Motion Picture Gems : 10/1/10

10/31/2010

Top 10 Box Office Stars of 1967 (USA)

1932| 1933| 1934| 1935| 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 |
1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948| 1949 | 1950 |

1951 |1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959|1960 |
1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977-present

The rankings come from Quigley Publishing Co.'s annual list (since 1932) of top money making stars in the USA, which based on a poll of hundreds of theater executives. The list does not rank stars only on how much cash their films made, but on what theater owners say about who attracts audiences on their star power alone.

1. Julie Andrews

2. Lee Marvin

3. Paul Newman

4. Dean Martin

5. Sean Connery

6. Elizabeth Taylor

7. Sidney Poitier

8. Richard Burton

9. John Wayne

10. Steve McQueen

1932| 1933| 1934| 1935| 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 |
1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948| 1949 | 1950 |

1951 |1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959|1960 |
1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977-present

Tom and Jerry: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse" (1947)

In this hilarious episode, Tom tries to poison Jerry by mixing bleach, acid, and moth balls in his milk bowl. However, the plan backfires after Jerry drinks it - he actually becomes a mutant mouse with super strength.

Duration: Approximately 7 minutes

10/29/2010

The Dead Pool (1988) and an early Jim Carrey

A maniacal serial killer has a list of several celebrities that he wants to kill, for unclear reasons.

A horror movie director (Lian Neeson) and a drug addicted rock star (Jim Carrey) are also involved. Dirty Harry ends up on the list too.

As the movie progresses, we get more clues as to who the killer is and his motives.

My favorite part is the chase scene with the remote-controlled toy car strapped with a bomb. Patricia Clarkson plays a reporter.

This was Clint's first movie after he served as the mayor of Carmel, California.

Top 10 Box Office Stars of 1966 (USA)

1932| 1933| 1934| 1935| 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 |
1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948| 1949 | 1950 |

1951 |1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959|1960 |
1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977-present

1. Julie Andrews

Watch Oprah's Sound Of Music reunion on Clara's Blog!

2. Sean Connery

3. Elizabeth Taylor

4. Jack Lemmon

5. Richard Burton

6. Cary Grant

7. John Wayne

8. Doris Day

9. Paul Newman

10. Elvis Presley

1932| 1933| 1934| 1935| 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 |
1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948| 1949 | 1950 |

1951 |1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959|1960 |
1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977-present

10/28/2010

A review of the new Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy DVD set

A new 25th Anniversary DVD set of the Back to the Future series is now available to purchase online or at a store near you.

I bought my copy this week at Best Buy, and watched most of the new features. There's so many I may have missed a few. My verdict: this DVD set does not disappoint.

The last time the trilogy came out on DVD (in 2002 I think), the films were not in widescreen, a bummer. Nonetheless those discs had some excellent features: commentaries on all three movies (in widescreen, at last), some cool "making of" docs, and Q and A with director Robert Zemekis. These tracks have (almost) everything you've ever wanted to know about the movie.

The new pack has all the same features, but a ton more. Most of them are on the 4th disc, which is the crown jewel of this new package. It has original storyboards from scenes not filmed, music videos ("Power of Love" and "Double Back"), trailers, new documentaries with new interviews from Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and others. There's even a TV special from 1990 (promoting Part 3) hosted by Kirk Cameron. Another special with Leslie Neilsen is also included.

The actors who played Jennifer (Claudia Wells) and Mr. Strickland (James Tolkan) were also snagged to say a few words for this new 2010 release, and they added some interesting tidbits about how they were chosen to be in the film. But there were no new interviews from Thomas F. Wilson who played Biff nor from Crispin Glover who played George McFly. I am sure Wilson was asked; too bad he couldn't come back to share some memories. But, Glover I don't think was asked; he had a real falling out with the producers (as you will hear in the commentaries) so its not surprising that he's not back to reminisce.

Also, I don't think Eric Stoltz is giving any interviews these days about his time on the film. As you may have heard he was the first actor to be filmed playing Marty McFly. There are a few snippets of deleted scenes showing him as Marty. Though it would be fun to see all the footage he filmed, its best that he was let go; I think he would have been awful as Marty. He has a really bad 80s haircut and jacket. I'm glad they pushed to have MJ Fox, their original choice.

Stoltz never really did have a hit film, did he? It must have been really a blow to the ego to get fired off of a major film. I'd really love to see all those scenes with Stoltz, even though he would have been a bad choice. If only this DVD set could have had more of those. I'm not sure if those will ever be released, but that would be neat to at least see. Overall, a good set, and I'd give it 4 out of 4 stars. The Blue Ray version I understand has all the same features.