'Beast From Haunted Cave'/'Ski Troop Attack' BD: Roger Corman Show Business PLUS EASTER EGG

 

New kid on the schlock Film Masters continues to honor the legacy of parent Film Detective with the October 24, 2023 BD double-feature release of "Beast From Haunted Cave" (1959) and "Ski Troop Attack" (1960). The numerous leitmotifs include that these  B-movie cult classics are the inaugural double-feature from low-budget master Roger Corman and his brother Gene for their newly formed Filmgroup Studios. 

Detective veteran Ballyhoo Motion Pictures does its usual expert job with part one of a documentary on Filmgroup. This non-fiction production also looks at the Corman classic "The Wasp Woman." It is believed that Masters pairs "Woman" with a December 2023 BD release. That release mostly likely will include part two.

The other common themes of "Beast" and "Patrol" are that they revolve around skiing and use many of the same cast and South Dakota locations.

"Beast" arguably is the more entertaining of the two films. This one also is notable for two Masters enhancements. 

These old-school guys include an Easter egg that is accessed by right-clicking over to a photo of the titular monster and selecting it. This links to an equally entertaining and insightful interview with Chris Robinson, who plays the titular monster.

The second enhancement reflects the wisdom of RTFM. Not looking at the back-cover of the set before watching "Beast" resulted in not choosing wisely in selecting the theatrical version over the television version. Doing my homework would have taught me that the silver-screen version is shorter than the small-screen one. 

The wonderfully cliche-ridden plot of "Beast" is that a small-time crook, his second-in-command, his muscle who has taken far too many blows to the head, and his bimbo moll go to a ski-resort town to pull a heist. They enlist the aid of a studly ski-bum to help with their escape by hiring him to guide them on a backwoods adventure.

The (of course comically cheesy) wraithlike beast enters the picture in a wonderfully Hays Code manner. A member of the gang mixes business with pleasure by persuading a loose local to accompany him to the mine that will play a pivotal role in the crime. This releasing the beast is highly symbolic on many levels. 

Hilarity ensues when the game gets afoot on our group heading out on their excursion. The beast tags along to get his man. This, of course, leads to a climatic showdown that is pure Corman.

The caveat regarding thoughts on "Patrol" is that it largely is a war film and a fauxumentary on skiing. Neither genre is a favorite of your not-so-humble reviewer. The rest of this confession is admitting to fast-forwarding through at least the 20 minutes that merely is footage of our heroes skiing through a German forest during World War II.

The real-world background of this story is more interesting. The US Army recruited expert skiers, recalled largely to be college athletes, for these patrols.

Our fictional band of brothers are charged with observing and reporting but often exceed those orders by engaging the enemy. They ultimately take things even further by utilizing an opportunity to attempt sabotage. 

A segment in which the guys force their way into the secluded cabin of a loyal daughter of the Third Reich is the most interesting part of the film. An awesome Code element of this element is finding stockings in the drawer of their hostess. This viewer anyway wishes that the film had focused more on the story with the woman than on the skiing and the equally repetitive fights with the Nazis. 

All of this shows that Masters provides a good chance to own expertly remastered versions of lesser-known films of a guy who helped keep the '50s Saturday afternoon kiddie matinee industry afloat and provides lovers of the best bad films plenty of material to cheer and equally enthusiastically jeer. They truly do not make 'em like that anymore. 

'Giant Gila Monster' "The Killer Shrews' BD: Fabulously Flawless Ray Kellogg Creature Double Feature

The best brains behind the sadly demised Film Detective chose wisely regarding resurrecting as Film Masters. Masters is off to a flying high start and deserves to be adored. This exciting debut makes the street-smart legions of Detective fans feel like virgins being touched for the very first time. 

The Masters September 26, 2023 BD science-fiction double-feature release of "The Giant Gila Monster" (1959) and "The Killer Shrews" (1959) takes off where Detective left off. The love begins with offering viewers the choice of the theatrical or the TV aspect ratios of the films; the theatrical versions look great on a 55" Sony Bravia 4K set. 

This next generation offering is the first in an anxiously anticipated series of monthly Blu-ray releases of 4K remasters of the sublimely ridiculous micro-budget horror films that were the staple of '50s kiddie matinees. 

More than most other films from any era, these cult and forgotten favorites truly appeal to everyone from 8-to-80. 

Camp kids know and love this studio fare from their premieres at the Main Street movie house, their airings in the '70s syndicated series "Creature Double Feature," their '80s runs on basic cable, and/or their '80s and '90s broiler-level roasting on the "Mystery Science Theater 3000" series. The BD allows men (and women) of a certain age to share the delight of these "they don't make 'em like that anymore" labors of nerd love with their kids and grandkids. 

The final note before discussing the films is that new content is especially valuable in this era of the lengthy SAG AFTRA strike. 

"Gila" is a delightful schlock-and-roll tale that could have been the most-special "Happy Days" episode ever. Central character Chase Winstead (Don Sullivan) is a cool mechanic/aspiring singer who is a god to the teens with whom he hangs out and a hoodlum to the "respectable adults" in his small town.

The morality of this Hays Code era story is apparent from the start. Young lovers have gone into the woods where they become the first victims of the titular literal big bad. We soon learn both that our pint-sized Godzilla dislikes cars and that the people who warn about the hazards of hitchhiking know about that of which they speak. 

The origin story of the creature is one of the most amusing aspects of the film. The explanation this time is that the right combinations of factors can bring an element of The Land of the Giants to us. 

The predictable closing scene has the gang assemble at a rural barn for a "platter party" hosted by the local star DJ/comically lovable alcoholic (real-life DJ Ken Knox). The only thing that would have made this better would have been there being a bait shop sign on the side of the door. The sad part of this is that Lizzie likely just wanted to rock-and-roll all night after partying that (and every) day. 

It is equally predictable that Chase heroically risks his life to flambe the "monster" who only instinctively went after those who invaded his turf.

The plethora of special features for "Gila" include the awesomely restored awesome trailer for the film, an interview with Sullivan, and audio commentary from a group that knows about that about which they shriek. 

The gaping hole is the lack of a an always insightful and entertaining Ballyhoo Motion Pictures documentary on the film. The cinematic study of Kellogg on the "Shrews" disc more than compensates for that "defect."

Long before he futilely chases those Duke boys around Hazzard County, James Best stars as captain Thorne Sherman in the trope-dripping "Shrews." 

Our story begins with Sherman and his first mate Griswold taking a three-hour cruise to deliver supplies to a research facility on the doctor's charted desert isle. A desire to avoid his tiny ship getting tossed on that fateful trip prompts Sherman to spend the night ahead of the weather getting rough. 

The cliches continue with knowing the instant that Griswold appears on the screen that he may as well have been wearing a Gilligan-red shirt. As predicted, this character is a winner who becomes the doggies' first dinner. The question remains whether Sherman will be lucky and get away.

The game fully is afoot when the skipper and his first mate meet the professor, the movie-star-caliber beauty, and the rest. Dr. Craigis is a madman who is as crazy as you'll ever find but does not have an especially evil mind except for accepting that you must create a few Class-A vicious killers to make an omelet. The theory of "Dr. Shrinker" is that reducing the size of sentient beings will help with the overpopulation problem. 

The PERFECT closing line of the film that adds an element of Bond to the existing "Jurassic Park" vibe of "Shrews" reflects the population-control theory in a manner that provides the sublimely happy ending of which viewers only can dream. 

Figuratively getting from Point A to Point B requires that Sherman literally makes a march across the island. This involves a wonderfully silly "MacGyver" tactic that utilizes available resources to protect the innocent and get out of Dodge. This follows a brief recreation of "The Most Dangerous Game" involving a spurned lover. That day truly is survival for our lover who also is a rival. 

The ABSOLUTE most fun of "Shrews" is the almost constantly shouting "DOGGIE" throughout most of the film. This spoiler provides a sense of the production of a movie that actually may have been made in a Hollywood basement. 

The bottom line regarding "Gila" and "Shrew" is that campy humor never stops being funny. This genre also proves that you do not have to go blue or provide exaggerated action to put (or keep) butts in the seats. 

'Shazam!' CS: A True Marvel

The recent DVD release of "Shazam!: The Complete Live Action Series" provides lovers of good cheesy '70s shows another reason to thank the elders for Warner Archive. This release is nearly as exciting as getting the '70s Hanna-Barbera "Scooby-Doo" clone "Goober and the Ghost Chasers" from Warner Archive a few years ago.

From a more objective perspective, "Shazam!" is similar to the late-80s low-budget syndicated series "The Adventures of Superboy," which has the college boy of steel and his buds battle a buffonish Lex Luther and other baddies. Warner Brothers released the first season of that show many years ago, and I am hopeful that Warner Archive will start offering additional seasons.

The concept behind "Shazam!" is that mid-20s newscaster Billy Batson, played by dreamy teen idol Michael Gray, is the alter-ego of Captain Marvel. Dreamy Jackson Bostwick plays Marvel until being replaced due to an injury late in the second of the series' three seasons.

Billy and his sidekick/advisor Mentor spend their days traveling around in a motor home helping teens and post-adolescents out of jams largely of the younguns' own making. Each story is wrapped up with a moral, delivered by Bostwick through most of the series and by Gray in the final episodes.

Billy is granted his powers, and is guided by, six animated elders who deliver a cryptic message near the beginning of each episode.

The dual significance of "Shazam" is that it is the magic word that Billy, and at least one young and stupid boy in the greater Boston area, shout to transform from an average Joe into the super-powered Captain Marvel and is also the acronym of the elders' names. That group consists of Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury.

The two restrictions on the great power that goes along with the great responsibility of being Captain Marvel are that only Mentor can witness the transformation and Billy can only undergo it when it is absolutely necessary.

Plots included a young blind teen and his slightly older brother recognizing the accommodations that the blindness requires and the capabilities that the blind boy retains after losing his sight. Another episode has Captain Marvel setting a good example for a young boy with a history of trespassing to ride a neighbor's horse by volunteering to go to jail for a crime of which he is not guilty.

One of the more inadvertently entertaining episodes is a special two-parter in which Billy helps a girl who is trying to help her brother break ties with a middle-aged drug dealer for whom the brother is working. Seeing Billy deny being a "pusher" himself and watching the girl run around with a bag of what is clearly baking soda is very funny 40 years later.

Aside from the underlying message of "drugs are bad; ok," Billy teaches the girl that she should act responsibly by narcing on her bro. merely than by taking his stash.

The third season, which is presented as part of the "Shazam!/Isis Hour," is also fun by having Isis appear in a few "Shazam" episodes to help out Captain Marvel. This is similar to Scooby-Doo and the meddling kids helping the Blue Falcon and Dynomutt when they have a joint show. This wonderfully nostalgic show is also out on DVD.

The bottom line is that "Shazam!" is an awesome example of the fun type of show that broadcast networks used to air on Saturday mornings. This genre has plenty of action and wonderfully low-budget effects.

Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Shazam!" is encouraged to email me. I am especially eager to hear if anyone transformed into a super hero after yelling "Shazam!"

'Martin Roumagnac' DVD: Marlene Dietrich is Equal Parts Femme and Fatale

The Icarus Films April 18, 2023 DVD release of a 4K restoration of the 1946 Marlene Dietrich French film "Martin Roumagnac" (later released as "The Room Upstairs") provides good reminders. 

Ala every Icarus release, "Rougmanac" passes the foreign-language test of being a movie that could be made line-for-line and shot-for-shot in the US. The bigger picture (pun intended) is that this one reminds that they don't make 'em like that anymore. 

The pristine audio and video of this must-own restoration truly highlights the use of black-and-white and the Oscar-worthy deliveries of the Oscar-worthy dialogue. 

One of the most fascinating aspects of this film is that is adheres to the US Hays Code despite being made more than 5,000 miles from Hollywood in a country that is known for its risque movies (and postcards). There is no question that the lady is a tramp. However, merry widow Blanche Ferrand (Dietrich) keeps her clothes on and is never actually seen in bed with any of the "strangers" on whose kindness she has always relied ala a more infamous Blanche of novel, stage, and screen.

Additionally, writer/director Georges Lacombe ensures that the bad actors in misdeeds only get aptly schooled. This is particularly true regarding our titular contractor who pays a heavy price for falling under the spell of Blanche. 

Our story begins with shades of "Beauty and the Beast." It is an ordinary day in the sleepy French village where Blanche and her uncle own a bird shop. 

Our father figure playfully teases a young boy who is delivering eclairs while Blanche is finishing up a nooner with the married deputy mayor. This soon is followed by a local educator stopping by to symbolically purchase only one of a pair of lovebirds. Blanche equally symbolically informs him that separating the bonded pair would be fatally cruel.

The plot thickens when Blanche meets Martin at a fight that evening. The symbolism this time includes a not-so-lucky four-leaf clover and a subsequent "Cinderella" style search by Martin for his "princess." 

The Hays Codes fully exerts itself when seeking shelter in a barn during a first date leads to a scene of the barn door slamming after the horses symbolically have left their stable relationships. This leads to Martin building a luxurious villa for the cow who is providing milk. An early lesson for this working-class hero is that essentially putting a ring on it leads to the cow running dry. 

The mid-point of the film also is when the oft-mentioned but previously unseen "counsel" enters the picture. This once only partially available suitor is free now that his wife has bought the farm. 

This presents our pet-shop girl with having to choose between building a life with the one who is almost out of love but is telling her that he loves her in so many ways and a partner-in-crime who has the brains to her looks and offers opportunities to make lots of money. She also has the option of choosing door number three. 

This conflict results in a confrontation that continues the homage that "Rougmanac" pays to "Citizen Kane." Passions run hot and mistakes are made.

This leads to an exciting trial that indicates that the French judicial system is much more informal than its US counterpart. The outcome supports that theory that justice is not blind, it just looks the other way. We do learn that Martin did love Eva Braun, who was just some girl who was on the make.

The epilogue involves the final lesson of the day. This message is that it ain't over until the "fat lady" gets her justice. 

The overall big picture is that "Rougmanac" is a perfect example of post-war European cinema in which everyone is exhausted, cynical, and looking for love in all the wrong places. The awesome timeless social commentary in the form of looking down on gypsies, tramps, and thieves is the icing on the cake. 

 

'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' S1: DVD, BD, 4K: A 'Trek' For All Generations

 

One of many truly awesome things about the Paramount Plus series "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" S1 is that it bridges the gap between arguably the first generation of "Trek" that sets the stage for Kirk et al to boldly go where no man has gone before and the third generation in that "Worlds" honors the spirits of the original series and theatrical adventures of Team Kirk and the "Next Generation" generation that the OS adventures spawn.

This is akin to the timing of the release of the films of rival franchise "Star Wars." That one releases Chapters 4-6 essentially in the 80s, offers the prequel Chapters 1-3 in the 2000s, and introduces the new class in the 2010s Chapters 7-9.

The DVD and BD releases of "Worlds' offers a good chance to experience all of the fun and adventure of this marathon (rather than binge) worthy series ahead of S2 sometime in 2023. A 4K steelbook is coming out May 16, 2023. 

The following must-see S1 trailer warrants its own post. We see how that wit and wisdom of Kirk predecessor Pike (Anson Mount) prompts "what if" thoughts regarding if "Trek" god Gene Roddenberry had not replaced Pike after the OS pilot. We also see how far FX has come and get a look at elements of "Discovery."

"Worlds" aptly providing a strong vibe of all three "Trek" generations is a big part of what makes it special. Giving Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Zers a show that they all can watch together in peace and harmony is no small task. The bigger picture this time is that this unification reflects the "Trek" spirit.

This vibe commences with the pilot. We rejoin Pike, ala Kirk in the OS and TNG hand-off film "Generations," having a idyllic rural existence in the wake of his "Discovery" trauma-and-drama. Ala "Generations" and (to a lesser extent) pilot episode of "Enterprise," a catastrophic event pulls Pike back in just when he thought he was out. The "Enterprise" vibe mostly comes from this series of unfortunate incidents requiring that the U.S.S. Enterprise fly to the rescue before needed repairs are completed. 

This sets the stage for classic "Trek" plots from each generation. One "worlds" episode has OS regular nurse Christine Chapel temporarily modify the appearance of the away team so that they better blend in with the natives. We also get the fan favorites of a transporter malfunction,  a look at an alternative future, and a cranky potential member of The Federation that enjoys the protection and support of Star Fleet that includes the Enterprise flagship.

The TNG influence is particularly felt in a couple of episodes. One outing has a Q-like transformation that essentially sends the mostly oblivious Enterprise crew into the woods as fairy-tale characters. Mount particularly steals the show by outrageously camping it out. Another episode has Cadet Uhura go on a very special away mission just ahead of her ending her internship on the ship. 

Uhura additionally adds an awesome element of the HILARIOUS Paramount Plus animated series "Lower Decks." She is a focal point for the grunts on the ship. We also see her get hazed and nervously support different departments on away missions that inevitably go awry. The better news is that she fares much better than legions of fellow "red shirts."

The Kelvin films enter the picture in the form of a pivotal character from that trilogy. We also get a nice reminder of a diplomatic mission going comically awry for Kirk. 

The "Worlds" behind-the-scene team provides more classic comedy in a body-switching "Freaky Friday" episode. The efforts of science officer Spock and his fiancee to better understand each other leads to a mind transfer just ahead of crucial missions for each of them.

The inarguably best "Worlds" episode is "Quality of Mercy." This season-finale features Paul Wesley as a young Kirk who comes to the aid of The Enterprise. He is the Goldilocks of Kirks in that he has the arrogance and brashness of both William Shatner and Chris Pine without hamming it up. He definitely would be the one to marry in the game of three. (Yes, Shatner would fare the worst.) 

This episode also does an excellent job portraying the Romulan Neutral Zone element of "Trek." The usual debate regarding whether to cross the line in the sand and the extent to which provoking the Romulans makes sense is particularly well executed. This is not to mention arguably the best example of Kirk boldly executing a bluff that could badly blow up in his face. 

The good folks at CBS Home Entertainment further honor the OS vibe of "Mercy" by including the similar OS episode "Balance of Terror" as an bonus. Other special features include behind-the-scenes looks, special features, and a gag reel,

The logical conclusion to all this is that the melange of all thing "Trek" and its broad appeal with something for everyone makes "World" a good choice to add to your physical-media library.

Comedy of Errors Leads to Sitcom-style Valentine's Day

A comedy of errors regarding a Valentine's Day dinner evoked strong feelings of the sitcom staple of the plans of a couple going comically awry on that special day. The consensus during a dinner at a restaurant that can I consider The Ninth Level of Hell's Dining Room and that many people apparently love was that it most closely related what was recalled as Joe and Helen of the "Cheers" companion series "Wings" experiencing Hell every Valentine's Day.

The consensus regarding the setting of our meal of extreme discontent was that it was the restaurant version of "The Golden Palace," which was the titular Miami hotel that The Golden Girls (sans Dorothy) owned and operated after their original series ended, We also determined that Queen of Ill-Conceived Promotions Linda Belcher of "Bob's Burgers" would have tried something akin to the failed concept that lead to adding insult to injury.

Also in sitcom style, our narrative is shifting from the present of the primary "sit" that provided the "com" to the genesis of those unfortunate circumstances. 

Back in July, your not-so-humble reviewer planned a "thaw-out" trip to Sarasota, Florida. This revolved around staying at the absolutely fabulous Hotel Indigo in that city. We subsequently learned more about the exceptional H20 bistro in the hotel. 

On booking the vacation, we discussed where to celebrate Valentine's Day. The then top-rated restaurant Antoine's seemed pricey. Then number-two (currently number one) restaurant Dolce Italia was mid-priced and seemed very good. I asked my highly significant other (HSO) to book the reservation on Open Table.

I mentioned the dinner several times in the interval between July and February and ALWAYS referred to the restaurant as Dolce Italia. My HSO always responded that the correct name was La Dolce Vita. Knowing that I was correct but determining that that error was harmless, I always dropped the matter. On the other hand, I constantly confuse the Mexican chains On the Border and Border Cafe; I cannot remember which one I prefer. 

We arrived in Sarasota on February 13, and the contradictions regarding the restaurant name continued. Having the privilege and the pleasure to speak with H20 Executive Chef Sol Shenker for an article on that eatery added more "com" to the mix in the form of Shenker repeatedly inviting us to have Valentine's Day dinner at his restaurant. 

I advocated for eating at H20, but my HSO reasonably wanted to honor our commitment to the other restaurant. Shenker shared that he knew the chef at DOLCE ITALIA  and that the food there was very good.

My HSO and I riding past Dolce Italia prompted me to say "there it is" only to be told that we were looking for La Dolce Vita, 

The following stage of the narrative requires disclaimers. First, I do not blame La Dolce Vita for any events up to this point. Second, I do not have a horse in the race, and there are plenty of customers to go around. I simply consider the entire experience adequately amusing and sitcomy to warrant a post. Part of this humor relates to the La Dolce Vita owner taking arguably undue umbrage regarding negative online reviews to which even the finest restaurants and hotels are subject, 

​Now back to our story. 

On arriving at La Dolce Vita, we were puzzled on sitting down and finding the menu in the below photo on the table. We wondered if we chose one of the two items in each category or got both and if the $59 price was per couple or per person. We also wondered if there was a standard menu that offered mutually desired ala carte options.

Neither the website nor the woman who called to confirm the reservation mentioned anything about a special Valentine's menu.

One issue was that I dislike any food that has lived in the water, and the menu was heavily slanted toward seafood. Additionally, my prior friendship with the three sheep on the farm of human friends had prompted me to stop eating lamb; one of the entrees was lamb chops. 

We considered leaving but decided to stay and hope for the best. 

A language barrier was a factor regarding our waiter not understanding our questions regarding the dining options. The prosciutto and mozzarella arriving merely by virtue of our sitting at the table contributed to the confusion. 

I asked the waitress who cleared our plates after that course if we could order off a menu. Her response of "no menu; you eat it all" has been a source of humor for myself and my HSO ever since.

I did not eat most of the dishes, and the wait staff seemed oblivious to all those courses going back uneaten. 

The real "com" kicked in on the restaurant owner coming to our table in the middle of the meal. My outward appearance reflected my being distraught, 

My HSO and I repeatedly told the owner that I was alright, but she deserves credit for stating that she wanted to know what was wrong. She earns less credit for insisting that she wanted me to 'fess up to her face rather than write something nasty online. That turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy,

Her response to our calmly and politely stating that we had no basis for believing that we would not have choices regarding whats was served was that it was not her fault. We also explained that I did not like most of the served items. "Had we known," we simply would have eaten someplace else that night.

The owner asking me what I liked created an expectation that she would send over the requested spinach and ricotta pasta and/or the also-asked-for plate of fettuccine without the shrimp and anchovies that came with it. That reasonable response would have made me happy.

Instead, it was as if we had never spoken to the owner. The disliked items kept coming. The only other time that we saw the owner was when she cleared items off the table without even making eye contact. 

I subsequently wrote a negative Trip Advisor review, which apparently is a trigger for the owner. The first copied-and-pasted reply by her is in response to my post, which mirrors this article. Although she asserts that we did not pay our bill, we have the $169 receipt that proves that we did not dine and dash. Additionally, we never stated that we were not going to pay. 

The additional two copied-and-pasted responses are her replies to the other negative Trip Advisor reviews that each granted her a respectable three chits. The responses are COMPLETELY unedited and are of equal comic value for their sentiment, rather than for reflecting a limited comprehension of English."

"I will NOT spend one words for your disgusting REVIEW! Remember...YOU DIDN’T PAY your bill! PERIOD as you told me last night! Enjoy your life ...it is to short to go around and complain for everything!"

"I really don't know what to said!!!
Why, why you didn't tell me when I stop at your table???
​
I always ask if everything is ok, and it seams it was.....but it seams it WASNT!
I need to know right away what it is wrong, so we can adjusted .
But for some reason, people like to said more in a review then in front of owners face.

And by the way, our tomatoes are from the farm, when they said wine ripe tomatoes we trust them!
And our mozzarella it is always the best quality and fresh , that's way you paid $ 10.95.

Anyway if you would like to give us another chance I will more than happy!"

"Thank you for your rewiew.
I'm surprise about your comment, because when I stop at your table, not only one time but more then two, you seems happy.
And when I ask if everything was ok you confirm that everything was OK.
I would like to know if somethings it is not good or not cook in the way my clients/friends are expecting.
That's the reason I stop at the table and I ask for it.
You know when the restaurant it is busy the way it was Saturday, can happen some mistake, but YOU didn't complained at all that same night.
And about the chicken parm price
It was only just a chicken, it was also a fresh FIOR DI LATTE MOZZARELLA,with a ORIGINAL PROSCIUTTO DI PARMA.
Those ingredients are expensive even for us.

I appreciate people that can said what they are thinking in front of me, not in one rewiew.

And I'm so sorry that you mentioned you will not come back, but as somebody said:
YOU CAN PLEASED EVERYBODY.

Thank you again "

The better news is that we had a decent dinner at another restaurant the following night and a last-meal worthy experience at H20 on Saturday night.

The morals of this story are to resolve contradictions in relationships and that restaurant owners who make a bad situation worse face the possibility of an accurate and sincere negative review showing up online. 

'Blonde: The Marilyn Stories' DVD: TV Movies Bare All

 

The Film Chest Media December 6, 2021 3-disc DVD release "Blonde: The Marilyn Stories" is an awesome time-capsule. These three films (plus "wait there's more" bonus features) evoke terrific memories both of the titular It girl and the wonderfully cheesy made-for-TV-movies that made ratings sweeps months no-reason-to-feel-guilty pleasures. 

The fun starts with the 2001 two-part mini-series "Blonde," which is based on the fictionalized biopic by Joyce Carol Oates.

This one is the Goldilocks of the trio of biopics in this set. It is much tamer than the lascivious theatrical "Goodbye Norma Jean" (1976), which includes explicit nudity, but is more racy than "Marilyn and Me," (!991). The latter should not be confused with the 2001 theatrical film "My Week With Marilyn." 

"Blonde" essentially takes our subject from cradle to fame. Much of the focus is on the early childhood and wonder years of then-Norma-Jean Mortensen. 

This highly "Mommie Dearest" period of the life of the future star depicts her life with her comically unbalanced mother Gladys. The delusions that are passed onto our impressionable girl include that her absent father is a Hollywood power broker. Additionally, this Mama June on 'roids is the first of many who seek to exploit the beauty and talent of the not-yet-blonde bombshell.

The white-trash fun continues with Gladys having a wonderfully dramatic breakdown that results in her becoming a guest of the state in a publicly funded hospital and Norma Jean ending up living with her aunt. This leading to a probable "Lolita" situation prompts an essentially shot-gun marriage to a nice young man.

All of this commences a period of wonderfully lurid events as Norma-Jean fully begins her path to stardom. This generally involves falling in with the wrong crowd that includes a photographer that convinces her to go full Monty before the camera and an essentially Leopold and Loeb duo that come one element short of fully converting Norma-Jean into a life of sex, and drugs, and rock-and-roll.

The performance of future "Supernatural" star Jensen Ackles as a member of this menage-a-trois stands out in this a "very special" "The Love Boat" caliber cast of  past, current, and future stars that includes Ann- Margaret and Kirstie Alley. Alley passing away the daybefore the DVD release makes her good performance as the matchmaker of her ward notable. 

Although "Supernatural" fans will be disappointed that Patrick Dempsey plays Cass, who is the partner-in-crime to Ackles' Eddie, Ackles steals the show by channeling his stereotypical queen that occasionally surfaces in the life of Dean Winchester. 

This latter part of "Blonde" that also depicts the beginning-of-the-end of our subject additionally shows how the career of Monroe parallels that of Judy Garland, who suffers the same fate as her fellow legend. This reliance on prescription drugs to keep up with the demands of stardom is a totally ignored cautionary tale regarding the modern opioid crisis.

"Marilyn and Me" mostly focuses on the rise of our candle in the wind. This largely is portrayed in the context of the courtship and early marriage of Norma Jean and show-business journalist-turned-screenwriter Robert Slatzer. 

We see how the pair struggles to remain in the honeymoon period as the increasing demands of stardom strain their relationship. This includes the newly minted Monroe repeatedly calling on her possible soulmate for support as she runs afoul of the early Harvey Weinsteins in this period that predates the "me-too"era by several decades.

This one arguably has the most substance of the three. Not only does it focus on possibly the most loving and stable relationship of Monroe, but addresses the public image challenge that is more prevalent in the studio-system days than it is today. 

A combination of 50s-morality and wanting to give Eisenhower-era straight men a sense that Monroe is available to them is behind initially pressuring her to first not engage in pre-marital whoppie and Slatzer and to later get him to postpone putting a ring on it until the little woman has fully established her career.

Film Chest saves the most tawdry for last. "Goodbye Norma Jean" features legendary bimbo Misty Rowe in the titular (pun intended) role. One of the most amazing things about this softcore production is that it is rated R, rather then X. One can only imagine the scenes that are cut to make this film available to minors who are accompanied by an adult.

This shamelessly trashy movie is the epitome of a film that would not be made today. The portrayal of Hollywood elite shamelessly using aspiring stars as live sex dolls quickly would incur the wrath of every feminist group. 

The primary focus of this one is the shameless exploitative behavior of movers-and-shakers toward our aspiring and subsequently successful star. A fairly explicit early scene has a traffic cop brutally force himself on a mostly pure Norma Jean in return for not giving her a ticket. This encounter also introduces our star to her knight-in-shining armor who continues to ride in on his white steed to rescue his not-so-innocent damsel-in-distress.

The not-ready-for primetime elements include a blatant rape by a man whose well-known reputation for that crime is merely winked at. We also get a scene in which a studio executive merely drops trou, and Marilyn knows that any chance of being cast requires removing her white gloves and getting on her knees. Her dramatic monologue that is intended to shame her exploiter only seems to turn him on. 

Another memorable scene has a butch lady executive lure Monroe to her home for the pretense of running lines. Although modern audiences know what is coming, our star learning that some women can play as rough as the boys further erodes her innocence. 

The DVD bonus materials include lighter material. An episode of "The Jack Benny Show" has Monroe appear in a daydream in which Benny fantasizes about that Hollywood newcomer.

The big picture regarding our feature presentations is that it takes the "True Hollywood Story" approach to the life of Monroe to a more tawdry level. We also receive confirmation that our mothers are too blame for our later trauma-and-drama, that our adolescent experiences also largely determine our adult lives, and that fame does cost. 

The even bigger pictures is that both male and females stars always have (and still must a lesser extent) do their time on the casting couches of the studio "suits" of both sexes if they want to join the "some that you recognize and some that you hardly even heard of" who get their stars on Hollywood Boulevard.

Preparing For a Winter of Comfortable Isolation

 

For those of us with an "underlying condition" that causes us to get "real sick real easy," March 2023 will mark three years of wearing masks most of the time and having our pockets bulge with hand sanitizer and anti-septic wipes. A personal note is that these many ounces of prevention has kept your not-so-humble-reviewer Covid-free the entire pandemic.

This also has involved absolutely no human contact since all this began. A horrific 2018 hospital stay and throwing up all over the bathroom floor and sitting on those cold tiles at 4:30 a.m. before recovering enough to clean up that mess in November 2021 were enough to train friends to flash the peace sign as greetings and goodbyes. 

A big part of these precautions is winters of comfortable isolation that require spending most time at home and NEVER going in a store from mid-December until at least mid-March. This necessitates relying on the kindness of not-so-strangers to bring us highly perishable items. 

YOU ARE THERE 

The bigger picture this winter is the principle that it is not safe for anyone to go back into the Whole Foods. A personal experience is knowing two people who recently got Covid for the first time despite being properly boosted and taking other standard precautions. They unknowingly spread the disease before realizing that their condition was more serious than a bad cold. 

On a larger level, we have a tridemic and many people are taking barely any precautions. An insidious "insult" that is added to this "injury" is that retailers (especially grocery stores) are cutting their expenses by grossly understaffing checkout lines. This is coercing shoppers to use filthy self-serve checkout lines that are proven health hazards.

Your not-so-humble-reviewer realizes that he is fortunate to have adequate funds to stock up on needs and several wants for a few months and to own a mid-size home with a large basement. 

However, many folks with more limited means and smaller homes can adapt by mostly limiting their food supply to pastas, jarred sauces, and other non-perishables. They also can (as they already likely are doing) rely on heavily discounted streaming services, rather than a library of more than (largely used) 10,000 DVD and Blu-ray sets, for entertainment. The ad-free Hulu option is a personal fave. 

The final substitute is opting for an e-reader subscription over a large library of (largely used) books. Getting library books and DVDs that may be as badly contaminated as a self-checkout touchscreen is not advised. 

For the record, your not-so-humble reviewer is not a glutton. He is 5'8" and 150 pounds. He also consistently rides his Nordictrak bike at a mid-setting for an hour every other day. 

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

The unknown number of times that people have burned their hands on stoves or electrocuted themselves by sticking something in an outlet proves that we do not truly know something until we personally experience it. The most relevant personal example this time is that once was enough regarding taking out a cookie sheet that was being stored in an oven after that device was preheated.

The hope that the third time will be the charm as to the (hopefully last) third winter of comfortable isolation involves learning from mistakes. A desire to ride out any illness in the winter of 2020-21 resulted in throwing out $60 worth of expired NyQuil in September 2022. Roughly 90 granola bars from last winter got tossed a few weeks later. 

The lesson goes behind this guilt-inducing waste. The sound principle is to be prepared but to not go overboard. A related concept is having what will bring you joy at a time that the larger world cannot provide it. 

Merely having medicine if needed and every meal being a good one are two of the best experiences ever. Knowing that I have enough Trader Joe's holiday treats, including iced and blinged out shortbread cookies and curiously strong peppermint meringues, to last through March helps make the next few months bearable. 

BEST OF TIMES AND WORST OF TIMES

Long experience has taught me that "special" movies and "treat" food are very therapeutic regarding both really bad days and have something to which to really look forward. Having ample supplies of these desired items make a winter of comfortable isolation bearable.

A triple-wrapped frozen portion of loved moist and buttermilky chicken tenders and french fries and rewatching the indie comedy "Such Good People" were needed after an aggravating day of arguing with Macy's overseas reps regarding a package that they refused to acknowledge had been jammed up. (Of course, Macy's sent an inquiry that night and the package got put back in the pipeline two days later.) 

Decades of many Friday nights involving eating out and going to a movie is behind pulling Trader Joe's fare and other mid-range prepared foods from the auxiliary freezrer and digging into a stash of physical-media versions of recent releases at the end of every workweek. Knowing that that is coming really helps make it through each week.

This nurturing extends to having a large supply of spa-quality personal care products. Although the good folks at the UK-based ThisWorks sell the really good stuff, discount-chain Marshalls often has excellent stuff for $5 or so. A personal supply of Bliss products is proof of this. 

A morning shower with a high-end body wash is the next best thing to an as-needed evening shower with a relaxing body wash and then getting into flannel boxers, thick flannel pajama pants with an animal print., a long-sleeved t-shirt, and a warm ratty robe. Every night ends with ThisWorks pillow spray helping get a sound sleep on quality bedding that is well worth a few extra bucks. 

BABY I CAN DRIVE MY CAR

Two related lessons from the early days of the pandemic are that a car that is not regularly driven will get a dead battery and that take-out meals can bring great short- and long-term glee.

Even before our new normal, many mid-range chain restaurants had loyalty programs and family meals as well as decent curbside take-out services. 

Ordering ahead provides a good excuse to get fresh air and give your car some exercise ("Speed Buggy" varoom-a-zoom-zoom sound effects are optional) and to bring  home fresh food. A roughly $60-dollar family meal will provide a single person roughly one week of  nicely anticipated tasty dinners and usually will bring a loyalty account at least 50-percent of the way toward a reward. 

Driving other loops without getting out of your car also provides man and machine needed time outside the house. 

WRAP UP 

The bottom line this time is that we live in unprecedent times in which the greater world seems to be throwing increasing misery at us. This requires a Blitz mentality of keeping calm and carrying on at home as much as feasible while bombs fall all around. 

That ‘’70s Strip Is Son’s Time Travelling Valentine to Dad

 

"Thornsby" provides the joy of exceeding even high expectations. What was thought to be a complete collection of these single-panel strips from the ‘70s turned out to be the epitome of “so much more.”

To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld, there would not have been anything wrong with actor/author Tom McLaren merely reintroducing old fans to this slice of Watergate-era life and providing “kids” this highly amusing history lesson. However, Tom does so much more.

This time it is personal. "Thornsby” (and Tom) is the creation of Fred McLaren. Tom proves that he is the best son ever by including a loving 10-page introduction from the perspective of a young boy. The reader can smell the cigarette smoke and hear the crackle of the vinyl as Tom watches his artist dad practice his craft.

Tom further honors his father by turning to friends and family as well as the files of the old man to make this book a truly complete collection. This returns the love that Fred expressed in ways that included having an all-American tow-headed boy making frequent appearances in "Thornsby." 

The added content as to the strips themselves includes notes as to the ones that literally and figuratively were banned in Boston. We also learn how the strip easily easily could have been titled “Being Fred McLaren.” The man loved busty babes and actual classic headlights. He also hated Monday’s a decade before a certain overweight orange tabby cat.

Fred was very kind to the formal and informal censor by highlighting the "fickle finger of fate" that Thornsby college-aged offspring Tune-In directed at his dad in a strip. Why the Beacon Hill bluebloods allowed that one remains an unsolved mystery. Fred shows more discretion by literally blurring the lines in strips (of course, pun intended) in which Tune-In indulged in the '70s craze of streaking.

The bigger picture is that Fred timelessly reflects the sensibility of the middle-aged man. As Tom writes, Fred was no Archie Bunker but shared his frustration as to era-specific woes such as regular car recalls and the eternal generation gap. Many current middle-aged fossils can relate in the form of struggling to master some technology and by detesting hipsters.

The bottom line this time is that the late Fred had every reason to be proud of his boy.

'Halo' S1: DVD, BD, 4K: RvB The Next Generation

The most important disclaimer regarding this post on the CBS Home Entertainment releases (complete with seven collectible cards in all but the DVD set) of S1 of the ParamountPlus series "Halo" is that this member of the Atari, which still is in my basement, generation has never played the game franchise on which the series is based. Further, my knowledge of post-Atari videogames is minimal.

The good news is that coming to "Halo" not knowing a Spartan from a member of The Covenant has not hindered enjoying this theatrical-quality production that is as addictive as the game on which it is based. This includes an almost 3D look to to this live-action series that gives is an aptly strong CGI vibe.

A special feature that provides a primer on the Xbox legend helps us Gen Xers learn what Millennials and Gen Zers already know. 

The broader appeal of "Halo" is that it takes the hilarious long-running "Red v. Blue" franchise to a wonderful new level by literally bringing the actual video-game characters in that series to life and giving them larger roles than being bickering and violent morons. 

The Blu-ray version looks crisp and clear played using a BD player and watching on a mid-range HD set. Watching on a 4K player with a high-end Sony Bravia 4K set really brings out the aforementioned sense of CGI. This highly suggests that the 4K version looks phenomenal; buying the gamer in your life the 4K steelbook will earn you a BFF. 

The following S1 official trailer perfectly reflects all of the above while expertly condensing the S1E1 and S1E2 exposition to a minute or so. These scenes additionally convey the "Dune" vibe as to harsh desert settings but do not include mention of the also relatable war for a critical natural resource. 

This promo. further ends on a perfect note with the says-it-all quote "Find the halo, win the war." This line rivals "Save the cheerleader, save the world" as the best-ever scifi series catchphrase.

In true scifi fashion, our epic journey begins the events that set our heroes, villains, and those somewhere in the middle on our quests. 

Our genetically enhanced main-man Master Chief Spartan-117 (a.k.a. John) beats the evil Covenant to discovering the central object of the franchise. This soon leads to realizing that John is The Chosen One but not why he effectively has the power to pull Excalibur from the stone. We also soon see the extent to which he will go to feel like a real-live boy. 

The ensuing events lead to a newly more humanized and independent John freeing rebel princess Kwan and giving her what he believes will be a save haven. Of course, everyone who has dealt with teenagers knows that just leads to more trouble. 

Dr. Halsey, who provides "Halo" with a Soong element, takes her genetic engineering to the next level by essentially sending in the clones to make John even more of a super soldier and to restore his more obedient nature. This includes creating the independent-minded AI hologram Cortana, who definitely has shades of The Doctor from "Star Trek: Voyager." It is very clear that "Mommy" and "Daddy" have no qualms about putting Cortana in the middle of their war of wills.

The past of John, which is highly intertangled with every aspect of the series, being integral to restoring order to the this part of the universe sets the stage for showing the fascinating wonder years of this hero of the Unsc. We see how an unfortunate series of events lead to his going from being a happy boy with a dog, to a child soldier/guinea pig, to the man that he is today. We also learn how he becomes the "cheerleader" of the series. 

Of course, all of these leads to an epic season-ending battle that leads to S2, 

The aforementioned special features go well beyond the primer on the game. The highly enthusiastic cast and crew discuss their roles and the importance of every aspect of the series to the lore of the franchise. These entertaining offerings allow us "old-timers" to catch up with the "kids." 

Director Tommy Avallone Tells Tales of Making 'Bill Murray Stories' Documentary

A telephone conversation with filmmaker Tommy Avallone the day before the October 26, 2018 VOD premiere of his (reviewed) Gravitas Ventures documentary "The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons From A Mythical Man" aptly was mythical. "Murray' and an earlier Avallone joint "I Am Santa Claus," which chronicles the off-season lives of men who play St. Nick, show that this guy has equally strong imagination and curiosity levels that he exercises in a manner that enriches audiences in the same manner that Murray popping up at a kickball game or a college party enhances the lives of those who are there.

The titular urban legends in "Murray" are seemingly purely random visits by the titular star of "Saturday Night Live" (a.k.a. "SNL") and cult-classic '80s film comedies such as "Stripes" and the original "Ghostbusters" films. Hearing about those encounters puts the idea of "Murray" in the head of Avallone; obtaining the coveted toll-free telephone number that Murray uses in lieu of an agent or a manager created hope that the man the legend would participate in the film.

First Contact 

Scenes throughout "Murray" depict Avallone either rehearsing a message for the voicemail of Murray or recording and deleting one. We also see his mother get into the act. This illustrated the challenge of summoning Murray; he is like a cat in that he ignores those who attempt to entice him but literally or figuratively jumps in the laps of people who ignore him. 

Of course, speaking with someone who had the highly sought-after number required asking Avallone to share it, His denial of that request was less surprising than if he had divulged that information. Avallone added that "I can't tell you how I got it; it was a friend of a friend." Avallone emphasized that that friend was not a celebrity. 

Avallone added that he regularly called the number for a year-and-a-half to no avail; these calls continue at less frequently.

Truth or Fiction

Avallone stated that a reported Murray sighting that he included in the cold open of "Murray" was the first one that he heard. He then speculated that it was partially true.

This tale involved Murray coming up behind a man who was using a urinal at a bar; the rest of the story was that Murray put his hands over the eyes of the man. Avalllone opined that Murray did walk up to someone at some time and put his hands over the eyes of his "victim."

This led to discussing people making up Murray stories in reliance of limited documentation of many true one. Avallone provided a perfect response in stating that "I know people who do that; I don't like that. I am a documentary filmmaker; I like the truth."

This final word on this topic was that "What's great about the Bill Murray stories is that 99-percent of them are true."

Murray on Murray

Avallone shared that he has no indication that Murray has seen the film; he added that Bill's brother Joel has seen it and likes it a great deal. The documentarian added that he likes to think that Murray would like "Murray."

Avallone expressing the fantasy that Murray would show in the back of a theater and give him a thumbs up during a post-screening discussion expresses the thoughts of Murray fans everywhere. 

Another expressed desire regarding the impact of "Murray" was that viewers "start to think more like Bill Murray." he added that Murray reminded him of Santa in that "he comes in and leaves them smiling." 

Waldo on Weed 

Only knowing that the latest project of Avallone is titled "Waldo on Weed" prompted asking if the title character was either a cannabis expert or a stoner. It turns out that Waldo is the son of a friend of Avallone; the title refers to the boy using cannabis oil to treat cancer. 

The statements that "Brian and Waldo are really fun characters," and that the film is about "what a father would do to save a son" provide to good reasons to discover where''s "Waldo" when it is released.

Final Word

The similarities between Avallone and Murray extend beyond sharing a great offbeat sense of humor; they both passionately pursue their bliss and seek to provide the rest of us with the same. There is no doubt regarding the truth of the tale that they both awesomely succeed. 

'The Atoning' DVD: How The Others Half Lives

The Gravitas Ventures September 5, 2017 DVD and Blu-ray releases of the 2017 horror film "The Atoning" is notable for its twist on the neo-horror plot of a suburban family in a haunted house. This one pays homage to the 2001 Nicole Kidman thriller "The Others" in having the nuclear clan be the ghosts.

The seemingly major spoiler above does not detract from the impact of this film with a highly symbolic title; much of the film centers around how married couple Ray and Vera and their young son Sam adjust to their new normal. Further, Sam tries very hard to be a friendly ghost.

The following YouTube clip of a trailer fort this winner of three top festival awards provides a wonderfully accurate teaser of the creepiness and building terror in the film.

Early scary scenes involve the current legal owners of the home making the fright-inducing appearances; this includes the daughter of this family terrorizing Sam.

The underlying related plots center around determining the manner in which Ray and his family find themselves in their current circumstances and what must occur to allow them to fully break their ties with the land of the living.

As often is the case, Mom is the center of support, Vera initially tries to keep Sam blissfully ignorant about why he cannot go outside; she then determines who is responsible for the familycide and once again finds herself in the role of protector.

The final battle royale does a great job tying in every aspect of "Atoning." The creep factor escalates at a good pace, things turn out to not be as they seem, and learning about the circumstances of the death of the family sets the stage for moving on regardless of whether that transition is desired.

Anyone with questions or comments is encouraged to email me; you also can connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.

'Ray Donovan' Complete Series (Including Movie) DVD: Not Everybody Loves the Fixer

CBS Home Entertainment augments its massive October 4, 2022  (reviewed) Blocktober steelbook, Blu-ray, and DVD complete series releases of neo-modern classics with an October  25, 2022 DVD CS release of "Ray Donovan" (2013-20). This 29-disc set of this 82-episode MUST-SEE Showtime offering includes an actual seven seasons and a (reviewed) movie. 

This obvious clone of "The Sopranos" arguably surpasses the original in that the "made" men and their families are more realistically portrayed than in the original to which "Donovan" pays the highest form of flattery. This begins with "actor" Liev Schreiber seemingly being born to play the titular "fixer" compared to "TV star" James Gandolfini having an excellent take on the psyche of a mob boss.

The perfectly executed "Donovan" pilot strikes the ideal balance between exposition and getting the action started. This "no dull moment" standard is maintained throughout this series that always surpasses the "one more" test. 

Our story begins with one of the rich-and-infamous Hollywood and environs clients of the agency for which Ray works waking up next to the corpse of his latest one-night stand. Meanwhile back at the ranch, Bawstan native Ray is waking up with high-school sweetheart wife Abby (a.k.a. Carmela) in their home with mid-teens daughter Bridget (a.k.a. Willow) and tween son Connor (a.k.a. AJ). 

This just being another day at the office results in Ray calling in his team to create a new reality that solves the problems of both the playah and the other client whose personal life clashes with his highly lucrative persona. One memorable scene shows the heavy price of fame. 

The bigger picture here is the glimpse into how "fixers" directly and indirectly manipulate the general populace. A relatable example is the many times that others try to gaslight us into not believing something that we know is untrue. A dramatic personal childhood instance is my aunt trying to convince me that I did not overhear her telling my mother that my aunt and my uncle successfully covering up the murder of a worker by the manager at an developing-nation factory that that couple owned. I suppose that I also did not witness my aunt get furious at my mother after I mentioned the incident. 

The series (and movie) game fully is afoot on estranged father Mickey (Jon Voight) coming west for a family reunion after killing a priest almost immediately on being granted a parole after serving 20 years for a murder that he insists that he did not commit. The mutual animosity between Mickey and Ray that prompts no-holds-barred efforts to cause the downfall of the other introduces an awesome Shakespearean element to the series.

The "and the rest" include the highly damaged full siblings of Ray and his previously unknown half brother, who is the result of the jungle fever of Mickey. One of the best S1 scenes has dopey innocent Conor unable to comprehend how Uncle Daryll (Pooch  Hall) can be black. 

The aforementioned movie terrifically brings us back to the youth of Donovan on the mean streets of Bawstan. These adventures show us how the members of our stereotypical working-class Irish Catholic family get to be the people whom they are two decades later. It is believed that Boston-born comedian Denis Leary is who describes this as members of such families having the hands of each other either in their pockets or around their throats.

S1 further introduces the deliciously dark twin themes that run throughout "Donovan." The first element is the critical need for celebrities and other power-brokers to keep up appearances requires taking the desperate measure of hiring Team Donovan to put right what once went wrong when indulging in their sins blows up in their face. 

The other side of this coin is that doing so giving Ray leverage that he is not afraid to use when facing his own desperate need. This can range from wanting to ensure that his kids get accepted at an elite school to showing that he will not hesitate to administer a beatdown to preserve the image of a client.

All of this S1 trauma-and-drama ends in a manner that Team "Donovan" maintains throughout the run of the series. Everything builds to a climax that serves equally well as season or a series finale. In the case of the first season, this often involves killing someone who remains an obstacle. The S1 epilogue goes further by putting a dark twist on the classic final scene of "The Sopranos." 

The epic two hours of special features include the typical insightful wit-and-wisdom of the cast-and-crew. This includes an especially notable "Deconstructing" presentation.

'The Bat' BD: The Ghoul and Miss Moorehead

The Film Detective shows old-school Halloween spirit by releasing "The Bat" on Blu-ray on October 25, 2022. The pristine restoration of this black-and-white film really enhances the thrills and chills of this whodunit with numerous eerie twists. This IS your grandfather's thriller! 

It is clear from the opening voice-over by star/former Mercury Player Agnes "Endora" Moorehead that "Bat" makes excellent use of the elite pompous persona of Moorehead. The only thing missing is a contemptuous reference to "Derwood." 

Once the game gets fully afoot, we see the descent into terrified madness that makes the appearance of Moorehead in the 1961 episode of "The Twilight Zone" "The Invaders." The "unearthly" threats in that one are tiny brothers from another planet to whom Moorehead tries to give a clean sweep. 

"Bat" also highlights the wonderfully understated sinister persona that kept co-star Vincent Price employed for decades. No one does menacing better than him. 

Our story commences with Agatha Christie caliber mystery writer Cornelia van Gorder (Moorehead) and her faithful companion/secretary Lizzie Allen spending the summer in a large rented house with a history. Quasi ala the under-rated '60scom "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," the nephew (Mark Fleming) of the house enters the lease over the objection of his (living) owner John Fleming. John is a bank executive spending time in a cabin in the woods with Dr. Malcolm Wells (Price). Wells aptly frequently finds himself in the middle in the film. 

The two paths that ultimately merge in "Bat" are that the titular killer with a reported supernatural element is terrorizing the community, and $1,000,000 in assets have been robbed from the bank. Of course, the nice young junior executive with the loving and loyal girl is the prime suspect regarding the latter. The many hats of van Gorder regarding this including trying to be the Jessica Fletcher to this kind-and-gentle "innocent." 

A series of unfortunate circumstance giving Wells the opportunity to show the elder Fleming that he is not the boss of him fully sets the game afoot and brings the wolf to the door. van Gorder and Allen essentially are ladies in a cage when the very creepy Bat invades their home and essentially threatens their lives with a switchblade knife. No pun is intended in stating that this is one of the best executed scenes in this film that retains all of the live-stage vibe of the Mary Roberts Rinehart play on which it is based. 

The awesome twists with the exceptional payoff regarding the theme of "the butler did it" further makes "Bat" worthy of joining the cult-classic library of Film Detective titles. The "good to the last drop" aspect is the final scene with an element of "gotcha" regarding exposition that seems to combine a soliloquy and the breaking of the fourth wall but turns out not to be either. This proves that Moorehead is bewitching no matter which character she portrays. 

Detective additionally continues its tradition of excellence regarding special feature. As usual, a documentary featurette by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures is the highlight. This one on "Bat" writer-director Crane Wilbur tells the tale of his fascinating career along with the history of every stage and film version of our feature presentation. We also get a written essay on the work of Rinehart  and audio versions of Vincent Price radio broadcasts.

'Melrose Place' CS DVD: 'Reality Bites': The Series

 

This shamefully belated post on the CBS Home Entertainment October 4, 2022 54-disc CS DVD release of the seven-season "Melrose Place" (1992-99) wraps up coverage of the CBSHE Blocktober releases of neo-modern classics that day. 

These sets include the MUST SEE  (reviewed) SB, BD, and DVD releases of "Picard" S3 and the (reviewed) BD and DVD combined releases of "Dexter" OS and the true-to-form "New Blood." CBSHE also released a (reviewed) CS DVD set of the Jordan Peele recent true-to-form reboot of "The Twilight Zone." 

CBSHE keeps the hits coming with the October 25, 2022 CS DVD release of the Showtime series "Ray Donovan," which includes the (reviewed) wrap-up movie. A post on that epic release hopefully will be timely.

Our discussion of "Melrose" commences with noting the compatible time-and-place for marathon (rather than binge) viewings of television series. The silver-living regarding the imminent twindemic winter is that this series is tailor-made for Sunday afternoons and massive climate-change fueled storms ala the escapism of fellow Aaron Spelling classic "The Love Boat" on frigid Saturday nights throughout the '80s. A personal winter of comfortable isolation will include copious "Melrose" sessions complete with enjoying my stash of '90s-era Clearly Canadian fruit-flavored sparkling water. 

"Melrrose" is pure Spelling. This spin-off of "Beverly Hills 90210," which also has a fabulous CBSHE CS DVD release, tells the tales of  beautiful people in a beautiful setting leading exciting lives in which the beat-down of a lifetime does not require more than a night in the hospital. Further, a "new romance" almost as quickly mends a broken heart.

The initial central concept of "Melrose" is that a group of early-to-late 20-somethings in the titular Los Angeles apartment complex intertwine their lives to varying degrees while learning to "adult." This evokes strong thoughts of the similarly themed cult-classic film "Reality Bites," which revolves around the quarter-life crises of its '90s brat pack stars. 

An aspect of this is the desire of many recent college graduates to extend that lifestyle. They want to hang out with a close group of friends and drink several times a week. 

"Melrose" creator Darren Star of "Sex and the City" explains in one of the plethora of insightful and entertaining special features that "Melrose" is based on reality. Star notes that he spent his 20s living in an apartment complex in which everyone was friends.

A brief detour into Blogland supports the Star-stated real-life basis for "Melrose." Your not-so-humble reviewer was a recent college graduate living in what was unPC known as the "student ghetto" behind American University in Washington, DC. This was two blocks of two-story four-unit apartment buildings largely inhabited by graduate students. 

"Melrose" experiences included drama ensuing when the guy downstairs moved in on my first roommate moving out. Additionally, the neighbor across the hall claiming to be locked out only had a comically aggressive come-on fail due to my fear of my roommate coming home. My lesson there was that even wearing long t-shirts while wearing tights for runs was not much of a deterrent. 

Unlike "Melrose," your not-so-humble reviewer and the other males in the buildings did not walk around shirtless even during the hot-and-humid DC summers. Further, we did not share our trauma-and-drama with our neighbors. Also, none of our triumphs prompted impromptu celebrations with the gang. 

Ala "90210," "Melrose" succeeds because it is populated with relatable stock characters that largely have counterparts a few zip codes over. This begins with "older brother" type loner/family-friendly biker Jake (Grant Show). Ala Dylan (Luke Perry) of "90210," Jake tries to emulate the cool of James Dean. 

We also get initially sweet-and-perky Wisconsin native Allison (Courtney Thorne-Smith), who soon learns that living in the big city requires a thicker skin and a harder heart. Her travails commence with having to find a roommate and get the money to either fix her clunker of a car or find a "new" one in her price range. Her S1 "adulting" involves advancing her career in a sometimes toxic work environment, knowingly being "the other woman," and contending with an "its complicated" relationship with new male roommate Billy. 

Speaking of Billy, this aspiring novelist is the least likable member of the group. This may be due to not-so-talented Andrew Shue being an 11th-hour replacement when the originally cast Stephen Fanning apparently has a Tim Hortons doughnuts binge while in his Canadian hometown a few days before shooting commences. 

The curly haired boy-next-door and uneven Valley Boy accent of soccer stud Shue make him a goofy Willie Aames sidekick type. However, Billy is an angsty easy frustrated guy who only is charming when he is not trying to score at work or in the bedroom. 

Billy also has one of the most absurd storylines of S1, which is notable for amping up the campy drama for which Spelling is known. Our go-getter uses his "charm" and a completely fabricated resume to land a job on a magazine. This quickly leads to an "outing" and amusingly clumsy "Mrs. Robinson" style sexual harassment only to have things work out within two episodes. 

Speaking of Alison and Billy, Spelling calls on his "fixer" Heather Locklear (apparently Ted McGinley was unavailable) to spice up "Melrose" roughly halfway through the first season. Locklear plays advertising executive Amanda, who makes everyday like survival for underling Allison. Much of this relates to Billy being a lover and Allison being a rival. Locklear also makes a classic S1 cliffhanger move that brings all this much closer to home. 

The "and the rest" include openly gay social worker Matt, who gets shorted both in terms of screen time and storylines in S1. He mostly is on the sidelines except for being BFFs with "hag" aerobics instructor/arguably token black character Rhonda. Rhonda also was entitled to a more prominent S1 role. 

We also get tough New Yorker/recent divorcee Jo, who has overnight success as a photographer. Of course, she connects with the even more damaged Jake. 

Young married couple Michael and Jane round out the S1 gang. Medical intern Michael playing doctor fully ends the waning honeymoon period for this husband and wife around the time of their second anniversary. The realistic aspects of this relationship include the challenge of marrying young, the stress associated with trying to maintain a marriage while contending with the demands of a medical internship, and Jane giving up her old life to stand by her man.

The evolution of all this from a fairly light look at transitioning from college to the rest of your life commences with the issues of the week that dominate S1. We get gay bashing, an inner-city attack that leads to claims of racism, abortion, and other "ripped-from-the-headlines" topics. 

The bottom line this time is that "Melrose" is an entertaining 90s-era time capsule in which The Gap is the hot store and white t-shirts with sweater vests are everywhere. Those of us who lived in that era will feel wonderful nostalgia, and "kids" will get a better sense of the lives of their 'rents while they were figuring out what they wanted to do and the lifestyle that they desired when they grew up.