DEADLINE -- DVD Review by Porfle

Originally posted on 11/17/19

 

One thing 50s and 60s television did so well, and which seems to have been lost these days, was the powerful half-hour drama. This is especially true of the better written and produced anthology shows of the time, including the hardboiled, often riveting journalism drama "Deadline."

Film Chest's new 3-disc, 39-episode DVD collection DEADLINE ("When Reporters Were Heroes") contains the entire run of the show (which aired sporadically from 1959 to 1961), with each episode covering various true-life news stories and the dogged reporters who unearthed them, often putting their lives in jeopardy to do so.

Paul Stewart (CITIZEN KANE) lends the show a distinguished air as the gravel-voiced host who, while sitting in a busy newsroom amidst diligent reporters and other workers, introduces each front-page story and the journalist who broke it.

Most of the stories are crime-related, as the reporters often work alongside police detectives on cases involving murder, robbery, arson, kidnapping, extortion, prison riots, mad bombers, juvenile delinquency, shoplifting, and political corruption.

The reporters track down leads and confront bad guys like hardnosed cops, sometimes giving the show the feel of a "Dragnet" episode.  The low budget and abundance of location shooting in the heart of the city also give it a gritty, realistic look. (Listen for some familiar "Plan 9 From Outer Space" library music within the show's score.)

Some stories are particularly powerful, as when a man (actor/director Mark Rydell) is accused of planting a bomb in his mother's suitcase and killing an entire planeload of people for her insurance money.  In another, a college student's thesis on how to commit the perfect murder is tested with the cold-blooded killings of two innocent men.

In addition to these subjects are the ones more related to human interest and social justice, with the reporters often being portrayed as crusading angels and pillars of moral virtue. Indeed, the series goes to great lengths to dispel any popular notions regarding the profession which are anything but positive.

Here we witness stories of amateur spelunkers being rescued from a cave (a very young Christopher Walken is billed as "Ronnie"), a pair of Burmese nurses being saved from deportation by a reporter (Frank Sutton, "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.")  whose life they once saved in a makeshift army hospital, and another reporter going undercover to expose the exploitation of illegal immigrants on the U.S.-Mexico border.  There's even a heart-tugging Christmas episode.

The stories are lean, terse, and to the point. They're also somewhat addictive, making them good binge-watching material for those so inclined. Like many anthology shows of the time, "Deadline" was a place for writers and actors to hone their talents, often doing work that is inspired.

The film quality of these black and white episodes is generally pristine save for occasional rough spots, which I think only add to their character. According to the promo information, these films were lost and forgotten in a garage in New Jersey for over 50 years before rediscovery.

Stewart himself plays the lead in many of the episodes. Other familiar faces include Telly Savalas, Peter Falk, Simon Oakland, Malachi ("Mal") Throne, Diane Ladd, Joanne Linville, Robert Lansing, George Maharis, Sydney ("Sidney") Pollack, Bibi Osterwald, Frank Overton, Lee Bergere, Jan Miner, Bob Hastings, Walter Brooke, Dana Elcar, Lonny Chapman, Jason ("Herb") Evers, Micheal Conrad, and Alfred Ryder.

As mentioned, the show glorifies the reporter's role as a crusader for justice and defender of all that is good, vowing (also quoting the promo info) to "uphold everything that our civil society stands for."

The text material found in the enclosed episode-guide booklet stresses how tarnished the reporter's image has become in recent years, blaming this not on any failing on the part of today's mainstream media but on its being undermined by alleged "fake news" being spread by the internet and other independent sources.

I find this either willfully naive or intentionally misleading, considering the fact that, in recent years, major print and television news sources seem to have relinquished a great deal of their former integrity while much of the actual truth one is able to glean these days does, in fact, come from the internet. 

Not only that, but the booklet's text as well as a DVD interview with a noted broadcast journalism professor seem to be just as politically biased as is much of today's mainstream media.

Putting such gripes aside, however, DEADLINE is a rich source of entertainment for vintage TV lovers, and Film Chest has done a fine job of preserving and presenting these exciting episodes that are such a valuable part of television history.



BONUS FEATURES
Episode Synopses • Photo Gallery • Trailer •
Trivia • Extended Synopsis: Journalism Past and
Present Overview • Interview with Broadcast
Journalism Professor Joe Alicastro


SKU: FC-647
UPC: 874757064796
SRP: $19.98
Street Date: 11/19/2019
Pre-Book: 11/5/2019
Discs: 3
Box Lot: 30
Production: Arnold Perl
Run Time: 1,006 Mins
Format: DVD
Color/B&W: B&W
Aspect ratio: 4x3
Year Prod: 1959 - 1961
Sound: Mono
Studio: Film Chest
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Television, Crime, Drama
Actor(s): Paul Stewart (narrator), Peter Falk,
Diane Ladd, George Maharis, Robert Lansing
and many more.               
Director(s): Various

DEADLINE -- DVD Review by Porfle

A Message from Rose McGowan on Asia Argento

I would first of all like to start off this statement saying thank you for your patience. A lot of people have been demanding answers and a response to the recent events surrounding Asia Argento’s sexual assault case. Many people believe that because we have been close in each other’s lives over the past year that perhaps I am affiliated with this incident or being complicit. I am not. 

I first met Asia on a red carpet, but it’s only been the past year through our shared experience of the HW case that we have bonded. Asia was a person who understood my trauma in a way that many others didn’t. We were able to talk through them together and champion each other’s voices. We even got matching dot tattoos! Something I had posted on my IG just about a month ago. It’s no secret to anyone that Im a blunt, candid, brazen individual vocally- and I think that’s what I really related to Asia the most with. They were edgy, confrontational, and strong willed with very little care about how much other’s liked or disliked them. Rare things to find in women in this industry or the world.

But then everything changed. In an instant. I received a phone call and series of messages from the being I’ve been dating- Rain Dove. They said that they had been texting with Asia and that Asia had revealed that she had indeed slept with Jimmy Bennet. Rain also shared that Asia had stated that she’d been receiving unsolicited nudes of Jimmy since he had been 12. Asia mentioned in these texts that she didn’t take any action on those images. No reporting to authorities, to the parents, or blocking of Jimmy’s social media. Not even a simple message “Don’t send me these images. They are inappropriate.” There were a few other details revealed as well that I am not at liberty to mention in this statement as investigators do their job.

Rain Dove said that they were going to go to the police with these texts once we were done speaking no matter what. But that they wanted me to be aware of them so that I may be able to take further actions. I responded with “You have to. You must.” I wasted no time. It wasn’t hard to say or support. What was hard was the shell shock of the realisation that everything the MeToo movement stood for was about to be in jeopardy. An hour after our conversation was finished Rain Dove confirmed that they had turned over the texts and were in conversation with officers. Almost 48 hours later the texts were in the press.

I had introduced Rain Dove to Asia Argento last month, three days after the passing of Anthony Bourdain. I was with Asia to comfort and support her. Rain Dove came to support us both. It was an emotionally chaotic time and Rain Dove suggested we go to Berlin for a couple days to take the mourning out of Asia’s home and into a neutral space. So we did. While in Berlin Asia had mentioned that she was being extorted for a large sum of money every month by someone who was blackmailing them with a provocative image. No one in the room knew who the extortionist was. Now we know it to be a reference to this case.

Rain Dove continued on communicating with Asia occasionally after meeting her- and their conversations have been their own. I know Rain is a person to whom many high profile entities consult when they are experiencing social pressures because Rain is good at guiding them through the research confrontation, rehabilitation, and solution process. While they are a person who is good at keeping a secret for those dedicated to making things right- they are also justice driven. So it was not a surprise to me that I received that call and the messages from them. I’ve referred to Asia in the past as “My Ride or Die” and said very clearly that their friendship comes first. I know that coming to me with those messages must have been hard for Rain because of that so I commend them for their bravery.

To the people who have checked in with me to see if I’m alright- the answer is thank you and Yes. I’ll be fine. Its sad to lose a friend connection, but whats even more sad is what happened to Jimmy Bennet. Whether or not the extortion case is true- it wasn’t fair and it wasn’t right. It is the type of thing I fight against alongside so many. The reason I haven’t released a statement is because I’ve frankly been extremely humbled by this event. I had to take a step back and realise that in my own activism while I fight hard with passion- I need to evolve. In the past I have been occasionally angry. As a victim I was justified in fiery feelings. But I know that those accused are the friends, parents, and family members of other people. There absolutely should be no leeway or tolerance for sexual assault. Hard stop. NONE. Victims also shouldn’t be told how they should react or what they should say about their abusers. However as allies to the victim and voyeurs of an event we should find a better way to balance support of the victim with due process for the accused. I’ve never claimed to be perfect. This week especially has made me come to terms with the fact that we all have a lot of growing to do, including myself.

At this current moment it may be easy to focus on the drama of the situation. The conspiracy. But the real focus should be on supporting justice. Supporting honesty. And supporting each other. We can not let this moment break the momentum of a movement that has freed so many people. We must use it to allow us to become stronger. More compassionate. More aware. And More organised.

Asia you were my friend. I loved you. You’ve spent and risked a lot to stand with the MeToo movement. I really hope you find your way through this process to rehabilitation and betterment. Anyone can be be better- I hope you can be, too. Do the right thing. Be honest. Be fair. Let justice stay its course. Be the person you wish Harvey could have been.

A Message from Rose McGowan on Asia Argento

Quentin Tarantino's "ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD" -- First Photo From Set

Quentin Tarantino's "ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD" -- First Photo From Set 

August 9, 2019

Quentin Tarantino's ninth feature film is a story that takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood.

The two lead characters are Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio, right), former star of a western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt, left).

Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don't recognize anymore. But Rick has a very famous next-door neighbor...Sharon Tate.

Written and Directed by:
Quentin Tarantino

Produced by:
David Heyman
Quentin Tarantino
Shannon McIntosh

Executive Producer:
Georgia Kacandes

Cast:                             
Leonardo DiCaprio
Brad Pitt

Photo Credit: Andrew Cooper; © 2018 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Quentin Tarantino's "ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD" -- First Photo From Set

The Eminent Demise of DVDs (from Zootscoop.com)

The Eminent Demise of DVDs
by John Francis

Posted on June 5, 2017 in Entertainment  (ZootScoop.com)

“OK, class, show of hands. When did you last rent a DVD movie?”
No hands.
“OK, when did you last buy a DVD movie?”
Still no hands.
“Uh, what’s a DVD? Are you kidding me?”

That scenario may play out sooner than you think, but don’t toss your DVD player and DVD copies of “Titanic” and “Toy Story” into the garage sale box just yet.

While it’s true that DVD sales and rentals have declined in the past few years, it’s not as precipitous a drop as some observers have predicted. DVD sales dropped by 28% in 2015 with $12.2 billion and is expected to drop to $8.7 billion in 2018. By next year, streaming and digital downloads will be the biggest moneymakers in the film industry. In fact, according to Price Waterhouse Cooper, by 2018, digital video will make more profit than movies’ theatrical box office.

Maybe we should be talking about the demise of movie theaters? Well, that’s a discussion for another article, which we’ve covered in Z’Scoop earlier this year. But even Price Waterhouse doesn’t think movie theaters will become obsolete, as new innovations, trends and viewing habits keep it viable.

So, DVD sales are declining and DVD rentals are making a slow slide, again, not as drastically as you would imagine (Redbox has 52% of the rental market with more than 1 billion movies and games rented each year, Netflix DVD rentals owns most of the other share), so despite the competition, DVDs are doing relatively well and here’s why...

READ MORE

The Eminent Demise of DVDs (from Zootscoop.com)

"DOOBIOUS SOURCES" Sparks Up on Cable VOD and Digital HD January 17th

Clif Lord's Doobious Sources Debuts on VOD and Digital HD
Cinema Verite Stoner Comedy Available January 17th
Festival Favorite Skewers the Spread of Fake News
   
Los Angeles, CA - Doobious Sources, LLC and Gravitas Ventures have announced the Cable VOD and Digital HD release of Clif Lord's Doobious Sources.

Following screenings at the Cannabis Film Festival, the Denver Film Society's 4-20 Special Selection and taking home the Golden Leaf at the Maine Cannabis Film Festival, Doobious Sources will be available to rent or own starting January 17th.  The film will debut on Dish Network, Cox, Charter, Verizon Fios, iTunes, Amazon Instant, Google Play, Vudu and more.

Doobious Sources stars Jeff Lorch and Jason Weissbrod as renegade investigative journalists in a new satire on the modern spread of fake news as entertainment. Half art film, half stoner comedy, Doobious Sources is constructed from footage shot by the two perpetually high protagonists whose mutual distrust and paranoia has compelled them to record each other constantly so neither can turn on the other.

Rent or Buy Doobious Sources on iTunes US
Rent or Buy Doobious Sources on iTunes Canada

 

 

 SYNOPSIS: Zorn and The Reg are amoral, weed-loving, freelance video journalists with no regard for journalistic ethics. They become unwitting dupes of a local reporter who hires them to work on an undercover report about corruption at City Hall. Already targeted for revenge by a mogul they slandered in a sordid sex scandal, the perpetually blazed best friends find themselves dragged into an escalating web of illegal activities that requires their full arsenal of lechery and dirty tricks if they want to make it out alive.

             Doobious Sources (Official Trailer)


Doobious Sources:  98 minutes / 16:9 / USA

"DOOBIOUS SOURCES" Sparks Up on Cable VOD and Digital HD January 17th

New Poster for Dario Argento's GIALLO

Looks AMAZINGLY AMAZING!

Although its based an Andy Warhol original piece, the poster totally fits what I hope the film is going for.

New Poster for Dario Argento's GIALLO

News from Asia by Paul S.

Paul gave us this neat little tidbit on what The Weinstein Company is up too.

Weinsteins Investing In Asian Films

Setting their sights on Asia, Bob and Harvey Weinstein are setting up
a $285 million fund, with the help of Goldman Sachs, to invest in
movies with Asian themes and elements.

Including -

"a remake of the Hong Kong martial arts movie "Come Drink With Me,"
directed by Quentin Tarantino."

Source -
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news
/e3ia76075fe469ef9a4ae39677b33634639

Fans might also remember that TWC acquired the movie and stage rights
to the entire Crane Iron Pentalogy by Wang Dulu.  Crouching Tiger
Hidden Dragon rights were also included in that deal which started a
legal battle with Sony/Columbia/Tristar who claimed they had secured
the rights previously.

News from Asia by Paul S.