Are You A Fan Of Percy Thrillington?

The odds are you own a LOT of his music…take a look and this and let me know…

Check Out Paul McCartney’s Musical Catalog!

I love this wallpaper, which shows the incredible catalog of music from Paul McCartney – but here is one you may never have heard of – because Paul WAS Percy Thrillington!

Behold The Orchestral Majesty Of “Thrillington!”

This is one of Paul McCartney’s most obscure albums, but it’s an amazing achievement! First, meet the creator of the album:

Meet Record Producer Percy “Thrills” Thrillington!

Percy Thrillington was a name that Paul McCartney gave himself in order to do something very experimental – he wanted to do an orchestral version of his latest album “RAM!”

Here’s how it all happened: as fans know, “RAM” was the only album credited to Paul and Linda McCartney. Paul was in the midst of his huge post-Beatles battle, and he and Linda headed to their farm to record this brilliant album.

According to wikipedia, “Arranger Richard Hewson was asked to arrange the orchestration before Ram had yet been released and it was recorded in June 1971 – with McCartney as producer – and with an intended release shortly thereafter. Paul and Linda’s decision to form Wings resulted in the album being shelved until 1977.”

The ad for that 1977 release made it clear it was a musical reworking of McCartney’s “RAM”, but Paul’s name is not on the credits. It’s a fun, experimental album – something Macca was known for all throughout his career…let’s take a listen to his unique musical homage to “RAM!”

In preparation for the release of Thrillington, McCartney invented the fictitious socialite Percy Thrillington, and even took out ads in various UK music papers announcing Thrillington’s so-called comings and goings to generate curiosity and interest.

Here is a look at the back of the album, with some fun information to share – but what about the album itself!

It all begins with he band warming up, bits of music and chatter, before you hear the band start in, with a chorus also involved – here is an audio only version of “Too Many People”:

Next up is a jazzy big band sound, which actually gives a very expansive vibe to the original song “Three Legs”:

Here’s a 50’s “doo wop” version of “Dear Boy” – as you can see, each song is given a unique twist:

Here is an audio-only version of “Uncle Albert / Albert Halsey” – this song is one of “RAM’s” many masterpieces, and it’s great to hear Paul playing with in this this unique way:

The rest of the album continues this experimental take on “RAM”…and for years, this was never acknowledged as being done by Paul!

Released in April 1977, McCartney’s name was mentioned only in the main liner notes where he is described as a friend of Percy. Thrillington went mostly unnoticed upon its release although it was mentioned in the “Random Notes” page of Rolling Stone magazine. Here are some press notes released by McCartney:

McCartney was never asked about his role on the album until he finally admitted it to journalist Peter Palmiere at a Los Angeles press conference in 1989, during the second leg of his world tour at the time. McCartney told Palmiere:

“What a great question to end the conference. The world needs to know! But seriously it was me and Linda – and we kept it a secret for a long time but now the world knows – you blew it!”

The full story of the “Thrillington” album was told in music journalist Ian Peel’s book “The Unknown Paul McCartney” from 2002.

Peel tracked down various musicians who brought McCartney’s vision to life – including Richard Hewson, Herbie Flowers and The Mike Sammes Singers – as well as those that were responsible in creating its mythology.

Of course, one reason the album is so much fun is that it’s an orchestral version of a masterpiece!

“Ram” On!

“RAM” is the only album ever credited to “Paul and Linda McCartney” – and it is a beautiful album that showcases them both…but there was a reason for that credit…see why here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/08/20/macca-ram-on-paul-mccartneys-masterpiece-john-lennons-fury-a-beatles-c-c-c-catfight/

As great as “RAM” is, it’s also amazing that so much music was left over – and it ended up here:

That’s right, “Red Rose Speedway” was partially recorded during the “RAM” sessions! See some more great trivia about this terrific Wings album here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/08/21/paul-mccartneys-brilliant-ram-2-wings-soar-with-red-rose-speedway/

Finally, Macca has always had an experimental streak…that’s why he made this incredible album:

Yes, “Twin Freaks” is a McCartney album as well…see some incredible videos for this unique collaboration here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/06/20/twin-freaks-the-fireman-paul-mccartneys-neglected-solo-music-masterpieces/

Of course, Paul also knew how to knock out a straightforward classic rocker – like the best James Bond theme song of all time!

“Live And Let Die” is the greatest Bond theme ever…here are some of the other good ones – and the awful ones too – can you hear me, Madonna?

https://johnrieber.com/2013/11/05/rock-on-007-the-best-and-worst-james-bond-theme-songs/

Let me know what you think of “Thrillington!”

As the holiday season approaches, everyone will eat lots of food and sit down to watch classic holiday movies – and we all have our own favorites! I’ve got a list of the nine best holiday movies, including RARE behind-the-scenes photos from the set of “It’s A Wonderful Life”, and so much more!

First, get into the holiday spirit with Billy Mack’s “Christmas Is All Around”!

Thanks Billy, just what I needed to get into the holiday spirit! If you know this song, then you LOVE “Love Actually” – one of the NINE best holiday movies ever!

“Love Actually”!

“Love Actually” is a series of inter-locking stories that take place during the holiday season: some are funny, and a few are sad – with an all-star cast including Kiera Knightley, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson.

So many terrific Actors in the film, and thanks to the great website IMDB, here is some terrific “Love Actually” trivia! Let’s start with this fun one:

The word “actually” is spoken twenty-two times by various characters in the film.

When casting the part of Sarah, Richard Curtis auditioned a great many British girls, but kept saying, “I want someone like Laura Linney…” The casting director eventually snapped and said:

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, get Laura Linney then!”

They brought her in and she of course got the part.

The idea for Mark’s surprise of the band singing “All You Need Is Love” at Peter and Juliet’s wedding came from Jim Henson’s funeral (which Richard Curtis attended) where all the puppeteers brought their Muppets and sung the song.

Colin Firth’s “Avocado Elbow!”

The lake that Lúcia Moniz and Colin Firth are “swimming” in was actually only eighteen inches deep and they had to kneel down and pretend to be in deeper water. It was also over-run by mosquitoes and Colin Firth was badly bitten and his elbow swelled up to the size of an avocado, requiring medical attention.

Billy Bob’s Fear Of Furniture!

Knowing about Billy Bob Thornton’s quite unique fear of antique furniture, Hugh Grant would sometimes flash a piece of antique (which is abundant in England) in front of Thornton just before the cameras rolled, and watch him freak out in amusement.

The airport greeting footage at the beginning and end of the film is real. Richard Curtis had a team of cameramen film at Heathrow airport for a week, and whenever they saw something that would fit in they asked the people involved for permission to use the footage. Alex and I always wondered how excited these people must be to be in the film forever!

Thanks, Billy Mack!

“Christmas Is All Around” is now one of our favorite holiday songs thanks to Bill Nighy. With that tune in our heads, let’s see some of the other great holiday films, beginning with Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and the spirit of “Saturday Night Live”!

Get “Scrooged” and “Griswolded”!

Our next two great holiday films are screwball comedies with iconic stars!

“Scrooged” (1983) and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989) both are infused with SNL attitude – Bill Murray does an updated “Christmas Carol” as miserly TV exec Frank Cross – Murray is full of great lines and classic double takes, but the Actor also reveals his soft spot, in a film that has more of a manic energy than many holiday classics.

Check out the trailer:

Once you are “Scrooged”, you might as well go “Griswold!”

Let’s get right to this holiday hilarity with the Griswold family:

That’s right, welcome back to the Clark Griswold family – Chevy Chase takes his clan on another “Vacation”…yes, it’s just a holiday version of the first movie, so do they deserve a spot on the list? As Clark Griswold would say:

“Bend over and I’ll show you!”

OK, maybe a bit forward for the holiday…let’s go back to a simpler time…

The “White Christmas” (1954) / “Holiday Inn” (1942) Crosby Combo!

This double bill is a single entry in my top nine, because these two iconic holiday films star legendary Actors – and they are basically the same movie! In “Holiday Inn”, Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire are two war buddies who sing lots of classic Irving Berlin tunes, including the Oscar winning “White Christmas”…

The Song Becomes The Film!

“White Christmas” was such a great song that they decided to remake “Holiday Inn” and CALL it “White Christmas”! This time, Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are two GIs coming home from WWII, who fall in love with singing-and-dancing sisters and help their general with his failing Vermont inn. Again, almost the same film, but both of classic Hollywood holiday entertainment! A great double bill!

“Bad Santa”!

This ain’t your father’s holiday movie, which is why is MUST be on a top nine list! How can you NOT love a film with the classic line:

“Fuck me, Santa, Fuck Me!”

So says Lauren Graham in a movie that wears its dark heart on its sleeve…forget the sequel if you want, but this original caustic comedy is one of the best! Here is the trailer:

It’s the perfect movie to watch after all of your horrendous holiday shopping – fighting crowds, no parking, enormous bills – and it’s virtually impossible to watch without a stiff drink in your hand. But it is hilarious, profane and touching as well!

Here’s another holiday charmer:

Happy Holidays, Del Griffith!

And now, the funniest holiday movie character ever, the legendary Del Griffith!

“Planes, Trains & Automobiles”!

I know, it takes place over Thanksgiving, but it’s a holiday movie through and through, and Del Griffith deserves to be here – as it is one of the most heartwarming holiday movies ever!

It’s the classic story of a guy just trying to get home to his family in times for the holidays. “Here’s an idea. When you tell a story, have a point!” And who can forget Del Griffith pulling his socks off on the plane, waving them around and exclaiming “the dogs are barking!”

And of course, as you can see above:

“those aren’t pillows!”

I rest my case. Just one of the sweetest holiday films ever…see more great trivia here:

Greatest Thanksgiving Movie EVER! “Planes, Trains & Automobiles!” Del Griffith Rules!

I love Del Griffith – and you know who else I love?

Hey, Buddy!

Buddy the Elf of course! Will Ferrell’s best film by a mile – check out the trailer:

Will Ferrell is innocent and perfect as Buddy – the elf who heads to New York City to find his real father – a very unfriendly James Caan. Add Ed Asner as a slightly grumpy Santa PLUS Zooey Deschanel as the “innocent love” interest and you have an instant holiday classic!

Speaking of holiday classics:

Congratulations To Director Bob Clark!

Time to celebrate the seriously under-rated Director Bob Clark, who directed the classic holiday film “A Christmas Story” – literally one of the most quoted holiday movies ever! Need an example?

“You’ll shoot your eye out with that thing!”

It makes me want to have chinese food on Dec. 25th just to honor him. This is arguably the best Christmas movie of all time – the encounter with the frozen tether ball pole is just one reason…

And who can forget Dad’s new lamp – look at this terrific TBS ad for the movie that captures the fun of that scene…

It is a holiday classic, directed by Canadian Bob Clark, an under-appreciated Director…check out the trailer:

So funny, so heartwarming! That said, Bob Clark also directed the little-known classic horror film “Black Christmas”, where a sorority is terrorized by a manic over the holidays. He perfected the killer’s POV shot years before “Halloween” got credit for revitalizing it. The thriller stars Kier Dullea (2001) and Margo Kidder (Superman)…dark, dark, dark, but what a Bob Clark holiday double bill – just make sure to send the kids to bed before you start this second feature!

Added trivia: Clark also created and directed “Porky’s”…talk about an eclectic career – read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/08/porkys-peepholes-christmas-horror-fra-gee-lay-director-bob-clarks-enduring-legacy/

And now, the last film – the ninth film being honored on this list – because it’s the “Citizen Kane” of holiday films:

“It’s A Wonderful Life”!

The greatest holiday movie of all! Jimmy Stewart, the Tom Hanks of his generation, beautifully portrays a disillusioned husband and father who sees his life amount to nothing – or so he thinks.

This Frank Capra classic is a dark look at one man’s disappointment with his life – of course all coming to a head on Christmas eve – and the film reveals a ton of universal truths about what we should or should not expect from life – remember this line: “we serve stiff drinks for men who want to get drunk fast!” I mean, this movie gets DARK…

Rare “Bedford Falls” Photos!

LIFE Magazine has revealed 13 rare behind-the-scenes photos from the set of the 1946 Frank Capra classic. The pictures focus on one aspect of the holiday favorite that many probably take for granted: the snowy milieu of Bedford Falls!

So as you can see, they used snow machines to create the beautiful serenity of the town:

Looks like Jimmy Stewart had a few snowballs tossed back in his direction during filming!

I will admit that, in some ways, Pottersville always looked a lot more fun than Bedford Falls – like a mini-Vegas! But no matter what life through at George Bailey, he always had a secret weapon…

That’s right – Zuzu’s pedals!

Send me a note and let me know what you watched this holiday season!

“So Hot It’s Banned In HELL!”

That has to be one of the most hilariously obvious movie tag lines of all time! This is why I love the internet…someone posted this image, and I just had to share.

I have no idea what the film is about – I can’t find any info about the film online – so it is probably lost to time, as so many films are – but what a funny, over-the-top poster – it’s why I love classic sexploitation movies like that –

and THIS!

“No Car Or Man Was Too Hot To Handle”!

You get the idea: lurid, obvious sexual innuendo – designed to drive young men to the movies – and it worked!

These classic 70’s sexploitation movies were so bad they were great fun. There is a great site that collects and shares these classic movie posters, on twitter as @TheRioTheatre, and you should check out all of these classic movie posters here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/12/22/classic-cult-movie-posters-the-rios-grindhouse-exploitation-art-sexy-double-bills/

Here’s another example of a goofy horror comedy from that era!

These “Bee Girls” Sting!

I know what you’re thinking: can this movie ever be as great as the poster? The answer is, who cares!

These 70’s sex comedies always featured women who were beautiful – and deadly! Check out the trailer:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/06/sexy-bee-girls-campy-cult-cinema-gets-its-buzz-on/

So many classic exploitation movies have been rescued from oblivion by great home video companies like Something Weird:

Their classic documentary “That’s Sexploitation!” looks at this entire genre of cinematic madness:

This is a terrific documentary – see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/20/thats-sexploitation-terrific-documentary-captures-the-seedy-majesty-of-grindhouse-cinema/

Enjoy this movie that’s hotter than HELL!

“One of the great Italian American pop crooners…”

It’s An Iconic Al Martino Christmas!

This holiday season I have been sharing some of my favorite holiday music, and I didn’t want to forget this classic holiday album from the iconic Al Martino, who has been described as one of the “great Italian American pop crooners!”

Al Martino’s Decades Of Smash Hits!

Martino was one of the most popular singers in America – decades full of hit albums, TV appearances, tours and movies as well.

Martino’s first #1 hit was “Here In My Heart” in 1952, and in the decades that followed, Martino sold millions of albums – and starred in the greatest film ever made…more on his most famous role in “The Godfather” in a moment…

In 1963, Martino had one of his biggest U.S. chart successes with “I Love You Because”. Martino had four other U.S. top 10 hits in 1963 and 1964 – “Painted, Tainted Rose”, “I Love You More and More Every Day”, “Tears and Roses”, and “Silver Bells”.

Martino’s Platinum “Spanish Eyes”

Martino is also known for the classic song “Spanish Eyes”, which went platinum in the mid-60’s.

Here is a great live performance from German television in 1967:

“You’re All I Want For Christmas”

But now it’s time to talk Santa Claus and more.

I wanted to share some of Martino’s great holiday music – classic songs that are timeless.

This album means so much to his family – as his daughter Alison told me:

“My parents actually met on a plane ride while dad was promoting that record. It was 1964 and my mother was an American Airlines stewardess at the time and he signed her a copy of that LP. It was a short flight, but was love at first “flight”.

Here is the audio-only of Martino’s classic holiday hit “You’re All I Want For Christmas”:

Martino left us with lots of great Christmas classics, like “What Child Is This”:

Martino has a lot of great holiday songs that you can buy, like this holiday classic “White Christmas”:

Alison has posted many great photos of her Mom and Dad. Here she is as a VERY young girl!

She and her Mom love listening to all of her Dad’s music, but the holiday music is also very special to her. As Alison told me:

“Dad’s Christmas album is truly our gift during the holidays. We lost him in 2009, but because of that record we hear him every year.”

UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Al Martino Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Martino’s music can be downloaded or purchased from Amazon as well as other outlets – here is a link to his Christmas album…

https://www.amazon.com/Merry-Christmas-Al-Martino/dp/B00006LI14

I love this music – an era when Martino, Sinatra, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett created a classic “Mad Men” sound, and on these holidays songs his voice is as smooth as silk…he was a huge star, and made his mark in movies as well…

Johnny Fontane Gets Smacked By The Godfather!

Martino famously portrayed washed-up Singer Johnny Fontane in “The Godfather”, and shares a great moment in the film with “Godfather” Marlon Brando.

Martino’s daughter Alison shared this anecdote with me:

“When dad was about to film that scene, he overheard Marlon Brando tell Frances Coppola:

“You better give Al a stiff drink before we shoot that scene”.

You know the moment, right when Johnny makes the mistake of saying “I don’t know what to do” to Don Corleone:

“You Can Act Like A Man!”

As you can see, The Godfather erupts with passion and screams at Fontaine: “you can act like a man!”

He also slaps him – something that wasn’t in the script and Martino had no idea was coming – his reaction is real!

As Alison adds about Brando’s warning to Coppola:

“After the scene was filmed, Dad knew why he said that. It was a hard slap!”

James Caan, who played Sonny Corleone, agreed. According to Caan:

“Martino didn’t know whether to laugh or cry!”

THE GODFATHER, Al Martino, Marlon Brando, 1972

Alison also shared this:

“During ‘The Godfather’, Dad recorded and additional Christmas song for the movie. It was “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and it plays in the scene where Michael sees the news about him pop in the paper being shot! Here’s the scene:”

Alison points out that her Dad’s version of the song has never been released commercially!

Alison’s Effort To Keep Vintage Los Angeles Alive!

Martino’s daughter Alison is an industry professional and entertainment insider who is passionate about saving “classic Hollywood” for future generations to enjoy:

Alison took part in a great “Godfather” screening here in Los Angeles, and she shared this “slap” story with Film Critic Kenneth Turan on stage – and she shows off her Dad’s personal copy of the film’s script!

She also tells a great story about how her Dad got new “Managers” unexpectedly when he was starting out – the Mob!

Check out this fascinating conversation here!

Alison’s terrific website “Vintage Los Angeles” is documenting the history of Hollywood so that it’s not forgotten…check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/12/15/destroying-hollywoods-soul-goodbye-dominicks-vintage-los-angeles-alison-martino-fights-to-save-tinseltowns-iconic-past/

There have been so many great Artists who have released holiday music…I’m a Paul McCartney fan, and he wrote one of the most popular songs:

You can see the music video from 1979 here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/12/17/paul-mccartneys-wonderful-christmastime-maccas-big-money-holiday-hit/

Paul wasn’t the only ex-Beatle to release a holiday tune, but this one was a bit more political in tone:

John and Yoko released the powerful “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” in 1971 – here is the music video and some great trivia about the recording of the song:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/12/06/happy-xmas-war-is-over-john-lennons-powerful-anti-war-christmas-song/

One of the most unique holiday songs is the gorgeous duet between David Bowie and Bing Crosby:

UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: (AUSTRALIA OUT) Photo of Bing CROSBY and David BOWIE; with Bing Crosby, performing Little Drummer Boy (Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns)

Here is my story about the recording of “Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth” – and the fact that Bowie didn’t want to sing it! Click here for more:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/12/10/david-bowie-duets-with-bing-crosby-the-secrets-behind-the-greatest-holiday-song-of-all-time/

Many other performers and great bands also recorded a holiday classic:

Here are some great stories about the recording of this holiday classic:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/12/02/the-eagles-beautiful-christmas-single-please-come-home-for-christmas-funky-new-year-too/

Happy Holidays From Al!

007 Reasons To Appreciate A “Bond Girl!”

It’s sounds very “retro” and “demeaning” in a modern context, but the role of a “Bond Girl” in the 007 film series was so much more in the earlier films…the roles were always more than just the “gorgeous girl who stands around looking pretty” – it was a strong, empowered female character – and it was also a career-making opportunity for the Actress cast in the role. These roles gave Actresses a chance to showcase brains as well as beauty!

Lea Seydoux was the most recent “Bond Girl” in “Spectre”, but didn’t really resonate much for me – these latter roles have been woefully underwritten. Perhaps it’s just because in the early days of the Bond series, it was something special to be a Bond girl…and here they all are – on one great graphic:

The Important Cinematic Role Of A “Bond Girl”!

While the sexual chemistry between James Bond and his female co-stars was blatant and obvious in the series, these roles also gave the women a chance to be brash, brave and kick some ass of their own as well.

These women all share on thing in common: they all had the chance to put a strong female character into a male, action-fueled cinema franchise!

Here’s how Maxim magazine accurately described them:

“The term “Bond girl” has long been both an honor and a burden — an amalgam of old-school plaything and career-boosting star turn — but let’s face it: the 007 canon would be far less interesting without James Bond’s bevy of babes.”

The more recent Bond films used recognizable stars, which got away from the original concept…

Denise Richards in “The World Is Not Enough” and Halle Berry in “Die Another Day” felt like stunt casting…the original Bond girls felt more organic to the story, with a much stronger and more intelligent role to play, like the first “Bond Girl” ever:

Meet Ursula “Undress!”

The first-ever Bond Girl stepped out of the ocean and became one of the 60’s most famous stars…Ursula Andress in “Dr. No” became an instant “pinup queen” because of this outfit…and she was a strong, independent woman who could stand up to the world’s greatest secret agent with brains and brawn.

Her nickname was Ursula “Undress”…becasue she had a history in Europe of doing movies without many clothes…click here to see why!

https://johnrieber.com/2016/03/28/ursula-andress-or-undress-007s-first-bond-girl-60s-sex-kitten-frolicked-with-nature/

Next up was one of the most exotic – Diana Bianchi in “From Russia With Love”:

She was sexy and smart – and had plenty of action in the film.

One of the most unique characters was next up: Pussy Galore from “Goldfinger”:

Honor Blackman played Pussy Galore, who first appears as a pilot aboard Goldfinger’s private jet. James Bond, unconscious after being shot with a tranquilizer gun, wakes up to see Pussy standing over him. James asks “Who are you?”, and in one of the most famous introductions of the Bond series, Pussy replies “My Name is Pussy Galore”, to which Bond retorts “I must be dreaming”.

The series had a few other provocative Actresses over the years, like when Lana Wood showed off her star-making power in “Diamonds Are Forever”:

Yes, she was Natalie Wood’s sister! At the time, Lana was far less known than her sister, and the role in “Diamonds” garnered her a ton of attention, including the memorable “toss into the pool” scene. See that clip here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/28/007s-sexy-bond-girl-plenty-otoole-lana-wood-natalies-sister-hollywood-sex-kitten-bares-all/

For many of the early Bond films, the female co-star was European. Corinne Clery was one of the sexiest co-stars in the series when she appeared with Roger Moore:

Clery made this appearance AFTER starring in one of the most controversial films of the 70’s, “The Story Of ‘O'” – see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/09/16/from-o-to-007-corinne-clery-her-torrid-story-of-o-from-notorious-hitchhike-to-bond-girl/

America got into the “Bond girl” game in 1971, when Jill St. John was the first US star to play with Bond:

Here’s great trivia: she also starred in the “Seinfeld” yada yada episode with her husband, Robert Wagner, who was previously Lana Wood’s Brother-In-Law! See it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/05/13/007s-sexy-jill-st-john-americas-first-bond-girl-seinfeld-yada-yada/

As I said, many of the early stars were accomplished Actresses in Europe:

Caroline Munro shared her “Bond girl” status with Barbara Bach – the wife of Ringo Starr, but she also starred in a number of other big hits! See more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/06/19/caroline-munro-from-sex-kitten-to-vincent-price-to-bond-girl-a-maniac-too/

Finally, you can be a Bond girl without even being in an official Bond film!

Barbara Bouchet starred in Woddy Allen’s Bond spoof “Casino Royale” in the late 60’s – this is a forgotten movie that made fun of Bond in a very 60’s way…see that wacky trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/04/29/classic-sex-kitten-james-bonds-sexy-co-star-barbara-bouchet/

My favorite “Bond Girl” will always be Claudine Auger, from “Thunderball”:

Auger stood up to Bond and was an integral part of the film’s plot.

See some of her greatest performances here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/12/18/sexiest-bond-girl-ever-sex-kitten-claudine-auger-james-bond-and-giallo-horror/

That’s a look at some of the more interesting women to take on this part, I left out many Bond girls, let me know your favorite!

Remember These People?

In 1996, this cast blew the doors of British cinema with a raucous, profane, and exhilarating movie experience, which included THIS:

Welcome To The “Worst” Toilet In Scotland!

Yes, you remember this scene: along with babies crawling on the ceiling, “Spud” soiling his girlfriend’s family sheets, and so much more….and guess what?

The Boys Are Back In Town!

That’s right! After twenty years apart, the gang is back in a “must see” movie:

“T2” Is Here! The Long-Awaited Sequel To A Masterpiece Has Arrived!

Here is how “Trainspotting 2” is described:

“First there was an opportunity……then there was a betrayal. Twenty years have gone by. Much has changed but just as much remains the same.”

Check out the trailer:

The entire cast is back – here is the plot:

“Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) returns to the only place he can ever call home. They are waiting for him: Spud (Ewen Bremner), Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), and Begbie (Robert Carlyle). Other old friends are waiting too: sorrow, loss, joy, vengeance, hatred, friendship, love, longing, fear, regret, diamorphine, self-destruction and mortal danger, they are all lined up to welcome him, ready to join the dance.”

I can’t wait to see this film, which has already opened in the UK to sterling reviews…here is something I shared with my friends on the terrific website “ActionAGoGo” – and it all begins with the opening monologue from the original film:

“Choose your future. Choose life…”

With those words, the original Trainspotting sent viewers off on an adrenelin-fuelled adventure through the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland.

As Director Danny Bowle said, Trainspotting was designed to be:

“most energetic film you’ve ever seen – about something that ultimately ends up in purgatory or worse.”

Here are three reasons that “Trainspotting” is a great action film.

First, the opening credits – Director Boyle says the Beastie Boys music video “Sabotage” inspired him to start the movie with a foot chase through the streets.

The second reason? This guy!

Meet Begbie, the leader of this groups of misfits who can’t hanve a drink in a bar without starting an action-filled melee. As he says in the film about puling of a robbery with a fake gun:

“Armed robbery. With a replica. I mean, how the f*$^% can it be armed robbery with a f&#*ing replica?”

The third reason that Trainspotting is a great action film takes place here:

Yes, it’s the filthiest toilet in Scotland. When Ewan MacGregor loses his drugs in there, he has only one option:

Now THAT’S action! Trainspotting is a classic film, and these three reasons are just the tio of the iceberg…check out the original trailer and see this before the sequel comes out!

Paul McCartney’s “Toss Off” Gems!

Paul McCartney routinely released songs throughout his career that never ended up on albums – at least not until special editions and bonus tracks became part of the “reissue” strategy in music.

It all began with The Beatles, who released “All You Need Is Love” and “Baby You’re A Rich Man” while fans waited for the release of what would turn the music world upside down:

Incredibly, those two classic songs were NOT included on “Sgt. Pepper” – instead ending up on “Magical Mystery Tour”, a collection of songs from their short film – and a few “odds and ends”…

“Daytime” Gem!

“Daytime Nighttime Suffering” was a song written by Paul McCartney and recorded with Wings. I just bought a book called “Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions 1969-2013” – focused on all his post Beatles music.

Perasi points out that Paul wrote “Suffering” over a weekend, after challenging the other Wings band members to write a b-side song by Monday!

It was the B-side to the 1979 single “Goodnight Tonight,” which was a big hit around the world – and again, NOT included on the upcoming Wings album at the time!

These two songs were released while fans waited for what was, ultimately, the final Wings album, “Back To The Egg.”

I posted a story about the soft commercial interest in the final Wings album, the truly under-rated “Back To The Egg.” While music at that time was going heavy into punk and the 80’s sound, this album was a traditional rock/pop release – and has held up really well over the years. See some of the music videos from the album here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/09/30/paul-mccartneys-cracked-back-to-the-egg-the-all-star-rockestra-band-a-musical-farewell-to-wings/

Considering that “Goodnight Tonight” was a big hit single, it’s a shame it wasn’t on “Egg”, and was instead one of Paul’s many “cold cuts” – songs not included on his album releases…it was finally included on the remastered CD years later as well as the collection “Wingspan: Hits and History.”

As I said, “Goodnight Tonight” was a big hit, with a fun music video released to support it.

Here is the “Goodnight Tonight” video:

According to the book “Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney & Wings” by Garry McGee, the writing of the song was as follows:

“When Wings was recording Back to the Egg, Paul had announced to the other band members that if they could come up with a good enough song, it would be recorded and put on B-side of the single. Such a generous gesture opened financial doors for the other band members, as the song could earn a small fortune as the flip side of a hit single. Each member–including Linda–spent the weekend trying to compose the song, but when Monday morning rolled around, Paul announced that he had written ‘the one.’ It was included as the B-side of ‘Goodnight Tonight’, which hit the top ten on both sides of the Atlantic in the spring of 1979 and went gold in the United States.”

“What Does She Get?”

Well, Paul spent the weekend recording this fun, high spirited and ultimately a bit of a raucous pop gem:

“What does she get for all the love she gave you
There on the ladder of regrets?
Daytime nighttime suffering is all she gets”

This song is fun, energetic – pure Paul – here is an audio-only version:

The song was recorded January and February 1979 as part of the “Egg” sessions. Here’s some fun trivia: McCartney’s son James, who was a baby at the time, can be heard crying about two minutes into the song.

According to wikipedia, McCartney cited the song as “one of my current favourites” in a 1984 interview with Oprah Winfrey, and I think it’s a fun “cold cut” that should be remembered!

“Cold Cuts” is a collection of McCartney bonus tracks, non-album cuts, and other material never officially released – it was supposed to come out several times, but never did…here is a look at some of the songs that were to appear on it:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/09/12/paul-mccartneys-cold-cuts-classic-macca-one-beatles-legendary-single-gems/

Let me know what you think of “Daytime Nighttime Suffering!”

“We Can’t ALL Be Nice Girls…”

Brie Larson gets down and dirty in this new action thriller!

“Free Fire” Is About To Unload!

“Free Fire” is a new British action-comedy film directed by Ben Wheatley, starring Brie Larson, Sharlto Copley, Armie Hammer and Cillian Murphy.

First, check out the trailer!

I am SOLD on this for two reasons: first, what a great cast, and they are all clearly having a blast with this film!

Second, it’s because of the Director, Ben Wheatley!

Sure, this picture was taken in jest, but if you haven’t seen any of his films, are you missing out!

“Kill List” and “High Rise” are just two of his terrific movies: gritty, unconventional and wildly entertaining, and “Free Fire” looks to be another great action thriller for us to enjoy!

I love that Brie Larson is taking on wildly different roles post Oscar win: it will help her avoid the “Oscar curse” in my opinion, especially if she keeps working with great new Directors like Wheatley.

Here is a great article from “The Guardian” all about the movie:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/mar/23/director-ben-wheatley-cruelty-feels-more-honest-to-me-free-fire

And if you want to get a taste of his widely creative films, start here:

You can see the trailer for his “hit man horror” film here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/08/19/kill-list-director-ben-wheatleys-shocking-thriller-brilliant-hit-man-horror/

I have to say, I’m loving this trend in film – empowered Oscar-winning women kicking ass!

Here is the red band trailer for Charlize Theron’s new action thriller “Atomic Blonde!”

https://johnrieber.com/2017/03/12/check-out-the-amazing-charlize-theron-trailer-for-atomic-blonde-celebrate-empowered-women-kicking-ass-on-film/

I can’t wait to see “Free Fire”!

I Love The 80’s!

How can you not? There are so many things that make the 80’s special: Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, the best George Michael music, goofy sitcoms and of course “Back To The Future”…

“Stranger Things” Revisits The 80’s!

There is a lot of nostalgia for the 80’s right now, especially due to the phenomenal success of “Stranger Things” on Netflix, which captured perfectly the vibe of the decade, a “Stand By Me meets Stephen King” show that everyone loves…

Season two was just announced, and here is the trailer for the second season – which I cannot wait to see:

OK, that is certainly a trailer that gives NOTHING AWAY, but still, I cannot wait!

To celebrate this retro gem, I wanted to look at some of the best music and movies from that decade…beginning with one of the best comedies ever made:

Time To Enroll In “Ridgemont High!”

It’s a classic 80’s comedy – with all of the hair styles, slang phrases and attitude that you equate to this memorable decade.

One of the most iconic moments of the decade happened when Phoebe Cates stepped out of a pool in “Fast Times At Ridgemont High” – well, at least in Judge Reinhold’s fantasy:

Check out the hilarious trailer:

“Fast Times” is one of the best movies about growing up in suburban America – check out more here, including some hilarious trivia about THIS GUY:

This movie is full of honest moments about growing up in the 80’s…and of course, the greatest character of all, thanks to Sean Penn!

Enjoy more Spicoli here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/12/01/living-in-fast-times-growing-up-as-a-horny-stoned-teenager-at-the-real-ridgemont-high/

There were many great cult movies in the 80’s, including this little-known comedy from Kurt Russell:

Check out the trailer for this comedy shown as a “used cars” ad:

“Used Cars” is a raucous comedy about disreputable salesmen – it bombed upon release, but is now seen as a classic 80’s comedy – two more bombs from the 80’s also have aged well:

these are three terrific movies that have been neglected – but thanks to blu-ray, area ll ready to be re-discovered…

See my story about “Used Cars”, “The King Of Comedy” and the brilliant “Withnail & I” here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/06/20/cult-movie-weekend-neglected-80s-comedies-withnail-pupkin-kurt-russell/

Along with great movies, the 80’s gave us great music – and one very iconic Musician:

Billy Idol’s Rebel yell!

Talk about an 80’s classic! Billy Idol has the brains and the bravura – and he ruled the decade!

Here is the music video for his iconic hit “Rebel Yell”:

Billy Idol had a string of hits throughout the 80’s, and has remained a compelling figure, releasing a candid autobiography about his life and music:

This great Singer/Writer was also a great Actor – with his “spot on” camera from “The Wedding Singer!”

All of this makes you want to know more, doesn’t it? Well, there is lots of Billy Idol trivia here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/02/02/billy-idols-rebel-yell-adam-sandlers-wedding-singer-cameo-why-billy-idol-matters/

As much of a “Survivor” as Billy is, some music Artists aren’t meant to endure – as Neil Young wrote:

“It’s better to burn out than to fade away…”

As you can see, that hair sure did! Yes, this was a hairstyle in the 80’s, thanks to a band that had a unique sound as well as look. While “A Flock Of Seagulls” didn’t persevere, this guy did:

Yes, Adam Ant Lives!

It all began in the 80’s with these lyrics!

“Unlock the jukebox and do us all a favor
That music’s lost its taste so try another flavor…Ant Music!”

Check out the music video – and I dare you NOT to click your fingers to it:

Adam And The Ants didn’t last long as a group, but boy, did they ever capture the sound of the decade…

Adam Ant still performs, and his music is pure 80’s magic – see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/01/20/classic-80s-brit-pop-animal-style-flock-of-seagulls-adam-ant-bow-wow-wow/

And finally, there is a GREAT film that actually captured the raucous energy of punk rock going into the 80’s:

“Rude Boy” was a fictional movie about a roadie for The Clash – and they filmed great scenes of the band performing live – and just threw their fictional “roadie” on stage with them!

Read more about this terrific musical film here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/09/the-clash-is-live-rude-boy-iconic-punk-music-meets-classic-cult-movie/

There you have it, a quick skim across the pop culture greatness of the 80’s…share your favorites!

Band: A Flock of Seagulls (Mike Score in the centre).
Bad eighties hair hairstyle

Happy 30th Birthday, Withnail!

It’s the 30th anniversary today of one of the best films ever – the classic cult 1987 comedy “Withnail & I”. Need to remember just how great it is? Let’s begin with the trailer:

Withnail: “I think we’ve been in here too long. I feel unusual.”

Looking for the greatest English comedy of all time? And a “tell all” book by the film’s star? Well, you’ve come to the right place! It makes me think:

“We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!”

Yes, time to get the film fan in your family a combo pack of Richard E. Grant! This terrific British Actor was not only in one of the funniest films ever – “Withnail & I” – but he was just in “Logan” and also wrote a hilarious insider’s look at the crazy world of Hollywood – “With Nails!”

Let’s begin with one of the best British films of all time – a bold statement, but it is, to me, one of the most perfectly realized comedies ever, and it has just turned 30 years old:

Withnail & I

Here’s the plot: we begin in London 1969 – two unemployed actors, Withnail and Marwood, are freezing in their unheated flat – and they are flat broke. They need a plan, and fast. Here is their discussion about calling to ask someone for money…

Marwood: What about whatshisname?
Withnail: What about him?
Marwood: Why don’t you give him a call?
Withnail: What for?
Marwood: Ask him about his house.
Withnail: You want me to call whatshisname and ask him about his house?
Marwood: Why not?
Withnail: All right. What’s his number?
Marwood: I’ve no idea. I’ve never met him.
Withnail: Well neither have I. What the fuck are you talking about?

And Don’t Forget “Danny!”

One of the funniest supporting characters in the film is “Drug Dealer Danny”, he of the super-sized spiffs and lazy drawl – who just can’t get along with Withnail…oh, and he is CRAZY…

Danny: I don’t advise a haircut, man. All hairdressers are in the employment of the government. Hairs are your aerials. They pick up signals from the cosmos, and transmit them directly into the brain. This is the reason bald-headed men are uptight.

Withnail: What absolute twaddle.

The movie is filled with great scenes – as I said at the beginning, the roommates are freezing in their ice-cold flat…with only one thing to warm them…

Withnail: I must have some booze. I demand to have some booze!

The scene where Withnail guzzles lighter fluid to stay warm is a highlight….Withnail has also greased his body up with muscle relaxant to get warm…

Withnail: [after having entirely covered himself in muscle embrocation] Have you been at the controls?
Marwood: What are you talking about?
Withnail: The thermostats. What have you done to them?
Marwood: I haven’t touched them.
Withnail: Then why has my head gone numb?

After a near brawl in a bar, they realize they need to get out of town…

They decide on a holiday in the countryside, courtesy of Withnail’s uncle Monty’s country cottage. But when they get there, it rains non-stop, there’s no food, and their basic survival skills turn out to be somewhat limited.

Matters are not helped by the arrival of Uncle Monty, who shows an uncomfortably keen interest in Marwood…

Uncle Monty: “I adore you. Tell him if you must, I no longer care. I mean to have you even if it must be burglary!”

Sadly, Richard Griffiths just died of complication following heart surgery. He was 65, and although most will remember him for his roles in the “Harry Potter” films, it was his Uncle Monty that I will always remember him for…

There is a book that celebrates this film – filled with:

“Everything You Ever Wanted To Know But Were Too Drunk To Ask”

Here’s one for you: the inspiration behind the name Withnail came from an old friend of the Director’s father, who had the same name and was an alcoholic! When Director Bruce Robinson was eight, he was in the car with him, and as the book states:

“Along the way, Withnail stopped, opened the door of his car and vomited profusely before casually driving off again!”

So there you go!

This movie is hilarious, and a perfect snapshot of life at the end of the 60’s – when hip, mod London turned into the cold, harsh reality of life as a struggling Actor.

This is a tour de force performance by Richard Grant, who exudes manic, crazy charm at every turn, such as when he storms into a fancy restaurant and demands, well…

Withnail: “We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!”

Richard E. Grant proved to be a hilarious and honest writer as well!

With Nails – The Film Diaries Of Richard E. Grant

If you want to read all about the craziness that goes on when you make a movie – the egos, the out of control Stars, the drugs, booze and everythign else – then this candid and hilarious book is for you!

Here is the original review from BOOKLIST:

Film fans alert to the immense charm of the under-known British film Withnail & I will certainly enjoy the droll autobiography of the actor who played Withnail. Of the film’s script, Grant says “never before or since have I read something that conveys what goes on in my head so accurately.”

The image of the brusque, hilariously overbearing Withnail fits Grant, who has also appeared in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”, “The Age of Innocence”, and the Robert Altman films “The Player” and “Pret-a-Porter”.

He writes of his passage through the world of the aspiring film stardom wonderfully well, producing a book far superior to the usual movie life story. “Oh up and down and forklifts, this is a dull madness,” he says of the process of landing a role, but his book wittily presenting the madness is never dull.

Let me tell you, his stories about Bruce Willis and the making of “Hudson Hawk” are hilarious – it is “no holds barred” storytelling about the crazy world of movies…check both of these out now, and remember:

“We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!”

Happy 30th anniversary to a great great film!

The Beatles Get Their “Hippie” On!

Fifty years ago, on April 12, 1967 – Paul McCartney was photographed on a journey back from the world of hippies, which would lead to one of the band’s great albums!

This is Paul in the US fifty years ago, and thanks to a terrific book, we know how this date in Beatles’ history led to “Magical Mystery Tour!”

The book is titled “The Beatles 365 Days” by Simon Wells – I was given it as a gift, and it has been a terrific book to dip into at any time…

It takes a day by day look at their lives, their recordings, their every move – tied to a specific day. Here is what happened on April 12, 1967 – 50 years ago!

Paul arrived at London’s Heathrow airport, after spending eight days in the US. The book points out that he was in Denver to see his girlfriend, Jane Asher, who was celebrating her 21st birthday in Denver, since she was performing on stage there.

Paul McCartney, a member of the famous Beatle singing group, has a few words with Miss Jane Asher at a party in Denver honoring Miss Asher?s birthday on April 6, 1967 in Denver. Miss Asher is in Denver, Colo., with the Bristol Old Vic?s theater group. McCartney arrived in time to help her celebrate her 21st birthday. (AP Photo)

However, Paul was always thinking music, so he was also doing this on his US trip, according to the book:

“Paul would take off in various directions along the West Coast, visiting Jefferson Airplane in Haight Ashbury and recording with the Beach Boys during sessions for their controversial album “Smile.”

Here’s a shot of Paul and Brian from almost a decade later, when Paul celebrated the Beach Boys’ birthday:

According to the book, this trip in 1967 sparked something in Paul:

“It was during this brief sojourn into the hinterlands of California hippiedom that Paul, feeding off the residual energy left by Ken Kesey’s band of psychic trailers, would form ideas that would later see light in the group’s project “Magical Mystery Tour.”

At this time, San Francisco was engulfed in “flower power”, the “free love” era that included the iconic intersection of Haight and Asbury:

It was a fascinating time, but it didn’t last long – see more about this era here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/02/25/hippies-free-love-flower-power-celebrate-the-groovy-psychedelic-60s/

I love that Paul was a supporter of the “hippie” movement. I guess you could see it in some of his apparel – very of the “moment”:

Paul is quoted as saying at the time:

“I really wish the people that look at the ‘weeds’ at the ‘happenings’, at the psychedelic ‘freak-outs’ would, instead of just looking with anger, just look with nothing; with no feeling, be unbiased about it.”

As always, Paul was open to everyone and everything.

Of course, Paul went on to lead his band on a merry journey of their own, which resulted in an album AND a TV special:

Here is the official Apple trailer for the “Magical Mystery Tour” film:

While it includes two songs recorded during the “Sgt. Pepper” sessions (“All You Need Is Love” and “Baby You’re A Rich Man”), it is a terrific snapshot of the sound of the band at that time…with instant classics like the title track, “I Am The Walrus” and “Fool On The Hill”…

So that was a look at April 12, 1967 – fifty years ago in the life of The Beatles. A couple of years ago I got to celebrate another 50th anniversary event:

Yes, the 50th anniversary of the band performing at The Hollywood Bowl! It was a “unique” night of music, as evidenced by Billy Ray Cyrus leading the capacity crowd through a singalong version of “Hey Jude”:

You can click here to see more clips from that night and my review of the show as well – a surprising paucity of legendary Artists taking part considering the magnitude of the event:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/24/the-beatles-at-the-hollywood-bowl-amazing-50th-anniversary-celebration/

The band also celebrated another 50th anniversary milestone last year:

Here is a look at the album that some consider to be their greatest achievement, and is still timeless 50 years on…

https://johnrieber.com/2016/08/06/the-beatles-revolutionary-revolver-50-years-ago-maccas-greatest-writing-john-lennons-near-death-yellow-submarine/

Of course, this is the year for the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Peppers, can’t wait for the special edition that is coming out to celebrate it!

“She Loved Men…To Death.”

If you haven’t heard of this new film, you are missing a classic modernization of 70’s cult horror…time to celebrate this terrific new “Love Witch!”

Meet Elaine, a beautiful young witch, who is determined to find a man to love her. Watch the trailer to really see what kind of retro cult gem this is:

Elaine stays in her gothic Victorian apartment making spells and potions, and then picks up men and seduces them. However her spells work too well, and she ends up with a string of hapless victims. When she finally meets the man of her dreams, her desperation to be loved will drive her to the brink of insanity and murder.

Director Anna Biller also wrote the film, designed the sets and made many of the costumes – with a sharp eye toward classic 70’s exploitation!

The film is a modern twist on classic serial killer films, with a woman’s sexuality being the catalyst for carnage.

“The Love Witch” is one of the last films to cut an original camera negative on 35mm film, and was lit and shot to look like a 1960’s Technicolor film. So a modern take on a classic film genre – bravo!

“The Love Witch” is now on demand, so check it out! This poster and visual style reminded me of another cult classic:

Yes, iconic exploitation Actress Soledad Miranda was stunning in “She Killed In Ecstasy” – exactly the kind of “artsploitation” that “Love Witch” evokes. See more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/05/19/legendary-sex-kitten-soledad-miranda-ecstasy-vampyros-lesbos-new-cult-films-releases/

Speaking of witches:

Yes, “witches” have always been big box office, especially when naked! See more of that malarkey here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/10/17/bloody-witchcraft-horror-sexy-virgin-witches-halloween-2015-heats-up/

And finally, here’s another “empowered female” horror story for you:

Yes, it’s “The Lure” of zombie mermaid strippers – and it’s a musical! See the trailer and much more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/03/03/the-empowered-female-lure-of-flesh-eating-stripper-mermaids-get-ready-for-the-wild-musical-yes-musical-movie-the-lure/

Let me know if you’ve checked out “The Love Witch!”

Plenty O’Toole: “Hi, I’m Plenty.”
James Bond: “But of course you are.”
Plenty O’Toole: “Plenty O’Toole.”
James Bond: “Named after your father perhaps?”

Time to look at one of the most beautiful “Bond Girls” who was also a member of Hollywood Royalty – and just revealed that she is homeless!

Sex kitten Lana Wood wowed 007 fans with her portrayal of “Bond Girl” Plenty O’Toole in “Diamonds Are Forever” – without a doubt one of the more outrageous monikers in the series…

Lana Wood was a hugely successful Actress in the 60’s and 70’s, but she would perhaps be unfairly overshadowed by the superstardom of her older sister, Natalie Wood…

Lana had early stardom thanks to her role in the classic soap “Peyton Place.” Now, a story has broken that says she is homeless, and a fund has been set up to help!

Lana Wood’s Terrible Plight!

Someone pointed this article out to me from Vanity Fair, which tells the tragic story of how Lana is now homeless! Here is a short excerpt from the story, written by Sheila Weller, who had a personal connection to the Actress:

“On Saturday I was able to get Lana on the phone. She had talked to no other members of the media. In the middle of the chaos of packing boxes, crying, and hugging her daughter and grandchildren, she told me, from her Ventura County house, “It’s pretty bad. The landlord wants us out—now—and we don’t have anywhere to go. We are a family of six. My daughter, Evan, who is 42, just got a return of the Hodgkin’s lymphoma she thought she’d beat, and she also has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease—C.O.P.D. When she walks, she walks around strapped to an oxygen machine. She has a wonderful husband who’s never missed a day of work in 20 years. But he doesn’t work for a big, moneyed company. They have three children—my crying teenage granddaughter is saying she doesn’t know what she’ll do if she doesn’t finish her year at her high school, and the two boys are saying: ‘We don’t want to go!’ to another school, either.”

Confronting her hectic packing, she said, “I’ve got seven years worth of accumulated books and CDs and nonsense. It’s a nightmare.”

“And now—being evicted—we have a black mark against us,” she said.”

Since this story broke, Wood has been interviewed on “Inside Edition” and her story has launched a go fund me site to help her…what a tragedy – but when you don’t work in the entertainment business, it’s easy to think that everyone drives limousines and attends the Oscars…the reality is far different…

Here is the link to the entire article in Vanity Fair:

http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2017/03/lana-woods-crisis-and-the-limits-of-hollywood-royalty

Lana Wood was a Hollywood “sex kitten” – and history has shown that it’s difficult to get past that label and build a long career…

This business a cruel in that regard, and now, she needs help. It is great to see the press coverage and the funding site set up by a fan to help her.

Here is the “GofFundMe” site where you can help support her:

https://www.gofundme.com/lanawood

The world of entertainment can be harsh – the recent show “Feud” spent a lot of time talking about the difficulties in “growing old” in the business…

A classic Hollywood sex kitten, Lana posed for Playboy, had a variety of roles, and always was in the shadow of her more famous sister.

In 1971, she was cast as a Bond girl, “Plenty O’Toole”, in the James Bond film, “Diamonds Are Forever.”

The film introduced her with a hilarious double entendre, carried off with perfect timing by Sean Connery:

Plenty O’Toole: “Hi, I’m Plenty.”
James Bond: “But of course you are.”
Plenty O’Toole: “Plenty O’Toole.”
James Bond: “Named after your father perhaps?”

“I Didn’t Know There Was A Pool Down There…”

One of the most memorable scenes in “Diamonds Are Forever” comes when 007 is surprised by mobsters while in his room with her. She is “escorted” semi-nude from the room – in an unusual exit that includes one of the best one-liners in the entire Bond series!

Here is that memorable scene from “Diamonds Are Forever”:

Here is some great trivia: while filming the scene where Plenty O´Toole is found drowned, Wood actually had her feet loosely tied to a cement block on the bottom. Film crew members held a rope across the pool for her, with which she could lift her face out of the water to breathe between takes. The pool’s sloping bottom made the block slip into deeper water with each take. Eventually, she was submerged but was noticed by on-lookers and rescued before drowning for real. Wood, being a certified diver, took some water but remained calm during the ordeal, although she later admitted to a few “very uncomfortable moments and quite some struggling until they pulled me out.”

Over the course of her career, Wood appeared in more than twenty movies and over three hundred television shows – everything from “Bonanza” to “Mission: Impossible”, “Starsky and Hutch” to “Fantasy Island.”

Lana Wood retired from acting in 1982 to concentrate on a Producing career, but has since returned to acting in a number of low-budget films since 2008 – however, that wasn’t enough to keep her financially afloat.

Wood wrote a memoir, “Natalie, A Memoir by Her Sister” in 1984. Her many memorable Hollywood moments have been unfairly neglected because of the tragedy surrounding her sister, and these recent events are even more disturbing – hopefully, the press surrounding her situation will help her…

I have also told the story of a 70’s action star who has also struggled – Jan-Michael Vincent!

He was one of the hottest stars of the 70’s – then things went horribly wrong…here is that story:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/08/31/jan-michael-vincent-from-70s-sexiest-man-to-a-true-hollywood-tragedy/

Good luck to Lana Wood – hope fans continue to step up and help her!

The Amazing Story Of One Man “Becoming Bond!”

Fans of the James Bond 007 series have their favorite films – and favorite Bonds – but here is the amazing true story of one very unique 007 – in a great new documentary “Becoming Bond!”

This new Hulu documentary has the incredible story of the only man to ever play 007 – once! Yes, here is the trailer for the story of George Lazenby, who made his motion picture debut in the most coveted role in the world – James Bond!

I can’t wait to see this documentary – although as the trailer shows, there are plenty of re-enactments as well. The Daily Mail has lots of inside stories to dish – like these:

“‘Becoming Bond’ details how his sex-fueled life helped him bluff his way into getting the role. Lazenby heard about the role from a girl he and his best friend, another Australian model, were having a threesome with – one of dozens he enjoyed in the London of the swinging 60s – and bluffed his way into playing the role Sean Connery had abandoned. It found him fame and he slept with a series of women on set but he walked away from the role because of a contract he thought made him a ‘slave’. Now 77 he says in the documentary: ‘It was the craziest sexual time I’ve ever had. I lived my life the way I wanted to.'”

The film that Lazenby starred in, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” is widely considered one of the best Bond films ever – even though his acting is noticeably dicey at times…

The film, however has depth, emotion and a great love story between
Bond and Diana Rigg, who is one of the best “Bond girls” ever…

If you want to see more on the most memorable “Bond girls”, here is my story on that subject:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/02/07/00-7-great-bond-girls-brains-brawn-beauty-oh-james/

“OHMSS” is still the only Bond film where 007 gets married, and the only one to have a tragic ending…the film is a GREAT 007 film, and Lazenby should always be proud of that…

Downhill Racer!

“OHMSS” holds up for its terrific action scenes as well, especially the numerous skiing sequences – and Lazenby gets in several great 007 quips – the script is smart, with the usual touch of humor and “larger than life” elements that make the 007 films so great…

While the film was critically acclaimed and did brisk box office, it was a case of “one and done” for Lazenby.

The Daily Mail goes on to report that being the most famous Actor in the world didn’t mean a thing to Lazenby.

“Then he threw it all away by refusing a then unheard of $1million offer to do six more Bond films because he did not like being told what to do by the studio.After appearing in just one Bond film Lazenby’s name became a punchline and ‘the George Lazenby of’ became a gag for late night TV shows.”

The now 77-year old Actor says in the documentary that he doesn’t regret his decision…but imagine being the star of the biggest action franchise in the world…and just walking away…

In “Becoming Bond” Lazenby also reveals he was broke for a while – but then got into real estate, and says he’s had a comfortable life.

Here’s the whole story from The Daily Mail, full of lots more stories of swinging 60’s, threesomes and much much more:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4452610/Sex-secrets-let-George-Lazenby-James-Bond.html

Lazenby didn’t act much after his stint as James Bond, but he did make a short appearance in the hilarious 70’s film “Kentucky Fried Movie.”

You can read more about this hilarious comedy from the makers of “Airplane” by clicking on my link here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/06/03/big-jim-slade-fistfuls-of-yen-its-the-kentucky-fried-movie/

Finally, if you want to argue about who was the best and worst Bond, knock yourself out…I love talking about the best and worst Bond theme songs!

OK, we all know that Paul McCartney wrote the greatest Bond them of all time, but what are some of the others? Check them out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/11/05/rock-on-007-the-best-and-worst-james-bond-theme-songs/

Let me know what you think of the revelations in the new Bond doc!

All Hail The King!

Yes, the “King” of winged serpents, killer babies AND blaxploitation! Yes, one Director has delivered a number of exploitation classics for cult movie buffs, and now there’s a documentary that celebrates this wild wild career!

Larry Cohen is a legendary B-movie Producer, Director, and Screenwriter – who had some of the best cult movies of the 70’s and 80’s…shown here with some of his favorite “stars”….we’ll talk about a few in a moment, but first, check out this wild trailer!

Well, I can’t wait to see this!

Cohen’s first big hit was the classic low-budget horror film “It’s Alive”, about a mutant monster baby that embarks on a killing spree. It has one of the best tag lines for any movie – check out the poster:

“There’s Only ONE Thing Wrong With The David Baby…It’s ALIVE!”

I mean, c’mon, this is one of the greatest tagline ever! And the film delivers as well – a low-budget shocker with a great hook!

He followed this hit up with a sequel, as well as making great blaxploitation films like “Hell Up In Harlem”:

Cohen was known to break a lot of rules when making his movies, and the documentary gets into some of those wacky stories of truly independent filmmaking.

This is the poster for his science fiction classic “Q The Winged Serpent.” It’s a terrific monster movie – a “winged serpent” terrorizes a very 70’s New York City….check out the trailer:

Cohen was a “down and dirty” filmmaker – no muss, no fuss, he just made his wildly entertaining films in a straightforward manner.

Here are a few more movies he directed in the 70’s and 80’s…

Cohen finished the 1980’s with “Wicked Stepmother” – which was the legendary Bette Davis’s last role…he has many more credits in his career, including screenwriting the Joel Schumacher thriller “Phone Booth” from 2002.

I look forward to seeing more of his films, to fully appreciate this renegade filmmaker…and speaking of legendary exploitation Directors, one of the first was Director Jack Hill, who made this cult classic:

Hill went on to work with Pam Grier among many others – you can see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/03/18/cult-actress-jill-banner-from-spider-baby-web-to-marlon-brandos-arm-a-true-hollywood-tragedy/

Some cult Directors just make one classic film and then disappear…

Tommy Wiseau became a legend after just one film, the cult classic “The Room.” Now, it MAY be due to the fact it is considered the worst film ever made – but who’s to judge?

See the trailer for “The Room” here and judge for yourself!

https://johnrieber.com/2013/10/27/tommy-wiseaus-classic-the-room-now-a-book-tommys-secrets-revealed/

Let me know how many Larry Cohen films you’ve seen!

My Movie Alphabet!

Yes, the poster art says “Vol. 2” – because I missed the first “go-round” on this fun exercise in cinema! A movie for every letter of the alphabet – who can refuse?

For many of us, this is our great escape – a movie auditorium where magic happens – I have seen so many incredible films in my life…oh, outside too!

I love this idea – thanks to “MettelRaySe7en” for doing this, here is the link to see how you can participate:

https://mettelray.wordpress.com/2017/05/01/mettelrayse7en-my-movie-alphabet-vol-2-blogathon-announcment/#comment-10520

Let’s get started with a film that, while fictional, captured one of the most exciting and influential pop culture changes in our nation’s history!

A – A Hard Day’s Night

Hard to imagine how culturally significant “Beatlemania” was in today’s social media world, but this film captures the pop culture impact of The Fab Four through a hilariously droll, fictional film the band starred in – how did they know to make this film so it would come out as they were taking over the world – what an achievement! If you want to see just how wild their first trip to the US was, check out the terrific documentary here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/09/06/the-beatles-first-us-tour-new-movie-the-fab-fours-segregation-battle-ron-howards-fascinating-new-beatles-documentary/

Next up is one of my top ten films of all time:

B – Boogie Nights

Paul Thomas Anderson shows the birth of adult cinema in LA’s San Fernando valley through the fictional story of Dirk Diggler…one of the greatest cinematic achievements ever, and career bests for the entire cast – see the “oral” history here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/12/11/dirk-digglers-livin-thing-70s-sex-80s-excess-the-oral-history-of-boogie-nights/

Here is another film from my “top ten of all time”:

C – Chinatown

This lost Best Picture in 1972 to the greatest film of all time – more on that in a minute, but Roman Polanski’s story of Los Angeles in the 40’s, as seen through our thirst for water – and power – still resonates today – read more about this classic film noir here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/02/19/forget-it-jake-its-chinatown-cynical-attitudes-and-sexual-motivations/

Ok, these were all fairly well known, let’s get obscure:

D – Darker Than Amber

This very obscure action film from 1970 has one of the most brutal – and REAL – onscreen fights ever captured – yes, the two main actors got carried away and the Director captured it all – see it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/03/01/darker-than-amber-film-noirs-legendary-fight-scene-a-brutal-hidden-gem/

Next up is one of the most hypnotic films I’ve ever seen…

E – Enter The Void

Argentinian Director Gasper Noe uses “2001: A Space Odyssey” as his inspiration to tell the story of a young man killed in Tokyo, who floats over the city to observe life after his death – see the hypnotic trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/11/01/audacious-mind-blowing-cinema-enter-the-void-vanishing-waves-and-holy-motors/

Need some 70’s horror? Great, let’s head to France!

F – Fascination!

French Horror Director Jean Rollin made moody, cerebral horror films filled with nudity, blood and amazing images like this one:

See all of his incredible work from the 70’s here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/09/13/bloody-fascination-sexy-shockers-wildest-cult-horror-directors/

Now, time to celebrate the greatest film ever made:

G – The Godfather

For me, it is simply the greatest cinematic achievement in film history – beautifully acted, lyrical, violent and multi-layered to reveal something new each time I see it – and of course, Brando read from cue cards held by Robert Duvall!

One last bit of trivia – the horse’s head was real! Here is more on that:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/02/15/brandos-cue-cards-real-horse-heads-the-godfathers-best-stories-2/

Now, a film that was so good it had three different names!

H – Hookers Revenge!

I HAD to get a Christina Lindberg film on this list! She is the “Queen of Artsploitation”, and this one was so good they kept releasing it to grindhouse theaters with different titles! Officially known as “Thriller: A Cruel Picture” – it’s also AKA “They Call Her One Eye” and also AKA “Hooker’s Revenge” – even thought she doesn’t play a hooker in the movie!

She may have been mute in the film, but she really kicks some ass, and recently Christina spoke about her career – see that interview here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/11/christina-lindberg-speaks-the-queen-of-artsploitation-bares-all/

Christina Lindberg is my “grindhouse guilty pleasure”, but the next film is serious, compelling and vital:

I – The Island President

This documentary tells the story of one person trying to save his country from drowning – and the politics of climate change…so powerful and important, see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/05/07/the-island-president-a-tragic-compelling-documentary-a-nation-underwater/

The next film on my list is one of those “movie theater experiences” I will never forget…

J – Jackie Brown

Some Quentin Tarantino was overdue, but more importantly, some Pam Grier! He wrote it with her in mind, and she stars with a timeless swagger…just one of her great films, like “Black Mama White Mama” and the blaxploitation classic “Foxy Brown”…see her here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/03/21/black-mama-white-mama-queen-of-blaxploitation-pam-grier-naked-showers-women-in-prison-classics/

I was inspired by my friend Pete from Beetley, England…he is counting down his movies as well – you can follow along with them here:

https://beetleypete.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/a-z-film-challenge-day-ten/

Next up, a cerebral thriller with a very young Donald Sutherland…

K – Klute

A somewhat forgotten film from 1971, Jane Fonda won an Oscar for her portrayal of a lonely prostitute who is being watched by one of her clients…a young Donald Sutherland is also great…see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/06/01/klute-the-late-show-electra-glide-in-blue-three-obscure-film-noir-70s-classics/

Now, one of my top 5 favorite movies…

L – The Last Of Sheila

This terrific mystery puzzle of a film was written by Stephen Sondheim and “Psycho” Anthony Perkins! An all-star cast including James Mason James Coburn, Raquel Welch, Richard Benjamin and Ryan Cannon make this a must see – here is the trailer:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/06/29/psycho-and-sondheim-the-last-of-sheila-classic-hollywood-murder-mystery-richard-benjamin-rules/

Time for one of America’s greatest Actors to lighten up…

M – Midnight Run

“Why are you unpopular with the Chicago Police Department?” The greatest buddy/action film of all, the first time we discovered that Robert DeNiro could do comedy! See the new blu-ray here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/11/28/fistophobia-the-brilliant-but-neglected-buddy-action-comedy-midnight-run/

Next up, a European Actress from the 70’s who was naked in every single film she made!

N – Night Of A Thousand Desires!

I love Lina Romay – her haunting beauty and willingness to put it ALL out there – I mean, she is naked in every single film she made, and most of it was lovingly captured by her partner/husband Jess Franco – this is a great example of her hypnotic appeal, with a great blu-ray thanks to Mondo Macabro – see it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/06/night-has-a-thousand-desires-lina-romays-cult-classic-jess-francos-sex-shocker/

Next up, my second favorite film of all time…

O – O Lucky Man!

This obscure British masterpiece was written by and starring Malcolm McDowell – right after “A Clockwork Orange” – it is a brilliant satire of a world gone mad with an equally brilliant soundtrack – see it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/03/22/o-lucky-man-malcolm-mcdowells-seinfeld-connection/

Time for more 70’s stuff, this time a grindhouse classic:

P – Prime Cut

The “grindhouse” era of the 60’s and 70’s allowed studios to make gritty B-movies like this one, with lots of sex, nudity and violence, and many big stars willing jumped in! “Prime Cut” stars Gene Hackman, Lee Marvin and a VERY naked Sissy Spacek in her movie debut – see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/23/prime-cut-grindhouse-classic-gene-hackman-vs-lee-marvin/

Need more obscure classics?

Q – Q! The Winged Serpent

Legendary Exploitation Director Larry Cohen made this film about a “winged serpent” terrorizing New York – one of many great movies he made…here is a documentary about his life – and his wild wild work!

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/08/king-cohen-exploitation-director-larry-cohen-killer-babies-winged-serpents-exploitation-master-dynamite-new-documentary/

I think a musical is in order….

R – Rude Boy

I grew up loving The Clash – but did you know they made a film? “Rude Boy” is the story of a roadie who dreams of success while following The Clash on their REAL tour of the UK at the end of the 70’s – and the birth of punk rock! This is terrific stuff – see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/09/the-clash-is-live-rude-boy-iconic-punk-music-meets-classic-cult-movie/

Another from my top twenty is next:

S – The Shawshank Redemption

One of the most inspiring movies ever made – brilliant from start to finish – Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman was flawless – click here to see the real “Zihuatanejo”:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/05/18/zihuatanejo-the-inspiring-greatness-of-the-shawshank-redemption/

Here is #3 on my list of greatest films:

T – Taxi Driver

Martin Scorsese and Paul Schrader capture the gritty streets of New York perfectly – as seen through the eyes of Travis Bickle – this masterpiece is still topical forty years on – see the anniversary reunion here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/21/travis-bickle-turns-40-taxi-driver-tribeca-screening-3-reasons-to-love-him-one-big-reason-to-hate/

OK, from masterpiece to Russ Meyer!

U – Up!

Need a break from the seriousness of the list – well, how about some Russ Meyer? The man who gave us “Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” also got us “Up!” See how here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/03/16/sexploitation-classics-the-russ-meyer-edition/

Need more grindhouse?

V – The Virgin Witch

I love the sexploitation era of the 60’s and 70’s as you can see, and films like “The Virgin Witch” are the reason why…virgin witches baring all for our pleasure – see how here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/10/17/bloody-witchcraft-horror-sexy-virgin-witches-halloween-2015-heats-up/

Another from my top twenty is next:

W – Withnail & I

Simply the greatest British comedy ever – Richard E. Grant is brilliant, and the film is acerbic, insightful, and hilariously funny – read more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/04/10/withnail-i-30th-anniversary-classic-80s-cult-comedy-richard-e-grant-tell-all-book-with-nails/

Some letters of the alphabet are better sung than spoken…

X – Xanadu

What, you don’t want an 80’s musical with a rollerskating Olivia Newton-John? I included “Xanadu” because it’s so “of its time”, and because it also has a terrific soundtrack from The Electric Light Orchestra! Here’s proof:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/02/25/elo-rocks-the-grammy-awards-brilliant-70s-orchestra-rock-jeff-lynnes-beatles-love/

Mel Brooks was a brilliant filmmaker, and here is one example:

Y – Young Frankenstein

The funniest film ever? Well, argue amongst yourselves, but Brooks competes with himself for that title (“Blazing Saddles!”), and this film gives Gene Hackman – yes, GENE HACKMAN! A chance to show how funny he is! To celebrate this legendary Actors birthday, I highlighted his ten best roles:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/01/30/happy-birthday-gene-hackman-ten-roles-that-defined-a-hollywood-legend/

Finally, I leave you with Bond, James Bond…well, this next film is a 007 you’ve never seen before!

Z – Zardoz!

Yes, that’s 007 in a bright red loincloth! But WHY? The answer lies in one of the wackiest films ever committed to celluloid – the lunacy of “Zardoz.” Click to see some of the hilariously “WTF” dialogue and trailer!

https://johnrieber.com/2012/10/01/suspiria-caligula-zardoz-wacky-one-word-movie-wonders/

Well, I tried to showcase movies you knew and many you didn’t, so let me know what you think!

007’s Classiest – And Longest Running Bond Has Died!

Sad news to report: Roger Moore, the third Actor to play James Bond 007 in the legendary action series, has died at the age of 89.

Moore achieved stardom as Simon Templar in classic action TV series “The Saint” from 1962-69.

Moore Was 007 Seven Times!

Moore took over the role of Bond from Sean Connery in the 1973 film “Live and Let Die”. He holds the record as the longest serving Bond to date, playing 007 in seven films: “The Man with the Golden Gun” was next in 1974, followed by “The Spy Who Loved Me” in 1977…

These were some of the most popular Bond films of all time: “Moonraker” in 1979 was next, then “For Your Eyes Only” in 1981, “Octopussy” in 1983, and finally “A View to a Kill” in 1985.

Moore wrote a humorous and insightful autobiography, and was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1991. Moore was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for “services to charity”.

Many fans grew up with Moore as their 007 – and there’s a great documentary that looks at all of the Bonds…

You can see more about this great documentary here:

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

RIP Roger, you will be missed!

Meet Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band!

Have you met the four people who made up the most legendary band of all time? When is the last time you listened to the great album of all time? Do you want to hear this masterpiece again – with alternate takes and demos? Well. 50 years on, you can!

Fifty years ago, these four musicians released a seminal album and cemented their reputation as the great musical Artists ever! The cover alone is an artistic achievement that has never been equaled!

The Greatest Musical Achievement Of All time!

Fifty years ago, the world heard “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” for the first time, and the music world was never the same…consider the title track, “With A Little Help From My Friends”, “Fixing A Hole”, “She’s Leaving Home” and “A Day In The Life” – some of the greatest songs ever recorded – in fact, a flawless album from beginning to end, a way of recording music never heard before – and now, an amazing boxed set captures he entire album with a ton of great extras!

First, here is my story of the raw, stripped down version of the title track that was released in April to test the box set:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/04/27/sgt-peppers-raw-the-beatles-rock-out-a-stripped-down-version-of-the-title-track/

It’s just the tip of the Beatles iceberg!

As The New York Times reports in a great review of the new boxed set:

“Sgt. Pepper” has been analyzed, researched, oral-historied and dissected down to the minute differences between pressings, and because the Beatles industry never misses an anniversary, it has been repeatedly reissued. The 50th-anniversary deluxe version is exhaustive. It has been remixed and once again remastered to give the album a broader soundstage and crisper detail, giving more separation to individual voices and instruments. (For the older blend, it also includes the mono mix from 1967.) The new box rightfully incorporates “Strawberry Fields” and “Penny Lane,” the masterpieces recorded alongside “Sgt. Pepper” but released before the album. It also has outtakes, comprehensive reading material, video clips from 1967 and a documentary about making the album. )

Here is a short snippet of the classic “Strawberry Fields Forever” promotional film shot for the release of the song:

Yes, two classic Beatles songs were recorded for the album but released as a double-sided single instead – just having them on this release is a revelation!

A Super-sized Collection Of Beatles!

Here is what is being released on the massive new 50th anniversary box set:

The box set features a new stereo version by Giles Martin and 33 tracks from the Sgt. Pepper sessions that place you in the studio as the group develop the songs.

4 Audio CDs:
A new stereo mix of the album by Giles Martin. Sgt. Pepper Sessions on 2 CDs with over 100 minutes of audio illustrating how the album was created. Newly mixed from the original four-track tapes, most of the material is previously unreleased. Also contains the original 1967 mono mix of the album and bonus tracks including three previously unreleased mixes.

Blu-Ray/DVD:
Fully restored 1992 documentary The Making of Sgt. Pepper, including interviews with Paul, George and Ringo and fascinating in-the-studio footage introduced by George Martin. Restored promotional films for ‘A Day In The Life’, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ and ‘Penny Lane’. 2017 Giles Martin 5.1 surround sound mix and high-resolution stereo audio in 96KHz/24bit of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band plus ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ and ‘Penny Lane’.

144-page hardback book featuring an introduction by Sir Paul McCartney, comprehensive song-by-song details and recording information, in-depth essays about the design of the cover, the album’s musical innovations and its historical context… and much more. Illustrations include photographs from the recording sessions, handwritten lyrics and Abbey Road documentation.

Wow!

***File Photo***

Thanks to The New York Times for their great insightful review of this box set – see it here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/30/arts/music/beatles-sgt-peppers-lonely-hearts-club-band-anniversary.html?hpw&rref=arts&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0

This amazing release follows the 50th anniversary edition of “Revolver” that was released in August of 2016:

This is also considered one of the great albums of the rock era – see some great videos about the recording of the album here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/08/06/the-beatles-revolutionary-revolver-50-years-ago-maccas-greatest-writing-john-lennons-near-death-yellow-submarine/

And speaking of 50 years ago, that was when Paul McCartney went to San Francisco, hung out with hippies, and came up with the idea for “Magical Mystery Tour”:

Yes, Paul’s trip to the legendary Haight Asbury district led him to “Magical Mystery Tour” – read about that here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/04/12/paul-mccartneys-april-12-1967-hippie-trip-the-beatles-365-days-50-years-ago-the-one-that-led-to-magical-mystery-tour/

Let me know what you think of the new demos versions of “Sgt. Peppers!”

Time For A “Franco Friday!”

The guy in the wheelchair doesn’t seem to be having a great day, but in fact, it’s just another day at the office for Director Jess Franco – perhaps the world’s most prolific Director!

He made HUNDREDS of films in his career, most starring his long-time creative partner and wife, Lina Romay – a “sexploitation superstar!”

She Loved The Camera As Much As The Camera Loved HER!

In the 70’s, there was a flood of exploitation films from Europe – many featuring one of the most exotic, vibrant and unabashedly “free” Actresses ever – the legendary Lina Romay!

Lina Romay was one of the most “empowered” female Actresses of the 70’s – in a series of roles that allowed her to explore her sexuality AND her acting ability – unabashedly unafraid to take on a multitude of controversial roles – most of them directed by her Husband!

Time To Celebrate Sex Kitten Lina Romay!

I have posted stories about many of Lina’s films: she was was a Catalan actress (born in Barcelona) who appeared in dozens of films in the 70’s, 80’s and beyond.

She starred in a slew of classic sexploitation films from Europe, mostly for her Director husband Jess Franco – and thanks to the terrific work of a number of DVD and Blu-ray companies, these films can be enjoyed today!

It’s A Perfect “Franco Friday!”

There is a trend on social media to celebrate “Franco Friday” – honoring this maverick Director who made so many movies over his career, classic exploitation like this one starring Soledad Miranda:

This newly remastered blu-ray is a revelation – see more about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/05/19/legendary-sex-kitten-soledad-miranda-ecstasy-vampyros-lesbos-new-cult-films-releases/

This films were low-budget, raw explorations of horror and erotica at a time when the boundaries of film were being pushed – and Franco was at the forefront, especially when he directed his wife, Lina Romay!

Celebrating the Cinema Of Lina Romay!

Lina Romay began appearing in Director Jess Franco’s films from the time they met in 1971. They eventually married and she made more than a hundred movies, most of them directed by Franco.

“Barbed Wire Dolls!”

Here’s a great example: this 1976 “women in prison” tale stars Lina Romay as a woman who is jailed after killing her father, played by director Jess Franco, who tries to rape her. As IMDB points out, here is what follows:

“Lesbian wardens, torture, nudity, sex, insanity and conspiracy round out the formula.”

The majority of their films together were horror films and action thrillers, always with a healthy dose of nudity and sex – something that Romay was not only comfortable with, she loved it!

Lina Romay was one of exploitation cinema’s greatest sex kittens. She was a fearless performer – and a exhibitionist as well!

Romay was born in Barcelona in 1954, and made her film debut as a gypsy girl in “The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein” in 1973.

One of Lina’s most memorable roles was voracious Countess Irina Karlstein in “Female Vampire” / “Erotikill! / “The Bare-Breasted Countess” from 1975!

Yes, the film had three different titles! You can find a DVD release from Redemption that also includes the version called “Erotikill!”

In both cases, Lina Romay is a vampire who has sex with both male and female victims. In Jess Franco’s sex-fuelled cinema, this vampire performs oral sex on her victims until they die, draining them of their sexual fluids!

Three versions of the film were shot – one that was straight horror, one that had horror mixed with some sex, and then there was a hardcore porn version – because Romay was fearless and willing to bare all in her movies!

Talk About A “Blood Bath!”

Roman is fully nude in much of the film, like many of the films she made – she was VERY comfortable performing in the nude….

FYI, Director Franco’s original title for the film was “The Bare Breasted Countess”, and ultimately the film was shown with that title at the 2009 Fantastic Fest in the United States.

Kudos To Severin Films!

Because of the dedicated effort of a few great home video companies, some of Romay’s best movies are now available – including this notorious, controversial classic!

“The Hot Nights Of Linda!”

Jess Franco’s legendary sexploitation classic is finally unearthed, thanks to Severin Films! The Director’s wife, Lina Romay, stars in one of her larger roles for him – and among the most notorious! And the blu-ray release is full of great additional material!

The plot is straightforward: a young woman cares for an elderly man on an island off the Greek coast. She discovers that one of the man’s daughters is a crazed nymphomaniac who pursues everyone in the house!

Well, OF COURSE!

A Barcelona Bordello Discovery!

According to Severin, the film is restored from a 35mm print discovered in a Barcelona bordello! I don’t care how they found it, I’m just glad they did, as it is loaded with Bonus Features and presented in high definition for the first time ever in America!

Blu-Ray Bonuses!

Look at all of the bonus material included in this release, including an exclusive Interview with Director Jess Franco and Lina…check out all of the extras here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/11/lindas-shocking-hot-nights-lina-romays-classic-sexploitation/

The Notorious “French” Version!

The blu-ray is a three disc effort, with the notorious “alternate banana” version of the film – the french cut, which is completely uncensored!

Again, kudos to Severin Films – what a great job!

Check out everything Severin has to offer by going to their website:

http://www.severin-films.com/

Another fascinating Franco film starring Romay was this classic:

Lorna The Exorcist!

This 1974 film by Franco has a simple logline: A man is tormented by an ex-lover, Lorna, who is some kind of witch!

And let’s be honest, Mondo Macabro’s extended teaser will blow your mind right now!

Franco’s themes often revolved around lesbian vampires, women in prison, surgical horror, sadomasochism, zombies and sexploitation – and were drenched in blood…

Their story fascinates, even if the films are not all that good, they are also fascinating to watch!

This genre of 70’s sexploitation movie was much more artistic in Europe…there was plenty of sex, violence and nudity, but the movies play out as if they think it’s high art! Here are some additional examples of Jess Franco and Lina Romay efforts:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/02/17/countess-perverse-lorna-the-exorcist-jess-francos-naked-masterpieces/

One of great roles of the 80’s was this shocker:

Directed by Franco, this was the story of a young woman who thinks she may be a murderer – or is she simply in a trance?

Franco lets his shot of her staring vacantly into space run for almost a minute – and she is hypnotic to watch – oh, and there is plenty of sex and violence as well! See the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/06/night-has-a-thousand-desires-lina-romays-cult-classic-jess-francos-sex-shocker/

Thanks to the great Mondo Macabro for bringing this film to blu-ray – buy a copy to support them!

Lina Romay had a fascinating career, with many great films that are worth watching…sadly, she died of cancer in 2012, at the age of 57.

Let me know which ones are your favorites!