TCM – Thursday, March 7, 2024 - Turner Classic Movies (TCM) today announced a new limited series, Two for One, that will feature 12 nights of double features curated by some of the most celebrated filmmakers in Hollywood beginning April 6. TCM Primetime Host Ben Mankiewicz will be joined by each director, including Steven Spielberg, Patty Jenkins, and Spike Lee, to introduce the two films they chose. They will offer commentary on the double feature’s cultural significance, its influence on other films, behind-the-scenes stories, and their own personal reflections.
“This was such an eclectic group of filmmakers to sit down with, which was invigorating, from Martin Scorsese talking about a Robert Mitchum western, to Spike Lee discussing Elia Kazan, to Olivia Wilde’s breakdown of Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame,” said Ben Mankiewicz. “In these double features, these 12 directors lead us on an insider’s journey through cinematic history.”
Two for One which airs every Saturday night, premieres April 6 at 8PM (ET).
Two Films. One Filmmaker. Countless Perspectives. Below is the complete film schedule:
Saturday, April 6 | Martin Scorsese - Blood on the Moon (1948) & One Touch of Venus (1948)
Turner Classic Movies(TCM) will celebrate the 100th
Anniversary of Columbia Pictures with a spotlight on their
incredible film legacy beginning Wednesday, January 3. Join TCM host
Ben Mankiewicz in the month-long celebration showcasing the breadth of the
studio’s films with a different decade every Wednesday, from the 1920s and
1930s with “It Happened One Night” all the way through to 2000s “Marie
Antoinette.” The celebration will kick off Wednesday, January 3 at 8pm ET,
ahead of Columbia Pictures 100th Anniversary on January 10.
The following is a complete schedule for TCM’s January Spotlight:
TCM January Spotlight: Columbia Pictures 100th Anniversary
(All Times Eastern)
Wednesday, January 3 Night
One – the 1920s and 1930s
Friedkin directing Gene Hackman in "The French Connection". (Photo: Cinema Retro Archives.)
Cinema Retro has received the following press release from Turner Classic Movies.
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will celebrate the life and career of director William Friedkin
with a programming tribute this September and November. Friedkin, who
died August 7 at the age of 87, started his career by directing one of
the last episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. He went on to
be known as one of the iconic directors of New Hollywood in the 1970s
with such hits as The Exorcist (1973) and The French Connection (1971),
which won him the Academy Award® for Best Director. William Friedkin was
a great friend to Turner Classic Movies and he attended the TCM Classic
Film Festival several times, most recently in April 2023.
TCM Remembers William Friedkin Part 1 – Thursday, September 14 8:00 PM – The French Connection (1971) – Two New York narcotics cops set out to bust a French drug smuggling ring. 10:00 PM – To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) – A Secret Service agent becomes obsessed with tracking down a notorious and dangerous Los Angeles counterfeitor. 12:15 AM – The Boys in the Band (1970) – A gay birthday party turns into a night of soul-searching when the host's straight college roommate turns up by mistake.
TCM Remembers William Friedkin Part 2 – Sunday, November 26 8:00 PM – Friedkin Uncut (2018) – TCM Premiere – In
this documentary, William Friedkin is interviewed about his career,
alongside a number of his colleagues and industry admirers. 10:00 PM – The Exorcist (1973) – A priest battles to save a young girl possessed by demons.
Here are some fun highlights from "The Addams Family", which last only two seasons on television (1964-66) but which has become a major part of pop culture through the ensuing decades. These scenes are a tribute to Lisa Loring, who played Wednesday Addams, and who passed away recently at age 64. The show was so politically incorrect that it is amazing it was ever telecast in the 1960s. Tribute must be paid to Loring's talented co-stars, Carolyn Jones, John Astin, Ken Weatherwax, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy and Blossom Rock for their iconic interpretations of these immortal characters who were created by cartoonist Charles Addams. - Lee Pfeiffer
Turner Classic Movies (North America) will celebrate the 70th anniversary of Cinerama by broadcasting "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm", along with the documentary "Restoring a Fantasy Classic", and "How the West Was Won" on November 25. Click here for info about the films and the history of Cinerama.
Writing on the Columbophile web site, Glenn Stewart offers a detailed and very interesting essay that compares the tactics and personalities of Sherlock Holmes with legendary TV sleuth Lt. Columbo. While many actors have portrayed Holmes, to date only Peter Falk has brought Columbo to life. Stewart offers up some fascinating insights and facts regarding both detectives and how they adopt different (and sometimes similar) methods for solving crimes.
Cinema Retro
readers probably already know about Joe Caroff’s unique contribution to James Bond and film history, but
outside of serious movie fan circles, he’s less well known. Several years ago,
former HBO producer (and CR writer) Mark Cerulli and editor Paul C. Rosen set
out to change that by putting together a documentary about his remarkable life –
growing up in the Great Depression, fighting in WWII and being part of the Mad
Men advertising scene in the 1960s and 70s. Along with way, Joe designed a
number of iconic film logos including West Side Story, 007, Rollerball, A Hard
Day’s Night, Orion Pictures and many others. If you’re expecting a Bond
documentary, this ain’t it; rather it’s a portrait of a true American success
story that delves into his troubled relationship with his father, finding the
girl of his dreams and conquering Hollywood, one brilliant logo at a time.
Also in the
cast is legendary film executive Mike Medavoy (who commissioned Joe to design
the Orion Pictures logo) and top Hollywood poster artist Dan Chapman.
"By Design:
The Joe Caroff Story" premiered last night on TCM (North America) and is now available on HBO Max.
Cinema Retro has received the following announcement:
Of all the countless action adventure
TV shows that filled our screens in the 1960s, perhaps none of them have
fascinated audiences quite as much as The Prisoner. In 1967, Patrick McGoohan
stepped away from the colossal ITC hit show Secret Agent (or Danger Man in the
UK) and used his commercial clout to create a series that has thrilled and
baffled in equal measure for over fifty years.
He played a nameless secret agent who
is kidnapped during the titles sequence of the first episode, and wakes up in a
bizarre, pastel-hued location where everyone is known only by their number, and
where escape is made impossible by a malevolent bouncing ball.
In ‘The Village’, the authorities are
determined to discover why this new arrival resigned. However, No. 6 as he is
now known, is equally determined to keep all his secrets to himself and spends
17 episodes fighting to retain his individuality.
Equal parts action thriller, dystopian
science fiction, and political allegory, The Prisoner has held generations of
viewers in its thrall. Two such devotees, Chris Bainbridge and Cai Ross, became
hooked when Channel 4 in the UK broadcast the series in 1992 to mark its 25th
anniversary, and have stayed hooked ever since.
Now, Chris (a senior lecturer in
media) and Cai (a film writer and Cinema Retro contributor) have channeled
their obsession into a new podcast, Free For All, which has just completed its
first season.
Recorded in North Wales, a mere hour’s
drive from Portmeirion, the extraordinary Italianate village where The Prisoner
was filmed, Free For All makes an in-depth, passionate, irreverent and loving
evaluation of each of the 17 episodes.
Chris and Cai have already interviewed
the actress Jane Merrow, who played No. 6’s mind-reading ally in The Schizoid
Man. In the second season, we are promised interviews with acclaimed author of
The Official Prisoner Companion, Robert Fairclough, noted Prisoner authorities
from The Six of One appreciation society and The Unmutual, and It’s Your
Funeral No. 2 Derren Nesbitt (Where Eagles Dare).
Catch up with all the episodes of
Season 1 on Spotify, Apple or wherever you enjoy your podcast selections.
Search for Free For All / Prisoner.
Dean Martin in "The Silencers" (1966), the first of the Matt Helm spy spoofs.
Cinema Retro has received the following press release:
Turner Classic Movies (TCM), now in its 27th year as a leading authority in classic film, will present the U.S. broadcast premiere of the documentary Dean Martin: King of Cool
on Nov. 19, 2021. Director Tom Donahue and producer Ilan Arboleda will
appear alongside TCM Host Ben Mankiewicz to introduce the documentary
and four of Dean Martin’s most iconic films, including Ocean’s 11 (1960) and The Caddy (1959).
Dean
Martin epitomized cool. A founding member of the Rat Pack, Dean was a
multi-talented performer who was part of the number one comedy act in
America, a chart-topping singer for over half a century and one of the
biggest stars in Hollywood and on TV. He was the consummate charmer on
stage and off. Yet for all his celebrity, fame, and adoration, no one
ever truly knew him.
King of Cool
dives deep into Martin’s life through never-before-seen archival
footage including from his time with Jerry Lewis, his movies and his TV
Variety Show and Roasts. Interviews with friends (Angie Dickinson, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett), family (Deana Martin), and admirers (RZA, Jon Hamm) give an intimate and personal account of his life, and the film tries to understand why Martin was such an enigma.
“Despite
his extensive discography and his lengthy list of film and television
credits, not much is known about Dean Martin,†said Charlie Tabesh, svp of programming for TCM. “We are thrilled to premiere the definitive look at Martin’s life and explore what made him so cool – and mysterious.â€
“What
an incredible, joyous labor of love it has been to tell the story of
one of the 20th Century’s greatest entertainers,†said Tom Donahue, director of Dean Martin: King of Cool. “The more I learned, the greater and deeper my appreciation and affection for this man became.â€
Dean Martin: King Of Cool was
produced by CreativeChaos vmg in association with Leonardo DiCaprio’s
production company, Appian Way, and Danny Strong’s Danny Strong
Productions. It was also executive produced by Paul Barry, Deana Martin,
John Griffeth, and Steve Edwards. Ron Marasco was the story producer
and it was co-produced by Mandy Stein, Peter Greenwald, Tina Potter,
Jessicya Materano and Chantel Ellis.
“As
a huge Dean Martin fan, I was so honored to be part of this amazing
team led by Tom Donahue and Ilan Arboleda to tell the story of one of
the greatest talents of the 20th century,†said executive producer Danny Strong.
“Dean is an icon, a legend and a mystery. By telling his story we hope
to shed some light on that mystery and to keep his legend living on.â€
TCM’s full lineup of programming includes:
Friday, November 19 8:00 p.m. King of Cool
(2021) – Documentary telling the story of actor and singer Dean Martin
through film clips, photographs and interviews with family, friends and
colleagues. 9:30 p.m. The Caddy (1953) – A master golfer suffering from performance anxiety caddies for a man he's taught everything. 11:15 p.m. Rio Bravo (1959) – A sheriff enlists a drunk, a kid and an old man to help him fight off a ruthless cattle baron.
Friday, November 26 8:00 p.m. Ocean’s 11 (1960) – A group of friends plot to rob a Las Vegas casino. 10:15 p.m. Robin and the Seven Hoods (1964) - A Chicago gangster stumbles into philanthropic work during a gang war. 12:30 a.m. King of Cool
(2021) – Documentary telling the story of actor and singer Dean Martin
through film clips, photographs and interviews with family, friends and
colleagues.
Cinema Retro has received the following press release:
TCM To Celebrate Legendary Musical Actress Jane Powell
Turner Classic Movies (TCM)
will celebrate the life and career of iconic Hollywood Golden Age
actress JanePowell with a programming tribute on Saturday,
October 16. Powell, who passed away on September 16 at the age of
92, was known for her roles in mid-century movie musicals. At the age
of 25 she starred in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954),
named as one of the greatest American musicals of all time by the
American Film Institute. Powell was a great friend of the late TCM Host
Robert Osborne and was with Osborne in Times Square when Turner Classic
Movies was launched as a network in 1994.
The following is the complete schedule for TCM's on-air tribute to Jane
Powell:
TCM Remembers Jane Powell – Saturday, October 16
12:00 p.m. Luxury Liner (1948) – The daughter of a ship's
captain becomes a sea-going cupid. 2:00 p.m. Small Town Girl (1953) – A sheriff's daughter
falls for a playboy arrested for speeding. 4:00 p.m. Royal Wedding (1951) – A brother-and-sister
musical team find romance when they tour to London for Elizabeth II's
wedding. 6:00 p.m. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) – When
their older brother marries, six lumberjacks decide it's time to go
courting for themselves.
Cinema Retro has received the following press release from Turner Classic Movies:
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will celebrate
the life and career of iconic actor, producer and director Norman Lloyd with a programming
tribute on Monday, June 14. Lloyd,
who passed away on May 11 at the age of 106, was known for playing the saboteur
himself in Hitchcock’s Saboteur
(1942) and was part of original company of Orson Welles’ Mercury Theater. His
eight-decade career saw him work in all media including Broadway, television,
film, and radio, with stints as director and producer. He attended the TCM
Classic Cruise in 2011 and 2013 and attended all but one TCM Classic Film
Festival in Hollywood.
The following is the complete schedule for TCM's on-air tribute to Norman
Lloyd:
TCM Remembers Norman Lloyd –
Monday, June 14
8:00 p.m. Saboteur (1942) – A young man accused of
sabotage goes on the lam to prove his innocence. 10:00 p.m. Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Norman
Lloyd (2016) –
Norman Lloyd discusses his career in front of a live audience. 11:00 p.m. Limelight (1952) – A broken-down comic
sacrifices everything to give a young dancer a shot at the big time. 1:30 a.m. He Ran All the Way (1951) – A crook on the run
hides out in an innocent girl's apartment. 3:00 a.m. The Southerner (1945) – A sharecropper fights
the elements to start his own farm. 5:00 a.m. Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Norman
Lloyd (2016) –
Norman Lloyd discusses his career in front of a live audience.
Mark Gordon Pictures has announced it has acquired remake rights to the 1964 Sergio Leone Western classic "A Fistful of Dollars", the film which launched the character of The Man with No Name and elevated Clint Eastwood to international movie star status. The company simultaneously acquired the rights to Akira Kurosawa's "Yojimbo", the film on which it was based, which Leone had not bothered to do. Consequently, he was sued by Kurosawa and the ensuing litigation delayed the release of the movie to English language markets for several years. The script will call upon elements of both versions of the story and will be used in a contemporary setting. The production is being made as a TV series, though no network has been announced. This is not the first time a contemporary version of the tale has been brought to the screen. In 1996, Bruce Willis starred in the feature film remake "Last Man Standing", which was set during the Prohibition era. For more, click here.
ABC TV will air a live tribute to the classic 1970s sitcoms "All in the Family" and the spin-off series "The Jeffersons" on May 22. Both shows were the creations of legendary producer Norman Lear. The telecast will be star-studded with Woody Harrelson and Marisa Tomei taking on the roles of Archie and Edith Bunker and Jamie Foxx and Wanda Sykes portraying George and Louise Jefferson. Both sitcoms became sensational hits and ushered in a new era of realism on American television. Issues of racism and sexism were discussed openly. Gay characters were the subjects of story lines. Social issues that resonated with the American public were portrayed in a humorous but poignant manner. Although both Archie Bunker and George Jefferson could be close-minded blowhards, they were both hard-working honorable men in many ways. Click here for more.
Turner Classic Movies (North America) will broadcast "Treasures from the Disney Vault" on October 15. Here is the official description:
Once again, we are honored
to present an assortment of classics from the Walt Disney library, with TCM
friend and Disney expert Leonard Maltin returning as host. This collection
includes the TCM premieres of three Disney features and two cartoon shorts:
The Cat from Outer Space (1978) is a sci-fi
comedy feature about an intelligent extraterrestrial cat named Jake who crash
lands his spaceship on Earth and seeks help in making repairs so he can return
to his own planet. The human actors include Ken Berry, Roddy McDowall, Sandy
Duncan, Harry Morgan and McLean Stevenson.
The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980) is a
family-adventure film in which a plane carrying various animals is turned into
a boat after crash landing on a desert island. (A full-scale Boeing B-29 bomber
was used in the film.) This film stars notable actors Elliott Gould, Geneviève
Bujold and Ricky Schroder.
Flight of the Navigator (1986) is a sci-fi
adventure about a boy (Joey Cramer) who is abducted by a spaceship and travels
into the future. Randal Kleiser directed and the cast includes a young Sarah
Jessica Parker.
The premiering cartoons in our night's lineup
focus on the Mickey Mouse family of characters. In Magician Mickey
(1937), Mickey stages a magic show despite interruptions from heckler Donald
Duck. In Pluto's Sweater (1949), Minnie Mouse knits a hideous pink
sweater for Pluto, to the amusement of the kitty Figaro.
Two features are given encore screenings in the
theme of Halloween. The classic musical fantasy Bedknobs and Broomsticks
(1971), which combines animation and live action, stars the delightful Angela
Lansbury as an apprentice witch in WWII England, who takes in three children
during the London blitz and plans to use a magic spell to help in the war
effort. The film, directed by Robert Stevenson, received four Oscar nominations
and won in the category of Best Special Visual Effects.
The Little Whirlwind (1941), an encore
cartoon, has Mickey Mouse struggling with a small tornado. This short is of
particular interest because it employs a redesigned Mickey that was employed
briefly during the World War II period. In this version, Mickey has smaller
ears, larger head and hands and buck teeth.
The sci-fi adventure The Black Hole (1979)
concerns space travelers who locate a lost spacecraft that is hovering near a
black hole and try to solve the mystery of how the ship defies the enormous
gravitational pull. An imposing cast includes Maximilian Schell, Anthony
Perkins, Ernest Borgnine and Yvette Mimieux. This film was Oscar-nominated in
the categories of Best Cinematography and Visual Effects. It was the first
"dark-themed" Disney feature and the first to be given a rating of
PG.
The 1966 WWII film "The Heroes of Telemark" starred Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris in the true story of Norwegian resistance fighters who thwarted the Third Reich's plans to develop the heavy water necessary to build atomic weapons. Although the film had many fictional elements, the basics were accurate: including a devastating decision to sink a ferry boat that was secretly transporting the heavy water, even though it would ensure the deaths of innocent passengers. Now a team of National Geographic researchers will bring the true story to the NG Channel on September 6 along with footage of the 40 barrels of heavy water that was recently discovered the sunken ferry. Click here for more.
(For extensive coverage on the making of "The Heroes of Telemark", order the Cinema Retro Movie Classics WW II Classics issue by clicking here.)
The Hollywood Reporter states that George Clooney will direct a six-episode television adaptation of Joseph Heller's landmark anti-war book "Catch-22". Although set in WWII, the story resonated with readers during the height of the anti-Vietnam War protests. The movie was originally made into a star-studded feature film in 1970, directed by Mike Nichols. Clooney will also appear in the series playing the role of Col. Cathcart, who was portrayed in the film by Martin Balsam. No network has been attached to the production, which is currently being shopped around to various potential broadcasters. Click here for more.
The TV series Doctor Who premiered in the UK in 1963 and is still a highly popular cultural institution. Fans were shocked when the news was released that the thirteenth actor to portray the doctor will be a female, actress Jodie Whittaker. As you might suspect, the web is alight with debates between those who welcomed the news and feel that Whittaker's casting will be an inspiration to young female fans and those who are aghast that the traditionally male role has now gone "politically correct". Whittaker will take over the role in January, when the current Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi, retires from the series. For more click here.
The new documentary "Becoming Cary Grant" premieres on Showtime June 9. Grant was the most opaque of Hollywood superstars. While audiences packed theaters showing his movies, Grant rarely gave interviews, wouldn't appear on TV shows and generally maintained an aura of mystery around him- which compares favorably to today's publicity-starved celebrities who sometimes leak their own sex tapes in order to get some publicity. The documentary traces Grant's rags-to-riches story and the strange tale behind his mother's estrangement from him- something that haunted him throughout his life. The most controversial aspect of the movie was Grant's well-known indulgence of LSD under medical supervision. In that regard, Grant- the most "Establishment" of stars- preceded the hippie movement by years in terms of preaching about the psychological benefits of the drug- though by the mid-1960s the dangerous side of LSD had turned the public against its use and even Grant ultimately moved away from it. Grant went into self-imposed retirement after his final film, "Walk, Don't Run" in 1966, still at the height of his boxoffice appeal. He did appear at the Oscar ceremonies in 1970 to accept a lifetime achievement award and in the 1980s he embarked on one-man show tours in which he conversed with everyday people usually in small town venues. Grant died in 1986 after leaving the stage from one such appearance. For more click here.
HBO is producing "Francis & the Godfather", a behind the scenes recounting of the making of the 1972 crime classic. As most retro movie lovers know, although "The Godfather" is now considered to be one of the greatest films ever made, it had a rocky production history. Paramount just wanted a quickie crime flick for fast playoff and balked at director Francis Ford Coppola's insistence on costly production values. The studio also wanted to fire Al Pacino and forbade Coppola from hiring Marlon Brando for the title role on the basis that Brando's decade-long string of failures made him boxoffice poison. Coppola, through shrewd instincts and an occasional bit of good luck, sidestepped these potential minefields and delivered a masterpiece that spawned two sequels and became part of international pop culture. No casting or director has been announced. For more click here.
HBO will debut the documentary "Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds" on Saturday, January 7, having moved up its planned March telecast date in light of the deaths of Fisher and Reynolds within 24 hours of each other last month. Click here to read critic Hank Steuver's review of the film in The Washington Post.
The good folks at the U.S. cable TV company, Cablevision, are at it again. When you press your remote control's "INFO" button, a brief synopsis of the show you are watching appears on screen. For years some person or persons has proven themselves to be more entertaining than the program itself by providing descriptions of the telecasts that are, to put it charitably, bizarre. Check out these descriptions of Turner Classic Movies recent telecasts of some Horror Hammer films classic featuring TCM's "Star of the Month" Christopher Lee:
"DRACULA, PRINCE OF DARKNESS": "Four tourists dine and spend the night at Dracula's castle; two escape and warn a monk".
Now, try sinking your teeth into this one:
"DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE": "The vampire count bites a tavern waitress and monsignor's niece, then falls on something sharp".
If you think you doubt you possess the talent to be a professional writer, keep in mind the perpetrators of these descriptions actually get paid for their efforts, so by all means send in your credentials to Cablevision.
"Lost in Space", the sci-fi cult favorite that fell squarely into the "so bad, it's good" category, will get a relaunch from Netflix, which will develop a ten-episode trial series. The original series debuted in 1965 and ran for three seasons but is arguably more popular today among sci-fi buffs who look back fondly on the show's over-the-top humor and cheesy special effects. The series was the brainchild of producer Irwin Allen, who was associated with other popular sci-fi series of the era and who would go on to produce disaster movie blockbusters like "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The Towering Inferno". The premise of the show was a space age tale of survival inspired by the classic adventure novel "Swiss Family Robinson". The modern Robinsons were a family on a U.S. space mission who found themselves stranded and destined to travel between planets, encountering various exotic life forms. Accompanying the family were a handsome navigator and a weasley, back-stabbing stowaway, Dr. Smith, played by Jonathan Harris, who went on to steal the show and become a pop culture icon. The series also featured the Robinson's personal robot (actually Robbie the Robot, recycled from the 50s feature film "Forbidden Planet"), whose mechanical warning "Danger, Will Robinson!" became a national catch-phrase.
The series inspired a poorly received 1998 feature film version. The Netflix series has elicited the usual promises from its creators that it will bring the format into a new era while remaining reverent to the original show's roots. Uh-huh. Sometimes you simply can't go home again. Given some of the poor remakes of older TV series, maybe this project should indeed remain lost in space, but we'll reserve our judgment until we see the end result.
A new F/X TV series titled "Feud" will recreate legendary Hollywood battles between celebrities. Top on the list in terms of retro movie lovers' interest will be the famous feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The two legendary stars united for the 1962 Gothic mystery "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" The low-budget film was a major hit with the public and critics and revived the careers of both Davis and Crawford. However, their off-screen drama during the making of the movie has become the stuff of legend, as the two women came to genuinely despise each other. For more click here
CULVER CITY, CA – April 18, 2016 – Fueled by the positive response to its programming blocks
celebrating rare classic television series,getTVhas launched an all-new weekday
schedule focusing on hard-to-find favorites. The lineup includes 14
television series to start, with more to be added throughout the cycle. The new
schedule is divided into three distinct blocks—Comedies, Westerns,
and Action/Crime—airing weekdays from 7 a.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET,
beginning May 2. In a special kick-off event, getTV will present the
two-hour premiere of the 1984 series RIPTIDE, starring Perry King, Joe
Penny, and Thom Bray, as part of the network’s Silver Screen Favorites block on
Sunday, May 1, at 8 p.m. ET.
Highlights of the daytime programming
lineup include charming long lost comedies THE GHOST & MRS.
MUIRandNANNY AND THE PROFESSOR; the Old West
epic THE RESTLESS GUN, which makes its getTV debut after
having rarely been seen on television since its original run; and a
wall-to-wall afternoon block of rarely seen, but beloved crime favorites
featuring the Aaron Spelling standout S.W.A.T; Ernest Borgnine and
Jan-Michael Vincent in AIRWOLF; RIPTIDE and HARDCASTLE
AND MCCORMICK, created by award-winning crime author and TV
producer Stephen J. Cannell;
a special 30th Anniversary year presentation of THE
EQUALIZER, which spawned the hit 2014 Denzel Washington thriller of the same name, and its upcoming
2017 sequel. The daytime series block concludes with back-to-back
episodes of the gripping police drama IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT,
starring Carroll O’Connor, based
off 1967's OscarÃ’-winning Sidney Poitier/Rod Steiger movie of the same name.
“getTV's viewers
have made it clear that, in addition to the classic films we’re known for, they
also want to dig even deeper into their favorite long-lost TV programs of
yesteryear,†said Jeff Meier, Senior Vice President, Programming, getTV. “This
new lineup allows us to give our audience the best of both worlds, as we
present great series during the day, and memorable movies at night.â€
getTV’s all-new weekday programming lineup is as follows:
(
Comedy
Block
7 a.m. ET—THE THIN MAN (1957-1959)—Peter
Lawford and Phyllis Kirk star as married sleuths Nick
and Nora Charles, solving crimes and getting wrapped up in shady schemes in
this spin-off of the 1934 Pre-Code comedy of the same name. Guests
include Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Don Rickles, Marion
Ross, and more.
7:35 a.m. ET—THE JIMMY STEWART
SHOW (1971-1972)—Beloved leading man James Stewart makes
his television debut, as a small town professor in this charming family comedy
that also stars Julie Adams and John McGiver.
Notable guests include Vincent Price, Regis Philbin, Kate
Jackson, M. Emmett Walsh, and Cesar Romero.
8:15 a.m. ET—NANNY AND THE
PROFESSOR (1970-1971)—Juliet Mills stars as a magical
young nanny who may or may not be psychic, with Richard Long as
her widowed professor of an employer and top contemporary reality and
tabloid star Kim Richards in her breakthrough role as one of
Long's three kids. Notable guests include Jodie Foster in her
third TV appearance, as well as Elsa Lanchester, Ida Lupino, Lee
Meriwether, and Van Johnson.
8:50 a.m. ET—THE GHOST & MRS.
MUIR (1968-1970)—Hope Lange won two EmmyÒ
Awards for Best Actress in a Comedyas a widow who befriends the
spirit of a sea captain (Edward Mulhare) haunting her New England home.
Notable supporting cast includes game show stalwart Charles Nelson Reilly in his most significant acting role, and
notable guests include Richard Dreyfuss, Danny Bonaduce, Dom
DeLuise, Yvonne Craig, and more.
Long
time Shannara fans have reason to rejoice. Thanks to the series producers Sonar Entertainment and MTV, author Terry
Brooks' Shannara has come to life. Based upon his second novel, "The
Elfstones of Shannara," The Shannara Chronicles is an engaging new
television series that premieres on MTV on January 5. Cast with some terrific
young actors it's a good bet to be a hit with MTV fans who know nothing of Brooks' novels.
Shot on location in New Zealand, it has beautiful scenery, breathtaking
cinematography and an impressively talented and good looking cast. (Elves are
supposed to be beautiful, no?) The set design is spectacular; wait until you
see the Sacred Garden and the Ellcrys.
A
long time to come, on a post-apocalyptic Earth, a magical tree, the Ellcrys,
stands in the Elven city of Arborlon. For thousands of years it has protected
the Four Lands from demon invasion. As long as the Ellcrys lives, the demons
remain banished in the Forbidding. But the Ellcrys is dying. For the first time
in its history the Ellcrys is shedding leaves and with each leaf that falls
another demon is released into the world. The demons are coming...
Since its planting the tree has been
protected by The Order of the Chosen. Each year young elves vie for one of the
seven places in the Order, giving a year's service tending to the tree. This
year, against tradition, the first female elf has earned a spot in the Order.
She is Amberle Elessedil (Poppy Drayton - Unhallowed Ground, Downton Abbey),
granddaughter to King Eventine Elessedil (John Rhys-Davies
- do I need list his credits?) and the Ellcrys speaks to her through visions.
Misinterpreting one of the Ellcrys' messages, she runs away in an attempt to
protect someone she cares about.
In
Shady Vale, Wil Ohmsford (Austin Butler - The Carrie Diaries, Arrow), a
young man who is half-elf, half-human, is dealing with the death of his mother,
a gift she gives him on her death-bed and a mission she imparts; "Find the
Druid." The Druid she refers to is Alanon (Manu Bennett - The Hobbit,
Arrow). The gift pertains to the magical elfstones once wielded by Wil's
father, Shea Ohmsford. Wil leaves Shady Vale intent on going to Storlock to
study healing to make up for the helplessness he feels being unable to save his
mother. Instead of finding Alanon it is the druid who finds Wil but not before
Wil has been relieved of the elfstones by a beautiful Rover girl (read: thief),
Eretria (Ivana Baquero - Pan's Labyrinth). Alanon has been called by the
Ellcrys and with Wil in tow they head to Arborlon.
Meanwhile,
a Changeling demon prowls Arborlon doing the Dagda Mor's bidding. The first
leaf lost by the Ellcrys released the Dagda Mor, a powerful Elven Druid
corrupted thousands of years earlier by the Illdatch, a book of dark magic. The
Changeling's mission is to kill all the members of the Order of the Chosen. In
this way, as only a member of the Chosen possesses the ability to revive the
Ellcrys, a demon invasion will be assured…
The Shannara
Chronicles is
an exciting and impressive adaptation of Terry Brooks’ equally impressive
novel.
The original three amigos: band leader Doc Severinsen, Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon.
By Lee Pfeiffer
It's almost too good to be true. After long, complex negotiations the cable channel Antenna TV has closed a deal to begin showing full length vintage episodes of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" beginning January 1. The shows will provide a fascinating time capsule that extends over Carson's thirty years hosting of the iconic NBC late night program. Full one hour episodes will air on weeknights while earlier 90 minute episodes will be telecast on weekends. In today's age of basically crass, dumbed-down interview shows, Carson's "Tonight" episodes will probably resonate better than ever. The show would present an astonishing array of guests that represented everyone from legendary actors and singers to literary figures and politicians. For a generation that grew up on the show it will be great to hear Ed McMahon once again bellow, "Heeerrreee's Johnny!". For more click here.
The cult '60s sci-fi series "Lost in Space" will be remade as an original show for Netflix. The original series, produced by Irwin Allen, was only modestly successful when aired on CBS for three seasons beginning in 1965. The show was a clever space aged remake of "Swiss Family Robinson", with a family of the future finding itself stranded in outer space. Along the way they meet numerous alien species and share exotic adventures. The series has developed a strong cult following over the decades with many fans nostalgic for the series' infamous use of threadbare, cheesy sets and the emphasis on overt humor. Attempts to revive the series have not been successful to date. A 1998 big screen version was loathed by fans of the original show. Plans to bring the show back as a series stalled once before, never moving beyond the pilot stage. Netflix hopes the third time will be the charm. For more click here.
Cinema Retro has received the following press release:
getTV
ADDS RARE TV SERIES ‘NICHOLS,’ ‘HONDO’
AND ‘A MAN CALLED SHENANDOAH’ TO SATURDAY WESTERNS BLOCK STARTING IN SEPTEMBER
Channel
will Air Mini-Marathon of One Series Each Week Starting Sept. 12 at 12 PM ET
CULVER
CITY, CA –– Monday, August 24, 2015 - Acclaimed movie diginet getTV introduces classic TV series to its
lineup for the first time by adding a block of rarely seen Western series
starting Saturday, September 12 at 12 p.m. ET. The brand new block is a
part of the network's popular ongoing all-day Saturday Westerns lineup,
and will debut with five episodes of the 1971 series NICHOLS, starring
beloved leading man James Garner and a young Margot Kidder, in one of her first
major roles.
Additionally,
getTV will present five episodes of the wandering gunslinger series HONDO,
starring Ralph Taeger and Michael Pate, on September 19; and 10 episodes
of 1965’s A MAN CALLED SHENANDOAH, starring Robert Horton,
on September 26; both starting at Noon ET. Following several
weeks of mini-marathons, all of the newly added Western series will join the
regular Saturday lineup on a weekly basis.
On
September 12th, James Garner is a man looking for a fresh start in NICHOLS, set
in small-town Arizona in the early 1900s. Having left an 18-year career in the
military, Garner as Nichols finds himself blackmailed into the role of town
sheriff by the villainous Ketcham Family, who run the town. Riding a motorcycle
instead of a horse, and forsaking guns in favor of more peaceful resolutions,
the newly-crowned lawman takes on bandits, manages town bullies and woos
beautiful bar maid Margot Kidder...all with his own unique style. Created by
Oscar®-winning screenwriter Frank Pierson (DOG DAY AFTERNOON, COOL HAND LUKE,
MAD MEN), with episodes directed by such notables as John Badham and Ivan
Dixon, Nichols also featured Garner’s eventual THE ROCKFORD FILES co-star
Stuart Margolin and included such guest stars as Tom Skerritt, Scatman
Crothers, THE WALTONS’ patriarch Ralph Waite, Alice Ghostley, and Ricardo
Montalban, and was well-known for being one of James Garner's favorite
television roles.
hondo
Then,
on September 19, Ralph Taeger and his faithful canine sidekick Sam hit the
road in 1967’s HONDO. Based on the 1953 John Wayne drama of the same
name--which, in turn, was inspired by Louis L'Amour's sixth novel--HONDO stars
Taeger as a former Confederate officer who lived with the Apaches. Tasked with
preventing more violence from occurring between settlers and the remaining
tribes, Hondo embarks on a quest to avenge his Indian wife's death, while
battling dastardly land-grabbers, nosy reporters, and other outlaws, in the
process. Famed movie villain Michael Pate also stars, reprising his big screen
role as Apache Chief Vittoro, and the series features such guest stars as Ricky
Nelson, Fernando Lamas and Annette Funicello. Noah Beery Jr. (who played
James Garner’s father in THE ROCKFORD FILES) co-stars in this series.
The
month wraps up on September 26, with WAGON TRAIN’s Robert Horton in
10 episodes of the well-regarded half hour Western drama A MAN CALLED
SHENANDOAH. Horton stars as a man who wakes up after being brutally attacked,
with no memory of who he is or why anyone would want to harm him. Searching for
clues to his past life, the man dubbed "Shenandoah" travels through
the desert, running afoul of lynch mobs, dodging false charges, facing off
against violent criminals, and doling out Old West justice along the way. In
addition to Horton, the series boasted a number of impressive guest stars,
including Oscar® winners Cloris Leachman, Martin Landau, and George Kennedy,
and nominees Bruce Dern, Sally Kellerman, Nina Foch, John Ireland, and Arthur
O’Connell.
A MAN CALLED SHENANDOAH
"At
getTV, our fans love when we dig into the vaults and find something they
haven’t seen in awhile – or maybe ever. So, in addition to uncovering
hard-to-find movies, we also wanted to deliver our fans some rare TV series,â€
said Jeff Meier, getTV’s senior vice president of programming. “One of
our most popular programming blocks on the channel is
our Saturday lineup of Westerns, so we’re especially proud to be able
to present lesser known gems from legends like James Garner and Robert Horton
that haven’t been seen on TV in decades. Although each of these series
originally had a short run, they all feature classic Old West action that will
have viewers agreeing that they were cancelled far too soon.â€
About
getTV
getTV is
a digital subchannel dedicated to showcasing Hollywood’s legendary movies and
is available over the air and on local cable systems. The network, operated by
Sony Pictures Television Networks, launched in February 2014. It features Academy Award® winning films and
other epic classics titles. getTV distribution is close to covering nearly
70 percent of all U.S. television households across 65 markets, including 40 of
the top 50 designated market areas (DMAs). The network is broadcast by
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Univision Television Group and Cox Media Group owned
stations and others. For information, visit get.tv
and connect with the network on Facebook
and Twitter @getTV.
With American crime TV series now an almost indistinguishable jumble of action-oriented plots featuring calendar model-type male and female leads, it's nice to revisit an era when the pace was slower, the plots were more intelligent and the stars resembled everyday people. Case in point: the old "Columbo" series starring Peter Falk, a product of the late 1960s that became so phenomenally successful that its lifespan into the early 2000's. The show would appear regularly- and later occasionally- in the format of a 90 minute TV movie when such fare was all the rage on network TV. The show premiered as a "one-shot" production titled "Prescription: Murder" in 1968 but the character of Columbo became so popular that he became a mainstay of the NBC Mystery Movie", a weekly program in the 1970s in which popular actors were seen as sleuths. The format allowed each star (Falk, Rock Hudson, Dennis Weaver and Richard Boone) to be seen on alternating weeks. "Columbo" became Falk's signature role as the frumpy, seemingly idiotic L.A. police detective who used these characteristics to intellectually disarm his adversaries. Every episode allowed the viewer to see precisely who committed a presumably perfect crime. Inevitably, the culprit would be an elitist, well-established snob- predominantly a male, but occasionally female. The principal villain was also generally played by a major star, thus allowing viewers the delight of seeing actors who generally portrayed heroic figures to engage in some mustache-twirling as bad guys. The most delightful aspect of the series, aside from the intricate plot lines, were the sequences in which Columbo slowly closes the noose around his prey. Both detective and suspect know what is going on but they engage in civility toward each other as the culprit goes through the motions of pretending he is helping Columbo solve the crime. Columbo was unlike any of the slick, sophisticated TV detectives audiences had grown accustomed to. He was generally clad in a crumpled trench coat and drove a laughably battered 1959 Peugeot 403 convertible with the only apparent accessory a working police radio. Falk's inimitable New York mannerisms and speech patterns gave him a "fish-out-of-water" quality no matter who he interacted with, including his fellow police officers. Finishing off his unsophisticated appearance was his omnipresent cheap cigar, which he would smoke everywhere, including mansion houses where he was investigating crimes. (Like Clint Eastwood's Man With No Name, we never quite see him with a fresh cigar in his mouth, only a half-stogie that appeared to be as much chewed as smoked.)
Patrick McGoohan as Col. Rumford
Netflix is now presenting the various seasons of "Columbo" that were aired on NBC. (The show's revival in the late 1980s was seen on ABC.) One standout episode in a history of standout episodes is "By Dawn's Early Light", which was originally telecast in October, 1974. (The show can be found in the Season 4 category on Netflix.) Patrick McGoohan is cast as Col. Lyle C. Rumford, a gruff, spit-and-polish career soldier who is in charge of an illustrious military school. When we first see him, he is painstakingly disassembling the shell for a ceremonial canon and modifying it so that it will be an instrument of murder. We soon meet the intended victim: William Haynes (Tom Simcox), the grandson of the school's legendary founder. Haynes has a confrontational meeting with Rumford in the colonel's office. They discuss the fact that enrollment in the school has plummeted dramatically in recent years due to the aversion of boys who want to pursue a military career. (Keep in mind the episode was shot during the period in which the United States still had a presence in Vietnam.) Haynes has developed a plan to ensure the school's economic survival by making it a coed institution. Rumford is appalled by the idea and intends to thwart its implementation by having Haynes killed when he fires the canon at the school's Founder's Day event. He will achieve this by adjusting the explosives inside the shell canister then stuffing a rag into the barrel of the weapon. The ploy works: when Haynes fires the canon, it explodes and kills him in front of hundreds of horrified on-lookers. Rumford thinks he has gotten away with murder and ensured that the school will continue as an all-male institution with him in charge. But, as they say in detective films, the plot thickens when Columbo arrives on scene. To state any more specifics would ruin the enjoyment of the episode, which is one of the best. The sheer pleasure of seeing Falk squaring off on camera with McGoohan is a true delight and the episode was so well received that McGoohan won an Emmy for his performance. Adding to the pleasures are the high production values. The episode was filmed on location at The Citadel military college in Charleston and this allowed the producers a degree of authenticity that would have been difficult to replicate on a back lot. The episode also benefited from the inspired direction of Harvey Hart, who also directed such feature films as "Bus Riley's Back in Town", "The Sweet Ride" and "Fortune and Men's Eyes." If you're going to engage in some binge-watching, you would be hard-pressed to find a better companion than Lt. Columbo.
(Trivia note: keep an eye out for young Bruno Kirby, who plays one of the cadets.)
For an essay about this episode, visit the How Sweet It Was site by clicking here.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER "COLUMBO: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON" FROM AMAZON
Well, it's that time of year again when pundits everywhere weigh in on the merits (or lack thereof) of the previous evening's Oscar telecast.
Here are my random observations:
Host Neil Patrick Harris was affable and likable and worked like hell to put on a good show. But there lies the rub. Traditionally, Oscar hosts never had to be chosen for their ability to carry Busby Berkeley-like song and dance extravaganzas. Dear old Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope and Johnny Carson were simply there to keep the traffic flowing to the podium in between rattling off some memorable one-liners. Billy Crystal quashed that tradition with his ever-outrageous opening production numbers that razzed the Academy and some of the nominees. The idea should have been retired with him when he announced he would no longer host the event. Last evening's opening act was certainly opulent and contained some funny zingers if you could discern them through the lightning-fast production. Throughout the rest of the show, Harris had some hits but plenty of misses. There were some witty lines (i.e "Tonight we honor Hollywood's best and whitest") but plenty of bizarre antics that either flopped or just went nowhere. Early on, he introduced a running gag in which he said he made predictions about the show that were kept in a locked box on the stage. No one knew the point of the joke, which he referred to numerous times. When the payoff finally came, it turns out there were printed pages that accurately predicted what certain winners and presenters would say and how they would act. It was impressive but only in the way that a guy at a cocktail party can impress others with the old "Pick a card...any card!" magic routine. It was completely pointless for an Oscar telecast that weighed in at 3 1/2 hours. Additionally, some of Harris's other jokes were so lame that, in one instance, he had to explain the meaning of a joke about Oprah Winfrey's wealth to Oprah herself. When you have to discuss why people should find a joke funny in retrospect, you're in trouble. I was reminded of a critic who once said that watching producer Samuel Bronston's "Circus World" was like sitting with an elephant on your lap. Perhaps last night's event wasn't the equivalent of an elephant but it came pretty close to holding a walrus on your lap. Harris gamely tried to keep the pace going fast but it was beyond his control. Overlong acceptance speeches are the bane of any Oscar host and they were out in full force last night. Overall, Harris tried hard and succeeded often enough not to have embarrassed himself. However, since the guy already hosts the Tony Awards, the Emmys, the TV Land Awards and probably the "Man of the Year" at your local Loyal Order of Moose Lodge, the Academy should pull out all the stops to bring back some proven hosts such as Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg or Ellen Degeneres, all of whom have a natural ability to improvise brilliantly.
Most of the talent on stage looked elegant. For the most part the males continued the welcome trend of shunning trendy tuxedos in favor of the standard black tie look. The ladies also avoided any over-the-top fashion disasters and most looked very stylish, with J-Lo knocking viewer's eyes out with a plunging neckline number that managed to be sexy without crossing over into tacky.
Harris's ill-constructed comedy sketch in which he strutted from backstage out to the main event clad only in white briefs was probably lost on 95% of the viewers who didn't realize that it was a spoof of a sequence in "Birdman". As such, countless millions of people around the globe were probably scratching their heads as they pondered the relevance of the largely superfluous routine. I have a sneaky feeling that the primary motive for Harris to strut out of the stage and show his fab abs. That doesn't make it appropriate for an event that once at least aspired to providing a classy atmosphere. This bit would have been better left to the Letterman show.
Harris struts his stuff in "Birdman" sketch that was more suited for "Letterman" than the Oscars.
Left-wing political speeches were back with a vengeance but they had a mixed impact. Long-time activist Patricia Arquette, a deserving Supporting Actress winner for her remarkable performance in "Boyhood", gave an impassioned speech about equal pay for women. It was somewhat appropriate, given the fact that her character in the film is a single mother who struggles her entire life with low pay in often menial jobs. However, anyone delivering a passionate speech about any topic should take note: it would have a bit more meaning and sincerity if it wasn't read word-for-word off a sheet of paper. These people are professional actors, for Pete's sake--- why can't they just speak extemporaneously about subjects that are supposed to be so important to them? The writers of the Oscar-winning song "Glory" from "Selma" were more effective, delivering a relevant criticism of exceptionally high incarceration rates for black males in America, along with successful attempts in recent years to weaken the Voting Rights Act. Alejandro G. Innaritu, the Mexican director who won the Oscar for "Birdman", worked in some respectful pleas regarding the plight of illegal immigrants when he initially won an award for co-writing the screenplay for the film. When Sean Penn strolled to the podium to announce the Best Director award for Innaritu, he pondered about "Who gave this sonofabitch a Green Card?" So Innaritu will always have that as part of his legacy. Penn may be one of our greatest actors, but the combination of his perpetual frown and his penchant for tasteless remarks should make him off-limits for future Oscar chores. The most effective "lecture" was the one delivered by Graham Moore, who won Best Adapted Screenplay for "The Imitation Game". The young, gay writer made a plea for tolerance in society and disclosed that age 16, he had tried to commit suicide. He inspired young viewers to be proud of who they are and to continue being "weird". It was a poignant and touching moment.
Least classy Oscar nominee: Michael Keaton, who chewed gum throughout the entire evening. The ghosts of Cary Grant and Laurence Olivier must have been doing cartwheels in their graves.
I was happy to see J.K. Simmons win Best Supporting Actor for his amazing - and terrifying performance- as a potentially psychotic music teacher in "Whiplash". Simmons encouraged everyone to call (not text, or E mail!) their parents, if they are fortunate enough to still have them, and express their love for them. Good advice...but it was kind of a weird Dr. Phil moment. More bizarrely, Simmons never uttered a word of thanks to his director or co-star.
I hope I never see another Oscar show in which the host enters the audience to toss jibes at attendees. Harris tried this and the results were deadly. As the clock kept ticking, he engaged in meaningless patter that he seemed to be improvising on the spot. This included humiliating various celebrities for no apparent reason and even making small talk with a "seat filler" (a person who takes a celeb's seat if they have to run to the bathroom.) It got so bad that I thought I had gone into a time warp and was watching an old episode of Monty Hall in "Let's Make a Deal".
There was so much time wasted on superfluous bits that went nowhere that I really resented the fact that honorary Oscar winners Maureen O'Hara and Harry Belafonte were relegated to a few seconds of film clips from an event held separately from the main show. Exactly how does a show that extols Hollywood tradition and glamour not find a few fleeting minutes for these legends to appear on the telecast? It was galling, especially when you saw another legend, Sidney Poitier, standing next to Belafonte. Can you imagine the emotional payoff if this had been played out on stage? But it didn't because we needed that valuable time to be used for Harris to stroll through the audience trying to find how to kill time.
One nice surprise was the tribute to the 50th anniversary of "The Sound of Music" in which a selection of classic songs from the film were performed by a surprisingly understated Lady Gaga- topped off by an on-stage appearance by the ageless Julie Andrews. With so few Hollywood legends still with us, this was especially nice to see.
The award for "Longest Winded Speech of the Night" went to Pawel Pawlikowski, the director of "Ida", the Polish movie that won for Best Foreign Film. We understand his pride in taking home his country's first Oscar but he simply wouldn't shut up-- even when the orchestra started playing over his words. It's as though he thought he was filming the pilot for the "Pawel Pawlikowski Show". Maybe next year, Oscar should consider reviving one of those big canes they used to use in Vaudeville to forcibly remove performers from the stage.
As usual, most of the nominees for Best Song were boring at best and at least one- from "The Lego Movie"- was awful. It may have been fun in the context of the film itself, but even an elaborately staged production number couldn't mask the fact that not one sane person would ever willingly play this at home or in their car. Similarly, seeing the audience explode in thunderous applause at John Legend's rendition of "Glory" from "Selma", one couldn't help but wonder just how often most of these folks ever listen to gospel music in their spare time.
There were numerous jibes about the recent controversy regarding the fact that all of the major nominees were white. This lead to conspiracy theories all around that there were devious forces afoot that belied a racist tone to the Academy. Really? For the record, after every year's nominees are announced, there is an inevitable backlash that so-and-so got cheated out of a nomination. This is nothing new. As for racism in the Academy, it's pretty fair to guess that the vast majority of the Academy members would be considered very liberal. For years, conservatives have lambasted this aspect of the awards, accusing the Academy of caving in to political correctness. Additionally, one only has to consider the fact that last year's Best Picture winner was "12 Years a Slave" and two of it's key artists- screenwriter John Ridley and actress Lupita Nyong'o, both of whom are black- received Oscars.The film was nominated for nine Oscars including a nomination for the film's director Steve McQueen, who is also black. It simply defies belief that the same members of the Academy became racist in the course of twelve months. Even if you do believe that, didn't anyone notice that a Mexican director won the top award?
Then there is the annual controversy about the memorial segment of artists who passed away in the last year. As usual, everyone can cite somebody who should have been included. Although Elaine Stritch was noted more for stage appearances and Joan Rivers was primarily a comedy star, both should have been included because they did have feature films on their resumes. (Rivers was actually one of the first female directors and she used to host the Oscar red carpet event for many years.) No mention was made of either of them, but there were plenty of people cited who worked behind the scenes as executives or agents that most people never heard of. My own personal gripe is that our old friend and Cinema Retro contributor, actor Richard Kiel, was also not commemorated despite the fact that he was a hugely popular figure in films, especially for his role as the immortal James Bond villain Jaws. Another affront we took personally was the omission of Brian G. Hutton, who directed "Where Eagles Dare", "Kelly's Heroes" and Frank Sinatra's last starring role in a feature film, "The First Deadly Sin". Apparently his contributions to the film industry were not deemed worthy of recognition. Can't they extend this sequence just another 60 seconds? Given all the padding in the show, time constraints should not be cited as a reason to diss major names such as these.
Lastly, the Academy deserves credit for nominating films that, by and large, were worthy of all the nominations they received. The year 2014 was a terrible one for Hollywood in terms of declining boxoffice. The industry depends more and more on fewer and fewer potential blockbuster movies. It's a recipe for disaster. Meanwhile, the Academy has correctly brought to the world's attention the existence of smaller, personal films that negate the common criticism that most good movies were made decades ago. In fact, some of those nominated will be regarded as classics and the attention the Oscars afford these smaller films will help them find the audiences they so richly deserve.
On January 7, HBO will begin broadcasting director Andre Singer's film "Night Will Fall". It's a documentary about a documentary- one that is as fascinating as it is relevant. The film traces the tortured history of a documentary about the liberation of concentration camps in WWII. The film was authorized by the Allies in the immediate aftermath of the war. A man named Sydney Bernstein was told to chronicle the horrors that the liberators encountered in freeing the survivors of Hitler's genocidal policies. The purpose was clearly to make a propaganda documentary that would prove that the average German citizen had been well aware of what atrocities had been carried out in their name. Bernstein and his crew dutifully carried out their orders, but they were given only a three month period to complete the film. The shocking footage had such an impact that the project went beyond what Bernstein had been ordered to do. He enlisted Alfred Hitchcock to help supervise the editing process. The footage is said to surpass anything seen to date in terms of the sheer inhumanity depicted. Bernstein and Hitchcock ran out of time before the project could be completed and Billy Wilder took over supervision of the project, delivering a shorter film that had less impact than Bernstein's. The entire bizarre affair is chronicled in "Night Will Fall", which includes never-before-seen footage from Bernstein's aborted cut of the film. For more - and to view the trailer- click here.
It only last one season, 1966-1967, but the hip TV series "T.H.E. Cat" starring Robert Loggia as a true international man of mystery really hit a nerve with fans. The show's short run hasn't diminished its legacy among fans who are demanding that the series be released on DVD and Blu-ray. Among them is Michael Shonk, who writes an appreciation of the show on the Mystery*File web site. Click here to read.
HBO will remake Michael Crichton's classic 1973 film "Westworld" as an HBO production. Anthony Hopkins and Evan Rachel Wood will star. This will be a series based on the original concept of a virtual vacation paradise where attendees can indulge in their most shameless fantasies, courtesy of interacting with robots who are indistinguishable from human beings. Richard Benjamin, James Brolin and Yul Brynner starred in the original feature film version, which was based on Crichton's best-selling novel. For more click here.
Netflix seems to be King of the Hill lately. The company has redefined how the public watches television and has pioneered the "on demand" format into an international habit. It has produced Emmy-winning hit series and has a fanatically loyal customer base. However, Netflix is also embroiled in a bitter battle with cable companies that provide the vital streaming services needed to access its programming. The cable companies are complaining that Netflix eats up so much bandwith, they should share in the cost of providing the technology. Netflix argues that it bares no such responsibility. Consequently, some cable companies have been stifling Netflix' ability to provide adequate speed for its service, leaving some customers frustrated when their favorite Netflix shows encounter slow download speeds. Netflix has responded by posting snarky comments on screens blaming the cable companies. All of this in an indication that cable companies feel threatened by the Netflix surge. They fear that cable customer's habits are radically being driven toward "on demand" entertainment and could threaten the basic cable business plan of selling programs in expensive "bundles" to customers who have to purchase many channels they don't want in order to access the few they do want. For a Washington Post story about this war of titans, click here.
Last evening I attended a rather remarkable event: the world premiere screening of the new highly-touted National Geographic Channel TV movie Killing Kennedy. (The program will be telecast on November 10.)What made the evening remarkable was the fact that, instead of premiering the film in a New York or L.A. prestigious venue, National Geographic in association with Cablevision, chose Greenbriar, a senior citizens community in the central New Jersey town of Marlboro. It seems the channel is taking a populist approach to publicizing their most prestigious productions and it was decided to premiere the Kennedy film before an audience of people who were alive during the events recounted on screen. Several politicos were on hand (there is an election in New Jersey next week, after all) including Jonathan Hornki, the mayor of Marlboro -who used some clout to get the event held at Greenbriar- and state senator Joe Kryllos (R). Also in attendance was Charlie Parsons, one of the executive producers. Discussing historical facts among senior citizens who lived through the actual events is generally a risky business. I taught classes about films pertaining to the Cold War to adult ed students at NYU and found that I learned as much from the class as they did, thanks to their personal insights. Thus, National Geographic felt very confident that they had a good product with this high budget, slickly made recreation of the events that unfolded 50 years ago on that somber day in Dallas.
Rob Lowe and Ginnifer Goodwin as JFK and Jackie Kennedy.
There are plenty of landmark moments in American history that have taken place over the last century, but few that can be called genuinely seminal. I would list the attack on Pearl Harbor, D-Day, the moon landing, the 9/11 terrorism acts and certainly the assassination of John F. Kennedy. With the 50th anniversary upon us, there is no shortage of beings and entities that are trying to exploit this dreadful day in U.S. history. Some are motivated purely by profit others by profit and a desire to enlighten people. The National Geographic Channel falls squarely into the latter category. Producer Parsons explained that the channel prides itself on presenting fact, not fiction or speculation. He also said the decision was made to go with the traditional theories about the assassination (i.e, Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.) This is, in itself, refreshing. The two most prominent major feature films made about the death of Kennedy- Executive Action (1973) and Oliver Stone's JFK (1991)- both propagated conspiracy theories. Parsons didn't endorse or dismiss such theories but simply said that, had the project delved into those waters, the film would have been too large in scope to cover the key events effectively in an 88 minute time slot. There are plenty of intelligent people who believe in the conspiracies and others who are genuine nutcases...the kind of folks who believe President Bush orchestrated the destruction of the World Trade Center and that President Obama is a Marxist illegal alien from Kenya. The channel will take a lot of heat from this crowd for presenting a straight-forward view that Oswald alone killed Kennedy; in essence presenting the Warren Report version of events. However, it is now unusual to see this traditional interpretation of the assassination being put forward since conspiracy-oriented films and TV show have been sucking up all the oxygen on the subject for the last couple of decades.
National Geographic Channel had a major success with their February airing of Killing Lincoln, a truly outstanding production that rightly earned the highest ratings in the channel's history. That film was based on a best-selling book by Bill O'Reilly (yes, that Bill O'Reilly) and his co-author Martin Dugard. The success of the book led to the two collaborating on Killing Kennedy and-most recently- Killing Jesus. Whether you love or loathe O'Reilly for his controversial political punditry on Fox News (and there is no middle ground), you have to credit him for bringing historical events back into the public mainstream through his books. In an increasingly dumbed-down world, anyone who helps elevate interest in history is to be commended. The new Killing Kennedy production represents new ground for National Geographic: it's the channel's first scripted docudrama. (In the parlance of the 1970s, it would be called a "TV movie".) That is, is has no narration and the scripted project stars professional actors. This is a bit risky for a venture that prides itself on historical accuracy as scripted dramas always run the risk of reflecting the biases of the screenwriters. While I don't profess to be a JFK assassination scholar, it seemed to me that overall production was accurate based up on what we know, not supposition. (There is some clunky ambiguity about JFK's removal of missiles from Turkey in order to give Kruschev a fig leaf to end the Cuban Missile Crisis, but that's a minor criticism.)
Will Rothhaar as Lee Harvey Oswald
The film traces parallel story lines involving the rendezvous with destiny that both John F. Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald were approaching from disparate paths. The movie presents interesting insights into Oswald's defection to the Soviet Union and his ultimate disappointment about living in the decrepit "Worker's Paradise". He ultimately returns to America with his Russian wife with the dream that he will somehow be the center of a major news story. When that fails to happen, his life rapidly disintegrates. His marriage begins to unwind, his wife and children move out and he is relegated to a menial job in the Dallas school book depository from which the deadly shots were fired. Meanwhile, JFK is nursing his wounds over his bungling of the Bay of Pigs invasion and trying to prevent all out nuclear war when the Soviets move missiles into Cuba. The President is very well-played by Rob Lowe, who opts to capture the essence of the character as opposed to attempting a flat-out imitation of the man. It's a wise move. Lowe conveys Kennedy's charm, intelligence and swagger but also reveals his self-centered side through his dalliances with other women (as aspect of White House life that is conveyed strongly, but briefly.) JFK becomes a more mature and thoughtful person following the tragic death of his infant son. Jackie Kennedy (played by Ginnifer Goodwin as a sympathetic and tolerant figure) finally sees her husband becoming the man she knew he could be- but, of course, tragedy will cut short this transformation. Oswald's marriage is also delved into in a detailed way with Michelle Trachtenberg outstanding as his long-suffering Russian immigrant wife. (Impressively, Trachtenberg learned how to speak Russian phonetically from her mother, who was born in the Soviet Union.) As Oswald comes to the realization that his dreams of grandeur are destined for failure, he makes a rather spontaneous decision to make history by assassinating the president. As Oswald, newcomer Will Rothhaar gives a very impressive performance, avoiding the types of pretentious quirks or overt signs of villainy that one might have anticipated. Instead, he plays Oswald as a somewhat sympathetic loser; a man who is capable of having genuine empathy for the civil rights movement, yet is equally capable of manhandling his wife in a rage. Other key historical figures such as LBJ, Jack Ruby and Bobby Kennedy remain peripheral characters out of necessity due to time constraints but every supporting performance is played to perfection. The film actually gets better as it nears its inevitable and tragic conclusion. It's hard to ring suspense out of a drama when we all know how it ends. Fred Zinnemann achieved this with his brilliant 1973 film The Day of the Jackal about a fictitious plot to assassinate Charles de Gaulle and director Nelson McCormick manages to do the same with Killing Kennedy. Production values are top-notch as is the editing and cinematography. None of this is surprising given the impressive talent behind the scenes (both Ridley Scott and David Zucker are among the executive producers.) Oliver Stone may get his knickers twisted when he sees this non-conspiratorial view of the JFK assassination but the truth is that no one can say they really know the truth. Despite compelling questions, mysteries and inconsistencies regarding key aspects of the Warren Report, no one has ever produced definitive evidence of a plot that went beyond the mad act of a desperate man who wanted to known for making some kind of mark on society, even if it were to be a tragic one.
Killing Kennedy is sure to get a huge audience when it is broadcast on November 10 (a DVD release will follow shortly thereafter). Hopefully, an enthusiastic response to a production this good will only encourage the National Geographic Channel to continue to elevate the standards of historical dramas with similarly-themed programming. Everyone involved should take a well-deserved bow.
Foyle's War: one of the most highly acclaimed British TV shows of all time.
Silver Spring, MD; August 15, 2013 – RLJ Entertainment’s (NASDAQ: RLJE) Acorn TV, the first streaming service focused on the best of British TV in North America, announces more exclusive U.S. premieres as well as tripling its available content. Available at www.Acorn.TV and via its popular Roku app, Acorn TV brings many of the best British mysteries, comedies, and dramas, as well as select Australian, U.S. and Canadian series, to the increasing number of consumers who prefer to stream content. Previously, Acorn TV streamed a full season of 18 rotating series; moving forward, Acorn TV will add at least six new and classic series each month, as well as offering a catalog of 65 series for catch-up viewing and discovery of new series, with no set end dates. Acorn TV also continues to offer a free 30-day trial.
Acorn TV is now featuring the exclusive U.S. premiere of Jack Irish, a new, ongoing detective series starring Guy Pearce (Iron Man 3, Memento).Called “the coolest show on television†(Daily Record, UK) and an “intelligent, hard-boiled thriller†(The Wall Street Journal), Jack Irish is the brooding antihero of Australian writer Peter Temple’s award-winning novels. Reeling in the wake of his wife’s murder, the former lawyer has reinvented himself as a part-time private investigator and debt collector. In two feature-length mysteries, Pearce delivers a masterful performance, imbuing Jack with world-weary gruffness and a dash of dark humor. Listen to Guy Pearce’s interview about Jack Irish on NPR Weekend Edition.
Coming this fall, Acorn TV will feature the exclusive U.S. premiere of Series 6 of Acorn’s newest best-selling series and public TV sensation Doc Martin. In the U.K., Doc Martin is ITV’shighest-rated drama series with more than 10 million viewers, while in the U.S., it’s the #1 series on many public television stations and has millions of viewers across the country. Thenew episodes will debut soon after their UK broadcast. Additionally, Acorn TV will premiere Season 6 of hit period detective series Murdoch Mysteries in September. ‘The Best British TV’ service will also stream the newest episodes of Foyle’s War, the day after they premiere on MASTERPIECE Mystery! on PBS, which begins on September 15. In early 2014, Acorn TV will feature new episodes from the final series of Agatha Christie’s Poirot starring David Suchet.
Miguel Penella, Chief Executive Officer of RLJ Entertainment, Inc., said, “Given the limited broadcast options for U.S. viewers to watch high quality programs from outside the U.S., Acorn TV offers U.S. fans the opportunity to not only stream many of their favorite series but, more importantly, discover new and classic programs previously unavailable to U.S. audiences. We’re very excited about our upcoming premieres of the hugely popular UK series Doc Martin and Agatha Christie’s Poirot,as well as offering our customers much more of the best British mysteries, comedies, and dramas.â€
Acorn TV’s recent U.S. premieres included Australian 1920s “lady detective†series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries; P.G. Wodehouse’s Blandings, a witty 2013 series starring Timothy Spall (The King’s Speech) and Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous); medical drama Monroe starring James Nesbitt (The Hobbit); BBC’s The Syndicate, now being remade by ABC as Lucky Seven this fall; as well as new episodes from several of its top-selling series, among many others. All of these programs are now readily available to stream.
Additionally, Acorn TV will feature all previous episodes of many popular British series, including George Gently, Midsomer Murders, The Forsyte Saga starring Damian Lewis(Homeland), iconic miniseries I, Claudius, as well as more than 50 episodes of Agatha Christie’s Poirot. In the coming months, Acorn TV will add several of the most critically-acclaimed series in British television history, including Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren and Foyle’s War starring Michael Kitchen.
Launched in July 2011, Acorn TV is accessible on the #1 streaming player, Roku, as well as computers, and through the browsers on iPhones and iPads. It is also available on any portabledevice with a browser that has the most recent version of Flash. Besides its Roku app, Acorn TV is currently working towards apps for Apple TV, Samsung, iOS, Sony, and Android platforms.
With the increased availability of content, Acorn TV will be $4.99/month or $49.99/year, though it’s on sale at $2.99/month or $29.99/year until Sept. 2nd. Acorn TV subscribers also receive free shipping on all orders from Acorn’s distinctive merchandise catalog and website, www.AcornOnline.com.
Called the “chief curators of the best Brit TV†by TIME magazine, RLJ Entertainment’s Acorn brand holds exclusive North American distribution rights to the most critically acclaimed British programs, which are available for streaming on Acorn TV and from Acorn in lavishly packaged DVDs/Blu-rays. RLJ Entertainment also manages the literary estate of Agatha Christie, the best-selling novelist of all time, and owns the hugely popular period detective series Foyle’s War.
Undaunted by the savage reviews given to Lindsay Lohan's recent TV biopic of Elizabeth Taylor, BBC Four is bravely pushing ahead with the debut of what sounds like a far more promising look into Taylor's tumultuous relationship with Richard Burton. "Burton and Taylor" is another TV project set to debut this fall (it will also be shown on BBC America). It stars Helena Bonham Carter and Dominic West in the title roles. The film traces their experiences during their reunion for stage performances of Noel Coward's Private Lives in 1983. Click here for more and to see a preview
A prop phaser rifle designed for one of two original pilot episodes for the original 'Star Trek' TV series has been sold at auction for an astronomical $231,000. The rifle was designed by Rueben Clamer for producer Gene Roddenberry and was wielded by William Shatner in a pilot episode for NBC. A previous pilot episode had been filmed with Jeffrey Hunter in the lead role, but the episode was rejected by NBC brass. Still, the network saw promise in Gene Roddenberry's creation and authorized a second pilot episode. The rests, as they say, is history. Click here for more about the gun, as well as film clips.
Kubrick's research materials on Napoleon formed the basis of a high end coffee table book released several years ago.
Steven Spielberg has announced that he is working with the family of Stanley Kubrick to develop the late director's long-planned screen biography of Napoleon. Kubrick envisioned the project, for which he wrote a script in 1961 and devoted countless hours to researching, as a big screen epic. However, studios became wary of the production costs and the film was aborted before it went into production. Spielberg will utilize Kubrick's own research as the basis for the project, which is being developed as a major TV miniseries. For more click here
Arriving earlier this year without any fanfare on many American cable systems, Cozi TV is a new network that presents a wealth of diverse retro TV series that have not been given much exposure in recent years. These include Lassie, Marcus Welby, M.D., Magnum P.I., The Bionic Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Virginian, the creaky old Sherlock Holmes series starring Ronald Howard, The Lone Ranger, Wells Fargo, McMillan and Wife, Bancek, I Spy, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Roy Rogers Show, Alias Smith and Jones, Hopalong Cassidy and The Bold Ones. Best of all, the number of commercials are limited and the episodes we've seen appear to be presented uncut in their original running time. The network also presents a diverse range of feature films including such retro gems as the Airport movies, Arabesque, Sweet Charity, Coogan's Bluff and Two Mules for Sister Sara. Check your cable listings, as you may have the network but not even realize it. Cozi TV appears on cable systems owned by NBC. Click here for their web site, which is inadequate because the section dedicated to the series they carry lists only a fraction of them. To see a more complete list, scroll through the TV schedule bar.
President Bill Clinton's appearance provided evidence of the Golden Globes' increasing clout in the film industry.
Jodie Foster: mesmerizing but often incomprehensible.
By Lee Pfeiffer
The Golden Globe Awards are generally criticized for being incomprehensible for most viewers in that they are selected by a relatively tiny group of people known as the Hollywood Foreign Press. There have been jokes on the telecasts themselves that the awards can generally be "purchased" if a studio or nominee invites the right people to the right kind of parties. Despite the criticism, in recent years everyone agrees on this: the Golden Globes telecast is generally a lot of fun and never as dull as the Oscars often are. Unlike Oscar, the Globes cover television as well as motion pictures. Last night's award ceremony was breezy, fast-moving and actually funny, thanks to some good lines delivered by hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. There were some dud jokes, of course, and the usual presenters/winners who pretentiously drop obscenities to prove how hip they are but there was also the novelty of seeing a former President- Bill Clinton- make a surprise appearance to introduce a clip from Lincoln. The main value of the event was to prove that the Globes now serve as more than a forerunner for Oscar winners. They have their own identity, as evidenced by the fact that some of the most deserving artists were nominated for Globes but were snubbed by Oscar. Additionally, while Oscar sometimes trims their honorary awards down to ludicrously short time slots (Jerry Lewis received shabby treatment in this regard a few years ago), the Globes blissfully ignore the stop watch. This was evidenced by the lifetime achievement award given to Jodie Foster, who has spent her entire life in the film business. Looking wonderful at age 50, the accomplished actress and director gave a mesmerizing but often incomprehensible speech in which she joked about "coming out" as a lesbian (she is), explained her obsession for privacy and seemed to imply she was retiring from some aspect of show business, but no one could figure out exactly what she was referring to. Among the surprises was the fact that no one film emerged as a dominating factor, thus ensuring a good deal of suspense across all categories.
Click here for more coverage and a complete list of winners.
It seems to be open season on revered director Alfred Hitchcock. The feature film Hitchcock starring Anthony Hopkins was taken to task by some critics for artistic license in its depiction of the director's behavior during the making of Psycho, with some saying it exaggerates his eccentricities and the negative aspects of his personality. Now the BBC drama The Girl starring Toby Jones and Sienna Miller is also being criticized for presenting a one-sided depiction of the making of Hitchcock's The Birds and Marnie. The unflattering portrayal of Hitchcock as a virtual sexual predator is based solely on the accusations of both films' female lead, 'Tippi' Hedren, a Hitchcock discovery who has long maintained that her rejection of his advances led to retaliatory actions that saw her career derailed almost as soon as it began. The BBC broadcast of the movie has led to legendary leading ladies Eva Marie Saint, Doris Day and Kim Novak speaking out in defense of Hitchcock and claiming he treated them with respect. Click here for more
Despite being a hit in the ratings with a test pilot aired on Halloween, NBC has officially backed out of producing future episodes of Mockingbird Lane, the reboot of the beloved 1960s sitcom The Munsters. For more click here
When asked why most of Sid Caesar’s writers were young and Jewish,
the late’ great Larry Gelbart replied, “Because most of our parents were old
and Jewish.â€
The answer to why there were so many Jews in Broadway musicals may
not be as glibly succinct, but in Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy,
which debuts on PBS on January 1 at 9:30 p.m., the answers are insightful and
amazingly entertaining.
Written, produced and directed by Emmy-Award Winner Michael Kantor
(Broadway- The American Musical and Make ‘Em Laugh- The Funny Business of
America), the 90 minute documentary tries to answer the question of why
the Broadway musical proven to be such fertile territory for Jewish artists of
all kind, featuring icons from Broadway’s golden age, including Irving Berlin,
Jerome Kern, the Gershwins, Arthur Laurents, Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein
and Stephen Sondheim to “Broadway babies†such as Stephen Schwartz, Marc
Shaiman and Andrew Lippa represent a sampling of the Jewish talents who
continue to leave their mark on musical theater.
The show begins with David Hyde Pearce in a hysterical and
joyful scene-chewing rendition of his Spamalot song, You Won’t Succeed on
Broadway: “You may have the finest sets, Fill the stage with penthouse
pets, you may have the loveliest costumes and best shoes, you may dance and you
may sing, but I'm sorry Arthur King you'll hear no cheers, just lots and lots
of boos “boo,†you may have butch men by the score, whom the audience adore…
But I tell you, you are dead if you don't have any Jews.†“It
wouldn’t be so funny if it weren’t true,†Spamalot creator, the great Eric
Idle, added.
Kantor focuses on this central question left largely
unaddressed in his Emmy-winning Broadway: The American Musical, combining
interviews with performance footage, including many of the rousing anthems and
timeless ballads America has loved for a century.
“The primary force behind the musicals are the guys who write the
songs†Kantor said. “Broadway, The American Musical was principally a
historical and cultural treatment, dealing with The Great Depression and the
advent of Rock and Roll. The new documentary complements the earlier
one. “It’s really an American story and our narrative tells how Jewish
stories were part of an acculturation/assimilation process. My daughter was bat
mitzvahed this year and I can hear the melodies of the prayers differently.â€
In the 1920s, nearly one in four New York residents was
Jewish. The film charts how Jewish immigrants and children of immigrants
in the melting pot of old New York helped shape the vision of America through
musical theater. While shows like Porgy and Bess, Show Boat and Oklahoma
are fictions, they represent the artist’s vision of how do we take what we know
from Jewish culture and tradition and make it into America?
The film succeeds in its attention to detail and how it
captures the warmth and emotion of the great artists: Leonard Bernstein
and Adolph Green met as kids at summer camp, worked together on the camp
musicals and became lifelong friends. In 1893, a five year old
Irving Berlin, arrived at Ellis Island. His earliest memory as a child
growing up in Russia was of a pogrom, a vigilante attack on his Jewish
village. And he remembers hiding in a ditch with his brothers and sisters
and parents, watching Russian Cossacks burn down their village. Then he
comes to America, gets off the boat, looks around him, sees all these Americans
and he says, we stood there in our Jew clothes. He realized how different
he was from everybody else. That feeling of being different,
combined with a deep gratitude of being an American, resulted in the
composition of classic tunes, including the definitive American Christmas song.
There was also apprehension about the appeal of Fiddler on the
Roof beyond Jewish audiences. To the producers’ surprise and
pleasure, the show was a worldwide hit that transcended culture and race.
“The opening number “Tradition†was common to every culture so the show was as
common to Japanese family life as it was to Jewish family life,†Hal Prince
recalled. “And it went all over the world and every single place it went
it became their family story despite the idiosyncrasies of what was Jewish
about it. Playwright Joseph Stein said: "There are universal themes:
It’s a story about parents and children, a story about struggling in a strange
world, conflict of cultures, immigrants."
The film also points out that the music of Porgy and Bess was
rooted in Hebrew prayers and then charts the journey of the music into the
brilliants hands of Miles Davis as he re-crafts the liturgical themes roots
into his own classic jazz riffs.
“I’ve always worshiped talent and the magic talented
people can make in people’s lives and make a difference,†said Cabaret star
Joel Grey, who narrated the documentary, and who is one of only eight actors to
have won both a Tony and an Oscar for having portrayed the same role on stage
and screen.
“I remember the day I went to [composer] John Kander’s house and
he told me about the role. When I first heard the song Vilkomen, I
remember thinking to myself- “Oh my God- this is going to be my song. The
MC in Cabaret is one of the most villainous characters of all time in that he
seemed like he was going to be fun. You laughed with him and liked him
and he ended up sticking the knife in.â€
“James Cagney (who spoke fluent Yiddish) was both an actor and
song and dance man,†Grey said when asked about his own favorite performers and
composers. “Marvin Hamlisch was my friend and one of the funniest human
beings in history. He was the modern day Irving Berlin, with a brilliant
sense of timing but also with a sense of the outrageous.â€
Beginning his theater career at age nine, Grey is part of an
entertainment dynasty. Grey’s father was Spike Jones band member Mickey Katz, whose solo
hits included “Duvid Crockett†and “She’ll be Coming Around the Catskills,†and
is father of Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey.
“It’s thrilling the way we as Jews made ourselves useful and found
a place for ourselves after running for so long. Part of my Yiddishkeit
[Jewish identity] comes directly from my Dad who turned popular music into
Jewish experiences, as a way of adapting and owning the Jewish experience of
American Jews.â€
Jimmy Fallon had some high-powered assistance in his recreation of the classic Abbott and Costello comedy routine "Who's on First": Jerry Seinfeld and Billy Crystal joined in the fun. The black and white sketch pays homage to the timeless routine, but despite the talent involved, it only proves no one can do it better than A&C themselves. Click here to view
Lohan displays two good reasons for tuning into "Liz and Dick", but the prime motivation might be to hear the unintentionally funny dialogue.
The first review is in and things aren't looking good for Lindsay Lohan's "comeback" Lifetime TV movie, Liz and Dick which traces the love lives of you-know-who. In the Hollywood Reporter review, it is described as "half train wreck, half SNL skit" and one of those perfectly awful movies that merit watching because of the unintentional laughs. Hey, maybe we will watch it after all, especially since there is this immortal line of dialogue spoken by Burton to Taylor: "I will love you even if you get as fat as a hippo."
NBC will air the pilot episode of Mockingbird Lane on October 26. The show is a reboot of the 60s sitcom The Munsters. Most of these ventures are ill-advised. We'll have to reserve judgment on this one, but just take a look at the characters-- we routinely see far stranger looking people on the New York subway system every day. Herman looks like a Wall Street stock broker and the character of Grandpa, played by Eddie Izzard, resembles Truman Capote at one of his famous dinner parties. Is this really how these characters will look throughout the series? Herman Munster with no bolts from his head? For more click here
Pete Emslie is one of the best contemporary cartoonists around and his blog, The Cartoon Cave, is a must-read. Emslie has recently published what we will term "a guest editorial" because it captures many of Cinema Retro's criticisms of the current state of television. Unlike Emslie, we still find enough nuggets out there (some admittedly guilty pleasures) to justify keeping the old cable TV subscription. However, we can well understand why he just canceled his. Emslie concentrates on the sad state of the endless, indistinguishable crime shows that are on the air. The plots tend to be more and more over-the-top and the cast members are virtually cloned from the same mold. There is the token nod to someone over the age of 35 (Mark Harmon and David McCallum in NCIS, for example) but for the most part, crime shows always feature drop-dead gorgeous people holding pistols with two hands while shouting, "Freeze, you mother!" Every other situation has juvenile sexual innuendos and we rarely even get any cool theme songs because the average TV drama is a one hour block of commercials occasionally interrupted by content. Contrast this, as Emslie does, to the great old crime shows of old. Hawaii 5-0 (the real one, that is), didn't have Jack Lord and Kam Fong competing to get some comely new female detective in the sack. Instead, we got compelling characters, good acting and people looked like they really belonged in a police station. Imagine trying to launch a series with Peter Falk as Columbo today? A middle-aged, frumpy, cigar chomping man in the lead role? Fuggetaboutit! If they remake the series (and they eventually will), Columbo will be a Brad Pitt clone who eschews cigars for Twizzlers (more politically correct) and who uses his eccentricities to woo female suspects into confessing. In any event, click here to read Pete Emslie's take on all this (which includes a sly criticism of the fact that even all the cluttered, unimaginatively designed DVD boxed sets for these shows seem Xeroxed.) - Lee Pfeiffer
With Vince Vaughn producing a new TV series inspired by The Brady Bunch, CNN takes a look at the original cast members and catches up with what they're doing lately. Click here for more