Czechs Love Chuck!

Here in the U.S., we get Brit-babe Catherine Zeta Jones and Luke Wilson hawking cell phone services. In the Czech Replublic, Chuck Norris is the pitchman for T-Mobile! Who would have thought that the Republican karate man would have a following over there? According to this Huffington Post article...complete with videos...Chuck's 1980s movies were smuggled into the country. Since then, he's remained an institution.

"Get Crazy" on New Year's Eve!

Well, it's that time of the year again. You can either go out to some bar, party or gala...or, crack open a cold one and watch TV. If you decide on the latter, THIS is hosting the ultimate New Year's Eve party tonight with a presentation of "Get Crazy."

This 1983 cult classic is a great party movie. The plot focuses on rock promoter Max Wolfe (Allen Garfield) -- kind of a Bill Graham-type figure -- who is hosting a blowout NYE concert at his Saturn Theater. Threatening the festivties is corporate mogul Colin Beverly (Ed Begley Jr.). In spite of any challenges, the show must go on. Almost all genres are represented: punk from the crazed Piggy (Lee Ving from Fear), blues from King Blues, rock from Reggie Wanker (Malcolm McDowell) and flower power from Captain Cloud (the Turtles' Howard Kaylan). Other musicians rounding out the cast are Lou Reed, Fabian, Bobby Sherman and Doors drummer John Densmore. Who would have ever thought these guys would appear in a movie together???

There is a very good chance that some classic scenes will be cut from this broadcast version of the movie including the robot pusher and a walking-talking joint.

It's directed by Allan Arkush, the genius behind "Rock n' Roll High School." Enjoy!

Trucker Chuck Kicks Ass on IFC!!!

Okay, I am back from a holiday hiatus. If you're still on Xmas break or need to DVR/TiVo some viewing material for New Year's weekend, look to IFC.

Tonight, everyone's favorite Republican martial artist Chuck Norris goes gonzo in "Breaker! Breaker!" The film airs today at 4:45 p.m. (CST).

This one of the countless 1970s movies that capitalized on the era's C.B. craze. This might be the only one that integrates karate into trucker culture. It's also one of the many southern-themed films with a plot that focuses on crooked cops taking advantage of the innocent.

David Lynch fans take note. One of the director's regular casting choices, Jack "Eraserhead" Nance, stars alongside the Chuckster.

Hail 'Black Caesar'!

"Black Caesar" is the film that sparked the incredible film career of former football star Fred "The Hammer" Williamson. It's also up there with "Shaft" and "Superfly" as one of blaxploitation's most iconic films.

Stay up late tonight and check it out on RetroPlex or set the DVR and watch it Xmas morning. Either way, this is classic 70s cinema that shouldn't be missed.

The plot follows Tommy Gibbs (Williamson), a small-time hood who becomes a mob king. His rise to power isn't a smooth trip, and Gibbs soon loses sight of where he came from. It's an old story and one that's been told zillions of times, but this tale is told with a pulstating James Brown soundtrack!

Directed by B-movie master Larry Cohen, "Black Caesar" spawned an even better sequel..."Hell Up in Harlem."

The action begins at 10:45 p.m. (CST) on Retroplex.

Boris Karloff's Creepiest Movie

Targets (Theatrical Trailer)
Uploaded by NakedBrotha2007. - Classic TV and last night's shows, online.


Peter Bogdanovich's "Targets" marked one of the the final screen appearances of screen legend Boris Karloff. In this feature, Karloff plays aging horror star Byron Orlock who comes to face-to-face with a modern day monster -- a crazed sniper. This late 1960s classic is available courtesty of Flix at 9:30 a.m., tomorrow, Dec. 23.

This movie was released following Charles Whitman's rampage at the University of Texas, so it offered audiences a different (and very realistic) type of horror film. It may very well strike a chord with contemporary viewers as well considering recent tragedies such as those at Fort Hood and Columbine High School.

Street Fighter Marathon on HBO!!

Set the DVRs to HBO Zone! A marathon of "Street Fighter" movies kicks off a 12:10 a.m. (CST) Record these classics and save them for X-mas viewing this weekend.

Included in this chop-socky buffet are Sonny Chiba classics "The Street Fighter," "Return of the Street Fighter," "Sister Street Fighter" and (not part of the series and not starring Chiba...but still worth watching) "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Lee."

Monday Night Jiggle Fest

Have Flix? Then, set your DVR for a genuine jiggle fest featuring three beach movies: Lifeguard, Hot Resort and The Bikini Shop.

Lifeguard (9:05 p.m., CST) is the most serious of the three B-bikini flicks. Sam Elliot stars as Rick, a thirtysomething with no ambitions other than being a lifeguard. After attending his high school reunion and reuniting with an old flame (the hot Anne Archer), he begins to reevaluate his life.

Hot Resort (10:45 p.m., CST) has been sitting in my DVR for about a week already. It sounds like the typical 1980s comedy. The plot focuses on some guys who take jobs at a Caribbean resort then find themselves at odds with a gang of snobs. Of course, what better way to settle differences than with a rowing contest?? Sounds like any 80s ski/river/surfing/skating film, BUT it stars Frank "Riddler" Gorshin! So, it has to be cool.

The Bikini Shop (12:30 p.m., CST) is the story of two brothers who inherit a swimsuit shop on a California beach. One of the bros (played by now serious actor Bruce Greenwood) is a party animal while the other has just graduated from business school. They come up with crazy ways to keep the store alive and pick up babes in the process.

Sunday Drive-In Double Feature

Once again, the Weekend Drive-In applauds cable movie channel THIS.

THIS is a great source for B-movies and forgotten TV shows, and today, it offers back-to-back classics. So, chill some beer and select your favorite frozen pizza for "Frogs" at 2 p.m. (CST) and "Dr. Phibes Rises Again" at 4 p.m. (CST).

"Frogs" is one of the many eco-message horror flicks of the 1970s. I've never understood why it's called "Frogs" because nearly every reptile and animal in the movie goes berserk. Ray Milland stars as an asshole plantation owner with no regard for nature. The guy lives on a bayou but hates lizards, snakes and frogs. So, he orders someone to spray poison around his property to kill every reptile and amphibian.

His family is gathering on his estate for an annual Fourth of July bash, but they soon get slimy fireworks when every swamp creature in the area runs amok. Look for a pre-moustache Sam Elliot as the studly hero and pre- botox Joan Van Ark as the screaming damsel in distress.

Next up is drive-in legend Vincent Price in "Dr. Phibes Rises Again," the sequel to "The Abominable Dr. Phibes." Phibes is a disfigured, twisted genius bent on resurrecting his deceases wife. Anyone who gets in his way is likely to meet a bizarre death. In the first film, he used the Old Testament as a guide for destroying his foes. Find out what Phibes has in store for his enemires today.

Superman On Demand

Superman fans (who have Comcast) can enjoy a Man of Steel marathon. Encore On Demand is offering superfans the first four "Superman" films.

For some reason, the Weekend Drive-In has an appreciation for "Superman III." Fanboys might scoff, but this odd entry in the super series has its moments. Sure, Richard Pryor was an odd casting choice for this sequel, and Rober Vaughn is not Gene Hackman. Still, I prefer the film's slapstick comic tone to the romantic feel of the first two. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Missing from the super movies is 2006's depressing and overly long "Superman Returns."

Of course, fans has to wait 20 years for that super dud. For a while, however, there were rumblings in the late 1990s about a Tim Buron/Kevin Smith collaboration titled "Superman Lives." The production's backstory is pretty interesting considering that the film would have featured a cameo by Michael Keaton as Batman and that Supes (played by Nic Cage) would NOT have worn his traditional costume. Instead, he would have worn a "hip" new uniform.

Well, video footage recently emerged showing a prototype of that Tron-like suit. What do you think? Super cool? Or super WTF????

Arnold the Barbarian Double Feature

Fans of the Governator (and author Robert E. Howard) need to tune into Retroplex tonight for a sword and sandal double feature.

First up is "Conan the Barbarian" at 7 p.m. (CST). This is the movie that helped make Arnold Schwarzenegger an action movie icon. It still holds up very well nearly 30 years after its release. Arnold was a natural for this role, and James Earl Jones is nothing short of brilliant as villain Thulsa Doom (Now, you will learn why you're afraid of the dark!).

Conan is among the fantasy characters created by pulp author Robert E. Howard. Another sword wielding warrior who emerged from Howard's imagination was Red Sonja.

Unfortunately, the film "Red Sonja" -- at 9:10 p.m. (CST) --  isn't very good. It's worth a peek to see Brigitte Nielsen before she became a reality show casualty. Arnold also stars in this dud as well as his Conan co-star Sandahl Bergman.

Both films were produced by the late, great Dino De Laurentis.

A Legend Goes Down in Flames

First I find out that I missed the Green Hornet's Black Beauty sedan when it was here in Houston. Now, I learn that the awesome chopper from classic drive-in film "Easy Rider" has been destroyed!! Not a good week for the Weekend Drive-In in terms of cinema vehicles.

In all seriousness, a moment of silence for this classic film cycle.

Alice Cooper Headed to Hall of Fame

Alice Cooper is one of the original drive-in rockers. His concerts were pretty much like horror movies. Check out the classic "Good to See You Again, Alice Cooper" if you don't believe me. Plus, Alice has starred in numerous drive-in features ("Price of Darkness" among others). And I can't omit his sountrack contributions ("We Are The Future" from "Class of 1984").

Well, Alice and the origial AC Band are headed to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. I think the hall is pretty lame considering Abba before made it in Alice did. Still, the Weekend Drive-In congratulates the great Alice Cooper!

Holy Hub!

Hooray for the Hub!

This is pretty much a kid's channel, but it's the only channel around that airs the original "Batman" series (at 10:30 p.m. and 2 a.m....not exactly primetime, so set the DVR).

Now, this is old school Batman...not exactly "The Dark Knight." No complaints from the Weekend Drive-In! I actually prefer Adam West's stoic delivery to Christian Bale's raspy rants. The same goes for the villains. Frank Gorshin rules as the Riddler and Victor Buono's King Tut is a vastly underrated Bat-foe.

Speaking of West, the 82-year old former super hero is now a painter. He recently unveiled a collection of Batman paintings at a Beverly Hills gallery.

Drive-In Book Review: The Weird World of Eerie Publications

If you grew up in the 1960s or 70s, you might recall the many black and white comic magazines that flooded newstands.

Most of the titles were horror-focused. Warren Publishing delivered quality publications with great artwork including "Creepy" and "Eerie." Marvel offered supernatural fare such as "Dracula Lives," "Tales of the Zombie" and "Monsters Unleashed."

Also on the stands were a line of magazines from Eerie Publications (not to be confused with the Warren magazine). These black and white comics were extremely gory, excessively violent and mainly comprised of reprinted stories (touched up with additional blood and guts).

As a kid, I only owned one or two of these gems. I knew they were inferior to mags from Marvel and Warren but loved them all the same. I can't really explain my soft spot for all things cheapo, but these mags bring back some fond comics memories. I particularly liked their wild-ass covers that featured mummies driving stakes into vampires while werewoves mauled zombies.

Eerie Pubs are gone but not forgotten. Fans can reminisce about these low budget horror mags in the book "The Weird World of Eerie Publications" edited by Mike Howlett.

Howlett does an excellent job detailing the history of these magazines and their publisher Myron Fass, a loose cannon and pistol packing publisher of sleazy mags. Fass was known for recycling artwork, stories, cover paintings and just about anything else to save a buck. His team of artists included Carl Burgos (creator of the original Human Torch for Timely/Marvel Comics) and Dick Ayers (longtime Marvel artist/inker).

This book is for Eerie Pubs purists but newbies to these gory classics should appreciate it. In addition to insight on the line of Eerie Pubs (Weird, Tales from the Tomb, Tales of Voodoo, Horror Tales, Terror Tales, Witches' Tales), Howlett also examines many of yesteryear's black and white mags and pre-comics code horror comics.

Be advised that there is no reprinted material from the Eerie Pubs. I was hoping for at least a few stories. That's my only critique of this this pretty cool book that contains a cool cover gallery and tons of great photos.

For reprints, see the paperback "Zombie Factory" or visit The Dead Demons! The Claw's Eerie Publications Online Archive.

If you're nostalgic for the days of black and white horror books, this volume is for you. It's pretty comprehensive and a fun read. Not as fun as the Eerie Pubs themselves but certainly worth checking out.

DVR DRIVE-IN REVIEW: "ROADIE"

I wanted to see this as a kid but it never arrived my hometown's theater. It's available as part of Comcast's Impact On Demand Package (look under "Free Movies") and is well worth watching for the cast alone.

Travis Redfish (Meatloaf) is a cowboy inventor who sets out to be a beer truck driver. When he meets wannabe groupie Lola (Kaki Hunter), his career shifts focus and he becomes a super roadie. His boss is promoter Mohammed Johnson (Don Cornelius), who represents everybody from Blondie to Hank Williams Jr. to Alice Cooper (all appear and perform in the film).

This movie is all over the place with no real plot. Redfish winds up in a botched drug deal (subbing Tide detergent for coke), uses solar power to fuel a rock fest, leads cops on a car chase in Austin, instigates a brawl at a Hank Jr. show and has frequent "brain freezes" (spouting off random phrases).

It's pretty crazy but fast-paced enough to keep any rock fan entertained. Great performances from Hank, Blondie, Alice and Asleep at the Wheel. Plus, Meatloaf delivers a tour de force performance as Redfish.

Art Carney plays the senior Redfish...also an inventor, and Gailard Sartain plays Travis' buddy (and soon-to-be brother in law) B.B.

It's a perfect Saturday night party flick...best of all it's free with On Demand.

DVR Drive-In Review: "Vice Squad"

I clearly recall Siskel and Ebert bashing this movie as one of the "Dogs of the Week" on the original "Sneak Previews" show.

It ran on cable numerous times, but I always missed it for some reason or other. Now, it's running on IFC of all places, and it's a must-watch if you love those early '80s exploitation movies.

Wings Hauser is out of control as Ramrod, a psycho pimp in L.A. He brutally murders one of his hookers (MTV's Nina Blackwood!) with a wire hanger. Cops enlist the assistance of another hooker Princess (Season Hubley) to bust him. They bungle the arrest, and Ramrod is determined to deliver the same royal hanger treatment to Princess.

The movie is pretty much a non-stop bloody sleazefest with exaggerated depictions of L.A.'s hooker scene, pretty cool car chases, shootouts and brutal murders (off camera).

Look for a cameo from Fred "Rerun" Berry. Also, the theme song "Neon Slime" (performed by Hauser himself) freaking rocks.

Look for it on IFC, and check out this rocking trailer:

DVR Drive-In Review: "Murphy's Law"

My wife said it best when she said, "They dont't make 'em like that anymore."

She is absolutely right! It is pretty much impossible to find an action flick starring a seventysomething tough guy these days.

"Murphy's Law" stars Charles Bronson as Jack Murphy, a burnt out old cop. He wants people to abide  by one rule..."Don't fuck with Jack Murphy!" Unfortunately, several people break that rule...including psycho Joan, a recently released con out for revenge (Carrie Snodgrass).

Murphy's framed for murder and winds up handcuffed to a juvenile delinquent (Kathleen Wilhoite) who calls him every name in the book ( "snot breath," "public hair"). Of course, Bronson goes on a rampage, stealing a helicopter, kicking ass and ultimately coming face to face with nutso Joan.

This isn't Bronson's best, but he makes its watchable. Lots of gunfire, some gratuitous nudity and a profane-laden script. How can it not rule???

Weekend Drive-In Preview: Oct. 23 - 24

This blog is a bit late. So by now, you might have missed the late night screening of the Don Stroud/Larry Bishop/Tyne Daly biker epic "Angel Unchanied."

It's not too late to plan your weekend drive-in. Here's what's on TV tonight and tomorrow:

Saturday, Oct. 23
THIS
8 p.m.: "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka"
I saw this movie in Corpus Christi the year it was release. My mom, sister and I were the only ones in the theater! Still, it's an awesome parody of 1970s blaxploitation movies and features several stars of the genre (Jim Brown, Isaac Hayes, Antonio Fargas).

Midnight: "I Escaped from Devil's Island"
This low-budget flick was released in time to capitalized on the popularity of the Steve McQueen/Dustin Hoffman prison movie "Papillon." It's actually pretty good. Christopher "Rat Patrol" George leads the getaway from the hellish Devil's Island prison. Jim Brown co-stars. I just learned that Martin Scorsese was tapped to direct this and turned it down to make "Mean Streets."

2 a.m.: "Angels from Hell"
I have not seen this, but my DVR is set. The plot of this late 1960s biker flick focuses on a Vietnam vet who returns from the war and forms a motorcycle gang. Sounds promising.

4 a.m.: "Elvira's Movie Macabre: The Giant Gila Monster"
It's great to see Elvira back on TV again. We've needed a horror host/hostess on the tube. This week, she hosts a pretty bad 1950s monster movie. It's pretty talky and the music is awful, but it's worth a watch to hear Elvira's commentary.

Encore Action
7:10 p.m.: "Fire Down Below"
Steven Seagal should have been watching his waistline instead of the environment. This is another of his eco-message action flicks.

Encore Westerns:
7 p.m.: "Pat Garret and Billy the Kid"
Director Sam Peckinpah hated the studio's final cut of this long, revisionist western. I have not seen his original draft of the movie, but some die-hard fans love that version. The version that's on this evening is okay. Look for Bob Dylan as a knife-throwing badass and listen for "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (played too many times throughout the movie).

Encore Mystery:
2:20 a.m.: "Cat People"
I saw this in junior high at the movies and loved it. It's pretty erotic, so imagine how I probably felt watching this in the theater with my parents! It still holds up, and ends with an awsome Bowie song. And did I mention how freakin' hot Nastassja Kinksi is?

HBO
4:45 p.m.: "Spider-Man 2"
I don't know why the "Spider-Man" franchise is being rebooted. The first two films are great. The third one sucked, so skip it if you haven't seen it yet. This second installment is pure comic book fun with Alfred Molina stealing the show as Dr. Octopus.

HBO Family
7:45 p.m.: "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead"
How many times can HBO show this movie??? It seems like it's been on every day for the past five years. It's a pretty klunky early-1990s comedy with Christine Applegate (still on "Married with Children" at this time). She plays a teen who takes over the household when the babysitter dies. Of course, no one cares that some old lady buys it early in the movie. This movie's actually like a Z-grade version of "Working Girl," but I still like it.

HBO Zone
8 p.m.: "The Day the Earth Stood Still"
This is an awful remake of a classic. Keanu Reeves is at his most robotic as alien Klaatu who has a message for the citizens of Earth: "You're gonna die!!!!" The original movie offered a Cold War warning, but this one is about the environment. It's a little too serious and too reliant on special effects.



CW39
2 a.m.: "Elivra's Movie Macabre: Satanic Rites of Dracula"
More Elvira! Yay!! I saw this under the title of  "Count Dracula and his Vampire Bride" at a midnight movie in Kingsville, Texas when I was 11. This should bring back some memories! Christopher Lee as Drac and Peter Cushing as Van Helsing. What a pair!

Weekend Drive-In Guide: Oct. 15 - 17

I really should have written this entry last night. Already, two AWESOME films have aired on THIS TV: "Night of the Comet" and "Deep Space" (with a stellar cast that includes Charles Napier, Julie Newmar and Ron Glass!).

Anyways, the rest of the weekend looks to be just as cool. Dig this Saturday line-up:

Encore Mystery
11:30 a.m. CST: "Bubba Ho Tep"
Bruce Campbell as Elvis teams with Ossie Davis as a guy who thinks he's JFK. They battle a mummy who is stealing souls in a Texas nursing home. Directed by Don "Phantasm" Coscarelli, this movie is excellent. Campbell kicks ass as the King.

Encore Action
1:30 p.m. CST: "Starship Troopers"
Humans take on bugs in this adaptation of Robert Heinlein's novel. I can't think of another movie with more gunfire than this war-crazy epic. The awesome cast includes Michael Ironside, Clancy Brown and Neil Patrick Harris (in Nazi-like regalia). It also includes a young (and hot) Denise Richards.

Encore
7 p.m. CST: "Superman" marathon
See all four "Superman" movies on Saturday night! For my money, "Superman the Movie" is the best of the bunch. "Superman II" ups the action ante with superpowered Kryptonian villains. "III" goes off the deep end by adding Richard Pryor to the cast. And "IV" is a pretty awful anti-nukes movie. No matter how cheesy these films might seem today, they are still waaaay better than the depressing "Superman Returns."

Happy Birthday Ed Wood!

Happy birthday to Ed Wood! The schlockmeister behind
"Plan 9 from Outer Space" and "Glen or Glenda" was born this day in 1924. He passed away in 1978, but his legacy as B-movie maestro lives on.

Hammer Time!!

THIS TV rocks.

This cable channel (320 on Houston's Comcast) is always a source for awesome old school movies. Tonight, however, THIS kicks off a marathon of movies starring Fred "The Hammer" Williamson!
Football fans will recall that the Hammer was a defensive back for several football teams and played in Super Bowl I -- and supposedly knocked out of action during the first play of the game.

He went on to make some great B-movies in the 1970s, then starred in a few decent Italial action films (including the Black Cobra triology).

Tonight's Hammerfest will showcase some of the man's finest movies moments. Here's a rundown of this evening's films:

5 p.m. - "Hammer": The perfect movie to launch an evening with the Hammer. Williamson plays a boxer who rises through the heavyweight ranks only to find himself at odds with the mob. This isn't the movie that launched his career (Robert Altman's "M.A.S.H." holds that distinction), but it pretty much kicked off his run in a host of blaxploitation films. Great film! Also starring B-movie great William Smith.



7 p.m. - "Original Gangstas": This 1996 movie marked a minor comeback for Hammer and many of his peers (Jim Brown, Pam Grier). Williamson plays a former teen hood turned pro football coach who returns to his hometown to help clean up crime. Great movie! Not only is Williamson reunited with Brown and Grier, but he again teams with director Larry Cohen (who directed him in "Black Caesar" and "Hell Up in Harlem").

9 p.m. - "Hell Up in Harlem": This is the sequel to Williamson's signature movie, "Black Caesar." At the end of that movie, his mobster character Tommy was supposedly killed. He miraculously survives several gunshot wounds to continue his dominance on the underworld. A sub-plot involves ledgers implicating high ranking politicos in crime activity. Lots of action, and a great coast-to-coast chase that ends in an airport slugfest.

11 p.m.: "Original Gangstas": If you missed it earlier, here's "O.G." again.

1 p.m.: "Soda Cracker": This 1989 film is also known as "The Kill Reflex." It's not Hammer's finest effort but does have its moments. Williamson plays a cop nicknames Soda Cracker (not really sure why), who goes toe-to-toe with nemesis Bo "Walking Tall Pt. II" Svenson (wearing some cheesy jogging suits). He also finds romance with former Bond babe Maude Adams. The highlight is a pretty funny showdown between Hammer and a remote controlled helicopter.

DVR Drive-In Review: Airport 1975

By now, more people have seen disaster spoof "Airplane!" than the films that inspired it ("Zero Hour" among others).

One of the films parodies in the Abrahams-Zucker Brothers classic is "Airport 1975." This has been airing on HBO lately, so if you spy it on the digital guide, tune in.

First of all, the cast along is worth the watch: Charlton Heston, George Kennedy, Myrna Loy, Sid Casesar, Jerry Stiller, Norman Fell, Karen Black, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Gloria Swanson (as herself!!), Linda Blair and Erik Estrada!

The plot is pretty unbelieveable. A businessman (Dana Andrews, who also starred in "Zero Hour") has a heart attack while piloting a small plan en route to a business meeting. His craft smacks the cockpit of a 747 passenger jet killing two of the pilots and blinding the captain.

Even before the crash, drama was unfolding aboard the 747. A child (Blair) is in desperate need of a kidney transplant. An aging fim star (Swanson) is working on her memoirs. A lush (Loy) can't get enough boilermakers. A loudmouth (Caesar) won't shut the hell up. And the head flight attendant (Black) can't get a commitment from her lover (Heston).

All these problems go out the window when the unmanned plane is headed toward mountain country.

It's up to the disaster duo of Heston and Kennedy (who also starred in "Earthquake" together) to try and get this bird on the ground. Someone comes up with the idea of using a jet helicopter to catch up with the runaway jet. Then, some unlucky fool would be lowered into the hole in the cockpit.

Luckily, the plane is stocked with booze to keep passengers from running wild. And it's also fortunate that Chuck Heston can pull off any cinematic miracle: parting the Red Sea in "The Ten Commandments," winning an epic chariot battle in "Ben Hur," kicking ape ass in "Planet of the Apes" and of course, passing as a Latino in "Touch of Evil."

I can't recommend this movie enough. The celebrity cast is worth the watch, but any chance to hear Heston grunt "God dammmit!" while wearing a safari suit and aviator sunglasses is definitely cool. And don't those boilermakers (using Olympia beer) look tasty???

Tony Curits R.I.P.

Ugh. I really hate to kick off this blog with an obituary, but it's hard to ignore the death of the great Tony Curtis.

Of course, Tony will be remembered as a screen idol of the 1950s and '60s. He'll be remembered crossdressing opposite Marilyn Monroe in "Some Like it Hot" and as Kirk Douglas' sidekick  -- and object of Laurence Olivier's affection (!) -- in "Spartacus."

I, however, will always know Tony for his later efforts including this pre-"Poltergiest," post-"Exorcist" horror gem... "The Manitou."




I wasn't old enough to see R-rated movies when this played at the King's Drive-In (in Kingsville, Texas). I did see it when it aired as the CBS Saturday Night Movie and loved it. Lots of crazy effects and a Native American dwarf who emerges from a woman's back. Great stuff! And of course, Tony was there to kick ass.

My favorite Tony C. movie was "The Bad News Bears Go to Japan." He can't hold a candle to Walter Matthau as Buttermaker in the original, but he was pretty funny as a sleazy promoter. He even went toe-to-toe with wrestling legend Antonio Inoki!

And the great Tony C. is linked to two great drive-in beauties: ex-wife Janet Leigh (of "Psycho" fame and "Touch of Evil") and daughter Jamie Lee Curtis (need you ask...horror scream queen of the 1970s and '80s and of course, "Trading Places").

Rest in peace, Tony,

Welcome to the Weekend Drive-In!

Welcome to the Weekend Drive-In! This blog is dedicated to the kinds of movies that made drive-in theaters a blast: B-movies, creature features, action flicks, raunchy comedies, super hero cinema, splatter films and much more.

Of course, drive-ins are in short supply these days. Well, thanks to the miracles of digital cable and DVDs, you can transform your own living room into a makeshift drive-in.

This blog will preview each weekend's upcoming drive-in flavored features that are either arriving on TV or available on DVD. It also will feature movie news, reviews, trivia and other mindless info.

At the end of a work week, we all need some tasteless, trash TV. So, kick back with your beverage of choice; and let the Weekend Drive-In be your co-pilot as you navigate the world of cable Friday - Sunday.