Good Night and Good Luck examines the heavyweight bout between Senator Joe McCarthy and legendary journalist, Edward R. Murrow, during the height of the communist scare in the 1950’s. Here a commy, there a hippie, commies, hippies dropping from trees like subversive red cherries.
DID YOU KNOW…
Edward R. Murrow’s speeches and interviews in the movie are true to form; no embellishment used for dramatic impact.
The Cloonster shot B&W for consistency with the actual interview and senate hearing footage used throughout the film. Or maybe he's just a cheap SOB.
20% of the screen-test audience had no clue who the hell wacky Joe McCarthy was before the movie.
The compressed, claustrophobic cinematography aimed to create the “bunker” mentality CBS felt when taking on McCarthy - the Cloonster was inspired by Twelve Angry Men for this effect.
And the over-the-top Kent cigarettes advertisement? That was a poke at the tobacco industry’s outlandish 1950’s marketing…IN FACT
Edward R. Murrow puffed Pall Malls…Murrow’s show was sponsored by Kent so he filled Kent cigarette boxes with Pall Malls before shows! Suck on that, Kent.
LAST WACKY FACT - New York City students in the 1950’s wore “dog tags” for fear of an attack – after all, in 1948, Russia got the bomb and China went red.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The French Connection
The French Connection is based on the real life story of NYC Detectives Eddie "Popeye" Egan and Sonny "Cloudy" Grasso. The plot centers around what was at the time the largest drug bust in the US - around $20M street value of heroin, that's a lot of junk in the trunk, baby.
This is another classic film where you would think everything went like clockwork on its way to winning five Oscars in 1971 (beating Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange") for best picture...hell to the no it didn't...IN FACT...
Every single studio passed on the screenplay. 20th Century Fox eventually picked it up after a first pass - The French Connection went on to win Oscars for best picture, screenplay, director, actor and editor.
Gene Hackson, who starred as "Popeye" was not exactly the first choice of director, William "The Prince of Darkness" Friedkin, or the real Popeye. Peter Boyle and Jackie Gleason were two of many slotted ahead of Gene for the role....Hackman won the Oscar for best actor.
Detective Sonny Grasso protested the iconic post-chase scene where Popeye shoots the hitman in the back (too cowardly). This scene was so popular in test screenings that it became the film's poster.
The studio fought the film's title "The French Connection" all the way into post-production. The studio wanted a more gritty title.
"Bullet" connection - Phil D'Antoni, producer, also produced Bullet a few years earlier. His goal was to somehow top Bullet's car chase in The French Connection....the solution was to incorporate NYC's L-train and have Popeye (in a car) chasing the hitman in the L-train thru NYC. And the stunt driver? Yep, that's Bill Hickman, the same stunt driver who drove the mob's Dodge Charger in Bullet.
Best Quote:
"Do you pick your feet in Paughkeepsie?" - Det. Popeye Doyle.
This was a real quote that Det. Eddie "Popeye" Egan used to rattle and confuse suspects...it made no sense, he knew it....to this day Gene Hackman says people stop and ask him to explain what the hell this line was all about.
This is another classic film where you would think everything went like clockwork on its way to winning five Oscars in 1971 (beating Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange") for best picture...hell to the no it didn't...IN FACT...
Every single studio passed on the screenplay. 20th Century Fox eventually picked it up after a first pass - The French Connection went on to win Oscars for best picture, screenplay, director, actor and editor.
Gene Hackson, who starred as "Popeye" was not exactly the first choice of director, William "The Prince of Darkness" Friedkin, or the real Popeye. Peter Boyle and Jackie Gleason were two of many slotted ahead of Gene for the role....Hackman won the Oscar for best actor.
Detective Sonny Grasso protested the iconic post-chase scene where Popeye shoots the hitman in the back (too cowardly). This scene was so popular in test screenings that it became the film's poster.
The studio fought the film's title "The French Connection" all the way into post-production. The studio wanted a more gritty title.
"Bullet" connection - Phil D'Antoni, producer, also produced Bullet a few years earlier. His goal was to somehow top Bullet's car chase in The French Connection....the solution was to incorporate NYC's L-train and have Popeye (in a car) chasing the hitman in the L-train thru NYC. And the stunt driver? Yep, that's Bill Hickman, the same stunt driver who drove the mob's Dodge Charger in Bullet.
Best Quote:
"Do you pick your feet in Paughkeepsie?" - Det. Popeye Doyle.
This was a real quote that Det. Eddie "Popeye" Egan used to rattle and confuse suspects...it made no sense, he knew it....to this day Gene Hackman says people stop and ask him to explain what the hell this line was all about.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Thank You For Smoking
Thank You For Smoking is a satirical view of spin, damage control and political correctness set against the backdrop of the tobacco lobby in the mid-90's...the height of political correctness.
Released in 2006, this film is a great example of "overnight" screenplay success.
Christopher Buckley, son of the late conservative political commentator, William F. Buckley, authored the book by the same title in 1994. ..it only took twelve years to get the screenplay adapted and up on screen. Countless drafts circulated Hollywood and were discarded until writer/director Jason Reitman got the tone right.
Produced for only $7.5 million, it includes an amazing ensemble cast basically working for free - Aaron Eckhart, Katie Holmes, Rob Lowe, Adam Brody, J.K. Simons, William H. Macy and others starred.
Best Quote:
"Michael Jordon plays ball,
Charles Manson kills people,
I talk...
Everyone has a talent."
- Nick Naylor, Tobacco Lobbyist
Released in 2006, this film is a great example of "overnight" screenplay success.
Christopher Buckley, son of the late conservative political commentator, William F. Buckley, authored the book by the same title in 1994. ..it only took twelve years to get the screenplay adapted and up on screen. Countless drafts circulated Hollywood and were discarded until writer/director Jason Reitman got the tone right.
Produced for only $7.5 million, it includes an amazing ensemble cast basically working for free - Aaron Eckhart, Katie Holmes, Rob Lowe, Adam Brody, J.K. Simons, William H. Macy and others starred.
Best Quote:
"Michael Jordon plays ball,
Charles Manson kills people,
I talk...
Everyone has a talent."
- Nick Naylor, Tobacco Lobbyist
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Kill Bill
Quentin Tarantino came across "The 5, 6, 7, 8's" by accident.
The 5, 6, 7, 8's are the three-girl retro-behive wearing-surf band playing in the iconic restaurant battle between Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu's gang.
Quentin was just killing time at a vintage clothes shop in Tokyo before a flight home; this band's CD played in the background. He liked the sound and bought the used CD from the shop keeper on the way out the door...and the rest is history for The 5, 6, 7, 8's.
The 5, 6, 7, 8's are the three-girl retro-behive wearing-surf band playing in the iconic restaurant battle between Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu's gang.
Quentin was just killing time at a vintage clothes shop in Tokyo before a flight home; this band's CD played in the background. He liked the sound and bought the used CD from the shop keeper on the way out the door...and the rest is history for The 5, 6, 7, 8's.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Hustler
The Hustler, released in 1961, starred Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott and Piper Laurie.
Robert Rossen, co-writer, producer and director of this iconic film, used pool hustling as backdrop to comment on America's obsession with winning at all costs and the consequences that sometimes follow.
The Hustler was nominated for ten Academy Awards including Screenplay, Director, Actor and Picture.
Paul Newman got a make up call and won the Academy Award for the 1986 follow up, The Color of Money.
Did you know:
Paul Newman had never played pool before shooting The Hustler.
Willy Mosconi, world billiards champion and consultant on The Hustler, originally suggested Frank Sinatra, for the title role of Fast Eddie Felson.
The Hustler was Jackie Gleeson's first major feature film role. Jackie went on to co-star as Buford T. Justice in Smokey and the Bandit with American cinematic treasure, Burt Reynolds.
Twentieth Century Fox wanted to cut the classic pre-credit opening scene that walks viewers step-by-step thru a pool hall "hustle."
Famous Cameos:
Yep, that's world billiards champ Willy Mosconi entrusted to hold "the stakes" for Fast Eddie Felson and Minnesota Fats.
Jake LaMotta, former world heavyweight boxing champion, and presently very dead, plays the Bartender. Raging Bull, starring Robert De Niro, was based on Jake LaMotta.
Other Stuff:
Billiards dates back to around 1090. Back in the day it was played outdoors and similar to lawn bowling. Billiard Geniuses got cold and moved the game inside in the 1500's.
Pool hustling became common in the US in the late 19th century and a big money maker during the depression.
Best Quote:
"JTS Brown; No ice, no glass!" - Fast Eddie Felson
Robert Rossen, co-writer, producer and director of this iconic film, used pool hustling as backdrop to comment on America's obsession with winning at all costs and the consequences that sometimes follow.
The Hustler was nominated for ten Academy Awards including Screenplay, Director, Actor and Picture.
Paul Newman got a make up call and won the Academy Award for the 1986 follow up, The Color of Money.
Did you know:
Paul Newman had never played pool before shooting The Hustler.
Willy Mosconi, world billiards champion and consultant on The Hustler, originally suggested Frank Sinatra, for the title role of Fast Eddie Felson.
The Hustler was Jackie Gleeson's first major feature film role. Jackie went on to co-star as Buford T. Justice in Smokey and the Bandit with American cinematic treasure, Burt Reynolds.
Twentieth Century Fox wanted to cut the classic pre-credit opening scene that walks viewers step-by-step thru a pool hall "hustle."
Famous Cameos:
Yep, that's world billiards champ Willy Mosconi entrusted to hold "the stakes" for Fast Eddie Felson and Minnesota Fats.
Jake LaMotta, former world heavyweight boxing champion, and presently very dead, plays the Bartender. Raging Bull, starring Robert De Niro, was based on Jake LaMotta.
Other Stuff:
Billiards dates back to around 1090. Back in the day it was played outdoors and similar to lawn bowling. Billiard Geniuses got cold and moved the game inside in the 1500's.
Pool hustling became common in the US in the late 19th century and a big money maker during the depression.
Best Quote:
"JTS Brown; No ice, no glass!" - Fast Eddie Felson
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Bullitt - Car Chase
Steve McQueen's car chase scene from the 1968 film, "Bullitt," is widely regarded as one of the top car chases of all time. It set the standard for which future chases were compared to in Hollywood.
Did You Know:
- The original script was based in LA not the curvy, hilly streets of San Francisco that provided the texture and high speed suspense.
- The original script did not include a car chase scene. Peter Yates, director, had just completed a "car chase" movie titled "Robbery" in England and did not want to repeat this genre.
- Steve McQueen originally did not want to do a car chase in Bullitt because he had another car chase movie coming up.
- This scene was set up, staged and filmed at the end of Bullitt's shooting schedule. Peter Yates was givin only two weeks to put this chase together.
- The seatbelt buckle scene, used to create the image of a modern western gun fight, was suggested by Bill Hickman, stunt man driver of the 1968 Dodge Charger.
- Count the reloops of the green Volkswagon Bug getting passed by Steve McQueen's Mustang and the Charger. Peter Yates had to use the same footage because of time constraints.
- Count the endless hubcaps that seem to continuously fall off the Charger.
- Why did Steve McQueen drive a Mustang? Warner Brothers had a contract with Ford; the studio wanted to use two Fords for the chase. Steve McQueen fought the studio to include a "lesser" Dodge Charger for the mob's car driven by Bill Hickman.
- Watch the motorcycle rider sit up after taking a spill...he was scared of getting run over by the approaching car and this was the only way the stunt man would do it.
- Watch the Charger "crash" into the gas station. The film footage shows the Charger going right by the station. Again because of time constraints they edited around this gaff.
Bullitt, filmed almost entirely on location in San Francisco, and before high speed film, won an Oscar in 1968 for Best Film Editing, in large part due to this classic car chase added almost as an afterthought.
http://www.stevemcqueen.com/
Did You Know:
- The original script was based in LA not the curvy, hilly streets of San Francisco that provided the texture and high speed suspense.
- The original script did not include a car chase scene. Peter Yates, director, had just completed a "car chase" movie titled "Robbery" in England and did not want to repeat this genre.
- Steve McQueen originally did not want to do a car chase in Bullitt because he had another car chase movie coming up.
- This scene was set up, staged and filmed at the end of Bullitt's shooting schedule. Peter Yates was givin only two weeks to put this chase together.
- The seatbelt buckle scene, used to create the image of a modern western gun fight, was suggested by Bill Hickman, stunt man driver of the 1968 Dodge Charger.
- Count the reloops of the green Volkswagon Bug getting passed by Steve McQueen's Mustang and the Charger. Peter Yates had to use the same footage because of time constraints.
- Count the endless hubcaps that seem to continuously fall off the Charger.
- Why did Steve McQueen drive a Mustang? Warner Brothers had a contract with Ford; the studio wanted to use two Fords for the chase. Steve McQueen fought the studio to include a "lesser" Dodge Charger for the mob's car driven by Bill Hickman.
- Watch the motorcycle rider sit up after taking a spill...he was scared of getting run over by the approaching car and this was the only way the stunt man would do it.
- Watch the Charger "crash" into the gas station. The film footage shows the Charger going right by the station. Again because of time constraints they edited around this gaff.
Bullitt, filmed almost entirely on location in San Francisco, and before high speed film, won an Oscar in 1968 for Best Film Editing, in large part due to this classic car chase added almost as an afterthought.
http://www.stevemcqueen.com/
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