Family Feud is a lot like Larry King- it's been around for so many decades, it qualifies as both contemporary and retro. The long-running game show recently had what may have been the most unintentionally hilarious answer ever given by a contestant. Click here to view and relish host Steve Harvey's reaction.

The documentary Lost in La Mancha chronicles Gilliam's previous attempts to bring Don Quixote to the screen.

Terry Gilliam has been trying to bring his vision of Don Quixote to the big screen for so long that a feature film documentary was made years ago about his aborted projects, one of which starred Johnny Depp before filming was halted due to financing problems. Gilliam recently thought he had acquired the $20 million needed for his attempt to revive The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. Robert Duvall and Ewan McGregor are to star- but the financing dried up once again. Gilliam is still game, however, and vows the project will come to fruition. Click here for more

Hitchcock must be rolling in his grave. The web site Chud reports that a remake of the Master's thriller Strangers on a Train is in the works with a teenage cast! What next? Justin Bieber in Citizen Kane??? For more click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

As I've often said, there are some excellent films being made nowadays - but most of them don't involve invading aliens, serial murderers or tortured teenagers. The independent film market is booming and there are some real gems currently in release- though you may have to have the skills of Sherlock Holmes to track them down. One such film is Cairo Time, a charming and intriguing love story that finds Patricia Clarkson as Juliette Grant, the middle-aged wife of a United Nations diplomat who flies to Cairo to meet him for what should be an enjoyable business conference at a swank hotel. When she gets there, she learns he has been indefinitely delayed due to a crisis in Gaza. He asks his old friend and colleague Tareq (Alexander Siddig) to show her the local sites and try to entertain her. Initially, Juliet feels awkward and attempts to go it alone - only to find herself the unwanted center of advances from the male locals. Over the course of several days, she and Tareq form a bond that is becoming uncomfortably close to crossing the line into romance.

The dearth of original ideas at Hollywood studios becomes even more apparent with the news that there will be a big screen remake of the 1984 hit Footloose, which made Kevin Bacon a star. It's not that the film was a classic - it will probably just seem like one when the remake is unleashed. Click here for more

By Raymond Benson

Except for perhaps Stanley Kubrick, no other American filmmaker has generated more mystique about himself than Terrence Malick. Famously reclusive, Malick never gives interviews or even allows his photograph to be taken on the set of any film he directs. In four decades, he’s made only four pictures (although a fifth, The Tree of Life, appears to be finally set for a release in 2011).

After a twenty-year absence from filmmaking, the artist returned to Hollywood in 1998 with The Thin Red Line, an existential, philosophical, and meditative war movie that only Terrence Malick could make. Critically received, it was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. It couldn’t have been more different from Saving Private Ryan, Steven Spielberg’s “other” war picture of the year and one that was immensely more popular with theater-goers. Perhaps this was because Malick’s film is mostly about sight and sound and mood and ideas—not story or characters. Terrence Malick is a cinematic poet, and anyone who doesn’t understand this will surely have a difficult time with the director’s work.

The Cadillac of DVD labels, The Criterion Collection, has released a superb two-disc set in both DVD and Blu-Ray that showcases the beauty and wonderment of The Thin Red Line. All of Malick’s films are technically gorgeous—Oscar nominee John Toll’s cinematography was arguably the more deserving work in that year’s category—and the new DVD presents a newly restored high-definition digital transfer supervised by both Toll and Malick. Toll, production designer Jack Fisk, and producer Grant Hill contribute an enlightening audio commentary to the film. (And Malick himself delivers a single message to the viewer via text on the screen—he suggests it be played loud.)

Today, in one swoop, we'll address our periodic requests to increase our coverage of political stories.

Lee,

I really laughed at your recent posting of the "The Most Hilarious Political Speech" of all time. I've sent you links to some crazy clips involving Christine O'Donnell - how come you never ran them?

Jim Stavers

Retro responds: Jim, the benefit of our international readers, I will explain that Ms. O'Donnell is running on the Republican ticket for Senator in the state of Delaware. I believe such information makes most readers' eyes glaze over because no one comes to Cinema Retro to read about politics. There are occasions when show biz and politics cross over and a legitimate news story emerges. However, we don't embroil ourselves in political races and whether you support or oppose Ms. O'Donnell, her controversial comments dominate virtually every newscast, so there's no reason to cover them here. As for the "The Most Hilarious Political Speech of All Time", which was given by a minor candidate for a minor office in Ohio, we got a great response to it- probably because it had nothing to do with political ideology. This guy just happened to be a Republican, a fact I didn't even realize until I posted the link. However, virtually everyone got a laugh out of it- and it would have been just as funny if he was a Democrat.- Lee Pfeiffer

Cinema Retro;

You say you cover TV News, but you've been completely silent on the firing of CNN show host Rick Sanchez, who was let go because he called Comedy Central's Jon Stewart "a bigot". Isn't this something you should cover for your readers?

A. Walker

Retro responds: Dear "A"- Again, I think our American readers don't often realize that we have a very wide international audience who don't know who many of these folks are. For their benefit, Sanchez was a long-time CNN host who got in hot water for calling Stewart a bigot and making some anti-Semitic remarks last week. He was subsequently fired, which caused quite a media sensation and has seemingly given Stewart and every other comedian enough material for the next six months. However, it's still primarily a story about cable news, not TV, per se. Those are treacherous waters to cover, as no matter how objective you try to remain, people on both the left and the right will accuse you of being biased. Thus, we stay away from that minefield. Cinema Retro does cover TV stories, but mostly on the entertainment side. I might as well mention why I've not covered Stewart's forthcoming rally in Washington, D.C., which some have sent links about. Although Stewart is by far the most influential satirist in America, his rally is still primarily a political event. If we were to cover it or link to information about it, we'd immediately hear from people who would complain that we didn't cover rallies dedicated to opposing viewpoints. It's our position that we should primarily stay out of politics so this site can be a place where people of all different opinions can share a common interest in the movies they love. (How's that for a cornball kumbaya moment?)- Lee Pfeiffer

In the 1960s, Heston was one of several prominent film stars to march for civil rights. He also attended Dr. Martin Luther King's legendary rally in Washington, D.C.

Charlton Heston's former publicist has launched a petition to honor the iconic actor with a postage stamp bearing his likeness. Although Heston was a controversial figure in his later years due to his staunch support of the National Rifle Association, he was also a beloved symbol of the golden age of Hollywood. Considering we've had Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse adorn U.S. Postage stamps, it seems appropriate to honor Heston, who considered himself a devout patriot.  Click here for more and a link to the petition site.

By Lee Pfeiffer

Andy Albeck's name may not be known to even the most die-hard movie fans. Like most executives of United Artists, Albeck, who died on September 29 at the age of 89, chose to keep a low profile even when he was appointed president of the company in 1978, following many years of service. Albeck took over the position when legendary UA chief Arthur Krim and his team left the company to form Orion Pictures. Albeck's unobtrusive manner belied the fact that he championed a number of highly successful films including sequels to Rocky and Pink Panther franchises. He also backed Scorsese's masterpiece Raging Bull when many others in the industry thought a black and white film about boxing would be a major miscalculation. Albeck also oversaw the continuing success of the James Bond series, working with producer Cubby Broccoli to produce the Roger Moore hits Moonraker and For Your Eyes Only. However, Albeck's legacy and reputation were caught in the whirlwind of director Michael Cimino's 1980 box-office disaster Heaven's Gate, a film that came to symbolize inefficiency in the big studio system. The movie went 500% over budget and was a total write-off. Albeck and other studio executives walked the plank as United Artists struggled to survive. It can be argued that the shell company that is UA today never recovered from the Heaven's Gate debacle, and Albeck features prominently in the best-selling book Final Cut by former UA executive Steven Bach, that chronicles the madness of the making of that film. For more click here

IFC has picked up distribution rights to The Harvey Weinstein Project, a not-very-flattering documentary about the firebrand producer and co-founder of Miramax. IFC describes the film as "a powerful, uncensored, no-holds-barred account that traces Weinstein's path from concert promoter on the cold streets of Buffalo to his first trip to the Cannes Film Festival, where he arrived with one pair of pants and closed his first movie deal, to winning an Oscar, and breaking the bank with his first $100 million film. It examines his complex relationships with his brother, his staff, and the Hollywood community at large and features interviews with industry insiders and the Hollywood creative community." You won't have to wonder when it hits theaters- just stick your head out the window and listen for Harvey's bellowing. For more click here

A spokesman for Michael Douglas says the actor is feeling and is winding down his chemotherapy treatment for the advanced throat cancer he is combating. Douglas has been resilient during the process, attending the premiere of the Wall Street sequel and engaging in activities such as walking his daughter to school. He will begin a recuperation period of six weeks before assessing whether he will be returning to his normal lifestyle. The good news for Douglas is that the Wall Street film is performing very well at the box-office and looks to be his first hit in a number of years. For more click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

The much-anticipated Blu-ray release of The Exorcist was worth the wait. Warner Home Video has justifiably been touting this as one of the major home video events of recent years and recently released the film to theaters in anticipation of the Blu-ray arrival. The film has aged remarkably well since its 1973 release. I recall being in high school when it opened and having to stand on line for hours in the frigid cold to see the movie, which initially only played at a small art house theater in New York. The film's impact hasn't diminished in the ensuing years, a testament to the talents of director William Friedkin and writer William Peter Blatty. Even though the film inspired countless inferior imitations that continue today, nothing comes close to the original Exorcist in terms of scaring the living daylights out of even the most sophisticated of viewers. Perhaps the film's ultimate impact lies in Friedkin's contention that this never was a horror movie, but a statement about the ultimate battle between good and evil. Friedkin wisely chose a cast based on their ability rather than box-office clout. The performances of the actors continue to impress, especially those of Jason Miller and some of the supporting actors who were not thespians by profession.

I won't waste time extolling the virtues of the film, as virtually everyone reading this has probably seen it numerous times. Warner Home Video has issued the movie on both DVD and Blu-ray, but the latter has all the bells and whistles that make this a truly phenomenal release. The DVD contains the extended director's cut from 2000, which was also a major hit when released to theaters. The DVD has a limited number of extras, all of which were issued previously: a director's commentary and some trailers and TV spots. The Blu-ray edition, however, features not only all of the special edition features that had previously been released, but also the original theatrical cut of the film. (Friedkin amended certain effects and added some scenes for the 2000 director's cut.)

John McTiernan, the once-revered director of such action films as Die Hard, Predator, The Hunt For Red October and the 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, has been sentenced to one year in jail and a $100,000 fine. McTiernan is free on bail pending appeal. The sentence results from his conviction on charges of hiring a private eye who used illegal wiretapping equipment to tape a producer McTiernan was having a dispute with. McTiernan was then convicted of lying to the court about his actions. For more click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

Norman Wisdom, a giant in the field of British comedy, is dead at age 95. The iconic actor and comedian was one of the few remaining celebrities who made their names in the fabled British music halls of many years ago. His gentle brand of comedy generally found him playing a down-on-his-luck loser, similar to Chaplin's Little Tramp. So great was Wisdom's impact that Chaplin himself proclaimed him one of his favorite comedians, and his fans included Prince Charles, who grew up on his films. Wisdom had been living alone and independently until recently, when a series of strokes convinced him to move to a nursing home. Curiously, he was largely unknown in America, where his films were generally relegated to bottom-of-the-bill double features, if they were released there at all. However, in England, his popularity so transcended age brackets that his web site crashed when news of his death was announced. Click here for more.

True to his wishes, the family of Tony Curtis ensured that his funeral was an upbeat affair, filled with plenty of laughs and anecdotes. The star-studded tribute was open to the actor's many fans and was attended by his friends and family. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gave an impromptu eulogy and recalled how Curtis inspired him to succeed when he was a young actor. The Huffington Post notes how Curtis' widow remembered the mischievous superstar:

"Curtis' sixth wife, Jill Curtis, eulogized her husband of 12 years. She recalled how he easily dismissed their 45-year age difference when friends asked if he was worried about keeping up with a younger wife.

"Well, if she dies, she dies," she said her husband would deadpan in reply." For more click here

Christopher Reeve played the Man of Steel in the 1970s and 1980s. No casting has been announced for the new Superman film that will go into production shortly.

Warner Brothers is determined to try once again to launch Superman in what it hopes will be a new series of films. The last attempt to do so, Superman Returns, grossed a considerable sum in 2006, but the studio felt the response was still too tepid. Zach Snyder, the red hot director of 300 and Watchmen, will helm the new film with Batman director Christopher Nolan producing. The hope to is make Superman as hip and contemporary as the Caped Crusader has become to younger audiences. For more click here

Sony's The Social Network, about the controversial young founder of Facebook, came in at #1 over the weekend at the North American box-office with $23 million. The modestly-budgeted flick was dismissed by a rival studio executive as of interest only to big city dwellers, but the fact remains the film stands to make a killing when future revenues from video and pay-per-view are considered. Click here for more

UPDATED

Rare early British TV appearances of Sean Connery and Maggie Smith have been discovered in a film vault in New York City. The footage has been turned over to the British Film Institute, which is organizing a campaign to locate programs that were thought lost forever. The footage pertains to shows aired between 1957 and 1969. Click here for details.Click here for the list of programs that were discovered. (Thanks to reader Chris Mussett for the update)

Don't expect to see Russell Crowe in tights again anytime soon: in the crazy world of contemporary filmmaking, his Robin Hood movie was considered a major disappointment- despite grossing over $300 million worldwide.

Huffington Post film writer Scott Mendelson offers and in-depth and very revealing analysis of which movies succeeded and failed during the summer of 2010- and which ones were successful, but still considered to be disappointments. Click here to read

There was a time when Woody Allen and Manhattan went together like bread and butter. The quirky Oscar-winner shot virtually all of his movies in New York City, where he has resided his entire adult life. Like his best-loved character, Alvy Singer in Annie Hall, Allen was said to be like a fish out of water outside of Manhattan. That's all changed in recent years. Allen shot his acclaimed film Match Point in London and was enchanted by the city. He has since shot virtually all of his movies in Europe. Allen says it comes down to pure economics: he still loves New York but finds it too expensive to shoot movies on limited budgets. However, he does concede that Gotham has far less red tape to contend with. Click here for more

Tony Curtis photographed in London by Cinema Retro's Mark Mawston.

Very sad to hear about one of my favorite actors and another legend passing. I meet him about 4 years ago and he turned up in a big Stetson hat. When asked if that was what he normally wore he replied “No, I’m just here to promote my new film- Brokeback Mountain 2: The Later Years”!

Nobody talks like that! How many can say they were on the Sgt Peppers cover and dated Marilyn Monroe? A legend.- Mark Mawston

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By Lee Pfeiffer

When it comes to talent, style and class, few actors had the pedigree of the great Claude Rains. The consummate actor exudes sophistication in every performance from films ranging from The Invisible Man to Notorious, Lawrence of Arabia and Casablanca. Such actors are virtually non-existent today, which makes it all the more pleasing that author David Skal has teamed with Rains' daughter Jessica to write the first in-depth biography of the acting legend. The information was culled from substantial archives of materials Rains himself had amassed over the years when he was trying unsuccessfully to write his autobiography. In addition to being superbly researched, the book is also liberally illustrated with wonderful movie stills.

Here is more information from the official press release:

Born into the English working class, Claude Rains (1889-1967) overcame a severe speech impediment to become a fixture of the London theater scene. Rains's personal life was as dramatic as his work onstage: to end his second marriage while masking his wife's alcoholism, he staged an episode of infidelity, though the ensuing scandal made it difficult for him to find work. In 1926 he immigrated to America where, despite what Rains described as "the worst screen test of all time," he was hired by director James Whale to play the title role in an adaptation of H. G. Wells's The Invisible Man, a tour-de-force depending completely on his vocal skills.

In Claude Rains: An Actor's Voice, noted author David J. Skal illustrates how Rains's talents were well suited to Hollywood's studio system, allowing him to become one of cinema's best known character actors. He lent his commanding presence to such landmark films as Casablanca, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Notorious, and Lawrence of Arabia and was nominated for four Academy Awards. Bette Davis considered him her favorite acting partner.

Drawing on over thirty hours of newly released audio interviews with Rains and enriched by daughter Jessica Rains's contributions, Claude Rains is an intimate portrait and the first full biography of this gifted actor.

David J. Skal is the author of numerous books about film and popular culture, including Hollywood Gothic and The Monster Show. He is a frequent lecturer and talk-show guest and has produced several documentaries about Hollywood history, including documentaries about Claude Rains's The Invisible Man and Phantom of the Opera.

Jessica Rains, the only child of Claude Rains, is a producer and actress whose performance credits include The Sting, Pete and Tillie, Islands in the Stream, and Portnoy's Complaint.

Click here to order from Amazon

Stephen J. Cannell, the prolific screenwriter and television producer, has died after an illness at age 69. Cannell was one of the true giants of the modern TV age, having produced such shows as The Rockford Files, The Greatest American Hero and The A Team. Click here for more