Oscar-nominated director Norman Jewison has passed away at age 97. Born in Canada, he served in the Canadian navy in WWII. He made his mark in Hollywood in the mid-1960s. His first directorial effort, the romantic comedy "40 Pounds of Trouble" starring Tony Curtis was a hit. This led to him directing Doris Day and James Garner in "The Thrill of It All", one of the most popular movies of 1963. More hit comedies followed including "Send Me No Flowers" with Doris Day and Rock Hudson and the all-star production of "The Art of Love". Jewison got his first opportunity to direct a drama when the mercurially-tempered Sam Peckinpah was fired from "The Cincinnati Kid" starring Steve McQueen in 1965. Jewison stepped in to replace him, earning critical praise. A string of very popular and diverse films followed including the classic Cold War comedy "The Russians are Coming. The Russians are Coming", the racially-tinged crime drama "In the Heat of the Night" which won the Best Picture Oscar and the classic crime caper "The Thomas Crown Affair". Jewison was hoping to cast Sean Connery in the lead role but was persuaded by Steve McQueen to give him the part because McQueen very much wanted to prove he could play a sophisticated rogue. The film was a major hit and spawned a popular 1999 remake starring Pierce Brosnan.
Jewison's diversity as a filmmaker was illustrated by his direction of the high profile 1971 musical "Fiddler on the Roof", based on the Broadway stage production. Jewison was amused when, upon being hired, he confessed to the United Artists brass that he not Jewish, despite his surname. The irony of him directing the ultimate Jewish musical was not lost on the executives who were Jewish. They believed Jewison could be entrusted with the film and it proved to be a major hit in an era in which many other big-budget musicals had flopped. Jewison was nominated for the Best Director Oscar and would be nominated again for the 1987 smash hit comedy "Moonstruck" starring Cher, who did win an Oscar for the film. Not all of Jewison's films were successful critically and at the boxoffice. Among those that didn't meet expectations were "F.I.S.T." and the screen adaptation of "Jesus Christ, Superstar". His futuristic thriller "Rollerball" under-performed in 1975 but has developed a loyal following in the ensuing years. The political satire "And Justice for All" was well-received as was the film adaptation of the play "A Soldier's Story" but most of his other films were not especially successful critically or commercially, although his 1999 production of "The Hurricane" saw Denzel Washington nab a Best Actor nomination in the true life story of former boxer "Hurricane" Carter, who waged a long campaign to prove that he was unjustly jailed for murder. Jewison's film was a lightning rod for controversy. Carter's supporters welcomed the sympathetic portrayal of him as a victim of a racist justice system. Others accused Jewison of being naive and ignoring considerable evidence that Carter was guilty. Either way, Jewison proved he could still stir things up on the big screen. His last big screen feature film was the little-seen "The Statement" starring Michael Caine.
Norman Jewison was a consummate professional who was respected by his peers and appreciated by movie fans worldwide. He was an early contributor to Cinema Retro and we join film lovers around the globe in mourning his passing. For more, click here.
Joyce Randolph, the last remaining cast member of the classic American sitcom "The Honeymooners", has passed away at her New York City home at age 99. She is survived by her son Randy. Regardless of your age, if you grew up in America over the last seven decades, you were exposed to her work on the sitcom, which is iconic in the nation's pop culture. The show was the brainchild of Jackie Gleason who portrayed New York City bus driver Ralph Kramden, bringing to the show elements of his own humble upbringing in Brooklyn. His wife Alice was played by Audrey Meadows and his best friend, sewer worker Ed Norton, was played by Art Carney with Joyce Randolph appearing as his wife Trixie. The concept for the series began as periodic sketches on Gleason's variety show before spinning off as a weekly sitcom. Gleason only did one season despite the success of the series and the episodes became known to fans as "The Classic 39". Gleason would revive "The Honeymooners" as musical sketches in his 1960s variety series. However, he recast the roles of Alice and Trixie, which did not sit well with fans. Additionally, seeing the characters outside of their dank, tiny Brooklyn apartment and now in living color, also dissipated enjoyment of the revival. In an era in which most female characters were portrayed as mothers who were accepting that husband was the head of the household, "The Honeymooners" went against the grain. For one, both the Kramdens and Nortons never had children, a rarity for the era. Additionally, both Alice and Trixie were not compliant housewives. They challenged their husbands, sometimes in screaming matches, and generally ended up getting their way.
(Joyce attended Cinema Retro's 2016 tribute to Barbara Feldon at Theatre 80 St. Marks in New York. (Photo: Lee Pfeiffer/Cinema Retro)).
Joyce was a personal friend of mine for many years. On numerous occasions I interviewed her at some of New York's legendary arts clubs including The Players and The Lambs. During these appearances, I would interview her about her memories of the series and it was always in front of a full house. She was gracious, funny and a marvelous storyteller. After her husband Richard Charles died in 1997, Joyce continued to be a fixture on Gotham's social circuit, often holding court at the famous bar at Sardi's. Joyce said that while she liked Jackie Gleason, he was difficult to work with as an actor because he only did one rehearsal before the cast had to film each episode before a live audience. She once griped to me that Gleason had a photographic memory when it came to reading the scripts but had little sympathy for his cast mates who did not. She also felt she was very underpaid compared to her co-stars. She told me that many years later, she got even with Gleason when he was marketing the "lost" episodes of "The Honeymooners", which were previously missing sketches of varying lengths from his 1950s variety show. Gleason called her and asked her to sign a release so the shows could be telecast and also marketed on video. Joyce said, "I gave Jackie a piece of my mind" and told him she had been woefully underpaid. If Gleason needed her permission this time, he would have to meet her price. The Great One backed down and relented.
"The Honeymooners": Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, Art Carney and Joyce Randolph.
(Photo: Cinema Retro Archive)
One of my fondest memories was accompanying Joyce to a musical stage version of "The Honeymooners" some years ago at the Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey. She very much enjoyed being the center of attention for the press. Fans pressed to get near her and of course many of them tossed out iconic one-liners from the show. Having lived a good, long life, it's hard to say that Joyce has left us prematurely. However, New York won't be quite as much fun as it was when she was making the rounds in the city. I miss her already.
Once again, Turner Classic Movies has created a beautiful and moving video montage of those stars and filmmakers we lost during the year. Every year deprives us of irreplaceable and diverse talents, as the video fully illustrates. Doubtless, you'll have been unaware that some of these revered people had passed away. Their work, however, will be relevant for as long as there is cinema.
Actor and singer David Soul has passed away at age 80. Soul had a long career. The Chicago native got his first big break with a co-starring role in the TV sitcom "Here Come the Brides", which was inspired by "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". His supporting role opposite Clint Eastwood in the 1973 Dirty Harry film "Magnum Force" led to him co-starring with Paul Michael Glaser in the iconic 1970s TV series "Starsky and Hutch" with the two actors portraying hip, wise-cracking and rule-breaking detectives. In 1977, Soul, who was also an accomplished singer, had a #1 hit with "Don't Give Up On Us, Baby". He would record five albums. In the 1990s, he moved to England, where he enjoyed success on stage and screen. For more, click here.
Tom Smothers of the famed comedy duo The Smothers Brothers, has passed away at 86. Early reports indicate he was suffering from cancer. Along with his younger brother Dick, he became an icon of American comedy in the 1960s. The duo started off spoofing the blossoming folk music scene and incorporating it into their standup act, which quickly drew packed houses. In 1967, the brothers were signed by CBS for their own Sunday night show "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour". Despite their physical appearance as short-haired, squeaky clean squares, the brothers used the clout of their successful show to emphasize political humor. It made for "must-see" TV in an era defined by the protest movements over racial injustice and the Vietnam War. CBS began to get anxious when conservative viewers complained that the political humor was going to far. Although Tom Smothers was a self-defined liberal, the brothers satirized both Republicans and Democrats. As with any incumbent President, Lyndon. B. Johnson was often the prime target, as the brothers vehemently opposed his Vietnam War policies. In one instance, the President himself called CBS to complain about how he was being portrayed. In 1967, CBS deleted a performance by Pete Seeger of his thinly-veiled anti-Vietnam War song, "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy". Tom Smothers and his brother were not intimidated and continued the barbed humor when Richard Nixon was inaugurated as President in January, 1969. The brothers showcased impersonator David Frye, whose satirical portrayal of Nixon was as amusing as it was controversial, even though Frye had also satirized President Johnson in an equally barbed manner. By then, CBS had enough of the controversy and canceled the show that April. Officially, the reason was over a dispute about a preview tape of the next show that the network said Tom had not delivered, an accusation he always denied. The brothers sued the network and won the case. Although they were awarded sizeable damages, the show could not be revived.
As with Ed Sullivan, whose variety show also aired on CBS on Sunday nights, the brothers used their image as squares for comedic effect. But, also like Sullivan, they proved to be the hippest guys around when it came to showcasing emerging talents in the rock and soul music world. It was an era in which teenagers would actually stay home to watch variety shows if it gave them a chance to see their favorite groups perform. The brothers also had a talent for finding other young talent. Their staff of writers included newcomers Steve Martin, Rob Reiner and Mason Williams, whose instrumental song "Classical Gas" would become a late-1960s hit. Even Carl Gottlieb, who went on to write the screenplay for "Jaws", started as a writer on the show. They also showcased promising comedy acts such as George Carlin and Pat Paulsen, whose quixotic tongue-in-cheek run for President in the 1968 election made him a pop culture phenomenon at the time.
For more, click here. For in-depth coverage of Smothers' life and career, click here for Washington Post coverage. (May require subscription.)
Ryan O'Neal, the star of "Love Story" and "Barry Lyndon", has died from unspecified causes at the age of 82. He had been experiencing health issues since being diagnosed with leukemia and prostate cancer over a decade ago. O'Neal learned the craft of acting on his own, never having taken a lesson. He entered the film industry as a teenager, performing stunts. In 1964 he received his first major role, starring in "Peyton Place", the successful TV series based on the hit feature film and its sequel. His career went into high gear when he was cast with another up-and-coming actor, Ali MacGraw, in the 1970 screen adaptation of Eric Segal's bestselling novel "Love Story". Segal had adapted his own screenplay to form the basis of the wafer-thin novel about a doomed romance between a young couple at Harvard University. The novel sold millions and paved the way for Paramount's big screen version, which was both a critical and financial success. O'Neal and MacGraw both earned Oscar nominations. O'Neal's post-Oscar career skyrocketed and he worked in with some of the industry's top directors including Richard Attenborough, Peter Bogdanovich and Stanley Kubrick, who raised eyebrows by casting the American actor in the leading role in his opulent 1975 epic "Barry Lyndon". The film won enormous acclaim but much of it didn't rub off on O'Neal, as some critics voiced the opinion that Kubrick, who was not known as an "actor's director" had cast him simply because he was a bland screen presence who wouldn't distract from the more spectacular aspects of the production. Nevertheless, O'Neal had been riding high with hits like "What's Up, Doc?", in which he co-starred with Barbra Streisand, "The Main Event"and "Paper Moon", in which he starred with his pre-teen daughter Tatum, who became the youngest actor to receive an Oscar. O'Neal also had a major role in Attenborough's 1977 WWII epic "A Bridge Too Far". His misfires included the starring
role in an ill-fated 1978 big screen sequel to "Love Story" titled
"Oliver's Story" which he personally denounced as "a complete-off" that
he did for the money.One of his last major big screen hits was "The Main Event" in 1979, which teamed him again with Streisand.
By the 1980s, O'Neal's career was in a tailspin. He still found work but the better roles and films eluded him. Attempts to move into television did not have successful results. He also suffered an endless stream of sensational stories in the press about his personal behavior, most of it centered on his mercurial temper. He was once arrested for beating his son Griffin, though charges were eventually dropped and years later would be arrested on drug charges along with another son, Redmond. He had been married and divorced twice when he began a long relationship with actress Farrah Fawcett, who was married to actor Lee Majors at the time. The couple never married but Ms. Fawcett was mother to Redmond O'Neal. O'Neal and Fawcett split up but eventually reconciled and he saw her through her traumatic battle against terminal cancer. He worked in television with little success before landing a recurring role on the popular series "Bones". The O'Neal family's personal problems had long been regular fodder for gossip columns. He was estranged from Tatum for most of her life and the two never fully reconciled, even though the two had co-starred on a reality show that portrayed their relationship favorably. Characteristically, O'Neal would later say that the show was sanitizing what was still a very volatile relationship. He proclaimed that one of his most satisfying late-in-life highlights was reuniting with Ali MacGraw to co-star in the moving stage play "Love Letters".
Writer/Producer Norman Lear has died at the tender of 101. Lear was one of the few remaining people in the entertainment industry that could truthfully be called a legend. His background is far too detailed and remarkable to summarize here but we should remember he was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Forces and flew over 50 combat missions in Europe in WWII. His admirers may also be surprised to know that he was an Oscar nominee, having been nominated for his screenplay for the acclaimed 1967 comedy "Divorce, American Style". But Lear was best known for transforming the face of American television and, along the way, bringing about important social changes. Lear was a life-long liberal who wanted to address controversial issues through his work. The 1971 premiere of "All in the Family" brought a sea change that no one saw coming. Until then, most American sitcoms were safely following the rule book of presenting non-controversial scenarios. It was rule followed by even the greatest and most beloved comedy shows such as "The Honeymooners" and "The Andy Griffith Show". With "All in the Family", Lear introduced the character of Archie Bunker, played in immortal style by Carroll O'Connor. Archie was a working class stiff from the working class borough of Queens, New York. He was rude, crude, selfish and bigoted. However, Lear was wise enough to also give him redeeming qualities, 'lest audiences would quickly tire of tuning in each week to simply be offended. The scripts caught the tensions of the era, in which dinner time conversation was often a battle between generations.The show was a huge hit that ran for many years and even spawned a successful follow-up series, "Archie Bunker's Place". Lear was also conscious of representing minorities in a humorous but dignified manner. There were predecessors: Diahann Carroll played a Black single working mother a few years earlier in "Julia" and post- "I Spy" Bill Cosby had his own short-lived sitcom years before his legendary 1980s series. But both of these series played it safe in terms of taking on any subjects that might make white viewers uncomfortable. With "Good Times", "Sanford and Son" and "The Jeffersons", Lear brought Black sensibilities to TV for the first time. Audiences of all backgrounds tuned in. Lear's minority characters weren't saints. They were flawed human beings. Audiences appreciated Lear's determination not to be patronizing to the characters.The result probably went a long way to bring about racial understanding, though there's no way to measure the impact. He also produced "Maude", which was also a major hit and show that
promoted women's liberation and touched upon the most sensitive issues
of the day. Norman had his share of flops, but, fittingly, no one remembers them. Only the hits come to mind.
I only spent time with Norman Lear on one occasion, ten years ago at a party he and Carl Reiner hosted for our friend producer David V. Picker in Beverly Hills. Lear was a spry young 91 years-old at the time and listening to him and Reiner engage in hilarious banter, you felt he was immortal. Now he, Carl and David are gone. It's hard to believe they are no longer with us but their work and achievements live on and Norman's legacy is a towering one. Perhaps writer Mike Barnicle expressed it best today on the "Morning Joe" chat show: "He brought America into people's living rooms."
Richard Roundtree, whose portrayal of New York City private eye John Shaft made the character an iconic pop culture symbol, has passed away from pancreatic cancer at age 81. Roundtree was not the first actor to elevate the the image of Black male characters on the big screen. Stars such as Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Jim Brown and Fred Williamson preceded him. However, Roundtree had his own inimitable style as Shaft: brash, self-assured and cocky. Poitier's detective Virgil Tibbs was also a ballsy man of action but, as a police officer, he still had to stay within the system. Roundtree's Shaft had his own rules and code of ethics. The success of "Shaft" for MGM in 1971 also was a milestone for director Gordon Parks, making him the first Black director of a highly successful big studio film. Isaac Hayes's Oscar-winning classic title song also helped elevate the film's success. The MGM production inspired two sequels: "Shaft's Big Score" and "Shaft in Africa" as well a a short-lived TV series starring Roundtree. The actor would also appear as the same character in spin-off feature films released in 2000 and 2019. However, there was far more to Roundtree's talents and career and he worked consistently in TV and films before and after the release of the original Shaft film. Click here for more.
Acclaimed actress Piper Laurie passed away recently at age 91. She was nominated for three Academy Awards for "The Hustler", "Carrie" and "Children of a Lesser God". Here is a rare extended interview with her from the 2022 TCM Film Festival.
Actor Burt Young's family has announced the Oscar-nominated star who brought the character of Paulie to life in the "Rocky" film series has passed away at age 83. No cause of death has been indicated. "The Today Show" ran this video tribute to Young.
Actor Mark Goddard has passed away at age 87. Goddard was primarily known for his role as the hunky Major Don West in Irwin Allen's cult classic TV series "Lost in Space", which ran between 1965-1968. Goddard had a long list of credits in television series and motion pictures but found himself typecast with the character he played in the show. He eventually left show business and became a highly respected special education teacher, although he was a popular figure at fan conventions throughout the decades. For more, click here.
Acclaimed actor Sir Michael Gambon has died. The
performer, best known for bringing Professor Albus Dumbledore to the screen in
six of the eight Harry Potter movies, had a career that spanned more than five
decades. He won BAFTAs, Olivier and Screen Actors Guild Awards, and received
nominations for a Tony, Golden Globe and Emmy awards. Sir Michael was knighted
for his services to the British entertainment industry in 1998. Sir Michael
Gambon was 82 years old.
Only a week after we congratulated David McCallum on his 90th birthday comes the sad news that he has passed away from natural causes in New York City, where he resided. I have nothing but wonderful memories of the time I spent with him. Like most boys who grew up in the spy rage of the 1960s, I became a big fan of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", though I had admired his work in "The Great Escape" and "The Greatest Story Ever Told" even before then. His portrayal of Judas in the latter film was particularly haunting because he played him as a tragic and sympathetic figure. The success of "U.N.C.L.E." unexpectedly thrust David and his co-star Robert Vaughn into becoming international teenage idols. It was a distinction neither man had sought. At the height of the mania, David was to appear at Macy's in New York to promote his record album. The event was besieged by screaming teenage girls to such a degree that the police had to call the event off and hide David until the crowd had dissipated. The show ran from September, 1964 through January, 1968. Although David and Robert enjoyed their time on the series and were grateful for the fame and fortune they gained from it, both men were eager to move on. David worked steadily in feature films and in live theater. Many years later, he landed the role of pathologist "Ducky" Mallard on the hit CBS series "NCIS". As the years went by, David joked to me that he kept trying to quit the series due to his advanced years but the producers always found a way to keep him on board. He seemed to love every minute he worked on the series.
What many people don't know is that David, the son of an acclaimed conductor in his native Scotland, was also a talented musician, arranger and composer who had some acclaimed albums in the 1960s. In recent, years he tried his hand at writing novels and found success in that endeavor, as well. At one point, I reunited David with my good friend, actor Joe Sirola, who had played a villain on a couple of episodes of "U.N.C.L.E." It gave me great pleasure to see them reignite their friendship and David would show up at Joe's legendary summer party on the terrace of his New York penthouse. When Dave Worrall and I began publishing Cinema Retro 20 years ago, David was a contributor. He was always reluctant to talk about himself and his career, but after one interview session he said he found it "therapeutic" to recall so many wonderful times in the acting profession that he had not thought about in many years. A very special evening occurred in 20009 at The Players, the legendary club for the arts in New York City. I was hosting a black tie dinner in honor of Robert Vaughn. During the cocktail hour he said, "I only wish David could have been here." Shortly thereafter, David and his wife Katherine did show up, causing many sophisticated middle-aged women to gasp with delight. David had told me he couldn't make the event but at the last minute he found a way to attend. It was a wonderful evening, especially when David gave a marvelous and touching speech about his former co-star. Years later, it would pain me to have been the one to break the news to David that Robert had passed away.
(L to R:) Lee Pfeiffer, David McCallum, Robert Vaughn and Joe Sirola at The Players dinner for Vaughn in 2009.
(Photo: Tom Stroud)
David was first married to actress Jill Ireland and the couple had three children: Paul, Jason and Valentine. After they divorced, David met and married Katherine Carpenter in 1967. They had two children: Peter and Sophie. David adored his wife and family and always spoke of them with great pride.
While I mourn David's passing, I take solace from the fact that he did not suffer and was surrounded by laughter and love for most of his life. In an increasingly cynical age, David represented the vanishing attributes of graciousness and modesty. I had left him a phone message on his 90th birthday and had planned to get together with him soon. That won't happen but I can appreciate the time I spent with him over the years. He was a talented actor and musician, a good family man and a person who left his mark on the profession he loved. Thanks for the memories, David.
Friedkin with Gene Hackman on location in New York City for "The French Connection", 1971.
(Photo: Cinema Retro Archive.)
By Lee Pfeiffer
William Friedkin, who reinvented the crime and horror film genres with "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist", has died in Los Angeles at age 87. Friedkin's first film was based on a personal obsession- to get a man incarcerated on Death Row exonerated. The 1962 documentary "The People vs. Paul Crump" was deemed a deciding factor in getting the innocent man released. The Chicago native first worked in the television industry before landing his first Hollywood feature film, directing the comedy "Good Times" starring Sonny and Cher in 1967. The film wasn't a hit but Friedkin was learning his craft. His diverse output included a screen adaptation of Harold Pinter's acclaimed, offbeat play "The Birthday Party" starring Robert Shaw and Donald Pleasence, the exuberant Prohibition era comedy "The Night They Raided Minsky's" and "The Boys in the Band", a daring screen version of the controversial play about the lives and relationships of gay men.
Friedkin's biggest break came when he was hired to direct "The French Connection" in 1971, an adaptation of the bestselling book that documented the biggest drug bust in U.S. history. Friedkin's passion for eschewing the trappings of conventional crime films paid off when he won the Oscar for directing. The film also won Best Picture and Best Actor for Gene Hackman in a star-making role. Friedkin's next film was also an adaptation of a bestseller- in this case William Peter Blatty's horror novel "The Exorcist". Friedkin resisted hiring popular leading actors of the day in place of casting reliable character actors and leads with little name recognition. His transformation of 12 year-old Linda Blair into a terrifying demon immediately became the stuff of horror film legend. However, the film won over critics and was nominated for numerous Oscars because Friedkin made the production a thinking person's horror film with interesting characters and believable reactions to the surrealistic events. Following the worldwide success of this second Friedkin blockbuster, Friedkin did not bring another film to the screen for four years. When he did, it was "Sorcerer", a lavish and grueling reinterpretation of French director Henri-Georges Clouzot's acclaimed 1953 adventure film "The Wages of Fear". The film seemed to be cursed. On location in the Dominican Republic, Friedkin had to face soaring budget costs due to natural disasters and other seemingly insurmountable problems. When the film opened, it flopped. Friedkin, in an interview about the film with this writer in Cinema Retro issue #29, said that studio executives threw him under the bus by implying the film had gone over-budget because Friedkin lacked self-control in terms of spending. Friedkin tried to set the record straight but the damage was done. His reputation had taken a hit and his next film, the comedy "The Brink's Job" was also a critical and financial disappointment. his 1980 crime thriller "Cruising" cast Al Pacino as a New York detective who goes under cover in Gotham's gay leather bar scene to find a serial killer. The film caused great controversy, with gay activists denouncing it even before filming had been completed. Critics assailed the film as vulgar and unsatisfying, but like "Sorcerer" it has been favorably re-evaluated in the ensuing years. Friedkin continued to work steadily but only the 1985 crime thriller "To Live and Die in L.A." gained any kind of attention and that was largely due to an extravagant car chase.
Over the following years, Friedkin would divide his time directing films and TV productions as well as live operas. He would never score another boxoffice hit but he appreciated the attention and accolades he received later in life that commemorated his body of work. He took satisfaction from the fact that his 2011 film "Killer Joe" starring Matthew McConaughey became a cult favorite for younger audiences. Friedkin is survived by his wife, producer and former studio head Sherry Lansing. His final film, a remake of "The Caine Mutiny", will premiere at this year's Venice Film Festival.
Friedkin with Cinema Retro's Todd Garbarini.
(Photo: Todd Garbarini)
Cinema Retro mourns the passing of this great filmmaker and we appreciate his contributions to our magazine. His last interview (with Todd Garbarini) appeared in issue #50 in which he discussed the 50th anniversary of "The French Connection".
CNN is reporting that Paul Reubens, the comedy star who created the iconic Pee-Wee Herman character, has died from cancer at age 70. Reubens had been battling cancer for the last six years. He had pre-written a public statement to be read in anticipation of his death. In the statement, which was read on CNN, Reubens apologized to his fans for keeping his health crisis secret and encouraged the public to continue to fund cancer research. Reuben's show, "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" started off as a spoof of 1950s children's programs and had risque elements to it. However, when Reubens learned that children had gravitated to the show, he made the program more family-friendly. The character became so popular in the 1980s and 1990s that Reubens starred in big screen Pee-Wee Herman feature films.
Birkin in the 1969 cult film "La Piscine". (Photo: Cinema Retro Archive.)
By Lee Pfeiffer
Actress and singer Jane Birkin has died at age 76. A cause of death did not accompany the announcement. Birkin was one of the "It Girls" of the mod period of the mid-to-late 1960s when censorship boundaries were removed and sexual behavior became celebrated rather than condemned. Because Birkin had been so closely associated with France, many people thought she was French by birth. Indeed, in commenting on her passing, President Macron referred to her as a "French icon". But Birkin was British by birth and came of age during an era of social rebellion that afforded her liberated attitudes to be celebrated in the arts. She first appeared in bit roles in "The Knack...and How to Use It", "The Idol",, "Kaleidoscope" and, more importantly, in a memorable nude scene in director Michelangelo Antonioni's bizarre but acclaimed 1966 "Blow-up". She also starred in the 1969 French film "La Piscine" with Alain Delon, which has become a popular cult film in recent years. She married British composer John Barry, whose own popularity was exploding due in no small part to his association with the James Bond films. The marriage didn't last and Birkin went to France to appear in a film. There she met and fell in love with songwriter and actor Serge Gainsbourg. Their relationship became the stuff of gossip columns after the couple recorded the smash hit, provocative record "Je t'aime...moi non plus". She and Gainsbourg stayed together for ten years. In addition to her concert appearances, Birkin was also known for inadvertently inspiring a top-end handbag design manufactured by Hermes, after an executive for the company overheard her complain that they needed to create a larger bag.
Arkin in the 1990 film "Havana".
(Photo: Cinema Retro Archive)
By Lee Pfeiffer
Alan Arkin, who improbably gained a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his first film role, has passed away at age 89. Arkin gained stardom in the film industry with the release of Norman Jewison's hit 1966 comedy "The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming." in which he played the captain of a Soviet submarine that accidentally goes aground off the coast of New England and sets off a panic among the locals, who are convinced the Russians are invading. Two years later, Arkin earned another nomination for his dramatic role as a deaf mute in "The Heat is a Lonely Hunter". In 2006, he won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "Little Miss Sunshine". He was nominated in that category again for the 2012 film "Argo". Arkin was also nominated for Emmy Awards for his role opposite Michael Douglas in the acclaimed comedy series "The Kominsky Method."
Arkin was primarily known for his comedic talents, having honed them as a young man when he was with the legendary Second City comedy group that spawned many other major stars over the years. His prominent roles included playing the title role in "Inspector Clouseau", "Catch-22", "Popi", "Last of the Red Hot Lovers", "Freebie and the Bean", "The In-Laws", "Edward Scissorhands", "The Rocketeer", "Havana", "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution", "Simon" and the feature film version of "Get Smart". Arkin also occasionally played dramatic roles to great acclaim as in "Wait Until Dark" in which he was a murderer who terrified a blind woman played by Audrey Hepburn and in "Glengarry Glen Ross". Arkin's legacy will be defined by his diversity in the roles he played. He was regarded by his colleagues as the epitome of an industry professional. For more, click here.
(Forrest in "Apocalypse Now". Photo: Cinema Retro Archives.)
Actor Frederic Forrest has passed away at age 86. Forrest was a favorite character actor of director Francis Ford Coppola. He appeared in Coppola's "The Conversation", "Hammett", "One from the Heart" and "Tucker: The Man and His Dream". He also had a scene-stealing role as "Chef" in Coppola's 1979 masterpiece "Apocalypse Now" playing a reluctant soldier on a mission to find and assassinate Marlon Brando's mad Colonel Kurtz. Forrest rarely had leading roles but was widely respected in the industry. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his 1973 screen debut in "When the Legends Die" and was nominated for an Oscar for starring opposite Bette Midler in "The Rose". His other films include "The Two Jakes", "The Missouri Breaks" and "Falling Down". Upon hearing of his passing, Coppola said he found the news "heartbreaking". For more, click here.
Glenda Jackson, the esteemed British actress who later launched a successful political career, has passed away at age 87 at her home in London. Jackson rose from working in live theater to making her mark in British films in the 1960s and 1970s. She won two Best Actress Oscars over the course of three years for "Women in Love" and "A Touch of Class". In the interim, she was also nominated for "Sunday, Bloody Sunday". She later won praise for her work in television, most notably in the acclaimed productions of "The Patricia Neal Story" and "Elizabeth R." Jackson later left acting to concentrate on a career in politics, becoming an MP under Tony Blair's New Labour movement in the late 1990s, though she would later have a public falling out with Blair over his support for the U.S.-led war against Iraq. After leaving politics in 2015, she resumed her acting career. She had recently completed a film with Michael Caine. For more, click here. -Lee Pfeiffer
Actor Treat Williams, the ruggedly handsome star of feature films and television, has died from injuries incurred in an accident while he was riding a motorcycle. The incident, which is still under investigation, occurred in rural Vermont, where Williams had resided in recent years. An SUV had apparently crossed the road in front of Williams, who was unable to avoid a collision. Williams was 71 years-old. He had gained prominence in the film industry in the late 1970s by scoring the leading role in director Milos Forman's 1979 screen adaptation of the Broadway sensation "Hair". In 1981, he won praise for his starring role in Sidney Lumet's true-life crime film "Prince of the City". Other major films included "Deep Rising", "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead" and "Hollywood Ending". He later starred in the hit TV series "Everwood". For more, click here.
Actor George Maharis, who co-starred with Martin Milner in the classic 1960s TV series "Route 66", passed away last week. He was 94 years old. Maharis had a multifaceted career, starring on TV, stage and motion pictures. He also found some success as a singer in the 1960s. Maharis,a native of Queens, New York, studied at the Actors Studio and became a popular presence on American television, guest starring on many hit shows. His popular role on "Route 66" ended before the third season had concluded. It was said that the producers of "Route 66" released him from the show
because of suspected homosexuality in an era that was intolerant towards
gays in the film industry, though other variations of his departure
centered on his health and his desire to leave TV for motion pictures. He parlayed his popularity on TV into modest stardom on the big screen. Among his films: "Exodus", "Sylvia", "The Satan Bug" and "The Happening". Maharis was not without controversy. In 1967, he was arrested for engaging in "lewd conduct". He appeared nude in "Playgirl" magazine in 1973.The following year, he was arrested on charges of soliciting sex. The case was widely reported in the media and arguably had a negative impact on Maharis's career.
Maharis, who was of Greek heritage, boasted the kind of good looks that made him a heart throb at the height of his career. His last screen credit was the suspense thriller "Doppelganger" in 1993, after which he retired from show business. For more about his career, click here.
Legendary singer and actress Tina Turner has passed away at age 83. No details revealed yet other than she died at her home in Switzerland following a long illness. Turner had an occasional association with movies, playing the female lead in the 1985 film "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" and recording the hit song "We Don't Need Another Hero" that was featured in the film. She also sang the title song for the 1995 James Bond blockbuster "GoldenEye". For more, click here
(Brown in the 1967 blockbuster "The Dirty Dozen". Photo: Cinema Retro Archives.)
By Lee Pfeiffer
Jim Brown, one of America's most legendary athletes and an iconic film star, has passed away at age 87. No cause of death has been announced as of this writing. Brown was an American sensation on the football field during his nine seasons as a fullback with the Cleveland Browns. When he left sports, he transcended into a successful acting career in the mid-1960s. It was a time when bankable Black stars were few in number. Brown was immediately accepted by movie audiences of all races and backgrounds. He exuded the kind of tough, dignified characters that resonated with film audiences in movies such as "Rio Conchos", "The Dirty Dozen", "Ice Station Zebra" and "Dark of the Sun " (aka "The Mercenaries"). In the 1969 Western, he and Raquel Welch caused a sensation (and a scandal in some quarters) with their steamy interracial love scenes in the Western "100 Rifles", a film that boasted an ad campaign that seemed specifically designed to cause racists sleepless nights. Brown benefited from the so-called Blaxploitation film craze of the 1970s that was initiated by the success of director Gordon Parks' 1971 film "Shaft", although like his colleague Sidney Poitier, he refused to play characters that were exploitive or undignified. Both men recognized they were symbols for a new generation of young Black people and-like it or not-they were also role models, even if Brown occasionally played a charismatic character on the other side of the law.
Brown and Raquel Welch in "100 Rifles" on the cover of Cinema Retro issue #4.)
By the 1980s, Brown's status as a leading man began to diminish but he never went out of style. He began to appear in supporting roles in films made by a young generation of directors such as Tim Burton and Spike Lee. Brown's success didn't prevent him from enduring some messy periods in his personal life, mostly concerning his interactions with women. He once opted to spend months in jail rather than settle a domestic misdemeanor charge with his wife. Brown prided himself on his role as an activist for civil rights. In 1988, he founded an organization dedicated to keeping young people away from the lure of street gangs.
Jim Brown had a low-key persona onscreen but there is no overstating his achievements in real life.
Harry Belafonte has died at age 96. The iconic singer who rose to fame with his best-selling Calypso number, "The Banana Boat Song", passed away from congestive heart failure. Belafonte was multi-talented. Although he was primarily known as a singer, he also enjoyed a successful acting career. He was also known as one of the most iconic figures in the American civil rights movement. He was a close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and devoted much of his time to protest social injustices. In doing so, he became a lightning rod for controversy, often leveling news-making insults against political figures on the right and left who he felt were insufficient in addressing the issues most important to him. For more about his remarkable life and career, click here.
Robert Blake, the mercurially-tempered Emmy-winning actor, has died at age 89 from heart-related issues. Blake's given name was Michael Gubitosi and he was born in Nutley, New Jersey, a short distance across the Hudson River from midtown Manhattan. Blake had one of the longest Hollywood careers imaginable, starting out as a child actor who appeared in the famed "Our Gang" comedies. This led to him having roles in feature films such as a recurring role in the low-budget Red Ryder Western series. He also had a small role in John Huston's 1948 classic "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" opposite Humphrey Bogart. He was the product of a troubled household. He claimed his father, who committed suicide in 1955, physically beat him. Stardom would elude him until he was cast as one of the notorious murderers in director Richard Brooks' acclaimed 1967 screen adaptation of Truman Capote's bestseller "In Cold Blood". Blake and Scott Wilson played the infamous murderers of an innocent family whose house they broke into. The killings shocked the world, especially since the victims posed no threat to the duo. Blake and Wilson brought nuance to their roles and won critical praise. Blake specialized in playing moody men of action. To some he was the epitome of a Method Actor, while others saw him as a pretentious Marlon Brando wannabe.
Blake's star rose to new heights on television when he starred as the eccentric, streetwise detective in "Baretta" on ABC-TV. The show ran from 1975-1978 and earned Blake an Emmy award. Henceforth, he would fall victim to his personal demons. Blake could be jovial and witty when making frequent appearances as a guest on Johnny's Carson's "The Tonight Show", but he alternately had developed a reputation for being difficult and temperamental. His starring roles in feature films such as "Electra Glide in Blue", "Busting" and "Coast to Coast" were boxoffice disappointments. In 1986, he returned to series television in the series "Hell Town", playing a tough, streetwise priest. However, Blake's personal issues proved too much for him to overcome and he would later admit he was potentially suicidal. He pulled the plug on "Hell Town" after only a few episodes. In 1993, he had a comeback, starring in the TV movie "Judgment Day: The John List Story" in which he played the real life New Jersey murderer who, despite his nondescript nature, systematically murdered every member of his family who resided in the household. Blake received an Emmy nomination for his performance.
In 2001, Blake emerged in the news in an unfavorable manner when his wife, Bonny Lee Bakely was murdered in a bizarre incident that occurred when she and Blake were out to dinner. Bakely was known as a master manipulator who had been married nine times previously. During their dinner date, Bakely was killed by an assassin who shot her twice at close range as she sat in their car. During the sensational trial that followed, Blake said she was shot by a random murderer after he left their car to retrieve a pistol he had accidentally left in a restaurant. He was tried for murder and acquitted, though, as in the O.J. Simpson case, public sentiment didn't agree with the verdict. He would later lose a civil suit in the case that he said wiped out his personal fortune.
Blake had all but retired from acting by the late 1990s. His last screen credit was for director David Lynch's "Lost Highway" in 1997.
Israeli Actor Chaim Topol, known professionally as Topol, has passed away at age 87. The official cause of death is said to be the effects of Alzheimer's Disease. He was born in Tel Aviv in 1935 and grew up in a modest family setting. He began performing during a stint in the Israeli army. In 1964, the 29 year-old landed the leading role in the acclaimed Israeli film satire "Sallah Shabati", which was nominated for the Best Foreign Film Oscar. It also gained Topol a Golden Globe award for Most Promising Male Newcomer. It set the pattern for the young actor to excel at playing characters far older than his actual age. In 1966, he was cast in a major Hollywood production- Kirk Douglas's "Cast a Giant Shadow", which chronicled the battles surrounding the founding of the state of Israel as seen through the eyes of American Army officer Mickey Marcus, played by Douglas, who played a key role in establishing the Israeli military as a fighting force. Topol had a plum role in a film that featured supporting performances by such heavyweights as John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Yul Brynner.
Topol had first played his signature role of the Russian milkman Tevye in the stage musical "Fiddler on the Roof" in Israel at age thirty, even though the character was much older. He had seen Zero Mostel's acclaimed starring role in the production on Broadway, little dreaming that he would follow in his footsteps. However, in 1967, producer Hal Prince cast Topol in the part for the West End stage production in London. The show was a smash hit and Topol was on his way to stardom. He would eventually play the role in the Broadway revival in the early 1990s, earning a Tony Award nomination. However, most people became acquainted with him through director Norman Jewison's 1971 big screen musical adaptation. The film bucked the recent trend of high-priced screen musicals bombing and became a major hit, with Topol getting a Best Actor Oscar nomination. (He lost to Gene Hackman for "The French Connection".) He appeared as a villain in the 1980 film "Flash Gordon". In 1981, he was cast as the mysterious and charismatic Greek smuggler Columbo opposite Roger Moore in the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only". His genuine chemistry with Moore would make him one of the more popular Bond allies in the film series' history. He would also appear in the mega-budget TV productions of "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance".
Stella Stevens, the beautiful and talented American
actress, who enjoyed a long career, passed away on February 17. She was 84.
Stella was my friend.
We became friends in early 2000 when I co-hosted a
benefit screening of The Poseidon Adventure on board the Queen Mary ocean liner
in Long Beach, CA. Stella was gorgeous and wonderful during the question and
answer portion of the evening. Stella loved her fans, and she sparkled on stage
between Shelley Winters and Pamela Sue Martin. Over the years, a group of
mutual friends would have a potluck dinner and show Stella’s films on a 16mm projector.
Halfway through the film, we would have desert. Stella told fascinating stories
about the films we saw and how they were made. She had a great sense of humor,
and the evening was always filled with laughter.
Stella loved animals, especially her cats and her horses.
She had an outdoor spirit, but she could easily dress up and look every inch a
movie star. Somewhere I read that Stella was one of the most photographed women
on earth in the 1960s. Stella was extremely talented and left behind a large
body of work. She was requested to be in films by some of the major male actors
and directors in the business.
Stella was very kind to me. She invited me to her home,
she had lunch with me in Beverly Hills, and she had dinner at my home many
times. She was gracious to everyone. I shared holidays with Stella and her
partner, Bob, on several occasions. Laughter and friendship is what I think of
when I think of Stella.
Rest in peace.
(James Radford is the author of "Adventures on the
Queen Mary".)
Stella Stevens, who started in show business after overcoming the hardships of being a single mother at age 17, has passed away at age 84 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Her death was announced by her son, actor and producer Andrews Stevens. She was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi and her family moved to Memphis when she was four years-old. By the time she was out of high school, she had been married and divorced and had a young son Stevens was always obsessed with movies and was eventually signed under contract with Fox. She earned a Golden Globe for her screen debut in the 1959 film "Say One for Me" as Most Promising Newcomer. With her voluptuous figure, she caught the eye of Hugh Hefner and she
appeared as Playmate of the Month during 1960. She would two more photo
shoots for the magazine in the years that followed. Fame eventually followed despite the fact that Fox, which had her under contract, released her from the agreement. She balked at co-starring with Elvis Presley in the 1964 film "Girls! Girls! Girls" because she felt the movie had a poor script. Nonetheless, she needed the money and the film was a high profile hit.
Stevens would go on to become an in-demand popular leading lady, appearing opposite the top male stars of the 1960s. She often was cast as a ditzy blonde but these roles proved she had considerable comedic skills. Among the movies she appeared in were "Too Late Blues", the Jerry Lewis comedy classic "The Nutty Professor", "Advance to the Rear", the first Dean Martin Matt Helm film "The Silencers" and again with Martin in "How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life". She gave an impressive dramatic performance opposite David McCallum in the 1968 crime thriller "Sol Madrid" (aka "The Heroin Gang") and earned praise for her comedic skills in Sam Peckinpah's "The Ballad of Cable Hogue". In 1972, she was prominent in the all-star cast in the blockbuster disaster movie "The Poseidon Adventure", which spawned a fan cult that exists to this day. As the good roles began to diminish, Stevens found work in television, starring in the series "Flamingo Road" in the early 1980s. She would appear frequently in guest star roles on series in the ensuing years. Stevens desired to be a director but found few opportunities, though she did direct two low-budget films. Perhaps the her most impressive achievement was overcoming personal challenges through sheer determination to fulfill her dream of becoming a major star on the silver screen. For more about her life and career, click here.
(Welch in a publicity photo for the 1967 spy film "Fathom".
(Cinema Retro Archive)
By Lee Pfeiffer
Raquel Welch, the actress who took the international film industry by storm with her appearance in the 1966 remake of the fantasy film "One Million Years B.C.", has passed away after a brief illness. Welch was one of the last of the so-called "Glamour Girls" of this period; actresses who were chosen primarily for their looks and measurements as opposed to their acting abilities. But Welch defied the odds and didn't prove to be a flash-in-the-pan in terms of popularity. She was one of the last of the big studio contract players- in this case 20th-Century-Fox, which meant she could only make films for another studio if Fox approved. She had little say over the films she appeared in during this period and she would later look back on them with disdain. However, retro movie fans would be largely defensive of many of these films, as they cast her opposite popular leading men of the period as Frank Sinatra, Ernest Borgnine, Stephen Boyd, Jim Brown, Burt Reynolds, Robert Wagner, Edward G. Robinson, James Stewart and Dean Martin. Among her best films of this era were "100 Rifles", "Fantastic Voyage", "Bandolero!", "The Biggest Bundle of them All" and "Lady in Cement". Some were duds, such as the misguided thriller "Flareup" and the disastrous sex comedy "Myra Breckinridge". She became an instant pop culture icon due to the famous photo of her as a cavegirl sporting a fur bikini in "One Million Years B.C." Teenage boys around the world had the resulting poster adorning their bedroom walls. In the early 1970s, she played vengeance-driven female gunslinger in the Western "Hannie Caulder", a victim of Richard Burton's lady killer in "Bluebeard", a roller derby queen in "Kansas City Bomber" and a member of the all-star cast in the murder mystery "The Last of Sheila". By the mid-190's, she played a comedic co-starring role in the big budget version of "The Three Musketeers" and its sequel "The Four Musketeers". Critics finally acknowledged that she could act and should be judged by her talent and not her image as a voluptuous sex symbol.
(Welch in her first leading role in "Fantastic Voyage" (1966).
(Photo: Cinema Retro Archive)
When the prime big screen roles began to vanish, Welch suspected it may have been due to her suing MGM over age discrimination when she was fired as the leading lady in the film "Cannery Row" and replaced by Debra Winger. The studio countered that Welch had acted unprofessionally on the set. She won the case and $10 million in damages but it seemed to make studios reluctant to hire her again. Nevertheless, she successfully reinvented herself with live shows on stage including an acclaimed leading role in the Broadway production of "Victor/Victoria". She also scored with a funny self-deprecating appearance as herself in "Seinfeld" in which she was presented as an obnoxious, hot-tempered diva.
Welch kept a low profile in recent years and was rarely seen in public. She was married four times and is survived by a son and daughter. Despite her sex symbol image, she was always proud that she never gave in to offers to appear nude on screen or in print. She was the one who got away, said a disappointed Hugh Hefner who couldn't use influence or money to lure her to the pages of Playboy.
Burt Bacharach, one of the most prolific musical talents in the modern history of the art form, has died from natural causes at age 94. Bacharach was a rare artist who was honored with Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. His list of pop hits crossed the charts from easy listening to becoming major hits on rock radio stations. He had long and fruitful collaborations with lyricist Hal David and singer Dionne Warwick, who had some of the biggest hits of her career singing Bacharach songs. He had long feuds with both artists but would eventually reconcile with them. Movie buffs are well-acquainted with Bacharach's contributions to the music of the film industry beginning with his campy but beloved theme song "Beware of the Blob" for the 1958 early Steve McQueen sci-fi film. He wouldn't dwell in the "B" movie realm for long, however. He wrote the hit title theme for "What's New Pussycat"?, a major early career success for Tom Jones. He also wrote the classic title theme for "Alfie", which was sung in the film by Cher. However, both Dionne Warwick and Cilla Black would have hit cover versions of the song. Bacharach won two Oscars for the 1969 film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" for both the musical composition and for the classic song "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head". He would also win a Best Song Oscar for "The Best That You Can Do", the theme from the 1980s comedy "Arthur". Bacharach also composed "The Look of Love", one of the most recorded romantic songs of all time. The song appeared, perhaps improbably, in the madcap 1967 big screen spoof version of the first James Bond novel "Casino Royale". It was nominated for an Oscar, as well. The song inspired Mike Myers to create the Austin Powers character and films, which were heavily influenced by "Casino Royale". Bacharach did suffer a major career disappointment when he wrote the score for the ill-fated 1973 musical remake of "Lost Horizon", the failure of which was said to send him into a prolonged funk.
Bacharach was good to his word that he would never retire and continued to work almost to the end of his life, writing new songs and even performing with Elvis Costello and Dr. Dre, an indication of the timelessness and wide popularity of his work. For more about his life, click here.
Actress Lisa Loring has passed away from a stroke at age 64. Loring was the first actress to portray the character of Wednesday Addams in the classic TV series "The Addams Family" in 1964. She was only 6 years-old at the time but proved to be totally adept at performing among a cast of talented adult character actors. She also lived to see the popularity of the series transferred into a Broadway stage production, hit feature films and, most recently, the popular Netflix series "Wednesday".
Actress Cindy Williams, who co-starred with Penny Marshall in the classic TV sitcom "Laverne and Shirley", has passed away at age 75. Here is a tribute to her work on television and in feature films such as "American Graffiti" and "The Conversation".
Gina Lollobrigida, the reluctant Italian superstar, has died in Rome at age 94. Like her arch-rival Sophia Loren, Lollobrigida was born into humble circumstances in Italy and survived the carnage that was wreaked on the country by Mussolini's ill-fated alliance with Nazi German and Japan. She intended to follow a nondescript life but when she entered a beauty contest, her stunning looks and voluptuous figure attracted the attention of Hollywood. She was sent to Hollywood where none other than Howard Hughes signed her to a film contract. Lollobrigida's career took off like a rocket and she was soon steaming up theater screens opposite the top male boxoffice attractions including Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Frank Sinatra and Sean Connery. Like Loren, she proved to more than a flash-in-the-pan bombshell because she was a fine actress. She was enamored of Rock Hudson, who she co-starred with in two comedies, but griped that she didn't like Sinatra because of his alleged habits of being late on the set. Ironically, Sean Connery complained that she exhibited diva-like behavior on the set of their film "Woman of Straw". She had a tumultuous love life and retired from feature films in the 1970s when the best roles were being offered to younger actresses. She concentrated on her interests in photography and politics.
Click here for more details about her remarkable life and career.
(Margolin with Charles Bronson in the 1974 film "Death Wish".)
By Lee Pfeiffer
Actor and director Stuart Margolin has died at age 82. No details or cause of death have been released as of this writing. Margolin's professional credits began in the early 1960s. He quickly became and in-demand character actor appearing in popular shows such as "The Fugitive", "Love, American Style", "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "Bewitched", "The Monkees", "Gunsmoke", "M*A*S*H", "Hill Street Blues", "The X-Files", "NCIS" and many others. He was also a prolific director of stage and screen productions. On the big screen, Margolin had supporting roles in "Kelly's Heroes", "Death Wish", "The Stone Killer", "The Gambler", "Days of Heaven", and "S.O.B." among others. He is best-remembered, however, for his collaborations with James Garner, especially relating to the hit TV series "The Rockford Files" in which he made recurring appearances, winning two Emmy awards in the process. He also co-starred with Garner in two short-running series, "Nichols" and "Bret Maverick".
On a personal note, this writer knew Stuart Margolin from our days as members of The Players, the historic club for the arts in New York City. When I would encounter Stuart there, he was always a fun guy to chat with, as his long career ensured he had volumes of interesting and amusing anecdotes. I recall him discussing Charles Bronson's personality quirks. He had made both "The Stone Killer" and "Death Wish" with Bronson. Shortly after shooting a key scene with him for the latter film, he ran into Bronson in an airport lounge and had to introduce himself to him because Bronson's insulated personality allowed him to shut out people and things that weren't relevant to the moment. Stuart was a gold mine of information when it came to assisting Cinema Retro in our special issue devoted to the making of "Kelly's Heroes". I recall him joking about the zany antics of the cast and crew when they were "stranded" for an extended period of time filming in a remote area of Yugoslavia. He said that all-night poker games occurred regularly and one was so intense that the players barely looked up to see the moon landing that was being televised live. At the time I knew him, his old friend James Garner was suffering from a debilitating medical condition that he would never recover from. Stuart spoke about how much Garner's friendship meant to his career and to him personally. He kept in touch with Garner until the end of his life. He was a kind and giving man who will be missed by anyone who knew him.
The British iconic
comedy actor Leslie Phillips had died aged 98 after a long illness. He appeared
in more than 200 films, TV and radio series over an eight-decade career, and
will be forever remembered for his appearances in the Carry On and Doctor
comedies. The actor was awarded an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 1998, and was
promoted to CBE in the 2008 New Years Honours. He was also well known for his
catchphrase "Ding dong" - a reference to his character Jack Bell in
1959's Carry on Nurse. Younger fans will
remember him as the voice of the 'Sorting Hat' in the Harry Potter films. Phillips' talents weren't confined to comedies. He also played dramatic roles in films such as "The Jackal", "Scandal", "The Longest Day" and "Empire of the Sun". For more, click here.
Cinema Retro mourns the passing of Angela Lansbury at age 96. She leaves behind a remarkable legacy of achievements on stage and in film and television.
Godard with Belmondo and Seberg filming "Breathless".
By Joe Elliott
French director Jean-Luc Godard, who was a significant part of
the 1960s French New Wave movement, died on Tuesday at age 91. Godard was among
a handful of brilliant and innovative French filmmakers of the period that
included Louis Malle, Claude Chabrol, Eric Rohmer and Francois Truffaut. While
these young turks of the cinema viewed their work as intellectually
serious statements of their times, they did so with an air of stylish
nonchalance, off-handed humor and striking visual flair. Heavily influenced by
American movies, especially film noir of the 1940s, they, in turn, influenced
the next generation of American movie makers, among them Arthur Penn, Woody
Allen, Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino.
Godard’s
“Breathless” ("À Bout de Souffle") is
probably the film for which most of us remember him best. His first feature,
it’s a witty, romantic cops and robbers picture starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and
American-born Jean Seberg as his girlfriend. “Breathless” is filled with
many memorable grace notes and startling visual signifiers, not the least of
which is the radiant young presence of Seberg herself. (Who can ever
forget the "New York Herald Tribune" sweater she wore?) According
to film critic Pauline Kael, whose early support of Godard helped create a
market for his pictures in the States, the director “saw something in the cheap
American gangster movies of his youth what French movies lacked; he poeticized
it and made it so modern (via jump cutting) that he, in turn, became the key
influence of American movies in the 60s.” In his later years, Goddard grew
more embittered and combative in his attitude and
was frequently critical of younger filmmakers. However, he never lost
his childhood love of the cinema. In a 1989 “New York Times” interview he is
quoted as saying, “I never thought I would do better
than John Ford or Orson Welles, but I thought I could perhaps do what Godard
was meant to do.”
(Above: Her Majesty attends the London opening of "West Side Story" in 1962. The title of the film is never mentioned because the Queen could not be seen as making a commercial endorsement.)
By Lee Pfeiffer
Queen Elizabeth was known to be an avid movie fan who looked forward to attending royal premieres. These were generally held at the famed Odeon Theatre in Leicester Square, London. However, she also attended the premiere of the first motion picture to be shown at the Royal Albert Hall, "Die Another Day", which marked the 40th anniversary of the James Bond franchise in 2002. Her Majesty had seen every Bond film, but supposedly favored the earlier ones because they weren't "as loud" as the more recent entries. Indeed, she even participated in that surrealistic 007-themed sketch that was seen as the opener of the London Olympics, "co-starring" with Daniel Craig. On occasion, Her Majesty would also visit film sets, much to the delight of cast and crew.
The Queen's appeal was universal. I'm an American but I felt a connection to her, possibly more than most of my countrymen because I've spent so much time in England since the mid-1990s. In 2002, her attendance at the Royal Premiere for "Die Another Day" and later, "Casino Royale" in 2006, reminded me that no one does opulent and impressive events as well as the Brits. The premieres are always very special occasions with tuxedos and gowns mandatory as a dress code. But when Her Majesty was in attendance, it was all the more special. Audiences have to be seated a full hour before her arrival- no exceptions. When Her Majesty arrived, it was telecast on the big screen so that the audience could enjoy seeing her being introduced to the cast and crew by the producers. When she entered the auditorium, Royal trumpeters took to the stage in their traditional regalia to announce the Queen had entered the auditorium. It was always a moving and unforgettable moment. Her presence was enough to lure Lord Richard Attenborough to the stage before the premiere of "Casino Royale". Pure movie magic made all the more special by the Queen's attendance.
Her Majesty greets actress Diane Cilento and husband Sean Connery at the 1967 premiere of "You Only Live Twice".
The Queen's taste for popular culture was well-known and wasn't restricted to upper-crust fare. In his autobiography, Dick Van Dyke recalls attending the premiere of "You Only Live Twice" and being introduced to her by producer Cubby Broccoli as she made her way down the line of dignitaries and engaged in a few seconds of small talk with each person. Van Dyke was shocked when she told him how much she and her family had always enjoyed watching his weekly TV sitcom. Thus, in the end, she was a woman of privilege and vast wealth- but she never lost her touch when it came to relating to people from all aspects of society. In that sense, she belonged to everyone and that is why everyone today is sincerely mourning her passing.
Singer/actress Olivia Newton-John has passed away peacefully at her home at age 73, according to a statement from her family. Newton-John was British by birth but her family moved to Australia when she was five years old and rose to international fame there. Her talents were noticed when she performed in high school and she would go on to become an iconic international pop singer. In 1978, she made her screen debut opposite John Travolta in the blockbuster big screen adaptation of the stage musical "Grease". Other film roles would follow, but it was her singing career that never waned. Over the decades, she would sell over 100 million albums. In 1992, Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer. She became a symbol of hope by going public with her struggle and raising many millions of dollars to combat the disease. The cancer would reoccur two more times over the years. For more about her life and career, click here.
Actress Nichelle Nichols has passed away at age 89. She is best-remembered professionally for her role as Lt. Uhura on the "Star Trek" television series which began on NBC in 1966. The character was groundbreaking. It was the first time an African-American woman had been presented as a powerful character who was essential to the plot lines. In 1968, she shared a screen kiss with William Shatner's Captain Kirk and the moment was a momentous one for American television: the first romantic interracial kiss seen on a television show. Nichols would later relate that she became bored with the character and was considering quitting the series. She was talked out of it by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , who impressed upon her that her character and presence on the show was an inspiration to young Black people as well as an important symbol of racial harmony. Nichols would go on to appear in the "Star Trek" feature films that derived from the original series. She was also a regular presence at fan conventions, where she related anecdotes about the series to appreciative admirers.
David Warner in "The Omen" (1976).
(Photo: Cinema Retro Archive)
By Lee Pfeiffer
Movie fans are mourning the loss of British actor David Warner at age 80. Warner was known for often playing quirky characters in major films. He began acting in movies in the early 1960s while also appearing in stage productions. He studied his craft at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. No specific cause of death was announced but his family confirmed he had been suffering from a "cancer-related illness" for the last 18 months. Warner rarely scored a leading role but had a distinguished career playing supporting roles in many high profile films.
His credits include "Titanic", "Morgan", the 2001 version of "Planet of the Apes", "In the Mouth of Madness", "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier", "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country", "The Man with Two Brains", "Tron", "The Concorde: Airport '79", "The French Lieutenant's Woman", "The Island", "Cross of Iron", "Straw Dogs", "The Ballad of Cable Hogue", "Perfect Friday", "The Fixer" and "The Deadly Affair". In the 1979 film "Time After Time", Warner played Jack the Ripper, who manages to travel through time to the modern era. One of his best-remembered roles was as the photographer who assists Gregory Peck in attempting to thwart the satanic threat in "The Omen". His last screen appearance was in "Mary Poppins Returns" in 2018. For more, click here.
Actor Paul Sorvino has passed away from natural causes at age 83. Sorvino, a Brooklyn native, was a star of stage, screen and television and won plaudits in each medium. Less well-known was his singing abilities stemming from his early career ambition to become an opera star. Sorvino played a wide range of diverse roles but is generally associated with tough guy, street-wise characters in crime dramas including "Goodfellas", "Dick Tracy" and "The Rocketeer". He collaborated with Warren Beatty on four films and was one of the stars of the 1991-92 season of the hit TV series "Law & Order". For more about his life and career, click here.
In the scene above from Martin Scorsese's masterpiece "Goodfellas", Sorvino is the crime kingpin who thinks nothing of ordering people to be murdered but still adheres to the rule that among his gang members, family values must be practiced.
Producer/screenwriter/director Bob Rafelson passed away on Saturday, aged 89. Rafelson was one of the most prominent of the new generation of filmmakers who took Hollywood by storm in the mid-to-late 1960s. Along with his producing partner, the late Bert Schneider, he helped define a new wave of realistic movies that had special appeal to younger audiences. He was an Emmy-winner and Oscar nominee who co-created The Monkees and parlayed the success from the group's hit TV series and music into highly-praised feature films. He helped get "Easy Rider" brought to the screen, a film that made Jack Nicholson a major star. He and Nicholson would go on to collaborate on a total of seven movies. Rafelson often did not take screen credit but his films include "Five Easy Pieces", "The King of Marvin Gardens", "The Last Picture Show", "Hearts and Minds", "Stay Hungry", "The Postman Always Rings Twice", "Brubaker" and "Mountains of the Moon". He and Nicholson also wrote the screenplay for The Monkees' 1968 feature film satire "Head", which Rafelson also directed. For more, click here.
Composer Monty Norman has passed away. He was one of the last remaining major contributors to the first James Bond film, "Dr. No", released in 1962. Norman had a humble childhood, growing up in East London as the son of a cabinetmaker. His mother sewed in order to provide additional income for the fiancially-strapped family. When WWII broke out in 1939, Norman was initially evacuated from London along with countless other children, but later returned to the city just in time to endure the terrors of Hitler's Blitz. The son of the family's landlord used to play the guitar and it had a mesmerizing effect on young Norman. His parents scrimped and saved to buy him his own guitar. It proved to a good investment. Following a stint in the army, Norman became a proficient musician and entertainer. He started his
career in show business as a singer, following in the footsteps of his
uncles who were amateur opera performers. He later began to host jazz-related radio broadcasts that caught the ear of top band leader Cyril Stapleton, who signed Norman as a singer for his band. There would be no looking back. Soon, Norman was touring with future superstar Benny Hill as a comedy/singing act and he also performed with Ted Heath's band. He later worked with the famed comedy troupe the Goons, which included Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan.
Although Monty Norman found success as a big band singer, he chose to concentrate on composing music. His first song, "False Hearted Lover", was a hit. He then turned his attention to composing shows for London's West End, working occasionally with the likes of director Peter Brook and and actor Paul Scofield. He adapted a hit French musical comedy, "Irma La Douce", for an English-language run and it was a smash hit both on the West End and on Broadway. He also found success with an original show, "Expresso Bongo", which would inspire the acclaimed feature film that would be a major career stepping stone for young Cliff Richard. His 1959 show, "Make Me an Offer", also won acclaim. Norman later took a chance by launching the show "Belle", a musical that was based on the notorious murderer Dr. Crippen. The show was his first major failure, but it had unforeseen positive aspects. One of the investors in the production was film producer Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli, who along with his partner, Harry Saltzman, had recently acquired the film rights to Ian Fleming's James Bond novels for their production company, Eon. Broccoli had liked Norman's score for "Belle" and hired him to compose the score for the first Bond movie, "Dr. No". The year was 1962. Norman based the famed signature theme for agent 007 on a previous composition, "Bad Sign Good Sign", that he had written for a musical that was never produced. He also contributed some innovative other tracks for the film including the song "Underneath the Mango Tree", "Jump Up Jamaica" and a reworking of "Three Blind Mice" that was used for nefarious purposes in the opening of the movie. Broccoli and Saltzman were not entirely satisfied with Norman's arrangement of "The James Bond Theme" and hired up-and-coming composer John Barry to rework the track. The result was one of the most recognizable pieces of pop culture music in history but it also led to some hard feelings. Norman, who went on to score the Bob Hope comedy "Call Me Bwana" for Broccoli and Saltzman, had a bit of a falling out with Saltzman over a contract, and was never employed by Eon Productions again. As the Bond juggernaut took off, the Barry became the go-to composer for most of the films and Norman seethed, as Barry was often credited with composing the Bond theme. The matter would finally be settled in a London courtroom many years later when Norman was legally confirmed to be the composer of record of the theme, even though Barry's orchestrations were undeniably pivotal in its success and longevity.
(Note: in the above video interview, the photo of Harry Saltzman is incorrectly designated as Albert R. Broccoli)
In 1989, Norman received the Gold Badge of Merit, for Services to British Music from from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors. Over the years, Norman embraced his association with the Bond films and appeared at numerous 007-related events and premieres, taking satisfaction at his enduring contribution to the world's longest-running film franchise. He told interviewer Sandra Kessell, "‘Well, I hope when the time comes people will remember that I’ve done quite a few things, but the fact that James Bond is so iconic in everybody’s mind - you can’t argue with that and nor would I want to."
(For more about Monty Norman's life and career, visit his official web site.)
Actor James Caan has passed away at age 82. No cause of death has been announced as of this writing. Caan's long career began on in stage productions and he eventually moved into making guest star appearances in prominent television programs in the 1960s before graduating into feature films. The Bronx native specialized in playing street-wise tough guys. In the 1964 thriller "Lady in Cage", he led a group of housebreaking young punks in terrorizing Olivia De Havilland as a woman who was trapped inside an elevator. Caan sometimes landed a leading role in films such as Robert Altman's "Countdown" and in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Rain People", both of which co-starred Robert Duvall. He scored good notices in director Howard Hawks' "El Dorado" playing a gunslinger with bad aim to comedic effect opposite John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. He earned an Emmy nomination for his leading role in the highly rated TV movie "Brian's Song" and his career moved into high gear when Coppola was casting "The Godfather" in 1971. Originally, Caan was slated to play the role of Michael Corleone and fellow up-and-comer Al Pacino was auditioned to play the hot-headed Sonny Corleone, but wiser heads prevailed and the roles were reversed. Both actors received Oscar nominations and major stardom would follow. Caan's character was killed in the first "Godfather" film but he made a pivotal cameo in the final scene of "The Godfather Part II" in a flashback sequence. During the 1970s, Caan was a bankable leading man, appearing in major diverse films such as "Cinderella Liberty", "The Gambler", "Freebie and the Bean", "Rollerball", "Funny Lady", "A Bridge Too Far" and "Chapter Two".
In the 1980s, the good roles and his boxoffice appeal diminished somewhat, despite a high profile leading role in director Michael Mann's "Thief". He starred in and directed "Hide in Plain Sight", a domestic drama that won good notices but did not score at the boxoffice. He also had a hit in the 1990 screen adaptation of Stephen King's thriller "Misery" but many of his roles were relegated to lower-budget productions and supporting roles and cameos. His talents were introduced to a new generation with his role as Will Ferrell's father in the 2003 comedy "Elf", which is now considered to be a Christmas classic. He returned to TV to star in the series "Vegas" and it was a success, running four seasons. Caan was back in the news quite a bit earlier this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of "The Godfather". He is the father of actor Scott Caan and once made a guest appearance on his son's hit series "Hawaii Five-0". Caan occasionally expressed frustration that the good roles were often being denied him in his later years, but in fact, his legacy is intact as a highly respected actor who could excel at playing diverse characters in equally diverse films.
Jean-Louis Trintignant, one of France's greatest film stars, has died at age 91. The legendary star had been a major presence in international cinema since the 1950s and his distinguished career extended to recent years, with Trintigant appearing in highly acclaimed films. Among his greatest films: "And God Created Woman", "Z" and "The Conformist". For more, click here.
Bo Hopkins, the popular character actor, has passed away following complications from a heart attack he suffered earlier this month. He was 84 years old. Hopkins had a hardscrabble life that had given him plenty of experience in playing equally hardscrabble characters. He first made an impression on the big screen as Crazy Lee, the appropriately-named member of The Wild Bunch in director Sam Peckinpah's 1969 classic western. He would soon appear in memorable supporting roles in major films such as "The Bridge at Remagen", Peckinpah's "The Getaway" and "The Killer Elite", "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing", "The Day of the Locust", "American Graffiti", "White Lightning" and "Midnight Express". Later, most of his roles would be in "B" level feature films, though he frequently appeared in hit television shows. His last credited role was in Ron Howard's 2020 film adaptation of J.D. Vance's bestselling memoir "Hillbilly Elegy". For more about his life and career, click here.