B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - THE DEATH OF RITCHIE (TV 1977)

Looks like a lot of fun to me, I don't know. Seriously and for those that don't know, The Death Of Ritchie is one of the most iconic TV movies of the entire '70's decade. I was roughly 15 when it aired and i can tell you that both Robby Benson and teens taking drugs were very hot topics at the time. The film is based on a true story where a father who couldn't control his teen's behavior from drug abuse was forced to take the law into his own hands. The father here is good ole Ben Gazzara and he is at his Gazzara best with a ferocious intensity, his scenes with Benson as father and son a perfect chemistry. At the time more emphasis was on Benson as a model but his performance here is really amazing. Streams free on Tubi, Freevee, Roku and Plex, if this was being rated on the standard scale I would give it five stars, 'nuff said. 2.75 stars/2.75

Friday, December 8, 2023

SAY IT AIN'T SO, RYAN O' NEAL PASSES AWAY AT AGE 82

Say it ain't so, Ryan O' Neal in Barry Lyndon. 

One of the most iconic actors of the '70's, Ryan O' Neal has passed at 82. Read more about it here. 

For those of us in the over 55 category, it's like losing an old friend, we grew up with this guy!

One of the all-time greats, you will be sorely missed, enjoy the ride. 

O' NEAL CREAM O' THE CROP


Barry Lyndon (1975) 

As he usually did with his actors, Kubrick worked extensively with O' Neal and probably pushed him to the brink and back but absolutely got an unequaled iconic performance.  5.0 stars/5




What's Up Doc? (1973)

Screwball comedy was new territory for O' Neal when he teamed with Barbra Streisand for this now classic comedy. There is so much other great talent in this film like Madeline Kahn and Kenneth Mars but the two Taureans, Streisand and O'Neal, were just sublime together. 3.5 stars/5



The Thief Who Came To Dinner (1973)

Unless you happen to own the VHS of this (in which case you're sitting on a couple hundred dollars) you're likely S.O.L. in being able to see this. One of the most obscure '70's flicks, it was television producer Bud Yorkin's second foray into features and is a great comedy that also features Warren Oates. 3.0 stars/5


Irreconcilable Differences (1984)

O' Neal worked for scale because he believed in the project and later said in an interview he considers it some of the best work he ever did. We agree. And besides O' Ryan the film also features an Oscar-worthy bordering on snub performance by Shelly Long and the first outing of Sharon Stone (as a brunette.) This rating will surprise some but I'm not kidding- 5 stars/5


Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)