Strangest & Most Violent Mummy Film? "The Mummy's Curse" (Universal, 1944) (video)

Strangest & Most Violent Mummy Film? "The Mummy's Curse" (Universal, 1944)

(spoilers)

"The Mummy's Curse" is the final film in Universal's "Mummy" series.

And despite some lighter moments than the two previous films...
...it may also be the most violent, if judging by body count alone.

The Mummy (Lon Chaney) makes the most of his ample screen time in this one.

The film also contains perhaps the single strangest scene in any "Mummy" movie...
...the mud-caked resurrection of Kharis' beloved Princess Ananka (Virginia Christine).
Ananka struggles stiffly out of her earthen tomb, then staggers toward the light.

The film is a lively swan song for Kharis--one of vintage horror's weirdest monsters.

(Read our overview of the entire series, SHOW ME THE MUMMY.) 


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

Strangest & Most Violent Mummy Film? "The Mummy's Curse" (Universal, 1944) (video)

Billy Ray Brewton's "SHOW YOURSELF" Debuts on DVD August 14th -- See Trailer HERE!

Summer Hill Entertainment Goes Into the Woods

Billy Ray Brewton's "SHOW YOURSELF" Comes to DVD and VOD

Available Nationwide August 14th

"Works as both a mainstream ghost story and an in-depth character study" -- Bloody Disgusting

"One of those rare movies that will appeal to almost anyone just looking for a good story" -- Bloody Disgusting

Los Angeles, CA - Following an award-winning run on the festival circuit, Billy Ray Brewton's Show Yourself is making its national VOD and DVD debut this summer.

The grief-infused thriller world premiered at Bruce Campbell's Horror Film Festival in Chicago, where Bloody Disgusting praised "the script's clever meta-textual moments and genuine human emotion."

The film went on to screen at the Chattanooga Film Festival, Charlotte Film Festival, Skyline Indie Film Festival, Toronto Indie Horror Film Festival, Splat!Fest, and the Nashville Film Festival, where Brewton took home the Graveyard Shift Audience Choice Award.

Show Yourself will be released August 14th on DVD,  Google Play and XBox.  The film is available now on Amazon Instant Video.

Ben Hethcoat (The Babysitter Murders, Dead Dad) stars as a grieving friend who goes deep into the woods to process his loss.  Hethcoat is joined by a supporting cast including Corsica Wilson (L.A. Macabre), Barak Hardley ("Halt and Catch Fire"), Clancy McCartney ("Chicago Fire"), David McElwee ("Boardwalk Empire"), Stephen Cone (Henry Gamble's Birthday Party) and Robert Longstreet (Pineapple Express).

When his friend Paul dies unexpectedly, Travis heads into the woods to say goodbye. As Travis deals with his grief, and the way it has affected the relationships in his life, he starts to realize that he actually might not be alone in the woods. Curiosity turns to horror as Travis comes face-to-face with something both inexplicable and frighteningly familiar.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Order Show Yourself on Amazon (DVD)

Order Show Yourself on Amazon (Instant Video)

Show Yourself: English / USA / 79 min

The DVD release of Show Yourself (SRP $19.95) will be available from all major online retailers.

Billy Ray Brewton's "SHOW YOURSELF" Debuts on DVD August 14th -- See Trailer HERE!

Most Depressing Mummy Movie Ever? "The Mummy's Tomb" (1942) (video)

Most Depressing Mummy Movie Ever? "The Mummy's Tomb" (Universal, 1942)

(spoilers)

"The Mummy's Hand" (1940) was a lighthearted adventure with stalwart hero Steve...
...and bumbling comedy-relief Babe, who kept things from getting too grim.
The upbeat ending found Steve and Babe happy and victorious.

The film's sequel, "The Mummy's Tomb" (1942), is shockingly downbeat in comparison...
...as the "Mummy" series itself goes to the dark side.

Former hero Steve is thirty years older and in comfortable retirement.
Until a vengeful Kharis returns to throttle him to death in his own bedroom.

The once happy-go-lucky Babe returns for Steve's funeral...
...and ends up, at long last, as another victim of the rampaging Kharis.

Even Steve Banning's elderly sister is killed, in a scene often cut from TV prints.

This "nobody is safe" motif, particularly with the deaths of the previous film's heroes...
...makes "The Mummy's Tomb" arguably the most unrelentingly downbeat entry in the series.

(Read our overview of the entire series, SHOW ME THE MUMMY.)


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

Most Depressing Mummy Movie Ever? "The Mummy's Tomb" (1942) (video)

"POOL PARTY MASSACRE" Has An Uninvited Guest! See the Red Band Trailer HERE!

TERROR FILMS Releases a Sizzling Red Band Trailer for "POOL PARTY MASSACRE" Right Here!

Los Angeles, CA (July 27th, 2018): Summer is here and what would it be without babes, booze and slaughtered rich girls? TERROR FILMS cordially invites you to check out Pool Party Massacre, on Digital platforms, this August 17th.

And now, the film’s red band trailer is set to ignite audiences below!

The official synopsis: “What started out as a relaxing summer day by the pool for a group of high maintenance young socialites quickly becomes a nightmare, when an unknown killer begins stalking and murdering them one by one.”

The film was written and directed by Drew Marvick (Scared to Death, 2015). The film centrally stars: adult actress Alexis Adams, Sally Burnswello (Do Not Disturb), Nick Beyer (Popcorn Killer), Paul Card, Dora Deceuninck, Jimmy Grosse, Mark Justice and LeeAnna Vamp.

All of these filmmakers come together, this Summer, in of this year’s hottest and bloodiest horror films.

Terror Films’ executive Joe Dain was impressed by the film. He says of this indie feature: “it’s a raunchy good time! This film represents the best of cheeky, fun, gory, indie horror films.” Some of that cheekiness can be seen in the film’s Red Band trailer, released this week and found here.

On August 17th, Pool Party Massacre releases across multiple Digital platforms. During this week, the official, platform-friendly trailer will be released, as well.

Also, additional release details will be announced in August. In the meantime, check out the very R rated trailer for Pool Party Massacre - now!

WARNING! This Red Band Trailer Is Intended For Mature Audiences!

For more on the film: https://poolpartymassacrestore.com/
For more information on Terror Films, visit: www.terrorfilms.net
And here: www.facebook.com/TerrorFilmsLLC/

"POOL PARTY MASSACRE" Has An Uninvited Guest! See the Red Band Trailer HERE!

Risque' Pre-Code Lesbian (?) Scene: "Millie" (1931) (video)

Risque' Pre-Code Lesbian (?) Scene: "Millie" (1931)

Helen Twelvetrees

Joan Blondell

Lilyan Tashman

Before strict adherence to the Motion Picture Production Code in 1934...

...several pre-code films had implied gay and/or lesbian elements.

This scene is, to say the least, open to interpretation.

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

Risque' Pre-Code Lesbian (?) Scene: "Millie" (1931) (video)

Horror Thriller "SLENDER MAN" -- See the New Trailer HERE!

SLENDER MAN
 
Genre: Horror
August 10, 2018

In a small town in Massachusetts, a group of friends perform a ritual in an attempt to debunk the lore of SLENDER MAN.

When one of them goes mysteriously missing, they begin to suspect that she is, in fact, HIS latest victim.

WATCH THE NEW TRAILER:

Directed By:
Sylvain White

Written By:
David Birke

Based on a character created by:
Victor Surge

Produced by:
Bradley J. Fischer
James Vanderbilt
William Sherak
Robyn Meisinger
Sarah Snow

Starring:
Joey King
  Julia Goldani Telles
Jaz Sinclair
Annalise Basso
and Javier Botet

Horror Thriller "SLENDER MAN" -- See the New Trailer HERE!

Hollywood Horrorfest Presents Host of Screenings, Star Appearances

HOLLYWOOD HORRORFEST PRESENTS HOST OF SCREENINGS, STAR APPEARANCES

WHO: Hollywood Horrorfest, an international fundraising film festival that celebrates and keeps alive the spirit of the horror film genre.

WHAT: A full schedule of screenings, cast & crew symposiums and reunions dedicated to horror’s biggest hits, B-movies and cult classics

WHEN: Thursday, July 26 – Sunday, July 29, 2018

WHERE: The Mayflower Club, 11110 Victory Blvd. North Hollywood

Tickets are available for each screening and event separately - HollywoodHorrorfest.com/tickets

FULL LINEUP HERE: http://blog.hollywoodhorrorfest.com/tickets-3/

Special guests include:

Cassandra Peterson - ELVIRA (July 26) Peterson is set to receive the PRICE AWARD, honoring excellence in horror; Vincent Price’s daughter Victoria will present the award, followed by a screening of Elvira classic Elvira’s Haunted Hills and cast & crew Q&A.

Alan Howarth - (July 27) -- The electronic music legend is set to receive an IMPACT AWARD, then play a live concert with music from John Carpenter classics They Live, Halloween and Escape from New York, then a cast & crew reunion Q&A following a screening of They Live. **

Kevin Tenney - (July 28) -- The acclaimed director will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his much-loved cult film Night of the Demons with a cast & crew reunion, celebrity raffles, ‘80s cosplay contest and special appearance by Night Ranger’s ‘Sister Christian’ video vixen.

Dee Wallace - (July 29) -- In-person Q&A with the star of E.T., Cujo, The Hills Have Eyes and The Howling following a free screening of director Gary Doust’s documentary Horror Movie: A Low Budget Nightmare

** This event is a fundraiser for the Vincent Price Art Museum (VPAM) at East Los Angeles College, a tribute to the horror master and unique educational resource that collects and displays artwork and design from every genre to inspire and enrich the community at large.

Hollywood Horrorfest Presents Host of Screenings, Star Appearances

Floating Rocks in "The Terror" (1963) w/Jack Nicholson & Boris Karloff (video)

In 1963 Roger Corman directed Karloff and Nicholson in this low-budget quickie...
...on sets left over from other films.

Nicholson's then-wife Sandra Knight costars.

As the film nears its end, Karloff, Knight, and Dick Miller wrestle in the raging flood waters.
Nicholson hurries to the scene.

Suddenly a stone wall gives way and the water is filled with...

...FLOATING ROCKS!

(Read our review of THE TERROR)


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

Floating Rocks in "The Terror" (1963) w/Jack Nicholson & Boris Karloff (video)

From Location To Soundstage In One Seamless Shot: "The Birds" (Alfred Hitchcock, 1963) (video)

We go from an actual San Francisco street...

...to a Universal soundstage...

...in one seamless shot.

(Look for the Hitchcock cameo.)


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

From Location To Soundstage In One Seamless Shot: "The Birds" (Alfred Hitchcock, 1963) (video)

Eeriest Scene In A John Wayne Western? "Randy Rides Alone" (1934) (video)

Eeriest scene in a John Wayne western?

After a long ride, Randy (John Wayne) spots a remote but familiar saloon...

...and eagerly goes in to visit an old friend.

But when he gets inside...


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

Eeriest Scene In A John Wayne Western? "Randy Rides Alone" (1934) (video)

M. Night Shyamalan's "GLASS" With Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson In Theaters 1/18/19 - - Watch Trailer Here!

M. Night Shyamalan's
GLASS

In Theaters: January 18, 2019

M. Night Shyamalan brings together the narratives of two of his standout originals-2000's Unbreakable, from Touchstone, and 2016's Split, from Universal-in one explosive, all-new comic-book thriller: Glass. 

From Unbreakable, Bruce Willis returns as David Dunn as does Samuel L. Jackson as Elijah Price, known also by his pseudonym Mr. Glass.  Joining from Split are James McAvoy, reprising his role as Kevin Wendell Crumb and the multiple identities who reside within, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Casey Cooke, the only captive to survive an encounter with The Beast. 

WATCH THE TRAILER

Following the conclusion of Split, Glass finds Dunn pursuing Crumb's superhuman figure of The Beast in a series of escalating encounters, while the shadowy presence of Price emerges as an orchestrator who holds secrets critical to both men.

Joining the all-star cast are Unbreakable's Spencer Treat Clark and Charlayne Woodard, who reprise their roles as Dunn's son and Price's mother, as well as Golden Globe Award winner Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story series).

This riveting culmination of his worldwide blockbusters is produced by Shyamalan and Blumhouse Production's Jason Blum, who also produced the writer/director's previous two films for Universal. They produce again with Ashwin Rajan and Marc Bienstock, and Steven Schneider and Kevin Frakes, who executive produce. Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum also serve as executive producers.

A Blinding Edge Pictures and Blumhouse production, Glass will be released by Universal Pictures in North America on January 18, 2019, and by Buena Vista International abroad.

Official Site
Facebook 
Twitter 
Instagram
#GlassMovie

M. Night Shyamalan's "GLASS" With Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson In Theaters 1/18/19 - - Watch Trailer Here!

First Time Joe Friday Had To Kill A Man: "Dragnet: The Big Thief" (1953) (video)

The original "Dragnet" series often had a much more melancholy tone.

Detective Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and his partner Frank Smith (Ben Alexander)…

...are hunting a couple who rob doctors of narcotics during house calls.

The trail leads to a hotel room. 

The male suspect opens fire. Friday has to shoot back.  

Unlike many fictional cops, Friday is deeply affected by the killing.

Friday's second killing would occur 14 years later in the color episode "The Shooting Board." 


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

First Time Joe Friday Had To Kill A Man: "Dragnet: The Big Thief" (1953) (video)

Neon Acquires Worldwide Rights to Todd Douglas Miller's "APOLLO 11"; Executive Producer CNN Films Retains North American TV Rights

NEON ACQUIRES WORLDWIDE RIGHTS TO TODD DOUGLAS MILLER’S “APOLLO 11”; EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CNN FILMS TO RETAIN NORTH AMERICAN TELEVISION RIGHTS

New York (July 20, 2018) – NEON has acquired the worldwide theatrical rights to Todd Douglas Miller’s (Dinosaur 13) cinematic space event documentary, Apollo 11.  The film features never-before-seen, large-format film footage of one of humanity’s greatest accomplishments.  The film is executive produced by CNN Films, which will retain the U.S. television rights, and is produced by Miller’s Statement Pictures.

The feature is currently in post-production.  Producers for Statement Pictures include Miller and Thomas Petersen.  Amy Entelis and Courtney Sexton of CNN Films are executive producers.

Miller is best known for the Emmy® Award-winning documentary, Dinosaur 13, which was also executive produced by CNN Films.  That film tells the story of the discovery of the largest Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever found.  Dinosaur 13 world premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Apollo 11 is the second film distribution collaboration between NEON and CNN Films in 2018.  Earlier this year, the two companies announced their shared distribution of Three Identical Strangers, a feature-length documentary about triplets separated at birth and then reunited as adults.  Three Identical Strangers had its world premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and is successfully exhibiting in theaters now.

The deal for Apollo 11 was negotiated by Josh Braun of Submarine; Stacey Wolf, vice president of business affairs at CNN; and Evan Krauss of Gray Krauss Sandler Des Rochers LLP, along with Matt Burke and Ben Braun of Submarine.

More information about Miller’s Apollo 11 documentary film will become available via https://www.apollo11movie.com.

ABOUT NEON
Founded in 2016, NEON is an award winning independent film distribution studio.  Its debut film was Nacho Vigalondo’s Colossal, starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis.  NEON was an active player at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, acquiring Reinaldo Marcus Green’s Monsters & Men, winner of the Sundance Dramatic Special Jury Award for Outstanding First Feature; Sam Levinson’s Assassination Nation; and Tim Wardle’s Three Identical Strangers, winner of the Sundance Special Jury Award for Storytelling.  NEON had a record breaking year with the release of the runaway hit winner I, Tonya, directed by Craig Gillespie, starring Margot Robbie and 2018 Oscar Winner for Best Supporting, Actress Allison Janney. Eliza Hittman’s Sundance Award Winner Beach Rats, Matt Spicer’s Sundance and Spirit Award Winner Ingrid Goes West; Laura Poitras’s RISK, Ana Lily Amirpour’s Venice Award Winner The Bad Batch and Errol Morris’, The B-Side.  Other recent NEON releases include Aaron Katz’s Gemini; and the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival Opening Night film by Janus Metz, Borg Vs McEnroe; and Coralie Fargeat’s groundbreaking feature film debut Revenge.  After their successful collaboration on I, Tonya, in January 2018, 30WEST (Dan Friedkin’s and Micah Green’s strategic venture) partnered with NEON’s Tom Quinn (Founder & CEO) and Tim League (Co-Founder) to become the majority investors in the company.

ABOUT CNN FILMS
CNN Films, now celebrating its fifth year, produces and acquires documentary feature and short films for theatrical and festival exhibition and distribution across CNN’s multiple platforms.  Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent and content development, oversees the strategy for CNN Films; Courtney Sexton, vice president for CNN Films, works day-to-day with filmmakers to oversee projects.  For more information about CNN Films, please visit www.CNN.com/CNNFilms and follow @CNNFilms via Twitter.  In addition to Dinosaur 13, directed by Todd Douglas Miller, recent acclaimed CNN Films include: TROPHY, directed by Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau; AMERICAN JAIL directed by Roger Ross Williams; THE REAGAN SHOW, co-directed by Pacho Velez and Sierra Pettengill; JEREMIAH TOWER: The Last Magnificent, directed by Lydia Tenaglia; RBG, directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen; LOVE, GILDA, directed by Lisa D’Apolito; and Three Identical Strangers, directed by Tim Wardle. 

ABOUT STATEMENT PICTURES
Statement Pictures LLC was formed in 2011 in Brooklyn, NY to produce independent feature-length motion picture films and visual content. It is co-owned by filmmakers Todd Douglas Miller and Thomas Petersen. The company’s first feature film, Dinosaur 13, premiered on opening night at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Lionsgate and CNN Films for theatrical and broadcast exhibition, winning an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Science and Technology Programming.  The company has numerous independent feature-length films in various stages of production and development and is actively engaged in the production of large format films that target museums and science centers worldwide.

Neon Acquires Worldwide Rights to Todd Douglas Miller's "APOLLO 11"; Executive Producer CNN Films Retains North American TV Rights

John Wayne Eye-Poked By A Hat Brim: "Texas Cyclone" (1932) (video)

John Wayne and Tim McCoy (right)…

...deal with a lowdown hombre (Wallace MacDonald, left).

Watch Duke get a hat-brim poke in the eye for his trouble!



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

John Wayne Eye-Poked By A Hat Brim: "Texas Cyclone" (1932) (video)

Powerful Doc "TO AUSCHWITZ & BACK: THE JOE ENGEL STORY" Brings to Life an Incredible Tale of Persecution and Escape On 8/14

THIS AUGUST, ONE POWERFUL DOCUMENTARY -- A STORY OF PERSECUTION, FORTITUDE AND ONE MAN'S DARING ESCAPE FROM INTERNMENT IN NAZI GERMANY - WILL ASSURE WE NEVER FORGET

TO AUSCHWITZ & BACK: THE JOE ENGEL STORY

Available on DVD and Digital on August 14, 2018 Through Dreamscape Media, This is the Inaugural Release from the Holocaust Education Film Foundation, a 501c3 Organization Assuring that the Impactful Stories of Holocaust Survivors Are Preserved Through Film

Charleston, SC (July 19, 2018) -- Many people call themselves storytellers. Very few, however, can compel you to listen. Joe Engel, at 90 years of age, knows how to tell his story. His unforgettable tale of persecution and perseverance comes to compelling life in TO AUSCHWITZ & BACK: THE JOE ENGEL STORY.

The powerful documentary arrives on DVD ($24.95srp) and digital this August from Dreamscape Media and the Holocaust Education Film Foundation, in conjunction with Anchor Media Group and Synagogue Emanu-El.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

TO AUSCHWITZ & BACK: THE JOE ENGEL STORY tells an incredible story of persecution, one man's inner-strength and fortitude and a daring escape from internment in Nazi Germany. Born in Zakroczym, Poland in 1927, Engel was taken by the Nazis at 14 and never saw his parents again.
From the overwhelming despair of the Warsaw Ghetto, to the shroud of unceasing death and suffering that was Birkenau and Auschwitz, Engel vividly takes viewers to hell and back through his escape from a Death Train at 17 and covert work as a freedom fighter until Liberation in 1945.

With the assistance of The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's film and photographic archives, filmmaker Ron Small (Circle Unbroken, Medals of World War II) has successfully woven Engel's incredible storytelling into a riveting visual presentation that is both historic and contemporary.

With an unwavering will to live, Engel overcame unimaginable horrors, earned his freedom, and fought to free others. His is a story of faith, renewal, inner-strength and redemption, and though his number tattoo may have faded over time, his passion for life and telling his story continues today, ensuring the Holocaust is never forgotten.

TO AUSCHWITZ & BACK: THE JOE ENGEL STORY is the first film to be released from the newly launched Holocaust Education Film Foundation, a 501c3 organization founded with the objective of assuring that the painful legacy of the Holocaust is never forgotten by producing documentaries with survivors from around the world, sharing their impactful and astounding stories through the medium of film.

Additional full-length survivor documentaries to follow in 2018 include "From the Holocaust to Hollywood: The Robert Clary Story", the real-life story of the "Hogan's Heroes" star who was liberated from Buchenwald in 1945, and the story of Dr. Susan Spatz, now 96 , who survived internment at Birkenau, and Ravensbrück to eventually walk away to freedom.

TO AUSCHWITZ & BACK: THE JOE ENGEL STORY is additionally available for screening events. Inquiries should be directed to info@soundviewmediapartners.com, the licensing agent for the film.

About The Holocaust Education Film Foundation
Established in 2018, the Holocaust Education Film Foundation was started to build an international, interactive online community one Holocaust survivor story at a time. Through full-length documentaries, distributed globally through numerous platforms, the online site and educational programs, the 501c3 foundation seeks to ensure that we never forget.

TO AUSCHWITZ & BACK: THE JOE ENGEL STORY
Running Time: 47 mins.
Genre: Documentary
Aspect Ratio: 16 x 9
Audio: Stereo

Powerful Doc "TO AUSCHWITZ & BACK: THE JOE ENGEL STORY" Brings to Life an Incredible Tale of Persecution and Escape On 8/14

ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON -- DVD Review by Porfle

Funny how my hazy old recollection of this show was that it started running out of steam circa 71-72.  To the contrary, a new viewing shows that it just kept getting better and better--so that, in fact, by the time ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON (Time-Life, 6-DVD set) rolled around, it was faster, wilder, and funnier than ever before.

With the departure of Artie Johnson, Ruth Buzzi is now the last surviving original cast member, but it's still a great cast nonetheless.  Semi-veterans such as the ever-hilarious Lily Tomlin and the deliriously silly Alan Sues are aided by the now-familiar Ann Elder, Dennis Allen, Barbara Sharma, and roly-poly impressionist Johnny Brown, while the great Gary Owens remains as the show's permanent announcer.

And with the cancellation of "Hogan's Heroes", two of that show's former cast members--Richard Dawson and Larry Hovis--now join the "Laugh-In" gang of regulars.  Dawson in particular takes to the format as to the manor born, cementing his stature as one of TV's leading comics with his dry, improvisatory humor and sense of the absurd.

The format itself remains loose and unpredictable as ever, juggling such familiar features as "Mod World", "Quickies", "Present and Future News" (with kid actor Moosie Drier now supplying "Kids' News" from his treehouse), "Cocktail Party", "Fickle Finger of Fate", and others. As always, the show's main weakness is its tiresome song and dance numbers, which are best fast-forwarded through.

Famous guest stars are aplenty since just about everyone wanted to be on the show.  John Wayne appears several times, along with such stars as Raquel Welch, Rita Hayworth, Debbie Reynolds, Gene Hackman, Johnny Carson, Carol Channing, Bing Crosby, Tony Curtis, Johnny Cash, Edward G. Robinson, Hugh Hefner, Bob Hope, Paul Lynde, Liza Minnelli, Agnes Moorehead, Vincent Price, Carl Reiner, Henny Youngman, and many more.

A special feature of this 24-episode collection is the inclusion of the show's 100th episode.  This sees the return of original cast members Arte Johnson, Judy Carne, Jo Anne Worley, Henry Gibson, and Teresa Graves, as well as the very first "Laugh-In" guest, Tiny Tim.

Rowan and Martin themselves continue in their hilarious comedy tradition with Dan as the perfect straight man and Dick as the perfect fool.  Like the show itself, their comedy is stream-of-consciousness, non-sequitur-based silliness performed by a couple of aging, booze-swilling swingers hitching a ride on the sexual revolution.

If this sounds good to you, or you're already a fan and want more, ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON is the good stuff in undiluted form, and plenty of it.


PROGRAM INFORMATION
Format: DVD/6 Discs
Running Time: 1239 minutes
Genre: TV DVD/Comedy
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audio: Stereo

ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON -- DVD Review by Porfle

Oscar winners Tom Woodruff Jr. and Alec Gillis Celebrate 30 years of Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc.

SAN DIEGO COMC-CON PANEL 

OSCAR-WINNING VFX ARTISTS
TOM WOODRUFF, JR. & ALEC GILLIS OF

studioADI CELEBRATE 

30 YEARS OF MAKING PRACTICAL MONSTERS
FROM 'TREMORS' TO 'WELLWOOD'

Tom and Alec will be joined by 'Wellwood' producers/stars
Keisha Castle-Hughes (Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead),
Camille Balsamo, and  Reid Collums  (also the screenwriter),
as well as the film's director, Eliza Hooper.

San Diego, CA (July 18, 2018) For 30 years, Los Angeles based Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. (studioADI) has been the premier Creature Effects studio in the motion picture business. studioADI was co-founded by the Academy Award winning duo of Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr. in 1988. The team has been responsible for three decades of iconic Creature Characters from the Alien and Predator franchises to the recent smash hit horror film IT, and their upcoming production Wellwood.

San Diego Comic-Con Panel:
Thursday July 19, 2018 5:30pm - 6:30pm, in Room 24ABC
Comic Con schedule and other info: http://sched.co/FQoR

Oscar winners Tom Woodruff Jr. and Alec Gillis will host a panel discussion on their three decades as owners of Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc., one of the top Character Effects studios in the world. They will show a retrospective of their past work (the ALIEN franchise, XMEN: FIRST CLASS, STARSHIP TROOPERS) as well as their recent work (IT, JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM, BRIGHT). Plus COMIC-CON sneak peeks at upcoming projects including studioADI's WELLWOOD, a science fiction feature starring GAME OF THRONES' Keisha Castle-Hughes, Lance Nichols, Camille Balsamo and Reid Collums. Directed by Eliza Hooper. Written by Reid Collums.

Official website: www.studioADI.com
studioADI Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/studioADl
studioADI YouTube Channel (242,305 subscribers): 
https://www.youtube.com/user/studioADI
studioADI Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thestudioadi/
 
About studioADI
We are Academy Award winning creators of special characters and character effects. Calling upon a diverse range of talents and techniques, we create prosthetic make-ups, animatronic puppets, actor duplicates and replica animals. With over twenty-five years of professional experience, we bring "real" character effects to the set to interact with actors, lighting, and practical atmosphere. We pride ourselves on working with the industry's leading cgi companies to find the right balance of digital and practical effects. We continue to provide film-makers with realistic and economical character effects that best serve the story and the production.

Oscar winners Tom Woodruff Jr. and Alec Gillis Celebrate 30 years of Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc.

"SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY" On Digital Sept 14 & Blu-ray Sept 25 — See Trailer HERE!

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY 

On Digital Sept 14 & Blu-ray Sept 25

Lucasfilm's "Solo: A Star Wars Story," directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Ron Howard—the creator of unforgettable films, such as "A Beautiful Mind," "Apollo 13," "Parenthood" and "Splash"—took moviegoers on this summer's wildest ride with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy, Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich).

WATCH THE TRAILER:

The action-packed journey explores Han's first encounters with future friend and copilot Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and notorious gambler Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), as well as his adventure-filled past alongside fellow street thief Qi'ra (Emilia Clarke) and career criminal Beckett (Woody Harrelson).

Watch instantly on Sept. 14th as the Millennium Falcon sets course digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and on Movies Anywhere, and bring the adventure home on Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on Sept. 25.

"SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY" On Digital Sept 14 & Blu-ray Sept 25 — See Trailer HERE!

Olive Signature Films Proudly Presents "BOUND" With Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly on Blu–ray 8/28

Olive Films Proudly Presents
The Olive Signature title

BOUND – OLIVE SIGNATURE 

LIMITED TO 3,500 BLU-RAY UNITS
BD only

Bound, the feature film debut of the writing-directing duo The Wachowskis, stars Academy Award® nominee Jennifer Tilly (Best Supporting Actress, Bullets Over Broadway – 1995) and is edited by Academy Award® winner Zach Staenberg (Best Film Editing, The  Matrix – 2000).

GINA GERSHON
(Showgirls, Face/Off, The Insider)
JENNIFER TILLY
(Bullets Over Broadway, Bride of Chucky, Liar Liar)
JOE PANTOLIANO
(Risky Business, The Matrix, The Sopranos)
CHRISTOPHER MELONI
(Runaway Bride, TV’s Law & Order: SVU, Oz)
JOHN P. RYAN
(Runaway Train, Fatal Beauty, Hoffa)

Directed by
THE WACHOWSKIS
(The Matrix, Speed Racer, Cloud Atlas)

YEAR: 1996
GENRE: DRAMA
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH (with optional English subtitles)
LABEL: OLIVE FILMS
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 108 min & 109 min
RATING: R and UNRATED
VIDEO: 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio; COLOR
AUDIO: STEREO

OLIVE SIGNATURE FEATURES
New High-Definition digital restoration
Theatrical and Unrated versions
Audio commentary with writers/directors The Wachowskis; actors Joe Pantoliano, Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon; film editor Zach Staenberg; and technical consultant Susie Bright
“Part and Parcel” – with titles designer Patti Podesta
“The Difference Between You and Me” – with film studies and gender studies professors B. Ruby Rich and Jen Moorman
“Here’s Johnny!” – with Christopher Meloni
“Hail Ceasar” – with Joe Pantoliano
“Femme Fatales” – with Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly
“Modern Noir: The Sights & Sounds of Bound” – with cinematographer Bill Pope, editor Zach Staenberg, and composer Don Davis
Theatrical Trailer
Essay by screenwriter/actress Guinevere Turner (American Psycho, Go Fish)

A groundbreaking work of LGBTQ cinema, Bound stars Gina Gershon (Showgirls) as Corky, a tough-as-nails ex-con, and Jennifer Tilly (Bullets Over Broadway) as her lover Violet. A chance encounter in an elevator ignites a torrid affair between the two women, who soon plot to steal $2 million in laundered mob money and pin the blame on Violet’s mafioso boyfriend, Ceasar (Joe Pantoliano, The Sopranos).

A stylish neo-noir, fusing classic tropes with hyper-stylized camera work and color design, Bound is a crackling retro-thriller that never strays too far from its noir roots and would become the first in a line of visually dazzling films from The Wachowskis, the writing and directing team behind the Matrix trilogy.

Bound features a stellar supporting cast that includes Christopher Meloni (TV’s Law & Order: SVU), Richard C. Sarafian (director of the cult film Vanishing Point) and John P. Ryan (Runaway Train) with exquisite photography by Bill Pope (Baby Driver) and razor-sharp editing by Academy Award winner® Zach Staenberg (Best Film Editing, The Matrix, 2000).

"ACADEMY AWARD" is the registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

US+CANADA
PREBOOK: 7/31/18
STREET: 8/28/18
CAT: OS017
UPC: 887090601702
SRP:  $39.95

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Copyright © 2018 Olive Films, All rights reserved.

Olive Signature Films Proudly Presents "BOUND" With Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly on Blu–ray 8/28

Does Anyone Say "Play It Again, Sam" In "Casablanca"? (Warner Brothers, 1942) (video)

Most of us have heard the quote "Play it again, Sam" in association with the classic film "Casablanca."

But is that line really ever spoken, verbatim, in the film?

Answer: Ilsa and Rick both come close, but nobody ever actually says "Play it again, Sam."

Listen for yourself...


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

Does Anyone Say "Play It Again, Sam" In "Casablanca"? (Warner Brothers, 1942) (video)

Return to the Hallowed Halls of Bayside High with "SAVED BY THE BELL: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION" On 10/2 from Shout! Factory

ON OCTOBER 2ND , RETURN TO THE HALLOWED HALLS OF BAYSIDE HIGH WITH THE ULTIMATE "MAX-ED OUT" COLLECTION OF AN ICONIC '90S SATURDAY MORNING SITCOM

SAVED BY THE BELL: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

Relive the laughter, lessons and love with Zack and his friends in this 16-disc collector's set, featuring every episode from 'Good Morning, Miss Bliss' to 'The College Years', and it's available today for pre-order, at Amazon.com!

Missing your favorite pals from Bayside High? It's alright, 'cause you're SAVED BY THE BELL! On October 2nd, 2018, Shout! Factory invites TV aficionados to a very special class reunion with the 16-disc collector's release of Saved by the Bell: The Complete Collection, a "Max-ed" out, completist's DVD set of the iconic and addictive '90s Saturday morning sitcom.

Set in the fictional town of Palisades, California and in the hallways of Bayside High, the breezy adventures of Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and his friends -- Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen), A.C. Slater (Mario Lopez), Jessie Myrtle Spano (Elizabeth Berkley), Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhies), and Samuel "Screech" Powers (Dustin Diamond) -- were a cultural touchstone for a generation of teens, changing teen programming forever and launching the careers of its break-out stars.

Now, home audiences can relive the laughter, lessons, and love all over again with this loaded set containing more than 46 incredible hours of Bayside bliss, including every episode from 1988's "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" which became "Saved By the Bell: The Junior High Years" and the fan-favorite "Saved by the Bell" to "Saved By the Bell: The College Years" and the two feature-length TV movies that followed. The TV DVD archivists at Shout! Factory are hard at work on exclusive bonus features, and they will be announced at a future date.

From 1989 to 1993, for a generation of TV viewers, "Saved by the Bell" was the show that perfectly echoed their lives in middle school and high school. Originally titled "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" with Hayley Mills in the title role, the first thirteen episodes of the series featured Zack, Screech, Lisa and Mr. Belding, and was based at John F. Kennedy Junior High in Indianapolis. Following its cancellation, NBC retooled the show as "Saved by the Bell" and the rest is history...and math, and science, and... And, across 86 glorious episodes, audiences followed the memorable experiences and adventures of Zack and the gang.

And, following graduation, Zack, Kelly, Slater and Screech enrolled at California University where the successful franchise could matriculate with the prime-time sitcom, "Saved by the Bell: The College Years". The series finally wrapped with two feature-length, prime time TV movies, "Hawaiian Style", which brought the Bayside bunch to the Big Island for a wacky Waikiki adventure and "Wedding in Las Vegas", which saw the on-again, off-again lovebirds Zack and Kelly make their relationship official on a day the gang will never forget.

From JFK Junior High to Cal U, Miss Bliss to Mr. Belding, Malibu Sands to Hawaii, and dance contests to "dearly beloved", the Saved by the Bell megaset immortalizes a landmark teen TV show that still resonates with its die-hard fans around the world. Fans, friends, jocks, and nerds --ask not for whom The Bell tolls ... it tolls for thee!

About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform media company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory's entertainment offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials. In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast entertainment distribution network which delivers culturally relevant programming, movie and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America and across multiple platforms. Shout! Factory owns and operates Shout! Studios, Scream Factory, Shout! Factory Kids, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Timeless Media Group and Shout! Factory TV. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Los Angeles, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com.

Return to the Hallowed Halls of Bayside High with "SAVED BY THE BELL: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION" On 10/2 from Shout! Factory

John Wayne's Only Horror Film: "Haunted Gold" (Warner Brothers, 1932) (video)

A small sub-genre of the western is the "horror western."

They're usually "old, dark house"-type mysteries with faux supernatural elements.

The young John Wayne made a single foray into this territory with 1932's HAUNTED GOLD.

His romantic interest is played by Sheila Terry.

The most badly-dated element is the stereotypical black character "Clarence", played by Blue Washington.

Standard horror film tropes include an old dark house with secret passageways...

...a graveyard...

...and a mysterious phantom.

But despite the spooky trappings, things are wrapped up in usual B-western style.


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

John Wayne's Only Horror Film: "Haunted Gold" (Warner Brothers, 1932) (video)

Was Billy Barty in "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935)? (video)

In "Bride of Frankenstein", the mad Dr. Pretorius shows off his strange miniature creations to Henry Frankenstein.

There's a queen, a king, an archbishop, a devil, a ballerina, and a mermaid.

But he didn't stop there...not originally, anyway.

Because director James Whale also filmed a bit with famed 3-foot 9-inch "little person" Billy Barty…

...as a tiny artificially-created baby in a high chair.

And in a wide shot of all of Dr. Pretorius' creations...

...you can see Billy in his high chair from behind, waving happily. 


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

Was Billy Barty in "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935)? (video)

"GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN" Teaser Trailer and Photos Here!

GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN
Comedy
October 12, 2018

Columbia Pictures: A Sony Company
Sony Pictures Animation

Halloween comes to life in a brand-new comedy adventure based on R.L. Stine’s 400-million-selling series of books.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Directed by: Ari Sandel
Written by:     Rob Lieber 
Based on the Goosebumps Books
Written by:      R. L. Stine

Produced by: Deborah Forte
Neal H. Moritz
Executive Producers: Timothy M. Bourne
Tania Landau

Cast:       Wendi McLendon-Covey
Madison Iseman
Jeremy Ray Taylor
Caleel Harris
Chris Parnell
Ken Jeong

This film is not yet rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.  For future rating information, please visit www.filmratings.com.  Credits not final

GOOSEBUMPS and associated logos are trademarks of Scholastic Inc.  All Rights Reserved.

"GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN" Teaser Trailer and Photos Here!

The Frankenstein Monster's Mysterious Beauty Mark (Universal, 1931-1948) (video)

When Karloff played the Frankenstein monster in the 1930s, makeup maestro Jack Pierce emphasized his cadaverous appearance.

To this end, Karloff would remove a dental bridge on the right side of his mouth and suck in his cheek.
This created a sunken indentation in his face that added to his gaunt look.

With his third Monster appearance in "Son of Frankenstein", Karloff was looking a bit more well-fed.
The indentation is almost gone, replaced by a faint black dot, or "beauty mark."

Subsequent actors in the Monster role also had considerably fuller faces, with no cheek indentation.
The black dot returns, faintly, when Lon Chaney stars in "Ghost of Frankenstein."

It's more pronounced on Bela Lugosi in "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man."
And on Glenn Strange in "House of Frankenstein."

But in "House of Dracula" and "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein"...
...the Monster's mysterious "beauty mark" finally seems to be fading away for good.


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

The Frankenstein Monster's Mysterious Beauty Mark (Universal, 1931-1948) (video)

The Creature Shrinks in "The Creature Walks Among Us" (Universal-International, 1956) (video)

In the "Creature" movies, two actors played the Creature.

A larger actor played him on land, while lithe swimmer Ricou Browning performed the underwater scenes.

For the surgically-altered monster in "The Creature Walks Among Us"...

...a much bulkier padded suit was made, and covered with baggy clothing.

Underwater, the whole get-up clung to Ricou Browning's much smaller frame.

Not only did this make the Creature look smaller, but the head tended to fill up with air.


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

The Creature Shrinks in "The Creature Walks Among Us" (Universal-International, 1956) (video)

"THE SUFFERING OF NINKO", an Offbeat Blend of Japanese Erotica, Folklore and Animation, on DVD + Digital on 8/14 from IndiePix

"THE SUFFERING OF NINKO"

A DEVOUT BUDDHIST MONK IS THE OBJECT OF EVERY WOMAN'S DESIRE IN THIS OFFBEAT, ACCLAIMED BLEND OF JAPANESE EROTICA, FOLKLORE AND ANIMATION

Street Date: August 14, 2018
DVD SRP: $19.95

"Extraordinarly imaginative... a tongue-in-cheek attitude,
and the seriously bizarre plot stand to make this a cult favorite" -- Variety

"A wild, jaw-dropping fever dream of a film that must be seen to be believed." -- Indiewire

Norihiro Niwatsukino Makes His Directorial Debut with This Surreal
Festival Favorite Which Captured the "Dragons and Tigers Award"
at the Vancouver International Film Festival; it Will Also be
Available on Digital and IndiePix Unlimited

Ninko, a young, diligent Edo period Buddhist monk, has one serious problem: women can't seem to resist him. They pester him so much that he can't even ask for alms in town. Since sexual indulgence is considered a sin, he blames himself for not being virtuous enough. One day, he runs into a masked woman in the forest who tries to seduce him. Running away from her, his problem only gets worse.

Nearly driven mad, he escapes deep into the mountains to be alone. There, he finds a deserted village, victimized by a rapacious mountain goddess, Yama-onna, who seduces and kills the men of the valley. When a samurai claims that he can kill the goddess, Ninko follows him, hoping that he'll rid him of his curse in this unique Japanese mash-up about which Cinapse.co says "for lovers of the truly bizarre, this is a must-see" and Otaku No Culture.com calls "a surreal delight...intoxicating".

In his festival favorite directorial debut, which captured the Dragons and Tigers Award for Young Cinema at the Vancouver International Film Festival, Niwatsukino, who multi-tasked as writer-director, producer, editor, animator, and visual effects supervisor, merges often fantastical live action with animation, representing various style of traditional Japanese art -- from Buddhist mandala drawings to ukiyoe woodblock prints to shunga erotic drawings, as well as mixing in "Hyakumonogatari," a collection of ghost stories evolved from a parlor game, to highly original effect.

Along with its DVD and Digital HD debut, THE SUFFERING OF NINKO will also be available on IndiePix Unlimited, the signature streaming subscription service of IndiePix Films.  For $5.99 per month at either IndiePixUnlimited.com or on Amazon Channels, passionate cinephiles get 24/7 access to a highly-curated catalog of cinematic gems from both international auteurs and visionary new voices alike, joins other contemporary classics of world cinema including 2009 Cannes Camera D'Or winner, SAMSON & DELILAH, Iranian artist Shirin Neshat's feature-length debut, the Golden Lion-nominated WOMEN WITHOUT MEN and Noaz Deshe's powerful WHITE SHADOW.


WATCH THE TRAILER

THE SUFFERING OF NINKO
Running Time: 70 mins.
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: Stereo
Language: Japanese w/English Subtitles

"THE SUFFERING OF NINKO", an Offbeat Blend of Japanese Erotica, Folklore and Animation, on DVD + Digital on 8/14 from IndiePix

Cheapest Movie Set Ever? Cockpit Scene From "Plan 9 From Outer Space" (1959) (video)

In Tim Burton's "Ed Wood" (1994), the actor hired to play an airline pilot is dismayed by the sparse cockpit set.

In the actual film "Plan 9 From Outer Space", we find this to be no exaggeration.

Gregory Walcott (right) and co-pilot are sitting on chairs in front of a blank wall.

There appears to be a shower curtain hanging over the doorway.

Not sure what that is they're "steering" with.

Listen to those chairs creak.

It's an impressionistic set, to say the least.

Walcott, bless his heart, went on to have a fairly successful acting career.


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

Cheapest Movie Set Ever? Cockpit Scene From "Plan 9 From Outer Space" (1959) (video)

BLUE DESERT -- DVD Review by Porfle

I watched the Brazilian New Age sci-fi flick BLUE DESERT, aka "Deserto Azul" (Indiepix Films, 2013), twice, which is fitting since it's partly about repetition and deja vu. I didn't understand very much of it, which is also fitting since its young protagonist, Ele (Odilon Esteves), doesn't understand much about his own life or life in general.

Also, since the story is partly based on the works of Yoko Ono, not understanding it would seem to be deliberately, intentionally built in.

Ele goes through his life in a terminally detached, impersonal future world that seems to discourage meaningful human contact or an individual's active involvement in any kind of physical or spiritual pursuits.

He frequents the gym and smoke bar with a buddy who seems to be his only link to the human race until he meets a man in the desert whose goal in life, with the help of a spray gun and a large tank of blue paint, is to paint the desert blue.

The film is beautiful in its exquisitely-shot outdoor locations and eyepleasing futuristic cityscapes.  Ele's life, however, is shown as simply a more advanced form of daily grind that finds him on a commuter airship with a robotic hostess who spouts the same fake-smile spiel every day.

It's during these daily jaunts, however, that he meets fellow passenger Alma (which means "soul"), a kindred spirit who will bring out Ele's humanity while deepening his endless desire to achieve some kind of spiritual transcendence.

Toward this end, BLUE DESERT is endlessly talky and bafflingly philosophical.  I don't even think the screenplay knows what it's talking about most of the time, but this movie does love to hear itself talk while indulging in crisply-directed and attractively shot images (many of them inside a sort of renegade nightclub where society's fringe element comes to seek some kind of mental stimulation) that help to redeem some of the story's frustratingly opaque rambling.

Ele's scenes with Alma achieve a modiucum of warmth but this is dissipated by their difficulty to decipher in any meaningful way.  The same goes for our views of Ele going about his daily life showering, mirror-gazing, tinkering with a machine that receives strange images from the ether which he can't figure out, and spending hours floating in a large swimming pool that's like a vast sensory deprivation tank, or perhaps a womb from which to be reborn.

He believes the cessation of thought will bring transcendence, hence the pool and the desert where he seeks solitude. Finding the blue painter, he's entranced by the man's endless philosophizing and learns that the journey toward one's goal can mean more than actually reaching it (in other words, the guy knows he's never going to paint that whole desert blue, but he loves the process).

Later, Ele will find himself in sort of a hospital bed with what looks like a large shrubbery suspended over him (don't look at me) next to a man who claims to share his soul.  This sets them off on a prolonged exchange of shaggy dog profundities and switched-around flashbacks that kept me properly confused until the deliberately anticlimactic ending that not only didn't answer anything but didn't really ask anything, either.

I really liked BLUE DESERT visually--there's a sort of everyday wonder to its futuristic wonders--but found its endless wallowing in dogged existential nonsense ultimately tiresome.  On the other hand, people who actually appreciate the writings of Yoko Ono may want to dig a hole in their garden to put this movie in.


Buy it from Indiepix

BLUE DESERT -- DVD Review by Porfle

Karloff's Only Mummy Closeup in "The Mummy" (Universal, 1932)

The Mummy, Im-Ho-Tep, is first seen in the background in wide shots.

This is not Boris Karloff, but a full-length dummy.

Not counting the mummification flashback, this closeup is the one time we see Karloff in the actual mummy wrappings.

The closeup continues as Karloff slowly opens his eyes and lowers his arms.
It's the last time we'll see him in the gauze wrappings. 
It may, in fact, be the only time he was made up in them.

Filming this closeup and publicity stills may have been done in one day.

For the rest of the film Karloff poses as the mysterious (and unwrapped) Ardeth Bay...
...with an entirely different wardrobe and makeup.

Years later, the "Mummy" sequels would involve a new character, Kharis...
...who remains wrapped from beginning to end. 


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

Karloff's Only Mummy Closeup in "The Mummy" (Universal, 1932)

Sci-Fi Thriller "THE 5TH PASSENGER" Available on VOD July 10, Starring Morgan Lariah, Tim Russ, Marina Sirtis, Doug Jones

Sci-Fi Thriller THE 5TH PASSENGER Available on VOD July 10

In addition to co-writing and co-producing THE 5TH PASSENGER, Morgan Lariah also stars in the feature length sci-fi film. Coming off a successful theatrical run, the film will be available on all major digital platforms on July 10.

Available for iTunes pre-order: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/5th-passenger/id1399853144

http://www.5thpassenger.com/

The year:  2151.  After the Yellowstone Volcano erupts, throwing the Earth into chaos and class struggle, a pregnant officer, Miller (Morgan Lariah), and her crew struggle to survive in an escape pod with limited resources as they try to reach a new home planet.  Running low on air, the team must work together when a vicious alien boards their ship and hunts them down, determined to become the dominant species.  But the key to survival may be the secret that is buried deep within Miller’s own mind.

Directed by Morgan’s co-writer, Scott Baker, THE 5TH PASSENGER also stars an all-star Star Trek crew of its own, including Doug Jones (The Shape of Water, Star Trek: Discovery, Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy) Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Marina Sirtis (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Generations), and Armin Shimerman (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Hitcher and Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time).

A successful crowdfunding campaign helped bring this project to life. It debuted at the Artemis Women in Action Film Festival where they “celebrate powerful women taking action on the silver screen.”

Morgan Lariah graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Antioch University Los Angeles with a BA in Film Studies. Always seeking roles that are challenging and enriching married with a deep desire to help shift the way women are often portrayed in the media, she began to write and produce her own works.

Her first short film, 2-Star, premiered at the East End Film Festival in London and went on to screen at festivals around the world. 5 Passenger marks her first feature film as co-writer, producer and actress.

5 Passenger had a limited theatrical run in Los Angeles and was picked up for distribution by Epic Pictures. It will be available on most VOD platforms and Redbox on July 10.  Her current script, Full Take, was a semi-finalist for the 2017 Sundance/YouTube New Voices lab. The teaser trailer created for Full Take is an official selection of the 2018 Women in Film Mini Upfronts program and screened at Netflix with sixteen other female filmmakers.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Sci-Fi Thriller "THE 5TH PASSENGER" Available on VOD July 10, Starring Morgan Lariah, Tim Russ, Marina Sirtis, Doug Jones