McCallum at a recent party held at the New York penthouse of actor Joe Sirola, who guest-starred on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (Photo: Lee Pfeiffer/Cinema Retro)
Scotland on Sunday caught up with David McCallum on a recent trip to London and got him to reflect candidly on his early days in Scotland, socializing with fellow future super spy Sean Connery , Man From U.N.C.L.E. mania and filming The Great Escape with Steve McQueen. McCallum also dwells on how astonishing it is that, at age 75, he is back on the top of the TV pack through his hit series NCIS.
Actor Harve Presnell, a star of major Broadway hits like The Unsinkable Molly Brown, has died at age 75. Presnell also sang the famous song They Call the Wind Maria in the film version of Paint Your Wagon. His films include Fargo, The Glory Guys and Flags of Our Fathers. For more click here
The famed Cinema Store in London reports record magazines sales for Cinema Retro's just-released Movie Classics Special Edition tribute to the Richard Burton/Clint Eastwood WWII classic Where Eagles Dare. The new issue is the fastest-selling magazine title the store has ever stocked, which says a lot about the British public's respect and taste for great movies of the past. If you haven't ordered your copy yet, it's shipping in the UK and Europe and will be shipping to all other areas in mid-to-late July.For info on The Cinema Store click here
The United States Supreme Court has sided with the cable TV giant Cablevision to allow cable TV companies to begin to market new technology when it comes to DVR services that will ultimately eliminate the need for consumers to obtain separate recording boxes for their televisions. The new "remote storage" technology stores the archives of programs on the cable TV provider's servers. Consumers will be able to order specific programs to play using the basic cable box they now have and control the playback functions. Studios contested the technology saying it violated copyrights and said that it amounts to de facto "video on demand" for which they receive additional compensation. The Court didn't see it that way, however, and Cablevision and other cable TV companies can begin marketing the new service. It might be a long time before it penetrates the average American household, as millions of people are already using the separate box that was required for the service. The ruling was a blow to satellite TV companies which will still have to require the need for the separate box. For more click here
Veteran actor Karl Malden, who won the Supporting Actor Oscar for A Streetcar Named Desire, has passed away at age 97. One of the industry's most beloved and revered actors, Malden boasted a resume of prestigious films not equalled by many others. Among his acclaimed films: Patton, Nevada Smith, One Eyed Jacks, The Cincinatti Kid and On the Waterfront. He also starred in the long-running hit TV series The Streets of San Fracisco. He also served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Cinema Retro mourns the passing of this great talent. For more click here
Remy Julienne, the legendary stunt driver and coordinator on many of the James Bond films as well as the classic 1969 version of The Italian Job has been held liable for the accidental death of a cameraman on a blockbuster French action movie shot in 1999. The stunt involved a car that overshot its target and hit the cameraman, who later died. Julienne was given a six month suspended jail sentence and was ordered to pay monetary damages to the victim's family. For more click here
In a moving ceremony, Ryan O'Neal bids farewell to his long time love.
Farrah Fawcett was laid to rest Tuesday at a private funeral ceremony attended by 500 people. Her troubled son Redmond, who is serving a jail sentence for drug-related crimes, received permission to attend the funeral and participate in the tributes to his mother. Fawcett's former Charlie's Angels co-star Kate Jackson was also in attendance. Fawcett's long-time beau Ryan O'Neal touched the hearse at the end of the ceremony and said simply, "So long, babe." For more click here
Composer Lalo Schifrin is releasing his soundtrack to the 1976 adventure film Sky Riders on his own label, Aleph Records on July 28. The movie is a largely forgotten, but very under-rated, top-notch action saga with Robert Culp as an American industrialist living in Greece, whose wife (Susannah York) and young children are kidnapped by terrorists who hold them in a virtually inaccessible mountaintop retreat. When police efforts to rescue them fail, Culp turns to his wife's eccentric former husband, a soldier-of-fortune played by James Coburn, who devises an audacious plot to penetrate the terrorist lair using his team of hang-gliders. The film affords some spectacular aerial photography over Greece, and the action is complimented by one of Schifrin's best (but least-heard) scores of the 1970s. The Maestro combines invigorating action themes with traditional Greek music to give the CD a unique quality. Now if we can just convince Fox to finally release this worthy movie on DVD...To order the soundtrack, click here
When comedian Al Franken announced he was running to gain the Democratic nomination for senator in his home state of Minnesota, many political pundits scoffed. Franken first came to fame as a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live - and the notion of the straight guy who immortalized the over-the-top gay character of Stuart Smalley becoming a United States senator seemed preposterous. Now, after one of the most contentious political battles in recent American history, Franken has been declared the legal winner of the race, which he ran against Republican Norm Coleman last November. The margin of error was paper-thin and Coleman used every legal remedy available to him to challenge repeated counts that showed Franken winning by only a few hundred votes. Today, the Supreme Court of Minnesota pronounced Franken the legal winner and Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty seems obligated to certified the results. Until he entered the race, Franken was primarily known as a humorist and political pundit. His best-selling diatribes against conservatives made him adored by the left and despised by the right. The prospect of a comedian becoming a senator may be amusing to some, but Republicans are not laughing. Franken will become the crucial 60th senate vote to bypass any GOP filibuster attempt to thwart some of President Obama's most prominent legislation - that is, assuming the president can either ensure that every Democrat votes with him or he is able to sway some support from Republican senators. Franken is expected to be sworn in next week after the 4th of July holiday. Despite the nastiness of the election battle, Franken said he received a "very gracious" concession call from Norm Coleman. Thus, it can be said without exaggeration that the balance of political power in the USA now largely rests in the hands of a former cast member of Saturday Night Live.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continues its controversial changes to forthcoming Oscar broadcasts. Honorary Oscars, such as the Hersholt and Thalberg awards, will no longer be part of the ceremony and will be presented at a separate black tie dinner. This may please the unsophisticated crowd who don't even know who these legends are, but is sure to alienate classic movie purists who count these awards as a highlight of the broadcast. The policy change is further proof that the purpose of the broadcast has less to do with honoring the right people than it does with getting ratings. If the policy had been in place in recent years, movie fans would have been denied such emotional highlights as seeing Sidney Lumet, Peter O'Toole, Jerry Lewis and many others receiving their lifetime achievement awards. All this to make more time to squeeze in the stars of Transformers 2? The Academy is also tweaking the Best Song category rules in a way that may result in the complete absence of nominees in any given year. Given the quality of what's been nominated recently, it's hard to argue with this plan. For more click here
Variety has reviewed director Michael Mann's Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp as Depression era gangster legend John Dillinger. The verdict is mixed, as reviewer Todd McCarthy says the production values are fine, the script is intelligent but Depp's portrayal of Dillinger is too restrained and under-played. To read click here
The critically-trashed Transformers 2 showed that audiences preferred brawn over brains this weekend, as the action packed, S/FX-laden movie opened to a huge gross of $200 million in the North American market. To put that into perspective, the highest grossing films this year are Up and Star Trek, both of which have grossed approximately $250 million to date. The new Transformers will overtake those grosses in just a week. For more click here
Predictions that the Jackson family would make a circus out of Michael's death are coming true, though even I didn't think it would occur before the pop legend was interred. The family patriarch, Joe Jackson, has shocked even hardened reporters with an interview last night at the BET awards show and in a press conference today by using the media spotlight to plug a new record label he has established. Joe Jackson tried to imply that he was responding to CNN reporter Don Lemon's questions about his business plans, but Lemon played the interview today again to prove that his question was only about plans for Michael's funeral. Instead, Joe Jackson made an awkward promotion for his new label and introduced his business partner, who had to remind Jackson what the name of the new label was. The situation was repeated this afternoon when Jackson made some rambling statements at a press conference in which he cheerily promoted the new record label again. He again implied he was responding to a question from Lemon about his "plans". This prompted Lemon to say on air to CNN anchor Ali Velshi that no such question was ever asked of Mr. Jackson. Lemon then took the extraordinary step of saying outright that "one member of the Jackson family" was personally turning the death of his son into a circus, even as other members of the family were intent on mourning.There was no mystery as to who Lemon was referring to.
Joe Jackson, who was accompanied by the ubiquitous "Reverend" Al Sharpton, was then brought before the microphones again after apparently having been told that his comments were tasteless. (When Al Sharpton is held up as a paragon of good taste, you know you've crossed the line.) Jackson again offered a weak and rambling explanation, and was all smiles despite the fact that his son's death was the reason for him being on-camera. He said he mourns Michael's loss inwardly, not outwardly, apparently in answer to those who have criticized his seemingly jovial demeanor while on camera.. He also made reference to "my publicist" and said he knew that "we" are loved the world over. Funny, I don't recall seeing any kids wearing Joe Jackson t shirts. The frenzy is only beginning...and here's a bit of unsolicited advice for the Jackson family: put a lot of miles between papa and the nearest microphone. - Lee Pfeiffer
In a devastating report for London's Daily Mail, journalist Ian Halperin confirms what many had suspected: that Michael Jackson was not physically up to going on stage again and that he had been coerced into agreeing to the comeback concerts by manipulative handlers. Halperin, a one-time Jackson insider, reports a number of controversial conclusions:
He had publicly written six months ago that Jackson was so frail he would be dead within six months. The tragic prediction came true.
Jackson was on the verge of bankruptcy, but manipulative handlers - afraid this would end their gravy train - coerced him into signing for ten comeback concerts in London. This was quickly expanded to 50, even though Jackson made a public statement to a group of fans that he didn't know how he would carry it off.
Jackson's "official spokesman" Dr. Tohme is actually affiliated with the controversial Black militant movement The Nation of Isam and its leader Louis Farrakhan. According to the report, the movement has taken over many aspects of Jackson's life. Most of those who cared about his well-being have been replaced with new people who are looking after their own interests and those of third-parties. Halperin says Dr. Tohme is actually a Lebanese businessman who doesn't have a medical license.
Despite assurances from promoters of Jackson's forthcoming concerts that he was physically fit, Halperin says he was so weak and emaciated, that he collapsed on stage during an early rehearsal. The promoters were planning on minimizing his presence on stage, which could have been as little as 13 minutes, with the rest of the show consisting of elaborate effects and production numbers not involving Jackson. Most significantly, Jackson had virtually lost his ability to sing and Halperin hints that the plan might have been to have him lip-sync.
Halperin says that, despite two marriages, Jackson was definitely gay and that he would fall in love with young men whom he would meet in tacky motel rooms. In one case, Jackson disguised himself as a woman to make a rendezvous.
Halperin suspects that anorexia contributed to Jackson's death, as one of the effects can be cardiac arrest.
The report is sure to send shock waves through the entertainment industry. If the allegations are true, there will be grist for the tabloid mills coming out for months to come. While Halperin's story does address some negative aspects of Jackson's personality, such as his abandonment of a wealthy sheik who paid for his lavish lifestyle, his report is actually sympathetic to Jackson. He states that Jackson's unlikely claim that he liked to sleep with young boys but never had sex with them is actually accurate. He also paints a picture of an artist who truly appreciated and loved his fans. For the entire story click here
This is regarding the decision by A.M.P.A.S. to increase the number of best picture nominees to from five to ten. In my view this is going to really
water down the value of the Best Picture Oscar. I'm having trouble
thinking of ten Oscar worthy movies each year, especially over the last
decade. I could give you ten worthy movies in 1939 or 1974. But since
2000, most movies winning the Best Picture prize would only get
technical awards back in the 1970s. There are a lot of reasons for
this but the primary one is that from a creative standpoint Hollywood
is bankrupt. (So is Broadway, but that's the Tony's problem and I
don't really care about them.)
It has been suggested that this
change in Academy policy is to get higher television ratings.
Increasing the number of competing movies will make the Oscar telecast
longer. Unless, of course acceptance speeches are whittled down to 15
seconds. Maybe they can dump the monologue. I know it's a staple of
television, but the Oscars aren't Conan O'Brien. Being a life long fan
of the movies, I've always held them in higher esteem.
With last
year's Oscar-cast being one of the lowest rated in history, many people
said that if the Academy would nominate more movies the general public
is interested in seeing, the ratings might go up. That may be true,
but I don't want the Academy nominating "The Hangover" for Best Picture
just to try and inflate the ratings. What needs to be done with the
Oscar telecast is is a trimming down of non-essential things to improve
the show's pacing. How's this for starters, eliminate the monologue
and all dance numbers. Then take the 5 best song nominees and condense
them into one four or five minute montage. Use the music from the
soundtrack and play it under clips from the movie. That alone will
save 12 to 15 minutes.
As the new Star Trek film surpasses the box-office gross of all its predecessors, critic William Bradley - a dyed in the wool Trekker- reflects back on the history of the series and how its recent rebirth mirrors that of the James Bond franchise. He provides plenty of interesting film clips of how Trek continues to influence everything from pop culture to politics. (President Obama recently gave the Vulcan salute on two occasions at one event!) To read click here
Billy Mays, the seemingly omnipresent pitchman seen all over American TV, has died at age 50. The stocky Mays had parlayed his "spiel" of in-your-face promotions for household cleansers and other products into a virtual trademark. Clad in his familiar blue shirt and tan trousers, the stocky, bearded Mays would wake viewers out of their stupors by literally shouting about the quality of his products. In a recent profile on a major TV show, it became clear that Mays had legions of fans who would mob him for autograph and flatter him by reciting his ads verbatim. For others, his bombastic approach caused them to frantically search for the mute button on their remote control. By all accounts, however, Mays was a likable man who relished his unusual status as a celebrity pitchman. Even those who didn't like his TV persona had to confess admiration for the way he built himself into a one-man industry. He had also just premiered his cable TV show Pitchmen in which he evaluated prospective new products for late night TV marketing. Mays was on a flight that had a rough landing in Tampa yesterday, though it isn't confirmed that incident might have had anything to do with his death.
Mays is the latest celebrity to die in a week that has already seen the passing of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.
Like most people of my generation, I can remember where I was when I heard the news that Elvis Presley had died. I was in a tacky souvenir shop in the beach resort of Seaside Heights, New Jersey when the announcement came on the radio. Like anyone who had grown up with Elvis as one of the dominant pop culture figures of our time, I felt a sense of loss over the fact that the world had lost a great artist. However, I was shocked when friends of mine began to tell me how emotionally devastating the news was. A female friend said she couldn't cope with the sense of loss and a number of my others friends immediately went out and bought an assortment of Elvis albums. All of this would have been understandable if any of these people had idolized The King, but, in fact, none of them had ever mentioned his name to me prior to news of his death. To most of us twenty-somethings, Elvis had long ago lost his "street cred" as an innovative entertainer. Granted, he worked hard and put on a great show, but he had been content to live off past glories and pick the low hanging fruit of being a Vegas attraction. Still, upon news of his death, millions of people who barely knew he was still performing became Elvis fanatics overnight. The irony is that The King earns more in death than he ever did in life.
I mention all of this because of the inevitable fact that the same scenario will be played out regarding Michael Jackson.Although he still maintained an enormous world-wide following, for most of the general public, he was a punch line on a late night comedy show. Yet, the beatification process has already begun. It's one thing to acknowledge Jackson's well-earned reputation as a master performer and musical genius, but the news media is making Jackson sound like Mother Theresa. The immediate aftermath of a man's death is not the time to assault his reputation. Jackson's scandalous behavior in many aspects of his life has been amply chronicled elsewhere. However, one has to question the emotional stability of anyone who is now indulging in the world-wide mania for Jackson memorabilia. It stands to reason that virtually none of these people could have been induced to purchase this junk just two days ago. What comfort does it give someone to jump on a bandwagon and become an instant loyalist to a man they had virtually no interest in up until his death? It's a curious phenomenon, but one we should be used to by now. The Times of London reports that sales of Jackson's music and memorabilia is skyrocketing around the world. Why? Most of us probably already own the good songs he made (and Thriller is as standard as furniture in most households) So what motivates a person to go out and buy the second-rung music? Does one really get a sense of personal worth from wearing a cheesy T shirt commemorating Jackson, even though it was ground out by an opportunist within minutes of his death? Given Jackson's propensity for the outlandish, he would probably be complimented by all this - after all, in his world, any attention was better than being ignored. However, for many of these people, as of a few days ago, Jackson was as relevant to the contemporary music scene as Liberace. The international news media predictably deemed that there was no other story in the world worth covering than Jackson's life and career. Iran on the brink? Who cares? The health care debate in America? Big news a few days ago, now irrelevant. Violent eruptions in Iraq on the verge of the U.S withdrawal from urban centers?Yawn... The only one grateful for this is South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, the Amelia Earhart of politicians, whose bizarre disappearance and related sex scandal pushed him off the front pages.
The troubled forthcoming Broadway musical adaptation of Spiderman is finally getting some positive buzz. Evan Rachel Wood has been cast as Peter Parker's girlfriend Mary Jane Watson and Tony Award winner Alan Cumming will play the villainous Green Goblin.The casting is good so far but still...Spiderman with music????
Sir Richard Attenborough's directorial career is
studded with such achievements as Gandhi, A Bridge Too Far, Magic
and Chaplin, among others, but his role as an actor has been no less
affecting, if under-appreciated. His performances such films as The Sand
Pebbles (1966) and Conduct Unbecoming (1975) have played an integral
part in making those classics. Even in supporting
roles, such as 1993's Jurassic Park, his presence lends the film an air
of gravitas and credibility that few other actors can bring. However, one of his
finest lead roles goes rarely seen these days: as infamous British serial killer John Christie
in 10 Rillington Place (1970), directed by Richard Fleischer and
co-starring a young John Hurt. Currently screening through July 2nd in a newly restored 35mm print at New York's Film Forum, this film version
of a true story is a definite don't-miss, and seems to anticipate another famous
serial killer portrayal by twenty years: Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in Silence
of the Lambs (1991).
Balding, bespectacled and frightfully polite,
Attenborough as Christie, a poor London pensioner, speaks in a menacing whisper
that verges on hissing -- just as Hopkins interpreted the speech of Lecter,
even if Lecter was by comparison far more educated and worldly than his
"cousin" at 10 Rillington Place. (Rillington Place was renamed Ruston
Close shortly after Christie was executed and has since been demolished.) It's
tempting to wonder if Hopkins' characterization of Lecter was inspired in part
by Attenborough as Christie. While Hopkins is an extraordinary actor in his own
right, the parallels are striking. Fleischer's movie builds slowly and deliberately to a shattering climax, aided
by convincing, gritty performances by John Hurt, Judy Geeson, Pat Heywood
(Romeo and Juliet), and others.
If you miss the run at Film Forum or don't live
in the New York City area, do find it on DVD.Film Forum, 209 West Houston Street, New York, NY 10014, between 6th Avenue and
Varick (7th Avenue). (212) 627-2035 www.FilmForum.org.
(The film is only available on Region 2 PAL format DVD. Click here to order the DVD special edition from Amazon UK)
Woody
Allen once said Ingmar Bergman was the greatest filmmaker since the invention
of the cinema, and his favorite of the many masterpieces created by the auteur
is The Seventh Seal (originally
released in Sweden in 1957).While an
earlier edition of the film was released on DVD by The Criterion Collection
years ago, the company has seen fit to restore and re-release it in a special
2-disk set (both on Blu-Ray and DVD).In
short, the results are magnificent.
The Seventh Seal is one of those
classic films that has been parodied so many times it isn’t funny anymore.And when something is parodied so much that
it’s become cliché, then the source material must have been pretty darned
good.How many times have you seen a
figure of “Death” walking around in a black cloak and carrying a scythe, coming
to take a major character away but is distracted into playing a game (in this
case, chess)?From Bill and Ted to Monty
Python to Woody Allen, Bergman’s cinematic crown jewel has inspired many comics.What’s ironic is that The Seventh Seal is not necessarily a completely dark, depressing
drama.It is full of humor!As renowned
author, critic, and Bergman scholar Peter Cowie says in the DVD’s “Afterword”
(an extra), the film is a suspenseful fairy tale that grips you from beginning
to end.But the cynical musings of the
squire character (played by Gunnar Bjornstrand) are witty, sarcastic, and ripe
with black comedy.Max von Sydow made
his first of many appearances in Bergman films as the knight returning home
from the Crusades, battling the Black Plague with Death literally one step behind.Made with a low budget on the back lot of
Stockholm’s film studios, Bergman managed to create the Middle Ages so
convincingly that few pictures have ever equaled it.The restoration is impeccable; the black and
white images are gorgeous and crystal clear.
Extras
on the first disk are the previously mentioned filmed Afterword, a commentary
by Cowie, a narrated tribute to Bergman by Woody Allen, an audio interview with
Max von Sydow, and the theatrical trailer.The bonus disk is the same as Bergman
Island, also a separate release by Criterion (see below).
Any
serious film buff must have The Seventh
Seal in his or her collection.
Jackie O gave The Godfather an offer he couldn't refuse...
They say politics makes strange bedfellows, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a stranger coupling than the entertainment world spawned when Marlon Brando spent two wild nights with Jackie Onassis. It all happened in 1964 when the two met up and engaged in some dancing, drinking and flirting that resulted in JFK's widow seducing Hollywood's most notorious swordsman. The tale was to be included in Brando's autobiography, but was cut from the manuscript by an editor who was a friend of Jackie's. To read more click here
NBC News has confirmed that Michael Jackson has died from cardiac arrest. NBC says the death was verified by Jackson's family. The 50 year old pop legend had been rushed to the hospital earlier today in a coma after suffering a heart attack. Jackson had been planning a series of comeback concerts to begin in July 2010, after having been postponed for a year. It is a cruel irony that Jackson died within hours of Farrah Fawcett, who also became a superstar during the 1970s. Jackson's career spanned from being the youngest and most charismatic of The Jackson Five and later became perhaps the most popular singer of his generation. His landmark 1982 album Thriller, produced by Quincy Jones, spawned many chart-topping hits. It became the top selling record of all time with sales of over 100 million units. Before long, Jackson became a superstar whose fame and fan base extended worldwide. He also popularized the music video and MTV with his Thriller mini-movie that boasted top flight special effects and was directed by John Landis. The video also featured a classic voice over from Hollywood legend Vincent Price.
Jackson's storybook lifestyle was short-lived, however. He began to exhibit increasingly eccentric behavior, much of it propagated by himself. Although his fan base remained extremely loyal, he became a punch line on virtually every comedy show. Jackson never commented on his sexuality, though it was widely believed he was gay. He had two short-lived marriages, the first to Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley. The second marriage was one apparently of convenience, but did result in his wife bearing three children. This, too, resulted in controversy as Jackson's critics claimed he was too childlike himself to raise children properly. Scandal followed scandal with Jackson's penchant for inviting little boys to spend the night with him at his opulent Neverland Ranch resulting in his being charged with child molestation. He beat the rap, but the case severely damaged his reputation. His lavish spending habits went unchecked and he was the support system for a seemingly endless stream of family members and hangers-on. Despite being one of the wealthiest performers in history, he failed to pay creditors and had lost much of his empire. It remains unclear what assets he left behind because his personal affairs were so convoluted. Jackson had been actively involved in planning a series of comeback concerts that were estimated to have a potential gross of $500 million. However, some experts say that even that phenomenal sum might not be enough to equal the debts he had amassed. Despite his eccentricities and a strict upbringing that deprived him of a normal childhood, Jackson's legacy will be as one of the greatest entertainers in American history. His death will certainly become one of those tragic moments that will cause everyone to remember where they were when they heard the news.
Update: MSNBC News reports that it may be weeks before a final coroner's report officially designates the cause of death.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that they will expand the best picture Oscar nominee category from five films to ten. The Academy feels this will result in a more equitable and broader selection of films. Movie fans have long griped that the Academy is too elite when it comes to recognizing the merits of movies that become financial blockbusters. The controversy reached a boiling point last year when the highly acclaimed Batman pic The Dark Knight was ignored in most of the major categories despite being a critical success. There had been a time when popular blockbusters like Airport, The Towering Inferno and Jaws would place among the best picture nominees, but in more recent years, art house films have often dominated the category. There are other pluses for A.M.P.A.S in that the inclusion of more popular titles among the best picture nominees might help improve ratings, which have been sagging in recent years. However, no other categories will be expanded and the best director nominees will still be restricted to five. Industry types realize that in all probability, the eventual best picture win
