
http://brittanyrosepictures.blogspot.com/2009/05/100th-post-brittany-rose-and-freeze-ray.html
I've been watching a number of CARRY ON films here at the Library in recent months. This one is not one of them. I do, however, own a copy of the pirate comedy CARRY ON JACK and, as I recall, I enjoyed it very much. It's an atypical film in the long-running nudge-nudge, wink-wink UK series in that it not only has more of a story line than normal but it also features different stars! Oh, series regulars including Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey (famously name-checked by no less than John Lennon on the Beatles' LET IT BE album)are present but the real stars here are Juliet Mills and Bernard Cribbins. Juliet, of course, is the lovely sister of Hayley, daughter of Sir John and herself the later star of NANNY AND THE PROFESSOR, the soap PASSIONS, Mario Bava'a BEYOND THE DOOR and Billy Wilder's AVANTI! from which we previously ran nude shots. Mr. Cribbins was a reliable lead in low budget British comedies of the 1950's, a welcome second lead in bigger budgeted films of the '60's and an early DR. WHO companion when he appeared as such in the second Peter Cushing DR. WHO film. He now comes full circle by appearing as David Tennant's companion (returning as Donna Noble's grandfather)in his upcoming final appearances as the Doctor.
The third official voice of Mickey Mouse, Wayne Allwine, passed away this week also. Don't know how long this particular clip will remain available because it's from an official Disney DVD release but here's Wayne--who followed in the footsteps of Walt himself and Jimmy McDonald--chatting with Leonard Maltin. His wife, Russi Taylor--the voice of Minnie Mouse in recent years--also appears. Our condolences to his family and friends...which, as Mickey, included just about everybody in the free world.
Probably the funniest cartoons ever made, ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE (aka ROCKY AND HIS FRIENDS or THE BULLWINKLE SHOW) aired new for only a few seasons beginning 50 years ago this year but, like STAR TREK, the series has grown in popularity and influence in the decades since. June (Rocky)Foray is, of course, the single greatest of the female voice artists and is still going strong today. The late Bill Scott was not only the original voice of Bullwinkle (as well as Dudley Do-Right and George of the Jungle) but also the main writer on the series. Thus, he deserves much of the credit for the wonderful zaniness of what has become known as the Jay Ward style of humor. This clip presents one of the final times the pair appeared together, shortly before Scott's death in 1985.
Here's a sixties band I wasn't familiar with until today. This being the Internet, I know a little more about them now: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vejtables. Great song!
The first time I ever heard this song was on DR DEMENTO's radio show in 1973. It was a special all British dementia episode in which the good Doctor offered up some wonderful helpings of the Goons, Flanders and Swann, the Scaffold (featuring Mike McCartney), Cook and Moore and the great Noel Coward. Here Coward performs his signature patter song from a 1955 TV special.
Jay Ward's FRACTURED FLICKERS is remembered for making merciless fun of silent films but it's often forgotten that there were often guests. Here, FF host Hans Conried conducts a clearly scripted "interview" with TWILIGHT ZONE show-runner, Rod Serling!
When I was ten, I had a Japanese pen pal named Yoshiko Yashiro. She wrote me once that she loved movies so I asked her who her favorite star was and she told me that she adored Alain Delon. I told her he wasn't a star because (with typical Amuhrican arrogance) I had never heard of him. She countered that he was only the biggest star in the WORLD and that I was a dummy for not knowing that. Some years later I realized that, umm...she was correct. If you happen to be reading this, Yoshiko Yashiro, well...a very belated "Sorry?" This is the trailer (basically the wonderful opening few minutes) from my favorite Delon film, UN FLIC, Jean-Pierre Melville's old-fashioned caper film that also stars--no matter how unlikely it may seem--American actors Richard Crenna and Michael (HILL STREET BLUES) Conrad!
I gotta remember to check YouTube for these things before I post. Here's a TV trailer for Teresa Graves (whom we wrote about a couple of days ago) and her GET CHRISTIE LOVE series from 1974.
My wife and I were just saying a week ago that Dom Deluise would probably be a wonderful person to just hang out with. He always seemed pretty humble, too. I'll bet he'd be surprised to see just how big an outpouring of affection he's getting at his passing. As I wrote before about him, the only real problem with his career is that no one ever seemed to be able to figure out exactly what type of vehicle would be best for Dom. Thus, there is no one show or movie or book or concert for which we remember him. We just remember him for being funny and making us smile by his very presence...and that's certainly not a bad thing. Here's a short student film Dom Deluise participated in that always makes me smile-THE HEALER.
One of the creepiest films ever! It's a filmed stage play and it looks it but in this case, that gives an air of claustrophobia that only adds to the ever-mounting tension. Audrey Hepburn in her last role for nearly a decade is absolutely charming and endearing as the blind woman having to use all her remaining senses to outwit several sadistic home invaders! Richard Crenna, arguably the most successful actor to come out of old-time radio, is one. Jack Weston is another (long-time readers may recall my "Jack Weston Rule"--If Jack Weston is in a film, then it's a good film...but that's in spite of Jack being in the film, never becasue of it!) The real revelation, though, is Alan Arkin in an early showcase for his diverse talents. Trained as a comedian at Second City and often in comedic films, he creates a truly terrifying presence in WAIT UNTIL DARK.
No nostalgia here. Never seen this one at all. This is the theme from CAPTAIN ULTRA which was apparently a rather obvious juvenile POWER RANGERS precursor from Japan in '67. Seems to have been sort of ULTRAMAN without the giant hero! There is a dorky robot, though!
Still in 1967, here's the trailer for what was expected to be the biggest family film of the year, the fairly disastrous DOCTOR DOLITTLE with Rex Harrison and Anthony Newley. Having read the whole sordid story of the making of this picture with its insecure (or was he insane?) star and its overblown budget, I now have a whole new respect for the fact that the producers were able to pulll any entertainment value out of it at all! The marketing didn;t hurt, either. I recall getting Honeycomb cereal for Dolittle prizes and seeing the pushmi-pullyu guest on local kids tv!
We forget sometimes that the music that defined the sixties was not just the Beatles and the emergence of more "artistic" Rock. For me, the easy listening sounds of German composer/conductor/producer Bert Kaempfert offer up as much nostalgia as anything from the Fab Four. Also from 1967, here's a medley with Bert from the second day ever of (West) German color television broadcasting.
This is a song I truly enjoyed on the radio when I was around 7 years old. It wasn't until years later that I realized the creepy implications of a father and daughter singing this love song to each other. It really doesn't help to have her brother replacing her dad in this TV version from THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS SHOW in 1967. My more learned adult ear can also hear that Junior, like dad before him, is carrying his gorgeous sister's not-particularly-good-at-harmonizing voice. Nancy Sinatra has a unique vocal skill, best served by the production and collaboration with Lee Hazlewood. Still, nostalgia being what it is, I always have a soft spot for SOMETHING STUPID.
Here's a short, pointless cover of Paul McCartney's "Good Day Sunshine" by a truly bizarre combination. Noel Harrison, from whose 1968 TV special this clip is from, starts us off. He wasn't really much of a singer but he was still enjoying his 15 minutes of fame at this point. The late African-American singer/actress Barbara McNair joins in. All the while we hear what sounds vaguely like Beach Boys harmonies in the background. This turns out to be a few seconds of the Byrds, of all people! THE FREAKIN' BYRDS!!! I see Gene Clark and Roger McGuinn but is that Chris Hillman or David Crosby on the right? I thought Crosby had flown the coop by this point.
An on-screen team that never was, here's a rief, rare screen test with Paul Newman ad the legendary James Dean!