So, this afternoon I'm watching the coverage of Hackman's sudden and strange passing at age 95. I check out all three of the major networks. And none of them had the balls to mention The Conversation. God forbid they mention the one where he plays a wire tapper (and a brilliant, prophetic treatise from Coppola on society.) So, you'll forgive me if this post is a little angry in tone but any conversation (ha ha) about Hackman should always include if not begin with this seminal performance, one of the most accomplished in all of cinema. THEN, watch your Unforgiven, French Connection, Firm, etc. 5 stars/5
Greetings All - Nobody rocked the cinematic world in the '70's like 👍 ole Babs. And while many selections from that decade are more than worthy to comprise said triple feature, these are my personal 3 favs...
WHAT'S UP, DOC? (1972) - While this movie lover personally feels Peter Bogdonavich was a tad overrated, the legendary director surely hit it out of the park with this screwball comedy set in San Francisco. How much of that success though should be attributed to Babs is paramount. She becomes a walking talking Bugs Bunny in femme Fatale and Ryan O Neal and Madeline Kahn in particular are hilarious. 3.75 stars/5 Amazon Prime or VOD
FOR PETE"S SAKE (1974) - Seriously underrated, a great comedy. Babs plays a strapped for cash housewife who borrows money from the Mob and can't pay it back. Her contract keeps getting passed as she fails at being a call-girl, assassin and smuggler. Michael Sarrizan an actor I never quite latched onto is good as the husband but once again, this is Babs show, she's hilarious. NYC lovers, check out a sequence about two thirds through on the old B line, it rocks. 3.0 stars/5. Tubi or VOD
A STAR IS BORN (1976) - Like it or lump it - and I think most people that like it would be honest enough to admit it's still a very flawed picture - the second remake of this classic story has some truly good sequences. Ironically, a lot of these belong to Kristofferson like the dramatic concert scene opener and another where he plays a huge stadium in Arizona. Not sure people know just how much of a passion project this was for Babs. I'll tell you who shouldn't have been involved w this project and that's Jon Peter's. 2.5 stars/5
Amazon Prime or VOD
COMING LATER THIS WEEK, IT'S THE MARCH ISSUE WITH >
Birthdays - select films that have notable anniversaries this year.
Repost Week
And of course, the B MOVIE OF THE MONTH - Here are March's 3 Hints >
1. It seems like every year we land up featuring
at least one film from this legendary director.
2. I certainly wouldn't jump off that thing.
3. Among many stunts,, a horse and chariot jump into a pond.
Wrapping up the Jack Lemmon fest, thought it would be cool to feature four Lemmon flicks I just recently watched for the first time. These are all available on Tubi, enjoy!
HOW TO MURDER YOUR WIFE (1965) - An effective comedy-mystery although entirely dated and would have been better at 90 or 100 minutes instead of close to two hours. Jack's okay, he did a bunch of these flicks in the sixties, but the real star surprisingly in this is British actor Terry Thomas. He plays Jack's butler and narrates the film as well often breaking fourth wall. This gives the extraordinary talent of Thomas some nice room to breathe. 2.75 stars/5
COWBOY (1958) - Jack plays a happy-go-lucky stand up kind of hotel desk clerk who goes partners on a cattle drive with a questionable tycoon (Glenn Ford.) What I like to call a "set piece" Western very typical of the Era. Has its moments but your time is easily spent with another title. 2.0 stars/5
12 ANGRY MEN (TV 1997) - In this remake of the famous play and 1957 movie, Jack plays juror number eight, the one hold out in twelve who thinks the man on trial for his life might be innocent. A meaty gathering of A-listers here, everyone from Edwarc J Almos to George C Scott - and what's Gary Frederickson doing in this thing? Not bad, Jack was 72 when he did this and still had it. 2.25 stars/2.75
THE LONG WAY HOME (TV 1998) Not much I could find out about this Lifetime-esque TV movie, but Jack is great as an elderly man who gets lost and eventually joins a much younger woman on a hitchhiking adventure. 2.75 stars/2.75 watch on Tubi - Editor's Note 2-28-25 - While I'm still not sure who this was produced for, this was easily the most enjoyable flick of these four. A young Sarah Paulson rocks it as co-star and the pacing on this makes it more of an adventure/drama. There's a cool sequence where he joins the circus. Check this one out, it's not bad!
Greetings All- having a bit of technical difficulties lately with a laptop, tablet and phone, none of which are working properly but nonetheless the show will continue 😀 👍 the following is a list of 4 Jack Lemmon flicks lesser known but outstanding performances. Since its Valentines Day 💝 we'll start with the first of two films that Jack did in the year 1969. They're both shot in NYC, both have unusual but perfect leading ladies and both are on this list...enjoy!
THE APRIL FOOLS (1969) - A fun and very '69 romantic comedy where Jack plays Brubaker, a married exec who falls in love with his bosses wife. You see, he's a frog and Catherine Deneuve wants to turn him into a prince. His boss (Peter Lawford), however, has made it emphatically clear that Brubaker is not, nor ever has been a frog. A lot of very classic NYC locations including what was at that time the new Madison Square Garden. And look out, a fantastical third act w Harvey Korman as a drunk womanizer. 3.5 stars/5
THE OUT OF TOWNERS (1969) - Again Jack plays an exec new hire. This time, he's trying to make his way to his first day. However, once he land's in NYC from Ohio, he and his wife (Sandy Dennis, another unusual choice but she kills it) encounter one NYC mishap after another. Only Neil Simon could make all this comical somehow - it's not one of his best but his pairing once again with Lemmon doesn't let down. 3.0 stars/5
THATS LIFE (1986) - Those in the over-55 crowd may remember this Blake Edward's sort of comedy and lot of melodrama. It played in heavy rotation on late night cable, anyone remember the Z channel? Edward's crafted this one on a shoestring budget, even using his actual Malibu house as the main location. Jack plays a disgruntled 60 yr old completely fed up with life, and that's putting it mildly. At the same time his wife (Julie Andrews) may have cancer but hasn't told him yet. 2.5 stars/5
THE GREAT RACE (1965) - Blake Edward's again but a mid 60s epic comedy, three hour complete with intermission, oh yeah. Tony Curtis (in one of his best as well) is the good guy The Great Leslie and Lemmon the bad Professor Fate in a race from NY to Paris. You like screwball, slapstick kind of comedy 🤣? Let's put it this way - the film is dedicated to Laurel and Hardy. 3.75 stars/5
Greetings All - Hope this week finds you and yours all well. But even more than that, I hope you're in a JACK LEMMON mood because we got a massive three-part post for you. My personal favorite actor of all-time, and as we all know, one of the all-time greats. Like this Aquarian was majorly talented and it's B-Movie Gazette's proud to present this tribute in three parts.
I - "The Obvious Picks" (that's this post, stupid!) - iow, the cream of the crop.
II - "The Underrated Gems" - a collection of ones you really should see.
III - "The Undiscovered" - a post of films I will be watching for the first time.
THE CREAM OF THE CROP OF JACK LEMMON FILMS "The Obvious Ones"
SAVE THE TIGER (1974) - We may have a divided country now but way back in 1974 the writings were already on the wall as our main character Harry Stoner (love that name) will attest to. Harry has had it with America and longs back to a time when morals and decency ruled. In the meantime though, he has a factory to save and will do anything to save it. Maybe a detour with a cute hippy chick in Malibu is what Harry needs. I'll give you a key to figuring out this whole movie - it's the last line right before credits role, it's said by a kid, and that kid represents Harry's past. 4/0 stars/5 Pluto or VOD
DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES (1962) - An amazing performance from Jack as he and Lee Remick play a married couple caught up in the throes of alcoholism. A brilliant film on so many levels. And that should come as no surprise considering it's a Blake Edwards film. 5 stars/5
PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE (1975) - Neil Simon fires on all eight cylinders in this oft overlooked neurotic NYC comedy. Jack plays a married man who gets fired and has a nervous
breakdown. This forces his wife (Anne Bancroft) to become the man of the house. Pound for pound, Simon has packed this script with one-liners about the Big Apple and Lemmon and Bancroft are just stellar together. 3.5 stars/5 VOD
THE APARTMENT (1960) - Another holy shit performance from Jack on this one, an obvious pick, had to be on the list. It shows it's age a lot, this one but what a cast and what a script, just magnificent. 5 stars/5 Free right now on Roku channel & Pluto.
THE ODD COUPLE (1968) - Yep, this is the original that spawned so many great television versions and of course, countless renditions on Broadway. Another incredible performance here from Lemmon. But it's the pairing on this one of him and real-life pal Walter Matthau that sends it to the moon. They were so great together in this and it's Neil Simon once again slamming it out of the park. 5 stars/5
