Killing The Fattened Calf: Anti-Trust and The Movies
and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry Luke 15, The New Testament Free enterprise is a wondrous thing. It enables economies, promotes the wealth of the middle class, feeds families, and builds the…
Top of the Heap (1972)
I have a feeling that Abel Ferrara may have seen this film at some point before he made “Bad Lieutenant” (much as Sam Raimi undoubtedly saw “Equinox” before he made “Evil Dead”). There are a certain number of striking similarities…
Tough Guys (1974)
Uomini Duri aka “Three Tough Guys” is an Italian made action film from 1974. Isaac Hayes stars as Lee, a framed Chicago ex-cop who teams up with Father Charlie played by Lino Ventura. Together they fight for answers and revenge…
Black Belt Jones (1974)
There’s no way on earth I’m gonna argue that ‘Black Belt Jones’ is a great movie, even a very good one, but no matter how silly and cheesy it gets it’s a hell of a ride and lots of fun!…
Duel at Diablo (1966)
“Duel at Diablo” filmed in 1966, has a cast of both American and international players and touches of violence coupled with prejudices. It makes for an interesting mix and provides the viewer with a tense depiction of the usual struggles…
Demon Seed (1977)
If you know anything about Donald Cammell’s checkered career watching ‘Demon Seed’ can be quite a strange experience because you can’t help but wonder what it might have been if Cammell was able to bring his original vision to the…
Shaft’s Big Score! (1972)
Shaft really was the African-American answer to the popular James Bond franchise. This movie shows this perhaps more than any of the other Shaft movies. Violence, girls, sex, chases, “Shaft’s Big Score!” has it all! By no means any of…
Hannie Caulder (1971)
Pretty terrific western is outlandish, yet engrossing, satisfying and often funny (both intentionally and unintentionally). After being violently raped, widowed and left for dead by three dirty, cackling brothers, Raquel Welch learns to shoot a gun from hot-headed bounty hunter…
Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1967)
It is easy to dismiss this movie as something that belongs on the bottom half of a double bill or late night television; but I happen to enjoy it. Lon Chaney, John Carradine and Basil Rathbone together again for the…
I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958)
This has to definitely be one of the better science fiction films of the mid to late 1950’s. The only thing that hurts this film is the lousy title. The thing that really impressed me about it is the fact…
I Passed for White (1960)
This film stars Sonya Wilde as a biracial lady and James Franciscus plays her boyfriend who has no idea she isn’t 100% lily-white. At first, Sonya doesn’t want to pose as white–but she doesn’t really fit in with black folks…
Mako: The Jaws of Death (1976)
This film starts off by thanking the underwater directorial team for risking their lives for the making of it. I sincerely hope that this is just some sort of ploy and not actually the case, as Mako: The Jaws of…
Operation Kid Brother (1967)
During the height of the original James Bond craze in the 60’s, there were a lot of rip-off films produced. High profile celebs like Dean Martin and James Coburn starred in light hearted Bond rip-off series. Existing characters like Bulldog…
Pigs (1973)
Produced & directed by legendary character actor Marc Lawrence – known for his many gangster roles – the somewhat obscure curiosity “Daddy’s Deadly Darling” (a.k.a. “Pigs” and “The 13th Pig”) is nothing if not interesting. It’s actually kind of appealing…
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)
Dr Russell Marvin is working on experimental rockets launched into orbit around the earth to help with the advancement of space exploration. He has so far lost 11 rockets for unknown reasons. However on a drive with his wife they…
In The Company Of Old Friends, The Graying Of Moviegeors
Hollywood and older Americans have never had much use for each other. The 50-plus crowd doesn’t go to opening weekends or buy popcorn; a youth-obsessed Hollywood has happily and stupidly ignored them. The major studios build their misplaced strategies on…
Criss Cross (1949)
Robert Siodmak and Burt Lancaster made beautiful movies together – two of them, anyway (The Crimson Pirate is, as they say, another story). Together, they mark Siodmak’s most assured work in film noir – and indispensable titles in the cycle….
Bigfoot (1970)
Rick wakes up and heads to the nearest town to try and find help but the local police don’t believe him and it takes two traveling salesmen who say they are interested in lending a hand. Jasper B. Hawks (John…
Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave (1976)
The movie opens on the tombstone of Bruce Lee, which is struck by lightening causing the dead start to bust up through the dirt. From here “Bruce Lee” (Bruce K.L. Lea) seeks revenge on his former trainer who has been…
Chamber of Horrors (1966)
Chamber of Horrors-After escaping custody and presumed dead, a deranged madman starts a rampage of revenge against those he believed wrong him in sending him to jail, forcing a pair of wax museum attendees to help solve the case before…