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May 2016

Kino - Lost Keaton - 16 comedy shorts - 2 DVD set

Lost Keaton

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Product Description of Lost Keaton

buy-from-amazon Kino - Lost Keaton - 16 comedy shorts - 2 DVD setFor Buster Keaton, the era of the talkies was a tumultuous time. As a result of signing with MGM, the quality, the quality of his ambitious, eclectic comedies began to decline and in 1934, he signed a contract with Earle W. Hammons Educational Pictures which, despite its name, specialized in comedy short subjects. Keaton’s move to Educational was a return to his roots, crafting a stream of two reel comedies in rapid succession, as he had done in the early 1920s, when he first refined his cinematic craft.The films Buster Keaton made with Educational Pictures (ALL sixteen of which are collected here) pay homage to his earlier work, but at the same time incorporated the element of sound, all while exploring new possibilities for his recurring comic persona, Elmer.Read More »Lost Keaton

The Man Called Flintstone (1966) starring the voice talents of Alan Reed, Mel Blanc, Harvey Korman

The Man called Flintstone

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The Man Called Flintstone(1966) starring the voice talents of Alan Reed, Mel Blanc, Harvey Korman

One of my favorite childhood movies was The Man Called Flintstone. Released after the end of the original TV series, it uses the well-worn plot line of Fred being an identical duplicate of some “important” person. In this case, secret agent Rock Slagg.  Slagg’s boss, Chief Mountmore, decides to use Fred to complete Slagg’s mission.  To capture of the evil criminal genius, the Green Goose (voiced with glee by Harvey Korman) …. Before he can take over the world.

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - a classic western starring Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Lee Marvin

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) starring Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Vera Miles, Edmond O’Brien

Jimmy Stewart as the bookish lawyer, with the newspaper editor (Edmond O'Brien) who's not afraid to take a stand against Liberty Valance -- and pays the price for it.
Jimmy Stewart as the bookish lawyer, with the newspaper editor (Edmond O’Brien) who’s not afraid to take a stand against Liberty Valance — and pays the price for it.

I know that the title ‘finest western of all time’ is sure to be disputed, but I stand by it.   In addition to starring three of the great actors of the 20th Century (John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, and Lee Marvin), it’s a truly great story.   It’s told in flashback, as Jimmy Stewart’s character is returning to the western town where he got his start.   A bookish lawyer, many years ago he came to this wild west town, where there was no law. But there was a band of thugs led by Liberty Valance (played deliciously by Lee Marvin) running rampant.   Jimmy Stewart plans to stop them by legal means …  Only to find out that there is no one willing to enforce the law.

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The Longshot (1986), starring Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Jack Weston, Jonathon Winters

The Longshot [Tim Conway, Harvey Korman]

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The Longshot (1986), starring Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Jack Weston, Jonathon Winters

Buy "The Longshot" from Amazon If you’re like me, you consider  Tim Conway  and  Harvey Korman  to be one of the classic comedy teams, and wish that they had worked together beside The Carol Burnett Show. Thankfully, they did!  The Longshot is an independent film  written by Tim Conway, co-starring Tim Conway,  Harvey Korman  (as well as Jack Weston, Ted Wass, and  Jonathan Winters).   The basic  plot is that a group of four life-long losers decide to take a chance for once in their lives, and place a large long-shot bet on a broken-down horse.   With borrowed money.   Borrowed from the mob.   Read More »The Longshot [Tim Conway, Harvey Korman]

The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000) starring  Mark Addy,  Kirsten Johnston,  Joan Collins,  Thomas Gibson,  Jane Krakowski,  Stephen Baldwin

Viva Rock Vegas

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The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000) starring  Mark Addy,  Kirsten Johnston,  Joan Collins,  Thomas Gibson,  Jane Krakowski,  Stephen Baldwin

Editorial review of  The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas  courtesy of Amazon.com

buy The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas from Amazon.com  Kids will enjoy the dinosaurs, gaudy prehistoric decor, and cartoon humor of  The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas. The movie begins before Fred (Mark Addy from  The Full Monty) and Wilma (Kirsten Johnston from Third Rock from the Sun) Flintstone ever met, back when Wilma was an unhappy rich girl seeking happiness in a less snobby environment.

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Dracula Dead and Loving It (1995) starring Leslie Nielsen, Steven Weber, Peter MacNicol, Lysette Anthony, Mel Brooks

Dracula Dead and Loving It

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Dracula Dead and Loving It (1995) starring  Leslie Nielsen, Steven Weber, Peter MacNicol, Lysette Anthony, Mel Brooks

I’ve been doing reviews of various movies with  Harvey Korman, since his recent death.   This led me to watch  Dracula: Dead and Loving It starring Leslie Nielsen, Steven Weber, Peter MacNicol and Lysette Anthony.   Most of the reviews that I’d read led me to believe that it was a very unfunny movie, with only one or two laughs during the entire movie.   In my opinion, they were totally wrong–I would describe this as Mel Brooks’ most underrated movie.

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Lord Love a Duck (1966) starring Roddy McDowall, Tuesday Weld, Ruth Gordon, Harvey Korman

Lord Love a Duck

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Lord Love a Duck (1966) starring Roddy McDowall, Tuesday Weld,  Ruth Gordon, Harvey Korman

Review

Lord Love a Duck is a comedy. A very dark comedy. It deals with two high school seniors, played by Roddy McDowell and Tuesday Weld. For some reason, his character is obsessed with her, and will do anything she wants. Oddly, she doesn’t abuse that ability. She’s a somewhat shallow — her ambition is simply to become famous. At any cost. But, in truth, she comes from a broken home. She’s a sympathetic character.

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Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) starring Stephen W. Burns, Charles Martin Smith, Cloris Leachman, Harvey Korman

Herbie Goes Bananas

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Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) starring  Stephen W. Burns,   Charles Martin Smith,  Cloris Leachman, Harvey Korman

 Herbie Goes Bananas  is the fourth Love Bug movie from Disney, and is the most kid-centered Herbie movie thus far.   There’s no trace of the original cast from  The Love Bug, with a new owner for Herbie, who wants to follow in his uncle’s footsteps and become a famous race car driver.  

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