RIP, Jack Davis.

We’ve lost the great illustrator Jack Davis, who has passed away at 91. Here’s his poster art for It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963). Click on it and it gets huge for study.

Dean Jones, RIP.

Dean Jones
(January 25, 1931 – September 1, 2015)

Dean Jones, star of one of my favorite films growing up, The Love Bug (1968), has passed away at 84. How much joy did this guy usher into the world?

Blu-Ray News #15: Four From American International Pictures (And Olive Films).

Olive Films has announced four terrific titles from American International Pictures (AIP) for February release on Blu-ray.

Muscle Beach Party (1964)
Directed by William Asher
Starring Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Luciana Paluzzi, John Ashley, Don Rickles, Jody McCrea, Dick Dale, Candy Johnson, Morey Amsterdam, Buddy Hackett, Little Stevie Wonder

Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
Directed by William Asher
Starring Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Deborah Walley, Harvey Lembeck, John Ashley, Jody McCrea, Donna Loren, Linda Evans, Timothy Carey, Don Rickles, Paul Lynde

The Wild Angels (1966)
Directed by Roger Corman
Starring Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, Bruce Dern, Diane Ladd, Michael J. Pollard, Gayle Hunnicutt, Dick Miller

Psych-Out (1968)
Directed by Richard Rush
Starring Susan Strasburg, Dean Stockwell, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern, Adam Roarke, The Seeds, The Strawberry Alarm Clock

This is some of the stuff that rotted my brain as a kid. Essential.

Dialogue Of The Day: It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963).

Tyler Fitzgerald (Jim Backus): “Anybody can fly a plane, now here: I’ll check you out. Put your little hands on the wheel there. Now put your feet on the rudder. There. Who says this ol’ boy can’t fly this ol’ plane? Now I’m gonna make us some Old Fashioned’s the old-fashioned way – the way dear old Dad used to!”

Benjy Benjamin (Buddy Hackett): “What if something happens?”

Tyler Fitzgerald: “What could happen to an Old Fashioned?”

For Mr. Richard Vincent.