Happy 30th Birthday, Withnail!

It’s the 30th anniversary today of one of the best films ever – the classic cult 1987 comedy “Withnail & I”. Need to remember just how great it is? Let’s begin with the trailer:

Withnail: “I think we’ve been in here too long. I feel unusual.”

Looking for the greatest English comedy of all time? And a “tell all” book by the film’s star? Well, you’ve come to the right place! It makes me think:

“We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!”

Yes, time to get the film fan in your family a combo pack of Richard E. Grant! This terrific British Actor was not only in one of the funniest films ever – “Withnail & I” – but he was just in “Logan” and also wrote a hilarious insider’s look at the crazy world of Hollywood – “With Nails!”

Let’s begin with one of the best British films of all time – a bold statement, but it is, to me, one of the most perfectly realized comedies ever, and it has just turned 30 years old:

Withnail & I

Here’s the plot: we begin in London 1969 – two unemployed actors, Withnail and Marwood, are freezing in their unheated flat – and they are flat broke. They need a plan, and fast. Here is their discussion about calling to ask someone for money…

Marwood: What about whatshisname?
Withnail: What about him?
Marwood: Why don’t you give him a call?
Withnail: What for?
Marwood: Ask him about his house.
Withnail: You want me to call whatshisname and ask him about his house?
Marwood: Why not?
Withnail: All right. What’s his number?
Marwood: I’ve no idea. I’ve never met him.
Withnail: Well neither have I. What the fuck are you talking about?

And Don’t Forget “Danny!”

One of the funniest supporting characters in the film is “Drug Dealer Danny”, he of the super-sized spiffs and lazy drawl – who just can’t get along with Withnail…oh, and he is CRAZY…

Danny: I don’t advise a haircut, man. All hairdressers are in the employment of the government. Hairs are your aerials. They pick up signals from the cosmos, and transmit them directly into the brain. This is the reason bald-headed men are uptight.

Withnail: What absolute twaddle.

The movie is filled with great scenes – as I said at the beginning, the roommates are freezing in their ice-cold flat…with only one thing to warm them…

Withnail: I must have some booze. I demand to have some booze!

The scene where Withnail guzzles lighter fluid to stay warm is a highlight….Withnail has also greased his body up with muscle relaxant to get warm…

Withnail: [after having entirely covered himself in muscle embrocation] Have you been at the controls?
Marwood: What are you talking about?
Withnail: The thermostats. What have you done to them?
Marwood: I haven’t touched them.
Withnail: Then why has my head gone numb?

After a near brawl in a bar, they realize they need to get out of town…

They decide on a holiday in the countryside, courtesy of Withnail’s uncle Monty’s country cottage. But when they get there, it rains non-stop, there’s no food, and their basic survival skills turn out to be somewhat limited.

Matters are not helped by the arrival of Uncle Monty, who shows an uncomfortably keen interest in Marwood…

Uncle Monty: “I adore you. Tell him if you must, I no longer care. I mean to have you even if it must be burglary!”

Sadly, Richard Griffiths just died of complication following heart surgery. He was 65, and although most will remember him for his roles in the “Harry Potter” films, it was his Uncle Monty that I will always remember him for…

There is a book that celebrates this film – filled with:

“Everything You Ever Wanted To Know But Were Too Drunk To Ask”

Here’s one for you: the inspiration behind the name Withnail came from an old friend of the Director’s father, who had the same name and was an alcoholic! When Director Bruce Robinson was eight, he was in the car with him, and as the book states:

“Along the way, Withnail stopped, opened the door of his car and vomited profusely before casually driving off again!”

So there you go!

This movie is hilarious, and a perfect snapshot of life at the end of the 60’s – when hip, mod London turned into the cold, harsh reality of life as a struggling Actor.

This is a tour de force performance by Richard Grant, who exudes manic, crazy charm at every turn, such as when he storms into a fancy restaurant and demands, well…

Withnail: “We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!”

Richard E. Grant proved to be a hilarious and honest writer as well!

With Nails – The Film Diaries Of Richard E. Grant

If you want to read all about the craziness that goes on when you make a movie – the egos, the out of control Stars, the drugs, booze and everythign else – then this candid and hilarious book is for you!

Here is the original review from BOOKLIST:

Film fans alert to the immense charm of the under-known British film Withnail & I will certainly enjoy the droll autobiography of the actor who played Withnail. Of the film’s script, Grant says “never before or since have I read something that conveys what goes on in my head so accurately.”

The image of the brusque, hilariously overbearing Withnail fits Grant, who has also appeared in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”, “The Age of Innocence”, and the Robert Altman films “The Player” and “Pret-a-Porter”.

He writes of his passage through the world of the aspiring film stardom wonderfully well, producing a book far superior to the usual movie life story. “Oh up and down and forklifts, this is a dull madness,” he says of the process of landing a role, but his book wittily presenting the madness is never dull.

Let me tell you, his stories about Bruce Willis and the making of “Hudson Hawk” are hilarious – it is “no holds barred” storytelling about the crazy world of movies…check both of these out now, and remember:

“We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!”

Happy 30th anniversary to a great great film!

The Beatles Get Their “Hippie” On!

Fifty years ago, on April 12, 1967 – Paul McCartney was photographed on a journey back from the world of hippies, which would lead to one of the band’s great albums!

This is Paul in the US fifty years ago, and thanks to a terrific book, we know how this date in Beatles’ history led to “Magical Mystery Tour!”

The book is titled “The Beatles 365 Days” by Simon Wells – I was given it as a gift, and it has been a terrific book to dip into at any time…

It takes a day by day look at their lives, their recordings, their every move – tied to a specific day. Here is what happened on April 12, 1967 – 50 years ago!

Paul arrived at London’s Heathrow airport, after spending eight days in the US. The book points out that he was in Denver to see his girlfriend, Jane Asher, who was celebrating her 21st birthday in Denver, since she was performing on stage there.

Paul McCartney, a member of the famous Beatle singing group, has a few words with Miss Jane Asher at a party in Denver honoring Miss Asher?s birthday on April 6, 1967 in Denver. Miss Asher is in Denver, Colo., with the Bristol Old Vic?s theater group. McCartney arrived in time to help her celebrate her 21st birthday. (AP Photo)

However, Paul was always thinking music, so he was also doing this on his US trip, according to the book:

“Paul would take off in various directions along the West Coast, visiting Jefferson Airplane in Haight Ashbury and recording with the Beach Boys during sessions for their controversial album “Smile.”

Here’s a shot of Paul and Brian from almost a decade later, when Paul celebrated the Beach Boys’ birthday:

According to the book, this trip in 1967 sparked something in Paul:

“It was during this brief sojourn into the hinterlands of California hippiedom that Paul, feeding off the residual energy left by Ken Kesey’s band of psychic trailers, would form ideas that would later see light in the group’s project “Magical Mystery Tour.”

At this time, San Francisco was engulfed in “flower power”, the “free love” era that included the iconic intersection of Haight and Asbury:

It was a fascinating time, but it didn’t last long – see more about this era here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/02/25/hippies-free-love-flower-power-celebrate-the-groovy-psychedelic-60s/

I love that Paul was a supporter of the “hippie” movement. I guess you could see it in some of his apparel – very of the “moment”:

Paul is quoted as saying at the time:

“I really wish the people that look at the ‘weeds’ at the ‘happenings’, at the psychedelic ‘freak-outs’ would, instead of just looking with anger, just look with nothing; with no feeling, be unbiased about it.”

As always, Paul was open to everyone and everything.

Of course, Paul went on to lead his band on a merry journey of their own, which resulted in an album AND a TV special:

Here is the official Apple trailer for the “Magical Mystery Tour” film:

While it includes two songs recorded during the “Sgt. Pepper” sessions (“All You Need Is Love” and “Baby You’re A Rich Man”), it is a terrific snapshot of the sound of the band at that time…with instant classics like the title track, “I Am The Walrus” and “Fool On The Hill”…

So that was a look at April 12, 1967 – fifty years ago in the life of The Beatles. A couple of years ago I got to celebrate another 50th anniversary event:

Yes, the 50th anniversary of the band performing at The Hollywood Bowl! It was a “unique” night of music, as evidenced by Billy Ray Cyrus leading the capacity crowd through a singalong version of “Hey Jude”:

You can click here to see more clips from that night and my review of the show as well – a surprising paucity of legendary Artists taking part considering the magnitude of the event:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/24/the-beatles-at-the-hollywood-bowl-amazing-50th-anniversary-celebration/

The band also celebrated another 50th anniversary milestone last year:

Here is a look at the album that some consider to be their greatest achievement, and is still timeless 50 years on…

https://johnrieber.com/2016/08/06/the-beatles-revolutionary-revolver-50-years-ago-maccas-greatest-writing-john-lennons-near-death-yellow-submarine/

Of course, this is the year for the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Peppers, can’t wait for the special edition that is coming out to celebrate it!

“She Loved Men…To Death.”

If you haven’t heard of this new film, you are missing a classic modernization of 70’s cult horror…time to celebrate this terrific new “Love Witch!”

Meet Elaine, a beautiful young witch, who is determined to find a man to love her. Watch the trailer to really see what kind of retro cult gem this is:

Elaine stays in her gothic Victorian apartment making spells and potions, and then picks up men and seduces them. However her spells work too well, and she ends up with a string of hapless victims. When she finally meets the man of her dreams, her desperation to be loved will drive her to the brink of insanity and murder.

Director Anna Biller also wrote the film, designed the sets and made many of the costumes – with a sharp eye toward classic 70’s exploitation!

The film is a modern twist on classic serial killer films, with a woman’s sexuality being the catalyst for carnage.

“The Love Witch” is one of the last films to cut an original camera negative on 35mm film, and was lit and shot to look like a 1960’s Technicolor film. So a modern take on a classic film genre – bravo!

“The Love Witch” is now on demand, so check it out! This poster and visual style reminded me of another cult classic:

Yes, iconic exploitation Actress Soledad Miranda was stunning in “She Killed In Ecstasy” – exactly the kind of “artsploitation” that “Love Witch” evokes. See more here:

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

Speaking of witches:

Yes, “witches” have always been big box office, especially when naked! See more of that malarkey here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/10/17/bloody-witchcraft-horror-sexy-virgin-witches-halloween-2015-heats-up/

And finally, here’s another “empowered female” horror story for you:

Yes, it’s “The Lure” of zombie mermaid strippers – and it’s a musical! See the trailer and much more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/03/03/the-empowered-female-lure-of-flesh-eating-stripper-mermaids-get-ready-for-the-wild-musical-yes-musical-movie-the-lure/

Let me know if you’ve checked out “The Love Witch!”

Talk About A Shocking Movie Debut!

Here is one of the most disturbing movie debuts ever: the shocking exploitation revenge classic “Ms. 45!”

“Ms. 45”, also known as “Angel of Vengeance”, is the 1981 cult classic directed by Abel Ferrara and starring Zoë Tamerlis Lund.

This film was Lund’s movie debut – an amazing performance from an Actress who died much too soon…here is the story:

Zoe Lund is mesmerizing as a young woman who decides to fight back against her attackers, in a style and tone that echoes some of the roughest 70’s revenge films made.

Here is how wikipedia describes the film:

Inspired by films such as 1973’s “Thriller – A Cruel Picture” and 1974’s “Death Wish”, the film is a rape and revenge story about Thana, a mute woman who becomes a misandristic spree killer after she is raped twice in one day when going home from work. It was critically maligned on its theatrical release, but is now generally highly regarded among fans of underground and independent film.

Here is the trailer for this powerful exploitation film:

“Ms. 45” was Lund’s acting debut. Amazingly, Zoë was only 17 years old when she starred in the film, and a creative turn away from something she had been involved in all her life: music.

At a young age, she was an accomplished composer/musician – but was always intrigued by film. As she said:

“I could write a concerto with 17 violins that could be very powerful, but film works on a more visceral level where I can go into the collective audience and make sure my point gets across.”

This is a powerful, raw and gut-wrenching film – directed by Abel Ferrara, who went on to make such provocative films as “Bad Lieutenant” with Harvey Keitel – with tremendous creative input from Lund! More on that in a moment…

“Ms. 45” is a tour de force for Zoe Lund, and she said at the time that she was fully involved in the character’s development:

“In the beginning stages of the film, the only material that existed was vague descriptions of several scenes. Being that my face is on camera, without dialogue, for something like 98% of the time, I was involved very much. As to the film being pro-woman, I go beyond that by saying that the film is as much pro-woman as it is pro-garment worker, whatever.”

Zoe’s “Bad” Behavior!

As I mentioned before, Director Ferrara later made “Bad Lieutenant”, and Zoë Lund collaborated with him on creating that character, one of cinema’s most unforgettable cops – living life on the edge.

Here is the trailer for this film:

In “Bad Lieutenant”, Lund has a small role, and showcases the rawness of her personal life – she was a heroin addict and was open and honest about that fact.

Here is a great interview clip from “Mediafunhouse” on Youtube where Lund discusses the scene in the movie where she shoots up onscreen:

Zoe Lund’s Tragic Heroin Downfall!

Yes, Lund shot up in the film, and was a regular heroin user in real life.

Here is the tragic True Hollywood Story. As wikipedia reports:

“Lund was unapologetic about her heroin addiction. She wrote at length about heroin and advocated it for legal recreational use in the USA, as well as romanticized its effects. “She loved heroin, she was killed by heroin,” Ferrara said on her heroin addiction. “…Zoe was one of these people who thought heroin was the greatest thing in the world, and she did until the day she died. She was down on coke, down on everything, but you know, heroin was the elixir of life for her.”

Yes, Lund was a heroin addict, and it ultimately killed her. She was 37 years old when she died. It’s a sad Hollywood story – but if you want to celebrate her life and career, go to a website in her name to see all that she created in her short life:

http://www.zoelund.com

“Ms. 45” has a lot in common with the sexploitation classic “Thriller: A Cruel Picture” starring Christina Lindberg – a woman who is assaulted decides to fight back…

Christina Lindberg is the “Queen Of Artsploitation” – artistic films that still showcased sex, nudity and violence. Quentin Tarantino is a huge fan and based a character in “Kill Bill Vol. 1” on Lindberg’s character in “Thriller.”

Read more about this iconic “women’s revenge” picture here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/11/christina-lindberg-speaks-the-queen-of-artsploitation-bares-all/

Unfortunately, Hollywood history is littered with stories of great young Actresses who succumb to the “fast lane”:

Cheryl “Rainbeaux” Smith was in a number of great films in the 70’s and early 80’s before the Hollywood lifestyle got the best of her – read her story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/09/20/hollywood-tragedy-70s-starlet-cheryl-rainbeaux-smith-the-runaways-caged-heat/

Let me know if you’ve seen “Ms. 45!”

Michael Nesmith Has An “Infinite” Present For Fans!

Singer/Songwriter/”The Monkees” TV Star Michael Nesmith has lived an incredible life, and now he has written a book about it – and it involves his Monkee bandmates, Jimi Hendrix, Jack Nicholson and more!

Michael Nesmith was the most accomplished Musician when he was cast in a seminal TV comedy in the late 60’s – but his life is so much more than that!

First, some music: here he is performing one of his great solo songs from the early 80’s: watch the Grammy award winning video for “Cruisin'” – also known as “Lucy And Ramona And Sunset Sam”…

That terrific video is from the first video to win a Grammy, awarded to Nesmith for his hilarious and groundbreaking “Elephant Parts”…and yes, he created a music video show that was the precursor to MTV – here is more detail on this terrific movie:

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

Now, Michael Nesmith is sharing all of his life stories!

“Infinite Tuesday” Is Here!

Nesmith has just released his autobiography, and I ordered it immediately. I can’t wait to read it!

Here is the press release from PenguinRandomHouse:

“Michael Nesmith’s eclectic, electric life spans his star-making role on The Monkees, his invention of the music video, and his critical contributions to movies, comedy, and the world of virtual reality. Above all, his is a seeker’s story, a pilgrimage in search of a set of principles to live by. That search took Nesmith from a childhood in Dallas, where his single mother Bette invented Liquid Paper, to the set of The Monkees in Los Angeles”

Yes, his Mom INVENTED LIQUID PAPER!

Nesmith burst onto the scene when he was cast, along with Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Mickey Dolenz in the Beatlesque TV show “The Monkees.” From this fictional beginning, the band became a real sensation, with Nesmith writing many of the band’s hits…and guess what? On one tour, Jimi Hendrix opened for them!

Yes, they were friends with Jimi Hendrix, and they all toured together – what a show that must have been!

Everyone knows the songs of The Monkees – they have become pop classics: “I’m A Believer”, “Pleasant Valley Sunday”, “Last Train To Clarksville” and of course, their iconic theme song:

“Hey Hey We’re The Monkees!”

The TV show has stayed a cult favorite, and the band still performs – and now, you can read their story through the unique vision of Michael Nesmith…here is more on the book from the LA Times:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-michael-nesmith-infinite-tuesday-book-20170316-story.html

Oh, the boys did more than hang out with Jimi Hendrix – they made a movie with Jack Nicholson too!

Yes, Nicholson wrote the script for the surreal comedy “HEAD”, which starred the band in their only big screen outing…

The movie was their attempt to capture the surreal nature of fame – it bombed upon release, but a new Blu-ray release captures the insanity of the film perfectly..see more here:

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

Let me know if you plan to have an “Infinite Tuesday!”

Sharing Stories About A Great Hollywood Career!

Sherry Lansing was one of Hollywood’s most powerful Executives, and she has decided to tell some of the wild behind-the-scenes stories from her career!

The Hollywood Reporter’s Stephen Galloway is releasing “Leading Lady”, his biography of Lansing…and THR printed an excerpt to promote the release and it’s a doozy!

This excerpt talks about her run-in with Mike Myers during the planned filming of “Wayne’s World 2.”

Here’s an excerpt from the THR story about the book – when Lansing was in charge of Paramount Studios, and Mike Myers was ready to begin filming the sequel to his massive comedy hit:

“The then-Paramount chairman made an unfortunate discovery weeks before shooting was due to commence: Myers had heavily based the sequel on the 1949 British comedy ‘Passport to Pimlico’ — only nobody had bought the underlying rights.”

“Mike had always wanted to do Passport to Pimlico as the basis of Wayne’s World,” said SNL creator Lorne Michaels, who produced the comedy. “So he went and wrote it. I think he believed the studio understood that, and I think he even believed they had bought the rights to the other movie so that he was free to use it.”
Furious, Lansing summoned Myers to her office and told him exactly that — in much different (and harsher) words. Remembers one participant in the Myers-Lansing meeting: “She said, ‘How dare you? How dare you put us in this position?’ She turned to Mike and said, ‘We’ll sue you. We’ll take your f—ing house. You won’t even own a f—ing home.'”

The story continues:

“The verbal scathing went on, with Lansing adding a special twist, as then-production chief John Goldwyn recalled: “She made up this fabulous story about all of the lawyers sitting with [Paramount Communications executive] Stanley Jaffe. She said, ‘As I’m sitting here with you, there’s a team figuring out how they can take every single thing away from you.'”

Myers believed it, and was so shaken that he curled up in a fetal position on Lansing’s couch.

Said Lansing: “If I were you, Mike, I’d go to Lorne’s office right now and stay there until you come up with a new script. We’ll slide food under the door.”

Wow! She had a reputation for being tough as nails, and I can’t wait to read more stories about her career. Other anecdotes from the book have been released dealing with Mel Gibson’s temper and a real boiled bunny from “Fatal Attraction!”

Here is another book that also has a shocking Mel Gibson story – read about it here – along with MY Mel Gibson encounter:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/08/14/heaven-and-mel-shocking-mel-gibson-book-my-mel-encounter/

Lansing’s book is sure to be a page turner based on the stories teased so far!

She is also married to one of Hollywood’s greatest filmmakers, William Friedkin. Friedkin of course directed such great films as “The Exorcist”, “The French Connection”, “Sorcerer”, “To Live And Die In LA” and most recently “Killer Joe.”

He wrote his autobiography a few years ago – read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/04/22/sorcerer-legendary-lost-classic-is-uncovered-on-blu-ray-the-friedkin-connection-rules/

Of course, one reason that “Wayne’s World” was such a smash hit was their use of the classic Queen song “Bohemian Rhapsody”:

Read all about the creation of that brilliant Queen song here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/02/23/queens-brilliant-night-at-the-opera-freddie-mercurys-musical-madness/

Finally, Mike Myers has been largely absent from movies for a few years, but he did direct a terrific documentary:

Shep Gordon was a legend in Hollywood, handling some of the biggest stars of the 70’s and 80’s…see the trailer for this terrific documentary here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/07/12/rocks-supermensch-mike-myers-brilliant-documentary-on-shep-gordon/

Looking forward to reading this book!

The Amazing Story Of One Man “Becoming Bond!”

Fans of the James Bond 007 series have their favorite films – and favorite Bonds – but here is the amazing true story of one very unique 007 – in a great new documentary “Becoming Bond!”

This new Hulu documentary has the incredible story of the only man to ever play 007 – once! Yes, here is the trailer for the story of George Lazenby, who made his motion picture debut in the most coveted role in the world – James Bond!

I can’t wait to see this documentary – although as the trailer shows, there are plenty of re-enactments as well. The Daily Mail has lots of inside stories to dish – like these:

“‘Becoming Bond’ details how his sex-fueled life helped him bluff his way into getting the role. Lazenby heard about the role from a girl he and his best friend, another Australian model, were having a threesome with – one of dozens he enjoyed in the London of the swinging 60s – and bluffed his way into playing the role Sean Connery had abandoned. It found him fame and he slept with a series of women on set but he walked away from the role because of a contract he thought made him a ‘slave’. Now 77 he says in the documentary: ‘It was the craziest sexual time I’ve ever had. I lived my life the way I wanted to.'”

The film that Lazenby starred in, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” is widely considered one of the best Bond films ever – even though his acting is noticeably dicey at times…

The film, however has depth, emotion and a great love story between
Bond and Diana Rigg, who is one of the best “Bond girls” ever…

If you want to see more on the most memorable “Bond girls”, here is my story on that subject:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/02/07/00-7-great-bond-girls-brains-brawn-beauty-oh-james/

“OHMSS” is still the only Bond film where 007 gets married, and the only one to have a tragic ending…the film is a GREAT 007 film, and Lazenby should always be proud of that…

Downhill Racer!

“OHMSS” holds up for its terrific action scenes as well, especially the numerous skiing sequences – and Lazenby gets in several great 007 quips – the script is smart, with the usual touch of humor and “larger than life” elements that make the 007 films so great…

While the film was critically acclaimed and did brisk box office, it was a case of “one and done” for Lazenby.

The Daily Mail goes on to report that being the most famous Actor in the world didn’t mean a thing to Lazenby.

“Then he threw it all away by refusing a then unheard of $1million offer to do six more Bond films because he did not like being told what to do by the studio.After appearing in just one Bond film Lazenby’s name became a punchline and ‘the George Lazenby of’ became a gag for late night TV shows.”

The now 77-year old Actor says in the documentary that he doesn’t regret his decision…but imagine being the star of the biggest action franchise in the world…and just walking away…

In “Becoming Bond” Lazenby also reveals he was broke for a while – but then got into real estate, and says he’s had a comfortable life.

Here’s the whole story from The Daily Mail, full of lots more stories of swinging 60’s, threesomes and much much more:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4452610/Sex-secrets-let-George-Lazenby-James-Bond.html

Lazenby didn’t act much after his stint as James Bond, but he did make a short appearance in the hilarious 70’s film “Kentucky Fried Movie.”

You can read more about this hilarious comedy from the makers of “Airplane” by clicking on my link here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/06/03/big-jim-slade-fistfuls-of-yen-its-the-kentucky-fried-movie/

Finally, if you want to argue about who was the best and worst Bond, knock yourself out…I love talking about the best and worst Bond theme songs!

OK, we all know that Paul McCartney wrote the greatest Bond them of all time, but what are some of the others? Check them out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/11/05/rock-on-007-the-best-and-worst-james-bond-theme-songs/

Let me know what you think of the revelations in the new Bond doc!

Another Great Film Starring Lina Romay!

I’ve posted about this iconic European Actress before – who starred in dozens of films, mostly for her longtime partner and film Director Jess Franco.

She had great screen presence – like this scene from “Night Has A Thousand Desires” – a hauntingly framed shot of her staring off into space – lost in the midst of her own madness – the shot lasting for almost a minute…

She commands the screen, baring her soul in so many movies like this one from the early 80’s.

Bravo to Mondo Macabro for releasing “Night Has A Thousand Desires” in such a beautifully remastered presentation – check out the trailer:

NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND DESIRES, a film by Jess Franco – coming soon to Blu-ray from Mondo Macabro on Vimeo.

Mondo Macabro has done it again with this great blu-ray release!

Bravo to Mondo Macabro for releasing this lavish blu-ray special edition of the film.

For exploitation film buffs, to know Jess Franco is to love him – everything from his meandering storytelling, his love of “tentative zooms” – and his love of his wife’s body – yes, his longtime partner and ultimately wife Lina Romay starred in dozens of his movies, and was always VERY VERY naked!

Romay is actually nude for more screen time in “Desires” than she is clothed, always willing to give a raw portrayal. The plot of “Thousand Desires” is simple: Lina stars as a clairvoyant, working with a partner in a lounge act – when she begins being hypnotized – and while in this trance, she is murdering people! Or is she?

What is real, and what is fantasy? Lina dreams of sexual encounters and murder – but is it really happening?

Well, as the film progresses, the dream sequences become more erotic and lurid, culminating in a group sex scene that leaves little to the imagination. Franco frames the shot from above and lets his cast get into the action before cutting to many closeups of sexual activity of all kinds – while this isn’t XXX-rated, it comes close:

Director Franco was working in Spain at the time, after the era of General Franco’s regime had ended, and he was given license to do anything he wanted – as long as there was sex and nudity in the movie – and boy, did he deliver!

Eurotika!

Mondo Macabro’s terrific Blu-ray release includes an episode of a show called “Eurotika!” which profiles Franco and includes great interview material with him. Was he the world’s most prolific Director?

Franco has small parts in many of his films, including “Desires” – and the TV episode makes a compelling case that Franco may have been the world’s most prolific Director – more than two hundred films!

Both Franco and Romay have died, but thanks to great film companies, we get to experience their greatest work – like this!

This is another wild Romay / Franco collaboration, with a new blu-ray that has the “notorious banana scene” in it – check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/11/lindas-shocking-hot-nights-lina-romays-classic-sexploitation/

If you want a Lina Romay marathon, then this is another of their films to buy:

Yes, they made a lot of shockers, and Lina was naked in all of them! Check out “Lorna The Exorcist” and more Franco films here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/02/17/countess-perverse-lorna-the-exorcist-jess-francos-naked-masterpieces/

Bravo again to Mondo Macabro for a terrific blu-ray!

All Hail The King!

Yes, the “King” of winged serpents, killer babies AND blaxploitation! Yes, one Director has delivered a number of exploitation classics for cult movie buffs, and now there’s a documentary that celebrates this wild wild career!

Larry Cohen is a legendary B-movie Producer, Director, and Screenwriter – who had some of the best cult movies of the 70’s and 80’s…shown here with some of his favorite “stars”….we’ll talk about a few in a moment, but first, check out this wild trailer!

Well, I can’t wait to see this!

Cohen’s first big hit was the classic low-budget horror film “It’s Alive”, about a mutant monster baby that embarks on a killing spree. It has one of the best tag lines for any movie – check out the poster:

“There’s Only ONE Thing Wrong With The David Baby…It’s ALIVE!”

I mean, c’mon, this is one of the greatest tagline ever! And the film delivers as well – a low-budget shocker with a great hook!

He followed this hit up with a sequel, as well as making great blaxploitation films like “Hell Up In Harlem”:

Cohen was known to break a lot of rules when making his movies, and the documentary gets into some of those wacky stories of truly independent filmmaking.

This is the poster for his science fiction classic “Q The Winged Serpent.” It’s a terrific monster movie – a “winged serpent” terrorizes a very 70’s New York City….check out the trailer:

Cohen was a “down and dirty” filmmaker – no muss, no fuss, he just made his wildly entertaining films in a straightforward manner.

Here are a few more movies he directed in the 70’s and 80’s…

Cohen finished the 1980’s with “Wicked Stepmother” – which was the legendary Bette Davis’s last role…he has many more credits in his career, including screenwriting the Joel Schumacher thriller “Phone Booth” from 2002.

I look forward to seeing more of his films, to fully appreciate this renegade filmmaker…and speaking of legendary exploitation Directors, one of the first was Director Jack Hill, who made this cult classic:

Hill went on to work with Pam Grier among many others – you can see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/03/18/cult-actress-jill-banner-from-spider-baby-web-to-marlon-brandos-arm-a-true-hollywood-tragedy/

Some cult Directors just make one classic film and then disappear…

Tommy Wiseau became a legend after just one film, the cult classic “The Room.” Now, it MAY be due to the fact it is considered the worst film ever made – but who’s to judge?

See the trailer for “The Room” here and judge for yourself!

https://johnrieber.com/2013/10/27/tommy-wiseaus-classic-the-room-now-a-book-tommys-secrets-revealed/

Let me know how many Larry Cohen films you’ve seen!

My Movie Alphabet!

Yes, the poster art says “Vol. 2” – because I missed the first “go-round” on this fun exercise in cinema! A movie for every letter of the alphabet – who can refuse?

For many of us, this is our great escape – a movie auditorium where magic happens – I have seen so many incredible films in my life…oh, outside too!

I love this idea – thanks to “MettelRaySe7en” for doing this, here is the link to see how you can participate:

https://mettelray.wordpress.com/2017/05/01/mettelrayse7en-my-movie-alphabet-vol-2-blogathon-announcment/#comment-10520

Let’s get started with a film that, while fictional, captured one of the most exciting and influential pop culture changes in our nation’s history!

A – A Hard Day’s Night

Hard to imagine how culturally significant “Beatlemania” was in today’s social media world, but this film captures the pop culture impact of The Fab Four through a hilariously droll, fictional film the band starred in – how did they know to make this film so it would come out as they were taking over the world – what an achievement! If you want to see just how wild their first trip to the US was, check out the terrific documentary here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/09/06/the-beatles-first-us-tour-new-movie-the-fab-fours-segregation-battle-ron-howards-fascinating-new-beatles-documentary/

Next up is one of my top ten films of all time:

B – Boogie Nights

Paul Thomas Anderson shows the birth of adult cinema in LA’s San Fernando valley through the fictional story of Dirk Diggler…one of the greatest cinematic achievements ever, and career bests for the entire cast – see the “oral” history here:

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

Here is another film from my “top ten of all time”:

C – Chinatown

This lost Best Picture in 1972 to the greatest film of all time – more on that in a minute, but Roman Polanski’s story of Los Angeles in the 40’s, as seen through our thirst for water – and power – still resonates today – read more about this classic film noir here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/02/19/forget-it-jake-its-chinatown-cynical-attitudes-and-sexual-motivations/

Ok, these were all fairly well known, let’s get obscure:

D – Darker Than Amber

This very obscure action film from 1970 has one of the most brutal – and REAL – onscreen fights ever captured – yes, the two main actors got carried away and the Director captured it all – see it here:

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

Next up is one of the most hypnotic films I’ve ever seen…

E – Enter The Void

Argentinian Director Gasper Noe uses “2001: A Space Odyssey” as his inspiration to tell the story of a young man killed in Tokyo, who floats over the city to observe life after his death – see the hypnotic trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/11/01/audacious-mind-blowing-cinema-enter-the-void-vanishing-waves-and-holy-motors/

Need some 70’s horror? Great, let’s head to France!

F – Fascination!

French Horror Director Jean Rollin made moody, cerebral horror films filled with nudity, blood and amazing images like this one:

See all of his incredible work from the 70’s here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/09/13/bloody-fascination-sexy-shockers-wildest-cult-horror-directors/

Now, time to celebrate the greatest film ever made:

G – The Godfather

For me, it is simply the greatest cinematic achievement in film history – beautifully acted, lyrical, violent and multi-layered to reveal something new each time I see it – and of course, Brando read from cue cards held by Robert Duvall!

One last bit of trivia – the horse’s head was real! Here is more on that:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/02/15/brandos-cue-cards-real-horse-heads-the-godfathers-best-stories-2/

Now, a film that was so good it had three different names!

H – Hookers Revenge!

I HAD to get a Christina Lindberg film on this list! She is the “Queen of Artsploitation”, and this one was so good they kept releasing it to grindhouse theaters with different titles! Officially known as “Thriller: A Cruel Picture” – it’s also AKA “They Call Her One Eye” and also AKA “Hooker’s Revenge” – even thought she doesn’t play a hooker in the movie!

She may have been mute in the film, but she really kicks some ass, and recently Christina spoke about her career – see that interview here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/11/christina-lindberg-speaks-the-queen-of-artsploitation-bares-all/

Christina Lindberg is my “grindhouse guilty pleasure”, but the next film is serious, compelling and vital:

I – The Island President

This documentary tells the story of one person trying to save his country from drowning – and the politics of climate change…so powerful and important, see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/05/07/the-island-president-a-tragic-compelling-documentary-a-nation-underwater/

The next film on my list is one of those “movie theater experiences” I will never forget…

J – Jackie Brown

Some Quentin Tarantino was overdue, but more importantly, some Pam Grier! He wrote it with her in mind, and she stars with a timeless swagger…just one of her great films, like “Black Mama White Mama” and the blaxploitation classic “Foxy Brown”…see her here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/03/21/black-mama-white-mama-queen-of-blaxploitation-pam-grier-naked-showers-women-in-prison-classics/

I was inspired by my friend Pete from Beetley, England…he is counting down his movies as well – you can follow along with them here:

https://beetleypete.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/a-z-film-challenge-day-ten/

Next up, a cerebral thriller with a very young Donald Sutherland…

K – Klute

A somewhat forgotten film from 1971, Jane Fonda won an Oscar for her portrayal of a lonely prostitute who is being watched by one of her clients…a young Donald Sutherland is also great…see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/06/01/klute-the-late-show-electra-glide-in-blue-three-obscure-film-noir-70s-classics/

Now, one of my top 5 favorite movies…

L – The Last Of Sheila

This terrific mystery puzzle of a film was written by Stephen Sondheim and “Psycho” Anthony Perkins! An all-star cast including James Mason James Coburn, Raquel Welch, Richard Benjamin and Ryan Cannon make this a must see – here is the trailer:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/06/29/psycho-and-sondheim-the-last-of-sheila-classic-hollywood-murder-mystery-richard-benjamin-rules/

Time for one of America’s greatest Actors to lighten up…

M – Midnight Run

“Why are you unpopular with the Chicago Police Department?” The greatest buddy/action film of all, the first time we discovered that Robert DeNiro could do comedy! See the new blu-ray here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/11/28/fistophobia-the-brilliant-but-neglected-buddy-action-comedy-midnight-run/

Next up, a European Actress from the 70’s who was naked in every single film she made!

N – Night Of A Thousand Desires!

I love Lina Romay – her haunting beauty and willingness to put it ALL out there – I mean, she is naked in every single film she made, and most of it was lovingly captured by her partner/husband Jess Franco – this is a great example of her hypnotic appeal, with a great blu-ray thanks to Mondo Macabro – see it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/06/night-has-a-thousand-desires-lina-romays-cult-classic-jess-francos-sex-shocker/

Next up, my second favorite film of all time…

O – O Lucky Man!

This obscure British masterpiece was written by and starring Malcolm McDowell – right after “A Clockwork Orange” – it is a brilliant satire of a world gone mad with an equally brilliant soundtrack – see it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/03/22/o-lucky-man-malcolm-mcdowells-seinfeld-connection/

Time for more 70’s stuff, this time a grindhouse classic:

P – Prime Cut

The “grindhouse” era of the 60’s and 70’s allowed studios to make gritty B-movies like this one, with lots of sex, nudity and violence, and many big stars willing jumped in! “Prime Cut” stars Gene Hackman, Lee Marvin and a VERY naked Sissy Spacek in her movie debut – see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/23/prime-cut-grindhouse-classic-gene-hackman-vs-lee-marvin/

Need more obscure classics?

Q – Q! The Winged Serpent

Legendary Exploitation Director Larry Cohen made this film about a “winged serpent” terrorizing New York – one of many great movies he made…here is a documentary about his life – and his wild wild work!

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/08/king-cohen-exploitation-director-larry-cohen-killer-babies-winged-serpents-exploitation-master-dynamite-new-documentary/

I think a musical is in order….

R – Rude Boy

I grew up loving The Clash – but did you know they made a film? “Rude Boy” is the story of a roadie who dreams of success while following The Clash on their REAL tour of the UK at the end of the 70’s – and the birth of punk rock! This is terrific stuff – see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/09/the-clash-is-live-rude-boy-iconic-punk-music-meets-classic-cult-movie/

Another from my top twenty is next:

S – The Shawshank Redemption

One of the most inspiring movies ever made – brilliant from start to finish – Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman was flawless – click here to see the real “Zihuatanejo”:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/05/18/zihuatanejo-the-inspiring-greatness-of-the-shawshank-redemption/

Here is #3 on my list of greatest films:

T – Taxi Driver

Martin Scorsese and Paul Schrader capture the gritty streets of New York perfectly – as seen through the eyes of Travis Bickle – this masterpiece is still topical forty years on – see the anniversary reunion here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/21/travis-bickle-turns-40-taxi-driver-tribeca-screening-3-reasons-to-love-him-one-big-reason-to-hate/

OK, from masterpiece to Russ Meyer!

U – Up!

Need a break from the seriousness of the list – well, how about some Russ Meyer? The man who gave us “Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” also got us “Up!” See how here:

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

Need more grindhouse?

V – The Virgin Witch

I love the sexploitation era of the 60’s and 70’s as you can see, and films like “The Virgin Witch” are the reason why…virgin witches baring all for our pleasure – see how here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/10/17/bloody-witchcraft-horror-sexy-virgin-witches-halloween-2015-heats-up/

Another from my top twenty is next:

W – Withnail & I

Simply the greatest British comedy ever – Richard E. Grant is brilliant, and the film is acerbic, insightful, and hilariously funny – read more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/04/10/withnail-i-30th-anniversary-classic-80s-cult-comedy-richard-e-grant-tell-all-book-with-nails/

Some letters of the alphabet are better sung than spoken…

X – Xanadu

What, you don’t want an 80’s musical with a rollerskating Olivia Newton-John? I included “Xanadu” because it’s so “of its time”, and because it also has a terrific soundtrack from The Electric Light Orchestra! Here’s proof:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/02/25/elo-rocks-the-grammy-awards-brilliant-70s-orchestra-rock-jeff-lynnes-beatles-love/

Mel Brooks was a brilliant filmmaker, and here is one example:

Y – Young Frankenstein

The funniest film ever? Well, argue amongst yourselves, but Brooks competes with himself for that title (“Blazing Saddles!”), and this film gives Gene Hackman – yes, GENE HACKMAN! A chance to show how funny he is! To celebrate this legendary Actors birthday, I highlighted his ten best roles:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/01/30/happy-birthday-gene-hackman-ten-roles-that-defined-a-hollywood-legend/

Finally, I leave you with Bond, James Bond…well, this next film is a 007 you’ve never seen before!

Z – Zardoz!

Yes, that’s 007 in a bright red loincloth! But WHY? The answer lies in one of the wackiest films ever committed to celluloid – the lunacy of “Zardoz.” Click to see some of the hilariously “WTF” dialogue and trailer!

https://johnrieber.com/2012/10/01/suspiria-caligula-zardoz-wacky-one-word-movie-wonders/

Well, I tried to showcase movies you knew and many you didn’t, so let me know what you think!

Do You Have “The Thirst” For More Harry Hole?

One of my favorite Authors, Jo Nesbo, is back with the latest in his series of Detective Harry Hole thrillers!

Welcome to the world of “nordic noir” – moody crime thrillers from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.

“The Thirst” is the latest in the series of Hole novels – this “Dirty Harry” is plunged into the world of Tinder dating – because one psychopath is killing his dates!

These are terrific thrillers – I’ve read that “The Snowman” – book #7 in the series – is being made into a film – but read these in order to really understand the psychology behind Harry Hole – and meet a great cast of characters around him!

It’s been several years since the last Harry Hole book “Police”, so if you need help remembering all of them – here they are in order!

Click on my story to see the entire series!

https://johnrieber.com/2013/10/16/jo-nesbo-police-brilliant-new-nordic-noir-harry-hole-novels-in-order/

Nesbo also wrote a great thriller called “Headhunters” – you can read about that book here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/10/02/jo-nesbos-dirty-harry-hole-is-back-the-phantom-plus-bonus-nesbo-headhunters/

Equally as impressive are the series of “Department Q” thrillers as well:

This series of thrillers involves Detective Carl Morck…he’s a grizzled Copenhagen Cop who’s been put out to pasture in a new “department Q” – ice cold cases nobody wants to be bothered with…so of course he cracks them in a terrifically entertaining way…see these books in order here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/06/21/classic-nordic-noir-terrific-crime-fiction-from-department-q-jo-nesbos-harry-hole-novels-rock/

Let me know if you are a Harry Hole fan!

“It’s my money,” he said on April 25. “If I want to buy 15,000 cotton balls a day, it’s my thing.”

Yes, Johnny Depp recently said that, and his “thing” has erupted into a fascinating and sad legal battle!

First, bravo to Journalists Stephen Galloway and Ashley Cullins – they have the inside story of Johnny Depp’s legal battle over his finances – a long, in-depth story in The Hollywood Reporter (THR).

The THR story laid out in detail the money problems that Depp is facing, and the lawsuits resulting from it. A huge legal battle has erupted between Depp and his financial advisors, and the stories coming out show a wildly out-of-control lifestyle…here is an excerpt from the story:

“There just wasn’t enough liquid money to cover Depp’s $2 million in monthly bills.
Without a fire sale, Depp — then arguably the biggest star in Hollywood and certainly one of the best paid, thanks to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise — would never be able to meet his obligations. Not the payments on his portfolio of real estate around the world. Not the impulse purchases such as the three Leonor Fini paintings he had bought from a Manhattan gallery (the first two for $320,000, the third as a $245,000 gift for then-girlfriend Amber Heard). Not the $3.6 million he paid annually for his 40-person staff. Not the $350,000 he laid out each month to maintain his 156-foot yacht.”

As you can see, a huge monthly “nut” came back to haunt the Actor!

Johnny Depp’s $30k Wine Tasting!

That’s right: according to the article, Depp routinely spends $30,000 a month on wine! I can understand that for sure, but it is another example of spending that was out of control for the Actor…

Jack Sparrow Returns!

The lawsuit – and these stories – have all come out right as Johnny Depp is returning to movie screens with his biggest hit ever: the character Jack Sparrow and “Pirates Of The Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales!”

The THR article reports on issues related to the filming in Australia – specifically that Depp was routinely late to set.

Here is what the article says about his tardiness – and how the production dealt with it:

“Often, sources say, a production staffer was stationed in an unmarked car outside the Coomera, Queensland, compound that Depp had rented from Grand Prix champion Mick Doohan so that the sentinel could alert everyone the second a light was switched on in the morning (or afternoon).

“When he got up, he’d turn on the light, and the moment the light went on they’d call the line producer, who would then call the directors [Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg]: ‘He’s up! He’s getting ready!’ ” says an on-set source. “They even had a special code term, like ‘The eagle has landed.’ Johnny had no idea this was going on.”

EXCLUSIVE

Picture by: Splash News

Splash News and Pictures

Los Angeles:310-821-2666

New York:212-619-2666

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photodesk@splashnews.com

Welcome To “Fuck Off Island”!

Thanks to Splash News! This is a picture of one of Depp’s properties: 45-acre Little Halls Pond Cay in the Bahamas, which he has referred to as “Fuck Off Island.”

It’s just one of many properties the Actor owns around the world, indulging a 5-house compound at the top of Sweetzer Avenue in Hollywood.

The Actor clearly has great taste, and lavishing spending habits as well, and this article gives an in-depth look into the world of celebrity that we rarely see…

Bravo to The Hollywood Reporter and Stephen Galloway and Ashley Cullins for their amazing story….I just gave a couple of highlights, but the story is so much more – read it all here:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/johnny-depp-a-star-crisis-insane-story-his-missing-millions-1001513

My wife Alex interviewed Depp at the Cannes Film Festival one year, and he was articulate, friendly and very professional…unfortunately, we spoke to him about his biggest film debacle ever!

This very offbeat film was received so poorly in Cannes that it saw unreleased for years…read about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/02/08/ten-most-misguided-movies-of-all-time/

It will be interesting to see how this story plays out, and once again, bravo to THR!

007’s Classiest – And Longest Running Bond Has Died!

Sad news to report: Roger Moore, the third Actor to play James Bond 007 in the legendary action series, has died at the age of 89.

Moore achieved stardom as Simon Templar in classic action TV series “The Saint” from 1962-69.

Moore Was 007 Seven Times!

Moore took over the role of Bond from Sean Connery in the 1973 film “Live and Let Die”. He holds the record as the longest serving Bond to date, playing 007 in seven films: “The Man with the Golden Gun” was next in 1974, followed by “The Spy Who Loved Me” in 1977…

These were some of the most popular Bond films of all time: “Moonraker” in 1979 was next, then “For Your Eyes Only” in 1981, “Octopussy” in 1983, and finally “A View to a Kill” in 1985.

Moore wrote a humorous and insightful autobiography, and was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1991. Moore was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for “services to charity”.

Many fans grew up with Moore as their 007 – and there’s a great documentary that looks at all of the Bonds…

You can see more about this great documentary here:

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

RIP Roger, you will be missed!

Meet The “Blue Face” Of Horror!

With the chaotic 2017 Oscar telecast naming the wrong film for Best Picture, it’s time to look at other films that were “overlooked” for the Academy’s top honor…in fact, here are three classic films that never got the recognition they deserved:

“In Cranium-Cleaving Color!”

Take a moment to look closely at all three of these posters, including the “cranium” line at the bottom of “The Ghastly Ones”…how could you ever miss such classic horror cinema?

Now, if you turned the Oscars upside down and shook REALLY HARD, you would come up with the Director of these three films – arguably the worst movies ever committed to celluloid – time to meet Andy Milligan!

Grindhouse Lives!

Meet Andy Milligan, who may just be Staten Island’s greatest filmmaker!

Yes: STATEN ISLAND’S GREATEST FILMMAKER!

Here are some exampleS of his “masterpieces”, beginning with an early work of art:

I mean, the title alone NEEDS to be shouted out from the Oscar podium – but as you can imagine, the creative visionary behind this gem had many more classics to come:

All of these movies are the work of Andy Milligan, a quirky filmmaker who wanted to shock America.

These are films that you can savor over and over again, especially when they include dialogue like THIS:

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

Shooting on budgets that hovered around $10,000, Milligan turned out 29 movies between 1965 and 1988 – moves that were:

“In Dripping Blood Color!”

While the posters were classic grindhouse “come ons”, his movies were appallingly shot, often ludicrously plotted “shock” films – but that’s what played in 42nd Street grind houses, drive-ins and avant-garde film festivals in the late 60’s and 70’s…

Milligan churned out film after film, with some of exploitation’s greatest movie titles!

Torture Dungeon! (1969)
Bloodthirsty Butchers! (1970)
The Body Beneath! (1970)
Guru, the Mad Monk! (1970)
The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here! (1972)

“EXPLICIT BEYOND BELIEF!”

And they weren’t just horror films – no, Milligan knew how to sex it up as well!

Fleshpot On 42nd St. “Erotic, Sensual and Smoldering!”

That’s right, they weren’t all horror films, Milligan also loved deviant sex – and blew the lid of 42nd Street’s sleazy sex trade!

The plot of this classic was simple: A street whore desperately seeks love and acceptance against the backdrop of the criminal element of early 1970s Times Square.

Here is a seven minute scene shot on location – you get a real clear idea of Milligan’s filming “style”:

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.

Wel, enough said! Let’s get back to what Milligan REALLY liked – movies that he filmed:

“In Cranium-Cleaving Color!”

How can you resist a movie that offers this tagline!

The Ghastly Ones!

You are seeing a trend: classic grindhouse poster art – sex, violence, SHOCKS BEYOND BELIEF! – c’mon in suckers, the water’s fine!

First, check out the trailer:

Then, check out the “Doctor’s Warning” on the poster – a classic “come on” for the suckers at that time…love it! Now, back to “The Ghastly Ones” plot: Three married couples are forced to spend the night in a Victorian-era house where they start getting killed off by a deranged psycho who’s bent on claiming an inheritance they are all entitled to.

Here’s a great bit of trivia, thanks to IMDB: In several of the fight scenes of the film, the crew and their cameras and sound equipment are visible. There are also moments when the director can be heard softly reminding the actors of their lines.

Now THAT”S film making! Here’s another example of Milligan’s madness – starring this “blue-faced” women:

The Body Beneath!

This is arguably is masterwork, mainly because these blue-faced beauties show up for no reason, but they liven up the pace of the film!

Check out the trailer, which proclaims that the movie was “filmed in the graveyards of England!”

In this movie, Milligan captures the eerie horror of-, ah who’s kidding who? Do you REALLY care what it’s about? It’s slow-moving and laughably bad in a dementedly fun way! I mean, you have to watch it in order to find out why these women look like THIS!

There is so much more on Andy Milligan to share, including a book that tells the hilarious, and ultimately sad story of an awful filmmaker who managed to make a number of movies that are still being enjoyed today!

Click on my story here:

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

I’m not trying to pick on Andy Milligan – after all, he made movies, so bravo for that! In fact, there are a number of filmmakers who had their own “unique” vision for movies:

All Hail Tommy Wiseau!

If you know “bad cinema”, then of course you know “The Room”, considered one of the most hilariously inept films ever made – and there is a great book that tells the whole “behind the scenes” story!

Greg Sistero’s starred in the film alongside Wiseau, and he gives a “no holds barred” look at the madness behind the moviemaking…read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/10/27/tommy-wiseaus-classic-the-room-now-a-book-tommys-secrets-revealed/

Let me know your favorite “bad movies” – they are all worth celebrating!

Superman Lives! Or, The Story Of How He Died!

“Highly creative people have a hard time getting their movies made. Full stop. That’s all it is. Because they bring stuff that blows everyone away, and as much as the claim is they want something original, they’re terrified of it. That’s what happens. So, you don’t see those movies because they scare everybody up the chain of command.”

That quote sums up the failure of acclaimed Director Tim Burton and star Nicolas Cage, fresh off an Oscar win, to make the ultimate Superman film, “Superman Lives!”

Now there’s a terrific documentary that tells the whole, fascinating story – with tons of behind-the-scenes footage – and almost everyone participates!

First, check out the trailer:

Documentary Filmmaker Jon Schnepp tells the story, and while the trailer shows too much of his on-camera antics, he’s not obtrusive in the film – the documentary itself is beautifully made, and Schnepp got a ton of great on-camera interviews with everyone involved!

Kevin Smith’s Hilarious Anecdotes!

Kevin Smith is laugh-out-loud funny as he recounts his role in this saga. He tells hilarious stories about developing the screenplay – and getting forced out when Tim Burton came on board.

What makes this documentary so compelling is a brand new, INDEPTH and CANDID interview with Director Tim Burton, who explains how the entire project fell apart just weeks before filming was to begin.

The documentary has a ton of behind-the-scenes footage, and a long and very funny interview with legendary Producer Jon Peters, plus Warner Brothers Executives, special effects artists, costume designers – and Kevin Smith has a funny story about being asked to come up with a Giant Spider for Superman to fight!

The Giant Spider Battle!

The documentary has some real fun as Smith tells the giant spider story, intercutting various people contradicting Kevin, who has a lot of fun remembering the spider! It really shows how the collaborative effort can be upstaged by ego.

Here is a fun fact: Kevin Smith directed some episodes of the second season of Supergirl (2015), the first titled “Supergirl Lives” as a reference to the film. Smith joked he expected Supergirl to fight a giant spider as in the infamous battle scene proposed for this film.

As I said, just weeks before filming was set to begin, the entire film fell apart. As one Graphic Artist Sylvian Despretz says in the film:

“Highly creative people have a hard time getting their movies made. Full stop. That’s all it is. Because they bring stuff that blows everyone away, and as much as the claim is they want something original, they’re terrified of it. That’s what happens. So, you don’t see those movies because they scare everybody up the chain of command.”

This is a great film, and there is a website that has much more detail – check it out here:

http://www.tdoslwh.com

Legendary Movie Producer Jon Peters is in the movie – and is very candid and honest about his background:

His tale is a “True Hollywood Story” – click on my story here to find out why he made millions NOT to produce a “Superman” film:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/01/13/legendary-producer-jon-peters-making-a-fortune-for-not-producing-superman-movies-the-amazing-hollywood-reporter-interview/

Movies that fall apart are everywhere in Hollywood, and I love documentaries that dissect what happened:

The disastrous film “The Island Of Dr. Moreau” with Marlon Brando is one example – see more here:

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

And don’t forget that the making of a disastrous film can be as entertaining as what’s onscreen!

This amazing book about the making of the legendarily bad “The Room” has been made into a movie by James Franco…read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/03/14/james-francos-disaster-artist-tells-the-inside-story-of-tommy-wiseaus-the-room/

Let me know if you’ve seen Nicolas Cage as Superman!

Time For A “Franco Friday!”

The guy in the wheelchair doesn’t seem to be having a great day, but in fact, it’s just another day at the office for Director Jess Franco – perhaps the world’s most prolific Director!

He made HUNDREDS of films in his career, most starring his long-time creative partner and wife, Lina Romay – a “sexploitation superstar!”

She Loved The Camera As Much As The Camera Loved HER!

In the 70’s, there was a flood of exploitation films from Europe – many featuring one of the most exotic, vibrant and unabashedly “free” Actresses ever – the legendary Lina Romay!

Lina Romay was one of the most “empowered” female Actresses of the 70’s – in a series of roles that allowed her to explore her sexuality AND her acting ability – unabashedly unafraid to take on a multitude of controversial roles – most of them directed by her Husband!

Time To Celebrate Sex Kitten Lina Romay!

I have posted stories about many of Lina’s films: she was was a Catalan actress (born in Barcelona) who appeared in dozens of films in the 70’s, 80’s and beyond.

She starred in a slew of classic sexploitation films from Europe, mostly for her Director husband Jess Franco – and thanks to the terrific work of a number of DVD and Blu-ray companies, these films can be enjoyed today!

It’s A Perfect “Franco Friday!”

There is a trend on social media to celebrate “Franco Friday” – honoring this maverick Director who made so many movies over his career, classic exploitation like this one starring Soledad Miranda:

This newly remastered blu-ray is a revelation – see more about it here:

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

This films were low-budget, raw explorations of horror and erotica at a time when the boundaries of film were being pushed – and Franco was at the forefront, especially when he directed his wife, Lina Romay!

Celebrating the Cinema Of Lina Romay!

Lina Romay began appearing in Director Jess Franco’s films from the time they met in 1971. They eventually married and she made more than a hundred movies, most of them directed by Franco.

“Barbed Wire Dolls!”

Here’s a great example: this 1976 “women in prison” tale stars Lina Romay as a woman who is jailed after killing her father, played by director Jess Franco, who tries to rape her. As IMDB points out, here is what follows:

“Lesbian wardens, torture, nudity, sex, insanity and conspiracy round out the formula.”

The majority of their films together were horror films and action thrillers, always with a healthy dose of nudity and sex – something that Romay was not only comfortable with, she loved it!

Lina Romay was one of exploitation cinema’s greatest sex kittens. She was a fearless performer – and a exhibitionist as well!

Romay was born in Barcelona in 1954, and made her film debut as a gypsy girl in “The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein” in 1973.

One of Lina’s most memorable roles was voracious Countess Irina Karlstein in “Female Vampire” / “Erotikill! / “The Bare-Breasted Countess” from 1975!

Yes, the film had three different titles! You can find a DVD release from Redemption that also includes the version called “Erotikill!”

In both cases, Lina Romay is a vampire who has sex with both male and female victims. In Jess Franco’s sex-fuelled cinema, this vampire performs oral sex on her victims until they die, draining them of their sexual fluids!

Three versions of the film were shot – one that was straight horror, one that had horror mixed with some sex, and then there was a hardcore porn version – because Romay was fearless and willing to bare all in her movies!

Talk About A “Blood Bath!”

Roman is fully nude in much of the film, like many of the films she made – she was VERY comfortable performing in the nude….

FYI, Director Franco’s original title for the film was “The Bare Breasted Countess”, and ultimately the film was shown with that title at the 2009 Fantastic Fest in the United States.

Kudos To Severin Films!

Because of the dedicated effort of a few great home video companies, some of Romay’s best movies are now available – including this notorious, controversial classic!

“The Hot Nights Of Linda!”

Jess Franco’s legendary sexploitation classic is finally unearthed, thanks to Severin Films! The Director’s wife, Lina Romay, stars in one of her larger roles for him – and among the most notorious! And the blu-ray release is full of great additional material!

The plot is straightforward: a young woman cares for an elderly man on an island off the Greek coast. She discovers that one of the man’s daughters is a crazed nymphomaniac who pursues everyone in the house!

Well, OF COURSE!

A Barcelona Bordello Discovery!

According to Severin, the film is restored from a 35mm print discovered in a Barcelona bordello! I don’t care how they found it, I’m just glad they did, as it is loaded with Bonus Features and presented in high definition for the first time ever in America!

Blu-Ray Bonuses!

Look at all of the bonus material included in this release, including an exclusive Interview with Director Jess Franco and Lina…check out all of the extras here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/11/lindas-shocking-hot-nights-lina-romays-classic-sexploitation/

The Notorious “French” Version!

The blu-ray is a three disc effort, with the notorious “alternate banana” version of the film – the french cut, which is completely uncensored!

Again, kudos to Severin Films – what a great job!

Check out everything Severin has to offer by going to their website:

http://www.severin-films.com/

Another fascinating Franco film starring Romay was this classic:

Lorna The Exorcist!

This 1974 film by Franco has a simple logline: A man is tormented by an ex-lover, Lorna, who is some kind of witch!

And let’s be honest, Mondo Macabro’s extended teaser will blow your mind right now!

Franco’s themes often revolved around lesbian vampires, women in prison, surgical horror, sadomasochism, zombies and sexploitation – and were drenched in blood…

Their story fascinates, even if the films are not all that good, they are also fascinating to watch!

This genre of 70’s sexploitation movie was much more artistic in Europe…there was plenty of sex, violence and nudity, but the movies play out as if they think it’s high art! Here are some additional examples of Jess Franco and Lina Romay efforts:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/02/17/countess-perverse-lorna-the-exorcist-jess-francos-naked-masterpieces/

One of great roles of the 80’s was this shocker:

Directed by Franco, this was the story of a young woman who thinks she may be a murderer – or is she simply in a trance?

Franco lets his shot of her staring vacantly into space run for almost a minute – and she is hypnotic to watch – oh, and there is plenty of sex and violence as well! See the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/06/night-has-a-thousand-desires-lina-romays-cult-classic-jess-francos-sex-shocker/

Thanks to the great Mondo Macabro for bringing this film to blu-ray – buy a copy to support them!

Lina Romay had a fascinating career, with many great films that are worth watching…sadly, she died of cancer in 2012, at the age of 57.

Let me know which ones are your favorites!

Vincent Price “Gets Down!”

Have you ever wanted to see the legendary Horror Actor Vincent Price in an afro? And have you ever wanted to kill your critics? Well, thanks to this Horror legend, you can do both!

When you create art, you can get angry when the reviews are bad…and if you are a Critic, THIS is how you feel:

“You begin to resent an actor if you always have to give him bad notices.”

With both sides sharpening their knives, it’s time for “Theater Of Blood!”

First, let’s check out the trailer:

Vincent Price stars as Edward Lionheart, an actor overlooked for a Critics acting award – and after confronting them, he dramatically throws himself into the Thames river.

Of course, you can’t keep a great Actor down, and soon Price is back, carrying out his bloody revenge on his Critics, donning a variety of great disguises as his kills them in very Shakespearean ways!

The great Actress Diana Rigg plays his daughter, Edwina Lionheart – yes, that’s her donning an Afro as well! She has no problem sticking up for her father against his harshest critics.

Critic Peregrine Devlin: “You don’t understand!”
Edwina Lionheart: “I understand that the greatest actor of all time never earned your approval for one single performance. Never. Not one good review!”

According to IMDB, Diana Rigg considers this her best film – and she has a point, because it’s terrific!

If you are worried it’s too funny to be gory, know that more than six gallons of fake blood was used to produce the eight ghastly murders!

Price was at his best in the 60’s and 70’s, and one of my favorite films was this one:

“The Abominable Dr. Phibes” is a great horror film from the early 70’s – you can find out more about this cult classic and see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/10/22/drunken-dr-phibes-horrors-abominable-midnight-madness/

Diana Rigg had a great career as well of course, and was perhaps the greatest “Bond girl” of all time:

She was smart, sassy, conflicted, confident and ultimately the greatest 007 tragedy ever filmed in the classic Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”.

Of course, there were many stories about how she didn’t get along with the “one and done” 007, George Lazenby – and now there is a great documentary that tells the story! See more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/02/the-sex-secrets-of-james-bond-007-george-lazenbys-swinging-007-days-great-new-documentary-becoming-bond/

Let me know if you’ve seen Vincent Price at his afro-tastic best!

Welcome To San Francisco’s Coit Tower!

While The Golden Gate Bridge may be San Francisco’s most iconic sight, the famous Coit Tower isn’t far behind…

Coit Tower is a 210-foot tower in the Telegraph Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, built in 1933. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 29, 2008.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Sensual Obsession!

Hitchcock’s masterpiece “Vertigo” filmed scenes in San Francisco, and the Director used the tower in a very unique way. In the film, Kim Novak uses the landmark to find Scottie’s apartment on Lombard Street.

The interior apartment scenes were filmed on a studio set, but Hitchcock wanted the tower shown prominently in the background through the apartment window. When art director Henry Bumstead questioned this, Hitchcock replied:

“Coit Tower is a phallic symbol.”

Well, OK then – that means we need to climb up the thing!

The 400 Filbert Street Steps!

When you approach the tower from the Fisherman’s Wharf area to the east, you find a series of steps that will take you all the up to the tower – 400+ steps!

Of course, my wife Alex was eager to travel this way, so off we went on our climb…

There are many places to stop and look at the view, and houses with miniature gardens surround it as well – but no matter how many times you stop, THIS is still ahead of you:

It took about twenty minutes to navigate them all – and there are lots of people doing it around you as well…

Finally, you reach the top and the tower is, in fact, towering above you:

Not only is the tower beautiful, the location offers you spectacular views of San Francisco as well, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island!

I have a story to share about Alcatraz soon as well…so our walk up to the tower was fun, great exercise, and it pays off with spectacular views…if you are ever in San Francisco, I recommend you give Coit a climb!

I also suggest you check out the wild sea lions and seals as well – here is my story on this landmark:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/04/15/san-franciscos-famous-sea-lion-hangout-sea-lions-take-over-a-pier/

If you are on the west coast, a two hour trip south of San Francisco will take you here:

This amazing Calla Lily valley empties right into the Pacific Ocean – see more pics here

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/29/visit-natures-calla-lily-valley-amazing-pacific-ocean-adventure/

Hope you enjoyed the climb up Coit Tower!