On this date in 1963, Stanley Kramer's all-star Cinerama comedy "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" opened at the Cinerama Dome Theatre in Los Angeles. The film represents what people mean when they say "They don't make 'em like that anymore!"

Here's the original trailer for one of the greatest espionage movies of all time: director Martin Ritt's acclaimed 1965 screen adaptation of John LeCarre's international bestseller "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold". At the height of the James Bond-inspired spy craze, Ritt's film presented the dark, ugly and non-glamorous side of espionage. Richard Burton received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his brilliant performance as the weary, cynical spy who is disgusted by his profession but finds he can't leave it. 

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When we think of the 1969 Oscar winner "Midnight Cowboy", chances are Harry Nilsson's "Everybody's Talkin'" comes to mind, as the song played a key part in setting the tone and atmosphere of the film, even though it was not written for the movie. United Artists made a deal to include it in the film.  John Barry's moody, haunting main theme for the movie is one of the great composer's best works. If you need to be reminded why, you can relish the song again in this video montage.

From TCM: "In this episode of Film 101, we're focusing on three from the charming duo of Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant--Bringing Up Baby (1938), Holiday (1938), and The Philadelphia Story (1940).” 

The segment also goes into the draconian decency rules that were imposed on older films and how studios managed to get around topics such as sex and infidelity.  

Once again we visit the archive pages of the New York Times to celebrate an abundance of fine movies that were all playing in theaters simultaneously. In this case, the precise date was February 2, 1967. Among the gems: "A Fistful of Dollars" (just opened), "The Quiller Memorandum", "Is Paris Burning?", "Georgy Girl", "A Man for All Seasons", "Gambit", "Night of the Generals", "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", "The Sand Pebbles", "The Bible", "Hawaii", "Alfie", "The Blue Max", "The Deadly Affair", "Blow-up" and perennial favorite "The Sound of Music". 

With the Three Stooges hit movie putting the original boys back in the limelight, the New York Times takes a look at the underrated character actors who often bore the brunt of Moe, Larry, Curly and Shemp's destructive antics. Click here to read 

By Lee Pfeiffer

Although the practice is all but obsolete today, for decades radio spots were used to promote new films to American audiences. For many of us, this was an era where you felt like your social status had improved immeasurably if your latest used car had the ability to pick up FM radio stations, even if the vehicle could be relied upon to break down several times a week. Radio spots generally ran in a variety of lengths ranging from 60 seconds to 10 seconds. Because they lacked visual elements, the producers of the tracks often used sensationalistic tactics to gain the attention of listeners, often stressing the most comedic or shocking elements of the film depending upon its subject matter. As with all things nostalgic, there is a passionate interest in radio spots among some retro movie fans who collect the vinyl discs. Most were released on 45 RPM but in earlier versions from the 1950s,  they were usually on 33 1/3" records.

Here is an original 1973 radio spot for William Friedkin's "The Exorcist".

Presented in two parts, here is an appearance by Clint Eastwood on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" from 1973. In the first segment, Eastwood discusses having to fill in for an absent Charlton Heston at the Oscars and also discusses making the "Man with No Name" films in Spain.

In the second segment, Eastwood joins in a comical debate about pigs and horses and makes some comments about the violence in his films.

Ed Sullivan usually concentrated on inviting performers to appear on his top-rated Sunday night TV show. But Kirk Douglas wasn't a comedian, singer or dancer. Yet, because he was an old friend of Ed's with roots in the same hometown, Ed invited him on his show to plug his new film, the impressive but ill-fated "Cast a Giant Shadow".

Sam Peckinpah made some great movies but even the best of them were often associated with unpleasant aspects during production and in the release of the films. Peckinpah's maverick personality, hard drinking and drug use resulted in big problems with studio brass. Sometimes his films would be severely edited against his wishes. By 1974, Peckinpah's personal problems were worsening, as were his relationships with the studios.  Yet, he found great satisfaction with his bizarre crime film "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia". The movie received mixed reviews at the time and wasn't a major hit, but Peckinpah enjoyed the rare artistic freedom he was given by the studio to make the film his way. The movie has since become a cult favorite among retro movie fans- and even if it doesn't appeal to you, it's never boring and you can relish Peckinpah pal Warren Oates in a rare starring role. (Lee Pfeiffer)

Remember the gloriously cheesy 1967 James Bond spoof Operation Kid Brother? It starred Sean Connery's younger brother Neil in an attempt to capitalize on the 007 craze. The bizarre film did boast some first-rate talent including an assortment of alumni from the "real" Bond movies including Daniela Bianchi, Adolfo Celi, Anthony Dawson, Lois Maxwell and Bernard Lee (the latter two blatantly recreating their "M"/Monepenny relationship). The film is fun and represents a guilty pleasure. It also includes a catchy theme song by Ennio Morricone, yes, that Ennio Morricone! Making the situation even stranger is that Neil Connery (who is badly dubbed in the movie) is referred to as "Connery"! (For an 8-page report on the making of the film, including an interview with Neil Connery, see Cinema Retro issue #12). The trailer presented here is appropriately of grind house quality. The film was released in different countries under different titles including "O.K. Connery!", the name of the opening song. The film has never received a quality home video release, having been relegated to bargain basement labels. However, the good news is that it is streaming on Amazon Prime. The print used is probably the best presentation of the movie you will find.

Steve Martin was a staff writer for "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" on CBS in 1968 when he was afforded an opportunity to perform on camera as an inept magician. The rest is history...

(To view in a larger format, click on "Watch on YouTube".)

Here's the original 1980 trailer for "Superman II", a rare sequel that was embraced with the enthusiasm of the original.

Here's a funky 1965 version of Dimitri Tiomkin's theme from the 1961 WWII classic "The Guns of Navarone", recorded as a dance tune by the Jamaican band The Skatalites!

From the New York Times archive: movies playing in Gotham on May 11, 1967: "Hombre", "The Sand Pebbles", "Alfie", "Grand Prix", "Two for the Road", "Hawaii", "Blow-Up", "Casino Royale" and "The Bible", among others. Those were the days!

From the New York Times archives: movies playing in Manhattan on October 5, 1962.

By Lee Pfeiffer

If there is any doubt that Richard Burton was one of the world's great orators, just experience this marvelous clip from a testimonial event for Frank Sinatra. I became mesmerized by Burton and his inimitable speaking style when I was just seven years-old. My parents took me to see Burton and Peter O'Toole in "Becket", a talky, non-action film that greatly impressed me largely because of Burton's command of the screen.  A few months later, my parents took me to see John Huston's film version of "The Night of the Iguana".  Like "Becket", an adaptation of a quirky Tennessee Williams play was hardly deemed to be popular fare for a young kid, but fortunately my parents never followed the norms when it came to exposing me to a wide range of cinematic fare. Richard Burton's skills as an actor fascinated me at this early age and my enthusiasm for his work only increased over the years from his triumphant performance in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" through some of his lesser films, which he always elevated the quality of. I did have the pleasure of seeing him on stage in the revival of "Camelot" at Lincoln Center in the early 1980s. It was a truly a thrill to experience his work in a live theater setting.

In this beautifully written and delivered tribute to Frank Sinatra's humanitarian work, it's all there on display.

In this 1997 appearance on American comedian Conan O'Brien's chat show, Richard Harris demonstrates why he was regarded not only as a great actor but perhaps the film industry's wittiest raconteur. Here, Harris- in his inimitable style- covers his penchant for excessive drinking and the tales involve Peter O'Toole, a private detective and "MacBeth"!

In this January, 1976 episode of "The Tonight Show", Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon experience a surprise visit from John Wayne, who was about to start filming his final movie "The Shootist".

Warner Bros. provides this half-hour documentary about the making of director Ridley Scott's science fiction classic, which was considered to be a boxoffice disappointment when it opened in 1982.

Here's a blast from the past: a spoof of "Becket" if it had starred Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton, Richard Harris and Katharine Hepburn, all courtesy of the Second City TV cast.

In this clip from the 1970 Academy Awards ceremony honoring films from 1969, glamorous Elizabeth Taylor announces the controversial choice of "Midnight Cowboy" as the Best Picture, the only X-rated film to be so honored. Producer Jerome Hellman gives one of the shortest acceptance speeches on record, using his time to thank United Artists head of production David V. Picker, who provided financial backing for the film when other studios wouldn't.

Kevin Costner's "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves" was a major hit in 1991, though enthusiasm for the film has not been especially enduring over the ensuing years. Nevertheless, at the time of initial release, there was a line of officially licensed toys. Here's a vintage advertisement for the Robin Hood action figures and Sherwood Forest play set.

Here is a brief newsreel of the festivities taking place at the 1962 New York premiere of MGM's "Mutiny on the Bounty", a magnificent epic even though there were almost impossible obstacles to overcome in bringing it to the big screen. (See Cinema Retro's Movie Classics roadshow epics issue for full coverage). Despite causing controversies during filming, Marlon Brando was induced to attend the premiere, a practice he was usually adverse to. Note the theater marquee across the street showing John Frankenheimer's "The Manchurian Candidate".

In this vintage clip from "The Dick Cavett Show", Henry Fonda discusses his rare screen appearance as a villain in Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West", a film that was underappreciated in its day but which many now consider to be a masterpiece. Surprisingly, Cavett, who is one of the best-informed and astute interviewers, is unaware of the film's existence.

Here's the 1973 trailer for the second of five Dirty Harry films starring Clint Eastwood, "Magnum Force". It was an era for renegade cop movies. Only a couple of months later, John Wayne's "McQ" would open, which also featured our hero battling corruption in the police department. 

Here is rare footage from the 1962 Oscars ceremony in which the winners for Best Original Screenplay and Adapted Screenplay are awarded by "Days of Wine and Roses" co-stars Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon.

In this vintage clip from the April 28, 1968 "Ed Sullivan Show", Richard Harris reprises his performance of "Camelot". Harris has played King Arthur in the big-budget film version the previous year and would go on to appear in various productions in live theater throughout his career.

 This portion of the movie section from a 1966 edition of The New York Times indicates just a portion of how many fine movies were in release during a single week. Among them: "The Ipcress File", "Thunderball", "Darling", "The Hill", "The Slender Thread", "A Patch of Blue", "Bunny Lake is Missing", "Viva Maria!", "The Pawnbroker" and a Beatles double feature: "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!". Those really were the days!

In this excerpt from the 1975 Academy Awards broadcast, director Howard Hawks receives a lifetime achievement Oscar, presented (fittingly enough) by John Wayne. Curiously, Wayne cites all of the films that he collaborated with Hawks on but by accident or design omits their final collaboration, "Rio Lobo" from 1970. Given the fact that the film was made only a few years before this presentation, it's a puzzling omission. Nevertheless, Hawks lives up to his reputation as a quiet, humble man of few words.

Turner Classic Movies presents "Gangster Movies and the Legacy of Warner Brothers".\

As Warner Bros. celebrates its 100th anniversary, we examine the studio's key role in the creation of the gangster genre with classics like 'Little Caesar' (1931) and 'The Public Enemy' (1931) and how they connect to the studio's modern efforts like 'Goodfellas' (1990) and 'The Departed' (2006).

In this clip from an American Film Institute interview, Robin Williams recalls the influence of Peter Sellers in "Dr. Strangelove".

In this lighthearted but highly informative short, Turner Classic Movies recalls the rise and fall of the "B" movie, a genre which has regained popularity in recent years with retro movie buffs.  

In this TCM segment, film critics analyze director Herbert Ross's classic, all-star murder mystery "The Last of Sheila" starring Raquel Welch, James Coburn, Dyan Cannon, James Mason and Richard Benjamin- with a screenplay by Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins!.

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Here's what Boxoffice magazine said about the Rat Pack Western spoof of "Gunga Din", "Sergeants 3" in February, 1962. 

In this insightful article, writer Chris Nashawaty examines how "Airplane!" bucked the competition to become one of the biggest hits released in 1980. Surely, no one saw it coming- and don't call us "Shirley"!

Click here to read.

From the pages of the New York Times archives. Here's a sampling of what was playing in Gotham during the glorious summer of 1972.

In these American Film Institute interview excerpts, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis discuss their experiences starring in Billy Wilder's 1959 comedy classic "Some Like It Hot".

In this episode of Film 101, we're tracing the evolution of this particular set piece. Join us as we look at what Bullitt (1986), The French Connection (1971), and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) have to say about the characters behind the wheel.

Here is the original 1975 trailer for Stanley Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon", widely acclaimed by critics as one of his best films. Although highly acclaimed, it wasn't financially successful at the time due to the extravagant production costs. Some critics griped that it was too slow moving, but that's the beauty of the production. Most of the critical establishment hailed the film, some calling it a masterpiece.  In the comments section, a viewer notes that the trailer contains some differences from the final release version. This is probably true, as trailers must be released long before the finished film and Kubrick was known to make changes in his films almost up to the moment of release.

Here's a clip from director John Sturges 1974 crime thriller, "McQ", representing the only time the legendary director worked with the legendary John Wayne. At least they produced a top-notch action film. 

In an era in which movies were defined by super cool heroes, none were cooler than Richard Roundtree as John Shaft, seen here bantering with Charles Cioffi,  who should have been carried over to the sequels. They had great rapport defined by mutual ball-busting humor. 

These images were culled from the pages of the New York Times' February 6, 1969 edition. What a time it was, with so many eclectic films playing simulataneouosly. Enjoy this trip down memory lane.

With the passing of Jim Brown, it seems appropriate to revisit his show-stopping final scene in the 1967 classic "The Dirty Dozen" that incorporated his athletic skills into his final act of cinematic heroics in the film.

Here is a 60 second radio spot commercial promoting director Terence Young's 1972 screen adaptation of the bestselling book "The  Valachi Papers" starring Charles Bronson.

Enjoy James Coburn's star-making scene from John Sturges' 1960 classic "The Magnificent Seven". His unfortunate nemesis is Robert J. Wilke. The film cemented Coburn as the epitome of the screen hero who was short on words and long on action.

John Wayne only directed two films- "The Alamo" and "The Green Berets". Both were passion projects for him, though he certainly had a challenge with "The Alamo", an epic production in which he was reluctantly obligated to also star. To some, the film is a great American epic, to others it's simplified history loaded down with corny dialogue. But no one can dispute that when it came to the logistics of staging the climactic battle scene, Wayne did an outstanding job. In this clip, Wayne, Richard Widmark and Laurence Harvey initiate the action through a simple act involving a canon and a cigar.

It's always fun to look back on how retro films were regarded by critics at the time of their initial release. Here is the evaluation of Frank Sinatra's 1967 hit "Tony Rome" as written by a new, upcoming film critic named Roger Ebert!

Click here to read.

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Here's the original 1964 trailer for "A Hard Day's Night". Most people thought the Beatles would be the latest flash-in-the-pan novelty act and the film would be the equivalent of a beach movie designed for fast playoff for teenage audiences. However, director Richard Lester brought to the screen a true musical/comedy classic that was one of the most revolutionary films of its era. 

Here is the original 1969 U.S. trailer for director Brian G. Hutton's WWII classic "Where Eagles Dare" starring Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood and Mary Ure. 

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