Joe Dante's Trailers From Hell web site presents the original theatrical trailer for MGM's bizarre sex comedy/murder mystery Pretty Maids All in Row. The 1971 film remains one of the most sexist and politically incorrect movies ever released by a major studio. Rock Hudson stars as a horny high school coach who has the pick of the litter in terms of gorgeous and willing schoolgirls. His amorous activities are compromised when someone starts killing off his bed mates. The film, directed by Roger Vadim, features a stellar cast including Angie Dickinson, Roddy McDowall, Telly Savalas and Keenan Wynn. On the Trailers From Hell site, director John Landis provides some amusing insights about the movie. Click here to view
Click here to enjoy an array of classic trailers from the best films of Ernest Borgnine, including From Here to Eternity, Marty, Bad Day at Black Rock, The Dirty Dozen, The Wild Bunch and The Poseidon Adventure.
We're admirers of Stanley Kubrick's 1987 film Full Metal Jacket, even if the post-boot camp half doesn't come anywhere near the power of the film's early scenes. R. Lee Ermey, a real life drill instructor, gives one of the most terrifying performances ever committed to the silver screen. Astonishingly, he wasn't even nominated for an Oscar. Click here to find out some truly interesting trivia about this film
Charlton Heston and Maurice Evans in the original Planet of the Apes.
The web site Cable TV Providers (yes, that's really the name!) has another interesting article examining major films that significantly changed the plots of the source novels upon which they are based. From I Am Legend to Jaws, The Poseidon Adventure and Planet of the Apes, you'll be surprised at the major plot points excluded or changed in the transition from printed page to silver screen. Click here for more
The recent passing of Andy Griffith has brought new appreciation of his incredible performance as one of the screen's greatest villains: charismatic country singer Lonesome Rhodes in Elia Kazan's brilliant 1958 film A Face in the Crowd. Click here to view original trailer along with a link to James Wolcott's excellent 2007 Vanity Fair.
The Huffington Post has compiled a completely subjective listing of the fifteen funniest movie villains of all time. As with most of these lists, the writer seems to think that the film industry began in the 1980s, but there are still some inspired and offbeat choices. Click here to view
Has any legendary movie star had a more fitting and moving big screen swan song than John Wayne did in the classic 1976 Western The Shootist? The Duke gave a superb performance as an aging, dying gunfighter who finds one last bit of glory in his final days. He was surrounded by his old friends and co-stars including such greats as Lauren Bacall, James Stewart, John Carradine, Richard Boone and Hugh O'Brian- not to mention fine performances by Ron Howard, Scatman Crothers, Harry Morgan and others. All this, plus Don Siegel directing and Elmer Bernstein composing the score. They really don't make 'em like this any more!
