A Blast From The Past: Testing Dirty (dir by Lynn Hamrick)


Our regularly scheduled review of Degrassi High will not be posted tonight so that we can bring you this special presentation.

My Retro Television Reviews will return on Monday but for now, check out this 1990 program called Testing Dirty!  In this short film, Christopher Daniel Barnes (best known for playing Greg Brady in The Brady Bunch Movie) is a high school athlete who tests positive for drugs despite not using them.  As he tries to clear his name, the adults in his community debate whether or not random drug tests are actually fighting or helping the problem.  That’s an important topic but, for the most part, this film is best-known for a cameo appearance by Adam Sandler as a drug dealer.

And now, without further ado …. it’s time for Testing Dirty!

Richard Chamberlain – Allen Quartermain, Toshiro Mifune & Charles Bronson!


When I was a kid, I loved the movie KING SOLOMON’S MINES (1985) with Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone, along with its follow up ALLAN QUARTERMAIN AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD (1986). These movies don’t really hold up very well these days, but that does not change the fact that they still hold a special place in my heart. That was during my “Indiana Jones” phase and I wanted to watch any movie with adventurers in jungles. ROMANCING THE STONE (1984) is one of those types of movies that really does hold up; THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF TENNESSEE BUCK (1988), not so much. While we were watching King Solomon’s Mines, I remember my parents telling us kids that Chamberlain was in a miniseries called THE THORNBIRDS, but I’ve never watched it. It intrigued me though. TV miniseries were a big thing in the 70’s and early 80’s and Chamberlain was a king of the TV miniseries age. I discovered that even further when I became obsessed with Toshiro Mifune. I discovered his great miniseries SHOGUN (1980) that also starred Chamberlain. 

As an obsessed Charles Bronson fan, I also discovered that they starred together in an episode of the TV series DR. KILDARE (pictured above). He also worked with Bronson in the film A THUNDER OF DRUMS (1961). Richard Chamberlain may not be one of my all time favorite actors, but he was a part of my life growing up and he worked with my favorite actor of all time a couple of different times. That feeling of nostalgia causes me to mourn his loss. It’s like a part of me is now gone. RIP, Richard Chamberlain. Thanks for sharing your talent with us. 

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special 1959 Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, let’s celebrate the year 1959!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 1959 films

The 400 Blows (1959, dir by François Truffaut, DP: Henri Decae)

Ben-Hur (1959, dir by William Wyler, DP: Robert Surtees)

Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957, dir by Edward D. Wood, Jr., DP: William C. Thompson)

North by Northwest (1959, dir by Alfred Hitchcock, DP: Robert Burks)

Song of the Day: Foggy Mountain Breakdown by Earl Scruggs and Friends


Since today is Warren Beatty’s birthday, it seems appropriate that today’s song of the day should be one that featured in one of Beatty’s best-known films, Bonnie and Clyde.

And yes, that is Paul Shaffer on piano and Steve Martin playing banjo with Earl Scruggs and Friends.

 

Scene That I Love: Warren Beatty, Jack Warden, and James Mason In Heaven Can Wait


Today, we wish a happy birthday to actor, director, and producer Warren Beatty!

This wonderfully-acted scene that I love comes from Beatty’s 1978 film, Heaven Can Wait.  In this scene Warren Beatty plays a character who attempts to convince his friend (Jack Warden) that he has come back from the dead and is inhabiting the body of an old millionaire.  (Watch the film, it makes sense.)  James Mason plays the erudite angel that only Beatty can see.

A Blast From The Past: The Human Voice (dir by Ted Kotcheff)


Our regular review of Homicide will not be posted today so that we may bring you this special presentation….

My retro television review will return tomorrow.  For now, check out 1966’s The Human Voice.  In this 55-minute stage adaptation, Ingrid Bergman plays a woman having a phone conversation with her lover of five years on the night before he’s meant to marry another.  Written by Jean Cocteau, this monologue was also filmed by Pedro Almodovar in 2020, with Tilda Swinton giving a performance that cannot hope to compare to Bergman’s.

And now, without further ado, here is The Human Voice!

 

A Blast From The Past: The Gymnast (dir by Larry Elikann)


Our regular review of Check It Out! will not be posted tonight so that we might bring you this special program….

My retro television reviews will return next week.  For now, we present you with The Gymnast, a short film from 1980 about a teenage girl named Jenny who wants to be the best gymnast in the world but who is going to have to learn some important lessons about hard work and humility beforehand.  I could relate to this film because I was the same way about dancing when I was a teen.  Of course, I never learned any lessons about hard work or humility and I’m all the better for it.

That said, this isn’t a bad little film.  Zina Bethune gives a good performance as the hard-pushing coach and there’s plenty of gymnastic action as well.  I’m going to guess this was probably made to appeal to teens who would presumably have found a bunch of new heroes watching the 1980 Summer Olympics.  Jimmy Carter, however, had other plans.

Now, without any further ado, here is …. The Gymnast!

Terence Hill will always be “Trinity” to me!


When I was a kid, I loved the “Trinity” movies starring Terence Hill and Bud Spencer. They were as funny as it got as far as a junior high Bradley was concerned. I’m 51 now and I still love the Trinity movies. I’m going to celebrate Hill’s 86th birthday by watching my DVD of THEY CALL ME TRINITY (1970) again tonight! Happy Birthday, Terence! 

A Blast From The Past: Barefoot In The Park (dir by Harvey Medelinsky)


Our regularly scheduled review of Welcome Back Kotter will not be posted this week so that we may bring you this special presentation….

From 1982 and filmed for HBO, it’s a stage production of Barefoot In The Park!  I’ve always loved the Robert Redford/Jane Fonda film version but I also enjoy this recording of one of the play’s periodic Broadway revivals.  Richard Thomas and Bess Armstrong play the newlyweds and they really bring Neil Simon’s dialogue to life.

Without further ado, here is Barefoot In The Park!

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special 1970 Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, let’s celebrate the year 1970!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 1970 Films

MASH (1970, dir by Robert Altman, DP: Harold E. Stine)

El Topo (1970, dir by Alejandro Jodorowsky, DP: Rafael Corkidi)

Nightmares Come At Night (1970, dir by Jess Franco)

Little Big Man (1970, dir by Arthur Penn, DP: Harry Stradling Jr)