A couple of weeks ago I wrote an editorial condemning the American TV networks for going overboard in their coverage of the heroic crew of the airliner that ditched in the Hudson River. No doubt about it, this was a great story filled with genuine heroes. However, the media indulged in its tendency to go all out and virtually ignored every single other news story in the world for a period of 24 hours. Well, just when you thought it was safe to go to the remote control again, lo and behold - they've released the cockpit tapes of the incident, which has now given the media reason to go into overdrive again. The worst offender: CBS, which is devoting an entire Early Show to discussing the incident yet again. This in a week in which the political developments are a news junkie's idea of heaven. Stop the madness! Let's give these heroes their due, but for God's sake, let's remember there is a world that exists out there. This Oprahization of television has become nauseating.- Lee Pfeiffer (To read original editorial click here)Â
Welcome to an exciting new concept for Cinema
Retro: the introduction of special magazines that celebrate specific classic
and cult films. We routinely get bombarded with letters and E mails from
readers around the world who suggest extensive coverage of their favorite
films. The problem is, of course, is that even our Film in Focus sections runs
only 8 pages – which is certainly enough to do justice to the average movie,
but is woefully inadequate to cover all aspects of those films that deserve
even more extensive analysis. Thus, we’ll be periodically introducing special
stand-alone tribute issues that will be limited edition collector’s items. These
editions are titled Cinema Retro Movie Classics. As with
the regular issues of Cinema Retro, we anticipate these will increase in value
significantly.We’ve decided to market
these separately and not make them part of our subscription plan. This is to
ensure that readers who do not have enthusiasm for the specific film in
question won’t have to pay for an entire issue dedicated to that movie. However,
we feel that the movies we cover in the special editions will probably have
broad appeal to the majority of our readership.
We’ve decided that our inaugural special edition
will be dedicated to a film that is among the most requested by readers in terms
of wanting extensive coverage. If you’re a fan of films of the 1960s, you don’t
need to be told that MGM’s Where Eagles
Dare is one of the most enjoyable movies of that glorious era. Starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood, this was
a big budget, slam-bang action adventure – the very first time that novelist
Alistair MacLean had written a thriller directly for the screen. Part spy film,
part war movie, Where Eagles Dare was
just one of a number of outstanding movies that made the year 1969 one of the
best in the history of the industry.
Over twenty writers and film historians have
collaborated to bring you, what we believe, is the most definitive story behind
the making of this blockbuster movie. Apart from the wealth of rare behind the
scenes photographs – many taken by cast and crew during filming on location and
at the studio – we have gathered stories and quotes from people like director
Brian G. Hutton, producer Elliott Kastner, stuntmen Joe Powell, Alf Joint and
Bill Sawyer, second unit director Yakima Canutt and his assistant director
Anthony Waye (now a producer on the James Bond films), art director Peter
Mullins – and many more. Illustrated with film poster artwork from around the
world, call sheets, flyers, merchandise, tickets and story board and script
pages, this is one tribute to a film you will not want to miss!
There are only 5000 limited edition copies
of this issue in print. It runs 80 pages - a full 16 pages more than the standard edition of Cinema Retro - but the cost is still the same.
UK AND EUROPEAN CUSTOMERS
If you are a customer in the UK or Europe, the fee (which includes postage costs) is as follows:
UK: £15.
Europe: £17.00. Payment by cheque (to Cinema Retro) to -
The price
is $30 for America and Canada; $35 for the rest of the world. (Prices
include postage). Instructions will be posted then regarding remittance
for the issue.You can reserve a copy by writing to: cinemaretro@hotmail.com
Many James Bond fans don't realize that 007's creator Ian Fleming also authored two notable non-fiction books: Thrilling Cities, a guide to some of the most exotic and exciting locations the adventurous author had personally visited, and The Diamond Smugglers, Fleming's recounting of actual intelligence operations against smuggers. Of the latter, writer Soheil Rezaee affords an interesting look at the structure of the book. To read click here
Cinema Retro back issue #3 features an 18 page tribute to Sam Peckinpah with extensive coverage of The Getaway.
Here's a gem from Sam Peckinpah and Steve McQueen: the trailer for their classic collaboration on the 1972 film The Getaway. The movie is packed with so many great moments, it's hard to decide what scene is most memorable. However, we have to give the scene stealing trophies to Al Lettieri, playing an animalistic thug who kidnaps the sexy wife (Sally Struthers) of a meek veterinarian (Jack Dodson)Â and forces them on a perverted road trip in which dumb blonde Struthers gets off on being with an exciting, if abusive, gangster. This leads to some terrific gallows humor as Dodson, best remembered for playing milquetoast Howard Sprague on The Andy Griffith Show is tied to a chair and forced to watch his kidnapper make love to his willing wife. There are also small gems of performances from other terrific supporting actors including Slim Pickens and Ben Johnson. Click hereto watch the trailer. To read our extensive coverage of the making of The Getaway, see Cinema Retro issue #3 in our back issues section or click here to order directly from Ebay.Â