A valued alumni of TV's Golden Age of Comedy has passed away. Writer Larry Gelbart was part of Sid Caesar's legendary circle of writers in the 1950s. He also wrote the book for the hit play A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and co-wrote the blockbuster comedy film Tootsie. His greatest achievement was adapting Robert Altman's 1970 film M*A*S*H into a hit comedy TV series that ran for years. Most attempts to bring hit movies to the small screen fail, but Gelbart found the right blend of sarcasm and poignancy to make the show a hit with both audiences and critics. Upon hearing of his death, Woody Allen called Gelbart "the best comedy writer I ever knew and one of the best guys." For more on his life and career click here. 

Remember the plot device in The Boys From Brazil? A society of former Nazis plan to use cloning methods to bring Adolf Hitler back to life. They needn't have gone to all that trouble. Given the number of times Adolf Hitler's name and image are invoked nowadays, you would think he really did conquer the world and that Josef Goebbels was running the international ministry of propaganda. During the Bush administration, left wing wackos routinely compared the president to Hitler for invading Iraq and now right wing lunatics are doing the same to President Obama (over a health care plan, yet!). This week marked the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of WWII and American political pundit Pat Buchanan wrote a column saying Hitler had rather benign intentions but was pushed into war by Churchill! Not be outdone, an AIDS prevention group has caused controversy by producing a public service ad in Germany that depicts a couple having torrid sex. (The ad is far too provocative to be shown on American TV). As they disrobe and get down to doin' the dirty, the man looks into the camera and we see it's Hitler. This is followed by the on-screen message "AIDS is Mass Murder. Protect Yourself."  Predictably, the ad has caused outrage with even other AIDS prevention groups saying it presents a distracting and garbled message, not the least of which is that HIV automatically leads to AIDS and death. That was true in the early days of the disease, but as we now know, with proper treatment, HIV is no longer a death sentence. The ad unintentionally also trivializes one of the worst mass murderers in human history. Historians believe that Hitler's sex life was virtually non-existent, even with his mistress Eva Braun. He placed himself on a higher plane and prided himself in not indulging in the vices that tempted every day people. Watching Hitler and his lover rip each other's clothes off like scene from Porky's minimizes the horror he is associated with. Not helping matters is the fact that the chap who plays Der Fuhrer looks a bit like Dick Shawn's character from The Producers. Here's a message to everyone who wishes to invoke Hitler's image or name to make a political or socially significant point: don't do it because it will almost guarantee that your original message will be lost in a sidebar of controversy. To view the ad click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

One of the hallmarks of The Ellen DeGeneres Show is the tradition of every guest entering to rock music and engaging in a brief dance with the host. Audiences find it amusing to judge the often awkward moves of each guest. However, the record companies that own the copyrights to the songs played during this segment are considerably less amused. They are collectively suing the show's producers for over 1,000 instances of copyright violations. The suit says the producers should be savvy enough to know that they could not use the songs without permission. The suit cites work by Michael Jackson, Will Smith, The Beach Boys and many others. The producers might argue that the song use represents a case of "Fair Use", which allows copyrighted works to be used in certain instances without gaining permission from the rights holders. However, such instances are generally relegated to use of materials for news and informational purposes, which is how TV networks can routinely use clips from programs on other stations. How the case plays out can have some far-reaching implications for the industry. For more click here

The estate of author J.R.R. Tolkien has settled a lawsuit with New Line Cinema and Warner Brothers in a case involving payments and royalties owed the family for director Peter Jackson's blockbuster Lord of the Rings film trilogy. According to the estate, they had only been paid $62,000 for the rights to the stories and were owned a percentage of the gross. No details of the settlement have been released but it is certainly in the millions of dollars. The settlement clears the way for New Line to produce the forthcoming two-feature film project based on Tolkien's The Hobbit. For more click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

We received an unusual but most welcome book from Kensington Publishers with the eye-catching title They Bite. No, it isn't a reference to our elected officials, rather, it's meant in the literal sense. The book is termed the ultimate guide to creatures and monsters of horror lore, both in film and in literature. Authors Jonathan Mayberry and David V. Kramer considerately lay out your favorite demons by type (i.e. vampires, hell hounds, monster dogs, werewolves and wolf-men, etc.) and then list them alphabetically with in-depth descriptions as to their origins and significance in the horror genre. There are also commentaries from horror authorities such as Peter Straub, John Carpenter, Herschell Gordon Lewis, and many others. There are also 8 pages of color illustrations by leading artists of the supernatural. Don't fail to order it in time for next Valentine's Day.

Click here to order from Amazon

By Lee Pfeiffer

We've received notice from an astute fan that it was 50 years ago today that filming commenced on John Wayne's The Alamo. Hard to believe it's been so long...one of my earliest memories of movie-going is seeing it repeatedly on the big screen when I was only four or five years old. Seems all classic movie goers from the Baby Boomer generation have similar fond memories. The film is not perfect, but its stature increases over the years and it remains one of the most impressive and inspirational epics of its day. Job well done, Duke..

In a review of the newly revised At the Movies program founded by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, the Los Angeles Times says the show has successfully returned to its roots: namely, serious, intelligent conversation about movies. The previous hosts, Ben Mankiewicz and Ben Lyons were recently fired, as their audience had eroded. The general consensus is that the bulk of the criticism was against Lyons, the son of film critic Jeffrey Lyons, who was accused of being hopelessly out of his depth in analyzing movies. The new hosts, A.O. Scott of the New York Times and Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune are said to bring a maturity back to the program, along with intelligent debate. For more click here

Army Archerd, whose name is synonymous with Hollywood gossip reporting, has died at age 87 from a form of cancer relating to asbestos exposure he endured during his service in the Navy during WWII. Archerd began covering Hollywood in 1945 and had been with Variety since 1953. His columns reflected a time before gossip got to the ugly state it is in today. Archerd generally wrote friendly pieces about celebrities, though he sometimes broke big news such as the fact that Rock Hudson was suffering from AIDS. Archerd respected his subjects and they held him in esteem as well. For full details on his life and career click here

Fans of the acclaimed comedy series Psychoville have launched an on-line petition to convince the BBC to renew the show for a second season. We at Cinema Retro admit we are biased toward the show, since the madmen who created it, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton were kind enough to feature our magazine in one recent episode, which was a spoof of Alfred Hitchcock films. In an age of dumbed- down TV, you can make a difference and cast your vote to renew one of Britain's most innovative comedy shows clicking here.  Click here to read coverage of Cinema Retro's "debut" on the series.You can also view on line video regarding the petition on YouTube by clicking here

By Adrian Smith

Although the name Norman J. Warren may not be familiar to some of you, in the UK, amongst cult horror aficionados, his name is synonymous with horror and exploitation. Mostly working in the 1970s, he produced such dubious classics as Satan’s Slave and the Stephanie Beacham-starring Inseminoid.

Moscovitch Music are a new independent British music label working to release some great lost film music, and have produced a lavish CD, and limited edition vinyl LP, featuring the soundtracks to two of Warren’s best loved movies; Terror (1978) and Prey (1977).

The composer was the classically-trained composer Ivor Slaney, who at the time was best known for creating orchestral music. He worked with Warren on both films to create an unusual, experimental sound using mostly electronic instruments. They also mixed sound effects into the music track on Terror, creating an odd, slightly discomforting experience. This means that some tracks on the CD contain screams, wind effects, moaning, and even dialogue. Along with the helpful track names, such as Carol Runs for Her Life, Blood is Leaking From the Upstairs Room and Orgasmic Stripper, you can really follow the plot even if you have never seen the film.

Prey, notorious for its explicit lesbian sex scenes and cannibalism, is a somewhat neglected film, and so this soundtrack release is very welcome. The music helps recreate the claustrophobic atmosphere of the film, which essentially revolves around three people; two lesbians and the alien invader. What begins as a possible love triangle soon escalates to something altogether more sinister.

This is a highly recommended release, both for the curious and those fans of 1970s British horror. I am also reliably informed that Moscovitch are next planning a release of film score music from the prolific jazz musician and composer John Scott, which is eagerly anticipated. You can find the CD and vinyl edition on www.moviegrooves.com, click here for the specific page to order from.

If you haven't had the pleasure of visiting Germany and you love classic wide-screen movies, here's your chance to combine both. The Todd A-0 70mm Film Festival will be held October 2-4 at the Schauburg Cinema in Karlsruhe. The festival will offer a rare opportunity to view wide-screen epics on a giant curved screen in the company of an audience consisting of international movie fans. The line-up is creative enough to have our tongues hanging out already:

• Paint Your Wagon starring Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin
• The Fall of the Roman Empire by wide-screen king Samuel Bronston
• Krakatoa, East of Java (okay, we know Krakatoa was actually west of Java, but who cares?)
• Julius Caesar starring Marlon Brando
• Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand
• That's Entertainment
• Solomon and Sheba starring Yul Brynner and Gina Lollobrigida
• In Harm's Way starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas
• plus other classics in glorious 70mm

All this, plus the best beer in the world....talk about an offer you can't refuse.
Click here to visit the In 70mm web site for full details

By Lee Pfeiffer

Gone are the days when collecting classic movie posters was deemed the realm of eccentrics. In recent years, rare vintage posters from classic titles can command hundreds of thousands of dollars each. Ed and Sue Poole, who run the terrific web site Learn About Movie Posters have an astounding report on a fraud case that is rocking the high-end auction circuit for movie posters. It is alleged that an unscrupulous dealer has managed to fake some of the most desirable titles and sell them as originals for sky high prices. Even the major auction houses were alleged to have been defrauded. The consequences are serious: those who claim to have been defrauded cite losses approaching $2 million. The full extent of the problem is not known, but Ed and Sue are on the case and updating collectors with the latest from court dockets relating to the suits filed against the alleged fraudster. Most of the titles concern high end Universal horror classics such as Frankenstein and Dracula. To read the report click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

Much of the TV cable news universe has become a lot of hyperbole as some show hosts use increasingly theatrical techniques to increase audiences in the highly competitive industry. There are three major American TV cable news outlets: Fox News, MSNBC and CNN. Fox News has long dominated the ratings world by catering to conservative viewpoints. The election of Barack Obama has only increased ratings among those who oppose his policies. Similarly, MSNBC, which has a left-wing point of view, saw significant growth during the Bush administration, when its programs became harshly critical of the president's policies. CNN claims to be the network that tries to stride the middle of the road, though both conservatives and liberals claim the network favors the other side. The contentious world of cable news has made one thing clear: most viewers are not interested in a balanced viewpoint of the world, nor do they want to hear the other side of the story. Ideologues on both sides simply seek out shows and hosts they are most comfortable with in order to reaffirm their existing convictions.

As the hyperbole increases, so does the risk-at least as it pertains to advertisers. Take the case of Fox News personality Glenn Beck, who hosts a top-rated daily show that has made him an icon among the far right. Beck, who refers to himself as "a rodeo clown", is known for engaging in theatrical gestures that would rival those of Elmer Gantry.  However, when he recently referred to President Obama as a "racist" with a "deep-seated hatred of white people", a line was crossed that may have implications for all controversial talk show hosts. Beck's refusal to back away from the claim - along with his "dig-the-heels" follow-up defense of his statement - outraged liberals and caused even moderate conservatives to denounce what he said. More importantly, a liberal advocacy group began a petition campaign to target Beck's advertisers, saying their company should not want to be associated with such a program. The strategy has worked: dozens of major advertisers have pulled out of Beck's program. Fox News says the network has still kept most of the revenues as the ads were simply switched to other programs - and it's doubtful the network would ever cancel Beck, given the fact that he is a ratings powerhouse. Nevertheless, the ad rates on his show will almost certainly be dropped in order to attract advertisers. 

Keith Olbermann, host of MSNBC's top news analysis show Countdown, is a frequent critic of Beck and often refers to him as "Lonesome Rhodes", a reference to the phony country singer portrayed by Andy Griffith in A Face in the Crowd. However, Olbermann is also steeped in controversy and has plenty of enemies among conservatives, largely for his continued humorous lambasting of the Bush administration and virtually everyone on Fox News. You can be sure that right wing advocacy groups will be attempting to take a page out of the left's strategy of targeting advertisers of shows they believe are too controversial.

The situation raises the old argument about the fine line between advocacy and censorship. No one is suggesting that the government get involved in any of this, but targeting specific talk show hosts through the threat of boycotting their advertisers opens up a Pandora's Box of issues that can impact both sides of the political spectrum.  It remains to be seen what type of pressures, if any, will be put on talk show hosts by their networks in terms of cooling off these feuds, which have mesmerized audiences. Keith Olbermann denied that the absence of criticism against Fox News over a period of weeks had anything to do with published reports that he was ordered to tone down the rhetoric. As if to prove he was not part of any such agreement, he is as vitriolic as ever in mocking his arch rival Bill O'Reilly, the superstar of Fox News Channel. For his part, O'Reilly has refused to even utter Olbermann's name on the air, choosing to insult him through thinly-veiled references as a hate monger.  If corporate management did succeed in calling  a truce between their top personalities, it would be a mixed blessing as it is the controversial aspects of these shows that motivate people to tune in. For more click here

Oliver Stone is about to begin shooting the timely sequel to his 1988 Oscar winner Wall Street. Michael Douglas will reprise his role as Gordon Gekko, joined by Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon and Shia LeBeouf. The film, rather awkwardly titled Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps, is looking to capitalize (pardon the pun) on the recent corruption and melt down in the financial world - something Stone's original film predicted two decades ago. For more click here

Jude Law is taking the treacherous path that so many sex symbols have taken to prove he's not just another pretty face: he's prepping his production of Hamlet for the Broadway stage. Rehearsals begin next week and the risk is considerable for any actor's reputation who takes on the Bard's most legendary role. However, Law is riding on a wave of acclaim following his recent production of the play in London and his presence on Broadway is certain to give ticket sales a much-needed boost. For a New York Times interview with Law click here

There is a wonderful video on YouTube that celebrates the history of legendary actresses...each photo brilliantly morphs from one actress into another. It's by Phillip Scott Johnson....click here to check it out. 

By Lee Pfeiffer

One of the traditional pleasures for movie fans is to scan newspapers to peruse ads for the latest movies and to search listings for show times at their local theaters. Now both practices may become a thing of the past. Movie theater chains in America have severely cut back on marketing campaigns in the print press in order to focus on more cost-efficient web-based advertising. Many newspapers charge theater chains to run movie show times in their listings and some chains are now eliminating those fees by putting the information only on movie-related web sites. The strategy seems short-sighted. Scanning newspapers for show times is an American tradition - it provides a quick way to compare what is playing at all local theaters. The brain trust behind the cut-backs obviously thinks that absolutely everyone in the nation is sitting in front of a device that can connect them on-line if they feel a spontaneous impulse to go to the movies. The deprivation of the marketing dollars, though minimal, is yet another blow to the nation's suffering newspaper industries - and it doesn't stop there. The real dollars are spent on display ads  - and even a cursory look at major newspapers show that the era of lavish print marketing campaigns is over, probably for good. For more click here

The Daily Beast challenges you to brush up on your trivia from the films of the late director John Hughes, who passed away recently at age 59. See if you can match the quotes to films such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and The Breakfast Club. Click here for the quiz

The "anything goes" strategy of film making in Bollywood hit a snag this week when an Indian studio that had produced an unauthorized remake of the 1992 comedy hit My Cousin Vinny lost a lawsuit. The damages were relatively minor by Hollywood standards: $200,000. However, in the Indian film industry, that amount might make producers think twice about continuing their practice of ripping off successful films without permission or attribution. Then again, another producer has announced plans for an Indian version of The Hangover - even though the producers of the American comedy hit claim to know nothing about it. For more click here

London's Daily Mail has a sneak preview of Clint Eastwood's latest directorial effort, Invictus. The film reunites Eastwood (who does not appear in the film) with his friend and co-star Morgan Freeman, who plays Nelson Mandela. The film centers on the situation Mandela inherited when he became president of South Africa in the wake of apartheid policies. The nation was on the verge of Civil War, but Mandela wisely used South Africa's hosting of The World Cup to unite his countrymen behind their underdog team. The title of the film refers to a poem Mandela was fond of reciting. Matt Damon co-stars. Click here to view on the set photos. 

Sylvester Stallone is readying a fifth Rambo movie which he will direct and star in. This time around, the titular character will become embroiled in the drug wars raging on the U.S.-Mexican border and attempt to rescue a young girl who has been kidnapped by human traffickers. Stallone's 2008 revival of the series met with mixed results: it grossed a weak $42 million in North America, but scored $113 million in other markets.  

We must be doing something right...Cinema Retro just received the following E mail from famed movie producer Elliott Kastner regarding our new special edition tribute issue for his film

Dave and Lee;

The meticulous care and execution of your special issue is a major tribute to our movie. The way you and your team produced this magazine is amazing, for both its educational and entertainment value.

Well done and thank you so much!

Elliott Kastner

For more info on the special edition issue and ordering instructions click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

There is a theory about human sexuality that states that all people are born inherently bi-sexual and that it is sociological factors that determine whether we explore all of our true desires. While not widely accepted among academics, adherents to the theory often cite ancient Rome as proof of their belief. Here, bi-sexuality was not only tolerated, it was the norm. A new book is bound to set off a Towering Inferno of controversy among fans of Paul Newman precisely because it delves into these issues in the context of how they affected the behavior of one of the screen's most enduring legends. Author Darwin Porter, who specializes in unveiling clues to hidden homosexual lifestyles among straight screen legends, claims in his new book Paul Newman: The Man Behind the Baby Blues that the beloved Oscar winner had countless dalliances with other men in his early years in the film industry. I should note that I have not had a chance to read the book, only to scan through it. Thus, I can't at this point personally evaluate its qualities. However, it is already generating buzz in gossip columns and on YouTube, where the publisher, Danforth Prince of Blood Moon Productions, has launched a controversial video discussing the book. Prince asserts that the book isn't a hit piece on Newman, but merely presents the first objective portrait of him, as he alleges all other biographies of the star are too sanitized. The book apparently doesn't attempt to claim that Newman's decades-long marriage was a sham. However, it does claim that the star could be equally enticed by both men and women. Porter links Newman with such seminal figures (pardon the pun) as Tennessee Williams, William Inge, Sal Mineo, Peter Lawford, Anthony Perkins and Marlon Brando. It also delves into his female conquests, which allegedly include Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and Audrey Hepburn. If true, one wonders how Newman found the time to rehearse his lines. 

Porter says he accumulated all of the anecdotes and quotes in the book over a period of decades, having personally known many of the key people in Newman's life. Critics will cite the fact that virtually none of the quotes were made "on the record" so one must rely on the author's personal memory or interpretation of what he claims he overheard. This will be thin gruel for skeptics, especially since Porter replicates ancient conversations verbatim. A brief perusal of the book also reveals passages in which quotes attributed to Newman and others read like a porn paperback. Regardless of the veracity of any specific aspect of the book, there is no doubt the controversy will shed a spotlight on areas of Newman's personal life that the notoriously private star never wanted explored.

One of the more intriguing stories related in the book deals with Newman's plan to bring the novel The Front Runner to the screen in the 1970s. The best-seller dealt with a college track coach who falls in love with his star runner. Newman was determined to play the coach in what would have been a shocking departure from his usual screen image. The project, which was written about in the mainstream press at the time, was rumored to be a reunion vehicle for Newman and Robert Redford - despite the fact that the latter would have been far too old to play a student. Porter maintains that makeup techniques would have been used to rejuvenate Redford on the screen, but the point was moot as Redford had too many hang-ups to play a gay character. Porter says that Newman then screen-tested Cal Culver, who was known only in the gay community for performing in porn films. Porter quotes Culver directly in saying that he and Newman had an affair and that Culver saw The Front Runner as his ticket to legitimate work. However, his hopes were dashed when Newman backed away from the project - and the affair as well.

By Lee Pfeiffer

Maybe Tom Cruise's next movie should be a remake of the 1967 James Bond classic You Only Live Twice. According to Japan's new first lady, Miyuki Hatoyama, she knew Cruise in another life: when he was Japanese! Furthermore, Ms. Hatoyama claims she, too, has lived prior lives and knew Cruise in his Asian period. "I believe he'd get it if I said to him, 'Long time no see', when we meet," she says in her book (appropriately titled Very Strange Things I've Encountered.) Before you put too much stock in her claim, keep in mind that she also relates in the book about being abducted by aliens and taken on a trip to Venus. Hey, if her gig in Japan doesn't work out, she definitely has a place in American politics. For more click here

Daniel Craig is not helping to ease the impatience of James Bond fans who are eagerly awaiting news about his third cinematic mission as 007. It appears as though the next Bond film is still on the back burner, as Craig's dance card continues to fill up with other offers. He will open soon in A Steady Rain, the Broadway play that teams him with Hugh Jackman. Following that, he will begin shooting Dream House, a new dramatic film in which he plays a New York publishing executive who moves with his family into a seemingly charming New England home, only to discover it was the site of a brutal murder. Jim Sheridan, the acclaimed director My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father will helm the new flick. The film is slated for a January start. Craig also completed his scenes in Steven Spielberg's Tin-Tin. 

By Lee Pfeiffer

It's been a while since we had a great Larry King moment to share with readers, but this one's a gem. Larry, who prides himself on doing no advance research on his guests, relies solely on some notes provided to him prior to each interview. He can sometimes bluff his way through celebrity interviews, but when everyday people are guests, Larry is treading water to the next commercial break. on Monday night, Larry was interviewing Katie Hall, a woman who was victimized many years ago by the same rapist who is at the center of the bizarre tale that was revealed last week in which he allegedly kept a young girl captive for 18 years and fathered two children with her. King asked Hall, who was raped in 1976, a series of questions so insensitive you have to see it to believe it. Told by Hall that she had been returning from a trip to the grocery store when she gave the man who would end up raping her a lift in her car, King makes her describe the gory details of precisely how the man "consummated" the act, as though they were a couple on their honeymoon. King then asks her what the man did with the groceries that were in the car! To cap things off, he then asks Hall's husband if she told him about her experience many years later when they started dating, the sordid implication being that the man might have rejected her as being damaged goods. Told that he was aware of the crime committed against Hall, Larry asks the husband, "How did you feel about that?" This is Larry's favorite line to stall for time until the next break - no matter how insulting it is. He once asked Maureen O'Hara the same question after she related how her husband died in a plane crash.Click here to view

Wal-Mart has issued a recall for over 4 million Durabrand DVD players that were made in China and marketed at the chain for $29. The players have shown a tendency to overheat and burst into flames. Fourteen such instances have been reported, though there have been no injuries. The players were sold at Wal-Mart between January 2006 and July 2009. If you have one of these players, the company advises you to stop using it immediately and to return to your local store for a full refund. For more click here

Actor and entertainer Gianni Russo, who played the ill-fated traitorous son-in-law Carlo Rizzo in The Godfather, recently made the Metropolitan Society of Fairfield, New Jersey an offer they couldn't refuse. Russo appeared as a special guest at the private club, where members and their guests indulge in their mutual hobby of cigar smoking - without having to listen to complaints from any of those "pain in the ass innocent by-standers" as Clemenza might say. Russo has a career that has impressed on many levels since he made his screen debut in the 1972 crime classic. He is now a world-recognized singer, appearing in top venues such as Feinstein's in New York City. He is also an entrepreneur with his own Italian vineyards that bottle his exclusive brand, Il Padrino wines. Russo won the hearts of attendees by generously providing wines for each table during dinner, then regaling the members with hilarious and fascinating stories about the making of The Godfather. Look for an interview with Gianni Russo in a future issue of Cinema Retro. Visit Gianni's web site by clicking here

On September 5, the bang. comedy theater in Los Angeles will feature Streeptease, a stage re-enactment of classic dialogue from the films of Meryl Streep. The caveat here is that it is performed by an all-male cast. Hmm..the love scenes from The Bridges of Madison County should be particularly interesting with a male actor speaking in an Italian accent expressing his love for Clint Eastwood, who isn't even there. Now if they can only induce Ernest Borgnine to star in our long-planned one-man tribute to Ethel Merman! For info click here