Reviews of On the Avenue (1937) from Fox + the CinemaScope remake Let’s Make Love (1961) on Blu via Twilight Time.
Marilyn Monroe’s final film for 20th Century-Fox is a sort-of remake of the studio’s 1937 Irving Berlin-penned musical On the Avenue, augmented with different classic songs by Jimmy Van Heusen & Sammy Cahn…
Gregory Peck, Henry King, and The Bravados (1958)
Review + additional thoughts on Fox’ A-level talent in the brooding western THE BRAVADOS (1958), new on Blu from Twilight Time.
CanCon 101: Changeling, The (1980)
CanCon 101 spotlights one of the best ghost stories ever made, Peter Medak’s chilling THE CHANGELING (1980), new on Blu via Severin Films.
Much Khan: Genghis Khan (1965) + The Conqueror (1956)
Yes, it’s finally time to compare the legendary conqueror as portrayed by Omar Sharif in GENGHIS KHAN (1965) on Blu via Twilight Time + John Wayne in THE CONQUEROR (1956) on DVD via KOCH Media.
Disturbed in Noir: Don’t Bother to Knock (1952) + Underworld U.S.A. (1961)
Two tales of the disturbed! Vengeance-fueled punk Tolly in Sam Fuller’s UNDERWORLD U.S.A (1961) + delusional babysitter Nell in Roy Ward Baker’s DON’T BOTHER TO KNOCK (1952), both on Blu from Twilight Time!
Piranha 2: Shades of The Abyss and James Cameron Archetypes
Look – It’s an unnecessarily detailed review of James Cameron’s official directorial debut, PIRANHA 2: THE SPAWNING (1981), new on Blu from Shout.
Viva Amiga’s Zach Weddington (and a bit of gear talk)
Podcast interview with Zach Weddington on Viva Amiga, his affectionate documentary on the pioneering multimedia computer (plus a bit of gear talk).
Patricia Rozema’s Singing Mermaids & White Room + Bonus Audio from NCFD 2018
Review of the CanCon classic I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987) and much-maligned White Room (1990) + Q&A audio of director Patricia Rozema & journalist Kiva Reardon during National Canadian Film Day.
ArtScopeTO 07: Interview with Photographer Andre Vittorio
Aprils ArtScopeTO podcast features photographer Andre Vittorio, whose series Abstractions on Metal can be seen at Toronto’s Urban Gallery until Sat. April 28, 2018.
Based on the novel by Frank O’Rourke (The Professionals, The Great Bank Robbery), The Bravados is one of the darkest westerns produced during 1950s by Hollywood. The premise of a husband hunting down the rapists & killers of his wife isn’t unique to genre…
Even after the lengthy wave of 1980s gory drive-in shockers and the slasher craze (writer Gray penned the CanCon classiques Prom Night and Humungous; co-writer Diana Maddox The Amateur for the producers), The Changeling still retained respect from genre fans because of its unnerving story of a concert pianist…
The 1960s was the decade where epics bloomed, ballooned, and died as superproductions were cranked out by studios and maverick indie producers, and Genghis Khan was designed to ride the wave furthered by Samuel Bronston…
Written during his busiest period (1968-1970), Quincy Jones’ score for John and Mary was quite sparse, leaving obligatory space for the film’s myriad dialogue exchanges and source music, but the score is memorable for being atypical of the material Jones was writing at the time: action comedies (The Italian Job, The Hell with Heroes), comedies (Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice,Cactus Flower), and the funky style of They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!
For some soundtrack fans, it was a bit of surprise to learn the composer of pioneering synth scores had begun his career with large orchestral scores for John Boorman’s Excalibur (1981) and Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal (1982)…
LP: Bourne Identity, The (2002)
The first film in the enduring franchise gave John Powell the perfect opportunity to write what remains both his definitive action sound, and the definitive action score of that decade, blending large orchestral sounds with layers upon layers of electronics…
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