Movie reviews #55
Eight movies today, can you believe it.
1 (Brewster Mcloud 1970) Very early Robert Altman film here where the amazing Margret Hamilton plays a racist jerk. Another early 70’s offering that’s quite trippy and political
2 (Three sisters 1970) A hard to watch production of an Anton Chekhov novel, I may have slept through this in high school. It is cool to me only because It stars the Grandma mechanic from (I love you to death),
3 (Legend of Boggy Creek 1972) Tagline, Rated G Hick, Bigfoot movie, barely.
4 (Man who fell to Earth 1976) Rip Torn, Buck Henry, and Candy Clark star in this sci if classic, that we should all see in the theater once. Almost forgot about the guy who wants the baby in Labyrinth, he’s here too. JK fam Bowie’s cool (rest in space).
5 (Sammy 1977) These Jesus films crack me up as a recovering Catholic it always amuses me, among other things. This one got a theatrical release. please listen to hear how much money it made opening weekend, I believe it will put a smile on yer face.
6 (Soldier of Orange 1977) Our first Paul Verhoeven film. I remember this being very good, but not much else. the guy who wants “more life, fucker.” In Blade Runner is young and joins the Dutch resistance.
7 (Yesterdays Child 1977) This made for tv movie is deliciously bizarre. Starring the mom of the Partridge family and the General from Planet of the Apes 5.
8 (Dummy 1979) Worf’s human brother, Geordie La’Forge, and the dip shit cop who goes after John Jay Rambo and doesn’t bring a bunch O body bags, star in this rad film about tryin to fight Ableism in the halls of justice. Thanks for listening.
Movie reviews #54
7 more 70’s films we chuckin in the (Done) pile.
1 (Heartbreak Kid 1972) Elaine May directs this strong movie, I just wouldn’t, call it a comedy. We can all see in Jeannie Berlin’s acting, that it is not funny how she is treated by said Heartbreak Kid.
2 (The mad adventures of Rabbi Jacob 1973) This was a fake out for me, as it is not a movie about a Rabbi gettin into adventures, but instead it’s about this goofy French guy, whom if memory serves, is a jerk. This one’s zany and there’s a vat of gum!
3 (The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz 1974). Richard Dreyfuss, French Actress Michelle Lancot, Randy Quaid, and the rad Bowling coach from the 1979 hit movie Dreamer star in this movie where ya wish old Duddy would seriously get his head out of his ass.
4 (Mahler 1974) Jesus stars in this weird Ken Russell film about…………….Gustav Mahler. He looks back on his life while on a train.
5 (Wrong Move 1975) I guess this Wim Wenders did a lot for German Cinema, good, but for me the Wrong Move is not watching (The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum) another German film that came out the same year.
6 (Nickelodeon 1976) Here we have Ryan O’Neal, Burt Reynolds,Tatum O’Neal, and the Boss of Mr. French in this film about how 2 bumbling guys accidentally become some of the first American filmmakers ever. This is a Peter Bogdanovich film.
7 (Lovey a circle of friends part II 1978) Jane Alexander and Timothy Hutton’s Dad in Taps star in this important sequel to an important movie about how we deal with children with disabilities, not perfect, but at the time vital to show the world a better way than the medieval torture that came before. Medieval torture may not even be strong enough to describe the horrible ways people were treated in those institutions.
Thanks for listening friends, let the people know there’s been a 70’s film podcast out there pluggin away for……about 7 years?
We got movie reviews number #53 today. Let’s do a little roll call, hmm.
1.(The go between 1971) Julie Christie and Alan Bates star in this British film, shocker. There’s a whole darn movie full of plot but it really kind of is about just what the title sez, Boring!
2.(The Final Comedown 1972) Long time hard ta get Lando film is here and it delivers the goods. Studio and distribution versus revolutionaries fighting fascist racist u.s. imperialism. There are issues here of course, and Lando and his Mom are all caught up in it. It gets the white radicals right, ha.
3.(The Day of the Jackal 1973) Omg it’s been a long time from seeing this film til today. It’s highly rated on IMDB but I remember nothing except that an assassin guy has a hard time.
4.(Black Belt Jones 1974) Hong Kong Fooey, the kid that calls Charlton Heston “Hostile” in Omega Man and the Guy who beats up racist cops and then drives to the airport in their squad car star in this film about a community out to save a rad Karate school, flawless victory.
5.(Shelia Levine is dead and living in New York 1975) Just Wow, more exposure for this movie definitely. Nazi hunter Jeannie Berlin from Hunters brings Gail Parents book to life. Find and watch this movie, then listen to us gab about it in yer headphones hmmm?
6.(Hot Potato 1976) Here is the extremely loose sequel to black belt Jones. It kinda reminded me of when the Beatles were talking about the movie help, which was filmed on location so they could chill and smoke weed in the Bahamas. It feels like the studio gave the people some dough and tickets to film in Thailand and they partied and forgot to write a script etc until the deadline.
7.(Roseland 1977) So many, if not most films that came out in 1977 after May 25 were overshadowed by Star Wars and left behind. I had never seen this Christopher Walken gem before, it’s quite a cinematic treat. Directed by James Ivory. That’s the news fam, thanks as always for listening.
Movie Review #52
Comin right at you.
First up today yer crew takes on (Ryan’s Daughter 1970) here famous British director David Lean makes a movie with Robert Mitchum about Ireland in the early 20th century “Brit’s out now!”
Next up Al Pacino and Kitty Winn are working hard for their medication in (Panic in Needle Park 1971) “Vice cops out!”
Moving on we review Diana Ross in (Lady sings the Blues 1972) We also get Lando and Richard Pryor who’s flippin good in this apparently not too accurate bio pic of Billie Holiday.
4th movie today is (Say Goodbye Maggie Cole 1972) Which gives us silver screen Diva Susan Hayward runnin around in the 70’s bein fierce and very very busy!
Next today is (Jabberwocky 1977) that non Monty Python Monty Python movie you might have wondered about. The Middle Ages were such a blast, oh my.
Finally today we review the mighty (Deer Hunter 78) I could use a lil more Streep here please, always! Trigger warning, that war and all wars, are Harsh! Oh, also Russian Roulette Ummmmmmm No thank you!
Thanks for listening friends
Let’s hear from you. Why not?
Movie reviews #51 seven today so let’s go 1. Airport 1970. This one started them all. To me it’s just a less funny movie than airplane movie, but still funny. You don’t get the icky pedophile jokes, but you do get asshat men who live to cheat and cheat to live, this had a nice rad woman surprise that I am quite grateful for. Airport stars Helen Hayes!!!! 2. Scarecrow 1972. Many many 70’s films are based on plays, this one basically just filmed a play. Great Black Metal premise here with a story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet letter guy. Blythe Danner, and Gene Wilder are here, and there’s a witch too. 3. Earthquake 1974. Heston is here, this movie was not great. I had fun with friends, a lot actually. Heston is a shit but the Star Crash guy takes on bullies, and flippin Shaft is a rad stunt cyclist. 4. The Little prince 1974. This one’s trippy and fun, and we get our 2nd Gene Wilder appearance in this batch. You also get jazz hands Bob Fosse himself here as the snake. I always get this movie confused with the Gumby episode The Small Planets, and wonder where the screaming clay piano boy is. 5. Girlfriends 1978. Claudia Weill is our director here, in a coming of age film that should be more popular than it is, shrug emoji. We get the sole survivor woman from that trippy movie I love called Sole Survivor. Lots of great actors here including the guy who wrote Stonehenge. 6. Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. AirForce. This gets added to our list of super amazing made for TV movies of the 70’s, also Matlovich was real and fierce AF. Brad Dourif plays Leonard Mattlovich, and you can watch him and his mustache in this gem on you tube. A must see for those interested in Queer history. 7. …And your name is Jonah 1979.
Intense TV Movie about a
misdiagnosed Jonah, he is deaf and the shitty times and an even shittier Teacher and Dad make it flippin hell for this poor kiddo. Important to show where we were and where we should be with this country’s Ableism. Sally Struthers is here along with the asshat Dad played by asshat James Woods.
Thanks fer listening friends. Please oh please give us stars and a review, thank you.
Seven more 70’s movies, we can scratch off our list. Welcome to Reviews number #50. Done over 70 movie showcases, and now 50 episodes of movie reviews equalling over 400 films. Amazing, great work team.
1. (Dusty and Sweets Mcgee 1971) Here is neat documentary style look at drug addiction as people walk around L.A. looking to score.
2. (1776 1972) A musical I had not seen, annnnnd I’m a musical learner so I actually learned more from this story written by a history teacher then I did in school. This story and School house rock! Knight riders car and DR. Green’s dad from E.R. are here.
3. (Top of the Heap 1972) Sadly here is another buried film, thanks Racism. It’s starting to come around and I hope we can help. It’s serious and heavy and it’s written, directed and stars Christopher St. John whom we should have seen much more of. Paula Kelly from many films including The spook who sat by the door is here, and she has a poster of Baphomet!
4. (California Reich 1974) This Academy award nominated documentary should definitely be seen and is available on YouTube. This and Jesus Camp 2006 should be on a shelf marked, Well we did fucking warn you!
5. (Sorcerer 1977) Yeah F what the director says this is definitely false advertising. Movie is cool and we get More Roy Scheider and an amazing soundtrack by Tangerine Dream, but there are absolutely no witches wizard or magic at all in this film.
6. (Phantasm 1979) Great flippin title. Group of hard working ambitious stoners make a movie that is very creative, cray, and not a Women hating slasher film. I’m here for it.
7. (More American Graffiti 1979) I wanna just say cash grab, but they waited 6 years. I guess you had happy days in 74. Grease was 78 sooooo they probably tackled George to make sequel for some beach houses. George had little to do with this, editing the screenplay and apparently “Supervising.” People like to dismiss, but we found a few things here that we dug, also some real weirdness, which I keep writing about some and then erasing, meaning, if you saw the first one this is worth a watch. Thanks always for listening. Please like and subscribe, why not.
Movie reviews #49 coming in hot today. Just 5 70’s movies to review, sooooo let’s review the review. 1. (The Andromeda Strain 1971) Epic movie Director Robert Wise is at the helm here, with a movie Based on a Michael Crichton novel way before it was a 90’s standard thing to do. That statement is dead wrong though, there are 9 MC novels or short stories adapted into films in the 70’s, 3 in the 80’s, and 7 in the 90’s. I think it’s only because Jurassic Park had the hype of like 6 70’s movies, shit, I dunno. This movie is about a deadly element from space, SCIENCE, and a real cool facility that gives you paper clothes. 2. (Boxcar Bertha 1972) Not to jump the shark but I think this one’s easy, we all agree that we love Bertha, but not so much this early Martin Scorsese film. Barbara Hershey rules, also Bill of Kill Bill, and the history teacher of Bill and Ted are here. 3. (In this house of Brede 1975) Don’t yuk this bizarre recovering catholic’s yum, but here we have Diana Ring as Nun, say no more! ok just a bit more she is a woman who is sick of all the shitty men and bullshit and goes to the convent to get away from it all and do rad shit in peace, apparently I should read the book too. 4. (Death on the Nile 1978) I’m sorry but I do love me some Peter Ustinov, He is Agatha Christie’s Poirot here, along with flippin every one else. Mia Farrow, Bette Davis, Miss murder she done sat down and wrote, David Niven, Jack Warden, and Professor McGonagall, to name a few. This time they are on a boat not a train. 5. (Birth of the Beatles 1979) Waited for the encore tv airing of this so I could record it with a video cassette that I had bought. This one hugely influenced me to want to play music. Wonderful to finally see this again with friends and review. This movie is from the director of Return of the Jedi. we out, thanks for listening.
Howdy film fans, today yer Decade under the influence crew takes on 1973’s American Graffiti. Much has been said about this movie by Director George Lucas. Here of course is 2 hours more of it. I believe we have some interesting perspectives to add, but ultimately you the nice listener will get to decide. It definitely one of the best films ever made on a dare. You could also call this film, the one he did before Star Wars, or the one that launched all that 50’s nostalgia, though it takes place in 1962, which was seriously right when all that was about to change. we hope you enjoy this one, thanks for listening.
Howdy film fans, today yer Decade under the influence crew takes on 1973’s American Graffiti. Much has been said about this movie by Director George Lucas. Here of course is 2 hours more of it. I believe we have some interesting perspectives to add, but ultimately you the nice listener will get to decide. It definitely one of the best films ever made on a dare. You could also call this film, the one he did before Star Wars, or the one that launched all that 50’s nostalgia, though it takes place in 1962, which was seriously right when all that was about to change. we hope you enjoy this one, thanks for listening.
8 more 70’s movie reviews in the can, and they are 1. (A Late Liz 1971)
Campy “god can stop yer drinking” movie, that made me an even bigger fan of Anne Baxter. I want her to blow into many of my life’s situations and read the room. 2. (A New Leaf 1971)
Elaine May stars and directs this dark comedy classic. Even in 73 Walter Matthau was gettin too old for this shit. This is quite good, but he’s better as a tipsy baseball coach. 3.(Under Milk Wood 1971)
What the heck is this arty poetry stuff, More Elizabeth Taylor please. 4.(Murder on the Orient Express 1974)
Agatha Christie murder mystery book is put on film by director Sidney Lumet in the most competent way ever, in my opinion. One of those films where every actor is here. 5.(Apple Pie 1975)
New York arty guy wants more than 5 bux for walkin around money from his parents, what ever shall he do. 6.(Our Winning Season 1978)
3 teens in high school try to figure out and work towards their hopes and dreams only to run face first into patriarchy and the Vietnam war draft. 7.(The Shout 1978)
Alien in the tummy guy, Dr. Frankerfurter, Superman’s Mom, and Alan Bates star in this movie that is weird. Also the “Shout” itself is quite loud. 8.(Fatso 1980) Ann Bancroft writes and directs this one. Dom Deluise is trying to find love and Health in a cruel harsh world. Hey friends hang in there please. As always thanks for listening.
8 Movies again, annnnnnnd here goes. 1. (Halls of Anger 1970) Calvin Lockhart, a young Jeff Bridges and Janet MacLachlan star in this serious look at racism and teaching. Ed Asner makes yet another appearance too. 2. (Skin Game 1971) Same director here as the first movie. Rockford Files and Iron Eagle star with Mom from Webster in yet another film having a heavy dialogue about racism. This one tries to Trojan horse it in with some comedy, does it work, let’s see. Oh look, Ed Asner. 3. (Aaron loves Angela 1975) Where the heck is Ed Asner, sigh. Gordon Parks jr. directs this rad 70’s film lookin at young love and race, using Romeo and Juliet as a basic template. Irene Cara is in the house. 4.(Hard Times 1975) Warriors director Walter Hill is here, making a film where James Coburn needs to not gamble so much, damn, There’s Charles Bronson and boxing too. Bronson is glowing and so expressive, an amazing on screen presence, NOT.
5. (Special Day 1977) Oh my, Italian cinema can be tricky, at least the 70’s Italian films that we have seen which are few, but whoa, tricky is a too nice way of saying there’s disgusting treatment of women in these films. This film, though not perfect, is an exception, and with some unexpected queer content. Sophia Loren is here, as well as Marcello Mastroianni (who appears to be in every Italian film ever) oh also the dean from Animal House. Special Day is directed by Ettore Scola. Pretty epic stuff. 6.(Skateboard the movie 1978) Silly, dumb, quickly made cash grab about Skateboarding, that I really like and even own the soundtrack. If you like the subject, and fun B movies, this is a win for me, let us tell you all about it. You might have more fun listening with the commentary track on, which means you’d have to buy it, and if yer that interested, you probably already have it. Teen heart throb Leif Garret is here and is the only one who can’t skate great. Here also is Kathleen Lloyd of The Car. 7. (The Outsider 1979) Heavy film here about the troubles. It sure got some great images on film in Northern Ireland. Brits out! 8. (Penitentiary 1979) This is final film of rad director Jamaa Fanaka that we get to review. Here Sweet Pea tries to survive prison. Please see also Emma Mae 1976. ok enjoy the show, thanks for listening.
Eight movie reviews today, Punch it. Body blow body blow. #1(Bedknobs and Broomsticks 1971)As always for me, this one looks so very much better than it is. Don’t get me wrong it’s got murder she wrote and Witches, but it still puts me to sleep in the middle sadly. #2(Death takes a holiday 1971) Gee whiz V did not love the dialogue here, not wrong, yet for me it kinda added to the oddness of the whole twilight zone package. At least Brad Pitt is not doing a terribly racist accent in this adaptation of the timeless tale where the grim reaper takes some time off to see what love is, oh the back log. #3 (The autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman 1974) Great movie where Cicely Tyson takes us from slavery to the civil rights movement when she is put into what I can only describe as “really bad makeup” Great director here is John Korty who directed Star Wars……..The Ewok Adventure in 84. #4(1900 1976) Omg this movie! It is long, intense, great, and unwatchable at times, unless you like real onscreen animal torture, we’ll get into it. French guy from Green Card is here as well as Taxi Driver, Dominique Sanda (Janice from Damnation alley), and the sacred fluids guy from Dr. Strangelove Sterling Hayden. #5 (Tracks 1976) The movie where Dennis Hopper kisses weird. Hopper and the guy from quantum leap are on a train, (Cylon Q leap guy, not Enterprise captain one)Rad N trippy director here is Henry Jaglom. #6 (The getting of Wisdom 1977) Early film from director Bruce Beresford (Tender Mercies, Breaker Morrant, Driving Miss Daisy) Here we have too much mean sass at this school. It’s a coming of age type thing that introduces Austrian Hero Laura Tweedle, played here by Susannah Fowle. #7 (Patrick 1978) Freaky Telekinesis patient is totally brain dead, but he spits. Susan Penhaligon plays Kathy who scores a weird job in this movie that the internet told me was an underrated classic, it is not. #8 (Who’ll stop the Rain 1978) Nick Nolte is back from Nam, and he has to help his buddy who doesn’t know shit about smuggling drugs. Tuesday Weld plays Marge who is caught in the middle. Is this movie good? Find out with us. Thanks for listening.
Let’s review some more 70’s movies now! Today we start with #1(Bloody Town Hall 1979) This documentary filmed in 1971 was a labor of love to edit and get it released by 79. This is a bloody mess that at least I found super interesting. BTH captures an important time, by way of an extremely odd event in NYC where Feminists take on Douchey Norman Mailer, a whole lotta chaos, and someone filmed it. NYC Gay Liberation Front members can be seen here for brief cameo. Other writers here of note are Germaine Greer, Diana Trilling, Jill Johnston, and Betty Friedman, to name a few. #2 is (Johnny got his gun 1971). This book was read by anyone in high school who had a Vet for an English teacher. Author and director here was famous blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo, they made a bio pic about him with the meth making chemistry teacher from Breaking Bad. This films good and trippy, also extremely heavy and sad, also also METALLICA (listen to the song One for the plot). We love Donald Sutherland and he had just passed at the time of recording so we are slowly goin through the few DS films that we haven’t already reviewed or showcased. Timothy Bottoms, Kathy Fields, and massive character actor Peter Brocco are here, along with the guy who became a tree in Mr. Sycamore. #3 (Badlands 1973) Ok this ones arty. The Dad of the guy from Platoon, and Carrie from Carrie star here. Carrie is groomed by the Apocalypse now guy to be with him and watch him play macho militia survivalist dude, after killing her father. #4 (Last American Hero 1973)Before he owned a video arcade in Tron, the guy from King Kong who loves magic was a moonshiner turned Southern hick nascar racer. Gary Busey helps him here, as well as Geraldine Fitzgerald, Valerie Perrrine, and Ned Beatty. #5 (Cassanova 1976) Donald Sutherland has Mr. Burns in the Simpson’s Dracula parody hair here. Director here is the one and only Federico Fellini, and if you wanna read something funny, go to IMDB and check out his biography, unless someone changes it, it is one one the weirdest mini bio’s I have ever read. Film looks stunning, but is it good? Well, our hot takes are ready. #6 (north Dallas forty 1979) This film experienced some real big problems taking on Big Sports. It’s foolish to think that it wouldn’t be the same as taking on the mob or the government. This is based on a book from someone who was in it Peter Gent. I was bullied by jocks and organized sports fans as far back as I can remember. I seem to be missing the gene to enjoy pretending I play a role sporting events. I digress, because I could watch a movie about sports or a show about sports if it’s good, and this is good. Nick Nolte, and Charles Durning are here, as well as the director of First Blood, where John Jay Rambo was once in charge of million dollar equipment and now he can’t even get a job parking cars.
Finally today we review another made for TV movie gem called #7(The 5.20 an hour dream 1980) Alice from the hit TV show Alice is here and very good as Ellen a rad Mom who needs her car repaired and takes on patriarchy in the factory. Can these butts allow her to do a job she can do even though she is not a man? As always thanks for listening and please give us the stars and a review, it can help peeps find the pod.
Hi friends, today we showcase -Turning Point 1977- Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft star here, with some big help from rad defector Mikhail Baryshnikov, Tom Skerritt, Martha Scott Marshall Thompson, and James Mitchell too. The mad scientist that makes evil robot Kiss members in Kiss meets the Phantom of the park pops in for a bit, dressed like Tom Skerritt’s character, and it got confusing for a hot second. I think it was to show that Shirley’s Character had a type, but it was nice to see the Kiss guy. Director here is Herbert Ross, naming a few we got, Boys on the side, steel Magnolias, Footloose, max Dugan Returns, and for us it’s The goodbye girl, the Seven percent solution, the sunshine boys, the Last of Shelia, T.R. Baskin, and the Owl and the pussycat 1970, We will be showcasing him again with the Sunshine Boys 1975. Our writer here is Arthur Laurents, who is absolutely amazing, and wrote quite a lot of tell all stories about his life in Hollywood. He wrote it all after he came out of the closet so it gets deep and a lil hot too. Arthur was a gay Jewish, once blacklisted writer, so it was too much to be contained in just 1 book.He was born in 1917-and lived for 93 years. He wrote the coded Rope 1948, Home of the brave, West side story, Gypsy, and we reviewed him before in 1973’s The Way we were. Quite happy to showcase this film for y’all, it’s been a minute since we have showcased something. Lots to say soooooooo, why not press play. Fun sentence to write, but I’m sure many of us read while listening, whatever your process, thanks for listening.
Hi friends, today we showcase -Turning Point 1977- Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft star here, with some big help from rad defector Mikhail Baryshnikov, Tom Skerritt, Martha Scott Marshall Thompson, and James Mitchell too. The mad scientist that makes evil robot Kiss members in Kiss meets the Phantom of the park pops in for a bit, dressed like Tom Skerritt’s character, and it got confusing for a hot second. I think it was to show that Shirley’s Character had a type, but it was nice to see the Kiss guy. Director here is Herbert Ross, naming a few we got, Boys on the side, steel Magnolias, Footloose, max Dugan Returns, and for us it’s The goodbye girl, the Seven percent solution, the sunshine boys, the Last of Shelia, T.R. Baskin, and the Owl and the pussycat 1970, We will be showcasing him again with the Sunshine Boys 1975. Our writer here is Arthur Laurents, who is absolutely amazing, and wrote quite a lot of tell all stories about his life in Hollywood. He wrote it all after he came out of the closet so it gets deep and a lil hot too. Arthur was a gay Jewish, once blacklisted writer, so it was too much to be contained in just 1 book.He was born in 1917-and lived for 93 years. He wrote the coded Rope 1948, Home of the brave, West side story, Gypsy, and we reviewed him before in 1973’s The Way we were. Quite happy to showcase this film for y’all, it’s been a minute since we have showcased something. Lots to say soooooooo, why not press play. Fun sentence to write, but I’m sure many of us read while listening, whatever your process, thanks for listening.
Flying out the gate like the Ultimate Warrior, today we gots 7 more 70’s movie reviews, and here…they…are! first up is (The Yakuza 1974) With Robert Mitchum (I’m just starting the whole chapter about him in Roger Eberts book- Life Itself) Ken Takakura, The best friend of Logan in Logan’s Run, The Dad who hired Mr. French in Family Affair, and Stanley from the Golden Girls are all here with Mitchum in this. Is this Movie good, we like Director Sydney Pollack, and Writer Paul Schrader, but can they pull it off? Let’s see, shall we. Next up is (Adventures of the wilderness family 1975). We are continuing our odd ass journey of Robert Logan’s nature/adventure films. This is the one with 2 sequels, kind of afraid of them, oh my, this is silly enough. Onward to (Bullet Train 1975). Ashes liked this one best for it’s rad historical context. Also important to watch as stupid Americans, to learn that SPEED totally ripped this one off. Filmed entirely on location on the bullet train between Tokyo and Hiroshima, also Ken Takakura is back here. More of Ken to come. Travel with us now to skull island and (King Kong 1976) It’s got issues and it kinda sucks, but also with that, there’s a lot of cool people here, bein weird, especially Jeff Bridges. Directed by John Guillermin after he made a ton of money for the studio people when we made (The Towering inferno) in 74 so they threw a ton o dough at this thing here, Wait John directed Shaft in Africa, heck yeah! Moving on we gots (Slap Shot 1977) George Roy Hill is our director here, with one of my favorite screenwriters Nancy Dowd, who if someone could just chuck some dough at us and this pod I would love to interview, while she is still around to interviewed plz, to all you rich benefactors out there. Is something wrong with me that I think the Hanson Brothers are simply adorable. Next today we review (Every which way but loose 1978)That punching movie with the Orangutan Clyde, also Maude’s shotgun scene is priceless. Gee it’s also kind of an anti Fascist picture, not as fiercely anti fascist as the blues brothers, but I think it still counts, there is much nazi punching. Hey our direct here James Fargo made the 80’s cult masterpiece Voyage of the rock aliens in 84, can’t for the Vintage video 80’s podcast to cover that one, also VVP stay out of our lane eh. finally today we review yet another made for TV 70’s movie that snuck some greatness under the radar (See how she runs 1978) Joanne Woodward plays a teacher who just wants to run in the Boston Marathon but oddly has to battle the world and even her family just to do so! Drop us a review and all the dang stars if you like what you hear, and thank you muchly for listening.
Seven more movie reviews, let’s go!
Gee this is simply not the best batch. I said it. Today we start with (The Feminist and the Fuzz 1971) Barbara Eden stars with the good Morning America guy in this wacky film with some serious ideas that they bring into America’s living room, giving us the representation, and radical crumb many were literally dying for, but you just, as always knew they were gonna mainstream a few steps back at the end, the price that you knew you were gonna pay. I remember that made for TV movie, the day my kid went punk, that came out just as me and three other 16 year olds started the first ever punk band in our suburban catholic town, boy was that film a let down. I’d personally say that it’s worth a watch. It’s on you tube, watch it then pop back and listen hmmmmmmm, maybe. Next is (Elvis on tour 1972). It looks and sounds cool. There is just a lot of Elvis music here, and I could use more interviews. Also I’m sure that the filmmakers must of felt quite bound and gagged about really reporting what the saw and heard, at least in my head cannon it seems that way. The famous rock story of Elvis getting denied his prescription at a pharmacy on the road because a sympathetic pharmacist saw the massive addiction of Elvis to pills, and Elvis’s manager simply buying the pharmacy, is NOT here, how could it be. But I am sure it was all seen. Even with the puff piece attitude of this publicity thing you can see it pretty dang well. Next today we move on to (Snoopy come home 1972) This is the first of the trilogy of Charlie Brown feature films that were going to be covering for the pod, and the second in the film series after 1969’s A boy named Charlie Brown. Look this is great and our discussion is fabulous I’m sure, I’ve seen this movie several times in my life SO it’s more than ok that I fell asleep this time. Those other two lovelies can pick up my slack. There’s dog and bird discrimination for Snoopy and Woodstock as they travel to visit a sick friend. Next is (Charlie Varrick 1973) and Garak from deep space 9 is here. Garak plays Harman Sullivan, a hot head bank robber who like Veruka Salt, wants it all now. We also gots Joe don Baker, Felicia Farr, and the coach of the bad news bears himself Walter Matthau. Lots of great characters here to including the dean from Animal House, in this gritty great stock 70’s movie where, uh oh the bank robbers ripped off the mob. Whatever will they do? Let’s talk talk talk about it shall we. Onward to (3 days of the Condor)
Nows here’s a popular 70’s political thriller that your decade under the influence would love to time machine change a bit of. I love Robert Redford, he’s cute, thoughtful and chooses rad projects, even now. See (The company you keep 2012) where he plays a former Weather Underground activist. But here in Condor he makes this icky decision to not just hand the amazing force of Faye Dunaway the dang gun after they get to her pad. Just pisses me off ok. Great directing and cinematography here. Would you like to know more. (The Hindenburg 1975) is up to bat now and let’s just say that for me….George C Scott does NOT George C Scott enough, and the super cool Anne Bancroft is very under used, watch Turning point and Garbo speaks to compensate. The dick from Real Genius and Ghostbusters is good here, and I don’t hate this, wait, the amazing director Robert Wise is also under represented here. ACK,,,,,,,, moving on finally to wrap this poop up with (Across the great divide 1976)
Hey this is the one with the 2 kids, I dig this one. We reviewed the Sea Gypsies with Robert Logan a bit ago, and I was very surprised that he was in about 6 nature movies in the 70’s. What is going on world. This one is waaaaay better than what’s to come in my opinion. Ok I’m done, thank you very much for listening, please subscribe and give us some stars, and mayhems a sweet or not sweet review, it super helps, thanks.
Seven more 70’s movie reviews in the can today, putting us at a grand total of 337 movies we have showcased or reviewed.
Today we start out with (Colossus the Forbin project 1970) Dammit, first off we are all not perfect in general, and here ME in particular got 2 actors screwed up and said a bunch of wrong shite. Look up actors Eric Braeden, and Ken Berry circa 1970 and give me the slightest bit of redemption please. Here we have the Mom from Webster and the Mom from Happy days as part of a team of genius nerds who create a super computer in 1970 that we cannot even create now. Said computer gets out of their control extremely fast and decides that humans are flippin dumb and quite bent on murdering each and very much deserve a time out!
(Don’t play us cheap 1972) is up next and it was streaming, so that was a nice lil treat for us. Film has 2 iconic t.v. mom’s in it, before they were t.v. moms. Mabel King was Mama from What’s Happening, and Esther Rolle was Florida Evan’s from Good Times, Annnnnd Maude. This film has only a few other actors, and is kind of a play on wheels, crazy because it was oddly a movie first, then a play which was done to get funding to distribute the movie. It was directed by Melvin Van Peebles, please listen for more.
next is (Property is no longer a theft 1973) I’m jumping sharks but sayin anyways that this sounds cooler than it is, possibly a very rad movie in there but some ick that made this one difficult. Directed by Elio Petri, with quite an interesting radical life to read about, we will see his work again hopefully under better circumstances.
(Barry Lyndon 1975) According to our amazing V they chose a quite problematic script to adapt here, I’d have to agree, however with that, the film looks absolutely stunning, stars Ryan O’neal and is directed by master Stanley Kubrick, and we’ll see them both again sooooon.
Next today we get the Mighty Murphy Brown in (Night full of rain 1978) Candice plays a rad feminist photographer traveling in Italy where she meets this shitty shit. The acting is very good and we have a woman director here telling the hard truth of an abusive narccisistic man, and unlike many movies, she does leave him at the end, spoiler I know but in a triggering setting I usually wanna know the end so I can worry just a lil less. Lina Wertmuller was the first woman to receive an Oscar for directing, so we may see her work again, still both of these Italian films we review today get a content warning.
Happily moving on to (Meetings with remarkable men 1979)This trippy ish cult film was available only on VHS, until we watched the F’r- and now you can watch it on amazon for 2.99. I was longing for a young Terrence Stamp here, but A. I got the release date wrong and he looks just as he does in superman, and B. He’s hardly in this. Listen for more info on all these films, why not?! There is a fun Bauhaus band connection here.
Finally today we review (Serial 1980). Sally Kellerman and Roseanne’s boss star in this film about trying to find some ease in this crazy cruel world. Best appearance of Christopher Lee ever! Put yer hands down!
that’s the reviews and we are out of here. Please if you are seeing this write us a review, good or bad, it will help people find the pod. Thanks friends.
Limited word space here now. Story of my life in the cyber realm, always 568 characters too many, which is shite when you think about it. Life is longer than a soundbite.
Six movies today, let’s go!
(Mind Snatchers 1972) is a movie about the military doing mind experiments on violent jerks starring Christopher Walken, and Cohaagen from Total Recall.
(The Car 1977) is a movie about how a hick town deals with a demon possessed car that enjoys killing, and it stars the cool lady from skateboard the movie, Josh Brolin’s Dad, and Crappy Captain Jellico from Star Trek the next generation.
(Julia 1977) is a movie about early anti fascist activists fighting back against the Nazi’s, and starring Barbarella, and Vanessa the Red.
(Lady of the House 1978) is a movie that tells the true story of Sally Stanford played by Dyan Cannon, where Fierce ass Sally becomes the first Madam to become Mayor, and all to avoid the red tape of zoning laws so she can build a cool deck.
(Laser Blast 1978) is a film about 2 stoners tryin to enjoy the sunshine in southern Cali, but asshats just keep harassing their mellow, enter 1 sweet Laser gun. Laser Blast stars Kim Milford, Kathy Farlye, that awesome guy from ALL the planet of the apes stuff, and a Star Wars billboard!
Finally today your decade under the influence crew gives 10’s across the board to (Best Boy 1979) it won the Oscar for best documentary, and in their acceptance speech William Shatner was a dick to the film makers, so I kept my vintage STTMP Captain Kirk action figure in my bag that day.
Thanks for listening friends, please give us all the stars, and reach out eh. Why not?
8 more 70’s movie reviews in the can.
Starting things off today with (Billy Jack 1971). This is a sequel to a 1967 film called Born Losers, and it is just out of our reach for us. Here is a movie written by the 2 stars in the film and directed by BJ himself. Seems like a real labor of love, and it’s pretty great and we’ll tell ya’ll about it very shortly, or we already are and your reading while your listening, how can you do that? Before we move on BJ is a film about a safe haven and school for outcasts and people of color, where close minded murderous Hicks are just outside the border, waiting to be racist and horrible to the max, I do hope someone has amazing fighting skills hmmm. One more thing, Howard Hesseman……..Johnny Flippin Fever from WKRP is HERE in this film, however, we suck and said it was Venus Flytrap, sorry bout that icky rookie mistake, Venus was played by the amazing Tim Reid and he is not in this film.
Moving on to (Duck, you sucker 1971) Here we have the awful man who will soon have no friends from Happy birthday Wanda June (Rod Steiger), and the gross reporter guy from Goldengirl, (James Coburn), starring in this film about how to become heroes in the Mexican revolution. Hmmmmmm, your gonna need an explosives expert.
Next up is (The Outside Man 1972) which stars a focused French guy, the guy that wants the beaches closed and doesn’t care about yer concession sales, the amazing Ann flippin Margaret, and Angie (dressed to kill) Dickinson. Here is a movie with the idea of action, with out a lot of it, 70’s style. You get to see massive amounts of driving round L.A. You can see the old Venice amusement pier, some of the weird street characters, and one thing we wanted to mention but spaced it, was the appearance of public electric shaver in a bathroom, which seems unsanitary, hey, I gots time let’s look it up….Time has passed, and the internet has failed me, or perhaps my use of it has failed.
(Badge 373 1973) Verna Bloom, star of a western we all liked, The Hired Hand, is here with Robert Duvall, Henry Darrow, and Radical 60’s n 70’s activist and Young Lord Felipe Luciano.
Here we have some competing actors and the inspirational Felipe, kinda stuck in some budget cop movie, based on the guy whose budget cop stories also inspired the French connection character of Popeye D.
Onward we strut to the light and uplifting Ingmar Bergman classic (Scenes from a Marriage 1974), almost too heavy to get into, but I don’t really have to, I’ll just skim that surface for you and move on. You’ve got amazing acting, directing, and cinematography, a good script etc. I wonder what could ever go wrong with a film focused on and icky relationship, through the years. He is horrid to the max, and it is worthwhile to examine relationships and the social norms and conditioning that live inside them. Gosh it was just difficult for your beloved D.U.I. crew to get through.
Come with us now to 1975 with (Rancho Deluxe).
Rancho Deluxe, is the Slim Pickens holy grail that I didn’t even know I was looking for. Now, you have other stuff goin on here, like Starman (Jeff Bridges) and the dad from Serial Mom (Sam Waterson) are trying to pay rent and piss off a bull baron guy, although Bridges is slumming it, so to speak. Also serial mom’s dad’s Dad is played by Joe Spinell and he steals the dang show for the scene he’s in. Lot’s of good talent here, but is it good, or great, listen to find out?
Second to last today we review (Outlaw Josey Wales 1976) a puzzling film directed by Clint Eastwood starring Sondra Locke, and Chief mother flippin Dan George, that’s it.
Finally today we enjoy (Corevette Summer 1978)
“It’s not even his car, it belongs to the school, It’s not even your car!!”
This film has Mary Jo Shively from designing woman, and Luke Skywalker from Star Wars confronting the guy from Laser Blast to return the schools hot rod, back to the school.
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