“What good is a windmill when there’s no Quixote left to fight?”

That is a great line from the beautiful song “Walls And Doors” from Jackson Browne’s new CD, “Standing In The Breach”…

I love Jackson Browne’s music, and he has, once again, delivered a terrific collection of new songs. Here is a look at this new CD, but first, a quick look at some of the most memorable Jackson Browne songs…beginning with perhaps his most famous….even though it was turned into an anthem by his best friends!

“Take It Easy”

“Well, I’m a standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
Such a fine sight to see
It’s a girl my Lord in a flat-bed Ford
Slowin’ down to take a look at me

Take it easy, take it easy
Don’t let the sound of your own wheels
Make you crazy…”

Yes, some of the most iconic lyrics in rock ‘n’ roll…Jackson Browne wrote the classic song “Take It Easy”, which is one of the best examples of the “southern california sound”…

Jackson Browne was at the epicenter of southern california rock…he was good friends with the eagles, and they scored a huge hit with his song “Take It Easy” in the early 70′s…look at that picture above: Governor Jerry Brown, his girlfriend Linda Ronstadt, the eagles and Jackson Browne on the right…talk about your supergroup!

Desperados!

While Browne chose to remain a solo Artist and not join the eagles, he did take part in the photo shoot for the cover of the eagles second album “Desperado”…

“Late For The Sky!”

One of Browne’s most brilliant albums is “Late For The Sky”, including the title track, “Fountain Of Sorrow” and “Before The Deluge…”

Jackson Browne Stars In Taxi Driver!

Well he didn’t star in the classic movie, but his song “Late For The Sky is featured prominently…a song about loneliness and alienation…

“How long have I been sleeping
How long have I been drifting alone through the night
How long have I been running for that morning flight
Through the whispered promises and the changing light
Of the bed where we both lie
Late for the sky…”

Here is that song with scenes from this brilliant movie…

In the late seventies, Browne hit it big with mega hits like “Running On Empty”, “Doctor My Eyes” and “Somebody’s Baby” – which was the singer’s biggest hit single. It was featured in the classic coming-of-age comedy “Fast Times At Ridgemont High”….here is a live performance from 1982:

Jackson Browne has continued to record, with brilliant albums like “I’m Alive” and “Time The Conqueror”…..

In 2004, Browne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bruce Springsteen gave the induction speech, commenting to Browne that although the Eagles were inducted first, he said, “You wrote the songs they wished they had written”.

Three of Browne’s albums — “For Everyman”, “Late for the Sky”, and “The Pretender” — have been picked by Rolling Stone magazine as among its choices for the 500 best albums of all time.

And now, there is a gorgeous new CD of classic Jackson Browne music called “Standing In The Breach”…

“There can be freedom only when nobody owns it….”

There are so many incredible lyrics on the CD, and beautiful music as well, including one of my favorites:

“The Long Way Around”

Look at these lyrics:

“When I was a kid everything I did was trying to be free
Running up and down Tinsel Town with the fire inside of me
My planets all in retrograde, the best of all my plans got laid
I made my breaks, and some mistakes
Just not the ones people think I made

Now I’m a long way gone
Down this wild road I’m on
It’s going to take me where I’m bound
But it’s the long way around”

There is a lot of autobiographical material in these lyrics, beautifully sung by Browne…

“Winslow Arizona” Is Back!

One of the great new songs take the singer back to one of his favorites places: Winslow, Arizona…

Here he is performing “Leaving Winslow” on The David Letterman show:

There are so many great new songs here….please give it a listen – you will love it!

Oh, and if you love the classic Jackson Browne as well, then you need to watch the eagles documentary as well…

“Eagles” Still Flying High!

Yes, “Take It Easy” is part of the “History Of Th Eagles” concert tour currently underway…to read all about that, click on my review here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/09/21/history-of-the-eagles-amazing-concert-old-friends-return/

And kudos to Jackson Browne for his great new CD!

Behold Hollywood’s Greatest Sex Kitten!

She is one of America’s most accomplished Actresses, and has been nominated for a slew of awards…but she is also Hollywood’s most iconic sex kitten, and she worked with some of entertainment’s greatest stars!

She also starred in one of the wildest movies of the 70’s – and had one of film’s most infamous scenes!

Ummm….well, we will explain “the bean scene” in a moment! But first, a little bit of background on one of America’s most versatile actresses…

Ann-Margret is a Swedish-American actress, singer, and dancer who has been in some of the wildest movies ever made! She is an award-winning performer, with five Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards nominations, plus two Grammy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and six Emmy Awards!

After building up a string of movie roles and musicals in the 60’s, Margret stunned Hollywood with her honest, raw and naked portrayal in one of the 70’s greatest films, “Carnal Knowledge.”

Carnal Knowledge!

This was one of the most controversial and acclaimed movies of its time, a “thought-provoking” comedy-drama from the late and legendary director Mike Nichols. “Carnal Knowledge” is a funny, poignant look at relationships as seen through the eyes of two friends over a 20-year period.

Here is the trailer:

Written by playwright Jules Feiffer, “Carnal Knowledge” stars Jack Nicholson, Ann-Margaret, Candice Bergen and pop music icon Arthur Garfunkel. Nicholson and Garfunkel are college roommates who share an endless fascination and obsession with women.

One of their “obsessions” is with Ann-Margret, who is terrific in this film – this film helped her graduate from the innocent sex kitten phase of her career, baring her soul and much much more…

Quite the provocative role for America’s sweetheart! This film established Margret as a formidable Actress – she won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 1972 Golden Globes, and was Oscar nominated for Best Supporting Actress as well!

This intense performance established her as a formidable Actress, but tragedy was soon to follow. On September 10, 1972, while performing in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, she fell 22 feet from an elevated platform to the stage and suffered injuries including a broken left arm, cheekbone and jawbone.

But Margret wouldn’t let this slow her down, and she came back from this serious injury to score her great motion picture success ever – another chance to work with Jack Nicholson as well as The Who!

Tommy!

“Do you think it’s alright To leave the boy with Cousin Kevin? Do you think it’s alright? There’s something ’bout him I Don’t really like. Do you think it’s alright?”

Well, even though the Actress sang this line beautifully, we all know that it was NOT ALRIGHT to leave Tommy alone with his cousin!

“Tommy” is one of the wildest musical ever made, with an incredible cast including Jack Nicholson, Roger Daltry, Oliver Reed and Margret. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress that year.

Bring On The Baked Beans!

“Tommy” is a brilliant take on The Who’s legendary story of the deaf, dumb and blind kid who plays a mean pinball. In the film’s most legendary sequence, Ann-Margret “swims” in a sea of baked beans that pour down on her….

The Actress largely improvised the infamous bean scene. Director Ken Russell told her that her character was having a nervous breakdown, and that she could do whatever she wanted – and this is what she did!

Unfortunately at one point during filming her hand accidentally struck the broken glass of the TV screen and Russell had to rush her to hospital for stitches.

Here is that scene, courtesy of Youtube:

“Tommy” is an amazing movie, and now out on blu-ray, so buy yourself a copy!

Here is some great trivia courtesy of IMDB: Ann-Margret learned her role by reading the script and listening to the original album by The Who. She recorded her singing part in a single eleven hour session!

So what a great career: two films with Jack Nicholson, PLUS working with The Who! Add to that a movie with John Wayne as well. But, did you know she got her start by working with THE KING!?

“Elvis Meets His Love Match!”

Yes, before her breakout role in “Carnal Knowledge”, Margret was Hollywood’s sex kitten, and nowhere she she turn up the heat more than with Elvis Presley!

In the 60’s, Elvis made a string of forgettable Hollywood musicals, but this one in 1964, right after she starred in “Bye Bye Birdie”, made her a star!

This is a wacky, goofy fun film, check out the trailer:

The plot of “Viva Las Vegas” is almost embarrassing, even by Elvis movie standards: “Race car driver Lucky Jackson goes to Las Vegas to earn money to pay for a new engine for his motor car. Working as a waiter, he still finds the time to court young Rusty Martin.”

The film included such dialogue as this, as Margret AKA Rusty Martin, stops in at a gas station and meets “The King” aka Lucky Jackson:

Rusty Martin: Can you help me please?
Lucky Jackson: Can we help you? Yes ma’am.
Rusty Martin: Can you check my motor, it whistles.
Lucky Jackson: I don’t blame it!

Ann-Margret recorded a duet with Elvis called “You’re the Boss”, but it was never used in the film. It was later released however…just one of a number of great songs she has recorded…

When the wedding scene was filmed, many tabloid magazines at time published photos of the “wedding” and suggested that Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret really had gotten married.

The Power Of Elvis!

“Viva Las Vegas” earned at the box office in 1964 than The Beatles! “A Hard Day’s Night” was also released in 1964 at the height of Beatlemania, but “Viva Las Vegas” grossed $9,442,967 compared to $6,165,000 for the Beatles’ debut feature!

Kudos Ann-Margret!

Look for all of these films to really appreciate the talent of a great Hollywood icon!

“I can’t fly: I suffer from aviaphobia”.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I can’t fly. I also suffer from acrophobia and claustrophobia.”

“I’ll tell you what: if you don’t cooperate, you’re gonna suffer from “fistophobia”!”

If you know what the symptoms of “Fistophobia” are, then you have seen one of the best action comedies of all time!

The Criminally Neglected Action Buddy Comedy “Midnight Run”!

First, a question for you:

“Why Are You So Unpopular With The Chicago Police Department?”

It’s a fair question, since Charles Grodin asks Robert DeNiro that question about a hundred times in the movie – it’s just one of the many memorable lines from one of my favorite films…but get ready for a virtual non-stop series of profanity-laden quotes!

People cheered on the internet recently when it was announced that, almost 25 years after the initial release, “Midnight Run” would have a sequel. Even though the original film was only a modest success, a massive cult has formed for this funny, touching, and action-packed buddy film.

Robert DeNiro shows his comedy chops as Bounty hunter Jack Walsh, who is sent to find and return bail jumper and former Mafia accountant, Jonathan “The Duke” Mardukas. Charles Grodin is deadpan hilarious as “The Duke.”

“Midnight Run” was directed by Martin Brest, who also directed “Beverly Hills Cop.”

This is one of DeNiro’s best films, in a role that wasn’t the norm for him at the time. In addition, great character Actors are everywhere in this movie…such as Yaphet Kotto, who plays frustrated FBI Chief Alonzo Mosely, who is also looking for Grodin.

Alonzo Mosely: “Let me tell you something, asshole. I’ve been working on this Jimmy Serrano thing for about six years; Mardukas is my shot. I’m gonna bring him into federal court, and I don’t want any third-rate rent-a-thug who couldn’t cut it as a cop in Chicago bringing him to LA on some bullshit local charge. Do I make myself understood?”

Needless to say, that doesn’t really intimate DeNiro:

Jack Walsh: “Can I ask you something? These sunglasses, they’re really nice: are they government-issued, or all you guys go to the same store to get them?”

Bonding On The Road!

“Midnight Run” shares some plot points with the classic buddy comedy “Planes, Trains & Automobiles”: the difficulty in getting across the country when transportation problems arise…in both films, these problems help the duos form a “bickering friendship”…leading to the classic question:

Jonathan Mardukas: “Why are you so unpopular with the Chicago police department?”

It turns out that DeNiro was forced out of Chicago because he wouldn’t take a bribe from the mob….and it has left him hilariously bitter…

Robert DeNiro: “I never took a payoff in my life and I’m not gonna start with someone like you.”

Charles Grodin: “Why not?”

Robert DeNiro: “Because you’re a fucking criminal and you deserve to go where you’re going and I’m gonna take you there and if hear any more shit outta you: I’m gonna fucking bust your head and I’ll put you back in that fucking hole and I’m gonna stick your head in the fucking toilet bowl and I’m gonna make it stay there!”

Here Comes The Mob!

Iconic character Actor Dennis Farina plays the Chicago mobster who ran DeNiro out of town and wants Grodin dead….oh, and he is surrounded by two mob idiots….

“Is this moron number one? Put moron number two on the phone.”

Foul-mouthed Mobster Jimmy Serrano wants “The Duke” dead, and can’t stand it when his two incompetent hit men keep screwing up the job:

Jimmy Serrano: “You and that other dummy better start getting more personally involved in your work, or I’m gonna stab you through the heart with a fuckin’ pencil. Do you understand me?”
Tony Darvo: “You got it, Jimmy.”
(He hangs up the phone)
Joey: “Hey, Tony… he ain’t mad at me, is he?”

More on the late Dennis Farina in a moment…but first, another great acting performance by Joe Pantoliano as well!

Pantoliano is hilarious as Bail Bondsman Eddie Moscone, who needs “The Duke” back so he won’t have to pay the bond of a million dollars…and can’t understand why DeNiro and Grodin aren’t on their flight to LA…

Eddie Moscone: “What happened to the goddamn plane?”
Jack Walsh: “He doesn’t like to fly.”
Eddie Moscone: “He doesn’t like to fly? What the fuck does that mean? Listen to me, Jack. You’ve gotta be here in less than two and a half fuckin’ days! A half a million dollars of my money…

WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON THERE?”

DeNiro finally gets so fed with Pantoliano’s yelling that he decides to take drastic action:

Jack Walsh: “Eddie, Eddie, I swear to God, don’t start with me or so help me, I will shoot him and dump him in a fuckin’ swamp!”

Jack then covers the phone, looks at Grodin and shakes his head silently at him – “not really!” It’s a great example of how funny DeNiro can be in a movie…remember “Are you a pothead, Focker?”

“Midnight Run” is a cult classic because it gets better with every viewing…the films is filled with classic one-liners, the chemistry between the two male leads is great, there are a number of fun action scenes, and as I said, you get peppered with a ton of memorable quotes, like this one:

“I’m just saying…if I WERE your Accountant”…

“Here Come Two Words For You: Shut The Fuck Up!”

The best parts of the film are when DeNiro and Grodin are bickering, such as the classic interchange when Grodin drives DeNiro crazy by not letting up on the bounty hunter’s personal life:

Jonathan Mardukas: Did she hurt you, Jack?
Jack Walsh: Yeah, she did.
Jonathan Mardukas: I’m sorry.
Jack Walsh: What’re you sorry about?
Jonathan Mardukas: I’m sorry you’re hurt.
Jack Walsh: I’m not hurt.
Jonathan Mardukas: You just said you were hurt.
Jack Walsh: I’m not hurt.
Jonathan Mardukas: I just asked you if you were hurt and you said “Yeah, I’m hurt.”
Jack Walsh: That’s because you made me say that.
Jonathan Mardukas: Jack, you’re a grown man. You’re in control of your own words.

Jack Walsh: You’re goddamn right I am. Now here come two words for you: Shut the fuck up!

Boxcar Improv!

There is a terrific scene inside a train boxcar when De Niro and Grodin discuss whether or not they could ever really be friends. What’s amazing is, this scene was almost entirely improvised on set!

At one point, Grodin asks DeNiro:

“Have you ever had sex with a chicken?”

Grodin was told by director Martin Brest to come up with something that was guaranteed to make even Robert DeNiro laugh, and it sure did! But, when you watch the scene, you see DeNiro play off that dialogue with a great line of his own…

RIP Dennis Farina!

As I mentioned earlier Dennis Farina stars as the mob boss, and I was a huge fan of the late Actor, and he is terrific in “Midnight Run” as well. Farina shot all of his scenes in Las Vegas because he was also shooting the TV show “Crime Story” there at the same time.

Farina has this classic line in the film:

“You and that other dummy better start getting more personally involved in your work, or I’m gonna stab you through the heart with a fuckin’ pencil. Do you understand me?”

Now THAT’S motivation!

Here is a look at this great character Actor’s best roles:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/07/22/rip-dennis-farina-his-three-best-roles-mothers/

Farina is just one more reason to “suffer from fistophobia” again soon! Let me know your favorite line!

Need Something Unique To Bite Down On?

How about this Bacon Mac’n’Cheese Stuffed Doughnut Burger? It’s “warm glazed donut studded with cheesy, bacon-y mac & cheese, topped with crumbled bacon!”

Welcome To PYT!

Some of the world’s most unique burger creations are coming from Philadelphia, thanks to the creative geniuses at PYT Burger!

This burger joint describes themselves as the “Home of America’s Craaaziest Burgers!”

For Philly locals, they’re in The Piazza (1050 N. Hancock St #67) in Philadelphia, with hours from 11AM-2AM M-F, and 10:30AM-2AM Sat-Sun. Phone: (215) 964-9009 Email: pytphilly@gmail.com”

So, does PYT deserve to call themselves America’s CRAZIEST burger joint? Here is their case…

The Doughnut Cheesesteak Burger!

PYT was the creator of this amazing “doughnut cheesesteak burger”…classic Philly cheesesteak stuffed between two doughnuts…and if that’s not amazing enough for you – and in fact it has made you a bit thirsty, then what about this creation:

Behold The “Adultshake!”

PYT says it perfectly:

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers” – L.M. Montgomery

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, in celebration of the changing leaves and dropping temperatures of the Autumn season, we’re proud to present our Pumpkin Beer Adultshake.

Packed with Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale, pumpkin spice liqueur, deep fried pie crust, and pumpkin puree, this shake will get you in the Fall state of mind faster than you can say “It’s the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown”.

I’ll drink to that, PYT! But there’s more!

The Hot Pocket Burger!

You’ll never pass the frozen food aisle the same way again. PYT has created the deep-fried “Philly Cheese Steak” Hot Pocket buns. It’s a signature juicy PYT-blend beef patty topped with American cheese and truffle-drizzled wiz with a hot pockets cheesesteak added for good measure.

Yes, it’s over the top. Yes, we are a little ashamed. And yes,

“the flavor will melt your face.”

Don’t Be Chicken!

You can also dive into PYT’s unique chicken burger! Crispy fried chicken patty, homemade spicy buffalo & bleu cheese on a warm grilled donut bun.

And if you have a thing for seafood:

The Yacht Rock Shrimp Burger!

The Yacht Rock Shrimp Burger has a juicy, Key West-style shrimp & conch patty topped with a citrus-pico de gallo of diced peppers, tomatoes, onions and oranges. Then it is drizzled with a light coconut & pineapple cream. And served in a crispy, giant PYT onion ring.

PYT calls it an “Island-y delicious flavor explosion!”

And who can forget these culinary gems from the twisted minds at PYT:

The bacon cheeseburger stuffed doughnut may be their masterwork…and you can read all about it by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/10/25/bacon-glazed-cheeseburger-doughnut-amazing-burgerbacon-mashup/

And if you like to celebrate your holidays all year long, consider this:

Yes, you can keep Thanksgiving alive all year round, thanks to PYT’s amazing Turkey burger! See that recipe by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/11/14/thanksgiving-2014-burgers-turkey-day-stuffed-between-two-buns-pyts-delicious-burger/

I may never eat a salad again…I have had some amazing burgers in the US, but these folks are making a case that the best is still to come!

Kudos to PYT for making burger magic every day!

Why Is This Man Smiling?

It’s a smile that suggests you are about to be taken for a ride – well, that is true and in this case it’s all because of this:

As usual, the culprit is cash – LOTS AND LOTS OF CASH – and there is a great new book that looks at the people you find lining up to line their pockets with it…and you can find it all right here:

Welcome To The Amazingly Profitable World Of Washington DC!

There’s a book that looks at how money has changed our nation’s capital forever…a searing indictment about politicians who show up in DC – and never leave…

“Provides a lancing, often hysterically funny portrait of the capital’s vanities and ambitions.” —The New Yorker

Time to talk politics!

“This Town: Two Parties and a Funeral — Plus, Plenty of Valet Parking! — in America’s Gilded Capital!”

Welcome to “This Town” – shorthand for Washington DC – where the party never stops – and the politicians NEVER LEAVE!

“‘This Town’ is funny, it’s interesting, and it is demoralizing … I loved it as much as you can love something which hurts your heart.”—John Oliver, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Political Writer Mark Leibovich takes a devastating look at the current culture of $$$ and excess in Washington D.C. Just forty years ago, almost all politicians left DC after their political terms ended.

Now, most stay – to take lucrative jobs in the lobbying industry, or the cottage industry of political coverage on TV and the internet. It’s a billion-dollar business, and Leibovich digs deep to show you some of the excess…

Time To Enter “Suck-Up City!”

It was a term coined by a member of the Obama team when they arrived in DC in 2008…where the people with the most power wield the most influence – and are hit on the most by a never-ending lobbying effort.

It’s a world of lobbying firms, media consultants and book and speaking deals – all lavished on those who have made it to DC and never want to go home…

Here’s a piece of the review from “Bookforum”:

“This Town” is a puckish satire of the Washington political class’s steady retreat into its own gilded navel. Leibovich is a talented writer, and he resists the trap that more insecure, bloviating political writers might fall into: affirmatively spoon-feeding their own political judgments to readers at all turns. Leibovich just documents what he sees, and whom he talks to, wittily mimicking the so-what tone that these glib, dismal samples of humanity use to describe their controversial waking lives. In other words, he lets those who would be hanged hang themselves, by being themselves. (review written by Jim Newell)

Of particular interest is the reviewer’s phrase:

“he lets those who would be hanged hang themselves, by being themselves…”

Because Leibovich profiles a number of political operatives who just loved to talk, talk, talk…

Meet Tammy Haddad And Her “Tam Cam!”

Meet Tammy Haddad – a former TV Producer who is now one of DC’s most connected people. As the book states:

“Haddad’s signature accoutrement is a little video camera she carries around, called the “Tam Cam.” She walks up to people she knows—and who, by extension, matter—and initiates little interviews, which she will often put online. The interviews are generally quick and painless, if somewhat intrusive, “like a light enema,” in the words of one friend/victim. “My job is to be around the most successful people, the most up-and-coming people, and the people who have impact,” Tammy told me. This group has always existed in Washington, but now it is big enough to contain an entire sub economy.”

I’m not picking on Haddad, who has built quite a reputation for her political savvy…but she is also one of the many people profiled in the book who have turned politics into a big business, and the book looks at all of them….

It’s a great inside look at the politics of money, from a terrific writer – check it out! But we are not done yet…

Let’s Talk Politics!

There are so many ways to talk politics these days, but my favorite way is with movies!

That’s right, President Douglas is just one great movie leader – here is a look at some of the best films about the American presidency!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/07/21/movie-politics-heat-up-candidates-comedy-and-cover-ups-mr-president-mr-president-the-camera-is-rolling/

And it’s not just about the Commander-In-Chief:

“Game Change”!

It was a brilliant political book, and a great TV movie…some of the best political movies about the Vice President can be found here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/20/malarkey-biden-v-ryan-vps-battle-game-change-vp-movies-battle-harder/

And of course, nothing beats being there in person…

Here’s a look at our night celebrating with the President in 2012…

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/07/obamas-re-election-party-we-celebrate-with-the-president/

And of course, we should have celebrated with Obama Beer!

That’s right, there is a “White House Ale”, and here is the recipe!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/09/07/ale-to-the-chief-president-obamas-beer-plus-classic-beer-ads/

So many ways to celebrate this great political system of ours – so keep smiling!

Say Hello To The New James Bond Movie!

Yes, the wait is over – there is a new James Bond movie being filmed, and they’ve announced the title!

“SPECTRE” Is Back!

If you are a 007 fan, you know that the new title, “SPECTRE” is is an acronym for:

“Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion!”

The organisation made its first appearance in Fleming’s 1961 novel “Thunderball”, and on screen in the first Bond film, “Dr No”.

Who is Blofeld?

“SPECTRE” is run by the ultimate super-villain, Ernst Stavro Blofeld! Holding his signature white cat, Blofeld appeared in three Bond novels (Thunderball, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and You Only Live Twice) and seven Bond films (From Russia with Love, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds Are Forever, For Your Eyes Only and Never Say Never Again).

Character Actor Donald Pleasance played Blofeld, as did Telly Savalas – but now word is that Christoph Waltz will take on the role…he was announced as a member of the cast, without reference to his role…

With his Nehru-collared suit and white Turkish angora cat, he is one of the most recognisable of the Bond characters, and has been parodied in everything from Danger Mouse to Austin Powers, where he was the main inspiration for Mike Myers’s Dr Evil. His name was inspired by a boy Ian Fleming was at Eton with, Thomas Blofeld – father of the cricket commentator Henry “Blowers” Blofeld.

This great trivia came from London’s Telegraph, and you can get more great trivia here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/jamesbond/11272849/Bond-24-What-is-Spectre-and-who-is-Blofeld.html

While he may be Bond’s greatest nemesis, that doesn’t mean he stood up to the best Bonds…

The Best Bond! The Worst 007!

It’s a timeless argument….who was the best Bond ever? The worst?

If you want to weigh in, here is a look at all of the Bonds – let me know who your favorite is!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/09/24/his-name-is-bond-james-bond-the-best-007-ever-the-worst-film-fight-club-begins-now/

And of course, that leads to an ever bigger question: what is the best Bond theme song?

Great news for James Bond fans! The official “Skyfall” theme, sung by Adele, was a long overdue return to form: it was a GREAT Bond theme!

The James Bond theme is a big deal – has been for almost the entire 50-year history of the movie franchise…but for every GREAT theme sung by Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey or Duran Duran, you have to suffer through a dud like Sheryl Crow, A-Ha or, worst of all, Madonna!

Look away!

Madonna’s atrocious Bond theme was the nadir. The latest one, however, was terrific, sounding just like a Bond theme should, with Adele’s smokey voice doing justice to what a Bond theme should be…hypnotic, engaging, BOLD…

Here it is!

Adele – The new James Bond theme – “Skyfall!”

From the very beginning, James Bond 007 was the coolest guy in the room, and everything he did – wore – DRANK – was cool. So of course, his theme song was cool too…

The Bond theme songs started off as “no big deal” – the original theme song to “Dr. No” was a bit of a calypso thing, and “From Russia With Love” was a nice, unremarkable ballad….then Shirley Bassey knocked it out of the park with the next film – “Goldfinger” – which was an international phenomenon…and a very high standard was set!

There were many great themes to follow, including the best of all – when Paul McCartney set a new standard with this dynamite Bond theme for “Live And Let Die”:

Live And Let Die!

What can you say, this was the best Beatles song that never was a Beatles song…and Macca was a musician at the top of his game…

The “Censored” Bond!

But, did you know about the Bond song that was rejected by the Producers? After the huge success of “Live And Let Die”, the Producers looked around for another big rock star – and huge “star of the moment” Alice Cooper wrote and sang the theme song for the next Bond film, “The Man With The Golden Gun” –

But it didn’t go well, and the song was rejected….however, Cooper released the song on his “Muscle Of Love” album – an album released in a plain brown box…

Was Cooper ever really hired to do the theme? As you can hear, it’s a Bond theme thru and thru – and thanks to the passion of the internet, here it is laid over the movie’s opening credits!

The Man With The Golden Gun – the never used Alice Cooper version!

Alice spoke about the song in a 2011 interview:

“It was supposed to be the Bond theme, but it actually came in a day too late, and by the time they heard it, they’d already signed for Lulu’s song. I went, “You’re gonna take Lulu over this?” [Laughs.] ‘Cause it was perfect for The Man With The Golden Gun. It had helicopters, it had machine guns—it had the Pointer Sisters, Ronnie Spector, and Liza Minnelli doing background vocals! We went to every single one of those John Barry albums to try and invent the perfect James Bond song, and even Christopher Lee, who played Scaramanga in the movie, said, “Oh, man, why did we take the Lulu song? This song is the one!” [Laughs.] So, yeah, we lost out on that one, but I still put it on the album. I said, “I don’t care, I’m going to do a James Bond track no matter what.”

License To Kill

Finally, here is one of the most overlooked James Bond themes ever – Gladys Knight singing “License To Kill!”

Here’s hoping that the “SPECTRE” theme song is a great one!

And if you want to know how James Bond got his start, check out this amazing documentary all about the origins of 007:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/07/05/meet-james-bond-007-the-origin-of-james-bond-great-new-007-documentary/

So much Bond still to come!

Looking for a unique way to give a movie gift this holiday season?

Give A Great Movie Night!

I love the idea of a couple of movies wrapped in a popcorn container with specialty salts and some great wine! But it has to be the “right” kind of film. If your cinephile is looking for something more sophisticated than “The Ugley Truth”, then look no further than here:

Weng Weng’s Got You Covered!

Yes, it’s time for giving gifts to those you love – so why not surprise them with one of these five wild wild wild movies?

Let’s get started – first, hands up!

MEET 2 FEET AND 9 INCHES OF PURE MAN!

You are in good hands, because the legendary action hero “Weng Weng” is on the case!

For Your Height Only!

Now here is a classic film to slip under someone’s Christmas tree: a James Bond rip-off starring the legendary “littlest action hero” Weng Weng!

Take a look:

This classic slice of campy action stars Weng Weng, the legendary diminutive action hero…first, the plot:

Mr. Giant has kidnapped the brilliant Dr. Van Kohler and is planning to use the Doctor’s invention, the N-bomb, to hold the world hostage. The only one who can foil Mr. Giant’s evil scheme is Agent 00:

A 3-foot-tall filipino martial arts master, expert marksman, top-class romancer and all-around super spy!

That’s right: SIZE DOESN’T MATTER!

“For Your Height Only” is a play on words on “For Your Eyes Only”, the title of the James Bond film released that same year. I mean, look at this Bond-ish poster!

And of course, just like James Bond, Weng Weng is also a lady-killer…

Every movie lover would embrace Weng Weng! This movie was so successful that a sequel was produced in 1982, titled “The Impossible Kid”. Weng Weng is known as the shortest man to ever be a lead in an action film/martial arts film; he stands at 2’9″ (less than one meter).

The answer to the question you are thinking is “yes, it is as crazy as you imagine” – but isn’t that the point of giving it to a loved one?

From Weng Weng to Lloyd Kaufman!

Yes, it’s the perfect transition, because while Weng Weng is a small slice of heaven, Troma stands tall once again with their latest “Tromasterpiece!”

“Return To The Class Of Nuke ‘em High Vol. 1!”

The Maestro of Troma has unveiled his latest classic – check out the trailer!

WARNING! FULL FRONTAL NUDITY IN THIS TEASER – VERY VERY NSFW – ONLY FOR YOUR OWN EYES!

Well, hard to argue about this one…it’s Troma in spirit and execution – and of course green foam and blood….

“Return To The Class Of Nuke ‘em High” was ultimately divided into two parts, with “Vol. 1″ arriving this year…you can find it at Amazon as well as the official Troma store…and “Vol. 2″ will be released in 2015…

If you head to Troma.com, you can buy this terrifically fun movie and see the hundreds of films they have in their library –

Support legendary filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman by checking out more of my “Return to Nuke ‘em High Vol. 1″ here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/09/schools-out-rock-n-roll-high-nuke-em-high-and-alice-cooper/

Now, time to shift from Troma, home of the classic “Surf Nazis Must Die” – yes, another great Troma classic, to a more serious Nazi film…

“The Sequel You Did Nazi Coming!”

Yes, you read that right! You need to read about some of the craziest movies being made today – the raucous blend of zombies and Nazis! I’ve got a sequel to a movie you may not even know exists!

First: did you happen to see this classic film?

“Dead Snow”! Nazi Zombies, Of Course!

Leave it to the Norwegians to corner the market in wacky “nazi zombie” movies! You get the idea here: Nazis were never wiped out in WW2, they were just frozen solid – and once they thawed out, they were ravenous zombies! The success of the “Dead Snow” comic zombie gorefest has led to, you guessed it – THIS!

Read this inspired plot summary by the brilliant minds at IMDB:

“If the worst day of your life consisted of accidentally killing your girlfriend with an axe, chain-sawing your own arm off, and watching in horror as your closest friends were devoured by a zombified Nazi battalion, you’d have to assume that things couldn’t get much worse. In Martin’s case, that was only the beginning!”

Check out the trailer:

These are wacky cult films that are actually good! And of course, if you didn’t read my original post, here is the link to the “Citizen Kane” of Nazi Zombie movies, “Iron Sky!”

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/23/bad-taste-this-halloween-nazi-zombie-halloween-horror-halloween-party-movies/

Ok, let’s get away from war films and head to the far east, where there are entirely different kinds of zombies to fight!

Helldriver!

I love japanese exploitation films: they are wildly imaginative, and offer more excessive bloodshed than you will find anywhere else! Need proof?

“Helldriver” offers up one of the wackiest plots ever, as a zombie plague turns Japan into a bloody war zone…

Did I Say “Bloody?”

Yes, these classic “j-sploitaiton” films – japanese exploitation, a genre that offers garden hoses full of blood – a campy excess that keeps the films firmly in “tongue in cheek” territory – they are well done, and very fast and frenetic….never a dull moment in these movies!

It’s more a bloody action spectacle than a horror film, but it is indicative of the imaginative approach to moviemaking that is going on in Japan and Asia…

It’s what every movie buff would want under their tree!

To read all about “Helldriver”, just click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/05/01/female-ninja-warriors-extreme-asian-cinema-updated/

From “J-Splo” To “Oz-Splo”!

As much as I love “J-sploitation”, I think “Ozsploitation” may be even better!

Yes, let’s head to Australia for a legendary film that lives up to its hungry name!

Strap Yourself In For “The Bed That Eats!”

Yes, it is time to discover the wonder of “Death Bed!” First, let’s see a few choice moments thanks to “Saibot216″ on youtube….

It is referred to as the “worst film ever made!” But c’mon, if you’ve see “The Room” or “Birdemic”, you know that’s not possible…and now, thanks to the great home video distributor CultEpics, there is a new blu-ray that gives YOU the chance to decide for yourself!

Patton Oswalt’s Favorite Film!

This cult classic was lost to camp movie buffs for years, and comic Patton Oswalt actually went on a riff about the film – and people thought he was making it up!

He wasn’t of course – “Death Bed” is a terrific horror comedy that deserves to be seen by the cinephile in your family!

Read all about this incredible movie AND see Patton Oswalt’s love affair with it by clicking on my whole story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/28/classic-cult-horror-death-bed-the-bed-that-eats-patton-oswalts-obsession-is-here/

So there you have it: five wildly entertaining films that deserve to be on everyone’s holiday gift-giving list!

Time to sing some classic holiday songs – and who better to do so than these guys!

All Hail Hall & Oates!

Yes, they are one of America’s musical treasures, and this holiday season it’s time to celebrate their classic Christmas album!

“Home For Christmas”

“Home For Christmas” is Daryl Hall & John Oates’ first full length album of Christmas music. It was released in 2006, and it a beautiful collection of new and timeless Christmas music…

The CD features two new songs written by Hall & Oates: “No Child Should Ever Cry on Christmas” and “Home for Christmas.”

Here are Hall & Oates performing a gorgeous version of “The Christmas Song” on “Live From Daryl’s House”:

The CD also includes a version of “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”, which became their second number one Adult Contemporary hit. Here is the live version of “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”:

“Jingle Bell Rock!”

Yes, Hall & Oates have had an amazing career, and even had a huge Christmas hit in the 80’s with this fun take on a classic holiday jingle…check out the hilariously retro music video for “Jingle Bell Rock” here:

If you don’t have the Hall & Oates Christmas album, grab it now – it’s terrific holiday music!

And speaking of classic holiday music, we must never forget this classic from Macy Grey…

Macy Grey??!?!?!?!?

Yes! Alex and I have enjoyed Macy’s classic holiday song for years! Her brilliant song “I Try” CLEARLY ends with a holiday greeting – and we can prove it! Just watch the music video and at precisely 3:11 into the song, you can clearly hear her shouting out “Santa Claus!”

Let me know if you also shout out “Santa Claus” along with Macy Grey on her legendary song…and if you are now in the holiday mood, then time to plug in your Christmas lights and get lit up yourself!

The Greatest Holiday Movies Ever!

And of course, you need watch some of these incredible holiday films…read all about “Love Actually”, “It’s A Wonderful Life” and Clark Griswold by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/11/23/amazing-love-actually-facts-rare-wonderful-life-photos-the-best-holiday-movies-ever/

And make sure to buy the classic Hall & Oates holiday album!

It’s Anniversary Time! Let’s Celebrate!

Today is the third year anniversary of this blog, and I want to take a moment to thank everyone who visits – and if you don’t want a piece of “bacon cake”, then maybe this will do:

Yes, this is a chicken wing cupcake, and I share this photo for a reason: it was three years ago when I shared the recipe for making them yourself…

http://johnrieber.com/2012/02/03/buffalo-chicken-wing-cupcakes/

Three years of posting stories about food, travel, movie, music, books, concerts, great adventures both personal and professional…and yes, stuff like this:

The Majesty Of A Cheesesteak Doughnut Burger!

Yes, I post about burgers a lot. Because many of you seem to enjoy these unique foodstuffs. And yes, there is much more to come. But before we devolve into a discussion of “Cheesesteak Doughnut” burgers, let me thank the person behind this story – and behind this blog.

Three years ago, my wife and ongoing inspiration Alex told me to write a blog and have some fun…and that fun included stories about our adventures in Spain, Provence and more, including the Cannes film festival…

That’s my wife Alex and I along with our good friend Michael Castner in a Cannes hotel stairwell waiting to interview a celebrity. I have shared a number of fun stories from the past, including the story behind this photo of Michael interviewing Arnold Schwarzenegger, while I watch in the orange shirt:

You can read the entire story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/14/cannes-2014-my-classic-arnold-schwarzenegger-encounter-big-star-planet-hollywood-shenanigans/

Alex has been amazingly supportive of this blog, letting me share some of our adventures with you – but she couldn’t have imagined it would lead to this:

The Tokyo Burger Tower!

Little did Alex know that, as I looked for things that interested me enough to write about, I would find a world full of crazy food – from a “Tokyo Burger Tower” you see above to the best burger currently being made in Cambodia!

Some people love these burger posts – so thank you for your feedback – and one, Jeff Greenfield, HATED a food story I posted: showcasing the spaghetti-stuffed hot dog!

Not sure why, but Jeff said this freaked him out a bit…so now I have to keep looking for more wacky food mashups just to keep him on his toes…you know, like the “bacon cheeseburger-stuffed doughnut!”

Read all about the majesty of this by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/10/25/bacon-glazed-cheeseburger-doughnut-amazing-burgerbacon-mashup/

Yes, it has been a tasty three years…and I promise moving forward there will be much more of this:

Yes, this bacon cheeseburger has 1,000 slices of bacon, which is appropriate since this is a post all about numbers:

Closing In On One Million Views…

In the three years I have been posting, these stories have collectively generated almost one million views – it is exciting to see the response to new stories as well as stories posted a year ago or longer – and from the comments I have gotten, it’s nice that a wide range of topics are of interest…from amazing travel memoirs like this:

Read about this incredible Author and her year on a south pacific island by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/05/faraway-lucy-irvines-castaway-sequel-more-amazing-island-escapes/

And of course, I have posted many times about my favorite musical group of all time!

The Beatles Are #1!

The greatest musical group in history is also making history for me! Here is the single most viewed post I have ever published:

The Beatles Lost Rooftop Concert Film!

Yes, you can never go wrong when you’ve got The Beatles helping you out! My “Let It Be” post continues to be the most viewed story of all time on my blog, which I love because this Beatles documentary is probably the greatest “lost” film of all time, and you can read my entire post about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/06/let-it-be-the-beatles-lost-documentary-londons-live-beatles-rooftop-concert/

And yes, I own a VHS copy of the movie, which is one reason I love The Beatles so much!

Now, onto a “different” kind of movie…

Three years ago, I discovered that certain stories got a lot of interest, like films from the “grindhouse” era of New York’s 42nd street: it was almost three years ago when I actually warned people which movies NOT to show at a family holiday gathering!

Which, I will reiterate, is NOT a film to be shared with relatives…although “The Sinful Dwarf” is a classic example of “euro-sleaze”, a rough type of 70’s film…classic cult cinema that lives on thanks to DVD and on demand services – and I do have a fondness for wacky exploitation movies, like this:

Grindhouse Cinema Lives!

Yes, it’s an acquired taste, but I have met a ton of passionate exploitation fans who enjoy stories about his unique time in movie history…and look, not only did I share the plot of “Mantis In Lace”, but I found this picture as well!

The fact that the President and Vice-President would be eating in front of a “Mantis” poster…I love the internet! Ii you want to more, just click on my “grind house gift guide” here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/23/sex-violence-grindhouse-have-a-purient-holiday-an-exploitation-gift-guide/

There are a lot of people who enjoy this unique era of film, and I thank all of you who read my posts about this weird and wild world of cult cinema…

But I also love to travel, and Alex and I have been lucky enough to have some great adventures, which I have shared throughout the years:

Here is Alex harvesting a fresh eggplant from the Patricia Wells garden in Provence, where we cooked with this legendary cookbook Author:

We got to cook on Julia Childs’ original provincial stove, and you can read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/06/10/tasting-provence-cooking-with-patricia-wells-food-and-travel-unite/

No matter how great cooking with Patricia and her husband was, it pales in comparison to the fun I’ve had with my kids as well…

This is my daughter Jessica, who came along on a work trip to Tokyo and got to see some crazy japanese food…

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/06/tokyos-build-a-burger-wacky-japanese-burger-ads-wildest-food-for-sale/

We had a great time eating our way through some of Tokyo’s great food…but it paled in comparison to this hilarious trip, which I call:

The “London Grind!”

My son Jeff went with me on a work trip to London, and got to work with the crew for a few days as well…which led to what we call his “London grind” adventure – a hilarious night out with some very drunken British business people, highlighted here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/18/alison-haislip-the-london-grind-travels-with-alison/

This was a trip to film for G4 with Host Alison Haislip, and thanks to Alison for being such a great talent, and so much fun to work with in London!

And Let’s Never Forget The Bacon!

Yes, I have posted about ALL kinds of bacon as well…that’s because bacon is funny, and you “never cut funny”…so whether it’s a bacon wedding cake…

Or perhaps it is bacon that is utilized in a more “fashionable” manner…yes, bacon has proven to be very very popular, and the stranger the better!

Thanks to Sara Underwood for wearing a bacon bikini – all for the good of television. Of course, bacon fits best right here:

Burgers!

I have also enjoyed posting lots of burger posts…like the Brazil burger sold in an edible wrapper:

I haven’t been to Rio to have this, but cannot wait to get there! Read all about this edible adventure here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/20/brazils-edible-burger-wrappers-go-brazil-go/

I have also shared my love of music – and of course my admiration for the music and career of Todd Rundgren!

I have been a lifelong fan of this musical Artist, and have posted many stories about his unique career. For example, did you know that he created MTV? Read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/02/todd-rundgren-inventor-of-mtv-a-hollywood-square/

And one of my favorite stories about Todd Rundgren was his special musical friendship with the late Singer/Songwriter Laura Nyro…

You can read it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/10/25/brilliant-laura-nyro-todd-rundgrens-muse-their-beautiful-musical-history-together/

Laura is an under-appreciated Artist, and her body of work is amazing to listen to. Here is a story about a recent tribute CD that is currently nominated for Three Grammy Awards!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/09/09/re-imagining-laura-nyro-a-brilliant-map-to-the-treasure-laura-nyros-beautiful-tribute/

Congrats to Billy Childs for the success of this project, which highlights great Laura Nyro music!

Todd Rundgren AND Laura Nyro fans have been hugely supportive of the site, and I truly appreciate it. I’ve also met a lot of great people who have great blogs as well, and I appreciate everyone’s support and interest…

Stevie Wonder Live!

I also shared my review of Stevie Wonder’s “Songs In The Key Of Life” concert in Chicago, including this live performance of “Saturn” with India Arie:

And there is so much more to share!

Year Four Sneak Peek!

With more than 700 posts, I just keep finding more stuff of interest to me. So what else can you expect going into 2015? Here are some clues:

Behold “Zolton”!

Yes, I’ve got some classic movie posters to share, thanks to an incredible website that helps to keep these alive…that will be posting soon, and I also have some great stories about classic Hollywood, such as the legendary sex kitten Jayne Mansfield:

I also have a bunch of travel stuff to share, like more of my adventures with Sasha Grey in Australia, where she got photo bombed by a shark!

Thanks to Sasha for always supporting these posts, and allowing me to tell all the fun stories about working with her, like this classic clip of Sasha finding out just how cold the water at Bondi Beach was!

Check out all of her adventures by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/11/sasha-greys-new-novel-sasha-grey-shark-dive-outtakes/

And yes, there are more food adventures to come as well:

One of Barcelona’s most innovative restaurants is coming soon to the blog…as well as a look at some of the best ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day!

There are a lot of fun adventures still to come…my goal is to share more stories about interesting people, classic movies, adventurous travel, wacky movies and more bacon!

Thanks again for the million views and I hope you enjoy what is still to come!

Let me know your thoughts!

It’s the story of a young man who dreams of making it big – and he does – in adult films! Time to celebrate the brilliance of Dirk Diggler!

One of the greatest films ever made is now being remembered with a great “oral history!” Here is Actor Thomas Jane talking about working with legendary Actor Burt Reynolds:

Thomas Jane: “In between setups, all the actors would sit on the floor, all around Burt Reynolds in a big puffy chair. Luis Guzmán and the Roller Girl girl and all of us, ya know, we’d all be there. We’d all sit down and Burt would tell stories about acting in the ’50s and New York City and Marlon Brando and James Dean.”

Boogie Nights!

Paul Thomas Anderson directed this epic look at the rise of a adult film superstar, and his journey through the changing world of porn. Anderson uses the adult film industry to tell a much larger story of the changing world of art and commerce, innocence and corruption.

Inspired by the tragic story of John C. Holmes – aka “Johnny Wadd”, Mark Wahlberg does an amazing job as Eddie Adams, who is “discovered” by an adult movie producer – due to his “unique” talent – and overnight becomes porn superstar Dirk Diggler!

“Livin’ Thing: An Oral History of ‘Boogie Nights’”
by ALEX FRENCH and HOWIE KAHN!

I found an incredible oral history of the film on the great website “Grantland” – and you can read the entire history here:

http://grantland.com/features/boogie-nights/

This terrific oral history includes gems like this from Writer/Director Paul Thomas Anderson:

I was so influenced by Spinal Tap that it was in my brain, so it was like, “Let’s play it as a documentary.” I’d seen this piece on A Current Affair on [adult film star] Shauna Grant, which was the clichéd-but-true story of a girl from Iowa who comes to Hollywood on the bus, looking for her dreams.”

Creating “Dirk Diggler”!

The Director also reveals how he came up with the film’s most iconic character name:

“I remember sitting on my bed, I was 17 years old, I was watching TV, and I swear to God, it just was like — bang! Dirk Diggler. Hey, that’s a good porno name, and I wrote it on a little index card. And I still have the index card.”

Mark Wahlberg has never been better as the young man who becomes porn’s biggest star, Dirk Diggler. The terrific cast also includes John C. Reilly, Burt Reynolds, and Heather Graham, who is terrific as Roller Girl…

Also in the cast are Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Julianne Moore, who plays porn star Amber Waves…here she meets Wahlberg AKA Dirk Diggler, and sees what all the fuss is about…

Amber Waves: Let me just check on something.
[takes off Dirk’s pants]
Amber Waves: That is a giant cock.

The entire cast is phenomenal in the film, with Burt Reynolds doing an amazing job in what was called the comeback role of a lifetime…

This is a fascinating look at ht rise of adult films in the 70’s, and how it all turns into ’80’s excess. You see Dirk Diggler as he creates another character, “Brock Landers”, an ass-kicking Detective who also loves the ladies!

These parodies of 70’s porn films were hilariously accurate:

[in a scene from “Brock Landers: Angels Live In My Town”]
Dirk: [as Brock] You still hungry?
Jessie St. Vincent: Starving.
[unzipping his pants]
Dirk: [as Brock] Then feast on that.

After achieving porn super stardom, Dirk Diggler and his sidekick Reed Rothchild decide to become rock stars. After singing some of the worst songs ever put on film – “You Got The Touch”, they return to the studio to find out that the record producer won’t release the master tapes…

Dirk: Look, man, all we need is the tapes, all right?
Record Producer: No, you don’t get the tapes until you’ve paid.
Dirk: In our situation, that doesn’t make any fucking sense.
Reed Rothchild: Look, we can not pay for the tapes, unless we take the tapes to the record company, and get paid.
Dirk: Hello? Exactly.
Record Producer: That’s not an MP, that’s a YP, your problem. Come up with the money, or forget it.
Reed Rothchild: Okay, now you’re talking above my head. I don’t know all of this industry jargon, YP, MP. All I know is that I can’t get a record contract, we cannot get a record contract unless we take those tapes to the record company. And granted, the tapes themselves are a uh um oh, you own them, all right, but the magic that is on those tapes. That fucking heart and soul that we put onto those tapes, that is ours and you don’t own that. Now I need to take that magic and get it over the record company. And they’re waiting for us, we were supposed to be there a half hour ago. We look like assholes, man.
Dirk: Let me explain to him in simple arithmetic. One, two three! Because you don’t fuckin’ get it, Burt! You give us the tapes. We get the record contract. We come back and give you your fuckin’ money. Have you heard the tapes? Have you even heard them? We’re guaranteed a record deal. Our stuff is that good!
Record Producer: Now I get it. Now I understand. You want it to happen… but it’s not going to happen. Because it’s a Catch-22.
Dirk: What the fuck does that mean? What is a Catch-22, Burt?
Record Producer: Catch-22, gentleman. Think about it.
[pause]
Dirk: You know what I’m thinking about, man? I’m thinking about kicking some fuckin’ ass!

Dirk Diggler’s “Living Thing!”

Of course, the movie’s most notorious “reveal” is at the end, when Dirk Diggler reveals what makes him a star…and it is one of the most perfectly realized endings of any film…in a movie full of great moments…

There is so much that is memorable about this film – great character Actors like Alfred Molina show up for small roles that burn through the screen –

I can watch this movie any day of the week…a masterpiece. And this “oral history” is full of great stories about the making of the film….and finally, it may be one Actor’s greatest performance ever. RIP Phillip Seymour Hoffman…

Make sure to read the entire “oral history” of this great movie here!

http://grantland.com/features/boogie-nights/

And let’s not forget Burt Reynolds’ other claim to fame…

Oh, Burt!

Don’t forget that, aside from a great role in “Boogie Nights”, Burt Reynolds was one of the biggest stars in the world in the 70’s…read all about his amazing career highlights, including posing nude in “Playgirl” magazine…

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/26/long-yards-squealing-pigs-boogie-nights-burt-reynolds-greatest-roles/

And kudos once again to everyone involved in the masterpiece that is “Boogie Nights!”

“God, she’s beautiful. She’s got the prettiest eyes. She looks so sexy in that sweater. I just want to be alone with her and hold her and kiss her and tell her how much I love her and take care of her. Stop it you idiot, she’s your wife’s sister.”

Affairs Of The Heart!

That is dialogue from one of Woody Allen’s greatest films, and it touches on a subject he has tackled in both his personal and professional life…infidelity.

Sex, Infidelity And Murder!

Yes, Woody Allen has had an “unruly” life. Accusations come up time and again about allegations made years ago against Allen, and these stories threaten to overshadow the work of one of America’s greatest filmmakers.

It is Allen’s messy personal life that has clouded his professional work for many, especially since he has touched on some of our darkest instincts in his later films.

Allen’s ability to attract some of the world’s biggest stars, like Scarlett Johansson, allow him to make and release a new movie every year. Some of great, some aren’t, but every so often he will make a movie that tackles the darkest part four souls…

His controversial breakup with Mia Farrow has brought added attention to the content of some of his films, and I wanted to focus on three of his movies that deal with infidelity, betrayal and revenge…dark subjects that just happen to be at the core of three of his greatest films…

Woody’s Infidelity Trilogy!

The Director has taken on the subject of infidelity in increasingly dark ways….it all began in the 80’s with one of his masterpieces:

Hannah And Her Sisters

In 1986, Allen introduced us to Hannah, an Actress with a heart of gold who is the one who keeps her family grounded – we also meet her sisters, quirky and troubled women with tensions always simmering just below the surface. the movie focuses on the bonds between them and the infidelities that drive them apart. Here is the trailer:

Hannah is played by Mia Farrow, and in the film her husband, played by Michael Caine, falls in love with Hannah’s sister, played by Barbara Hershey….here is what he thinks as he sees her…beautifully written and emotionally devastating…

“God, she’s beautiful. She’s got the prettiest eyes. She looks so sexy in that sweater. I just want to be alone with her and hold her and kiss her and tell her how much I love her and take care of her. Stop it you idiot, she’s your wife’s sister.”

Michael Caine won an Oscar for best supporting actor for his work in this film…

Dianne Wiest plays the other sister, who is also struggling to find love. Wiest also won a supporting actress Oscar for this role. Her performance as the troubled but funny sister contrasts nicely with Hershey.

One of the best parts of the film is Allen’s use of poetry in the film. For example, in one scene Michael Casine gives Hershey an e.e.cummings poem, which contains the line:

“nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands”

Allen was still with Mia Farrow at the time, and the themes of lust and desire in this film certainly carry more weight based on what was happening privately. Farrow also starred in his next examination of lust and betrayal – but now he has added another, even more sinister layer – murder…

Crimes & Misdemeanors

This just might be my favorite of Allen’s serious films: a dark look at lust, betrayal and how someone can justify the evil of murder…here is the trailer:

Martin Landau has never been better as a successful Dentist whose affair with flight attendant Anjelica Huston threatens all that is dear to him…

Anjelica Huston is terrific as the mistress who demands more from Landau than he can give her…you really feel the pain she feels when she realizes he will never leave his perfect family for her…and when her pleas turn to threats, Landau turns to his brother for help. Jerry Orbach is also terrific as the brother who knows people who can take care of the problem…

Every single person in this film is at the top of their game: Landau especially gives the performance of his life – and the rest of the cast is flawless as well, Mia Farrow and Alan Alda included…

“Crimes And Misdemeanors” is a dark meditation on the evil in all of us, and the events in our lives that unleash it…soon after this film, Allen and Farrow broke up in a shocking scandal, as Allen ended up marrying Farrow’s adopted daughter.

The Director’s personal life has clouded his films ever since…with much more of a focus on subjects that he chooses to tackle in his films…which leads to what I consider to be his darkest film ever…

“Passion Temptation Obsession”

As you can see, the Director hasn’t shied away from the issues that have dogged him in his personal life – these three words describe his own life as much as they do this film, and “Match Point” just may be his darkest look at lust and infidelity ever…

Match Point

Tennis becomes a metaphor for life in Allen’s most serious film ever. First, take a look at the trailer:

Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars as a tennis instructor who hits the motherlode when he marries Emily Mortimer, the daughter of wealthy businessman Brian Cox. His future is assured, until he begins an affair with Scarlett Johansson…

Of course, the affair puts everything at risk…kudos must go to Scarlett Johansson, who has never been better – her portrayal of a woman who won’t be pushed aside by a cheating husband is as emotionally raw as you’ve ever seen her…

“Match Point” is brilliant – and a perfect end to this infidelity trilogy: each film explores the darkness inside each of us, but by “Match Point”, Allen has offered up the most unsettling scenario of all…I don’t want to say more, but this cast is up to the challenging material – all three of these are must see films!

And don’t forget that the best film of 2013 was Allen’s brilliant “Blue Jasmine” – read all about it here…

http://johnrieber.com/2013/09/01/blue-jasmine-best-film-of-2013-woody-allens-bumpy-road-to-brilliance/

Let me know what you think!

Smile!

The Awards are rolling in for one of the year’s most provocative films!

A Golden Globe acting nomination, on the AFI Top Ten film list, multiple Broadcast film critic nominations and now the San Diego Critics have chosen it Best Film Of The Year…Time for:

Brilliant “Nightcrawler”! Jake Gyllenhaal’s Oscar Worthy Portray Of A Modern Day Travis Bickle!

When Academy Award nominations are revealed, don’t be surprised if Jake Gyllenhaal’s name gets announced – this terrific Actor has given the performance of a lifetime – a modern day Travis Bickle from “Taxi Driver” with a hint of Robert DeNiro’s Rupert Pupkin from “The King Of Comedy”.

First, check out the trailer:

“Nightcrawler” is an intense, beautiful directed action thriller that looks at a modern day sociopath, and the bloody world he crashes to make a name for himself…

Gyllenhaal plays Lou Bloom, a loner and hustler who stumbles upon a new profession: “Nightcrawler”, the term used to describe the guys who chase down crime scenes and car accidents and then sell their footage to local news stations.

Rene Russo is terrific as the aging News Director who loves to yell “if it bleeds, it leads” every time Bloom films a horrific crime scene.

Look at these two images: Jake looks like the spawn of “Taxi Driver” Travis Bickle, and both characters use automobiles as their window into the bloody, violent world around them…

Empire’s Great Interview!

The terriifc british movie magazine empire has an interview with the Actor in their November issue. It offers up some great insight into the film.

Empire has a great interview with Gyllenhaal, who explains the look of his “Nightcrawler” character.
The actor lost twenty pounds to give himself a more haunting, “hungry” look…

“The idea was that he would be thin and that he would feel hungry…at a certain point I said ‘Lou is a coyote’…when you see one of these coyotes, they’re skinny and they stare at you like they’re going to eat you. Their techniques are all about preying on the desperate.”

Director Dan Gilroy was fascinated with a crime photographer from the 40’s in New York named “Weegee”. The Director told Empire:

“He was the first guy to put a police scanner in his car and drive around looking for crime scenes. I was fascinated by the intersection of art and crime.”

Bill Paxton is great as a veteran “Nightcrawler” who befriends Bloom – and quickly comes to regret it.

This is a terrific movie: a searing character study of evil, a tense, action-packed thriller, and an oscar-worthy performance by Gyllanhaal, who also produced the film.

For those who work in TV news, this isn’t a pretty picture. I worked in hard news for many years, and I know that this film, while not indicting the “nightcrawler” mentality, does raise many serious questions about “the public’s need to know…”

And for Gyllenhaal, this is an amazing career achievement…and here is a look at two incredible performances that his character seems to evoke:

Gyllenhaal’s loner in “Nightcrawler” is similar in mindset to Travis Bickle, who roamed the streets and found violence in Martin Scorsese’s brilliant “Taxi Driver”…read all about the seedy street of 70’s NYC by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/09/07/new-yorks-gritty-movie-streets-taxi-drivers-subway-hijackings-cop-chases/

And of course, some of Gyllenhaal’s character evokes a sense of Rupert Pupkin, DeNiro’s brilliantly deranged character from Scorsese’s “The King Of Comedy” as well…

A newly released 30th anniversary blu-rays a great way to re-discover this masterpiece…read all about it here…

http://johnrieber.com/2014/03/25/the-king-of-comedy-goes-blu-amazing-extras-scorsese-grills-pupkin/

And once again, check out the masterful “Nightcrawler”, one of 2014’s best films!

“I just stopped writing love songs…I said, everybody’s writing love songs!”

Todd fans, you are going to LOVE THIS! That quote is from a RARE interview I have from Todd! Yes, I got to interview Todd in 1990, when he was touring – and we covered his hand print ceremony at Guitar Center’s Walk Of Fame as well!

Here is some very rare footage of Todd getting a great award and talking to Movietime as well! First, a bit of history…

Before E! Entertainment Television, there was Movietime…those of us who worked there loved that this tiny cable network talked about entertainment 24 hours a day…

We had a segment called “Movietime News”, hosted by Terri Utley (now Terri Britt) – and since a more than a few of us were huge Todd fans, we sent cameras down to capture Todd putting down his hand prints on Guitar Center’s “Rock Walk!”

It happened on January 17, 1990 – Todd was on tour to support his brilliant “Nearly Human” album…I was News Director at Movietime, and not only did I go to Todd’s concert that night at The Wiltern Theater, I sent a crew down to cover the hand print ceremony, and ran a story on it…here you go!

Todd was playful, in great spirits, and what about those sunglasses?!?!?!?!!?!?

Todd Soars On Letterman!

The next night, Todd went on David Letterman, where he performed “The Waiting Game”, and he spoke about the hand print ceremony, in distinctly Todd-style…here is the performance and his conversation with Dave!

And yes, he also had some fun with his backup singers! I am so happy I found this material – sorry the quality isn’t the best, but I love Todd’s interview with us, and his “unique” glasses….and of course, he totally blew the Letterman audience away!

“The Waiting Game” was just one of the gorgeous songs from “Nearly Human”, a masterpiece that deserves so much more attention that it got…

The Majesty Of “Nearly Human!”

“The Waiting Game” is just one of an album’s worth of brilliant tracks from “Nearly Human” – read all about that incredible album by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/08/26/todd-rundgren-is-nearly-human-todds-6-fingered-masterpiece/

Let me know what you think of Todd’s hand print ceremony!

Try To Fall Asleep Looking At This!

Yes, the “northern lights” are unbelievably beautiful…I could stare up at them all night…wouldn’t get much sleep, but imagine sleeping here!

As so may people are about to travel for the holidays, I started having a bit of “wanderlust” – where would be the absolutely coolest places to go? Well, this is a pretty brilliant start…

The Northern Lights!

Yes, let mother nature do all the work!

As you all know, the bright dancing lights of the aurora are collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere. The lights are seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres.

Like I said, as you all know…

Here is an amazing time lapse sequence from Norway, courtesy of NatGeo:

And in Finland, you can rent a glass igloo to watch them from the comfort of your bed! Imagine waking up to see this!

Sleep under the northern lights…one of the incredible natural displays of all…many of the northernmost countries in Europe, like Finland, offer just such an experience…and it looks amazing….

“Excuse Me, Can You Point Me To My Igloo?”

How often will you say that in your lifetime? This is most certainly the adventure of a lifetime…or perhaps you want to forget the stars and sleep with the fishes instead…

A “Real” Poseidon Adventure!

Yes, you can sleep at the bottom of the sea – imagine waking up to see this staring back at you:

I would never fall asleep…but I also wouldn’t take a bath if I knew this was watching me wash up…

This underwater hotel is in Dubai, of course, and if you want to read more about these incredible adventures, see my entire story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/12/15/talk-about-gravity-outer-space-vacations-undersea-resorts-extreme-travel-options/

And, if you REALLY want to “sleep with the fishes”, then why not head over to The Godfather’s place for a night?

Yes, the iconic movie star Marlon Brando was more than just “The Godfather” – he was an innkeeper too!

When the Actor filmed “Mutiny On The Bounty”, he fell in love with Fiji, and ultimately bought his own island! Brando’s island is in the south seas, and you can rent a room there – imagine this: you can tell your friends that you got a good rate because you “made them an offer they couldn’t refuse”…

If you really want to stay over night at Marlon Brando’s house…and who wouldn’t, then click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/10/stuck-in-a-river-the-bubble-house-marlon-brandos-island-the-worlds-most-exotic-homes/

If you click on the Brando story, you will also see the story of this place!

Hmmm…seems a bit difficult to get to….but then again, it looks like it has a bit of leg room at least, and you get your exercise just getting to it…

Talk About Skinny!

And, if you don’t mind sleeping STANDING UP, then check THIS out!

Yes, there are houses in Japan that are so skinny you have to go outside to change your mind! Check out these incredibly narrow houses by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/07/the-worlds-skinniest-houses-try-sleeping-standing-up/

And back in the City of Angels, if you want to live in one of the coolest towers in the world, check out Hollywood’s Hightower:

It recently went on the market for rent, and also has a storied entertainment past…check out the story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/09/14/hollywoods-hightower-movie-past-vintage-los-angeles-climbs-these-legendary-stairs/

There you go, plenty of wanderlust for your holiday!

I Have Exciting News For You!

Yes, it’s that time of year to look at some of the most unfortunate mistakes that live news has to offer! Whether it’s “aroused” weather patterns or “friendly” animals, live news mistakes have never been funnier!

“Talk About Your Mega Doppler!”

I love these compilations, and there are so many great sites that create them…here’s a look at what happened live on your local news in 2014!

Thanks to “Funny Video Club” for this youtube compilation!

“Is That Bad Weather Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?”

And there are more! Yes, someone made this graphic with no thought to where the weatherman would be standing…and here are many more just as funny!

Thanks to “Central Entertainment Agency” for posting these shocking and hilarious bloopers on Youtube!

“C-C-C-Catfight!”

And sometimes they aren’t mistakes, they are catfights! Yes, these two Anchors did NOT like eadch other, and it came out in all it’s hilarious glory live on the air! Click on my story for the whole report!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/06/24/anchor-catfights-f-bombs-galore-local-news-is-live/

And of course, live newscasts aren’t the only hilarious TV every day…how about game shows!

“Family Feud” Fails!

And of course, Steve Harvey is “Family Feuds” greatest Host ever…because of his reactions to the wacky answers he gets! Check out the best here:

Thanks to “Clip Nation” for this compilation!

And nothing beats these game show bloopers – a compilation of the greatest of all time!

Thanks to “TorchTaylor21″ for posting these!

Check out more wacky mistakes by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/28/the-funniest-game-show-bloopers-ever/

And there are ALWAYS more news bloopers to enjoy:

Check out more right here!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/01/going-live-on-the-news-going-wild-the-best-news-bloopers-of-june-2014/

Enjoy what 2014 offered you in local news hilarity!

“HELL HOLDS NO SURPRISES FOR THEM…”

What happens when you take one of England’s most controversial Directors, one of their country’s heaviest drinkers, and add that to a volatile mix of possessed Nuns? Something that looks like THIS:

Behold The Controversial and Brilliant Film “The Devils!”

If you haven’t seen this wildly creative and controversial movie, you have missed a forgotten masterpiece! “The Devils” was directed by one of England’s wildest Directors, Ken Russell – and was released by Warner Brothers in 1971.

Talk about controversial! Movie fans around the world are demanding that this little-seen masterpiece finally gets released on DVD or blu-ray in its uncut glory!

First, watch the provocative trailer:

Here is the plot: Cardinal Richelieu and his power-hungry entourage seek to take control of seventeenth-century France, but need to destroy Father Grandier – the priest who runs the fortified town that prevents them from exerting total control.

Oliver Reed stars as Father Grandier – Reed was known as a legendary drinker…and a madman on the set…but with this controversial subject matter, Reed was just what visionary Director Ken Russell needed for this masterpiece…

As Cardinal Richelieu’s thugs take control of the town, Reed is set up as a warlock in control of a devil-possessed nunnery – and let the craziness begin!

Vanessa Redgrave starred as the sex-crazed Nun – who charged Reed with witchcraft…setting in motion a series of controversial scenes that garnered the film an “X” rating when it was released!

Yes, A DEVIL-POSSESSED NUNNERY!

This film was banned from Italy and its stars Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed were threatened with three years’ jail time if they set foot in that country. Reed described this film as his best performance ever…

A major sequence in which the nuns tear down and ravish a life-sized icon of Christ in an orgiastic frenzy was cut from the film and subsequently vanished. Film critic Mark Kermode discovered the footage many years later.

One reason movie buffs are clamoring for a new blu-ray release is that Director Russell was keen to reinstate the scene but found that Warner Brothers were not interested in doing a director’s cut. The footage can be seen in a documentary Kermode made about Russell.

Here’s more great trivia from that documentary: while preparing for the climactic demolition of the city walls, a technician mistook a signal from Ken Russell and detonated the explosives before the cameras were rolling. A large chunk of the set had to be rebuilt.

However, a documentary on the second disk of the 2012 DVD release of the film contradicts this story. In this documentary, Russell states that it was himself that pressed the button which detonated the explosives without communicating this to the camera team. It is also stated that the scene had to be re-shot a month later as a consequence the cameras missing the destruction of the walls.

#FreeTheDevils

And now an online petition has started to “free ‘The Devils'”, and you can take part!

The late Ken Russell’s wife, Lisi Tribble Russell has been leading a campaign to get the film released in its uncut form…you can follow her on twitter at:

@awhitetable

And you can support this cause on Facebook as well! “Like” their page here:

https://www.facebook.com/FreeTheDevils

And help keep the momentum going!

Of course, you can see much more of Ken Russell’s work as well, including his brilliant take on The Who’s “Tommy!”

“Tommy” contained another provocative scene from the Director: he has Actress Ann-Margret “swim” in baked beans! See the whole story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/11/23/hollywoods-legendary-sex-kitten-ann-margret-rock-operas-baked-beans-elvis/

And of course, read more about legendary Actor Oliver Reed as well!

Oliver Reed was one of film’s most notorious “Hellraisers” – read all about him and the other by clicking here, part of my obituary of Peter O’ Toole, who was also profiled in the book:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/07/10/peter-otoole-retires-a-look-at-this-hellraiser/

And good luck to everyone fighting to get this masterpiece released in its uncut glory for movie lovers to enjoy!

Utopia Storms Knebworth!

Here’s a great gift for Todd fans: there’s an incredible boxset that captures when Todd Rundgren and Utopia headed across the pond to take part in a new music festival – just three years old – with an amazing list of bands!

Welcome To Knebworth House!

This is Knebworth House, a classic British country estate located about 25 miles outside of London. It’s been the home of the Lytton family since 1490! Knebworth House was originally a red-brick Late Gothic manor house, built round a central court which served as an open square. Talk about British manors!

Oh, and they love to put on concerts here too! The Knebworth music festival is celebrating its 40 year anniversary in 2014.

Meet Freddy Bannister!

Freddy Bannister founded the Knebworth Festival in 1974 – headlined by The Allman Brothers the first year, Pink Floyd in 1975, The Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1976, and Led Zeppelin in 1979!

Bannister published his memoir in 2003, and the book comes inside an amazing Knebworth box set as well…even better, his daughter contacted me to find out how I wanted the book inscribed!

Knebworth 1976!

Of course, we are here to discuss all things Todd – so let’s head to 1976, when Utopia performed with an amazing lineup of bands!

Look at the lineup: The Rolling Stones, 10cc, Hot Tuna, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Todd Rundgren’s Utopia!

And now, thanks to Freddy Bannister, I have the box set that captures both of Todd + Utopia’s appearances at this classic festival!

I know you Todd fans saw this posted on the fan sites – well, I bought it and it’s an incredible collection of Todd goodies! Each box is personally numbered and signed by Freddy inside as well:

The Goodie Box!

Opening the box is like unveiling a personalized history of Todd and Utopia! First, there is a replica of the original poster, along with a ticket to the festival, a T-Shirt AND the official history of the festival, written by Bannister:

Then, you get all of Todd & Utopia’s appearances, along with a disc of highlights form the festival and a dvd history of the festival as well, including highlights of Led Zeppelin, and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s legendary performance of “Freebird!”

And of course, Todd fans will love tboth performances by the band at Knebworth: first in 1976, and again in 1979!

RA!

The band’s 1976 performance includes the Overture from “RA”, as well as “The Seven Rays”, “The Verb To Love” and more, ending with “Heavy Metal Kids” and “Do Ya!”

Utopia Live 1979!

Todd and the band returned to Knebworth three years later. Here is the 1979 setlist that Todd and Utopia performed:

Last of the New Wave Riders
Back on the Street
Abandon City
Love of the Common Man
The Last Ride
Freedom Fighters
The Seven Rays
Love Alone
Gangrene
The Death of Rock and Roll
Initiation
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
(tribute to Keith Moon)
Couldn’t I Just Tell You

Encore:
Real Man
Just One Victory

The sound is a little muddy at first, but the vocals are strong and distinct, and this is a great way to hear the band at their prime! Finally, the box set includes a collection of performance photos of the band as well!

Kudos To Freddy Bannister!

This is an amazing box set, and I encourage all Todd fans to rush out an buy it! And Bannister has done the same for other bands as well, including Pink Floyd! Check out more on the offerings here:

http://www.beefheart.com/there-must-be-a-better-way/

And to read all about the great Knebworth House, check out their official website here:

http://www.knebworthhouse.com/concerts-2/rock-concerts

A great gift for every Todd fan!

How do you define a Hollywood Sex Kitten? How about like this?

And how do you become Hollywood’s most notorious blonde bombshell? Well, it doesn’t hurt when you let it all hang out!

Thanks to NationalStereotype.com, which has their picture stamp on this…it’s a classic moment when an Actress becomes a star!

Introducing Iconic Sex Symbol Jayne Mansfield!

One of Hollywood’s great sex symbols has a fascinating story!

Jayne Mansfield was an actress,nightclub entertainer, singer, and one of the earliest Playboy Playmates – an eclectic career that ended tragically…

Jayne Mansfield was a major Hollywood sex symbol of the ’50s and early 1960s – known as a sexy alternative to Marilyn Monroe – in fact, she was known as the “Working Man’s Monroe”. Here is a publicity picture that shows a strong resemblance to Marilyn…

According to her biography on wikipedia, Mansfield was also known for “her well-publicized personal life and publicity stunts, such as wardrobe malfunctions.” Yes, she sure knew how to take a candid photo!

Mansfield is one of the most enduring sex kittens in Hollywood history. She was a huge star who had lots of big star friends. Here she is hanging out with John Lennon…

Mansfield starred in a number of popular films in the 50’s and won a Theatre World Award and a Golden Globe.

She starred in the 1957 smash hit “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” Her other major movie performances were for “The Girl Can’t Help It” and “Too Hot to Handle”.

Mansfield also launched a nightclub act and toured the world. However, many remember her for a much more “candid” performance!

“Promises! Promises!”

In 1963, Mansfield starred in the sexploitation film “Promises! Promises!”

Mansfield was the first major American actress to have a nude starring role in a Hollywood motion picture. Here is a short scene from the film with Mansfield taking a sexy bubble bath!

Mansfield appeared nude in the June 1963 issue of Playboy, further cementing her reputation as Hollywood’s sexy movie star…

This was an era when posing nude – and appearing nude in a movie – was a shocking and controversial decision – but it only cemented her reputation as the world’s sexiest woman…

Mansfield was married several times during this period, and also had children…

Mariska Hargitay!

Mansfield was the mother of four children, including Actress Mariska Hargitay, who has had a big career of her own…

A Tragic End…

The Jayne Mansfield story has a tragic end. On June 29, 1967, Mansfield and her Attorney Sam Brody were driving home from a nightclub performance in Mississippi when they crashed into a semi-truck, instantly killing both of them. Jayne Mansfield was only 34 years old at the time of her death…

Hollywood Babylon!

As you can see, Mansfield’s legendary sex kitten pose was used as the cover to Kenneth Anger’s blockbuster book “Hollywood Babylon”, which looked at some of entertainment’s most scintillating stories…

Mansfield remains one of Hollywood’s most iconic sex symbols, and her tragic death has only made her life that much more fascinating…

There have been other sex symbols in Hollywood, and here are a few of the more accomplished Actresses…

Ann-Margret!

Yes, there have been some legendary sex kittens in Hollywood – and one of the greatest was Ann-Margret – read all about this amazing actress by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/11/23/hollywoods-legendary-sex-kitten-ann-margret-rock-operas-baked-beans-elvis/

And if you want to see who else was America’s sex kitten in the 70’s, look no further than this:

Raquel Raquel!

Raquel Welch is also an amazing Actress, with a great body of work, and in the 70’s she was also the sexiest woman in the world!

Read all about her greatest achievements, including the legendary “C-C-C-Catfight” episode of “Seinfeld” by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/09/13/raquel-raquel-60s-sex-symbol-and-c-c-c-catfight-seinfeld-star-raquel-welch/

I hope you check out some of this classic work from Hollywood’s past!

Need to kick off 2015 with some classic cinema?

Time For A Classic Double Feature!

First, how can you not love a movie with dialogue like this:

Bob Hauk: I’m not a fool, Plissken!
Snake Plissken: Call me “Snake.”

Then, moments later:

Bob Hauk: We’d make one hell of a team, Snake!
Snake Plissken: The name’s Plissken!

And he is, of course, “Snake Plissken!”

Time For The Comic Genius And “Snake Plisskin” Coolness Of Kurt Russell!

Yes, he’s been acting his entire life, but in the 80’s, Kurt Russell made two films that, for me, cemented his reputation as one of the most entertaining Actors around…

In “Used Cars”, he showcased his terrific comic timing as he played off some of the most respected character Actors in film, and in the other, he was – well, “SNAKE PLISSKIN”!

Let’s take a look at two of the greatest films of the 80’s!

“Escape From New York”!

Kurt Russell exudes coolness, attitude and kick assert right off the top, when he is informed of a plane crash…

Bob Hauk: “There was an accident. About an hour ago, a small jet went down inside New York City. The President was on board.”
Snake Plissken: “The president of what?”

The setup is simple but effective: in the future – 1979!- Manahatten is turned into a penal colony, where only the worst criminals struggle to survive …so of course, the President’s plane is hijacked and he is taken hostage. What does the government do? Naturally, they send in Sanke Plisskin.

Here is the trailer:

“Escape From New York” is one of Director John Carpenter’s best moves – a tough, gritty thriller held together by a great Kurt Russell performance. Kurt Russell has stated that this is his favorite of all his films, and Snake Plissken is his favorite of his characters.

It’s his cockiness and attitude that make him a perfect “anti-hero”: of course he has no interest in helping rescue the President, he’s being blackmailed into it.

Cue James Cameron!

There is a shot in the film where a helicopter flies over Central Park – that was actually filmed in San Fernando, California. The buildings in the background were matte-paintings by future director James Cameron!

This is a great action thriller, and Russell is great – it was his idea to give Snake Plisskin an eye patch!

In his next film, Russell starred in one of the funniest, and most criminally neglected films of all time!

Used Cars!

When the owner of a struggling used car lot is killed, it’s up to the lot’s hot-shot salesman to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner’s ruthless brother and used-car rival.

Meet Rudy Russo, the sleaziest used car salesman there is – well, except for all the others. Rudy wants to be a State Senator, and he’ll bribe anyone he needs to in order to achieve his dream of higher office. This hilariously profane comedy was directed by Robert Zemeckis, who went on to make “Back To The Future”.

Along with his partner in crime Gerrit Graham, Russell dreams up a plot to screw his arch enemy Roy Fuchs, played with a deliciousness by veteran character actor Jack Warden.

As Roy Fuchs spits out when he disagrees with the local elected officials:

“That Mayor – he don’t know DICK!”

Here is some great trivia, courtesy of IMDB: In a scene where Roy Fuchs (Jack Warden) walks up to Rudy (Kurt Russell) and Jeff (Gerrit Graham) – Graham didn’t have any lines and kept pestering Director Robert Zemeckis for something to say. Finally, he just decides to repeat whatever Russell said to Warden. Apparently Warden was unaware of what Graham was doing, thus his line:

“What’re you? A fuckin’ parrot?”

It was Warden’s genuine annoyance at Graham, which worked so well in the scene that it was included in the final cut.

Michael McKean and David Lander (Lenny and Squiggy) have small roles as techno-geeks who jam President Carter’s State of the Union address in order to plug in an ad for the used car lot…by cutting in live from Roy Fuchs’ used car lot across the street, making use of his cars for their “live pyrotechnics”…

[President Carter on TV]
President Carter: -high inflation. What is the solution?
[TV cuts to commercial for Luke’s yard taking place in Roy’s yard]
Jeff: You want the solution to inflation? Hi, friends. Marshall Lucky here for New Deal Used Cars, where we’re lowering inflation not only by fighting high prices, not only by murdering high prices, but by blowing the living shit out of high prices. Yessir. Here’s an example. It’s a 1972 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, for sixty-two ninety-nine. That price is too high.
[shoots car]

Jeff: Yessir. Here’s another one. It’s a Lincoln Continental, Mark IV, 1973. It’s loaded. It’s got air conditioning. It’s got a stereo. It’s got white-wall radial tires. It’s got power steering, power brakes, power seats, power windows. And a price that is just too high.
[shoots car]
Jeff: Yessir.
[Jim appears on car behind him in costume]
Jim: YAAAAAAHHHH.
Freddie: [on microphone] Look out, Marshall Lucky. It’s High Prices.
Jeff: Take this, you dirty ol’ High Prices.
[“shoots” Jim, who puts on a very convincing act]
Jim: AHHHH. Ya got me Marshall. Ahhhhh…
Jeff: [shocked] Jesus Christ!
[winks at screen]

The movie is profane and hilarious, and Russell plays the slimy used car salesman perfectly…

And the film also has a hilarious car chase with a ton of great action scenes….like this one:

So I plan to enjoy this Kurt Russell double bill as a way to kick off a new year on a great cinematic note!

Simon Cowell Was “Shining!” Debra Winger IS “E.T.!” Wild Movie Facts!

If you love movies like I do, then you will get a kick out of this obscure and fascinating movie trivia!

Yes, this is the face of “The Shining!”

Simon Cowell’s work with Stanley Kubrick is just one unique movie fact I have to share with you, thanks to:

Total Film’s “Believe It Or Don’t’s”!

The terrific British movie magazine “Total Film” always wows with great profiles, set visits and reviews of the best new movies and iflms showing on on DVD…and in the December issue, we get their list of the 25 wackiest film facts…here are a few to entice you:

Ingmar Bergman was a James Bond fan!

If you know this Swedish Director’s work, then the “Cries & Whsipers” Master is NOT an action Director…but as Woody Allen wrote in The New York Times, Bergman watched movies before going to bed that “didn’t make him think and would relax his anxiety!”

And Bond movies were among his favorites! Um, does that include “Die Another Day?”

And here is the trivia you’ve been dying to know:

Simon Cowell – yes, SIMON COWELL – polished Jack Nicholson’s Ax in “The Shining!”

This is fascinating to me…as a young man breaking into show business, Cowell was a “runner” at Elstree Studios outside London…

As part of his job, Cowell was assigned to work on “The Shining”…according to his half-brother Tony:

“I remember him saying he used to clean Jack Nicholson’s ax in between takes for the most famous scenes!”

“He took great pride in it. You could see you face in it, it was so shiny!”

So that was Simon Cowell handling Jack’s Ax between takes for the “Here’s Johnny!” scene…and we know how he turned out the way he did…

And here is some trivia about one of the most beloved films of all time:

Oscar-winning Actress Debra Winger was the voice of “E.T.!”

Debra Winger was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the early ’80’s, thanks to such smash hits as “Terms Of Endearment”, Urban Cowboy” and “An Officer And A Gentleman.”

But she was also the voice of “E.T.!”

Here is what she told the magazine:

“Steven Spielberg asked me to record a few sentences – I went in for like one day, maybe two, to do these recordings. I’ve never seen the movie, so I don’t know what he used…well. I know about ‘phone home’ and all that…”

Sound effects creator Ben Burtt did the rest, mixing Winger’s lines with the sounds of raccoons, horses and otters! And with that, he turned a beautiful Actress into THIS!

There are 22 more great pieces of somewhat “british-centric” movie trivia, but tons of fun – so check it out – Total Film is a great magazine!

X-Rated Oscar!

And speaking of movie trivia, how about this: there has been an X-rated film that won the Academy Award for Best Picture of the year! Read all about Oscar’s x-rated infatuation by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/07/x-rated-butter-cowboys-droogs-oscars-x-flirtation/

And remember that Ingmar Bergman 007 trivia? Well, did you know that Alice Cooper wrote and performed a Bond theme song?

Alice Cooper’s Censored Bond Theme!

That’s right, Alice Cooper recorded the theme for “The Man With The Golden Gun” but it was rejected! That’s just a little bit of Bond theme trivia, and you can ready more by clicking on here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/12/04/new-james-bond-film-spectre-all-your-bond-trivia-worst-theme-songs/

Let me know what your favorite bit of trivia is!