Synopsis
Black Hawk Down
From acclaimed director Ridley Scott (The Martian) and renowned producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Pearl Harbor) comes the gripping true story about bravery, camaraderie, and the complex reality of war.
Black Hawk Down stars an exceptional cast including Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, and Eric Bana. In 1993, an elite group of American Rangers and Delta Force soldiers are sent to Somalia on a critical mission to capture a violent warlord whose corrupt regime has led to the starvation of hundreds of thousands of Somalis. When the mission goes quickly and terribly wrong, the men find themselves outnumbered and literally fighting for their lives.
The Guns Of Navarone
Academy Award®-winners Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn star as a team of Allied military specialists recruited for a dangerous but imperative mission: to infiltrate a Nazi-occupied fortress and disable two long-range field guns so that 2,000 trapped British soldiers may be rescued.
Black Hawk Down
From acclaimed director Ridley Scott (The Martian) and renowned producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Pearl Harbor) comes the gripping true story about bravery, camaraderie, and the complex reality of war.
Black Hawk Down stars an exceptional cast including Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, and Eric Bana. In 1993, an elite group of American Rangers and Delta Force soldiers are sent to Somalia on a critical mission to capture a violent warlord whose corrupt regime has led to the starvation of hundreds of thousands of Somalis. When the mission goes quickly and terribly wrong, the men find themselves outnumbered and literally fighting for their lives.
The Guns Of Navarone
Academy Award®-winners Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn star as a team of Allied military specialists recruited for a dangerous but imperative mission: to infiltrate a Nazi-occupied fortress and disable two long-range field guns so that 2,000 trapped British soldiers may be rescued.
- 9/17/2023
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Yet like many other of his contemporaries or successors – Frederick Forsyth, Desmond Bagley, Jack Higgins, Alistair Maclean, et al – with whom his works usually adorned bookshelves in houses of avid readers in the late 20th century, Nevil Shute has gradually faded away from public memory and interest.
An accomplished aeronautical engineer and pilot, who began writing novels as a hobby, Shute was much in demand for most of the 20th century, with his two-dozen-odd engrossing and eminently readable books with compelling plot lines – straddling various genres from romance to redemption, religion to reincarnation, and cross-cultural relations to a post-apocalyptic scenario, and sometimes, some supernormal elements – but not enough to stretch credulity.
Exotic and unconventional settings – spanning from South Pacific islands to dense Canadian forests to the Australian outback, themes revisited without getting repetitive, and sometimes, a framing device of a narrator – who introduces the main story but otherwise does not...
An accomplished aeronautical engineer and pilot, who began writing novels as a hobby, Shute was much in demand for most of the 20th century, with his two-dozen-odd engrossing and eminently readable books with compelling plot lines – straddling various genres from romance to redemption, religion to reincarnation, and cross-cultural relations to a post-apocalyptic scenario, and sometimes, some supernormal elements – but not enough to stretch credulity.
Exotic and unconventional settings – spanning from South Pacific islands to dense Canadian forests to the Australian outback, themes revisited without getting repetitive, and sometimes, a framing device of a narrator – who introduces the main story but otherwise does not...
- 6/18/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Led Zeppelin approached its fourth album with a mission — make it all about the music. That’s why the cover doesn’t feature the band’s name, the album title, or the record label information. It was a statement to the critics who said the band was all hype: “Judge the music, not the people making it.” And the music holds up. Guitarist Jimmy Page had to work overtime on Led Zeppelin IV because of a studio lie, and he was up for the challenge. So are we. We’re ranking all eight songs from Led Zeppelin IV from worst* to best.
(* — Worst being a relative term when discussing Led Zeppelin IV songs).
(l-r) Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham | Michael Putland/Getty Images 8. ‘Four Sticks’
We’re letting Led Zeppelin make the first choice on our rankings. The pulsating rhythm, unique time signature,...
(* — Worst being a relative term when discussing Led Zeppelin IV songs).
(l-r) Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham | Michael Putland/Getty Images 8. ‘Four Sticks’
We’re letting Led Zeppelin make the first choice on our rankings. The pulsating rhythm, unique time signature,...
- 3/3/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin seemed to burst onto the music scene. All it took was one stellar concert in early 1969 for singer Robert Plant to realize the band might mean something special. Yet the band’s members played in various bands (or worked as anonymous session musicians in the case of John Paul Jones). They won over fans almost immediately, but several other musicians hated Led Zeppelin with intense passion.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones | Michael Putland/Getty Images Led Zeppelin’s members disliked some of their own work
Several musicians hated Led Zeppelin and let the world know. Zep members have freely criticized their own work over the years.
Jimmy Page hates “Living Loving Maid” from Led Zeppelin II, even though he has himself to blame for its radio airplay over the years. His loathing of the butchered version of a classic Zep song is spot on,...
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones | Michael Putland/Getty Images Led Zeppelin’s members disliked some of their own work
Several musicians hated Led Zeppelin and let the world know. Zep members have freely criticized their own work over the years.
Jimmy Page hates “Living Loving Maid” from Led Zeppelin II, even though he has himself to blame for its radio airplay over the years. His loathing of the butchered version of a classic Zep song is spot on,...
- 2/27/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The most striking aspect of the commemorative events marking the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings on 6 June 2019 was the testimony of the veterans who participated in the conflict and who spoke eloquently and movingly about the events of 6 June 1944.
These interviews should be compulsory viewing so people understand the courage and sacrifice of a generation of men and women who displayed the “unconquerable resolve” the Queen spoke about during her speech in Portsmouth.
The film world has, of course, brought us many depictions of the Normandy landings and the subsequent battles. You will find a number of those titles in this list of the 20 greatest Second World War films.
These 20 movies only scratch the surface of the countless number made about the momentous event, but remind us of the horrors and sacrifices made during the devastating global conflict.
Scroll through the gallery below to see the 20 greatest war films:...
These interviews should be compulsory viewing so people understand the courage and sacrifice of a generation of men and women who displayed the “unconquerable resolve” the Queen spoke about during her speech in Portsmouth.
The film world has, of course, brought us many depictions of the Normandy landings and the subsequent battles. You will find a number of those titles in this list of the 20 greatest Second World War films.
These 20 movies only scratch the surface of the countless number made about the momentous event, but remind us of the horrors and sacrifices made during the devastating global conflict.
Scroll through the gallery below to see the 20 greatest war films:...
- 1/29/2023
- by Graeme Ross
- The Independent - Film
Director John Sturges’ final feature is a handsome production that fumbles and stumbles in unexpected ways. Michael Caine and especially Donald Sutherland lead an impossible commando mission to kidnap Winston Churchill right from English soil. Tom Mankiewicz’s dialogue is witty but the tone is all over the place. We don’t know whether it’s the script, the direction or the editing that muffs so many potential bravura moments. On the other hand, every scene with Sutherland and Jenny Agutter is gold. [Imprint] gives us both a theatrical cut and a more satisfying extended cut.
The Eagle Has Landed
Region Free Blu-ray
Viavision [Imprint] 193
1976 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 135 + 151 min. / Street Date December 28, 2023 / Available from / au 69.95
Starring: Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland, Robert Duvall, Jenny Agutter, Donald Pleasence, Anthony Quayle, Jean Marsh, Sven-Bertil Taube, John Standing, Judy Geeson, Treat Williams, Larry Hagman, Joachim Hansen, David Gilliam, Siegfried Rauch, Wolf Kahler, Roy Marsden, Ferdy Mayne.
The Eagle Has Landed
Region Free Blu-ray
Viavision [Imprint] 193
1976 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 135 + 151 min. / Street Date December 28, 2023 / Available from / au 69.95
Starring: Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland, Robert Duvall, Jenny Agutter, Donald Pleasence, Anthony Quayle, Jean Marsh, Sven-Bertil Taube, John Standing, Judy Geeson, Treat Williams, Larry Hagman, Joachim Hansen, David Gilliam, Siegfried Rauch, Wolf Kahler, Roy Marsden, Ferdy Mayne.
- 1/7/2023
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
John Sturges’ 1965 film flaunts Cold War thrills and Strangelovian plot turns worthy of an Alistair MacLean novel – which is just where the story came from. It’s a typically solid Sturges production with prime work from cinematographer Robert Surtees and composer Jerry Goldsmith. Star George Maharis is a colorless leading man but vets Richard Basehart, Anne Francis and Dana Andrews flesh out the cast nicely.
The post The Satan Bug appeared first on Trailers From Hell.
The post The Satan Bug appeared first on Trailers From Hell.
- 12/9/2022
- by TFH Team
- Trailers from Hell
Bones star Emily Deschanel discusses a few of her favorite films with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Shining (1980) – Adam Rifkin’s trailer commentary
Dumb And Dumber (1994)
Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000)
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
Crusoe (1988)
Watership Down (1978)
Gandhi (1982)
Small Soldiers (1998)
Waiting For Guffman (1996)
Best In Show (2000) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary
Vertigo (1958) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review,
Marnie (1964) – Dan Irleand’s trailer commentary, Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing recommendation
La Femme Nikita (1991)
Psycho (1960) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing recommendation
Psycho (1998) – Ti West’s trailer commentary
Citizen Kane (1941) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
Rear Window (1954) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Topaz (1969)
Foreign Correspondent (1940) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
North By Northwest (1959)
Notorious (1946) – John Landis’s trailer commentary,...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Shining (1980) – Adam Rifkin’s trailer commentary
Dumb And Dumber (1994)
Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000)
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
Crusoe (1988)
Watership Down (1978)
Gandhi (1982)
Small Soldiers (1998)
Waiting For Guffman (1996)
Best In Show (2000) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary
Vertigo (1958) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review,
Marnie (1964) – Dan Irleand’s trailer commentary, Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing recommendation
La Femme Nikita (1991)
Psycho (1960) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing recommendation
Psycho (1998) – Ti West’s trailer commentary
Citizen Kane (1941) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
Rear Window (1954) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Topaz (1969)
Foreign Correspondent (1940) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
North By Northwest (1959)
Notorious (1946) – John Landis’s trailer commentary,...
- 7/20/2021
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Producer-star Richard Widmark may have thought he was inventing a new kind of spy film but his adaptation of an Alistair MacLean novel just grinds the Cold War grist, mixing good atmosphere with unconvincing action derring-do. The handsome production makes good use of Austrian and Swiss locations and the unfamiliar cast is a big assist. German star Sonja Ziemann gets the plum role, but Hollywood’s discovery is the lovely Senta Berger.
The Secret Ways
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1961 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 112 min. / Street Date October 27, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 24.95
Starring: Richard Widmark, Sonja Ziemann, Charles Regnier, Walter Rilla, Senta Berger, Howard Vernon, Hubert von Meyerinck, Oskar Wegrostek, Stefan Schnabel, Elisabeth Neumann-Viertel, Ady Berber, Jochen Brockman, Reinhard Kolldehoff, Herbert Fux.
Cinematography: Max Greene
Film Editor: Aaron Stell
Original Music: Johnny Williams
Written by Jean Hazelwood from the novel by Alistair MacLean
Produced by Richard Widmark
Directed by Phil Karlson...
The Secret Ways
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1961 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 112 min. / Street Date October 27, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 24.95
Starring: Richard Widmark, Sonja Ziemann, Charles Regnier, Walter Rilla, Senta Berger, Howard Vernon, Hubert von Meyerinck, Oskar Wegrostek, Stefan Schnabel, Elisabeth Neumann-Viertel, Ady Berber, Jochen Brockman, Reinhard Kolldehoff, Herbert Fux.
Cinematography: Max Greene
Film Editor: Aaron Stell
Original Music: Johnny Williams
Written by Jean Hazelwood from the novel by Alistair MacLean
Produced by Richard Widmark
Directed by Phil Karlson...
- 10/10/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
22 October 1969: As fame beckons, Hopkins is uneasy about becoming a star, saying ‘Acting is a third rate art. We are all over paid and over publicised. I hate actors but I love acting’
The Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins, once a stalwart member of the National Theatre, is the latest recruit to the ranks of film spy anti-heroes. He is shortly to emerge as Philip Calvert, Alistair MacLean’s new character, described variously as “the first under-water spy” and “a slightly ribald Secret Service agent.” The first film in this series which the publicity machine confidently predicts will “Out-Bond Bond” – called When Eight Bells Toll – is presently being filmed on the Island of Mull.
Related: Anthony Hopkins: five best moments...
The Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins, once a stalwart member of the National Theatre, is the latest recruit to the ranks of film spy anti-heroes. He is shortly to emerge as Philip Calvert, Alistair MacLean’s new character, described variously as “the first under-water spy” and “a slightly ribald Secret Service agent.” The first film in this series which the publicity machine confidently predicts will “Out-Bond Bond” – called When Eight Bells Toll – is presently being filmed on the Island of Mull.
Related: Anthony Hopkins: five best moments...
- 10/22/2019
- by Catherine Stott
- The Guardian - Film News
Writer, director Christopher McQuarrie continues developing his remake of the Arctic thriller "Ice Station Zebra" (1968) based on the 1963 spy novel by author Alistair MacLean.
The original feature directed by John Sturges, starred Rock Hudson, Patrick McGoohan, Ernest Borgnine and Jim Brown, with a parallel to real-life events in 1959.
"...'Commander James Ferraday', captain of the nuclear submarine 'USS Tigershark' is dispatched to the polar ice region on a rescue mission when an emergency signal is received from research station, 'Ice Station Zebra'.
"On board the sub is a civilian and likely spy, 'David Jones', whose orders are secret. Along the way, they collect two additional passengers, a Russian named 'Boris Vaslov', likely also a spy, and 'Us Marine Capt. Leslie Anders' who takes command of the Marines traveling as passengers.
"It soon becomes apparent that the mission is more that just a simple rescue operation. It also becomes apparent...
The original feature directed by John Sturges, starred Rock Hudson, Patrick McGoohan, Ernest Borgnine and Jim Brown, with a parallel to real-life events in 1959.
"...'Commander James Ferraday', captain of the nuclear submarine 'USS Tigershark' is dispatched to the polar ice region on a rescue mission when an emergency signal is received from research station, 'Ice Station Zebra'.
"On board the sub is a civilian and likely spy, 'David Jones', whose orders are secret. Along the way, they collect two additional passengers, a Russian named 'Boris Vaslov', likely also a spy, and 'Us Marine Capt. Leslie Anders' who takes command of the Marines traveling as passengers.
"It soon becomes apparent that the mission is more that just a simple rescue operation. It also becomes apparent...
- 1/8/2019
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Pierce Brosnan, who stars in AMC’s new Western series The Son, recently opened up about losing his wife and daughter to ovarian cancer. Look back on People’s 1992 cover story on the British actor, as he reflected on his wife’s memory four months after her death — and the profound impact she had on his life.
When His Agent Phoned Pierce Brosnan in early March to tell him that his latest film, The Lawnmower Man, was a box office hit—a Brosnan first—the 39-year-old Irish-born actor remembers how he “whooped and hollered” with his two boys, Christopher, 19, and Sean,...
When His Agent Phoned Pierce Brosnan in early March to tell him that his latest film, The Lawnmower Man, was a box office hit—a Brosnan first—the 39-year-old Irish-born actor remembers how he “whooped and hollered” with his two boys, Christopher, 19, and Sean,...
- 4/6/2017
- by People Staff
- PEOPLE.com
Laurence Bowen’s London-based Dancing Ledge Productions has entered into a deal with publisher HarperCollins to adapt the novels of Alistair MacLean as event TV series. The first project under the pact is San Andreas, a thriller set on board a torpedoed Ww II hospital ship. Tony Marchant (The Secret Agent) is adapting. HarperCollins owns the rights to bestselling author MacLean’s novels which also include The Guns Of Navarone, Ice Station Zebra and Where Eagles Dare. Each…...
- 10/13/2016
- Deadline TV
I guess Howard Hughes wanted to go easy on Minnesota Nazis. William Cameron Menzies directs a Cold War thriller about an insidious germ warfare conspiracy -- it's an early paranoid suspense tale with apocalyptic consequences. But the story behind the movie's making -- and then remaking -- is even more fantastic. The Whip Hand DVD-r The Warner Archive Collection 1951 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 82 min. / Street Date February 16, 2016 / available through the WBshop / 18.59 Starring Elliott Reid, Raymond Burr, Carla Balenda, Edgar Barrier, Otto Waldis, Michael Steele, Lurene Tuttle, Peter Brocco, Lewis Martin, Frank Darien, Olive Carey, George Chandler, Gregory Gaye. Cinematography Nicholas Musuraca Film Editor Robert Golden Original Music Music by Paul Sawtell Written by George Bricker, Frank L. Moss, Ray Hamilton Produced by Louis J. Rachmil Directed by William Cameron Menzies
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Film writers Bill Warren and Tom Weaver have reported extensively on the unusual production story...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Film writers Bill Warren and Tom Weaver have reported extensively on the unusual production story...
- 6/4/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Cinema Retro issue #35 has now shipped to our subscribers worldwide. No other magazine centers specifically on the great Golden Age of film making: the 1960s and 1970s. Every issue is packed with exclusive interviews, rare photos and insightful columns about classic and cult movies that virtually no one else covers in this kind of detail. Please support classic cinema in the print format by subscribing or renewing today!
Highlights of this issue include:
Mike Siegel's 12 page in-depth report on the tragedy and triumph in the making of Bruce Lee's last film, Enter the Dragon Mark Mawston's exclusive interview with Ian Ogilvy, who talks about filming She Beast, Witchfinder General and his close call with playing James Bond Extensive report from Tim Greaves on the underrated Alistair MacLean spy thriller When Eight Bells Toll, which afforded young Anthony Hopkins an early starring role. Peter Cook pays tribute to "The...
Highlights of this issue include:
Mike Siegel's 12 page in-depth report on the tragedy and triumph in the making of Bruce Lee's last film, Enter the Dragon Mark Mawston's exclusive interview with Ian Ogilvy, who talks about filming She Beast, Witchfinder General and his close call with playing James Bond Extensive report from Tim Greaves on the underrated Alistair MacLean spy thriller When Eight Bells Toll, which afforded young Anthony Hopkins an early starring role. Peter Cook pays tribute to "The...
- 5/23/2016
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Exclusive: Cassian Elwes and Andre Gaines are producing a remake of the 1972 classic revenge thriller Fear is the Key after closing a deal to acquire the rights from StudioCanal. The story, based on a book by Alistair MacLean, takes place in Louisiana and follows the character of John Talbot as he plots an elaborate revenge scheme on the people who killed his family in a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico. By pretending to be a criminal, Talbot gets close to the culprits…...
- 5/14/2016
- Deadline
Teraa Surroor
Starring: Himesh Reshammiya, Farah Karimaee, Kabir Bedi, Shekhar Kapoor, Monica Dogra,Shernaaz Patel
Directed by: Shawn Arranha
Rating: *** ½ (3 and a half stars)
Go with zero expectations and I promise you, Teraa Surroor will surprise you. More than anything else, it’s a very good-looking film. And I don’t mean the cast where admittedly, we have some suave, dapper and just plain interesting faces lending a gravitas to the Alistair MacLean brand of thrills, you know the sort where one smart-aleck played by the one and only Himesh Reshammiya takes on the entire police force of Dublin and—guess what?—emerges a winner.
The plot, in case you haven’t guessed by now, is a bit of a stretch. But it never tests your patience. And there is a very good reason for that. Director Shawn Arranha (who once upon time made a mall horror flick entitled Hide...
Starring: Himesh Reshammiya, Farah Karimaee, Kabir Bedi, Shekhar Kapoor, Monica Dogra,Shernaaz Patel
Directed by: Shawn Arranha
Rating: *** ½ (3 and a half stars)
Go with zero expectations and I promise you, Teraa Surroor will surprise you. More than anything else, it’s a very good-looking film. And I don’t mean the cast where admittedly, we have some suave, dapper and just plain interesting faces lending a gravitas to the Alistair MacLean brand of thrills, you know the sort where one smart-aleck played by the one and only Himesh Reshammiya takes on the entire police force of Dublin and—guess what?—emerges a winner.
The plot, in case you haven’t guessed by now, is a bit of a stretch. But it never tests your patience. And there is a very good reason for that. Director Shawn Arranha (who once upon time made a mall horror flick entitled Hide...
- 3/11/2016
- by Subhash K Jha
- Bollyspice
This forgotten Alistair MacLean action thriller packs a rare starring role for the young Anthony Hopkins -- he's really good as secret agent Philip Calvert, battling gold thieves in the Scottish Isles. He's got a James Bond attitude in a more down-to-Earth adventure. When Eight Bells Toll Blu-ray Kl Studio Classics 1971 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 94 min. / Street Date March 8, 2016 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring Anthony Hopkins, Robert Morley, Nathalie Delon, Jack Hawkins, Corin Redgrave, Ferdy Mayne, Wendy Allnutt, Maurice Roëves, Derek Bond, Leon Collins, Peter Arne, Oliver MacGreevy, Tom Chatto, Del Henney. Cinematography Arthur Ibbetson Film Editor John Shirley Original Music Angela Morley Written by Alistair MacLean from his novel Produced by Elliott Kastner Directed by Etienne Périer
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Producer Elliott Kastner stretched Alistair MacLean's brand of military action adventure to James Bond extremes in the expensive, very popular Where Eagles Dare of 1968. Several MacLean adaptations got underway,...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Producer Elliott Kastner stretched Alistair MacLean's brand of military action adventure to James Bond extremes in the expensive, very popular Where Eagles Dare of 1968. Several MacLean adaptations got underway,...
- 3/8/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
StudioCanal has acquired the Stephen Harding's WW2 nonfiction thriller novel "The Last Battle".
Sounding like a more dramatic variation of Alistair MacLean's "Where Eagles Dare," the story is set weeks after Hitler's suicide but before the German surrender and at a castle high in the Austrian Alps.
The action follows a daring attempt by a small band of American soldiers to liberate French prisoners being held there, prisoners who could provide damning war crimes testimony and are to be executed by around two-hundred hardened Waffen SS troops hot on the heels of the Americans.
Bryce Zabel penned the script and will produce with Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman. No word on a production schedule as yet.
Source: Deadline...
Sounding like a more dramatic variation of Alistair MacLean's "Where Eagles Dare," the story is set weeks after Hitler's suicide but before the German surrender and at a castle high in the Austrian Alps.
The action follows a daring attempt by a small band of American soldiers to liberate French prisoners being held there, prisoners who could provide damning war crimes testimony and are to be executed by around two-hundred hardened Waffen SS troops hot on the heels of the Americans.
Bryce Zabel penned the script and will produce with Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman. No word on a production schedule as yet.
Source: Deadline...
- 12/9/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Highlights of this issue include:
Mike Siegel's 12 page in-depth report on the tragedy and triumph in the making of Bruce Lee's last film, Enter the Dragon Mark Mawston's exclusive interview with Ian Ogilvy, who talks about filming She Beast, Witchfinder Generaland his close call with playing James Bond Extensive report from Tim Greaves on the underrated Alistair MacLean spy thriller When Eight Bells Toll,which afforded young Anthony Hopkins an early starring role. Peter Cook pays tribute to "The Art of Deception"- a look at the use of matte paintings in famous films. Michael Commes takes a fun filled visit to The House of Bare Mountain, the infamous nudie monster flick Esteemed photographer Keith Hamshere shares his memories and photos from The Living Daylights, Murphy's War and Death on the Nile. Raymond Benson's Ten Best Films of 1954 Patrick Cooper pays tribute to Robert Mitchum and The Friends of Eddie Coyle Lee Pfeiffer's "Take Two" column examines Assignment K starring Stephen Boyd and Camilla Sparv Brian Hannan looks at what was hot at the boxoffice in 1966 Sheldon Hall reviews a video release of Jacques Rivette's films Daniel D'Arpe celebrates the cult sci-fi flick Starcrash starring Caroline Munro and David Hasselhoff. Adrian Smith joyfully uncovers the 007 sexploitation spoof Bonditis Plus Darren Allison's latest soundtrack news and reviews, Gareth Owen's "Pinewood Past" column and the latest movie book and DVD reviews.
USA/ Canada : Cinema Retro Issue #35 USA/ Canada : Cinema Retro Issue #35 $15.00 Usd UK : Cinema Retro Issue #35 UK : Cinema Retro Issue #35 £8.50 Gbp Europe : Cinema Retro Issue #35 Europe : Cinema Retro Issue #35 £10.50 Gbp Rest Of The World : Cinema Retro Issue #35 Rest Of The World : Cinema Retro Issue #35 £12.00 Gbp...
Mike Siegel's 12 page in-depth report on the tragedy and triumph in the making of Bruce Lee's last film, Enter the Dragon Mark Mawston's exclusive interview with Ian Ogilvy, who talks about filming She Beast, Witchfinder Generaland his close call with playing James Bond Extensive report from Tim Greaves on the underrated Alistair MacLean spy thriller When Eight Bells Toll,which afforded young Anthony Hopkins an early starring role. Peter Cook pays tribute to "The Art of Deception"- a look at the use of matte paintings in famous films. Michael Commes takes a fun filled visit to The House of Bare Mountain, the infamous nudie monster flick Esteemed photographer Keith Hamshere shares his memories and photos from The Living Daylights, Murphy's War and Death on the Nile. Raymond Benson's Ten Best Films of 1954 Patrick Cooper pays tribute to Robert Mitchum and The Friends of Eddie Coyle Lee Pfeiffer's "Take Two" column examines Assignment K starring Stephen Boyd and Camilla Sparv Brian Hannan looks at what was hot at the boxoffice in 1966 Sheldon Hall reviews a video release of Jacques Rivette's films Daniel D'Arpe celebrates the cult sci-fi flick Starcrash starring Caroline Munro and David Hasselhoff. Adrian Smith joyfully uncovers the 007 sexploitation spoof Bonditis Plus Darren Allison's latest soundtrack news and reviews, Gareth Owen's "Pinewood Past" column and the latest movie book and DVD reviews.
USA/ Canada : Cinema Retro Issue #35 USA/ Canada : Cinema Retro Issue #35 $15.00 Usd UK : Cinema Retro Issue #35 UK : Cinema Retro Issue #35 £8.50 Gbp Europe : Cinema Retro Issue #35 Europe : Cinema Retro Issue #35 £10.50 Gbp Rest Of The World : Cinema Retro Issue #35 Rest Of The World : Cinema Retro Issue #35 £12.00 Gbp...
- 10/19/2015
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Techno-thriller fans have been waiting a long time for a good disc of action ace John Sturges' sci-fi espionage suspenser. George Maharis, Richard Basehart, Anne Francis and Dana Andrews must stop a madman who has snatched a full battery of deadly bio-warfare viruses from a super-secret government lab. Each flask can wipe out an entire city, and one of them will kill every living thing on the planet. The Satan Bug Blu-ray Kl Studio Classics 1965 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 114 min. / Street Date September 22, 2015 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring George Maharis, Richard Basehart, Anne Francis, Dana Andrews, John Larkin, Richard Bull, Frank Sutton, Edward Asner, Simon Oakland, John Anderson, James Hong, Hari Rhodes, Henry Beckman, Harry Lauter, Tol Avery, Russ Bender, James Doohan, Harold Gould, Carey Loftin. Cinematography Robert Surtees Film Editor Ferris Webster Original Music Jerry Goldsmith Written by Edward Anhalt, James Clavell from the novel by Ian Stuart (Alistair MacLean...
- 9/22/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
I promise – it wasn’t my plan to have seven of the ten films on this portion of the list focus on World War II. But, if we look back at the biggest international conflicts of all time, World War II is the one that provides the most opportunity. It’s a chance for a number of different countries to look at the same war from different perspectives. In this portion alone, there’s a French film, a German film, a Hungarian film, a couple British/American films, and a few American films – all about varied aspects of World War II.
courtesy of fmvmagazine.com
40. The Killing Fields (1984)
Directed by: Roland Joffé
Conflict: Cambodian Civil War
For all the films made about World War II and larger scale conflicts, the few that depict smaller, more concentrated ones are sometimes more effective. Roland Joffé’s 1984 drama The Killing Fields hones in on Cambodia,...
courtesy of fmvmagazine.com
40. The Killing Fields (1984)
Directed by: Roland Joffé
Conflict: Cambodian Civil War
For all the films made about World War II and larger scale conflicts, the few that depict smaller, more concentrated ones are sometimes more effective. Roland Joffé’s 1984 drama The Killing Fields hones in on Cambodia,...
- 6/10/2014
- by Joshua Gaul
- SoundOnSight
War is hell, for sure, but war can make for undeniably brilliant movie-making. Here, the Guardian and Observer's critics pick the ten best
• Top 10 action movies
• Top 10 comedy movies
• Top 10 horror movies
• Top 10 sci-fi movies
• Top 10 crime movies
• Top 10 arthouse movies
• Top 10 family movies
10. Where Eagles Dare
As the second world war thriller became bogged down during the mid-60s in plodding epics like Operation Crossbow and The Heroes of Telemark, someone was needed to reintroduce a little sang-froid, some post-Le Carré espionage, and for heaven's sake, some proper macho thrills into the genre. Alistair Maclean stepped up, writing the screenplay and the novel of Where Eagles Dare simultaneously, and Brian G Hutton summoned up a better than usual cast headed by Richard Burton (Major Jonathan Smith), a still fresh-faced Clint Eastwood (Lieutenant Morris Schaffer), and the late Mary Ure (Mary Elison).
Parachuted into the German Alps, they have one...
• Top 10 action movies
• Top 10 comedy movies
• Top 10 horror movies
• Top 10 sci-fi movies
• Top 10 crime movies
• Top 10 arthouse movies
• Top 10 family movies
10. Where Eagles Dare
As the second world war thriller became bogged down during the mid-60s in plodding epics like Operation Crossbow and The Heroes of Telemark, someone was needed to reintroduce a little sang-froid, some post-Le Carré espionage, and for heaven's sake, some proper macho thrills into the genre. Alistair Maclean stepped up, writing the screenplay and the novel of Where Eagles Dare simultaneously, and Brian G Hutton summoned up a better than usual cast headed by Richard Burton (Major Jonathan Smith), a still fresh-faced Clint Eastwood (Lieutenant Morris Schaffer), and the late Mary Ure (Mary Elison).
Parachuted into the German Alps, they have one...
- 10/29/2013
- The Guardian - Film News
Mission: Impossible 5: Tom Cruise has confirmed what was, for all intents and purposes, a foregone conclusion: he will star in and help produce Mission: Impossible 5. The previous installment, directed by Brad Bird, made more than $700 million worldwide. Still up in the air, however, is who will write and/or direct the project. Back in November, Christopher McQuarrie, who worked with Cruise on Jack Reacher, was named as the only candidate for the directing job, but his availability is in question. [Deadline] Ice Station Zebra: Christopher McQuarrie may not be available to work on Mission: Impossible 5 because he's now been signed to write and direct a new version of Ice Station Zebra, based on a Cold War thriller by Alistair MacLean. The first version, directed by John...
Read More...
Read More...
- 5/7/2013
- by Peter Martin
- Movies.com
Any idea what Ice Station: Zebra is? Until now I had no idea. However after the fantastically entertaining Jack Reacher, today's news that Christopher McQuarrie has signed on to direct the remake of this icy adventure makes it a must see in my books.According to the interwebs, Ice Station: Zebra is a 1968 cold-war era suspense and espionage film directed by John Sturges, starring Rock Hudson, Patrick McGoohan, Ernest Borgnine, and Jim Brown, loosely based on Alistair MacLean's novel of the same name. The movie had an all-male cast, something which will surely be one of the first things to change with a remake.Here's the synopsis from the original movie: Commander James Ferraday, Usn, has new orders: get David Jones, a British civilian, Captain Anders, a...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 5/7/2013
- Screen Anarchy
Sneak Peek clips from the Oscar-nominated spy thriller "Ice Station Zebra", in anticipation of writer-director Christopher McQuarrie's upcoming Warners remake, based on the 1963 spy novel by author Alistair MacLean.
The original feature directed by John Sturges, starred Rock Hudson, Patrick McGoohan, Ernest Borgnine and Jim Brown, with a screenplay by MacLean, Douglas Heyes, Harry Julian Fink and W. R. Burnett, with a parallel to real-life events in 1959:
"...'Commander James Ferraday', captain of the nuclear submarine 'USS Tigershark' is dispatched to the polar ice region on a rescue mission when an emergency signal is received from research station, 'Ice Station Zebra'.
"On board the sub is a civilian and likely spy, 'David Jones', whose orders are secret. Along the way, they collect two additional passengers, a Russian named 'Boris Vaslov', likely also a spy, and 'Us Marine Capt. Leslie Anders' who takes command of the Marines traveling as passengers.
The original feature directed by John Sturges, starred Rock Hudson, Patrick McGoohan, Ernest Borgnine and Jim Brown, with a screenplay by MacLean, Douglas Heyes, Harry Julian Fink and W. R. Burnett, with a parallel to real-life events in 1959:
"...'Commander James Ferraday', captain of the nuclear submarine 'USS Tigershark' is dispatched to the polar ice region on a rescue mission when an emergency signal is received from research station, 'Ice Station Zebra'.
"On board the sub is a civilian and likely spy, 'David Jones', whose orders are secret. Along the way, they collect two additional passengers, a Russian named 'Boris Vaslov', likely also a spy, and 'Us Marine Capt. Leslie Anders' who takes command of the Marines traveling as passengers.
- 5/7/2013
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
News Simon Brew 7 May 2013 - 06:58
Tom Cruise is confirmed to star and produce in Mission: Impossible 5, which appears to be moving forward...
In a surprise to pretty much nobody, Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions have put the wheels firmly in motion for a new Mission: Impossible film. The last movie in the franchise, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, raked in just shy of $700m at the global box office, making it the most successful to date at the box office. As such, a deal has now been done that will see Tom Cruise reprising the role of Ethan Hunt, and also producing once again.
At one stage, you may recall, it wasn't going to be like this. Off the back of the commercial disappointment of Knight And Day, the fourth Mission: Impossible film was apparently retooled so that it was less of a leading man vehicle for Tom Cruise.
Tom Cruise is confirmed to star and produce in Mission: Impossible 5, which appears to be moving forward...
In a surprise to pretty much nobody, Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions have put the wheels firmly in motion for a new Mission: Impossible film. The last movie in the franchise, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, raked in just shy of $700m at the global box office, making it the most successful to date at the box office. As such, a deal has now been done that will see Tom Cruise reprising the role of Ethan Hunt, and also producing once again.
At one stage, you may recall, it wasn't going to be like this. Off the back of the commercial disappointment of Knight And Day, the fourth Mission: Impossible film was apparently retooled so that it was less of a leading man vehicle for Tom Cruise.
- 5/7/2013
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
If not for a last minute change, legendary opera star Maria Callas would have been the female lead in The Guns of Navarone.
Opera superstar Maria Callas was set to make her movie debut in Carl Foreman’s iconic war film The Guns Of Navarone, according to a new book, The Making Of The Guns Of Navarone launched this weekend at the Bradford Widescreen Film Festival (April 26-29) by Scottish film historian Brian Hannan.
The singer had scandalised the world by her affair with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, who would later marry Jackie Kennedy, widow of assassinated president John F Kennedy. Callas was first choice for the role of the older female Greek partisan. Producer Carl Foreman promised ‘mucho love scenes’ with star Gregory Peck.
Commented Hannan, ‘At the time, Maria Callas was the most famous woman in the world, a fiery mixture of Princess Diana and Madonna, the...
Opera superstar Maria Callas was set to make her movie debut in Carl Foreman’s iconic war film The Guns Of Navarone, according to a new book, The Making Of The Guns Of Navarone launched this weekend at the Bradford Widescreen Film Festival (April 26-29) by Scottish film historian Brian Hannan.
The singer had scandalised the world by her affair with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, who would later marry Jackie Kennedy, widow of assassinated president John F Kennedy. Callas was first choice for the role of the older female Greek partisan. Producer Carl Foreman promised ‘mucho love scenes’ with star Gregory Peck.
Commented Hannan, ‘At the time, Maria Callas was the most famous woman in the world, a fiery mixture of Princess Diana and Madonna, the...
- 4/25/2013
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
"Frankenstein" (1931): Since it involves a scientist's (Colin Clive) creation of a synthetic man (Boris Karloff), this most legendary movie version of Mary Shelley's story has to be considered one of the classic examples of this genre.
"The Satan Bug" (1965): An ex-government agent's (George Maharis) pursuit of two missing vials of a deadly virus fuels this gripping adaptation of an Alistair MacLean novel.
"The Andromeda Strain" (1971): In giving life (or, in the cases of some characters, death) to Michael Crichton's novel, director Robert Wise wisely uses a cast of frequent supporting players -- including Arthur Hill, David Wayne and Kate Reid -- as scientists fighting a lethal germ from a high-tech underground lab.
"Coma" (1978): Remade this week as an A&E Network miniseries, Robin Cook's best-seller -- first brought to the screen by the aforementioned Crichton -- casts Genevieve Bujold as a headstrong Boston...
"The Satan Bug" (1965): An ex-government agent's (George Maharis) pursuit of two missing vials of a deadly virus fuels this gripping adaptation of an Alistair MacLean novel.
"The Andromeda Strain" (1971): In giving life (or, in the cases of some characters, death) to Michael Crichton's novel, director Robert Wise wisely uses a cast of frequent supporting players -- including Arthur Hill, David Wayne and Kate Reid -- as scientists fighting a lethal germ from a high-tech underground lab.
"Coma" (1978): Remade this week as an A&E Network miniseries, Robin Cook's best-seller -- first brought to the screen by the aforementioned Crichton -- casts Genevieve Bujold as a headstrong Boston...
- 9/3/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Legendary film and television actor Ernest Borgnine has died this afternoon from kidney failure, he was 95. His wife, Tova, and children were at his side at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles reports CNN.
After serving in the U.S. Navy in the Second World War, the gap-toothed Borgnine made the move into television and then film, forging out a six decade long career as a widely liked and respected character actor.
His first big break was the role of the cruel Sgt. 'Fatso' Judson in 1953's "From Here to Eternity" along with a few villain roles in films like "Vera Cruz" and "Bad Day at Black Rock". In 1955 though came "Marty" in which he played a lovelorn butcher, a performance that won him the Best Actor Oscar over the likes of James Cagney, James Dean, Frank Sinatra and Spencer Tracy.
He worked with filmmaker Sam Peckinpah on both the...
After serving in the U.S. Navy in the Second World War, the gap-toothed Borgnine made the move into television and then film, forging out a six decade long career as a widely liked and respected character actor.
His first big break was the role of the cruel Sgt. 'Fatso' Judson in 1953's "From Here to Eternity" along with a few villain roles in films like "Vera Cruz" and "Bad Day at Black Rock". In 1955 though came "Marty" in which he played a lovelorn butcher, a performance that won him the Best Actor Oscar over the likes of James Cagney, James Dean, Frank Sinatra and Spencer Tracy.
He worked with filmmaker Sam Peckinpah on both the...
- 7/9/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Jeremy Sisto is about to fly the unfriendly skies. The "Law & Order" vet has joined the cast of the political miniseries "Air Force One Is Down," which is currently shooting in Luxembourg. Also read: Linda Hamilton Leads Cast of 'Air Force One Is Down' Sisto will play Captain Fergus Markey in the project, which is based on the Alistair MacLean novel of the same name. In the story, Air Force One is sabotaged and sent plunging into the Mediterranean. The president of the United States is taken hostage, along with a White House correspondent,...
- 6/20/2012
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Sonar Entertainment and the London-based distributor Power announced the cast of "Air Force One Is Down," a four-hour television miniseries currently shooting in Luxembourg. Based on a book by Scottish novelist Alistair MacLean, "Beauty and the Beast" actress Linda Hamilton will star as U.S. President Harriet Rowntree in the thriller about a sabotaged Air Force One crashing into the Mediterranean, where she is captured and held hostage by a Serbian strongman. The film also stars "Law & Order's" Jeremy Sisto, "The Madness of King George" actress Amanda Donohoe, "Lost's" Emilie de Ravin,...
- 6/19/2012
- by Alexander C. Kaufman
- The Wrap
On Sunday (May 26), the citizens of E! -- The Kardashians, Ice T and Coco, Chelsea Handler -- get some Oscar-level company with the premiere of "Mrs. Eastwood & Company."
While Clint Eastwood's second wife of 16 years, Dina, is at the center of the new reality offering (along with a couple of teenagers and about 30 family pets), Clint will appear in two episodes.
And any excuse to have a Clint Eastwood movie marathon is a good excuse ...
"A Fistful of Dollars" (1964): During a hiatus from his television Western "Rawhide," Eastwood went to Spain to work with director Sergio Leone on what would be the first Man With No Name saga. The rest, as they say, is history.
"Hang 'Em High" (1968): Proving he also could make an effective screen Western in the American style, Eastwood played a wrongful hanging victim saved, deputized ... and filled with vengeance.
"Where Eagles Dare" (1968):...
While Clint Eastwood's second wife of 16 years, Dina, is at the center of the new reality offering (along with a couple of teenagers and about 30 family pets), Clint will appear in two episodes.
And any excuse to have a Clint Eastwood movie marathon is a good excuse ...
"A Fistful of Dollars" (1964): During a hiatus from his television Western "Rawhide," Eastwood went to Spain to work with director Sergio Leone on what would be the first Man With No Name saga. The rest, as they say, is history.
"Hang 'Em High" (1968): Proving he also could make an effective screen Western in the American style, Eastwood played a wrongful hanging victim saved, deputized ... and filled with vengeance.
"Where Eagles Dare" (1968):...
- 5/20/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
DVD Playhouse—February 2012
By Allen Gardner
To Kill A Mockingbird 50th Anniversary Edition (Universal) Robert Mulligan’s film of Harper Lee’s landmark novel pits a liberal-minded lawyer (Gregory Peck) against a small Southern town’s racism when defending a black man (Brock Peters) on trumped-up rape charges. One of the 1960s’ first landmark films, a truly stirring human drama that hits all the right notes and isn’t dated a bit. Robert Duvall makes his screen debut (sans dialogue) as the enigmatic Boo Radley. DVD and Blu-ray double edition. Bonuses: Two feature-length documentaries: Fearful Symmetry and A Conversation with Gregory Peck; Featurettes; Excerpts and film clips from Gregory Peck’s Oscar acceptance speech and AFI Lifetime Achievement Award; Commentary by Mulligan and producer Alan J. Pakula; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 2.0 mono.
Outrage: Way Of The Yakuza (Magnolia) After a brief hiatus from his signature oeuvre of Japanese gangster flicks,...
By Allen Gardner
To Kill A Mockingbird 50th Anniversary Edition (Universal) Robert Mulligan’s film of Harper Lee’s landmark novel pits a liberal-minded lawyer (Gregory Peck) against a small Southern town’s racism when defending a black man (Brock Peters) on trumped-up rape charges. One of the 1960s’ first landmark films, a truly stirring human drama that hits all the right notes and isn’t dated a bit. Robert Duvall makes his screen debut (sans dialogue) as the enigmatic Boo Radley. DVD and Blu-ray double edition. Bonuses: Two feature-length documentaries: Fearful Symmetry and A Conversation with Gregory Peck; Featurettes; Excerpts and film clips from Gregory Peck’s Oscar acceptance speech and AFI Lifetime Achievement Award; Commentary by Mulligan and producer Alan J. Pakula; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 2.0 mono.
Outrage: Way Of The Yakuza (Magnolia) After a brief hiatus from his signature oeuvre of Japanese gangster flicks,...
- 2/26/2012
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
Lisa Vanderpump's daughter, the amazingly-named Pandora Vanderpump-Todd, tied the knot on last night's "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" season finale -- and it was one over-the-top ceremony!Pandora and adorable fiance Jason Sabo got married at Vanderpump-Todd Manor, and succeeded in turning the home's tennis courts into some tented, lavishly decorated wedding grounds.Lisa and Ken's daughter looked gorgeous in a $6,000 Ian Stuart wedding gown, while Lisa looked like a princess too in her pink dress and tiara.Giggy, who never misses the chance to dress up, also donned a tux for the ceremony.Check out all the intimate shots from last night's show above! Read more...
- 1/24/2012
- by tooFab Staff
- TooFab
Production designer behind the deadly gadgets used by James Bond – and his foes
The production designer Syd Cain, who has died aged 93, was one of many behind-the-scenes professionals elevated to something like prominence by the worldwide interest in the James Bond films. An industry veteran who began work in British cinema as a draughtsman in 1947, contributing to the look of the gothic melodrama Uncle Silas, Cain is credited on a range of film and television projects, but remains best known for his work in various design capacities on the 007 series, from Dr No in 1962 to GoldenEye in 1995.
Born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, Cain served in the armed forces in the second world war, surviving a plane crash and recovering from a broken back. Working at Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire in the 1940s and 50s, he moved up from uncredited draughtsman (on Adam and Evelyne, The Interrupted Journey, You Know What Sailors Are...
The production designer Syd Cain, who has died aged 93, was one of many behind-the-scenes professionals elevated to something like prominence by the worldwide interest in the James Bond films. An industry veteran who began work in British cinema as a draughtsman in 1947, contributing to the look of the gothic melodrama Uncle Silas, Cain is credited on a range of film and television projects, but remains best known for his work in various design capacities on the 007 series, from Dr No in 1962 to GoldenEye in 1995.
Born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, Cain served in the armed forces in the second world war, surviving a plane crash and recovering from a broken back. Working at Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire in the 1940s and 50s, he moved up from uncredited draughtsman (on Adam and Evelyne, The Interrupted Journey, You Know What Sailors Are...
- 12/2/2011
- by Kim Newman
- The Guardian - Film News
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the heroic WWII epic adventure The Guns of Navarone, based on the Alistair MacLean novel and directed by J. Lee Thompson (Battle for The Planet of the Apes, MacKenna’s Gold, Cape Fear, What A Way To Go), with the release of a 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray on October 24.
Gregory Peck (To Kill A Mockingbird), Anthony Quinn (Lawrence of Arabia) and David Niven (The Pink Panther) are Allied saboteurs assigned an impossible mission: infiltrate an impregnable Nazi-held island and destroy the two enormous long-range field guns that prevent the rescue of 2,000 trapped British soldiers.
Blacklisted screenwriter Carl Foreman (High Noon, The Bridge on the River Kwai) was determined to re-establish both his name and credibility after spending most of the 50′s working in anonymity. To accomplish this, he decided to bring Alistair MacLean’s best-selling novel to the screen. Academy Award...
Gregory Peck (To Kill A Mockingbird), Anthony Quinn (Lawrence of Arabia) and David Niven (The Pink Panther) are Allied saboteurs assigned an impossible mission: infiltrate an impregnable Nazi-held island and destroy the two enormous long-range field guns that prevent the rescue of 2,000 trapped British soldiers.
Blacklisted screenwriter Carl Foreman (High Noon, The Bridge on the River Kwai) was determined to re-establish both his name and credibility after spending most of the 50′s working in anonymity. To accomplish this, he decided to bring Alistair MacLean’s best-selling novel to the screen. Academy Award...
- 10/19/2011
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
Best-selling author of techno-thrillers whose 1977 blockbuster was made into a film
Craig Thomas, who has died from pneumonia aged 68, was at the forefront of the spy/adventure genre known as the techno-thriller, novels in which technology – usually cutting-edge military hardware extrapolated from current technological advances – is central to the plot. Thomas's 1977 novel Firefox featured the fictional MiG-31, an aircraft so advanced that it would immediately give the Russians the upper hand.
At the time, the Russians had the MiG-25 Foxbat, the fastest reconnaissance bomber and interceptor in the air, with a top speed of Mach 2.8. Thomas's Firefox could achieve speeds of Mach 5, had stealth technology which made it invisible to radar and a guided missile system controlled by the pilot by thought alone. Realising the implications to security in the west, his British spymaster Kenneth Aubrey suggests an audacious plan to steal one of the two prototype aircraft.
Firefox...
Craig Thomas, who has died from pneumonia aged 68, was at the forefront of the spy/adventure genre known as the techno-thriller, novels in which technology – usually cutting-edge military hardware extrapolated from current technological advances – is central to the plot. Thomas's 1977 novel Firefox featured the fictional MiG-31, an aircraft so advanced that it would immediately give the Russians the upper hand.
At the time, the Russians had the MiG-25 Foxbat, the fastest reconnaissance bomber and interceptor in the air, with a top speed of Mach 2.8. Thomas's Firefox could achieve speeds of Mach 5, had stealth technology which made it invisible to radar and a guided missile system controlled by the pilot by thought alone. Realising the implications to security in the west, his British spymaster Kenneth Aubrey suggests an audacious plan to steal one of the two prototype aircraft.
Firefox...
- 4/13/2011
- by Steve Holland
- The Guardian - Film News
In a recent interview David Gordon Green talked about a few other movies he’s been running on; he wrote the screenplay for one of them, a remake of the 1968 Ice Station Zebra.
The original big military movie was directed by John Sturges and starred Rock Hudson. Well, here’s what Dgg had to say about it:
I just finished a script for Warner Bros. that’s a remake of ‘Ice Station Zebra’ that’s a big military movie. And I got to go camp out on the arctic circle with the Navy and explore those kind of… you know just the lingo and the politics of what’s going on in the arctic right now so it truly is a passport. Like literally Warner Brothers says, ‘Do you want to get on a jet with the Navy and get on a submarine?’ and you’re like, ‘absofuckinglutely!’ ”
Based on...
The original big military movie was directed by John Sturges and starred Rock Hudson. Well, here’s what Dgg had to say about it:
I just finished a script for Warner Bros. that’s a remake of ‘Ice Station Zebra’ that’s a big military movie. And I got to go camp out on the arctic circle with the Navy and explore those kind of… you know just the lingo and the politics of what’s going on in the arctic right now so it truly is a passport. Like literally Warner Brothers says, ‘Do you want to get on a jet with the Navy and get on a submarine?’ and you’re like, ‘absofuckinglutely!’ ”
Based on...
- 4/6/2011
- by Nikola Mraovic
- Filmofilia
With "Your Highness" almost upon us, writer/director David Gordon Green has done a few press interviews where he has mentioned his planned remake of Dario Argento's 1970's horror classic "Suspiria" as I previously reported.
Yet word of another completely different remake came up when he spoke with The Playlist this week, one that was bound to happen one day but hasn't really come up in reports before now - a new take on the 1968 film adaptation of Alistair MacLean's 1963 Cold War thriller novel "Ice Station Zebra".
“I just finished a script for Warner Bros. that’s a remake of ‘Ice Station Zebra’ that’s a big military movie. And I got to go camp out on the Arctic Circle with the Navy and explore those kind of… you know just the lingo and the politics of what’s going on in the arctic right now so it truly is a passport.
Yet word of another completely different remake came up when he spoke with The Playlist this week, one that was bound to happen one day but hasn't really come up in reports before now - a new take on the 1968 film adaptation of Alistair MacLean's 1963 Cold War thriller novel "Ice Station Zebra".
“I just finished a script for Warner Bros. that’s a remake of ‘Ice Station Zebra’ that’s a big military movie. And I got to go camp out on the Arctic Circle with the Navy and explore those kind of… you know just the lingo and the politics of what’s going on in the arctic right now so it truly is a passport.
- 4/6/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Self-made Hollywood producer best known for adapting novels
Elliott Kastner, who has died of cancer aged 80, was the model of a film producer, working his way up from the mailroom at the William Morris Agency in New York to Los Angeles, where he joined another powerful talent agency, McA, in 1959. He soon became vice-president of Universal Pictures, but after two years he risked everything to become an independent producer, a move that paid off.
This achievement required a certain amount of ruthlessness, and Kastner was relentless in his pursuit of getting what he wanted. Mostly he wanted to entice well-known playwrights and novelists to write screenplays, or gain the rights of those works whose authors were no longer around to cajole.
Kastner persuaded William Inge (Bus Riley's Back in Town, 1965), Iris Murdoch (A Severed Head, 1970), Edna O'Brien (Zee and Co, 1972) and Peter Shaffer (Equus, 1977) to adapt their works for the screen,...
Elliott Kastner, who has died of cancer aged 80, was the model of a film producer, working his way up from the mailroom at the William Morris Agency in New York to Los Angeles, where he joined another powerful talent agency, McA, in 1959. He soon became vice-president of Universal Pictures, but after two years he risked everything to become an independent producer, a move that paid off.
This achievement required a certain amount of ruthlessness, and Kastner was relentless in his pursuit of getting what he wanted. Mostly he wanted to entice well-known playwrights and novelists to write screenplays, or gain the rights of those works whose authors were no longer around to cajole.
Kastner persuaded William Inge (Bus Riley's Back in Town, 1965), Iris Murdoch (A Severed Head, 1970), Edna O'Brien (Zee and Co, 1972) and Peter Shaffer (Equus, 1977) to adapt their works for the screen,...
- 7/29/2010
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
There are certain elements of the process of finding and landing the gig that I really like. I may have a different view on this then other composers, but for myself, it’s part of what makes this whole film scoring business enjoyable. I find it interesting to search for prospective projects, whether at a networking events with filmmakers or through online networking like Facebook or Twitter. Making the connection, seeing if what I have to offer as a composer is what they would like and then, working with the a new filmmaker – it’s all great! Sometimes this takes weeks, months or maybe even years for something to develop, but it’s fascinating to set the wheels in motion and then see what unfolds. It’s also exciting when a new project comes in and it’s time to create the music.
The Instrument
Everyone has a different way...
The Instrument
Everyone has a different way...
- 7/23/2010
- by SCO Staff
- SCOREcastOnline.com
Producer Elliott Kastner has died at age 80. Known for his humorous personality and penchant for off-color jokes, Kastner was a larger-than-life character. Although born in America, he made England his home through much of his career and maintained an office at Pinewood Studios until the end of his life. Kastner moved from the music industry into film production with his first credit as producer on the 1965 film Bus Riley's Back in Town. He was one of the first producers to secure independent financing for his films, then sell the distribution rights to major studios. Kastner had many high profile films to his credit including Harper with Paul Newman, The Missouri Breaks and The Nightcomers- both with Marlon Brando, and perhaps most notably the 1969 MGM WWII film Where Eagles Dare...
- 7/1/2010
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
A professional is skilled, proficient, competent and businesslike. Who wouldn’t want to emulate these qualities?
Professionalism should be that standard by which we work at all times, no matter the type of project, the size of the budget, or the people for whom we are working. What you do at every step, how you conduct your business and professional life, will determine your career.
Be a pro at what you do: return calls; be on time for meetings; be respectful of your filmmakers’ accomplishments; be considerate of their time; be knowledgeable, efficient, businesslike, and clear; be the person on the team who gets things done — even if it’s beyond your job description as a composer — and always be prepared for any situation. Then, create exceptional music.
The business of a film composer can be elusive. You might be so involved in your own world of creating beautiful music...
Professionalism should be that standard by which we work at all times, no matter the type of project, the size of the budget, or the people for whom we are working. What you do at every step, how you conduct your business and professional life, will determine your career.
Be a pro at what you do: return calls; be on time for meetings; be respectful of your filmmakers’ accomplishments; be considerate of their time; be knowledgeable, efficient, businesslike, and clear; be the person on the team who gets things done — even if it’s beyond your job description as a composer — and always be prepared for any situation. Then, create exceptional music.
The business of a film composer can be elusive. You might be so involved in your own world of creating beautiful music...
- 5/27/2010
- by SCOREcast Team
- SCOREcastOnline.com
My experience as a composer has been primarily working with independent filmmakers with smaller budgets on short, feature, and documentary films. As I read through the articles from this month’s SCOREcast writers, I found similar scenarios that I also encounter in my work — one of them being the question of audio demonstration. Whether the project is with a local filmmaker or an out-of-town client this is certainly a factor to consider, and I have learned to ask many questions at the beginning of a new project.
Audio: Demonstrate in Your Studio and Ask Questions
Filmmakers usually have excellent editing equipment but often don’t have a good audio system, and sometimes they are unaware of what a quality system really sounds like.
If you can, try to schedule your first meeting with the director in your studio. Ask them to bring a couple of their favorite soundtrack CDs that...
Audio: Demonstrate in Your Studio and Ask Questions
Filmmakers usually have excellent editing equipment but often don’t have a good audio system, and sometimes they are unaware of what a quality system really sounds like.
If you can, try to schedule your first meeting with the director in your studio. Ask them to bring a couple of their favorite soundtrack CDs that...
- 4/30/2010
- by SCOREcast
- SCOREcastOnline.com
My experience as a composer has been primarily working with independent filmmakers with smaller budgets on short, feature, and documentary films. As I read through the articles from this month's SCOREcast writers, I found similar scenarios that I also encounter in my work — one of them being the question of audio demonstration. Whether the project is with a local filmmaker or an out-of-town client this is certainly a factor to consider, and I have learned to ask many questions at the beginning of a new project.
Audio: Demonstrate in Your Studio and Ask Questions
Filmmakers usually have excellent editing equipment but often don’t have a good audio system, and sometimes they are unaware of what a quality system really sounds like.
If you can, try to schedule your first meeting with the director in your studio. Ask them to bring a couple of their favorite soundtrack CDs that apply...
Audio: Demonstrate in Your Studio and Ask Questions
Filmmakers usually have excellent editing equipment but often don’t have a good audio system, and sometimes they are unaware of what a quality system really sounds like.
If you can, try to schedule your first meeting with the director in your studio. Ask them to bring a couple of their favorite soundtrack CDs that apply...
- 4/29/2010
- by noreply@blogger.com (Duncan K. Bohannon)
- SCOREcastOnline.com
Film-maker associated with Michael Caine
The film director and producer Geoffrey Reeve, who has died aged 77, contributed polished examples of mainstream British cinema in a variety of forms over several decades.
He was born in Tring, Hertfordshire, the son of a compositor who would cycle each day to the printworks in nearby King's Langley. A bright pupil at the local primary, Reeve won a county council scholarship to Berkhamsted school where he excelled in sports, academic subjects and school plays. He was also a notable chorister, an experience he would put to good use for the subplot of the film Shadow Run 50 years later.
After national service with the 7th Royal Tank Regiment in Hong Kong, he went to Exeter College, Oxford, in 1953 to read law. His singing voice and his gift for comic acting made him a useful addition to Oxford's drama and revue companies, and he was apparently...
The film director and producer Geoffrey Reeve, who has died aged 77, contributed polished examples of mainstream British cinema in a variety of forms over several decades.
He was born in Tring, Hertfordshire, the son of a compositor who would cycle each day to the printworks in nearby King's Langley. A bright pupil at the local primary, Reeve won a county council scholarship to Berkhamsted school where he excelled in sports, academic subjects and school plays. He was also a notable chorister, an experience he would put to good use for the subplot of the film Shadow Run 50 years later.
After national service with the 7th Royal Tank Regiment in Hong Kong, he went to Exeter College, Oxford, in 1953 to read law. His singing voice and his gift for comic acting made him a useful addition to Oxford's drama and revue companies, and he was apparently...
- 4/19/2010
- The Guardian - Film News
Cinema Retro's special Movie Classics Where Eagles Dare tribute issue. Click here for information.
On the evening of Saturday, January 23 Turner Classic Movies (North America) will present a line-up of films based on the novels by Alistair MacLean commencing with The Guns of Navarone and continuing through the night with Ice Station Zebra, Where Eagles Dare and Breakheart Pass. (For Dean Brierly's articles on the espionage films of Alistair MacLean, see Cinema Retro issues 13,14 and 15). Click here for the TCM schedule. ...
On the evening of Saturday, January 23 Turner Classic Movies (North America) will present a line-up of films based on the novels by Alistair MacLean commencing with The Guns of Navarone and continuing through the night with Ice Station Zebra, Where Eagles Dare and Breakheart Pass. (For Dean Brierly's articles on the espionage films of Alistair MacLean, see Cinema Retro issues 13,14 and 15). Click here for the TCM schedule. ...
- 1/20/2010
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Happy Halloween!
Welcome to the First Annual Famous Monsters Halloween Film Festival.
“In the mid to late sixties Forry’s Ackermansion was the hub for (all five) stop motion animators, especially when Ray Harryhausen came to town. We’d meet for 8mm (not super 8 ) film-fests and gawk at the terrific collection of artifacts from Kong, Mighty Joe Young, props and models from Ray H’s work. It was pig heaven. Forry kept me going in the lean days by commissioning me to sculpt & fabricate creatures from covers of Sci-fi magazines from the 30’s and effigies from H.P. Lovecraft tales. On one occasion I was delivering a plaster sculpture of Cthulhu and took a turn to hard just as I was pulling into the driveway. Cthulhu went over and smashed to bits. Forry looked over the ruins with that bemused detached smile and paid me anyway. I was able to eat...
Welcome to the First Annual Famous Monsters Halloween Film Festival.
“In the mid to late sixties Forry’s Ackermansion was the hub for (all five) stop motion animators, especially when Ray Harryhausen came to town. We’d meet for 8mm (not super 8 ) film-fests and gawk at the terrific collection of artifacts from Kong, Mighty Joe Young, props and models from Ray H’s work. It was pig heaven. Forry kept me going in the lean days by commissioning me to sculpt & fabricate creatures from covers of Sci-fi magazines from the 30’s and effigies from H.P. Lovecraft tales. On one occasion I was delivering a plaster sculpture of Cthulhu and took a turn to hard just as I was pulling into the driveway. Cthulhu went over and smashed to bits. Forry looked over the ruins with that bemused detached smile and paid me anyway. I was able to eat...
- 10/30/2009
- by sean
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
It's a morning for doorstop thriller adaptations. Spielberg is circling Matt Helm, and, once again according to the ever-reliable Variety, Ron Howard has been attached to direct The Parsifal Mosaic, from the novel by Robert Ludlum.Ludlum is one of those authors (like Alistair MacLean and Virginia Andrews) whose death has not stopped his publishing career, but The Parsifal Mosaic is a genuine, non-ghostwritten Ludlum thriller from 1982. An American intelligence agent catches a glimpse of his supposedly dead Kgb double-agent lover at a train station, and begins a globe-trotting pursuit, while his former employers, believing him to have gone nuts, send agents to terminate him. The script is being written by David Self (Road to Perdition, The Wolf Man) and the project is being set up at Universal alongside a fourth film about another Ludlum creation: a certain Jason Bourne. Shades of Vertigo in that dead / not dead lover scenario?...
- 7/30/2009
- EmpireOnline
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