cult film freak: December 2020

Written by James M. Tate / 12/25/2020 / No comments / action , cult , dana andrews , drive-in , gene kirkwood , george ives , jeanne crain , laurie mock , mimsy farmer , race , road movie , sixties

DANA ANDREWS CRASHES CHRISTMAS FOR 'HOT RODS TO HELL'

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4nM8eSrU2g/X_LQogaKFlI/AAAAAAABbQ0/QxoMrZBITfMIofWVAV_TLWPncQydruVjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/0.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="400" height="286" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4nM8eSrU2g/X_LQogaKFlI/AAAAAAABbQ0/QxoMrZBITfMIofWVAV_TLWPncQydruVjwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h286/0.jpeg" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Caine in GET CARTER Year: 1971 Rating: ***1/2</td></tr></tbody></table>"The horns blowing, the lights, the brakes," says a jaded Dana Andrews to wife Jeanne Crain. "Jingle bells (on the radio), the whole thing!" As HOT RODS TO HELL only begins as a Christmas movie after East Coast traveling-salesman Dana Andrews suffers a major car accident on December 24th, and, after months of traction, winds up with a motel in Arizona... But only IF he and his family can survive the red convertible (titular) menace with only 80 miles left to their new destination... The cocky speed demon behind the wheel is Paul Bertoya with jerky sidekick Gene Kirkwood riding shotgun while instigating blonde <a href="http://www.cultfilmfreaks.com/2019/04/hot-rods-to-sunset-strip.html">Mimsy Farmer</a> holds the roll-bar in-between... And while her fickle driver/beau seduces Dana's daughter Laurie Mock... first at a rest stop and then at the motel's connected live-band nightclub (a better climax than the overlong midnight "chicken" match later on)... Pink Floyd's MORE starlet Farmer flirts with the middle-age swinger who sold the motel being tired of those bratty delinquents... who are now dead set against the "square" new owners (with peppy son Jeffrey Byron) in what's mostly a stalking car chase along the sunlit desert road... that actually can be intense until the heated havoc shows up on Jeanne Crain's hilariously overacting expressions. Meanwhile, one-time A-list Andrews spouts vapid, halting-speech dialogue like "What kind of animals are those?" for which he gets no reply, only a load of HELL that's pure heaven for b-movie fans who thought they'd seen everything!

action, cult, dana andrews, drive-in, gene kirkwood, george ives, jeanne crain, laurie mock, mimsy farmer, race, road movie, sixties

DANA ANDREWS CRASHES CHRISTMAS FOR 'HOT RODS TO HELL'

Michael Caine in GET CARTER Year: 1971 Rating: ***1/2 "The horns blowing, the lights, the brakes," says a jaded Dana Andrews to wi...

DANA ANDREWS & JEANNE CRAIN RETURN FOR 'MADISON AVENUE'

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9aReRQhIRCE/X9PwfpGC_MI/AAAAAAABajc/RRT3oXXSVzUeSk-dgZcTu9g8ic3EjmNqACLcBGAsYHQ/s1174/81OcNqar1zL._AC_SL1500_.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1174" height="305" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9aReRQhIRCE/X9PwfpGC_MI/AAAAAAABajc/RRT3oXXSVzUeSk-dgZcTu9g8ic3EjmNqACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h305/81OcNqar1zL._AC_SL1500_.jpeg" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dana Andrews & Jeanne Crain in Madison Avenue Year: 1961 </td></tr></tbody></table>Based on the novel The Build-Up Boys, Dana Andrews is similar to a con artist decades earlier from <a href="http://www.cultfilmfreaks.com/2018/08/FallenAngel.html">FALLEN ANGEL</a> — only with a place to sleep and worth far more than a crumpled bottom dollar, his suit-and-tie, smooth-talking Clint Lorimer is out of a job after being duped by his big boss — a classy backstabber wary that his top employee's skills could tempt away any and all clients in an advertising firm on MADISON AVENUE... Dana's Clint seeks tunnel-vision vengeance by going over his now rival by thinking outside the box and joining with a nowhere agency — to turn dented bronze into shiny, luminescent gold... That's where much of the story plays out, concerning a business relationship between Dana and sophisticated yet vulnerable beauty Eleanor Parker as Anne Tremaine. Their chemistry is smart and interesting while Jeanne Crain, as a smitten reporter who Clint uses, again and again — till she eventually has a personal grudge and score to settle — takes a backseat: Thus the <a href="http://www.cultfilmfreaks.com/2017/01/DUEL-In-The-JUNGLE-Madison-Avenue.html">STATE FAIR</a> (and <a href="http://www.cultfilmfreaks.com/2019/06/andrews-crain-two.html">DUEL IN THE JUNGLE</a>) couple aren't as important despite sharing plenty of scenes. Instead, most of Clint's time is spent not only making Parker's Anne go from a plain-Jane to a beautiful woman on the move, but they're both challenged to turn Eddie Albert's eccentric, hands-on milk company owner into a terrific speech maker, and possibly a politician...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wlCYv6TYCIU/X9Pw2kKKTwI/AAAAAAABajk/HtWj0R_jVusL2dBtAULhseN62H-6b67BACLcBGAsYHQ/s951/19247911_828805787322567_7077877181247472501_n.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="951" height="321" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wlCYv6TYCIU/X9Pw2kKKTwI/AAAAAAABajk/HtWj0R_jVusL2dBtAULhseN62H-6b67BACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h321/19247911_828805787322567_7077877181247472501_n.jpeg" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dana Andrews in Madison Avenue Rating: ***1/2 </td></tr></tbody></table>A pivotal scene has Eddie Albert's Harvey Ames reading from Clint's assorted cue cards, and then having to wing the rest of an important, game-changing speech on his own...Initially a nervous, oddball underdog, Eddie's character is the most intriguing and likable, which makes it awkward and contrived when the tables turn, and the inevitable conflict of ideals arise in which Dana has to knock the suddenly overconfident Ames off his newfound pedestal...Thankfully we're finally left with more meaningful interplay between Dana and Jeanne, stuck in the ruins of so many twists and turns that aren't explained enough to be completely involving or that make complete sense...But it's still an entertaining b-picture, directed by eclectic veteran H. Bruce Humberstone. And the two ingenues aside, Andrews's most endearing co-star is homely secretary Kathleen Freeman, more faithful than anyone else on board. Even during a muddled third act when it's Andrews against former boss Howard St. John (now joined with Crain), she gives both her own boss, and the audience, a smooth, relaxing baseline.

bruce humberstone, dana andrews, david white, drama, eddie albert, eleanor parker, howard st. john, jeanne crain, kathleen freeman, romance, sixties, wall street

DANA ANDREWS & JEANNE CRAIN RETURN FOR 'MADISON AVENUE'

Dana Andrews & Jeanne Crain in Madison Avenue Year: 1961 Based on the novel The Build-Up Boys, Dana Andrews is similar to a con artist ...

EDDIE MURPHY 'COMING 2 AMERICA' (BACKPOSTED FROM 3/5/2021)

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3ixvyHlm2M/YEMns6tfLEI/AAAAAAABd2M/CmVq67cileYQKmV-1PBasNV1Gg1IgpPNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1313/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-03-05%2Bat%2B10.48.20%2BPM%2B2.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1313" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3ixvyHlm2M/YEMns6tfLEI/AAAAAAABd2M/CmVq67cileYQKmV-1PBasNV1Gg1IgpPNgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-03-05%2Bat%2B10.48.20%2BPM%2B2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">COMING 2 AMERICA Year: 2021 Rating: *1/2</td></tr></tbody></table>The original COMING TO AMERICA was no accident. It took experienced filmmaker John Landis to pull off what he did for THE BLUES BROTHERS, which came out before working with Eddie Murphy in TRADING PLACES: That is, blending music into comedy without it being a musical-comedy, and very few directors could pull that off, and this sequel is proof... they still can't. It's understandable that the semi-retired Landis isn't on board, but in trying to recreate that same magic originally sparked by the collaboration of Landis and Murphy with only an older, overweight Murphy on board just doesn't feel or look right... The biggest problem is his "bastard son" from Queens, Jermaine Fowler, with a loud, annoying mother. Then again, their Bad Sit-Com rhythm fits this contrived sequel more than the once-great Murphy, again alongside sidekick Arsenio Hall, who, like the other familiar faces, is going through the motions. The only new characters that kind of work, allowing Fowler's "young Prince" to stretch beyond the intentionally recycled plot, is KiKi Layne as his half-sister, reluctantly aiding in a semi-involving, dangerous task... And Nomzamo Mbatha as his royal hair-cutter and basically the new version of Sheri Headly: a free-thinking bride to change the age-old rules. Unfortunately, this love story is far too rushed to matter, inserted into the 11th hour what took the entire original movie to pan-out more naturally, and humorously.

2021, arsenio hall, comedy, eddie murphy, john amos, new, sequel, shari headley

EDDIE MURPHY 'COMING 2 AMERICA' (BACKPOSTED FROM 3/5/2021)

COMING 2 AMERICA Year: 2021 Rating: *1/2 The original COMING TO AMERICA was no accident. It took experienced filmmaker John Landis to pull o...

Written by James M. Tate / 12/09/2020 / No comments / action , beach , deborah shelton , eighties , exploitation , horror , james earl jones , jaws-clone , jose ferrer , lydia cornell , martin kove , mary-louise weller , thriller

UNEARTHING 'BLOODTIDE' AKA 'DEMON ISLAND' AKA 'BLOOD TIDE'

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR4Tpkq7cNZWo0xblVmc5aArgvtAE1taOi5My4R-JVlLqsu3S0DZ4GB8OSitBmCxYOeS3R2kELEbvlIh53odp4NHNhryclIpy0-gsrFN_NWnd3LleWnroAIsIR5F_ClQ-UOeIwa1TMmTfevyWFbnPSRED_6qZc9Be8wp8U7doEP4leV1hmfPVCIvdTiQ=s960" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="934" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR4Tpkq7cNZWo0xblVmc5aArgvtAE1taOi5My4R-JVlLqsu3S0DZ4GB8OSitBmCxYOeS3R2kELEbvlIh53odp4NHNhryclIpy0-gsrFN_NWnd3LleWnroAIsIR5F_ClQ-UOeIwa1TMmTfevyWFbnPSRED_6qZc9Be8wp8U7doEP4leV1hmfPVCIvdTiQ=w389-h400" width="389"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Title: BLOODTIDE Year: 1982 Rating: ***1/2</td></tr></tbody></table>New marrieds Martin Kove and Mary-Louise Weller visit a Greek island to find his missing sister who turns out alive but "isn't quite there..."And the mystery is what happened to her before, during and... basically the entire movie is the after... As James Earl Jones eventually helps out: a kind of Robert Shaw hybrid from both JAWS and especially THE DEEP, advising the handsome couple to dive while he's interested in hidden treasure... Meanwhile, the town locals, led by a grimacing Jose Ferrer, have something to hide as young women begin to vanish/die... In particular Frye’s girlfriend Barbara, played by bubbly-blonde Lydia Cornell, victim of a JAWS-like attack (much too close for comfort) by a mysterious underwater predator. And another girl... a preteen virgin... could be next. And if this review reads more like a patchwork of ideas, that’s what BLOODTIDE (actually BLOOD TIDE) is... yet it’s not completely awful, Although Horror fans will be disappointed as the creature's hardly seen... But according ANIMAL HOUSE starlet Mary-Louise Weller: “It wasn't scripted to be about any monsters, but since it was actually blocked currency from numerous countries... Mexico, UK, Greece, USA... they used the movie as a way to move cash around. It was just amazing that it even cut together at all.”<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6Jupd2XJwVrN4R5kHk0XvxD2pmIXXI7ealRXMuXzHpZIjZz5do64o-FJsiu--E-YgQCmeqTsWIfwxcFHj78Aed-wljTlOI0sMByjwNU0nhMel9CoQRJ7scLtst_DI500Jm5qtxhperkBjgHccLj7CevWg7pU0r6lxWGO1rXZtFLWtPwvS7r8VU0hkqw=s1181" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6Jupd2XJwVrN4R5kHk0XvxD2pmIXXI7ealRXMuXzHpZIjZz5do64o-FJsiu--E-YgQCmeqTsWIfwxcFHj78Aed-wljTlOI0sMByjwNU0nhMel9CoQRJ7scLtst_DI500Jm5qtxhperkBjgHccLj7CevWg7pU0r6lxWGO1rXZtFLWtPwvS7r8VU0hkqw=s16000"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin Kove and Mary-Louise Weller in BLOODTIDE with James Earl Jones & Lydia Cornell</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eT1ISCz6mPM/X_LS89PMWqI/AAAAAAABbQ8/ZsJ9EKJsvwwmuSD1_F3xgtImmu4SJgUYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s840/135517446_1153906368371871_9144435897815874566_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eT1ISCz6mPM/X_LS89PMWqI/AAAAAAABbQ8/ZsJ9EKJsvwwmuSD1_F3xgtImmu4SJgUYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/135517446_1153906368371871_9144435897815874566_n.jpeg"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin Kove and Mary-Louise Weller in BLOODTIDE </td></tr></tbody></table>

action, beach, deborah shelton, eighties, exploitation, horror, james earl jones, jaws-clone, jose ferrer, lydia cornell, martin kove, mary-louise weller, thriller

UNEARTHING 'BLOODTIDE' AKA 'DEMON ISLAND' AKA 'BLOOD TIDE'

Title: BLOODTIDE Year: 1982 Rating: ***1/2 New marrieds Martin Kove and Mary-Louise Weller visit a Greek island to find his missing sister ...

DECEMBER 7TH POST OF RICHARD FLEISCHER'S 'TORA! TORA! TORA!'

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMez7bUgzl8/X83zjjYJJII/AAAAAAABacI/S7qLX3zBDIgNzVlZfAfDr8uv8NxuriNyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1031/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-12-07%2Bat%2B12.06.41%2BAM.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="885" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMez7bUgzl8/X83zjjYJJII/AAAAAAABacI/S7qLX3zBDIgNzVlZfAfDr8uv8NxuriNyQCLcBGAsYHQ/w344-h400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-12-07%2Bat%2B12.06.41%2BAM.jpeg" width="344"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Title: Tora! Tora! Tora! Year: 1970 Rating: **** </td></tr></tbody></table>American director/producer Richard Fleischer mans only half of TORA! TORA! TORA! centering before and during the bombing of Pearl Harbor, leaving the rest to the equal perspective of Japanese military leaders by Japanese filmmakers Kinji Fukasaku and Toshio Masuda, a device you wouldn't get about the German Leaders' side of World War II... But what really works is perhaps what made the movie fail at the box office: No big stars to outshine the subject matter, rapid-fire subtitles, a non-dramatic, documentary realism and the true main characters are E.G. Marshall and Wesley Addy playing two Washington D.C. insiders using an early "fax machine" that provides enigmatic yet foreboding information, inserting a little espionage into the war genre... While on the other side of the Pacific, Sô Yamamura plays Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto with far more empathy and prowess than Navy flakes Jason Robards and Martin Balsam as Generals Short and Kimmel: One demanding/commanding an extremely unwise location for all "parked" aircraft, the other ready for a cozy round of golf (exactly 79-years from today) on the fateful early morning of December 7th, 1941...Taking up the action-packed third act with explosive widescreen glory mixed with cold and calculating reality like actually being there, though mostly as an impartial observer since there aren't any cliché movie-soldiers (like some naïve freckle-faced kid with a "girl back home" or the cynical cigar-chomping maverick he'd look up to): Unlike most other films on this subject, TORA! TORA! TORA! is about historical accuracy, not fictional history... take that Michael Bay!