Brad’s “Scene of the Day” – Rory Calhoun tending to his garden in MOTEL HELL (1980)!


Rory Calhoun was a star of movies and TV going all the way back to the 40’s, but as a kid of the 80’s, the movies I most remember him for are not classics like HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE (1953) with Marilyn Monroe, or RIVER OF NO RETURN (1954) with Robert Mitchum. Rather, the movies I grew up watching Calhoun in have titles like ANGEL (1984), a B-movie crime thriller about a teenage hooker, and PURE COUNTRY (1992), the acting debut of country music superstar George Strait! One movie that I’ve always enjoyed, and even introduced my son to a decade or so ago, is the horror comedy MOTEL HELL (1980). My son loved it, and even though he’s married with children, whenever we’re together for the holidays he wants to know if I brought my blu ray of the film for us to watch. The amazing thing… I always have it!

In celebration of Rory Calhoun’s 103rd birthday in cinema heaven, I present this scene of Calhoun tending to his human garden in MOTEL HELL! Enjoy, my friends.

Scenes That I Love: Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate


Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to the legendary Dustin Hoffman.  This scene that I love comes from 1967’s The Graduate and it features Hoffman delivering one of the greatest lines of all time.

Scenes I Love: A Visit to the Planetarium from Rebel Without A Cause


Since today is Nicholas Ray’s birthday, it seems appropriate to share a scene from Ray’s best-known film, 1955’s Rebel Without A Cause.  In this scene, a group of teens who can barely find happiness or peace on their own planet are asked to consider the wonders of the universe.

Brad’s “Scene of the Day” – Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi engage in an incredible fight scene in CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000)!


In celebration of the August 6th birthday of the beautiful and talented Michelle Yeoh, I thought I would share this specific fight scene between Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi in CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000). It’s incredible, featuring a variety of swords and other assorted weapons. It’s one of the true highlights of the film, and I’m always glad to have any excuse to watch it! The arrival of my favorite living actor (Chow Yun-Fat) at the end of the scene is just the icing on a delicious cake of action! Enjoy, my friends!

Scenes I Love: Robert Mitchum in Out of the Past


The great Robert Mitchum was born, on this date, 107 years ago.  Today’s scene that I love comes from one of my favorite Mitchum films, the classic 1947 noir Out of the Past.

In this scene, we are reminded that no one was cooler than Robert Mitchum.  And no one threw a better punch.

Scenes I Love: The Opening of Guardians of the Galaxy


Today, the Shattered Lens wises director James Gunn a happy 59th birthday!

My favorite James Gunn film remains 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy.  Not coincidentally, that’s also my favorite comic book film.  A good deal of that love has to do with the film’s absolutely brilliant introduction of Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord.  In the scene below, both the film and Gunn announce that this is a comic book movie that actually has a sense of humor.  Let the other franchises specialize in depressed heroes and grim themes.  The Guardians of the Galaxy are all about dancing.

Here’s a scene that I love, directed by James Gunn:

Brad’s “Scene of the Day” – Billy Bob Thornton is saved in THE APOSTLE (1997)


Happy 70th birthday to the incredible “hillbilly Olivier,” also known as Billy Bob Thornton. I’ve always been partial to this incredible scene where Thornton and Robert Duvall create a truly powerful moment in Duvall’s film, THE APOSTLE. Enjoy two great actors doing what they do the best!

Scene That I Love: Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now


Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to Martin Sheen.

In this scene from 1979’s Apocalypse Now, Sheen shows the intensity that not only nearly killed him when he suffered a heart attack during filming but which also served to make Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam epic a true classic.

 

Scenes I Love: Nancy’s School Dream From A Nightmare On Elm Street


Today’s scene that I love comes from 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street.  Directed by the great Wes Craven, A Nightmare on Elm Street remains a frightening and creepy masterpiece.  It’s ability to scare its audience has not been diminished by countless sequels and rip-offs.

In this scene, Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) discovers that she’s not even safe from Freddy (Robert Englund) at school.