Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

“`Back when director’s cuts of cinema were never released for public consumption, a Richard Donner Superman production was uniquely re-distributed for broadcast on television. It was February, 1982, and ABC aired a two-evening special of Superman:  The Movie; the never-before-seen version of the original theatrical flick  (nearly 40 minutes longer). It would re-air on KCOP-13 in 1994.

“`The three-hour version gave viewers extended views of Krypton before its destruction, extra time in Smallville, and more of John Williams’ memorable soundtrack; plus, a definitive look of Christopher Reeves in action as the Man of Steel.  Since ABC’s broadcast, some of the footage included in the extended director’s cut has been added into other releases of Superman:  The Movie as deleted scenes.  However, the 188-minute version that aired in 1982 has never been officially released.

“`Until now… Decades after its premiere on the small screen, this particular cut is finally being released on Blu-ray. Warner Brothers’ Archive Collection has unveiled plans for a brand-new re-master of the extended cut as part of a two-movie collection that will also include Donner’s definitive director’s cut of the film from 2000.  It also includes special features, such as screen tests and documentaries spotlighting the development of a memorable superhero franchise.

“`No release date for the collection has been confirmed.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Two sports legends with ties to Hollywood have died. Here are the details:

“`Jake LaMotta was a professional boxer,  a World Middleweight Champion, and a stand-up comedian. Known as Raging Bull, his career was chronicled by Martin Scorsese in a cinematic production that starred Robert De Niro in an Oscar-winning role.  LaMotta’s six-fight rivalry with Sugar Ray Robinson was one of the most notable in the sport; though, LaMotta won only one of the bouts.                                JAKE LAMOTTA / ROBERT DE NIRO –>

“`LaMotta remained active on the speaking and autograph circuit and several published books about his life, his career, and his fights with Robinson.  The film was based on his own penned memoir. He was a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

“`Jake LaMotta was 95.

==================================

“`Bernie Casey was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1961 as the 9th pick in the first round.  He played for eight NFL seasons; six with the 49ers and two with the Los Angeles Rams. He received his Master’s Degree in Fine Arts at Bowling Green State University.

“`After his NFL career, Casey stayed busy in Hollywood.  His movies include Brian’s Song, Guns of Magnificent Seven, The Man Who Fell to Earth, Cleopatra Jones, Never Say Never Again, Another 48 Hours, Sharkys Machine, Cornbread Earl and Me, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Revenge of the Nerds, and Under Siege.  On the small screen, he guest-starred on The Streets of San Francisco, Murder She Wrote, L.A. Law, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Babylon 5.          BERNIE CASEY —>

“`He spent much of his free time painting and publishing books of poetry. His art captivated many famous minds, including the esteemed Maya Angelou.

“`Bernie Casey was 78.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Harry Dean Stanton was a gaunt character actor with a perfect deadpan delivery.  He was also a prolific performer that shined in memorable productions. He appeared in more than 200 films and television shows in a career dating back to the 1950s. His friends included Jack Nicholson, Kris Kristofferson, Rob Lowe, and Emilio Estevez. Nicholson often paid subtle homage to Stanton in many of his motion pictures.                  HARRY DEAN STANTON —>

“`Stanton was a Kentucky native who became immersed in cinema after watching Humphrey Bogart flicks at a local theater.  After serving in the Navy during World War II, he spent three years at the University of Kentucky, and appeared in several plays. Determined to make it in Hollywood, he picked tobacco to earn money to travel West. Three years at the Pasadena Playhouse prepared him for television and movies.

“`Known for taking any available part, including roles in little-seen work, Stanton eventually was hired by Martin Scorsese, John Huston, David Lynch, and Alfred Hitchcock. Never a star, he was always recognizable in even the smallest appearance. His litany of work include The Wrong Man, Pork Chop Hill, How the West Was Won, In the Heat of the Night, Cool Hand Luke, Kelly’s Heroes, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Farewell My Lovely, Alien, The Godfather Part II, Dillinger, The Missouri Breaks, Private Benjamin, Repo Man, The Last Temptation of Christ, Pretty in Pink  (my personal favorite performance), The Green Mile, and A Civil Action.

“`A staple during Television’s Golden Age, he appeared eight times on Gunsmoke, and in Inner Sanctum, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Zane Grey Theater, Bat Masterson, The Rifleman, Walt Disney Presents, Laramie, Have Gun Will Travel, The Fugitive, Rawhide,  Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Untouchables, Bonanza, The Big Valley, Daniel Boone, The High Chaparral, The Wild Wild West, The Guns of Will Sonnett, Adam-12, The Andy Griffith Show, The Virginian, The Name of the Game, Mannix, Combat!, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman, Two and a Half Men, Laverne and Shirley, Petticoat Junction, and Twin Peaks.

“`As an adult, he fronted his own band for years, playing western, Mexican, rock, and pop standards in small venues around the San Fernando Valley. He sang and played guitar and harmonica in impromptu sessions with friends; performed a song in Paris Texas (his only starring role); and once recorded a duet with Bob Dylan.

“`Stanton never married, although he shared a lengthy relationship with actress Rebecca De Mornay. Roger Ebert once observed that no movie with Stanton in a supporting role can be altogether bad… I completely agree.

“`A frequent on-screen schnook, he was always a classy professional in his craft. Harry Dean Stanton was 91.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Hal Holbrook, who created his signature one-man show Mark Twain Tonight! in 1954,  announced he’s retiring the role. Holbrook has been portraying the beloved scribe and humorist for six decades, longer than Samuel Clemens actually created the pen name.

“`Over the course of an acclaimed career, Holbrook earned four Emmys  and received an Oscar nod  (Best Supporting Actor) for his performance in Into the Wild in 2007. Hal also won a Tony Award in 1966 for Best Actor in a Play for Mark Twain Tonight! He also earned a 1967 Emmy nomination for the CBS broadcast of his portrayal of Twain.

“`Holbrook, who turned 92 in February, intends to carry on with his screen career, which has continued steadily since the 1950s. He had memorable roles in All the Presidents Men and Lincoln.

“`In a letter, Hal Holbrook wrote:

I plan to keep working in film and television with anyone who will have me.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Frank Vincent was an actor that portrayed prominent roles, in the HBO series The Sopranos, and in several acclaimed films for director Martin Scorsese — Casino, Goodfellas, and Raging Bull. He also had small parts in two Spike Lee movies in 1989 and 1991 respectively — Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever.

“`As an ensemble player of the drums, trumpet, and piano, Vincent originally aspired to a career in music. But, he turned to acting in 1976, when co-starring in the low-budget gangster film  The Death Collector, along with Joe Pesci,  where they were discovered by Robert De Niro.  He told Scorsese about both Vincent and Pesci. They became part of Scorsese’s players.

“`Another movie for which he appeared include The Pope of Greenwich Village; and on the small screen in  Law and Order, Walker Texas Ranger, Cosby, and NYPD Blue. He would also become a session drummer for such singers as Paul Anka,  Del Shannon, Trini Lopez, and The Belmonts between roles. In 1999, he received an Italian American Entertainer of the Year award.

“`Frank Vincent (above) was 80.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Xavier Atencio was an animator behind early Disney feature films, including Pinocchio and Fantasia;  plus an imagineer behind iconic Disneyland rides like the Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion. He wrote the lyrics to Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me) and Grim Grinning Ghosts.

“`He served as a photo interpreter in the Army Air Forces reaching the rank of captain in the 2nd Photo Tech Squadron. Stationed in England, he was the member of a troop that analyzed military intelligence aerial surveillance for the Allies.

“` Atencio saw his effort on the big screen in two 1940 productions, when he helped bring Pinocchio to life, and worked on Fantasia; before leaving to serve in World War II. Xavier later designed stop-motion sequences for Disney’s The Parent Trap and Mary Poppins.

“`He contributed to various theme park attractions, writing the script for Adventure Thru Inner Space; and helped design the Railroad’s Primeval World diorama segment. His voice could also be heard on the Submarine Voyage and in The Haunted Mansion.  He retired in 1984, and was named a Disney Legend in 1996.

“`Xavier X Atencio was 98.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`A new stage play based on long-lost recordings of personal conversations between pop artist Andy Warhol and author Truman Capote will make its world premiere over the weekend. These chats were meant to be chronicled, WARHOLCAPOTE is stitched together from over 80 hours worth of real-life dialogue between the two American icons.

                                  TRUMAN CAPOTE                     ANDY WARHOL

“`Warhol and Capote were close pals, and in the late 1970s, they recorded dozens of hours of conversations that they intended to create a Broadway play. However, they moved on to other projects; the audiotapes were forgotten; and both men died in the 1980s.

“`Award-winning director Rob Roth feels like he’s completed unfinished art. WARHOLCAPOTE premieres Sunday at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It runs through October 13th.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has announced that Donald Sutherland is one of the recipients of an honorary Academy Awards at 2017 Governors Awards ceremony. The actor has never  received a nomination for a competitive statuette.  The Sutherland family is part of Hollywood royalty that traverses the second half of the 20th Century. His son is Kiefer Sutherland

“`Sutherland appeared in over 140 movies. He transitioned to top motion pictures, such as The Dirty Dozen, M*A*S*H, Klute, Kellys Heroes, Start the Revolution without Me, Animal House, a 1970s remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Ordinary People, Backdraft, A Time to Kill, Cold Mountain, Space Cowboys, and  The Hunger Games  series. The honorary Oscar compliments an Emmy and two Golden Globes he has earned.

“`In 2016, Donald Sutherland (above) was a member of the main competition jury of the Cannes Film Festival.

“`The 9th Annual Governors Awards gala is set for November 11th at the Ray Dolby Ballroom, just upstairs from the Dolby Theatre,  where the 90th Academy Awards will be presented on March 4th, 2018. Congratulations to the versatile Donald Sutherland for this accolade that honors the body of his work.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Shelley Berman won gold records and appeared on top television shows in the 1950s and 1960s, delivering wry monologues about the annoyance of everyday life. He was a pioneer of a brand of comedy that helped pave the way for Bob Newhart, Woody Allen, Jerry Seinfeld, and other standup comedians,  who wrote routines around the frustrations of modern living. Mike Nichols and Elaine May were early influences to his career.

“`He made the first of many appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1959. That year, he issued his first album, Inside Shelley Berman. It won a gold record, and received the first-ever Grammy Award for the Spoken Word. Two more albums achieved gold status.

“`Humor was not his first ambition. Berman trained as an actor, with the Goodman School of Drama in his native Chicago, and with prestigious actress Uta Hagen in New York.  Keeping a hectic schedule in nightclubs, Shelley fulfilled his first ambition to be an actor. He initially appeared on Broadway – The Boys Against the Girls in 1959, and A Family Affair  in 1962. He continued on stage in Where’s Charley?, Damn Yankees, The Odd Couple, Fiddler on the Roof, Prisoner of Second Avenue, La Cage aux Folles, and Guys and Dolls.       SHELLEY BERMAN –>

“`His movie debut came in 1964 in the adaptation of Gore Vidal’s political stage drama, The Best Man, starring Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson. Other films include Divorce American Style, Teen Witch, Meet the Fockers, and You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.

“`He stayed busy on television, appearing in Rawhide, The Twilight Zone, Peter Gunn, Bewitched, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Walker Texas Ranger, Adam-12, Friends, Emergency!, Night Court, MacGyver, L. A. Law, The King of Queens, Boston Legal, Grey’s Anatomy, CSI: NY, and the latest version of Hawaii Five-0. Shelley appeared as Larry David’s aged father on Curb Your Enthusiasm, a role for which he received a 2008 Emmy Award nomination.

“`He was the first standup comedian to perform at Carnegie Hall. He also taught humor in a Master of Professional Writing program at the University of Southern California, where he was a Lecturer Emeritus.

“`Shelley Berman was 92.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Richard Anderson was a movie and television actor.  Among his best-known roles is his portrayal of Oscar Goldman, the boss of Steve Austin (Lee Majors) and Jaime Sommers (Lindsay Wagner) in The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman; and subsequent television films.

“`A prolific actor, Anderson appeared on the big screen in  The People Against O’Hara, The Magnificent Yankee, Scaramouche, Across the Wide Missouri, The Long Hot Summer, Forbidden Planet, Paths of Glory, The Wackiest Ship in the Army, Seven Days in May, Tora! Tora! Tora!, and The Player.

“`On television, he had recurring roles in Zorro, Perry Mason, and Dynasty.  Anderson also guest starred in  The Untouchables, Thriller, The Rifleman, Daniel Boone, Death Valley Days, Combat, The Big Valley, Bonanza, The Green Hornet, Mission:  Impossible, The Invaders, Hawaii Five-0, Gunsmoke, Ironside, The Love Boat, Knight Rider, Columbo, Charlie’s Angels, I Spy, Remington Steel, The A-Team and Murder She Wrote. Richard also served as a commercial spokesperson for Shell Oil Company as The Shell Answer Man.

“`Richard Anderson was 91.

=========================== 

“`Katharine Hepburn’s house along  Connecticut’s shore has sold for $11.5 million after several years on the market.  The seller was New York developer Frank Sciame. He obtained the original 4-acre parcel for $6 million in 2004, a year after Kate passed at the Colonial-style home at age 96.  He did extensive renovations, and tried selling the property for $30 million. A second house built by the developer on a separate 1.3-acre parcel of the original estate remains listed at $5.9 million.                                              KATHARINE HEPBURN —>

“`The buyer’s name has not been disclosed.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Cinematic remakes of The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden  have fallen apart because John Steinbeck’s son and daughter-in-law impeded the projects,  according to the writer’s stepdaughter in federal court.  Waverly Scott Kaffaga alleges that a decades-long court battle over the author’s estate has prevented her from monetizing all of Steinbeck’s copyrights, when marquee filmmakers, such as Steven Spielberg and Jennifer Lawrence, had interest with bringing some his masterpieces to the screen.

“`This current lawsuit follows the  long-running dispute between  Thomas Steinbeck and Kaffaga’s mother over control of the literary works.  Tom has lost a number of rounds in court, including a noted legal rhubarb that he and the daughter of his late brother, John Steinbeck IV, brought that spurs the current countersuit in question.

`

“`A judge already ruled the couple breached a contract with Kaffaga. Jurors must decide if Thomas and Gail Steinbeck interfered with deals and should pay up.  Gail’s lawyer said she never intentionally interfered in deals she and her husband would have benefited from and would have served their interest promoting the Nobel Prize winner’s legacy. An attorney for Kaffaga said Gail caught wind of projects and then threatened filmmakers that she and her husband had legal rights to the work.

“` Plus, the latest lawsuit alleges that Thomas Steinbeck secretly signed a  $650,000 deal with DreamWorks to be an executive producer on a screen remake of  The Grapes of Wrath, the Oscar-winning motion picture that starred Henry Fonda. Producers and directors later dropped the remake because they feared litigation.  Additionally, several emails suggesting a remake of East of Eden starring Jennifer Lawrence would be heavily litigated.

“`Gail Steinbeck has estimated conservatively that her husband received $120,000 a year in publishing royalties from the author’s work — and as much as $200,000 in some years.

“`A court decision is pending.

==================================

“`Larry Sherman was an actor, and had a career with numerous credits in films, ranging from North by Northwest, Midnight Cowboy,  When Harry Met Sally, Catch Me If You Can, Manhattan, and The Comedian with Robert De Niro. He appeared on Law & Order and on The Sopranos.

“`Larry Sherman was 94

Until next time>                                “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`In the tradition of Mutiny on the Bounty and Pirates of the Caribbean…

“`The Ocean Institute annually hosts a fleet of historic tall ships that sail into Dana Point Harbor.  This extraordinary event takes place each year the second weekend in September. History comes alive as crews from each ship engage the public in pirate adventures, cannon battles, mermaid encounters, ship tours, and much more.

Friday

Sails ‘n Ales (6:00 pm -9:00 pm)

Craft beer tasting from five different California breweries, live music, mermaids, and prime viewing for Parade of Sail

Parade of Sail (4:00 pm-7:30 pm)

Join the armada as you cast off for adventure aboard a historic tall ship during the annual tall ships parade at sunset.  Work with the crew hauling up sail or simply sit back and enjoy the spectacular demonstration of skill, knowledge and survival

Saturday and Sunday

Mermaid Breakfast (9:00 am-10:30 am)  

Join our mermaid friends for brunch, story time, and under-the-sea crafts!

Festival (10:00 am-4:00 pm)

Tall Ships tours, pirate adventures, mermaid encounters, unique vendors, Sierra Nevada Beer Garden, and more await for you at the 32nd Annual Festival.

Cannon Battles (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) 

Enjoy blasting cannons, towering rigging, bustling decks, and the magnificence of a canvas full of wind during a Cannon Battle. Work with the crew hauling up sail or simply sit back and enjoy the spectacular demonstration of skill, knowledge, and survival!

~   ~   ~

“`Use quick and convenient shuttles directly to the fest. Parking is free at designated shuttle lots located at Strand Vista Park and Dana Hills High School.  There is no parking at the Ocean Institute or county lots in the Harbor. Shuttles will run from 8:30a to 8:30p from all lots.  The last shuttle will leave the Ocean Institute, 30 minutes after Cannon Battle Cruise Ships have returned. Shuttles will run continuously during the Festival hours (approximately every 30 minutes). Please allow ample time to get from the offsite parking lot to the Ocean Institute festival site.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Morgan Freeman will receive the SAG Life Achievement Award at the next Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony gala. The actors union announced that Freeman (right) will accept its highest honor, January 21st, 2018.

“`The 80-year-old Freeman  has already been given statuettes for his body of work from the American Film Institute and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, among many other acting accolades. He has been nominated five times for an  Academy Award, and won for his performance in 2004 for Million Dollar Baby.

“`Morgan’s voice is among the most recognizable in media. He’s narrated many documentaries and lent his talent to the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

“`Previous SAG Life Achievement Award recipients include James Earl Jones, Elizabeth Taylor, Sidney Poitier, Betty White, George Burns, and Carol Burnett.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`In the wake of the passing of comedian and social activist Dick Gregory, a legend of the stage and screen has died.  Admittedly, an acquired taste, Jerry Lewis was a major star for seven decades.  He trail-blazed a path in early television;  along with Dean Martin, they inherited the comedy duo-mantle made popular by the movie antics of Laurel and Hardy and Abbott and Costello; he raised money for his kids to end Muscular Dystophy; and he had a memorable cinematic career. His son Gary was a pop singer and his group, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, had a string of hits in 1965-1966.

“`Jerry Lewis’ (above) career spanned a colorful history of show business throughout the 20th Century, beginning with his parents’ vaudeville act when he was just 5 years of age. At 20, his pairing with Martin made them international stars.  Martin and Lewis delighted audiences with their stage antics, and on television on  The Colgate Comedy Hour.  Newspaper columnists, Walter Winchell and Ed Sullivan, raved over the sexy singer and the berserk clown. Hollywood producer Hal Wallis saw them at New York’s Copacabana, and signed them to a film contract. Together, they appeared in supporting roles in  My Friend Irma and  My Friend Irma Goes West. Both would eventually star in a series of light comedies throughout the mid-1950s.

“`Martin grew tired of playing the straight man, and the dizzying pace of their work. He began openly sparring with Lewis on stage. In 1956, the team dissolved. They remained apart for 20 years; until Frank Sinatra brought them together, as part of a surprise appearance, during one of Jerry’s live telethons in 1976.

“`After the team split up, Lewis went on to star in The Bellboy, Cinderfella, The Disorderly Orderly, and The Nutty Professor, was featured in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy, and appeared as himself in Billy Crystal’s  Mr. Saturday Night. Retaining complete control of his own productions,  he pioneered the playback device that is still used in cinema to this day. In the 1990s, he scored a stage hit as the devil in a Broadway revival of Damn Yankees.

“`Lewis was the face of the  Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day telethon,  joking and reminiscing, and introducing guests, sharing stories about ailing children, and concluding with his personal anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone. From the 1960s, his telethons raised $1.5 billion, including over $60 million in 2009. He stepped down as official host in 2011.  He did remain as chairman of the association he joined some 60 years before. Jerry’s MDA fundraising efforts earned him the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2009 Oscars.

“`France embraced the humor of Jerry Lewis. The French government awarded the comedian a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1983, and Commander of Arts and Letters the following year.  He also had his detractors. However, they never affected Lewis’ outlook on comedy. He remained true to his brand of humor.

“`He influenced scores of comedians, including Jim Carrey, and many of the television stars of Saturday Night Live. In Las Vegas, a message honoring the comedian is being featured on a marquee at Caesars Palace, where Lewis was once a headliner, and also hosted telethons. In Los Angeles, fans gathered at Lewis’ two Hollywood Walk of Fame stars; one for television and one for film.

“`Larger-than-life, Jerry Lewis was 91.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`A fixture of London landscape and soundscape, Big Ben, is falling silent for four years. The bell will cease its regular tolling, while extensive repairs are made to the famous clock tower looming over the Palace of Westminster, home to the British Parliament.  However, they will review plans to silence Big Ben during repairs, after politicians criticized a lengthy muting of the beloved bell.

“`The massive bell will mark its last hour at noon on August 21st; and then, will pause for four years while the Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, is restored.  Quieting Big Ben’s mighty bongs will help preserve the hearing of workers involved in the project. An updated restoration of the Parliament buildings is likely to begin in the early 2020s.

“`The Great Bell has chimed nearly every hour for the past 157 years. It’s had previous breaks in service for maintenance and conservation in 2007, 1983-1985, and 1976. The 13.7-ton bell, forged in the 1850s, is accompanied by chimes that ring out every quarter hour.  The clock has a Victorian-era mechanism that triggers the bell and chimes. Its four faces are expected to get refurbished.  The clock will keep time with the help of an electric motor, while its mechanism is being repaired.

“`The bongs of Big Ben became associated with Britain, around the world during wartime BBC news broadcasts. It’s still heard live each day on radio through a microphone in the belfry. The BBC will use a recording during the renovation works.

“`Big Ben will still bong for annual national events, such as New Year’s Eve and Remembrance Sunday.

Until next time>                               “never forget”