Silver City, N.M.– No more can Uhura communicate. The ground breaking actor who originated the role of Nyota Uhura, the Communications Officer on The Original Series (Tos) “Star Trek,” passed away on July 30th at her home in New Mexico. Nichelle Nichols was 89. Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com took this Exclusive Portrait in Chicago in 2018.
Nichelle Nichols was born Grace Dell Nichols in Robbins, Illinois. Her family was living in Chicago when she began her career, where she appeared in “Kicks and Co.,” a musical that never got out of the Windy City … but it did get the attention of Hugh Hefner, who booked Nichols in his Chicago Playboy Club. She also appeared on TV in Gene Roddenberry’s “The Lieutenant” (1964), and the eventual producer of “Star Trek” remembered the actress when he cast her as Nyota Uhura (the first name came later in the canon) in 1966. She...
Nichelle Nichols was born Grace Dell Nichols in Robbins, Illinois. Her family was living in Chicago when she began her career, where she appeared in “Kicks and Co.,” a musical that never got out of the Windy City … but it did get the attention of Hugh Hefner, who booked Nichols in his Chicago Playboy Club. She also appeared on TV in Gene Roddenberry’s “The Lieutenant” (1964), and the eventual producer of “Star Trek” remembered the actress when he cast her as Nyota Uhura (the first name came later in the canon) in 1966. She...
- 8/2/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Nichelle Nichols, who broke down barriers with her portrayal of translator and communications officer Lt. Nyota Uhura in the original Star Trek TV series and later in its film franchise, died Saturday night in Silver City, N.M. She was 89 years old.
Nichols’ death was confirmed by Gilbert Bell, her talent manager and business partner of 15 years.
A popular part of the principal players on Star Trek, Nichols shared one of the first interracial kisses in television history with costar William Shatner.
Nichols also played Lt. Uhura by voicing her on “Star Trek: The Animated Series,” and appeared in the first six “Star Trek” films. She became a lieutenant commander in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” and then a full commander in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” Throughout, she was a powerful symbol for African Americans and a fan favorite in the various projects.
NASA later employed Nichols...
Nichols’ death was confirmed by Gilbert Bell, her talent manager and business partner of 15 years.
A popular part of the principal players on Star Trek, Nichols shared one of the first interracial kisses in television history with costar William Shatner.
Nichols also played Lt. Uhura by voicing her on “Star Trek: The Animated Series,” and appeared in the first six “Star Trek” films. She became a lieutenant commander in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” and then a full commander in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” Throughout, she was a powerful symbol for African Americans and a fan favorite in the various projects.
NASA later employed Nichols...
- 7/31/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
No two ways about it: April’s a great month for the Criterion Channel, which (among other things; more in a second) adds two recent favorites. We’re thrilled at the SVOD premiere of Hamaguchi’s entrancing Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, our #3 of 2021, and Bruno Dumont’s lacerating France, featuring Léa Seydoux’s finest performance yet.
Ethan Hawke’s Adventures in Moviegoing runs the gamut from Eagle Pennell’s Last Night at the Alamo to 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, while a 14-film John Ford retro (mostly) skips westerns altogether. And no notes on the Delphine Seyrig retro—multiple by Akerman, Ulrike Ottinger, Duras, a smattering of Buñuel, and Seyrig’s own film Be Pretty and Shut Up! That of all things might be the crown jewl.
See the full list of April titles below and more on the Criterion Channel.
—
3 Bad Men, John Ford, 1926
Aar paar, Guru Dutt,...
Ethan Hawke’s Adventures in Moviegoing runs the gamut from Eagle Pennell’s Last Night at the Alamo to 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, while a 14-film John Ford retro (mostly) skips westerns altogether. And no notes on the Delphine Seyrig retro—multiple by Akerman, Ulrike Ottinger, Duras, a smattering of Buñuel, and Seyrig’s own film Be Pretty and Shut Up! That of all things might be the crown jewl.
See the full list of April titles below and more on the Criterion Channel.
—
3 Bad Men, John Ford, 1926
Aar paar, Guru Dutt,...
- 3/25/2022
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
The comedian and former The Daily Show correspondent talks about his favorite Blaxploitation movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Casablanca (1942) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
The Castle (1997)
The Spook Who Sat By The Door (1973) – Bill Duke’s trailer commentary
Pressure (1976)
Robinson Crusoe On Mars (1964) – Mick Garris’s trailer commentary
Boss (1975)
Django Unchained (2012) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
The Thing With Two Heads (1972) – Stuart Gordon’s trailer commentary
The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971)
The Liberation of L.B. Jones (1970)
Last of the Mobile Hot Shots (1970)
Black Samurai (1977)
Truck Turner (1974)
Schindler’s List (1993)
Black Caesar (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
Hell Up In Harlem (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
Judas And The Black Messiah (2021)
Friday Foster (1975)
That Man Bolt (1973)
Blacula (1972)
Foxy Brown (1974) – Jack Hill’s trailer commentary
Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976)
Willie Dynamite (1973) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Billy Jack (1971)
John Wick (2014)
The Matrix (1999)
Cleopatra Jones...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Casablanca (1942) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
The Castle (1997)
The Spook Who Sat By The Door (1973) – Bill Duke’s trailer commentary
Pressure (1976)
Robinson Crusoe On Mars (1964) – Mick Garris’s trailer commentary
Boss (1975)
Django Unchained (2012) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
The Thing With Two Heads (1972) – Stuart Gordon’s trailer commentary
The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971)
The Liberation of L.B. Jones (1970)
Last of the Mobile Hot Shots (1970)
Black Samurai (1977)
Truck Turner (1974)
Schindler’s List (1993)
Black Caesar (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
Hell Up In Harlem (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
Judas And The Black Messiah (2021)
Friday Foster (1975)
That Man Bolt (1973)
Blacula (1972)
Foxy Brown (1974) – Jack Hill’s trailer commentary
Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976)
Willie Dynamite (1973) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Billy Jack (1971)
John Wick (2014)
The Matrix (1999)
Cleopatra Jones...
- 8/17/2021
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
The writer/director returns to talk about his favorite Blaxploitation movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Man Bites Dog (1992)
Trick Baby (1972)
The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Pelli’s trailer commentary
The Untouchables (1987)
Predator (1987)
Purple Rain (1984) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
The Loved One (1965) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Live And Let Die (1973)
Enter The Dragon (1973) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary, Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
The Green Hornet (1974)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – Darren Bousman’s trailer commentary
The Last Dragon (1985) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Dead Presidents (1995)
Hell Up In Harlem (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
Black Caesar (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
Shaft (1971) – Bill Duke’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing
Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971)
Coffy (1973) – Jack Hill’s trailer commentary
Midnight Cowboy (1969) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Taxi Driver (1976) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary
Boxcar Bertha (1972) – Julie Corman...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Man Bites Dog (1992)
Trick Baby (1972)
The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Pelli’s trailer commentary
The Untouchables (1987)
Predator (1987)
Purple Rain (1984) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
The Loved One (1965) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Live And Let Die (1973)
Enter The Dragon (1973) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary, Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
The Green Hornet (1974)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – Darren Bousman’s trailer commentary
The Last Dragon (1985) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Dead Presidents (1995)
Hell Up In Harlem (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
Black Caesar (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
Shaft (1971) – Bill Duke’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing
Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971)
Coffy (1973) – Jack Hill’s trailer commentary
Midnight Cowboy (1969) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Taxi Driver (1976) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary
Boxcar Bertha (1972) – Julie Corman...
- 8/3/2021
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Hello everyone! A new month is upon us and we have an eclectic array of films heading to Blu-ray and DVD this week to kick things off. Arrow Video has put together a 4-Disc Limited Edition Collector’s Set celebrating Bill Rebane called Weird Wisconsin, and Code Red is releasing The Love Butcher on Blu-ray as well. Paramount is showing some love to the cult film Mommie Dearest as well with a brand new Blu in 4K, and we also have a few new indie titles arriving on June 1st—Spare Parts and Sorority House.
The Love Butcher
A string of murders in a posh neighborhood has the police department stumped and the local press is breathing down their necks. Strangely, nobody notices that several victims share the same gardener, a bent, elderly man with a crippled arm named Caleb. Even though all of the murder weapons are lawn care tools,...
The Love Butcher
A string of murders in a posh neighborhood has the police department stumped and the local press is breathing down their necks. Strangely, nobody notices that several victims share the same gardener, a bent, elderly man with a crippled arm named Caleb. Even though all of the murder weapons are lawn care tools,...
- 6/2/2021
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
It’s hard to pin point where it came from but I have a strange obsession with monster trucks… I often put it down to watching weird late-night monster truck racing shows on Yorkshire TV as a kid; or maybe its because I grew up in the era of Bigfoot – the king of the monster trucks that appeared in mainstream media and TV and not just racing around stadiums? Whatever the reason I’ve always had a soft spot for all things monster trucks, including video games. From the likes of Ivan ‘Ironman’ Stewart’s Super Off Road Racing, with the ability to slide/drift round corners on race course tracks. That’s an ability in Both games, however Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 seems to make more of its use, whilst – I feel – you can get away without using rear wheel steering at all in Monster Truck Championship.
But wouldn’t you know it,...
But wouldn’t you know it,...
- 4/20/2021
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Weird Wisconsin: The Bill Rebane Collection, a 4-disc, 6-Film Set will be available on Blu-ray from Arrow Video May 25th
From The Wilds Of Wisconsin He Came…
Alien Invasions! Haunted Pianos! Sentient Monster Trucks! Arrow Video is proud to present the first ever collection of works by Bill Rebane, the epitome of an independent regional filmmaker who built his own studio in the wilds of Wisconsin. He acted for Hitchcock, he searched for the arms of the Venus De Milo, he turned a Vw Beetle into a giant spider and he’s still at work today!
Bringing together six films, all new to Blu-ray and in brand new restorations, Weird Wisconsin: The Bill Rebane Collection packs in a mutant astronaut bothering blissful sunbathers (Monster A Go-Go), a contagion apocalypse as seen from the vantage point of a remote mountain cabin (Invasion from Inner Earth), deadly alien spores from the rocks...
From The Wilds Of Wisconsin He Came…
Alien Invasions! Haunted Pianos! Sentient Monster Trucks! Arrow Video is proud to present the first ever collection of works by Bill Rebane, the epitome of an independent regional filmmaker who built his own studio in the wilds of Wisconsin. He acted for Hitchcock, he searched for the arms of the Venus De Milo, he turned a Vw Beetle into a giant spider and he’s still at work today!
Bringing together six films, all new to Blu-ray and in brand new restorations, Weird Wisconsin: The Bill Rebane Collection packs in a mutant astronaut bothering blissful sunbathers (Monster A Go-Go), a contagion apocalypse as seen from the vantage point of a remote mountain cabin (Invasion from Inner Earth), deadly alien spores from the rocks...
- 4/13/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Yaphet Kotto, an actor known for his performances in “Alien,” the James Bond film “Live and Let Die” and the television series “Homicide: Life on the Street,” has died, his agent Ryan Goldhar confirmed to Variety. He was 81.
Kotto’s wife, Tessie Sinahon, first posted about Kotto’s death on Facebook Monday night.
“I’m saddened and still in shocked of the passing of my husband Yaphet of 24 years. He died last night around 10:30pm Philippine time,” sge wrote. “…You played a villain on some of your movies but for me you’re a real hero and to a lot of people also. A good man, a good father, a good husband and a decent human being, very rare to find. One of the best actor in Hollywood a Legend. Rest in Peace Honey, I’m gonna miss you everyday, my bestfriend, my rock.”
In 1973’s “Live and Let Die,...
Kotto’s wife, Tessie Sinahon, first posted about Kotto’s death on Facebook Monday night.
“I’m saddened and still in shocked of the passing of my husband Yaphet of 24 years. He died last night around 10:30pm Philippine time,” sge wrote. “…You played a villain on some of your movies but for me you’re a real hero and to a lot of people also. A good man, a good father, a good husband and a decent human being, very rare to find. One of the best actor in Hollywood a Legend. Rest in Peace Honey, I’m gonna miss you everyday, my bestfriend, my rock.”
In 1973’s “Live and Let Die,...
- 3/16/2021
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
The 2018 Broadway musical The Prom has always had a somewhat shaky premise, combining a quartet of narcissistic Broadway stars looking for a way to be relevant again with a lesbian couple’s (Jo Ellen Pellman and Ariana DeBose) simple wish to attend their prom in Edgewater, Indiana. The two threads collide when the prom gets blown up into a civil rights issue. However, the stage show reconciled these seemingly disparate elements into a heartwarming tale of self-acceptance for all involved: straight or gay, closeted or out, aging star or varsity cheerleader.
Ryan Murphy’s film adaptation for Netflix, by contrast, is less successful. The awkward space between these two stories is more pronounced, with the Broadway portions plagued by puzzling lighting and editing choices. Combine that with some truly head-scratching casting among three of the four adults, and it distracts from the intent of basically half the soundtrack.
However, when...
Ryan Murphy’s film adaptation for Netflix, by contrast, is less successful. The awkward space between these two stories is more pronounced, with the Broadway portions plagued by puzzling lighting and editing choices. Combine that with some truly head-scratching casting among three of the four adults, and it distracts from the intent of basically half the soundtrack.
However, when...
- 12/13/2020
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Max Keane isn’t new to the family’s animation business. He’s worked on many of his dad Glen Keane’s post-Disney projects, including the shorts “Duet” and the Oscar-winning “Dear Basketball” as production designer. But as creator and showrunner of the latest Glen Keane Prods. project, “Trash Truck,” Max is in the driver’s seat for the first time.
The preschooler kids series about an imaginative 6-year-old boy, Hank, and his vehicular best friend debuted on Netflix on Nov. 10 with a dozen 11-minute episodes. Max Keane is creator-showrunner and executive produces along with his father and Gennie Rim, CEO at Glen Keane Prods., the company his dad formed in 2012 after years as a Disney animator.
“It’s an idea I stole from my son [Henry],” Max Keane admits. “When he was 1½, he was completely obsessed with garbage trucks.” At first, Keane couldn’t figure out why Henry was so enchanted by the big,...
The preschooler kids series about an imaginative 6-year-old boy, Hank, and his vehicular best friend debuted on Netflix on Nov. 10 with a dozen 11-minute episodes. Max Keane is creator-showrunner and executive produces along with his father and Gennie Rim, CEO at Glen Keane Prods., the company his dad formed in 2012 after years as a Disney animator.
“It’s an idea I stole from my son [Henry],” Max Keane admits. “When he was 1½, he was completely obsessed with garbage trucks.” At first, Keane couldn’t figure out why Henry was so enchanted by the big,...
- 11/10/2020
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
General Motors (Gm) has announced the release of its most technologically advanced truck yet, the 2022 Gmc Hummer Ev. The military-inspired vehicle will be the first electrically powered truck produced by the acclaimed car manufacturer, with added features that have many calling it the “World’s First Super Truck.” The new truck has been awaited with […]
The post Gmc Introduces $112,000 Hummer Ev, Dubbed ‘The World’s First Super Truck’ appeared first on uInterview.
The post Gmc Introduces $112,000 Hummer Ev, Dubbed ‘The World’s First Super Truck’ appeared first on uInterview.
- 10/25/2020
- by Kenny Santos
- Uinterview
Director Jonathan Kaplan followed up his knockout Truck Turner with this slam-bang 1975 trucksploitation hit. Vietnam vet Jan-Michael Vincent takes over his late father’s Arizona hauling business and has to battle violent smugglers and corrupt officials. It’s a rubber-meets-the road, Capra-esque little-guy-vs.-the-system populist thriller, Walking Tall-style. Lots of great character actors on hand.
The post White Line Fever appeared first on Trailers From Hell.
The post White Line Fever appeared first on Trailers From Hell.
- 10/9/2020
- by TFH Team
- Trailers from Hell
Pairing wine with movies! See the trailers and hear the fascinating commentary for these movies and many more at Trailers From Hell. And watch your speed, unless you want to be breaking news.
2019’s Ford v Ferrari is a gearhead’s movie. A speed freak’s movie. A Ford man’s movie. Keep your Chevys in the garage and your Found-On-Road-Dead jokes to yourself while the Shelby Ford GT40 screams down the straightaway like a rocket. The film is based on the effort of designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles to rudely knock Ferrari off its throne at Le Mans. Henry Ford II and Lee Iacocca made it a grudge match to embarrass Enzo Ferrari after he flipped them off in a failed buyout.
The film stars Matt Damon and Christian Bale, which means it was halfway to success from the green flag. It got quite a lot of...
2019’s Ford v Ferrari is a gearhead’s movie. A speed freak’s movie. A Ford man’s movie. Keep your Chevys in the garage and your Found-On-Road-Dead jokes to yourself while the Shelby Ford GT40 screams down the straightaway like a rocket. The film is based on the effort of designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles to rudely knock Ferrari off its throne at Le Mans. Henry Ford II and Lee Iacocca made it a grudge match to embarrass Enzo Ferrari after he flipped them off in a failed buyout.
The film stars Matt Damon and Christian Bale, which means it was halfway to success from the green flag. It got quite a lot of...
- 10/7/2020
- by Randy Fuller
- Trailers from Hell
Move over Batman and Robin, it’s the Batmobile’s time to shine.
Warner Bros. Animation has announced today that a brand new Batman-related animated series is coming to HBO Max. Batwheels is being aimed at the preschool market and follows the Bat-family’s super-powered crime-fighting vehicles as they protect Gotham City, after gaining sentience thanks to the Batcomputer.
Batwheels is currently in development and will air on both Cartoon Network and HBO Max. Led by the Dark Knight’s trusty Batmobile, the vehicular vigilantes – who will have the personality of children due to having no life experience – consist of the Batgirl Cycle, Robin’s Redbird, the Batwing and the Bat Truck. No casting has been revealed yet at this early stage, but we do have some key art (below) and a lengthy synopsis which give us an idea of what we can expect.
“They are a team of incredible...
Warner Bros. Animation has announced today that a brand new Batman-related animated series is coming to HBO Max. Batwheels is being aimed at the preschool market and follows the Bat-family’s super-powered crime-fighting vehicles as they protect Gotham City, after gaining sentience thanks to the Batcomputer.
Batwheels is currently in development and will air on both Cartoon Network and HBO Max. Led by the Dark Knight’s trusty Batmobile, the vehicular vigilantes – who will have the personality of children due to having no life experience – consist of the Batgirl Cycle, Robin’s Redbird, the Batwing and the Bat Truck. No casting has been revealed yet at this early stage, but we do have some key art (below) and a lengthy synopsis which give us an idea of what we can expect.
“They are a team of incredible...
- 10/6/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Back when he was a fledgling songwriter with a new publishing deal, Michael Hardy was hanging out with his dad and a friend at the Nashville drinking establishment Tin Roof. He had only a few dollars to his name, so he bought a tall Pbr for six bucks and nursed it as slowly as possible. Across the room, he spotted a pretty young woman glancing at her phone and looking around for someone. Summoning his courage, Hardy approached and asked if she’d like to sit with them until her friend arrived.
- 7/21/2020
- by Jon Freeman
- Rollingstone.com
The director of Over The Edge and The Accused takes us on a journey through some of his favorite movies.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Student Teachers (1973)
Night Call Nurses (1972)
White Line Fever (1975)
Truck Turner (1974)
Heart Like A Wheel (1983)
The Accused (1988)
Over The Edge (1979)
Modern Times (1936)
City Lights (1931)
Manhattan (1979)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
The Apartment (1960)
North By Northwest (1959)
Moon Pilot (1962)
Mr. Billion (1977)
White Heat (1949)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Three Musketeers (1973)
The Four Musketeers (1974)
Superman (1978)
Superman II (1980)
The Three Musketeers (1948)
Shane (1953)
The 400 Blows (1959)
8 ½ (1963)
Fellini Satyricon (1969)
Richard (1972)
Millhouse (1971)
The Projectionist (1970)
El Dorado (1966)
The Shootist (1976)
Woodstock (1970)
Payback (1999)
A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962)
Billy Liar (1963)
Ford Vs Ferrari (2019)
The Wild Bunch (1969)
The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970)
Bad Girls (1994)
Masters of the Universe (1987)
Giant (1956)
The More The Merrier (1943)
The Graduate (1967)
The Victors (1963)
…And Justice For All (1979)
Citizen Kane (1941)
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Student Teachers (1973)
Night Call Nurses (1972)
White Line Fever (1975)
Truck Turner (1974)
Heart Like A Wheel (1983)
The Accused (1988)
Over The Edge (1979)
Modern Times (1936)
City Lights (1931)
Manhattan (1979)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
The Apartment (1960)
North By Northwest (1959)
Moon Pilot (1962)
Mr. Billion (1977)
White Heat (1949)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Three Musketeers (1973)
The Four Musketeers (1974)
Superman (1978)
Superman II (1980)
The Three Musketeers (1948)
Shane (1953)
The 400 Blows (1959)
8 ½ (1963)
Fellini Satyricon (1969)
Richard (1972)
Millhouse (1971)
The Projectionist (1970)
El Dorado (1966)
The Shootist (1976)
Woodstock (1970)
Payback (1999)
A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962)
Billy Liar (1963)
Ford Vs Ferrari (2019)
The Wild Bunch (1969)
The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970)
Bad Girls (1994)
Masters of the Universe (1987)
Giant (1956)
The More The Merrier (1943)
The Graduate (1967)
The Victors (1963)
…And Justice For All (1979)
Citizen Kane (1941)
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn...
- 7/7/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Screenwriter Michael Allin, best known for his work on Bruce Lee’s film Enter the Dragon, was rescued from his burning home late Thursday night by two teenage neighbors.
The Encinitas, Calif. duplex fire was reported late on Thursday, starting in the garages of the two-story duplex then spreading to the rest of the residence, according to the local fire chief.
Power lines were down in front of the building, hampering firefighters who tried to battle the blaze.
Allin, age 75, was the only person in the duplex. He was treated for a minor injury at the scene.
Besides Enter the Dragon, Allin is known for 1980’s Flash Gordon and the 1974 film Truck Turner.
The Encinitas, Calif. duplex fire was reported late on Thursday, starting in the garages of the two-story duplex then spreading to the rest of the residence, according to the local fire chief.
Power lines were down in front of the building, hampering firefighters who tried to battle the blaze.
Allin, age 75, was the only person in the duplex. He was treated for a minor injury at the scene.
Besides Enter the Dragon, Allin is known for 1980’s Flash Gordon and the 1974 film Truck Turner.
- 12/14/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
The son of the legendary Isaac Hayes is upset that there are no original Hayes tracks in the new “Shaft” movie, calling its soundtrack album “a cultural disaster.”
New Line Cinema, which made the movie — starring Samuel L. Jackson, Richard Roundtree and Jessie T. Usher as three generations of the Shaft family — insists that there is Hayes music all over the movie and soundtrack, even if no original tracks were licensed from the Hayes estate.
Isaac Hayes won a Best Song Oscar for his “Shaft” theme, written in 1971 for the original movie with Roundtree as a Harlem private eye. His score was also nominated, won two Grammys and launched an entire genre of blaxploitation movie soundtracks including Curtis Mayfield’s “Super Fly” and Marvin Gaye’s “Trouble Man.”
Hayes contributed a song to the 1972 sequel, “Shaft’s Big Score,” and re-recorded his original theme for director John Singleton’s 2000 reboot of the series with Jackson.
New Line Cinema, which made the movie — starring Samuel L. Jackson, Richard Roundtree and Jessie T. Usher as three generations of the Shaft family — insists that there is Hayes music all over the movie and soundtrack, even if no original tracks were licensed from the Hayes estate.
Isaac Hayes won a Best Song Oscar for his “Shaft” theme, written in 1971 for the original movie with Roundtree as a Harlem private eye. His score was also nominated, won two Grammys and launched an entire genre of blaxploitation movie soundtracks including Curtis Mayfield’s “Super Fly” and Marvin Gaye’s “Trouble Man.”
Hayes contributed a song to the 1972 sequel, “Shaft’s Big Score,” and re-recorded his original theme for director John Singleton’s 2000 reboot of the series with Jackson.
- 6/14/2019
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Chicago – There is nothing like the original, and Nichelle Nichols is certainly in that category. Nichols portrayed Uhura in the original 1960s “Star Trek” series, and broke barriers for African American performers by being an equal member of the ground-breaking Starship Enterprise crew during the civil rights era.
Live Long and Prosper: Nichelle Nichols on August 23rd, 2018
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
Nichelle Nichols was born Grace Dell Nichols in Robbins, Illinois. Her family was living in Chicago when she began her career, where she appeared in “Kicks and Co.,” a musical that never got out of the Windy City… but it did get the attention of Hugh Hefner, who booked Nichols in his Chicago Playboy Club. She also appeared on TV in Gene Roddenberry’s “The Lieutenant” (1964), and the eventual producer of “Star Trek” was in a relationship with the actress when he cast...
Live Long and Prosper: Nichelle Nichols on August 23rd, 2018
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
Nichelle Nichols was born Grace Dell Nichols in Robbins, Illinois. Her family was living in Chicago when she began her career, where she appeared in “Kicks and Co.,” a musical that never got out of the Windy City… but it did get the attention of Hugh Hefner, who booked Nichols in his Chicago Playboy Club. She also appeared on TV in Gene Roddenberry’s “The Lieutenant” (1964), and the eventual producer of “Star Trek” was in a relationship with the actress when he cast...
- 9/27/2018
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
A middling entry in the genre of blow-it-up big action spectacles, Paul Wendkos’ Spain-filmed western gives us all the excitement promised by the poster, but with some cardboard characters and lumpy storytelling. George Peppard is on the job, however, and once again proves he can carry a big picture, flaws and all.
Cannon for Cordoba
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1970 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 104 min. / Street Date October 31, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: George Peppard, Raf Vallone, Giovanna Ralli, Don Gordon, Pete Duel, Nico Minardos, John Russell, John Larch, Gabriele Tinti, Francine York, Lionel Murton, Hans Meyer, Aldo Sambrell, Luis Barboo.
Cinematography: Antonio Macasoli
Film Editor: Walter A. Hannemann
Special effects: Emilio Ruiz del Río
Original Music: Elmer Bernstein
Written by Stephen Kandel
Produced by Vincent M. Fennelly
Directed by Paul Wendkos
While providing backing for independent writer-producers like Billy Wilder, Walter Mirisch also shepherded various less ambitious war movies and westerns,...
Cannon for Cordoba
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1970 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 104 min. / Street Date October 31, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: George Peppard, Raf Vallone, Giovanna Ralli, Don Gordon, Pete Duel, Nico Minardos, John Russell, John Larch, Gabriele Tinti, Francine York, Lionel Murton, Hans Meyer, Aldo Sambrell, Luis Barboo.
Cinematography: Antonio Macasoli
Film Editor: Walter A. Hannemann
Special effects: Emilio Ruiz del Río
Original Music: Elmer Bernstein
Written by Stephen Kandel
Produced by Vincent M. Fennelly
Directed by Paul Wendkos
While providing backing for independent writer-producers like Billy Wilder, Walter Mirisch also shepherded various less ambitious war movies and westerns,...
- 11/7/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
In this special episode of Off The Shelf, Ryan and Brian take a look at the best DVD and Blu-ray 2015.
Subscribe in iTunes or RSS.
Follow-Up Ryan buys the Ernest and Celestine Blu-ray from Plain Archive Ultra HD Blu-ray Pre-orders Live, March 1st release: Fox, Sony, WB, Shout! and now Lionsgate Curzon Tarkovsky Ryan’s Top 10 List of 2015 Classics from the Van Beuren Studio (Thunderbean Animation) Thunderbirds: The Complete Series (Timeless Media Group / Shout! Factory) The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (Arrow UK) Twice Upon A Time (Warner Archive Collection) Journey to the Center of the Earth (Twilight Time) Watership Down (The Criterion Collection) Walt Disney Animation Studios: Short Films Collection (Disney) 3-D Rarities (Flicker Alley) Spartacus: Restored Edition (Universal) The Apu Trilogy (The Criterion Collection)
Honorable mentions:
Arrow Video: Kiju Yoshida: Love + Anarchism, The Train, The Criterion Collection: The Fisher King, Moonrise Kingdom...
Subscribe in iTunes or RSS.
Follow-Up Ryan buys the Ernest and Celestine Blu-ray from Plain Archive Ultra HD Blu-ray Pre-orders Live, March 1st release: Fox, Sony, WB, Shout! and now Lionsgate Curzon Tarkovsky Ryan’s Top 10 List of 2015 Classics from the Van Beuren Studio (Thunderbean Animation) Thunderbirds: The Complete Series (Timeless Media Group / Shout! Factory) The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (Arrow UK) Twice Upon A Time (Warner Archive Collection) Journey to the Center of the Earth (Twilight Time) Watership Down (The Criterion Collection) Walt Disney Animation Studios: Short Films Collection (Disney) 3-D Rarities (Flicker Alley) Spartacus: Restored Edition (Universal) The Apu Trilogy (The Criterion Collection)
Honorable mentions:
Arrow Video: Kiju Yoshida: Love + Anarchism, The Train, The Criterion Collection: The Fisher King, Moonrise Kingdom...
- 1/13/2016
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
This week on Off The Shelf, Ryan is joined by Brian Saur to take a look at the new DVD and Blu-ray releases for the week of June 23rd, 2015, and chat about some follow-up and home video news.
Subscribe in iTunes or RSS.
Episode Links & Notes Follow-up Comic Con News Don Hertzfeldt Blu-ray Kickstarter Arrow Films: October releases Shout / Scream Factory: Comic Con announcements Kino: Epic Of Everest WB: Mad Max Fury Road Universal: Restored Spartacus Fox: August releases Disney: Mr. Boogedy & Bride of Boogedy coming to Dmc DVD (& on Amazon Instant now) Twilight Time: new website Sony: Christine Blu-ray Over The Garden Wall on DVD New Releases
July 7th
Beyond Zero: 1914–1918 Cell, The Contamination The Killers Maggie Ned Kelly Pit Stop Robot Jox Roller Boogie Truck Turner Virtuosity
July 14th
Adventures of Captain Fabian All Quiet On The Western Front The Andromeda Strain Baby It’s You...
Subscribe in iTunes or RSS.
Episode Links & Notes Follow-up Comic Con News Don Hertzfeldt Blu-ray Kickstarter Arrow Films: October releases Shout / Scream Factory: Comic Con announcements Kino: Epic Of Everest WB: Mad Max Fury Road Universal: Restored Spartacus Fox: August releases Disney: Mr. Boogedy & Bride of Boogedy coming to Dmc DVD (& on Amazon Instant now) Twilight Time: new website Sony: Christine Blu-ray Over The Garden Wall on DVD New Releases
July 7th
Beyond Zero: 1914–1918 Cell, The Contamination The Killers Maggie Ned Kelly Pit Stop Robot Jox Roller Boogie Truck Turner Virtuosity
July 14th
Adventures of Captain Fabian All Quiet On The Western Front The Andromeda Strain Baby It’s You...
- 7/22/2015
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
Kino Lorber resurrects the obscure and fascinating 1974 Blaxploitation gem Truck Turner this month for the first time on Blu-ray. One of Isaac Hayes’ most notable acting performances, it’s a head above the general trend of similar genre titles of the period, even though the film features a familiar narrative already well re-tread by the time of its release. Hayes fashions his own soundtrack for this retro classic, an oddity begging to be rediscovered.
Truck Turner (Hayes) is a football star turned bounty hunter, in the midst of hunting down a vicious, sadistic pimp named Gator (Paul Harris) with the help of his sidekick, Jerry (Alan Weeks). But Gator proves a hard target to pin down, leading up to a dramatic showdown where Truck is forced to kill the pimp in self-defense. His death causes a ripple in the criminal community of Los Angeles and forces the aggressively violent Madame...
Truck Turner (Hayes) is a football star turned bounty hunter, in the midst of hunting down a vicious, sadistic pimp named Gator (Paul Harris) with the help of his sidekick, Jerry (Alan Weeks). But Gator proves a hard target to pin down, leading up to a dramatic showdown where Truck is forced to kill the pimp in self-defense. His death causes a ripple in the criminal community of Los Angeles and forces the aggressively violent Madame...
- 7/14/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Aliya delves into Isaac Hayes's career and comes up with the not-quite-thriller, Truck Turner...
Welcome back to Mystery DVD Club. The idea behind this is simple: we went and bought a whole host of films that we hadn't heard of before, none of which cost us more than a few pounds. Then, we sent them to a bunch of our writers, without telling them what 'film' they were going to receive. Could we unearth a hidden gem? Aliya is hopeful...
When you start looking into the career of Isaac Hayes, you find out he was good at a lot of things. He co-wrote great hits such as Soul Man and When Something Is Wrong With My Baby. He produced a lot of brilliant records for Stax. He was a hugely successful singer, and reinterpreted a lot of Burt Bacharach classics into long soulful epics. He was the voice of Chef in South Park.
Welcome back to Mystery DVD Club. The idea behind this is simple: we went and bought a whole host of films that we hadn't heard of before, none of which cost us more than a few pounds. Then, we sent them to a bunch of our writers, without telling them what 'film' they were going to receive. Could we unearth a hidden gem? Aliya is hopeful...
When you start looking into the career of Isaac Hayes, you find out he was good at a lot of things. He co-wrote great hits such as Soul Man and When Something Is Wrong With My Baby. He produced a lot of brilliant records for Stax. He was a hugely successful singer, and reinterpreted a lot of Burt Bacharach classics into long soulful epics. He was the voice of Chef in South Park.
- 7/30/2014
- by sarahd
- Den of Geek
Saint Louis has incredibly deep and rich brewing history. Even before Adolphus Busch married Lilly Eberhard Anheuser, Johann Adam Lemp had been running his brewery since 1840. He had been a grocer for two years prior, but customers preferred the lager he brewed. At the dawn of the Civil War, Lemp had about 40 competitors locally.
What happened to those competitors? We know what happened to one. But what happened to the competitors that went out of business? Did any of their recipes survive? Were they passed down to family members? Or do they live on in antique malls and collections?
Desert Storm veteran, Sam Harper (David Fralick) is killed by friendly fire in Grenada. He somehow remains alive long enough to murder the Army men ordered to collect his body. News of Sam’s death opens old wounds on the home-front. His sister, Sally (Leslie Neale) and estranged wife, Louise (Anne Tremko...
What happened to those competitors? We know what happened to one. But what happened to the competitors that went out of business? Did any of their recipes survive? Were they passed down to family members? Or do they live on in antique malls and collections?
Desert Storm veteran, Sam Harper (David Fralick) is killed by friendly fire in Grenada. He somehow remains alive long enough to murder the Army men ordered to collect his body. News of Sam’s death opens old wounds on the home-front. His sister, Sally (Leslie Neale) and estranged wife, Louise (Anne Tremko...
- 7/3/2014
- by Jeremy Jones
- Destroy the Brain
Recent hot cinema topics such as the portrayal of the Mandarin character in Shane Black’s Iron Man 3 and speculations about what classic Star Trek villain Benedict Cumberbatch’s character in J.J Abrams’ Star Trek: Into Darkness was modeled after leading up to the film’s release, among others, underline the importance of great villains in genre cinema.
Creating a great cinematic villain is a difficult goal that makes for an incredibly rewarding and memorable viewer experience when it is achieved.
We’ll now take a look at the greatest film villains. Other writing on this subject tends to be a bit unfocused, as “greatest villain” articles tend to mix live-action human villains with animated characters and even animals. Many of these articles also lack a cohesive quality as they attempt to cover too much ground at once by spanning all of film history.
This article focuses on the 1970’s,...
Creating a great cinematic villain is a difficult goal that makes for an incredibly rewarding and memorable viewer experience when it is achieved.
We’ll now take a look at the greatest film villains. Other writing on this subject tends to be a bit unfocused, as “greatest villain” articles tend to mix live-action human villains with animated characters and even animals. Many of these articles also lack a cohesive quality as they attempt to cover too much ground at once by spanning all of film history.
This article focuses on the 1970’s,...
- 5/19/2013
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
After all the debates, controversies, and stereotype accusations have cleared, looking back on Blaxploitation cinema today it’s easy to see healthy portions of the crime and action genres. Using these genres and the struggles of the black community, these films were created for those that wanted to see African American characters on the big screen not taking shit from the man, “getting over”, and–above all else—being the heroes in movies. In the documentary Baad Asssss Cinema, Samuel L. Jackson gives his take on the heroes of Blaxploitation: “We were tired of seeing the righteous black man. And all of a sudden we had guys who were…us. Or guys who did the things we wanted those guys to do.”
The unsung supporting players in these films that backed Fred Williamson and Pam Grier and many other stars were people acting and making a living off of it.
The unsung supporting players in these films that backed Fred Williamson and Pam Grier and many other stars were people acting and making a living off of it.
- 12/4/2012
- by Gregory Day
- SoundOnSight
Remakes, sequels, reboots: these are common parlance in the film industry today and have been since its birth, really. There is no film property immune to this, especially a successful one. And though the blaxploitation genre, which reached its height of popularity in the 1970s, still enjoys a rabid cult following, few of the attempts to re-energize this vital branch of American film have been very successful.
Until now.
Black Dynamite, the 2009 film starring Michael Jai White, is now also an animated series now airing Sundays on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. And while the character and his world may still effectively be a cult happening, it is clear that Black Dynamite is the most successful blaxploitation property to hit the streets since platform shoes went out of fashion. Loaded with sex, violence, and sex and violence, Black Dynamite is the true sequel to Shaft that fans have been waiting for.
Until now.
Black Dynamite, the 2009 film starring Michael Jai White, is now also an animated series now airing Sundays on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. And while the character and his world may still effectively be a cult happening, it is clear that Black Dynamite is the most successful blaxploitation property to hit the streets since platform shoes went out of fashion. Loaded with sex, violence, and sex and violence, Black Dynamite is the true sequel to Shaft that fans have been waiting for.
- 7/29/2012
- by Jimmy Callaway
- Boomtron
Welcome back to Junkfood Cinema; Truck Turner isn’t just what we call Brian when Tacos-On-Wheels runs out of Baja sauce. Welcome back suckas, to the Internet’s freshest bad movie column; this month featuring a funky twist. This is Blaxploitation History Month: Sequel Edition. Every week in February, we’ll be rolling out another super bad blaxploitation sequel that’s so whack we can’t help but dig it. We’ll lay down some cold-blooded mockery on said film, going upside its head with its own numerous faults, but then will jump back, kiss ourselves, and get hip to all the reasons we think these movies are dy-no-mite. To top it off, we’ll serve you with a badass, and bad for you, snack food item themed to the movie. Today’s jive turkey: The Human Tornado. What Makes It Bad? The Human Tornado is the sequel to Dolemite. How...
- 2/12/2012
- by Brian Salisbury
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Westwood - The master of sensual European cinema golden years have a tint of blue. UCLA just hosted retrospective of Radley Metzger’s films. His most important films are being released on Blu-ray. He’s about to take the director’s chair as he approaches 83.
His masterwork Camille 2000 was just released Blu-ray with an extended version from Cult Epics. The 1969 update of Dumas’ The Lady of the Camellias takes place in an esoteric Italy. The restored high definition transfer gives a detailed look at that magical time. The Party Favors had a chance to chat with Radley Metzger about the release.
Trailer provided by Video Detective
Radley is a true independent filmmaker. He owns the rights to his films instead of selling them off to distributor. He’s not at the mercy of an indifferent studio executive to keep his cinematic legacy available. The first question had to be...
His masterwork Camille 2000 was just released Blu-ray with an extended version from Cult Epics. The 1969 update of Dumas’ The Lady of the Camellias takes place in an esoteric Italy. The restored high definition transfer gives a detailed look at that magical time. The Party Favors had a chance to chat with Radley Metzger about the release.
Trailer provided by Video Detective
Radley is a true independent filmmaker. He owns the rights to his films instead of selling them off to distributor. He’s not at the mercy of an indifferent studio executive to keep his cinematic legacy available. The first question had to be...
- 8/5/2011
- by UncaScroogeMcD
Never gets old for me… watched it again this weekend… I’m talking about Truck Turner. But instead of talking about the entire film, for those who haven’t seen it, let me draw your attention to the character played by one Nichelle Nichols. Yes, she did co-star in a blaxploitation movie – only one, as far I know.
You may know her as Lieutenant Uhura from the original Star Trek series, which aired before Truck Turner was made. Here, Nichols plays Dorinda, who, along with her man/pimp (Gator), run a well-known, pricey brothel. When Gator is killed by Truck Turner (played confidently by Isaac Hayes), the Queen Bee is left in charge of the stable of whores, while searching for a new pimp for protection, who’ll kill Turner as well.
No, this is Not the Uhura we’re all familiar with; this isn’t Ms Dainty, with the short red space-futurist uniform,...
You may know her as Lieutenant Uhura from the original Star Trek series, which aired before Truck Turner was made. Here, Nichols plays Dorinda, who, along with her man/pimp (Gator), run a well-known, pricey brothel. When Gator is killed by Truck Turner (played confidently by Isaac Hayes), the Queen Bee is left in charge of the stable of whores, while searching for a new pimp for protection, who’ll kill Turner as well.
No, this is Not the Uhura we’re all familiar with; this isn’t Ms Dainty, with the short red space-futurist uniform,...
- 4/3/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
In honor of The Comedy Awards, airing April 10 on Comedy Central, NextMovie will be unveiling a host of features on Hollywood's funniest films and folks. Here's the first...
Everyone has their own personal favorite genre, but comedy is arguably the most universal. Have you ever met someone who's said, "I don't like to laugh"? Neither have we.
The past decade has seen filmmakers like Adam McKay and Judd Apatow rise from obscurity onto the A-list, while actors like Seth Rogen and Zach Galifianakis have gone from esoteric television shows to big-budget movies.
But enough talk. Read. Argue. Yell at us. You can debate the order of these films all you want, but you can't deny the humor of any of them.
25. 'Meet the Parents' (2000)
If one of the benchmarks of good comedy is making the personal universal and the universal personal, it's easy to see why Jay Roach...
Everyone has their own personal favorite genre, but comedy is arguably the most universal. Have you ever met someone who's said, "I don't like to laugh"? Neither have we.
The past decade has seen filmmakers like Adam McKay and Judd Apatow rise from obscurity onto the A-list, while actors like Seth Rogen and Zach Galifianakis have gone from esoteric television shows to big-budget movies.
But enough talk. Read. Argue. Yell at us. You can debate the order of these films all you want, but you can't deny the humor of any of them.
25. 'Meet the Parents' (2000)
If one of the benchmarks of good comedy is making the personal universal and the universal personal, it's easy to see why Jay Roach...
- 3/28/2011
- by Jason Newman
- NextMovie
French film Black is a rare thing; a French action film that isn’t produced or written by Luc Besson. In fact the only connection to Besson is the film’s star Mc Jean Gab’1 who appeared in both District 13 movies. Black, released on Blu-ray and DVD on Monday, marks the directorial debut of Pierre Laffargue and is produced by Marco Cherqui who also produced last year’s break out hit A Prophet.
The film opens in Paris as an armed raid on a security van goes horribly wrong and all but one of the raiders are gunned down by police. The surviving gunman, Black played by French Hip-hop artist Mc Jean Gab’1, manages to escape and goes into hiding. That is until he receives a phone call from his cousin in Senegal with information about a stash of diamonds being stored in a poorly guarded bank in Dakar.
The film opens in Paris as an armed raid on a security van goes horribly wrong and all but one of the raiders are gunned down by police. The surviving gunman, Black played by French Hip-hop artist Mc Jean Gab’1, manages to escape and goes into hiding. That is until he receives a phone call from his cousin in Senegal with information about a stash of diamonds being stored in a poorly guarded bank in Dakar.
- 2/14/2011
- by Chris Wright
- Obsessed with Film
Be cool, you jive-ass motherfuckers, Junk Food Dinner: Episode #46 is finally here. Can you dig it?
This week in honor of Black History Month we take a look at three classic Blaxploitation films.
Up first, we get bitten by Dracula’s soul brother in the 1972 horror film Blacula starring William Marshall and Thalmus Rasulala.
Then, Isaac Hayes is a bounty hunter going up against an army of angry pimps (including Nichelle Nichols and Yaphet Kotto) in Truck Turner from 1974.
And finally, Rudy Ray Moore rhymes and jives his way into our hearts in the 1975 action-comedy Dolemite.
Listen Now:
MP3 Direct Download
Got a movie suggestion for the show, want to give your opinion on a movie we talked about or just want to tell us we suck? Drop us a line at JFDPodcast@gmail.com. Or hit us up on the hotline: 347-746-junk (5865).
Also, if you like the show,...
This week in honor of Black History Month we take a look at three classic Blaxploitation films.
Up first, we get bitten by Dracula’s soul brother in the 1972 horror film Blacula starring William Marshall and Thalmus Rasulala.
Then, Isaac Hayes is a bounty hunter going up against an army of angry pimps (including Nichelle Nichols and Yaphet Kotto) in Truck Turner from 1974.
And finally, Rudy Ray Moore rhymes and jives his way into our hearts in the 1975 action-comedy Dolemite.
Listen Now:
MP3 Direct Download
Got a movie suggestion for the show, want to give your opinion on a movie we talked about or just want to tell us we suck? Drop us a line at JFDPodcast@gmail.com. Or hit us up on the hotline: 347-746-junk (5865).
Also, if you like the show,...
- 2/11/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Kevin, Mark & Parker)
Check out the new brand new UK trailer for French actioner Black with a hilarious voiceover from sixty smokes-a-day man. We’ve also got a rather thorough synopsis for you to read, too.
Black comes from the same producer as last year’s superb A Prophet. This one looks a bit more action-orientated… check it out.
Synopsis:
The spirit of Blaxploitation classics such as ‘Super Fly’, ‘Shaft’ and ‘Truck Turner’ is given a modern day makeover in the action-thriller, Black, the directorial debut feature from Pierre Laffargue.
Produced by Marco Cherqui (A Prophet) and starring French hip-hop artist Mc Jean Gab’1 (the District 13 movies), Carole Karemera (Sometimes In April), Francois Levantal (A Very Long Engagement; D’Artagnan’s Daughter) and Anton Yakovlev (The Beat That My Heart Skipped), Black is “a slick, fun, French heist flick” (Eye Weekly) with a supernatural sting in the tail that sees its eponymous...
Black comes from the same producer as last year’s superb A Prophet. This one looks a bit more action-orientated… check it out.
Synopsis:
The spirit of Blaxploitation classics such as ‘Super Fly’, ‘Shaft’ and ‘Truck Turner’ is given a modern day makeover in the action-thriller, Black, the directorial debut feature from Pierre Laffargue.
Produced by Marco Cherqui (A Prophet) and starring French hip-hop artist Mc Jean Gab’1 (the District 13 movies), Carole Karemera (Sometimes In April), Francois Levantal (A Very Long Engagement; D’Artagnan’s Daughter) and Anton Yakovlev (The Beat That My Heart Skipped), Black is “a slick, fun, French heist flick” (Eye Weekly) with a supernatural sting in the tail that sees its eponymous...
- 2/3/2011
- by Martyn Conterio
- FilmShaft.com
Since the earliest days of American cinema there has been a shadowy counterpart to the commercial mainstream: exploitation movies — pictures whose appeal lies in their sensational treatment and leering promotion of often lurid and prurient material. Pre-1960, when mainstream Hollywood worked within severe restrictions on content, exploitation movies offered audiences titillating glimpses of the deliciously taboo, usually under the guise of being some sort of instructional cautionary against the very subject matter being exploited i.e. sex in “hygiene” movies like The Road to Ruin (1934), drugs in anti-drug movies like Tell Your Children (1936, re-released in the 1960s/70s as camp classic Reefer Madness), and gambling in the anti-vice Gambling with Souls (1936).
By the 1950s, as the studios entered their long post-war decline, downscale producers launched a new vein of exploitation moviemaking, churning out low-budget thrillers (mostly sci fi and horror) aimed squarely at the burgeoning youth audience. Again, the movies were cheap,...
By the 1950s, as the studios entered their long post-war decline, downscale producers launched a new vein of exploitation moviemaking, churning out low-budget thrillers (mostly sci fi and horror) aimed squarely at the burgeoning youth audience. Again, the movies were cheap,...
- 1/24/2011
- by Bill Mesce
- SoundOnSight
Today in history, September 8th, 1966… Star Trek, the sci-fi tv series that spawned a media franchise that continues through today, premiered on NBC.
You’ve likely all heard the story of how Martin Luther King Jr. persuaded Nichelle Nichols to remain on the original series as Lt. Uhura when she almost left the show after its first season, to pursue her Broadway dreams.
In a recent interview with Planet Waves, Nichelle details the story of how she landed the role, with the show’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, on her heels, plus her meeting with Mlk, and his words of wisdom that resonated with, and influenced her.
Thankfully, she stayed put! After all, if she did leave for Broadway, we may never have had the now notorious kiss “heard” around the world, which happened during the show’s 3rd season, in 1968. Watch and enjoy all 3 videos below…
First, the kiss, which...
You’ve likely all heard the story of how Martin Luther King Jr. persuaded Nichelle Nichols to remain on the original series as Lt. Uhura when she almost left the show after its first season, to pursue her Broadway dreams.
In a recent interview with Planet Waves, Nichelle details the story of how she landed the role, with the show’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, on her heels, plus her meeting with Mlk, and his words of wisdom that resonated with, and influenced her.
Thankfully, she stayed put! After all, if she did leave for Broadway, we may never have had the now notorious kiss “heard” around the world, which happened during the show’s 3rd season, in 1968. Watch and enjoy all 3 videos below…
First, the kiss, which...
- 9/8/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
There are so many books, articles, and documentaries available on the subject of American exploitation cinema that new revelations are increasingly scarce and unlikely. A new documentary called American Grindhouse from director Elijiah Drenner is an example of the difficulty in uncovering anything new in this area.
Although the subject is briefly discussed, American Grindhouse isn't about grindhouse theaters. It is about exploitation films. To this end, the film is split into multiple chapters that cover a wide array of exploitation sub-genres, including film noir, teen beach party films, nudie cuties, roughies, gore, bikers, porn, women in prison, nazi exploitation, and blaxploitation.
Robert Forster handles the narration. 21 interviewees are featured with a set of core interviewees like Joe Dante, Alison Anders, John Landis, and film noir expert Eddie Mueller garnering extended screen time. Interviews with prominent figures, including H.G. Lewis, Larry Cohen, Jack Hill, and Lewis Teague. Rare interviews with people like Judy Brown,...
Although the subject is briefly discussed, American Grindhouse isn't about grindhouse theaters. It is about exploitation films. To this end, the film is split into multiple chapters that cover a wide array of exploitation sub-genres, including film noir, teen beach party films, nudie cuties, roughies, gore, bikers, porn, women in prison, nazi exploitation, and blaxploitation.
Robert Forster handles the narration. 21 interviewees are featured with a set of core interviewees like Joe Dante, Alison Anders, John Landis, and film noir expert Eddie Mueller garnering extended screen time. Interviews with prominent figures, including H.G. Lewis, Larry Cohen, Jack Hill, and Lewis Teague. Rare interviews with people like Judy Brown,...
- 3/20/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Welcome back to Junkfood Cinema; because you couldn't find anything better to do. Junkfood Cinema is the only bad movie column to have been letter-bombed by a radical faction of supermodels. Every week I shamelessly plaster my love for bad films all over the internet; examining each entry for its problems and affirm my warped sense of its worth. As if that weren't unhealthy enough, I also pair each film with a sinfully delicious snack food item guaranteed to embiggen your belly. Throughout February, as it is Black History Month, I will be diving into one of my favorite film genres of all time: blaxploiation. Last week we dodged bullets with Truck Turner, but this week we venture into the dark abyss of Blacula. Blacula is the story of an African prince named Mamuwalde who, along with his wife, travel to Transylvania to campaign for their country's inclusion into the Community of Nations; no idea what that...
- 2/12/2010
- by Brian Salisbury
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Thanks to S&A reader E Forde for cluing me in to this.
Her eminence Queen Latifah is apparently working on a remake of the 1974 blaxploitation classic, Truck Turner – a film I’ve coincidentally recently talked about on this blog, profiling Nichelle Nichols‘ unexpected, and riveting performance. The original starred Isaac Hayes as a bounty hunter with a bounty on his own head.
This is the first I’d heard of Latifah’s intent to remake the film, so I did some quick digging and learned that this has been in the works since 2004, when the project was apparently initially announced; although, not much else has been in the news since then.
Development limbo… nothing new in this biz.
The film’s IMDb Pro page says it’s in the script stage. But who knows how long it’s said just that. Chris Frisina is said to be writing the screenplay.
Her eminence Queen Latifah is apparently working on a remake of the 1974 blaxploitation classic, Truck Turner – a film I’ve coincidentally recently talked about on this blog, profiling Nichelle Nichols‘ unexpected, and riveting performance. The original starred Isaac Hayes as a bounty hunter with a bounty on his own head.
This is the first I’d heard of Latifah’s intent to remake the film, so I did some quick digging and learned that this has been in the works since 2004, when the project was apparently initially announced; although, not much else has been in the news since then.
Development limbo… nothing new in this biz.
The film’s IMDb Pro page says it’s in the script stage. But who knows how long it’s said just that. Chris Frisina is said to be writing the screenplay.
- 2/6/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
As I said in a post earlier this week, I’ll be revisiting the 70s and the 90s in black cinema over the next several weeks.
Here’s one I watched recently, for the first time – Truck Turner. Instead of talking about the entire film, may I draw your attention to the character played by one Nichelle Nichols? Yes, she did co-star in a blaxploitation movie – only one, as far I know.
You may know her as Lieutenant Uhura from the original Star Trek series, which aired before Truck Turner was made. Here, Nichols plays Dorinda, who, along with her man/pimp (Gator), run a well-known, pricey brothel. When Gator is killed by Truck Turner (played confidently by Isaac Hayes), the Queen Bee is left in charge of the stable of whores, while searching for a new pimp for protection, who’ll kill Turner as well.
No, this is Not...
Here’s one I watched recently, for the first time – Truck Turner. Instead of talking about the entire film, may I draw your attention to the character played by one Nichelle Nichols? Yes, she did co-star in a blaxploitation movie – only one, as far I know.
You may know her as Lieutenant Uhura from the original Star Trek series, which aired before Truck Turner was made. Here, Nichols plays Dorinda, who, along with her man/pimp (Gator), run a well-known, pricey brothel. When Gator is killed by Truck Turner (played confidently by Isaac Hayes), the Queen Bee is left in charge of the stable of whores, while searching for a new pimp for protection, who’ll kill Turner as well.
No, this is Not...
- 1/17/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Lately, I’ve been reacquainting myself with films of the blaxploitation 70s; and so far, I’m more impressed with them than I was during my younger hoity-toity film school days, when my professors exalted the works of auteurs of early American cinema, the French new Wave, Italian Neorealists, etc, as the standards that all films should be judged by. Well, f*ck Godard! And De Sica can kiss my behind!
I kid… I kid… but really… in rewatching films like Black Caesar, Truck Turner, Across 110th Street, Coffy, Let’s Do it Again, and several others, I’d readily say that the negative stigma that tends to accompany films of that era is unwarranted and unfortunate, because I’d say that some of those films are superior to many “black films” produced today! More than a few are far more complex than some of the trite shite that currently passes for “black entertainment.
I kid… I kid… but really… in rewatching films like Black Caesar, Truck Turner, Across 110th Street, Coffy, Let’s Do it Again, and several others, I’d readily say that the negative stigma that tends to accompany films of that era is unwarranted and unfortunate, because I’d say that some of those films are superior to many “black films” produced today! More than a few are far more complex than some of the trite shite that currently passes for “black entertainment.
- 1/7/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
I remember watching the trailer for Mirageman two years ago. It seemed like a fresh idea at the time. A martial arts enthusiast becomes a superhero who fights crime using only his fists. Fast-forward two years later, the novelty has worn off a little, but it’s still a passable poor man’s Batman (literally). No superpowers, no high-tech armor, no infinite wealth, not even sharp detective skills. Just a guy, a home-stitched mask, and a will.
Mirageman’s secret identity is Maco (Marko Zaror), a meek-but-deadly guy who lives in a small apartment and works as a nightclub bouncer. As Mirageman, he does pretty good handling mostly small fishes. He’s not all that smart, see. He just knows how to win a fight. Maco has a brother, who was left a mental patient when their parents’ killers raped him. Here’s where Mirageman shows off a pretty interesting...
Mirageman’s secret identity is Maco (Marko Zaror), a meek-but-deadly guy who lives in a small apartment and works as a nightclub bouncer. As Mirageman, he does pretty good handling mostly small fishes. He’s not all that smart, see. He just knows how to win a fight. Maco has a brother, who was left a mental patient when their parents’ killers raped him. Here’s where Mirageman shows off a pretty interesting...
- 10/7/2009
- by Arya Ponto
- JustPressPlay.net
Next Day Air
Directed by Benny Boom
2009, 84 minutes, USA
Summit Entertainment Scott Sanders' Black Dynamite (opening theatrically in the U.S. next month) meticulously spoofs the blaxploitation genre and all its pimps, dope pushers, martial artistry, noticeable boom mics, and funky bow-chicka-wowness, but while co-creator and star Michael Jai White's muscular comic charisma impresses, the film itself does not. The problem is that blaxploitation—unlike science-fiction, horror movies, and strangely for this argument, westerns—is so anchored to the music and mood of the grindhouse era that there's little place for reverent homage in 2009. That Black Dynamite deadpans like it came straight outta 1972 without addressing the flashback through contemporary hindsight, nor at any other time strives for the over-the-top giddiness of its climactic nunchaku showdown against Richard Nixon, underscores its irrelevance. We're better off watching Truck Turner again and appreciating that this kind of filmmaking back then was the real deal,...
Directed by Benny Boom
2009, 84 minutes, USA
Summit Entertainment Scott Sanders' Black Dynamite (opening theatrically in the U.S. next month) meticulously spoofs the blaxploitation genre and all its pimps, dope pushers, martial artistry, noticeable boom mics, and funky bow-chicka-wowness, but while co-creator and star Michael Jai White's muscular comic charisma impresses, the film itself does not. The problem is that blaxploitation—unlike science-fiction, horror movies, and strangely for this argument, westerns—is so anchored to the music and mood of the grindhouse era that there's little place for reverent homage in 2009. That Black Dynamite deadpans like it came straight outta 1972 without addressing the flashback through contemporary hindsight, nor at any other time strives for the over-the-top giddiness of its climactic nunchaku showdown against Richard Nixon, underscores its irrelevance. We're better off watching Truck Turner again and appreciating that this kind of filmmaking back then was the real deal,...
- 9/15/2009
- GreenCine Daily
By this point, we're all familiar with "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" and "Superfly" and "Shaft," we know all about Pam Greer and Fred Williamson and Jim Brown. But the 1970s produced dozens and dozens of blaxploitation films beyond the handful that have come to stand-in for the entire genre. Many were formulaic, some were downright terrible, but a lot were a cut above. These four uniquely superb blaxploitation films, largely forgotten to history, deserve rediscovery by new audiences and fresh eyes.
"Across 110th Street" (1972)
Directed by Barry Shear
Some 30 years before the groundbreaking crime series "The Wire," an unassuming blaxploitation picture covered similar territory with much the same complexity, albeit on a much smaller scale and with significantly fewer critical accolades. Both were shot in real locations with local actors; both draw parallels between the structure and politics of the underworld and the police force. Often in "Across 110th Street,...
"Across 110th Street" (1972)
Directed by Barry Shear
Some 30 years before the groundbreaking crime series "The Wire," an unassuming blaxploitation picture covered similar territory with much the same complexity, albeit on a much smaller scale and with significantly fewer critical accolades. Both were shot in real locations with local actors; both draw parallels between the structure and politics of the underworld and the police force. Often in "Across 110th Street,...
- 2/17/2009
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
By Matt Singer
By this point, we're all familiar with "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" and "Superfly" and "Shaft," we know all about Pam Greer and Fred Williamson and Jim Brown. But the 1970s produced dozens and dozens of blaxploitation films beyond the handful that have come to stand-in for the entire genre. Many were formulaic, some were downright terrible, but a lot were a cut above. These four uniquely superb blaxploitation films, largely forgotten to history, deserve rediscovery by new audiences and fresh eyes.
"Across 110th Street" (1972)
Directed by Barry Shear
Some 30 years before the groundbreaking crime series "The Wire," an unassuming blaxploitation picture covered similar territory with much the same complexity, albeit on a much smaller scale and with significantly fewer critical accolades. Both were shot in real locations with local actors; both draw parallels between the structure and politics of the underworld and the police force. Often in "Across 110th Street,...
By this point, we're all familiar with "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" and "Superfly" and "Shaft," we know all about Pam Greer and Fred Williamson and Jim Brown. But the 1970s produced dozens and dozens of blaxploitation films beyond the handful that have come to stand-in for the entire genre. Many were formulaic, some were downright terrible, but a lot were a cut above. These four uniquely superb blaxploitation films, largely forgotten to history, deserve rediscovery by new audiences and fresh eyes.
"Across 110th Street" (1972)
Directed by Barry Shear
Some 30 years before the groundbreaking crime series "The Wire," an unassuming blaxploitation picture covered similar territory with much the same complexity, albeit on a much smaller scale and with significantly fewer critical accolades. Both were shot in real locations with local actors; both draw parallels between the structure and politics of the underworld and the police force. Often in "Across 110th Street,...
- 2/12/2009
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
I can't dig it.
The great Isaac Hayes, who in his later years became more well-known as Chef from South Park, but for a lot of people will always be one of the most prolific and successful R & B writers and performers of his era, has passed away at 65.
Hayes won two Grammys and an Oscar for his "Theme from Shaft," the unmistakable funk classic that asked the musical question, "Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks."
"Shaft."
Hayes' wife found him laying motionless by his still-running treadmill in his Memphis home earlier today. He was pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis at 2:08 local time.
The multi-talented Hayes was elected to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 for his contributions to soul and funk, and for helping lay the groundwork for the disco movement of the 1970s. His songs...
The great Isaac Hayes, who in his later years became more well-known as Chef from South Park, but for a lot of people will always be one of the most prolific and successful R & B writers and performers of his era, has passed away at 65.
Hayes won two Grammys and an Oscar for his "Theme from Shaft," the unmistakable funk classic that asked the musical question, "Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks."
"Shaft."
Hayes' wife found him laying motionless by his still-running treadmill in his Memphis home earlier today. He was pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis at 2:08 local time.
The multi-talented Hayes was elected to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 for his contributions to soul and funk, and for helping lay the groundwork for the disco movement of the 1970s. His songs...
- 8/10/2008
- by Colin Boyd
- GetTheBigPicture.net
Soul music pioneer Isaac Hayes – whose 1971 "Theme from Shaft" won the Oscar and Grammys – died Sunday in Memphis, where he lived. He was 65. A releative discovered an unresponsive Hayes near an exercise machine in their home at midday, and Hayes was pronounced dead at 2:10 p.m. when he arrived at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office tells People. "The family had last seen him about noon," says Steve Shular, public information officer for that office. "Family members had gone to the grocery store and left him home. When the family came home around 1, his wife's...
- 8/10/2008
- by Stephen M. Silverman and Ivory Jeff Clinton
- PEOPLE.com
Queen Latifah is driving a remake of Truck Turner to the big screen for MGM. The Oscar-nominated actress -- who is onscreen in the No. 1 film, MGM's Barbershop 2 -- is producing the remake, which Chris Frisina has just been hired to write for the studio and Queen Latifah's production company Flavor Unit Films. The original 1974 film, directed by Jonathan Kaplan, found Isaac Hayes in the title role starring as a bounty hunter hired to kill a man named Gator. Once the job is done, Gator's girlfriend puts a hit out on Truck, who is then forced to elude the hit and escape the nasty gang. Yaphet Kotto, Paul Harris, Annazette Chase and Sam Laws also star.
- 2/12/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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