News

Netflix and The Egyptian Theatre have announced that Academy Award-nominated directors Ron Clements and John Musker will be in attendance at a screening of their 1989 animated film “The Little Mermaid” on Thursday, July 24 as part of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association’s 50th anniversary celebration series.

The screening will begin at 7: 30 p.m. and will be preceded by a moderated Q&a with the filmmakers and Lafca member Carlos Aguilar.

The event will commemorate “The Little Mermaid’s” winning of Lafca’s first-ever Best Animation award, which was the first time the organization created a specific category to recognize excellence in animated films.

The original “Little Mermaid” film was released in 1989, based on the 1837 Danish fairytale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. It was written and directed by Clements and Musker, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman. The voice cast includes Jodi Benson,...

John Musker and Roger Clements' 1989 animated hit "The Little Mermaid" premiered on VHS on May 18, 1990, only six months after the movie was released in theaters. At the time, this was considered a quick turnaround, as some films could take a full year between their theatrical runs and their home media rollouts. The VHS release of "The Little Mermaid" was also a coup in that it was one of the few films Disney had deigned to make available on the home video market. For many years, the Mouse House was very, very stingy about releasing its animated hits on VHS, allowing the company to retain a manufactured air of exclusivity. It would talk about certain movies still being "in the vault," leaving animation fans frustrated.

Hence, when "The Little Mermaid" was made available on VHS openly, many breathed a sigh of relief. Also, little kids could now watch it repeatedly, memorizing the film in perpetuity.

As a reminder, it’s pronounced “Fronk-en-steen.”

FX is developing a comedy titled Very Young Frankenstein, inspired by Mel Brooks’ 1974 comedy classic Young Frankenstein. Brooks is among the project’s executive producers along with producing partner Kevin Salter and three alumni of FX’s What We Do in the Shadows — Stefani Robinson (who will serve as showrunner should the project move forward), Taika Waititi and Garrett Basch. Disney’s 20th Television is the studio (forerunner 20th Century Fox released the film). Michael Gruskoff, who produced the film, is also an EP.

FX and 20th TV declined comment.

Young Frankenstein was a parody of/homage to classic monster movies, the 1930s Frankenstein films in particular. The cast includes Gene Wilder, Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Kenneth Mars, Teri Garr and Peter Boyle, who played the monster.

Details of the FX project are being kept quiet for now; Very Young Frankenstein...

The tributes continue to pour in following the shocking death of Academy Award winner Gene Hackman. While the actor was well-known for his intense, often terrifying performances in the likes of Unforgiven and The French Connection, he was not averse to providing the laughs too, starring in seminal director Mel Brooks’ beloved 1974 horror comedy Young Frankenstein.

Brooks has now paid tribute to the actor, taking to X/Twitter to reflect on their time working together, describing Hackman as “perfect” for the role of the blind hermit, Harold.

“I was privileged to know Gene Hackman because he played tennis with another Gene—Gene Wilder. And that Gene told him about a little role called The Blind Hermit in our movie Young Frankenstein. He said, “Do you think Mel would let me play it? I’ve always wanted to do a comedy.” Needless to say, I was over the moon and he was perfect.

Werewolf shows are a part of the ever-popular fantasy genre of TV shows, and over the years, there have been plenty of series focused on the violence, humor, action, and romance that comes with a lupine transformation once a month on the full moon. Fantasy TV shows have always been wildly popular and while vampire TV shows have generally been the clubhouse leader in terms of fandom and success, werewolves deserve a shoutout too. They may not be as sexy as vampires, smart as witches, or titillating as ghosts, but werewolves have plenty to offer.

Werewolf shows are not simple endeavors. Typically, in lore, people turn into werewolves once a month, and typically they lose all control of their faculties, not exactly caveats that make for easy, character-driven storytelling. The werewolf in the Universal Monsters movies is not a hero after all. So a good TV show based around werewolves...

With a vast range of Disney movies, it can be hard to know which one to go with, especially when looking for a film that is suitable for a young audience. While the studio is known to create movies for the whole family, some wouldn't appeal to children, nor would they be appropriate. However, there's a whole host of films that meet the G certificate rating.

There is a Disney film for every movie fan's taste. Some involve talking animated animals, and others depict a teenager's journey to becoming a princess. Whether with songs or without, the below selection of G-rated movies provides a varied choice for younger viewers.

Updated by Alexandra Locke on December 24, 2024: Disney is known for making movies that are fun for the whole family - including even the youngest members. Disney has a wide selection of Rated G films, but these are among the best.

During the 1970s, American cinema was in the midst of the New Hollywood movement. When the Production Code officially lost all its power in the late 1960s, American films no longer had to abide by the oppressive and restrictive rules that had been in place for the past three decades. The Production Code's dismantling led to an explosion of creativity, particularly in the comedy genre.

In today's cultural climate, comedies do not typically receive the same level of adulation as dramas. However, throughout the 1970s, comedies ranked among Hollywood's most acclaimed genres. Comedies such as M*A*S*H, The Sting, American Graffiti, and Annie Hall each garnered Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, with The Sting and Annie Hall both winning the Oscar's top prize. Filmmakers like Woody Allen, Hal Ashby, and Mel Brooks reigned supreme as some of the best comedy directors working in the United States during the 1970s.

Mash was an incredibly popular sitcom and its finale remains the most-watched of all time, making it unlikely that its record will be broken. Mush, an animated parody of Mash featuring canine versions of the characters, was produced by Filmation but received poorly and eventually got cancelled. The failure of Mush led to the cancellation of the entire Uncle Croc's Block show and marked Filmation's first-ever cancellation from a network, ending their relationship with ABC.

Mash's popularity led to a very strange parody, Mush, which ultimately failed. Regarded as one of the best sitcoms of all time, it shouldn't be surprising that Mash was also immensely popular during its time on the air. Mash's finale remains both the most-watched finale of any show and the most-watched episode of a scripted series. Considering the many viewing avenues now, it's unlikely that its record will be broken. Before it even reached that,...

This post contains spoilers for "The Little Mermaid."

The live-action version of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" hits theaters tomorrow. In addition to some of the songs we know and love from the 1989 animated version of Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale, we're getting some new ones from composers Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) has one now, and Scuttle (voice of Awkwafina) even raps.

I attended the recent press conference for the film, where director/producer Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca spoke about a song that didn't make the cut. When I got to talk to them one-on-one during the movie's press day, I asked them about it. The song was for Javier Bardem, who plays King Triton — Ariel's (Halle Bailey) Mer-Papa. The two shared their perspectives on Bardem's prowess as a singer and the reason why the song was cut. But fear not, fishy friends...

“Who are those guys?”

Why, it’s Regé-Jean Page and Glen Powell, recent breakouts from “Bridgerton” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” and they’ve just been announced as new spins on the late 60s, anti-establishment, true Western buddy classic, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”

The project was announced on Thursday as a series for Amazon Prime Video. Its official title is not yet known and the facts are few, other than that the project will be shepherded by Joe and Anthony Russo, directors of “Avengers: Endgame” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” the second and fifth biggest worldwide box office earners in history.

Initial scripts are being written by cousins Kaz and Ryan Firpo, best known for their work on Marvel’s “Eternals.” The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the project is “envisioned as a larger franchise with multiple series and spinoffs.”

George Roy Hill’s 1969 film (written by William Goldman) starring Paul Newman,...

I'll start this with a confession: I'm not a huge fan of Pixar films. As a cinema lover, I appreciate all the beautiful artwork that goes into them. However, I don't feel the emotional connection to these stories that others do. Of course, I'm always relieved when Woody and the gang find their way back to Andy or when Nemo and his dad finally reunite. But none of the animated films are on my binge-watch or favorites list. However, I am a complete and total sucker for all the old-school Disney animated movies.

I love "Mulan," "Beauty and the Beast," and, my absolute favorite, "The Little Mermaid." I'm sure my affinity for these movies is somewhat dependent on nostalgia, but I feel a connection to them that I don't for Pixar's newer and flashier films. Those who grew up in the late-'80s to early-'90s can recite lines and...

The stars of the excellent new comedy doc Joy Ride discuss some of their favorite two handers with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Graduate (1967) – Neil Labute’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Cocoon (1985)

Mission: Impossible III (2006)

Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964)

Police Academy 3: Back In Training (1986)

Crooklyn (1994)

Call Me Lucky (2015)

Shakes The Clown (1991)

A History Of Violence (2005)

You Only Live Twice (1967)

Artists And Models (1955) – Tfh’s global trailer search

Joy Ride (2021)

Joy Ride (2001)

Stay (2005)

Sleeping Dogs Lie (2006)

Capturing The Friedmans (2003)

Bela Lugosi Meets A Brooklyn Gorilla (1952) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s review

Sleepless In Seattle (1993)

The Producers (1967) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review

My Friend Irma Goes West (1950)

Delicate Delinquent (1957)

Keyholes Are For Peeping (1972)

The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1962) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Charlie...

“I am not a Frankenstein. I’m a Fronkensteen!”

We Are Movie Geeks’ own Jim Batts will be hosting a screening of one of his favorite films. It’s Mel Brooks’ classic comedy Young Frankenstein from 1974. The screening will beMonday October 4th at the Buder branch of the St. Louis Library. Showtime is 1:30pm and it’s a Free event. Jim will introduce the film and host a post-discussion about it afterwards. Don’t miss it!

Good comedies are rare. Great ones are rarer. Great parodies are needles in the haystack, and this is it. The parody can be brilliantly funny (most are horrid), but Young Frankenstein is near perfect.

Mel Brooks hit all nails right on the head in his black & white classic from 1974. Taking its themes from the Mary Shelley novel and providing some spot-on homage/parody to the James Whale classic Bride Of Frankenstein (and plenty...

Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” will hit theaters on May 26, 2023, Disney announced on Friday.

“The Little Mermaid” is the live-action take on Disney’s 1989 animated musical classic. In addition to Halle Bailey as Ariel, it also stars Javier Bardem as King Triton, Melissa McCarthy as the wicked Ursula, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Awkwafina as Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric.

Bailey was cast to play Ariel in “The Little Mermaid” remake way back in 2019, but the film was one of many that was forced to shut down production before it could get going. It had since been filming throughout the pandemic in London.

Rob Marshall is directing “The Little Mermaid” with a script by Jane Goldman.

The original “Little Mermaid” film was released in 1989, based on the 1837 Danish fairytale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. It was written and directed by Ron Clements and John Musker,...

The Producers

Blu ray

Kino Lorber

1967 / 1.85:1 / 88 min.

Starring Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder

Cinematography by Joseph Coffey

Directed by Mel Brooks

At his most unrestrained, Mel Brooks would have made Voltaire blush. Would such uninhibited comedy survive under the gaze of today’s self-appointed blacklisters? The answer can be found in the success of that very uninhibited Amazon darling—not to mention Academy-approved—Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen, the film documents the latest diplomatic outreach of Kazakhstan’s most enthusiastic xenophobe, Borat Sagdiyev. For the past twenty five years Cohen has sicced this deeply racist, anti-Semitic, and somehow weirdly lovable doofus on civilization’s bad actors up to and including bottom-feeder extraordinaire, Donald Trump. Cohen infiltrated much of Maga-world for Borat’s latest adventure which was highlighted by a full-body impersonation of Trump (in a Coppertone-colored skin suit), and a hotel room encounter with the slimy Rudolph Giuliani at his most slithery.

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The Flop That Wasn't

By Raymond Benson

Most folks today may be familiar with The Producers, the Broadway musical comedy that ran for years, toured around the globe, and elicited laughter and joy for audiences of all ages. There are likely less people today who have experienced the original 1967 film upon which the successful musical is based. For decades, though, the movie was all we had.

In the mid-sixties, Mel Brooks was a successful television writer, having worked on hilarious comedies with Sid Caesar, among other works, and later the co-creator of Get Smart. Brooks then came up with what was first intended to be a novel, then a play, and finally a screenplay called Springtime for Hitler—an outrageous satire lampooning the Nazis. The Hollywood producers to whom Brooks pitched the piece were appalled. No audience would accept a “comedyâ€. about Hitler.

Paranoia strikes deep! Alan J. Pakula made The Watergate-era conspiracy creepshow in this sinister extrapolation of political trends. Warren Beatty’s investigative reporter thinks he has an inside track to expose and destroy what looks like a shadow assassination bureau. If the technology of 1974 could be made this efficient, our own Brave New World of ‘truth control’ seems even scarier. Pakula and cameraman Gordon Willis found a Panavision style that fully expresses the faceless corporate menace; the ‘Parallax Recruitment Montage’ is still the most terrifying piece of psych-out Agit-prop ever assembled.

The Parallax View

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 1064

1974 / Color / 2:39 widescreen / 102 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date February 9, 2021 / 39.95

Starring: Warren Beatty, Hume Cronyn, Paula Prentiss, William Daniels, Jo Ann Harris, Walter McGinn, Jim Davis, Stacy Keach Sr., Ford Rainey, Richard Bull, Kenneth Mars, Bill McKinney, Craig R. Baxley, Anthony Zerbe.

Cinematography: Gordon Willis

Film Editor: John W. Wheeler...

Master of Horror Greg Nicotero takes us on a stroll through some of his favorite movies, as well as a trip through every home video format you’ve ever heard of… and some you haven’t.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Outbreak (1995)

Creepshow (1982)

The Howling (1981)

Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Horror of Dracula (1958)

The Time Machine (1960)

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

King Kong Vs. Godzilla (1962)

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

From Russia With Love (1963)

Planet of the Apes (1968)

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Frankenstein (1931)

The Wolf Man (1941)

Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954)

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

The Towering Inferno (1974)

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954)

Thunderball (1965)

Broadcast News (1987)

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Citizen Kane (1941)

Star Wars (1977)

Jaws (1975)

Bad Day At Black Rock (1955)

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989)

What’s Up Doc? (1972)

Logan’s Run (1976)

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

Dragonslayer (1981)

Aliens (1986)

1917 (2019)

Gravity (2013)

Alien (1979)

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein...

Right now, it seems like everything is bad. Bad and scary. Coronavirus is likely to be hanging around for a good while, getting worse before it gets better. We’re socially distancing from each other and quite a few of us are going to be self-quarantined for weeks at a time.

It’s a stressful time, and one of the things films can be best at is helping us disconnect from the outside world for a few hours. With all this in mind, the HeyUGuys team has some thoughts on films that might help ourselves, and you, find a little chink of light in a difficult time.

Below, you’ll find a list of films that we’ve chosen to recommend simply because they make us happy. Each of these films is available to stream in the UK, so hopefully as you go through it you’ll find a few old favourites,...

Hollywood loves to be referential, even when it’s unintentional. This is evident in some of the Oscar contenders for best picture. While each are unique and stand out in their own right, they often draw similarities to past buzzy films and television programs. Will nostalgia help make one of the movies on this list find its name inside that last sealed envelope on Oscar night?

1917

War films, particularly those in which an unlikely band of allies are up against the Germans, have long persevered at award shows. Director Sam Mendes’ period drama follows two young British soldiers stuck in France during the height of World War I who wind up on a mission to save the day. For context, consider former best picture nominees like 2017’s “Dunkirk” and 1998’s “Saving Private Ryan.”

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

American legend Tom Hanks is back again to play another American legend.

For the 30th anniversary of The Little Mermaid I wanted to reshare this piece I wrote about the movie ages ago. Still one of my favourite essays - Nathaniel R

The Little Mermaid (1989)  | Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker Screenplay by Roger Allers, Ron Clements, and John Musker (very loosely based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale) | Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Howard Ashman | Starring the Voices of: Jodie Benson, Pat Carroll, Kenneth Mars and Samuel E Wright | Production Company Walt Disney | Released 11/17/1989

American members of Generation Y or Z and beyond may have a good deal of trouble imagining this but it's true: once upon a time, animated movies were considered highly uncool. They were strictly for babies. Teenagers disdained them. Adults took their children under duress. They barely caused a ripple at the box office. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences ignored them.

Virtual newcomer, Jonah Hauer-King has won the coveted role of Prince Eric in Disney’s live-action remake of ‘The Little Mermaid’.

Hauer-King steps into the role that was initially meant for Harry Styles before he decided to pass on the move.

R&b singer Halle Bailey has been cast as Ariel, whilst Javier Bardem is also on board to play the role of King Triton, the father of Ariel. Melissa McCarthy will play the role of Ariel’s evil aunt Ursula. Daveed Diggs is also on board to play Sebastian.

Mary Poppins Returns’ helmer Rob Marshall is in the director’s chair for the live-action reimagining. Disney and the production team behind it are looking to make contemporary and compelling casting choices, while still paying homage to the beloved animated original.

Also in news – Bill Murray confirmed to return for Jason Reitman’s ‘Ghostbusters’

The film will use some of...

Once a ‘Bond’ Villain, Spanish actor, Javier Bardem is the latest in a line of high-profile names to be linked to Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’. The actor has entered into negotiations to join the cast as King Triton, the father of Ariel.

‘Mary Poppins Returns’ helmer Rob Marshall is in the director’s chair for the live-action re-imagining. Disney and the production team behind it are looking to make contemporary and compelling casting choices, while still paying homage to the beloved animated original.

Melissa McCarthy is currently in talks to play Ursula while Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina have already joined the cast in undisclosed roles. R&b singer Halle Bailey has been cast as Ariel. Ex-One Directioner, Harry Styles is also in talks to play Prince Eric.

The film will use some of the original songs from the 1989 animated hit as well as new ones from Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Harry Styles seems to have left behind his days in ‘One Direction’ in favour of the movies after getting a taster in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk’. Styles has now entered into negotiations to play the character of Prince Eric in Disney’s live-action remake of ‘The Little Mermaid’.

‘Mary Poppins Returns’ helmer Rob Marshall is in the director’s chair for the live-action re-imagining. Disney and the production team behind it are looking to make contemporary and compelling casting choices, while still paying homage to the beloved animated original.

Melissa McCarthy is currently in talks to play Ursula while Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina have already joined the cast in undisclosed roles. R&b singer Halle Bailey has been cast as Ariel.

Also in news – Armando Iannucci’s ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ to open 63rd BFI London Film Festival

The film will use some of the original songs from...

As if you didn't know, casting for Disney's upcoming live-action remake of their classic 1989 animated movie The Little Mermaid is underway with recent addition Halle Bailey as Ariel. Awkwafina as Scuttle, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, and Jacob Tremblay as Flounder have all been discussed but aren't currently confirmed. Today we have word that Terry Crews and Guy Fieri want to throw their hats into the underwater ring as well for the roles of King Triton and Ursula the Sea Witch.

You can go ahead and check out both Terry Crews' and Guy Fieri's Twitter posts below if you don't believe me!

While sadly Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives host Guy Fieri is joking about his casting as Ursula, I genuinely think The Ridiculous 6 and Sorry to Bother You star Terry Crews would make a killer King Triton. If, you know, The Dark Tower and Hobbs & Shaw actor Idris Elba isn't up for the part.

R&b singer Halle Bailey has been cast as Ariel in Disney’s forthcoming live-adaptation of ‘The Little Mermaid’ after an extensive search of young talent.

‘Mary Poppins Returns’ helmer Rob Marshall is in the director’s chair for the live-action reimagining. Disney and the production team behind it are looking to make contemporary and compelling casting choices, while still paying homage to the beloved animated original.

“After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance — plus a glorious singing voice — all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role,” says Marshall.

Melissa McCarthy is currently in talks to play Ursula while Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina have already joined the cast in undisclosed roles.

Also in news – Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort and Harry Styles join the race to play Elvis in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic

The film will use...

Melissa McCarthy has entered into early talks with Disney to star in the live-action adaptation of ‘The Little Mermaid’ as the sea witch Ursula.

‘Mary Poppins Returns’ helmer Rob Marshall is in the director’s chair for the live-action reimagining. Disney and the production team behind it are looking to make contemporary and compelling casting choices, while still paying homage to the beloved animated original.

The film will use some of the original songs from the 1989 animated hit as well as new ones from Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda is also producing the film along with Marshall, Marc Platt and John DeLuca. David Magee wrote the script.

Also in news – ‘Ghostbusters 2020’ calls on Paul Rudd to join the cast

The film tells the story of a mermaid princess named Ariel who dreams of becoming human, after falling in love with a human prince named Eric. Written and directed by Ron Clements and John Musker.

The Little Mermaid rekindled Walt Disney’s animation excellence, launching the current wave of films and fascination with the princesses. It remains a stunning piece of work, with excellent songs and vocal performances, that continues to hold up well with repeated viewings. Jodi Benson’s innocent, yearning Ariel is well matched by the scheming Pat Carroll as Ursula, one of the more frightening antagonists in the animated oeuvre.

For me, though, the film’s magical place in history is enhanced because it was the first film we took Kate to see. Snuggled between us, on a booster seat to see the screen, she was enchanted, eyes wide and riveted. I enjoyed it from a craft and entertainment standpoint, but she fell in love because of the Disney magic.

The 1989 release is out as part of their 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Signature Collection line.

The well-known story is nicely adapted...

In honor of its 30th anniversary, two-time Academy Award-winner The Little Mermaid dives into the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection with all-new bonus features and a sing-along mode. The magical, musical tale of mermaid princess Ariel, along with loveable sidekicks Sebastian and Flounder, and the love-to-hate sea witch Ursula, is shore to make a splash with all generations when it comes home for the first time Digitally in HD, 4K Ultra HD and Movies Anywhere on Feb. 12, and on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on Feb. 26.

The Disney Signature Edition of The Little Mermaid showcases its award-winning musical score and iconic songs such as "Under the Sea" and "Part of Your World" with a sing-along mode allowing you to accompany this beloved cast of characters on their journey. Never-before-seen bonus features bring legendary composer Alan Menken and some of Disney's most recognizable leading ladies together around a piano to reminisce,...

The Greatest Showman and Spider-Man: Homecoming actress, Zendaya has reportedly been offered the lead in Disney’s Live-Action remake of The Little Mermaid.

According to That Hashtag Show, the ex-Disney star is rumoured to have been offered the role of Ariel. However, reps for both Zendaya and Disney have refused to comment.

Mary Poppins Returns director Rob Marshall is set to take the helm on the remake, with Jane Goldman penning the script. Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda will be composing the music. It is thought the film will serve as both an adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale and the 1989 Disney animated classic.

Also in the news – Top Gun: Maverick adds Jon Hamm and Ed Harris and more to cast

The 1989 animated musical classic tells the story of Ariel, a mermaid princess who dreams of becoming human. It was written, produced, and directed by Ron Clements and John Musker,...

"We've got to find the worst play ever written!" Studiocanal UK has debuted a short new trailer for a 4K restoration re-release of Mel Brooks' original comedy classic The Producers, which first hit cinemas in 1968. They're celebrating the film's 50th anniversary, and putting it back in theaters for one day only this August (in the UK). There's no Us plans yet, but we expect to hear something soon. Brooks' The Producers is about two producers who decide to make a flop Broadway show since it will make them more money than a hit. They go on to produce the hilarious show Springtime for Hitler. Gene Wilder stars in the film, along with Zero Mostel as his producer cohort, with Kenneth Mars, Dick Shawn, Lorenzo St. DuBois, Lee Meredith, Estelle Winwood, Christopher Hewett, and Andreas Voutsinas. Jawohl! This is a major comedy classic and a film that everyone should have seen by now anyway.

We are in the throngs of springtime so it can only mean one thing: it’s time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of movie history’s funniest–and controversial–cult comedies turned classics, The Producers. Returning to nationwide movie theaters for two days only, Sunday, June 3, and Wednesday, June 6 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time), Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Rialto Pictures are bringing back the Mel Brooks‘ comedy masterpiece in a brand-new 4K restoration (at select theaters) so that moviegoers can properly laugh, groan, and laugh again at washed up Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) and his neurotic accountant Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder) as they attempt and epically fail at cashing in on a seemingly surefire flop: a musical extravaganza singing the praises of the Third Reich.

The shock-inducing, rib-tickling Springtime for Hitler becomes an unexpected and unfortunate smash hit, and...

The TCM Classic Film Festival honored Martin Scorsese with the inaugural Robert Osborne Award on Thursday night for his dedication to the preservation of classic and historically significant films. The award was presented by actor and activist Leonardo DiCaprio, a friend of Scorsese’s and a frequent collaborator who's starred in five of the director's films.

The classic-movie festival, hosted by Ben Mankiewicz, runs from April 26-29. The fest kicked things off with a screening of the world-premiere restoration of Mel Brooks' satirical comedy The Producers, starring Gene Wilder and Kenneth Mars, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The...

Without “The Producers,” there might never have been “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein,” and “Spaceballs.” And yet Mel Brooks’ movie debut (which earned him the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay) was the most original work of his career, combining subversive humor with a tender bromance between Zero Mostel’s Max Bialystock and Gene Wilder’s Leo Bloom. This was no genre bender, but it was a cultural assault on fascism and complacency, and it was ahead of its time in elevating the Lgbt artistic community.

In honor of its 50th anniversary, “The Producers” opens the TCM Classic Film Festival Thursday night at the Chinese Theater IMAX in Hollywood with a digital 4k restoration courtesy by Studiocanal. For the 91-year-old Brooks, the cult favorite-turned comedy classic was a miracle that launched his celebrated film career as writer-director.

“It was very simple: You can make more money with a flop than with a hit,...

Anybody who discusses satire in audio-visual media at some point must mention the work of Armando Iannucci. Creator of TV’s The Thick Of It and Veep, with credits that include The Day Today and Alan Partridge, his work is some of the finest in Comedy. And in 2009, Iannucci made his big screen full feature directorial debut with The Thick Of It spin-off In The Loop (one of the best comedies of our times) and now, Iannucci casts his eye to even darker – and even more volatile – political territory with The Death of Stalin.

As concepts go, this film has a pitch black core, as it not only delves into a figure whose actions have reverberated throughout socio-political history but in looking at the events surrounding his death in 1953 and the power struggles within the Soviet Union, it is a brazen era, to say the least, in which to set a Comedy.

“We belong…Dead!”

Please join Washington University’s Film and Media Studies and the Center for the Humanities as they celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein with a free screening of Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Young Frankenstein (1974). The event takes place at Brown Hall, Room 100, Washington University in St. Louis Friday October 20th, 2017 at 7.00 pm. This is a Free event and there will be free popcorn and soda there as well.

Two hundred years have passed since Mary Shelley, the British novelist and dramatist, published her novel Frankenstein. Since that moment, her creation has not only caused a big impact in the literary world, but also in cinema, an art that was not even alive when the monster was born. In celebration of Frankenstein’s upcoming birthday, Film and Media Studies and the Center for the Humanities at Washington University in St. Louis is organizing a free...

Arthur Penn’s detective movie is one of the best ever in the genre, one that rewards repeat viewings particularly well. Gumshoe Harry Moseby compartmentalizes his marriage, his job, his past and the greedy Hollywood has-beens he meets, not realizing that everything is interconnected, and fully capable of assembling a world-class conspiracy. Gene Hackman tops a sterling cast in the film that introduced most of us to Melanie Griffith.

Night Moves

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1975 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 100 min. / Street Date August 15, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99

Starring: Gene Hackman, Jennifer Warren, Melanie Griffith, Susan Clark, Edward Binns, Harris Yulin, Kenneth Mars, Janet Ward, James Woods, Anthony Costello.

Cinematography: Bruce Surtees

Production Designer: George Jenkins

Film Editor: Dede Allen

Original Music: Michael Small

Written by Alan Sharp

Produced by Robert M. Sherman

Directed by Arthur Penn

Night Moves is a superb detective thriller that plays with profound ideas without getting its fingers burned.

Chicago – If Peter Bogdanovich had only been a film writer and critic, he still would have made a major contribution to cinema culture. But he also chose to direct, and besides producing arguably one of the best American films ever made (“The Last Picture Show”), he continues to work and fulfill his creative vision.

Bogdanovich was honored at the 52nd Chicago International Film Festival with a Gold Hugo Career Lifetime Achievement designation, which was augmented with a magnificent documentary about a period in his career called “One Day Since Yesterday: Peter Bogdanovich and the Lost American Film.” The film tells the story of “They All Laughed” (1981), a post modern screwball comedy starring Audrey Hepburn, John Ritter and Dorothy Stratten. Bogdanovich was in a relationship with Stratten during the production of the film, and she was murdered by her ex-husband while the film was being edited. The tragedy, the prescience of...

“I am not a Frankenstein. I’m a Fronkensteen!”

Young Frankenstein plays this weekend (October 7th and 8th) at the Tivoli as part of their Reel Late at the Tivoli Midnight series.

Good comedies are rare. Great ones are rarer. Great parodies are needles in the haystack, and this is it. The parody can be brilliantly funny (most are horrid), but Young Frankenstein is near perfect.

Mel Brooks hit all nails right on the head in his black & white classic from 1974. Taking its themes from the Mary Shelley novel and providing some spot-on homage/parody to the James Whale classic Bride Of Frankenstein (and plenty of references to Son Of Frankenstein as well), Young Frankenstein is a breathless laugh and a half. In a weak comedy, you have the entire cast setting up one character for the laughs. Here, you have every character providing humor in every scene. None more...

Join us for some old-school 16mm Movie Madness! – It’s our monthly 16Mm Double Feature Night at The Way Out Club (2525 Jefferson Avenue in St. Louis) ! Join We Are Movie Geeks‘ Tom Stockman and Roger from “Roger’s Reels’ for a double feature of two complete films projected on 16mm film. The show is Tuesday June 7th and starts at 8pm. Admission is Free though we will be setting out a jar to take donations for theNational Children’s Cancer Society.

First up is Young Frankenstein

Mel Brooks hit all nails right on the head in his black & white classic from 1974. Taking its themes from the Mary Shelley novel and providing some spot-on homage/parody to the James Whale classic Bride Of Frankenstein (and plenty of references to Son Of Frankenstein as well), Young Frankenstein is a breathless laugh and a half. In a weak comedy, you have the entire...

Even if the positive reviews can’t convince you that the prospect of Jon Favreau remaking "The Jungle Book" as a live-action extravaganza was a good idea, it’s a phenomenon we’re all going to to have to get used to. The classic Disneyverse is about to get a whole lot more photo-real, with live action remakes/prequels/versions of "Beauty and the Beast" (starring Emma Watson), "Mulan," "Aladdin," "Tinkerbell," "Winnie the Pooh" (focusing on Christopher Robin and to be penned by Alex Ross Perry), "Dumbo" and "Prince Charming" all in various stages of development right now. And this on the glass-slippered foot of Kenneth Branagh‘s triumphantly traditionalist 2015 take on "Cinderella" which made $542m worldwide, along with Angelina Jolie‘s $758 million worldwide earning "Maleficent."

You can either see it as a symptom of increasing creative bankruptcy or… well, it’s not entirely clear what else there is to see it as.

Over at my other haunt, Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule, there is currently posted, in honor of Halloween week, what I think are two very special treats (and possibly tricks). The first is a very challenging frame grab quiz in which readers are asked to guess the titles of 31 movies based on eerie images that may or may not be so easy to identify. The other is a special edition of the traditional interview-type quiz I occasionally come up devoted entirely to the harrowing world of horror. It features the usual batch of questions for which there are no wrong answers, only your answers, which makes it much more fun to fill out and especially to read. As usual, it’s taking me a while to get around to submitting my own answers to the quiz, but in the creeping shadow of the approaching holiday I thought I...

Robert Redford movies: TCM shows 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' 'The Sting' They don't make movie stars like they used to, back in the days of Louis B. Mayer, Jack Warner, and Harry Cohn. That's what nostalgists have been bitching about for the last four or five decades; never mind the fact that movie stars have remained as big as ever despite the demise of the old studio system and the spectacular rise of television more than sixty years ago. This month of January 2015, Turner Classic Movies will be honoring one such post-studio era superstar: Robert Redford. Beginning this Monday evening, January 6, TCM will be presenting 15 Robert Redford movies. Tonight's entries include Redford's two biggest blockbusters, both directed by George Roy Hill and co-starring Paul Newman: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which turned Redford, already in his early 30s, into a major film star to rival Rudolph Valentino,...

Hard to imagine, but there was a time, before the release of "The Little Mermaid," when even Disney's own studio chief didn't expect much from the movie because it was a "girl's film." But Jeffrey Katzenberg was happy to be proved wrong when the film was released 25 years ago this week (on November 17, 1989).

"The Little Mermaid" was not only an enormous critical and commercial success, but it also launched a creative renaissance in Disney's animated features (including such modern classics as "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King") and a wave of princess-mania that continues to this day.

Still, as many times as you or your kids have watched "Little Mermaid" (probably many, many, many times), there's a lot you may not know about it, including who almost starred in it, who the characters were drawn to look like, and what was really up with that scene of the bishop with the bulging pants.

“For the experiment to be a success, all of the body parts must be enlarged. “

Movies for Foodies, a regular film series put on by Chef Liz Schuster, Chef Steve Schmidt, and the other talented chefs at Tenacious Eats, is back in a new location and a fresh slate of films to write menus around. Enjoy a five-course gourmet meal (and five unique cocktails) while enjoying one of your favorite movies! That’s the Tenacious Eats way! The movie starts at 8pm. The doors open at 6:00 for the pre-show which includes an hour of Super-8 Movie Madness!

The new locale is Food Outreach, 3117 Olive Street in St. Louis. The next Tenacious Eats ‘Movies for Foodies’ event will be a screening of the Mel Brooks’ 1974 gutbuster Young Frankenstein on October 30th. Tickets are $65.00 and ticket information can be found at the Tenacious Eats site Here

http://tenaciouseats.com/

Good comedies are rare.

“I am not a Frankenstein. I’m a Fronkensteen!”

Young Frankenstein plays this weekend (October 10th and 11th) at the Tivoli as part of their Reel Late at the Tivoli Midnight series.

Good comedies are rare. Great ones are rarer. Great parodies are needles in the haystack, and this is it. The parody can be brilliantly funny (most are horrid), but Young Frankenstein is near perfect.

Mel Brooks hit all nails right on the head in his black & white classic from 1974. Taking its themes from the Mary Shelley novel and providing some spot-on homage/parody to the James Whale classic Bride Of Frankenstein (and plenty of references to Son Of Frankenstein as well), Young Frankenstein is a breathless laugh and a half. In a weak comedy, you have the entire cast setting up one character for the laughs. Here, you have every character providing humor in every scene. None more...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a 40th anniversary screening of “Young Frankenstein” with special guests Mel Brooks, Cloris Leachman, Teri Garr and executive producer Michael Gruskoff on Tuesday, September 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Film historian Leonard Maltin will introduce the comedy classic and host a live onstage discussion with Brooks, Leachman, Garr and Gruskoff.

“Young Frankenstein,” Brooks’s 1974 homage to the Golden Age of monster movies, features a large ensemble cast including Leachman, Garr, Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars and Gene Hackman. It earned Oscar® nominations for Adapted Screenplay (Wilder, Brooks) and Sound (Richard Portman, Gene Cantamessa).

Additional Academy events coming up in September at the Bing Theater in Los Angeles are listed below, with details at www.oscars.org/events:

“Let There Be Fright: William Castle Scare Classics”

The...

The Little Mermaid - Disney - Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray Combo Pack Director: John Musker, Ron Clements Cast: Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, Sam Wright, Kenneth Mars,Buddy Hackett. Full cast + crew If you're between the age of, say, 25 and 35, chances are you don't even realize just how much you love The Little Mermaid. Of course anyone of any age can love this movie, but if you're of the vintage that grew up with VHS copies of this Disney classic, you're going to get all kinds of warm and fuzzy feelings when you pop in this gorgeous Blu-ray and Ariel starts singing for the first time. And if you happen to be a parent, it's a delight to see that this tale of a young girl with an independent spirit that may be a bit too...

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The Little Mermaid - Disney - 3D Blu-ray and Blu-ray Combo Pack Director: John Musker, Ron Clements Cast: Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, Sam Wright, Kenneth Mars,Buddy Hackett. Full cast + crew If you're between the age of, say, 25 and 35, chances are you don't even realize just how much you love The Little Mermaid. Of course anyone of any age can love this movie, but if you're of the vintage that grew up with VHS copies of this Disney classic, you're going to get all kinds of warm and fuzzy feelings when you pop in this gorgeous Blu-ray and Ariel starts singing for the first time. And if you happen to be a parent, it's a delight to see that this tale of a young girl with an independent spirit that may be a bit too independent is...

Read More...

The Little Mermaid - Disney - 3D Blu-ray and Blu-ray Combo Pack Director: John Musker, Ron Clements Cast: Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, Sam Wright, Kenneth Mars,Buddy Hackett. Full cast + crew If you're between the age of, say, 25 and 35, chances are you don't even realize just how much you love The Little Mermaid. Of course anyone of any age can love this movie, but if you're of the vintage that grew up with VHS copies of this Disney classic, you're going to get all kinds of warm and fuzzy feelings when you pop in this gorgeous Blu-ray and Ariel starts singing for the first time. And if you happen to be a parent, it's a delight to see that this tale of a young girl with an independent spirit that may be a bit too independent is...

Read More...