Fox is launching their highly-anticipated Blu-ray editions of the Planet of the Apes films with a one-time High Def screening of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas on Saturday, September 20. This original cut of the film was never released to the public after test screenings found audience members complained it was too violent. The movie's ending was reshot for a more pacifist message to be included. The version being screened includes 9 minutes of restored footage and will be part of an Ape celebration at the the Drafthouse, with Fox providing prizes. The Blu-ray video set will be available in November and will include a hardback book on the history of the series written by Cinema Retro publishers Lee Pfeiffer and Dave Worrall. For more info, click here

(Thanks to subscriber Rory Monteith for the head's up) 

THIS WEEKEND'S BOX-OFFICE WAS THE WORST THE INDUSTRY HAS SEEN IN FIVE YEARS. UNSURPRISINGLY, NICHOLAS CAGE (WHO ONCE WAS AN ACTOR) LED THE PACK OF BOMBS WITH HIS LATEST ACTION FLICK, BANGKOK DANGEROUS WHICH FAILED TO LIVE UP TO EVEN REDUCED EXPECTATIONS. FOR MORE CLICK HERE

I'm second to none in my love of England - hell, we even publish Cinema Retro there. However, the nation's rapid decline into a nanny state continues. It's bad enough that local governments now regulate how you dispose your trash with the same tenacity one might extend to the handling of nuclear weapons. (There's actually bills pending that would install miniature cameras in neighborhoods to spy on folks who might be tempted to commit civil disobedience by putting out their trash cans before the designated hour!) Now comes word that two posters for Angelina Jolie's hit action film Wanted are being banned because -sit down- she's depicted holding a pistol! That's right -there's fear that if the British public were to glimpse this horrendous sight they might be inspired to take up arms themselves and run wildly through the streets in a frenzy of mass killings. Yes, the same country that defeated Hitler and withstood the Blitz is about to fall to hell over a movie poster depicting Angelina Jolie. They'd better start clamping down on the works of old Bill Shakespeare...who knows how many criminals are inspired every year by the gratuitous violence in MacBeth. - Lee Pfeiffer For more click here

The bizarre goings-on in La-La Land continues weekend with the L.A. premiere of an opera based on David Cronenberg's 1980s remake of the Vincent Price sci-fi cult favorite The Fly. We're not kidding, folks. The premiere is not in some loft on the far side of town but is actually being staged by the Los Angeles Opera in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Hmmm...wonder if they'll use the legendary marketing campaign that said of the original film, "The Fly Opens Today!" Can't wait for The Omega Man- The Musical!

Evidence of the lack of original ideas in Hollywood is on display again this time in Sony's announcement that it is preparing to revive the Ghostbusters films from the 1980s with a new entry in the series. The two previous movies were both box-office smashes, though the consensus even at the time was the two was too many. Original cast members including Bill Murray,Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson and Dan Aykroyd are "aware" of the project and play small roles, but will not be seen in the leads. The writers of the American adapation of the British TV series The Office are writing the script. For more click here

During the 1960’s, beautiful Chinese actress Irene Tsu played a variety of “native” girls in a number of popular drive-in films including Sword of Ali Baba, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, and Paradise, Hawaiian Style with Elvis.  Tsu had poise and talent, which was noticed by producer/writer Arthur C. Pierce who cast her as a space traveler in Women of the Prehistoric Planet.  It was her first starring role.  She then played a South Vietnamese spy in The Green Berets, John Wayne’s homage to our boys in Vietnam before becoming part of the spy boom.  She portrayed a geisha girl in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. feature The Karate Killers and a fashion model in the secret agent spoof Caprice starring Doris Day. 

 

But the one role that got away from her was the part of Maily in The Sand Pebbles starring Steve McQueen.  The heartache of losing the part almost made her quit the business.  She was director Robert Wise’s first choice for Maily in his epic film but studio machinations kept her from getting the role.  Commenting in my book Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema, Irene Tsu recalled, “I interviewed with Robert Wise a few times and he set up an expensive screen test for me on a massive set with other actors.  I thought I did very well but then weeks went by with no word.  I went to see Wise and he told me he wanted me for the part but the producers overruled him.  They gave the part to Marayat Andriane who was rumored to be Fox head Darryl Zanuck’s current mistress.  When I found out I burst into tears and hoped never to have to go through something like that again.” 

Though Irene was devastated, she wound up with a contract with 20th Century-Fox because “I had to sign with them before they allowed the screen test.  For a short time I was treated like a star of the Golden Age.  They gave me my own dressing room that was as big as a house.  I even had my own parking space.  Unfortunately, after only one film the studio went bankrupt.  My contract was dropped along with all other such commitments Fox had.” Undeterred, Irene kept working vigorously.  The 1970’s saw Irene mature into a more than fine actress as she progressed from exotic parts to playing doctors, lawyers, and scientists in both film and television.  And she is still active today.

-Tom Lisanti/www.sixtiescinema.com

CLICK HERE TO ORDER TOM'S BOOK FANTASY FEMMES OF SIXTIES CINEMA FROM AMAZON

CLICK HERE TO READ CINEMA RETRO'S REVIEW OF THE SPECIAL RESTORED DVD EDITION OF THE SAND PEBBLES

There's on old joke about a reporter who is covering the Ringling Brothers/Barnum Bailey Circus. He comes across a very old man slowly walking behind the elephants with a broom and sweeping up their droppings. "My God, haven't you ever thought about leaving this horrible job?", the reporter asks. "What- and get out of show business???", replies the old man. Well, sweeping up elephant droppings is a dream job compared to what everyone knows is the worst profession in Hollywood: personal assistant to egotistical and/or brain dead celebrities. Although a few of these long-suffering folks have managed to parlay their jobs into friendships with their bosses and even quasi-celebrity status for themselves, the average Hollywood personal assistant is overworked and underpaid. If you don't believe us, read Radar magazine's article about people who have to reach up to touch bottom. "Glamorous" duties might include transporting your boss's mistress's sex toys in a paper bag, blending cocaine for his ingestion or waiting patiently for the big guy to stop masturbating before discussing the day's business. - Lee Pfeiffer To red the article click here

When the pace of life gets too frustrating, you can always count on a good laugh from Larry King - though it's generally unintentional. Regular readers of Cinema Retro's website will know that I've occasionally taken some potshots at the long running chat show host. It's not because he isn't likeable- King is avuncular and pleasant. The biggest objection I have is his penchant for bragging about not preparing at all for the interviews he conducts. If a strong wind blew away King's index card notes that he clings to like a vine extending into a quicksand pit, King would only be able to stare blankly into the camera. I honestly thought perhaps there was some hope - in the last two weeks, King presided over daily analysis of both political conventions and the talks were not only stimulating, there was evidence King had actually heard of McCain and Obama. However, praise for old Larry is always a bit premature. Witness his interview last night with filmmaker Michael Moore. King's opening comment to Moore was asking him what the heck he was doing in Michigan. "I live here, Larry", said Moore with the slight hint of exasperation common in guests on the show. The fact that Moore has been reminding one and all of his "regular guy" Michigan roots for 20 years somehow escaped King. Later in the program King read an E mail from a viewer who accused Moore of being a misogynist. King looked like he had been asked to interpret the Dead Sea Scrolls...he fumbled and failed on several occasions to pronounce the word before stating the obvious: he had never seen it before and had no idea what it meant. Moore chuckled and told King it's never too late to learn a new word, at which point an embarrassed King said that of course he knew the word, but hadn't seen it written down before and was confusing it with a medical afflication! Sadly, Moore- who excells in posing hard-edged questions- took pity on his host and didn't ask him to state the meaning of the word. Chances are Larry would have thought it was a dish from a Chinese restaurant. - Lee Pfeiffer

ACADEMY TRIBUTE TO GEORGE PAL

By Mike Thomas

 

Movie tough guy Nicholas Cage takes on all the baddies with his bare hands in numerous action films. Turns out he might be a paper tiger. Cage has purchased a $3 million mansion in New Orleans but is afraid to sleep there because- wait for it!- it's haunted! That's right, folks- a grown man believing in haunted houses. Guess Cage must have overdosed on those cheesy cable TV "reality" programs that purport to have ghostly spirits appear on camera more frequently than that other omnipresent and frightening figure, Donald Trump. This won't do much for Cage's image as a macho man: even Don Knotts managed to squeeze through a night in a haunted house in the cult classic The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. Here's a solution, Nick- get a nightlight. It's cheaper than letting your mansion go to waste and if it doesn't work, you can always use the time-tested method of keeping ghosts away by pulling the covers over your head. Somehow, we cant' imagine John Wayne having been in a similar dilemma. For more click here- Lee Pfeiffer

It's been a quarter century since Tom Cruise caused an international sensation with his star-making performance in Risky Business. Now, the Museum of the Moving Image has launched an official web site celebrating Cruise's career. It features a cool film recap set to classical music and a personal message from Cruise to his fans. To view click here

Bill Melendez, the legendary animator who brought Charles Schulz's Charlie Brown cartoons to life, has died at age 91. Melendez was one of the most noted animators of all time, having also worked in his early days for both Disney and Warner Brothers. His animation of the 1965 TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas resonated with audiences and made the show into an enduring holiday classic. Other TV specials and Peanuts feature films followed. Additionally, Melendez provided the "voice" of Snoopy while keeping in line with Schulz's insistence that the pooch not actually speak. Melendez developed a series of sounds that nevertheless gave Snoopy a distinctive personality. For more click here

Popular country western singer/actor Jerry Reed has died from emphysema at age 71. Reed had numerous hit records including When You're Hot, You're Hot (And When You're Not, You're Not).  Reed was also a talented songwriter who wrote for Dean Martin, Nat King Cole and Tom Jones. Elvis Presley did a cover version of his song Guitar Man. He parlayed his singing fame into a successful acting career, co-starring with his friend Burt Reynolds in the first two Smokey and the Bandit films.He also played The Bandit in the third entry in the series. For more click here

Cinema Retro just received a press release regarding the premiere of an acclaimed independent film, Able Danger- which is a thriller involving a man who uncovers U.S. government involvement in the 9/11 attacks. I'll go on record as personally saying, I ascribe as much belief to such theories as I do rumors that Elvis is shacking up with Big Foot. However, I will confess that some films that feed paranoid conspiracy theories have merit: case in point the Kennedy assassination movies JFK and Executive Action which were well made and entertaining, even if you don't buy into their premise. Able Danger has been shown in countless film festivals and has scored some notable prizes. The film will be premiering on 9/11 with evening showings scheduled for 9:11 every night.The movie, directed by Paul Krik, will be shown at the Two Boots Cinema in New York City, The Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, The Cinema du Parc in Montreal and The Busboys and Poets Theater in Washington, D.C. - Lee Pfeiffer To view the trailer click here

Here is the official press release:

Able Danger is the story of Thomas Flynn, a Brooklyn 9/11 truther (played by Adam Nee), who falls into a noir pastiche when a mysterious Eastern European beauty (played by Elina Löwensohn, Independent Spirit Award nominee for “Nadja”) arrives at his bookstore-café with irrefutable proof of American secret intelligence involvement in the planning and execution of 9/11. When Thomas is implicated in the murder of his friend and employee, he’s forced to unravel her complex web of lies while attempting to fight his natural attraction to her. As it turns out, she possesses the Able Danger hard-drive, the smoking gun that proves the identities and methods of the real architects of 9/11, and Thomas is willing to risk everything to expose the truth. The film gets its title from the real secret government program of the same name that destroyed 2.5 terabytes of data in March 2001, and the café featured is based on the very real Brooklyn café for radical readers, Vox Pop.

 

With a Masters Degree in existential philosophy and a background in TV commercials, most recently known for his Kanye West mock-infomercial viral (as seen on YouTube), Krik has created ABLE DANGER, his first feature film. It has been blazing the festival trail, starting at the International Film Festival in Rotterdam where it premiered in a 400-seat theater, selling out all three nights, and opened the Brooklyn International Film Festival where it received Outstanding Achievement in Production. It then screened at Cannes, and was an Official Selection at the Transylvania, Philadelphia, Pifan (Korea) & Warsaw film festivals

Cinema Retro has received the following press release about producer Robert Relyea's book signing appearance at Book Soup in Los Angeles on September 10.

Producer Robert E. Relyea, a fifty-year veteran of the movie industry and Steve McQueen’s right hand man at Solar Productions, will appear at a world famous book store on the Sunset Strip this month to promote his new action-packed autobiography.

The two-hour signing will take place 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 10 at Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood.  Relyea will be signing copies of Not So Quiet On The Set: My Life In Movies During Hollywood’s Macho Era, which promises to become a must read for anyone who yearns to know the “real” stories about the movies.

Co-authored by son Craig Relyea, Not So Quiet On The Set provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes, first person look into Hollywood’s movie-making landscape during the turbulent pre-and post-Kennedy years in America. The book also chronicles Relyea’s friendship, business relationship and canon of films with McQueen, which includes Never So Few, The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Bullitt, The Reivers and Le Mans.

The 348-page work includes candid photos of Relyea on the sets of epic films and presents rare insights into the mechanics and politics of film making, defining a dynamic period in motion picture history. A unique collaboration between father and son, Not So Quiet On The Set not only illustrates how the movie industry really works, but also provides a revealing portrait of Hollywood’s loss of innocence.

For more information, go to www.booksoup.com

Click here for Cinema Retro's review of the book

For more on the book, visit the official web site

 

 

You're aware of his work, even if you don't know his name or face. Don LaFontaine, who had a virtual monopoly on narrating trailers for the major studios, has passed away at age 68. LaFontaine's deep voice, often used in ominous ways, gave gravitas to over 5,000 trailers. Although some complained the use of primarily one man for virtually every trailer made them seem monotonous, LaFontaine made a thriving career of the relatively easy work, recording up to ten different voice over spots a day. He also appeared as himself in recent Geico insurance commercials. For more click here  For a funny James Bond-inspired video featuring LaFontaine, click here (Thanks to Bob Collins and Steve Tyler for the head's up)

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The Metropolitan Cigar Club is one of our favorite hang-outs. Located in Fairfield, New Jersey, this private club is the setting of many a classic movie debate - and is the best place to find guys who can recite every line of The Godfather. (Who says cigar aficianados aren't scholars?) The atmospheric decor is based on pre-revoution Havana. For info about joining, visit www.metrocigar.com

Cinema Retro has just received this press release from Park Circus film distributors in the UK:

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Grease is making a welcome return to cinema screens across the country, in a newly restored version.

Grease "is the word" and will forever be remembered for the true angst of school days and teenage love. It's 30 years since John Travolta and Olivia Newton John gave us Danny and Sandy and "The One That I Want"; one of many songs which are still loved today. The film was voted No. 1 in Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Musicals Poll, and is still as popular now as it was in 1978, as demonstrated by the continued success of the stage show and recent associated TV audition series.

There will be a special 'one day only' anniversary celebration on Wednesday 24 September when 150 screens, including Cineworld, Odeon and Vue multiplexes and key independent cinemas, will be screening Grease throughout the day, in a fully restored, digital cinema version.

USA 1978, 110 minutes, BBFC Certificate: PG

For more click here

Nicholas Evans, author of the international best-seller The Horse Whisperer, has been hospitalized along with his wife and two other relatives after the group dined on mushrooms they picked while on holiday in Scotland. The mushrooms contained dangerous toxins, that if left untreated, could be deadly. The group is being treated in the hospital and are said to be doing well thus far. Evans' book was adapted into a hit film directed by and starring Robert Redford. For more click here

Lord Attenborough has published his autobiography and in special excerpts recalls how his life was threatened by racist thugs on a trip to South Africa because of his campaign against apartheid. Attenborough says the terrifying experience inspired him to direct the 1987 civil rights drama Cry Freedom starring Kevin Kline and Denzel Washington. The excerpts also include an amusing anecdote about how Attenborough was afraid to turn down a hair-raising motorcycle ride with Steve McQueen on the set of The Great Escape, for fear of being labeled a wimp. Attenborough also recounts his last meeting with the dying McQueen. For more click here

A new biography of writer Roald Dahl reveals that during WWII he was a British intelligence operative assigned to Washington. Here, the future husband of actress Patricia Neal  impressed his superiors with his seductive powers over influential women- all in the name of gaining intelligence, of course. Perhaps this gave him a unique perspective to eventually write the screenplay for the James Bond film You Only Live Twice but more likely it served as an even greater influence for his script of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang- emphasis on the "bang". For more click here

Ben Stiller's big budget comedy Tropic Thunder is showing legs at the box-office, bringing in another $11 million over the weekend for a total gross of over $83 million. The Dark Knight continues to woo audiences, becoming only the second film to cross the $500 million mark (the other film was Titanic). Other films opened unremarkably, but Mamma Mia! actually saw an increase in sales due to Universal scheduling special "sing-along" screenings. Total North American gross is now $131 million. For more click here

An ambitious stage version of the hit 1980 women's lib comedy 9 to 5 is being adapted for the stage as a major musical. Dolly Parton, who starred in the original along with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, has written 19 songs for the show, though the composer of the original hit title track is not involved. Parton will not appear in the show, but has been relentlessly plugging its forthcoming opening in Los Angeles. There's major money behind the project, with a Broadway opening to follow. The story depicts the revenge of three much-abused female office workers on their sexist boss. At the time of the film's release, such a concept struck a chord with working women and the film was among the first to showcase the patronizing and often abusive treatment many women suffer in the workplace. Dabney Coleman played the cad in the movie version. For more on the play click here

Note: We ran this the other day but accidentally put in a wrong link to the relevant article. Given our incompetence here, it's appropriate that the wrong link went to a Three Stooges review! Thus, we're running the column again -hopefully with better results!

I have a love affair with many cities, but New York remains at the top of the list. It's pretty difficult to have a boring time in the city that never sleeps. I'm always meeting and mingling with interesting new people, many of whom I cajole into writing for Cinema Retro. Case in point: Lisa Marks, a talented and amusing blogger for The Guardian, one of London's most popular newspapers. I linked to some of Lisa's recent columns which give hilarious progress reports from the viewpoint of a native Londoner who has moved to Los Angeles in search of the age-old dream: to break into the movie business. Whether Lisa realizes her goal of having screenplays adapted to films remains to be seen, but her chronicles of life in La-La Land has made her one of the most widely-read and popular of British bloggers. On her trip to New York last week, we decided to meet and I invited her to join me and Cinema Retro contributor Doug Grabino for lunch at the legendary Friar's Club. To my surprise, Lisa has returned the favor and written of her day on her blog (complete with nice plug for Retro!). Since I'm a shallow person whose loyalty is easily bought, I'll now return her favor by linking you to Lisa's column. However, if you're wise, you'll tune in regularly to read her progress reports as she tries to remain sane in the insane business we call the movie industry.- Lee Pfeiffer To read click here

Time is running out for Warner Brothers in its desperate attempt to get court recognition that it has the right to release their $100 million + screen adaptation of the comic book Watchmen. After the film was completed and heavily promoted for a March 2009 release, Fox stepped in and tried to get an injunction to prevent the movie's distribution, stating that their studio ultimately owns all screen rights the concept. The complicated situation relates to whether the producer of the pic actually had the legal right to shop the property around to studios other than Fox. WB is arguing to the court that Fox stood by silently as they spent a huge sum to complete the movie, only to file a complaint after it had been completed. Fox maintains it did not intentionally delay filing the lawsuit. The battle is continuing to pick up steam, but it's WB that is in the most perilous position. If the company loses the case, I can see the only alternative being an offer to Fox to jointly distribute the film or share in the profits - both costly alternatives, but each better than putting the big budget movie in a vault.- Lee Pfeiffer

Bollywood has never tried to hide the fact that its seemingly endless supply of low-budget, high-profit movies have often drawn inspiration from American and British films. However, with the forthcoming release of a film about a 10 year old Indian boy named Hari Puttar, the Indian filmmakers may have gone a step too far. Warner Brothers is suing the producers of the movie claiming it is a blatant infringement on their treasured Harry Potter movie series. The Bollywood team argues that it's sheer coincidence that their film, which centers on a 10 year old Indian boy whose family immigrates to England, bares any resemblance to the blockbuster fantasy franchise. The producers argue that Hari is a common name in India and Puttar translates to "son". Uh-huh. Just like the 1967 spy spoof Operation Kid Brother bore no resemblance to James Bond movies- even though it starred Neil Connery. The Bollywood producers may need a wizard of their own to get their film mainstream distribution if the court rules against them. For more click here

The 65th Venice Film Festival kicked off with an underwhelming response from attendees and critics who cite the poor choices for movies competing for The Golden Lion, the top prize. From dour domestic dramas to a horror film cited as being unintentionally hilarious, the festival seems to have no major crowd-pleasers ready to unveil. For more click here

8

Tossing cold water on the theory that Tom Cruise is on fragile turf as head of United Artists following the departure of his producing partner Paula Wagner, the actor tells New York Post columnist Liz Smith that "I don't run United Artists; I just own it." The remark was made in a humorous vein, but Cruise seems determined to stay the course as head of the troubled studio. He also admits to being frustrated about why he is getting so much criticism about his forthcoming WWII movie Valkyrie based on the real-life plot by German officers to assassinate Hitler. Cruise agrees with Smith that other stars like Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks were lauded for their WWII films, while he is being criticized for returning to a genre that some feel is outdated. For the record, we agree with Cruise. How in the world can an event like the war ever be too quaint for movie audiences? It sounds like the criticism against Cruise on this is personal and probably wouldn't be offered toward any other leading actor who wanted to bring this remarkable story to the screen. For more click here

Sony has released Vol 3 of The Three Stooges classic short films. This batch includes all their work for Columbia during the period of 1940-1942. Curley fans will be particularly pleased as this era shows the comedic legend at his zenith. The shorts themselves are like most of the Stooges' work: somewhat erratic in terms of how durable they have remained. Some, such as You Nazty Spy (the boy's answer to Chaplin's The Great Dictator) are ambitious but somehow fall short of their comedic potential. One would think showing Moe as Hitler and Curley as Mussolini would be ripe for belly laughs, but the gag runs thin quickly. Others -such as A Plumbing We Will Go-  remain indicative of their best work. I've grown up with The Three Stooges' work and it's amazing to me how funny most of it seems despite its sheer predictability. The fact that our politically correct era wouldn't allow such gouging, slapping and eye-poking on TV today makes their films all the more welcome. Yet, I remain virtually alone in my feeling that Shemp was the best Stooge of all and I eagerly await the release of that golden era on DVD as well. The only complaint- as usual- is that, despite the great picture quality on these shorts, the set is sans any extras whatsoever.- Lee Pfeiffer

Here are the titles included in the 2 DVD set:

1940
You Nazty Spy!
Rockin' Thru the Rockies
A Plumbing We Will Go
Nutty But Nice
How High is Up?
From Nurse to Worse
No Census, No Feeling
Cookoo Cavaliers
Boobs in Arms

1941
So Long Mr. Chumps
Dutiful But Dumb
All the World's a Stooge
I'll Never Heil Again
An Ache in Every Stake
In the Sweet Pie and Pie
Some More of Samoa

1942
Loco Boy Makes Good
Cactus Makes Perfect
What's the Matador?
Matri-Phony
Three Smart Saps
Even as IOU
Sock-a-Bye Baby

CLICK HERE TO ORDER FROM AMAZON

David Duchovny has "voluntarily" checked himself into rehab for sex addiction. He should have known he had a problem when he found sexual gratification every time he squeezed into a parking space. Hey, if you want to jump on the obligatory rehab bandwagon out in La-La Land, you might as well do it with some other horny people. What pleasure is derived from checking into a dietary rehab if the only fun you get by breaking the rules is gobbling down Ring-Dings with other overweight people? Nah, Duchovny has it right- this way he gets to keep his credentials by doing the mandatory rehab gig, but at the same time, if he falls off the wagon he stands a chance of doing so with some hot actress who's only in there for publicity. Who ever even heard of sex addiction among normal people until it came in vogue when Michael Douglas went for treatment many moons ago? (Pardon the pun!) If sex addiction is so unhealthy, than why the hell does Hugh Hefner look happier than most guys half his age? But we wish Duchovny well- and we're sure that his treatment plan includes taking matters into his own hand. - Lee Pfeiffer

Cinema Retro's readership has grown by leaps and bounds with every month, so we'll occasionally delve into our archives to run articles that new readers may not have been aware. Here's a golden oldie from April 2007:

In this rare deleted scene from director John Sturges' 1963 classic The Great Escape, Steve McQueen has just strung trip wire across a rural road, causing a German soldier's motorcycle to spin out of control into a drainage ditch. This scene of McQueen sitting astride the soldier does not appear in the final cut. Curiously, it did appear on a 1970s Spanish reissue lobby card from which this image was taken. Incidentally, McQueen actually doubled for some of the Germans in the famed motorcycle chase, thus he was actually chasing himself! For a full article about the making of The Great Escape, see Cinema Retro issue #1 in our back issues section. 

Fox and MGM will release a special campaign to promote 50 classic Hollywood musicals spread across 61 DVDs. The mammoth boxed set will also include postcard reproductions of the one sheet posters for every title. The shelf-breaking collection will be available on November 11 -- it's enough to have you fiddling on the roof!

Here is the official press release:

Start spreading the news… as Fox and MGM Home Entertainment present 50 of the most legendary musical motion pictures of all time in the Hollywood Musicals Collection on DVD November 11.  These lively and larger-than-life production numbers span the golden age of musical theater and include multiple award-winning films such as West Side Story, which took home 10 Academy Awards, All That Jazz, which earned four Oscars,  Guys and Dolls, which was nominated for four Academy Awards,  Moulin Rouge! which won two Oscars and Sound of Music and The King And I, which took home five Academy Awards each.  This quintessential set brings live theater to the living room with remarkable performances from Elvis Presley (Clambake, Flaming Star, Follow That Dream, Frankie and Johnny, Kid Galahad, Wild In the Country), Marilyn Monroe (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, There’s No Business Like Show Business) and Fred Astaire (Daddy Long Legs), among several other talented performers.  Joining the melodic classics on DVD for the first time are the cherished Goldwyn Follies, Kid Millions and Whoopee!.  Also in the collection are special Anniversary Editions of fan favorites Carousel, New York, New York, Oklahoma!, Sound of Music, State Fair, The King and I and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

All 50 of the films in the Hollywood Musicals Collection are packaged together in a 61 disc marquee collectible set and includes 50 exclusive postcard reproductions of the original theatrical one-sheets for the suggested retail price of $499.98 U.S. / $590.98  Canada.  Prebook is October 15.

Hollywood Musicals Collection Disc Specifics


v      A Chorus Line

v      A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

v      The Apple

v      Alexander’s Ragtime Band

v      March of The Wooden Soldiers (AKA Babes in Toyland)

v      Beach Blanket Bingo

v      Belle of the Yukon

v      Bloodhounds of Broadway

v      Call Me Madam

v      Carmen Jones

v      The Clambake

v      Daddy Long Legs

v      De-Lovey

v      Down Argentine Way

v      The Fantasticks

v      Flaming Star

v      Follow That Dream

v      Frankie and Johnny

v      Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

v      Goldwyn Follies

v      Guys and Dolls Deluxe Edition

v      Hair

v      Hans Christian Andersen

v      Hallelujah, I’m A Bum

v      Hello Dolly

v      How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

v      Kid Galahad

v      Kid Millions

v      Moon Over Miami

v      Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

v      Dolly Sisters

v      All That Jazz Music Edition

v      Can-Can  Two Disc

v      Carousel 50th Anniversary Edition  Two Disc

v      New York, New York 30th Anniversary Edition – Two Disc

v      Oklahoma! 50th Anniversary Edition – Two Disc

v      Sound Of Music 40th Anniversary Edition – Two Disc

v      South Pacific Collectors Edition – Two Disc

v      State Fair 60th Anniversary Edition

v      The King and I 50th Anniversary Edition –Two Disc

v      The Rocky Horror Picture Show 25th Anniversary Edition – Two Disc

v      There’s No Business Like Show Business

v      West Side Story Special Edition Two Disc

v      Whoopee

v      Wild In The Country

v      With A Song In My Heart

v      Love Me Tender Special Edition

v      The Fiddler On The Roof

v      Moulin Rouge – Two Disc
v      Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Special Edition – Two Disc

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