Al Pacino is said to be seriously thinking about playing Dr. Jack Kevorkian in You Don't Know Jack. The project centers on the controversial physician whose belief in assisted suicide has led to his conviction of second-degree murder. He is presently serving a jail term. Kevorkian is known as Dr. Death to his detractors, but his passionate stance that patients should be assisted in taking their own lives if they are suffering from a terminal illness, opened up major debates in American political circles. The film project has been kicking around for quite some time, and Sir Ben Kingsley was once attached. Barry Levinson will direct. For more click here 

On this, the 65th anniversary of D-Day, Cinema Retro commemorates the heroes of the epic battle, both living and dead. At today's moving ceremonies in Normandy, President Obama, President Sarkozy, Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Stephen Harper and Prince Charles paid tribute to the men who liberated Europe in the greatest battle in the annals of modern warfare. As this was probably the last major gathering of veterans of the invasion, the ceremonies took on special significance. Some of the veterans who made the journey were quite infirm and one American veteran passed away on the eve of the ceremonies after visiting the graves of his comrades. Today is an appropriate time to reflect on the sacrifices of these men. Why not view the two best D-Day movies, The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan? Better still, have your kids join you so they can gain a greater understanding of the type of heroism that not even Hollywood can do justice to. - Lee Pfeiffer

Holy Smoking Tailpipes! Check out Eric Seltzer's remarkable web site that is the ultimate tribute to the Batmobile, as seen on the 1960s Batman TV series. Every conceivable aspect of the car is covered, along with plenty of other fun sections that include photos of the models and memorabilia commemorating the famed vehicle. Click here to view. 

This heading appeared in the 1974 issue of the British film trade magazine Cinema TV Today. No comment necessary. 

Bangkok police are now uncertain whether actor David Carradine's death was due to suicide. Like most media outlets, Cinema Retro reported the early police conclusion that he took his own life, as Carradine was found hanging in a hotel closet with a nylon rope around his neck. We also reported that his friends and colleagues on the film he was about to shoot in Thailand were skeptical that he had any suicidal tendencies. However, the new theory offered by police adds a lurid and sensationalistic aspect to the case. Given the uncertain facts about the case, we would prefer not to directly report on these allegations unless they are proven to be fact, out of respect to Mr. Carradine.  If you want to read how the mainstream media is covering these new theories, click here.

Turner Classic Movies has posted the original trailer for the 1938 crime classic starring James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart and The Dead End Kids. Click here to view

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPATED

Actor David Carradine, a prominent member of Carradine family of noted actors, has been found dead in a Thailand hotel. His body was found by a hotel maid. The 72 year-old actor was originally thought to have committed suicide, but Bangkok police have now revised that theory and are hinting that his death may have been due to a bizarre accident. There were no signs that Carradine was suffering from suicidal tendencies. He was in Thailand to begin filming a new movie, but had not showed up for a cast and crew social event. Carradine, the son of legendary actor John Carradine, had gained fame from his 1970s TV series Kung Fu. He also made many feature films and gained the most recognition for his portrayal of folk singer Woody Guthrie in Bound for Glory. More recently, Carradine became a favorite among younger audiences because of his titular role in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films. For more click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

I know I've sounded like a broken record over the years in declaring my disdain for the 1974 James Bond film The Man With the Golden Gun, Roger Moore's second outing as 007. It's got an infantile screenplay, grouchy leading characters and a heroine who makes Gracie Allen look like Madame Curie. While I've always admired Christopher Lee's "play-it-straight" portrayal of Scaramanga, it's a shame his efforts were wasted in this misguided film. However, a reader sent us a link to someone who feels differently, and in the spirit of fairness, we'll link to reviewer Colin Jacobson's defense of Golden Gun on the My Hollywood News website. See if it affects your personal opinion, one way or another. Click here to read.

After many months of speculation about his next project will be, it appears that Tom Cruise will team with Cameron Diaz for the action comedy Wichita, according to Variety. Cruise will play a secret agent who pops in and out of the life of a single woman. Interestingly, it appears the flick will be released through 20th Century Fox, not United Artists - the film studio Cruise is now associated with from a business partner standpoint. His last film for UA, Valkyrie did better than some critics predicted but fell far short of the grosses of his previous action films. While secret agent movies are back in vogue, it remains to be seen whether audiences want to see them in a comic vein. The similarly-themed recent Julia Roberts pic Duplicity was a major box-office bomb. For more click here

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Deadline Hollywood columnist Nikki Finke reports that MGM is once again in dire straits, saddled with billions in debt and relying on revenues from its library of classics to generate income. The studio has been struggling for many years and is eager to get films in production into theaters. However, the cavalry in a long way off. The Fame remake doesn't hit theaters until September and Peter Jackson's Hobbit films and the next James Bond entry (which MGM reclaims the rights to after two pics were released by Sony) are only in early planning stages. For more click here

Irvine Welsh, the author of Trainspotting, has another unique story that's being developed for a film. The Magnificent Eleven is a contemporary British football spoof of the classic 1960 western The Magnificent Seven, which itself was a remake of Seven Samurai. The new film will deal with an amateur football team, a Tandoori restaurant and a gang of thugs. Even more intriguingly, it's rumored Robert Vaughn will be approached to appear in the film. Vaughn is the last surviving member of the actors who comprised The Magnificent Seven. For more click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

Regular readers of Cinema Retro magazine know about actor Joe Sirola's remarkable career through his periodic columns for our publication. In addition to appearing in hundreds of movies, plays and TV series, Joe is also the toast of the town in New York City, due to his exclusive annual party to celebrate the blooming of his rose garden in his penthouse garden just off Central Park. Joe's been throwing these parties for decades, and in doing some research on an article, I came across a New York Daily News society column from 1967 that touted the party as the social event of the month! The tradition is in good form, as evidenced by Joe's latest soiree, which took place last week.As usual, the weather was superb, as guests socialized under a canopy and drank the seemingly endless supply of fine champagne. One of the delights of Joe's parties is the eclectic crowd, consisting of old friends, notable names from show business and prominent society types. I bumped into 95 year old legendary comedian Prof. Irwin Corey, who was throwing out one-liners at the speed of sound, all the while attired in his familiar hand-decorated baseball cap that denounces the Bush administration for being behind the World Trade Center attack. Proving that conspiracy advocates are bi-partisan, I gleaned from the Professor that he apparently thinks President Obama was also in on the fix. As they say, politics makes strange bedfellows.

I also chatted with actor/director Stuart Margolin, who shared some funny memories of working with directors Michael Winner on the original Death Wish and Brian G. Hutton on the Clint Eastwood flick Kelly's Heroes. (I smell a future interview here.) Stuart is working like gangbusters, not only flying to Canada to film a CBS TV movie called The Bridge but also going in a totally new direction by preparing his first musical production.

At one point, there was a bit of commotion and I saw a crowd gathering around a new arrival. It was David McCallum, making a surprise appearance. Even among New York sophisticates, he can still cause a stir and several middle-aged women swooned like teenagers, which made the shy McCallum seem a bit awkward. David's aversion to the party scene is well-known, but he couldn't resist Joe Sirola's invitation. I hadn't seen David for a couple of years and it appears as though he's found the secret to eternal youth. He introduced me to his lovely wife Katherine and we chatted about his hit CBS show NCIS, which has just been renewed for a seventh season. David pointed out the series has now run twice as long as The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Speaking of which, David and Joe first met when Joe appeared as a guest star in several episodes of the series. I couldn't help but to ask the two U.N.C.L.E. alumni to pose for a reunion photo. 

Just another night on the town in New York - and reminder why it still remains my favorite city.

(For Joe Sirola's memories of Hang 'Em High, see Cinema Retro issue #6. For David McCallum's extensive series of interviews, see Cinema Retro issues 8-12)

This one sounds like an exciting prospect: The Expendables stars Sylvester Stallone in a tale about a team of mercenaries sent on a mission to South America to depose a dictator. We're crazy about these tales about macho men on suicide missions, especially when properly executed as with The Dirty Dozen, The Professionals and The Wild Geese. The new films pairs Sly with some top name tough guys such as Mickey Rourke, Jet Li, Jason Strathem, Dolph Lundgren and even Arnold Schwarzenegger, though we presume The Governator's role will probably be limited to a cameo. The film was shot in Brazil and is scheduled for release in April 2010. 

By Todd Garbarini

A studio error turned out to be a blessing in disguise in March when the Loews Theatre in Jersey City, NJ requested a 35mm print of Lewis Allen’s The Uninvited (1944) and instead was erroneously shipped a print of Charles Guard’s 2009 film of the same name (the film bears no relation other than titular to it’s 65 year-old predecessor, but it is rather a remake of the 2003 Asian film A Tale of Two Sisters).  It turned out that there were no known 35mm prints of the film, though this scribe swears that the Film Forum in New York City showed it years ago.  The mix-up turned out to be fortuitous as Universal created a new print of the film and it was screened Saturday night. Credit must be given to Paul Ginsburg, Vice President of NBC Universal Distribution, for ordering the new print struck (interestingly, the film is a Paramount Picture). The film was due to begin at 6:00 pm but was delayed for 25 minutes due to the unanticipated and overwhelming number of people in attendance, the main floor filled almost to 70% capacity.  This was a revelation to behold, and I overheard more than a few whispered comments on the ticket line remarking how nice it was to see the large turnout of people for this film which was on a double bill with Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca (1940).  The lobby sported a table with rare promotional items, such a magazines and lobby cards, used in the original exhibitions of these films.  Once The Uninvited began, the audience applauded at the quality of the new print which was virtually flawless.  Having seen films like this on old 16mm reruns on television over 25 years ago, it is a reminder that films even of this age can look as though they were just made. The Uninvited stars a debonair Reginald Alfred Truscott-Jones, better known to audiences as the less tongue-tie-inducing Ray Milland, in a ghost story about a young woman who is drawn to her deceased mother’s Winward mansion estate. Though it cannot hold a candle (sorry, couldn’t resist!) to Jack Clayton’s The Innocents (1961) or Robert Wise’s The Haunting (1963) for psychological thrills, The Uninvited, while a bit too talky and a lot less cinematic than one would have hoped, still holds up as a nice little ghost story that isn’t afraid to play it straight.  At a time when summer box office now means over-the-top, special-effects laden adventures, it’s a relief to see that movie-goers of all ages are willing to come see films like this on the big screen.

We just heard from our old friend Ingrid Pitt, and it reminded us to mention to our readers that the queen of horror movies has a terrific personal web site that allows you to keep up with her latest activities, read her fascinating biography and even join her official fan club. Although Ingrid is primarily known for her work in the horror film genre, she has appeared in other movie genres. She features prominently in Cinema Retro's forthcoming special edition issue dedicated to Where Eagles Dare. To visit Ingrid's site click the banner below:

By Lee Pfeiffer

We try to stay away from politics on Cinema Retro, but like Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part III, every time we think we're out, those politicians pull us back in. The constant blurring of show biz and government makes it a disservice to ignore some stories - especially when there are more boobs on display in Washington D.C. than there are in any ten strip clubs. Take, for example, the current state of the Republican party, which is in the worst straits since the dark days of Watergate. Frustrated by President Obama's consistently high approval ratings, the GOP has been floundering in its attempts to find an issue they can make work for them. With seemingly half the country out of work, the issues that have generally worked well for the party -gun control, abortion and the Bible - aren't high on most people's list of priorities. Thus, when the Democratic Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, became embroiled in a potential scandal recently, Republicans were understandably salivating at the prospect of capitalizing on it. Pelosi, whose own popularity ratings are generally very low, has been a constant critic of the Bush administration because of the use of waterboarding on terror suspects - a practice that Pelosi considers to be torture. Last week, however, the CIA indicated that Pelosi had been briefed by the agency years ago about the possible use of waterboarding - and Pelosi made no objection at that time. Faced with evidence of possible hypocrisy, the usually media savvy Pelosi gave a bumbling speech that rivaled that of Don Knotts in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken.She denied ever having been told about waterboarding and blatantly accused the CIA of not only lying, but intentionally misleading Congress. Them's fightin' words and the debate over who's telling the the truth has been raging ever since. What does all this have to do with the world of retro cinema, you may ask? Keep reading.  

Smelling blood in the water, the GOP quite naturally wanted to keep the story alive so that Pelosi would suffer the daily drip-drip-drip of embarrassing questions from the media. (Her refusal to discuss the matter further after making the astonishing charge against the C.I.A. gave the GOP plenty of arrows for their quiver.) Then some genius working for the Republican party decided it would be funny to use the potential scandal as the basis of a James Bond-oriented spoof video based on Goldfinger. The ploy immediately backfired.The video opens with the familiar gunbarrel, and features the Speaker's face inside it while the blood drips down. This may be innocuous in the context of a real Bond movie, but it apparently never occurred to the person who put it together that centering Pelosi's face in the middle of a bloody gun barrel might strike some as sinister. Secondly, the video tries to make the connection between Pelosi and Honor Blackman's Pussy Galore - and actually uses both women on the same split screen. Now Bond girl names with sexual overtones is a long tradition, but in the politically correct world of politics, using the nation's most prominent female Congresswoman in the same sentence as "Pussy" in any context might just turn off women voters. Third, the implication is that Pussy Galore is an infamous Bond bad girl, but the video director obviously hasn't seen the film since it premiered. He doesn't realize that Galore turns out to be the heroine of the movie and saves the day by thwarting Goldfinger's plot to bomb Ft. Knox.

The result has been a major embarrassment for the GOP, which also used a Dr. No spoof in John McCain's campaign against Barack Obama - and we know how well that worked out. The GOP has not officially commented on the circular firing squad they've formed, but they have quietly taken the video down from their web site. However, you can see the uncut video on the liberal blog Taylor Marsh by clicking here. View a CNN story about the video by clicking here.

If you're a Republican and are distressed by these developments, just wait a few days. We're certain similar geniuses in the Democratic party are working on providing plenty of fodder for the next go-round.