Mia Goth as Maxine & Elizabeth Debicki as Elizabeth Bender in Maxxxine (2024)
Ti West’s sequel to X is the third film in his X Trilogy and pretty much delivers as expected. Maxine takes on a seedy Hollywood on her own terms and fights her way through a maze of obstacles that includes a knife wielding psycho, a bizarre private detective, two persistent police officers, and a demanding director.
Kevin Bacon as John Labat in Maxxxine (2024)
Goth continues her role as Maxine with a bravado that becomes her. Kevin Bacon is dead on as the shifty detective who doesn’t know when to quit, Giancarlo Esposito is her smarmy and all business agent, and Elizabeth Dibicki is her no nonsense director, and they all push her forward in her quest to be a star.
Bobby Cannavale as Dt. Ben Torres & Michelle Monaghan as Dt. Marianne Williams in Maxxxine (2024
Everything is going smoothly until people she knows begin dying and suddenly she is getting more attention than she bargained for in the form of two detectives. As Cannavale and Monaghan play their own unique version of good cop/bad cop the mystery slowly unravels.
Mia Goth as Maxine & Giancarlo Esposito as Teddy Knight, Esq. in Maxxxine (2024)
And when it finally does, so does the plot. The final reel is rushed and ill planned. It plays as though it was filmed as an afterthought. Excellent cast, performances, and production. Deserved a better dénouement.
Above: Gene Tierney and Vincent Price in Laura (1944)
Above: Vincent Price, Basil Rathbone, and Ian Hunter in Tower of London (1939)
Very few Hollywood stars have had as long and varied a career as Vincent Price. A fine actor, he has made his mark in everything from Film Noir to period drama and of course horror. The type casting began early in his career though–after making, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), and Tower of London (1939) in which he co-starred with Boris Karloff, he was already on his way to becoming one of the foremost of the infamous monsters of film. In The Invisible Man Returns (1940) his unmistakable voice continued the terror in the sequel to the Universal film that starred Claude Raines. As in the original film, it is the actor’s voice that powers the performance.
Nan Gray & Vincent Price in The Invisible Man Returns (1940)
The Doctor goes to visit him in prison and after the Doctor leaves, Geoffrey is gone. The problem is that the Police inspector is aware that Doctor Griffin’s brother was the scientist that was the original Invisible Man. So Geoffrey not only has to prove his innocence but also evade the police while doing so. Price’s voice, like Raines’ in the original, is unmistakable and even more suited to mystery and suspense. Coming out as it did right after The Tower of London which starred Basil Rathbone and Boris Karloff with Price in a supporting role only added to the expectation of audiences.
Vincent Price & Gene Tierney in Dragonwyck (1946)
His appearance in Dragonwyck (1946) further ensconced Price into a figure of fright and mystery; unlike most actors, he embraced the genre and became one of its most enduring stars.
Nan Grey & Vincent Price in The Invisible Man Returns (1940)
Price’s next film title sounded like a horror film, but was not even though its director was known for horror. Green Hell (1940) was directed by James Whale (Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein), and had a cast of stars including Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Joan Bennett, George Sanders, and Alan Hale. The product of this assembly of talent was a muddled, often unintentionally comic, and tedious tale. Fortunately for Price, his character is killed early in the film.
Green Hell (1940)Price himself derided the film years later
In his next film, he’s reunited with Nan Grey (Invisible Man Returns) and George Sanders (Green Hell). Hawthorn’s novel, The House of the Seven Gables is brought to the screen successfully thanks in no small part to Price’s performance.
Nan Grey & Vincent Price in The House of the Seven Gables
In 1944 Price was in the classic noir, Laura with the beautiful Gene Tierney. This film was one of the most successful of the genre. It also played an pivotal part in Vincent Price’s career, showcasing his versatility.
Gene Tierney & Vincent Price in Laura (1944)
In 1945 he again appeared with Gene Tierney in the horrifying film noir, Leave Her to Heaven where Tierney was the monster. She plays a woman so cold that she can do the unspeakable without any sign of remorse. Another classic Noir and Price gives a poignant performance.
Cornell Wilde, Gene Tierney & Vincent Price in Leave Her to Heaven (1945)
In the 1947 Film Noir, The Web which starred Ella Raines and Edmond O’Brien, Price once again turned in a classic performance.
Vincent Price & Ella Raines in The Web (1947)
It wasn’t until 1953 that his career as the master of horror would begin with the 3D classic, House of Wax. NEXT: House on Haunted Hill, The Tingler, and House of Usher.
Phyllis Kirk & Vincent Price in House of Wax(1953)
Facts, Rumors & Hearsay
Laura
Vincent Price considers Laura to be the best of his films.
This movie is famous for the haunting Laura Theme. When asked why she had turned down the part of Laura, Hedy Lamar responded, “They sent me the script, not the score.”
Tower of London
The film was released on VHS through the Universal Monsters Classic Collection in September of 1992 even though it is not a horror film.
Price later admitted the wine he drank to drunkenness in the film was Coca Cola.
House of Wax
Vincent Price enjoyed attending screenings of the film incognito. As the actor once told biographer Joel Eisner, he’d regularly go out and see House of Wax during its run. The requisite 3D glasses usually concealed his identity as he sat back of a dimly lit theater. But one night, he decided to make his presence known. At a showing in New York City, Price quietly took a seat behind two teenagers. Right after a particularly frightening scene, he leaned forward and asked “Did you like it?” In Price’s words, “They went right into orbit!”
Phyllis Kirk tried to turn the film down. Since she was under contract with Warner Bros, she had no choice but to appear in this picture. That didn’t stop her from complaining about the gig. “I bitched and moaned .., and said that I wasn’t interested in becoming the Fay Wray of my time,” Kirk confessed. The other thing was the 3-D format, which she regarded as a gimmick. In the end she decided that making the film would be preferable to being suspended. She later said that she had a good deal of fun making House of Wax.
Screenplay by Peter Ruric, Story by Edgar G. Ulmer & Peter Ruric, Contributing Writer Tom Kilpatrick (uncredited), Suggested by a story by Edgar Allan Poe
Cinematography by John J. Mescall
Music by Heinz Roemheld (uncredited)
CAST: Boris Karloff (Hjalmar Poelzig), Bela Lugosi (Dr. Vitus Werdegast), Davide Manners (Peter Alison), Julie Bishop (Joan Alison), Lucille Lund (Karen), John Carradine (Cult Organist/uncredited), Symona Boniface (Cultist/uncredited).
David Manners, Julie Bishop & Bela Lugosi in The Black Cat (1934)
This pre-code Universal horror film is to this day, in a class by itself. Not only is it the best film that stars both Karloff & Lugosi, but it was Universal’s most successful film of 1934. It was also one of the earliest movies to contain a score throughout the majority of the production.
Bela Lugosi & Boris Karloff in The Black Cat (1934)
The subject matter was untried ground and was handled masterfully by Ulmer with the aid of Karloff and Lugosi’s splendid acting. A high point in both of their careers that would never be repeated, either together or separately.
Boris Karloff, David Manners & Bela Lugosi in The Black Cat (1934)
Both actors were fully immersed in their characters and it is eerie to watch them as they play a game of cat and mouse while the guests in the house remain unaware of the pending danger. Both David Manners and Julie Bishop give restrained performances that underscore the unsettling atmosphere that surrounds their host.
David Manners & Julie Bishop in The Black Cat (1934)
Lucille Lund plays an eerie part in the proceeding, but the film should be viewed with little knowledge of the story. So, for those of you who have not seen the film, suffice it to say that it is more than a little ahead of its time. This is a true must see classic.
Boris Karloff & Lucille Lund in The Black Cat (1934)
Facts, Rumors & Hearsay
“I really think the reason you remember me is because I went to bed with Boris Karloff.” Lucille Lund
Boris Karloff’s character is named after the Austrian architect and art director, Hans Poelzig. Poelzig worked on The Golem (1920), and Edgar G. Ulmer was the set designer.
Censors in Italy, Finland and Austria banned the movie outright, while others required cuts of the more gruesome sequences.
Rebecca Hall & Scarlett Johansson in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
In her last film with Woody Allen, Johansson shared the screen with Rebecca Hall, Penelope Cruz, and Javier Bardem in a comedic love triangle. Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) are pursued by famous artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) while vacationing.
Javier Bardem, Rebecca Hall & Scarlett Johansson in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Allen’s casting on this film insured him of a sexually vibrant pyrotechnic powered display of musical chairs that culminates with Juan’s mentally unbalanced ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) showing up. Cristina is fire while Vicky is ice, but Juan Antonio is a seasoned lothario with the patience for the seduction of both young women. Barden is in his element as he patiently pursues both Vicky and Cristina. It is among Allen’s best efforts and manages to bring back the screw ball comedy with a delightful showcase of talented performers.
Penelope Cruz & Scarlett Johansson in Vicki Cristina Barcelona
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Directed by Justin Chadwick
Scarlett Johansson & Natalie Portman in The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Released in the same year, The Other Boleyn Girl is a very different kind of triangle. Based on the bodice ripper by Philippa Gregory. Although not adhering to reality, she applies what we have learned from what Chaucer and Boccaccio have demonstrated: it’s easier to digest facts when administered within tawdry tales!
Scarlett Johanssonin The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Although lost in a pot boiler, both Johansson and Portman manage to pull the story out of the pot before it can boil over. Portman is in top form with a relaxed royalty and Johansson with an outward thrust of feelings in her reactions that clearly reveal the character’s complicated emotions.
Scarlett Johansson & Natalie Portman in The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Facts, Rumors & Hearsay
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Javier Barden (Juan Antonio) and Penelope Cruz (María Elena) play a divorced couple in the film. In reality, they started a relationship while working on the film and married in July 2010. However, they didn’t meet on the set of this film; they met on the set of Cruz’ first feature, Jamon Jamon (1992) when she was 16.
This is the second movie Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson starred in together, the other being The Prestige
The Other Boleyn Girl
The cast includes Oscar winners: Natalie Portmen, Mark Rylance, and Eddie Redmayne as well as Oscar Nominees: Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dame Kristen Scott, and Andrew Garfield.
The sighting of Anne’s ghost has been documented many times in the tower of London where she was executed and also at Hever Castle, her childhood home.
Cast: Elizabeth Montgomery (Woman), Charles Bronson (Man)
Elizabeth Montgomery in Two (Season 3, Episode 1, Aired on 9/15/1961)
This installment of TV’s Golden Age focuses on my favorite episode of the Twilight Zone. Please put any of your own favorite episode(s) in the comments.
Elizabeth Montgomery in Two (Season 3, Episode 1, Aired on 9/15/1961)
Two featured Charles Bronson & Elizabeth Montgomery giving the best performances of their careers in a dystopian tale of the aftermath of the Cold War gone hot. So hot in fact, that almost everyone is dead. Except for these Two, one from each side of the conflict.
Elizabeth Montgomery in Two (Season 3, Episode 1, Aired on 9/15/1961)
It begins, of course, with Serling’s introduction. Then, Elizabeth Montgomery comes out of the jungle and into the little town. Looking around, she stops and looks at a gown in a shop window, then spots a restaurant. It is food that she is looking for and finding it, begins to look for a way to open a can. As she opens the can, Bronson’s character comes through the door. She throws pots and pans at him and they begin to scuffle. It ends when Bronson punches her in the face.
Charles Bronson in Two (Season 3, Episode 1, Aired on 9/15/1961)
Possibly, one of the simplest and most powerful of all the Twilight Zone episodes. In so many cases the performances in The Twilight Zone are high water marks in the work of the performers. This reflects not only the actor’s talent, but the high quality of the writing and production as well.
Charles Bronson & Elizabeth Montgomery in Two (Season 3, Episode 1, Aired on 9/15/1961)
Facts, Rumors & Hearsay
Two
Prekrasny, is the only word spoken in the episode by The Woman. Prekrasny is Russian for pretty.
The uniform of the male soldier’s uniform are all of Confederate design. MGM had a large storage of costumes from past projects and this may have been a budget decision. The Woman’s uniform is meant to be Russian.
Maxxxine, both written & directed by Ti West opens today, July 5th. It is the third film in West’s X trilogy following X and Pearl which were both released in 2022.
Mia Goth in Maxxxine (2024)
Set in the 80’s, it is a bloody Valentine to Hollywood as it explores its excesses and its underbelly as a slasher terrorizes the town. Mia Goth continues her head-on performances from the first two films as Maxine stops at nothing to become a star.
Moses Sumney & Mia Goth in Maxxxine (2024)
Goth is supported by an impressive cast including: Elizabeth Dibicki, Giancarlo Esposito, Moses Sumney, Lily Collins, and Kevin Bacon.
Mia Goth&Elizabeth Debicki, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon in Maxxxine (2024)
