In John Frankenheimer's superb 1965 film The Train, one of the last major studio movies shot in black and white, Burt Lancaster plays a railroad worker coerced into joining the French Resistance to stop a train that contains the nation's great art treasures. A German general (Paul Scofield) is attempting to loot these masterpieces and bring them to Berlin in the closing days of WWII. Watch the original trailer here.
Okay, the following clip from The Jingle Bells Affair, which aired in December 1966, had plenty of cringe-inducing moments since it aired during The Man From U.N.C.L.E's notoriously campy third season. (The series would regain its mojo the next year, but by then it was too late: the show was cancelled in mid-season). Still, this episode has a goofy, charming quality about it. Akim Tamiroff plays the Communist party chairman who visits New York on a contentious diplomatic mission. Thanks to the intrusion of THRUSH, he ends up relying on Solo and Illya to protect him. Throw in a virginal Salvation Army girl, a cornball sub-plot about a sick kid, a naked commercial pitch for Macy's and the least believable final sequence in the show's history (with the Chairman expressing a wish to be the store's new Santa Claus!) and you have all the elements that outraged the show's fans at the time. Yet, in the spirit of Christmas, it's hard to be a Scrooge after so many years have passed...and there is something reassuring about having Robert Vaughn and David McCallum wishing us all a Merry Christmas.
At the risk of being drawn and quartered, I have to say that, with all due respect to the magnificent Alastair Sim, my favorite version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol is the wonderful 1984 TV production starring George C. Scott in a magnificent, Emmy-nominated performance as Scrooge. The film features many other excellent actors and performances including Frank Finlay, Edward Woodward, Susannah York, David Warner, Angela Pleasence, Nigel Davenport and Michael Gough- all under the inspired direction of Clive Donner. Scott's performance is every bit as impressive as that of Sim, who has basically owned the role since appearing in the 1951 big screen version, which is alternately titled Scrooge. For a great double feature, watch these two films back-to-back. In the meantime, however, sit back and enjoy this full length presentation of George C. Scott in A Christmas Carol.
Click here to watch the action-packed original trailer for the John Wayne cop film Brannigan from 1975. We still prefer the more serious McQ, but this one has some delightful moments and great chemistry between the Duke and Richard Attenborough. We also love the poster art...check out the artist's inside joke of including James Coburn in an Our Man Flint pose among the pub brawlers!
If one of the great trivia questions among retro movie lover is to name the cast members of The Magnificent Seven, the outcome is generally predictable. Six of the cast either were either established stars (Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen) while the others would go on to stardom in large part because of film's success (Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, James Coburn, Horst Bucholz). There's generally that one guy no one can name: the actor who played Harry, the genial, but opportunistic fortune hunter. He was played by Brad Dexter, who went on to become a successful film producer. Click here to read an interesting account of his life and career.
Joe Dante's addictive Trailers from Hell site presents the original trailer for John Huston's kinky Southern Gothic sex drama Reflections in a Golden Eye with Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Brian Keith, Robert Forster and Julie Harris. Director Dan Ireland provides insightful commentary on the trailer and points out that the haunting film was far ahead of its time. In fact, it's shocking even by today's standards. Click here to view
