Bela Lugosi At His Nicest! ("Invisible Ghost", 1941)(video)

Bela Lugosi At His Nicest!

Bela shows what a really, really sweet guy he could be in this one.

"APPLE pie? My, dat VILL be a treat!"


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Greatest Unsung Monster From Horror's Golden Age: Jake in "The Human Monster" aka "Dark Eyes of London" (1939)(video)

Fans of the Bela Lugosi classic will, of course, be familiar with Wilfrid Walter as Jake, the blind behemoth.

But he's unknown to the general public...despite being one of the most fearsome monsters from the golden age of horror.

"The Human Monster" ranks as one of Lugosi's finest shockers...

...with Jake among the greatest monsters of vintage horror. 

(spoilers)


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

HOPE AND GLORY -- DVD Review by Porfle

A pleasasnt but odd little film is writer-director John Boorman's semi-autobiographical HOPE AND GLORY (Olive Films, 1987), about a young boy whose family must endure the German bombing raids against London in WWII.

This bittersweet reminiscence is seen through a golden haze of nostalgia even as little Billy Rohan (Sebastian Rice Edwards) has his childhood permanently altered by the threat of his neighborhood becoming a bomb site and those around him, friends and loved ones alike, potential casualties.

It's odd, then, that this story is so comedic--in a subtle sort of way--and resolutely non-melodramatic.  The main emphasis is on Billy's fascination with the war, or at least his personal experiences with it, as well as the usual growing-up, coming-of-age kind of stuff (running with a gang of wild kids, playing "doctor" with a neighborhood girl, learning life lessons from eccentric relatives, etc.).

If it weren't for the occasional air raids and terrifying brushes with death and destruction, HOPE AND GLORY would be about on the same level as MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS as family-oriented nostalgia, albeit with much more off-color material such as big sister Dawn (Sammi Davis, looking much younger than she would just a year later in LAIR OF THE WHITE WORM) making out in her bedroom with her soldier boyfriend and Billy comparing cuss words with his rowdy new friends.

Sarah Miles (RYAN'S DAUGHTER) is a frowsy, blowsy dervish of domesticity as Billy's mom, Grace, whose boyish husband Clive (David Hayman) re-ups with the military and leaves her to keep the home fires burning for Billy, Dawn, and their little sister. 

Much of the grown-up interaction involves her clashes with rebellious Dawn and her melancholy over never connecting with her true love, neighbor Mac (Derrick O'Connor).  We see all this through Billy's eyes, a kid who's perceptive beyond his years, as he quietly observes the sometimes puzzling behavior of the adults while they're barely aware of his presence.

The film gives nods to various tropes of WWII London such as rationing, huddling fearfully into bomb shelters, and solemnly listening to their stuttering king's radio pep talks.  But as the very episodic story progresses, not really building much of a narrative in particular, it becomes mostly a slice-of-life tale with a gently feelgood ambience.

The war itself grows more distant later in the film when Grace and the kids go to the country for an extended stay with her parents, including Ian Bannen as her comically eccentric father George.  Here by the lazy river, Billy and George enjoy an idyllic childhood--Billy's first, George's second--playing cricket and fishing. 

I really can't reveal much more of the plot, because there really isn't that much of one to reveal.  HOPE AND GLORY just wants to introduce us to this likable, interesting family and let us live with them for awhile, sharing in their joys, sorrows, setbacks, and minor victories while a world war rages around them. 


Buy it at Olive Films

TECH SPECS
YEAR: 1987
GENRE: COMEDY DRAMA
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH (with optional English subtitles)
LABEL: OLIVE FILMS
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 113 mins
RATING: PG-13
VIDEO: 1.66:1 Aspect Ratio; Color
AUDIO: STEREO
BONUS: TRAILER

Phantom Paintbrush in "KING KONG" (1933) (video)

We've seen the "surface gauge" devices left by the animators in various frames of KING KONG.

Here's something not quite as noticeable--

--a paintbrush used to dab blood on the bullet-riddled Kong during his last stand against the biplanes.

An animator (Willis O'Brien, perhaps?) left it in the frame...
...but it disappears a split-second later.

Just one of those little details that make KING KONG such a fascinating movie.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Olive Films Announces May 2018 DVD & Blu-ray Releases: COLD TURKEY, ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW, A BUCKET OF BLOOD

Olive Films announces May 2018 DVD & Blu-ray releases
 
COMING IN MAY 2018
ON DVD & BLU-RAY

Olive Films is proud to announce the following May 2018​ releases:
Cold Turkey
Odds Against Tomorrow
A Bucket of Blood


COLD TURKEY

COLD TURKEY DVD    
FIRST TIME ON
BLU-RAY

US+CANADA
PREBOOK:        5/8/18
STREET:           5/29/18
CAT:                 OF1413
UPC:       887090141314
SRP:                 $14.95

COLD TURKEY BD      
CAT:                 OF1414
UPC:       887090141413
SRP:                 $29.95
DICK VAN DYKE
(Mary Poppins, Night at the Museum, TV’s The Dick Van Dyke Show)
BOB NEWHART
(Catch-22, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, TV’s Newhart)
PIPPA SCOTT
(The Searchers, Auntie Mame, Petulia)
TOM POSTON
(Rabbit Test, TV’s The Bob Newhart Show, TV’s Mork & Mindy)
EDWARD EVERETT HORTON
(Top Hat, Brazil, Arsenic and Old Lace)
JEAN STAPLETON
(Bells Are Ringing, You’ve Got Mail, TV’s All in the Family)

Directed by
NORMAN LEAR
(Producer of TV’s All in the Family, Good Times, Maude)

Two-time Academy Award® nominee Vincent Gardenia (Supporting Actor nods for Bang the Drum Slowly – 1974 and Moonstruck – 1988) is featured in the comic free-for-all Cold Turkey.

YEAR: 1971
GENRE: COMEDY
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH (with optional English subtitles)
LABEL: OLIVE FILMS
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 102 mins
RATING: PG-13
VIDEO: 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio; COLOR
AUDIO: MONO

Cold Turkey, writer-director Norman Lear’s (TV’s All in the Family) satirical comedy, stars Dick Van Dyke (Mary Poppins) as Reverend Clayton Brooks, a minister in the small town of Eagle Rock, Iowa who takes up the challenge presented by ad exec Merwin Wren (Bob Newhart, TV’s The Bob Newhart Show), a mouthpiece for Hiram C. Grayson (Edward Everett Horton, Top Hat; Brazil) of the Valiant Tobacco Company: any city or town in America that can give up smoking for 30 days will receive a $25 million dollar check. Based on the addictive nature of the nation, Valiant is positive that their publicity stunt won’t cost them a dime.

And so begins the comic tale of the residents of Eagle Rock and their struggle to butt out and grab the dough. The supporting cast of Cold Turkey is a veritable smorgasbord of comedic talent including Tom Poston (TV’s Newhart), Jean Stapleton (TV’s All in the Family), Pippa Scott (Auntie Mame), Vincent Gardenia (Moonstruck), Bob and Ray (Author! Author!), Barnard Hughes (Midnight Cowboy), Barbara Cason (TV’s Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman), Judith Lowry (The Trouble with Angels), M. Emmet Walsh (What’s Up, Doc?) and Paul Benedict (TV’s The Jeffersons).

ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW

US+CANADA
PREBOOK:        5/8/18
STREET:           5/29/18

ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW DVD        
CAT:                 OF1415
UPC:       887090141512
SRP:                 $24.95

ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW  BD          
CAT:                 OF1416
UPC:       887090141611
SRP:                 $29.95
ROBERT RYAN
(On Dangerous Ground, Caught, The Wild Bunch)
HARRY BELAFONTE
(Carmen Jones, Island in the Sun, Buck and the Preacher)
SHELLEY WINTERS
(The Diary of Anne Frank, Lolita, A Double Life)
GLORIA GRAHAME
(The Big Heat, It’s a Wonderful Life, In a Lonely Place)
ED BEGLEY
(The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Wild in the Streets, 12 Angry Men)

Directed by
ROBERT WISE
(West Side Story, The Sound of Music, The Haunting)

Robert Wise, two-time Academy Award® winner for directing (1962 – West Side Story, shared with Jerome Robbins; 1966 – The Sound of Music) and the renowned film editor of Citizen Kane and The Magnificent Ambersons, helms the twisted film noir Odds Against Tomorrow.

YEAR: 1959
GENRE: DRAMA
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH (with optional English subtitles)
LABEL: OLIVE FILMS
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 96 mins
RATING: N/R
VIDEO: 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio; B&W
AUDIO: MONO

Odds Against Tomorrow, Academy Award winner Robert Wise’s (West Side Story) taut film noir, stars Academy Award® nominee Robert Ryan (Supporting Actor, Crossfire - 1948) as Earle Slater, a racist ex-con looking to make a quick buck, and Harry Belafonte (Carmen Jones) as Johnny Ingram, a nightclub performer with gambling debts and in need of some cash.

Recruited by disgraced cop David Burke (Ed Begley, Academy Award® winner for Supporting Actor, Sweet Bird of Youth - 1963) to help with a bank heist, Slater and Ingram become bitter allies in their greed and shared rage against the world. But a pivotal moment will send both men toward a cataclysmic outcome that is anything but black and white.

Odds Against Tomorrow features supporting performances by Academy Award® winner Shelley Winters (Supporting Actress, The Diary of Anne Frank – 1960; Supporting Actress, A Patch of Blue - 1966) as Lorry, Slater’s apprehensive girlfriend, and Academy Award® winner Gloria Grahame (Supporting Actress, The Bad and the Beautiful - 1953) as Helen, Slater’s emotionally damaged neighbor. Written for the screen by Nelson Gidding (The Haunting) and Abraham Polonsky (Academy Award® nominee, Writing, Original Screenplay - Body and Soul, 1948), who due to the Blacklist was fronted by novelist John O. Killens, Odds Against Tomorrow is photographed by Joseph C. Brun (Academy Award® nominee, Cinematography, Black & White, Martin Luther - 1954) and edited by three-time Academy Award® nominee Dede Allen (Dog Day Afternoon – 1976, Reds – 1982 shared with Craig McKay, Wonder Boys – 2001).

A BUCKET OF BLOOD


US+CANADA
PREBOOK:        5/8/18
STREET:         5/29/18

A BUCKET OF BLOOD   DVD    
CAT:                 OF1417
UPC:       887090141710
SRP:                 $14.95

DICK MILLER
(Gremlins, The Trip, The Wild Angels)
BERT CONVY
(Semi-Tough, Hero at Large, Susan Slade)
BARBOURA MORRIS
(The Trip, The Haunted Palace, The Wasp Woman)
ANTONY CARBONE
(Extreme Close-Up, Pit and the Pendulum, Last Woman on Earth)
ED NELSON
(Airport 1975, Runaway Jury, TV’s Peyton Place)

Directed by
ROGER CORMAN
(The Trip, The Wild Angels, Gas-s-s-s)

A career highlight, director Roger Corman’s A Bucket of Blood has much in common with his black-humor horror flick The Little Shop of Horrors and the post-apocalyptic Sci-Fi gem Gas-s-s-s.

YEAR: 1959
GENRE: COMEDY HORROR
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH (with optional English subtitles)
LABEL: OLIVE FILMS
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 66 mins
RATING: N/R
VIDEO: 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio; B&W
AUDIO: MONO
In the immortal words of Hippocrates, “Life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting ...” Hippocrates was onto something.

A Bucket of Blood, directed by Roger Corman (The Trip), is the best of the genre hyphenates, a black-comedy-beatnik-culture-horror film. The masterful Corman (recipient of an honorary Academy Award® in 2010 for “his rich engendering of films and filmmakers”), often referred to as the Pope of Pop Culture, delivers on every level in a film packed with notable character actors including cult-favorite Dick Miller (The Trip, The Wild Angels) in the lead role of Walter, a busboy who dreams of creating the perfect work of art. Also featured are Barboura Morris (The Trip, The Haunted Palace) as Carla, the woman of Walter’s dreams, and Bert Convy (Semi-Tough) as undercover cop Lou Raby.

Influenced by the artists that circle his orbit at The Yellow Door Café, busboy Walter ventures into the world of sculpting where he can nurture the Rodin that lives inside of him. The downside is that his subjects are dead – by his hand. His beginnings, both humble and accidental, start with a small statue called “Dead Cat.” Unfortunately, “Dead Cat” is followed by “Murdered Man.” By the time we reach Walter’s interest in the female form …. well, you get the picture.

A Bucket of Blood is written by Charles B. Griffith (Death Race 2000), photographed by Jacques R. Marquette (Burnt Offerings), edited by Anthony Carras (The Comedy of Terrors), with music by Fred Katz (The Little Shop of Horrors) and art direction by Dan Haller (Pit and the Pendulum).

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olivefilms
Website: https://olivefilms.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/olivefilms

Fun Bloopers! in John Wayne's "THE ALAMO" (1960)(video)

John Wayne's "Best Picture" nominee is a stirring epic...

...with some fun bloopers.  Such as:

The Disappearing Tennessean...
The electrical cord on Jim Bowie's gun...
Fake rocks blowing in the wind...
"Dead" Lawrence Harvey moves his hand out of the way...
Half a sword sticking out of Chill Wills' back...
John Wayne steps on an extra's head...
Mexican army extras just standing around...

And yet, after all that...it's still a great movie!


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Visible Stagehand in "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein" (1948)(video)

Bud and Lou find themselves in the dungeon of an old castle...

...along with the Frankenstein Monster and Dracula.

Much of the action involves a secret revolving door in the wall... 
...which is turned from behind by an unseen stagehand.

Except that in one shot, the stagehand isn't quite "unseen."

I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Phantom Figures in "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (1967)(video)

Blondie (Clint Eastwood) and Tuco (Eli Wallach) are supposed to be all by themselves in that lonely cemetery.

But there are mysterious figures lurking in the background.

Watch...


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

"HOSTILES" -- Gritty Western Starring Christian Bale Now Available on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital

“One of the Best Films of the Year” -- Los Angeles Times

"HOSTILES"

The Gritty Western Action Treks to 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, and DVD on April 24 from Lionsgate

SANTA MONICA, CA (February 27, 2018) – A star-studded cast leads the powerful and critically acclaimed western, Hostiles, arriving on Digital April 17 and on 4K Ultra HD™ (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray™ Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand April 24 from Lionsgate.

The highly successful independent director, Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Black Mass) reunites with his Out of the Furnace star and Oscar® winner Christian Bale (Best Supporting Actor, The Fighter, 2010) in what is being hailed by Entertainment Weekly as “the first great western since 1992’s Unforgiven.” Hostiles also stars Oscar® nominee Rosamund Pike (Best Actress, Gone Girl, 2014), Wes Studi (Avatar, The Last of the Mohicans), Primetime Emmy® nominee Jesse Plemons (Best Actor, “Fargo,” 2014), Golden Globe® nominee Adam Beach (Best Actor, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, 2007), and Ben Foster (Hell or High Water, Lone Survivor).

Set in 1892, Hostiles tells the story of a legendary Army captain (Bale) who, after stern resistance, reluctantly agrees to escort a dying Cheyenne war chief (Studi) and his family back to tribal lands. Making the harrowing and perilous journey from Fort Berringer, an isolated Army outpost in New Mexico, to the grasslands of Montana, the former rivals encounter a young widow (Pike), whose family was murdered on the plains. Together, they must join forces to overcome the punishing landscape, hostile Comanche, and ruthless outliers that they encounter along the way.

The Hostiles 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD copies include an in-depth 3-part “making of” documentary, and will be available for the suggested retail price of $42.99, $39.99, and $29.95, respectively.

4K UHD / BLU-RAY / DVD / DIGITAL SPECIAL FEATURES
⦁ “A Journey to the Soul: The Making of Hostiles” 3-Part Documentary
⦁ “Provenance” Featurette
⦁ “Removing the Binds” Featurette
⦁ “Don’t Look Back” Featurette

                                          Watch the Trailer:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HostilesMovie/
Instagram: @hostilesmovie
Twitter: @HostilesMovie
#Hostiles

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production:  2017
Title Copyright: Hostiles © 2017 YLK Distribution LLC. All Rights Reserved. Artwork & Supplementary Materials © 2018 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: R for strong violence, and language
Genre: Action, Adventure, Western, Drama
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH
Feature Run Time: 133 Minutes
4K Ultra HD™ Format: 2160p Ultra High Definition, 16x9 Widescreen 2.40:1 Presentation
BD Format: 1080p High Definition, 16x9 Widescreen 2.40:1 Presentation
DVD Format: 16x9 Widescreen 2.40:1 Presentation
4K Ultra HD™ Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio™, English Descriptive Audio
BD Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio™, English Descriptive Audio
DVD Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital

ABOUT LIONSGATE
The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global content platform whose films, television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation audiences around the world.  In addition to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a growing presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, gaming, virtual reality and other new entertainment technologies.  Lionsgate’s content initiatives are backed by a 16,000-title film and television library and delivered through a global licensing infrastructure.  The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the Company’s worldwide consumer base. 

Disney's "PETER PAN SIGNATURE COLLECTION" on Digital May 29, Blu-ray June 5

Disney's PETER PAN SIGNATURE COLLECTION on Digital May 29 & Blu-ray June 5

In celebration of its 65th anniversary, Disney's beloved flight of fantasy, "Peter Pan," joins the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection, landing in homes on Digital and Movies Anywhere on May 29 and on Blu-ray June 5.

With a little faith, trust and pixie dust, every member of the family will let their imagination soar on this epic adventure to Never Land, sparkling with legendary animation, extraordinary music and both all-new and classic bonus features.

The Walt Disney Signature Collection edition of "Peter Pan" invites adventures of all ages to believe in magic once again and experience a timeless treasure from Disney's golden age of animation that has stirred the hearts and imaginations of moviegoers worldwide since its original 1953 release.

The Signature Collection edition offers over two hours of classic bonus features plus never-before-seen extras, including the latest installment of "Stories from Walt's Office," which explores Walt's love of flying and the company planes; a nostalgic reunion between Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Wendy) and Paul Collins (the voice of John); and new "Oke" renditions of the classic song "You Can Fly" and deleted song "Never Smile at a Crocodile" accompanied by on-screen lyrics and the film's unforgettable animated characters.

Check out a new trailer for Peter Pan Walt Disney Signature Collection here:

Why Is All The Paper Soggy In "The Cocoanuts"? (Marx Bros, 1929)(video)

In 1929, sound recording was still an ongoing problem. 

The Marx Brothers comedy "The Cocoanuts" had its sound problems...including a loud crackling noise every time someone handled paper.

To solve the problem, all paper used in the film was soaked in water.

So every time you see paper, it's soggy and limp.

The humor may be dry, but the paper isn't.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Scary Monster Transformation Scenes (video)

Scary Monster Transformation Scenes

Mad Monster (1942)
Return of the Vampire (1944)
The Neanderthal Man (1953)
The Werewolf (1956)
The Vampire (1957)
I Was A Teenage Werewolf (1957)
Fury of the Wolfman (1972)

Read our reviews of "Return of the Vampire" , "The Vampire", and "Neanderthal Man" 


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

This May, Time Life Releases "THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW IN COLOR: DELUXE EDITION", Featuring More Episodes Unseen in 50 Years!

"THE GREAT ONE" RETURNS WITH TWELVE NEVER-BEFORE-RELEASED EPISODES OF HIS SMASH TV VARIETY SHOW UNSEEN FOR 50 YEARS!

THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW IN COLOR: DELUXE EDITION

Street Date: May 15, 2018
DVD SRP: $29.95

Just in Time for Father's Day, Time Life Delivers a Brand New, Beautifully-Remastered Three-Disc DVD Set Featuring Seven Previously Unreleased Honeymooners Sketches, Gleason's Classic Characters, Hilarious Sketches and the Biggest Stars in Tinseltown, Including Jack Benny, George Burns, Milton Berle, Tony Bennett, Mickey Rooney, Groucho Marx and Many More!

PROGRAM SYNOPSIS

"How swee-eet it is!" Unseen for more than 50 years, at long last, The Jackie Gleason Show is back!

From 1966-1970, Gleason, everyone's favorite working-class hero, entertained enthralled audiences across the country with his eponymous TV Variety Show featuring hilarious sketches, celebrity guest stars and much more.

Taped in beautiful Miami Beach, The Jackie Gleason Show delivered an unforgettable gallery of characters Gleason himself created and fine-tuned, including his most indelible and legendary creation -- Ralph Kramden -- as he and Art Carney revived their Honeymooners roles (with Sheila MacRae and Jane Kean added as the new Alice and Trixie), all presented in glorious color for the first time.

Across three beautifully-remastered collector's discs, THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW IN COLOR: DELUXE EDITION contains 12 never-before-released episodes -- including 7 unreleased Honeymooners sketches that haven't been seen since they first aired, including Six Months To Live, Alice's Birthday, Lawsuit, Hot Tip, The New Bowling Ball, Norton Moves In, and The New Manager. 

Tune in to see Jackie at his best, on stage with all his famous friends - Jack Benny, George Burns, Milton Berle, Tony Bennett, Red Buttons, Phil Silvers, Florence Henderson, Frankie Avalon, Nipsey Russell, Edie Adams, Sid Caesar, Alan King, Robert Goulet, Mickey Rooney, Frank Sinatra Jr., Victor Borge -- and others.

"The Jackie Gleason Show" delivered an hour of non-stop entertainment every week, and now, home audiences can let Jackie entertain them any time! So cue the travelin' music and heed the big man's message before he glides offstage: "And awaaay we go!"

THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW IN COLOR: DELUXE EDITION
Type: DVD/3 Discs
Running Time: 496 mins.
Rating: N/A
Genre: TV DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (4:3)
Audio: Stereo

Twin Shatners! (Four Different Ones) (video)

Twin Shatners! (Four Different Ones)

Star Trek: The Original Series, "The Enemy Within" (1966)
Star Trek: The Original Series, "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" (1966)
Star Trek: The Original Series, "Whom Gods Destroy" (1969)
"White Comanche" (1968)

Read our review of "White Comanche" HERE


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

The Spoken Words That Caused A Sensation In "The Jazz Singer" (1927)(video)

When Warner Brothers made "The Jazz Singer" in 1927, it was a silent film like the others of its era.

Except that the songs performed by star Al Jolson would be done using their new Vitaphone sound process.

But it wasn't hearing the songs that astounded audiences at the time.
It was the spoken patter ad-libbed by Jolson between the songs. 

Later in the film, when Jolson's character entertains his adoring mother...
...his off-the-cuff remarks charm and delight viewers, making them want more. 

The first all-spoken film was yet to come. But because of Jolson's chatty ad-libs...

..."The Jazz Singer" is still often regarded as the first "talkie."

I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

(Read our review of THE JAZZ SINGER)

"GREASE 40th ANNIVERSARY" Special Edition Coming April 24 to 4K Ultra, Blu-ray Combo Packs, and DVD

40 Years Later, It’s Still the Word
 

"GREASE 40th Anniversary"

Relive the Classic ‘50s Celebration with a New 40th Anniversary Edition Featuring Fully Restored Picture and Sound and New Bonus Content on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital April 24, 2018

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – It’s got a groove, it’s got a meaning…and it’s still a cultural phenomenon 40 years after its original release.  The iconic celebration of high school life in the 1950s, GREASE is the way you’ll be feeling with a new 40th Anniversary Edition on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital April 24, 2018 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. 

Featuring an explosion of song and dance, as well as star-making performances from John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, GREASE made an indelible impact on popular culture.  40 years later, the film remains an enduring favorite as legions of new fans discover the memorable moments, sensational soundtrack and classic love story.  Boasting unforgettable songs including “Greased Lightnin,” “Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Summer Nights,” “Hopelessly Devoted To You,” “Beauty School Drop Out” and, of course, “Grease,” the film is a timeless feel-good celebration.

Paramount worked with director Randal Kleiser to restore GREASE to its original vibrancy with the highest quality sound, picture resolution and color.  The original negative was scanned and received extensive clean up and color correction using previously unavailable digital restoration tools such as high dynamic range technology.  In addition, the audio was enhanced from a six-track mix created for an original 70mm release, giving the music more clarity.  The resulting picture and sound create an exceptional home viewing experience. 

The GREASE 40th Anniversary Edition 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Combo Packs include the fully restored version of the film plus an all-new, in-depth exploration of the little-known origins of what would become a Broadway play and then a feature film and worldwide phenomenon.  “Grease: A Chicago Story” features new interviews with writer Jim Jacobs and original cast members of the Chicago show.  In addition, the discs include the original song the title sequence was animated to and an alternate ending salvaged from the original black & white 16mm work print discovered by director Randal Kleiser. 

Both the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Combo Packs also feature more than an hour of previously released bonus material, including a sing-along, vintage interviews with the cast, deleted scenes and more.  Plus, the Blu-ray Combo comes in collectible packaging with 16 pages of images laid out like a high school yearbook.  In addition, a Grease Collection will be available in a Steelbook Locker, which includes the 40th Anniversary Blu-ray of Grease, as well as Grease 2 and Grease: Live! on Blu-ray for the first time.

GREASE 40th Anniversary Blu-ray Combo Pack

 The GREASE Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1  Dolby TrueHD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, German 5.1 Dolby Digital, Italian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Japanese 2.0 Dolby Digital, Brazilian Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital, Castilian Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Latin American Spanish Mono Dolby Digital, and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, Cantonese, Mandarin Simplified, Mandarin Traditional, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Swedish, Thai and Turkish subtitles.  The DVD in the Combo Pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish Mono Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, and Spanish subtitles. The Combo Pack includes access to a Digital copy of the film as well as the following:

Blu-ray
⦁ Feature film in high definition
⦁ Commentary by director Randal Kleiser and choreographer Patricia Birch
⦁ Introduction by Randal Kleiser
⦁ Rydell Sing-Along
⦁ The Time, The Place, The Motion: Remembering Grease
⦁ Grease: A Chicago Story—NEW!
⦁ Alternate Animated Main Titles—NEW!
⦁ Alternate Ending—NEW!
⦁ Deleted/Extended/Alternate Scenes with Introduction by Randal Kleiser
⦁ Grease Reunion 2002 – DVD Launch Party
⦁ Grease Memories from John & Olivia
⦁ The Moves Behind the Music
⦁ Thunder Roadsters
⦁ John Travolta and Allan Carr “Grease Day” interview
⦁ Olivia Newton-John and Robert Stigwood “Grease Day” interview
⦁ Photo Galleries
⦁ Theatrical Trailer
DVD
⦁ Feature film in standard definition
⦁ Commentary by director Randal Kleiser and choreographer Patricia Birch
⦁ Introduction by Randal Kleiser
⦁ Rydell Sing-Along
⦁ The Time, The Place, The Motion: Remembering Grease
⦁ Alternate Animated Main Titles—NEW!
⦁ Alternate Ending—NEW!
⦁ Deleted/Extended/Alternate Scenes with Introduction by Randal Kleiser
⦁ Grease Reunion 2002 – DVD Launch Party
⦁ The Moves Behind the Music
⦁ Olivia Newton-John and Robert Stigwood “Grease Day” interview
⦁ Photo Galleries

GREASE 40th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack

 The 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack includes the Blu-ray detailed above as well as a 4K disc presented in Ultra HD with English 5.1  Dolby TrueHD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, German 5.1 Dolby Digital, Italian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Japanese 2.0 Dolby Digital, Brazilian Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital, Castilian Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Latin American Spanish Mono Dolby Digital, and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, Cantonese, Mandarin Simplified, Mandarin Traditional, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Swedish, Thai and Turkish subtitles.  The 4K Ultra HD disc includes the feature film and commentary by director Randal Kleiser and choreographer Patricia Birch.

GREASE 40th Anniversary DVD

 The GREASE single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish Mono Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, and Spanish subtitles. The DVD includes the following:
⦁ Feature film in standard definition
⦁ Commentary by director Randal Kleiser and choreographer Patricia Birch
⦁ Introduction by Randal Kleiser
⦁ Rydell Sing-Along
⦁ The Time, The Place, The Motion: Remembering Grease
⦁ Alternate Animated Main Titles—NEW!
⦁ Alternate Ending—NEW!
⦁ Deleted/Extended/Alternate Scenes with Introduction by Randal Kleiser
⦁ Grease Reunion 2002 – DVD Launch Party
⦁ The Moves Behind the Music
⦁ Olivia Newton-John and Robert Stigwood “Grease Day” interview
⦁ Photo Galleries

About Paramount Home Media Distribution
Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.  PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), home to premier media brands that create television programs, motion pictures, consumer products, and digital content for audiences in 180 countries and territories.  The PHMD division oversees PPC’s home entertainment and transactional digital distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CBS and applicable licensing and servicing of certain DreamWorks Animation titles.  PHMD additionally manages global licensing of studio content and transactional distribution across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies. 

GREASE 40th Anniversary
Street Date:      April 24, 2018 (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital)
U.S. Rating: PG

When Universal's "Dracula" Was Reflected In A Mirror (video)

A key element in Universal Pictures' "Dracula" lore is that the vampire's reflection can never be seen in a mirror...

...as in "Dracula" (1931) with Bela Lugosi...
...and "House of Dracula" (1945) with John Carradine.

But on at least two occasions, the filmmakers slipped up. 

In "Son of Dracula" (1943), Lon Chaney's vampire performs the screen's first bat-to-man transformation.

But in doing so, his image is captured in the hallway mirror.

In 1948's "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein", Lugosi is once again in the role.

And once again, his image is reflected in a mirror.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

LAST SEEN IN IDAHO -- Movie Review by Porfle

LAST SEEN IN IDAHO (2018) starts off with a shocking double murder--"shocking" mainly because of how utterly, blandly casual it is for the jaded hitman Brock, as performed by Casper Van Dien (STARSHIP TROOPERS, TURBULENT SKIES, LAKE EFFECTS) in full reptilian mode.

This is the kind of guy Summer (screenplay writer Hallie Shepherd) will have to deal with after she witnesses another murder in the auto garage where she works, this time involving not only Brock but her weak-willed boss Dex (Eric Colley), her vile ex-husband Lance (Shawn Christian), and a mysterious crime boss who runs everything, including city government, from behind the scenes.

In this tense opening sequence Summer crashes her car trying to escape and wakes up from a coma in the hospital, watched over by her ditzy sister Trina (Alexis Monnie), who's indirectly involved since one of the bad guys has become her sugar daddy. 

As her head injury heals, Summer struggles to regain her memory of the event as she begins having visions of things to come--including her kidnapping and murder. 

This first part of LAST SEEN IN IDAHO mixes elements of Stephen King's THE DEAD ZONE with the feel of one of those Dean Koontz novels in which a strong female character faces some kind of unspeakable evil. 

The action and thriller genres are also well represented as Summer's perilous dealings with the bad guys--who want her dead before her memory returns--yield several exceedingly tense suspense sequences. 

This is further complicated when one of them, a handsome rogue named Franco (Wes Ramsey) for whom she forms romantic feelings, claims to be an undercover cop who's on her side.  Needless to say, we're just as dubious as she is.

Hallie Shepherd has written a great lead role for herself and acquits it very well, with a supporting cast that's also first-rate. (Casper Van Dien is one of the scariest villains of recent years.)  Direction by Eric Colley (THE LAST RESCUE, G.P.S.) is seamlessly good. 

The suspense begins early, builds ever so gradually, and, by the final third of the film, is a constant factor in keeping the viewer in a state of tension. 

By that time the action and excitement are almost non-stop as Hallie bounces back and forth between various forms of grave peril (at times the film resembles an edited-down feature version of a serial by way of modern film noir). 

Finally both she and sister Trina end up in the bad guys' clutches (fulfilling Summer's "kidnapping" prophecy), lighting the fuse on a violent finale that's guaranteed to put the viewer through the wringer. 

I was in the mood for something exciting, suspenseful, and smart when I sat down to give LAST SEEN IN IDAHO a watch, and it came through with flying colors. This is the kind of fine, low-budget indy filmmaking that compels you to sit up on the edge of your seat and pay attention.  


Release Date: April 24, 2018 - DVD/VOD

Watch the Trailer:

Vin Diesel / One Race Films And The H Collective Acquire Rights to "xXx" Franchise From Revolution Studios

VIN DIESEL/ONE RACE FILMS AND THE H COLLECTIVE ACQUIRE RIGHTS TO “xXx” FRANCHISE FROM REVOLUTION STUDIOS

xXx 4 Production Slated to Start December 2018; Vin Diesel to Star and Produce with D.J. Caruso Returning as Director

Read our review of "xXx: Return of Xander Cage"


LOS ANGELES, CA (April 17, 2018) – The H Collective announced today that they have acquired the rights from Revolution Studios to the global hit xXx film franchise alongside its star and producer, Vin Diesel and his One Race Films. Revolution Studios retains its rights to the first three films.  D.J. Caruso (xXx: Return of Xander Cage, I Am Number Four, Disturbia) will return to direct xXx 4 with Diesel reprising his role as “Xander Cage.” Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum will produce with Diesel, Samantha Vincent for One Race Films and The H Collective. Production is slated for December 2018.

The xXx franchise, which includes xXx, xXx: State of the Union, and xXx: Return of Xander Cage has collectively grossed nearly $1 billion at the worldwide box-office.

The H Collective CEO Nic Crawley said: “During my time at Paramount I was lucky to be involved in the development and distribution of xXx: Return of Xander Cage. The response from the Chinese box office was unprecedented. Bringing the next installment of the xXx franchise to The H Collective complements our diversified slate and mission to produce content for a global audience.”

Diesel has starred in and produced the five highest-grossing films in the massively successful “Fast” franchise.  He voices ‘Groot’ in both the Guardians of the Galaxy films and will also appear in Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War this April.

Caruso directed the franchise’s previous installment xXx: Return of Xander Cage and is best known for his work on DreamWork’s thriller Eagle Eye starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan, as well as I am Number Four for Touchstone Pictures and Disturbia for Paramount. His TV credits include “The Shield” for FX which earned two Golden Globe® wins.

The H Collective, who will finance xXx 4 alongside investment partners including Sparkle Roll Media, HCH Media, Dadi Cinema, and Angeleno Studio, is currently in production on an Untitled Horror Feature produced by James Gunn starring Elizabeth Banks and is also in post-production on Christopher Cantwell’s The Parts You Lose.

Diesel is represented by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Caruso is represented by CAA and Media Talent Group.

ABOUT THE H COLLECTIVE
Launched in June, and with offices in Los Angeles, The H Collective is a global film finance, production, marketing and distribution company that is producing a diversified slate of four high-quality films per year.  The company established production deals with prominent producers such as James Gunn, Mark Johnson, Joe Roth, and Sid Ganis on a roster of films that encompasses Family/Comedy, Action/Adventure, Horror/Genre and Prestige fare. They are currently in post-production on Christopher Cantwell’s The Parts You Lose starring Aaron Paul, Scoot McNairy and Mary Elizabeth Winstead with Mark Johnson’s Gran Via Productions. The H Collective has recently formed a management arm with Chinese stars Li Bingbing and Karry Wang among the firm’s first talent.
For further information, visit: www.thehcollectivefilms.com.

ABOUT ONE RACE FILMS / ONE RACE TV
One Race Films, founded in 1995 by writer, director, producer and actor Vin Diesel, has produced the five highest-grossing films in the “Fast” franchise — Fate of the Furious, Furious 7, Fast and Furious 6, “Fast Five as well as Fast & Furious. He has directed Multifacial, Strays and Los Bandoleros. Previously, ORF launched multiple franchises in the action genre, including the science-fiction thriller Pitch Black and the two follow-up films, Chronicles of Riddick and Riddick, along with the hit xXx. In addition to a thriving film production company, ORF launched One Race Television and has the existing gaming company Tigon Studios.  One Race has a multi-year overall deal with Universal Television, through which the company is developing a reboot of “Miami Vice” for NBC, as well as “Get Christie Love,” which received a pilot production commitment from ABC.  Tigon Studios has produced three critically acclaimed console titles including Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and original property The Wheelman.

ABOUT REVOLUTION STUDIOS
Revolution Studios is a diversified entertainment company that owns, acquires and exploits film, television and stage productions.  Led by CEO Vince Totino and President and COO Scott Hemming, the company boasts one of the largest independent libraries of premium content, including 126 motion pictures which collectively earned more than $7.1 billion in box office receipts, as well as 240 television episodes.   Revolution recently produced xXx: Return of Xander Cage, as well as 46 of the motion pictures in its library, including Maid in Manhattan, Anger Management, Daddy Day Care, America’s Sweethearts, Hellboy, xXx, White Chicks and the Academy Award®-winning Black Hawk Down.  More recently, Revolution has acquired 80 movies through library acquisitions, including those of Morgan Creek International, Cold Spring Pictures and GK Films.  Originally founded by Joe Roth in 2000, the company was acquired by Content Partners in 2017

This May, "LAUGH-IN" Skewers the Me Generation with THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON, Available on 5/8

IN 1970, TELEVISION'S LANDMARK VARIETY SERIES AND POP CULTURE PHENOMENON ENTERED THE ME DECADE WITH BITING COMEDY AND STAR POWER IN EQUAL MEASURE

ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON

Street Date: May 8, 2018
DVD SRP: $39.95

Available for the Very First Time at Retail, The 7-Disc Set Features 26 Complete, Remastered Episodes from the Emmy® And Golden Globe®-Winning Series; Season Four Guest Stars Include Truman Capote, Art Carney, Johnny Carson, Wilt Chamberlain, Carol Channing, Tim Conway, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr., Rich Little, Bob Newhart, Vincent Price, Carl Reiner, Debbie Reynolds, Don Rickles, Rod Serling, Orson Welles, and Many More!

PROGRAM SYNOPSIS

The '60s gave us "in-crowds," "be-ins" and "love-ins," and starting in 1968, the happening place for free-form comedy was Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, broadcast from beautiful downtown Burbank. Straight man Dan Rowan and wisecracking co-host Dick Martin led a gaggle of goofballs through a rapid-fire assault of one-liners, skits, bits and non sequiturs that left viewers in hysterics and disbelief. Anything and anyone in the public eye was a target. Political correctness? Forget it!

The groundbreaking, Emmy Award-winning show anchored the Monday 8 p.m. time slot on NBC until March 12, 1973 and this May, Time Life delivers another unparalleled installment of this landmark variety show with ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON.

Don Rickles impersonating Arlene Francis? A boxing match between Sammy Davis Jr. and Wilt Chamberlain? What will the Laugh-In brain trust think of next? Across the 26 rip-roaring, yuk-a-minute episodes included on ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON home audiences will be treated to unforgettable sketches including Art Carney as the Masked Lobster looking for work and Goldie Hawn returning after winning an Oscar for Cactus Flower -- along with her new attitude.

The phone line again sizzles when Ernestine (Lily Tomlin) rings up Aristotle Onassis and Gore Vidal, whom she queries about Myra Breckinridge (keep an eye on her dialing finger). Vidal's feuding foe William F. Buckley Jr. drops by for a surprising question and answer session with the cast. Larger-than-life Zero Mostel pantomimes a day in his life in four brilliant minutes, while larger-than-two lives Orson Welles hosts a Halloween Boo-In.

On top of those and long-running classic sketches as "Cocktail Party," "Joke Wall," "The Farkle Family" and "Gladys and Tyrone," THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON trots out many of the 20th century's biggest headliners and personalities. Luminaries appearing includes Joey Bishop, William F.Buckley, Truman Capote, Art Carney, Johnny Carson, Wilt Chamberlain, Carol Channing, Tim Conway, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr., Phyllis Diller, David Frost, Andy Griffith, Peter Lawford, Rich Little, Bob Newhart, Vincent Price, Carl Reiner, Debbie Reynolds, Don Rickles, Rod Serling, Orson Welles, Flip Wilsonand many more!

The set also includes two new-to-retail, specially-produced bonus features: interviews with Lily Tomlin and Arte Johnson.

CAST
Dan Rowan
Dick Martin
Lily Tomlin
Ruth Buzzi
Arte Johnson
Gary Owens
Alan Sues
Ann Elder
Dennis Allen
Barbara Sharma
Johnny Brown

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Format: DVD/7 Discs
Running Time: 1384 minutes
Genre: TV DVD/Comedy
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audio: Stereo

"ALIEN: DESCENT" Location Based VR Experience Announced Today

FOXNEXT AND PURE IMAGINATION STUDIOS PARTNER TO TRANSPORT GUESTS INTO THE ALIEN UNIVERSE

WITH "ALIEN: DESCENT"

A FREE-ROAMING VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE

Recruit your squad starting on April 26, ALIEN Day, at Outlets at Orange in Orange County

LOS ANGELES, CA (April 18, 2018) – Pure Imagination Studios and FoxNext Destinations will open ALIEN: DESCENT, a cutting-edge free-roaming virtual reality experience at The Outlets at Orange in Orange County on April 26. Additional locations will be announced soon. Tickets can be reserved now at AlienDescent.com.

Set in the ALIEN universe, guests join an elite squad of Colonial Marines sent to investigate a distress signal from a Weyland-Yutani mining outpost. Just before losing contact, the facility reported a mysterious infestation. It’s up to the guests and their squad to contain the threat, quarantine any survivors and get everyone to safety. While on the mission, guests move freely through the immersive space battling aliens, ranging from face-huggers to full-grown Xenomorphs.

ALIEN: DESCENT features a first-of-its-kind wireless technology developed by Pure Imagination Studios. The technology allows up to four guests to move about freely in VR, without the use of PC backpacks or wires. Each guest is armed with a custom-designed weapon and motion-tracking sensors on their arms and legs. Environmental effects, motion platforms and other surprises that simulate the descent into the heart of the Alien threat enhance the experience.

“ALIEN: DESCENT’s story-first approach is at the forefront of the location-based VR experiences that we’re rolling out. Our goal at Pure Imagination Studios has always been to push the boundaries of what’s possible — VR attractions are the perfect medium to do just that. Partnering with the forward-thinking team at FoxNext made for a potent combination of storytelling minds and innovative thinking to set a new benchmark for destination entertainment,” said Joshua Wexler, co-founder of Pure Imagination Studios.

“VR attractions bring together immersive entertainment with social experiences that can’t be replicated in the living room. The rich storytelling opportunities in the Alien universe makes it a perfect fit for cutting-edge destination entertainment. Plus, who doesn’t want to battle Xenomorphs and save the world?” said Salil Mehta, president of FoxNext.

“We're thrilled to allow guests the freedom to experience and engage in VR without the need of a cumbersome backpack.  The dream is to allow guests to fully immerse themselves, let loose, and have fun,” said Rob Taylor, co-creator of the experience from Pure Imagination Studios.

ALIEN: DESCENT opens April 26, ALIEN Day, at the Outlets at Orange. Tickets can be reserved at AlienDescent.com. The Outlets at Orange is located at the intersection of I-5 and State Highways 22 and 57 in Orange, California. More information can be found at simon.com/mall/the-outlets-at-orange.

ALIEN DAY returns on April 26, 2018 for an epic third annual global celebration of the iconic sci-fi franchise. ALIEN DAY is a nod to planet LV-426 from the landmark ALIEN film. For more information on all ALIEN DAY activities go to AlienUniverse.com.

About Pure Imagination Studios
Pure Imagination Studios is an award-winning independent entertainment studio that brings content and experiences to life across existing platforms while at the same time forging new ones. Through the combination of proprietary technology and groundbreaking storytelling the studio brings the next generation of entertainment to audiences of all ages across all platforms. Pure Imagination is led by an experienced group of storytellers, dreamers, doers, mad-scientists and experiential engineers who have designed, built, produced and worked with some of the most iconic brands in the world from clients including Warner Bros., FOX, DreamWorks, Marvel Entertainment, LEGO, Universal Studios, Merlin Entertainments, Six Flags and others. Their portfolio of projects have expanded fan engagement on multiple platforms including a diverse slate of animated television shows, cultural experiences, digital-series, theme park attractions, virtual and augmented reality immersive experiences, projection mapping shows and more. Pure Imagination Studios is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. Visit:  pistudios.com

About FoxNext
FoxNext expands the storytelling universes of our most cherished franchises at Twentieth Century Fox Film and Fox Networks Group through virtual reality, games and location-based entertainment. FoxNext pushes the boundaries by enabling the best creators and innovators to share their stories across an ever-growing spectrum of emerging platforms. The division consists of FoxNext Games, FoxNext VR Studio and FoxNext Destinations.

About FoxNext Destinations
FoxNext Destinations, a division of FoxNext, is developing themed entertainment destinations that immerse guests in the company's iconic film and TV brands. Current projects include 2017 THEA winner Springfield, USA and 2009 THEA winner The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando, Alien: Descent, a free-roaming VR experience, and Avatar: Discover Pandora, a new interactive exhibition inspired by the breathtaking environments and inspirational cultures of Pandora. Other projects include FX's American Horror Story at Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights and the 20th Century Fox World theme park in Malaysia, currently in development.

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL -- DVD Review by Porfle

Lilith, the fabled first wife of Adam, returns as a seductive succubus who lures and murders men in BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL (Indican Pictures, 2017), writer-director Joshua Coates' modestly-budgeted but surprisingly impressive horror-thriller.

The alluring creature who's irresistible to men but morphs into a diabolical fanged nightmare behind closed doors is played to perfection by African-Irish actress Alice Rose in her film debut.

Her intimate moments with hapless male victims give the film some of its most horrifying shock scenes, with the help of nicely-done practical effects and pretty-good CGI.

Grant Harvey plays Jeremiah Young, an orphaned teen just entering college. Having never been adopted due to his being "different", the troubled but well-meaning youth is plagued by DEAD ZONE-type visions of possible future calamity which he tries his best to avert. 

He uses this ability to rescue a female classmate from suicide before saving dormmate Pete (Pooch Hall) from an encounter with Lilith which claims the lives of several of Pete's frat brothers. 

The story delves deeply into its good vs. evil premise, exploring various facets of religion and faith (Jeremiah and Lilith, in her guise as "Jessica", attend the same theology class) in dead-serious fashion, devoid of the obligatory humor so common in current horror films. 

Coates' intelligent, densely-packed screenplay is like a fever dream, directed with a visual style that's consistently engaging.  Lighting, camerawork, and score all contribute to an often mesmerizing viewing experience.

Rose and Harvey head a terrific cast which includes a brief cameo (during the opening titles) by Eric Roberts.  Subplots include an investigation into the horrific campus murders which, in one of the film's liveliest scenes, will bring one of the detectives much too close for comfort to his deadly prey.

There's also a revelation or two about Jeremiah's past--including his connection to a famed evangelist who fell victim to Lilith years ago--which, along with a few other story points, seems to lay the groundwork for a sequel or even a possible series.  Still, this tale is pretty much satisfyingly self-contained.

Definitely not light viewing, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL is an intense, often riveting battle between good and evil that's kind of a callback to those rowdy but substantial monster-fests of the 80s.  And Joshua Coates would seem to be a filmmaker to watch. 


Tech Specs
Runtime: 119 minutes
Format:
Sound: 5.1 Surround Sound
Country: USA
Language, Captions: English
Website: www.IndicanPictures.com
Genre: Horror/Sci-Fi

Disappearing Rommel Blooper in "THE LONGEST DAY" (1962) (video)

The WWII blockbuster "The Longest Day" contains a really bad SPFX shot...

...in which Field Marshal Erwin Rommel seems to disappear and then reappear.

For a production of this stature, it's a pretty jarring moment.

Otherwise, it's one of the finest WWII movies ever made.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Liam Neeson in "THE COMMUTER" - Bring It Home on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Today!

“An intense ride only Liam Neeson could deliver" -- ABC-TV

THE COMMUTER

The Pulse-Pounding Action Thriller Speeds Onto Digital on April 3 and to 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD on April 17 from Lionsgate

4K Ultra HD™ and Blu-ray™ to Include Dolby Atmos®

SANTA MONICA, CA (February 21, 2018) – Mega-action hero and Oscar® nominee Liam Neeson (Best Actor, Schindler’s List, 1993) proves that no one gets hurt on his watch in The Commuter, arriving on Digital April 3 and 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray™ Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand April 17 from Lionsgate.

Time is ticking as Michael (Neeson) gets entangled in a deadly conspiracy on his daily commute that forces him to work against the clock to protect the lives of his fellow train passengers. The edge-of-your-seat action thriller also stars Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring, The Departed, TV’s “Bates Motel”), Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring, Insidious), Jonathan Banks (TV’s “Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul”), with Elizabeth McGovern (TV’s Downton Abbey), and Sam Neill (Thor: Ragnarok, Daybreakers).

Michael’s (Neeson) daily commute home quickly becomes anything but routine. After being contacted by a mysterious stranger (Farmiga), Michael is forced to uncover the identity of a hidden passenger on his train before the last stop. As he works against the clock to solve the puzzle, he realizes a deadly plan is unfolding and is unwittingly caught up in a criminal conspiracy. One that carries life and death stakes, for himself and his fellow passengers.

From Jaume Collet-Serra, the director of Non-Stop and The Shallows, and written for the screen by Byron Willinger, Philip de Blasi, and Ryan Engle, The Commuter’s home entertainment release includes two never-before-seen featurettes that focus on the cast’s experience shooting the film and the technical details of shooting on a train.

The 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray versions will also feature Dolby Atmos audio remixed specifically for the home-theater environment, to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. The Commuter will be available on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD for the suggested retail price of $42.99, $39.99, and $29.95, respectively.

4K ULTRA HD / BLU-RAY / DVD / DIGITAL SPECIAL FEATURES
⦁ “End of the Line” Featurette
⦁ “Off the Rails” Featurette

                                    WATCH THE TRAILER:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCommuterFilm/
Instagram: @thecommuterfilm
Twitter: @TheCommuterFilm
#TheCommuter

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production:  2017
Title Copyright: The Commuter © 2018 STUDIOCANAL S.A.S. Artwork & Supplementary Materials © 2018 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: PG-13 for some intense action/violence, and language
Genre: Action
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: English, Spanish, English SDH
Feature Run Time: 105 Minutes

4K Ultra HD™ Format: 2160p High Definition 16x9 Widescreen 2.39:1 Presentation
BD Format: 1080p High Definition 16x9 Widescreen 2.39:1 Presentation
DVD Format: 16x9 Widescreen 2.39:1 Presentation
4K Ultra HD™ Audio: English Dolby Atmos, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio™, French 5.1 Dolby Audio, English 2.0 Dolby Audio Optimized for Late-Night Listening, English Descriptive Audio
BD Audio: English Dolby Atmos, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Audio, English 2.0 Dolby l Audio Optimized for Late-Night Listening, English Descriptive Audio   
DVD Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Audio, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Audio, English Descriptive Audio

ABOUT LIONSGATE
The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global content platform whose films, television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation audiences around the world.  In addition to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a growing presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, gaming, virtual reality and other new entertainment technologies.  Lionsgate’s content initiatives are backed by a 16,000-title film and television library and delivered through a global licensing infrastructure.  The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the Company’s worldwide consumer base.