The Sudden Curve

Dan Curtis RIP

Dan Curtis was the force behind the movie - THE NIGHT STALKER, starring our favorite actor, Darren McGavin. Who also recently passed away. Dan Curtis was a salesman for NBC in the 50's and created a popular golf show and he then turned to producing and directing. His fame came from his creation of DARK SHADOWS - the weird and long running daytime vampire soap opera of the 1960s. Which I never really watched much because it had very little appeal to kids. There are a couple of very good Dan Curtis interviews on THE NIGHT STALKER/STRANGLER dvd that givesa lot of insight into creative media and the way things used to work on television when guys like Dan Curtis used to produce shows worth watching. Thanks Dan, we won't forget you.

TEN bucks for the Night Stalker/Strangler DVD? still a deal... so grab it.

posted by Tom Novak, who says it's the end of an era.

St. Paddy's Day movie Pick O' The Irish ~ The Quiet Man

Time to get your Irish up   ...

After reviewing miles of film and consuming pounds of raisinettes, we have reached the conclusion that the best Saint Patrick's Day Movie of all is John Ford's flawless - The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

Oddly enough, The Quiet Man is also our Favorite Saint Valentine's Day film too.  Hmm.

There are hundreds  of intentionally Irish movies out there in movie-ola-land, but most of them are just weird.  So we like The Quiet Man as a Saint Pat's Day Movie to be awatchin' more than any other o' them others - don'tcha' be knowin', now?

This movie has everything you could ask for in a romantic drama or comedy and less. No need for constant exposition with jabbery dialogue because the richness of the sub-plots, witty supporting characters and gorgeous setting give the viewer the distinct feeling that he's been transported to Ireland and is part of the story.  Wayne and O'Hara are perfect.  Ford tells the simple story so well and richly that the viewer accepts it completely and everafter thinks of Innishfree and White O' Morn with the same longing that Sean Thornton brought with him as he journeyed home from America.

Hopefully, there should be a new DVD of the Quiet Man out any time now, considering that all the other John Wayne Classics are being retransfered.

But until then , make sure that you only get the DVD pictured that says "collectors edition."  There is another nearly identical version that doesn't have a shamrock and is of lesser quality without swell bonuses.  Okay?

Well, then - just shut yer gobs and watch , ya' little squints!

posted by Tom Novak who is in charge of "Cheering like a Protestant"

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow vocalist ~ Jane Monheit

Ya' know, I thought there was something familiar about Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow besides all the great '30s era action/adventure serialized comic-book CGI. 

And it's the song that runs through the credits at the end.  It's the extended version of Over The Rainbow and it's sung by TSC Approved, jazz singer, and total babe, Jane Monheit.  In fact, it's just about become a Signature Song for her.  Kinda like that other old time singer who had a big hit with Over The Rainbow  - Tex Beneke (oh and some other girl singer from some other movie that is coincidentally shown in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow had a hit with it too) yeah, Tex, Tex Beneke! The sax player and vocalist for Glenn Miller.  Sheesh.  Where ya been?

That Jane Monheit can really do swingy-jazzy stuff from 1939 ~ what a year, what a song, what a gal!!!

posted by Tom Novak, who wants to hire Jane to sing Chattanooga Choo Choo to him.  Just once. 

INFECTION ~ the new podcast novel by Scott Sigler ~ is Now Playing

INFECTION EPISODE ONE

The first episode of INFECTION by our favorite podcast novelist, SCOTT SIGLER is now available for download.   And, as promised us by the author -  this one isn't for the faint of ... anything.

And don't forget if you haven't read the paperback version of the very first #1 in the universe podcast novel EARTHCORE ... what are you the heck waiting for?  Do it!

posted by Tom Novak, who knows that most of you won't download these until the final episode, but you could.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow ... (how did I miss this before?)

Okay, okay - give a guy a break!!! Yes, I went out and got it. Yes, Wally and Tom are right (ouch that hurt). Yes, it's cool with old school fighter planes and giant robots and hot babes who you could affectionately greet with a "Hiya, Toots" ...

Great CGI look in this movie also - it's like a graphic novel has just popped up in front of you.  So if you missed Sky Cap at the theater like I did (and you miss old school action adventure on the big screen, like I do) then by all means watch it.  You'll be glad you did.

posted by Tom Novak, who approves of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow  and Adventure (and Gwyneth)

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

I saw this film in the theater after reading Wally Conger's review and recommendation at Out Of Step.

As Wally put it: "Sky Captain is Doc Savage, Metropolis, the old Fleischer Superman cartoons, Rocketeer, and Indiana Jones rolled into a glorious CGI retro-future."

The DVD has excellent features on the making of the movie, which extensively used "blue screens." In addition to the great story, and movie-making technology advances, Sky Captain has a great cast too.

The main characters are played by Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law.

Sky Captain has many scenes that reminded me of other films. It heavily uses what Joss Whedon calls the "homage." The "bridge" scene pictured gives an example of that.

However, Sky Captain innovates in computer graphics technology.

It also features robots: giant flying robots . . . .

Tentacled robots . . . .

The DVD has been out for a while, so why do I blog about this now? Well, a couple of reasons come to mind:

Showtime has Sky Captain in their March schedule . . .

. . . and I wrote a review of the film for Endervidualism's weekly movie feature.

. . . and again Gwyneth Paltrow . . .

Need I say more?

Posted by Tom Ender, who wonders what Kerry Conran (the writer/director of Sky Captain) plans for his next film.

Darren McGavin RIP : Who stalks tonight? Carl Kolchak!

UPDATE : it is with regret that I must inform all TSC readers that our Favorite Actor has passed away.

All Hail, Darren McGavin!!!

(from November '05)

Earlier this evening, as I trundled my cart down the aisle of my local mega-super-warehouse, just like any well-trained, oxen-brained consumer, something eeerie happened in the store.  It was as though the lights in the cavernous, prefabbed space dimmed and then I was blinded by a painfully intense phosphoresent flash of whitehot light emanating from some spot before me.

What the heck was going on?

I can't say for sure, but as my vision cleared, I saw, dimly, through the searing red afterimage that can only be created by a GE MagicCube's photoflash - someone, or someshade wearing what seemed to be a seersucker suit and a pork pie hat standing at the end of the aisle and gesturing to a point in space ...  Yet, as I blinked and my dazzled vision cleared somewhat I saw no one there -  NO ONE THERE AT ALL.

And then, down the aisle where the shade had been, and at the point to which it had gestured, I saw, amidst a general blur of tunnel vision a single item in perfect focus.  That item was a lone, boxed set of the complete   Kolchak: the night stalker television series waiting patiently on the rack.

  Immediately, I raced my cart forward - clubbing aside foolish shoppers from my path! Knocking small children and elderly interlopers aside!

I dashed to to the counter with my prize, doggedly determined not to be overtaken by anything except a mad frenzy of retro-70's sci-fantasy televisionitis! 

  All Hail, Darren McGavin!

posted by Tom Novak, who is especially looking forward to revisting episode 10, The Energy Eater because it's about a wendigo terrorizing a hospital! Woooo.  Them wendigos are just darn scary.

TEN bucks for the Night Stalker/Strangler DVD? Wow, what a deal... obviously it's a gift - so grab it. Here is a nice obit for Ralphie's Dad from ABC

Maxi Zombie Getter

My 1 of 1,000 Ruger .357 Blackhawk, of which there can be only one.  It keeps the zombies from getting close.

posted by Tom Novak who says this blue-black pistola is so uncannily accurate that it might belong to Elric of Melnibone.

My Tiny Zombie Getter

My .32 Seecamp, which only supercool guys can own, because there's a waiting list of years to get one of these babies.

Posted by Bob Wallace, who, well, actually found it used at a gun store.

Zombie Getter

.45 acp Kimber stainless pro-carry, will knock anything on two feet ass over tea kettle with one round.

posted by Tom Novak, who's never scanned a gun before.

I Love My Pistol

.357 Sig Sauer, shoots bottle-neck cartridges, will stop anything on two feet with one round.

Posted by Bob Wallace, who just loooves Magsafes and Glasers. Better even, than any hollowpoint.

The VP is on Turner Classic Movies 2night

posted by Tom Novak, who doesn't blame Vinny one darn bit for revenging himself on those quacks.  Victoria Phibes  ~ Wooba Wooba Woooooo!

Again, All Hail MacDonald and McGavin

posted by Tom Novak, who says he'd podcast these for everyone to enjoy ...  if he had a bakers' dozen of lawyers on retainer to fend off the blizzard of lawsuits that would certainly follow.

All Hail MacDonald and McGavin

TSC Christmas Pick ~ Donovan's Reef

Eeeew.  Watching Santa Claus vs the Martians is enough to give anyone Post-Christmas PMS.  So to get over the trauma, try this very cool Christmas Flick.

posted by Tom Novak, who says it sure as heck is a Christmas movie - they even sing Jingle Bells (off-key).

What I got for Christmas ~ The Circle of Death!

That's right - a Wolf Claw II first person shooter gaming keyboard from think geek.

What you have to ask yourselves, Mars City zombies, is do you feel lucky? Well, do you ... punks?!

posted by Tom Novak - have BFG, will portal.

Have you ever heard of ... Kong?

McLintock ~ remastered!

Great day in the morning! It feels like the Fourth of July because at long last there is a decent DVD version of McLintock! available

posted by Tom "Clayslide" Novak, who says to only buy the official Batjac / Wayne Foundation and Paramount DVD version and no other. You'll be right happy.

Bran Mak Morn ~ a new illustrated collection

posted by Tom Novak, who has no use for those dratted Worms of the Earth.

Gada.be is the best Online Search

Search is important. It must be, because by giving away free search to innocent people somehow or other a company with no product can have a 7 bazillion dollar valuation. How is that possible? We don't know. But it's true ... at least it was true.

Enter, stage right - Chris Pirillo's Gada.be

How's it work - uhm, well we're not sure persactly... but however it works - it works GREAT! It searches everything! Including websites, blogs, browsers, portals, and probably border crossing stations. And you don't have to look at goddamned ads created by robot monkeys' so their fake websites can grift money offa Google either.

Take that, you network vandalizing, Search Engine Optimizing, S-blog Spamscummers.

I suggest you search for The Sudden Curve. That's always jumbo fun for the retro-noir set.

posted by Tom Novak, who's Attention XML span aint what it used to be ...