Category: Film Review

‘Lights! Camera! Elvis! Collection’: A look back at 8 of the King’s movies

This August 16th will be the 45th anniversary of the death of “the King,” Elvis Presley. To celebrate, we thought we’d look back at some of ‘ol Swivel Hip’s musicals collected in the blue suede flocked boxed set, Lights! Camera! Elvis! Collection, from a few years back. Titles included are: 1957’s King Creole, 1960’s G.I. Blues, 1961’s… Read More ‘Lights! Camera! Elvis! Collection’: A look back at 8 of the King’s movies

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‘The Mephisto Waltz’ (1971): Occult thriller channels TV production values

I don’t know…maybe Satanism is the way to go. I mean, it’s not like there’s anything on TV. And Jesus palomino is it ever hot this summer. If I gotta dance around a dead tree in the buff, wearing a goat head, just to head off streaming boredom and the searing heat, well…. Wait, I got a… Read More ‘The Mephisto Waltz’ (1971): Occult thriller channels TV production values

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‘Satan’s Triangle’ (1975): A wild, disconcerting TV nightmare

You know what would be the perfect vacation for this particular Fourth of July, Independence Day? In today’s America, I mean? Cruise to the Devil’s Triangle. But you say you just can’t let Beelzebub see your bikini bod this year? Well…you could check out Satan’s Triangle, the 1975 made-for-TV occult classic starring Kim Novak and Doug McClure,… Read More ‘Satan’s Triangle’ (1975): A wild, disconcerting TV nightmare

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‘Angel in My Pocket’ (1969): Has this Andy Griffith film been memory-holed?

Inexplicably missing-in-action movie from TV icon Andy Griffith. On April 1st, 1968, The Andy Griffith Show broadcast its final first-run episode, ending the-then #1-rated television show in the country, after eight highly successful seasons. Just one short year (and a day) later, Universal Pictures released Griffith’s charming little family programmer, Angel in My Pocket…and America couldn’t have… Read More ‘Angel in My Pocket’ (1969): Has this Andy Griffith film been memory-holed?

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‘The Swarm’ (1978): Is Irwin Allen’s disaster pic one of the worst movies ever made?

“The Swarm is coming!” I wish I could somehow convey how imperative and compelling and flat-out exciting those words were to me, way back in 1978, when they were so dramatically intoned in the trailer that seemed to pop up constantly on TV and at every other movie I went to that winter and spring.… Read More ‘The Swarm’ (1978): Is Irwin Allen’s disaster pic one of the worst movies ever made?

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‘Top Gun’ (1986): A lesson in mid ’80s Hollywood moviemaking

Hey: there are red flags in even the best relationships. I should have understood that right away when I started dating my wife all those years ago. Now, I let it slide when she said The French Connection and Bullitt were “boring.” And I said, “Fine, whatever,” when she wouldn’t let me hang up my Shaft’s Big… Read More ‘Top Gun’ (1986): A lesson in mid ’80s Hollywood moviemaking

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‘Old Dracula’ (1974): Enjoy some 70s vampire humor, jive turkey!

So over Easter weekend I get an email from my editor who, rather than watching a religious epic the way you’re supposed to (I was right in the middle of Anthony Quinn grunting something when he texted), says he’s enjoying a vampire flick (I gave up a long time ago trying to figure this stuff… Read More ‘Old Dracula’ (1974): Enjoy some 70s vampire humor, jive turkey!

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