Here's one of the most unique and exciting entries we've ever posted. Martin Scorsese directing his vision of an Alfred Hitchcock movie that was never made. Only three and a half pages of the script exist and Scorsese films them in a style that does justice to The Master - right down to Bernard Hermann's score for North by Northwest and look-a-likes for Eva Marie Saint and Leo G. Carroll...but be prepared for surprises, because as with anything relating to Hitchcock, all is not what is appears to be! To view the 9 minute film click here

Sean Connery between takes on location in Nassau for Thunderball

In a major article in The Times of London, Cinema Retro contributor Robert Sellers, author of the acclaimed book The Battle for Bond, provides fascinating insights into the high profile legal case that ensnared Ian Fleming and his former collaborators over the rights to James Bond.

TO READ THE ARTICLE, CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE BATTLE FOR BOND FROM THE CINEMA RETRO AMAZON BOOK AND MOVIE STORE

After Peter Lawford fell afoul of Frank Sinatra's sentiments and was booted from The Rat Pack, the only Sinatra crony who stood by him was Sammy Davis Jr. Lawford, whose career never quite reached high gear, had been battling personal demons including alcohol abuse. Eager to booster his dwindling star status, he teamed with Davis for a late 1960s spy spoof titled Salt & Pepper. The big gag was that Lawford was Pepper and Davis was Salt. The film was successful enough to spawn a sequel, One More Time that was directed by Jerry Lewis. Writer John McElwee of the excellent web site Greenbriarpictureshows has an interesting look at the film incorporated in an article about high profile screen duos. The article contains some rare images including the soundtrack album (with great Jack Davis artwork) and a Japanese poster that sells the movie as a straight spy thriller. To read click here

Add the Philadelphia Daily News to the list of publications giving The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Complete DVD Collection a rave review. All 105 digitally remastered episodes on 41 DVDs, with ten hours of bonus materials...To read the review click here

The set is not available in stores. To order through Time Life and get free shipping click on the UNCLE ad in the right column.

The Dallas Morning News offers a review of the forthcoming commemorative Mustang from the classic Steve McQueen thriller Bullitt. The verdict: thumbs up, but with a few minor reservations. To read click here

British correspondent Steve Saragossi pays tribute to one of the unsung superstars of the 1970s.

The Seventies cinema was many things, the decade of the blockbuster, the disaster movie, the conspiracy thriller, and it was also the decade of the Superstar - with a capital “S”. Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, Burt Reynolds, Charles Bronson – you couldn’t pick up a movie magazine without seeing that word prefixed before their names.

The word guaranteed a lot of things, certainly a green light on any film they signed their names to, as well as generally assured big box office. One thing it didn’t automatically mean was believability in a given role, a certain honesty that penetrated from screen to audience, and an acting style that easily accommodated drama, comedy, sci fi, westerns, musicals, blockbusters and stark intense character studies. One Superstar however, did manage this, and his name is James Caan.

Critic Andy Young of Matchflick.com has posted an interesting article about his choices for the top ten movie endings of all time. These lists are always sure to generate controversy, but while Young ignores some of the more obvious choices (Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Citizen Kane, Psycho) his favorites are certainly all worthy of serious consideration. To read the article click here

The original soundtrack by Tito Arevalo for the 1969 cult horror film Mad Doctor of Blood Island has been issued by Elysee Productions as a limited edition of 1,000 CDs. Mastered from the original session tapes, the package also includes an 8 page collectors booklet. To order click here

Here's Agent 99 from her pre-Get Smart days. Foxy Barbara Feldon must have sent shampoo sales soaring after this commercial aired in 1964. We haven't stopped washing our hair all week! To view click here

Superman on Film, Television, Radio and Broadway by Bruce Scivally. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers; 2007.

In many ways, this is a book about a succession of tragedies. On the surface it is a scholarly hardback publication from author Bruce Scivally (who co-wrote the superb The James Bond Legacy and other film-related works) and it’s a welcome, informative addition to the vast amount of available Superman literature. While there is plenty of material out there on the Superman comics and the character himself, there has never been much written about the Man of Steel’s films and even less on the character’s appearances on television, on the radio, and his one-time attempt at a Broadway musical.

Scivally spends a brief early part of the book on the comics’ Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and how they created a legend… and lost it. For me, the first true tragedy of the Superman saga lies in the story behind these two men, for they were treated with disdain and received no appreciation from the corporations and entertainment business that eventually made millions off of their character. Much of this tale has been recounted elsewhere, so Scivally quickly moves on to the meat of the book—Superman’s evolution from comics to a radio program, the Columbia serials in theaters, and the television series (which enveloped yet another tragedy in actor George Reeves, who may or may not have committed suicide in the late fifties). Does anyone remember the unsuccessful Broadway Superman musical from the sixties? It was called It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman!, and the author enlightens the reader with its tales of woe. After covering the Saturday morning cartoons, Scivally recounts the successful blockbuster motion pictures starring Christopher Reeve in fascinating detail, treating the reader to the sometimes ugly machinations behind such Hollywood productions. And, of course, Reeve’s story ends in tragedy as well. The book ends with somewhat happier tales of Superman’s return to television—Lois and Clark and Smallville.

This is a terrific book and a must-have for anyone remotely interested in Superman and his life beyond the comics. There is one problem though, and it’s not the author’s fault. McFarland, the publisher, considers its books to be “textbooks”; thus, the retail prices are frightening. This thin, 240-page book with no color illustrations costs $49.95. I’m not sure how McFarland expects to sell this book to the fan community and I suspect they’re shooting themselves in the feet by charging so much. While it may be a “textbook,” and a good one at that, sadly it’s not being appropriately marketed to its primary audience. --Raymond Benson

TO ORDER THIS BOOK FROM THE CINEMA RETRO AMAZON MOVIE AND BOOK STORE CLICK HERE

MGM will release a boxed set of DVDs containing four major films from acclaimed director John Frankenheimer. The set includes the DVD debut of The Young Savages which marked Frankenheimer's first collaboration with Burt Lancaster. They would go on to make a number of critically-praised films together including The Train, which is also included in the set. The collection will be released January 22nd.

Here is the official MGM press release:

INNOVATIVE CAMERA ANGLES, CAPTIVATING CAR CHASES AND SOCIALLY RELEVANT STATEMENTS CHARACTERIZE ONE OF CINEMA’S FINEST

THE JOHN FRANKENHEIMER COLLECTION

Young Savages, The Manchurian Candidate, The Train and Ronin

Available Together On DVD January 22

LOS ANGELES – From Burt Lancaster and Frank Sinatra to Robert De Niro, director John Frankenheimer has guided the acting powerhouses of Hollywood and his views on important social issues, philosophical topics and the use of unusual camera angles and blocking techniques made him one of the most celebrated filmmakers in cinema history. MGM Home Entertainment brings together four films that illuminate the vision of a cinematic genius when The John Frankenheimer Collection arrives on DVD January 22, 2008, highlighting the director’s renowned career.

Part of the United Artists family, The John Frankenheimer Collection is being released as part of a larger United Artists 90th Anniversary campaign, an 18-month global celebration that honors the films, directors, actors and music that represent the studio’s rich filmmaking heritage leading up to the 90th anniversary of the studio in 2009.

The best of Frankenheimer is showcased in the collection including the 1961 film The Young Savages, a film that first teamed him with Burt Lancaster (Zulu Dawn, The Island of Dr. Moreau) and is the story of a young boy murdered by a New York gang along with the 1965 film, The Train, a World War II action-drama set in the final days of Nazi occupied Paris, which once again teams Frankenheimer with Lancaster and earned an Oscar® nomination for its script.

Also included in the gift set is Frankenheimer’s most iconic film, The Manchurian Candidate, starring the legendary performer Frank Sinatra (Kings Go Forth, Guys and Dolls) in the story of a Korean War veteran brainwashed by the Chinese government in a plot to assassinate the presidential candidate. Rounding out the collection is Ronin, the espionage thriller starring Robert De Niro (Stardust, The Good Shepherd) and featuring Frankenheimer’s trademark elaborate car chases.

The John Frankenheimer Collection will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.98 U.S./$45.98 Canada.

Young Savages

Based on Evan Hunter’s bestseller “A Matter of Conviction,” The Young Savages is set in an East Harlem mired in racial tension and gang violence. While prosecuting the three Italian teens who murdered Robert Escalante (Jose Perez), a blind 15-year-old blind Puerto Rican from a rival gang, Assistant D.A. Hank Bell (Burt Lancaster) learns that there’s more to this case than meets the eye. Also starring Dina Merrill, Edward Andrews, Telly Savalas and Vivian Nathan, The Young Savages is a gritty film replete with “genuine suspense, continual action and brutality" (Los Angeles Examiner).

The Train

Paris, August 1944. With the Allied army closing in, German commander and art fanatic Colonel von Waldheim (Paul Scofield) steals a vast collection of rare French paintings and loads them onto a train bound for Berlin. But when a beloved French patriot is murdered while trying to sabotage von Waldheim's scheme, Labiche (Burt Lancaster), a stalwart member of the Resistance, vows to stop the train at any cost. Calling upon his vast arsenal of skills, Labiche unleashes a torrent of devastation and destruction loosened rails, shattered tracks and head-on collisions in an impassioned, suspense-filled quest for justice, retribution and revenge. Inspired by an actual event and highlighted by spectacular stunt work and visual effects, The Train is "an edge-of-your-seat, thrilling, suspenseful and superior film" (The Motion Picture)

Presented in black and white with feature length audio commentary by director John Frankenheimer and a music only track highlighting Maurice Jarre’s score.

The Manchurian Candidate

Eerie, shocking, daring, thrilling and mesmerizing, The Manchurian Candidate will leave you breathless (People)! Featuring an all-star cast, including Angela Lansbury in an Oscar(r)-nominated performance, this chilling and controversial (Leonard Maltin) film may be the most sophisticated political satire ever made (Pauline Kael). When a platoon of Korean War G.I.s is captured, they somehow end up at a ladies garden club party. Or do they? Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) can't remember. As he searches for the answer, he discovers threads of a diabolical plot orchestrated by the utterly ruthless
Mrs. Iselin (Lansbury) and involving her war hero son (Laurence Harvey), her senator husband (James Gregory) and a secret cabal of enemy leaders.

Ronin

In a world where loyalties are easily abandoned and allegiances can be bought, a new and deadlier terrorist threat has emerged free agent killers! Featuring "high-octane action" (Gene Shalit, "Today"), a "first-rate cast" (L.A. Daily News) and exhilarating car chases that "are nothing short of sensational" (The New York Times), Ronin is "the real deal in action fireworks" (Rolling Stone) directed by "a master of intelligent thrillers" (Roger Ebert). The Cold War may be over, but a new world order keeps a group of covert mercenaries employed by the highest bidder. These operatives, known as "Ronin," are assembled in France by a mysterious client for a seemingly routine mission: steal a top-secret briefcase. But the simple task soon proves explosive as other underworld organizations vie for the same prize...and to get the job done, the members of Ronin must do something they've never done before trust each other!

Rich in history and devoted to creating powerful, quality films, United Artists (UA) was formed in 1919 by Mary Pickford, Charles Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith to encourage progressive filmmaking, giving each star the authority and autonomy to create the films about which they were most passionate. The studio responsible for creating some of the finest films of all time including iconic film franchises ROCKY, PINK PANTHER and JAMES BOND and critically-acclaimed and award-winning features RAGING BULL, SOME LIKE IT HOT, WEST SIDE STORY, ANNIE HALL, MIDNIGHT COWBOY and RAIN MAN, contains a library of nearly 1,000 feature films and boasts more than 80 Academy Award®-winning classics.

TO ORDER THIS SET FROM CINEMA RETRO'S AMAZON MOVIE AND BOOK STORE CLICK HERE

Just to say a huge thanks to you for sending the Man From U.N.C.L.E. DVD set-I have had it about a week now and am slowly watching through its many treasures ! It is a great service you are providing U.N.C.L.E. fans in the UK who would not otherwise be able to get this set so thanks again-it is much appreciated.Great issue 10 of Cinema Retro, too !

Best wishes for the New Year

Mark Rodman

Cinema Retro responds: Thanks, Mark. Quite a number of our UK subscribers have taken us up on our offer to order and ship the U.N.C.L.E. DVD sets to them. We hope that someday the sets will be available there for sale, but it doesn't appear likely in the short run. As a reminder, if you are a UK-based subscriber to our magazine, we will order and ship the DVD collection to you. See the entry in our U.N.C.L.E. HQ section for details or write to us at cinemaretro@hotmail.com Please note: this offer is only extended to subscribers to the print edition of Cinema Retro. U.S. fans can order the set from Time Life through our link in the right column. Order through this link to get free shipping!

Author Matt Stone was given access to the Steve McQueen family photo archives for his new book McQueen's Machines - an indepth look at The King of Cool's obsession with motorcycles and sports cars. The book is a gold mine of rare photos showing McQueen working on and driving his favorite vehicles. Steve McQueen's son provides the introduction.

For an ABC News story about the book, click here

To order the book discounted from the Cinema Retro Amazon Movie and Book Store, click here

Michael Kidd, one of stage and screen's most legendary choreographers, died Sunday at age 92. Kidd won five Tony awards during his illustrious career and choreographed such stage hits as Finian's Rainbow and Guys and Dolls. His choreography of the dance numbers in the screen version of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers still represents the gold standard of Hollywood musicals. Kidd, who received an honorary Oscar in 1997, also acted on occasion including appearing in the 1975 cult film classic Smile. Other films he choreographed  include the Fred Astaire classic The Band Wagon, Hello Dolly and Star!

For more details click here

Milwaukee Journal Sentinal columnist Tim Cuprisin has an exclusive podcast interview with David McCallum in which he discusses his memories of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

To listen click here

To order the complete Man From U.N.C.L.E. DVD Collection  and get free shipping, click on the ad in the right hand column of this page.

Musician Rick E. Coen's unrequited love for British actress Judy Geeson, star of numerous hit films of the 1960s and 1970s has resulted in an original music video titled Falling Again. The good news is it's not geeky and the song is pretty good. To view on You Tube click here.

Chuck Norris is sure in the news a lot lately. He's now suing author Ian Spector in an attempt to get his new book The Truth About Chuck Norris withdrawn from distribution. Norris' lawsuit also lists Penguin publishers as co-defendants. At first glance, it might seem that the martial arts icon is being a bit thin-skinned. Spector's book is an obvious farce that centers on web-based Paul Bunyan-like tall tales relating to his image as a seemingly invincible action star. Among the witticisms found in the book:

• Chuck Norris can charge a cell phone by rubbing it against his beard.
• When an episode of “Walker, Texas Ranger” aired in France, the French surrendered to Chuck Norris just to be on the safe side.
• Chuck Norris was the first person to tame a dinosaur.
• Chuck Norris once visited The Virgin Islands. Afterward, they were renamed The Islands.
• Every piece of furniture in Chuck Norris’s house is a Total Gym.

Aside from these harmless yucks that only enhance Norris' tough guy image, there are others to be found on a web site run by Spector at www.chucknorrisfacts.com These play up the violent nature of his persona and imply he's an out-of-control killing machine. Still, anyone with an I.Q. higher than their shirt size would recognize these as purely tongue-in-cheek, affectionate tributes to Norris. Indeed, Norris has apparently tolerated all of this until publication of Spector's book. As with many celebrities, they are often happy to look the other way in terms of how their image is used on fan web sites, but the line is crossed when it becomes a commercial venture.

Norris' suit states that Spector's suit implies he has a friendly relationship with the author (they apparently met at some point in the past). Spector also insinuates that he had Norris' approval for the book, with his thanks to the actor "for playing along." Norris contends he has nothing to do with the book and never granted such approval. He maintains that many of the "legends" presented therein imply he is a violent wild man with a racist streak. A look at Spector's web site shows some curious aspects: there are T shirts bearing Norris' image that are for sale and some of the "legends" on the site are termed "Chuck's Favorites: Picked by the Man Himself!" There are also links to Norris' official web site at www.chucknorris.com and to his autobiography. The clear implication is that Norris is a participant in the site. Spector's site is devoid of any background information about who runs it or how to contact them - an oddity, given the fact that the site implies Norris approves of the concept.

Norris' suit claims damages to his reputation and seeks to get the book withdrawn from distribution. The book has been selling remarkably well and as of this date, ranks #376 on Amazon. According to Norris' suit, he had advised Penguin in advance that he had not authorized the book and advised them not to publish it. Penguin did so anyway, which brings up the cloudy legal area of books pertaining to celebrities. Anyone can author a book pertaining to a public figure, and as long as it isn't libelous, there is little the celebrity can do about it. However, if a celebrity's image is used in a way that might be deceptive or harmful to their reputation, then they may have legal recourse. Spector's book clearly implies Norris approved of it, based on meetings the author claimed to have had in the past with the action star. Whether Spector has a legitimate point or whether he interpreted some casual meetings with Norris as an indication of an actual friendship, remains to be seen. As of today, Penguin has not responded to the suit.

Norris has been in the headlines recently for filming a tongue-in-cheek political endorsement ad for Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Opponents scoffed when they saw the ad saying it was goofy and embarrassing, but in the weeks since it was released, Huckabee has vaulted from "also ran" status to being the frontrunner in the Iowa caucuses. Coincidence? Hmmm, never underestimate the power of Chuck Norris. Ironically, this anecdote would have made a good entry in Spector's book!

In the meantime, you can get your copy of The Truth About Chuck Norris from The Cinema Retro Amazon Book and Movie store by clicking here. Who knows? If Norris prevails, it might become a collector's item- Lee Pfeiffer

If you like classic movie posters, check out Movie Poster Studio which has a wealth of excellent international movie posters for sale, including many variations we've never seen. To visit click here

The legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune died ten years ago today. Writer Jonathan Lapper pays tribute to this magnificent icon of the international cinema - and bemoans the fact that he is yet another great star who never received Oscar recognition. To read click here

Three evergreen songs from James Bond movies have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. They are:

• The James Bond Theme
• Title theme from Goldfinger
• The Look of Love from the 1967 spoof version of Casino Royale. The song had been nominated for an Oscar but lost to the ever-popular If I Could Talk to the Animals from Doctor Doolittle

For the James Bond website MI6' report, click here

Nicholas Sheffo, columnist for the web site fulvuedrive-in, recently invited us to post his article about classic and cult movies that should be released on Blu-Ray and HD DVD.

Nick has now written a "sequel"- see if you agree with his additional choices.

To read the article click here

Nicholas Sheffo makes a compelling argument for the positive aspects of The Monkees' only feature film, Head. Did you know the screenplay was written by Jack Nicholson?

In a new interview, Sir Roger Moore has abandoned his long-held policy of not commenting on other actors who have played James Bond. Sir Roger is firmly in the court of new screen 007 Daniel Craig and compliments not only his acting abilities, but his athletic prowess as well. As for his favorite film among his own Bonds, Sir Roger votes for The Spy Who Loved Me - a sentiment that seems to be shared by most fans. He says, "I think 'The Spy Who Loved Me' was the best, or rather the one I enjoyed doing the most. It had great locations. And I was exceedingly happy working with Lewis Gilbert, the director.We share the same sense of humor. I think it had the right balance of fun and suspense." Concerning his worst Bond film, Sir Roger's penchant for self-deprecating humor remains intact. He cites his last entry in the series, A View to a Kill, made when he was 58 years old. Of the experience, he says, "I was only about 400 years too old for the part!" For more click here

Screen Archives Entertainment has released an exciting double-bill soundtrack CD consisting of the original scores for Klute and All the President's Men. Here are the official release details:

Two of the best scores of the 1970s come to CD at last: Klute by Michael Small and All the President's Men by David Shire. Both films were produced by Warner Bros. and directed by Alan J. Pakula -- the respective films, and scores, are among the most lauded of the decade.

Klute (1971) starred Jane Fonda (in an Oscar-winning performance) as a New York call girl being terrorized by a sadistic ex-client, with Donald Sutherland as the private detective (the title character) looking for a friend whose disappearance may be related. Part neo-film noir, part sophisticated, adult drama, the film is a fantastic character study as well as a gripping thriller, modern feminist classic and a fascinating journey through the New York City of the sexual revolution.

Klute's score by Michael Small -- his first Hollywood assignment -- was groundbreaking in its use of an avant garde chamber orchestra (piano, percussion and voice -- a creepy female "siren song") compared to symphonic or jazz approaches of the past. Such a style had never been used in a Hollywood thriller and it was an instant hit, leading to Small scoring other '70s classics like The Parallax View and Marathon Man. The score also includes a melancholy "pop" love theme for trumpet and eclectic source cues for the 1970s urban setting.

All the President's Men (1976) was the brilliant film adaptation of the book by Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, chronicling their historic investigation into Watergate and President Nixon. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman played the reporters in one of the best films about journalism and politics ever made -- a crackling true-life mystery with global implications.

In the mid-1970s, no composer was as renowned as David Shire for finding exquisitely subtle musical solutions for demanding and unique films like The Conversation, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Farewell, My Lovely and The Hindenburg. When Shire was first screened All the President's Men, he asked if the film needed any music at all, but director Pakula suggested that music could remind audiences of the "human heart" beating in the characters. Shire crafted a brief and understated score that never sacrificed melody or musicality, with a memorable theme speaking of the journalists' resolve to untangle the mystery.

Klute has circulated for many years as a "promotional" or bootleg LP from which numerous unauthorized copies have been made; the original soundtrack to All the President's Men has never been released. This definitive CD features both scores remixed from the 16-track master elements for optimal stereo sound quality. Liner notes are by Kyle Renick.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

Cinema Retro's Dave Worrall sat down to enjoy the recent UK TV special on great disaster movies - and found that the real disaster was in the choice of reel disasters!

When I hear the words “disaster movie” I automatically think of erupting volcanoes, tidal waves, burning buildings, sinking ships and crashing airliners. Doesn’t everyone? Well, apparently not.

Last night I watched ‘The Greatest Ever Disaster Movies’, which aired on Channel 5. Running almost three hours, the programme showed clips from forty films – all voted for by members of the British public and shown in descending order.

The phrase ‘Disaster Movie’ was coined in the early 70’s following the success of The Poseidon Adventure, and this spawned a plethora of films featuring a storyline that concentrated on either a catastrophe caused by nature, or an act of human error. Films like Krakatoa East of Java, Earthquake, The Towering Inferno, etc, etc, spring to mind – but that’s not the case with today’s audiences. No, they pick Die Hard, Predator, Con Air and Speed! What? Now, whilst I actually think those latter films are good – excellent, in fact – they are not ‘disaster movies’ but merely superb action films. I found it hard to believe that a film like Twister, which is a ‘disaster movie’, and a bloody good one too, didn’t make the ‘Top Ten’ but Predator, which is a Sci-Fi/Fantasy film, did! Likewise, where was Rollercoaster – another original ‘disaster movie’?

The programme, which was interspersed with interviews with TV critics, film historians and actors, did at least include many of the older classics but I have to admit that whilst we thought it good in its day, Earthquake hasn’t stood the test of time – but at least it was a proper ‘disaster movie’. However, it was nostalgic to see the likes of George Kennedy, Jacqueline Bissett and Robert Vaughn being interviewed, and at least two Seventies ‘classics’ made it into the ‘Top Ten’ (see chart below).

Audiences forget that the whole premise behind this genre was to take a B-movie storyline and fill it with A-list actors who are put in precarious situations, and guaranteed to die. That was the fun of it all. Today, if you are lucky, a big event film has just one, maybe two major stars playing the lead roles. Gone are the days of a major cast line-up. Then again, there are not enough ‘major’ stars left in the world to achieve this – and if there were, the studios couldn’t afford their extortionate fees anyway!

Anyway, enough of my ‘grumpy old man’ moaning - here are the top ten entries voted by the Brits…

10: The Poseidon Adventure.

9: Predator.

8: Speed.

7: War of the Worlds (Cruise version).

6: Con Air.

5: The Day After Tomorrow.

4: The Towering Inferno.

3: Apollo 13.

2: Armageddon.

1: Die Hard.

Oh, I forgot to mention that the programme was sponsored by Play.Com, an internet company specializing in selling DVDs by mail order, and oddly enough all forty films chosen are available on DVD. What a coincidence, especially as the film’s sleeve was shown next to the number it had been voted for!

With the recent death of legendary Hollywood agent Freddie Fields, the motion picture industry lost yet another larger-than-life figure. Writer David Rensin had been collaborating with Fields on his autobiography - a work that, sadly, will never be finished. In reading Rensin's account of his friendship with Fields and the realization that, with his passing, many great anecdotes will never be told, I immediately saw parallels with the mission of Cinema Retro. Through our interviews and essay, we provide a vital voice to many talented actors and filmmakers who are largely ignored by a mainstream media obsessed with air-headed, self-destructive starlets. We contacted David Rensin, who is a prolific author of numerous successful books, and he kindly encouraged us to share his recollections with our readers through linking to his blog. Not only does it provide personal memories of the extraordinary Freddie Fields, but there is also a fascinating account of how Fields figured in the complex negotiations to bring Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to the screen. It's an amusing tale that involves an eclectic group of stuperstars ranging from Steve McQueen to Warren Beatty and Marlon Brando.- Lee Pfeiffer

TO READ DAVID RENSIN'S BLOG CLICK HERE

VISIT DAVID RENSIN'S WEB SITE BY CLICKING HERE

One of the qualities that makes Cinema Retro unique is our dedication to making movie fans aware of niche market DVDs and books they might not otherwise be aware of. As regular readers know, publishers Dave Worrall and Lee Pfeiffer recently finished a major book about the making of John Wayne's epic The Alamo for Sundown Entertainment publishers. In the course of our research, we became aware of the good folks at Playset Magazine, a publication dedicated to the toy soldier playsets baby boomers cherished as kids. Turns out that the magazine's publisher Rusty Kern and his wife Kathy were in the process of putting the finishing touches on a unique DVD titled At the Alamo that examines the film versions of the famous battle through the most unusual angles imagineable. This is a wonderfully wacky hodgepodge of a project that incorporates recreations of the battle through elaborate dioramas featuring the original Marx playsets from the 1960s, an interesting history of the phenomenally popular Walt Disney TV series (including a recent exclusive interview with Fess Parker), coverage of the Wayne version of the film and a tour of the movie's sets that still stand in Brackettville, Texas, a visit to the actual Alamo shrine in San Antonio - and if that isn't enough- hand's on advice about how to build your own Alamo diorama. The only thing the Kerns left out is the kitchen sink.

As bizarre as the DVD sounds, it's completely engrossing from beginning to end. Rusty Kern makes an amiable and knowledgable guide - and unlike some of the big name TV talk show hosts, he knows how to ask a question then shut up and let the subject answer. For a homegrown, low budget project, the DVD boasts good production values including skillfull editing and fine use of composer Mike Boldt's rendition of Dimitri Tiomkin's classic score for the Wayne movie. It's a truly great way to - well, "Remember the Alamo!" This is one of the most creative and enjoyable DVDs of the year.

Click here to watch a special promotional trailer for the DVD

Click here to order the DVD from Playset Magazine

Paramount has recently released a newly mastered, letterboxed edition of one of my all time favorites, the one , the only, the original, Walking Tall. This film was the sleeper hit of 1973, playing for months (remember when films would have a long theater run?) and utilizing various ad campaigns to appeal to every possible audience.. Note the two ad campaigns accompanying this article; one points to the dramatic qualities of the film; the other its violent content. There was even a campaign, at the end of the run that played up the aspect of Buford’s deputy Obra to sell it as a Blaxploitation films!

To summarize for those who may not remember or haven’t had the chance to view this 70’s classic; Buford Pusser (Joe Don Baker) returns to his rural southern home with his family to start a new life and leave his career as a wrestler behind him. He finds that the county isn’t the same: it’s now overrun with bootleggers, gambling, prostitution and corruption. Rallying locals who are equally disgusted by these developments, Pusser gets elected sheriff. Soon he and his family and friends are subject to threats and violent attacks. Pusser finds himself virtually alone in a seemingly Quixotic battle to maintain law and justice. Whereas this was a ‘inspired by true life events’ story, the original Bufford Pusser did act as an advisor throughout the entire production. The film spawned several sequels and a remake starring The Rock. Sadly, the real life Pusser did not live to see any of them. He died in a car accident that many consider suspicious before the first sequel went into production.

Walking Tall is not a major Hollywood production and benefits greatly in that it was filmed in Tennessee. The movie had been shot full frame with the intention of being projected in a letterboxed format, masking the top and bottom. Showings on ABC & TBS (in heavily edited form), rental prints in 16mm, VHS & Rhino DVD releases have all utilized a full frame transfer, showing boom mics and lights. The new transfer corrects these flaws. Not only is the pre-print material in great shape but hides what was certainly not originally intended to be seen.

Our only regret with this release is that there are no bonus features, not even a trailer, However, the film’s power makes it a recommended buy, especially at its very reasonable retail price. Now if only Paramount issues a complete box set that includes the official sequels…the life & legend of Bufford Pusser are certainly worth documenting.- Bill Duelly

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Cinema Retro is happy to welcome London film journalist Steve Saragossi to the ranks of our contributors. Steve's first column covers the cult classic Crack in the World.

As a 46 year old Londoner, writing in these pages, you can appreciate that I have extremely fond memories of the films that helped form the foundation for such affectionate nostalgia for the movies of the sixties and seventies.

The last thirty years have seen seismic (ahem) changes in the way we enjoy our leisure time, and a 13 year old in 1974 and one in 2006 would probably not recognise each other as coming from the same planet. Back then, it was simple, you played outside or you watched what BBC’s 1, 2 and ITV had to offer. Looking back in hindsight, there’s something reassuring about that lack of choice. For instance, it made you see films you normally wouldn’t have bothered with, it engendered patience, as you couldn’t fast forward or pause. There was there was the excitement of looking forward to something - no instant gratification here! Also, there was an almost subconscious reassurance, something now known as a water-cooler moment, in that when I sat down to watch, say, “Batman”, I knew that all my mates were glued to their Rediffusions at the same time, perhaps more a water-fountain moment.

Also, our viewing habits have fundamentally changed. Prior to the seventies, we watched a wide array of programming, because there wasn’t a plethora of channels to entice you away, hell there wasn’t even a remote control. You could (because there was no choice) sit down and watch a variety programme, a documentary about WWII, a film you’d never heard of, a comedy sketch show, and a new drama. All this would unfurl before you, and you’d just soak it up, some good, some bad, some revelatory. But because of the available technology attentions spans were trained to give things a chance.

He's the Whistler's Father of The Magnificent Seven - the overlooked guy whose name most people can't come up with in trivia contests relating to the film. The average movie fan knows the names of the most prominent six members of the Seven: Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Horst Buchholz - but can never seem to remember who "the other guy" was. His name was Brad Dexter, and although he acquitted himself very well as Harry, the member of the Seven who died convinced there was a hidden cache of gold in the poor Mexican village, Dexter's career as an actor never went beyond the middling stage. He was far more successful as a producer. For a fascinating article about his life and career, read Guy Rocha's article in The Reno Gazette-Journal by clicking here

“JEROME BIXBY’S THE MAN FROM EARTH” (Directed by Richard Schenkman. 2007, Starz Home Entertainment)

Longtime James Bond fans may recognize the name Richard Schenkman, the director of this marvelous, thought-provoking independent science fiction drama. During the 1980s, Schenkman was the president of the James Bond 007 Fan Club (based in the USA) and publisher of its fanzine, Bondage. Since that time, Schenkman has escaped from Bondage to become a first rate Hollywood and independent film director. After a few years at MTV, Schenkman made a few small budget indies that received critical acclaim, if not blockbuster box-office (including The Pompatus of Love, Went to Coney Island on a Mission for God…Be Back by Five) and the hit TV-movie and perennial holiday feature, A Diva’s Christmas Carol.

Schenkman’s latest film was written by the late, legendary science fiction writer Jerome Bixby (who wrote episodes for Star Trek and The Twilight Zone, among others). This posthumous production was spearheaded by Bixby’s son, Emerson. The story concerns a small group of friends who have come to say goodbye to John Oldman (portrayed by CSI: Miami’s David Lee Smith), who is moving house for mysterious reasons. In a moment of possible recklessness—or is it premeditated?—Oldman reveals to his friends that he is thousands of years old. In fact, he says he was a Cro-Magnon man and has somehow never aged or died. He has simply re-invented himself decade after decade, century after century, eon after eon—to fit in with progressing societies. At first, his friends think Oldman (get it?—“Oldman”) is pulling their legs, but as the day turns into night, Oldman presents startling and convincing evidence of his claim.

The script is more like a stage play than a film—in fact, The Man from Earth would probably make an excellent stage play—and there’s a lot of talking, no special effects, and no action (except for a short struggle between a couple of characters)—but the film is nonetheless engrossing and suspenseful. Schenkman doesn’t need to “open up” the story—it’s all there in Bixby’s well-crafted script. By the time the final, shocking revelation is made, Schenkman and his cast have the audience well in hand. I would go so far as to say it’s one of the most intelligent and profound science fiction dramas that we’ve seen in a long, long time.

Smith is very good as Oldman, and the rest of the cast shine as well (John Billingsley, Ellen Crawford, William Katt, Annika Peterson, Richard Riehle, Alexis Thorpe, and Tony Todd). But the true star of the piece is Bixby—and the film is a last testament to a great writer’s career. Highly recommended.- Raymond Benson

Visit Raymond's site at www.raymondbenson.com

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We came across this nicely done video tribute on You Tube. The person who created it did so for the Coburn family after Jim's death. It only reminds you of the great loss the film industry suffered when Coburn passed away. He was one of those actors who was often taken for granted and whose talents were drastically underused for many years. Happily, at the end of his life, he experienced a major renaissance in his career and won an Oscar for his superb performance in Affliction.  To view click here

The newly-revived Hammer Films will release their long-awaited first motion picture since the late 1970s. Beyond the Rave is a contemporary horror film set in the world of England's rave clubs. The story concerns a soldier's desperate quest to locate his missing girlfriend before he must fly off to Iraq. The script involves vampires, an old staple of the early horror films. What is most unusual is that the movie will "premiere" in 20 minute web episodes on www.myspacetv.com The film, which has apparently been completed on a very low budget, will also be available in its entirety on DVD and through downloads. The cast consists of virtual unknowns. Hammer fans, who have been waiting impatiently for the studio's long-discussed revival, are going to be difficult to please with this approach. Many had hoped that the company would secure adequate funding to make a major film - possibly a Victorian-era horror movie similar to those titles for which Hammer became legendary. Whether the new venture produces a Peter Cushing or Christopher Lee for this generation remains to be seen.

(For Cinema Retro's exclusive behind the scenes coverage of Beyond the Rave click here)

More than a thousand friends, family and fans of legendary stunt driver Bud Ekins packed a memorial service that was held at Warner Brothers studios. A short documentary about Ekins was shown. Ekins performed stunts in numerous films, most notably doubling for Steve McQueen in the famed motorcycle leap in The Great Escape. Among those speaking at the service was Neile Adams, McQueen's first wife. For more click here

Here's an insightful and highly amusing list of reasons to see Woody Allen's 1979 classic love sonnet to New York City, Manhattan (as though Gordon Willis' magnificent black and white cinematography isn't enough!)

Click here to read

The drive-in movie theater brought together two distinct American institutions: cars and movies. Since the earliest drive-ins of the 1930s, these entertainment complexes have been an integral part of American culture. Their appeal stretched to people from all corners of the country, offering a place for social gathering and various amusements. Take a ride down memory lane in this entertaining look at every aspect of the drive-in movie theater: the architecture, the marquees, the cars, the food, and much more. Black-and-white and color photos, along with period ads and other memorabilia, provide a highly illustrated tour from the origins of the drive-in, through its heyday in the 1950s, its decline, and its subsequent revival.

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One of our favorite Charles Bronson's films is The Mechanic, directed in 1972 by Michael Winner. The plot has Bronson as a master assassin for hire who is training his protege, Jan Michael Vincent - until a bloody series of double crosses begins to wreak deadly havoc. Jerry Fielding's score is now available in a definitive version from Intrada Records. The CD is a limtied edition of 1500. Here is the text from the product description:

World premiere 1972 release of complete Jerry Fielding score for Michael Winner thriller takes all 27 minutes of music from earlier albums, then offers additional 50 minutes of music previously unreleased! Fielding takes cue from methodical hitman played by Charles Bronson, creates incredibly complex work for orchestra. Chilling tone clusters for piano, knife jabs for brass, startling percussion... and cold, cerebral strings spell Fielding at his most intense! But composer is calculated, adds tiny wisp of warmth, keeps everything just out of balance. Intrada CD presents entire score from original multi-track stereo session masters, courtesy of MGM. CD also includes exciting big band source cues composer wrote for film plus alternate end titles. Authoritative text from director/composer expert Nick Redman plus musical analysis from FSM's Lukas Kendall illuminates every complicated moment! Arguably Fielding's most dramatic work! Jerry Fielding conducts. Intrada Special Collection release limited to 1500 copies! - Douglass Fake, Intrada Producer

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A tribute book to one of the film industry's legendary movie poster artists.

Here is the product description from Amazon:

The first monograph dedicated to the World's most famous monster artist.
• Introduction by Rockstar and The Devil's Rejects horror film director, Rob Zombie.
• Profusely illustrated with over 150 color and 50 black & white illustrations.
• Full-color on 160 heavy, glossy-stock pages
• Endorsed by the families of Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Lon Chaney.
• Features commentary from the artist, his contemporaries and noted film professionals.

The Famous Monster Movie Art of Basil Gogos is a celebration of the career of the acknowledged master of film monster portrait art. To many fans of classic horror movies, the name Basil Gogos is as familiar as that of Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi or Vincent Price. Gogos' paintings are as iconic as his subjects. This long-overdue retrospective features high-quality reproductions of many of his most famous paintings as well as many previously unpublished paintings and drawings of classic film creatures and actors. Gogos' early work in men's adventure magazine and paperback book art will also be examined as well as his works in movie posters and other areas. An in-depth career-spanning interview with the artist will accompany the illustrations and tributes by other artists and film professionals inspired by Gogos' powerful images. The book will feature an introduction by rock star, movie director and horror collector Rob Zombie.

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Most movie fans seem to think that Richard Harris' singing career began and ended with the 1967 film version of Camelot in which he played the role of King Arthur. His friend Richard Burton had played the part initially in the play's Broadway run. However, what many people forget is that despite having limited abilities as a crooner, Harris parlayed his talent to "talk" a song through into a highly successful second career. Donna Summer's late 1970s disco version of MacArthur Park was such a hit that many people forgot that it was Harris who had an equally big version of the Jimmy Webb song a decade before. Our friends at the super cool retro site Cine Beats have posted a great tribute to Harris' singing career, complete with a recording of MacArthur Park you can relish (although we still don't have a damned clue as to what the song is about!)

To visit the Cine Beats site click here

British actor James Purefoy has been confimed to play Simon Templar in a new two-hour pilot of a TV series based on Leslie Charteris' The Saint. Several other actors have played the role over the decades, with Roger Moore being the most successful in the long-running 1960s TV series. Val Kilmer made an ill-fated venture into Sainthood by starring in the flop 1990s big screen version. Roger Moore's son Geoffrey will be one of the producers of the new movie. The film is slated to begin shooting in Australia and Berlin next April. For more visit the official Leslie Chateris web site by clicking here

It's no secret that many heavily-hyped movies never go into production due to last minute snags. What is surprising is how late in the game some of them are cancelled - in some cases, even after teaser advertising campaigns had begun. Case in point is this ad for a film called Will Adams based on a real life historical character who became the first European to visit Japan. The ad was included in a Paramount industry booklet that announced the films going into production in 1965. Joseph E. Levine was to produce, but for some reason the movie was never made. Look for more "Movies That Never Were" here on the Cinema Retro web site.

DVD Talk has one of the most comprehensive and insightful reviews we've seen on the newly released Man From U.N.C.L.E. Complete DVD Collection. To read click here

To order the set click on the ad in the right hand column

Our friends at Fulvue-Drive In have sent us a link to an excellent essay by Nicholas Sheffo that explores the making of F.W. Murnau's landmark vampire film Nosferatu as well as its enduring legacy in the international cinema. Sink your teeth into it by clicking here

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Editor-in-Chief Lee Pfeiffer shares some thoughts about a recent CBS TV special

On Friday night, CBS telecast a two-hour TV special entitled Movies Rock that purported to be a celebration of the great songs from motion pictures. I confess to not having seen the first hour, so this can't really be considered a review. However, there are some observations about the second hour that should be made because they epitomize why we at Cinema Retro are more interested in the Hollywood of old than of today. It has nothing to do with wanting to live in the past. It's just that when you see today's "stars" and their slovenly look and behavior, we wonder how anyone can have much enthusiasm for the contemporary film industry. For starters, I don't live under a rock, but I've never even heard of some of the big names who performed on the TV special. I did hear of current heart throb Marc Anthony who was doing a reasonably good tribute to Simon and Garfunkel's Mrs. Robinson (from The Graduate), although I believe no mention was made of Mr. Garfunkel, who is treated like the Zeppo Marx of the legendary duo. Instead, the song was a tribute to Paul Simon - which may explain a lot about why Simon and Garfunkel broke up. In any event, mid way through Anthony's rendition, he began to flub his lines, then seemed to end the song prematurely after assuring us that "Joltin' Joe has left and gone away" - a line rendered meaningless because Anthony had neglected to sing the song's most famous verse, "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?"

We were then treated to someone named Fergie (not the Duchess of York, unfortunately), who appeared to have stopped in from a streetwalker's convention in order to perform a tribute to the James Bond songs. She was introduced by the typically slovenly Danny DeVito, who mumbled through an inane introduction that informed us that, among the legendary singers who performed Bond title songs was Tina Sinatra. You heard that right. There is a Tina Sinatra, who runs the licensing aspects of Frank Sinatra's estate, so it must have come as news to her sister Nancy, who sang You Only Live Twice that Tina is now being credited for the work. Oh, well, DeVito can't be blamed - he's only been in show business for over forty years. The Bond number chosen for the tribute was Live and Let Die and Fergie certainly made for fetching eye candy as she slid around the stage in an outfit that seemed to be painted on her as other, more talented dancers tried to avoid the pyrotechnics. Fergie almost hit a few notes on key, but it must have been an accident. By the time a giant bungi cord allowed her to soar over the audience like Peter Pan, I became convinced that only SPECTRE could have staged something this dreadful.

There was a wonderful short shown in which Martin Scorsese discussed his obsession with classic films and how sound plays such an important role in the viewer's enjoyment of them. He is leading the charge for restoring and preseving the classics through his Film Foundation. It was a classy, moving segment that put to shame much of what followed. Among the those who strode onstage to engage in that awful "spontaneous" patter generally reserved for award shows were character actor John C. Riley who was teamed with someone named Jenna Fischer, who must be a big star somewhere despite the fact that neither I or the people who were watching with me had ever heard of her. Riley epitomized the now ritualisitc dressing-down-because-dressing-up-is-uncool fashion style. Wearing a bizarre black jacket with swirly white designs, he appeared to be a cross between Captain Kangaroo and someone who stopped in from a kid's rodeo. Yet, there were moments where the show succeeded. Shirley MacLaine, looking ageless and splendid, introduced Queen Latifah, who performed Hey, Big Spender from Sweet Charity. Latifah wasn't as powerful as you would expect, but she at least had respect for the material and didn't try to improve upon a classic. The highlight of the hour I saw was a wonderful segment that was introduced by a typically understated and elegant Harrison Ford. He presented John Williams conducting the orchestra in a tribute to great movie themes set to film clips. It was a majestic segment and moreso than anything else, demonstrated how vital a good composer is to a classic movie. It also made it abundantly clear how accurate John Barry was when he said that most scores for recent motion pictures are little more than "elevator music." Williams paid homage to great themes from Doctor Zhivago, Casablanca, Gone With the Wind, Jaws, Star Wars, The Magnificent Seven and many others in a segment you didn't want to end. Unfortunatley, it did and what followed what followed was a God awful "tribute" to Isaac Hayes' landmark Theme From Shaft. Any resemblance to the original was purely coincidental as a stageful of rap "superstars" teamed up to destroy the classic Oscar winning song. As a middle aged white guy, I had no idea who these performers were but the fact they had joined together for this number was made out to be the most exciting blending of talent since The Rat Pack staged their first "Summit" in Vegas. The rappers left their limos and mansions long enough to don their pretentious designer home boy clothing in order to prove they still have street cred. After mumbling some inane rants, they were given the obligatory standing ovation by an equally pretentious crowd who were desperate to prove they were hip enough to appreciate the abysmal act they had just suffered through.

Fortunately, the evening ended on another high note, as Verizon phone customers (!) had selected

White Christmas as their favorite movie song of all time. (This obsession with the public voting on all manner of things simply to enrich phone companies must be stopped before we start deciding presidential elections in this manner. There are times when democracy is not good for the masses!) In any event, the ageless Tony Bennett took the stage to sing the legendary Irving Berlin song. His style and grace were a marvel to behold and only reiterated that we're now seeing the last vestiges of truly larger-than-life talent. After the Bennetts and MacLaine's are gone, so too will the appreciation of the songs and work they have done - at least in terms of the next generation of fans who will be texting in their selection of Fergie as Entertainer of the Century.

Cinema Retro readers have been giving us a very enthusiastic response to correspondent John Exshaw's recent coverage of the Italian western festival that took place at the Venice International Film Festival. Among the films covered by John was Navajo Joe, a rather run-of-the-mill 1966 spaghetti western that is distinguished primarily by the presence of leading man Burt Reynolds, still several years away from superstardom. As with many of the Italian westerns, even those of the lowest denominator in terms of quality generally boasted worthy musical scores and Navajo Joe is no exception. Film Score Monthly has issued the most complete soundtrack of Ennio Morricone's original compositions ever released. (Curiously, Morricone had to adopt the Ameircan nom-de--plume "Leo Nichols" on the film's credits!) For more info and to order click here

For reports on the Venice Film Festival's tribute to Italian westerns, see John Exshaw's columns.

Never let it be said that Cinema Retro readers are not appreciative of the human anatomy. We've received a number of letters griping that we've been negligent in presenting our Gratuitously Sexy Photos of the Week. We plead guilty, but only because there has been such an abundance of other stories. Nevertheless, we herewith resume the feature that has earned us high marks not only from straight guys but also from our female readers and gay guys who appreciate the fact that we never fail to include some vintage male cheesecake shots to satiate their lurid desires as well.

In one of the most intelligent and enlightening interviews we've seen with Martin Scorsese, The Washington Post gets the Oscar-winner and recent Kennedy Center honoree to discuss how films shaped his entire childhood and continue to dominate his life today. For Scorsese, films aren't just a meal ticket, they are an obsession and in the interview he discusses how movies he's seen countless times still move him emotionally. Among his top favorites: John Ford's The Searchers with its beautifully-rendered, melancholy ending in which John Wayne's Ethan Edwards is once again left on his own to face an uncertain future.

For the interview click here

Many of your have been using the new Cinema Retro Amazon DVD and Book Shop as your preferred venue for holiday shopping. Now we've added a new exciting segment to our store: The Spy Movie Shop. In this specialized category, you'll be able to browse through hundreds of DVDs relating to spy movies and TV series- and we'll bet you'll be surprised to find how many of them are now available. From I Spy episodes to The Chairman, Ice Station Zebra, Operation Crossbow, The Bourne Identity and The Ultimate Our Man Flint Collection, this is the place for armchair secret agents and megalomaniacs to shop. We;ve also got an entire store section dedicated to James Bond.

To visit click here

If you haven't seen enough evidence that the perfect holiday gift is The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Complete DVD Collection, the new promo trailer unveiled by Time Life should remove any lingering doubts. It captures the excitement of this fantastic DVD release of all 105 episodes, plus 10 hours of extras!

Click here to view

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