After honking her horn, Alfie (Sir Michael Caine) takes his leave of his make out partner, Siddie (Millicent Martin), to speak directly to the camera about his latest conquest, who incidentally is married with low self-esteem. Ready for more action, Alfie winks at a stray dog on the street and hops back in the car. Upon dropping Siddie off where she will meet up with...
Loosely based on the series of Matt Helm novels by Donald Hamilton, “The Silencers” features Dean Martin as erstwhile counter agent Matt Helm. Not to be confused with the counter agent at Northwest who lost my luggage last week. Helm isn’t a secret agent who spies and stuff, he just causes problems for other spies. Which is good work if you can get it. Helm...
The first memory I have of Jane Fonda is from watching my mother’s copy of Jane Fonda’s 1982 exercise video, aptly titled “Workout,” based on Fonda‘s even more aptly titled LP “Jane Fonda‘s Workout Record.“ Hot off the heels of early ‘80s HBO mainstays “Nine to Five” and “On Golden Pond,” Fonda appeared on the video box in leg warmers and promised music by REO...
If you have been craving a well-written period murder mystery, then look no further than Radley Metzger’s The Cat and the Canary. However, if your tastes tend toward lush murder mystery musicals, then take a look at 8 Women. 8 Women has plot twists galore, and since I’m not one to spoil, this review will be short. Set in 1950s France, Suzon (Virgine Ledoyen –...
Animated trailer for Andrew O’Hagan’s new novel ‘The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog and of his Friend Marilyn Monroe‘. Maf the dog was Marilyn’s constant companion for the last two years of her life. Through the eyes of Maf were provided with an insight into the life of Monroe herself, and a fascinating take on one of the most extraordinary periods of the...
The opening begins with an ominous scene. In succession, skiers descend a snowy mountainside under moonlight in what surely represents the director’s vision of the Archangel Lucifer descending into hell. Then the credits announce “Starring Frankie Avalon” as Avalon sings the theme song. Thus begins another entry in American International Pictures’ series of Beach movies. The film proper leads off with an unbilled Annette Funicello...
During the early 1950s, the well polished comic team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis broke box office records and created a worldwide following. After splitting up in 1956, both men found themselves in successful solo careers. In 1959, Paramount Studios contracted with Jerry Lewis to create 14 films in 7 years for $10 million plus a profit-sharing deal. Released in 1961, The Ladies Man...
