A 7 Up Christmas

Christmas Time Is Here

     Nothing evokes  Christmas memories like Vince Guaraldi's magical and wonderful score to the holiday chestnut "A Charlie Brown Christmas".  This was Christmas to me, and it hasn't lost one bit of its charm .  It simply wouldn't be Christmas without Charlie Brown, and that's all I have to say about it.

Fallen Angel

     Tonight on the Late Show is the excellent film-noir "Fallen Angel", directed by Otto Preminger.  Although it wasn't a hit upon its initial release in 1945, it is now rightly considered a true noir classic that looks simply smashing on DVD today.  It stars hunky Dana Andrews (in maybe his finest performance...), Alice Faye, and Linda Darnell, and tells the tale of a drifter named Eric Stanton who gets off a bus in a small California town and falls in love with a sultry waitress named Stella.  Before long, Eric is madly in love with the saucy Stella, and desperate to get money to marry her,winds up marrying another woman, (Alice Face) with plans to swindle her and take the money.  But of course, something goes wrong in typical noir fashion and before you know it, you've got yourself totally immersed in a wonderful little mystery that snaps and crackles right along perfectly.

     This is film-noir at its finest and under-appreciated.  There's something very alluring about this movie.  It's got atmosphere you could cut with a knife, excellent acting, a rather intriguing plot, and excellent cinematography and lighting.  This was Otto Preminger's follow-up to his hugely successful "Laura", and this film is primarily remembered as the last film Alice Faye would make for another 20 years or so, as she was so angered at her screen time cut in favor of the more sexual Linda Darnell.  But it's an underrated noir that deserves a better reputation, if you ask me.  It moves along briskly and I found myself totally lost in it. It's stylish and sexy and although not quite as good as "Laura", it's still well worth a look.  It's a nice little mystery that really strings you along while watching.  It's a great way to spend a rainy afternoon with nothing else to do.

The Bell That Couldn't Jingle by Burt Bacharach

      Yes, December is upon us, and this is the most marvelous time of the year- the holidays mixed with hot toddies and cheer never fail to put a glow in my cheeks and a twinkle in my eye.  And neither does this wonderful chestnut from the fabulous Burt Bacharach.  It is most delicious...  Cheers!

Naked City Theme by Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra

     This is my absolute favorite version of the classic "Naked City" theme.  Nelson Riddle captures it perfectly and it's still thrilling after all these years.  It's the epitome of cool.

CLASSIC ADS- ?

     So, I swear I'm not being naughty here, but seriously... what is going on in this ad?  And doesn't this seem a bit risque?  Just saying.  And I have no idea what this ad is even for.  And honestly, who cares?

CLASSIC TV COMMERCIALS- Pringles "Newfangled" Potato Chips

    Is this not the most fun commercial you've ever seen?  I LOL every time I see it!  This gem is from 1973.

Possessed

     Tonight's feature on the Late Show is the 1947 classic "Possessed".  Joan Crawford continued her hot streak with this somewhat disturbing tale of a woman who is obsessed with  her ex-lover and on the brink of insanity because of it.  "Possessed" is a classic but slightly underrated noir that's just as good as "The Damned Don't Cry" or "Mildred Pierce", if you ask me.  Joan is riveting here- you cannot take your eyes off the sight of Crawford slowly descending into madness.  Her performance,  and a crackling and sharp script, all help make this an extremely entertaining noir classic.  Strong support from Van Heflin and Raymond Massey certainly doesn't hurt either.

      Joan plays Louise Howell, who's a nurse for the ailing and bitchy Mrs. Graham, a wealthy recluse who dies suddenly and mysteriously.  However, her widower, Grant, asks Louise to stay on after his wife's death and marry him.  Yet Carol, the daughter, hates Louise and blames her for the death of her invalid mother.  On top of all this, Louise once met the Graham's neighbor, David Sutton (Van Heflin), and had an affair.  David decides to end it, devastating Louise, who slowly and surely loses her mind over it.

 

       Once again directed by Curtis Bernhardt, "Possessed" is a soapy and stylish film noir that's got some nice twists and turns and bristles along snappily.  Crawford simply acts the hell out of this role, and I've never understood why it doesn't get more attention.  It's solid, it knows exactly where it's going, and it takes you along with it. Joan runs the gamut of emotions here- she was clearly campaigning for another Oscar after her triumphant win for "Mildred Pierce" before- and dare I say that she's slightly underrated as an actress?  She's stunning here, and it's impossible not to have a good time with "Possessed".  Crawford was a true pro and a true star, and this is a perfect example of her indomitable star quality.  Not to mention being a camp lover's delight.  This is one of my favorite Crawford films.

Chilling, Thrilling Sounds Of The Haunted House

     Of course I'm an avid vinyl collector, and just the other day I stumbled across the worn and instantly familiar Disneyland Records LP Chilling, Thrilling Sounds Of The Haunted House and had a moment with it.  I had many Disneyland albums, and this was my favorite. Along with my Aurora Monster kits, of course.  

The Thing From Another World!

     Based on renowned sci-fi writer John W. Campbell's short story "Who Goes There?",  horror classic "The Thing From Another World" tells the story of a group of scientists and military personnel who discover an alien life form frozen under the ice in the Arctic.  Of course, being scientists, they take the alien back to their base to study.  And of course, the block of ice encasing the alien life form thaws, and the "Thing" sets off on a bloody rampage.

     "The Thing From Another World" was one of the first films to successfully mesh horror with sci-fi, and came at a time when the country was besieged with UFO sightings.  This film would become extremely influential and usher in a slew of UFO pictures, not to mention paving the way for such classics as "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and "War Of The Worlds".  Let's not forget that in 1951 we were in the Cold War, so it's practically impossible not to read the film's subtext as an allegory to our fear of communism.  But most importantly, it's simply a great monster movie.

     "The Thing From Another World" is without a doubt one of the finest sci-fi/horror films ever made.  Its crisp b & w photography, smart dialogue, and top notch acting help seal the deal as well.  It's a nifty and claustrophobic monster mash that offers some low-budget but expertly crafted scares.  It's brilliant use of light and shadow, on top of the special effects, propel this far above the usual shlockfests of 50s sci-fi.  It's an amazing and influential film, and holds up great today- even with today's standards of shock and gore.  It honestly hasn't aged that much.  This fast-paced, brisk little chiller is a perfect flick for a cold, windy October night to curl up on the sofa to.  "The Thing From Another World" stars Kenneth Tobey, Margaret Sheridan, Robert Cornthwaite, and James Arness as the hulking Thing.

THIS ROOM IS MY CASTLE OF QUIET- BILLY MAY & HIS ORCHESTRA

     Hearing this always makes me think of the soundtrack to a cheesy 50s sci-fi/horror flick.

Horror Of Dracula

      "Horror Of Dracula", in 1958, was the first of Hammer's Dracula series. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee successfully re-invented the classic monsters from Universal, and although it makes several deviations from the original novel by Bram Stoker and the Bela Lugosi film version, there is something truly riveting about this re-telling.  It's a gorgeously eerie film- it looks sensational.

     Lee inherits the role from Bela Lugosi, and completely makes it his own.  "Horror of Dracula" is a lush, Technicolor take on Stoker's novel that became the first vampire movie to incorporate blood, red eyes, and fangs, actually.  There is an unsettling, eerie vibe in pretty much all of the Hammer productions, especially the Dracula series.  Take for instance Dracula's castle- it's nightmarish, creepy, and just plain weird looking.  It's like something hallucinated in a fever dream.  The sunlight also works well in these movies- it may seem ironic, but those sun-dappled woods for some reason really gets to me. I can't quite put my finger on what exactly it is, but something about these movies creep me out.

      Director Terence Fisher got rid of the cobwebs, howling wolves, and other Gothic trappings of  Browning's "Dracula", and makes a memorable interpretation of the classic tale.  Obviously these movies struck a chord with audiences, or they wouldn't have made so many in the first place.  Christoper Lee makes a fantastic Dracula- with his bloodshot eyes and fangs dripping blood, he is truly startling and somewhat spooky.  I would have to say Christopher Lee's Dracula is probably the most frightening of them all- there is just something about Lee and that damn creepy castle that's chilling.

     Critics were shocked and outraged over the explicit bloodletting, but the movie is quite tame compared with movies of today.   "Horror of Dracula" is considered by many horror fans to be one of the greatest vampire films ever made- and it certainly is one of the most gorgeous to look at.  Lavish all around, considering the lack of a budget they had to work with.

     Anyway, like "The Curse Of Frankenstein", "Horror Of Dracula" is a great start to a memorably campy series of films that are strangely addictive.  Most definitely an acquired taste- some just cannot get into these movies, for whatever reasons.  Personally I cut my teeth on these movies growing up and they made a huge impact on my young, impressionable little head.  Honestly, I remember these being on TV more than the original Universal films.  To me they're a perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon.  I could sit and watch these all day.

Plan 9 From Outer Space

     In 1959 Ed Wood released a film about aliens from outer space and the living dead here on Earth that was so hilariously amateur and awful, it would go on to become one of the greatest cult classics of all midnight movies.  Universally known as the worst movie ever made, Ed Wood's gloriously terrible "Plan 9 From Outer Space" stars the great Bela Lugosi, (in sadly what would be his last screen appearance), and Vampira- this story of alien graverobbers is one of the all-time greatest of the cheesy sci/fi-horror flicks of the 50s.  Chock full of bloopers, terrible acting, and the same shot of poor Bela used over and over again, it's quite astonishing just how amateur the entire production is- and how these movies ever got released in the first place.  Ed Wood was very imaginative and ambitious, but we all know he wasn't the most talented of directors.  But he had a vision nonetheless, and it's so much fun to watch.  It's a hoot trying to spot all the mistakes in "Plan 9", and it's a camp lovers delight.

     This is one of the most infamous films of the 50s, and definitely one of the most fun to watch today.  The fact that this was Lugosi's last film performance, and the fact that he died three years before the films release, only adds to its cult status.  Wood bravely forged ahead and incorporated the few screen minutes he had of Lugosi already filmed and interspersed them with shots of a not very convincing stand-in, who basically wanders around with his cape pulled up over his face.  It's kinda sad, funny, and eerie all at the same time.  It's perfect viewing for the Halloween season, as it usually pops up somewhere on cable.  "Plan 9 From Outer Space" is most certainly a blast from the past.

   

VOODOO DREAMS/VOODOO- LES BAXTER

     Delicious.

My Name Is Barbra

 

      Of course Barbra Streisand was fabulous before her legendary television debut, "My Name Is Barbra", aired in 1965.  But to the general public, she was still considered a curiosity.  People weren't quite sure whether to take her seriously or not.  Then, "My Name Is Barbra" aired... and her television debut became a pinnacle moment in music history, and a legend was born- all at a mere 22 years old.  Filmed in glorious black and white, it's a thrilling and sensational moment in television history.  If people didn't know who Streisand was before "My Name Is Barbra", they sure did the next day.  Not only was the show itself a runaway  ratings smash, but it made Barbra the most famous woman on the planet, besides Elizabeth Taylor.  The show was immensely popular, and the freshness and boldness that went into this production is still impressive even today.  Barbra had balls, and her braveness to do it different than the rest paid off.  It's a fantastic hour of song and show that tosses out the traditional variety show format of the time and amazingly drops the whole guest star thing.  Barbra has no guest stars- no silly and staged banter.  She is the show. Divided into three segments, Barbra is a true tour de force- astonishing the viewer with her raw talent.  It was truly groundbreaking at the time, and it's still a dazzling piece of showmanship. "My Name Is Barbra" is rightly considered one of television's most legendary moments- putting it up there with Elvis and The Beatles on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and Madonna on the VMA's.  This is perhaps Barbra presented in her finest hour.  And it's worth it alone just for the fabulous Bergdorf Goodman segment.And the two soundtracks to the television special is a must-have for any self-respecting fan of Streisand or lounge music.  Utterly delicious.

THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE/ DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES

     Hmmm.... delicious...

THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN

 

  
     Don't be fooled by the title.  This is one of the best sci-fi/horror films to come out of the 50s- rivaling 1956's "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers" as the best, in my opinion.

     Scott Carey and his wife are out enjoying their cabin cruiser one day at sea.  While his wife is momentarily below deck, the small craft passes through a mysterious mist.  Scott is left covered by a strange, glitter-like substance, which eventually disappears.  All seems fine, until a few days later when Scott is accidentally sprayed with an insecticide.  Then, he incredibly begins to realize that his entire body actually seems to be shrinking.    

      "The Incredible Shrinking Man" is an amazingly thought-out movie, and the stunning special effects (for the time) enhance the story greatly.  It also doesn't hurt the fact that it's based on such a well-written story to begin with, and the fact that the author himself adapted the screenplay.  It's not just a bunch of lines delivered with the usual b-movie schlock.  As fantastic as the special effects were for the time, the film is actually just as much a character study.  Grant Williams does a fine job with Scott Carey- it's fascinating to watch him become more and more resourceful in a desperate attempt to save his life and to deal with ordinary, everyday objects (spiders, the cat, etc.) that are now much more dangerous. On top of the repercussions his new fate has on his marriage.  Up until then, there had simply not been a film to deal with the psychology of the over-the-top and fantastic situations portrayed in the movie.  It's just a well-done flick all around.  If you want to see a perfect example of 50s sci-fi/horror, check out "The Incredible Shrinking Man" now!

The New Classic Singers- Call Me

1960's Easy Living

Hmmm... delicious...

HOLLYWOOD ICONS- BETTIE PAGE

     One of the most legendary pin-up queens in history, Bettie Page has become immortal.  The unforgettable Page remains an icon in the leagues of Marilyn, Elvis, and James Dean.  Here's a stunning collection of Bettie Page in all her glory...