Screening: Dune (1984).

Directed by David Lynch
Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Jürgen Prochnow, Sean Young, Virginia Madsen, Kenneth McMillan, Sting, Patrick Stewart, Dean Stockwell, Max von Sydow, Francesca Annis, Brad Dourif, José Ferrer, Linda Hunt, Freddie Jones, Richard Jordan, Everett McGill, Jack Nance, Paul Smith

I had this set up to post automatically a few days ago, but I did something wrong, so I apologize for the short notice.

A David Lynch movie might seem like a bit of a stretch for this blog — too recent (even though its 40 years old), too expensive, too almost mainstream. But when you think about who shot it, well, it fits in pretty well. I went to see Lynch’s previous picture, The Elephant Man (1980), for two reasons: (1) Freddie Francis shot it in (2) black-and-white Panavision. I hadn’t even heard of Lynch or Eraserhead at that point, but I sure as hell knew who Freddie Francis was!

Lynch brought Francis back for Dune (1984), so of course I was going to go — especially when there were 70mm engagements less than an hour away. Freddie Francis in 70! The film was a mess, of course — beware of any movie that provides you with a glossary as you walk in! But I was blown away by Francis’ cinematography, the production design (from the wooden sets to the almost antique-looking spaceships), Albert Whitlock’s matte work and the presence of Freddie Jones (of Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed).

Well, it’s back in theaters February 18 and 19 to mark its 40th anniversary. And while it won’t be in 70mm, I’m looking forward to seeing it on the big screen again — and to seeing how baffled my daughter will be by the whole thing!

Francis’ last film as DP, Lynch’s The Straight Story (1999) is wonderful, and I’ve heard it’s finally getting a much-needed Blu-Ray release. Easily one of my favorite films of the last 30 years. I’m in the middle of a post on another Freddie Francis picture (directing this time), which will be on its way before long. Stay tuned.

Blu-Ray News #379: The Looters (1955).

Directed by Abner Biberman
Starring Rory Calhoun, Julie Adams, Ray Danton, Thomas Gomez, Frank Faylen

Character actor Abner Biberman directs Rory Calhoun, Julie Adams and Ray Danton in The Looters (1955), a cool adventure-noir kinda thing that, as far as I can tell, has never been on home video in any format. Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray will remedy that in April.

Rory Calhoun in a mountain guide living alone in Colorado, mainly to get away from people. Just as his old Army buddy (Danton) comes to visit, a plane crashes a few peaks over, and the pair go looking for them. They would’ve been better off letting them fend for themselves, because a quarter of a million bucks in cash turns up in the wreckage — bringing out the worst in just about everybody.

Calhoun is always cool, Julie Adams has a good part here, and Ray Danton is as slick and slimy as ever. And a couple of terrific character actors, Thomas Gomez and Frank Faylen, get nice roles to mess around with.

Restored from 35mm finegrain material, this should look great. I’ve provided a commentary, and it was a lot of fun to research a movie that’s been pretty much out of circulation for decades. Recommended.

Blu-Ray News #377: Secret Beyond The Door (1947).

Directed by Fritz Lang
Starring Joan Bennett, Michael Redgrave, Anne Revere, Barbara O’Neil, Natalie Schafer

I’ve said it many times: I love Fritz Lang’s Hollywood movies. Secret Beyond The Door (1947) is the kind of creepy, noir-ish weirdness we can always count on Lang for. Kino Lorber is bringing it to Blu-Ray later in the year.

Joan Bennett marries Michael Redgrave in Mexico, and when she arrives at his mansion, she finds he has six rooms dedicated to six famous murder scenes, with a seventh he won’t let anyone see. And from there, it gets weird.

This was one of four pictures Joan Bennett did with Fritz Lang. Man Hunt (1941) is terrific. Beautifully shot by Stanley Cortez, this should be a gorgeous disc, probably an improvement over the one released by Olive Films years ago. Highly recommended.

Horrorama Week! January, 1956.

1956 got off to a great start in Los Angeles, thanks to the RKO Hillstreet Theater. Maybe even better than the weeklong monster rally in Boston the previous month.

Blu-Ray News #349: Film Focus – George Peppard (1968-1974).

Two Imprint posts in a row. This time, they’re pulling together a Blu-Ray set (limited to just 1,500 copies) of four cool pictures starring George Peppard.

P.J. (1968, AKA New Face In Hell)
Directed by John Guillermin
Starring George Peppard, Gayle Hunnicutt, Raymond Burr, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Brock Peters, Susan Saint James

Peppard’s a PI in this “neo-noir” (whatever that is), no doubt inspired by the success of Harper (1966). There was a string of mid-60s detective movies like this, and I’m a big fan of ’em. Peppard gets set up in a murder plot by a big businessman (Raymond Burr) and his mistress (Gayle Hunnicutt).

From the outstanding cast (character parts makes movies like this) to Loyal Griggs’ Technicolor and Techniscope cinematography to the 60s modern sets to Neil Hefti’s terrific score, cool ness just drips off this film. John Guillermin also directed Peppard in The Blue Max (1966) and House Of Cards (1968).

I’m super-stoked to be doing a commentary for it.

Pendulum (1969)
Directed by George Schaefer
Starring George Peppard, Jean Seberg, Richard Kiley, Charles McGraw

George Peppard’s a Washington, DC, police captain in this one, accused of murdering his wife and her lover.

The Executioner (1970)
Directed by Sam Wanamaker
Starring George Peppard, Joan Collins, Judy Geeson, Oskar Homolka, Charles Gray

After he’s almost killed while on assignment, an MI5 agent (Peppard) sets out to prove one of his contacts is a double agent. 

Newman’s Law (1974)
Directed by Richard Heffron
Starring George Peppard, Roger Robinson, Eugene Roche, Abe Vigoda

Newman (Peppard) is an honest LA copy accused being on the take. He sets out to prove his innocence and uncovers a nasty conspiracy. This came out shortly after Peppard’s Banacek series wrapped up.

George Peppard’s movie-star looks kept him from being the actor he wanted to be, and he’s mostly known today for The A-Team, but he was a very good actor when he had a good part. This set, absolutely packed with extras, is gonna be a good one. Recommended.

4K News #346: Jaws 2 (1978).

Directed by Jeannot Szwarc
Starring Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton

Here’s something that’ll make you feel old: when a movie you saw first-run as a teenager comes out on 4K disc in a special 45th anniversary edition. Yikes!

I was so excited to see Jaws 2 (1978), there was no way it couldn’t have been a disappointment (though the POV shots with the cameraman obviously sitting on the back of the fake shark were very, very cool). But Jaws 3-D (1983) and Jaws: The Revenge (1987) came along and made it seem like a masterpiece.

To mark the 45th anniversary of Jaws 2 hitting the multiplex near you (and the anniversary of the bubble gum cards turning up in your local 7-11), Universal is bringing it to 4K disc. I’m sure it’ll look terrific.

Blu-Ray News #339: The Cat Creeps (1946).

Directed by Erle C. Kenton
Starring Lois Collier, Fred Brady, Paul Kelly, Noah Beery Jr., Douglass Dumbrille, Rose Hobart

Vinegar Syndrome Labs has announced their Blu-Ray release of The Cat Creeps (1946), a goofy horror/crime/mystery thing from Universal, “newly scanned and restored in 2K from its 35mm dupe negative.”

Erle C. Kenton directed Island Of Lost Souls (1932) and some stuff from Universal’s “monster rally” period — Ghost Of Frankenstein (1942), House Of Frankenstein (1944) and House Of Dracula (1945). A veteran of Mack Sennett comedies, he also did Who Done It? (1942), one of the best Abbott & Costello movies, and You’re Telling Me! (1934) with WC Fields.

Writing to Famous Monsters as a kid, director Joe Dante called the picture a “shamefully un-mysterious mystery with supernatural overtones. Just another grade B murder-in-the-mansion potboiler.” He’s right, of course, but there’s a charm to these movies that I absolutely adore, and the more I see ’em, the more I love ’em.

I’m so glad the folks at Vinegar Syndrome Labs are giving pictures like this the white glove treatment, complete with commentaries, documentaries and other extras. Hopefully, there will be many more. Highly recommended for fans of the whole Universal horror thing.

Blu-Ray News #329: Creeping Horror Collection (1933-1946).

Our friends at Eureka in the UK are serving up some more 1930s and ’40s hi-def horror from Universal. There will be commentaries and other extras. Reaching for the pre-order button yet?

Murders In The Zoo (1933)
Directed by A. Edward Sutherland
Starring Charlie Ruggles, Lionel Atwill, Gail Patrick, Randolph Scott

This Pre-Code gem is considered pretty ghastly, a reputation it gleefully deserves. Lionel Atwill is insanely jealous, and if you mess with his wife, there’s a good chance you’ll be eaten by tigers, bitten by a deadly snack or God knows what else. Bonus: Randolph Scott is in it!

Horror Island (1941)
Directed by George Waggner
Starring Dick Foran, Peggy Moran, Leo Carrillo, Eddie Parker, Dale Van Sickle, John Eldredge, Fuzzy Knight

Dick Foran owns a tiny island off the Florida coast, complete with a castle and the legend of buried treasure. He sets up a fake tourist-y treasure-hunt cruise to his island, but when strange things happen and people end up dead…

This was originally paired with Man Made Monster (1941), for a perfect night at the movies.

Night Monster (1942)
Directed by Ford Beebe
Starring Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, Ralph Morgan, Irene Hervey, Don Porter, Leif Erikson

Though they’re given top billing, Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill really have featured roles in this more-or-less remake of Doctor X (1932). Shot by the underrated Charles Van Enger.

House Of Horrors (1946)
Directed by Jean Yarbrough
Starring Rondo Hatton, Martin Kosleck, Robert Lowery, Virginia Grey

After playing “The Creeper” in the Sherlock Holmes picture The Pearl Of Death (1944), Universal decided to make the disfigured (due to acromegaly) Rondo Hatton their next horror star. He made two movies in 1945, House Of Horrors and The Brute Man. They would be released after his death in 1946. If you can get past how exploitive the whole thing is, the movies are as ghoulish and entertaining as other Universal horror pictures of the 40s.

Universal has always kept these films in tip-top condition, making Blu-Rays of these things a must. Each is a creepy delight — responsible for the rotted brains of lots and lots of monster kids (myself included). Highly, highly recommended.

Blu-Ray News #328: Tales Of Adventure Collection (1942-1957).

Imprint has scooped up five tales of Arabian fantasy, romance and adventure, hailing from Universal, Columbia and Paramount.

Arabian Nights (1942)
Directed by John Rawlins
Starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall, Sabu, Shemp Howard

Universal’s first film in Technicolor — and they made up for lost time by creating a sparkling, eye-popping 87-minute piece of eye candy. It’s not even remotely faithful to its source material, but it’s a hoot and it boasts a Stooge (Shemp).

The Desert Hawk (1950)
Directed by Frederick De Cordova
Starring Yvonne De Carlo, Richard Greene, Jackie Gleason, George Macready, Rock Hudson, Carl Esmond, Joe Besser

For this Yvonne De Darlo showcase, the Richard Greene part was intended for Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

Jackie Gleason in Arabia? Yep, with a future Stooge (Joe Besser) thrown in for good measure!

Zarak (1956)
Directed by Terence Young
Starring Victor Mature, Michael Wilding, Anita Ekberg, Bonar Colleano

This has always been a bit of a curio for James Bond fans, since so many of its personnel (director Young, producer Albert R. Broccoli, writer Richard Maibaum, DP Ted Moore) would go on to do the early 007 pictures.

A Thousand And One Nights (1945)
Directed by Alfred E. Green
Starring Cornel Wilde, Evelyn Keyes, Phil Silvers, Nestor Paiva, Rex Ingram

More a spoof of these things than an actual Arabian adventure film itself, with Cornell Wilde as Aladdin, Vasquez Rocks as Arabia (above) — and Phil Silvers with glasses. Gorgeous color art direction.

Omar Khayyam (1957)
Directed by William Dieterle
Starring Raymond Massey, Anthony Caruso, Cornel Wilde, Michael Rennie, Debra Paget, John Derek, Yma Sumac

Cornel Wilde is back for more romance and adventure, this time at Paramount and in VistaVision.

You can always count on Impact for near-perfect transfers and a hefty pile of extras. This is going to be a nice set. Recommended.

Blu-Ray News #324: The Green Hornet (1940).

Directed by Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor
Starring Gordon Jones, Wade Boteler, Keye Luke, Anne Nagel, Cy Kendall

In April, VCI is bringing The Green Hornet (1940) serial to Blu-Ray. 

It’s a terrific 13-chapter Universal serial, one of my favorites, with Britt Reid and Kato up against The Chief. Can’t wait to see this thing in high definition! Highly recommended.