Oscar’s On The Phone For Lily Tomlin!

Lily Tomlin is getting some of the bet reviews of her career for her performance in the new comedy “Grandma!” Check out the trailer:

Lily Tomlin is forced to re-embrace life when her 18-year old grand-daughter, played by Julia Garner, shows up seeking her Grandma’s help.

The reviews have been great for the film, which will be rolling out across America all fall, leading to a heavy push for Oscar attention at the end of the year!

The film is directed by Paul Weitz, who has made a number of great films such as “About A Boy” and “In Good Company”, and he is overdue for some Oscar love as well!

While Tomlin has appeared in a number of films and TV shows, “Grandma” is Lily Tomlin’s first leading role in twenty seven years, since co-starring with Bette Midler in 1988’s comedy film Big Business.

Here is some great trivia, courtesy of IMDB: The car that Elle (Lily Tomlin) and Sage (Julia Garner) drive in for much of the movie is a 1955 Dodge Royal that is actually owned by Lily Tomlin. Tomlin told USA Today that she bought it in 1975 for $1,500. She said, “It’s not a prize car. It’s not a car that people yearn for. But it has a nice look to it. . . . The car is almost a character in the movie. I knew I kept that car for a reason.”

I cannot wait to see this film! I AM ALSO A BIG FAN OF LILY TOMLIN: FROM HER EARLY DAYS ON “Laugh-In” to her breakout role in Robert Altman’s “Nashville” – and here is one of her greatest performances ever!

“You wanna know somethin’, punk? You were born dumb and you’re gonna die dumb.”

“The Nicest Movie You’ll Ever See About Murder And Blackmail!”

Time to celebrate one of the greatest 70’s films ever, the classic:

The Late Show!

Director Robert Benton created one of the best films of the decade – with a terrific cast including Art Carney, Lily Tomlin, Bill Macy and Joanna Cassidy. Benton would go on to win an Oscar for “Kramer Vs. Kramer”, but this late 70’s film noir look at LA is a neglected gem.

Here is the trailer:

“Back in the Forties, this town was crawlin’ with dollies like you. Good-lookin’ coquettes tryin’ their damnedest to act tough as hell. I got news for you: they did it better back then. This town doesn’t change – they just push the names around. Same dames… screwin’ up their lives just the same way.”

That’s Art Carney speaking: a broken down gumshoe struggling to make rent, who has seen it all. He gets a new client, Lily Tomlin, who needs help finding her cat!

“Boy, it’s really lucky for you that I just happen to be a very self-destructive person.”

Tomlin has never been better as a woman full of self-doubt, paranoia and big big dreams! What happens next is one of the best tales of Hollywood noir ever, with terrific acting and a ton of recognizable faces in small roles.

“The Late Show” is poignant, touching, full of action and twists, and oozing with the smell of Hollywood glitter and grime. Director Robert Benton was oscar-nominated for his script…

There are SO many great supporting characters in this film, but none more memorable than Bill Macy, a veteran character actor from TV’s “Maude”, who is pitch perfect as a small time Hollywood hustler…

Macy captures perfectly the kind of small time hustler who Carney has to deal with as he tries to find Tomlin’s cat…the plot, however, is much much more than that, and a truly great gem of a movie…

“The Late Show” is now on DVD, and you can also find it on various ondemand services…be sure to watch this great film as well! And kudos to Lily Tomlin, America’s hippest “Grandma!”

Here’s a credit for you:

That’s right: a two minute scene in one of the early 70’s wildest counter-culture films lead to stardom for one VERY naked motorcylcle rider, also known as Gilda Texter!

Hollywood Gets “Naked” On Wheels!

Here is a fascinating piece of Hollywood trivia: a young Actress who makes her movie debut by riding naked on a motorcycle – and turned it into a movie career!

Here is the story: Gilda Texter was a young starlet in Hollywood in the early 70’s, when fame called on the back of a Harley! She got a very memorable role: she played a nameless, naked motorcycle rider in the cult classic “Vanishing Point!”

Texter was “discovered” when she rode this motorcycle naked across the desert for a few minutes in the film…a film that became a cult hit in 1971 – a classic cult film that celebrated hippies and outcasts at a time of civil disobedience in the US!

Here is the trailer for “Vanishing Point”, with a noticeable segment with Gilda:

From that one scene, Texter became a star, as “Vanishing Point” became a rallying cry against the establishment – a political anti-war, anti-police film that resonated with a young audience…oh, and it had a naked girl on a motorcycle as well!

Soon , Gilda Texter became the “IT” girl, a sex symbol getting tons of attention, which led to her acting in a film that had a poster that promised wild wild things on screen!

PLEASE NOTE: If you are shocked or embarrassed by total nudity and sexual activity, you are urged NOT to attend.”

I mean, C’MON…this movie poster is full of the craziest claims – and guess what? It worked! “The Runaway” was released the same year as “Vanishing Point”, and if to make sure that EVERYONE knew who Gilda Texter was, she had a THIRD film released that year as well!

“Angels Hard As They Come!”

Gilda was in another anti-establishment film in 1971, with a movie poster that was as exploitative as you can get! And the best part of this is that while Gilda Texter was promoted as a sex symbol, and achieved her greatest claim for a nude scene, she ended up with a great career in the costume and wardrobe departments of over 40 movies and television productions!

Texter was Costume Supervisor on a number of movies, such as “Romancing The Stone”, Brian DePalma’s “Snake Eyes”, and “The Green Mile” with Tom Hanks.

Yes, she was a Costumer Supervisor even thought her breakout role had her completely nude!

This is what makes the movie business so endlessly fascinating. Gilda Texter had a great career in the entertainment business, with a unique entree into it….and if you look at “The Runaway”, you will see that she worked with one of the greatest character Actors of all time:

William Smith has been in a ton of movies – a great character Actor who commanded the screen. He not only co-starred with Gilda Texter, but he also starred in one of the grittiest movies of the early 70’s:

Read all about the classic “Darker Than Amber” by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/01/darker-than-amber-film-noirs-legendary-fight-scene-a-brutal-hidden-gem/

And kudos to Gilda Texter for her career both in front of and behind the camera!

“No $@%!$!! Navy’s Going To Give Some Poor *!%@!$!! Kid Eight Years In The $%!^#!! Brig Without Me Taking Him Out For The Time Of His ^%&^%$ Life.”

It’s one of the many classic lines from one of the most neglected cult movies of the 1970’s, with another phenomenal performance by Jack Nicholson!

The Last Detail

Jack Nicholson chews the scenery for two hours in this great film from the early 70’s…check out the trailer:

Two Navy Shore Patrol – “Bad-Ass” Buddusky, and “Mule” Mulhall – are commissioned to escort a young sailor named Meadows to the brig in Portsmouth.

With a nickname like “Bad-Ass”, you KNOW that Jack is going to chew the scenery…

“You know what I like most about this uniform? The way it makes your dick look.”

“Bad-Ass” can’t believe that he has to deliver a very young Randy Quaid to a prison for stealing forty dollars from the admiral’s wife’s charity!

strong>”Boy, they really stuck it to ya, didn’t they, kid! Stick it in and break it off. Up your giggy with a wah-wah brush, stick it in an’ break it off!”

Buddusky’s Life Lessons!

Buddusky gets it into his head to give Meadows a good time and teach him a bit about getting on in the world. Lesson one: Don’t take every card life deals you…

Meadows: [looking at porn] Are they really doing that when they take that picture?
Buddusky: [pause] Well kid, there’s more things in this life than you can possibly imagine. I knew a whore once in Wilmington. She had a glass eye… used to take it out and wink people off for a dollar.

Jack Nicholson turned down Robert Redford’s role in “The Sting” to appear in “The Last Detail”, which was written by his good friend Robert Towne, who also wrote “Chinatown.”

The script is full of legendary, profane dialogue like this:

Budduskey: I am the motherfucking shore patrol, motherfucker! I am the motherfucking shore patrol! Give this man a beer.
Meadows: I don’t want a beer.
Budduskey: You’re gonna have a fuckin’ beer!

The word “fuck” and all permutations of it are said 65 times. This was a record up to that time!

Jack Nicholson was nominated for Best Actor for the role…

Did Jack Retire?

The internet blew up late last year with news that Jack Nicholson had retired from film. There was a denial, but the fact is we haven’t seen him on screen for awhile…I looked at that story and some of Jack’s greatest film roles, including of course “Chinatown”.

Check out my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/09/04/jack-nicholson-retires-his-greatest-roles-my-jack-moment/

While Jack Nicholson has been a super star for most of everyone’s life, did you know he got his start working with The Monkees?

Jack’s “Head!”

Jack Nicolson’s history is full of unique movies and interesting trivia, like the fact that he wrote the screenplay for The Monkees’ movie “Head!”

It’s a fascinating film, and you can read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/04/07/jack-nicholsons-musical-head-the-monkees-sing-a-jack-nicholson-cult-classic/

And remember to give The Monkees some credit, they made some great catchy music!

Perhaps the most prolific of the band was Michael Nesmith, who went on to create the brilliant musical comedy “Elephant Parts” AND is considered by many to be the inventor of MTV! Read the story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/14/elvis-drugs-michael-nesmith-the-dawn-of-mtv-elephant-parts-the-monkees/

And make sure to look for “The Last Detail” – you will be glad you did!

I’m a fan of shows like “Mysteries & Scandals”, and this is one of film’s greatest mysteries…

“A young bride, left alone to the lewd passions of an evil dwarf!”

You would look concerned too if you starred in a movie with that tagline! But did you know it led to the complete disappearance of the star of the film?

Warning! NOT For The Faint Of Heart!

You don’t know the half of it! Imagine you landed the starring role – opposite THIS GUY!

Sometimes there are movies that are so wrong – I mean WRONG – in every way that they are destined for cult status….with that in mind, time to explore the mysterious disappearance of the sex kitten star of this film:

Yes, there is a film called “The Sinful Dwarf”, and it is everything the title suggests! Not only that, it starred a beautiful young Actress who would never be hear from again!

Meet Anne Sparrow!

Actress Anne Sparrow stars in “The Sinful Dwarf”, but it’s her only film performance EVER, and she has disappeared into the black hole of movie trivia! Why? Well, let’s begin with this – a trailer that only hints at the decadence on display:

Here’s the plot of “The Sinful Dwarf”:

Anne Sparrow stars as the young wife of a Doctor who needs to rent a room for a few nights in a strange city. Diminutive former kiddie-show host Torben Bille – who looks disturbingly like Jack Black in a trash compactor – stars as well, as a young man who takes a special interest in the female guests at his mother’s boarding house…

Poor Anne Sparrow!

For Actress Anne Sparrow, it must have been a dream come true: landing a starring role in your first feature film! But who is kidding who – just look at this description from the cover art:

“The delicious Anne Sparrow – in her first and understandably only screen role – co-stars in this towering achievement in graphic depravity, now fully restored from a 35mm print discovered hidden in a janitor’s closet at the Danish Film Institute!”

I guess being part of a film described as a “towering achievement in graphic depravity” can make you second-guess your career choice!

Anne Sparrow certainly had a good reason NEVER TO ACT AGAIN – in classic euro-sleaze style, the movie plot has her abducted early in on the film and abused by our Sinful Dwarf for the rest of the film’s running time – while her husband naively keeps looking for a job…

Oh, did I mention that the “Sinful Dwarf” has a CRAZY Mom – and yes, she SINGS in the film exactly the way she looks! Happy Mother’s Day indeed! You will never clean your ears the same way again…

And yes, that’s right – this movie was not only found in a janitor’s closet in Denmark – but they chose not to throw it out!

In the film, Actress Sparrow is abducted by the “Sinful Dwarf” and finds herself chained to a wall – with her “acting” comprising mostly of yelling and screaming while barely dressed…

The “Missing” Sex Kitten!

As you all know, the internet holds the answers to our entire history….it can tell you anything and everything – except what happened to Sparrow!

I have scoured the internet and haven’t found anything about Anne Sparrow – except that “The Sinful Dwarf” was her first and only movie – perhaps it was due to the fact that the Producers took the film, added some “XXX” material in it, and released an even dirtier version!

The movie makes Anne Sparrow’s performance look even more graphic than it was, but whatever the reason, Anne Sparrow’s singular movie achievement remains this – one of the craziest examples of “Euro-Sleaze” ever released!

If you aren’t familiar with “Euro-Sleaze”, here is a story I posted about this outrageously offensive and entertaining genre of film from the 70’s!

http://johnrieber.com/2015/01/11/sex-violence-sexy-nun-raquel-welch-enter-the-twisted-world-of-70s-euro-sleaze/

Anne Sparrow isn’t he only Actress to make a single film appearance – although in this case, an Actress achieved film immortality for a single scene!

Yes, Gilda Texter will forever be remembered as the “naked motorcycle rider” in the 70’s cult classic “Vanishing Point” – read her entire story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/08/24/legendary-naked-motorcycle-starlet-hollywood-sex-symbol-gilda-texter-fascinating-nude-70s-movie-icon/

And there are time when Actresses become iconic just for the movies they are in, as it was for this “Bond girl”:

Read the entertaining story of sex kitten Barbara Bouchet by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/04/29/classic-sex-kitten-james-bonds-sexy-co-star-barbara-bouchet/

And leave a note if you know what happened to Anne Sparrow!

“Squeal Like A Pig!”

It is one of cinema’s most iconic lines. And one of film’s most intense moments of all time. I just spoke to someone who didn’t know even know that “squeal like a pig!” was from a movie – and certainly didn’t know it was from one of the greatest films ever made:

Deliverance!

“Deliverance” was a cultural phenomenon from the moment it was released in 1972 – a shocking story of friendship and survival – and now there is a fascinating oral history about the film, how Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson were set to star in it, and the on-set fight between the Director and Author!

Lewis: Can that chubby boy handle himself?
Ed: Bobby? He’s rather well thought of in his field, Lewis.
Lewis: Insurance? I never been insured in my life. There’s no risk.

Burt Reynolds is outdoor fanatic Lewis Medlock, who is intent on seeing the Cahulawassee River before it’s turned into one huge lake. Lewis takes his friends, including the “chubby boy” on a river-rafting trip they’ll never forget.

Here is the trailer:

“Deliverance” was one of the most iconic films of the 70′s, nominated for a slew of Oscars, but it’s a bit overlooked these days. In 1972, this was an extremely controversial film – “squeal like a pig!” was a hot topic of discussion. It was also one of the great action dramas of the seventies – Burt Reynolds became a superstar based on this film…

If you haven’t seen this brilliant movie, check out new blu-ray and DVD versions that have documentaries and commentary attached, and they are all worth viewing – and of course, there are the “dueling banjos!”

This was such a controversial film – brutal and violent, and of course “dueling banjos” and “Squeal like a pig!” became permanent fixtures in pop culture forever…and now there is a fascinating oral history about making the movie…here is what Director John Boorman had to say about casting the film:

Jack Nicholson And Marlon Brando Star In “Deliverance”!

Well, ALMOST! Here is the fascinating anecdote that speaks volumes about the movie industry.

JOHN BOORMAN: Warner Bros. wanted two major stars, so I went to Jack Nicholson [to play Ed]. He agreed to do it and asked, “Who will you get to play Lewis?” I said, “I don’t really know yet.” He said, “What about Brando?” So I went to see Marlon Brando—spent the day with him. Finally, he said he’d do it. I asked, “Who’s your agent?” He said, “I don’t have an agent.” I said, “Well, what’s your price?” And he said, “I’ll take the same as you pay Jack.” I went back to Nicholson’s agent and said, “What do you want for Jack?” He said, “Half a million.”

Now, Nicholson had never got more than $75,000. So I told studio head Ted Ashley. “Brando? Oh, God. He doesn’t mean anything anymore—he’s box-office poison.” Well, I thought Nicholson and Brando would work very well together. Ashley asked, “What does Jack want?” I said, “Well, he wants half a million.” “Half a million?!” Ashley almost went through the roof. Then he kind of calmed down and said maybe they would pay him that money because everyone in town wanted Nicholson. He said, “What does Brando want?” “I agreed to pay him the same as Jack.” Ashley then exploded, “I’d be laughed out of this town if I paid half a million for Brando.” I said, “Look, you asked me to get two stars. I got them. Now you’re saying you don’t want to pay them. What happens now?” He said, “Well, you make it for a price, go with unknowns, and let’s see what happens.”

So instead, the lead roles go to Jon Voight and Burt Reynolds, helping to cement them as two of the hottest stars of the 70’s…and more than 40 years later, this film still stands as a classic piece of filmmaking…

Read more of this fascinating oral history of the film by going to the entire article at the terrific “Garden&Gun” website here:

http://gardenandgun.com/article/delivering-deliverance

Oh, and here’s one more great story: the Author of the book “Deliverance”, James Dickey, broke John Boorman’s nose and knocked out his teeth!

James Dickey wrote the novel “Deliverance”, and he has a small role in the movie. Legend has it, he and John Boorman allegedly got into a fistfight on set, in which the writer broke the director’s nose and knocked out his teeth!

Dickey, who was also an alcoholic, clashed heavily with Boorman throughout the shoot, particularly after the director cut the first 19 pages of the shooting script. According to Jon Voight’s body double on the film, Claude Terry, Dickey would sit in a bar saying complaining about the film.

“God, they’re ruining my fucking movie, ain’t they? They’re not doing my book,” while Boorman says that Dickey was drunk on set, and became “very overbearing with the actors.” According to legend, things reached a peak when director and writer got into a fistfight which left Boorman with a broken nose and four teeth knocked out!

Read all the rest at indiewire, where they have great insight on classic and contemporary movies every day:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-deliverance-released-40-years-ago-today-20120730

Of course, Burt Reynolds went on to become one of the biggest movie stars of the 70’s, and also co-starred in the brilliant “Boogie Nights”:

Read about his greatest roles by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/26/long-yards-squealing-pigs-boogie-nights-burt-reynolds-greatest-roles/

If you want to know even MORE about Burt Reynold, then you need to see some of his less-acclaimed, but no less entertaining movies as well:

Yes, I wrote all about “hicksploitation”, and you can read about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/02/22/suck-down-some-white-lightning-hicksploitation-burt-reynolds-gator-good-ol-boy-action-classics/

Now, let’s imagine if Marlon Brando HAD starred in “Deliverance”, especially knowing how much trouble he was known to cause on sets!

Some of the best stories about “The Godfather” involve the behind-the-scenes hijinks of Marlon Brando…read all about them here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/19/the-godfather-screen-tests-robert-deniro-is-sonny-corleone-godfather-trivia/

And that wasn’t the only film that he acted up on…there is a fascinating documentary about THIS:

Yes, one of the worst films of all time – caused in large part by Marlon Brando’s escapades on set. Read all about the disaster known as “The Island Of Doctor Moreau” by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/03/04/madman-marlon-brando-lost-soul-of-dr-moreau-best-bad-movie-the-cinema-sewer/

Let me know if you agree that “Deliverance” is a brilliant film and a star vehicle for Reynolds – and what you think it would have been like with Brando!

Looking For a Movie To Buy On Blu-Ray? Then it’s time for some fun down under!

Let’s check out two “Ozploitatiion” classics from Australia!

We begin with “The Blood And Thunder Shocker Of The Year!”

Severin Films has done it again, rescuing one of Australia’s greatest sci-fi thrillers from obscurity – here is the trailer:

“Hunting Is The Sport! People Are The Prey!”

Brian Trenchard-Smith’s outrageous futuristic gore-fest imagines an Australian government concentration-extermination camp, run by the sadistic Michael Craig and Roger Ward, where jaded rich folk come to hunt human prey!

The film stars Steve Railsback, best known for “The Stunt Man”, and Olivia Hussey, star of “Romeo & Juliet!”

The music is by the “Mad Max” veteran Brian May and now this classic slice of “Ozploitation” is back in a big way!

Severin Films has once again offered up a treasure trove of extras for movie fans, such as a look at Australian exploitation, a feature on the making of this film, extended cast interviews and more!

Read about all of the extras by going to their website here:

https://severin-films.com/shop/turkey-shoot-blu-ray/

Kudos to Severin for keeping a host of great exploitation films alive, like this amazing double bill starring Sex Kitten Soledad Miranda:

Read all about these two sexploitation classics here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/05/19/legendary-sex-kitten-soledad-miranda-ecstasy-vampyros-lesbos-new-cult-films-releases/

Time to check out another classic film from down under:

Donald Pleasence (Mi.)

“Have A Drink, Mate? Have A Fight, Mate? Have A Taste Of Dust And Sweat, Mate? There’s Nothing Else Out Here.”

Talk about obscure cinema! Thanks to people who are passionate about saving brilliant and challenging film, here is another brilliant film that has been unearthed for you to enjoy, thanks to the great Drafthouse Films!

Here is a classic 70’s era film poster for a movie that was all but forgotten to time, until now!

‘Doc’ Tydon: I’m a doctor of medicine. And a tramp by temperament. I’m also an alcoholic. My disease prevented me from practicing in Sydney. But out here it’s scarcely noticeable.

Wake in Fright is the story of John Grant, a bonded teacher who arrives in the rough outback mining town of Bundanyabba planning to stay overnight before catching the plane to Sydney. But his one night stretches to five and he plunges headlong toward his own destruction.

Check out the trailer:

The movie had been out of circulation for decades because the negative went missing, sparking an international search. After a ten-year quest veteran Australian producer Anthony Buckley finally tracked it down in mid-2004 in a Pittsburgh warehouse, inside a shipping container marked “For Destruction”.

“Wake In Fright” Special Features!

And look at the extras on the blu-ray!

Audio commentary with director Ted Kotcheff and editor Anthony Buckley
To the ‘Yabba and Back…’ featurette by Not Quite Hollywood Director Mark Hartley
Q&A with Kotcheff at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
’ABC’s 7:30 Report’ on the rediscovery and restoration of the film
Who Needs Art?: Vintage segment on Wake in Fright
Chips Rafferty obituary
Theatrical trailers
28-page booklet

Make sure you check out all of these classic exploitation films, and if you want to know more about “Ozploitation”, check out my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/04/10/ozploitation-lives-explore-a-wild-trailer-explosion-from-down-under/

Let me know how your “Turkey Shoot” went, and if you “Wake In Fright!”

“Hands” Off This Cinematic Masterpiece!

If you LOVE bad movies as much as I do, then “Hands” down I have a winner for you!
It’s a legendary film shot in 1966 that is now available on blu-ray – called the single worst film ever made!

“Manos: The Hands Of Fate”

“Manos: The Hands of Fate” was made in 1966 – and here is the beginning of a trend: it was written, directed, produced by, and starring Harold P. Warren!

Yes, Warren was the visionary behind it all!

Here is a very short trailer that only hints at the horror that awaits!

Meet “Torgo!”

Here is the plot of “Manos”: a family gets lost on the road and stumbles upon a hidden, underground, devil-worshiping cult led by the fearsome Master and his servant Torgo – yes, TORGO!

What’s funny to me is that “Torgo” looks like a guy who stumbled out of a Gunsmoke saloon!

According to the great website IMDB: the entire film was shot with a hand-held camera that could only record 32 seconds of film at a time. It was also shot without sound; all the lines were dubbed later by two men and one woman. Jackey Neyman cried when she first heard her dubbed voice.

Even The Film’s Title Is Inept!

Here’s a wacky fact: “Manos” is the Spanish word for “hands”. So in the other words, the title of this movie is

“Hands: The Hands of Fate!”

If you need to know more, read the entire review at the terrific “DVD Drive-In” here:

http://www.dvddrive-in.com/reviews/i-m/manosse66.htm

When you read the “DVD Drive-In” review, they say this:

Reaching new highs (or is it lows?) in ineptitude, the independently-made regional schlocker MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE has by and large become many a filmgoer’s premium choice as the worst movie ever made (though my vote still goes to MONSTER A-GO GO).

Well, I must differ…first, look at this great double feature DVD from Something Weird video:

Yes, I proudly own “Monster A Go Go”, and yes, it is jawdroppingly inept…but NOTHING compared to the co-feature:

Psyched By The 4D Witch!

I have written about this film before. That is of course if you can really call it “a film.” But it was in movie theaters, and yes, based on the provocative movie poster, I snuck in to see it!

4D AWFUL!

I cannot recommend this film highly enough – because you will be stunned that I was suckered into seeing it!

“Psyched By The 4D Witch” is one of cinema’s greatest movie titles, but it’s not so much a “movie” as it is a series of poorly shot b-roll shots with an equally poorly written narration laid over it…and shots of this actress…

As you watch, you begin to notice things, like the fact there is NO synched sound at all, meaning it’s all b-roll and voiceover of her “thoughts and reactions”! And by the way, it is the worst voiceover narration ever recorded, with pointless scenes of her in a room looking like this….

By the way, there is NOTHING “adult” about this footage, which is followed by random footage of traffic and city streets – all strung together to fill time…in fact, it was described by Something Weird Video (who was smart enough to release it on DVD) as:

“the most maddening, jaw-dropping, mind-bending piece of celluloid lunacy ever to play American theaters!”

The film was Directed by Victor Luminera…it’s his only credit – EXCEPT he takes credit on “Psyched” for Director, Writer, Composer, Casting Director, Costume Designer AND Art Department!

You understand that is EXACTLY why I love the folks at Something Weird Video – because they saved this film!

To read all about Something Weird Video, and their passionate attempt to keep the world’s weirdest films alive, click here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/01/07/something-weird-wild-wild-cinema-celebrating-a-weird-genius-rip-mike-vraney/

And while I am focused on the three worst Directed films of all time, you can check out more cinema stinkers by clicking on here – and you will see more wacky cinema:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/03/from-the-beatles-to-flying-severed-heads-five-mesmerizingly-bad-films/

And now, I have THIS warning for you:

“WILDER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE! EXPLICIT BEYOND BELIEF!”

Hard to misunderstand what this film has to offer – except in the hands of one of the worst Directors of all time, it offered almost NOTHING they promised!

Fleshpot On 42nd St.

Welcome to Times Square’s seediest period ever!

“Erotic, Sensual and Smoldering!”

Director Andy Milligan was a master of bad moviemaking….like these gems:

For “Fleshpot On 42ndSt.”, Milligan turned his cameras on the legendarily seedy streets of New York in the early 70’s…

The plot was simple: A street whore desperately seeks love and acceptance against the backdrop of the criminal element of early 1970s Times Square. What sort of “Criminal element?” Well, check out this bar scene and you’ll get an idea…

The film featured classic Milligan dialogue like this:

Cherry Lane: Didn’t your mother ever tell you that you shouldn’t go out with strange men?
Dusty Cole: Bob’s not strange. He’s dull.

Based on the clip I showed you, he sure is!

Of course, the pressures of Times Square can make relationships tough, as Dusty has to confide to Tony…

Dusty Cole: When I moved in with you, you said they’re be no trouble between us. You said we’d shack up together and that’s all. And I said I’d help out with the money as soon as I get a job. Don’t think I don’t apreciate what you’ve done for me, Tony. I do… but you get more then your fair share of ass. There isn’t one night where you don’t come home from that shithole where you work and wake me up in the middle of the night because you want a piece of ass. I do my part so get off my back!

And of course, how can you go wrong with conversations like this one:

Dusty Cole: How’s your mother?
Cherry Lane: She threw me out. I guess she got tired of me using all her hairspray.

While “Fleshpot” is arguably his worst film, Milligan made many other classics, which you can read about here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/13/fleshpots-rats-cranium-cleaving-color-meet-andy-milligan-sexploitations-ed-wood/

And don’t forget to buy all of these classics, or I will send “Torgo” after you!

Time To Head To Italy For A Good Scare!

Some of the most inventive thrillers ever made came from Italy, during a time when the “giallo” film was at its height – just in time for Halloween, welcome to the bloody world of the Italian sex shocker!

Let’s begin with a film that was so controversial it landed the Director in court, facing prison time! It’s all because of this:

“In the annals of the abnormal there is no more erotic nightmare than the strange lusts of a…

Lizard In A Woman’s Skin!”

One of the most legendary Italian sex shockers is also one of the most controversial! Here is the plot: Florinda Bolkan plays the daughter of a prominant English politician who keeps having recurring “nightmares” in which she makes love to a bisexual nympho who lives downstairs and conducts all-night LSD orgies!

That’s Right: ALL-NIGHT LSD ORGIES!

Anyone who has nightmares involving a bisexual nymph is just looking for trouble! FYI, the film was released in the US as “Schizoid”, which she certainly was! When the nocturnal wet dreams become murderous, the neighbor turns up dead, and Florinda is the main suspect. Did she actually commit the murder she dreamt about?

And Who Is This “Giallo?”

“Giallo” is a 20th-century Italian genre of literature and film. In Italy, the term denotes thrillers, typically of the crime fiction, mystery, and horror categories. “Giallo” refers to a style of murder mystery film which includes lots of horror, eroticism and sex! Here is what one of the books looks like:

As you can see, it’s a lurid “come-on” to the reader, or in this case, to the moviegoer…and “Lizard In A Woman’s Skin” is a perfect fit as well, as it’s a sex shocker with a title as lurid as the style of filmmaking…

The Master! Director Lucio Fulci!

The Director of the movie was Lucio Fulci, one of Italy’s great horror filmmakers.

Among his films was this classic of the genre:

The Director was such a master of shock that a judge threatened to throw him in jail!

One such shocking scene in “Lizard’s Skin” involves a room full of disemboweled dogs. Director Fulci was nearly sent to prison because it was believed that the dogs were real and Fulci had allowed animal cruelty on the film! Crew members had to testify in court that the “dogs” were indeed fake and no animals had ever been harmed. Special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi even presented the dog props in court to convince the jury. This was the first time that an effects artist had to testify in court that their work was fake!

You can read more about the film, along with a look at the blu-ray release’s extended features, by clicking on this great website, “Mondo Digital”:

http://www.mondo-digital.com/lizard.html

And you can read more about the genre of italian giallo, with films like this:

One of Italy’s greatest Giallo Directors was Dario Argento, read all about him here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/09/halloween-giallo-masters-agentos-animal-trilogy-fulcis-tortured-ducklings-italian-pulp-fiction/

So now you are getting warmed up to this incredibly entertaining film genre…and want to take it to a whole new level:

Yes, as the 70’s progressed, the genre got even more shocking – you can read all about this classic of the genre by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/07/09/time-to-strip-nude-four-flies-and-baba-yaga-to-you-yes-its-classic-italian-giallo/

There are so many more…here are some great posters that capture the energy of the genre:

And the 70’s were a great time for another Italian film genre as well:

Yes, the Italian crime drama thrived in the 70’s and here is a great documentary that looks at the classic films of the 70’s:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/01/19/italian-mobsters-sex-kittens-euro-crime-the-italian-dirty-harry-classic-70s-euro-crime/

Let me know how many of these classic shockers you’ve seen!

Smile! It’s Halloween!

It’s my favorite time of year – when the scariest films of all time return to my TV screen! Everyone has a favorite horror film – you know, one that really scares you…and modern cinema has given us SO many incredible images to shake us up…

You get the idea – there are old classics and new favorites – all created to scare the hell out of you this Halloween season – I wanted to share some of my favorite horror films…and also highlight some lesser known films that deserve to be seen!

More on these incredible Twin Horror Directors in a moment, but first, we begin with what is, without question, the greatest horror film ever made – one that forced viewers to flee the theater because it was too much to watch!

Time To Celebrate “The Exorcist!”

I think this is the scariest film ever made…and without a doubt the greatest horror film of all.

Here is the original trailer, that only hinted at the intensity of this film:

In the more than forty years since it was released, “The Exorcist” has remained one of the most shocking films ever released….because of moments like this:

And of course, there is a scene that will never be forgotten – a scene that continues to shock an audience:

“Cue The Soup!”

The moment that little Regan unloads gallons of green liquid onto her guests is a legendary horror scene…but equally entertaining is the banter that the demon has with Fathere Damien:

Demon: What an excellent day for an exorcism.
Father Damien Karras: You would like that?
Demon: Intensely.
Father Damien Karras: But wouldn’t that drive you out of Regan?
Demon: It would bring us together.
Father Damien Karras: You and Regan?
Demon: You and us.

Great “Exorcist” Trivia!

Here is some great trivia about the film:

The refrigerated bedroom set was cooled with four air conditioners and temperatures would plunge to around 30 to 40 below zero. It was so cold that perspiration would freeze on some of the cast and crew. On one occasion the air was saturated with moisture resulting in a thin layer of snow falling on the set before the crew arrived for filming.

Oh yeah, and then there is the “head turn” sequence! As you can see in this picture, little Regan is holding a crucifix for all the wrong reasons…another scene that was so shocking that audience members fled the theaters when it was playing – this type of horror reaction just doesn’t happen any more!

This film is so intense and scary that the original teaser trailer, which consisted of nothing but images of the white-faced demon quickly flashing in and out of darkness, was banned in many theaters, as it was deemed “too frightening”.

And then of course, there is the projectile vomiting scene!

The substance that possessed Linda Blair hurls at Father Damien Karras is thick pea soup. Specifically, it’s Andersen’s brand pea soup. The crew tried Campbell’s but didn’t like the “effect.”

Tons of great stories and commentaries on the special edition blu-ray….check it out and relive a classic!

Of course, “The Exorcist” wasn’t the first movie to feature of child acting up…in fact, some evil begins before the baby is even born!

“Rosemary’s Baby!”

Mia Farrow’s performance as a young pregnant wife who feels something isn’t right with her new baby is the glue that holds this shocking classic together…

Roman Polanski’s horror film lives up to the hype – get a bunch of great behind-the-scenes stories about the movie here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/26/rosemarys-baby-jessicas-scared-to-death-great-halloween-horror/

One of the greatest horror films of all time began as a Stephen King novel – his first novel in fact, and still the greatest film ever made from one of his books!

Classic “Carrie!”

One of the greatest honor films ever made is by the Master of Suspense, Director Brian DePalma!

The story of young Carrie White, ostracized in high school and tormented by her religious fanatic of a mother, is one of horror’s greatest achievements. Here is a bun of fun trivia about the movie, and a look at five of Brian DePalma’s greatest thriller!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/03/13/carrie-and-more-5-classic-brian-depalma-thrillers/

Of course, by the end of the 70’s, one film because the new standard for horror:

It was the night that “HE” came home! Director John Carpenter’s classic horror film made Jamie Lee Curtis the reigning “Scream Queen”…

“Terror Train!”

Another of Jamie’s great thrill rides was on “Terror Train”! If you want to celebrate the “slash-tacular” horror films of the 80’s – and read about some great “Halloween” trivia, then check some of the best right here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/02/15/slash-goes-the-horror-time-for-the-bloody-splat-acular-80s/

For many, the face of horror changed forever when THIS guy showed up:

Say Hello To “Leatherface!”

It is one of the most unsettling films ever made – “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” introduced audiences to “Leatherface” – based on real events that shocked the nation. He is, without a doubt, one of cinema’s greatest horror characters…read about him here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/10/01/shocks-scares-chainsaws-the-best-halloween-horror-2014/

There is a lot of great new horror being made – not the creepy “found” footage stuff of “Paranormal Activity” and the like, but classic horror stuff with a fresh new twist like this:

Meet The Soska Sisters!

There’s a fresh new voice in cinema today, thanks to the Soska Sisters, who are making creepy, bloody horror films like “American Mary” – and they love to acknowledge their influences, like this picture that pays homage to “The Shining”:

The Soskas are currently hosting the horror game show “Hellavator” on GSN! If you want to read about their films, check out my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/06/07/modern-horror-twin-directors-the-soska-sisters-american-mary-dead-hooker-in-a-trunk/

So there you go, have a great night of shocks and screams!

Wait Until You See This Amazing Movie Nightclub Mashup!

Yes, Darth Vader and Pilot Ted Striker go head to head in one of the most amazing movie mashups ever made!

Imagine taking the most iconic nightclub scenes from film and putting them all together into one big:

“Hell’s Club!”

Bravo to Antonio Maria da Silva!

Here is what I found at “Someecards.com”: “Antonio Maria da Silva is a film editor par excellence. Based in Paris, his movie mashups combine footage from classic films so smoothly, it can be hard to tell where the cuts are. In the past, he’s brought us treats like Terminator vs. Robocop and Bruce Lee vs. Bruce Lee, but Hell’s Club has to be his masterwork.”

Yes, da Silva took short nightclub scenes from movies as diverse as “Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith”, “Carlito’s Way”, “Boogie Nights”, “Saturday Night Fever” and “Airplane” and turned it into an amazing seamless journey into a place called “Hell’s Club!”

Yes, you can now head to a party with Tony Montana, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and John Travolta – with a lot of red light as well! Here is this amazingly creative mashup!

Bravo to da Silva for this masterwork, I hope it’s not pulled down off the internet! And you can read more about it at this site where I found it posted:

http://www.someecards.com/entertainment/movies/movie-mashup-scene-hells-club/

The mashup reminded me of how much I love some of the movies shown here, such as:

“Boogie Nights!”

One of the best films ever made, and plenty of nightclub action! Read the “oral” history of the movie by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/12/11/dirk-digglers-livin-thing-70s-sex-80s-excess-the-oral-history-of-boogie-nights/

And nightclubs also have bathrooms, so when I saw the “Transpotting” scenes in the mashup, I immediately thought of this:

Yes, the film had the worst toilet in Scotland! Here is my look at all of the best bathroom scenes in film:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/03/06/going-to-the-toilet-the-craziest-bathroom-scenes-in-the-movies/

And finally, after seeing Ted Striker, I remembered the funniest film ever made:

You can relive all of the best moments by reading this oral history of the movie..just click here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/04/28/shirley-you-cant-be-serious-the-oral-history-of-airplane/

And let me know if da Silva left out any other great nightclub movie moments!

In honor of the new James Bond film, I offer you this:

“We guarantee a laugh a minute in the zaniest film you’ve EVER seen!”

How can you argue with a “laugh a minute?” Especially when it’s from one of James Bond’s best Directors!

Time to look at a classic British sex comedy, shaken NOT stirred!

Here’s the plot: a scriptwriter, a producer and a director are called in by Benny Murdoch, an exotic movie producer. He wants to make a new erotic movie starring a big woman – “Eskimo Nell!”

As with all classic sex farces, there are plenty of problems. The scriptwriter is a virgin, and each of the three main big $$$ Investors want a different type of movie – one wants a western, another demands an erotic drama, and the last wants a kung-fu movie!

This is classic British sex farce, which means Monty Python-type comedy and lots of nudity!

You either appreciate this kind of manic farce or you don’t…but here’s one guy who did!

As you can see Producer Stanley Long was proud to show off his credit:

Take “Eskimo Nell” Home To Mom!

Eskimo Nell was recently released in a ‘special edition’ DVD and Blu-ray, with several extra features…but the biggest “extra” about this film is who directed it!

Campbell! Martin Campbell! 007’s Savior – TWICE!

Director Martin Campbell may not have made the greatest British sex comedy of all time, but he did a lot more – 007 times more! Yes, he directed TWO classic James Bond movies, introducing new Bonds each time!

In 1995, Campbell introduced a new James Bond – Pierce Brosnan – to movie audiences with the terrific “Goldeneye”…a fast-paced thriller that brought Bond back from the dead…and then in 2006, Campbell did it again, with one of the best Bond films of all:

Campbell’s “Casino Royale” introduced Daniel Craig as a brutal 007 – really saving the franchise again from the lethargic “Die Another Day”…if you disagree, check out all of my best and WORST Bond movies here…

http://johnrieber.com/2013/09/24/his-name-is-bond-james-bond-the-best-007-ever-the-worst-film-fight-club-begins-now/

Kudos to Martin Campbell for “Eskimo Nell” and “Miss Moneypenny” – all in one career!

The genre of British sex comedy has a long and varied history…with that, I introduce you to the “upstairs downstairs” shenanigans of:

“What The Butler Did….And Did…And Did!”

Time to see if the Butler did, in fact, DO IT….

Keep It Up Downstairs!

Check out the trailer:

This is another classic British sex farce! Well-known Actress Diana Dors and adult superstar Mary Millington star in a vintage British sex comedy!

This is an obvious parody of “Upstairs Downstairs”, the classic British drama about the lives of two very different social castes in England. As the movie promo says:

“See a host of stars shedding their Edwardian costumes to save the family silver!”

Well then, if you need more of an education about those randy Brits, I suggest you start here:

The British “Confessions Of…” films are a hilarious look at 70’s England – check them all out here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/09/30/confessions-of-the-sex-obsessed-british-70s-cult-sex-comedies-are-back/

Let me know what you think of this sexy British invasion!

One of the most difficult aspects of making a film is deciding what to call it – after all, lots of us go see a film based on the title!

Sure, “Jaws” pretty much nailed it…big shark, “JAWS”…I’m in…and when a movie has a distinctive, iconic title, there’s not much more you need to worry about…here are more examples of films where the titles pretty much told you all you need to know…

Yes, THAT film title explains exactly what you are about to see as well! And in that vein of “this film MUST be as bad as it sounds”, I offer you this movie title:

“I Could Never Have Sex With Any Man Who Has Such Little Respect For My Husband!”

First of all, what was the year 1973 thinking when it released this movie to the world?

That said, it’s not only a very accurate description of the film, but one of the strangest movie titles of all time!

In this sex farce, a couple of aspiring swingers rent a summer cottage in Martha’s Vineyard. There they sit around discussing the pros and cons of having affairs!

Of course they do!

This was an actual movie that was released in theaters…and here’s another wacky movie title that shares the same distinction!

“Psyched By The 4D Witch”!

Yes, it’s not only one of the strangest movie titles ever, but it was theatrically released as well! The early 70’s were obviously a gold mine for wacky!

I probably don’t have to tell you this, but “Psyched By The 4D Witch” is one of the worst films of all time…read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/10/06/manos-hands-of-fate-is-here-halloween-2015-celebrates-horrors-worst-directors-sex-fleshpots-4d-witches/

Oh, Dustin Hoffman, REALLY?

While “4D Witch” will only be remembered by the people who made it, some of these strange movie titles had really big stars in the films – here is a great example – take a deep breath and try to get this movie title out in one sitting:

“Who Is Harry Kellerman And Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?”

What the? Well, this obscure 1971 film starred Dustin Hoffman as a song writer who cannot love himself, or others. So he spends his days with various women flying his plane, and dropping in to the world around him. Um, OK….

Dustin went on to star in some more mainstream movies with more straightforward titles of course:

Well, maybe not…you see, I wanted to share some of the funniest and most unique movie titles of all time – the films themselves may be good, bad or ugly, or in some cases, cult classics like this one!

“Sorority Babes In The Slimeball Bowl-A-Rama!”

This 80’s cult horror film starred Scream Queen Linnea Quigley, and was originally called “The Imp!”

You see, a bunch of sorority sisters are trapped in a bowling alley, and are terrorized by the afore-mentioned “Imp!”

To see more of this wackiness, and to celebrate Linnea Quigley in all of her greatness, click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/10/28/scream-queen-linnea-quigley-naked-graveyard-dancing-horror-demons-too/

Finally, there is this gem…if you think I am joking about this movie title, YOU ARE WRONG:

“The World’s First Monster Musical!”

Yes, this is real movie! Time to embrace:

“The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!”

Watch this classic trailer for “the world’s first monster musical!”

That is, without a doubt, the most unique movie title I’ve ver heard…well, except for the others! So there you have it, five very strange movie titles…let me know which is your favorite!

Talk About A Wrong Turn!

It was Steve McQueen’s last film, and it included the most incredible car stunt Chicago has ever seen!

Time to celebrate “The Hunter!”

Steve McQueen was one of the biggest stars of the 60’s and 70’s, with films such as “The Great Escape”, “Papillon” and the iconic action movie “Bullitt.”

He was also one of Hollywood’s coolest stars…McQueen was a huge car buff and race car driver as well, and his last film included Chicago’s most amazing car stunt ever!

“The Hunter” was the true story of professional bounty hunter Ralph “Papa” Thorson.

Check out the trailer:

“The Hunter” was McQueen’s last film, and sadly, it was during filming that co-workers realized something was wrong with the Actor.

1980 — American actor Steve McQueen on the set of The Hunter, directed by Buzz Kulik. — Image by © Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis

According to numerous biographies and documentaries on Steve McQueen’s life, one of the first signs of problems relating to the cancer in his lungs occurred when shooting a scene in which McQueen is running down the street and turns a corner. When the director yelled, “Cut!”, McQueen didn’t come back around the corner. McQueen was found leaning against a wall trying desperately to catch his breath.

Steve McQueen was diagnosed with cancer the month after filming had ended.

Also tragic was the fact that the real Ralph Thorson, portrayed by Steve McQueen in the movie, was killed by a car bomb in 1994.

“The Hunter” is best known as the film that showed off Chicago’s iconic Marina Towers in a very special way!

Chicago’s Dual Corn Cobs!

Marina City includes a unique pair of apartment buildings on the Chicago River, and tenants have their cars valet parked on the lower floors of the building.

As the Chicago Tribune noted: “a car chase up Marina City towers’ parking ramp ends with a vehicle losing control on the 15th floor of the corncob-looking building and plunging into the Chicago River.

That’s right, the chase ends when the car shoots off of the 19th floor and into the Chicago river!

“It’s certainly a spectacular image people frequently associate with Chicago, it’s perhaps one of the more memorable stunts the city has done overall. Up until that point, so few big movies were made in Chicago. It helped put Chicago on the map when it comes to filmmaking.”

McQueen’s last movie isn’t one of his best, even with the amazing stunt – which has NEVER been allowed since!

If you want to see more classic Steve McQueen, you can begin here:

The Getaway!

Take notorious Director Sam Peckinpah, add the toughest – and coolest – action star of the time in Steve McQueen, and add new star Ali McGraw, and you have a dynamite action film from 1972 that is as entertaining today as the day it was released!

This is the film that led to McQueen and Macgraw leaving their spouses and running off together. Here is a surprisingly long trailer!

Here’s the plot: Master thief Doc McCoy knows his wife has been in bed with the local political boss in order to spring him from jail.

What he doesn’t know are all of the double-crosses that will sour the deal once he’s on the outside – and pulling off the ultimate robbery.

This is filled with iconic scenes, and so much cool it will put a chill on your living room! Just look at McQueen and MacGraw blasting their way out of trouble…

Ali McGraw’s Husband!

Ali MacGraw was one of Hollywood’s biggest female star when she made “The Getaway”, thanks to the mega-hit “Love Story.” She was also married to movie Executive Robert “The Kid Stays In The Picture” Evans!

MacGraw and McQueen began an affair during the filming of the movie, and ended up getting married…Evans discusses this part of his life in his terrific memoir, “The Kid Stays In The Picture.”

Oh Sally!

Sally Struthers has a deliciously wacky small role in the film, as the wife of a mild-mannered Dentist! They are both kidnapped by a ruthless thug out to find McQueen…

Struthers was a big star at the time on TV’s “All In The Family”…”The Getaway” is a great action movie, beautifully directed, and worth finding on dvd…

If this has whetted your appetite for classic 70’s action films, there I have a story for you!

Here is a story of some of the best 70’s action movies, with some of the biggest guns! Click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/01/24/the-greatest-70s-action-films-ever-biggest-stars-with-the-biggest-guns/

“Thunderbolt And Lightfoot” is a classic 70’s movie…but somewhat neglected as well….here is another classic 70’s movie that is little known…

If you want to discover more classic 70’s films, click on my story here for ten neglected gems:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/01/29/ten-great-undiscovered-70s-movies/

And leave me a message to let me know if you’ve seen Chicago’s greatest car stunt of all time!

“Hey baby, nobody suffers like the poor.”

He’s been called the “laureate of American lowlife” – and this classic photo by Mark Hanauer captures the intensity and bravado of one of America’s greatest Writers, Charles Bukowski!

Let’s Have A Drink And Write A Novel!

Charles Bukowski was a great writer and poet, his writing influenced by the rough and tumble life he lived in Los Angeles.

A Boozer AND A Brawler!

He was both a boozer and a brawler – which he captured with incredible honesty in his writing, but so much more…he lived the life he wrote about, using the pseudonym Henry Chinaski in his books to tell his story…as his first novel, “Post Office” captures so well…

His work captured the ordinary lives of poor Americans, beginning with a fictionalized version of his own life as a postal employee.

Bukowski wrote thousands of poems, hundreds of short stories and six novels, publishing over sixty books in all.

This is just one of his more memorable quotes. In 1986, Time magazine called Bukowski a “laureate of American lowlife”. He lived the life he wrote about, capturing life on the fringes of society – he embraced his life and wrote about it with power, anger and dignity – using his alter ego as an outlet to express his own rage.

Along with his novels, he published a huge amount of poetry…one of those collections was titled “Love Is A Dog From Hell.”

His novels included “Post Office”, “Ham On Rye” and “Hollywood.” That’s fitting because his life was turned into a movie starring Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway!

Barfly!

This 1987 film captured Bukowski’s life to a tee, a seedy world of alcohol, lust and violence.

First, check out the trailer:

Mickey Roarke was “Henry Chinaski”, who spends his days drinking and listening to the radio, and he spends his nights drinking and fighting. He meets Wanda – who is a barfly, who believes that “if another man came along with a fifth of whiskey, I’d go with him”.

The movie captures the spirit of Charles Bukowski in dialogue like this:

Tully: You can really write. Why do you live like a bum?
Henry: I am a bum. What do you want me to do? Do you want me to write about the sufferings of the upper classes?
Tully: This may be news to you but they suffer too.
Henry: Hey baby, nobody suffers like the poor.

Welcome To “Craby Joe’s”!

The film was shot using authentic locations around Los Angeles. All of the bar scenes, and the apartments featured throughout the film were real Bukowski haunts with names like Firefly, Boulevard Inn, Ski Room, Catelina Cocktails, The Elbow Inn, The Golden Horn, Craby Joe’s, Smog Cutter, Frady Hank, The Sunset, Silver Platter, Side Show and Snug Harbor.

This movie, like Bukowski’s writing, isn’t for everyone…this ISN’T “The Great Gatsby” life he’s writing about! But it is authentic, raw and beautifully written – and you can see more about this great Artist by going to the website that honors his work:

http://bukowski.net

Bukowski died in 1994, but his work lives on…

There is another great Writer who also left behind a body of work that you should know about:

Richard Brautigan was one of the 60’s most colorful, eclectic writers, known best for his most famous book “Trout Fishing In America.”

He was a prolific Writer of novels and poetry as well, and if you want to know more about his work, check out my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/22/watermelons-babylon-and-trout-fishing-in-america-the-brilliant-richard-brautigan/

Let me know if you’ve read either Author!

Welcome To Hollywood!

Yes, it’s an iconic sight – looking down on all of Los Angeles, as a welcoming sign of impending stardom…

It is probably one of the most photographed images in Hollywood, but no matter how much the city promotes “the heart of Hollywood”, the iconic buildings from entertainment’s storied past are being destroyed in front of our eyes….

This is a familiar story on local news: another legendary Hollywood landmark torn down in the name of progress…many are leveled, some just evicted…recently, another landmark restaurant that catered to the stars announced it was closing:

Say Farewell to Dominick’s

The latest casualty is Dominick’s, the legendary West Hollywood restaurant that was home to some of the Rat Pack, as well as Hollywood’s biggest stars. As the Los Angeles Times reported:

“Dominick’s opened in 1948. Frank Sinatra was a frequent visitor, and the restaurant has been a celebrity hangout ever since, with famous customers including Brad Pitt, Ewan McGregor and Britney Spears.”

When former Los Angeles Times Food editor Ruth Reichl reviewed Dominick’s in 1986, she referred to it as:

“The restaurant that all the new American places are trying to be.”

Reichl went on to write:

“There is history in every pore of the place, from the brick that props up a nail that is holding up a piece of the front wall to the funky slope of the roof. Dominick’s has plenty of charm. This is not a restaurant for the hip or the harried, and it is certainly not a restaurant for a Foodie. But for anyone who wants a restaurant that does not take itself too seriously, Dominick’s is a very pleasant place to be.”

Dominick’s is just the latest Hollywood landmark that is disappearing. It’s a very sad trend, as Hollywood’s history is demolished and forgotten:

Farewell To “Chasens” Chili!

The legendary Chasen’s restaurant was located just west of Dominick’s – one of Tinseltown’s most fabled hangouts. It was renowned for its chili, which Elizabeth Taylor loved A LOT!

Here’s Liz enjoying her favorite food at the restaurant with Eddie Fisher – yes, Carrie’s Dad, who Liz stole away from Debbie Reynolds. No doubt they had the chili, because, as this book excerpt points out – Liz LOVED IT!

The Restaurant Is Gone, But The Red Banquettes Live On!

The restaurant was known for its red leather banquettes – and when Chasen’s closed in 1995, the banquettes were saved! More on that in a moment, but first, there is a great documentary that tells some of the restaurant’s greatest stories:

Someone who is trying to save Los Angeles landmarks like Chasen’s – and it’s legendary banquettes – or at least document them before they are gone forever – is my friend Alison Martino – and she worked tirelessly with the new owners to keep the Chasen banquettes in the Bristol Farms grocery store – all part of what she does with her terrific website:

Vintage Los Angeles!

Alison has a great website dedicated to preserving the memory of LA’s iconic haunts!

Alison’s efforts have gotten a lot of attention. Here is the most recent issue of West Hollywood Magazine with Alison on the cover:

Her website “Vintage Los Angeles” is telling the story of Hollywood’s legendary venues, with the hope of helping keep them alive for future movie lovers to enjoy.

You can see the website here:

http://alisonmartino.com

Alison has great stories about some of LA’s most iconic spots – like this!

“Tail O The Pup!”

Alison produced a great video showcasing the history of “Tail O The Pup”, a legendary LA hot dog stand that, yes, was shaped like a hot dog! See this incredibly fun video here:

http://alisonmartino.com/?page_id=7846

Keeping LA’s history alive is so important to our appreciation of entertainment, movies and pop culture, and kudos to all that Alison is doing!

Here is also a story I posted about the “Vintage Los Angeles” website, and Alison’s work in reviving interest in some classic films about Hollywood:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/08/20/vintage-l-a-noir-celebrate-las-heritage-amazing-website-and-classic-70s-noir/

Alison has hosted special screenings of classic movies like this one:

Here is a story about her terrific screening of “Sunset Boulevard”, which included a live appearance from the film’s ingenue Nancy Olson:

You can see a clip from the conversation here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/06/02/nancy-olsons-sunset-boulevard-screening-hollywoods-classic-tale-discussed-live/

Alison has also written many stories for Los Angeles magazine and others, looking at some of Hollywood’s most unique landmarks, like this one:

Welcome To The Hollywood Hightower!

This building has been home to a Robert Altman film AND Kurt Cobain!

Here is my story about the Hightower’s Hollywood history, and some of those other legendary Hollywood landmarks that Alison has been profiling:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/09/14/hollywoods-hightower-movie-past-vintage-los-angeles-climbs-these-legendary-stairs/

Happy Birthday Alison!

I posted this on Dec. 15 to celebrate Alison’s birthday – Happy Birthday Alison!

FYI, Alison is uniquely qualified to tell the story of Hollywood, since Alison IS Hollywood royalty!

Here is a photo Alison has shared on her social media, taken with her parents – her father was legendary Hollywood entertainer Al Martino! Along with being one of our greatest singers, he also starred in the greatest film ever made!

Martino was terrific in “The Godfather” as Johnny Fontaine, the down-on-his-luck singer helped by Don Corleone…here is a look at some of the most interesting trivia about the making of that classic film:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/20/brandos-cue-cards-real-horse-heads-the-godfathers-best-stories/

So happy birthday Alison, and kudos for your efforts to keep some of Hollywood’s most iconic hangouts alive!

Let me know if you have a chance to eat at Dominick’s before it’s too late!

Is This 007’s Sexist Bond Girl EVER?

007 has had some of the most beautiful Actresses in movie history featured as a “Bond girl”…including such modern-day Actresses as Halle Berry and Rosamund Pike -but in the beginning, it’s wasn’t that type of stunt casting. Here’s a look at one of the earliest Bond girls who moved from 007 to Giallo!

Meet Claudine Auger – born is France, she earned the title of “Miss France Monde” and was the first runner-up in the 1958 “Miss World” contest.

Claudine’s big break came in 1965 when she was cast in the fourth James Bond film. Auger is, to me, the most beautiful Bond girl of all – and she shares the poster with Sean Connery as Bond girl “Domino” in “Thunderball”:

Here is the classic trailer for one of the best Bond films ever:

Auger holds her against up against 007, and the film’s huge success made her a star – which she used to star in some of the best 1970’s sex shockers of all time!

A “Bond Girl” Triple Bill!

In 1971, she starred with two other Bond girls, Barbara Bach and Barbara Bouchet, in the classic Italian Giallo “Black Belly Of The Tarantula”!

Check out the intense trailer!

Here is the plot for this classic Italian thriller:

Inspector Tellini investigates serial crimes where victims are paralyzed while having their bellies ripped open with a sharp knife, much in the same way tarantulas are killed by the black wasp!

Claudine is terrific in the film, which is one of the best Italian “giallo” thrillers – more on this genre in a second, but first, time for some choice dialogue!

Paolo: “But, man isn’t an insect, my dear Simon. We have centuries of civilization behind us, you know.”
Simon: “No, I don’t know. I wasn’t there.”

Time For More Claudine!

Auger also starred in another great Italian “giallo” thriller, known as:

“Twitch Of The Death Nerve”!

First, check out this groovy, psychedelic trailer!

Or you can call it “Bay Of Blood” – it was known by both titles – and many others as well!

Here is the plot: Countess Federica, the elderly owner of a coveted piece of bayside property, is brutally slain by her husband–who is himself killed by a mysterious third person at the murder scene! Who is the killer? Director Mario Bava’s black comedy of human greed boasts 13 characters and 13 of the most shocking murders ever filmed!

This is considered by many cult film fans as Director Mario Bava’s most influential film and the Godfather of the “slasher” genre!

As I mentioned, this film was released in the US with a multitude of titles, including “The Last House on the Left Part II”, even though this film had nothing to do with Wes Craven’s cult shocker “The Last House on the Left”!

Here is more great trivia, thanks to IMDB: “Friday the 13th Part 2” takes two murders from this film, almost shot for shot!

Auger has had a long and successful career, but these movies are, without a doubt, some of her greatest work!

As I mentioned before, Auger co-starred with Barbara Bouchet, who was also a Bond girl!

Bouchet was in the spoof “Casino Royale”, along with a number of other great films – you can read all about her here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/04/29/classic-sex-kitten-james-bonds-sexy-co-star-barbara-bouchet/

And I mentioned Italian “giallo” films, which were sex shockers from the 70’s – great cult classics like this:

Read about the classic “Lizard In A Woman’s Skin” and more italian sex shockers by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/10/15/a-lizard-in-a-womans-skin-halloweens-controversial-giallo-on-trial-slithering-italian-sex-shockers/

And if you want to see one of the greatest titles in the italian “giallo” genre, what about this?

This is a perfect example of the genre, a great 70’s thriller from Italy – read all about it by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/07/09/time-to-strip-nude-four-flies-and-baba-yaga-to-you-yes-its-classic-italian-giallo/

Let me know what you think of the great Actress Claudine Auger!

Elevator Sex!

It is one of cinema’s most iconic erotic scenes – with Oscar winners!

Revenge!

And it is one of movie’s most shocking endings – a tale of revenge with one added bonus!

Boiling Bunnies!

Yes, it is true: that WAS a real bunny! Time to celebrate all that is the majesty of:

The “Oral” History Of “Fatal Attraction”!

First and foremost, remember this: “Fatal Attraction” was nominated for best picture of the year in 1987 – it was a pop culture phenomenon – that nobody wanted to make!

Empire magazine Writer Mark Salisbury did a great oral history of the film in the October issue of the magazine.

It’s a great story about a great movie that lives on decades later as one of Hollywood’s most explicit shockers!

Here are some of the highlights from the magazine article!

What A Credit!

The opening credits include this:

“Written by James Dearden based on his original screenplay”

That’s because Dearden’s short film “Diverson” told the story that became the first third of the film – his tale of a girlfriend who slits her wrists when her boyfriend tries to break up with her. That was the end of “Diverson”, but the inspiration for the rest of “Fatal Attraction.”

Producers saw the short film and asked Dearden to expand it into a feature length film…but as Producer Sherry Lansing said:

“Every studio passed on it at least twice. People would throw the script in my face and say, ‘i’m a happily married man, i would never cheat on my wife for absolutely no reason.’ They were really offended by it.”

For good reason! Some of the Oscar-nominated script included conversations like this, which began after Douglas has an affair with Close while his wife and daughter are out of town:

Dan Gallagher: You’re so sad. You know that, Alex? Lonely and very sad.
Alex Forrest: Don’t you ever pity me, you smug bastard.
Dan Gallagher: I’ll pity you… I’ll pity you. I’ll pity you because you’re sick.
Alex Forrest: Why? Because I won’t allow you treat me like some slut you can just bang a couple of times and throw in the garbage?

And that’s what was so controversial about the film – Douglas has almost NO regret for cheating on his wife, only for being caught up in a revenge tale from a woman spurned!

Brian DePalma Vs. Michael Douglas!

And then came the disasterous directorial dance with Brian DePalma, who had just made “The Untoucables” and wanted to take “Fatal Attraction” in a different direction – without Michael Douglas!

Luckily, The Producers said “no”, and DePalma left the project. Says Lansing:

“We never told Michael. He only found out many years later, after he was so hugely successful. He thought it was funny. At the time it would have really hurt him.”

And Douglass adds pointedly about Brian DePalma’s effort to replace him:

“I’ve always carried a grude with Bri. We didn’t get it resolved for like 20 years, when he came up to maat some party to try and explain. I just said, ‘Brian, it’s too late. Twenty years is too late.”

As for Glenn Close, she was told that she was too nice and earthy to be the vixen in the movie, so she showed up with her hair uncombed, frizzly and unmanageable…just like the character – and won them over immediately!

Director Adrien Lyne said after her audition: “I remember thinking her hair was a disaster, but that’s what people remember, that kind of medusa hair.”

As Michael Douglas admitted:

“I thought she was wrong before she came and in and absolutely right after she came in. She had that sexy, erotic, dangerous quality.”

And as for the sex scenes, Michael Douglas tells some funny stories about being goofy on set to take the tension out of the moment and Glenn Close was up for anything – IF she was kept awash in alcohol.

“I said, OK Tommy (the prop guy) you have to give me a pitcher of margaritas.”

Oh, and then there is this:

“The stench was unbearable!”

Yes, it was a REAL Rabbit used in that infamous scene…a dead one with the innards taken out but the fur left on, and it smelled horrible…because they really did boil it in a pot of hot water for the scene!

As For The Controversial Ending…

The film’s DVD and blu-ray releases have a lot of great stories about how the audience reacted to test screenings, including the original ending – and the magazine article goes into the controversy about that as well…

The film’s original ending was bleak, with Close committing suicide…but audiences wanted more, and so reluctantly, Glenn Close agreed to let her character show a more evil side at the end…

As she says now:

“The changes that were made with the ending, for better or fore worse for Alex, made it into the sensation that it became…I’m proud to be part of that movie. its part of our collective consciousness.”

If you want to see more, go to the Empire website – the magazine has a ton of great content every month:

And don’t forget that “Fatal Attraction” was part of the Michael Douglas “penis” trilogy…read the rest here!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/01/13/fatal-attractions-basic-instincts-full-disclosure-the-infamous-michael-douglas-penis-trilogy/

And if you are surprised that the film was Oscar-nominated, don’t be: Oscar has said “bravo” to X-rated films 13 times! Read about Oscar’s adult fixation by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/07/x-rated-butter-cowboys-droogs-oscars-x-flirtation/

And let me know what you think of “Fatal Attraction!”

Ever Wanted To “Take To The Road?”

It’s the favorite mode of transportation for the young and free – stick your thumb out and see the world!

Well, that doesn’t sound nice! You see, life “on the road” isn’t all Jack Kerouac…it’s a dangerous world as well!

“Thumbs Up! Knives out!”

Time to look at the exploitation movie genre focused on hitchhiking – and just how horrifically dangerous it can be!

“The Scorching, Reckless Joy Rides Of Wild Girls Of The Road!”

As early as 1958, shrewd movie Producers figured out that women out on the road alone were great fodder for exploitation, especially when filmed in “naturama!”

And a few years earlier, Hollywood knew that life on the road was a thriller! Take a look at this film noir classic from 1952, written and directed by famous movie star Ida Lupino!

In the 70’s, the relaxation of indecency and obscenity rules meant that these hitchhiking films could get more and more outrageous!

“There Is No Such Thing As A Free Ride!”

As you can see, there is no such thing as a “safe ride”! In the 70’s, drive-in theaters were filled with wild exploitative films like this:

“It Was The Longest Ride Of Her Life!”

As you can see, the movie posters promised a film full of young women making bad decisions and paying the price – but these movies were more likely to involve lots of nudity AND revenge!

“Hitch Hike!”

European star Franco Nero starred in this cult film, now being re-discovered thanks to DVD and blu-ray! Here is the trailer for this forgotten classic:

“Hitch Hike” is a psychological thriller that is a rough 70’s gem – but perhaps the most iconic film dealing with the horror of hitchhiking is the 80’s classic “The Hitcher” with Rutger Hauer!

Take A Ride With “The Hitcher!”

This cult classic from 1986 tells a straightforward tale: a young man who escapes from a crazed hitch-hiker – then finds himself framed for the “hitchers” crimes!

As you can see, NOTHING good happens when you pick up a hitchhiker, no matter what these posters suggest!

This is just one category of exploitation film that is so much fun to watch – another classic of exploitation is this one:

Naughty Stewardesses!

Talk about having fun while flying! This genre got its start with the release of the bawdy novel “Coffee Tea or Me?” Read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/05/30/naughty-stewardesses-swinging-cheerleaders-centerfold-girls-classic-70s-exploitation/

I said earlier that many of these films were actually about empowered females turning the tables on stupid guys…perhaps no more so than this genre:

“Tough as nails” biker chicks are always fun to watch, and you can see the best ones by clicking on my story here:

Sexy Chopper Chicks! “Naked” Cycle Sluts! Sex! Violence! “Hog-sploitation”!

And finally, there was one genre that was so good that even David Hasselhoff got into it!

Yes, “The Hoff” starred in a cheerleader movie! Find out which one by clicking on my story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/02/19/cheerleaders-pom-pom-girls-david-hasselhoff-as-boner-cult-classics-rah-rah-rah/

Let me know what your favorite genre of exploitation is!