James Gunn has found Kal-El’s adoptive Earth parents for his upcoming Dcu film, Superman. Neva Howell takes over from Daine Lane as Martha Kent and Pruitt Taylor Vince has landed the role of Jonathan Kent. The role of Superman’s mother was also portrayed by Phyllis Thaxter in the 1978 film and Eva Marie Saint in the 2006 film. The Georgia-born actress joined the production of Gunn’s film, currently progressing in her hometown.
Fever Dreams actress Neva Howell and The Mentalist actor Pruitt Taylor Vince are cast as Martha and Jonathan Kent in James Gunn’s Superman
Gunn renamed his film from Superman: Legacy to Superman while making the announcement of the film’s start of production on February 29. The film will be the first to come out of the first chapter of the DC Universe, Gods and Monsters.
3 Neva Howell Movies To Watch Before Her Role As Martha Kent...
Fever Dreams actress Neva Howell and The Mentalist actor Pruitt Taylor Vince are cast as Martha and Jonathan Kent in James Gunn’s Superman
Gunn renamed his film from Superman: Legacy to Superman while making the announcement of the film’s start of production on February 29. The film will be the first to come out of the first chapter of the DC Universe, Gods and Monsters.
3 Neva Howell Movies To Watch Before Her Role As Martha Kent...
- 4/18/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Georgia-born actress Neva Howell will portray Martha Kent, Clark Kent’s adoptive Earth mother, in Warner Bros/DC Studios’ Superman, from filmmaker and studio co-boss James Gunn.
The news comes in the wake of Pruitt Taylor Vince landing the role of Pa Kent, who is Martha’s husband.
Howell joins a list of those who’ve played Ma Kent on the big screen that includes Phyllis Thaxter in Richard Donner’s 1978 Superman, Eva Marie Saint in Bryan Singer’s 2006 Superman Returns, and Diane Lane in Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel.
Howell joins the Georgia shoot of Superman which features Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, David Corenswet in the title role, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Wendell Pierce as Daily Planet editor Perry White, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer,...
The news comes in the wake of Pruitt Taylor Vince landing the role of Pa Kent, who is Martha’s husband.
Howell joins a list of those who’ve played Ma Kent on the big screen that includes Phyllis Thaxter in Richard Donner’s 1978 Superman, Eva Marie Saint in Bryan Singer’s 2006 Superman Returns, and Diane Lane in Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel.
Howell joins the Georgia shoot of Superman which features Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, David Corenswet in the title role, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Wendell Pierce as Daily Planet editor Perry White, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Yesterday, The Wrap had the scoop on who would play Jonathan Kent in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie, and now they’ve got the inside story on Martha Kent as well. The outlet reports that Neva Howell has been cast as Martha Kent in Superman, joining Pruitt Taylor-Vince as Jonathan Kent. Together, the pair are the human adoptive parents of Clark Kent.
As with Taylor-Vince as Jonathan Kent, Neva Howell will be the latest in a long line of actors who have played Martha Kent in movies and television, including Phyllis Thaxter in the original Superman movie, Annette O’Toole in Smallville, Eva Marie Saint in Superman Returns, and Diane Lane in Man of Steel. Howell’s credits include Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Long Haul, Logan Lucky, October Sky, and more.
Related Superman: Pruitt Taylor-Vince to play Jonathan Kent in James Gunn movie
Superman stars David Corenswet (Pearl...
As with Taylor-Vince as Jonathan Kent, Neva Howell will be the latest in a long line of actors who have played Martha Kent in movies and television, including Phyllis Thaxter in the original Superman movie, Annette O’Toole in Smallville, Eva Marie Saint in Superman Returns, and Diane Lane in Man of Steel. Howell’s credits include Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Long Haul, Logan Lucky, October Sky, and more.
Related Superman: Pruitt Taylor-Vince to play Jonathan Kent in James Gunn movie
Superman stars David Corenswet (Pearl...
- 4/17/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Skye Aubrey, a third-generation actress whose credits included the Blake Edwards-directed The Carey Treatment, The Phantom of Hollywood and a stint as a flower child opposite Milton Berle on Batman, has died. She was 74.
Aubrey died Nov. 27 of natural causes in DeBary, Florida, her family announced.
She was married to Ilya Salkind, a producer on the Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, from 1976-79. Her mother was Phyllis Thaxter, who portrayed Ma Kent in the first installment of the series in 1978 after a solid career as a contract player at MGM and Warner Bros., and her father was James T. Aubrey, president of ...
Aubrey died Nov. 27 of natural causes in DeBary, Florida, her family announced.
She was married to Ilya Salkind, a producer on the Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, from 1976-79. Her mother was Phyllis Thaxter, who portrayed Ma Kent in the first installment of the series in 1978 after a solid career as a contract player at MGM and Warner Bros., and her father was James T. Aubrey, president of ...
- 12/18/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Skye Aubrey, a third-generation actress whose credits included the Blake Edwards-directed The Carey Treatment, The Phantom of Hollywood and a stint as a flower child opposite Milton Berle on Batman, has died. She was 74.
Aubrey died Nov. 27 of natural causes in DeBary, Florida, her family announced.
She was married to Ilya Salkind, a producer on the Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, from 1976-79. Her mother was Phyllis Thaxter, who portrayed Ma Kent in the first installment of the series in 1978 after a solid career as a contract player at MGM and Warner Bros., and her father was James T. Aubrey, president of ...
Aubrey died Nov. 27 of natural causes in DeBary, Florida, her family announced.
She was married to Ilya Salkind, a producer on the Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, from 1976-79. Her mother was Phyllis Thaxter, who portrayed Ma Kent in the first installment of the series in 1978 after a solid career as a contract player at MGM and Warner Bros., and her father was James T. Aubrey, president of ...
- 12/18/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Robert Mitchum intercedes in a range war in this ‘A’ western, and he’s got the pro team of director Robert Wise and cameraman Nicholas Musuraca on his side. All but one action scene plays out at night, which is why this is sometimes called a Noir Western. The dark visuals fit that mold but the story values are strictly traditional, starting with the hero’s laconic do-it-don’t-say-it sense of personal honor. Partly filmed in Arizona, the fine production further advanced the laid-back Mitchum persona, this time as an honest cowpoke, not a cool-dude hipster.
Blood on the Moon
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1948 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 88 min. / Street Date April 28, 2020 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Robert Mitchum, Barbara Bel Geddes, Robert Preston, Walter Brennan, Phyllis Thaxter, Frank Faylen, Tom Tully, Charles McGraw, Clifton Young, Tom Tyler, George Cooper, Harry Carey Jr., Iron Eyes Cody, Chris-Pin Martin.
Cinematography: Nicholas...
Blood on the Moon
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1948 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 88 min. / Street Date April 28, 2020 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Robert Mitchum, Barbara Bel Geddes, Robert Preston, Walter Brennan, Phyllis Thaxter, Frank Faylen, Tom Tully, Charles McGraw, Clifton Young, Tom Tyler, George Cooper, Harry Carey Jr., Iron Eyes Cody, Chris-Pin Martin.
Cinematography: Nicholas...
- 5/16/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Two of the most iconic DC Super Heroes in pop-culture history are coming back to the big screen December 3rd as each celebrates a milestone cinematic anniversary with special presentations by Fathom Events, Warner Bros. and DC.
Richard Donner’s legendary 1978 “Superman” will play December 3rd at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time).
Tickets can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices, but 4 lucky We Are Movie Geeks readers can each win a pair of tickets for the Dec. 3rd screening. Just leave a message in the comments section and tell me which actor is your favorite Superman. It’s so easy. Winners will be chosen at random. Good luck!
Christopher Reeve stars as Superman and Clark Kent, leading an incomparable cast that includes Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Gene Hackman as villainous Lex Luthor, Marlon Brando and Susannah York as...
Richard Donner’s legendary 1978 “Superman” will play December 3rd at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time).
Tickets can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices, but 4 lucky We Are Movie Geeks readers can each win a pair of tickets for the Dec. 3rd screening. Just leave a message in the comments section and tell me which actor is your favorite Superman. It’s so easy. Winners will be chosen at random. Good luck!
Christopher Reeve stars as Superman and Clark Kent, leading an incomparable cast that includes Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Gene Hackman as villainous Lex Luthor, Marlon Brando and Susannah York as...
- 11/27/2018
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Two of the most iconic DC Super Heroes in pop-culture history are coming back to the big screen this November as each celebrates a milestone cinematic anniversary with special presentations by Fathom Events, Warner Bros. and DC.
Richard Donner’s legendary 1978 “Superman” will play on Sunday, November 25, and Tuesday, November 27, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time). The revolutionary Batman animated adventure “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” returns to movie theaters for only one night on Monday, November 12, playing at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local times). Tickets for both of these special presentations – which will play in more than 500 movie theaters nationwide – are available now and can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the landmark film and the 80th anniversary of the beloved DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster,...
Richard Donner’s legendary 1978 “Superman” will play on Sunday, November 25, and Tuesday, November 27, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time). The revolutionary Batman animated adventure “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” returns to movie theaters for only one night on Monday, November 12, playing at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local times). Tickets for both of these special presentations – which will play in more than 500 movie theaters nationwide – are available now and can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the landmark film and the 80th anniversary of the beloved DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster,...
- 10/2/2018
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Mike Cecchini Oct 2, 2018
You can see Christopher Reeve soar as Superman once again thanks to Fathom Events.
One of the greatest superhero movies of all time will return to the big screen to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Fathom Events is bringing Superman: The Movie, certainly the Man of Steel's best cinematic effort, will play in 500 theaters nationwide.
Directed by Richard Donner, 1978's Superman is beloved for its dramatic, high adventure take on the Last Son of Krypton legend, and its all star cast. No actor before or since has embodied the dual role of Superman and Clark Kent as well as Christopher Reeve, who shared the screen with Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Marlon Brando as Jor-El, and dozens of others, including Jackie Cooper, Valerie Perrine, Ned Beatty, Glenn Ford, and Phyllis Thaxter.
further reading: Ranking the Superman Movies
As a special bonus, right...
You can see Christopher Reeve soar as Superman once again thanks to Fathom Events.
One of the greatest superhero movies of all time will return to the big screen to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Fathom Events is bringing Superman: The Movie, certainly the Man of Steel's best cinematic effort, will play in 500 theaters nationwide.
Directed by Richard Donner, 1978's Superman is beloved for its dramatic, high adventure take on the Last Son of Krypton legend, and its all star cast. No actor before or since has embodied the dual role of Superman and Clark Kent as well as Christopher Reeve, who shared the screen with Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Marlon Brando as Jor-El, and dozens of others, including Jackie Cooper, Valerie Perrine, Ned Beatty, Glenn Ford, and Phyllis Thaxter.
further reading: Ranking the Superman Movies
As a special bonus, right...
- 10/2/2018
- Den of Geek
I guess there are plenty of adults now too young to remember when Christopher Reeve made his debut as The Man of Steel. It was a massive hit across the full spectrum of moviegoers. Warners is taking good care of everyone’s favorite undocumented visitor from Planet Krypton, and has assembled two separate cuts of his big-screen premiere.
Superman: The Movie
Blu-ray
2-Film Collection
Warner Bros.
1978 / Color / 2:40 widescreen / 188 min. Extended Cut + 151 min. Special Edition orig. 143 min. / Street Date October 10, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Glenn Ford, Trevor Howard, Margot Kidder, Jack O’Halloran, Valerie Perrine, Maria Schell, Terence Stamp, Phyllis Thaxter, Susannah York, Jeff East, Marc McClure, Sarah Douglas, Harry Andrews, Diane Sherry, Randy Jurgensen, Larry Hagman, John Ratzenberger, Kirk Alyn, Noel Neill.
Cinematography: Geoffrey Unsworth
Film Editors: Stuart Baird, Michael Ellis
Production Design: John Barry
Assistant Director: Vincent Winter...
Superman: The Movie
Blu-ray
2-Film Collection
Warner Bros.
1978 / Color / 2:40 widescreen / 188 min. Extended Cut + 151 min. Special Edition orig. 143 min. / Street Date October 10, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Glenn Ford, Trevor Howard, Margot Kidder, Jack O’Halloran, Valerie Perrine, Maria Schell, Terence Stamp, Phyllis Thaxter, Susannah York, Jeff East, Marc McClure, Sarah Douglas, Harry Andrews, Diane Sherry, Randy Jurgensen, Larry Hagman, John Ratzenberger, Kirk Alyn, Noel Neill.
Cinematography: Geoffrey Unsworth
Film Editors: Stuart Baird, Michael Ellis
Production Design: John Barry
Assistant Director: Vincent Winter...
- 10/10/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
From the beginning of Michael Curtiz’s 1950 film The Breaking Point, things are dire for Captain Harry Morgan (John Garfield). Since serving in the military, Harry’s ambition has been to start a fleet of boats to escort sport-fishermen through the waters around Southern California and the Baja Peninsula, but that venture has failed to take off. He has one boat, the Sea Queen, and he’s the only captain in his fleet. When the film begins, Harry has a new client but has to spend the last of his cash to fill up his boat with fuel for the pending excursion. This particular job is a matter of survival, not prosperity.
But his own survival is only a part of this transaction. Curtiz quickly takes us into Harry’s modest seaside home, which, at first, looks as charming as any in an old sitcom. After spending the last of...
But his own survival is only a part of this transaction. Curtiz quickly takes us into Harry’s modest seaside home, which, at first, looks as charming as any in an old sitcom. After spending the last of...
- 8/24/2017
- by Trevor Berrett
- CriterionCast
You can tell it’s film noir — even the cabin cruiser has Venetian blinds. Ernest Hemingway’s favorite film adaptation of his work is this uncompromised story of a good man taking a criminal course on the high seas. John Garfield is again ‘one man alone’ against the system, and the moral quicksand all but swallows up Patricia Neal, Phyllis Thaxter and Wallace Ford.
The Breaking Point
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 889
1950 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 97 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date August 8, 2017 / 39.95
Starring: John Garfield, Patricia Neal, Phyllis Thaxter, Juano Hernandez, Wallace Ford, Edmon Ryan, Ralph Dumke, Guy Thomajan, William Campbell, Sherry Jackson, Donna Jo Boyce, Victor Sen Yung, Peter Brocco, John Doucette.
Cinematography: Ted D. McCord
Film Editor: Alan Crosland Jr.
Original Music: Howard Jackson, Max Steiner
Written by Ranald MacDougall from a novel by Ernest Hemingway
Produced by Jerry Wald
Directed by Michael Curtiz
After...
The Breaking Point
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 889
1950 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 97 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date August 8, 2017 / 39.95
Starring: John Garfield, Patricia Neal, Phyllis Thaxter, Juano Hernandez, Wallace Ford, Edmon Ryan, Ralph Dumke, Guy Thomajan, William Campbell, Sherry Jackson, Donna Jo Boyce, Victor Sen Yung, Peter Brocco, John Doucette.
Cinematography: Ted D. McCord
Film Editor: Alan Crosland Jr.
Original Music: Howard Jackson, Max Steiner
Written by Ranald MacDougall from a novel by Ernest Hemingway
Produced by Jerry Wald
Directed by Michael Curtiz
After...
- 7/22/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
By David Kozlowski | 14 July 2017
Welcome to Issue #4 of The Lrm Weekend, a weekly column highlighting cool and unique videos about film, TV, comics, Star Wars, Marvel, DC, animation, and anime. We also want to hear from you, our awesome Lrm community! Share your favorite videos to: @LRM_Weekend and we'll post your Tweets below!
Last Issue: 7.7.17
Why do we love superheroes, martial arts, fantasy, and sci-fi? The big fight scenes, of course. Every week we'll bring you an epic brawl from the recent or distant past -- we want to hear from you, so share your favorite fights with us!
Jet Li's Fist of Legend (1994) Bonus: Rare Jet Li Interview (English w/ French subtitles)
The original Chinese language movie poster from 1994!
What Is It?
Fist of Legend is a Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Gordon Chan, featuring action choreography by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping (Drunken Master, The...
Welcome to Issue #4 of The Lrm Weekend, a weekly column highlighting cool and unique videos about film, TV, comics, Star Wars, Marvel, DC, animation, and anime. We also want to hear from you, our awesome Lrm community! Share your favorite videos to: @LRM_Weekend and we'll post your Tweets below!
Last Issue: 7.7.17
Why do we love superheroes, martial arts, fantasy, and sci-fi? The big fight scenes, of course. Every week we'll bring you an epic brawl from the recent or distant past -- we want to hear from you, so share your favorite fights with us!
Jet Li's Fist of Legend (1994) Bonus: Rare Jet Li Interview (English w/ French subtitles)
The original Chinese language movie poster from 1994!
What Is It?
Fist of Legend is a Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Gordon Chan, featuring action choreography by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping (Drunken Master, The...
- 7/14/2017
- by David Kozlowski
- LRMonline.com
“Be careful of mankind, Diana. They do not deserve you.” —Queen Hippolyta
Will the Amazonian be the woman who finally breaks the Hollywood glass ceiling?
Wonder Woman, starring Israeli actress Gal Gadot as Princess Diana of Themiscrya, premieres on June 2, just 12 days away, and the fate of all the superwomen and their eponymous movies who would follow her lies in the ability of her sword-wielding, shield-bearing, gold lassoing hands and her armor-plated breast to vanquish the biggest and baddest super-villain of them all: Box Office.
I’ve watched every trailer and clip that Warner Bros. has released, and though they were all great, the very best of all of them, im-not-so-ho, was Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Every time Ms. Gadot showed up, whether it was in her guise as Diana Prince or as Wonder Woman, the movie morphed from an overbearing, weighted down slog through mud into...
Will the Amazonian be the woman who finally breaks the Hollywood glass ceiling?
Wonder Woman, starring Israeli actress Gal Gadot as Princess Diana of Themiscrya, premieres on June 2, just 12 days away, and the fate of all the superwomen and their eponymous movies who would follow her lies in the ability of her sword-wielding, shield-bearing, gold lassoing hands and her armor-plated breast to vanquish the biggest and baddest super-villain of them all: Box Office.
I’ve watched every trailer and clip that Warner Bros. has released, and though they were all great, the very best of all of them, im-not-so-ho, was Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Every time Ms. Gadot showed up, whether it was in her guise as Diana Prince or as Wonder Woman, the movie morphed from an overbearing, weighted down slog through mud into...
- 5/22/2017
- by Mindy Newell
- Comicmix.com
God bless the Criterion Collection for their forthcoming Blu-ray of a nifty 2K restoration of The Breaking Point (1950), the second swipe at Ernest Hemingway’s novel To Have and Have Not, which is on the company’s release schedule for August 2017. You may have heard of the first version… Bogie, Bacall, Hawks, “You know how to whistle, don’t ya?” Remember that one? Well, this one, the story of a down-on-his-luck charter boat captain Harry Morgan (John Garfield) who gets manipulated into a deadly smuggling run to help make ends meet, is directed by Michael Curtiz, and it trades Hawks’ larky, Casablanca-derived vibe for something decidedly darker, a daylight-splashed noir that somehow ferrets out all the chiaroscuro shadows in Hemingway’s material nonetheless. Throughout The Breaking Point, but especially in the movie’s riveting second half when Morgan allows himself to get roped into a second, even more dangerous scheme,...
- 5/21/2017
- by Dennis Cozzalio
- Trailers from Hell
Hal Roach looks on as technicians install Vitaphone equipment in his studio screening room, ca. 1928. (Click on the image to enlarge it.) 'A Century of Sound': Q&A with former UCLA Preservation Officer Robert Gitt about the evolution of film sound technology Long before multi-track Dolby stereo and digital sound technology, there were the Kinetophone and the Vitaphone systems – not to mention organ and piano players at movie houses. Much of that is discussed in A Century of Sound, which chronicles the evolution of film sound from the late 19th century to the mid-1970s. A Century of Sound has been split into two parts, with a third installment currently in the planning stages. They are: Vol. 1, “The Beginning, 1876-1932,” which came out on DVD in 2007. Vol. 2, “The Sound of Movies: 1933-1975,” which came out on Blu-ray in 2015. The third installment will bring the presentation into the 21st century.
- 1/26/2016
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Coleen Gray in 'The Sleeping City' with Richard Conte. Coleen Gray after Fox: B Westerns and films noirs (See previous post: “Coleen Gray Actress: From Red River to Film Noir 'Good Girls'.”) Regarding the demise of her Fox career (the year after her divorce from Rod Amateau), Coleen Gray would recall for Confessions of a Scream Queen author Matt Beckoff: I thought that was the end of the world and that I was a total failure. I was a mass of insecurity and depended on agents. … Whether it was an 'A' picture or a 'B' picture didn't bother me. It could be a Western movie, a sci-fi film. A job was a job. You did the best with the script that you had. Fox had dropped Gray at a time of dramatic upheavals in the American film industry: fast-dwindling box office receipts as a result of competition from television,...
- 10/15/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Patricia Neal ca. 1950. Patricia Neal movies: 'The Day the Earth Stood Still,' 'A Face in the Crowd' Back in 1949, few would have predicted that Gary Cooper's leading lady in King Vidor's The Fountainhead would go on to win a Best Actress Academy Award 15 years later. Patricia Neal was one of those performers – e.g., Jean Arthur, Anne Bancroft – whose film career didn't start out all that well, but who, by way of Broadway, managed to both revive and magnify their Hollywood stardom. As part of its “Summer Under the Stars” series, Turner Classic Movies is dedicating Sunday, Aug. 16, '15, to Patricia Neal. This evening, TCM is showing three of her best-known films, in addition to one TCM premiere and an unusual latter-day entry. 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' Robert Wise was hardly a genre director. A former editor (Citizen Kane, The Magnificent Ambersons...
- 8/16/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Christopher Reeve Foundation for spinal cord and stem cell research (photo: Darryl Hannah and Christopher Reeve in 'Rear Window') (See previous post: "'Superman' Christopher Reeve and his Movies: Ten-Year Death Anniversary.") In his 1998 autobiography Still Me, Christopher Reeve recalled: "At an especially bleak moment [prior to an operation that might result in his death], the door [of his hospital room] flew open and in hurried a squat fellow with a blue scrub hat and a yellow surgical gown and glasses, speaking in a Russian accent. For the first time since the accident, I laughed. My old friend had helped me know that somehow I was going to be okay." The "old friend" was the recently deceased Robin Williams, whom Reeve had befriended while both were studying at Juillard. Eventually, Reeve became a staunch advocate for spinal cord and stem cell research, sponsoring with his wife the Christopher Reeve Foundation — later renamed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (and formerly known...
- 10/11/2014
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Here's a sampling of what's new on Warner Archive Instant for August 2014!
Warner Archive Instant, the streaming video service that features hundreds of movies and TV shows from Warner Bros.' extensive catalog, just added some great titles for August, including James Garner's critically accalimed western series Nichols and a personal favorite, the Hanna-Barbera live action animal disaster film The Beasts Are On The Streets. Yeah, you read that right - a live-action animal disaster film from cartoon greats Hanna-Barbera. You can click right here to read my review of the DVD for Cinelinx. It's cheesy 70's fun.
If you aren't currently subscribed to Warner Archive Instant, you can click right here to get a free two week trial. Trust me, if you love classic movies and television, it's worth it.
Here's what's new:
Nichols: The Complete Series (1971-72) James Garner stars as Nichols, an Army lifer who...
Warner Archive Instant, the streaming video service that features hundreds of movies and TV shows from Warner Bros.' extensive catalog, just added some great titles for August, including James Garner's critically accalimed western series Nichols and a personal favorite, the Hanna-Barbera live action animal disaster film The Beasts Are On The Streets. Yeah, you read that right - a live-action animal disaster film from cartoon greats Hanna-Barbera. You can click right here to read my review of the DVD for Cinelinx. It's cheesy 70's fun.
If you aren't currently subscribed to Warner Archive Instant, you can click right here to get a free two week trial. Trust me, if you love classic movies and television, it's worth it.
Here's what's new:
Nichols: The Complete Series (1971-72) James Garner stars as Nichols, an Army lifer who...
- 8/8/2014
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Victor Medina)
- Cinelinx
‘Batman vs. Superman’ movie: Batsuit, Batmobile revealed — Will the world ever be the same again?? (photo: Brooding Ben Affleck as Batman in ‘Batman vs. Superman’) Batman vs. Superman director Zack Snyder has used his Twitter account to post a couple of monochrome shots taken on the set of his upcoming DC Comics flick, ahem, epic. One, posted yesterday (May 12, 2014), shows a half-covered Batmobile, featuring the accompanying tweet: "Could be time to pull the tarp … Tomorrow?" Oh, the suspense! The Internet is on fire. Comic book nerds are having Twitter orgasms. Since yesterday morning, Snyder’s Batmobile tweet has been retweeted 16,150 times and favorited another 9,733 times. For comparison’s sake: In the last four hours, the New York Times‘ tweet linking to a report about the Syrian government using chlorine gas in attacks has been retweeted all of 47 times. Even more pressing news such as "Alec Baldwin Arrested After Biking the...
- 5/13/2014
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Josh Olson on Noir! kicks off this week at Trailers from Hell, with screenwriter Olson introducing Fred Zinneman's "Act of Violence," starring Ryan, Heflin, a world-weary Mary Astor and a 21-year-old Janet Leigh.Moviegoers seeking easy answers should steer clear of Fred Zinneman’s hardboiled thriller from 1948, Act Of Violence. Zinneman uses the then recent horrors of World War II as the springboard for this complex morality play starring Van Heflin and Robert Ryan as two ex-POWs whose shared humanity has been corrupted by the Nazi prison camps. Just how corrupt they are is the subject of Robert Richards’ screenplay (from the story by Collier Young). The cast, including Janet Leigh and Phyllis Thaxter, is interesting from top to bottom and features a vivid turn from Mary Astor as a prostitute who gives Heflin shelter.
- 1/27/2014
- by Trailers From Hell
- Thompson on Hollywood
Stylish film noir star known for her role in Lady in the Lake
I was kissed by Audrey Totter. At least, I share that experience with anybody who has seen Lady in the Lake (1947), when Totter plants her lips on the subjective camera, the surrogate for Robert Montgomery as Philip Marlowe. The film, directed by Montgomery, and based on the Raymond Chandler novel, was shot so that the whole story is seen literally through Marlowe's eyes.
The role of the gold-digging tigress magazine editor Adrienne Fromsett, who hires the private eye to find the missing wife of her publisher, was a breakthrough for Totter, who has died aged 95. Previously, she had been in a dozen movies, her hair colour and accent varying so much from film to film that she dubbed herself "the feminine Lon Chaney of the MGM lot".
Montgomery chose Totter for the part because of her versatility as a radio actor.
I was kissed by Audrey Totter. At least, I share that experience with anybody who has seen Lady in the Lake (1947), when Totter plants her lips on the subjective camera, the surrogate for Robert Montgomery as Philip Marlowe. The film, directed by Montgomery, and based on the Raymond Chandler novel, was shot so that the whole story is seen literally through Marlowe's eyes.
The role of the gold-digging tigress magazine editor Adrienne Fromsett, who hires the private eye to find the missing wife of her publisher, was a breakthrough for Totter, who has died aged 95. Previously, she had been in a dozen movies, her hair colour and accent varying so much from film to film that she dubbed herself "the feminine Lon Chaney of the MGM lot".
Montgomery chose Totter for the part because of her versatility as a radio actor.
- 12/16/2013
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
Femme fatale Audrey Totter: Film noir actress and MGM leading lady dead at 95 (photo: Audrey Totter ca. 1947) Audrey Totter, film noir femme fatale and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player best remembered for the mystery crime drama Lady in the Lake and, at Rko, the hard-hitting boxing drama The Set-Up, died after suffering a stroke and congestive heart failure on Thursday, December 12, 2013, at West Hills Hospital in Los Angeles County. Reportedly a resident at the Motion Picture and Television Home in Woodland Hills, Audrey Totter would have turned 96 on Dec. 20. Born in Joliet, Illinois, Audrey Totter began her show business career on radio. She landed an MGM contract in the mid-’40s, playing bit roles in several of the studio’s productions, e.g., the Clark Gable-Greer Garson pairing Adventure (1945), the Hedy Lamarr-Robert Walker-June Allyson threesome Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945), and, as an adventurous hitchhiker riding with John Garfield,...
- 12/15/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a superhero movie... and they've taken over Hollywood with their superpowers and Spandex costumes. The Guardian and Observer's critics pick the 10 best
• Top 10 action movies
• Top 10 crime movies
• Top 10 arthouse movies
• Top 10 family movies
• Top 10 war movies
• Top 10 teen movies
• More Guardian and Observer critics' top 10s
10. Iron Man 3
Shane Black's jagged-edged debut in the Marvel hotseat might easily have been a by-the-numbers "threequel", especially with star Robert Downey Jr out of contract and The Avengers' stupendous box office success a year earlier. Instead, the Kiss Kiss Bang Bang director delivered the series' best instalment so far via a perfectly-pitched twist that comes about as close as the superhero genre will ever get to its very own Crying Game moment.
Ben Kingsley's nefarious Mandarin is a preposterous, shadowy Bin Laden clone with a big bushy beard...
• Top 10 action movies
• Top 10 crime movies
• Top 10 arthouse movies
• Top 10 family movies
• Top 10 war movies
• Top 10 teen movies
• More Guardian and Observer critics' top 10s
10. Iron Man 3
Shane Black's jagged-edged debut in the Marvel hotseat might easily have been a by-the-numbers "threequel", especially with star Robert Downey Jr out of contract and The Avengers' stupendous box office success a year earlier. Instead, the Kiss Kiss Bang Bang director delivered the series' best instalment so far via a perfectly-pitched twist that comes about as close as the superhero genre will ever get to its very own Crying Game moment.
Ben Kingsley's nefarious Mandarin is a preposterous, shadowy Bin Laden clone with a big bushy beard...
- 11/4/2013
- The Guardian - Film News
Man of Steel 2013 box office: $250 million milestone in North America (photo: possibly after his Man of Steel workout, Henry Cavill chats with director Zack Snyder) Directed by Zack Snyder, and starring Henry Cavill, Man of Steel passed the $250 million milestone at the North American box office on Monday, July 1, 2013. On that day, Man of Steel added $3.04 million, for a domestic cume of $251.62 million, according to figures found at Box Office Mojo. After adding another $2.78 million on Tuesday, July 2, the Superman reboot’s domestic total currently stands at $254.4 million. Not adjusted for inflation, Man of Steel is no. 28 on Box Office Mojo’s chart of the fastest movies to reach $250 million at the North American box office: 18 days. The no. 1 title is Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, with 6 days. Other movies that also took 18 days to reach $250 million — years ago, when ticket prices were lower — are Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers...
- 7/4/2013
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
Man of Steel weekend box office: Above estimates, but real June record remains beyond the reach of Superman 2013 reboot (image: Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel) Somewhat surprisingly — it’s usually the other way around — Warner Bros.’ Man of Steel grossed more than $3 million above studio estimates released on Sunday, June 16, 2013. Directed by Zack Snyder (300, Sucker Punch), and starring Henry Cavill (The Tudors, possibly the upcoming The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), the 2013 Superman reboot scored $116.61 million from 4,207 North American locations according to weekend box-office actuals found at Box Office Mojo. Once Thursday evening figures are added, the $225 million-budgeted Man of Steel‘s domestic cume reached $128.68 million by Sunday evening. Now, Man of Steel‘s adjusted $116.61 million doesn’t change the June Box-Office Record Chart in any way. The Superman reboot remains ahead of the former official June champ, the Tom Hanks-, Tim Allen-voiced Toy Story 3‘s...
- 6/18/2013
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
Henry Cavill Superman: Man of Steel vs. Superman movies of years past [See previous post: "Man of Steel Trailing Original Iron Man in Ticket Sales."] As mentioned in our previous posts, the $225 million-budgeted Man of Steel grossed an estimated $113.08 million this past weekend, including $9 million from Thursday midnight screenings. Directed by Zack Snyder, the 2013 Superman reboot stars Henry Cavill as Clark Kent aka Superman. (Photo: Henry Cavill in Man of Steel.) Released in late June 2006, Bryan Singer’s $270 million-budgeted Superman Returns, starring Brandon Routh as Superman, debuted with $52.53 million, or about $64 million today. Even taking into account that Superman Returns lacked the box-office-boosting advantage of 3D surcharges, Man of Steel is obviously a much bigger hit than its immediate predecessor. Superman Returns eventually reached $200.08 million in North America, plus a slightly more modest $191 million internationally. Man of Steel will not only easily surpass Superman Returns at the domestic box office, but it’ll also earn at the very least twice as much as Superman Returns internationally.
- 6/17/2013
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
Henry Cavill Man of Steel to trail Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man 3 [See previous post: "Man of Steel Weekend Box Office: June Record May Not Be Broken."] As long as it grosses at least $100 million by Sunday evening — and that’s a given — Zack Snyder / Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel will boast the second-biggest opening of 2013, behind only Shane Black / Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man 3, which collected $174.14 million in early May according to Box Office Mojo. As mentioned in the previous post, Man of Steel is expected to score anywhere between $115-$140 million. Note: Figures for both Man of Steel and Iron Man 3 include Thursday evening shows. (See updated posts: “Man of Steel trailing Original Iron Man” and “Man of Steel vs. Superman movies of years past.”) (Photo: Henry Cavill Superman in Man of Steel.) For comparison’s sake: without the advantage of box-office-inflating 3D surcharges or Thursday evening screenings, the Jon Favreau-directed Iron Man debuted with $98.68 million...
- 6/16/2013
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
Man of Steel vs. Superman Returns (photo: Amy Adams as Lois Lane in Man of Steel) [See previous post: "Man of Steel Box Office: June Record Likely (Sort of)."] Released in late June 2006, Bryan Singer / Brandon Routh’s Superman Returns opened with $52.53 million, or about $64 million today. Even taking into account that Superman Returns lacked the advantage of box-office-inflating 3D surcharges, Man of Steel will clearly soar much higher. (See updated post: “Man of Steel to Trail Iron Man 3: Box Office” — and possibly to trail the original Iron Man as well.) Superman Returns cumed at $200.08 million in North America, in addition to $191 million internationally. Considering the exponential growth of the international market in the last decade, expect Man of Steel to earn much more outside of than in North America. Remember, without the international market, movies that cost $225 million (not including marketing and distribution expenses) would likely never, ever get made. Directed by Richard Donner and starring Christopher Reeve in the title role,...
- 6/15/2013
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
Man of Steel box office: Will latest Superman reboot break June domestic record? (Photo: Henry Cavill in Man of Steel) Directed by Zack Snyder, and starring Henry Cavill as Superman, Man of Steel had, as expected, a strong opening at the domestic box office on Thursday evening. The latest Superman reboot collected an estimated $12 million, in addition to another $9 million at midnight showings for a grand total of $21 million. For comparison’s sake: Starring Robert Downey Jr, Shane Black’s Iron Man 3 debuted with $15.6 million from Thursday evening / midnight showings in early May. (See also updated post: “Man of Steel Box Office: June Record Likely — Sort of.”) Now, to compare Man of Steel‘s Thursday late evening $21 million take to the midnight box-office grosses of, for instance, Gary Ross / Jennifer Lawrence’s The Hunger Games ($19.74 million), Robert Pattinson / Kristen Stewart / Taylor Lautner’s The Twilight Saga: Eclipse ($30.1 million), Christopher Nolan...
- 6/14/2013
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
Man of Steel star Diane Lane has opened up about her performance as Martha Kent.
Lane and Kevin Costner play the human parents to young Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) in Zack Snyder's heavily-hyped superhero epic Man of Steel.
Speaking to Flicks and Bits, Lane revealed that she was truly honoured to be offered a role in Man of Steel.
"I feel very lucky and blessed to have been just asked to be a part of this movie," Lane commented. "And the parenthood part, that was kind of the best dish that I saw in the script."
She continued: "I loved it because of the heart and supplying the back-story to what drives this man that becomes Superman.
"But to us he's our child that we cared for and protected all the way through up until he was prepared to reveal his superpowers, you know?"
Lane also revealed that her...
Lane and Kevin Costner play the human parents to young Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) in Zack Snyder's heavily-hyped superhero epic Man of Steel.
Speaking to Flicks and Bits, Lane revealed that she was truly honoured to be offered a role in Man of Steel.
"I feel very lucky and blessed to have been just asked to be a part of this movie," Lane commented. "And the parenthood part, that was kind of the best dish that I saw in the script."
She continued: "I loved it because of the heart and supplying the back-story to what drives this man that becomes Superman.
"But to us he's our child that we cared for and protected all the way through up until he was prepared to reveal his superpowers, you know?"
Lane also revealed that her...
- 6/13/2013
- Digital Spy
"Who are those guys?"
George Roy Hill doesn't get written up much these days. People either like some of his films or not, but don't usually have much to say about them. In the breadth of subjects and tones he tackled, the former TV director certainly made it hard to perceive an authorial voice, and even his visual style was inconsistent, veering between the flatly televisual and a more nouvelle vague playfulness. Regular collaborator William Goldman praised him as one of the greats precisely because of his versatility, but he seems destined to be recalled for only a couple of movies, and as an able journeyman rather than as a unique artist.
The World of Henry Orient (1964) is a charming oddity. It deals with a fantasy world concocted by two 14-year-old schoolgirls in New York, based around a minor local celebrity, concert pianist Henry Orient (Peter Sellers), whom they encounter...
George Roy Hill doesn't get written up much these days. People either like some of his films or not, but don't usually have much to say about them. In the breadth of subjects and tones he tackled, the former TV director certainly made it hard to perceive an authorial voice, and even his visual style was inconsistent, veering between the flatly televisual and a more nouvelle vague playfulness. Regular collaborator William Goldman praised him as one of the greats precisely because of his versatility, but he seems destined to be recalled for only a couple of movies, and as an able journeyman rather than as a unique artist.
The World of Henry Orient (1964) is a charming oddity. It deals with a fantasy world concocted by two 14-year-old schoolgirls in New York, based around a minor local celebrity, concert pianist Henry Orient (Peter Sellers), whom they encounter...
- 1/10/2013
- by David Cairns
- MUBI
Hollywood actor known for playing wholesome wives and Ma Kent in Superman
Although Phyllis Thaxter, who has died aged 92, had a successful career in films throughout the 1940s and 50s, many will remember her for her last movie role, in Superman (1978). It was the small but key part of Ma Kent, the childless farmer's wife who adopts a foundling baby and names him Clark. Together with her husband (Glenn Ford) – both made intentionally to resemble the couple in Grant Wood's American Gothic painting – they bring up the abnormally physically gifted boy until he's ready to fly off "to fight for truth, justice and the American way".
At one stage, she tells him: "We Kents don't like show-offs, ain't that so? A body's got to be humble even if he knows that he's better'n his neighbours." A fragile beauty, Thaxter was never a show-off, but made an impact in a gentle way,...
Although Phyllis Thaxter, who has died aged 92, had a successful career in films throughout the 1940s and 50s, many will remember her for her last movie role, in Superman (1978). It was the small but key part of Ma Kent, the childless farmer's wife who adopts a foundling baby and names him Clark. Together with her husband (Glenn Ford) – both made intentionally to resemble the couple in Grant Wood's American Gothic painting – they bring up the abnormally physically gifted boy until he's ready to fly off "to fight for truth, justice and the American way".
At one stage, she tells him: "We Kents don't like show-offs, ain't that so? A body's got to be humble even if he knows that he's better'n his neighbours." A fragile beauty, Thaxter was never a show-off, but made an impact in a gentle way,...
- 8/17/2012
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
Superman actress Phyllis Thaxter has died at the age of 90. Thaxter, who passed away in her Florida home following a long battle with Alzheimer's, is best known for her role playing Clark Kent's mother in Richard Donner's 1978 film. The actress was also recognised for her parts in Bewitched, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and Act of Violence, and worked on Broadway earlier in her career. "She was one of the most beautiful and patrician icons of the (more)...
- 8/16/2012
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
Phyllis Thaxter, who played Superman's mother in the 1978 blockbuster starring Christopher Reeve, has died at age 90.
According to her daughter, actress Skye Aubrey, Thaxter passed away Tuesday (Aug. 14) at her Florida home after suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Thaxter's debuted on the big screen in the 1944 wartime flick "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" as a contract actress for MGM, where her other notable films include "Bewitched," "Week-End at the Waldorf," 1947's "The Sea of Grass" with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn and "Act of Violence."
She then signed with Warner Brothers, appearing alongside John Garfield and Patricia Neal in "The Breaking Point" (1950); her other credits for the studio include "Springfield Rifle" (1952) with Gary Cooper, "Jim Thorpe -- All-American" (1951), with Burt Lancaster and "She's Working Her Way Through College" (1952) with Ronald Reagan.
Although Thaxter's big-screen career was derailed when she contracted polio in 1952, but she found regular work on television on such series as "Lux Video Theatre,...
According to her daughter, actress Skye Aubrey, Thaxter passed away Tuesday (Aug. 14) at her Florida home after suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Thaxter's debuted on the big screen in the 1944 wartime flick "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" as a contract actress for MGM, where her other notable films include "Bewitched," "Week-End at the Waldorf," 1947's "The Sea of Grass" with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn and "Act of Violence."
She then signed with Warner Brothers, appearing alongside John Garfield and Patricia Neal in "The Breaking Point" (1950); her other credits for the studio include "Springfield Rifle" (1952) with Gary Cooper, "Jim Thorpe -- All-American" (1951), with Burt Lancaster and "She's Working Her Way Through College" (1952) with Ronald Reagan.
Although Thaxter's big-screen career was derailed when she contracted polio in 1952, but she found regular work on television on such series as "Lux Video Theatre,...
- 8/16/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
The Hollywood Reporter confirms the sad news that Phyllis Thaxter died on Tuesday at her in Florida after what they describe as, "a long bout with Alzheimer's." The actress will be best known to comic book fans for playing Ma Kent in Richard Donner's Superman over 30 years ago. "She was one of the most beautiful and patrician icons of the golden age of movies, TV and theater," veteran movie critic Rex Reed told the site. Thaxter was also known for roles in the likes of Bewitched, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and Act of Violence.
- 8/15/2012
- ComicBookMovie.com
Phyllis Thaxter, the wholesome actress who played Ma Kent in 1978’s Superman and the faithful girlfriend to vengeful Pow Robert Ryan in the 1948 film noir classic Act of Violence, has died. She was 90. Thaxter died Tuesday at her home in Orlando after a long bout with Alzheimer's, according to her daughter, actress Skye Aubrey. Photos: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2012 A contract player at MGM and Warner Bros. in the 1940s and ’50s before her career was derailed by illness, Thaxter also starred in the psychological thriller Bewitched (1945), playing opposite Edmund Gwenn as a woman fighting
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- 8/15/2012
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Point of No Return: A Curtiz Classic Resurrected
While history prizes a 1944 adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s story To Have and Have Not, there does exist a little seen (and more faithful to its source text) 1950 film version of the same story, helmed by Michael Curtiz, titled The Breaking Point. In retrospect, the earlier Howard Hawks version is all glitz and glamor and no guts, its claim to everlasting fame the guttural growl from Lauren Bacall concerning how to put your lips together to do something. Due to the insistence of screenwriter Ranald MacDougall (who wrote the screenplay for Curtiz’s Mildred Pierce and would later direct Ms. Crawford himself for his own debut in Queen Bee), the studio agreed to go forward with another adaptation, though got cold feet upon release due to star John Garfield being named in McCarthy’s witch hunt, and the film, unmarketed and unappreciated,...
While history prizes a 1944 adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s story To Have and Have Not, there does exist a little seen (and more faithful to its source text) 1950 film version of the same story, helmed by Michael Curtiz, titled The Breaking Point. In retrospect, the earlier Howard Hawks version is all glitz and glamor and no guts, its claim to everlasting fame the guttural growl from Lauren Bacall concerning how to put your lips together to do something. Due to the insistence of screenwriter Ranald MacDougall (who wrote the screenplay for Curtiz’s Mildred Pierce and would later direct Ms. Crawford himself for his own debut in Queen Bee), the studio agreed to go forward with another adaptation, though got cold feet upon release due to star John Garfield being named in McCarthy’s witch hunt, and the film, unmarketed and unappreciated,...
- 6/26/2012
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Act of Violence
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
Screenplay by Robert L. Richards
USA, 1948
A recurring theme among war veterans, be it in film or in real life, is how many are haunted by the memories of their so called exploits and other various horrific scenarios which unfolded before their unfortunate eyes. Austrian-born director Fred Zinnemann, whose parents were unlucky victims of WWII, takes this notion of a shameful wartime past returning to plague a U.S. veteran to a near literal degree in his 1948 picture, Act of Violence.
Frank R. Enley (Van Heflin) is living the ideal life on the outskirts of Los Angeles. He is blessed with a successful career, has a caring and supporting wife, Edith (Janet Leigh), a new baby, and a lovely two story house located in a quintessentially American suburban neighbourhood. Shortly after Frank leaves the home one day with a neighbor for a two day fishing expedition,...
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
Screenplay by Robert L. Richards
USA, 1948
A recurring theme among war veterans, be it in film or in real life, is how many are haunted by the memories of their so called exploits and other various horrific scenarios which unfolded before their unfortunate eyes. Austrian-born director Fred Zinnemann, whose parents were unlucky victims of WWII, takes this notion of a shameful wartime past returning to plague a U.S. veteran to a near literal degree in his 1948 picture, Act of Violence.
Frank R. Enley (Van Heflin) is living the ideal life on the outskirts of Los Angeles. He is blessed with a successful career, has a caring and supporting wife, Edith (Janet Leigh), a new baby, and a lovely two story house located in a quintessentially American suburban neighbourhood. Shortly after Frank leaves the home one day with a neighbor for a two day fishing expedition,...
- 1/6/2012
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
With the entire original run of The Twilight Zone available to watch instantly, we’re partnering with Twitch Film to cover all of the show’s 156 episodes. Are you brave enough to watch them all with us? The Twilight Zone (Episode #99): “Young Man’s Fancy” (airdate 5/11/62) The Plot: A newly-minted husband brings his wife to his childhood home to make plans to sell it, but a powerful force is drawing him back to his late mother and the house she kept exactly as it was when he was in short pants. The Goods: This very well may be the second cruelest episode. Aside from the wicked heartlessness of Time Enough At Last, it rings out with a kind of empty meanness that doesn’t teach a lesson while it tortures an innocent bystander at her weakest point. Sometimes life can be that way, and Virginia Walker (Phyllis Thaxter) learns that the raw way. Virginia...
- 11/4/2011
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
What do Linda Blair (The Exorcist), a bunch of hungry dogs, and April Fool's Day all have in common? They are all part a bunch of horror themed titles that are finally being released to DVD through the Warner Archieve label. Titles include the April Fool's themed slasher Killer Party, the when dogs go crazy thriller The Pack, or Linda Blair's followup film after The Exorcist - Sweet Hostage. Talk about Christmas coming early this Halloween season!
From the press release:
The Phantom Of Hollywood (1974) Remastered Worldwide Films was the grandest dame of all the Hollywood studios, until small minded souls eager for quick profits started to dismantle her, dream by dream and lot by lot. Until a mysterious Phantom appears, willing to murder anyone who threatens the studio lot he calls home. Filmed on location on the glorious MGM lots as they were, in fact, being sold off and destroyed,...
From the press release:
The Phantom Of Hollywood (1974) Remastered Worldwide Films was the grandest dame of all the Hollywood studios, until small minded souls eager for quick profits started to dismantle her, dream by dream and lot by lot. Until a mysterious Phantom appears, willing to murder anyone who threatens the studio lot he calls home. Filmed on location on the glorious MGM lots as they were, in fact, being sold off and destroyed,...
- 9/22/2011
- by Big Daddy aka Brandon Sites
- Big Daddy Horror Reviews - Interviews
John Garfield on TCM: Humoresque, Four Daughters, We Were Strangers Schedule (Et) and synopses from the TCM website: 6:00 Am Four Daughters (1938) A small-town family's peaceful life is shattered when one daughter falls for a rebellious musician. Dir: Michael Curtiz. Cast: Priscilla Lane, Claude Rains, Jeffrey Lynn, John Garfield. Bw-90 mins. 7:45 Am Blackwell's Island (1939) A reporter gets himself sent to prison to expose a mobster. Dir: William McGann. Cast: John Garfield, Rosemary Lane, Dick Purcell. Bw-71 mins. 9:00 Am They Made Me A Criminal (1939) A young boxer flees to farming country when he thinks he's killed an opponent in the ring. Dir: Busby Berkeley. Cast: John Garfield, Claude Rains, Gloria Dickson. Bw-92 mins. 10:45 Am Dangerously They Live (1942) A doctor tries to rescue a young innocent from Nazi agents. Dir: Robert Florey. Cast: John Garfield, Nancy Coleman, Raymond Massey. Bw-77 mins. 12:15 Pm Pride Of The Marines (1945) A blinded...
- 8/4/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
By most accounts, Harry Cohn was a royal son of a bitch.
For the uninformed, Harry Cohn was co-founder of Columbia Pictures, and the autocratic ruler of the studio from its founding in 1919 until his death in 1958. He was vulgar, crass, tyrannical, a screaming, foul-mouthed verbal bully i.e. a royal son of a bitch.
He was also a cheap son of a bitch.
Originally considered a “Poverty Row” studio, Cohn’s Columbia – at least at first – refused to build a roster of salaried stars as the other studios did. Cohn didn’t want the overhead or the headaches he saw saddling other studio chiefs with their contract talent. Cheaper and easier was to pay those studios a flat fee for the one-time use of their marquee value stars to give Columbia’s B-budgeted flicks an A-list shine. Columbia was considered such a nickel-and-dime outfit at the time that other...
For the uninformed, Harry Cohn was co-founder of Columbia Pictures, and the autocratic ruler of the studio from its founding in 1919 until his death in 1958. He was vulgar, crass, tyrannical, a screaming, foul-mouthed verbal bully i.e. a royal son of a bitch.
He was also a cheap son of a bitch.
Originally considered a “Poverty Row” studio, Cohn’s Columbia – at least at first – refused to build a roster of salaried stars as the other studios did. Cohn didn’t want the overhead or the headaches he saw saddling other studio chiefs with their contract talent. Cheaper and easier was to pay those studios a flat fee for the one-time use of their marquee value stars to give Columbia’s B-budgeted flicks an A-list shine. Columbia was considered such a nickel-and-dime outfit at the time that other...
- 6/22/2011
- by Bill Mesce
- SoundOnSight
It's no small task to be the adoptive mother of one of the most powerful beings in the universe, but actress Diane Lane seems to be getting pretty comfortable with the idea of playing Superman's mom in Zack Snyder's upcoming reboot of Warner Bros. film franchise.
“It’s going to be a wild ride,” Lane told USA Weekend of the "Superman" reboot, which casts her as Martha Kent, adoptive mother to the last son of Krypton.
Lane said she recently watched Snyder's "Watchmen" in order to prep for Snyder's unique filmmaking style and vision, and "to remind myself of what an audacious, brilliant man Zack Snyder is."
"I love 300 and I’m very flattered to play Martha Kent and live up to his vision, she added. "It’s pretty cool.”
For Lane, the task of bringing up the Man of Steel is as much an opportunity as a...
“It’s going to be a wild ride,” Lane told USA Weekend of the "Superman" reboot, which casts her as Martha Kent, adoptive mother to the last son of Krypton.
Lane said she recently watched Snyder's "Watchmen" in order to prep for Snyder's unique filmmaking style and vision, and "to remind myself of what an audacious, brilliant man Zack Snyder is."
"I love 300 and I’m very flattered to play Martha Kent and live up to his vision, she added. "It’s pretty cool.”
For Lane, the task of bringing up the Man of Steel is as much an opportunity as a...
- 3/16/2011
- by Rick Marshall
- MTV Splash Page
The past few weeks have been rife with casting rumors for the forthcoming Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Rises) produced, Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch) directed Superman reboot. The only truly confirmed castmember before this announcement was the big, blue boyscout himself, being played by Henry Cavill (Immortals, The Tudors).
Now, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures have announced that Diane Lane (Secretariat, Cinema Verite) has officially been cast in the film as Clark/Superman’s adoptive Earth Mother, Martha Kent. If previous reports hold up, and the deal is made, the actress will likely be starring opposite Kevin Costner (The Company Men, A Little War of Our Own) who is supposedly being eyed for the role of Jonathan Kent.
Phyllis Thaxter portrayed Martha Kent in director Richard Donner‘s 1978 film, Superman: The Movie, Eva Marie Saint portrayed Martha in Bryan Singer‘s 2006 film, Superman Returns, and Annette O’Toole presently...
Now, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures have announced that Diane Lane (Secretariat, Cinema Verite) has officially been cast in the film as Clark/Superman’s adoptive Earth Mother, Martha Kent. If previous reports hold up, and the deal is made, the actress will likely be starring opposite Kevin Costner (The Company Men, A Little War of Our Own) who is supposedly being eyed for the role of Jonathan Kent.
Phyllis Thaxter portrayed Martha Kent in director Richard Donner‘s 1978 film, Superman: The Movie, Eva Marie Saint portrayed Martha in Bryan Singer‘s 2006 film, Superman Returns, and Annette O’Toole presently...
- 3/3/2011
- by Jason Moore
- ScifiMafia
At Last - some more Official news about the next Superman movie.
Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures today announced that Diane Lane will play Martha Kent, "the only mother Clark Kent has ever known", in the new movie to be directed by Zack Snyder.
Snyder said: "This was a very important piece of casting for me because Martha Kent is the woman whose values helped shape the man we know as Superman.
"We are thrilled to have Diane in the role because she can convey the wisdom and the wonder of a woman whose son has powers beyond her imagination."
The character - who is Superman's adoptive mother on Earth - was portrayed by Phyllis Thaxter in Superman: The Movie, Eva Marie Saint in Superman Returns and Annette O'Toole in TV's Smallville series.
Lane will star with Henry Cavill, who was recently announced as the new Clark Kent/Superman.
Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures today announced that Diane Lane will play Martha Kent, "the only mother Clark Kent has ever known", in the new movie to be directed by Zack Snyder.
Snyder said: "This was a very important piece of casting for me because Martha Kent is the woman whose values helped shape the man we know as Superman.
"We are thrilled to have Diane in the role because she can convey the wisdom and the wonder of a woman whose son has powers beyond her imagination."
The character - who is Superman's adoptive mother on Earth - was portrayed by Phyllis Thaxter in Superman: The Movie, Eva Marie Saint in Superman Returns and Annette O'Toole in TV's Smallville series.
Lane will star with Henry Cavill, who was recently announced as the new Clark Kent/Superman.
- 3/3/2011
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
Not a very busy week for horror releases on Blu-ray and DVD. At least The Twilight Zone: Season 3 is here to keep us busy for hours before we dig on the DVD premiere of The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu directed by Henry Saine and starring Kyle Davis, Devin McGinn, Matt Bauer.
In addition, Peter A. Dowling's Stag Night (starring Breckin Meyer, Scott Adkins, Kip Pardue, Karl Geary) and David A. Cross's Respire (starring Tracy Teague, Mat Wright, Vince Eustace, Jessica Keeler, Ellie Torrez) round up the offerings this week.
The Twilight Zone: Season 3 (1962) (Blu-ray Review)
Directed by Various
Starring Rod Serling, Bill Mumy, Lois Nettleton, William Windom, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Cornthwaite, Cliff Robertson, Lee Marvin, James Best, Strother Martin, Russell Johnson, Cloris Leachman, Peter Falk, Robert Redford, Elizabeth Montgomery, Charles Bronson, Jack Albertson, James Gregory, Jack Klugman, Buster Keaton, Dean Stockwell, Barry Morse, Andy Devine,...
In addition, Peter A. Dowling's Stag Night (starring Breckin Meyer, Scott Adkins, Kip Pardue, Karl Geary) and David A. Cross's Respire (starring Tracy Teague, Mat Wright, Vince Eustace, Jessica Keeler, Ellie Torrez) round up the offerings this week.
The Twilight Zone: Season 3 (1962) (Blu-ray Review)
Directed by Various
Starring Rod Serling, Bill Mumy, Lois Nettleton, William Windom, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Cornthwaite, Cliff Robertson, Lee Marvin, James Best, Strother Martin, Russell Johnson, Cloris Leachman, Peter Falk, Robert Redford, Elizabeth Montgomery, Charles Bronson, Jack Albertson, James Gregory, Jack Klugman, Buster Keaton, Dean Stockwell, Barry Morse, Andy Devine,...
- 2/15/2011
- by kwlow
- DreadCentral.com
Babies can come as quite a surprise… especially if you aren’t pregnant! In honor of Life As We Know It, which comes to theaters on Friday, we are dedicating our list to the joys of inheriting a child!
Top Ten Unexpected Child Movies
Honorable Mention: Superman The Movie
The Old Testament has inspired many works of art. Perhaps there’s none more famous than Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s Superman. Borrowing from the story of Moses, baby Superman (known on Krypton as Kal-El) floats thru the cosmos in a spaceship instead of a basket drifting down a stream. The first scenes of Richard Donner’s 1978 Superman The Movie are set on the aforementioned planet Krypton as noted scientist Jor-El and his wife, Lara, decide to place their only child in an experimental space ship directed at the planet Earth. Marlon Brando and Suzanne York are heartbreaking as the...
Top Ten Unexpected Child Movies
Honorable Mention: Superman The Movie
The Old Testament has inspired many works of art. Perhaps there’s none more famous than Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s Superman. Borrowing from the story of Moses, baby Superman (known on Krypton as Kal-El) floats thru the cosmos in a spaceship instead of a basket drifting down a stream. The first scenes of Richard Donner’s 1978 Superman The Movie are set on the aforementioned planet Krypton as noted scientist Jor-El and his wife, Lara, decide to place their only child in an experimental space ship directed at the planet Earth. Marlon Brando and Suzanne York are heartbreaking as the...
- 10/7/2010
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
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