RIP Cliff Robertson

As you may have read, Cliff Robertson passed away this past weekend.

Many will remember him as Uncle Ben in the Spider-Man movies, or even as Shame on the old Batman series. Perhaps some will note his performance in Charly, or even his involvement in fighting a check forging scandal.

Personally, I've always liked his television work in the early 1960s, especially on The Twilight Zone ("One Hundred Yards Over the Rim" and "The Dummy" and The Outer Limits ("The Galaxy Being").

The following videos are offered in tribute. Enjoy.

Happy Bogart's Birthday

Bogie
Originally uploaded by Gordon D

Quite frankly, I'm burned out on Christmas.

It's not just the commercialism or the competition with other holidays - it's the alleged "war on Christmas", as well as an increasing hype about a holiday where you're supposed to be nice...but screw everyone else the other 364 days in the year.

However, I have come up with a great alternative - today, I am celebrating Humphrey Bogart's birthday.

Unlike the birth of Christ, we have historical records proving that Bogart was born on December 25th. In addition, let's face it - he's just plain cool. (Non-PC cigarette in his mouth notwithstanding).

He's a man whose work is stellar. He has overcome many obstacles, including being named "Humphrey". In addition, he doesn't take any guff from anyone. Maybe - just maybe - he is the man our country needs to unite and live as one. This year, I'm forgoing the usual holiday cheer...and celebrating a man who can serve as a beacon of hope for us all, regardless of religious belief, or of none.

So, everyone, my apologies...but best wishes for a happy Bogie's birthday!

Wikipedia entry

IMDB entry

Bogie's Official Web Site

Tribute Site

Bogie: A Celebration of the Life and Films of Humphrey Bogart

The. Best. Bogart. Film. Ever.

The. Other. Best. Bogart. Film. Ever.

Watch Bogie's final film, Beat the Devil, online

Download Bogie's final film, Beat the Devil, through a Public Domain Torrent

5 Better Alternatives to David Hasselhoff

Dear Blogosphere,

Recently, I have become increasingly distressed at the attempts to make David Hasselhoff a kind of hipster icon. No, not because of the infamous video, but because - at his cold, dark heart - Hasselhoff demonstrates nothing more than a relatively inflated ego, sharply defined lack of talent, and poor taste in plastic surgeons.

(However, the recent release of his autobiography does nothing to settle the dread which is creeping in my heart - if anything, I am increasingly unsettled).

However, as a public service to you, the reader, I would like to suggest five other men who are worthy of public, hipster recognition. (I can't think of five women, and encourage female bloggers to take this on as a challenge).

1. Tom Jones - Unlike many hipster icons, this is a man who truly deserves adoration. He has one hell of a voice (don't believe me? Listen to these tracks, and watch as he makes the crappily written theme to Thunderball sound sexy). By comparison, Hasselhoff's singing sounds like an asthmatic death rattle. This is the man who wrote the book on reinvention - he deserves more love.
   
2. Robert Conrad - Although 70s hipsters dug his Eveready commercial, there's one key scene that determines Mr. Conrad's coolness. On an episode in the The Wild Wild West - The Complete Second Season DVD set, Mr. Conrad takes out a bunch of bad guys...with a bowl of fruit. If they weren't focused on comics, you know these two would be all over this.
3. Avery Brooks - Ok, he was pretty intimidating on Spenser: For Hire; however, he played the greatest Star Trek captain - a man who combined Picard's tendency towards contemplation and diplomacy with Kirk's cowboy diplomacy, willing to make tough ethical choices. Plus, he was a tenured professor, has done Shakespeare...and doesn't toot his own horn. I mean, if that doesn't scream cool, I don't know what does.
4. Graham Parker - I've posted about him before. Do a search yourself. Better yet, buy his records, and thank me later.
5. Tom Baker - Finally, a man who in many ways is like a British William Shatner - well known actor from a pop culture phenomenon - only Mr. Baker is more eccentric, and doesn't quite take himself so seriously.

So, readers, just remember - just say, "Hell, no!" to the Hoff. Show your colleagues that we have taste and restraint.

Manly Movies for Manly Men

(Updated July 16, 2019)

I know what you hard-living, single, macho kinda guys like me are thinking, "Hey, Gordon, I want to impress some potential significant other with a movie, but don't want to rely on something that Oprah might like. Do you have any manly movies that the ladies/potential boyfriends/partner might enjoy?"

(NOTE - Yes, I know that there are those who read this blog who are not cisgender heterosexual male. But this post was originally written in 2006. Now, as I write this in 2019, I know better)

First, since the Thanksgiving weekend usually means football, our first manly movie is Brian's Song. (The 1971 version, not the crappy Disney remake). Originally a made-for-television movie (in the dark ages before cable), this is the true story of Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo, who played for the Chicago Bears. Of course, this was during a time when race relations were not at their greatest. In a little under an hour and a half, this movie contains more thoughtfulness, heart, and intellect than in your average Julia Roberts movie. Plus, it stars James Cann and Billy Dee Williams - I mean, come on, Sonny Corleone and Lando Calrissian in the same movie? What guy wouldn't see it! And yes, this is a tearjerker, but it's a tearjerker done with smarts, intelligence, humor, and football.

The other manly movie for manly men that I recommend is The Whole Wide World. If it were just the story of a schoolteacher's relationship with a pulp writer, it wouldn't be a manly movie. (Having Renee Zellwinger as the female lead does earn it some women-friendly points) It does earn manly points for having that pulp writer be Robert E Howard, who created Conan the Barbarian. However, there are two words that make this movie a real manly movie:

Vincent D'Onofrio.

His portray of Robert E Howard is nothing short of brilliant - a key scene in a cornfield, where Howard spins one of his "yarns" for Novalyne Price, shows off D'Onfrio's chops. Moving from sensitivity to madness, from intensity to full-out rage, D'Onofrio gives Howard a kind of weight that a lesser actor might not have. If this were his only other movie (than Full Metal Jacket), D'Onofrio would still be impressive. In my opinion, the man could act out the phone book and I'd pay money to see it.

Like Brian's Song, this is something of a tearjerker, but both movies work in a way opposite Hollywood's current efforts. Rather than manipulate your emotions, these films allow you to care for the characters, so that when tragedy strikes, the shock is legitimate, and there are no easy answers. These are both well-made, heartfelt films and deserve a place on your video shelf.

And if you're a man and don't cry during these movies, you're either dead or a cold-hearted misanthrope.

And the Post Best Worth Waiting For Goes To...

Redhead Fangirl, for her capturing my favorite actor in action.

(And if you're not convinced, rent this movie)