Change Your Image
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjQ4MTY5NzU2M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDc5NTgwMTI@._V1_SY100_SX100_.jpg)
dtucker86
Reviews
Inside 'Live and Let Die' (1999)
The first Bond I ever saw
Live And Let Die was Roger Moore's debut as our favorite secret agent who likes his martinis "shaken and not stirred". It was the first Bond movie I ever saw when I was five years old. I really enjoyed this documentary narrated by Patrick MacNee of "The Avengers" fame. Jane Seymour is lovely as always as she recounts the making of the film (Yes Doctor Quinn got her start as one of the "Bond GIrls"). Clifton James is interviewed and he was wonderful comic relief as the Southern redneck sheriff J. W. Pepper (he reminded me of the character that Jackie Gleason played in Smokey And the Bandit). Moore's Bond was more light hearted then Connery's and some have criticized that. I just always felt Sean was the better actor.
Little House on the Prairie: Soldier's Return (1976)
A different LHOP
Little House On The Prarie, unfortunately, is one of those shows that has not aged very well. It was seen as excellent programming when it was on the air but now the episodes just seem dated and silly. This one, however, still has relevancy today because it deals with a veteran suffering from both drug addiction and what would now be called post traumatic stress disorder. Richard Mulligan is known as a comic actor but does a good dramatic turn in this episode as a Civil War veteran haunted by the battle of Shiloh. He has an addiction to morphine that he cannot beat and in the end he takes his own life.
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: Lead Me Not (1997)
Doctor Quinn really gets steamed
Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman was a show that I loved just as much as Little House on the Prarie. It was one of those rarities in television, it was a good family show with really likeable characters you cared about AND it had positive lessons and life messages in almost every episode. This is one that I remember in particular. Jane Seymour is a wonderful actress who has accomplished so much in her career, someone once joked there seemed to be a law that you couldn't make a miniseries without her. She was even a "Bond girl" (in Live and Let Die). She was usually so sweet as Doctor Quinn the voice of love and compassion and reason. However, in this episode she goes ballistic against town barber and town drunk Jake Slicker after he comes to her house under the influence and almost hurts her baby. It is chilling to watch.
Alcatraz: America's Toughest Prison (1977)
Raw and gritty
This special was made back in 1977 but it still hasn't aged. William Conrad, the original Matt Dillon on the radio and the narrator of The Fugitive and Rocky and Bullwinkle narrates this documentary of America's toughest prison where only the worst of the worst were sent. Al Capone ruled Chicago with an iron fist but after only a few years on the Rock was a pathetic broken man. There is so much dark and fascinating history about Alcatraz even before and after it was a prison. There is a segment of the film where they talk about a 1946 uprising where both inmates and guards were killed. There are numerous interviews with former inmates and guards that tell fascinating stories about the prison.
Sledge Hammer!: Under the Gun (1986)
Great fun
Its so sad that a great show like Sledge Hammer, so original and so daring, could not possibly be made in this delicate age of political correctness. Alan Spencer created Sledge and he also worked with another comic genius named Mel Brooks. Spencer got the idea for Sledge Hammer after reading a review of a Dirty Harry film where the critic said Harry was turning into a gun crazy fool. I laughed myself silly all over again watching this maniac who fires warning shots at jaywalkers and thinks nothing about blowing up a building on his way to work. David Rasche is wonderful as Sledge as well as Anne Marie Martin as his straight laced partner Dori, the voice of wisdom and Harrison Page as his ever raging superior Captain Trunk.
Brad Paisley: Whiskey Lullaby ft. Alison Krauss (2004)
Ricky Schroder directed this
Ricky Schroder is one of those child actors who has been twice blessed, he managed to live a good and happy life not falling prey to drugs or alcohol and he was able to make a transition into adult roles (although he never became a major league star). He directs the video of this song that has got to be one of the saddest and most depressing imaginable (the description applies to a lot of country and western songs I know but this one really takes the cake). Its about a returning war veteran who finds his girl has not been faithful and drinks himself to death and she follows suit because of her guilt. Schorder does a good job directing this sad little fable and I wanted to watch Willy Wonka afterwards to recover from the trauma.
Freedom Is (1976)
I remember this
Along with the end of the Gulf War and 9/11 I don't think there was ever a time of such fervid patriotism as during the 1976 Bicentennial Year. I have fond memories of ringing my church's bell as an eight year old to signify that very special long ago Fourth of July. There were the Bicentennial minute advertisements on tv where it seemed they used every famous actor in Hollywood to convey a patriotic message. I would love to find a copy of this cartoon that I enjoyed as a kid and would no doubt again enjoy as an adult. It had a great song in it called Freedom Ride and featured the voices of many celebrities.
Paul Hardcastle: 19 (1985)
I remember this song
I remember this song from the summer of 1985 when the movie Rambo: First Blood Part II was released and that was also the summer I first joined the military. It became one of those songs that I could not get out of my head. This was before the Gulf War when the wounds of Vietnam were still very fresh (our victory against Saddam provided a measure of healing and closure). Peter Thomas, the famed narrator of Forensic Files and World War II veteran, is the one who makes this song. His narration from a previous special on Vietnam veterans is played where he points out the average of the Vietnam Soldier was only 19 years old (as compared to 26 in World War II). He also points out that they were exposed to hostile fire every day and NONE of them got a heroes welcome. I am glad that this song still reminds us of how badly and shamefully we mistreated these heroes and that today even those against the wars still love and support our fighting men and women.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Man on the Edge (1987)
The dark side of Luke Skywalker
In 1977, a young actor named Mark Hamill achieved Hollywood immortality as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. However, this has been both a blessing and a curse to him, a blessing in the sense he achieved success most actors can only dream of, a curse in the sense that he has never been able to break away from this role. He shows what a fine actor he is in this episode of Alfred Hitchcock presents that is a remake of an old episode of the original series. Hamill's character checks into a swank motel and before you know it he is out on a high ledge threatening to jump. However, there is so much more to it than this. A crowd gathers below (some of them chanting jump jump) while of course the news crew is there to cover the grim spectacle. A seemingly compassionate negotiator tries to talk Hamill's character to come in. It turns out he isn't the nice guy you think he is and Hamill has a diabolical plane of revenge in mind. A good episode with the typical Hitchcock twist.
Your Chance to Live: Technological Failures (1972)
The one and only Peter Thomas
I love Forensic Files and have seen every episode and what made it such an excellent show to me was Peter Thomas's wonderful narration. Almost everyone has heard this magnificent narrators voice but I am one of the few that actually know his name. Forensic Files was just never the same after his death. This man had the most perfect storytelling voice that I have ever heard. This is a delightful short from the 1970s where we get to actually see him in person as he takes us on a delightful tongue in cheek spoof ride concerning the problems of modern technology and how me might have possibly become too dependent on it in our everyday lives. What I like about this film is the fact is shows how our forefathers got along without technology, life was simpler and maybe better back then. They had the character and the discipline that this soft generation of today lacks.
Arena: Making 'The Shining' (1980)
Fascinating
This is one of those cases where the story about the making of a film is almost as fascinating as the film itself! Stanley Kubrick was a true genius and his films are a joy to watch (my favorites are Doctor Strangelove and Full Metal Jacket) however according to all accounts he wasn't a joy to work with given his obsession for doing retakes. He was almost obsessive compulsive making poor Shelly Duvall do 127 takes of just one scene (that is in the Guiness Book of World Records by the way). This behind the scenes look at the film show Kubrick as quiet and professional but very demanding. You also get to see a kinder gentler Jack Nicholson when the cameras weren't rolling.
The Jack Benny Program: Jack Hires Opera Singer in Rome (1957)
Jack Benny and 007?
Jack Benny was one of the greatest comic legends of all time. I used to watch his show when I was a little kid and am so glad to have found the episodes again on youtube (so many tv shows from the early days were wiped and lost forever like the first decade of The Tonight Show). I vaguely remembered watching this episode when I was about ten years old. I remember the scene where Jack and his wife Mary keep walking up and down a long flight of steps and where Jack has imaginary conversations with his ego. The most amazing thing about this episode is it features an early appearance by none other then Sean Connery! Five years before the first Bond movie he has a small part as an Italian accented tour guide who meets Jack and Mary when they arrive in Rome!
Screen Test: Dennis Hopper (1964)
If only
I have always liked watching Dennis Hopper, I have to admit he is a "guilty pleasure" of mine, an actor I'm almost ashamed to admit I like! For many years, Hopper was known more for his wild antics and drug use then he was for any solid work, however he was sober for the last twenty six years of his life and made us for lost time giving excellent performances in Hoosiers, Blue Velvet and Speed among others as well as directing the acclaimed movie Colors. A painter, a poet and an accalimed photographer as well as a director and actor Hopper was a true renaissance man. You only wonder what more he could have accomplished had been sober and responsible all of his career. He could have been the greatest and ruled Hollywood!
Sight (2023)
Ming Wang is a hero
This is one of the finest movies I have seen all year! I was so disappointed when I was the only one in the theatre. This is a powerful and uplifting movie with a message of love and hope and people want to see these stupid horror and super hero movies instead. Doctor Ming Wang is a real life hero. His early life was horror growing up in China during the cultural revolution he was beaten and subjected to untold horrors against him and his family. His only blessings are his intelligence and his loving parents. He overcomes racism and other obstacles to come to the us and complete medical school. He finds himself faced with the formidable task of helping a young Indian girl who has been blinded with acid. The opening scene reenacting her miserable excuse for a mother doing this gave me chills. He is passionate about helping this child and finds a new daring technique he thinks will restore her sight and he is anguished when it doesn't. Nonetheless he gets courage and inspiration from this beautiful child who sees with her heart instead of her eyes. In the end of the movie there is a beautiful message from the real life Doctor Wang and it mentions how his work has helped countless blind people see again. By all means, go see this great film.
Leonard Nimoy: The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins (1968)
Nimoy singing
There was a story I read online about a man who was attending a Star Trek convention and gave Nimoy a copy of this song on a record and he said Nimoy looked upset saying that "I thought we burned all these!" I got a good laugh watching him sing about the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins. The people who only know Nimoy as the emotionless Mister Spock would get a big laugh watching him sing this song. Nimoy actually did a lot more then play Spock. He narrated In Search Of..., he was an accomplished photographer who wrote several volumes of poetry, he costarred on Mission Impossible for two seasons and directed several films and was also an accomplished stage actor. He was a man of many talents.
The Bottle and the Throttle (1968)
Don't drink and drive
So many people have made fun of those old "scare" films that they used to show to us in driver's ed class (this was before texting and driving became a danger). This is a good film though with a grim message about drinking and driving. It opens at the scene of an accident where a mother and child have been killed and the driver that felt he could "handle" a few beers in his monumental stupidity and will have to pay for the rest of his life. There is a very good lecture in the film about how even a little alcohol can severely impair your ability to make decisions and drive. It is a terrifying message this film presents. How many tragedies and heartaches could have been avoided if only people hadn't drank and got behind the wheel.
Mommy Meanest (2024)
I felt so sorry for the daughter
Lifetime movies are guilty pleasures. Yes they usually are the movie equal of junk food but they are entertaining. This one tackles the subject of cyber bullying. My goodness in my days the nerds just got their heads pushed in the locker or commode now they are bullied from afar. An intelligent sweet high school girl is almost driven to madness and suicide by the vile texts she keeps getting and there are hundreds of them disgusting beyond words. I at first thought the culprit was the dad because the opening scene shows the parents fighting and they mentioned the mother got a restraining order against him. Its turns out (SPOILER) that the culprit is none other then the mother who seemed so sweet and loving (they say its those kinds you need to watch out for). I felt bad for the daughter but was happy that they caught this mommy from hell in the end.
Aleve: Leonard Nimoy (2006)
Funny
This is a television commercial for aleve pain medication. It shows Leonard Nimoy about to attend a "Star Trek" convention and he's talking to his agent on the phone telling him he will not be able to make it because arthritis pain won't allow him to spread his fingers in the legendary "Vulcan greeting". His agent recommends the miracle drug aleve and in the next scene Nimoy comes on stage while his devoted fans go into a tizzy and gives the famous salute. I got a autographed picture of Nimoy a few years before he died and I mentioned in my letter that I had never seen an episode of Star Trek but I loved In Search Of...that he narrated. It must have been one of the strangest fan letters that he ever got!
Joy Ride: An Auto Theft (1976)
A powerful lesson
Tom Schulman wrote the screenplays for What About Bob? Dead Poets Society and Honey I Shrunk The Kids. He got his start at the typewriter doing this little 1976 film with a big message that is still just as crucial today because kids are as irresponsible as ever when it comes to driving. There is drinking and driving and texting and driving and in this film it is auto theft and joy riding. This film is so 1970s. People leave theiir keys in the ignition and don't even bother to put on seat belts! Two Beavis and Butthead teenage boys steal a friends car and decide to go on a "joy ride". Of course it doesn't matter to them that they don't even have a license. To make matters worse they get two girls to go with them. The girls have doubts when they ask them to get in and you hope they make the right decision but no such luck. These kids are so dumb and immature you really don't particularly care about them or feel bad about their tragic fate in the end. They are being pursued by the police and end up crashing the car. The credits at the end mention this is based on a real life event and three of the kids were killed while the lone survivor was paralyzed for life. Play stupid games win stupid prizes people its as simple as that!
Danger Man: The Battle of the Cameras (1964)
Theres a man who lives a life of danger!
There are certain songs that you just can't get out of your head and Johnny River's hit "Secret Agent Man" has always been one of them with me. This series was shown in both the United Kingdom and the United States starring Patrick McGoohan (who is best known to American audiences as the sadistic warden in the Clint Eastwood film Escape From Alcatraz) as John Drake a dashing and debonair secret agent ala James Bond (the Bond movies were at the height of their success when this show came out). Drake was a unique kind of hero because he usually fought with his wits however he never backed down from a fight. This episode has him after stolen secrets and dealing with a strange disfigured villian who reminds me of Blofeld in the Bond movies. Its a good show that gives Drake a chance to show off his intellectual and fighting skills (there is a good karate fight). A little bit of trivia, I heard they offered McGoohan the role of 007 but he turned it down.
Bitter Old Man (2003)
Powerful
For a movie that is only six minutes long Bitter Old Man packs a whale of a punch with a powerful message. I couldn't stand the father in the story a foul mouthed racist who taunts his son about marrying an African American. In just this short film he disgusted me. I felt so sorry for the loving and decent son that was making one latch ditch effort to reach his father who did not deserve a loving son like this. SPOILER ALERT in the end the father's hateful angry heart gives out and he falls to the ktichen floor and finds himself face to face with Jesus, the shepherd, only its not exactly the kind of Jesus he expected. I just think that in real life this guy wouldn't go to Heaven.
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase (2002)
I can't really feel sorry for him
There is an old Biblical saying that what one sows thou shall reap and this is perhaps a good example. Cornelius "Chevy" Chase's career has had more ups and downs (mostly downs) as the wildest roller coaster and they certainly point this out at the roast. Even by Friar's Club standards this is pretty brutal to watch, Chase doesn't get "roasted" its more like cremated! You get the impression that the people saying the insults aren't joking they really feel that way. But you know what IT'S HIS OWN FAULT!!!! According to all accounts from co stars and from people who have met him Chevy Chase is unpleasant and difficult and this reputation has been with him since his days on SNL. He supposedly cried after the roast but he has no one but himself to blame for being so disliked.
Fresh Airedale (1945)
Evil should never win out
I loved these old cartoons as a kid and still watch them on youtube. For some reason however this one has always stuck with me as an unpleasant memory. There used to be a rule in Hollywood passed by the Hays censorship office that evil should NEVER win out in a movie. Apparently this one slipped by them. I know its only a cartoon but it bothered me that evil dog got away with so many things form letting a burglar rob his loving masters house to trying to kill that poor little dog in the end and to top it all off that heroic cat who saw him for what he was got the bad treatment and justice didn't triumph in the end.
The Verdict (1982)
Frank is so unlikeable
I enjoy legal movies just as much as the next person (The Caine Mutiny and Inherit The Wind are my favorites). Paul Newman won an Oscar nomination for this film playing a down and out lawyer named Frank Galvin who has fallen on hard times (and into alcoholism as well). Once an important lawyer he has only had four cases in three years losing them all. We see him going to funerals and giving out his card. He spends the first part of the film playing pinball in a bar while telling dirty jokes in a dumb Irish brogue. Jack Warden, always a great character actor, plays his former partner who offers him one last chance at redemption a case involving a young comatose women who suffered permanent brain damage during childbirth at a large Catholic hospital. Galvin finds himself going up against the hospitals high price lawyer played by James Mason (I always think of him in North By Northwest he makes a slimy bad guy). The Verdict is technically a good film with a satisfying ending but my problem is that Newman's character is so unlikeable. He really isn't that good of a lawyer and spends a good part of the film bumbling around like Inspector Clouseau and making a fool of himself in court. Its only at the end that he pulls a rabbit out of a hat and gives a brilliant summation and a surprise witness comes forward to pull his case out of the fire. By the way, Bruce Willis is one of the spectators in the courtroom as Newman sums up his case.
Mr. Saturday Night (1992)
Buddy was a yutz!
I have been a big fan of Billy Crystal ever since I saw City Slickers and When Harry Met Sally. In most of his movies, and in interviews I have seen with him he comes across as the most likeable kind of guy. This movie was such a big let down for me because so many have called it Crystal's materpiece. He directed and co wrote it as well as starred and in many ways did a great job. He handled the dramatic shifts in time in the movie very well and got a great performance out of David Paymer as Buddy's long suffering brother but Crystal made one mistake. This movie is supposed to be a funny tear jerker where you feel sorry for Buddy but he is such an unlikeable character a mean bully to everyone around him that Don Rickle's wouldn't even like him. If you want to see Billy at his likeable best watch City Slickers.