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The Video Essay is a joint project of Mubi and Filmadrid International Film Festival. Film analysis and criticism forged a new path with the arrival of the video essay. The limits of this discipline are constantly expanding; new essayists are finding innovative ways to study the history of cinema through moving images. This non-competitive section of the festival is designed to offer this format the platform and visibility it deserves.This selection of seven video essays was programmed by the editors of Notebook and the programmers of Filmadrid. For the past seven weeks, a video essay from the program has premiered each Friday on Notebook. Below is the final edition of this summer.“The Woman in the Yellow Dress” is both a homage to Angie Dickinson and a critical commentary on the role of women in genre film and television, reenacting the sexist mechanisms and representations which underpin these narratives.

Keanu Reeves has starred in romances, comedies, monster movies, Shakespeare productions, sci-fi spectaculars, action bonanzas, time travel films, addiction dramas, horror flicks, hengehog adventures, shoot-em-ups, and at least one "SpongeBob" movie. Although he doesn't possess a lot of range as an actor, his personal sense of devotion -- not to mention his relentless decency as a human being -- has fans coming back again and again. He has always seemed interested in variety in his career, equally at peace acting in major blockbusters and tiny low-budget dramas. He has also seemingly valued working with quirky, interesting directors, having acted for the Wachowskis, Ron Howard, Stephen Frears, Kathryn Bigelow, Francis Ford Coppola, Bernardo Bertolucci, Kenneth Branagh, Sam Raimi, Eli Roth, Ana Lily Amirpour, Nicholas Winding Refn, and Alex Winter. 

In the early '90s, Reeves made two films with Gus Van Sant, then considered a new voice on the ever-expanding indie movie scene.

Frances Doel, neé Frances Margaret Doel, writer-producer-executive known for her work with indie film legend Roger Corman, died May 26 after a long illness. She was 83.

Born April 15, 1942 in London, Doel was the daughter of Iris Doel and Sgt. Francis Doel, a Royal Armoured Corps soldier killed in action in France during World War II. Doel found Corman’s job posting for an assistant on a jobs board at Oxford University as a graduating scholarship student of St. Hilda’s College.

A devoted daughter, loving sister, animal lover, and deeply caring friend, Doel died on May 26th after a long illness. She was born on April 15, 1942 in London to Iris Doel and Sgt. Francis Doel of the Royal Armoured Corps, who was killed in action in France during WW2. As a graduating scholarship student of St. Hilda’s College at Oxford University in the U.K., Doel found Corman’s job...

For better or worse, John Wayne, also known as The Duke, became a cinematic symbol of the jingoistic ideals of the American West: rugged individualism, Manifest Destiny, and hypermasculine law and order. With over 100 films to his name and a career that spans five decades, these six films you should see at least once because they not only represent the sheer enormity of John Wayne's star power and why he has become synonymous with the Western genre, but are also foundational works of film history. John Wayne's career is a compelling way to observe the early days of Hollywood under the studio system, a pivotal period in cinema that has inspired generations of future directors.

John Wayne's staunch conservative politics were often questionable. He was a fervent supporter of the House Un-American Activities Committee (Huac), the infamous witch hunt of leftist artists. In 1968, he released "The Green Berets," a propaganda...

Dana Carvey has a long comedy history with Johnny Carson, from wowing the host on early Tonight Show appearances to angering him with that Carsenio character on Saturday Night Live, an impression that made Carson seem old and out-of-touch. Decades later, Carvey still does Carson in his act, including a running bit about the late-night host getting pulled over for drunk driving.

While Carson had real-life DUIs, the gag is mostly a goof on old-timey drink names and inane cocktail bars: “Sorry, Officer, I had a Strawberry Boom Boom at the Winking Rat.” Or: “I had a Feisty Feather at Slippery Tim’s.” Carvey is still improvising variations on the joke, he told David Spade on their Superfly podcast this week, revealing which improvised version killed the hardest at a recent appearance: “I had a Double Leaky Giraffe at the Desperate Sponge.”

Carvey goofing on Carson’s under-the-influence excuses sparked...

The 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival is opening with a flex of galactic muscle: “The Empire Strikes Back,” celebrating its 45th anniversary, will kick off the 16th edition of the festival presented by Turner Classic Movies in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 24. And even better, The Maker himself, George Lucas, will be in attendance to introduce it.

It’ll be an opening turbolaser salvo for a whole weekend of films revolving around the theme “Grand Illusions: Fantastic Worlds on Film,” brilliantly overseen once again by longtime festival director, Genevieve McGillicuddy. Other films in that otherworldly lineup include “Spirited Away,” “The Incredible Shrinking Man,” “Mothra,” and “Earth vs. the Flying Saucers.”

The festival will run the entire weekend, centered as always at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which offers special rates for festival attendees, with screenings at the neighboring Tcl Chinese Theatre IMAX, the Tcl Chinese 6, the Egyptian, and the El Capitan.

Michelle Pfeifer...

Picture the scene: You've been dating this great person for a while and it's time to find out whether they're a keeper. One night over cheeseburgers and vanilla Cokes you decide to pop the question: "Hey, do you like 'Rio Bravo?'" By his own admission, that was a criteria for a successful relationship in director Quentin Tarantino's younger years and he has called Howard Hawks' classic western of the greatest hang-out movies of all time. Depending on your point of view, spending two hours hanging out with John Wayne might not sound like the most appealing prospect, but there is little denying he was a screen icon despite his personal flaws. In "Rio Bravo," we find the Duke at his most engaging and charismatic, and the movie was so successful that it launched an unofficial trilogy.

Released in 1959, "Rio Bravo" was born out of Howard Hawks and...

Quentin Tarantino seems to enjoy watching movies rather than making them. There’s still no word about his tenth and final film, yet he has recommended over 300 movies over the years. His fans might be irked by his unwillingness to be as industrious as his peers, but he sure has good taste. That Tarantino is a film fan more than a filmmaker should come as no surprise, considering that he worked at Video Archives, a video store in Manhattan Beach, California, for five years. Additionally, he is a self-taught director, meaning he had to do plenty of research early in his career. "When people ask me if I went to film school, I tell them, 'No, I went to films," Tarantino was once quoted saying.

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Rio BravoPassedDramaWesternRelease DateApril 4, 1959Runtime141 MinutesDirectorHoward HawksCastSee...

John Wayne achieved major stardom with the 1939 Western film Stagecoach, which marked his first collaboration, as a leading man, with director John Ford, a relationship that reached its pinnacle with the 1956 Western film The Searchers, which is widely regarded as being the greatest and most influential Western film ever made. Ford and Wayne’s historic partnership has somewhat overshadowed another important directorial collaborator in Wayne’s career, Howard Hawks, who first directed Wayne in the classic 1948 Western film Red River. Following Red River, Ford and Wayne next collaborated on the 1959 Western film Rio Bravo, which, like The Searchers, is now regarded as being one of the greatest and most influential films, of any genre, in history.

Rio Bravo features one of Wayne’s greatest screen performances as John Chance, a small-town Texan sheriff who, after arresting the brother of a powerful local rancher for murder, has to hold the man...

The Fall Guy director David Leitch is reportedly in talks to helm the next Ocean's 11 sequel.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, former stuntman turned director and producer David Leitch is in talks with Warner Bros. and/or George Clooney's Smokehouse Productions to direct the hotly-anticipated Ocean's 14. The film is expected to mark the return of Clooney as thief extraordinaire Danny Ocean, as well as the returns of Casey Affleck and Matt Damon as mechanic Virgil Malloy and pickpocket Linus Caldwell, respectively.

Related Josh Gad Says He Was Denied Avatar Role Because He 'Looked Like a Tall, Overweight Smurf'

Josh Gad explains why he lost out on a role in James Cameron's Avatar, largely due to the unexpected results of his Na'vi transformation.

Based on the 1960 heist film Ocean's 11 starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Buddy Lester, Cesar Romero, and Angie Dickinson, 2001's Ocean's Eleven...

There’s a reason we keep coming back to the heist movie genre, again and again and again. That’s because although most movies would have you believe that committing crimes is bad, we can’t help but respect a character who does it well. Robbing a little old lady on the street is unforgivable, sure, but robbing a wealthy old lady who keeps her hoard of ill-gotten money in an impenetrable vault surrounded by lasers and mercenaries? You gotta respect the moxie of anybody who even tries. And if they succeed, well dang, good for them. It sounds like they earned every penny.

There’s no shortage of classic heist movies, but with income inequality on our minds, and billionaires actively destroying everything decent about this planet every single day, the genre seems particularly alluring in the 21st century. Maybe that’s why we’ve had so many classic...

When Charlie’s Angels premiered in 1976, it wasn’t just another crime drama — it was a revolution.

For the first time, three women were the stars of an action-packed TV series, solving crimes, going undercover, and looking fabulous while doing it.

But beneath the glossy exterior of glamorous disguises and high-octane adventures, the show reflected the growing complexities of feminism in the 1970s.

(ABC/Screenshot)

It walked a tightrope between empowerment and exploitation, earning both praise and criticism.

Behind the scenes, contract disputes, casting shake-ups, and creative tensions added to the drama, while the Angels themselves became icons who transcended the small screen.

This is the story of how Charlie’s Angels broke barriers, set new standards, and left a legacy that continues to resonate.

A Glitzy Start: What Made It Revolutionary

When Charlie’s Angels debuted, TV audiences had never seen anything like it.

Women had starred in shows before — Diana Rigg...

Arrow Video’s March 2025 releases promise a treasure trove of cult cinema, featuring everything from gory giallo to shark-infested waters and a Japanese gem making its international debut. With restored classics, genre-defining hits, and packed collector’s editions, this line-up is a must for film fans.

The headline release is Lucio Fulci’s Don’t Torture a Duckling, arriving on 24 March in a pristine 4K restoration. Considered Fulci’s masterpiece, this 1972 giallo blends mystery and horror with biting social commentary. Following a series of child murders in a superstitious village, journalist Andrea (Tomas Milian) and socialite Patrizia (Barbara Bouchet) uncover shocking secrets. With its brutal violence and critique of the Catholic Church, Don’t Torture a Duckling is both provocative and essential viewing. Arrow’s edition includes a collector’s booklet and reversible sleeve, perfect for fans of Italian cinema.

On 3 March, Brian De Palma’s Dressed to Kill arrives in a Limited Edition 4K Uhd.

As Kate Miller’s (Angie Dickinson) guilt turns into trepidation after encountering the stranger at the elevator’s entrance in “Dressed to Kill”, the background score converts from a pensive longing to a soul-tearing screech. We’re alerted to a horrid possibility even before the stranger’s razor has risen or Kate’s wailing and pleas fall on our ears.

Apart from the musical cues, this tragedy has already been foreboded to us by Brian De Palma, who gives us a glimpse of the shadowy figure stalking Kate at least twice before in this tense sequence. These prompts are effective signals that keep the viewers on the edge of their seats, reimposing the dread they would’ve anticipated after coming across its grim title and promotions onto an atypical slasher start: it is a story of marital discord and extramarital agony till Kate’s tragic run-in.

This murder sequence from “Dressed to Kill,...

Police dramas were flourishing in the 1970s (and later parodied in the 1980s) thanks to "Dragnet" when television writer Robert L. Collins hit upon what counted as a genius notion at the tail end of the Richard M. Nixon administration: what if instead of "policeman," "policewoman?" NBC said "Show us," and Collins responded with the buzzy "Police Woman" starring Angie Dickinson as Sergeant Suzanne "Pepper" Anderson.

"Police Woman" was about as progressive as you could expect from an hour-long network drama in the '70s when it was rare for a drama of any genre to be headed up by a woman. Once a week, Dickinson struck a quasi-feminist figure as an ultra-capable officer of the law with a penchant for dressing in tight-fitting shirts in pants. At least once she went undercover in a swimsuit. And as she complained to the press years later, the writers liked to have...

Earl Holliman, the Golden Globe-winning star of “The Rainmaker,” has died at the age of 96, according to media reports.

Holliman starred in the 1956 adaptation of the N. Richard Nash play about a spinsterish woman named Lizzie Curry, played by Katharine Hepburn, who falls in love with a con man played by Burt Lancaster who promises to bring rain to her family’s drought-stricken farm. Holliman played Jim, one of Lizzie’s brothers.

That same year, Holliman also appeared in “Forbidden Planet,” one of the earliest sci-fi film classics. Holliman, who was the last living member of the film’s cast, played the cook on the starship C-57D who humorously bonds with robot Robby when he asks the android where he can find some bourbon.

Holliman’s other big claim to fame is his starring role in “Where Is Everybody?” the very first episode of the legendary sci-fi TV series,...

Earl Holliman, an actor whose scores of credits spanning a half-century ranged from 1950s films Forbidden Planet and Giant to Police Woman and others popular ’70s and ’80s TV dramas and starred in the first episode of The Twilight Zone, died Monday in Los Angeles after a short illness. He was 96.

His niece, Theresa Mullins Harris, announced the news on social media, writing in part: “His dream at 5 years old of becoming a movie star came true, more than he ever could have imagined.”

Holliman got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame won a Supporting Actor Golden Globe for 1957’s The Rainmaker and was nominated for the short-lived early-’90s ABC sitcom Delta, starring Delta Burke. He was a series regular on the latter, playing the understanding owner of a bar where aspiring country singer Delta Bishop (Burke) worked while trying to make it.

Born on September 11, 1928, Holliman...

The 1960s were a great time for stylish heist movies, with many classics which are still loved by fans decades later. The heist genre initially sprung out of film noir, but it gradually developed its own identity, and it came to encompass romantic comedies, action thrillers and even spy movies. The 1960s marked a boom for the genre, after films like Rififi and The Killing brought about a new wave of enthusiasm in the 1950s.

Heist movies in the 1970s got much grittier and darker, in line with the trends of New Hollywood. By contrast, the 1960s delivered some more stylish and lighthearted capers, such as Ocean's 11 and How to Steal a Million. This era was defined by suave thieves pulling off intricately plotted heists, and there wasn't much of the violence and bloodshed that's usually associated with crime movies.

Related 20 Best Heist Movies Of All Time, Ranked

The...

Fans of John Wayne can now stream the actor's classic Western Rio Lobo, which was originally released in 1970. The film, which drew some ire from famed movie critic Roger Ebert, is now available to stream on Prime Video.

Rio Lobo was directed by Howard Hawks, and the screenplay was penned by Burton Wohl and Leigh Brackett. Wayne had previously collaborated with Hawks on 1959's Rio Bravo and 1966's El Dorado before Rio Lobo, which ultimately turned out to be the director's final film. In the film, Wayne plays a Union leader who vows revenge against the traitors who'd assisted Confederate forces in a deadly attack against his troops during the Civil War. Jorge Rivero, Jennifer O'Neill, Jack Elam, Victor French, and Susana Dosamantes also star.

Related John Wayne's Last Film Has a Secret Meaning Most Fans Missed

John Wayne was a legend of the Western genre and his final film,...

Ronald Reagan had such an eventful presidency that everyone seems to forget he was once an actor. In fact, Reagan had a longer career in Hollywood (19371966) than in politics (19671988). The former president's journey in the entertainment industry started at Who radio, where he served as a broadcaster for Chicago Cubs games. He then moved to California where he signed a multi-picture deal with Warner Bros., allowing him to make a whopping 30 films before enlisting in 1942.

After the war, Reagans popularity grew, enabling him to do business with Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Rko Pictures. His new standing in Hollywood also allowed him to be elected as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) president.

For most of Ronald Reagan's career, he concentrated on making westerns. However, he chose to conclude his Hollywood career with a gangster movie before running for California governor. That movie was 1964s The Killers, a blunt, terrifying motion...

During the mid-1970s, television producer Aaron Spelling and the writing duo of Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts hit upon the most spectacularly novel idea: Viewers loved watching women solve crimes. The eureka moment occurred in 1974 when the great and ludicrously beautiful Angie Dickinson scored a primetime hit with "Police Woman." While I'd argue Dickinson could've burned up the Nielsen ratings via weekly readings of Russian literature shot at the Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, she was a must-watch sensation as a glamorously attired detective. Though the scripts were rigorously formulaic for a '70s hour-long cop show, Dickinson's showbiz rep attracted a host of top tier guest stars; "Police Woman" didn't have much of a hook, but thanks to its star, it had plenty of sizzle.

It took some prodding (ABC execs Barry Diller and Michael Eisner abhorred Spelling's pitch), but "Charlie's Angels" became the breakout hit of the 1976 season.

“Never Let Go” is finally here.

And the new supernatural thriller from French filmmaker Alexandre Aja is built around an ingenious concept: a woman (Halle Berry) and her two children (Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins) live alone in a cabin deep in the woods. According to her, a malevolent presence haunts the woods and society has fallen as a result of it. She makes a series of rules for their survival, like being tethered to the house by a rope at all times.

But is she nuts? Or are these really these things out there?

That is something that is played with for much of the movie’s runtime. And it leads to one of the more shocking moments of the film. TheWrap spoke to director Aja about this moment.

Major spoiler warning. Seriously. Turn back now and return to this article after you’ve watched (you don...

One of the all-time most venerated Hollywood directors, Howard Hawks was a master at making movies in every genre under the sun. Whether helming the classic gangster film Scarface, the iconic musical Gentleman Prefer Blondes, the landmark film noir The Big Sleep, or the influential screwball comedy Bringing Up Baby, Hawks had a preternatural understanding of telling stories on the big screen. Of course, his biggest cinematic contributions may reside in the Western film genre.

After making Red River with John Wayne in 1948, Hawks continued working with The Duke throughout their careers. Yet, the glaring similarities between the 1959 Western Rio Bravo and the 1966 Western El Dorado have raised the question among cinephiles are the two movies the same? Did Hawks and Wayne deliberately remake their previous movie or were the story parallels coincidental? To find answers, a side-by-side comparison between them bears closer attention.

Rio Bravo Where to Watchstreamrentbuy

Not...

Frank Griffin, who nosed out another makeup artist to work with Steve Martin on Roxanne, just one of the 20 movies they did together, has died. He was 95.

Griffin died Wednesday of cancer at his home in Studio City, his daughter Roxane Griffin, a veteran Hollywood hairstylist (Avatar, Transparent, 80 for Brady), told The Hollywood Reporter.

Frank Griffin started out in Hollywood as an actor and studio laborer before turning to makeup in the mid-1960s, and he went on to work on Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Scarecrow (1973), Westworld (1973), Cinderella Liberty (1973), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Urban Cowboy (1980), Midnight Run (1988), Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Vacation (1983), Revenge of the Nerds (1984) and Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985).

Survivors also include his sister Debra Paget, who starred in such films as Broken Arrow (1950), Love Me Tender (1956) — Elvis Presley’s first movie — and The Ten Commandments (1956).

His other two sisters were actresses as well: Lisa Gaye,...

Eugene Levy and his son Dan Levy continue to make Emmy history. Four years ago, their comedy series “Schitt’s Creek” won a staggering nine Emmys including best comedy series, actor, actress, supporting actors, writing and directing. Even before “Schitt’s Creek,” Eugene was no stranger to the Emmy universe, winning statutes in 1982 and 1983 as a writer on the beloved “Sctv.” In fact, Dan was just a month old when his dad received his second honor.

Eugene’s nominated this year for the 14th time for outstanding hosted nonfiction series or special for Apple TV +’ “The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy.” Now Eugene and Dan will be the first father and son to host the Emmys airing Sept. 15 on ABC. And here’s bit more history: the 77-year-old Eugene is the oldest Emmy host ever.

Having two hosts is nothing new for the Emmys. Back in 1952, the Emmys were hosted by the...

Ocean's Eleven movies have a star-studded history over five decades, all revolving around charming thief Danny Ocean and his loyal crew. The films rely on charm, style, and cool, with varying levels of fun and enjoyment across the franchise sequels and spinoffs. The future of the Ocean's movies could feature a potential prequel series starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, keeping the heist legacy alive.

Including the original 1960 film, there are five Ocean's Eleven movies spanning almost five decades. Most people are familiar with Steven Soderbergh's 2001 remake of the original Ocean's Eleven movie. This reboot starred George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, and more in what turned into a star-studded affair. It became a beloved blockbuster and spawned two sequels directed by Soderbergh and an all-female spinoff directed by Gary Ross. Other than the 2018 spinoff, Ocean's Eleven revolves around a charming and skilled thief, Danny Ocean,...

Many classic film noirs have been successfully remade for modern audiences, adding new elements to the beloved stories. Through remakes like "The Killers" and "Cape Fear," filmmakers have found ways to update and intensify the dark themes of film noir. The 2021 version of "Nightmare Alley" is a visually stunning and gripping remake that pays tribute to the original film noir classic.

Film noir may have had its heyday during the 1940s and 1950s, but since then, many genre classics have been remade for modern viewers. Through dark, gritty, and incredibly creative concepts, film noirs enthralled audiences with their sinister portrayals of urban environments, shocking criminal happenings, and alluring femme fatales, meaning its no surprise that filmmakers want to revisit these stories time and time again. While its often hard to outdo the original, plenty of remakes of classic noirs were worthy follow-ups that added something new to the previously told story.

There are various suggestions as to when the slasher movie sub-genre began, but it's safe to say it's been with us for at least 60 years. And in those 60 years, there's been a lot of dreck. That's not a bad thing, mind you — dreck can be fun! The slasher film, with its propensity for graphic kills and unstoppable killers taking center stage, is prone to sleaze and cheese, and that can be mighty enjoyable. It's a matter of taste — can you stomach what's being churned out? Or will you head to the toilet and lose your lunch? And then ... will you come back for more?

A new month is upon us, which means it's time for me to yet again highlight some streaming horror titles. And this month is all about slashers! Before we get to it, some ground rules. I tried not to be too obvious here. There are a...

Any Trekkie will be able to tell you that "Star Trek" wasn't a big hit in its initial run in 1966. Indeed, the show was all set to be canceled after its second season, and only a well-organized letter-writing campaign rescued "Star Trek" for a third year. Thanks to the gods of syndication, however, "Star Trek" continued to air in reruns for years, and it wasn't until the early 1970s that the series really started to accrue a massive audience. Prior to 1972, "Star Trek" was more or less a scrap of cult television, deeply beloved only by a small (but passionate) audience of science nerds and free-love enthusiasts. 

The first large-scale "Star Trek" convention was held in New York at the end of January in 1972, and by then, it was clear that the series had become a phenomenon. Fans gathered to meet actors, discuss technology, and swap merch. "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry frequented large-scale conventions,...

With The Case of the Bloody Iris, director Giuliano Carnimeo and writer Ernesto Gastaldi constructed one of the quintessential giallo films from that genre’s peak period in the early 1970s. Though it may lack the operatic excesses of Dario Argento’s “Animal” trilogy, the 1972 film is meticulously assembled with a keen eye to visual stimulation, and conveys its commentary about matters of race and gender at an almost subliminal level. What’s more, the filmmakers knowingly tinker with some of the iconic tropes of the giallo.

The Case of the Bloody Iris’s narrative centers around a 20-story Genovese apartment complex of Brutalist architectural design. Most of the action takes place in three neighboring flats. These settings emphasize the alienation of modern urban existence, as well as the kind of creeping paranoia that stems from living packed in tiny cubes on top of each other. The opening set piece...

Brats explores the lasting impact of the "Brat Pack" nickname, with members expressing disdain and wanting to move on from it. The original 1985 New York Magazine article named a broader group of actors, but the core eight are now the most agreed upon. The "Brat Pack" members, including McCarthy, Lowe Estevez, and Moore, shared their distaste for the nickname in the film.

On June 13, Andrew McCarthys documentary Brats will hit Hulu with the tagline Everybody wanted to be in the Brat Pack. Except them. McCarthy is a talented and experienced television director with credits including The Blacklist, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Good Girls, and Orange Is the New Black. However, in Andrew McCarthys movies, he isnt known for his directing skills, but for his acting. With films like Class, St. Elmos Fire, Pretty in Pink, and more, he was named a member of the 1980s Brat Pack.

Brats will...

Meeting John Wayne led to Michael Caine's surprising career advice tip: talk low, talk slow, and don't say too much. John Wayne advised Caine to never wear suede shoes after he had a hilarious encounter involving a starstruck man and urine. The advice came during a turning point in Caine's career as his fame was growing, spurred by his performance in the hit movie Alfie.

A surprising encounter with John Wayne led to Michael Caine receiving some unexpected career advice from a Hollywood icon. Having been active in the movie industry since the 1950s, it's not necessarily surprising that over the course of his long career, Caine has crossed paths with a long list of A-list actors, many of which being stars from Hollywood's past.

Among those are Harry Andrews, Laurence Olivier, Angie Dickinson, Shirley MacLaine, James Caan, and even John Wayne. Many were actors Caine worked with professionally,...

Jeannie Epper, the peerless, fearless stunt performer who doubled for Lynda Carter on Wonder Woman and swung on a vine across a 350-foot gorge and propelled down an epic mudslide as Kathleen Turner in Romancing the Stone, has died. She was 83.

Epper died Sunday night of natural causes at her home in Simi Valley, her family told The Hollywood Reporter.

Just one member of a dynasty of stunt performers that Steven Spielberg dubbed the “Flying Wallendas of Film” — starting with her father, John Epper, there have been four generations of Eppers in show business since the 1930s — she worked on 150-plus films and TV shows during an astounding 70-year career.

In 2007, Epper received the first lifetime achievement honor given to a woman at the World Taurus Awards and ranks among the greatest stuntwomen of all time.

Known for her agility, horse-riding skills and competitiveness, the 5-foot-9 Epper also stepped in...

Dean Martin's performance in Rio Bravo is unforgettable, portraying a multi-layered character that adds depth and relevance to the narrative. The dynamic between Martin and John Wayne in Rio Bravo is unparalleled, showcasing an on-screen chemistry that enhances the film's impact. Despite Wayne's star power, Martin's role in Rio Bravo shines, solidifying the film as one of the greatest Westerns of all time.

Dean Martin is one of the greatest actors in history and perhaps one of the most underrated entertainers of the mid-twentieth century. During his three-decade career, he acted in over 60 films, including some phenomenal Westerns, like Something Big, Rough Night in Jericho, and The Sons of Katie Elder.

Despite his numerous roles, the actor is perhaps best recognized for his one Western character, who is not even the movie's protagonist but has made a lasting impression on viewers' minds. His remarkable acting talents are on full display in this Western,...

Charles Dierkop, best known for his roles in The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Police Woman, died Sunday at a Sherman Oaks Hospital. He was 87.

He reportedly suffered from a heart attack and a case of pneumonia.

The Wisconsin-born character actor got his start in an uncredited role opposite Paul Newman in The Hustler. He reunited with him as Flat Nose Curry in the 1969 flick Butch Cassidy and as a bodyguard in the Best Picture Oscar-winning 1973 movie The Sting.

He found steady work in TV, with roles in episodes of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space, The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., Mannix, Kung Fu, The F.B.I., The Andy Griffith Show, Star Trek, Batman, Adam-12, It Takes a Thief, Love, American Style and Mission: Impossible.

Dierkop played Detective Pete Royston from 1974-78 as a series regular opposite Angie Dickinson on NBC’s Police Woman, a spinoff of Police Story.

Charles Dierkop, the busy character actor who played tough guys in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting and the 1970s Angie Dickinson series Police Woman, has died. He was 87.

Dierkop died Sunday at Sherman Oaks Hospital after a recent heart attack and bout with pneumonia, his daughter, Lynn, told The Hollywood Reporter.

The Wisconsin native also appeared alongside Rod Steiger in Sidney Lumet’s The Pawnbroker (1964), played the mobster Salvanti in Roger Corman’s The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre (1967) and was a murderous Santa Claus in the cult horror movie Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984).

After portraying an uncredited pool-hall hood in the Paul Newman-starring The Hustler (1961), Dierkop got to work with Newman again in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) when he was hired to play Hole in the Wall Gang outlaw George “Flat Nose” Curry.

Dierkop had broken his nose in fights several times as a kid,...

In a year that was defined by as much drama off-screen with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes as there was on-screen, 2023 saw the era of Peak TV come to a bruised end, but not without getting a few last solid punches in.

Ted Lasso sputtered to a pretty standard end as heavyweights Succession and Reservation Dogs made their last bows with exits on HBO and FX respectively that will almost certainly stand the test of time as some of the best finales ever executed. Entering the arena, filmmaker Boots Riley made his small screen debut with the quick witted and startling creatively I’m A Virgo on Amazon Prime Video. From the other side of the Atlantic, Adjani Salmon flexed some serious star power and unconventional wisdom on Paramount+/Showtime with Dreaming Whilst Black.

As the Great Contraction brought cancellations galore, removal of titles, and subscription hikes, one thing...

Norby Walters, a music agent who worked with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye, Kool & the Gang and Public Enemy before gaining renown in Hollywood for his annual “Night of 100 Stars” Oscar party and weekly poker game, has died. He was 91.

Walters died Dec. 10 of natural causes at an assisted living facility in Burbank, his son, producer Gary Michael Walters (Whiplash), told The Hollywood Reporter.

Walters hosted his first Oscar night gala in 1990 and the last in 2017, most often inside the Beverly Hilton’s Crystal Ballroom. Among those who attended were Shirley Jones, Robert Forster, Charles Bronson, Patricia Neal, Richard Dreyfuss, Eva Marie Saint, Martin Landau, Louis Gossett Jr., J.K. Simmons, Cliff Robertson, Red Buttons, Jon Voight and Allison Janney.

Walters for years also presided over a weekly poker game at his West Hollywood high-rise condo. The low-stakes $2 game was, his son said, “designed to be a place where actors could kibbutz,...

Networks and streamers are bringing back the classics. Here’s the who-what-when-where info on a quartet of familiar favorites coming to the small screen this season. 1930s to ’70s: Woody Woodpecker The latest toon star to pal around with Bugs, Popeye and Tom & Jerry is pretty bore-ing (heh-heh). The Woody Woodpecker Show showcases that brash bird with an hour of shorts every Saturday morning. On September 23: the 1943 Oscar nominee “The Dizzy Acrobat.” The Woody Woodpecker Show, Saturdays, 8am/7c, MeTV 1970s: Angie Dickinson Nurse, flight attendant, prostitute, prison inmate: You never knew who glamorous and resourceful Sgt. “Pepper” Anderson, undercover Police Woman, would be next. With Earl Holliman as her flirtatious boss at the LAPD, Dickinson owned this crime drama that paved the way for Charlie’s Angels and Cagney & Lacey. Police Woman, Saturdays and Sundays, 2am/1c, Great Entertainment Television 1970s: David Cassidy Come on, get toe-tappy! Really, it...

The Ultimate Time Capsule.

We closed out August with a look at the horror elements in the non-horror film Shiva Baby, the trans empowerment of Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers, and Park Chan-wook’s English-language debut Stoker. Now, our first episode of September kicks off a month themed after one of Joe’s favorite sub-genres: the erotic thriller!

First up is Brian De Palma‘s controversial masterpiece Dressed to Kill.

Dressed to Kill sees high-priced sex worker Liz Blake (Nancy Allen) witness a mysterious woman brutally slay homemaker Kate Miller (Angie Dickinson). The police think Liz is the murderer and the real killer wants to silence the crime’s only witness, putting Liz in a tough situation. Only Kate’s inventor son, Peter (Keith Gordon), believes Liz. Peter and Liz team up to find the real culprit, who has an unexpected means of hiding her identity and an even more surprising motivation to kill.

Peter Gonzales Falcon, the Texan who starred as a young Federico Fellini in the director’s semi-autobiographical Roma, has died, according to his friend Aurelio Montemayor. He was 75.

Gonzales Falcon got his start with a bit part in Viva Max (1969), a satirical film about a modern-day Mexican general (Peter Ustinov) who retakes the Alamo.

The actor went on to model for a year in London before he landed the role that would make his career.

In 2018, Gonzales Falcon related the story of auditioning for Fellini after being recommended by actor Eugene Walter, a friend of a friend:

I went to Cinecittà where there was a line about a block long with young men wanting to meet Fellini. I went around the line to the main door and buzzed. The door was opened by Liliana [Fellini’s longtime assistant] who looked like a little Edward G. Robinson and even had a cigar in her mouth.

The Film Stage is elated to announce a double feature at New York’s Roxy Cinema: on Friday, July 28 we’ll introduce Francis Ford Coppola’s 1969 film The Rain People––marking the New York premiere of its 4K restoration––and a 35mm print of Howard Hawks’ Rio Bravo, both of which continue screening through the weekend.

The Film Stage readers will receive a discounted $12 ticket with mention of our program at the Roxy’s box office. (Don’t be shy––their employees are very nice.) We look forward to seeing you at the movies.

The Rain People—New York Premiere of 4K Restoration

Friday, July 28 at 7:00pm

Saturday, July 29 at 5:45pm

Sunday, July 30 at 8:00pm

“If I could say I could have been in any Coppola film, I would have probably wanted to star in The Rain People.” –– Vincent Gallo

Despite consistent acclaim, The Rain People is...

Update: On Wednesday evening, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Anderson released a joint statement about their discussions with Warner Bros. Discovery president and CEO David Zaslav regarding TCM.

After Warner Bros. Discovery announced layoffs at Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on Tuesday, filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson conferred with Wbd chief David Zaslav about the future of the cinema network.

Variety has learned that the Warner Bros. Discovery CEO convened a call with the trio of top filmmakers on Wednesday for guidance following the departure of top TCM execs, including general manager Pola Changnon, who stepped down after more than 25 years with the network and Turner.

“Turner Classic Movies has always been more than just a channel. It is truly a precious resource of cinema, open 24 hours a day seven days a week. And while it has never been a financial juggernaut, it has always been...

There are a bunch of classic 4K movies on Max for cinephiles to stream. With a horizontal display resolution of 4,000 pixels, the 4K format has provided audiences with the best way to enjoy movies at home. The images are sharper than ever before, the colors are richer, and every detail of the actors’ performances comes through on the screen. Slowly but surely, streaming services like Max are catching on and upscaling their most iconic films to 4K so that audiences can watch their favorite movies in the best image quality available.

Although HBO Max has been rebranded as Max, it still has many of the same classic titles from the Warner Bros. library, including the fan-favorite Harry Potter franchise and timeless gems like The Wizard of Oz and Singin’ in the Rain. A lot of those films benefit from the glorious enhancement of 4K resolution. From the frenetic editing of...

Westerns are an American pastime forged in history by legendary stars such as John Wayne and Clint Eastwood as well as the masterful direction of filmmakers like John Ford, Howard Hawks and John Sturges. While roles of heroic cowboys and ruthless outlaws were the main appeal of Western films, notable actresses including Claire Trevor and Angie Dickinson, played just as vital of a role in establishing the classic genre.

Autograph hounds are ghouls. They've taken what should be an innocent, good-natured interaction between a celebrity and a fan, and turned it into a cynical, bottom-feeding industry that largely services people with a good deal of disposable income which, given modern-day income disparity, makes you at the very least rich-adjacent. Alas, they've been around forever. Donald Duck portrayed one in a 1939 Disney cartoon, but, in this case, he's just a movie-mad waterfowl eager to fill his personal autograph book with his favorite entertainers' signatures. There's no insinuation that he's trying to profit from his hobby (though he is trespassing on private property to sate his fame-addled desire).

I don't think the concept of an autograph book even exists now. For decades, Hollywood premieres have been overrun with memorabilia merchants loaded with photos, posters, and other collectable items that can be put up for auction on eBay (the brick-and-mortar outlets have...

This past weekend, Wamg attended the annual TCM Film Festival (honestly this writer’s favorite event of the year) and as usual, it did not disappoint! There was a ton of great programming this year, with something for just about everyone.

Opening Night of the 14th annual TCM Classic Film Festival kicked off with a screening of Rio Bravo (1959) in celebration of Warner Bros.’ 100th anniversary, featuring a conversation with Wbd CEO David Zaslav and The Film Foundation Board members Steven Spielberg and Paul Thomas Anderson about the mission of The Film Foundation as well as Rio Bravo star Angie Dickinson.

Hollywood, California – April 13: (L-r) TCM host Ben Mankiewicz; General Manager, Turner Classic Movies Pola Changnon; Steven Spielberg; Angie Dickinson; and President and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery David Zaslav attend the opening night gala and world premiere of the 4k restoration of “Rio Bravo” during the...

If the 14th annual TCM Classic Film Festival had an official focus, it was on the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros., from the opening night premiere selection of a restoration of “Rio Bravo” to a celebration of the 50th anniversary of “The Exorcist.” Almost equal in emphasis, though, by virtue of the guests brought in, was a celebration of the ingenues-turned-leading-ladies of the 1960s, who now represent the elder guard of a Hollywood golden age — Angie Dickinson, Ann-Margret and Shirley Jones.

Dickinson had the highest profile of any star at the festival, being the belle of the ball at the Thursday screening of “Rio Bravo” in the big house at the Tcl Chinese Theatres, where most of the screenings were held. But there was just as much outpouring of affection for Ann-Margret, who turned up for a Q&a (and birthday cake) following “Bye Bye Birdie” on Saturday, and Jones,...

Hollywood stars and filmmakers joined for a weekend of celebrating film legacies and the impact they have had on cinema at the 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival.

To kick off the festival at the Los Angeles’ Tcl Chinese Theatre, The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and Hollywood Legion Theater at Post 43, Angie Dickinson chatted with TCM host Ben Mankiewicz on opening night Thursday about Rio Bravo, her role as Feathers and starring opposite John Wayne and Dean Martin.

When talking about what it was like working with director Howard Hawks, Dickinson said, “He was a man of few words,” and while filming, he told her and the crew to “just relax, and he and I sat there, talking about nothing. It was just to relax me and get me to the point that he wanted me to be for the scene.”

Directors Steven Spielberg and Paul Thomas Anderson also took part in a...

Hollywood welcomed Jeremy Renner back with open arms as he proved he actually is a superhero, returning to the red carpet only a few short months since his terrifying accident. Meanwhile, at the TCM Classic Film Festival, Angie Dickinson proved that 91 is still young; and at the “Schmigadoon!” Season 2 Premiere, Jane Krakowski brought shock and awe (and squad goals) to everyone over 50. We were also inside the “Blindspotting” bash, partied with nuns at the “Mrs. Davis” debut and began to say goodbye to “Mrs. Maisel,” all here in our inside glimpse into what Hollywood’s most interesting people have been doing lately.

“Blindspotting” Season 2 Premiere

NeueHouse Hollywood

Jasmine Cephas Jones vamps a bit at the “Blindspotting” Season 2 Premiere at NeueHouse Hollywood. (Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Starz)

The “Blindspotting” Season 2 Premiere party at NeueHouse Hollywood felt like attending a family reunion, as the cast and crew of the Starz comedy...