron Mitchell, Paul Mazursky, Henry Jaglom, Claude Chabrol, and Norman Foster plus Morgan Neville's They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead documentary on the making of The Other Side Of The Wind, and Rex Ingram's The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse, courtesy of Martin Scorsese, with a score written and performed by Matthew Nolan, Barry Adamson, Seán Mac Erlaine, Adrian Crowley, and Kevin Murphy.
Film Comment Presents: Nuri Bilge Ceylan's The Wild Pear Tree starring...
The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced the 56th New York Film Festival Special Events program: Orson Welles's The Other Side Of The Wind with John Huston, Peter Bogdanovich, Oja Kodar, Edmund O’Brien, Susan Strasberg, Lilli Palmer, Paul Stewart, Mercedes McCambridge, Cameron Mitchell, Paul Mazursky, Henry Jaglom, Claude Chabrol, and Norman Foster plus Morgan Neville's They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead documentary on the making of The Other Side Of The Wind, and Rex Ingram's The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse, courtesy of Martin Scorsese, with a score written and performed by Matthew Nolan, Barry Adamson, Seán Mac Erlaine, Adrian Crowley, and Kevin Murphy.
Film Comment Presents: Nuri Bilge Ceylan's The Wild Pear Tree starring...
- 8/23/2018
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
1978: Ryan's Hope's Pat called Delia on her miscarriage deception.
1987: Days of our Lives' Patch made chili.
2007: All My Children's Zoe performed.
2009: Drew Garrett debuted as Michael on Gh."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1959: NBC Radio soap The Woman in My House aired its final episode after an eight year run. One Man's Family creator Carlton E. Morse produced Wimh about the Carter family of Miami.
1987: Days of our Lives' Patch made chili.
2007: All My Children's Zoe performed.
2009: Drew Garrett debuted as Michael on Gh."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1959: NBC Radio soap The Woman in My House aired its final episode after an eight year run. One Man's Family creator Carlton E. Morse produced Wimh about the Carter family of Miami.
- 4/25/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
I tell you it’s rough out there on Frisco Bay, especially when you say the word ‘Frisco’ within earshot of a proud San Francisco native. This Alan Ladd racketeering tale could have been written twenty years earlier, but it has Warner Color and the early, extra-wide iteration of the new movie attraction CinemaScope.
Hell on Frisco Bay
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1955 / Color / 2:55 widescreen Academy / 98 min. / Street Date , 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Alan Ladd, Edward G. Robinson, Joanne Dru, William Demarest, Paul Stewart, Perry Lopez, Fay Wray, Nestor Paiva, Willis Bouchey, Anthony Caruso, Tina Carver, Rod(ney) Taylor, Jayne Mansfield, Mae Marsh, Tito Vuolo.
Cinematography: John F. Seitz
Film Editor: Folmar Blangsted
Stunts: Paul Baxley
Original Music: Max Steiner
Written by Martin Rackin, Sydney Boehm from a book by William P. McGivern
Produced by George C. Berttholon, Alan Ladd
Directed by Frank Tuttle
Alan Ladd had always been...
Hell on Frisco Bay
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1955 / Color / 2:55 widescreen Academy / 98 min. / Street Date , 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Alan Ladd, Edward G. Robinson, Joanne Dru, William Demarest, Paul Stewart, Perry Lopez, Fay Wray, Nestor Paiva, Willis Bouchey, Anthony Caruso, Tina Carver, Rod(ney) Taylor, Jayne Mansfield, Mae Marsh, Tito Vuolo.
Cinematography: John F. Seitz
Film Editor: Folmar Blangsted
Stunts: Paul Baxley
Original Music: Max Steiner
Written by Martin Rackin, Sydney Boehm from a book by William P. McGivern
Produced by George C. Berttholon, Alan Ladd
Directed by Frank Tuttle
Alan Ladd had always been...
- 10/21/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
'The Pink Panther' with Peter Sellers: Blake Edwards' 1963 comedy hit and its many sequels revolve around one of the most iconic film characters of the 20th century: clueless, thick-accented Inspector Clouseau – in some quarters surely deemed politically incorrect, or 'insensitive,' despite the lack of brown face make-up à la Sellers' clueless Indian guest in Edwards' 'The Party.' 'The Pink Panther' movies [1] There were a total of eight big-screen Pink Panther movies co-written and directed by Blake Edwards, most of them starring Peter Sellers – even after his death in 1980. Edwards was also one of the producers of every (direct) Pink Panther sequel, from A Shot in the Dark to Curse of the Pink Panther. Despite its iconic lead character, the last three movies in the Pink Panther franchise were box office bombs. Two of these, The Trail of the Pink Panther and Curse of the Pink Panther, were co-written by Edwards' son,...
- 5/29/2017
- by altfilmguide
- Alt Film Guide
An original feature documentary on late actor-filmmaker Orson Welles is in the works at Netflix, and it will be helmed by Academy Award winning director Morgan Neville (“20 Feet from Stardom”). The documentary will explore the final fifteen years of Welles’ life and his complex relationship with the film industry, both artistically and commercially, through the lens of his final movie, “The Other Side of the Wind,” which he shot in the beginning of the 1970s and has remained unfinished since then.
Read More: From Paris to Netflix: The Long, Strange Journey of Orson Welles’ Last Movie, ‘The Other Side of the Wind’
“‘The Other Side of the Wind’ has long been a ghostly legend in cinema history, but the story behind it is equally fascinating,” Neville said in a statement. “I’m excited to be able to tell the incredible story behind this film and to explore what made Welles such an enduring figure.
Read More: From Paris to Netflix: The Long, Strange Journey of Orson Welles’ Last Movie, ‘The Other Side of the Wind’
“‘The Other Side of the Wind’ has long been a ghostly legend in cinema history, but the story behind it is equally fascinating,” Neville said in a statement. “I’m excited to be able to tell the incredible story behind this film and to explore what made Welles such an enduring figure.
- 5/15/2017
- by Yoselin Acevedo
- Indiewire
Feature will debut on digital service at same time as The Other Side Of The Wind.
Netflix announced on Monday that Morgan Neville will direct an original documentary about the final 15 years of Orson Welles’s life.
Neville will explore the American titan’s complex artistic and commercial relationship with Hollywood.
Frank Marshall and Filip Jan Rymzsa will serve as executive producers on the feature, produced by Neville’s Tremolo Productions.
Netflix recently came on board to add completion funds and pay for the restoration of Welles’s last, unfinished film The Other Side Of Wind.
Marshall and Rymzsa are producing that project and it will have “a significant presence throughout the new documentary, providing a framework into the legendarily volatile dynamics between Welles and the industry.”
The two films will launch in tandem in 2018.
“The Other Side Of The Wind has long been a ghostly legend in cinema history, but the story...
Netflix announced on Monday that Morgan Neville will direct an original documentary about the final 15 years of Orson Welles’s life.
Neville will explore the American titan’s complex artistic and commercial relationship with Hollywood.
Frank Marshall and Filip Jan Rymzsa will serve as executive producers on the feature, produced by Neville’s Tremolo Productions.
Netflix recently came on board to add completion funds and pay for the restoration of Welles’s last, unfinished film The Other Side Of Wind.
Marshall and Rymzsa are producing that project and it will have “a significant presence throughout the new documentary, providing a framework into the legendarily volatile dynamics between Welles and the industry.”
The two films will launch in tandem in 2018.
“The Other Side Of The Wind has long been a ghostly legend in cinema history, but the story...
- 5/15/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Laemmle’s Royal Theatre in Los Angeles will be presenting a 50th anniversary screening of Richard Brook’s 1967 film In Cold Blood, based upon the novel of the same name by Truman Capote. The 134-minute film, which stars John Forsythe, Robert Blake and Scott Wilson, will be screened on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 7:00 pm.
Please Note: At press time, Actor Scott Wilson is scheduled to appear in person for a discussion about the film following the screening.
From the press release:
Part of our Anniversary Classics series. For details, visit: laemmle.com/ac.
In Cold Blood (1967)
50th Anniversary Screening
Wednesday, March 22, at 7 Pm at the Royal Theatre
Followed by a Q & A with Actor Scott Wilson
In Cold Blood, the film version of Truman Capote’s immensely popular true crime novel, was nominated for four top Oscars in 1967. Richard Brooks received two nominations, for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay,...
Please Note: At press time, Actor Scott Wilson is scheduled to appear in person for a discussion about the film following the screening.
From the press release:
Part of our Anniversary Classics series. For details, visit: laemmle.com/ac.
In Cold Blood (1967)
50th Anniversary Screening
Wednesday, March 22, at 7 Pm at the Royal Theatre
Followed by a Q & A with Actor Scott Wilson
In Cold Blood, the film version of Truman Capote’s immensely popular true crime novel, was nominated for four top Oscars in 1967. Richard Brooks received two nominations, for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay,...
- 3/19/2017
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Cinema Retro has received the following press release:
Burbank, Calif., November 3, 2016 – To mark the 75th anniversary of Orson Welles’ cinematic masterpiece “Citizen Kane,”Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (Wbhe) will release a new Blu-ray™ and DVD on November 15, and the American Film Institute (AFI) will mount a special screening of the restored master at AFI Fest presented by Audi, the Institute's annual film festival in Hollywood, on November 13. The screening will take place at the Egyptian Theatre at 1:30 p.m., followed by an AFI Master Class, featuring close personal Welles friend Peter Bogdanovich and a celebrity and academic panel to be announced.
The film’s central character is powerful publisher Charles Foster Kane, who aspires to be president of the United States. Newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst claimed “Citizen Kane” was a thinly veiled and slanderous account of his own life and sought to use his formidable muscle to halt...
Burbank, Calif., November 3, 2016 – To mark the 75th anniversary of Orson Welles’ cinematic masterpiece “Citizen Kane,”Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (Wbhe) will release a new Blu-ray™ and DVD on November 15, and the American Film Institute (AFI) will mount a special screening of the restored master at AFI Fest presented by Audi, the Institute's annual film festival in Hollywood, on November 13. The screening will take place at the Egyptian Theatre at 1:30 p.m., followed by an AFI Master Class, featuring close personal Welles friend Peter Bogdanovich and a celebrity and academic panel to be announced.
The film’s central character is powerful publisher Charles Foster Kane, who aspires to be president of the United States. Newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst claimed “Citizen Kane” was a thinly veiled and slanderous account of his own life and sought to use his formidable muscle to halt...
- 11/7/2016
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Remember Charlie Chaplin's 'The Killer with a Heart?' You too will be frustrated by this well-produced story of a slum kid who commits an unpardonable crime... except that a do-gooder priest wants to pardon him. Dana Andrews and Farley Granger star but the good work is in the smaller roles of this urban tragedy. Edge of Doom DVD-r The Warner Archive Collection 1950 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 97 min. / Street Date February 9, 2016 / available through the WBshop / 18.59 Starring Dana Andrews, Farley Granger, Joan Evans, Robert Keith, Paul Stewart, Mala Powers, Adele Jergens, Harold Vermilyea, John Ridgely, Douglas Fowley, Mabel Paige, Howland Chamberlain, Houseley Stevenson Sr., Jean Inness, Ellen Corby, Ray Teal. Cinematography Harry Stradling Film Editor Daniel Mandell Original Music Hugo Friedhofer Written by Philip Yordan Produced by Samuel Goldwyn Directed by Mark Robson
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
What's the most hopeless, depressing, feel-bad film noir on the charts? How about Detour,...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
What's the most hopeless, depressing, feel-bad film noir on the charts? How about Detour,...
- 5/16/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Merle Oberon films: From empress to duchess in 'Hotel.' Merle Oberon films: From starring to supporting roles Turner Classic Movies' Merle Oberon month comes to an end tonight, March 25, '16, with six movies: Désirée, Hotel, Deep in My Heart, Affectionately Yours, Berlin Express, and Night Song. Oberon's presence alone would have sufficed to make them all worth a look, but they have other qualities to recommend them as well. 'Désirée': First supporting role in two decades Directed by Henry Koster, best remembered for his Deanna Durbin musicals and the 1947 fantasy comedy The Bishop's Wife, Désirée (1954) is a sumptuous production that, thanks to its big-name cast, became a major box office hit upon its release. Marlon Brando is laughably miscast as Napoleon Bonaparte, while Jean Simmons plays the title role, the Corsican Conqueror's one-time fiancée Désirée Clary (later Queen of Sweden and Norway). In a supporting role – her...
- 3/26/2016
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Though it’s a famously compromised vision, to be sure, director John Cassavetes’ third film, A Child is Waiting, represents an important cinematic juncture. Meant to highlight society’s cruelty exacted upon handicapped children via behind-the-scenes details of a new cutting edge school run by an objective physician, the film’s noble ambitions were unfortunately marred by creative forces in disagreement.
After the fallout of his experiences with studio filmmaking, Cassavetes wouldn’t return until 1968 with the landmark Faces, and thus begin building a filmography earning him the moniker ‘father of independent cinema.’ And yet, there’s a scarred, dignified beauty about this troubled motion picture, perhaps as easily identifiable as the warring schools of thought amongst its main protagonists in the film.
A box office failure, it received a cool critical reception, disowned by its director after he was fired in post-production by producer Stanley Kramer. It’s unavoidable...
After the fallout of his experiences with studio filmmaking, Cassavetes wouldn’t return until 1968 with the landmark Faces, and thus begin building a filmography earning him the moniker ‘father of independent cinema.’ And yet, there’s a scarred, dignified beauty about this troubled motion picture, perhaps as easily identifiable as the warring schools of thought amongst its main protagonists in the film.
A box office failure, it received a cool critical reception, disowned by its director after he was fired in post-production by producer Stanley Kramer. It’s unavoidable...
- 12/1/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
More than one feature film looks at the making of this picture, focusing on its author, Truman Capote. Criterion's disc returns the discussion to Richard Brooks, the director that dared adapt an unfilmable novel of lurid, unthinkable crime on the Kansas prairie. It's also a last gasp of artistic B&W cinematography from Hollywood, thanks to the indelible images of Conrad Hall. In Cold Blood Blu-ray The Criterion Collection 781 1967 / B&W / 2:35 widescreen / 134 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date November 20, 2015 / 39.95 Starring Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forsythe, Paul Stewart, Gerald S. O'Loughlin, Jeff Corey, John Gallaudet, James Flavin, John Collins, Charles McGraw, Will Geer. Cinematography Conrad L. Hall Production Designer Robert F. Boyle Film Editor Peter Zinner Original Music Quincy Jones Written by Richard Brooks from the novel by Truman Capote Produced and Directed by Richard Brooks
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Some directors just want to work. Others...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Some directors just want to work. Others...
- 11/21/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
The gaudy MGM musical bio gets one last go-round, gathering an all-star cast to illustrate the songbook of composer Sigmund Romberg. Gene Kelly dances with his brother Fred, and Cyd Charisse does a hot number with James Mitchell, while star José Ferrer goes on stage to perform with his wife Rosemary Clooney. Deep in My Heart Blu-ray Warner Archive Collection 1954 / Color / 1:37 flat Academy / 132 min. / Street Date November 10, 2015 / available through the WBshop / 17.95 Starring José Ferrer, Merle Oberon, Helen Traubel, Doe Avedon, Walter Pidgeon, Jim Backus, Rosemary Clooney, Gene Kelly, Fred Kelly, Jane Powell, Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse, Howard Keel, Vic Damone, Tony Martin, Joan Weldon, Fred Kelly, Russ Tamblyn. Susan Luckey, Robert Easton, Barrie Chase, Douglas Fowley. Cinematography George J. Folsey Film Editor Adrienne Fazan Original Music Alexander Courage, Adolph Deutsch Written by Leonard Spigelgass from a book by Elliott Arnold Produced by Roger Edens Directed by Stanley Donen
Reviewed...
Reviewed...
- 11/3/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
By Lee Pfeiffer
Scorpion has released the complete version of the 3-part 1978 mini series "The Dain Curse" as a double DVD set. The show has a checkered history in terms of home video. A truncated version was available for a while on VHS, then Image released the full three episodes on DVD. Now Scorpion has done the same and the quality of the set is very good, capturing the relatively rich production values of the series. Those of us of a certain age can remember when the major networks put a great deal of time, talent and financial resources into mini-series. In the 1970s and 1980s, many of these shows constituted "must-see" TV. In an age in which the average household didn't have video recorders, some shows were so special that people altered their lifestyles to ensure they could catch each episode. Today, those days seem long gone, with network...
Scorpion has released the complete version of the 3-part 1978 mini series "The Dain Curse" as a double DVD set. The show has a checkered history in terms of home video. A truncated version was available for a while on VHS, then Image released the full three episodes on DVD. Now Scorpion has done the same and the quality of the set is very good, capturing the relatively rich production values of the series. Those of us of a certain age can remember when the major networks put a great deal of time, talent and financial resources into mini-series. In the 1970s and 1980s, many of these shows constituted "must-see" TV. In an age in which the average household didn't have video recorders, some shows were so special that people altered their lifestyles to ensure they could catch each episode. Today, those days seem long gone, with network...
- 9/5/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Lana Turner movies: Scandal and more scandal Lana Turner is Turner Classic Movies’ "Summer Under the Stars" star today, Saturday, August 10, 2013. I’m a little — or rather, a lot — late in the game posting this article, but there are still three Lana Turner movies left. You can see Turner get herself embroiled in scandal right now, in Douglas Sirk’s Imitation of Life (1959), both the director and the star’s biggest box-office hit. More scandal follows in Mark Robson’s Peyton Place (1957), the movie that earned Lana Turner her one and only Academy Award nomination. And wrapping things up is George Sidney’s lively The Three Musketeers (1948), with Turner as the ruthless, heartless, remorseless — but quite elegant — Lady de Winter. Based on Fannie Hurst’s novel and a remake of John M. Stahl’s 1934 melodrama about mother love, class disparities, racism, and good cooking, Imitation of Life was shown on...
- 8/11/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Charlton Heston movies: ‘A Man for All Seasons’ remake, ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’ (photo: Charlton Heston as Ben-Hur) (See previous post: “Charlton Heston: Moses Minus Staff Plus Chariot Equals Ben-Hur.”) I’ve yet to watch Irving Rapper’s melo Bad for Each Other (1954), co-starring the sultry Lizabeth Scott — always a good enough reason to check out any movie, regardless of plot or leading man. A major curiosity is the 1988 made-for-tv version of A Man for All Seasons, with Charlton Heston in the Oscar-winning Paul Scofield role (Sir Thomas More) and on Fred Zinnemann’s director’s chair. Vanessa Redgrave, who plays Thomas More’s wife in the TV movie (Wendy Hiller in the original) had a cameo as Anne Boleyn in the 1966 film. According to the IMDb, Robert Bolt, who wrote the Oscar-winning 1966 movie (and the original play), is credited for the 1988 version’s screenplay as well. Also of note,...
- 8/5/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Paul Henreid: Actor was ‘dependable’ leading man to Hollywood actresses Paul Henreid, best known as the man who wins Ingrid Bergman’s body but not her heart in Casablanca, is Turner Classic Movies’ Star of the Month of July 2013. TCM will be showing a couple of dozen movies featuring Henreid, who, though never a top star, was a "dependable" — i.e., unexciting but available — leading man to a number of top Hollywood actresses of the ’40s, among them Bette Davis, Ida Lupino, Olivia de Havilland, Eleanor Parker, Joan Bennett, and Katharine Hepburn. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of Paul Henreid movies to be shown on Turner Classic Movies in July consists of Warner Bros. productions that are frequently broadcast all year long, no matter who is TCM’s Star of the Month. Just as unfortunately, TCM will not present any of Henreid’s little-seen supporting performances of the ’30s, e.
- 7/3/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
★★★★★ American director John Cassavetes was incomprehensibly undervalued in his own country despite single-handedly creating Us independent film with his 1958 palate cleanser Shadows. When Opening Night (1977) was released on Christmas Day 1977, it played one cinema in Los Angeles to empty houses and was similarly ignored in New York. The film was only picked up by an American distributor in 1991. Opening Night is Cassavetes' last masterpiece; a poetic work of fiery urgency, it stands as one of the finest films about both the burden of artistry and the devastating toll of ageing in show business.
Cassavetes' wife and longtime collaborator Gena Rowlands plays Myrtle, a famous screen and stage actress rehearsing a play in preparation for a forthcoming Broadway run. After leaving the theatre one evening with director Manny (Ben Gazzara), playwright Sarah (Joan Blondell) and producer David (Paul Stewart, the Butler from Citizen Kane), she witnesses an obsessed young fan (Laura Johnson...
Cassavetes' wife and longtime collaborator Gena Rowlands plays Myrtle, a famous screen and stage actress rehearsing a play in preparation for a forthcoming Broadway run. After leaving the theatre one evening with director Manny (Ben Gazzara), playwright Sarah (Joan Blondell) and producer David (Paul Stewart, the Butler from Citizen Kane), she witnesses an obsessed young fan (Laura Johnson...
- 5/28/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: April 23, 2013
Price: DVD $19.95, Blu-ray $29.95
Studio: Olive Films
Kirk Douglas is down but not out in Champion.
Kirk Douglas (Paths of Glory) stars as an unscrupulous boxer who fights his way to the top, but eventually alienates all of the people who helped him on the way up in the 1949 film noir drama Champion.
Midge Kelly (Douglas), hitchhiking west with his crippled brother Connie (Arthur Kennedy, Lawrence of Arabia), is hustled unprepared into a pro boxing match. Though he’s severely beaten, his manager (Paul Stewart, Kiss Me Deadly) finds him promising. In California, Midge and Connie find nothing but menial jobs, from which Midge gets relief by seducing a lovely young waitress (Ruth Roman, Strangers on a Train). One shotgun marriage later, ambitious Midge falls back on the only option he knows: boxing. Seduced by the cheering crowds, money, and women, Midge becomes more and more of a hero in public…...
Price: DVD $19.95, Blu-ray $29.95
Studio: Olive Films
Kirk Douglas is down but not out in Champion.
Kirk Douglas (Paths of Glory) stars as an unscrupulous boxer who fights his way to the top, but eventually alienates all of the people who helped him on the way up in the 1949 film noir drama Champion.
Midge Kelly (Douglas), hitchhiking west with his crippled brother Connie (Arthur Kennedy, Lawrence of Arabia), is hustled unprepared into a pro boxing match. Though he’s severely beaten, his manager (Paul Stewart, Kiss Me Deadly) finds him promising. In California, Midge and Connie find nothing but menial jobs, from which Midge gets relief by seducing a lovely young waitress (Ruth Roman, Strangers on a Train). One shotgun marriage later, ambitious Midge falls back on the only option he knows: boxing. Seduced by the cheering crowds, money, and women, Midge becomes more and more of a hero in public…...
- 2/21/2013
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
Kiss Me Deadly
Directed by Robert Aldrich
Written by A.I. Bezzerides
U.S.A., 1955
Fear and danger frequently go hand in hand all to easily, be it in the world of the movies or in real life, the latter which serves a superb inspiration on the former as many already know. One person can be fearful of what danger lurks about. Fear can cause them to behave dangerously. Their dangerous behaviour can cause fear in others. Both the fear and the danger can be the offspring of yet another factor that commonly complicates matters: the unknown. Man’s fear might emerge from a physical thing he fails to comprehend, or it can also explode out of a situation which is beyond his simply control, for which he has no answer, to ripost. Kiss Me Deadly, from 1955, arrived on the silver screen just as the Cold War was, figuratively speaking, heating up,...
Directed by Robert Aldrich
Written by A.I. Bezzerides
U.S.A., 1955
Fear and danger frequently go hand in hand all to easily, be it in the world of the movies or in real life, the latter which serves a superb inspiration on the former as many already know. One person can be fearful of what danger lurks about. Fear can cause them to behave dangerously. Their dangerous behaviour can cause fear in others. Both the fear and the danger can be the offspring of yet another factor that commonly complicates matters: the unknown. Man’s fear might emerge from a physical thing he fails to comprehend, or it can also explode out of a situation which is beyond his simply control, for which he has no answer, to ripost. Kiss Me Deadly, from 1955, arrived on the silver screen just as the Cold War was, figuratively speaking, heating up,...
- 8/31/2012
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
The Imposter (15)
(Bart Layton, 2012, UK) Frédéric Bourdin, Charlie Parker, Carey Gibson. 99 mins.
Documentaries don't come much stranger than this. The film begins with the discovery in Spain in 1997 of a 16-year-old boy. Could this really be Nicholas Barclay, who went missing aged 13 from his home in San Antonio, Texas? Well, no. Nicholas's family welcomed this "boy" into their home without realising that he was in fact a 23-year-old French-Algerian master of deception named Frédéric Bourdin. Then things got really weird.
Shadow Dancer (15)
(James Marsh, 2012, UK/Ire) Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Aidan Gillen, Gillian Anderson. 102 mins.
An embittered mother dedicated to the Ira struggle is forced to turn informer by MI5. This stark and suspenseful thriller returns documentary-maker Marsh to scripted drama after Man On Wire and Project Nim.
The Watch (15)
(Akiva Schaffer, 2012, Us) Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill, Vince Vaughn, Richard Ayoade, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mel Rodriguez. 102 mins.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop...
(Bart Layton, 2012, UK) Frédéric Bourdin, Charlie Parker, Carey Gibson. 99 mins.
Documentaries don't come much stranger than this. The film begins with the discovery in Spain in 1997 of a 16-year-old boy. Could this really be Nicholas Barclay, who went missing aged 13 from his home in San Antonio, Texas? Well, no. Nicholas's family welcomed this "boy" into their home without realising that he was in fact a 23-year-old French-Algerian master of deception named Frédéric Bourdin. Then things got really weird.
Shadow Dancer (15)
(James Marsh, 2012, UK/Ire) Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Aidan Gillen, Gillian Anderson. 102 mins.
An embittered mother dedicated to the Ira struggle is forced to turn informer by MI5. This stark and suspenseful thriller returns documentary-maker Marsh to scripted drama after Man On Wire and Project Nim.
The Watch (15)
(Akiva Schaffer, 2012, Us) Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill, Vince Vaughn, Richard Ayoade, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mel Rodriguez. 102 mins.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop...
- 8/24/2012
- by Ryan Gilbey
- The Guardian - Film News
Rank the week of September 13th’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time: New Releases Thor
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #227
Win Percentage: 58%
Times Ranked: 18033
Top-20 Rankings: 90
Directed By: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth • Natalie Portman • Anthony Hopkins • Jeremy Renner • Kat Dennings
Genres: Action • Adventure • Based-on-Comics • Comic-Book Superhero Film • Fantasy • Fantasy Adventure
Rank This Movie
Conan O’Brien Can’T Stop
(Blu-ray & DVD | Nr | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #5260
Win Percentage: 54%
Times Ranked: 719
Top-20 Rankings: 5
Directed By: Rodman Flender
Starring: Conan O’Brien
Genres: Comedy • Documentary
Rank This Movie
Incendies
(Blu-ray & DVD | Nr | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #4296
Win Percentage: 51%
Times Ranked: 947
Top-20 Rankings: 8
Directed By: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Lubna Azabal • Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin • Maxim Gaudette • Rémy Girard • Abdelghafour Elaaziz
Genres: Drama • Foreign Language Film
Rank This Movie
The Tempest
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #7784
Win Percentage: 37%
Times Ranked: 385
Top-20 Rankings: 2
Directed By: Julie Taymor
Starring: Helen Mirren • Djimon Hounsou • Alfred Molina...
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #227
Win Percentage: 58%
Times Ranked: 18033
Top-20 Rankings: 90
Directed By: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth • Natalie Portman • Anthony Hopkins • Jeremy Renner • Kat Dennings
Genres: Action • Adventure • Based-on-Comics • Comic-Book Superhero Film • Fantasy • Fantasy Adventure
Rank This Movie
Conan O’Brien Can’T Stop
(Blu-ray & DVD | Nr | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #5260
Win Percentage: 54%
Times Ranked: 719
Top-20 Rankings: 5
Directed By: Rodman Flender
Starring: Conan O’Brien
Genres: Comedy • Documentary
Rank This Movie
Incendies
(Blu-ray & DVD | Nr | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #4296
Win Percentage: 51%
Times Ranked: 947
Top-20 Rankings: 8
Directed By: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Lubna Azabal • Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin • Maxim Gaudette • Rémy Girard • Abdelghafour Elaaziz
Genres: Drama • Foreign Language Film
Rank This Movie
The Tempest
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #7784
Win Percentage: 37%
Times Ranked: 385
Top-20 Rankings: 2
Directed By: Julie Taymor
Starring: Helen Mirren • Djimon Hounsou • Alfred Molina...
- 9/13/2011
- by Jonathan Hardesty
- Flickchart
Kirk Douglas on TCM: A Letter To Three Wives, Mourning Becomes Electra Schedule (Et) and synopses from the TCM website: 8:00 Pm The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers (1946). Years after a murder drove them apart heiress tries to win back her lost love. Dir: Lewis Milestone. Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott, Kirk Douglas, Judith Anderson. Bw-116 mins. 10:00 Pm Out Of The Past (1947). A private eye becomes the dupe of a homicidal moll. Dir: Jacques Tourneur. Cast: Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming. Bw-97 mins. 11:45 Pm I Walk Alone (1948). An ex-convict discovers the world of crime has changed drastically since he went up the river. Dir: Byron Haskin. Cast: Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott, Kirk Douglas, Wendell Corey. Bw-97 mins. 1:30 Am A Letter To Three Wives (1949). A small-town seductress notifies her three best friends that she has run off with one of their husbands. Dir: Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
- 9/7/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Chicago – Very few movies are as wonderfully weird as “Kiss Me Deadly,” a film that clearly influenced decades of work that would follow from “Blue Velvet” to “The Adjustment Bureau.” Recently released in a beautiful Criterion edition, “Kiss Me Deadly” is a film that history almost forgot but that found its way to the right people who recognized this unique gem as something worth cherishing. It’s a perfect choice for the most important collection of films released on Blu-ray and DVD as it’s a classic less-heralded than some that will now be brought to a wider, adoring audience.
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
Based on the book by Mickey Spillane, “Kiss Me Deadly” probably seemed like just another noir when it was released but history has re-appraised the film as a fascinating funhouse mirror of the Cold War fears so prevalent at the time of its release in 1955. Directed by Robert Aldrich...
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
Based on the book by Mickey Spillane, “Kiss Me Deadly” probably seemed like just another noir when it was released but history has re-appraised the film as a fascinating funhouse mirror of the Cold War fears so prevalent at the time of its release in 1955. Directed by Robert Aldrich...
- 7/5/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Kiss Me Deadly Directed by: Robert Aldrich Written by: A.I. Bezzerides Starring: Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart, Cloris Leachman It doesn't take a film noir connoisseur -- of which I am not -- to realize that Kiss Me Deadly is one of the strangest, darkest, and most influential entries in the popular pulp sub-genre. Robert Aldrich's bleak tale of intrigue and cold war paranoia slowly burns in stark black and white, eventually exploding on screen in an unforgettable finale that left everybody asking 'what's in the box?' long before Brad Pitt or Quentin Tarantino. The film opens with a young Cloris Leachman (in her feature film debut), running through the streets wearing nothing but a trench coat. In a fit of desperation, she stands in the middle of the road in an attempt to flag down an oncoming car, sending it swerving into the dirt. The passenger...
- 6/30/2011
- by Jay C.
- FilmJunk
Hitting movie theaters this weekend:
Bad Teacher – Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake
A Better Life - Demián Bichir, José Julián, Eddie ‘Piolin’ Sotelo
Cars 2 – Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine
Movie of the Week
Bad Teacher
The Stars: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake
The Plot: A comedy centered around a foul-mouthed, junior high teacher (Diaz) who, after being dumped by her sugar daddy, begins to woo a colleague — a move that pits her against a well-loved teacher.
The Buzz: Nope, no buzz. No competition here. Bad Teacher could (or should) be Diaz’ swan song as a sex symbol, she’s just not looking the part these days. Director Jake Kasdan does have some reputable directorial chops, most notably five episodes of Freaks and Geeks, but this looks to be just another lukewarm comedy. A weak cast and a weak premise will probably doom this film at the box office.
Bad Teacher – Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake
A Better Life - Demián Bichir, José Julián, Eddie ‘Piolin’ Sotelo
Cars 2 – Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine
Movie of the Week
Bad Teacher
The Stars: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake
The Plot: A comedy centered around a foul-mouthed, junior high teacher (Diaz) who, after being dumped by her sugar daddy, begins to woo a colleague — a move that pits her against a well-loved teacher.
The Buzz: Nope, no buzz. No competition here. Bad Teacher could (or should) be Diaz’ swan song as a sex symbol, she’s just not looking the part these days. Director Jake Kasdan does have some reputable directorial chops, most notably five episodes of Freaks and Geeks, but this looks to be just another lukewarm comedy. A weak cast and a weak premise will probably doom this film at the box office.
- 6/22/2011
- by Aaron Ruffcorn
- The Scorecard Review
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