Incredible Earthquake Effects In The Silent 1923 Lon Chaney Classic "The Shock" (video)

 

 

We've seen plenty of earthquake effects in modern movies.

But here's how the special effects wizards did it way back in the silent days of 1923...

...as the great Lon Chaney exhorts mighty nature to wreak terrible vengeance for him.

 

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

 

 

Incredible Earthquake Effects In The Silent 1923 Lon Chaney Classic "The Shock" (video)

LADY VENGEANCE -- Movie Review by Porfle

 

Originally posted on 1/26/22

 

I first thought LADY VENGEANCE, aka Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005), was going to be another hot-action-babe flick along the lines of MS. 45. So it came as a pleasant surprise to find that it's the most thoughtful, richly artistic and deeply introspective film in Park Chan-wook's notorious "vengence trilogy." It's also the one in which Park Chan-wook seems to express his most heartfelt, poetic, and yes, sympathetic thoughts on the subject.

The story begins with Geum-ja Lee (Yeong-ae Lee) being released from prison after serving 13 years for the kidnap and murder of a little boy, Won-mo. Former cellmates with whom she reunites on the outside are shocked to find that the cheerful and loving "angel" they knew before now appears to be cold and emotionless.

In reality, she's been gaining their allegiance in order to use them to help carry out a plan of revenge against Won-mo's actual killer, Mr. Baek (OLDBOY star Min-sik Choi), a serial child murderer who threatened to kill Geum-ja's infant daughter if she didn't confess to the crime. The fact that she aided in Won-mo's abduction (naively thinking it to be the same sort of "good" kidnapping as described in SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE) makes her desire for atonement and redemption all-consuming.

Geum-ja tracks down her now 14-year-old daughter Jenny (Yea-young Kwon), who thinks that her mother "dumped" her, and desperately tries to reconcile with her. In the meantime, she has found Mr. Baek, still working as a school teacher and preying on children.

She summons the families of several murdered children to an abandoned school, shows them Baek's own videotapes of his gruesome deeds, and reveals to them that he is bound and gagged in the next room. Geum-ja then gives them all a choice--turn him over to the legal system, or deal with him themselves.

Flashbacks of the beatific image Geum-ja projected while in prison are starkly contrasted with her later zombie-like state, which reflects a deep self-loathing. These jarring impressions are often depicted with abrupt editing and off-kilter camera angles.

Only when she reunites with Jenny does she allow her feelings to overwhelm her again, and as the story becomes more emotional Park Chan-wook's direction settles into a more stately and elegant style while remaining fluid and inventive.

This is especially true of the protracted revenge sequence in the abandoned school, as Park lingers on the inner conflict and seething rage of the family members. As the film winds down to a wistful and almost dreamlike denouement, with Geum-ja grasping for a last fleeting chance at redemption, we're left with haunting, delicately-wrought images of serene beauty and sadness.

There are several fascinating closeups of the remarkable Yeong-ae Lee as she runs the gamut of emotions with impressive depth. One that's particularly striking comes near the end, when her face twists into a masklike rictus of mindless, sadistic glee. Hardly the typical action heroine, her anger is expressed in messy, kinetic bursts.

There is one thrilling sequence, however, in which she fights off two attackers hired by Mr. Baek (Ha-kyun Shin and Kang-ho Song of SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE) in a snowy alleyway at night, and for a brief moment is given full cinematic awesomeness by Park Chan-wook.

It's been said that LADY VENGEANCE lapses into the conventional by having a one-dimensional bad guy devoid of the usual shadings. I think it's good that Park ends the trilogy by finally giving us a bastard who clearly and richly deserves his punishment, which serves as an uneasy catharsis for the viewer as well as the story's participants.

Still, their satisfaction is short-lived and brings not happiness, but merely another level of spiritual uncertainty that they must continue to deal with. If Park hadn't touched on this aspect of revenge and explored its consequences, the trilogy begun by SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE and OLDBOY would have been incomplete.

Read our full review of Palisade Tartan Asia Extreme's eight-disc DVD set THE VENGEANCE TRILOGY

Read our review of SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE
Read our review of OLDBOY

LADY VENGEANCE -- Movie Review by Porfle

ALL THE COLORS OF GIALLO -- Blu-ray/DVD/CD Review by Porfle

Originally posted on 1/31/19

 

A primer, a history, and a celebration of giallo all rolled into one 3-disc set, Severin Films' ALL THE COLORS OF GIALLO pretty much covers all the bases for new fans wanting to learn more and old ones who just want to revel in it all.

As the publicity states, "‘Giallo’ is Italian for ‘yellow’, the color of the lurid pulp novels that inspired one of the most intense, extreme and influential genres in movie history."

The genesis of all this is the krimi, or German crime novel, which contains elements (shadowy settings, shocking murders, mysterious phantom killers, police procedurals) that would later be adopted by Italian filmmakers but jacked up to new levels of violence and lavish indulgences in cinematic style for its own sake.

Disc One (Blu-ray) starts off with a feature-length documentary by Federico Caddeo entitled "All the Colors of Giallo", an exhaustive history of the genre that takes us from the beginnings of the German krimi books and films, and in particular the works of Edgar Wallace, all the way through the evolution of the giallo thrillers by such directors as Mario Bava, Lucio Fulci, and Dario Argento.

Several of giallo's main figures are interviewed including Fulci and Argento themselves, along with familiar screen talents such as Barbara Bouchet and Susan Scott.

"The Giallo Frames" offers even more on the subject, giving us an in-depth interview with John Martin, editor of "The Giallo Pages." 

But best of all (for me, anyway) is a full four-hour collection of giallo trailers that run the gamut of the entire genre and are accompanied by a commentary track from Kat Ellinger, author of "All the Colors of Sergio Martino."

Kat showed her depth of knowledge on the subject during her commentary for Martino's film "All the Colors of the Dark", but here she is a veritable gold mine of information and unbridled enthusiasm on each and every trailer that we see, keeping a running commentary that never fails to entertain.  Thus, the trailer collection becomes a four-hour documentary unto itself, and perhaps the highlight of the entire collection.

Disc two (DVD) delves deeper into the subject of the krimi, with the informative documentaries  "The Case Of The Krimi" and "The Case Of The Krimi: Interview With Film Historian Marcus Stiglegger."

Then we get yet another hour-and-a-half of trailers, this time mostly in beautiful, atmospheric black-and-white (with very nice picture quality as well) before turning to color for the later ones.

Klaus Kinski fans will be pleased to find that he appears in practically all of these krimi trailers, which are a lively bunch of clips providing much entertainment and amusement.

Disc three is a CD entitled "The Strange Sounds of the Bloodstained Films", containing twenty giallo soundtrack selections from such composers as Ennio Morricone, Riz Ortolani, Bruno Nicolai, Stelvio Cipriani, and others.  It's great stuff, whether you have it on in the background or don your headphones for an intensive listening session.

Experienced giallo fans will enjoy reliving old favorites with this collection of documentaries, interviews, and trailers, and those just getting into such lively, lurid, and lavishly cinematic fare may find their curiosity stoked into an insatiable desire.


Buy it from Severin Films

Special Features:
DISC 1 – Blu-ray
All the Colors of Giallo: A New Feature Length Documentary By Federico Caddeo
The Giallo Frames: Interview With John Martin, Editor Of The Giallo Pages
Audio Commentary with Kat Ellinger, Author of All The Colors Of Sergio Martino

DISC 2 – DVD: The Case of the Krimi
Kriminal!: Trailer Compilation
The Case Of The Krimi: Interview With Film Historian Marcus Stiglegger

DISC 3 – CD
The Strange Sounds Of The Bloodstained Films: Compiled By Alfonso Carillo of Rendezvous! From The Archives Of Beat Records. Remastered By Claudio Fuiano.

ALL THE COLORS OF GIALLO -- Blu-ray/DVD/CD Review by Porfle

Ten Old-School Jump Scares (video)

Ten Old-School Jump Scares

"Prior to the 1980s, jump scares were a relatively rare occurrence in horror movies." -- Wikipedia

The Haunted Castle (1896)
The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Cat People (1942)
Hideous Sun Demon (1958)
The Killer Shrews (1959)
House On Haunted Hill (1959)
The Birds (1962)
The Night Walker (1964)
Wait Until Dark (1967)
Jaws (1975)

 

Originally posted on 4/23/18
I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Ten Old-School Jump Scares (video)

RIO GRANDE -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle

 

Originally posted on 12/5/20

 

Legendary director John Ford had been trying for the longest time to get Republic Pictures head Herbert J. Yates to finance his dream project, THE QUIET MAN. 

Finally, Yates made a deal with Ford--direct a new cavalry western with John Wayne, which would be a surefire moneymaker for Republic, and he'd back Ford's nostalgic ode to his Irish heritage. And that's how RIO GRANDE (Olive Signature, 1950) came to be.

Future members of THE QUIET MAN's cast and crew were involved, including Wayne, his beautiful leading lady Maureen O'Hara (the chemistry was already strong in their first onscreen pairing), brawny Victor McLaglen, actor/singer Ken Curtis, Wayne's son Patrick, filmographer Archie Stout (who had worked with Duke since the early 30s), and film composer Victor Young. 

 

Unlike that film's dreamlike Technicolor visuals, RIO GRANDE is in Ford's own impeccable trademark black and white style, starkly enhancing the visual splendor of the film's desert locations with their vast plateaus almost as impressively as Ford's beloved Monument Valley. (Moab, Utah stands in for Arizona with the Colorado River playing the title role.)

Wayne stars as Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke, the tough but fair commander of a U.S. cavalry regiment encamped in an isolated spot that puts them in constant conflict with warlike Apache tribes nearby. This is yet another fully-realized performance by Wayne which thoroughly disproves the notion that he couldn't act, or that he was a one-note actor who only ever played himself.

One day Yorke's own son Jeff (Claude Jarman Jr. of THE YEARLING in a likable performance), whom he hasn't seen in fifteen years, appears as a new recruit. It seems that, having failed the mathematics requirements at Westpoint, he immediately enlisted in the cavalry after lying about his age. 

 

As if this didn't create enough tension, Yorke's estranged wife Kathleen (O'Hara)--with a little thing called the Civil War having come between them for all those years--shows up to have the boy discharged and take him home. But the dedicated young Jeff, to his father's obvious approval, will have none of it, as they both share the same sense of duty and honor.

Thus begins the film's main dramatic thrust as the long-separated couple rekindle their ever-smoldering romantic obsessions while wrestling over the fate of their son, even as the war between the cavalry and the Apaches reaches a boiling point.

Action fans can look forward to three major battle setpieces: one, the launching of a blistering nocturnal raid by the Apaches upon the encampment; two, when a wagon train of women and children being escorted away from the camp is suddenly set upon by Apache warriors, with only a small group of soldiers to defend them; and three, a climactic clash in which Yorke and his troops descend upon the Apaches' stronghold in order to rescue the civilians.

 

Those expecting constant thrills and a breakneck pace, however, may be disappointed. Quentin Tarantino once referred to Howard Hawks' RIO BRAVO as a "hangout film", since one of its main joys is in simply hanging out with its characters. Here, in addition to those irresistible stars, numerous scenes allow us to just pass the time with the supporting players or listen in as they serenade us with a selection of western songs.

These include the likes of Ben Johnson and Harry Carey, Jr. as a couple of very laidback but capable hillbilly recruits, Chill Wills as the easygoing regimental doctor, J. Carroll Naish as a world-weary general, and the choral group Sons of the Pioneers featuring silver-throated Ken Curtis (who would later achieve television immortality as Festus on "Gunsmoke"). The film's musical and comedy vignettes could almost be itemized on a bill of fare as an evening's program of entertainment.

 

The new Blu-ray release from Olive Signature is a high-definition digital restoration that brings out the pristine beauty of Ford's visuals. The disc's bonus menu offers interviews with Ben Johnson, Harry Carey, Jr., Claude Jarman, Jr., and Patrick Wayne, several featurettes, a trailer, a commentary track, and essays by film historians.

There are those who consider RIO GRANDE the lesser of Ford's three cavalry films, but for me it's just as rich and satisfying a viewing experience. Perhaps it's because the relatively slower pace and simpler story give it more room to breathe. You don't just rush through this movie; instead, you settle in and spend some quality time with it.



YEAR: 1950
GENRE: DRAMA
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH (with optional English subtitles)
LABEL: OLIVE FILMS
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 105 min
RATING: N/A
VIDEO: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio; B&W
AUDIO: MONO

OLIVE SIGNATURE FEATURES

    New High-Definition digital restoration
    Audio commentary by Nancy Schoenberger
    “Telling Real Histories” – Raoul Trujillo on representations of Indigenous Americans in film
    “Songs of the Rio Grande” – Marc Wanamaker on the Sons of the Pioneers
    “Strength and Courage” – Patrick Wayne on his father
    “Bigger Than Life” – with Claude Jarman, Jr.
    Visual essay by Tag Gallagher
    “The Making of Rio Grande” – with Leonard Maltin
    Essay by Paul Andrew Hutton
    Theatrical trailer

US+CANADA
STREET: 11/17/20
CAT: OS022
UPC: 887090602204
SRP: $39.95

RIO GRANDE -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle

TCM Big Screen Classics Series -- A Year of Anniversary Screenings Come to Cinemas in 2022

 

FATHOM EVENTS Presents

A Year of Anniversary Screenings Coming to Cinemas in 2022 With the TCM Big Screen Classics Series
 
Turner Classic Movies and Fathom Events Bring a Dozen Beloved Films to Movie Theaters Nationwide Monthly

 
DENVER – December 9, 2021 – Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies are proud to announce the titles for the eighth annual TCM Big Screen Classics series, this year celebrating the anniversaries of 12 of Tinseltown’s most beloved motion pictures. Honoring acclaimed films, from the 40th anniversary of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, to the 80th anniversary of the lauded Casablanca, plus 10 films representing decades in between, the TCM Big Screen Classics series has something for everyone in 2022.
 
Each film is presented with pristine digital projection and movie-theater-quality sound, and in its original aspect ratio as intended by the filmmakers. The TCM Big Screen Classics series is further enhanced with fascinating pre- and post-feature insights presented by popular TCM hosts, including TCM Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz.
 
Films in the 2022 TCM Big Screen Classics series include:
 

    Casablanca 80th Anniversary
    Lady Sings the Blues 50th Anniversary
    The Quiet Man 70th Anniversary
    Singin' In The Rain 70th Anniversary
    Smokey and the Bandit 45th Anniversary
    What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 60th Anniversary
    Cabaret 50th Anniversary
    Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 40th Anniversary
    Poltergeist 40th Anniversary
    In the Heat of the Night 55th Anniversary
    To Kill A Mockingbird 60th Anniversary
    It's A Wonderful Life - Celebrating 75 Years

 
Since its start in 2015, the TCM Big Screen Classics series has proved to be an annual fan favorite and many events in the series go on to be top performers at the box office.
 
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with TCM to bring some of the greatest films ever made back to the big screen,” said Fathom Events Vice President of Studio Relations, Tom Lucas. “We are excited to announce a line-up of anniversary titles that span five decades and cover all genres of film!”
 
“There is nothing that matches the joy of seeing a classic in the movie theater, and next year will see a slate of films celebrating anniversaries from every genre that will excite movie lovers of all kinds, in every corner of the country,” said Genevieve McGillicuddy, Vice President of Enterprises and Strategic Partnerships, TCM. “With this series, we hope fans will re-discover films they love and also experience new-to-them films for the first time.”
 
Tickets for the TCM Big Screen Classics 2022 series are on-sale now at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of events in the series and to purchase tickets, visit the Fathom Events website. Please continue to check the Fathom Events website for updates and to sign up for alerts.

 
The TCM Big Screen Classics coming soon to select cinemas nationwide are:

 
Casablanca 80th Anniversary (1942)    
DATE: Jan. 23 & 26
CAST: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid
SCREENPLAY BY: Julius J. Epstein, Philip Epstein, and Howard Koch
DIRECTED BY:  Michael Curtiz
 
As time goes by, some movies age – but Casablanca remains timeless. Perhaps no other movie has become as beloved and as synonymous with Hollywood glamour as Casablanca. The film received the Academy Award® for Best Picture and became one of the most classic films of all time.
 
 
Lady Sings the Blues 50th Anniversary (1972)         
DATE: Feb. 20 & 23
CAST: Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan, and Scatman Crothers
SCREENPLAY BY: Suzanne de Passe, Chris Clark, and Terence McCloy
DIRECTED BY:  Sidney J. Furie
 
Lady Sings the Blues was nominated for five Academy Awards®, including Diana Ross for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of the legendary Billie Holiday. The film brilliantly captures the essence of one of America’s most loved and memorable blues singers.
 
 
The Quiet Man 70th Anniversary (1952)
DATE: Mar. 13 & 17
CAST: John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond, and Victor McLaglen
SCREENPLAY BY: Frank S. Nugent
DIRECTED BY: John Ford
 
John Wayne stars as an ex-boxer who retires to Ireland and searches for a wife. With this film, John Ford won his fourth Academy Award® for Best Director, a record which still stands today, and Winton Hoch took home the Oscar® for Best Cinematography.
 
           
Singin' in the Rain 70th Anniversary (1952)
DATE: Apr. 10 & 13
CAST: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, and Cyd Charisse
SCREENPLAY BY: Adolph Green and Betty Comden
DIRECTED BY: Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen
           
Winner of two Oscars and responsible for people dancing around light posts worldwide, Singin' in the Rain, directed and wonderfully choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, is a humorous portrayal of Hollywood in the late 1920s, as the three stars portray performers caught up in the shift from silent films to "the talkies.”
 
 
Smokey and the Bandit 45th Anniversary (1977)    
DATE: May 29, Jun. 1 & 2
CAST: Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason, and Paul Williams
SCREENPLAY BY: James Lee Barrett, Charles Shyer, and Alan Mandel
DIRECTED BY: Hal Needham
 
Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason are in high gear and hot water after a cross-country road challenge results in one of the wildest series of car chases and crashes ever filmed!
 
 
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 60th Anniversary (1962)
DATE: Jun. 12 & 15
CAST: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Victor Buono
SCREENPLAY BY: Lukas Heller
DIRECTED BY:  Robert Aldrich
 
A bona fide “cult classic,” What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a psychological thriller that spins a tale of an aging former child star, "Baby Jane" Hudson (Davis), as she torments her wheelchair-bound former movie star sister (Crawford) in an old Hollywood mansion.
 
 
Cabaret 50th Anniversary (1972)
DATE: Jul 17 & 20
CAST: Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem, Marisa Berenson, Fritz Wepper, and Joel Grey
SCREENPLAY BY: Jay Presson Allen, John Kander and Fred Ebb
DIRECTED BY: Bob Fosse
 
A winner of eight Academy Awards®, including Best Director for Bob Fosse, Best Actress for Liza Minnelli, and Best Supporting Actor for Joel Grey, the stylish musical Cabaret, set in 1930’s Weimar Republic era Berlin, has cemented its place among Hollywood’s all-time best-loved films and influential musicals to this day.  
 
 
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 40th Anniversary (1982)   
DATE: Sept. 4, 5 & 8
CAST: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Bibi Besch, Merritt Butrick, Paul Winfield, Kirstie Alley, and Ricardo Montalbán
SCREENPLAY BY: Jack B. Sowards
DIRECTED BY: Nicholas Meyer
 
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is one of the most celebrated and essential chapters in Star Trek lore. On routine training maneuvers, Admiral James T. Kirk seems resigned that this may be the last space mission of his career. But an adversary from the past has returned with a vengeance.      
           
 
Poltergeist 40th Anniversary (1982)     
DATE: Sept. 25, 26 & 28
CAST: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight, Heather O'Rourke, Dominique Dunne, Oliver Robins, and Zelda Rubinstein
SCREENPLAY BY: Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais, and Mark Victor
DIRECTED BY: Tobe Hooper
 
“They're here!” exclaims five-year-old Carol Anne in this horror classic as ghosts appear through the static on her family’s television. While the spirits seem friendly at first, using the TV as their portal to enter the home, they kidnap her. “Don’t go into the light, Carol Anne.”
           
 
In the Heat of the Night 55th Anniversary (1967)
DATE: Oct. 16 & 19
CAST: Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates, and Lee Grant
SCREENPLAY BY: Stirling Silliphant
DIRECTED BY: Norman Jewison
 
“They call me Mister Tibbs.” In this five-time Academy Award® winning, including Best Picture, drama, a wealthy industrialist is found murdered in a small Mississippi town and when an African-American man is picked up at the train station with a wallet full of cash, local Police Chief Bill Gillespie immediately assumes he has caught his culprit. He’s soon embarrassed to learn that the man he has arrested is Detective Virgil Tibbs, an experienced police officer from Philadelphia. The unlikely pair are forced to work together to unravel the mystery, leading them on a line of enquiry that will challenge both of their preconceptions.
 
 
To Kill A Mockingbird 60th Anniversary (1962)       
DATE: Nov. 13 & 16
CAST: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, John Megna, Ruth White, Paul Fix, Brock Peters, and Frank Overton
SCREENPLAY BY: Horton Foote
DIRECTED BY: Robert Mulligan
 
Gregory Peck won an Academy Award® for his brilliant portrayal of a Southern lawyer who compassionately defends a Black man wrongly accused of rape in this film version of the Harper Lee novel.
 
 
It's A Wonderful Life - Celebrating 75 Years (1946)
DATE: Dec. 18 & 21
CAST: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Ward Bond, Frank Faylen, and Gloria Grahame
SCREENPLAY BY: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, and Frank Capra
DIRECTED BY: Frank Capra
 
Take a trip to Bedford Falls to celebrate 75 years of director Frank Capra’s timeless classic It’s A Wonderful Life.   Named the #1 most inspiring film of all time by the American Film Institute, It’s A Wonderful Life has touched generations of viewers with its uplifting and life-affirming message of hope.
 

 
"Academy Award®" and/or "Oscar®" is the registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

 
About Fathom Events
Fathom is a recognized leader in the entertainment industry as one of the top distributors of content to movie theaters in North America. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal Cinemas, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L)., Fathom operates the largest cinema distribution network, delivering a wide variety of programming and experiences to cinema audiences in all of the top U.S. markets and to more than 45 countries. For more information, visit www.FathomEvents.com.
 
About Turner Classic Movies:
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is a two-time Peabody Award-winning network that presents classic films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world highlighting “where then meets now.” TCM features the insights from Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz along with hosts Alicia Malone, Dave Karger, Jacqueline Stewart and Eddie Muller, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests and serves as the ultimate movie lover destination. With more than two decades as a leading authority in classic film, TCM offers critically acclaimed series like The Essentials, along with annual programming events like 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also directly connects with movie fans through popular events such as the annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, the TCM Big Screen Classics screening series, and the TCM Classic Cruise. In addition, TCM produces the wildly successful podcast “The Plot Thickens,” which has had more than 2 million downloads to date. TCM hosts a wealth of material online at tcm.com and through the Watch TCM mobile app. Fans can also enjoy a classic movie experience on the Classics Curated by TCM hub on HBO Max.

TCM Big Screen Classics Series -- A Year of Anniversary Screenings Come to Cinemas in 2022

First Movie Theater to Open in LA - 6/19 - Arena Cinelounge Sunset

FIRST PHYSICAL MOVIE THEATER TO OPEN IN LOS ANGELES

ARENA CINELOUNGE SUNSET PROUDLY RE-OPENS JUNE 19 WITH SPECIAL UPGRADES, NEW SIGNATURE GOURMET POPCORN AND CLASSIC & NEW INDIE SCREENING ENGAGEMENTS

LOS ANGELES: JUNE 15TH, 2020 – Arena Cinelounge Sunset, Hollywood’s acclaimed home for arthouse, genre, and independent cinema, is proud to be the first physical movie theater in Los Angeles to re-open on Friday, June 19, 2020 with special engagements of classic BAFTA and Independent Spirit Award winner The Unbearable Lightness of Being and the 2020 festival winner Babyteeth starring Ben Mendelsohn.

Arena Cinelounge is re-opening to the public in full compliance with public health protocols, taking important safety precautions such as a new air purification system, seat disinfecting between screenings, socially distanced seating and concessions specially packaged for contactless delivery. Owner Christian Meoli has taken his indie theater business one step further by creating distinctive gourmet popcorn in 9 flavors - each dedicated to the true cinephile including Natural Corn Killers, APOPalypse Now, Popcorn of the Living Dead and Once Upon a Time in Popcorn (full list below).

“As an independent theater owner, I’ve had to be creative about the survival and expansion of my business,” says Meoli. “I’ve taken my love and curation of new films, and directed that energy to a true gourmet cinematic experience with an exemplary signature line of gourmet popcorn blends all non-GMO, Vegan, dairy and nut-free. We’re now even selling the popcorn successfully online.”  Featured in Entertainment Weekly, Arena Cinelounge’s signature gourmet popcorn can be purchased online, at the theater, as well as in other boutique markets in Los Angeles including Joan’s on Third.

Meoli originally founded Arena Cinelounge in 2012, when he saw the need for an art house cinema devoted to new indie films in Hollywood, and began exhibiting films in a 99-seat theatre located next to The Egyptian Theatre, previously the former iconic Egyptian Theater 2 & 3 that closed in 1992. Through sheer determination and a love of new filmmakers, Arena Cinelounge quickly became Hollywood’s premiere arthouse film destination for new, truly independent cinema.  Now housed in a built out, state-of-the-art new concept cinema at 6464 Sunset Blvd, Arena Cinelounge is an Academy Award qualifying theater that has shown over 2000 new titles with 1-2 premieres a weekend for new titles.  Cinelounge works with premier industry institutions such as Amazon, HBO, Google, IFC, Sony, Lionsgate, Participant Media, YouTube, and Conde Nast.

As a response to the innovative but ill-fated MoviePass, Meoli also created the Cinelounge Unlimited app which offers audiences a base monthly subscription service with incredible perks such as free concessions, free parking, and access to private special events and premieres. Cinelounge Unlimited gives audiences the opportunity to experience new content and support great new filmmakers with the convenience of one low price. 

Marking its grand re-opening, Arena Cinelounge will bow with two special engagements to welcome audiences back to the theatre:

The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Romance. Beautiful 4K restoration of this cinema classic. Directed by Philip Kaufman. Written by Kaufman and Jean-Claude Carriere. Based on the novel by Milan Kundera. Produced by Saul Zaentz. From Orion Pictures. (Color, 1988, USA, 171 minutes, rated R) Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin, Erland Josephson, Derek De Lint, Pavel Landovsky. Tomas is a doctor and a lady-killer in 1960s Czechoslovakia, an apolitical man who is struck with love for the bookish country girl Tereza; his more sophisticated sometime lover Sabina eventually accepts their relationship and the two women form an electric friendship. The three are caught up in the events of the Prague Spring; Pingyao (1968), until the Soviet tanks crush the non-violent rebels; their illusions are shattered and their lives change forever. “Richly satisfying…. Absolutely enchanting.” (Variety). Winner of the Film Independent Spirit Award; BAFTA Award; Boston Society of Film Critics Awards; National Society of Film Critics Awards; National Board of Review Award.

Babyteeth. Comedy/Drama. Directed by Shannon Murphy. Written by Rita Kalnejais. Produced by Alex White. From IFC Films. (Color, 2020, Australia, 118 minutes, not rated) Starring Eliza Scanlen, Ben Mendelsohn, Toby Wallace, Essie Davis, Andrea Demetriades, Emily Barclay. When seriously ill teenager Milla falls madly in love with smalltime drug dealer Moses, it's her parents' worst nightmare. But as Milla's first brush with love brings her a new lust for life, things get messy and traditional morals go out the window. Milla soon shows everyone in her orbit - her parents, Moses, a sensitive music teacher, a budding child violinist, and a disarmingly honest pregnant neighbour - how to live like you have nothing to lose. What might have been a disaster for the Finlay family instead leads to letting go and finding grace in the glorious chaos of life. Babyteeth joyously explores how good it is not to be dead yet and how far we will go for love. Winner- Palm Springs International Film Festival; FEST International Film Festival; Luxembourg City Film Festival; Marrakech International Film Festival; Pingyao International Film Festival; Sao Paulo International Film Festival; Venice Film Festival; Zurich Film Festival.

Both special engagements will run June 19- June 25, 2020. At Arena Cinelounge Sunset, 6464 Sunset Blvd., Lobby Level, Hollywood, CA 90028. Contact venue for show times. Admission: $16 each feature-length film. Matinees: $10. Information: (323) 924-1644.  Theater reservations are suggested and available online, as seating for each screening is limited, in compliance with current health directives.  For new info on our policies, click HERE.

About Arena Cinelounge
Arena Cinelounge is Los Angeles’s premiere destination for all things new independent film, horror and genre cinema! From its celebrated nine flavors of exclusive gourmet blends of popcorn, to the most comfortable seats in town, and the best sound presentation that you won’t find anywhere else. Cinelounge is your spot in Hollywood for a perfect cinematic experience, 7 nights a week. www.arenascreen.com for showtimes and to purchase tickets
NEW! Arena Cinelounge now offer its Subscription App, offering the best deal in Los Angeles for seeing new movies. Go to http://arenacinelounge.com for more information.

Media Contact
Potent PR: Jonah Blechman – Jonah@PotentPR.com or 917-776-4660


Arena Cineloung Gourmet Popcorn

Each bag is non-GMO, Vegan, and dairy and nut-free.  9 mind-bending flavors include:

    Natural Corn Killers – naked with sea salt
    APOPalypse Now - jalapeno
    Popcorn of the Living Dead – cinnamon churro with crushed pretzels
    Once Upon a Time in Popcorn – mesquite smoked cheddar
    Truffaut Truffle – truffle
    Arthouse Gold – curry
    Crouching Tiger, Hidden Popcorn – sweet chili lime eternal
    Popcorn of the Spotless Mind – rosemary salted caramel
    Meoli’s Bliss – bourbon caramel with espresso pretzels

Available for at home delivery via Grubhub and Postmates and for Purchase Online HERE.

First Movie Theater to Open in LA - 6/19 - Arena Cinelounge Sunset

Ending And Closing Theme Music For "DAYS OF HEAVEN" (Ennio Morricone, 1978) (video)

Linda Manz gives a moving performance in Terrence Malick's 1978 classic "Days Of Heaven."

The film also stars Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, and Sam Shepard.

The love triangle among the adult characters ends tragically...

...leaving Linda alone to fend for herself in a harsh and lonely world.


Music by Ennio Morricone

"Carnival of the Animals: The Aquarium"
by Camille Saint-Saëns


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

Ending And Closing Theme Music For "DAYS OF HEAVEN" (Ennio Morricone, 1978) (video)

Laurence Fishburne in "IMPRISONED" Streets Jan 7th -- Watch Trailer HERE!

LAURENCE FISHBURNE STARS IN "IMPRISONED"

FOLLOWING LIMITED THEATRICAL RELEASED IN U.S. & PUERTO RICAN CINEMAS

DVD, BLU-RAY & STREAMING JANUARY 7


Los Angeles, CA. – December 11, 2019- Following a multi-city U.S. and Puerto Rican release, IMPRISONED is a powerful prison drama that stars Laurence Fishburne, Juana Acosta, Juan Pablo Raba and features Esai Morales, Edward James Olmos, Jon Huertas, Ana Isabelle, and was the last film in which John Heard performed. It was filmed entirely in Puerto Rico in 2017, before Hurricane Maria hit, and premiered during the Cannes International Film Festival earlier this year. 

IMPRISONED will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and streaming platforms (Amazon, Vimeo, Hoopla) starting January 7th with additional platforms (iTunes, Google, Vudu) to follow.

In the thriller, Dylan Burke (Juan Pablo Raba), attempts to move on from his former life as a criminal with his true love, Maria (Juana Acosta).He soon realizes that his past will continue to haunt him when he learns the new local prison warden, Daniel Calvin (Laurence Fishburne), has not forgiven him for a previously committed crime.

WATCH THE TRAILER:



Calvin does everything in his power to make sure that Burke pays for his past mistakes, even going as far as to frame him for a murder he didn’t commit, landing him back in jail. When the prison erupts into a riot, Burke and Calvin are each forced to make a choice between righteousness and revenge.

In addition to Laurence Fishburne, the film’s stars include Latin American actors: Colombian-born Juan Pablo Raba, best known for his role in Netflix’s “Narcos” who soon will join Liam Neeson and “Vikings” actress Kathry Winnick in the action thriller,  “The Minutemen.” Juana Acosta, also a native of Colombia, is best known for her role in “Velvet,” a Spanish television series streaming on Netflix.  Puerto Rican Ana Isabelle will play Rosalia in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story.

The Bonus features on both DVD & Blu-ray include: 3 deleted Scenes, Interview with Edward James Olmos, Social Impact Filmmaking with Equitas Entertainment Partners, Trailers, Closed Captions.

Equitas Entertainment Partners’ mission is to produce films with a social impact.  With that in mind, they included over thirty formerly incarcerated and a dozen currently incarcerated men as part of the production. Eight of these inmates, still serving time, received a special pass to leave the jail and attend the World Premiere of the film on September 10th and to speak about the positive impact the experience had on their lives.

Cast:  Laurence Fishburne, Juan Pablo Raba, Juana Acosta, John Heard, Esai Morales, Jon Huertas, Edward James Olmos and Ana Isabelle


Written & Directed by:          Paul Kampf
Producers:                           Paul Kampf, Luillo Ruiz, Tom Sperry, Holly Levow
Executive Producer:              Positive Catalyst & Equitas Entertainment
Run Time:                           104 minutes
Language:                           English & Spanish w/English Subtitles
Rating:                                R (for violence, disturbing images, some sexuality and language)


DVD
SRP: $24.95 (881394127722)
Audio: Stereo 5.1
Ratio: 16:9

BLU-RAY
SRP: $29.95 (881394127821)
Audio: Stereo 5.1

www.theimprisonedmovie.com  |  Facebook & Instagram @TheImprisonedMovie


Genre: Thriller  | Language: English & Spanish with English subtitles


ABOUT CINEMA LIBRE
Cinema Libre Studio is a full-service mini-studio known for producing and distributing high caliber feature films and social impact documentaries.  Headquartered in the Los Angeles area, the team has released over 200 films.

cinemalibrestudio.com  | facebook.com/cinemalibrestudio | @cinemalibre

PhotoCredit: Equitas Entertainment/Cinema Libre Studio

Laurence Fishburne in "IMPRISONED" Streets Jan 7th -- Watch Trailer HERE!

Charlie Chaplin's "THE GOLD RUSH" -- Post 43 + Retroformat Silent Films Present Screening on January 18, 2020

POST 43 AND RETROFORMAT SILENT FILMS TO PRESENT A ONE-TIME-ONLY SCREENING OF CHARLIE CHAPLIN’S 1925 VERSION OF ‘THE GOLD RUSH’

The Chaplin Office Has Granted Rare Permission to Screen The Gold Rush with Live, Improvised Piano Accompaniment by Cliff Retallick This January
 

Los Angeles, CA (December 5, 2019) – Post 43 and Retroformat Silent Films, in cooperation with the Chaplin Office (which represents the Charles Chaplin family), will present a special, one-time-only 35mm screening of the original 1925 version of Charles Chaplin’s masterpiece The Gold Rush at the newly renovated Hollywood Legion Theater at Post 43 on January 18, 2020.  The screening will be open to the public and will be introduced by world renowned independent filmmaker and Retroformat Silent Films board member Allison Anders, whose films include Gas Food Lodging, Mi Vida Loca and Grace of My Heart.

For this unique screening in LA’s newest and most prestigious venue, the Chaplin Office has waived their usual requirement that the film must be accompanied by their recorded score.  Live piano accompaniment will be provided during the screening by Cliff Retallick, who is well known to Los Angeles audiences for improvising scores on-the-spot during silent films at venues like UCLA Film Archive, Retroformat Silent Films, and the American Cinematheque.  This event will kick off a series of tributes by Retroformat Silent Films to the founders of United Artists, with subsequent screenings of films by Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith to take place at the historic Woman’s Club of Hollywood early in 2020.

The Gold Rush originally premiered in 1925, but in 1942, Chaplin recut and re-released the film, adding a score that he recorded and composed himself, and dubbing it the "official version." In 1993, internationally renowned film restorationists, historians and documentarians Kevin Brownlow and David Gill restored the original 1925 version,  and it is this version that will screen on January 18 in the beautiful Legion Theater.

“We are highly honored that the Chaplin Office has granted us rare permission to show this amazing and important film in its original release format with live accompaniment by our Musical Director, Cliff Retallick,” said Tom Barnes, founder of Retroformat Silent Films, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit devoted to silent film exhibition that is co-sponsoring the screening with the American Legion Post 43. “We are also thrilled to be working with the veterans of the American Legion to bring this event to their beautiful new theater.”

In The Gold Rush, Chaplin's immortal Tramp is a lone prospector in the Alaskan Gold Rush, where he meets the beautiful dance hall girl Georgia Hale and becomes trapped in a snowbound cabin, hilariously boiling, carving and eating his own shoe in the famous dinner roll dance - one of the greatest scenes in movie history.

“The miracle of Chaplin is the miracle of cinema itself — for the first time in history, people of all races, ages, classes and ethnicities laughed at the same things and without words, and we owe each successive generation an introduction to Charlie,” says film director, screenwriter and Retroformat Silent Films board member Alexander Payne.  “‘The Gold Rush’ is a great place to start, and this is a wonderful chance to see the movie projected.  It’s a movie that sticks with you for the rest of your life.”

The Hollywood Legion Theater at Post 43 is located at 2035 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90068, just south of the Hollywood Bowl. The special screening will take place at 7:30 p.m.  Ticket prices will start at $25.00 for general admission, with discounted tickets for veterans at $15.00.  A limited number of special VIP tickets will be available for $40.00, and will include free parking, one free drink from the Legion’s bar and a free walking tour of the historic American Legion Post 43, plus a special tour of the Legion Theatre projection booth after the film.  Parking will be available in the Post's lot for $10 per car (limited number of spaces).  Free parking is available across the street in the lot adjacent to the Hollywood Heritage Museum.

For more information on Post 43, follow us on social media at @post43events or visit the website, post43events.com



ABOUT POST 43

POST 43 is a freshly renovated and restored event space that sits in the heart of Hollywood, CA. The three-story, 30,000 square-foot landmark features a state-of-the-art 6,000 sq.-ft. theater with seating for 482 guests, a variety of private event spaces, a full commercial kitchen, full liquor and cabaret licenses, and onsite parking. Designed by award-winning architects and event designers, the newly redesigned social space celebrates the rich history of the clubhouse while offering an unparalleled experience enhanced by modern amenities.

Post 43’s historic American Legion memorial clubhouse building was completed in 1929. Hollywood luminaries—veterans and nonveteran supporters—like Cecil B. DeMille, Adolph Menjou, and Mary Pickford were all instrumental in getting the post on its feet. Post 43 members have included the likes of Clark Gable, Gene Autry, Red Buttons, Mickey Rooney, Ronald Reagan, Charlton Heston, Stan Lee, and many more show business figures.

ABOUT RETROFORMAT SILENT FILMS

Retroformat Silent Films was granted nonprofit status in April 2019 with the sole mission of educating and inspiring enthusiasm about the art and history of the silent film era.  They fulfill this by recreating  the original moviegoing experience of in-person screenings with live musical accompaniment, introducing new generations to the joy and power of silent cinema.  Their board includes internationally renowned writer/directors Alexander Payne and Allison Anders and the curator of the University of Southern California Hugh M. Hefner Archive, Dino Everett.  The Gold Rush represents Retroformat's first screening in 35mm, and their first screening in the beautiful new Legion Theater.

Retroformat has two ongoing silent film series in other locations.  The Music Box Cinema screens monthly at the historic Woman’s Club of Hollywood, featuring silent classics on 16mm film courtesy of the USC Hugh M. Hefner Moving Image Archive, plus live vintage musical acts produced by Musical Director Cliff Retallick.  The long-running series Retroformat: Rare Silent Gems on 8mm and 16mm Film is now celebrating its tenth anniversary in the Spielberg Screening Room of the American Cinematheque’s (formerly Grauman’s) Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.  Live musical accompaniment is provided at all screening by Cliff Retallick.

Charlie Chaplin's "THE GOLD RUSH" -- Post 43 + Retroformat Silent Films Present Screening on January 18, 2020

John Wayne's Coolest Scenes #14: The Walk, "Sons of Katie Elder" (1965) (video)

John Wayne had a particular way of walking which he began to develop in the late 30s and early 40s. 

Nowhere is this more evident, or shown to better effect...

...than in this iconic shot of him walking toward the camera.


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

John Wayne's Coolest Scenes #14: The Walk, "Sons of Katie Elder" (1965) (video)

DVD REVIEW: Turkish Horror Double-Bill

Onar films have been the front runner in releasing Turkish Exploitation films, since, well, forever. Their consistency and determination to release such rare titles are both commendable and downright amazing. Their fantastic releases range from the Superhero films of 3 DEV ADAM to the madness of the KILINK action pieces. Their final product as always been one of quality and satisfaction, showcasing to the world the strange world of Turkish Cinema.

Today we take a look at their first foray into the Turkish horror genre. Onar films decided to pack a Double-Bill with their horror entry. First being a 1970 Gothic picture, THE DEAD DON'T TALK. Second, being an insane 1972 giallo, THIRSTY FOR LOVE, SEX, AND MURDER. Limited to 1200 pieces.

FILMS:

We'll start with the first. THE DEAD DON' TALK tells a strange tale of a haunted house in the outskirts of the country. A couple decides to spend the night within the house due to rather unfortunate circumstances, leading an awakening of ghoul-like ghost lusting for murder and death.

THE DEAD DON'T TALK is a competent Turkish production. It builds some fun spooky atmosphere under some creative cinematography. The film almost plays like a slow tripped out Hammer production laced with sprinkles of exploitation values. Not much happens in the film overall, other than some nicely built atmospheric sequences, the film just feels somewhat boring and generally uninteresting.

They are few exciting moments muddled throughout the feature. The ghastly villain randomly pops up throughout the film to scare our protagonists, queuing the soundtrack to play the famous 2001: SPACE ODYSSEY theme. Very odd indeed! The mysterious butler found within in the haunted mansion is fantastic in almost all respects. He overdoes almost everything. With his ridiculous eye-catching stares, unique posture, and an amazing echoing voice, he brilliantly captures the over-the-top flavor.

THE DEAD DON'T TALK is minor film from Turkish cannon. It's not a masterpiece by any stretch, but does contain the right ingredients for a somewhat enjoyable rainy afternoon.
6/10

Our second and final feature on the disc is the 1972 Turkish giallo, THIRSTY FOR LOVE, SEX, AND MURDER. TFLSM is basically a remake of the brilliant Sergio Martino giallo, THE STRANGE VICE OF WARDH. It tells the same story of a married woman, who begins to find mysterious notes from her past sado-masochistic boyfriend lusting for her to return. As blood begins to spill, horror dominates the stage, and TFLSM turns into a whirlwind of madness.

TFLSM is without question, BRILLIANT. It is a fantastically fun ordeal and one of the most enjoyable films I have seen in quite some time. The appeal is so downright wide open, it's impossible not to enjoy this film in some way. It has crazy characters, stylish giallo-equse murder sequences, typical great exploitation music, beautiful euro-women, and the most hilarious interrogation scenes ever filmed.

What made the film even more enjoyable was the fact that I love the original giallo so much. Watching how the Turks transform some of the original ideas and play with others is so damn fun and exciting. Seeing who they chose for George Hilton's role and how they piece their way through the same maze I'd seen Martino work through is just such gratifying and fulfilling experience.

I also love how the film loses its entire giallo/horror atmosphere and plot randomly in the last 5 mins. to go for a straight hard-boiled martial arts action ending.

The only downside is the film loses some of its steam midway through, but manages in the end to comeback to exploitation greatness in the final sequences.

At 57 mins. TFLSM is Turkish Exploitation at its best. This is what I would kill to see from the rest of these crazy films. It's exciting, horrific, sexy, mad, bloody, hilarious, with a sprinkle of TURKISH DELIGHT on top.

A double Bill of the STRANGE VICE OF MRS.WARDH and THIRSY FOR LOVE, SEX, AND MURDER is downright essential.
9/10

VIDEO: The quality for both films are highly damaged with faded colors, but it is forgivable considering the circumstances. Considering how rare these films are, it’s a joy just to have them at all.
5/10

AUDIO: Cracks, hisses, and pops are constant throughout both films, with sound dropping out at numerous points. Again the quality is not up to standard, but for reasons above I fully understand and therefore am more lenient.
4/10

SUBTITLES: No problems. They do the job in getting the overall tone of what is needed. Very few grammatical mistakes.
7/10

EXTRAS: Onar Films really shine here.

1) First you get some trailers from Onar Films other their DVD releases, showing what other delights they have to offer.

2) A very in-depth interview with Aytekin Akkaya, the lead from THE DEAD DON'T TALK. He discusses all aspects of his career and influences on himself and Turkish cinema. Very informative and enjoyable.

3) Without question, the best extra on the disc is the fantastic interview with Metin Demirhan and Giovanni Scognamillo, co-authors of the book TURKISH FANTASTIC CINEMA. They are extremely interesting in chronicling the history of Turkish Exploitation Cinema and how it’s developed over the years. They discuss numerous films, include clips, and give the viewer a very good taste of what Turkish cinema is all about. Great Stuff!

You can tell that since Onar Films were tied with the A/V materials, they boosted their performance in Extras department to a great level.
8/10

OVERALL: Onar films have fantastically presented to the world two very different films. They represent a side of cinema not vocal in the media. Although one is far weaker than the other, together they wonderful and mad pieces of Exploitation Cinema. Anyone with such interest in these titles owe it to themselves to bite into this Double-Bill, and let the TURKISH DELIGHTS drip from your mouth.
8/10

It's been said that Onar Films have been going through some difficult times recently. With sales not up to scratch and overall interest in their releases not up to standard, their stability has been wary. This is very unfortunate, and it is up to us fans to support the films that we love so much. How do expect to have Onar films continue releasing such films if we do not support them? LETS SHOW THEM THE LOVE THEY RIGHTFULLY DESERVE.

They have an extraordinary release of the TURKISH DEATH WISH this October, which promises to be AMAZING.

DVD REVIEW: Turkish Horror Double-Bill