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2009 | 2008 | 1997

16 articles from 2009

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Just announced! The Alamo Ritz New Year’s Eve Bash: The Apartment!

3 December 2009 12:55 PM, PST | OriginalAlamo.com | See recent AlamoDrafthouseCinema news »

Our second annual New Year’s celebration of classic cinema, cocktails and cuisine at The Ritz!!

2008’s screening of After The Thin Man was a true extravaganza, bringing together an incredible drinking/dining experience with one of the greatest film’s of Hollywood’s golden era. This year, we’re stepping it up with the flat-out greatest New Year’s film in the world: Billy Wilder’s 1960 masterpiece The Apartment, a brilliantly written, fast-paced, heartbreakingly hilarious adventure of a poor schlub (a young, bumbling Jack Lemmon) who just can’t steer things right to fall into the good graces of the most wonderful woman in town (a young, unbelievably charming Shirley MacLaine). In his way are an innumerable number of comic obstacles, including the great Fred MacMurray and Ray Walston as self-serving high-rollers content to kick dirt in the face of anyone who crosses them.

It’s a gorgeously shot, »

- zack

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Paul Wendkos obituary

1 December 2009 10:13 AM, PST | The Guardian - TV News | See recent The Guardian - TV News news »

Film and TV director made famous by his 'Gidget' surf movies

Despite a long and varied career, in which he made several excellent films noirs, westerns, thrillers and war dramas, and a fair number of superior television movies, it was the wry fate of the film and television director Paul Wendkos, who has died of a lung infection aged 87, that his death was announced widely with the words "Gidget director dies".

The popular teen surf movies – Gidget (1959), Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) and Gidget Goes to Rome (1963) – directed by Wendkos, are interesting documents of pre-hippy conservative California youth culture. Gidget, a contraction of girl and midget, is the nickname of a 16-year-old adolescent (played in succession by Sandra Dee, Deborah Walley and Cindy Carol) trying to cope with the problems of growing up, mainly defined by her relationship with her boyfriend, Moondoggie (James Darren).

According to the Variety review of »

- Ronald Bergan

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Paul Wendkos obituary

1 December 2009 10:13 AM, PST | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »

Film and TV director made famous by his 'Gidget' surf movies

Despite a long and varied career, in which he made several excellent films noirs, westerns, thrillers and war dramas, and a fair number of superior television movies, it was the wry fate of the film and television director Paul Wendkos, who has died of a lung infection aged 87, that his death was announced widely with the words "Gidget director dies".

The popular teen surf movies – Gidget (1959), Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) and Gidget Goes to Rome (1963) – directed by Wendkos, are interesting documents of pre-hippy conservative California youth culture. Gidget, a contraction of girl and midget, is the nickname of a 16-year-old adolescent (played in succession by Sandra Dee, Deborah Walley and Cindy Carol) trying to cope with the problems of growing up, mainly defined by her relationship with her boyfriend, Moondoggie (James Darren).

According to the Variety review of »

- Ronald Bergan

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Old Ass Movies: The Apartment

29 November 2009 1:27 PM, PST | FilmSchoolRejects.com | See recent FilmSchoolRejects news »

Every Sunday, Film School Rejects presents a movie that was made before you were born and tells you why you should like it. This week, Old Ass Movies presents: The Apartment (1960) Earlier in the year, a movie about a mall security guard chasing down a pervert came out to the mixed reactions of people shouting "genius!" from the back row and others shouting obscenities from somewhere near the middle. Observe and Report is the natural heir to a new lineage of dramatic comedies that has sprouted in the past decade (much to the horror of film marketers who have only two presets). The movement of comedic dramas or dramatic comedies has been a strong one, especially for audiences that got tired of the strict separation of the two that took place in the 1990s - sprinkled with a healthy dose of romantic comedies that required a box of tissues. Much like the great prognosticator of trends that »

- Dr. Cole Abaius

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DVD Playhouse--November 2009

14 November 2009 6:25 PM, PST | The Hollywood Interview | See recent The Hollywood Interview news »

DVD Playhouse—November 2009

By

Allen Gardner

Watchmen—The Ultimate Cut (Warner Bros.) Director Zack Snyder’s film of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ landmark graphic novel is as worthy an adaptation of a great book that has ever been filmed. In an alternative version of the year 1985, Richard Nixon is serving his third term as President and super heroes have been outlawed by a congressional act, in spite of the fact that two of the most high-profile “masks,” Dr. Manhattan (Billy Cruddup) and The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) helped the U.S. win the Vietnam War. When The Comedian is found murdered, many former heroes become concerned that a conspiracy is afoot to assassinate retired costumed crime fighters. Former masks Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson), Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman) and still-operating Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley, in an Oscar-worthy turn) launch an investigation of their own, all while the Pentagon’s “Doomsday »

- The Hollywood Interview.com

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50 Cent's 'Baby By Me' Video: The Key Scene

2 November 2009 6:00 AM, PST | MTV Newsroom | See recent MTV Newsroom news »

We're only a few weeks away from the release of Before I Self Destruct, the new album from rapper/actor/Vitamin Water enthusiast 50 Cent. The first single, the Ne-Yo assisted "Baby By Me," is already picking up traction on radio and iTunes, and the recently-premiered video is a delightful fantasy. It stars 50 as a hustler trying to convince a woman (played by Kelly Rowland) how blissful it would be if only she would bear his children (hence the chorus "Have a baby by me, baby/ Be a millionaire"). The alternate reality features 50 and Rowland living in a palatial suburban estate (complete with sprinkler on the lawn and a grill out front for cookouts) where 50 has some sort of job that requires him to wear a cardigan and carry a briefcase (perhaps he's an obstetrician, a la Cliff Huxtable). They have three sons (just like Fred MacMurray!), each of whom wears an adorable sweater vest. »

- Kyle Anderson

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Universal, TCM Partner To Unearth Unreleased Horror Films

29 October 2009 | shocktillyoudrop.com | See recent shocktillyoudrop news »

Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Turner Classic Movies have partnered up on a new manufacturing-on-demand service, which kicks off this Friday with a series of horror films never before released on DVD. Bowing on Halloween will be " Murders in the Zoo " (1933), " Mad Doctor of Market Street " (1942), " The Strange Case of Dr. Rx " (1942), " The Mad Ghoul " (1943) and " House of Horrors " (1946). Each title is $19.99. The entire five-film set can be bought for $49.99. TCM is set to air " Murders in the Zoo ," about a man who uses animals to kill his wife's lovers, on Friday as well. In the TCM Vault pipeline is " Remember the Night " (1940), with Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray, bowing Nov. 22 for... »

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Old Ass Horror Films Being Released for the First Time

28 October 2009 8:55 PM, PDT | FilmSchoolRejects.com | See recent FilmSchoolRejects news »

I love the fact that there are television channels completely devoted to classic movies of all kinds, but I love any news that involves previously unreleased films being able for my grubby little hands even more. Especially if they involve the words "murder" and "zoo" in the same title. According to Variety, Universal - famous for its monsters and using the earth as its logo - is teaming up with Turner Classic Movies in order to bring some excellent old horror titles to DVDs that will be released this weekend. The titles in question? Murders in the Zoo (1933) - A flick where a man uses animals to kill men who seem taken with his wife. The Mad Doctor of Market Street (1942) - A strange film where a shipwrecked man stumbles upon an island that's been overtaken by a mad scientist. The Strange Case of Doctor Rx (1942) - William Nigh's movie about an avenger who kills men »

- Dr. Cole Abaius

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Bustin’ Ghosts in ‘54!

3 August 2009 6:52 PM, PDT | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »

Amidst the Mad Max hopefuls, Asian flicks galore, and yes those Kick-Ass clips, this little wonder of fan made love and care came across my desk. It’s a “what if…” of a trailer for Ghostbusters… if it was made in 1954 with the likes of Bob Hope, Dean Martin and Fred MacMurray. Since it premiered online two weeks ago, the trailer, made by filmmaker and all around creative force, Ivan Guerrero, has certainly made the media rounds but it is such a fun and well put together bit that I just had to share. Check it out after the break. And be sure to take a look at Ivan’s website for a lot more neato stuff.

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- Ben Umstead

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Today's Short: "Ghost Busters (1954)"

31 July 2009 8:41 PM, PDT | JustPressPlay.net | See recent JustPressPlay news »

What would Ghostbusters look like if it was made 30 years earlier? Who would be playing Ray, Peter and Egon, in place of the great 80's trio? If you have a hard time imagining it, here's a faux-trailer by YouTube user/filmmaker "whoiseyevan" that imagines what Ghostbusters would look had it been released in 1954, starring Bob Hope as Ray Stantz, Dean Martin as Peter Venkman, and Fred MacMurray as Egon Spengler. Bonus: Jerry Lewis as Louis Tully! I'm pretty surprised at how well this works, too.

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Today's Short is a feature on JustPressPlay showcasing wonderful short films found all around the web. If you have suggestions, hit us up.

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- Arya Ponto

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My Three Sons: Tune In to a Live Cast Reunion -- Today!

15 July 2009 3:41 PM, PDT | TVSeriesFinale.com | See recent TVSeriesFinale news »

For fans of classic television, there's a unique opportunity for you to listen to, and perhaps even talk to, three members of the Douglas family from My Three Sons!

The beloved sitcom initially revolved around widower Steve Douglas (Fred MacMurray) and his three boys; Mike (Tim Considine), Robbie (Don Grady), and Chip (Stanley Livingston). They were all kept in line by grumpy Uncle Bub (William Frawley), the boy's maternal grandfather.

Bub eventually moves to Ireland because Frawley was supposedly too ill to be insured and had to be let go. Thankfully, Bub's brother Charley (William Demarest) steps in to take his place.

Around the same time, Mike gets married and moves away. Soonafter, Steve adopts Chip's young orphan friend, Ernie (Barry Livingston), and there were three sons in the house (and opening credits) once again.

My Three Sons ran for an amazing 380 episodes and 12 seasons. It's also one »

- TVSeriesFinale.com

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DVD Playhouse--July 2009

14 July 2009 12:00 PM, PDT | The Hollywood Interview | See recent The Hollywood Interview news »

DVD Playhouse—July 2009

By

Allen Gardner

Do The Right Thing: 20th Anniversary Edition (Universal) Spike Lee’s groundbreaking fable about race relations in an ethnically mixed Brooklyn neighborhood during a sweltering New York summer remains as potent, timely and prescient as it was in 1989. Lee is among the cast, which also includes John Turturro, Danny Aiello, Samuel L. Jackson, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and Rosie Perez (to name a few), that provide the tableaux-like framework for this stunning work. Criminally ignored by Oscar (it wasn't even nominated for Best Picture, but did garner nods for Supporting Actor Danny Aiello and Lee’s screenplay), it endures as a timeless classic. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Lee, Ernest Dickerson, Wynn Thomas, Joie Lee; Documentary; Deleted and extended scenes; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.

Coraline (Universal) A young girl moves into an old Victorian house with her parents »

- The Hollywood Interview.com

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'Lonesome Pine' On DVD

13 July 2009 11:43 AM, PDT | NYPost.com | See recent New York Post news »

One of the most beautiful movies ever made in classic Technicolor, "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" arrives on DVD today in a gorgeous restoration of this backwoods melodrama starring Henry Fonda, Fred MacMurray and Sylvia Sidney.

The jury was still out on Technicolor's improved three-strip process -- the independently made "Becky Sharp" and "The Dancing Pirate" were flops -- when Paramount released the first major studio feature, and the first shot outdoors, in January 1936.

Where the first two features were shot under rigorously controlled conditions on soundstages, »

- By LOU LUMENICK

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Trail of the Lonesome Pine - DVD Review

7 July 2009 8:16 AM, PDT | Monsters and Critics | See recent Monsters and Critics news »

.We .uns is strange people.. An interesting bit of 1936 cornpone from director Henry Hathaway features Henry Fonda, Fred MacMurray, and Sylvia Sidney. It.s a story is as old as the hills but it.s the historical significance of the film that gets the interest as it was the third film to be shot with the three strip Technicolor process. The Tollivers and the Falins have been a.feudin. as long as either clan can remember. So long that neither family can really remember what started the feud. The Tolliver family consists of pappy Judd (Fred Stone) ma Melissa (Beulah Bondi), and kid-folks June (Sylvia Sidney) and the wee Buddie (the uber-cute Spanky McFarland). Cousin Dave (Henry Fonda) also lives »

- Jeff Swindoll

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This Week On DVD and Blu-ray: July 7, 2009

7 July 2009 2:16 AM, PDT | Rope of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news »

DVD Links: DVD News | Release Dates | New Dvds | Reviews | RSS Feed Knowing I just reviewed the Blu-ray edition of this one and you can read that right here. I still find this a fascinating movie and definitely recommend everyone check it out at least once, but the second time around the two hour runtime does begin to really weigh on you and I didn't end up finding anything new that I hadn't noticed already. I personally hoped for more from a second viewing but came up empty. Not sure this one is a purchase, but do give it a chance if you haven't seen it yet. The Unborn (Unrated) Meh, not a very good movie to begin with (read my theatrical review here) and I highly doubt this supposed "unrated" cut will be any better. If you want to see a low-rent PG-13 horror I would recommend The Uninvited over this one. »

- Brad Brevet

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Jerichow - Movie Review

14 May 2009 3:25 AM, PDT | Monsters and Critics | See recent Monsters and Critics news »

A great modern neo-noir thriller with sparse, tight dialog and passion that boils right through to the final shocking ending Following his critically acclaimed .Yella,. up and coming director/actor Christian Petzold.s current potboiler .Jerichow. was nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. On the surface the film has the plot and feel of the noir classic .The Postman Always Rings Twice.. In that movie, a roadside café owner hires a drifter to help out around the place. Soon the drifter is plotting with the man.s attractive wife to eliminate him from their lives. In .Double Indemnity. Fred MacMurray plots with Barbara Stanwyck to kill her husband and is found out by smart insurance man Edward G. »

- Ron Wilkinson

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2009 | 2008 | 1997

16 articles from 2009

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