Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the famous comic strip Tin-Tin will bow in December 2011. The film will be shown in 3-D and Spielberg intends to make this the first of a series. Peter Jackson has agreed to direct the second entry. The film's December 2011 opening pertains only to North America. In an unusual strategy, the film will premiere in other parts of the world first, beating the North American market by as much as two months. For more click here

It pains us to see the virtual lack of opening movie credits in current films. There was a time when the opening title sequence might well be regarded as a work of art. Watch this opening to Otto Preminger's Exodus with titles by the great Saul Bass - and realize that if studios made the film today, there would likely be no opening credits at all.

An ultra rare stamp featuring the likeness of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys has sold to a private collector for $94,000. The stamp had been created as a tribute to the iconic actress by the German government. However, Hepburn's son refused to grant copyright permission to use his mother's image and the stamps were ordered destroyed. Only five stamps are believed to remain in existence. Ironically, the search for a rare, valuable stamp is the central plotline of Hepburn's 1963 hit Charade. For more click here

We always love to report on the latest doings of our favorite Hollywood anti-intellectual, Sharon Stone. Yes, she's still a head-turner, but the most admirable thing about her is her ability to continue to get public appearance fees despite the fact she hasn't had a box-office hit since Bill Clinton was presidential timber. Stone was among a group of celebs imported into Turkey to make appearances at the opening of a new resort. The Turks realized they had gotten a real turkey when Stone couldn't pronounce "Azerbaijan", despite having a teleprompter and then began chanting Chaka Khan!" without explanation. For more, read Page Six's account by clicking here

The great cartoonist Pete Emslie reminds us that today is Christopher Lee's birthday. Pete provides another priceless piece of art, this time commemorating Christopher's performance as Scaramanga in the James Bond film The Man With the Golden Gun. Cinema Retro readers know that Christopher is a frequent contributor to our magazine - and we wish the legendary star all the best. Christopher is busier than ever, with several film projects in the works. By the way, Pete notifies us of some interesting trivia: Christopher shares his birthday with his old friend and fellow film legend Vincent Price - and the previous day is the birthday of his frequent co-star Peter Cushing. Visit Pete Emslie's site, The Cartoon Cave by clicking here.

Anyone who was of age in the 1970s remembers the controversy surrounding the emergence of young Brooke Shields as a sex object, seen in suggestive Calvin Klein TV ads and playing a pre-pubescent temptress in Louis Malle's Pretty Baby. During her adult years, however, Shields managed to overcome the fate of most child stars who faded into obscurity. She managed to retain her star status, as well as a sense of dignity. In a new interview, however, Shields does confess that she was sexually naive and that she regrets staying a virgin until age 22. For more click here

Since our web traffic is going swimmingly, Cinema Retro feels entitled to take a little detour outside of mainstream movie news by linking to The Huffington Post's "Guess the Celebrity Breast Implants" slideshow contest. This way, we feel we're still keeping readers abreast of the news, even though the only "booby prize" you'll win is the pleasure of viewing the photos. Click here to immerse yourself. 

Film critic Scott Mendelson provides some thoughts on seeing a blockbuster film in the IMAX mode- and addresses the on-going controversy that not all IMAX theaters are created equal, as some screens are notably smaller than others. Mendelson says there is far more to the merits of the experience than simply the size of a particular screen. Click here to read the article. 

By Graham Hill

If you were talking about the devil back in 1973, chances are you’d be referring to a notorious Christmas present that Warner Brothers was about to unleash: The Exorcist. In fact, 1973 was chock-full of presents from Hollywood.  The Sting had dominated most of the box-office that year and would go on to steal most of the Academy Awards including best picture. A new up -and-coming director named George Lucas had left a lasting impression with American Graffiti. Clint Eastwood was riding high both as the High Plains Drifter and the cop with the big gun in Magnum Force, whilst legendary director Fred Zinnemann hit his target artistically (if not at the box-office) with his classic thriller The Day of the Jackal.

Then you have that “other” devil that everyone was talking about, The Devil in Miss Jones.  Now -to give the devil his due, The Exorcist did go on to gross over $400 million, but dollar for dollar, with a much, much lower budget and the star herself cooking the meals for the whole cast and crew, The Devil in Miss Jones was the film that was the real blockbuster. Director Gerard Damiano’s follow-up to his previous smash Deep Throat, retains its status as an adult film classic. In porn terms, Damiano was one of a dozen or so auteur filmmakers who at least attempted to interject an artistic approach to what were, up until that time, basic “stag” films. The buzzword of the day was “porn-chic”, everyone was talking about the “dirty” movies that were cleaning-up at the box-office.  From Richard Nixon to Johnny Carson, the spotlight was focused on the rapidly emerging skin-flick business, which was primarily dominated by organized crime from the very start.  Not that -Hollywood, didn’t have its mob connections, but   in porn the goal was to use films to launder money rather than actually make it.  Vast drug, gambling and prostitution profits had to be washed through the neighborhood adult bookstores and theaters in order to re-invest it in “cleaner” enterprises.  Damiano, a streetwise guy who once ran a New York beauty salon, knew that when the mob bankers offered to buy out his stake in the Deep Throat cash cow for a mere $25,000, he had little choice but to – well, swallow it and smile.

Meanwhile –out of stage left, a self-described “ultra-liberal, Broadway gypsy-cum-flower child” was about to enter the picture. Living in a commune or work co-operative, hungry and seeking a job, Chele Graham, who once was the understudy to Shirley MacLaine in The Pajama Game, had gone underground.  She was now using a theatrical pseudonym, Georgina Spelvin. In the porn world, no one used their real name.  Having just made an X-rated underground movie with a porn star known as Marc “Mr. Ten and a Half-Inches” Stevens, Georgina was encouraged to audition for Gerard Damiano for a new film he was casting.  On calling the number, she spoke on the phone to the co-star of Deep Throat Harry Reems, who would go on to become a male legend in the porn business. On the basis of that conversation, she was referred to Gerard Damiano, who strangely seemed more interested in her abilities in the kitchen than the boudoir. Upon being hired, Spelvin found she was not only expected to be “cooking” in the scenes onscreen, but was literally obligated to do the cooking for the crew during breaks!

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Quentin Tarantino's high profile re-imagining of Italian director Enzo G. Castellari's 1978 original is boosting the B movie director's career and putting him back in the spotlight. Castellari is in Cannes, where Tarantino will be premiering his version of the WWII actioner starring Brad Pitt. Castellari was given a cameo in the new film and is now making the rounds promoting his next film, Caribbean Basterds. (The misspelling of "bastards" is obviously a new vogue). For more on the Odd Couple of Cannes, click here

We told you that Guy Ritchie's revisionist version of Sherlock Holmes would be unlike any other version of the famed detective you've ever seen. Now comes the teaser trailer to prove it. Holmes carries a virtual utility belt of equipment, is adept at using his fists, doesn't hesitate to utilize firearms and has a weakness for the ladies that was barely evidenced in the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce series. The verdict is still out as to whether Ritchie's version is just a gimmicky bastardization of a great literary hero or a genuinely fresh attempt to launch a new tentpole series. Judge for yourself by clicking here

Actress Victoria Principal (of Dallasand Earthquake) fame is being sued by a former maid who accuses her of threatening her life with a gun after she was fired for taking too long to walk Principal's dog! When the maid had demanded her final paycheck, the lawsuit says, Principal went ballistic, grabbed a gun and threatened her life. The suit seeks unspecified damages. We don't know Principal's response, but if true, it could open up the "Who shot J.R." case with a brand new suspect. Based on the photographic evidence, it would appear Principal generally has both barrels loaded. For more click here

The coroner has weighed in on the cause of death for one time porn film legend Marilyn Chambers. The verdict is that she died from natural causes, even though she was only 56 years old. The coroner said she died from a hemorrhage and aneurysm related to heart disease. For more click here

Talk about perseverance! Like Don Quixote, he will be attempting to fulfill his seemingly impossible dream of bringing to the screen a movie about...Don Quixote. Nine years ago, his much-anticipated The Man Who Killed Don Quixote was aborted during production due to a number of reasons. Gilliam made some lemonade out of the lemon with his documentary about the fiasco, Lost in La Mancha. Now, however, comes word he will be attempting to revive the film once again - and this time he might not be tilting at windmills. For more click here

(For our previous report on the aborted film, click here)

Jerry Lewis will star in Max Rose, a dramatic look at an elderly man who reflects on the key moments and people in his life. The film will shoot later this year in Los Angeles. For Lewis, returning to the screen in a starring role is a personal triumph, given the long history of health problems he has had to overcome. The notion of Lewis starring in a drama is not far-fetched. The legendary comic won rave reviews opposite Robert DeNiro in Martin Scorsese's woefully under-rated The King of Comedy in which Lewis played the dramatic lead. For more click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

Deadline Hollywood's Nikke Finke has broken the news that Universal will release a biopic of Frank Sinatra to be directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Phil Alden Robinson. Peter Guber will produce the film - a project he has championed for many years. The Sinatra family gave approval and Tina Sinatra will serve as executive producer - a fact that is sure to open up criticism that the script might sugarcoat some of the more controversial aspects of the legendary crooner's life. Sinatra remains as popular in death as he was in life. Those who crossed him, however, always said he bore bitter and longterm resentments. Among the more delicate aspects of the script will be how to handle Sinatra's alleged ties to organized crime. His foes always said he was a glorified mobster, while his defenders pointed out that it was virtually impossible to work in the venues Sinatra did without having some cursory friendships with gangsters. Despite Sinatra's volatile temper, he was known for countless acts of kindness, from paying hospital bills for down-and-out colleagues to building wings of hospitals to care for sick children. The biggest obstacle facing the new film project is who will play the larger-than-life legend. For more click here

Gone are the days when the image of middle-aged women was relegated to that of June Cleaver on Leave It To Beaver. Suddenly, older is hotter -though Hollywood still didn't get the memo and continues to under-employ some of our favorite actresses. Our friend Tommy Z, who runs the PlanetZMan web site celebrates legendary female stars with his new Cougar Hall of Fame. This new feature follows in the politically incorrect style of the rest of the web site (which gives tips on the best cigars and fine whiskeys, extols the virtues of large breasts and provides "The 10 Things Ladies Should NEVER Say to Guys".) The testosterone levels are off the chart on this site, but it's a hell of a lot of fun. Click here to view the initial inductees in the Cougar Hall of Fame - and view some pretty hot photos of why they were included.  

The plague of remakes has even extended to Hollywood shlockmeister supreme William Castle, who proudly specialized in Grade A promotions for Grade C horror movies. Producer Joel Silver has a remake in the works of the 1965 Castle chiller I Saw What You Did and I Know Who You Are (How would like to have been the guy who had to put that on the theater marquee while balancing on a ladder?) The film starred Joan Crawford in a tale about two teenagers whose prank phone calls result in them being stalked by a murderer. The less-than-stellar grosses for the 1999 remake of Castle's B horror classic House on Haunted Hill didn't set the world on fire, but creativity in Hollywood is in short supply so even William Castle's catalog of movies is fair game. For more click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

With the creative cycle of much of the film industry set permanently on "rewind", it hardly comes as a surprise as yet another ill-fated remake is in the works. Just when you managed to digest the news that an Americanized remake of Sam Peckinpah's classic Straw Dogs is about to be filmed, comes word that another vibrant action film from 1971 is also about to be massacred. This time, it's Michael Winner's The Mechanic which memorably dealt with a ruthless killer for hire who trains a young protege, with some disturbing complications arising. Winner's film was not a work of art, but it was top-flight entertainment sustained by the chemistry between Bronson and Jan Michael Vincent. The producers of the original are the culprits behind this version which will be directed by Simon West and star Jason Statham in the Bronson role. Statham is the star of the critically maligned Transporter films and is all of 36 years-old. Since the crux of the original story centered on the dynamics between two men of distinctly different ages, we guess they are culling the ranks of day care centers to find someone to play the younger assassin. For more click here.

To order the original DVD from Amazon click here

Michael Caine returns to the action film genre in the title role of Harry Brown. Caine plays an ex-Royal Marine who avenges his best friend's murder by acting as a vigilante. Sounds like an updated version of Caine's 1971 crime classic Get Carter - which is good enough to get our bums in theater seats. The film is being shot in Caine's boy hood neighborhoods of East London. The website First Showing has some exclusive photos. Click here. 

Sideshow Collectibles have released a new, superbly detailed 12 inch collectible figure of Vincent Price in Roger Corman's horror classic Masque of the Red Death.

Here is the press release:

Sideshow Collectibles is proud to present the Vincent Price from The Masque of the Red Death Collectors Figure by Amok Time! "Man creates his own God, his own devil, his own heaven and his own hell. This is your hell Prospero." From the 1964 Horror Classic "The Masque of the Red Death" comes this deluxe 12-inch collectors action figure. The Vincent Price from The Masque of the Red Death Collectors Figure features blood red robes, belt, removeable mask and amazing likeness to Vincent Price - "Horror has a face." To order click here

Remember when Hollywood used to present lesbians as Rosa Klebb look-a-likes or "women in comfortable shoes"? Well, the pendulum has come full circle. Among the latest glamour girls to come out of the closet is sexy Kelly McGillis, who played Tom Cruise's main squeeze in Top Gun. McGillis says she is through with "the man thing" and after two marriages and divorces, who can blame her? She's now looking for a suitable lover and life partner and says it will "definitely " be a woman. McGillis says she resisted admitting to herself that she was gay, but in recent years has become perfectly comfortable with the truth. For more click here