In the hours before Elvis Presley’s death, he sang several songs to members of his entourage. The song he ended with was one he enjoyed singing to friends and family members while playing the piano. It was not one he wrote himself, but the lyrics were hauntingly appropriate given his coming death.
Elvis Presley sang a cover song in the hours before his death
In the early hours of Aug. 16, 1977, Elvis called his cousin, Billy Smith, to invite him and his wife, Jo, to play racquetball. Though it was the middle of the night and the Smiths had been sleeping, they agreed to a game.
After a relatively brief game that ended when Elvis accidentally hit himself with his racquet, the group gathered in the racquetball building’s lounge area. Per the book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick, he sat at the piano and played several songs.
Elvis Presley sang a cover song in the hours before his death
In the early hours of Aug. 16, 1977, Elvis called his cousin, Billy Smith, to invite him and his wife, Jo, to play racquetball. Though it was the middle of the night and the Smiths had been sleeping, they agreed to a game.
After a relatively brief game that ended when Elvis accidentally hit himself with his racquet, the group gathered in the racquetball building’s lounge area. Per the book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick, he sat at the piano and played several songs.
- 12/25/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Nicolas Coster, the actor known for his roles on “Santa Barbara,” “The Bay” and “All the President’s Men,” has died. He was 89.
Coster died on June 26 in a hospital in Florida, according to his daughter Dinneen Coster.
Dinneen shared the news of her father’s death on Facebook. “Please remember him as a great artist. He was an actor’s actor!” she wrote. “I will always be inspired by him and know how lucky I am to have such a great father!!”
From 1984 to 1993, Coster starred on NBC’s soap opera “Santa Barbara” as Lionel Lockridge. He appeared in just under 600 episodes of the series before it ended. His “Santa Barbara” co-star A Martinez, who played Cruz Castillo in the series, responded on Tuesday to the news of Coster’s death, writing on Facebook, “It was an honor to work in a company with him, and I’ll always hold...
Coster died on June 26 in a hospital in Florida, according to his daughter Dinneen Coster.
Dinneen shared the news of her father’s death on Facebook. “Please remember him as a great artist. He was an actor’s actor!” she wrote. “I will always be inspired by him and know how lucky I am to have such a great father!!”
From 1984 to 1993, Coster starred on NBC’s soap opera “Santa Barbara” as Lionel Lockridge. He appeared in just under 600 episodes of the series before it ended. His “Santa Barbara” co-star A Martinez, who played Cruz Castillo in the series, responded on Tuesday to the news of Coster’s death, writing on Facebook, “It was an honor to work in a company with him, and I’ll always hold...
- 6/27/2023
- by Sophia Scorziello
- Variety Film + TV
Nicolas Coster, the soap opera stalwart who starred on Another World, Santa Barbara and All My Children and appeared in such films as All the President’s Men, Reds and Stir Crazy, has died. He was 89.
Coster died Monday in a hospital in Florida, his daughter Dinneen Coster announced on Facebook.
“Please remember him as a great artist,” she wrote. “He was an actor’s actor! I will always be inspired by him and know how lucky I am to have such a great father!!
A familiar character actor who often portrayed officious types, Coster played chief of detectives J.E. Carson on The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo and later recurred as the millionaire father of Lisa Whelchel’s Blair Warner on another 1980’s NBC sitcom, The Facts of Life.
He appeared often on Broadway, and in his 1961 debut, he understudied for Lawrence Olivier as Henry II in Becket. Two decades later,...
Coster died Monday in a hospital in Florida, his daughter Dinneen Coster announced on Facebook.
“Please remember him as a great artist,” she wrote. “He was an actor’s actor! I will always be inspired by him and know how lucky I am to have such a great father!!
A familiar character actor who often portrayed officious types, Coster played chief of detectives J.E. Carson on The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo and later recurred as the millionaire father of Lisa Whelchel’s Blair Warner on another 1980’s NBC sitcom, The Facts of Life.
He appeared often on Broadway, and in his 1961 debut, he understudied for Lawrence Olivier as Henry II in Becket. Two decades later,...
- 6/27/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If you’re wondering what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in June, the answer is a lot. The streamer has a solid slate of movies heading into summer 2023. From the first two “Creed” films to “Love, Rosie,” “Yours, Mine & Ours” and other clever romantic comedies, the streamer has a range of options for viewers with different tastes. Newer theatrical releases arriving on the streamer in June include “TÁR,” “Armageddon Time,” and “M3GAN.”
TV premieres to look forward to include Boots Riley’s “I’m A Virgo” and the fourth and final season of John Krasinski’s “Jack Ryan.” “Crazy Rich Asians” arrives early in June, followed by “Interstellar” for all Christopher Nolan and Matthew McConaughey lovers. Even though “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” doesn’t release in theaters until November, all four “Hunger Games” films land on Prime Video this June. Perfect timing — maybe even with a reread...
TV premieres to look forward to include Boots Riley’s “I’m A Virgo” and the fourth and final season of John Krasinski’s “Jack Ryan.” “Crazy Rich Asians” arrives early in June, followed by “Interstellar” for all Christopher Nolan and Matthew McConaughey lovers. Even though “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” doesn’t release in theaters until November, all four “Hunger Games” films land on Prime Video this June. Perfect timing — maybe even with a reread...
- 6/1/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
With its list of new releases for June 2023, Prime is bringing a handful of Amazon Originals and many recent movie hits to the fold.
It’s actually quite a busy month for non-American programming in Amazon Originals department. Shows and movies like Deadloch, My Fault, and Medellín all originate from outside the U.S. and U.K. For the American and British crowd, however, the streamer is debuting two big tentpoles.
The first is I’m a Virgo on June 23. Acclaimed director Boots Riley’s TV followup to Sorry to Bother You will tale the surreal and satirical tale of a giant in Oakland. That will be followed by the more conventional (assumedly) fourth season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on June 30.
The real fireworks this month come from a ludicrously deep bench of library TV and movie titles. Give them a look for yourself below but if we were to highlight just a few,...
It’s actually quite a busy month for non-American programming in Amazon Originals department. Shows and movies like Deadloch, My Fault, and Medellín all originate from outside the U.S. and U.K. For the American and British crowd, however, the streamer is debuting two big tentpoles.
The first is I’m a Virgo on June 23. Acclaimed director Boots Riley’s TV followup to Sorry to Bother You will tale the surreal and satirical tale of a giant in Oakland. That will be followed by the more conventional (assumedly) fourth season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on June 30.
The real fireworks this month come from a ludicrously deep bench of library TV and movie titles. Give them a look for yourself below but if we were to highlight just a few,...
- 6/1/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The fourth and final season of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” arrives on Prime Video on June 30. It finds Ryan — now the new acting CIA director — unearthing internal corruption and suspicious black ops that leaves the United States vulnerable to attack. John Krasinski stars as the tough-as-nails Ryan.
Watch the “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” trailer:
“Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” is a new docuseries that reveals the truth behind the myth of the wholesome religious family and their involvement with the predatory Bill Gothard and The Institute in Basic Life Principles. The organization’s abusive practices — and the insidious long political game it plays — is revealed on June 2. The Duggars and their 19 “happy” kids are exposed as frauds, while also being manipulated by Gothard and enduring the scandal of Josh, their sexually abusive son.
Check out the “Shiny Happy People” trailer:
When a body is found on the beach in the Tasmanian town of Deadloch,...
Watch the “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” trailer:
“Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” is a new docuseries that reveals the truth behind the myth of the wholesome religious family and their involvement with the predatory Bill Gothard and The Institute in Basic Life Principles. The organization’s abusive practices — and the insidious long political game it plays — is revealed on June 2. The Duggars and their 19 “happy” kids are exposed as frauds, while also being manipulated by Gothard and enduring the scandal of Josh, their sexually abusive son.
Check out the “Shiny Happy People” trailer:
When a body is found on the beach in the Tasmanian town of Deadloch,...
- 5/25/2023
- by Fern Siegel
- The Streamable
FX is rounding out the cast for its upcoming pilot, Kindred, based on Octavia E. Butler’s book. Joining the lineup for this drama is Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), Micah Stock (The Right Stuff), Gayle Rankin (Glow), Austin Smith (Hamilton), Antoinette Crowe-Legacy (Godfather of Harlem), and David Alexander Kaplan (The Resident). Together they’ll serve as series regulars alongside previously announced star and newbie Mallori Johnson. Mallori Johnson (Credit: Thomas-Brunot/Courtesy of FX) Janicza Bravo, the co-writer and director of A24’s 2020 film Zola, will direct the pilot with Johnson appearing in the lead role. Written in 1979, Butler’s MacArthur Fellow and Hugo Award-winning book has remained an influential piece of literature over the decades. Kindred has been hailed as a visionary work of science fiction since the novel debuted. And since then, Kindred has also sold over a million copies, making it a perfect inspiration for an intriguing TV...
- 9/29/2021
- TV Insider
In every cultural figure or moment’s lifespan, there comes a point where they are subject to what can be summarized as the “You’re Wrong About” treatment, or the concept that even our most deeply held beliefs and cherished orthodoxies are ripe for reappraisal. (There’s even an eponymous podcast devoted to this process.)
The “You’re Wrong About” treatment isn’t necessarily contrarianism, though it can be a result of that impulse; nor is it what people these days call “cancellation,” though it can often be a precursor to that.
The “You’re Wrong About” treatment isn’t necessarily contrarianism, though it can be a result of that impulse; nor is it what people these days call “cancellation,” though it can often be a precursor to that.
- 8/4/2020
- by EJ Dickson
- Rollingstone.com
NBA star Russell Westbrook will produee a docuseries about the 1921 Tulsa race massacre for eOne’s Blackfin, the company announced Tuesday.
Titled “Terror In Tulsa: The Rise And Fall of Black Wall Street,” the series will be directed by Stanley Nelson and will explore the events of the May 1921 massacre, which is identified as the single worst incident of racial violence in American history.
The project is timed the 100th anniversary of the massacre and will include input from the Tulsa Historical Society & Museum, The John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation, the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, and the Historic Vernon Ame Church, among others.
Also Read: Apple TV+ Orders Sports Docuseries 'Greatness Code'
“Spending 11 years in Oklahoma opened my eyes to the rich and sordid history of the state,” said Westbrook in a statement. “When I learned about the heartbreaking events that happened in Tulsa nearly 100 years ago, I...
Titled “Terror In Tulsa: The Rise And Fall of Black Wall Street,” the series will be directed by Stanley Nelson and will explore the events of the May 1921 massacre, which is identified as the single worst incident of racial violence in American history.
The project is timed the 100th anniversary of the massacre and will include input from the Tulsa Historical Society & Museum, The John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation, the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, and the Historic Vernon Ame Church, among others.
Also Read: Apple TV+ Orders Sports Docuseries 'Greatness Code'
“Spending 11 years in Oklahoma opened my eyes to the rich and sordid history of the state,” said Westbrook in a statement. “When I learned about the heartbreaking events that happened in Tulsa nearly 100 years ago, I...
- 6/9/2020
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Although accustomed to spending much of her time on the road, Rhiannon Giddens has instead been in self-isolation in Limerick, Ireland, with her children and her Italian partner Francesco Turrisi. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Giddens says it is “the most time I’ve spent in one place in probably about 14 years.” In addition to perfecting her bread-baking skills, the Grammy-winning artist and MacArthur Genius has released an uplifting music video to accompany her recording of “Just the Two of Us,” the song that the late Bill Withers...
- 5/7/2020
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
Since the abrupt cancellation of nearly all live events globally, it’s been encouraging to see how quickly people involved in the arts and entertainment communities have pivoted to recording, posting, and sharing work on social and streaming platforms. We’ve had livestreams of concerts, intimate performances (such as Rolling Stone‘s own “In My Room” series), and pseudo-variety shows cobbled together from people’s living rooms (and bathtubs).
But most of these have been palliative: A way for artists to share, emote, and connect while required to stay put.
But most of these have been palliative: A way for artists to share, emote, and connect while required to stay put.
- 3/31/2020
- by Jerry Portwood
- Rollingstone.com
Marj Dusay, who played an alien who stole Spock's brain on Star Trek and worked on five daytime soap operas during her career, has died. She was 83.
Dusay died Tuesday of natural causes at her home in Manhattan, her son-in-law, David Blocker, announced.
Dusay also portrayed the mother of Lisa Whelchel's Blair Warner on NBC's The Facts of Life and appeared opposite Gregory Peck as the wife of Gen. Douglas MacArthur in MacArthur (1977).
The Kansas native stepped in for the ailing Carolyn Jones as Myrna Clegg on CBS' Capitol in 1983 and went ...
Dusay died Tuesday of natural causes at her home in Manhattan, her son-in-law, David Blocker, announced.
Dusay also portrayed the mother of Lisa Whelchel's Blair Warner on NBC's The Facts of Life and appeared opposite Gregory Peck as the wife of Gen. Douglas MacArthur in MacArthur (1977).
The Kansas native stepped in for the ailing Carolyn Jones as Myrna Clegg on CBS' Capitol in 1983 and went ...
- 1/29/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Marj Dusay, who played an alien who stole Spock's brain on Star Trek and worked on five daytime soap operas during her career, has died. She was 83.
Dusay died Tuesday of natural causes at her home in Manhattan, her son-in-law, David Blocker, announced.
Dusay also portrayed the mother of Lisa Whelchel's Blair Warner on NBC's The Facts of Life and appeared opposite Gregory Peck as the wife of Gen. Douglas MacArthur in MacArthur (1977).
The Kansas native stepped in for the ailing Carolyn Jones as Myrna Clegg on CBS' Capitol in 1983 and went ...
Dusay died Tuesday of natural causes at her home in Manhattan, her son-in-law, David Blocker, announced.
Dusay also portrayed the mother of Lisa Whelchel's Blair Warner on NBC's The Facts of Life and appeared opposite Gregory Peck as the wife of Gen. Douglas MacArthur in MacArthur (1977).
The Kansas native stepped in for the ailing Carolyn Jones as Myrna Clegg on CBS' Capitol in 1983 and went ...
- 1/29/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Errol Morris’ American Dharma Screens at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium(470 E Lockwood Ave) Sunday December 8th through Tuesday December 10th. The film begins each evening at 7:00pm. A Facebook invite for the event can be found Here
MacArthur Genius Grant winner Errol Morris has long been attracted to those on the fringes of society and/or problematic figures. He has made past documentaries about people on death row (The Thin Blue Line), those involved in the Abu Ghraib scandal (Standard Operating Procedure), a Holocaust denier (Mr. Death), Donald Rumsfeld (The Unknown Known), and Robert McNamara. And yet American Dharma, a feature-length interview with Steve Bannon, is the Morris film that has most struck a cultural nerve. Never one to shy away from tangling with controversy, and more than capable at holding his own in an interview when need be, Morris offers American Dharma as a vital text to...
MacArthur Genius Grant winner Errol Morris has long been attracted to those on the fringes of society and/or problematic figures. He has made past documentaries about people on death row (The Thin Blue Line), those involved in the Abu Ghraib scandal (Standard Operating Procedure), a Holocaust denier (Mr. Death), Donald Rumsfeld (The Unknown Known), and Robert McNamara. And yet American Dharma, a feature-length interview with Steve Bannon, is the Morris film that has most struck a cultural nerve. Never one to shy away from tangling with controversy, and more than capable at holding his own in an interview when need be, Morris offers American Dharma as a vital text to...
- 12/2/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Social justice activist and attorney Bryan Stevenson has done a lot in his 59 years on this earth.
He’s argued and won cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He created a museum on the history of lynching, slavery and racial discrimination and a memorial to peace and justice. He’s authored a best-selling memoir and been featured in a Ted Talk on mass incarceration that went viral. He’s received a MacArthur “genius” grant. But until last September, on a rain-streaked afternoon at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival, Stevenson had never walked the red carpet at a movie premiere.
It was, Stevenson admits, a “surreal experience,” one made even more unusual because the film in question, “Just Mercy,” recounts his fight to free Walter McMillian, a wrongfully convicted man whose story serves as a fiercely urgent reminder of the inequities in our criminal justice system. McMillian is portrayed by...
He’s argued and won cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He created a museum on the history of lynching, slavery and racial discrimination and a memorial to peace and justice. He’s authored a best-selling memoir and been featured in a Ted Talk on mass incarceration that went viral. He’s received a MacArthur “genius” grant. But until last September, on a rain-streaked afternoon at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival, Stevenson had never walked the red carpet at a movie premiere.
It was, Stevenson admits, a “surreal experience,” one made even more unusual because the film in question, “Just Mercy,” recounts his fight to free Walter McMillian, a wrongfully convicted man whose story serves as a fiercely urgent reminder of the inequities in our criminal justice system. McMillian is portrayed by...
- 10/22/2019
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The 50th anniversary of the American Film Institute Conservatory drew a storied array of graduates from its inaugural Class of 1969 back to the film school’s original campus, Beverly Hills’ Greystone Mansion.
Nearly all of the first class — nine of the original 18 AFI Fellows — reconvened for the celebration at the estate-turned-city park, including acclaimed cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (The Natural, The Lion King), screenwriter Matthew Robbins (MacArthur, Crimson Peak), writer-producer Paul Davids (Roswell), director academic Jeremy Kagan (The Journey of Natty Gan, Chicago Hope), producer David Wyles (Pumping Iron), screenwriter Jack Weinstein, director/playwright/lyricist Ken Luber and filmmakers ...
Nearly all of the first class — nine of the original 18 AFI Fellows — reconvened for the celebration at the estate-turned-city park, including acclaimed cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (The Natural, The Lion King), screenwriter Matthew Robbins (MacArthur, Crimson Peak), writer-producer Paul Davids (Roswell), director academic Jeremy Kagan (The Journey of Natty Gan, Chicago Hope), producer David Wyles (Pumping Iron), screenwriter Jack Weinstein, director/playwright/lyricist Ken Luber and filmmakers ...
- 9/20/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The 50th anniversary of the American Film Institute Conservatory drew a storied array of graduates from its inaugural Class of 1969 back to the film school’s original campus, Beverly Hills’ Greystone Mansion.
Nearly all of the first class — nine of the original 18 AFI Fellows — reconvened for the celebration at the estate turned city park, including acclaimed cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (The Natural, The Lion King), screenwriter Matthew Robbins (MacArthur, Crimson Peak), writer-producer Paul Davids (Roswell), director academic Jeremy Kagan (The Journey of Natty Gan, Chicago Hope), producer David Wyles (Pumping Iron), screenwriter Jack Weinstein, director/playwright/lyricist Ken Luber ...
Nearly all of the first class — nine of the original 18 AFI Fellows — reconvened for the celebration at the estate turned city park, including acclaimed cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (The Natural, The Lion King), screenwriter Matthew Robbins (MacArthur, Crimson Peak), writer-producer Paul Davids (Roswell), director academic Jeremy Kagan (The Journey of Natty Gan, Chicago Hope), producer David Wyles (Pumping Iron), screenwriter Jack Weinstein, director/playwright/lyricist Ken Luber ...
- 9/20/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Cate Blanchett plays the eccentric heroine at the center of “Where’d You Go Bernadette,” which opened on August 16. Based on the novel by Maria Semple, it centers on the search for the title character, who has mysteriously gone missing. And not only does it have Blanchett in the leading role, it also has Oscar nominee Richard Linklater (“Boyhood”) taking the reins as co-writer and director. So what do critics think of it?
So far the film has divided reviewers. As of this writing it has a MetaCritic score of 52 based on 29 reviews counted so far — 9 positive, 16 mixed, 4 negative. Over on Rotten Tomatoes it has a 46% freshness rating based on 74 reviews counted. Some say Blanchett is “magnificent” and “radiates otherworldliness and edgy neurosis” in the leading role, and that the film is “generously humane.” But other argue Blanchett’s performance is “too big for what’s meant to be a diminished character,...
So far the film has divided reviewers. As of this writing it has a MetaCritic score of 52 based on 29 reviews counted so far — 9 positive, 16 mixed, 4 negative. Over on Rotten Tomatoes it has a 46% freshness rating based on 74 reviews counted. Some say Blanchett is “magnificent” and “radiates otherworldliness and edgy neurosis” in the leading role, and that the film is “generously humane.” But other argue Blanchett’s performance is “too big for what’s meant to be a diminished character,...
- 8/16/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Richard Linklater has already proved himself a master surveyor of the rocky terrain of motherhood — think of the complexity of Patricia Arquette’s Oscar-winning performance in his Boyhood. Adapting Maria Semple’s 2012 wild, reckless bestseller seems like a logical next step on that turbulent maternal highway, given that it told the story of an architect named Bernadette Fox. She’s the winner of a MacArthur “genius” grant for creating her 20-Mile House, constructed from materials sourced within 20 miles of the home. But when a tycoon bought the place and destroyed it,...
- 8/15/2019
- by Peter Travers
- Rollingstone.com
Gregory Peck would’ve celebrated his 103rd birthday on April 5, 2019. The Oscar-winning actor starred in dozens of classics, staying active on the big and small screen until his death in 2003 at the age of 87. In honor of his birthday, let’s take a look back at 20 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1916, Peck made his screen debut with a starring role in “Days of Glory” (1944). He earned his first Oscar nomination as Best Actor for his second movie, “The Keys of the Kingdom” (1944), playing a Catholic priest spreading Christianity in China. He earned subsequent bids for playing an ex-Confederate soldier in “The Yearling” (1946), a journalist posing as Jewish in “Gentleman’s Agreement” (1947) and an Air Force commander in “Twelve O’Clock High” (1949).
SEEOscar Best Actor Gallery: Every Winner in Academy Award History
He clinched the gold for “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962), adapted from Harper Lee‘s beloved Civil Rights novel.
Born in 1916, Peck made his screen debut with a starring role in “Days of Glory” (1944). He earned his first Oscar nomination as Best Actor for his second movie, “The Keys of the Kingdom” (1944), playing a Catholic priest spreading Christianity in China. He earned subsequent bids for playing an ex-Confederate soldier in “The Yearling” (1946), a journalist posing as Jewish in “Gentleman’s Agreement” (1947) and an Air Force commander in “Twelve O’Clock High” (1949).
SEEOscar Best Actor Gallery: Every Winner in Academy Award History
He clinched the gold for “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962), adapted from Harper Lee‘s beloved Civil Rights novel.
- 4/5/2019
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Gregory Peck would’ve celebrated his 103rd birthday on April 5, 2019. The Oscar-winning actor starred in dozens of classics, staying active on the big and small screen until his death in 2003 at the age of 87. In honor of his birthday, let’s take a look back at 20 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1916, Peck made his screen debut with a starring role in “Days of Glory” (1944). He earned his first Oscar nomination as Best Actor for his second movie, “The Keys of the Kingdom” (1944), playing a Catholic priest spreading Christianity in China. He earned subsequent bids for playing an ex-Confederate soldier in “The Yearling” (1946), a journalist posing as Jewish in “Gentleman’s Agreement” (1947) and an Air Force commander in “Twelve O’Clock High” (1949).
He clinched the gold for “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962), adapted from Harper Lee‘s beloved Civil Rights novel. The role of Atticus Finch, a...
Born in 1916, Peck made his screen debut with a starring role in “Days of Glory” (1944). He earned his first Oscar nomination as Best Actor for his second movie, “The Keys of the Kingdom” (1944), playing a Catholic priest spreading Christianity in China. He earned subsequent bids for playing an ex-Confederate soldier in “The Yearling” (1946), a journalist posing as Jewish in “Gentleman’s Agreement” (1947) and an Air Force commander in “Twelve O’Clock High” (1949).
He clinched the gold for “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962), adapted from Harper Lee‘s beloved Civil Rights novel. The role of Atticus Finch, a...
- 4/5/2019
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Until recently, Taylor Mac was known for making epic avant-garde theater that crossed easy categorization. His groundbreaking art concert, A 24-Decade History of Popular Music, was Mac’s subjective history of the United States told through 246 songs — everything from World War I ditties to The Mikado to a mash-up of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” and Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” — told with the help of radical drag queens and other special guests. Since then, the genre-busting artist was recognized as a Pulitzer Prize finalist and MacArthur fellow. Now he’s...
- 3/11/2019
- by Jerry Portwood
- Rollingstone.com
More than a decade ago, Tyshawn Sorey, then best known as a rising-star jazz drummer, informed listeners that he had no intention of playing it by the book. “The usual expectation of a recording of compositions by a drummer is that the drums will be featured throughout,” Sorey wrote in the liner notes to his austere, challenging 2007 double album That/Not. “This album runs contrary to such a notion.” He went on to say that “the technical aspect of the music is beside the point.”
In retrospect, Sorey — who also plays trombone and piano,...
In retrospect, Sorey — who also plays trombone and piano,...
- 10/12/2018
- by Hank Shteamer
- Rollingstone.com
Direct-to-consumer company to launch later this year.
Hollywood-based blockchain social viewing company Treeti has appointed Jennifer MacArthur to senior vice-president of global marketing and strategic partnerships.
MacArthur, founder of Borderline Media, will be tasked with building brand awareness and engagement.
Treeti plans to launch later this year, and was developed to bring filmmakers, influencers, and viewers into a collective space to watch content and connect.
The direct-to-consumer platform will use word of mouth to monetise content, providing content owners with data that identifies the audiences with the most influence. Transactions will be tracked in real time using blockchain technology that...
Hollywood-based blockchain social viewing company Treeti has appointed Jennifer MacArthur to senior vice-president of global marketing and strategic partnerships.
MacArthur, founder of Borderline Media, will be tasked with building brand awareness and engagement.
Treeti plans to launch later this year, and was developed to bring filmmakers, influencers, and viewers into a collective space to watch content and connect.
The direct-to-consumer platform will use word of mouth to monetise content, providing content owners with data that identifies the audiences with the most influence. Transactions will be tracked in real time using blockchain technology that...
- 7/19/2018
- by Jenn Sherman
- ScreenDaily
Soap and daytime soap opera actor Robert Mandan died on April 29 in Los Angeles after a long illness, his friend, playwright and screenwriter Gary Goldstein, told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 86.
Mandan had worked on such soap operas as From These Roots (as David Allen), The Doctors (Mike Hennessey/Mr. Tabor), The Edge of Night (Nathan Axelrod) and Search for Tomorrow (Sam Reynolds) when he was hired to play Chester, a conniving Wall Street stock broker, on the ABC primetime comedy Soap.
Susan Harris created the sitcom, which aired for four seasons, from 1977-1981. The show, always a critical darling, was a top 10 hit in its first season but suffered in the ratings as it was moved around the schedule.
Mandan and Helmond reunited for two episodes of her next series, Who's the Boss?, and for a 2002 production of "A Twilight Romance" at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. He also...
Mandan had worked on such soap operas as From These Roots (as David Allen), The Doctors (Mike Hennessey/Mr. Tabor), The Edge of Night (Nathan Axelrod) and Search for Tomorrow (Sam Reynolds) when he was hired to play Chester, a conniving Wall Street stock broker, on the ABC primetime comedy Soap.
Susan Harris created the sitcom, which aired for four seasons, from 1977-1981. The show, always a critical darling, was a top 10 hit in its first season but suffered in the ratings as it was moved around the schedule.
Mandan and Helmond reunited for two episodes of her next series, Who's the Boss?, and for a 2002 production of "A Twilight Romance" at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. He also...
- 6/4/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
Exclusive: Kroll & Co. Entertainment, the recently launched production company of producer Sue Kroll, has acquired the rights to Jonathan Lethem’s new novel, The Feral Detective, through her exclusive deal at Warner Bros. Pictures. The novel which will be published this November is Lethem’s first detective story since his New York Times bestseller Motherless Brooklyn, which Edward Norton is directing for the big screen with Kroll as executive producer. The Feral Detective furthers the collaborative relationship between the award-winning author and Kroll. Ecco, the imprint of HarperCollins, is the publisher of The Feral Detective.
Wme brokered the deal on behalf of Lethem and the novel. Stewart Brookman of Hansen, Jacobson negotiated on behalf of Kroll & Co.
The Feral Detective follows Phoebe Siegler, a sarcastic and garrulous woman who heads to California to try to find her best friend’s missing teenaged daughter. When a lead brings her to...
Wme brokered the deal on behalf of Lethem and the novel. Stewart Brookman of Hansen, Jacobson negotiated on behalf of Kroll & Co.
The Feral Detective follows Phoebe Siegler, a sarcastic and garrulous woman who heads to California to try to find her best friend’s missing teenaged daughter. When a lead brings her to...
- 5/30/2018
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Things Blowing Up Good’ has been surefire entertainment since the beginning of cinema, but this ill-fated Cinerama extravaganza about the biggest explosion in recorded human history limps along despite some pretty darned impressive volcanic effects. It’s quite an entertaining spectacle, with various good performers in three soap opera plots, either overacting or loitering about with nothing to do. And don’t forget the from-left-field musical striptease.
Krakatoa East of Java
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1969 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 131 min. / Street Date September 12, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Maximilian Schell, Diane Baker, Brian Keith, Barbara Werle, Sal Mineo, Rossano Brazzi, John Leyton, J.D. Cannon, Jacqueline (Jacqui) Chan, Victoria Young, Marc Lawrence, Geoffrey Holder, Niall MacGinnis, Sumi Haru.
Cinematography: Manuel Berenguer
Film Editors: Walter Hannemann, Warren Low, Maurice Rootes
Production Design: Eugèné Lourié
Costumes: Laure Lourié
Special Effects: Eugèné Lourié, Alex Weldon, Francisco Prósper
Original Music: Frank De Vol
Written by Clifford Newton Gould,...
Krakatoa East of Java
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1969 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 131 min. / Street Date September 12, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Maximilian Schell, Diane Baker, Brian Keith, Barbara Werle, Sal Mineo, Rossano Brazzi, John Leyton, J.D. Cannon, Jacqueline (Jacqui) Chan, Victoria Young, Marc Lawrence, Geoffrey Holder, Niall MacGinnis, Sumi Haru.
Cinematography: Manuel Berenguer
Film Editors: Walter Hannemann, Warren Low, Maurice Rootes
Production Design: Eugèné Lourié
Costumes: Laure Lourié
Special Effects: Eugèné Lourié, Alex Weldon, Francisco Prósper
Original Music: Frank De Vol
Written by Clifford Newton Gould,...
- 9/2/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
A military coup in the U.S.? General Burt Lancaster’s scheme would be flawless if not for true blue Marine Kirk Douglas, who snitches to the White House. Now Burt’s whole expensive clandestine army might go to waste – Sad! John Frankenheimer and Rod Serling are behind this nifty paranoid conspiracy thriller.
Seven Days in May
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1964 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 118 min. / Street Date May 8, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March, Ava Gardner, Edmond O’Brien, Martin Balsam, Andrew Duggan, John Houseman, Hugh Marlowe, Whit Bissell, George Macready, Richard Anderson, Malcolm Atterbury, William Challee, Colette Jackson, John Larkin, Kent McCord, Tyler McVey, Jack Mullaney, Fredd Wayne, Ferris Webster.
Cinematography: Ellsworth Fredericks
Film Editor: Ferris Webster
Original Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Written by Rod Serling from the book by Fletcher Knebel, Charles W. Bailey II
Produced by Edward Lewis
Directed by John Frankenheimer...
Seven Days in May
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1964 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 118 min. / Street Date May 8, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March, Ava Gardner, Edmond O’Brien, Martin Balsam, Andrew Duggan, John Houseman, Hugh Marlowe, Whit Bissell, George Macready, Richard Anderson, Malcolm Atterbury, William Challee, Colette Jackson, John Larkin, Kent McCord, Tyler McVey, Jack Mullaney, Fredd Wayne, Ferris Webster.
Cinematography: Ellsworth Fredericks
Film Editor: Ferris Webster
Original Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Written by Rod Serling from the book by Fletcher Knebel, Charles W. Bailey II
Produced by Edward Lewis
Directed by John Frankenheimer...
- 5/5/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Jack O'Connell in Unbroken (2014)On this day in history as it (mostly) relates to showbiz...
1837 Michigan becomes a State. For a long time it was a beauty but recently hit its all time nadir when the Gop controlled government began poisoning the children in Flint. Somehow Michiganders did not vote them out of office. The earth is doomed
1880 Ww II's General MacArthur is born in Little Rock. He'll later be played in the movies and on TV by stars as esteemed and beloved as Gregory Peck (MacArthur), Liam Neeson (Operation Chromite), and Henry Fonda (Collision Course: Truman vs MacArthur)
1892 Bessie Coleman is born in Texas. Becomes the first female African American pilot and the first American woman to hold an international pilot licencse. Where's her biopic? Today's Google Doodle is in her honor
1917 Louis Zamperini Centennial today! His Ww II story of survival starring Jack O'Connell is told in Angelina Jolie...
1837 Michigan becomes a State. For a long time it was a beauty but recently hit its all time nadir when the Gop controlled government began poisoning the children in Flint. Somehow Michiganders did not vote them out of office. The earth is doomed
1880 Ww II's General MacArthur is born in Little Rock. He'll later be played in the movies and on TV by stars as esteemed and beloved as Gregory Peck (MacArthur), Liam Neeson (Operation Chromite), and Henry Fonda (Collision Course: Truman vs MacArthur)
1892 Bessie Coleman is born in Texas. Becomes the first female African American pilot and the first American woman to hold an international pilot licencse. Where's her biopic? Today's Google Doodle is in her honor
1917 Louis Zamperini Centennial today! His Ww II story of survival starring Jack O'Connell is told in Angelina Jolie...
- 1/26/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The director that epitomized the 1970’s, Joseph Sargent, has sadly passed away. (1925-2014)
With a career lasting 50 years, Sargent brought to the big screen such thrilling cinema as The Taking Of The Pelham One Two Three, MacArthur, White Lightning and Colossus: The Forbin Project.
Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay made the following statement upon learning of the passing of director Joseph Sargent:
“When it comes to directing Movies for Television, Joe’s dominance and craftsmanship was legendary – for the past 50 years. With eight DGA Awards nominations in Movies for Television, more than any other director in this category, Joe embodied directorial excellence on the small screen. He was unafraid of taking risks, believing in his heart that television audiences demanded the highest quality stories – whether chronicling uncomfortable historic events like the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study in Miss Evers’ Boys, or compelling personal stories about inspiring individuals like...
With a career lasting 50 years, Sargent brought to the big screen such thrilling cinema as The Taking Of The Pelham One Two Three, MacArthur, White Lightning and Colossus: The Forbin Project.
Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay made the following statement upon learning of the passing of director Joseph Sargent:
“When it comes to directing Movies for Television, Joe’s dominance and craftsmanship was legendary – for the past 50 years. With eight DGA Awards nominations in Movies for Television, more than any other director in this category, Joe embodied directorial excellence on the small screen. He was unafraid of taking risks, believing in his heart that television audiences demanded the highest quality stories – whether chronicling uncomfortable historic events like the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study in Miss Evers’ Boys, or compelling personal stories about inspiring individuals like...
- 12/23/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Joseph Sargent, who directed The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and MacArthur for the big screen and captured three Emmys for his telefilm work, died Monday at his home in Malibu from the lung disease Copd, publicist Dick Guttman announced. He was 89. Sargent worked behind the network camera until he was 84 — his last project was the 2008 CBS/Hallmark telefilm Sweet Nothing in My Ear, starring Jeff Daniels and Marlee Matlin in the story of a deaf couple struggling to decide whether to give their deaf son a cochlear implant. He also recently directed Jessica Lange
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- 12/23/2014
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Actor Russell Johnson, who is best known for playing The Professor on the hit TV series "Gilligan's Island," has passed away on Thursday morning at his home in Washington. He was 89 years old and died of natural causes. On the show, Johnson playing a high school science teacher who was capable of building just about anything, including generators, radios and other gadgets from regular items found on the island. But as Johnson joked, the one thing The Professor could never figure out was how to patch the hold at the bottom of the SS Minnow. Outside of "Gilligan's Island," the actor also appeared in several episodes of "The Twilight Zone," as well as "Gunsmoke," "Rawhide" and "The Lone Ranger. He also had parts in dozens of feature films, including "MacArthur," "It Came From Outer Space" and the 1953 Western "Law and Order," in which he took part in a gunfight with the film's star,...
- 1/17/2014
- WorstPreviews.com
Actor Russell Johnson, best known for playing The Professor on Gilligan’s Island, has died. He was 89. His longtime agent Mike Eisenstadt told Deadline that Johnson died this morning of natural causes at his home in Washington state. The Pennsylvania native had dozens of TV and film credits during his decades-long career, but it was as Professor Roy Hinkley in 1960s sitcom Gilligan’s Island for which he is best remembered. Johnson appeared on the show all three seasons it aired on CBS (1964-67). He reprised the role in The Castaways On Gilligan’s Island TV movie in 1979. Deadline recently reported that Warner Bros was planning a feature film based on the series. Russell’s Hollywood career began in the early 1950s, with early roles mainly in westerns including 1953′s The Stand At Apache River and Tumbleweed and sci-fi pics such as It Came from Outer Space (1953), This Island Earth...
- 1/16/2014
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
He's only in six scenes, but his turn as General MacArthur in Emperor steals the show - again
• Interview: Matthew Fox on Emperor
With a face that belongs either on Mount Rushmore or one of the higher-denomination Us Treasury banknotes, Tommy Lee Jones has for 40 years been the saviour of more movies than I can count. That includes this week's listless, though occasionally diverting, historical drama Emperor, in which he essays the role of General Douglas MacArthur with far greater conviction and aplomb than pretty-boy Gregory Peck managed for Us TV back in 1977, or Henry Fonda the year before, or Lawrence Olivier in the Moonie-backed megaflop Inchon in 1981.
Although his is a supporting role – the lead is whey-faced, pasteurised Matthew Fox as his protege, General Bonner Fellers – and Jones is only in about six scenes, it's his work that sticks with the viewer. The movie, which is about the process...
• Interview: Matthew Fox on Emperor
With a face that belongs either on Mount Rushmore or one of the higher-denomination Us Treasury banknotes, Tommy Lee Jones has for 40 years been the saviour of more movies than I can count. That includes this week's listless, though occasionally diverting, historical drama Emperor, in which he essays the role of General Douglas MacArthur with far greater conviction and aplomb than pretty-boy Gregory Peck managed for Us TV back in 1977, or Henry Fonda the year before, or Lawrence Olivier in the Moonie-backed megaflop Inchon in 1981.
Although his is a supporting role – the lead is whey-faced, pasteurised Matthew Fox as his protege, General Bonner Fellers – and Jones is only in about six scenes, it's his work that sticks with the viewer. The movie, which is about the process...
- 9/30/2013
- by John Patterson
- The Guardian - Film News
Students, time to put down your textbooks and dash over to the cinema for yet another history lesson. Seems we were just here for an American history lecture from Steven Spielberg’s Oscar winner Lincoln. This time we’ll explore the world stage (or soundstage) with the new film Emperor. The two films have a bit in common besides the involvement of actor Tommy Lee Jones. Both are set at the conclusions of their respective wars. The former close to the end of fighting, the new film occurs after the signatures on the surrender treaty are barely dry. And both films zero in a particular event. Abe’s trying to make sure the thirteenth amendment is passed, while this recent film wants to ascertain the depth of the Japanese emperor’s role in WWII. Treatment of the losing forces are also factors in the respective films. Class, time to jump...
- 3/8/2013
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
General Douglas MacArthur, polarizing World War II general who accepted Japan’s surrender, knew how to make an impression. When he fulfilled his promise to American troops and allies that he would eventually return to liberate the Philippines in 1944, he made sure that news cameras captured his moment of triumph — he dramatically made his way through the waves and on to the beach several times, just to make sure.
In Emperor, a new film that premieres tomorrow at the Toronto Film Festival, Tommy Lee Jones plays the conquering general as Americans troops arrive in Japan for post-war occupation and have...
In Emperor, a new film that premieres tomorrow at the Toronto Film Festival, Tommy Lee Jones plays the conquering general as Americans troops arrive in Japan for post-war occupation and have...
- 9/13/2012
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
There are all kinds of producers: hucksters, hustlers, con men and schlockmeisters. Some are in it for the glory, some like to walk the red carpet with a starlet on their arm. For some, the biggest award is a box office hit and it doesn’t matter what kind of crap they throw on the screen to earn it. There are producers like Harvey Weinstein who will spend more money to promote himself to an Oscar win than he does on actually making the Oscar-winning film. And there are producers like Joel Silver who once said the only proper role for women in film was either as a dead body or naked.
And there are those – who, to be honest, may also have a touch of all of this – who are mainly driven by a desire to make good movies. Like Dick Zanuck.
I don’t think anyone will argue...
And there are those – who, to be honest, may also have a touch of all of this – who are mainly driven by a desire to make good movies. Like Dick Zanuck.
I don’t think anyone will argue...
- 8/2/2012
- by Bill Mesce
- SoundOnSight
There are all kinds of producers: hucksters, hustlers, con men and schlockmeisters. Some are in it for the glory, some like to walk the red carpet with a starlet on their arm. For some, the biggest award is a box office hit and it doesn’t matter what kind of crap they throw on the screen to earn it. There are producers like Harvey Weinstein who will spend more money to promote himself to an Oscar win than he does on actually making the Oscar-winning film. And there are producers like Joel Silver who once said the only proper role for women in film was either as a dead body or naked.
And there are those – who, to be honest, may also have a touch of all of this – who are mainly driven by a desire to make good movies. Like Dick Zanuck.
I don’t think anyone will argue...
And there are those – who, to be honest, may also have a touch of all of this – who are mainly driven by a desire to make good movies. Like Dick Zanuck.
I don’t think anyone will argue...
- 7/29/2012
- by Bill Mesce
- SoundOnSight
Hollywood producer and president of 20th Century Fox who made his name with Jaws
Despite the fact that the giant shadow of his father, the legendary movie mogul Darryl F Zanuck, loomed large over him for most of his life, Richard Zanuck, who has died of a heart attack aged 77, triumphantly overcame inferences of nepotism and wisecracks such as "the son also rises", to become one of the most successful Hollywood producers in the last 50 years. His reputation was due initially to Jaws (1975), among the highest grossing movies up to that time, and he was a key figure in launching the career of its director, Steven Spielberg. Zanuck was Oscar-nominated for Jaws and won the Academy Award for best picture with Driving Miss Daisy (1989).
Born in Los Angeles, Zanuck seemed destined to enter show business. He was the third child and only son of the co-founder and head of 20th Century Fox,...
Despite the fact that the giant shadow of his father, the legendary movie mogul Darryl F Zanuck, loomed large over him for most of his life, Richard Zanuck, who has died of a heart attack aged 77, triumphantly overcame inferences of nepotism and wisecracks such as "the son also rises", to become one of the most successful Hollywood producers in the last 50 years. His reputation was due initially to Jaws (1975), among the highest grossing movies up to that time, and he was a key figure in launching the career of its director, Steven Spielberg. Zanuck was Oscar-nominated for Jaws and won the Academy Award for best picture with Driving Miss Daisy (1989).
Born in Los Angeles, Zanuck seemed destined to enter show business. He was the third child and only son of the co-founder and head of 20th Century Fox,...
- 7/16/2012
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
Today marks the 100th birthday of Universal Pictures and to celebrate the studio has released a list of 100 facts based on its first 100 years in existence. I have placed in bold some of the ones I found interesting as well as offered a selection of photo and video accompaniments here and there. 1. Universal Film Manufacturing Company was officially incorporated in New York on April 30, 1912. Company legend says Carl Laemmle was inspired to name his company Universal after seeing "Universal Pipe Fittings" written on a passing delivery wagon. 2. The only physical damage made during the filming of National Lampoon's Animal House was when John Belushi made a hole in the wall with a guitar. The actual Sigma Nu fraternity house (which subbed for the fictitious Delta House) never repaired it, and instead framed the hole in honor of the film. 3. The working title for Et: The Extra Terrestrial was "A Boy's Life.
- 4/30/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Near the end of his presidency, PBS aired a lengthy Frontline documentary called The Real Life of Ronald Reagan. It was an ironic title, since the narrator explains that it's about the way Reagan "appropriated other American folk tales, making it difficult at times to distinguish between the teller and the tale." Example: In his political career Reagan commandeered the image of tragic Notre Dame football star George Gipp and often exhorted his audiences to "win one for the Gipper," quoting himself from the movie but meaning himself as the president. In the climactic interview of the program, correspondent Garry Wills asks Reagan, "Do you think of yourself as a politician?" Reagan pauses a moment to reflect on the question, then comes back with one of his winsome smiles: "No, an ex-actor." As president, Reagan often expressed his abiding love of the acting profession. His son Michael recalled that his father once told him that had he been offered the lead role of Gen. Douglas MacArthur in the 1977 film MacArthur, he would have given up politics on the spot. But it was assigned to Gregory Peck.
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