Director Sofia Coppola's revisionist version of the 1971 production of "The Beguiled" is winning critical raves.This has inspired writer Mike Scott of the Times-Picayune to look back at the original version of the film which was shot at a historic plantation near Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1970. The film marked the third collaboration between newly-minted superstar Clint Eastwood and his mentor, director Don Siegel. The article provides some very rare on set photos and an overview of the gothic Civil War drama that bombed when it was first released, though its stature has increased among film scholars in the ensuing decades. Eastwood fans who have never seen the movie are advised to do so. It represents a major achievement in his early acting career and he also plays an unsympathetic character, a rarity for him. Click here to read.
For an in-depth look at the film, order Cinema Retro's special issue "The American Westerns of Clint Eastwood" by clicking here.
Writing for the Film Comment web site, Mark Harris revisits how Antonioni's "Blow-up" helped usher in a bold new era of moviemaking even as it divided audiences. Some felt it was a work of genius while some mainstream moviegoers demanded refunds at the boxoffice. Nevertheless, this much is certain: the film was instrumental in marking a new era of screen realism and sexual freedom from its opening frames to its much-debated final scene.
The Guardian has rounded up an eclectic group of directors to weigh in on their own personal choices for the greatest film scenes ever shot. They range from the skeleton battle in "Jason and the Argonauts" to the car chase in "The French Connection". Click here to read the justifications for their choices.
Watch the original trailer for producer Euan Lloyd's superb 1978 adventure film "The Wild Geese". It's as sensational as the movie itself even if it falls into the common problem of divulging too many key scenes and plot points. They really don't make 'em like this any more!
CLICK HERE TO READ OUR REVIEW OF THE "THE WILD GEESE" BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION
Thanks to Nick Sheffo of Fulvue Drive-in web site for alerting us to this 23 minute compilation of American TV ads from the year 1977. It's a fun hodgepodge hawking everything from Ford Pintos (fire extinguishers not included!) to celebrities: Jack Nicklaus pitching American Express cards ("Don't leave home without it!"), Caroline Munro oozing over Noxema shaving cream, George Lazenby as a thinly-veiled James Bond being introduced to Sony hi-tech gadgets in a clever 007 spoof, James Garner and Mariette Hartley in one of their popular ads for Polaroid cameras, inimitable character actor Anthony James giving an endorsement to Mobile 1 motor oil, actor Paul Burke for Radio Shack, Cicely Tyson for RCA color TVs, James Coburn in cowboy gear shilling for Schlitz beer and Ed McMahon endorsing Budweiser (yes, in those days, first-rate talents could promote third-rate beers.) Best of all, there's dear ol' O.J. Simpson, promoting Hertz, dashing through an airport at top speed- well at least faster than he moved in his slow-mo car chase. Coincidentally, another future "Husband of the Year" and murder suspect, the poor man's Brando, Robert Blake, turns up promoting STP auto additive. The ads are chock full of girls with Farrah hairdos, guys with wide colors and polyester suits, the miracles of cassette tape recorders, the Betamax and cars large enough in size to have fit comfortably in the Battle of the Bulge. Too bad they don't feature that other great innovation of the 1970s- canned wine.
With all the controversial films that were released in the 1960s it's hard to imagine that "The Sound of Music" (yes, that "Sound of Music") would have emerged as the center of a protest. However, in this case the protests weren't against the film itself but rather that it represented too much of a good thing. Turns out that by the time the film hit its 53rd week at the Moorhead Theater in Moorhead, Minnesota, the students at Minnesota State University had enough of nuns and Nazis-- they just wanted a new movie to play in the town's theater. What's truly remarkable isn't just that "The Sound of Music" instigated a student protest but that there was an era in which a theater could still reap profits from the 53rd consecutive week showing the same movie. Our crack team of researchers hasn't been able to find out if the student's demands were met and if "The Sound of Music" went on to play at the Moorhead Theater. The people we feel most sorry for are the theater staff. Can you imagine being an usher and seeing the same film several times a day for over a year???-
The Bob Crane estate has posted an amusing collection of behind the scenes bloopers from "Hogan's Heroes" featuring mishaps, blown lines and a particularly uncooperative cigar lighter!
