Ever seen the classic film where Richard Burton seduces the world’s most beautiful women? And then FREEZES THEM?

Cue The Crow!

Intrigued? I thought so! How can you possibly NOT want to spend time with Richard Burton – just to find out exactly WHY he spends SO MUCH TIME in the movie with a crow on his shoulder?

And Raquel Welch Was, Indeed, “The Nun!”

WHAT?!?!?!?! Yes, “Bluebeard” stars Raquel Welch playing the world’s sexiest Nun!

Behold “Bluebeard”!

Time to introduce you to “Bluebeard”, a 1972 thriller starring Richard Burton, Raquel Welch, Joey Heatherton and Sybil Danning. It was filmed in Budapest, Hungary and directed by Edward Dmytryk.

Hello “Euro-Sleaze”!

“Bluebeard” is a perfect example of the 70′s genre of film known as “euro-sleaze”, cheap films filmed in eastern Europe full of nudity, sex and violence. That’s why the film is stocked with young starlets like Joey Heatherton!

Richard Burton was clearly slumming in this film, but euro-sleaze fans are all the better for it! Take a look at the movie’s poster!

Bluebeard

In case you need this information, here is the plot: A World War I pilot, who everyone envies as a “ladykiller” actually is one – because after he beds and marries a beautiful woman, he murders them – and keeps them in a freezer!

Here is the trailer:

The film is based on the classic story of “Bluebeard” by Charles Perrault – the story of a wealthy aristocrat (Burton) who has murdered several previous wives. And yes, he seduces the sexy Nun Raquel Welch and kills her too!

His latest spouse is sexy Joey Heatherton, who discovers her dead predecessors in a freezer and tries to avoid their fate!

Yep, Superstar Raquel Welch AND young starlet Joey Heatherton co-starred with Burton in this classic slice of sleaze! I guess they paid well!

Burton is onscreen with a multitude of beautiful women, such as Sybil Danning, and everyone had to show nudity or at least wear provocative outfits…

Hey! Where’s Raquel?

Before you rush out for this Raquel Welch starring role, know this: even though she was top billed second after Richard Burton, Raquel Welch only has 8-minutes of screen time in this two hour long film!

Why I Love Raquel Welch!

“Bluebeard” is just one reason to love Raquel Welch – if you want to see more of her classic roles – including her hilarious appearance on “Seinfeld”, check this out:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/09/13/raquel-raquel-60s-sex-symbol-and-c-c-c-catfight-seinfeld-star-raquel-welch/

This Movie Is NUTS!

The pleasures of “Bluebeard” go way beyond Raquel – the film is a virtual non-stop celebration of sleaze…remember, it’s the story of a celebrated German pilot who has “a way” with women – because he does “away” with them!

Among the trivia about the movie: The various Nazi uniforms in the film are inaccurate – the colors are wrong and even the swastika was turned into a strangely shaped cross.

This may have been for legal reasons, because in Germany the use of Nazi emblems is strictly regulated.

But apparently freezing beautiful women isn’t a problem!

And in case European audiences didn’t understand just HOW sleazy this film was, they made sure to put a crazed Burton staring at a naked woman on the poster as well! Enjoy!

“Django” PLEASE!

Time to celebrate the home video release of my favorite film of 2012 – “Django Unchained”! I have been a huge fan of Tarantino from the day I interviewed him at the Cannes Film Festival in 1992, when he was a first-time Director promoting “Reservoir Dogs!”

Twenty years later, he releases what just might be his best movie ever!

Paris Goes “Django!”

“Django Unchained” was Quentin’s biggest hit, and nominated for a host of awards, including Best Picture of 2012. Months after its release, “Django Unchained” is STILL playing in Paris..I came across the theater on the Champs Elysee…the French LOVE Quentin!

“Django, Mike and Killer Joe!”

There were many brilliant films in 2012 – but in the end, “Django Unchained” overtook “Killer Joe” and “Magic Mike” as the best film of the year – but what a great year for movies!

If you haven’t seen it, here is my write up of runner up best pic “Killer Joe”:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/08/10/the-brilliant-killer-joe-mcconaugheys-hat-trick-plus-friedkins-wang-chung/

And you can check out the third film on my list, “Magic Mike” here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/06/25/magic-mike-reviews-are-in-soderbergh-scores-again/

Back To “Django!”

“Django Unchained” is a brilliant take on spaghetti westerns, and Tarantino has never been better! Everything in the movie – from the acting, directing and music to the inventive use of the camera – screams spaghetti western – I mean, look at this classic “spaghetti western” version of the poster!

Bring “Django” Home!

While there hasn’t been a “special edition” or “Director’s Cut” announced yet, “Django Unchained” is out on blu-ray and DVD April 16.

Now that it’s out on home video, you can marvel at the brilliant film making, acting and dialogue – and be surprised by the intensity of the film’s approach to racism and slavery. The entire cast really stepped up to deliver a profane, funny, bloody – and important – look at the horror of slavery in our country…

And yes, on the picture above to the right is the “original” “Django”, Italian Actor Franco Nero, who played “Django” – albeit a much different character – in a series of spaghetti westerns in the 60′s! At this point in the movie, Jamie Foxx spells his name and says:

“The ‘D’ is silent”. To which Nero says softly, “I know.” What a great homage to this iconic Actor!

Of course, Hollywood has dealt with the issue of slavery before….but they were NOT contender’s for the best films of the year….no, they were of a different quality indeed:

The Worst, Most Vile Slavery Films Of The 70′s!

We’ll stick to my favorite decade for film – the 70′s, and start with this question: what’s the most offensive movie about race relations look like? Here’s a clue:

There is NO WAY to explain the offensive nature of this picture. Still, imagine all of that scene’s offensiveness now put onto a movie poster – with some added burning crosses – you know, to help sell it as ENTERTAINMENT!

What an offensive poster! And back to the previous picture, which shows a plantation owner using a slave as a foot rest – it just HAS to be a film that is racist, demeaning, offensive and just WRONG in every way! Welcome to the 70′s!

What in the DJANGO is going on here!?!?!?!

“Django Unchained” helped remind people about the real horror of slavery and racism – but in the 1970′s there were two movies that did the same thing – in the most offensive way possible!

The Klansman!

Let’s start with this doozy! Here is the movie’s tagline:

“Welcome to scenic Atoka County. Pop 10,000. Cross burnings. Rape. Murder. Arson. Its a great place to live…… if THEY let you.”

Well, with that upbeat beginning, check out this provocative movie trailer!

Listen to this plot- just the description is sordid and offensive! A small southern town has just been rocked by a tragedy: a young woman has been violently raped.

The white town fathers immediately declare that the attacker had to be black, and place the blame on Garth, a young black man. Assuming that the men in white sheets aren’t intent on holding a fair and impartial trial, Garth takes to the woods as the Klansmen lynching party hunts him down.

Talk about an offensive movie, and a waste of great talent – this film was directed by Terence Young, who helmed the first three CLASSIC James Bond films: “Dr. NO”, “From Russia With Love” and “Goldfinger”!

“The Klansman” wasn’t a low budget exploitation film – no, this was a major Hollywood studio release, starring two big name Actors – Oscar winner Lee Marvin and Richard Burton!

Talk About Your Oscar Curse!

This film was just a few years after Lee Marvin won the Best Actor Oscar for “Cat Ballou”, and Burton had wowed critics for his powerful performance in “Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Wolff?” They were popular stars who made the decision to take roles in THIS! Burton would NEVER get an Oscar – at one point holding the record for most times nominated without winning!

Introducing OJ!

Now I know what you are thinking: a movie about the KKK, with big name stars, and gratuitous sex and violence – it just can’t get any worse, can it? Well, it can: “The Klansman” was the movie debut of OJ Simpson!

Needless to say, this film marked career lows for all involved! I wonder what the mood on the set was, considering that both Burton and Marvin were notorious drinkers!

Well, according to IMDB: Shortly after filming had ended, Richard Burton was hospitalized at an American clinic to be treated for his alcoholism. He later claimed doctors told him he would have died within a matter of weeks if he had continued drinking so heavily.

Well, it looks like Lee had the same idea! Drink up, boys! Still, “The Klansman” might not even be the most offensive film ever made – in fact, another film from the same time gave it a run for its money!

“Expect The Savage!”

Yes, there WAS a film called “Mandingo!” And it was released by a major studio – this movie has a title just as offensive as the plot!

James Mason’s Career Low!

Classy British Actor James Mason stars as slave owner Warren Maxwell – who insists that his son, Hammond, who is busy bedding the slaves he buys, marry a white woman and father him a son.

While in New Orleans, he picks up a wife, Blanche, a “bed wench,” Ellen, and a Mandingo slave, Mede, whom he trains to be a bare-knuckle fighting champion. Angered that Hammond is spending too much time with his slaves, Blanche beds down Mede. Well, how many taboos can you break in a single film?!?!?!

No, Champ, No!

That’s right, World Boxing Champ Ken Norton made his movie debut in “Mandingo!” – as a slave who was “well-regarded” by the whites…

Susan George, who had just starred in Sam Peckinpah’s provocative “Straw Dogs”, starred as the promiscuous young wife – who broke every taboo with her love of a hot young slave…

Folks, this was inflammatory stuff for the 70′s! So while “Django Unchained” showcased the horrors of slavery – this film used it as a cheap way to exploit everyone involved!

Can It Get Worse!

Well, look at some of this dialogue and decide for yourself!!

Hammond Maxwell: Cousin Charles, What the hell you doing, kissin on the mouth?
[Charles throws Katie to bed, removes his belt, and whips her with it]
Hammond Maxwell: What you doin that fer?
Charles: Makes a man feel good. She likes it too. Don’t you pretty wench?
Katie: [Crying] Yes, master.

Edwin W. Edwards (Governor of Louisiana at the time) was cast as a gambler and several scenes were filmed but excised before release. Upon the advice of public relations staff, Edwards decided the potential damage to his public image when the salacious content of the film was revealed would be too great. Um, DUH!!!!

What Did They Put In Hollywood’s Coffee In The 70′s???

In my opinion, these are two of the worst film ever made – crass, cheap attempts to capitalize on provocative topics. But you know, there was a lot of craziness in the films of the 70′s – and now there is a book that celebrates that wacky cinematic decade!

The Stewardess Is Flying The Plane!: American Films of the 1970s – published in 2005
Ron Hogan (Author), Peter Bogdanovich (Contributor)

Let’s get started with these words from actress Karen Black, courtesy of the classic film “Airport ’75!

“It’s Nancy Pryor… stewardess. Something hit us! All the flight crew is dead or badly injured! There’s no one left to fly the plane! Help us! Oh my God, help us!”

This book is a fantastic love letter to the movies of the 70′s…ALL OF THEM – yes, “Mandingo” is in here right alongside “The Godfather”. It was, as you know, the decade for classic movies such as “Star Wars”…

And it was ALSO the decade for classics such as “Caged Heat!”

Read All About It!

Here is what Publishers Weekly had to say about this great book: With films such as “The Godfather”, “Star Wars”, “The Sting”, “Rocky”, “Apocalypse Now”, “Jaws” and “M*A*S*H”, the 1970s is now considered the second Golden Age of Hollywood. There is renewed interest in some of the decade’s most durable genres, including disaster films and blaxsploitation flicks, allowing viewers to rediscover early performances from major stars such as Jeff Bridges, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton.

“The Stewardess is Flying the Plane!” is a lavishly illustrated, fun and informative look at more than 400 films of the decade – not just classics like The Godfather or Taxi Driver, but cult favorites like “Kansas City Bomber” and even spectacular flops like “Lost Horizon”.

With an introduction by Peter Bogdanovich, hundreds of never- before-published photographs and new interviews with key participants in the ’70s film industry, “The Stewardess is Flying the Plane!” is the most comprehensive overview of this fascinating era of American film.

It was a decade of films as varied as “A Clockwork Orange” above to “Cleopatra Jones” below:

This book puts the decade into perspective with categories like “Thrillers”, “Hard Crime” and “Horror”…and includes stories about some of the biggest debacles of the 70′s like this disaster starring Raquel Welch!

Yes, it was a decade of Raquel Welch in “Myra Breckinridge” – you know, where she wanted to get a sex change because she was only, after all, RAQUEL WELCH!

Look Out!

It was also the decade that had Diane Keaton “Looking For Mr. Goodbar” – with Richard Gere’s help…

It was a decade of some of the best – and worst – movies of all time – a decade of social upheaval, women’s liberation, blaxploitation and so much more – and yes, “Mandingo!”

“Did you know that me and Alan Ladd were exactly the same height?”

Time now to share one of the 70′s great undiscovered films – an undiscovered masterpiece that uses a murder mystery to reveal greater truths about America…

Electra Glide In Blue!

This classic action film is the story of a young highway patrolman who finds himself caught between the past and the new, uneasy future that lies ahead…

Check out the trailer:

Robert Blake is dynamic as a short Arizona motorcycle cop who gets his wish and is promoted to Homicide following the mysterious murder of a hermit.

He is forced to confront his illusions about himself and those around him in order to solve the case…

“Incompetence is the worst form of corruption.”

The name of the movie stems from the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide motorcycle issued to traffic cops.

The movie was filmed in Monument Valley and Fountain Hills, Arizona, in the area around Shea Boulevard and the Beeline Highway (SR 87), which at the time, was undeveloped desert.

The film was entered into the 1973 Cannes Film Festival. Robert Blake was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance and the film garnered a great deal of critical acclaim upon its nationwide release, but wasn’t a hit – now, you can re-discover this classic film…

The “Chicago” Connection!

“Electra Glide In Blue” was produced and directed by James William Guercio – at the time, best known as the producer of rock band Chicago’s first eleven albums. that is why the soundtrack is populated with band members.

Because of Guercio, several members of the band Chicago appear in minor roles, including Peter Cetera, Terry Kath, Lee Loughnane and Walter Parazaider.

Bassist and lead vocalist for the group “Chicago”, Peter Cetera, plays a character named “Bob Zemko”. A real actor who plays a bit part is also in the cast. His actual name was Bob Zemko.

“Electra Glide In Blue” is more than a murder mystery – the film explores the rising tension between “the establishment” and America’s youth, who reject the old ways.

In the film, Blake has several run-ins with old-timers who don’t want him sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong…

John Wintergreen: “You listen to me, hatchet artist! You’re tampering with evidence and if you put your finger on one more thing in this room, I’m going to bust your ass! That’s right… the officer in charge is talking to you and he’s saying that you’re going to be arrested as an accessory, after the fact, in a murder case!”

Coroner: “Now you listen to me. I have had had a lot of patience with you. You want to be a policeman. You want to stay on the force. Well you just get the hell out of here and get on that motorcycle and start tagging automobiles… ’cause if I hear one more peep out of that goddamn yap of yours, I’m going to see that you get sent to Siberia!”

First time director James William Guercio wanted the great Conrad L. Hall to photograph this film, but it was not in the budget. Guercio reduced his own salary to one dollar so he could secure Hall as the cinematographer. Shots like this show why…

“Electra Glide In Blue” turned out to be the only film that Guercio ever made…which is a shame, as it is a tight thriller with a much larger message to share…

“Electra Glide In Blue” is a great action movie – well acted, a terrific plot, nicely directed, and dealing with more important social issues of the time as well…it is now available on DVD, so check it out!

As new sci-fi films pour out of Hollywood, time to check out a cult classic!

Blood: You know, Albert, sometimes you can be such a putz…

Vic: A putz? What’s a putz? It’s somethin’ bad, isn’t it? You better take that back or I’m gonna kick your fuzzy butt!

Blood: [sighs] Yep, definitely a putz.

Great dialogue made better by the fact that Blood is a talking dog!

Lucky for Blood, his partner in crime is a very young Don Johnson!

They wander a post apocalyptic earth until some VERY strange things happen – this is one crazy, offbeat and twisted mind meld of a movie!

“An ‘R’ Rated, Rather Kinky Tale Of Survival!”

That’s the tag line for “A Boy And His Dog”. If you haven’t heard of this mind-bending sci-fi cult classic, now is the time!

A Boy And His Dog

This obscure cult classic is now available on DVD, so check out the trailer!

This is a great great sci-fi movie, written by one of science fiction’s greatest writers -
“A Boy And His Dog” was based on a novella by famed sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison.

A boy communicates telepathically with his dog as they scavenge for food and sex, and they stumble into an underground society where the old society is preserved. The daughter of one of the leaders of the community seduces and lures him below, where the citizens have become unable to reproduce because of being underground so long.

The screenplay was started by Harlan Ellison, who wrote the novella on which it is based. Ellison encountered writer’s block, and so producer Alvy Moore and L.Q. Jones took over and wrote the script. Ellison praised the film after its premiere, to the relief of Moore.

Legendary character Actor Jason Robards plays the deranged leader of the underground cult…to say more would give away the many’s strange pleasures of this cult sci-fi movie!

Tim McIntire, who performed the voice of “Blood”, sang the main title song, “A Boy and His Dog.” Check out “Blood” and a very young Don Johnson – in this “kinky tale of survival!”

And of course, congrats to Don Johnson for his role in “Django Unchained”…to see more about this film, and the worst race movies of the 70′s, check this out!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/14/django-please-mandingo-klansmen-ojs-movie-debut-most-offensive-70s-movies-ever/

Feel like a bit of “ARTSPLOITATION”?

If you’ve never heard of French Director Jean Rollin, you have missed out on some very atmospheric, haunting, nudity and blood-filled – yet somewhat slow-moving – European art-film horror!

Meet Jean Rollin!

Jean Rollin was a French film director, actor, and novelist – best known for his films in the “fantastique” genre, as they say in France. He specialized in atmospheric horror of the 70′s – when relaxed censorship rules in cinema allowed Directors to push the envelope!

In 1968, Jean directed his first feature, his black-n-white film “The Rape of the Vampire”. It’s very European in nature – slow, atmospheric, moody – with limited locations, sets and very long takes.

“Rape Of The Vampire” was the first of a string of moody horror films that should fall under the label of “Artsploitation”, as they mixed lots of blood, sex, nudity and horror with an Independent, European Arthouse sensibility.

Oh, and did I mention that his films were filled with BLOOD!

Time To Discover Some Classic “Artsploitation”!

Thanks to the terrific “Redemption” series of releases – from the “Redemption Films” group – these movies are now available again – and gives each film a newly remastered look, plus tons of extras like documentaries, audio commentaries and trailers – a terrific job. Here are three of Jean Rollin’s most famous efforts!

Requiem For A Vampire

On the run from a reform school, two young women commit crimes dressed as clowns.

Yes, they commit crimes dressed as clowns. How can you argue with that? Here is the clown-filled trailer:

Of course, the two “fleeing female clowns” seek refuge in a haunted castle, and end up trapped with no escape!

Because, as happens too often, this haunted castle is ruled by a hoard of sexy, blood-crazed vampires and their leader, an evil immortal creature who is the last of his kind.

Seeking to reproduce his race, he preys on his innocent victims, however in order to achieve his goal of immortality, the women must remain virgins.

There was no dialogue in the first forty minutes of the films, to simplify the story, direction and cinematography. The mood is atmospheric, and the pacing, as in all Jean Rollin movies an acquired taste, but it is full of unique and at times haunting imagery.

But, for haunting imagery, perhaps nothing can top this:

Fascination

Considered by many to be the masterpiece of renowned French filmmaker Jean Rollin, “FASCINATION” follows a swaggering thief who hides out in a lavish chateau, holding the female occupants at gunpoint.

You can sense a trend here: Rollin’s films usually involve women who are kidnapped or held against their will – and who wreck revenge against their abductors – usually men. And they always end up in a deserted castle.

Women With A Thirst For Blood!

When night falls, the “Fascination” captor realizes that these two maids are not only deadlier than he imagined, but are gatekeepers to a ring of women with a thirst for blood.

Once again, the film is filled with hynotic imagery like this:

And what I think is his most dynamic image ever captured in one of his films – the blonde on the bridge with the sickle…

This action sequence, while fairly slow moving – it is, as you know, Jean Rollin – this sequence is beautifully done and hypnotic…

Here is part of the sequence:

You must go out and buy this blu-ray to see the entire sequence, the movie as a whole, and all of the terrific extras! Then, you have to see THIS:

The Living Dead Girl

Here is the simple plot: A toxic spill revives a beautiful, dead heiress who, with the help of her childhood friend, must quench her insatiable thirst for blood. Check out the trailer:

“The Living Dead Girl” is a melancholy, moody bloodfest – it is certainly Rollin’s bloodiest film…

But “The Living Dead Girl” is also a love story – the story of two close friends, and how one of them just can’t let the other go – NO MATTER WHAT:

This film is very interesting: it is moody, a bit slow, and very atmospheric – and there is a lot of blood!

And, like all of Jean Rollin’s film, it has lots of nudity as well, but most of it is of a non-sexual nature.

Here is our living dead girl, playing the song that reminds her of her best friend:

Of course, she played it nude. Their friendship in the film is very touching, adding a real sense of melancholy to the film – in and around all of the blood!

Director Jean Rollin died in 2010, but all of these releases have extensive material with him, as he actively participated in these great remasters. He introduces some of the films, takes part in commentaries, and discusses his work with passion and pride.

You can find a great printed interview with the legendary Director here:

http://www.shockingimages.com/rollin/interview.htm

Check out his work and let me know what you think!

Celebrating William Friedkin!

Time to hear from the Director who gave you this movie image – one of the most iconic of all time:

He directed “The Exorcist” – the scariest film of all time – and one of the greatest movies ever made…

He also won an Oscar for Best Director, and won Best Picture in 1971 for one of the greatest chase movies ever made “The French Connection”:

He directed Al Pacino in one of his most controversial roles ever – as an undercover cop who gets “too undercover” in “Cruising”:

And he directed one of the most neglected classics ever – the remake of “The Wages Of Fear” called “Sorcerer”:

And JUST announced by the Director on twitter: “SORCERER will be re-released this year with a new digital Print. The world premiere is on my birthday, Aug.29, At the Venice festival.” He also added that a blu-ray release is underway as well!

Everybody Wang Chung Tonight!

Friedkin also made the seminal LA chase movie -with a terrific soundtrack by Wang Chung!

What A Career!

There are many more films to discuss, and what better way to hear about them than from the great Director himself?

The Friedkin Connection!

The long-awaited memoir from the Academy Award–winning director of such legendary films as “The French Connection”, “The Exorcist”, and “To Live and Die in LA” is here! The autobiography is called, appropriately, “The Friedkin Connection” – and as amazon says, “it takes readers from the streets of Chicago to the suites of Hollywood and from the sixties to today, with autobiographical storytelling as fast-paced and intense as any of the auteur’s films.”

I am a huge fan of Friedkin’s work, from his breakthrough film “The Boys In The Band” to his latest, “Killer Joe”…and of course, his best picture of 1971:

Anecdotes! Anecdotes! Anecdotes!

He has an amazing career full of great anecdotes, and the book tells them all. The website FishbowlLA related this great anecdote from the book:

In 1966, when Friedkin was just getting started as a director on the TV side, he had the privilege of being asked to read the script for a planned feature film version of Director Blake Edwards’ earlier TV series “Peter Gunn.” But it’s what happened at a subsequent Monday morning breakfast meeting that really made the difference:

“So what do you think?” Edwards asked.
I chose my words carefully, but I had to say what I felt and accept the consequences. “Blake, I think the script is a piece of sh*t.”
He looked up in shock, his English muffin poised in midair. “What?” He set his muffin down and looked at me directly, not so much mad as confused. “What did you just say?” A bitter smile crossed his lips.

There were two other people at the time in the Paramount Studios bungalow, one of whom Friedkin had never been introduced to. That individual in the corner turned out to be the uncredited author of the Peter Gunn screenplay, William Peter Blatty.

Five years later, Friedkin was surprised to receive a copy of the book The Exorcist and a note from author Blatty to call once he had read it. When the two connected, Blatty explained: “I sent you the book because I remember our meeting outside Blake Edwards’ office about Peter Gunn, and how you had the balls to tell us what a piece of sh*t it was, even though it cost you a job; and I believe you’d never bullsh*t me.”

Even though Friedkin’s name was not next to those of Stanley Kubrick, Mike Nichols and Arthur Penn on the Warner Bros. wish list, Blatty had director approval and wanted Friedkin. The rest is history…

Without a doubt, “The Exorcist” was a cultural phenomenon when it was released in 1973: people were reported passing out in the theaters showing the film, or running our sick…it was a media frenzy, a pop culture sensation, and don’t forget – it was nominated for best picture as well – it is a masterpiece…

The Exorcist.

It is one of the greatest films ever made, and quite simply – the scariest, most shocking movie ever released…

Director William Friedkin made this two years after he won the Oscar for Best Picture for “The French Connection”…

“The Exorcist” was also nominated for Best Picture of 1973 – along with a slew of other nominations and accolades:

Regan MacNeil: “My bed was shaking. I can’t get to sleep.”

Talk about an understatement!

“The Exorcist” is the ultimate confrontation between a frail, elderly priest and an old demonic enemy – good versus evil in its purest form.

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.

“The Power Of Christ Compels You!”

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.

And cure even more iconic moments from the film:

Demon: “Your mother sucks cocks in Hell, Karras, you faithless slime!”

Oh yeah, and then there is the “head turn” sequence! 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 the possessed Regan (Linda Blair) hurls at Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller) 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!

“The Friedkin Connection!”

Make sure to check out “The Friedkin Connection” to read all of the stories from the great Director himself!

Finally, you can click below to read a story I previously posted all about Friedkin’s latest film “Killer Joe”, one of 2012′s best – and I did a quick look at his other classics, such as 1971′s Best Picture “The French Connection” as well as “To Live And Die In LA”!

Click here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/08/10/the-brilliant-killer-joe-mcconaugheys-hat-trick-plus-friedkins-wang-chung/

And check out the mesmerizing soundtrack to the film “To Live And Die In LA”, from Wang Chung!

Diane Keaton Like You’ve Never Seen Her Before!

You don’t see those words used much any more, but in the 1970′s, it was true – this WAS a Diane Keaton performance that broke all the rules – it was a nude Diane Keaton giving a mesmerizing performance as a woman on the prowl – saying things like THIS!

“Talk about amateur, played for a hooker by a square and ripped off as a sucker by a dick.”

Diane Keaton’s Brave Performance! Richard Gere’s First Major Role! Where Is It?

Yes, it’s a terrific Diane Keaton performance opposite a young, dynamic Richard Gere – with lots of sex and nudity – and tons of controversy as well!

And the most controversial part of this? Well, it’s nearly impossible to find this film on DVD OR blu-ray! What’s going on? First, let’s take a look at this controversial film!

Looking For Mr. Goodbar

This provocative film from 1977 was based on a best-selling book at the time…

This film was very controversial at the time…here’s the plot: Theresa is a successful teacher of deaf children during the day but after a short unhappy affair starts to spend her nights cruising bars.

Her craving – first for sex but later also for drugs – leads into increasingly demeaning and dangerous situations completely at odds with her daytime commitment to her children.

Talk About Adult Subject Matter!

Here’s the open of the film – inter cut with a few other moments to suggest a “trailer” for the film:

This was the era of disco, the time of women’s liberation, and a major relaxation in the subject matter that films would tackle – and “Looking For Mr. Goodbar” was an honest portrayal of a lonely woman seeking companionship – a female version of “Walk On The Wild Side” – subject matter that was very provocative for the time…

Keaton’s Most Dramatic Role!

At this point in her career, Keaton was well-know for her role as Kay, Michael Corleone’s wife in “The Godfather”. She had also starred in several Woody Allen films like “Sleeper” and “Love and Death”. This part, however, was the most adult performance she had given to date.

The events depicted in both the book and the movie were inspired by the events surrounding the brutal real-life 1973 murder of twenty-seven year old New York City schoolteacher Roseann Quinn.

This dark subject matter gave Keaton a chance to really ACT – and she delivers, thanks in part to the dynamic direction of Richard Rush.

When Teresa meets Tony in the bar, she is reading “The Godfather”, just as she does in the original novel. He comments that he has seen the movie. As I said, Keaton played the part of Kay in The Godfather.

And look at this adult dialogue!

Theresa: Most guys first time out they try to score, they expect it. And some of them get pretty nasty if they don’t get it. So by the 2nd time it’s either fuck or forget it.

The film was a box office hit, and garnered some awards consideration as well.

Co-star Tuesday Weld received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film, and William A. Fraker received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

Keaton’s Academy Award Time!

Diane Keaton was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama for her performance in the film. However, she was NOT nominated for an Academy Award for “Goodbar” – however, she starred in another movie that same year – with dramatically different results!

“Looking For Mr. Goodbar” was just one of two feature films that Keaton starred in that year. The other movie was “Annie Hall” – which took home the Oscar for Best Picture, and Keaton won the Best Actress Academy Award!

So Where Is It?

“Looking For Mr. Goodbar” was a hit, so why isn’t it available for home viewing? It was released once on VHS – those copies are tough to find – and if you look around you may find it on an obscure label on DVD – I found one for sale at $199…but no official DVD or Blu-Ray…that’s a shame, because it is an intense, brave movie with terrific performances by Keaton, Gere and Weld!

Let’s hope that changes soon!

“Grand is the name, and, uh – money is the game. Would you care to play?”

If you haven’t heard of “The Magic Christian”, you are missing out on one of the 60′s most acidic looks at the corrosive power of money – with LOTS of Beatles involved!

Ringo!

You may have heard the joke that Ringo is “the luckiest man in rock’n'roll” – but to many MANY more fans he is revered as a great artist and performer – there is ample proof of Ringo’s important role in the music of The Beatles – which I will get to in a moment!

Ringo is, of course, one of the Fab Four – the greatest musical group of all time…and, as his recorded work with The Beatles shows, he is a truly great rock drummer!

But let’s not forget that Ringo was also an Actor – a quite proficient one – yes, he starred in “Caveman”!

“Back When You Had To Beat It Before You Could Eat It!”

Yes, this is considered by many to be one of Ringo’s most hilarious performances – and of course there are many more as well – this picture shows that he will always be “lovable Ringo” to Beatles fans!

But in the late 60′s, Ringo would star with one of England’s greatest comic Actors – and a myriad of star cameos – in the film version of Author Terry Southern’s social satire masterpiece!

The Magic Christian

Here is one of the craziest farces ever made – thanks to the British, of course – and it starred Ringo Starr AND Peter Sellers!

The movie states it’s purpose in this opening statement, as a ten pound british note appears onscreen:

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is what is commonly known as money. It comes in all sizes, colours, and denominations – like people. We’ll be using quite a bit of it in the next two hours… luckily I have enough for ALL of us.”

Here is the movie’s trailer:

“The Magic Christian” tells the story of Britain’s richest man, Sir Guy Grand – played by Peter Sellers. Grand adopts homeless bum Youngman to be the heir to his obscene wealth – and Youngman is Ringo!

“Grand is the name, and, uh – money is the game. Would you care to play?”

The father-son team decide to prey upon people’s greed by use of the vast holdings of the Grand empire…and the movie is a series of sketches that show just how far people will go in pursuit of cash…

They leave no stone unturned as sporting events, restaurants, art galleries, and traditional pheasant hunts turn into lurid displays of bad manners and profiteering. Things climax at the social event of the season, the inaugural voyage of the new pleasure cruiser “The Magic Christian.”

Early Monty Python!

Two of the writers on the movie were John Cleese and Graham Chapman of Monty Python fame.

Sir Guy Grand: [on being told a Rembrandt might fetch £10,000 at auction] In that case my final offer is thirty.

Mr. Dougdale (John Cleese): [stunned] Thirty – thousand – pounds? Shit! I beg your pardon, I do beg your pardon.

Yes, John Cleese has a small role in the film as well – as the befuddled Auctioneer…just another hilarious sketch in a film full of them!

Hello Raquel!

Yes, my favorite sex symbol, Raquel Welch, also shows up in the movie with one of her most outrageous performances ever – as a Dominatrix!

As you can see from the movie poster below, the film had a very memorable cameo from Raquel Welch – one that was so outrageous they needed to add it to the film’s poster!

In one of the most dramatic moments in the movie, a group of passengers, fearing they are on a sinking ship, burst into the cruise ship’s “engine” room – only to find THIS!

Yes, Raquel Welch is shown “whipping” a group of topless women who are ROWING THE SHIP!

It is a hilarious bit that seems to have been as much fun to film as to watch – as you can see by this behind-the-scenes moment between Raquel and Ringo!

According to the great website IMDB, during the filming of scenes with the topless “slave” girls rowing the ship, the actors kept deliberately flubbing their lines just so they could watch the girls!

And Check Out Yul Brynner!

And yes, legendary Actor Yul Brynner shows up in the film as well – LOOKING LIKE THIS!

“The Magic Christian” is a crazy movie – hilarious and profane, full of big stars doing crazy things – all to poke fun at the way that money corrupts…and the movie has plenty of Beatle influence as well!

And Now The Fab Four Connections!

The role of Youngman Grand was originally offered to John Lennon, who was tempted to perform the role but eventually had to decline due to legal difficulties related to his October, 1968 arrest for possession of marijuana.

Macca’s “Badfinger” Soundtrack!

One of the most memorable aspects of the movie is the musical soundtrack. In fact, the theme song of the movie is by apple’s band “Badfinger” – performing a song that Paul McCartney wrote specifically for them!

Here they are performing the song:

Of course, on the Beatles Anthology, you get to hear Macca’s note by note rendition of the song – he recorded the song and then told the band to perform it exactly the same way he did – and they did!

Speaking of music: check out this story I previously posted to see how important Ringo was to the post-Beatles era! It’s full of facts about Ringo’s incredibly successful solo career in the 70′s:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/03/exclusive-the-lost-beatles-album-the-fab-fours-solo-songs-remixed/

And of course, here is my post about the “lost” Beatles documentary – here is a look at “Let It Be!”

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/06/let-it-be-the-beatles-lost-documentary-londons-live-beatles-rooftop-concert/

So much great Beatles stuff to share – and of course, lots of reason to celebrate the great Ringo Starr and his role in the Fab four!

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Let me introduce myself. My name is Rupert Pupkin. I was born in Clifton, New Jersey… which was not at that time a federal offense.”

Hello, Rupert!

If you don’t know that image, you have missed one of the greatest films ever made – a searing look at the pursuit of fame and the price that celebrities pay for stardom.

Behold The Kings Of Comedy!

What an amazing event! The Tribeca film festival held the 30th anniversary screening of “The King Of Comedy” – and then hosted a “once in a lifetime” discussion afterwards…more on that in a moment, but first:

The King Of Comedy

Without a doubt, one of the best films ever made – released in 1982, and the points that the film makes about the relationship between star and fan is never more true today…especially when you consider “how” Rupert Pupkin becomes a “star”…

Here is the trailer:

Rupert Pupkin: “The more scribbled the name, the bigger the fame.”

Robert DeNiro has never been better! DeNiro stars as aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin – who wants to achieve success in showbiz, by ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

Look at the opening title: Talk Show Host Jerry Langford’s hands up against the glare of the cameras – and Rupert Pupkin’s determined look inside the limo – where he yearns to be…

Pupkin idolizes late night King Jerry Langford, played brilliant by legendary comic actor Jerry Lewis…but of course, what Rupert sees as a budding friendship is little more than a fan stalking a star…and the moments when you see Rupert “hosting” his own talk show – in his basement with cardboard cutouts of stars – simply brilliant:

It comes to a head when Langford has to tell Pupkin to leave him alone, which leads to this exchange:

Rupert Pupkin: I’m gonna work 50 times harder, and I’m gonna be 50 times more famous than you.

Jerry Langford: Then you’re gonna have idiots like you plaguing your life!

Sandra Bernhard’s Debut!

Comedian Sandra Bernhard makes an incendiary debut as a young socialite who is friends with Pupkin – and who has her own designs on late night Host Langford…

“You Should Get Cancer! I Hope You Get Cancer!”

The film really digs into the cult of celebrity – and the price you pay for fame….

When Jerry Langford is walking down the street, he is stopped by a woman talking on the telephone. When Jerry refuses to talk to someone on the phone, the lady says I hope you get cancer. This incident actually happened to Jerry Lewis. According to Scorsese, Lewis directed this segment himself!

And of course, things spiral horribly out of control – as Rupert Pupkin decides there is really only ONE way to become a star – and the film really captures the cult of celebrity and the downside of fame…

Rupert Pupkin: Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime.

The King Of Comedy Reunion!

To acknowledge the 30th anniversay of this classic film, The Tribeca Film Festival held a screening, followed by a Q&A involving Scorsese, DeNiro and Lewis…

The reunion was a big big night for the Tribeca film festival – especially considering that “King Of Comedy” was a huge box office flop at its time of release – especially since “Raging Bull” had been the previous Scorsese/DeNiro collaboration – and was considered a masterpiece.

Now, “The King Of Comedy” has grown to become a true masterpiece as well…the only disappointment to the night was Bernhard’s inability to attend:

Bernhard did, however, send a video message to be played at the event…and if you want to hear how “tense” the relationship between Lewis and Bernhard is – here is a link to a great write up from Movieline that details it all…including a short clip from the event!

http://movieline.com/2013/04/30/the-king-of-comedy-tribeca-video-jerry-lewis-sandra-bernhard/

Congrats to the entire creative team behind this neglected masterpiece!

I’ll tell you, Lucas, if I had somewhere to run, I’d run. But I don’t, so I’ll stand.

In the mood for some classic western revenge? With a big Hollywood star?

“Tell him: Valdez is coming.”

When Burt Lancaster tells you something, HE MEANS IT. Lancaster was one of Hollywood’s great leading men – noted for his athletic physique, blue eyes and distinctive smile (which he called “The Grin”).

Lancaster was nominated four times for Academy Awards and won once — for “Elmer Gantry” in 1960. He also won a Golden Globe for that performance and BAFTA Awards for The Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) and Atlantic City (1980).

In the early 70′s, Lancaster jumped on a horse and starred in two great westerns..the first based on a classic Elmore Leonard book!

Elmore has written dozens of great novels, including his Hollywood spoof “Get Shorty!” But in this case, Leonard wrote a book filled with cowboys, indians, and a pissed off “Valdez!”

Valdez Is Coming!

Check out this classic newspaper ad:

And check out the trailer:

Here’s the plot: Burt Lancaster plays a Mexican-American sheriff – who must resort to violence against a powerful rancher in order to get just compensation for the pregnant Indian widow of a wrongly killed black man.

The town sheriff, Bob Valdez, is forced to kill someone accused by Frank Tanner of being a murderer. Valdez asks Tanner for monetary help for the man’s wife, but he is ridiculed and almost killed by Tanner’s henchmen. Veteran character Actress Susan Clark co-stars with Lancaster.

Susan Clark was a popular actress at the time, starring in a number of films like “Coogan’s Bluff” with Clint Eastwood and “Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here” with Robert Redford.

Of course, you don’t try to kill Burt Lancaster and get away with it. Valdez recovers and the revenge begins. Valdez wounds one of the henchmen and sends him back to Tanner with the message, “Valdez Is Coming!”

When MGM producer Ira Steiner took Elmore Leonard’s novel to Lancaster, the actor agreed to co-produce and co-star as Tanner with Marlon Brando starring as as Valdez!

After the picture was postponed to allow Lancaster to do “Airport,” the actor decided he wanted to play the title role – so check out this terrific revenge western!

And if one pissed off lawman isn’t enough for you, well I’ve got you covered with more Burt Lancaster!

Lawman!

A lawman from Bannock arrives in Sabbath to arrest all the cattlemen whose wild celebration the year before resulted in the accidental death of an old man.

Check out this classic movie trailer:

What a cast! Veteran character actors Robert Ryan and Lee J. Cobb, plus Robert Duvall in a role a year before “The Godfather.”

Bannock Marshal Jared Maddox: I’m a lawman. Do you know what a lawman is, Crowe? He’s a killer of men. That’s what the job calls for. There are new ways to put it, but it reads the same. That’s the difference between us, and it’s all the difference I need.

Sheree North co-starred with Lancaster in this one…including a number of love scenes that were more adult than westerns normally showed…

North was in a number of big movies at the time, including “The Shootist”, which was John Wayne’s final film!

In 1971, United Artists distributed this film on a double bill with “The Organization” starring Sidney Poitier – which Sheree North was also in!

A Cold Hole In The Ground!

Harvey Stenbaugh: Marc was a good man with a gun.

Sabbath Marshal Cotton Ryan: He was a big mouth who thought he was a good man with a gun. There’s a cold hole in the ground between the two.

Needless to say, Burt Lancaster’s “Lawman” is a cold-blooded killer – just as focused and determined for revenge as Valdez was…

But when he wasn’t tracking down guys and killing them, he was sleeping with his co-stars…no wonder Lancaster had such a sly grin!

Time To Remember The Funniest Man Of All Time!

Richard Pryor was a brilliant standup comic, actor and personality. He was also volatile – biographies of Pryor tell many of these stories – and he had a tragic personal life as well…but I want to focus on his amazing talent.

Pryor was as controversial and taboo-breaking as fellow comic George Carlin in the early 70′s – he spoke to a white audience about the black experience of the time. His body of work includes concert movies and albums like “Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin’” (1971), and “…Is It Something I Said?” (1975) – his comedy albums and standup concert movies are groundbreaking and hilarious – Pryor won an Emmy Award in 1973, and he also won five Grammy Awards (1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, and 1982).

More Pryor Accolades!

In 1974, he also won two American Academy of Humor awards and the Writers Guild of America Award. The first ever Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was presented to him in 1998. Pryor is listed at Number 1 on Comedy Central’s list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians.

There are many different aspects to his career: I want to focus on a couple of specific moments: Pryor breaking into film via the blaxploitation classic “The Mack”; his dramatic work in the cult movie “Blue Collar”; and a short snippet of his classic standup work – plus his most notorious SNL moment.

Let’s begin with his breakout role in what is considered one of the 70′s greatest “blaxploitation” films…

The Mack

Here is the trailer:

“Blaxploitation” is a somewhat overlooked style of film making from the early 70′s – an ethnic sub-culture of exploitation film, focused on the black community. Among the many examples are the classic films “Shaft”, “Cleopatra Jones” and “Sweet Sweetback’s Badass Song”.

Meet Blaxploitation Legend Max Julien.

Max Julien was a working Actor who wrote one of blaxploitation’s great female characters, “Cleopatra Jones” – a classic bit of genre movie making from 1973.

Julien also came up with “The Mack”, an iconic character – also from 1973 – that introduced Richard Pryor to movies…

The MACK! – 1973.

Julien plays Goldie, who returns from five years at the state pen and winds up king of the pimping game. Trouble comes in the form of two corrupt white cops and a crime lord who wants him to return to the small time. Pryor stole the film with his performance as a street-wise hustler with a sharp tongue.

According to Max Julien on the DVD commentary, Richard Pryor and producer Harvey Bernhard had a heated argument during filming. Later that night, Pryor was going to Bernhard’s hotel room to attack him with a sock filled with ball bearings until Julien calmed Pryor down.

The stories of Pryor’s violent behavior would only become more common in the future, as you will see…

After breaking out big via his acting on TV and film, his Saturday Night Live appearances, record releases and standup comedy, Pryor became one of the most popular performers of the 70′s…

Richard Pryor was in 3 different films on 1978: he starred in “The Wiz”, alongside Michael Jackson and Diana Ross…

He also starred in Neil Simon’s ensemble comedy “California Suite” – and he flexed his acting muscles in a gritty drama that showcased his dramatic ability…

Zeke Brown: Reasonable, Man, flick my Bic!

Blue Collar

Richard Pryor burns through the screen in this dramatic film directed by “Taxi Driver” Writer Paul Schrader. Pryor’s career was so hot at this time that he was the ONLY Actor on the poster, even though “Blue Collar” also starred Harvey Keitel and Yaphet Kotto…here is the trailer…

Pryor stars as Zeke Brown, a factory worker with an attitude, as you can tell by this dialogue. The movie was written and directed by Paul Schrader, who wrote the screenplay for “Taxi Driver”:

Clarence Hill, Union Steward: Y’know I can’t go to the Green Room with every little thing. I gotta wait for somethin’ big, or a buncha little things. Now we can’t let our power be dissipated by the, by the plant. . .

Zeke Brown: Plant my ass, man! That’s all you talk about, “the plant”! Everybody know what “the plant” is. “The plant” just short for plantation!

Three workers, Zeke, Jerry and Smokey, are working at a car plant and drinking their beers together. One night when they steal away from their wives to have some fun they get the idea to rob the local union’s bureau safe. First they think it is a flop, because they get only 600 dollars out of it, but then Zeke realizes that they also have gotten some ‘hot’ material. They decide to blackmail their union.

Schrader wrote incredible dialogue for Pryor, who showed he could deliver his lines without a hint of humor:

Zeke Brown: “And when I take over your muthafuckin’ job, know what I’m gonna do baby? Gonna get on my private jet and wing up to Palm Springs. Hang out with Eddie Knuckles, and hit a few golf balls with President Ford and Nixon and them muthafuckas.”

What A Volatile Shoot!

Here is some great trivia, courtesy of IMDB: the film “had one of the more tumultuous shoots that a director could experience, which nearly gave [writer/director Paul Schrader] a nervous breakdown and caused him to quit the film business [for a time] . . . The incident that nearly caused Schrader to have a mental breakdown was when [Richard Pryor] (likely in a drug-fueled rage) actually pulled a gun on him and told him there was no way he was ever going to do more than three takes for a scene!”.

It was a very tense shoot because the three lead actors, Richard Pryor, Yaphet Kotto and Harvey Keitel argued constantly. There were fights, verbal abuse, walk-offs and Mexican stand-offs. According to Paul Schrader, Pryor punched Keitel and hit Kotto with a chair during filming.

According to IMDB, Veteran character Actor George Memmoli filed a $1-million lawsuit against Richard Pryor, claiming that Pryor hit him with a chair during filming and fractured his skull.

Stories of Pryor’s volatile temper continued to appear, but he was also the most popular comedian in Hollywood.

The Voice Of A Generation…

Jerry Seinfeld called Pryor “The Picasso of our profession”; Bob Newhart has called Pryor “the seminal comedian of the last 50 years.” This legacy can be attributed, in part, to the unusual degree of intimacy Pryor brought to bear on his comedy. As Bill Cosby reportedly once said, “Richard Pryor drew the line between comedy and tragedy as thin as one could possibly paint it.”

Pryor hosted Saturday Night Live several times, doing incendiary monologues and controversial comedy sketches like this one…

Word Association!

One of the most amazing moments in Saturday Night Live history occurs when Richard Pryor sits down for a job interview with Chevy Chase…this is classic comedy:

Richard Pryor was the first comic to release a concert movie directly to movie theaters – something that has been done many times since – these recordings capture his mastery on stage… here is a bit of that classic standup – a master at work:

Be sure to look for his classic films, standup performances and TV appearances on blu-ray…they are worth savoring over and over!

“Put The Lime In The Coconut!”

If you’ve never heard of the song “Coconut”, you are missing out on one of the most unique top ten songs of the pop era…from an album that includes the mega hit “Without You” – AND the rock classic “Jump Into The Fire”…

Behold The Brilliant “Nilsson Schmilsson”!!

Lucky for us, there is now a terrific documentary that tells the story of the album, the song, and the mad musical genius behind it!

Hello Harry!

Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him?) (2010)

The story of Harry Nilsson has been beautifully told in this 2010 documentary – and it’s a fascinating story of a talented singer-songwriter who was ultimately unable to control his demons…and of course, his partner in crime – John Lennon!

The documentary explores the enigmatic life and music of Harry Nilsson in an attempt to answer the question, “Who is Harry Nilsson?” He burst forth with such classic songs as “One”, “Me and My Arrow” and as the singer on “Everybody’s Talkin’” – from the classic film “Midnight Cowboy”…here is a very young Harry Nilsson performing the song:

The film includes new and archive audio and film including great interviews with Robin Williams, Yoko Ono, Van Dyke Parks, Randy Newman, Ray Cooper, the Smothers Brothers, and Micky Dolenz.

“Who is Harry Nilsson?” uses promotional films, music videos, and home movies; segments from the unreleased documentary made during the recording of his “Nilsson Schmilsson” followup “Son of Schmilsson”; and excerpts from Nilsson’s rare TV appearances.

“A Little Touch Of Schmilsson In The Night”

The documentary also shows Nilsson’s neglected masterpiece “A Little Touch Of Schmilsson In The Night” – a gorgeously produced homage to the classic era of music – including a beautiful version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”…which was used int he Tom Hanks – Meg Ryan film “You’ve Got Mail…”

Harry Nilsson – Coconut

Perhaps the strangest hit song ever, “Coconut” was the third single from his 1971 album, Nilsson Schmilsson. It reached #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and it features three distinct characters (the narrator, the sister, and the doctor) all sung in different voices by Nilsson.

And here is a truly bizarre music video from 1971 to support the song:

John Lennon’s Lost Weekend!

Nilsson was a good friend of John Lennon’s – in fact, they drank their way through LA in the mid-70′s during Lennon’s infamous “Lost Weekend” – and Lennon produced Harry’s “Pussycats” album…

There is SO much more to this story – the documentary is a “must see” for music fans…he was a great singer-songwriter who died too soon…

To read ALL about John Lennon’s post Beatles music career, including his work with Nilsson, check out the terrific book about the Beatles solo work that I wrote about HERE:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/03/exclusive-the-lost-beatles-album-the-fab-fours-solo-songs-remixed/

Ready For Some “FORBIDDEN FLESH?”

It seems like a stupid question, but at one time, it was a major box office draw in the US!

There was an era when films that showed “wanton women” were big box office hits – oh, in the kind of theater you would never be caught dead in!

First, let’s show you the definition of “wanton women”:

Wanton (especially of a woman) – sexually immodest or promiscuous: her cheeks burned as she recalled how forward she had been, how wanton – a sexually immodest or promiscuous woman.

To behave in a sexually immodest or promiscuous way: women who have wantoned with suitors -

WHAT!?!?!?!

That’s right: They “Wantoned With Suitors!”

OK, time to go back to the wild and crazy days of the 60′s, when the sexual revolution helped usher in a whole new era of movie. In the late 60′s and early 70′s, shrewd theater owners saw that low-rent, sleazy melodramas that focused on WANTON WOMEN did very well with single guys…what a surprise!

It was an era of grindhouse theaters like these – on 42nd street in Times Square – “grindhouse” meant they churned out movie after movie without stopping – and these were films that showed how “wanton” women could be – it was all a male fantasy of course, but it worked, proving once again how stupid guys have always been – and an era in movies that made lots of money off of them!

The Dirty Girls! They Were Made For Love!

Any problem understanding what this film is all about? Of course not! The poster says it all – women who were ready to share their love with you – when this film was released, there were new “social freedoms” that were taking place across the country – the “sexual revolution” in all its forms made for good copy and great box office! It was a simple, exploitative, and pandering marketing pitch that paid off, as you will see…

Forbidden Flesh! Love-Stared And Eager To Learn!

Stop for a moment to savor the simplicity of it:

“Violence – Liquor – Sex. NEVER ENOUGH!”

Thanks to Something Weird Video for the description of the film – it was every young man’s fantasy – oh, and it still is! The grindhouse experts at Something Weird have spent years uncovering these classic sexploitation films, making them available to exploitation fans everywhere!

SW calls it a “slick, well-made, nasty little movie, ‘The Unsatisfied’ gives off a very different vibe and boasts a very different flavor than the typical U.S. teens-in-trouble film. When LEE HESSEL’s Cambist Films released a U.S. version of it in 1964, additional shot-in-New York skin scenes were cleverly added”.

That’s right, they took foreign films, re-titled them, added some additional skin shots and sold them to an unsuspecting public -I mean, it seems that guys are not that hard to figure out!’

“I’ll kill you for that, you witch!”

Here’s the story of how these movies came to be: the added filmed inserts would add extra nudity or sexual situations to the movie for the purpose of selling it to a grindhouse audience – including a surreal moment just five minutes into this film in which two topless gals in a dressing room exchange words (“I’ll kill you for that, you witch!”), then suddenly fight to the death with a pair of scissors as a third gal blandly looks on: “C’mon, break it up, the phone’s ringing!” As quickly as the fight started, it abruptly stops, and the third gal happily shows off the (then-new) topless bathing suit she’s wearing! Wow.

Check out all of the crazy grindhouse stuff Something Weird has for sale and download – and thanks to that team for keeping this crazy sexploitation stuff alive:

http://www.somethingweird.com/

Here are a couple of other stories about the sexploitation craze:

Cue Russ Meyer!

Of course, many consider him the master – check out the story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/03/16/sexploitation-classics-the-russ-meyer-edition/

The Queen Of “Artsploitation!”

And of course, click here to read about the amazing career of Christina Lindberg, the queen of “Artsploitation”…

http://johnrieber.com/2012/05/21/swedish-sex-kitten-christina-lindberg-the-original-queen-of-artsploitation/

Don’t knock this era of film making until you watch a few – it is a fascinating part of our movie history!

In the mood for a film that promises to be:

Narrator: Brutal! Savage! Beyond Perversion!

Or how about a movie that promises:

Narrator: Never before has the beauty of the sexual act been so crassly exploited!

Or one that offers “BIG JIM SLADE!”

Well, this is one of my favorite movies of all time, and one of the funniest as well – from the creative geniuses who would go on to give us the cult TV series “Police Squad!” and the “Naked Gun” movies! Yes, get ready for the offbeat, profane, hysterical comedy that is:

Kentucky Fried Movie – Directed by John Landis – 1977

How can you go wrong with a movie that begins LIKE THIS!

[first line in the film]
A Newscaster On Set, Looking At Audience: “The popcorn you are eating has been pissed in. Film at eleven.”

Here’s the trailer!

Talk about a comic debut! “Kentucky Fried Movie” roared into theaters in 1977, directed by John Landis, who went on to make “Animal House”, “Coming To America” and many more.

The film’s writers were the team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker, who would go on to write and direct” Airplane!”, “Top Secret!” and the Naked Gun movies!

Narrator: Never before has the beauty of the sexual act been so crassly exploited!

The film is full of movie parodies, like the ad above for “Catholic High School Girls In Trouble!” Or this one, for the disaster movie “That’s Armageddon!”

Yes, the parody stars George Lazenby, at the time seven years past his one-time-only stint as James Bond 007!

“Kentucky Fired Movie” is a series of loosely connected skits that spoof news programs, commercials, porno films, kung fu films, disaster films, blaxploitation films…anything and everything that the Zuckers thought was funny – and it is hilarious!

Here is a parody of ads about home deodorizers, as a group of women come for a visit:

[a woman is worried about the smell of her home as guests arrive]
1st guest: Fish for dinner last night?
2nd guest: Phewww… Harvey still smoking those cigars?
3rd guest: CHRIST! Did a cow shit in here?

Narrator: Brutal! Savage! Beyond Perversion!

It’s a non-stop collection of short films and parodies – each one funnier than the last…

Cleopatra Scwartz!

Yep, blaxploitation films of the time got skewered, with this great film about an undercover cop who teams up with a Rabbi!

And then there is THIS:

BIG JIM SLADE!

One of the funniest parodies is the “self help” record a guy buys to help him with his lovemaking – he gets his girlfriend to listen to the record “help” them…

Sex Record Voice: “One of the most frequent problems encountered during the sexual act is that of premature ejaculation.”
[the man realizes that this just happened to him]
Sex Record Voice: “Should premature ejaculation occur, the Joy of Sex album comes equipped with BIG JIM SLADE.”
[Big Jim Slade bursts through the door]

Sex Record Voice: “Big Jim, former tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, is outfitted with various whips, chains, and a sexual appetite that will knock your socks off!”
[Big Jim carries the woman away]
Sex Record Voice: “Big Jim has satisfied women throughout the world, and the capital of Nebraska is Lincoln!”

A FISTFUL OF YEN!

The centerpiece for the film is “A Fistful Of Yen”, the scene-for-scene parody of Bruce Lee’s classic movie “Enter The Dragon.”

“This is Butkus, Klahn’s bodyguard. He is tough and ruthless. This is Kwong, Klahn’s chauffeur. He is rough and toothless.”

This movie captures everything that made “Enter The Dragon” so entertaining, all while putting on the movie and spoofing kung fu movies!

“Kentucky Fried Movie” announced the arrival of a great new comedy team, and it is fast-paced and funny…The Zuckers ended up giving us the hilarious “Naked Gun” films!

Along with the three “Naked Gun” films, the Zuckers also gave us the twisted cult TV show “Police Squad!” – so you need to see where they got their start – “The Kentucky Fried Movie” is hilarious and worth worth finding!

In the mood for a great horror film? I mean, a BLOODY GOOD horror film?

And do you want to see that film directed by two women who pose like THIS?

Well, time to introduce you to a couple of twins with a twisted sense of humor – and who are making a mark on horror!

Meet The Bloody Directing Twins!

As the New York Times said: “Lots of siblings make movies. The brothers Coen (“No Country for Old Men”) are Oscar winners. Andy and Lana Wachowski (“Cloud Atlas”) are a prominent brother-sister team. But sister directors? And not just sisters, but identical twins?”

You Mean There Are Horror Directing TWINS?

The answer is: YES! Meet Jen and Sylvia Soska, the identical twins who wrote and directed the horror film “American Mary!”

Here is a great interview done with the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/movies/jen-and-sylvia-soskas-american-mary.html?_r=0

This great article is the next step forward for this horror-making-twin-directing-set-of-sisters!

The article, and a lot of press in the last week is for their new medical horror film, “American Mary!”

First, check out this terrific trailer:

American Mary!

The story follows medical student, Mary Mason, as she becomes increasingly broke and disenchanted with the surgical world she once admired. The allure of easy money sends Mary into the world of underground surgeries which ends up leaving more marks on her than her so called ‘freakish’ clientele.

OK everyone, do we smell a twisted, scapel-wielding horror film in the making here?

“American Mary” will be released on DVD and blu-ray in mid-June, so you can see the sisters in action!

Twisted Twins Productions!

And of course, the Soska sisters have a perfect name for their company – Twisted Twins Productions! The Soska twins are breaking barriers and diving headfirst into the bloody world of modern horror – here is some background on them, from their website, Twisted Twins Productions!

“The Soska sisters have always loved film. Since childhood, they were heavily involved in acting. Above all, they had a special place in their twisted little hearts for horror.”

“Dead Hooker In A Trunk” was their debut film. The twins wrote, directed, produced, starred in, and preformed the stunts for the film. They took lessons learned from Rodriguez’s book, “Rebel Without A Crew”, – the bible on making ultra low-budget movies.

If you want to read more about Robert Rodriquez’s book, click here to see my post that looks at his ability to make “$7,000 Cinema”:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/05/10/movie-taboos-shocking-seductions-mr-tibbs-raging-bulls-and-7000-cinema/

Now, let’s look at the Soska Sisters’ movie debut:

“Dead Hooker In A Trunk” has been available on home video for a few years, and “American Mary” is coming to dvd/blu-ray on June 18th – it’s a great chance to support a new vision of horror – from two sisters who are doing it their way – and not letting anything or anyone hold them back!

“Do I look like a sex murderer to you? Can you imagine me creeping around London, strangling all those women with ties? That’s ridiculous… For a start, I only own two.”

Alfred Hitchcock was a master of horror and suspense – he was, of course the Director of such horror masterpieces as “The Birds” and “Psycho!”

“Psycho” is, of course, best known for the most shocking and graphic murder ever captured on film up to that time – the infamous shower scene…notorious for depicting violence which had never been seen to that point in movies…although almost nothing is shown!

After a decade of diminishing box office success, Hitchcock came back with a vengeance when he made his most graphic film ever in the early 70′s – a vicious thriller that is worthy of a look!

After the iconic “Psycho” and the terrifying film “The Birds”, Hitchcock made a couple of films that didn’t connect with audiences, so in 1971 he decided to come back – with a vicious vengeance!

Frenzy

The plot is simple: London is terrorized by a vicious sex killer known as the “neck tie murderer”.

Following the brutal slaying of his ex-wife, down-on-his-luck Richard Blaney is suspected by the police of being the killer. He goes on the run, determined to prove his innocence.

“Frenzy” was the first Hitchcock film to feature nudity – remember, there was no real nudity in “Psycho”‘s shower scene – and several of the attack scenes in “Frenzy” were evocative of his “Psycho” period – he was a Director taking full advantage of the more relaxed film ratings of the time…

The film and its source book (“Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square”) were inspired by the real-life unsolved crimes of the serial killer known as “Jack the Stripper”.

Unlike the movie, the real killings (which terrified London in the early 1960s) mirrored elements of “Jack the Ripper”, in that the killer attacked prostitutes and that the killings mysteriously stopped at some point, with the killer never caught…

Legendary Alfred Hitchcock Cameo!

Alfred Hitchcock became well known for his cameo appearances in every movie he directed…for example, here he is in the crowd after the first body is discovered in ” Frenzy.”

Alfred Hitchcock originally planned to do his cameo as the body floating in the river. A dummy was even constructed to do the shot!

The plans were changed and a female body, a victim of the Necktie Murderer, was used instead. Hitchcock instead became one of the members of the crowd who are listening to the speaker on the river bank. The dummy of Hitchcock was used in the typically humorous trailer hosted by Hitchcock himself.

Here it is!

Nice job, Hitch! Of course, there are so many classic Hitchcock thrillers like “Strangers On A Train” and “Rear Window”…time to rediscover the master of suspense!

Remember this classic movie line?

“The web of destiny carries your blood and soul back to the genesis of my lifeform.”

Or about this one?

“Don’t worry. A naked girl is not going to get out of this complex.”

Well, don’t be so sure – there seem to be PLENTY of naked ladies running around in this classic 80′s cult sci-fi horror gem!

Time to celebrate one of the 80′s great cult films – the classic, zombie horror and monumentally NUDE sci-fi movie “Lifeforce!”

Director Tobe Hooper!

Director Tobe Hooper had burst onto the horror film scene a few years earlier with what many consider to be the most unsettling horror film ever made: “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”

A few years later, Hooper really scored with the smash box office hit, produced by Steven Spielberg, “Poltergeist”.

So, once he decided that the horror novel “The Space Vampires” would be his next movie, it seemed like a smash hit in the making…here is the film’s original trailer…

Check out the original trailer:

Here’s the plot of “Lifeforce”:

A space shuttle mission investigating Haley’s Comet brings back a malevolent race of space vampires who transform most of London’s population into zombies.

The only survivor of the expedition – along British authorities – attempt to capture a mysterious but beautiful alien woman who appears responsible for the mayhem. She is, as you will see, extremely naked for most of the film…

Here is a quote from the movie, something that is rarely said in the film:

Colonel Colin Caine: “Now she has clothes.”

Because, in fact, she NEVER HAS CLOTHES ON. This movie is amazingly naked!

“Lifeforce” was promoted and filmed under the title “The Space Vampires”, which was the title of Colin Wilson’s novel. Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus’ Cannon Films reportedly spend nearly $25 million in hopes of creating a full blown blockbuster. They felt that this title made it sound like a typical Cannon low budget exploitation film – which was a reputation they were trying to put behind them…

The title was changed from “Space Vampires” to “Lifeforce” – and a decision was made to pull back on Hooper’s amazing amount of nudity – so “Lifeforce” was released in the United States in an edited version…and you know what happened, of course – BOMBS AWAY!

“Lifeforce” didn’t even bring in half of its original budget. How could a movie with SO MUCH NUDITY flop so badly?

The film seemed to have it all: sci-fi action and effects, zombies AND naked women! And of course, dialogue like this:

Colonel Colin Caine: Tell me again how the girl overpowered you.

Dr. Bukovsky: She… was the most overwhelmingly feminine presence I have ever encountered. I was drawn to her on a level…

Colonel Colin Caine: Was it sexual?

Dr. Bukovsky: Yes. Overwhelmingly so, and horrible. Loss of control.”

Loss Of Control, Indeed…

The film wasn’t particularly well-reviewed, but with the filmmaker attached, the sci-fi elements and the nudity, it seemed to have big box office written all over it…now is your chance to re-discover this classic cult movie, as “Lifeforce” is being released on blu-ray with a ton of extras…

Theatrical and International Versions (the Blu-ray features both cuts, the DVD only includes the international)
New Audio Commentary with Director Tobe Hooper
New Cast & Crew Retrospective with Railsback, Hooper and others
Original “Making-Of Lifeforce” Vintage Featurette
Original Theatrical Trailer
Original TV Spot
Stills Gallery
Reversible Cover with Original Theatrical Key Art

I can’t wait to check this one out! It’s a cult classic from the 80′s that is begging for reconsideration. Let me know what you think!

Scoring With Al!

Ever just want to hang out with Al Pacino? You know, with him and some of his junkie friends? Well, there is a movie where you can do just that….a time when he was just an upcoming young Actor…

We all know Al Pacino – thanks in part to such memorable roles as the ruthless drug dealer Tony Montana from “Scarface”!

Say Hello To My Little Friend!

Of course, “Scarface” is one of the greatest drug-fueled action films ever made, full of great lines like “say hello to my little friend!”

Time To Check Out Early Al!

Al Pacino’s career has had many ups and downs, but in the early 70′s, Pacino gave two memorable performances in two neglected classics. Pacino’s first few films were some of his most powerful, and these two movies I’m about to discuss bookended his incredible performance as Michael Corleone in the 1972 masterpiece “The Godfather”…

Right before he became Michael Corleone, Pacino garnered critical acclaim for his performance as a junkie in New York City…

The Panic In Needle Park

“The Panic in Needle Park” is a 1971 film directed by Jerry Schatzberg, starring Al Pacino in only his second film appearance. Check out the trailer for this gritty classic:

New York’s “Needle Park!”

The film portrays life among a group of heroin addicts who hang out in “Needle Park” – the nicknames of Verdi Square and Sherman Square on New York City’s Upper West Side near 72nd Street and Broadway.

As you can see from the poster, they don’t beat around the bush as to how rough this movie is…this is gritty film making from the early 70′s, depicting a harsh environment in the big apple…

The film is a love story between Pacino, a young addict and small-time hustler, and Kitty Winn, a restless woman who finds Al charismatic. She becomes an addict, and life goes downhill for them both as their addictions worsen, eventually leading to a series of betrayals.

To set the atmosphere, no music was used in the film, much of which features cinéma vérité-style footage. It is believed to be the first mainstream film to feature actual drug injection.

Francis Ford Coppola showed a screening of this film to Paramount executives in order to convince them that Al Pacino was suitable for the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather.

After “Needle Park”, Pacino did of course get the role of Michael Corleone, and then he followed it up with this masterpiece:

“A crow isn’t afraid of a scarecrow. It laughs.”

Scarecrow

Pacino re-teamed with “Needle Park” Director Jerry Schatzberg for the brilliant “Scarecrow”, also starring Gene Hackman.

Talk about an acting master class! Gene Hackman was just a year past his Oscar-Winning Best Actor role in “The French Connection” Here he plays Max, an ex-con who’s been saving money to open a car wash in Pittsburgh.

Max: For every car, there is dirt.

Max is hitch-hiking across country, and on the way he meets Al Pacino…

Pacino is Lionel, a sailor who’s returning home to the midwest to see the child born while he was at sea. Of course, they meet while hitch-hiking and decide to travel together.

They form an unlikely pair as the brawling Max learns a little how Lionel copes with the world: Lionel believes that the scarecrow doesn’t scare birds, but instead amuses them – birds find scarecrows funny. So Lionel believes that everything will be OK if you can just make people laugh…Hackman knows better…

Gene Hackman is brilliant as a tough, tough TOUGH ex-con who has a plan, and NOTHING is going to get in his way…he also has a few hilarious quirks, such as what he likes to eat:

Max: [at the lunch counter] “Gimme a chocolate doughnut and a bottle of beer.”

This is a real “road” movie. Before shooting, Gene Hackman and Al Pacino both dressed as hobos and hitchhiked through California to get into their characters.

Gene Hackman has stated that his performance in Scarecrow is his personal favorite. For Pacino, this film followed “Needle Park” and “The Godfather”, and led right into “The Godfather Part 2″…what a run of masterful acting performances!

Both of these films are dark, bleak, and present a gritty look at life in America in the early 70′s – but they are brilliant – “Scarecrow” won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival…and both films are worth checking out!

And the best part: I found this picture online…what a triple bill! I can’t imagine what sci-fi fans of “Death Race 200″ – or romance fans of “Aloha Bobby and Rose” thought when “Scarecrow” came on!

Meet The Beatles!

They are greatest musical Artists of all time…you fell in love with them in the early 60′s when Beatlemania swept the world…

And of course, they created some of the greatest music ever…someone told me the other day that they can’t think of a SINGLE bad Beatles song – including “Octopuses’ Garden!”

The Beatles are….well, THE BEATLES. What else can be said?

Well, how about this: they also made movies, of course: the classic films “A Hard Day’s Night”, “Help”, the animated “Yellow Submarine”, and the legendary documentary “Let It Be”…you can read about that film HERE:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/06/let-it-be-the-beatles-lost-documentary-londons-live-beatles-rooftop-concert/

But Even The Beatles Can Have An “Ooops” Moment!

They were musical geniuses – their music has stood the test of time – but after they broke up, they may have taken their eye off the ball a bit – or didn’t realize that someone had the right to take their music and license it for other purposes…

And so, along with the incredible music – and iconic films, The Beatles also made TWO major mistakes – allowing their music to be used for THESE:

WAIT – HIGH STEPPIN’ BEE GEES?!???????

Yes, this picture is real: The Bee Gees, along with PETER FRAMPTON, are wearing Sgt. Peppers outfits and high stepping down smalltown, USA. You can’t make this stuff up, folks…Prepare yourself for a cinematic trip through two of the worst film ideas EVER – and they took the Beatles iconic music down with them! First, let’s take a trip back in time – to a simpler era of sunshine, rainbows…AND NAZIS!

All This and World War 2.

The Beatles! Great music, right? Makes you think immediately of World War 2, doesn’t it? NO? Well, in 1976 some geniuses decided to take the Mop Tops greatest hits and, you know, cover it with documentary footage of World War 2! Bad idea? Beyond!

Check out the trailer and be prepared to be stunned!

Who came up with the idea of taking documentary footage of the worst world war EVER and mixing with some of the worst cover songs EVER?!?!?!?! Check out the track list from the soundtrack album – read closely…

Leo Sayer doing “I Am The Walrus”…I will wait a moment so you can absorb that…and be prepared for Helen Reddy – yes, HELEN REDDY! – to sing “Fool On The Hill” while Hitler relaxes at Bertchtesgaden! Finally, Rod Stewart belts out his raspy version of “Get Back” while Nazi troops goose step. Yes, it really is as bad as it sounds!

This according to Wikipedia: Critics savaged the movie with gusto, audiences stayed away, and Fox promptly yanked the film from release. The reviewer in the New York Daily News wrote that the film’s PG rating had to have stood for “Positively Ghastly”. It appeared out of competition at Cannes in 1977, has occasionally been shown at film festivals, and even on American cable TV. On June 1, 2007 the film played a single midnight show at Landmark’s Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles.

Take A Deep Breath Before Pressing On…

Take a look at our boys for one more second to steel yourself for what lies ahead…

There is bad, and then there is BAD. This is BAAAAAAADDDDDDDD………

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Yes, as if “All This and World War 2″ didn’t defile the Beatles quite enough, Producer Robert Stigwood dug the knife in deeper with this amazingly misguided attempt to bring the Sgt. Pepper Band to life, courtesy of the Bee Gees, Peter Frampton -

AND GEORGE BURNS!

Check out the trailer!

Take a moment to absorb this: a film was made using rock’s greatest album of all time. And the decision was made to turn it into a musical comedy starring Peter Frampton, The Bee Gees and George Burns…

But That’s Not All!

Yes, they also managed to book Steve Martin, Alice Cooper and Earth,Wind & Fire! It was a mid-70′s greatest hits team that must also share the blame for agreeing to star in this 1978 disaster! And yes, here is MORE high stepping!

Needless to say, this movie was one of the biggest bombs EVER – and as for reviews – well, Newsweek’s David Ansen called Sgt. Pepper “a film with a dangerous resemblance to wallpaper.”

“And In The End…”

For the finale of the film, it was decided that they’d assemble an enormous roster of celebrities to sing the reprise of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Formal invitations were engraved and sent to virtually everyone in the entertainment industry; the many who RSVP’d were treated to first-class transportation to Los Angeles, limos, luxurious hotels, champagne, a lavishly catered dinner and private tents for each of the stars in the studio’s garden room.

What more can be said? Let me know if you’ve seen either one of these films – and most importantly, put “Abbey Road” on right now to remember The Beatles as they should be remembered!

RIP Jim Kelly!

Sad news to share: legendary Kung Fu Artist, Athlete and Blaxploitation movie star Jim Kelly has died…

Jim Kelly co-starred with Bruce Lee in “Enter The Dragon”, and parlayed that into a series of action films such as “Black Belt Jones”…

As an actor, Kelly was best known for co-starring alongside Bruce Lee in “Enter the Dragon”. Kelly’s role as Williams, an inner-city karate instructor who is harassed by white police officers, made a good impression upon directors and African-American males with his cool-cat demeanor and formidable physical skills.

More movie roles followed in the 70′s as the blaxploitation film craze made waves around the world.

Here is his entrance in the classic blaxploitation film “Black Belt Jones” – Over these opening credits, he takes care of a dozen bad guys, and does it with style….

He earned a three-film contract with Warner Brothers and made “Three the Hard Way” with Jim Brown and Fred Williamson, a film that broke out of the blaxploitaiton mold of “bad ass” lead characters, and instead focused on three black lead characters who were action heroes….

After his contract ended with Warner Brothers, he starred in low-budget films “Black Samurai”, “Death Dimension”, and “Tattoo Connection.”

Jim Kelly, Tennis Star!

After his acting career ended, he became a professional tennis player on the USTA Senior Men’s Circuit.

In 2004, he appeared with NBA star LeBron James in the Nike commercial “Chamber of Fear”, a spoof of the Bruce Lee film “Game of Death.”

Kelly resided in Southern California and worked as a professional tennis coach. He was still a popular draw at conventions such as the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con International.

Until his passing, he considered Bruce Lee as “the greatest martial artist, that ever lived”. Here is the trailer for the classic film “Enter The Dragon”, starring Bruce Lee, John Saxon and Jim Kelly!

Jim Kelly died on June 29, 2013…RIP Jim! He will be remembered for a number of great action performances, but none greater than his work with Bruce Lee….

Check out the classic action movie “Enter The Dragon” to see Jim Kelly and Bruce Lee in action.

Bruce Lee Magic!

For more on the incredible physical ability of Bruce Lee, check out this CRAZY nunchuck ping pong match by clicking HERE!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/03/bruce-lee-amazing-nunchuck-ping-pong-legendary-martial-arts-battles/

And to discover the explosive mixture of incredible fashions, hairstyles, comedy, sex, action and music that defined “blaxploitation” films – click HERE!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/04/25/the-mack-sweet-sweetback-blacula-blaxploitation-lives/