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Tough Guys (1986) – A Review Tough Guys (1986) – A Review The Luckiest Man in America (2024) – A Review The Luckiest Man in America (2024) – A Review Broccoli Supports Villeneuve As Bond 26 Director Broccoli Supports Villeneuve As Bond 26 Director Denis Villeneuve To Direct James Bond Film Denis Villeneuve To Direct James Bond Film Trap (2024) – A Review Trap (2024) – A Review

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A review of the 1992 comedy Stay Tuned about a couple who get trapped in television hell, starring John Ritter, Pam Dawber, Jeffrey Jones & Eugene Levy

Read MoreRead more about Stay Tuned (1992) – A Review
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A review of the 1956 romantic comedy Forever Darling, starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnez and James Mason as a guardian angel

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A review of the 2023 comedy thriller Cocaine Bear, starring Keri Russell and Ray Liotta in his final film role. A film that seemed destined to be a fun B-movie, but ends up as a disappointment.

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  • 1980s Teen Comedies
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A review of the 1985 teen comedy cult classic Better Off Dead, starring John Cusack, Diane Franklin, Curtis Armstrong, Amanda Wyss, written & directed by Savage Steve Holland

Read MoreRead more about Better Off Dead (1985) – A Review

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Frankenstein, 1931. After the huge success of Dra Frankenstein, 1931.

After the huge success of Dracula, Universal Studios immediately wanted to shift to making more horror films. 

Director James Whale had recently signed a contract with Universal and scored a big success with Waterloo Bridge. He was given the choice of what film he wanted to make next - and he choose Frankenstein.

Initially, Frankenstein was being developed with director Robert Florey and star Bela Lugosi. After executives watched test footage they had second thoughts about the film. Whale in a way resurrected the film and took over the project.

He choose his new cast, which included an unknown Boris Karloff. 

Legendary makeup man Jack Pierce was already the head of Universal's makeup department. He spent three to four hours a day turning Karloff into the monster, building the creature's face over Karloff's skin. Karloff also removed his dental bridge to help make his cheek look more sunken.

Pierce's creature has become one of the most iconic images in horror. When you think of Frankenstein's monster you think of Karloff and Pierce's work. 

Pierce once explained why he gave the creature his distinctive flat head -
"I did not give the monster a flat head just to make him look scary. I reasoned that Dr. Frankenstein was a scientist, not a modern neurosurgeon. He wouldn’t have the tools to delicately open a skull. He would take the easy way: cut the top of the skull straight across like a lid, hinge it back, pop the brain in, and clamp it shut. That is why the head is flat and has a scar running all the way around."
Sigourney Weaver in Aliens, 1986. Sigourney Weave Sigourney Weaver in Aliens, 1986.

Sigourney Weaver was hesitant to return for a sequel to Alien, but after reading James Cameron's script she reconsidered. She was impressed by it and loved the mother-daughter bond between Ripley and Newt, so she signed on. 

A major point of friction between Weaver and Cameron was over Ripley using weapons in the film. Weaver, an advocate for gun control, told Cameron she didn't want Ripley to use any guns and felt a flamethrower would be enough weaponry for her to use in the story.

To rewrite the script and drop all the firearms was impossible. Cameron suggested they make Ripley a person who hates violence, but uses the weapons out of absolute necessity. That was enough for Weaver. 

Weaver has said she loved that Aliens gave audiences a chance to understand Ripley on a deeper level than in Alien. It was the character's evolution in Aliens that really propelled Ripley into becoming one of cinema's greatest action heroes. 

However, Weaver has said she never viewed the character that way. "What I loved about Ripley...was that I didn't really feel like a badass heroine ever. What I felt was like you or me in this situation, wondering what the fuck you were going to do. It was an everyman character that could be any of us."

Weaver would receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her performance of Ripley in Aliens. 

Of course, Weaver returned to play Ripley in Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection. She has said Aliens is her favorite Alien film, specifically because of Cameron's script and the satisfying story for the character. 

"The best-constructed story for the character to tell was in Aliens, just because Jim has such an amazing sense of structure of story. To take this character out of hyper-sleep, have no one believe her, have her be exiled into this limbo land where no one believes her and her family's dead... and then what she ends up doing and finding this new family by the end. The whole structure of that story, to me, was gold."
George Lazenby was officially announced as the new George Lazenby was officially announced as the new James Bond, succeeding Sean Connery, on October 7, 1968. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Dorchester Hotel in London. 

Of course there was massive press attention over this new 007. @georgelazenbyofficial told reporters, "I haven't a clue why they chose me. They never told me. It's probably because bascially they want a person who will work with them, who hasn't got his own ideas."

When Connery decided he wanted to move on from James Bond, producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman had the task of finding 'a new James Bond'. Over 400 possible actors were considered. From established actors like, Terence Stamp, Oliver Reed and Adam West to uknowns. 

Lazenby famously bluffed his way into a meeting with Saltzman. With no acting experience, he claimed to be an established actor in Australia and had acted in European films and TV. Today, they could have easily doublechecked his resume, but back then the Bond producers bought everything Lazenby said. 

After some screen tests and with director Peter Hunt being on his side, Lazenby landed the role and would star in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Lazenby said, "I'm not exactly Laurence Oliver. But Sean Connery's acting experience was limited when he became 007. I'm doing what he did - placing myself in the hands of the highly successful team that moulded Bond into a cinema figure."

"So, whatever happens - whether I'm James Bond now and forever, whether I'm a flop, but I'm going to work for success - I'm grateful for the chance. And believe me, I'm ready for it."
Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight in The Man with the Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight in The Man with the Golden Gun.

Ekland sought out to land the role a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun.

"I so wanted to be a Bond Girl after seeing Ursula Andress in Dr. No and those beautiful locations, that I read the book “The Man with The Golden Gun” and called Cubby Broccoli’s office to see him. I was already an established actress then."

"I had dressed as a secretary in a plain skirt, a white blouse and my hair in twist. Cubby said that the script wasn’t finished yet and they based the story more on the title. As I was leaving, Roger More came in and said hello. Very handsome. I had to go to the States to do a movie for 6 weeks and on the plane back to Britain, I read that another Swedish girl had been cast in the new Bond film. I was devastated!"

"As soon as I got home my agent called and said Cubby Broccoli wanted to see me, I naively thought he was going to apologize for me not getting the part. As I waited in his office he suddenly walked in and said you are “Mary Goodnight!” I asked about that other Swedish girl and he said that is Christopher Lee’s girlfriend. I couldn’t have been happier meeting and working with Maud Adams, we have been the closest of friends ever since."
The Spy Who Loved Me, the filming of the Lotus Esp The Spy Who Loved Me, the filming of the Lotus Esprit coming out of the sea in Sardinia.

As much as Bond fans would have liked to believe that Bond's Lotus could really turn into a submersible - it wasn't. 

When Cubby Broccoli saw the new 1976 Lotus Esprit S1 (also known as the Lotus Type 79) immediately wanted to use it for the film. Second unit director Ernie Day and art director Peter Lamont immediately realized the sleek streamlined design look similar to a submarine. 

Inspiration!

Because it was so new, Lotus could only give the production two functioning road cars. The special effects department used several shells of the car to perform various effects that was needed for the film.

Filming of the Loutus emerging from the sea was filmed at Capriccioli Beach in Sardinia. The scene used two Esprits. One was a dummy car shell that was pulled out of the ocean by a cable hidden under the sand. Then cut to Bond driving onto dry sand and doing the fish gag.

I've seen some Bond fans have made visits there. I would guess they took the chance to be one of the bewildered beachgoers watching Bond drive past them nonchalantly. Maybe they even did a drunk guy double take if they had a bottle of wine handy.

The Esprit being featured in the film was a great exposure for Lotus. After The Spy Who Loved Me was released, there was three-year waiting list for the car.

The DB5 belonged to Sean Connery's James Bond and Roger Moore's 007 had his Lotus Esprit.
Donald Pleasence was not the first choice to play Donald Pleasence was not the first choice to play Ernst Stavro Blofled in You Only Live Twice. 

Czech actor and playwright Jan Werich was cast to play the 007 supervillain.

Werich was Bond producer Harry Saltzman personal choice to play Blofeld. He felt his theatrical experience and artistic flair would produce a unique and dynamic presence to the leader of Spectre. Co-producer Cubby Broccoli thought it was a gamble, but agreed it could work. Director Lewis Gilbert wasn't sold on the idea and was apprehensive about the choice.

It didn't take long for them all to realize that Werich was badly miscast. Filming with Werich took place for five days as the filmmakers tried to make the casting work - and it just wasn't happening. 

Werich didn't project the required malice the character needed. He struggled with the English dialogue and he just didn't look menacing at all. Gilbert described him looking like a "benevolent Santa Claus".

The producers and director all agreed recasting was necessary. Gilbert was familiar with Pleasence and believed he was the man for the job. They called him and he was hired. Pleasence didn't have much time to prepare. After considering ideas of giving the character a limp, a hump or an injured hand, they decided Blofeld would have a facial scar. The white cat was always going to be present.

Several shots that Werich had filmed were used in the final film, rather than reshooting all of it with Pleasence and to save some money. This included shots of Werich's hands, shots of the back of his chair as he's sitting in it and the close-up shot of Sean Connery reacting to Blofeld's face reveal in the film.

Pleasence filmed for about three weeks in the volcano lair set at Pinewood Studios. His shooting schedule was intensive was to make up for the lost time. He later said about his experience filming You Only Live Twice that he "took the money and ran, as it were". 

Since Werich was already contracted to play Blofeld and even though he filmed for only five days, he was paid his full salary just to be dismissed from the film. 

Imagine how different the character would have been with Werich as Blofeld.
On October 5, 1986, near the start of principal ph On October 5, 1986, near the start of principal photography of The Living Daylights, a press conference was held at Vienna Rathaus (City Hall) in Austria with Cubby Broccoli, director John Glen, Timothy Dalton, Maryam d'Abo and the cast of The Living Daylights where they all fielded questions from the international press.

Dalton said, "I intend to approach this project with a sense of responsibility to the work of Ian Fleming and to the project the film The Living Daylights as written by Michael and Richard Maibaum. 

Outside City Hall the brand new Aston Martin V8 Volante was parked. The filmmakers were happy to show the press that this new 007 was going back to driving his signature car brand, the Aston Martin. It had been offscreen since On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Dalton and d'Abo posed for photos for the press - some really cool photos from that day.
Somewhere In Time, 1980. The film is based on the Somewhere In Time, 1980.

The film is based on the 1975 sci-fi romance novel Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson. He would also write the screenplay.

Director Jeannot Szwarc wanted to make the film and presented it to Universal Pictures. At first they refused, then Szwarc reminded them about the success of Jaws 2, which he directed and it became Universal's biggest box office hit in 1978. The studio agreed to green light Somewhere In Time if the budget stayed at $4 million. 

Reeve had gotten ahold of the script, loved it and took a lower salary to play the lead role. Of course, Superman had just come out, was a massive success, so his agents were reluctant at the decision. However, Reeve was eager to prove he could play a romantic lead and got the role.

Numerous actresses auditioned for the role of 1912 stage star Elise McKenna. Szwarc would ask the actresses if they had ever been deeply in love. Seymour was the only actress who said, "No.". That answer won her the role with Szwarc feeling the character needed to be innocent and who hadn't experienced a life-changing romance yet.

Reeve and Seymour had instant chemistry on-screen. Years later Seymour revealed they genuinely fell in love with one another during the making of the film. Both single at the time, they had an off-screen romance, which they kept secret from the crew. They maintained a lifelong friendship. Seymour would later name one of her sons after him.

When it was released, Somewhere in Time was a disappointment at the box office in the U.S., but was a massive hit in Asia. The film would later be discovered from airings on cable tv and home video. The film became more popular years after its original release and has become a fan favorite. 

An annual fan convention takes place a the historic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan where the movie was filmed. Fans come dressed in 1912 costumes, take tours, watch the film and listen to music. Both Seymour and Reeve have attended past conventions. 

Reeve would say he felt the film was ahead of its time and called it one of his proudest moments, right alongside Superman.
Bond POV in Tomorrow Never Dies #BondPOV #Tomorro Bond POV in Tomorrow Never Dies

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haphazardstuff HaphazardStuff @haphazardstuff ·
7 Oct

George Lazenby was officially announced as the new James Bond, succeeding Sean Connery, on October 7, 1968. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Dorchester Hotel in London. He was selected to star in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Reply on Twitter 2107745751019266379 Retweet on Twitter 2107745751019266379 7 Like on Twitter 2107745751019266379 56 Twitter 2107745751019266379
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George Lazenby was officially announced as the new James Bond, succeeding Sean Connery, on October 7, 1968. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Dorchester Hotel in London. He was selected to star in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

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Frankenstein, 1931. After the huge success of Dra Frankenstein, 1931.

After the huge success of Dracula, Universal Studios immediately wanted to shift to making more horror films. 

Director James Whale had recently signed a contract with Universal and scored a big success with Waterloo Bridge. He was given the choice of what film he wanted to make next - and he choose Frankenstein.

Initially, Frankenstein was being developed with director Robert Florey and star Bela Lugosi. After executives watched test footage they had second thoughts about the film. Whale in a way resurrected the film and took over the project.

He choose his new cast, which included an unknown Boris Karloff. 

Legendary makeup man Jack Pierce was already the head of Universal's makeup department. He spent three to four hours a day turning Karloff into the monster, building the creature's face over Karloff's skin. Karloff also removed his dental bridge to help make his cheek look more sunken.

Pierce's creature has become one of the most iconic images in horror. When you think of Frankenstein's monster you think of Karloff and Pierce's work. 

Pierce once explained why he gave the creature his distinctive flat head -
"I did not give the monster a flat head just to make him look scary. I reasoned that Dr. Frankenstein was a scientist, not a modern neurosurgeon. He wouldn’t have the tools to delicately open a skull. He would take the easy way: cut the top of the skull straight across like a lid, hinge it back, pop the brain in, and clamp it shut. That is why the head is flat and has a scar running all the way around."
Sigourney Weaver in Aliens, 1986. Sigourney Weave Sigourney Weaver in Aliens, 1986.

Sigourney Weaver was hesitant to return for a sequel to Alien, but after reading James Cameron's script she reconsidered. She was impressed by it and loved the mother-daughter bond between Ripley and Newt, so she signed on. 

A major point of friction between Weaver and Cameron was over Ripley using weapons in the film. Weaver, an advocate for gun control, told Cameron she didn't want Ripley to use any guns and felt a flamethrower would be enough weaponry for her to use in the story.

To rewrite the script and drop all the firearms was impossible. Cameron suggested they make Ripley a person who hates violence, but uses the weapons out of absolute necessity. That was enough for Weaver. 

Weaver has said she loved that Aliens gave audiences a chance to understand Ripley on a deeper level than in Alien. It was the character's evolution in Aliens that really propelled Ripley into becoming one of cinema's greatest action heroes. 

However, Weaver has said she never viewed the character that way. "What I loved about Ripley...was that I didn't really feel like a badass heroine ever. What I felt was like you or me in this situation, wondering what the fuck you were going to do. It was an everyman character that could be any of us."

Weaver would receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her performance of Ripley in Aliens. 

Of course, Weaver returned to play Ripley in Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection. She has said Aliens is her favorite Alien film, specifically because of Cameron's script and the satisfying story for the character. 

"The best-constructed story for the character to tell was in Aliens, just because Jim has such an amazing sense of structure of story. To take this character out of hyper-sleep, have no one believe her, have her be exiled into this limbo land where no one believes her and her family's dead... and then what she ends up doing and finding this new family by the end. The whole structure of that story, to me, was gold."
George Lazenby was officially announced as the new George Lazenby was officially announced as the new James Bond, succeeding Sean Connery, on October 7, 1968. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Dorchester Hotel in London. 

Of course there was massive press attention over this new 007. @georgelazenbyofficial told reporters, "I haven't a clue why they chose me. They never told me. It's probably because bascially they want a person who will work with them, who hasn't got his own ideas."

When Connery decided he wanted to move on from James Bond, producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman had the task of finding 'a new James Bond'. Over 400 possible actors were considered. From established actors like, Terence Stamp, Oliver Reed and Adam West to uknowns. 

Lazenby famously bluffed his way into a meeting with Saltzman. With no acting experience, he claimed to be an established actor in Australia and had acted in European films and TV. Today, they could have easily doublechecked his resume, but back then the Bond producers bought everything Lazenby said. 

After some screen tests and with director Peter Hunt being on his side, Lazenby landed the role and would star in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Lazenby said, "I'm not exactly Laurence Oliver. But Sean Connery's acting experience was limited when he became 007. I'm doing what he did - placing myself in the hands of the highly successful team that moulded Bond into a cinema figure."

"So, whatever happens - whether I'm James Bond now and forever, whether I'm a flop, but I'm going to work for success - I'm grateful for the chance. And believe me, I'm ready for it."
Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight in The Man with the Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight in The Man with the Golden Gun.

Ekland sought out to land the role a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun.

"I so wanted to be a Bond Girl after seeing Ursula Andress in Dr. No and those beautiful locations, that I read the book “The Man with The Golden Gun” and called Cubby Broccoli’s office to see him. I was already an established actress then."

"I had dressed as a secretary in a plain skirt, a white blouse and my hair in twist. Cubby said that the script wasn’t finished yet and they based the story more on the title. As I was leaving, Roger More came in and said hello. Very handsome. I had to go to the States to do a movie for 6 weeks and on the plane back to Britain, I read that another Swedish girl had been cast in the new Bond film. I was devastated!"

"As soon as I got home my agent called and said Cubby Broccoli wanted to see me, I naively thought he was going to apologize for me not getting the part. As I waited in his office he suddenly walked in and said you are “Mary Goodnight!” I asked about that other Swedish girl and he said that is Christopher Lee’s girlfriend. I couldn’t have been happier meeting and working with Maud Adams, we have been the closest of friends ever since."
The Spy Who Loved Me, the filming of the Lotus Esp The Spy Who Loved Me, the filming of the Lotus Esprit coming out of the sea in Sardinia.

As much as Bond fans would have liked to believe that Bond's Lotus could really turn into a submersible - it wasn't. 

When Cubby Broccoli saw the new 1976 Lotus Esprit S1 (also known as the Lotus Type 79) immediately wanted to use it for the film. Second unit director Ernie Day and art director Peter Lamont immediately realized the sleek streamlined design look similar to a submarine. 

Inspiration!

Because it was so new, Lotus could only give the production two functioning road cars. The special effects department used several shells of the car to perform various effects that was needed for the film.

Filming of the Loutus emerging from the sea was filmed at Capriccioli Beach in Sardinia. The scene used two Esprits. One was a dummy car shell that was pulled out of the ocean by a cable hidden under the sand. Then cut to Bond driving onto dry sand and doing the fish gag.

I've seen some Bond fans have made visits there. I would guess they took the chance to be one of the bewildered beachgoers watching Bond drive past them nonchalantly. Maybe they even did a drunk guy double take if they had a bottle of wine handy.

The Esprit being featured in the film was a great exposure for Lotus. After The Spy Who Loved Me was released, there was three-year waiting list for the car.

The DB5 belonged to Sean Connery's James Bond and Roger Moore's 007 had his Lotus Esprit.
Donald Pleasence was not the first choice to play Donald Pleasence was not the first choice to play Ernst Stavro Blofled in You Only Live Twice. 

Czech actor and playwright Jan Werich was cast to play the 007 supervillain.

Werich was Bond producer Harry Saltzman personal choice to play Blofeld. He felt his theatrical experience and artistic flair would produce a unique and dynamic presence to the leader of Spectre. Co-producer Cubby Broccoli thought it was a gamble, but agreed it could work. Director Lewis Gilbert wasn't sold on the idea and was apprehensive about the choice.

It didn't take long for them all to realize that Werich was badly miscast. Filming with Werich took place for five days as the filmmakers tried to make the casting work - and it just wasn't happening. 

Werich didn't project the required malice the character needed. He struggled with the English dialogue and he just didn't look menacing at all. Gilbert described him looking like a "benevolent Santa Claus".

The producers and director all agreed recasting was necessary. Gilbert was familiar with Pleasence and believed he was the man for the job. They called him and he was hired. Pleasence didn't have much time to prepare. After considering ideas of giving the character a limp, a hump or an injured hand, they decided Blofeld would have a facial scar. The white cat was always going to be present.

Several shots that Werich had filmed were used in the final film, rather than reshooting all of it with Pleasence and to save some money. This included shots of Werich's hands, shots of the back of his chair as he's sitting in it and the close-up shot of Sean Connery reacting to Blofeld's face reveal in the film.

Pleasence filmed for about three weeks in the volcano lair set at Pinewood Studios. His shooting schedule was intensive was to make up for the lost time. He later said about his experience filming You Only Live Twice that he "took the money and ran, as it were". 

Since Werich was already contracted to play Blofeld and even though he filmed for only five days, he was paid his full salary just to be dismissed from the film. 

Imagine how different the character would have been with Werich as Blofeld.
On October 5, 1986, near the start of principal ph On October 5, 1986, near the start of principal photography of The Living Daylights, a press conference was held at Vienna Rathaus (City Hall) in Austria with Cubby Broccoli, director John Glen, Timothy Dalton, Maryam d'Abo and the cast of The Living Daylights where they all fielded questions from the international press.

Dalton said, "I intend to approach this project with a sense of responsibility to the work of Ian Fleming and to the project the film The Living Daylights as written by Michael and Richard Maibaum. 

Outside City Hall the brand new Aston Martin V8 Volante was parked. The filmmakers were happy to show the press that this new 007 was going back to driving his signature car brand, the Aston Martin. It had been offscreen since On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Dalton and d'Abo posed for photos for the press - some really cool photos from that day.
Somewhere In Time, 1980. The film is based on the Somewhere In Time, 1980.

The film is based on the 1975 sci-fi romance novel Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson. He would also write the screenplay.

Director Jeannot Szwarc wanted to make the film and presented it to Universal Pictures. At first they refused, then Szwarc reminded them about the success of Jaws 2, which he directed and it became Universal's biggest box office hit in 1978. The studio agreed to green light Somewhere In Time if the budget stayed at $4 million. 

Reeve had gotten ahold of the script, loved it and took a lower salary to play the lead role. Of course, Superman had just come out, was a massive success, so his agents were reluctant at the decision. However, Reeve was eager to prove he could play a romantic lead and got the role.

Numerous actresses auditioned for the role of 1912 stage star Elise McKenna. Szwarc would ask the actresses if they had ever been deeply in love. Seymour was the only actress who said, "No.". That answer won her the role with Szwarc feeling the character needed to be innocent and who hadn't experienced a life-changing romance yet.

Reeve and Seymour had instant chemistry on-screen. Years later Seymour revealed they genuinely fell in love with one another during the making of the film. Both single at the time, they had an off-screen romance, which they kept secret from the crew. They maintained a lifelong friendship. Seymour would later name one of her sons after him.

When it was released, Somewhere in Time was a disappointment at the box office in the U.S., but was a massive hit in Asia. The film would later be discovered from airings on cable tv and home video. The film became more popular years after its original release and has become a fan favorite. 

An annual fan convention takes place a the historic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan where the movie was filmed. Fans come dressed in 1912 costumes, take tours, watch the film and listen to music. Both Seymour and Reeve have attended past conventions. 

Reeve would say he felt the film was ahead of its time and called it one of his proudest moments, right alongside Superman.
Bond POV in Tomorrow Never Dies #BondPOV #Tomorro Bond POV in Tomorrow Never Dies

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