An erotic photo of Sharon Tate and husband Roman Polanski is set to be auctioned on December 7 and is expected to fetch up to $12,000. The photo was taken by David Bailey shortly before Tate's notorious murder by the Manson gang. For more click here

Empire magazine reveals the teaser one sheet poster designs for the forthcoming Wolfman movie. Click here to see the others

Of all the bizarre stories pertaining to Star Trek fandom, this one takes the cake. A father admits he spoke only Klingon to his son for the first three years of his life. However, before you lump him in with middle-aged guys in too-tight Trek T shirts who still live in their parent's basements, this fellow isn't even a die-hard fan of the show. Rather, he's a professional linguist who decided to use his kid as a  guinea pig for a bizarre sociological experiment. Fortunately, he abandoned the experiment when the boy seemed to resent speaking a language no one else recognized. We hear dad's moving on and hoping to teach the lad how to defend himself by using the Vulcan death grip...For more click here 

If you haven't checked out MGM's library of free films to screen on YouTube, you should do so. There are dozens of titles available for immediate viewing with no gimmicks attached - except they have inserted periodic ads that you can't fast forward through. Most of the films are obscure, B movies of recent vintage, but there are some gems including the Eastwood/Leone Dollars trilogy, the 1967 James Bond spoof Casino Royale and the acclaimed film Peeping Tom. Click here to access the library. 

By Lee Pfeiffer

MSNBC has listed reader's choices for the biggest film turkeys of all time - and the list itself is the biggest turkey of all. Sure, there are the undeniable bombs that one would expect to find in any sane list of worst movies: Showgirls, Ishtar and Battlefield Earth. However, these readers must have been into the cooking sherry a bit too early to include Pulp Fiction (too much profanity), The Blair Witch Project (the camera was too shaky) and Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, which is regarded, at worst, as a noble failure but certainly not an outright turkey.  Even the innocuous Mr. Bean is not spared. The readers must be of the same school of film criticism as the friend who once accompanied me to a screening of Lawrence of Arabia. At the conclusion of David Lean's masterpiece, I asked him for his reaction and his sole comment was, "Too much sand."  To read the entire list, click here

The Huffington Post features an opportunity to vote for your favorite Thanksgiving-themed movies of all time, and generously provides the original trailers. It's hard to top John Hughes' Planes, Trains and Automobiles, but there is some stiff competition. Click here to view 

Kenneth Branagh, director of the forthcoming Marvel Comics big screen adaptation of Thor, has announced additional major parts have been cast to join stars Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman. Click here for details 

Remember the Bizarro Superman characters from the comic books? In Bizarro world, everything is a mirror opposite of how it is on earth. The same can be said about the way Grade D direct-to-video films are marketed in foreign countries. The Hollywood Reporter's Risky Business has an amusing article that explores the attempts to capitalize on "superstars" such as Dolph Lundgren, Robin Givens and Rob Schneider through aggressive ad campaigns that often contain nonsensical tag lines and misspellings. To read click here

Nicholas Cage, humiliated by public revelation of his disastrous personal financial situation, is suing his accountant Samuel Levin, who he claims is responsible for his problems because of gross incompetence. Levin is counter-suing, saying he repeatedly advised Cage to cut back on his massive spending but was routinely ignored by the star. "Instead of listening to Levin, cross-defendant Coppola spent most of his free time shopping for high ticket purchases, and wound up with 15 personal residences, most of which were bought against Levin's advice," Levin's complaint said. "Likewise, Levin advised Coppola against buying a Gulfstream jet, against buying and owning a flotilla of yachts, against buying and owning a squadron of Rolls Royces, against buying millions of dollars in jewelry and art." Levin also said that Cage was aware of every expenditure because he personally signed the checks to pay for them. For more click here

In the debate over whether it was a wise decision for A.M.P.A.S. to have doubled the number of Best Picture nominees to ten films, put Variety editor Timothy Gray squarely on the side of supporting the measure. In a column, Gray advocates the reasons why he feels the new rule will give recognition to fine films that would otherwise be denied the honor. He also lists the top reasons why many in the industry disagree with him. Click here to read

Corman in London, photographed by Cinema Retro's Mark Mawston.

Entertainment Weekly columnist Chris Nashawaty has done yeoman work in soliciting comments from some top-name directors, actors and writers who recall their memories of working for producer Roger Corman. The B movie king is finally being shown the respect he deserves, culminating with a special Oscar being bestowed on him for his remarkable achievements in film. Corman gave crucial first breaks to many directors and actors who went on to have great careers. In this article, homage is paid to Corman by Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Joe Dante, Jonathan Demme, Sylvester Stallone, Dennis Hopper, William Shatner, Richard Matheson and others. Click here to read 

As our regular readers know, Cinema Retro likes to help publicize innovative independent films relating to those glorious by-gone years of the 60s and 70s. Thus, when we were contacted by Darrett Sanders, one of the producers of the new 60s spy spoof Scream of the Bikini, we were immediately hooked. The film has been winning accolades on the festival circuits and is playing limited engagements in theaters. The official web site is worthy of a visit, as it is chock-full of sexy production stills and retro posters like the one above that perfectly emulates those wonderful old door panels that used to grace movie theater lobby doors. Good luck, guys - we're looking forward to seeing the film. Click here for the official web site

Even by the shameless spending habits of Hollywood stars, Nicholas Cage crossed the line. The Oscar winner is in major financial problems, owing the IRS $6 million. He has blamed the bulk of his dilemma on the alleged inefficiencies of his business manager. However, in a scathing report on the Daily Beast site, reporter Jacob Bernstein unveils plenty of evidence that Cage is responsible for his own dilemma. Bernstein outlines a mind-bending history of personal excess on Cage's part, as evidenced by the kind of spending that made Michael Jackson look like a miser. Cage's child-like spending habits saw him by the world's most expensive sports cars on a whim, throw parties that would embarrass the emperor Nero for their tastelessness, and indulge himself in every luxury in the belief the good times would roll forever. Cage also gave generously to charities, even as his own clout at the box-office began to seriously wane. He is now desperately trying to sell off his assets for far less than he paid for them. Click here to read the eye-opening report. 

Producer and Cinema Retro contributor Steven J. Rubin has partnered with Beyond the Sea producer Arthur E. Friedman to bring the life story of Audie Murphy to the big screen. Murphy, one of the nation's most decorated soldiers, gained international fame for his daring exploits in WWII. He eventually had a successful acting career that was cut short when he perished in a plane crash in 1971. Murphy played himself in the hit 1955 WWII pic To Hell and Back. Rubin and Friedman plan to adapt the Don Graham biography of Murphy, No Name on the Bullet, for the screen. Murphy's son Terry is participating in the project. For more click here.

(For Steven J. Rubin's article on the making of The Great Escape, see Cinema Retro issue #1)

Disney has temporarily shelved plans for a much-vaunted remake of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, although the studio is committed to ultimately making it. Apparently the director, McG, has withdrawn from the project, which was slated to begin shooting in February, even though no casting has been announced. By the way, what's with the name of the director? We don't mind great historical figures being referred to by one name, but McG hardly qualifies for the honor alongside Picasso and Rembrandt. In fact, his qualifications seem somewhat less impressive than those that earned Liberace a one-name monicker. For more click here

Almost twenty years since he played Dick Tracy, Warren Beatty is embroiled in a court battle over who owns the rights to the legendary comic strip character. The Tribune Company claims rights to Tracy reverted to the company because Beatty never launched another film project based on the character. In court documents, however, Beatty indicated he is working on a TV special with Turner Classic Movies. For the full story click here

People magazine has an interesting article that provides insights into the bad press attached to actor Randy Quaid. He and his wife Evi have recently been accused of defrauding creditors and skipping court hearings. The result was their arrest and extradition to California where their increasingly strange behavior seems to have tarnished Quaid's reputation as a lovable, funny character actor. The common theme through the People story is the insinuation that Evi has led Quaid down the path of self-destruction by alienating friends and engaging in antics that saw Quaid's career harmed. Judge for yourself by clicking here to read

Optimum Releasing, which controls the rights to the British Film Archive, has teamed with Pinewood Studios for increased efforts to preserve classic British films that are currently stored at the legendary studio. New archival facilities will be built to provide cold storage for 1400 titles. Some specific titles such as Peeping Tom and The Dam Busters will be re-issued to theaters and then released on Blu-ray DVD. We will wish Hollywood studios would show the same interest in preserving and reissuing classic American titles. The UK film industry deserves praise for their efforts. For more click here

The Samuel Goldwyn Company has acquired the rights to the British crime thriller Harry Brown,which debuts this weekend in the UK. The Michael Caine-starrer has been generating major buzz with some comparing it to his landmark 1971 crime classic Get Carter. The film will be released in the US next year, but no firm date has been announced. For more click here

The honors continue to roll in for Clint Eastwood, who is filming his supernatural thriller Hereafter in Europe. Eastwood was inducted as a commander in the French Legion of Honor. The recognition was awarded to Eastwood by French president Nicholas Sarkozy, who joked with the 79 year-old Oscar winner that he resented the fact that he was in better physical condition than the 54 year-old Sarkozy is. Eastwood expressed his respect for France and the French people, saying, "It is just a great pleasure for me. I really love France. I love movies, and I love the appreciation that the French people have for movies." For more click here

Director Martin Scorsese will receive the coveted Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award at the next Golden Globes ceremony on January 17. Scorsese previously received competitive Golden Globes for his direction of Gangs of New York and The Departed. For more click here

It's always a pleasure to receive the latest issue of Little Shoppe of Horrors, the publication dedicated entirely to the history and legacy of the classic Hammer horror films. Over the years, publisher Dick Klemensen and his writers have provided a priceless history of these movies, incorporating insightful writing with interviews pertaining to the people who made them. The latest issue, #23, continues these high standards of quality. Contents include:

• Archival interviews with Hammer legends Michael Ripper, John Gilling, Michael Carreras and Michael Gough
• Bruce Hallenbeck's tributes to the unsung Hammer gem Plague of the Zombies and The Reptile
• rare photos of the last days of Hammer film productions at Bray Studios
• a tribute to character actor Andre Morell
• interview with actors John Carson and Jacqueline Pearce
• the latest Hammer news and reviews of genre books, CDs and videos you might not otherwise be aware of.

There are also dozens of the usual eye-popping, rare photos and poster designs peppered throughout this creatively-designed magazine. Put this issue on your "must have" list. (Note: like many other niche publications, Little Shoppe of Horrors has been impacted by recent changes in the magazine distribution business. You may not be able to find this issue at your local store, so the best way to support the magazine is by ordering it through their web site by clicking here.)

MGM is taking on the persona of the sexy girl every guy wants to date, but no one wants to take home to meet mom. The legendary studio is facing a major financial crisis and has $3.7 billion in outstanding loans that it can't repay. The lenders refused an offer to turn the funds into equity and MGM now faces the possibility of declaring bankruptcy. There have been attempts to sell the studio but the offers are nowhere near the cash required to repay the outstanding loans. Plenty of studios are interested in acquiring MGM, but not to run it as a studio. They are after the jewels in the MGM crown, namely the rights to the lucrative film archive that includes the James Bond series. For more click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

With creativity in Hollywood at rock bottom, studios are now bottom-feeding on the toy shelves in order to find the next great franchise. Believe it or not, the board game Battleship is being made into a major movie. Now, Sony has picked up the rights to the classic war game Risk and will be bringing it to the big screen. These franchises are obviously aimed at audiences who felt that Transformers was too intellectually challenging. Can it be long before Nicholas Cage is announced as the star of Chutes and Ladders - The Movie? For more click here  

You've probably never heard of star/director Tommy Wiseau or his $7 million movie The Room. However, in hip movie fan circles, you're nobody if you haven't seen the film. The Room is considered to be a movie so bad that Variety reports patrons are demanding their money back. This spurred interest among younger movie goers who became eager to see if the film lived up to (or down to) its reputation. The result is that The Room is playing to sold out audiences in America and England. Wiseau seems to think that its because movie goers are enamored of his work  and he immodestly compares himself to Tennessee Williams!  In fact, it appears audiences are finding the film unintentionally funny and see Wiseau as an heir to Ed Wood. Click here for more 

Chris Pine, who won acclaim for his performance as Kirk in the latest Star Trek film, is in negotiations with Paramount to play the role of spy Jack Ryan in the studio's reboot of the franchise that previously starred Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford. For more click here

The trailer has been released for Clint Eastwood's Invictus, and it indicates the Oscar-winning director may have another great film. The brief glimpses of Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon's performances bode well for Oscar consideration. To watch click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

Regular readers of Cinema Retro know that legendary actor Christopher Lee has been among our most ardent supporters since the inception of the magazine. Christopher wrote a wonderful article on the making of The Three Musketeers for issue #2 and in the latest issue (#15), he recalls filming the Fu Manchu series. Additionally, he has been supportive in many other ways as well. We are very proud of the fact that he can now be referred to as Sir Christopher Lee, having been bestowed a knighthood by Prince Charles last Friday.He's truly one of the last living legends in the film industry - and a genuinely nice man, as well. For a full report on the MI6 web site click here

An Australian beer company has employed images of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves in campaign to promote it's latest brew. The problem is that the legendary fairy tale icon is seen in post-coital bliss in bed with her seven pals. Her name has also been changed to Ho White. Among those not laughing: Disney executives who point out that the company owns the copyright to the popular image of Snow White. While there is no word of a lawsuit, the beer company has admitted they have been contacted by Disney and it appears the ad campaign is slated for a fast fade. For more click here

Remember that scene in The Shootist where John Wayne's barber collects the hair clumps of the terminally ill gunman so he can sell them after his demise? Well, once again art reflects reality as a clump of hair reportedly belonging to Elvis just sold for $15,000 (Brylcreem presumably included).  Call it the ultimate Presley hairloom. For the bizarre story, click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

The New Jersey governor's race is already one of the dirtiest and most bizarre campaigns imaginable. Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine should be coasting to  re-election in a state that is largely liberal and largely Democratic. However, Corzine is fighting for his political life despite having virtually unlimited funds from his personal fortune to throw into his campaign. He has also had the benefit of several high profile campaign appearances by President Obama, who is extremely popular in this state. His main rival, Republican Chris Christie, a former US Attorney, can't take much comfort, either. Despite running against a very unpopular incumbent, the best he has been able to do is draw even in the polls . (The election is Tuesday). Both men have run increasingly vitriolic campaigns, with Christie accusing Corzine of capitalizing on his obesity by mocking him in campaign ads. Now Monty Python's Flying Circus has entered the governor's race...we're not kidding, either. Christie has appropriated clips from the famed TV series and used them to mock Corzine in campaign ads. Incredibly, he never sought or received permission to use the footage. Now the Pythons are boiling mad and threatening a lawsuit, saying that Christie must have been confused and was seeking the endorsement of Sarah Palin, not Michael Palin. For more click here

Dennis Hopper, the 73-year old star and director of the classic Easy Rider, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, causing him to cancel appearances. His spokesman refused to say what stage the cancer is in, stating only that they are "hoping for the best". For more click here