Thursday, March 31, 2011

Gunn - A movie review

"Gunn" is a private eye film made by Blake Edwards and based on the old "Peter Gunn" TV show, which was a big hit in the U.S.
Craig Stevens starred as Gunn, a chick magnet positively oozing with what passed for detective cool at the time.
I haven't seen the TV show, but the movie -- made in Europe -- has a lot of tongue in cheek moments mixed with a hodgepodge of a murder story. It seems a gangster named Scarlotti once saved Gunn's life. Scarlotti is murdered by machine gun-totin' thugs in the opening scene, putting the wisecracking Gunn on the boss killer's trail for the next 90 minutes. Not happy about this is another gangster named Fusco, who tells Gunn to back off.
Ed Asner plays a gruff (as always), world weary cop who says he doesn't like Gunn but continues to trade laugh lines with him for the whole movie.
Stephens is good with the joking stuff but not to be taken too seriously as an action hero, despite his amazing ability to escape near point-blank gunfire and exploding buildings.
The women "stars" of the story are all pretty, and pretty bland.
For Andy Griffith Show junkies there's a fine bit part for Jean "Hello doll" Carson and veteran character actor J. Pat O'Malley chews every piece of scenery he can get his hands on as heavy drinking, poetry spouting Tinker.
And for both you "Angels Die Hard" fans, that IS biker Mike Angel as the bartender. Also, look for Carol Wayne in a tit (bit) part at the end. She was the busty blonde who worked with Johnny Carson in the skits all those years.
"Gunn" is a fun bit of 1960s fluff and worth an inexpensive viewing. I expected more from Blake Edwards, but the picture has some moments.

Free tune Thursday

There are some other interesting versions out there, but only The Killer owns Ubangi Stomp. Sorry about the closing credits, but at least it's live.

Christians Gone Wild - a book review

If you're in the mood for a blood-drenched tale of sex,ultra-violence and historical skullduggery, let me direct you to "The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople" by Jonathan Phillips. Despite my lurid intro, it's a well-researched, well-conceived and well-written book on a crucial event in history.
For those of you who slept through much of Medieval History 101 in an 8 a.m. class, let me hit the high points of this particular cockup.
The misleadingly named Pope Innocent III had a hissy fit about the Muslims re-conquering much of the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem, and succeeded in firing up the home team (particularly the French) for Round 4 of the Crusaders vs. Muslims for the Championship of the Middle East.
This lot of Crusaders decided to try a novel approach, first attacking Egypt and then moving onward to Jerusalem and what was left of the Crusader states hugging the coastline.
But due to a series of bad decisions the Crusaders became heavily indebted to the Venetians (who provided the ships for transportation) and were forced to besiege another (Christian) city and hand it over to Venice as partial payment.
This should have been a minor detour on the way to the Holy Land, but due to political and economic reasons, it instead led to the Crusaders deciding to pay a visit to Byzantium, specifically Constantinople, then the largest, richest Christian city in the world.
The visit didn't go well. The western Christians (Catholics) thought the Byzantine crowd (Greek Orthodox) was a bunch of lying sissies and the Byzantines considered the westerners to be no better than baboons who bathed in their own excrement, if at all.
Both sides may have been at least partially correct.
Pretty soon a vicious dustup took place and the great walled city fell to the small, hungry, dispirited western baboons, who took this as God's OK to rape, pillage, steal, desecrate and destroy until there was nothig left to be raped, pillaged stolen, desecrated or destroyed.
It was a classic Number 9, as fans of "Blazing Saddles will recall.
Phillips does a fine job of telling this story. His knowledge of the subject shines through and his writing is clear and concise, despite the 300-plus densely written pages. He brings in numerous "extraneous" elements and shows how they came to matter in the story.
I give this fine piece of non-fiction a solid A.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Buchanan rides again

I caught a spirited debate on Libya this morning on Morning Joe. Damned if old Pat Buchanan didn't demolish Obama-boyfriend-wannabe Donnie Deutsch and others, pointing out the illogic in the current administration's "policy." Good stuff.

Michael Gough, RIP

Th fine actor passed away recenty. Here's an obituary.
Gough was best known as Alfred the Butler in three Batman films, but I loved his work from the early schlock days. He appeared in numerous horror-sci films, from the terrible (Konga, Trog, They Come From Outer Space), to the OK (The Skull,Crucible of Horror, Serpent and the Rainbow) to the superlative(Horror of Dracula.)
He was much more able to "branch out" than some of his contemporaries, Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, etc. For instance he was in the fine BBC production of Smiley's People, starring Alex Guinness.
A very good actor with a wonderful resume.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Gilbert Gottfried is hilarious

His imitation of the talentless Andrew Dice Clay.

Drew Hill, RIP

Hill is best known for his play in the Oilers' run and shoot offense of the 1980s, but I'll always remember him as a 12th round pick by the Rams (the same year they took Miami running back Eddie Hill and Tech guard Kent Hill. Who knew Drew would have the longest career? He was underused at receiver by the Rams, but was a terrific kick returner, leading the league at least one year. He died too young.

The evolving Mr. Mullis

My March 17 column. This one has had a great response. From The Summerville News.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

The NFL Draft

Will Georgia's Justin Houston play end for the Falcons? They've been talking to him. From the AJC.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Ronnie Hammond, RIP

The Champagne jammer dies of heart failure. When I was a teen that band was all over the radio. "Champagne Jam" and "Doraville" were big hits and their outdoor shows in Atlanta are legendary. I had a cousin who went down to one of those and I'm not sure he ever REALLY came back.

Howard Finster home page

The late artist is gone, but not forgotten. The Finster home and Paradise Gardens is just north of Summerville. Y'all come!

History lesson

Texan wants Alamo battle flag back. I'd offer them Brownsville for it.

History lesson

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/03/yet-another-proud-texan-will-t.htmlTexan wants Alamo flag back. I say trade them Brownsville for it.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Afghanistan

Pair of British snipers rack up tremendous body count, including a "Quigley."

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Bourdain

An older piece but still of interest. 10 questions for the chef.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Civil War

A region divided? South grapples with past as war's 150th anniversary unfolds.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

John Prine

Hello in There. So good it makes your soul ache.

Need a laugh?

Keep watching. Tim Conway does the legendary Siamese elephants bit. Tim works his comedic butt off and Vickie Lawrence steals the scene with one line.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Politics

Tom Graves off to a good start with National Review Online.

A Tuesday Tune

Lucinda Williams recalls a Drunken Angel. From Austin City Limits.

Around the Bigs

Texas Rangers looking for more offense from young centerfielder Julio Borbon. He should bring good defense and be a slashing hitter with plenty of speed. If not, the Rangers could be scrambling to replace him.

Around the Bigs

Seattle Mariners say they will be cautious with young second baseman Dustin Ackley. The M's need all the offense they can get so my bet is Ackley will either start the season at 2B for Seattle or be a quick call up if he's hitting in the minors.

Jane Russell, RIP

The actress was better known for her more showy parts like "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and "The Outlaw," but for me she was most effective in the late 1940s-early 1950s withe noirish things like "Macao" and "His Kind of Woman." I also like her in "Paleface" and "Son of Paleface," both with Bob Hope.