MYSTERY & MELODRAMA: THE BLETCHLEY CIRCLE (2012-2014)

One of the best things I’ve watched in recent months is the British mini-series THE BLETCHLEY CIRCLE airing on PBS. This engrossing post-war drama focuses on the lives of a handful of women who served together during WW2 as codebreakers at Bletchley Park, which housed the Government Code and Cypher School. This British intelligence agency was responsible for …

TALKING WITH TRINA: AN INTERVIEW WITH TRINA PARKS

Tomorrow night TCM Underground will be airing the surprisingly surreal and smart blaxploitation comedy, DARKTOWN STRUTTERS (1975). I hesitate to tag DARKTOWN STRUTTERS with a simplistic label like “blaxploitation” because it’s really a cult movie that deserves a category of its own. The film manages to combine just about every popular movie genre imaginable including classic westerns and musicals, …

Three Reasons to Spend Time with Cleopatra Jones

Decades before Wonder Woman made her feature film debut and the all-female Dora Milaje fighting force was introduced to movie audiences in BLACK PANTHER (2018), Tamara Dobson was winning hearts and kicking-ass with her powerful portrayal of Cleopatra Jones. Released by Warner Bros. in 1973, CLEOPATRA JONES was the studio’s big-budget response to a slew …

SPY GAMES: Frank Tashlin & Doris Day Go Undercover

In the late 1960s Doris Day starred in two spy spoofs directed by Frank Tashlin; THE GLASS BOTTOM BOAT(1967) and CAPRICE (1968). At the time Day was 43-years-old and one of Hollywood’s biggest stars but her career was in sharp decline. Critics seemed to relish taking potshots at the movies she appeared in while launching full-blown attacks on …

Jan. & Feb. 2016 at TCM’s Movie Morlocks

Links to some of the writing I did for TCM's Movie Morlocks blog in Jan. & Feb. Jan. 7: William Cameron Menzies: Chandu the Magician (1932) Excerpt: "In recent weeks, you might have heard about the upcoming Doctor Strange film currently scheduled for release in November of 2016. The news caught my attention because I’ve …

April & May at The Movie Morlocks

Highlights from my April & May contributions to TCM’s Movie Morlocks. You can read all the articles by following the links below: - Happy Birthday Doris! Excerpt: "The legacy of this vivacious movie star, popular vocalist, television personality and animal rights advocate is truly unparalleled. And knowing Doris Day’s is still here with us doing …

3 Reasons

The few people who still visit this blog may have noticed that I haven't updated since November. That's a 5 year record (of extended absences) and there are lots of reasons for it but here are the top 3: 1. Work - I'm not just referring to freelance writing because that doesn't pay all the …

November at the Movie Morlocks

Apologies for neglecting Cinebeats for a month but I've been preoccupied with other things.

Spy Games: ARABESQUE (1966)

Today Sophia Loren is celebrating her 77th birthday so I decided to dedicate this month's addition of Spy Games to Stanley Donen's ARABESQUE (1966)

Spy Games: Frank Tashlin & Doris Day Go Undercover

From my latest installment of Spy Games at the Movie Morlocks:

Spies, Frankenstein & . . . Sports?!

I'm afraid that I've been too busy and preoccupied with home renovations, family matters and work to updated Cinebeats regularly. Most of my film writing is done at The Movie Morlocks now so it often seems redundant to re-post links to everything here. If you want to keep track of my weekly activities on a …

Spy Games: 6 Months and Counting

Last week at the Movie Morlocks I continued to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sean Connery’s debut as James Bond in DR. NO (1962)

Dirk Bogarde – The Reluctant International Man of Mystery

In my latest installment of Spy Games for the Movie Morlocks I discuss the spy spoofs and espionage thrillers starring one of my favorite actors, the gifted and gorgeous Dirk Bogarde.

SPY GAMES: DIRK BOGARDE – THE RELUCTANT INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY

British actor Dirk Bogarde never played James Bond but he did appear in a handful of interesting spy films made during the ‘60s and ‘70s. He may not have resembled the tough, no-nonsense brute that many associate with 007 but Bogarde’s devilish charm, quick wit, understated elegance and roguish good looks made him a good candidate for playing …

Spy Games: MATCHLESS (1967)

For my fourth installment of Spy Games I decided to highlight the funny Italian spy spoof MATCHLESS (1967) directed by Alberto Lattuada. Criterion's released a couple of Lattuada's films including MAFIOSO (1962) and VARIETY LIGHTS (1950), which he co-directed with Fredrico Fellini. But I hadn't seen any of Lattuada's other films until I came across his two silly & stylish spy spoofs currently streaming on Netflix...