Director Joe Dante shares our enthusiasm for the 1963 horror film The Innocents, director Jack Clayton's brilliant adaptation of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw. Starring Deborah Kerr, in a superb performance, the film centers on a spinster governess who cares for two young children in a remote mansion in the British countryside. The children seem to be obsessed by the memory of a deceased handyman on the estate- and she begins to suspect his spirit is attempting to influence them from the grave. Dante's commentary on the original trailer for the film points out that the marketing for the film made it appear to be a grade B horror movie rather than an intelligent, finely-crafted drama. Click here to view the trailer with commentary

Filmmaker Rick Liss' short movie No York City is a bizarre, lightning-fast compilation of footage of New York City in the 1980s. It's all here from the World Trade Center to those annoying mimes in Central Park. Click here to check it out.

Cinematical has unearthed some fascinating correspondence from the 1940s between Warner Brothers and Groucho Marx. The cigar-chomping comic legend and his brothers were preparing a comedy titled A Night in Casablanca, which was an obvious attempt to cash in on the recent Oscar-winning Best Picture. He received a letter from lawyers at Warner Brothers that indicated the studio was concerned about the Marx Brothers appropriating elements of the story. Groucho uses the implied legal threat to his advantage, sending the studio a letter in which he states that even if Warner Brothers intended to reissue Casablanca, audiences would be able to tell the difference between Harpo and Ingrid Bergman. Click here to read his hilarious original letter.

Natalie Portman: not your grandfather's Snow White.

That strange sound you here is Walt Disney doing cartwheels in his grave. The movie studio that bears his name is going ahead with a re-imagining of his classic animated film Snow White and Seven Dwarfs. This live action picture will center on the heroine, Ms. White, who travels to Hong Kong where she befriends seven martial arts warriors. Not bizarre enough for you? Then consider the fact that the studio wants Natalie Portman and Jet Li to star. We suppose if it's a hit, we can next expect Snow White and the Magnificent Seven. On top of that, there are at least two other major live action screen versions of the classic story in the works. For more click here

Cinema Retro's Bill Duelly was invited to tour the traveling exhibition of props from the Harry Potter films. Here is his report:

There is no doubt that the Harry Potter film series has enjoyed success that has only been rivaled by the James Bond and Star Wars series. They are a testament to England’s filmmaking craft and to their benefit, the producers have saved costumes, props, etc. from Sorcerer’s Stone (aka: Philosopher’s Stone in the UK), up through the last of the series. A good deal of England’s film-making legacy has been lost already, particularly in Borehamwood, where the MGM Studios (home to: 2001, Dirty Dozen, Where Eagles Dare, etc) amongst others has been destroyed. Elstree (home to the original Star Wars Trilogy & Indiana Jones) has lost much of its acreage and facilities. Reversing this trend, plans are underway to open a comprehensive tour/exhibit next year at the home base of the Potter series, Leavesden Studios.

For the past two years, a massive collection of props and costumes has been touring the US and has now landed at the Discovery Times Square Exhibition Center in New York. One cannot say enough about the amount of material that is at this exhibit. Even the mildest of fans will appreciate all this has to offer. This certainly is a rare opportunity to glimpse into the detail of the series. One is impressed with the quality of the costumes, the detail of the jewelry, the creatures and the sets. A good deal of the set pieces actually are old, quality furniture, not reproductions artificially aged.

Starting out as though on a Disney ride, one weaves around on line until groups are let in to an initial meeting area. Here some visitors are picked for a ‘sorting hat’ ceremony, before they are then led to another area where they are treated to a 3-4 minute, multi-panel montage of clips from the films before the curtains part and you are greeted by steam and the front of the Hogwarts Express.

The exhibit takes you through various themed sections, with props & costumes: Gryffindor – for Ron, Harry, Hermione centered items like, their wands, acceptance letter, time turner, dorm room, etc. ‘Classrooms’ takes you through areas of: Potions; Divinations; Umbridge’s office; Prof Lockhart’s books and pictures . ‘Quidditch’ showcases various game pieces and costumes. ‘Hagrids Hut’- allows visitors to sit in his chair as well as see the full size Buckbeak;

On the lower level, there is the ‘Forbidden Forest’ with the Centaur, giant spiders and dragons. Then the ‘Dark Forces’ section features a Dementor, Death Eaters, as well as Voldemort costume and set pieces from Goblet of Fire. Leaving the is area, you are lead to the Great Hall, with a predominance of material relating to ‘Goblet of Fire’ such as the Yule Ball costumes and table settings as well as the Tri-Wizard cup. The last item on the tour is the sword of Griffendor.

Some things to keep in mind during this exhibit: it is in many ways a museum, so there is a strict ‘no touching’ and ‘no photo’ policy in effect (although they will take a photo of you on the way in and superimpose you in front of Hagrids Hutt & Hogwarts for $25-$45). A souvenir program is available so in many ways it frees you up from worrying about taking pictures on your own, although I know parents and big fans will be disappointed by the ‘no picture’ policy. Parents also beware- there is a BIG gift shop at the end!

There are three distinct areas where ‘touching’ is allowed: in Hagrids Hut, you are allowed to sit in his oversized chair; by the herbology section there is a group of Mandrakes you can pull out and make them squeal and last, there are three Quidditch hoops that you can throw the bloggers through for a ‘score’.

There is no way that all the items can be listed here, nor would I want to, as one of the best things in this exhibit are discovering the details. The Discovery Times Square is located at 44th Street, between 7^th & 8^th Avenues in NY and is open 10AM-8PM, 7 days a week. The exhibit will run through September 5. Tickets are available in advance from: discoveryts.com. The official website for the exhibit is: http://www.harrypotterexhibition.com/

Cinema Retro contributing photographer Mark Mawston was invited to cover Stefanie Powers’ recent appearance at a London book signing. Here is his report:

Actress Stefanie Powers was in London on Sat April 2^nd at a signing of her book at the famed Cinema Store. Que’s went around the block with many traveling a great number of miles to meet the much loved actress. Some were lined up before 8am for the 11am signing. On arriving Stephanie had time to pose for Retro photographer Mark Mawston before admiring the Escape From Athena poster behind the signing table, sadly pointing out how many of the great cast and crew had since left us. Stefanie looked a million dollars, which may explained why she played a millionairess wife so successfully. Stefanie was amazing with her fans, who came from all over Europe and she spoke three languages during conversations with them in my short time there.

The highlight for Stefanie occurred when one of the fans showed her the tattoo on her arm which was the signature of her brother in law, 60’s singer Eden Kane! The fan then asked Stefanie to sign her name next to it so that they would remain close! This tickled her no end. That intro from Hart to Hart was true, she was gorgeous on every level and the way she treated her fans could give pointers to some of those currently sampling their own 15 minutes, which in some cases, is all they will get. This was a proper star, not a flash in the pan. In looks alone, as Max would say, this is one gal who knows how to take care of herself….

ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT MARK MAWSTON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

By Dave Worrall

Last night at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London, BAFTA paid tribute to the production designer Sir Ken Adam, who turned 90 last year. Sponsored by the Albert R. Broccoli and Dana Broccoli Foundation, guests enjoyed a champagne reception followed by the event which was hosted by Matthew Sweet who introduced the many guests who took to the stage and honoured the great designer. Among them; Christiane Kubrick, Michael G. Wilson, Nicholas Meyer, Anouk Aimee, Peter Lamont, Sir Christopher Frayling, and Lewis Gilbert to name but a few. Actress Eunice Gayson read out a very funny letter on behalf of Sir Roger Moore, who was unable to attend, and current-day production designers praised Sir Ken Adam for inspiring them to enter the film business. Supplemented by on-screen film clips and visuals, BAFTA produced a first class event worthy of such an iconic and respected technician, and also presented Sir Ken with a special BAFTA award for his services to the film industry.

(Photo copyright Mark Mawston. All rights reserved)

It was an honour to have been there, and for me, a wonderful occasion to meet up and chat with Barbara Broccoli, David Arnold, Michael G. Wilson and other people from the Bond world who Lee Pfeiffer and I have befriended since writing our book 'The Essential James Bond' many years back. It was also fun to catch up and gossip with 'Bond Girls' Lana Wood, Caroline Munro, Martine Beswicke, Valerie Leon and Shirley Eaton, who had been invited to the event too. The auditorium was packed with architects, designers and professionals from the arts and film industry, and I even noticed Monty Norman lurking in the background! However, it was delightful to see Barbara Broccoli deep in conversation with production designer Syd Cain, himself now in his nineties and wheelchair-bound, who, along with Peter Lamont, played such an integral part in the history of the Bond franchise as the man who was being honoured on the night.

Launched without any fanfare in January 2011, the Antenna TV network is a dream for baby boomers with fond memoris of shows from the 60s and 70s. The network doesn't require cable service and is available for you few hold-outs still using rabbit ears. The network presents (relatively) few commercials and is largely devoid of those annoying, omnipresent logos that eradicate most of what is taking place on screen. They also show credits and ending theme songs in their entirety without squeezing them into the side of the screen to make room for more station promos. Among the shows the station telecasts are some that have not been widely-seen in recent years such as The Monkees, Maude, The Flying Nun, Father Knows Best, Gidget, Benny Hill, The Partridge Family, Hazel, Here Come the Brides and overdoses of The Three Stooges. They also combine telecasts of relatively recent feature films with older movies such as Billy the Kid Vs. Dracula and Cold Turkey. Click here to visit the web site and see if the station is available in your area.

Kirk Douglas in Spartacus: hasn't he earned the right to be called a Hollywood legend?

Writer Tom Alderman points out that Elizabeth Taylor was widely referred to as the last Hollywood legend. In fact, there are numerous others who are still alive and kicking, ranging from Maureen O'Hara and Mickey Rooney to Kirk Douglas. Alderman says the mass media engages in sloppy research, which is then emulated by numerous other outlets. Click here to read

"Nessie", the so-called Loch Ness Monster, has inspired numerous horror films, novels and documentaries. The Scottish legend has also been the subject of some of the world's most effective hoaxes. Click here to read about them, along with some of the other more creative hoaxes that some gullible people throughout the world still insist are genuine. 

For any guy who feels frustrated that they might never be able to date a James Bond girl, you might take some satisfaction in having them in 12" form. Mattel has introduced a line of commemorative James Bond girl Barbies. Here is the official product description:

Barbie goes Bond! Barbie can do just about anything, and now she's got her sights set on the world's top secret agent: Bond, James Bond! What better way to celebrate the long-running film franchise than with this series of dolls depicting the legendary 'Bond Girls'? Collect them all! Dolls stand about 11 1/2-inches tall. This set of 3 individually packaged dolls includes (subject to change): 1x Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore from Goldfinger 1x Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder from Dr. No 1x Halle Berry as Jinx from Die Another Day This daring and captivating assortment includes three Bond Girl favorites! The Goldfinger Barbie Doll features pilot Pussy Galore, all geared up and ready to help 007 thwart Goldfinger's evil plan while wearing a fitted black suit with golden vest. The very first Bond Girl, Honey Ryder, was cool, confident, and completely unforgettable. This Dr. No Barbie Doll pays tribute to a memorable scene from the film as she's dressed in a white, belted swimsuit with a shell-diver knife and sheath. Brave, bold, and beautiful, Jinx was pure luck for James Bond. The Die Another Day Barbie Doll wears an orange bikini inspired by the one Bond first spies her in as she exits the ocean.

Click here to order the set of three dolls from Amazon

In a development that may delight or disgust fans of director Ridley Scott's 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner, Alcon Entertainment has announced it has acquired rights to sequels and prequels to the Harrison Ford starrer that bombed in its initial release. The film was re-edited by Scott and later gained critical acclaim as well as a loyal fan following. Alcon promises to do justice to the legacy of the film, but also indicates the company is exploring various "platforms" for the new versions beyond theatrical features. In Hollywood-speak that means everything from games to TV series. For more click here

Farley Granger, the dashing star of stage and screen, has died at age 85. Granger was best known for his leading roles in two Alfred Hitchcock classics of the 1940s: Strangers on a Train and Rope. In the former, he memorably played a character who jokes with another man (Robert Walker) about mutually murdering a troublesome person in each other's lives. His life becomes a nightmare when the man takes him seriously and commits murder on his behalf- and expects him to do the same. The handsome and erudite Granger often played romantic leads and engaged in whirlwind affairs with famous actresses. However, in his 2007 autobiography, he revealed he was bi-sexual and had been living with his male partner since the 1960s. For more click here

Click here for a clever quiz that allows you to identify drawings of famous movie props. See if you can get a high score by using your knowledge of classic cinema.