‘The Power’ (1968): Techno/sci-fi/rom-com/murder mystery gumbo is too goofy not to enjoy
The damnedest, all-over-the-map sci-fi thriller.
Tag: 1960s
‘The Old Dark House’ (1963): Enjoy a great cast as we wait for the laughs & scares…and we wait…and we wait…
Okay, let’s go back a little ways and switch up the 80s gore for 60s yocks and chills, with this very gentle murder comedy from the combined talents of exploitation pro William Castle and England’s Hammer Films.
‘Modesty Blaise’ (1966): Modest Bond spoof has high expectations, but lacks game director
We have a joke around the Mavis digs (besides myself) that whenever a royalty check from my publisher arrives in the mail, it’s even money at best that the postage paid will be more than the check amount…if a royalty is even generated that particular quarter. Such is the fate of the author of a… Read More ‘Modesty Blaise’ (1966): Modest Bond spoof has high expectations, but lacks game director
‘True Grit’ (1969): John Wayne’s Oscar-winning performance is still fresh, funny & exciting
I was trying to think of a movie that reminded me of my old man (to celebrate this upcoming Father’s Day), and since I couldn’t find anything titled, Hilariously Funny/Psychopathically Maladapted Depressive with Sadistic Personality Disorder and Suicidal Tendencies, I turned to ‘ol John Wayne. My old man used to laugh at him…but he loved… Read More ‘True Grit’ (1969): John Wayne’s Oscar-winning performance is still fresh, funny & exciting
‘Hannibal Brooks’ (1969): A most unusual example of a big-scale WWII actioner
In an effort this Memorial Day weekend to watch something—anything—other than The Dirty Dozen or Where Eagles Dare or Kelly’s Heroes or The Green Berets for the umpteenth time, I rooted around and came up with a real overlooked gem from the late 1960s: the captivating, offbeat big-scale WWII adventure, Hannibal Brooks.
‘Cash on Demand’ (1962): Trim little Hammer outing is almost-great
It’s still Christmas time around the Mavis household (passed-out relatives under the tree only disappear when the tree does), so in an effort to find different holiday-related movie fare (because I swear to god if I see the outrageously overrated A Christmas Story one more goddamn time…), I happened upon the tight, suspenseful chamber piece… Read More ‘Cash on Demand’ (1962): Trim little Hammer outing is almost-great
‘A Stranger in Town’ (1968): Entertaining spaghetti Western kicks off successful trilogy
Reduced, these past few weeks, to basically laying flat on my back (they took out 37 feet of my guts—I’m basically a soda fountain now), there hasn’t been much I can do but watch TV and movies. And certainly patterns of comfort TV-watching manifested themselves fairly quickly, including hours and hours of 70s TV (Emergency!,… Read More ‘A Stranger in Town’ (1968): Entertaining spaghetti Western kicks off successful trilogy
‘The Reluctant Astronaut’ (1967): This witty Don Knotts comedy should get more credit from critics & fans
Okay so wait…so it’s news that Katy Perry rode some giant cock-shaped thing just to be more famous? Doesn’t she do that every day? And isn’t the fact that Gayle King rode anything cock-shaped the real story here? God I can’t keep it all straight.
‘The Mad Room’ (1969): A scary, strange tale of insane kids & murder
Not “horrific” by today’s standards…but acceptably frightening and strange.
‘Beach Party’ (1963): Sun, music & surf for your summer blues
Considering it’s now official that we live in a Third World banana republic (when the illegitimate ruling junta doesn’t even bother to cover its tracks when trying to zap its chief political opponent, the “golden days” of the American republic are well and truly over), can you blame anyone who’s looking for a little escapism?… Read More ‘Beach Party’ (1963): Sun, music & surf for your summer blues
