RIP: Dolly Parton

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Dolly Parton, the singer, songwriter, actress, business woman and philanthropist died today.  Ms. Parton was 80.  No cause of death was given.

Dolly Parton was born in a one-room cabin in Pittman Center, Tennesse.  She was the fourth of twelve children.  Dolly’s father worked as a sharecropper, and tended to his own small tobacco farm.  Her mother stayed at home to take care of the family.

Dolly’s singing talent was recognized at an early age.  By the time she was ten Dolly sang regularly on local radio programs.  When Dolly was thirteen she sang at the Grand Ole Opry and released a single through a small recording label.  The day after she graduated high school, Dolly moved to Nashville.

Dolly was first recognized as a successful songwriter, often teaming with her Uncle, Bill Owens.  Several of her (and their) songs became top hits for recording stars such as Bill Phillips, Hank Williams Jr. and Skeeter Davis.   In 1967, Dolly became a regular on The Porter Wagner Show.  Dolly and Wagner released a top ten single the same year.  It became the first of their six consecutive top ten hits.

Dolly’s first solo number one hit came in 1970 when “Joshua” topped the country music charts.  As her hits continued, her fan base expanded beyond country music devotees.  In 1976, Dolly hosted a variety television series.  After one season, despite good ratings, Dolly asked to be released from her contract due to stress on her vocal cords.

In 1980, Dolly appeared in her first feature film, 9 to 5.  Dolly also wrote and sang the film’s title song.  For her efforts, Dolly received nominations for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Musical or Comedy and a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress. Her song received nominations for an Academy Award for Best Song and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.  The song, which hit #1 won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and the Grammy Award for Best Country Song.

Dolly would continue to record songs, tour, headline on television and in feature films.  Her themepark, Dollywood, opened in 1986.  Dolly wrote three memoirs/autobiographies, co-authored a mystery with James Patterson, a cookbook with her sister, and five children’s books.  In 1995, Dolly started the Imagination Station, which sends books free of charge monthly to children from birth to the age of five.  Currently over 3 million books are mailed out each month.

Dolly Parton was known for her generous philanthropy.  In addition to her Imagination Station, Dolly donated to and helped raise money for many clinics and hospitals, PETA, the American Eagle foundation, victims of the 2016 Great Smokey Mountain fires, Pediatric cancer programs, hurricane relief, COVID research and many, many more programs.

Dolly Parton was one of a kind.  Her rise to international fame and success in every area she ventured is remarkable.  As talented as she was, it is her humanitarianism that impresed me the most.  Dolly was kind, humble and loved by all.  We will not soon see her like again.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Dolly Parton’s family, friends and fans.

“The Outlaw Josey Wales” (1976) starring Clint Eastwood / Z-View

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The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Screenplay:  Phil Kaufman, Sonia Chernus; based on GONE TO TEXAS by Forrest Carter.

Stars:  Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Bill McKinney, Paula Trueman, Sam Bottoms, Woodrow Parfrey, Joyce Jameson, Sheb Wooley, Royal Dano, Matt Clark, Will Samson and John Vernon.

Tagline:  …an army of one.

The Plot…

As the Civil War rages, Josey Wales tries to make a go of it as a peaceful farmer.  That changes when Union Soldiers burn down his farm and kill his wife and young son.  With nothing left to live for, Josey joins a group of Confederate renegades.

When the Civil War ends, the Confederate renegades are given a chance to surrender with their lives.  They’re told if they come in, swear alliegence to the Union, they will be pardoned.  All of the renegades except for Josey Wales goes in.

Josey watches from a distance.  As he suspected it is a death trap.  Josey rides in, killing several soldiers as he takes over a gattling gun.  Josey continues to mow down Union soldiers using their weapon.

Josey makes his escape.  Now he has a price on his head.  Every bounty hunter as well as a squad of Union soldiers wants Josey Wales dead.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Outlaw Josey Wales received one 1977 Academy Award Nominaton for Best Music, Original Score – Jerry Fielding

The Director’s Guild of America instituted a new rule after Clint Eastwood replaced director Philip Kaufman after filming had started.  It bans any crew of cast member from replacing a director.  It was dubbed the “Eastwood Rule”.

The Outlaw Josey Wales is the first of six times Eastwood and Sondra Locke co-starred.

David Geffen says he was a young executive at Warner Bros. asked to provide notes after an early screening of The Outlaw Josey Wales.  None of the other execs had any.  Geffen suggested to Eastwood that the film be shortened by a half hour.  Eastwood’s response was that he could cut it, if that’s what was needed.  Geffen asked, “Where will you be?”  “Across the street at Paramount cutting a new deal.”  Needless to say, the movie was not cut.

I prefer The Outlaw Josey Wales to Unforgiven… or any of Eastwood’s other westerns.  It is a classic.

Chief Dan George is a treasure.

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955) starring Brian Donlevy / Z-View

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“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955)

Director: Val Guest

Screenplay:  Richard Landau, Val Guest; based on the 1953 tv series The Quatermass Experiment by Nigel Kneale

Stars:  Brian Donlevy, Richard Wordsworth, Jack Warner, David King-Wood, Margia Dean and Maurice Kaufmann.

Tagline: It’s coming for YOU from Space to wipe all living things from the face of the Earth! CAN IT BE STOPPED?

The Plot…

The first manned rocket ship into space was was a success thanks to Professor Bernard Quatermass.  He was the scientific genius behind the design, manufacture and launch of the ship.  While in space contact with the three man crew was lost.

When the ship returns Quatermass finds that two of the three astronauts are gone.  The only thing left of them is their empty space suits.  The third astronaut is in shock and unable to speak. Quatermass discovers that an alien organism killed the other two astronauts and is now in the third… mutating his body into something deadly.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jane Asher plays the little girl trying to befriend the astronaut as he is mutating.  Asher would grow up to be one of Paul McCartney’s fiancées.

The film’s title spells Experiment as Xperiment as a way to draw attention to the fact that The British Board of Film Censors gave the film an X rating meaning the film had themes that might be too strong or intense for persons under the age of 16.

The Quatermass Xperiment was released as The Creeping Unknown in the US.

“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Rocky 3” by Brian Haberlin!

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I discovered this cool Rocky 3 painting by Brian Haberlin in the collection of Kirk Dilbeck.

When I asked for permission to share the piece, Kirk reached out to Brian to make sure it was okay with him.  Brian said, “Okay but please post that I did this as a TEEN. That it’s really old. :)”  

Talk about talent.  Check out Haberlin’s current work.  When you’re done there give Dilbeck’s collection a look.  Plan to stay a bit of time in both.  (And it’s well worth the time!)

“Fallen” (1998) starring Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland & James Gandolfini / Z-View

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Fallen (1998)

Director: Gregory Hoblit

Screenplay:  Nicholas Kazan

Stars:  Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini, Elias Koteas, Robert Joy.

Tagline: Don’t trust a soul.

The Plot…

Detective John Hobbes is surprised to find serial killer Edgar Reese is so cheerful when he is about to be executed.  Reese shows no remorse as he taunts the witnesses and sings “Time is On My Side” as justice is served.

Following Reese’s execution, a new series of murders occur.  The killer uses the same methods as Reese.  Detective Hobbes and his partner Jonesy believe a copycat is at play.  As they investigate the new murders, friends and strangers begin to say and do strange things around Hobbes.  It is almost as if they are taunting him.  It is especially disconcerting to hear them sing “Time is on my side”.

Then Hobbes discovers an occult connection to Reese.  Could it be possible that a demon took possession of the humans behind the murders?  If true, this demon can transfer from one body to another simply by touch.  Hobbes cannot believe that a supernatural force, a demon, could be involved.

Then the demon makes it’s presence known.

Hobbes is at a loss.  How do you defeat a demon that can possess anyone around you?  One thing is for sure… he can’t trust a soul.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fallen is better than I thought it would be.  Much of that credit goes to the cast — especially Denzel Washington, John Goodman and James Gandolfini.

Other taglines for the film include:

  • I ALMOST died… – this  is a good one, but only makes real sense after seeing the movie.
  • Detective John Hobbes is searching for a criminal he’s already met… already caught… and already killed – is a bit too spot on and long
  • Time is on my side…. – is perhaps my favorite (along with the one on the poster I used).

Fallen (1998) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Escape From New York” (1981) directed by John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton & Adrienne Barbeau / Z-View

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Escape from New York (1981)

Director: John Carpenter

Screenplay:  John Carpenter, Nick Castle

Stars:  Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, Season Hubley, Tom Atkins, Charles Cyphers, Douglas “Ox” Baker, Jamie Lee Curtis (voice) and Frank Doubleday.

Tagline: 1997. New York City is now a maximum security prison. Breaking out is impossible. Breaking in is insane.

The Plot…

In the future New York City has been turned into a maximum security prison.  Forty-foot walls with armed sentries make sure anyone imprisoned there never gets out.  Inside there are no guards.  Gangs created by the worst of the worst rule.  Marauding cannibals live in the tunnels underground.  New York is hell on earth.

The United States, Russia and China are on the verge of war.  US President John Harker is scheduled to speak at a peace conference in a little over 24 hours.  Harker has in his posession a tape that explains a secret process for nuclear fusion.  This would create an endless energy source for all nations — if peace can be achieved.

When an attack on the President’s life brings down Air Force One, the President survives in an escape pod… that lands behind the New York City prison walls.

A rescue squad is sent in only to be met with the news the President is alive but the prisoner of The Duke of New York, leader of the prison’s biggest gang.  The squad is given 30 seconds to leave or the President will be killed.

They leave.

Deterrmined to save the President, and retrieve the cassette he carries, a plan is developed.  Snake Plissken, a former Special Forces soldier, recently arrested will be offered immunity for his crimes, if he successfully rescues the President in time for the Peace conference.  Plissken reluctantly agrees.

Worried that Plissken won’t follow through, he is injected with an explosive micro-capsule that will explode in 23 hours.  If he returns with the President before time has expired, the capsule will be neutralized.

Plissken is on his way in.  The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jamie Lee Curtis provides the opening narration as well as the computer’s voice in the first prison scene.

Kurt Russell has said that Escape from New York is his favorite of all his film and that Snake Plissken is the favorite of the characters he’s played.  It was also Russell’s idea to give Snake an eyepatch. Also once Lee Van Cleef was signed, it was Russell’s idea to imitate Clint Eastwood’s delivery.

Although most consider Snake Plissken to be Kurt Russell’s signature role, studio execs were not sold on him.  At the time Russell was still best known as a Disney star.  Execs wanted someone like Charles Bronson, Chuck Norris, Nick Nolte or Tommy Lee Jones.

Snake was written with Kurt Russell in mind. Same for Adrienne Barbeau as Maggie and Ernest Borgnine as Cabbie.

James Cameron created the matte-painted buildings.

Season Hubley and Kurt Russell share a scene and were also married at the time.  John Carpenter and Adrienne Barbeau were also married when the film was made.

Warren Oates was originally signed to play Brain.  Oates became ill and suggested Harry Dean Stanton for the role.  Stanton was perfect.  Sadly Oates died later that year.

Frank Doubleday, who plays Romero, is only in a couple of scenes, but is so memorable.

I saw Escape from New York the weekend it was released (and many, many times over the years).  It remains a favorite.

Escape from New York (1981) rates 5 of 5 stars.

CASSIDY’S GIRL by David Goodis / Z-View

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CASSIDY’S GIRL by David Goodis

First sentence…

It was raining in Philadelphia as Cassidy worked the bus through heavy traffic on Market Street.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A few years ago Jim Cassidy was flying high.  Literally.  Cassidy was a well paid airline pilot.  Life was good.  Really good.

But that was then.

Cassidy was piloting a plane that crashed.  78 people were on board.  Eleven survived.  Cassidy was one of them.  The airline needed a scapegoat.  Cassidy was made to order.  They said Cassidy had been to a party the night before.  He had.  They said when he was flying the plane that crashed, he was drunk.  He wasn’t.

That didn’t matter.  Cassidy was fired.  He lost his pilot’s license and was lucky not to be put on trial.

Since then Cassidy’s life spiraled.  He lost everything.  He drank too much.  Way too much.  After a night of of boozing it up, he and Mildred, another drunk, got married.  It was a match made in hell.

Cassidy drives a bus by day while Mildred spends the time at a nearby bar drinking.  Cassidy comes home to find her drunk or still at the bar.  Then he starts drinking.  They fight.  Have sex.  Rinse and repeat.

Then Cassidy finds Mildred and Haney Kenrick getting friendly at the bar. Cassidy decides he’s had enough.  He tells Mildred he’s leaving her.  She asks for another chance.  Even though Cassidy is done, Kenrick wants Cassidy out of the way…

… and Kenrick has a plan.

+++

David Goodis takes us into a world of drunks, schemers and losers beaten down by the world and their own frailties.  CASSIDY’S GIRL is noir at it’s darkest.  I like the duality of the title. If I have any nit to pick, it is the ending is a bit too pat and upbeat for all that has come before.

This is my third Goodis novel and he’s yet to disappoint.

Rating:

“Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man!” by J. Beers!

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When I was a kid Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman was one of our favorite Sammy Terry’s Nightmare Theater movies.  Even though they didn’t fight until the end of the film, having both Frankenstein and the Wolfman in the same film was a treat!

J. Beers created this alt poster.  He used Karloff’s Frankenstein head instead of Lugosi’s.  Beers also made the creative decision to make the piece a battle between cold and warm colors.  How cool is that?

“You think I’m insane. You think I don’t know what I’m talking about. Well you just look in that grave where Lawrence Talbot is supposed to be buried and see if you find a body in it!” – Lawrence Talbot

Source: J. Beers Instagram.