Friday, October 31, 2014

The Last Man on Earth 1964 Directors: Sidney Salkow, Ubaldo Ragona



I remember hearing that all the zombie movies we are seeing now all come from this film of 1964. This film certainly seems to have influenced Night of the Living Dead.

Richard Matheson wrote the novel on  which this movie was based: I Am legend.  In fact, this film version is one of three versions made of this novel.  The last version was Will Smith's I Am Legend (which wasn't a very good movie.)  This version is the most accurate version of Matheson's novel.

Please enjoy this movie:



Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The Night Stalker 1972 Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey Written by Richard Matheson




This screenplay was written by Richard Matheson - the guy who wrote I Am Legend, which was made into three movie versions:  Last Man on Earth, Omega Man and I Am Legend (with Will Smith - this last version sucked).

This was an amazing TV movie starring Darren McGavin as Carl Kolchak, a journalist with integrity. Kolchak was a guy brimful with integrity and passion.  I loved this characterization when I was very young.  He winds up fighting a vampire and bureaucratic corruption and cover-ups at the same time.

The dialogue, acting, characters...everything is just wonderful in this movie.  It seems to me that ABC made some amazing TV movies in the 70s.

In honor of Holloween here's a REALLY amazing horror film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5UpA2_F_EY&list=PLQkonjXk6i3xzt4a1xdfP3rRibmbI0jQz

Diary of a Mad Housewife 1970 Directed by Frank Perry



Kind of a relic from the late 60s and early 70s - a period when women were still struggling for equality in the workplace and home in the USA.  Carrie Snodgress plays a woman married to a lawyer who treats her like garbage.  Key early line in the film: "Oh my God, she graduated from Smith but can't make a 4 minute egg!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMlqnby8eRE

Monday, October 27, 2014

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit 1956 Nunnally Johnson - starring Gregory Peck



Gregory Peck is my favorite Hollywood actor.  Here's one of his more famous films - about the life of a guy returning back to middle class American life after fighting in various World War II battles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEWZpUhDu8g

Saturday, October 25, 2014

The Challenge starring Darren McGavin Directed by George McGowan 1970


I don't have any TV movies on this blog, but I had to put The Challenge here.

If Hollywood were smart they'd hire someone to re-write and update this movie and it would be a huge success.

Basically a satellite plunges into the ocean and both China and the USA want it.  Because neither country can get it, due to the other, they decide to have a 'surrogate war.'  China picks one soldier and the USA picks one soldier to fight each other.  The winner gets the satellite. Believe me, the concept works in this film.

Dear Hollywood, all I please ask is that you don't cast Will Smith in the remake.  I can't stand that guy.  He ruined The Last Man on Earth and he's going to ruin The Wild Bunch.

Please enjoy this amazing TV movie.  Darren McGavin ROCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch this amazing movie here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRlA0VFvWug

Zulu! 1964 by Cy Endfield


OK. I'm putting Zulu on this blog only because I loved this movie as a kid when WGN-TV used to show it repeatedly.

Little did I know that most of this film is absolute nonsense.

I think you should read this before you see the film: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/zulu_01.shtml

I remember reading an article about the 'real' battle this film is about and I was shocked by the inaccuracies.

In this film, for instance, there is a conflict between a member of the aristocracy and a working class guy who has a higher rank.  It never happened.

Also, the average English soldier in this battle was from dire poverty and due to undernourishment the average English soldier was about 5 feet 5 inches tall.  These were the poorest of the poor from England lead by two soldiers of no real reputation or ability, who, when the chips were down, and their lives were on the line, fought like beasts.

In any case, it's a fun movie to watch, but keep in mind most of it is baloney.





Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Chicago 10


I loved this film when it came out. It didn't do very well 'at the box office' since Americans have a short attention span and seem to have forgotten about how amazing the 1960s were.

In 1968 young people from throughout America came to Chicago to protest the Vietnam War.

The Chicago Police, under urban dictator Mayor Richard Daley, attacked and beat the students - they didn't even care that TV cameras were filming everything.

Then, to make matters worse, the US government arrested some of the organizers of the peaceful protest and put them on trial.

You can see what justice in America was like in 1968 and judge whether it's any different now. Imagine what putting Snowden on trial would look like, for instance.  He would probably get the same 'justice' that these innocent people got.

Please enjoy this film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sHZ7JAn0So


Sunday, October 12, 2014

Metropolis by Fritz Lang 1927



Remember, the mediator between the head and the hand is the heart...

Here's the movie on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za2ALUI97EA

Here's an article on how this film keeps influencing fashion.
http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/fashion-blog/2012/feb/27/metropolis-inspires-the-fashion-world

Here is a good article about the woman who wrote the novel and screenplay for this amazing film:
http://www.williamahearn.com/thea.html

Dr. Mabuse by Fritz Lang 1922


Fritz Lang has always been one of my favorite film directors.  I also have "M" on this log somewhere.  Please enjoy Dr. Mabuse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MulihI2Mx80