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

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

VHS FLASHBACK - "THE LAST OF THE GLADIATORS - EVEL KNIEVEL" (1986) REMAINS BEST VIDEO BIOGRAPHY OF THE FAMOUS DAREDEVIL

 
Greetings all - here's another VHS tape I pulled off the shelf recently - what I personally still consider to be the best video biography (of many) on Knievel. Why? Besides being narrated and overseen by Evel and showing his life at the time, more importantly it covers every single jump, successful or not, in nice linear fashion. 

It also contains the best (by far) sequence on the Snake River jump in 1974 which is a really important episode in his career. This is the only version that perfectly illustrates just how back up against the wall with promotors and investors the man was, not only for this impossible jump across the Snake River canyon but at that stage of his career in general. 

It's the most honest portrait of his life from the man himself who that was so important to. It was only produced on VHS in 1986 and 1988 and is considered obscure. The only version I could find on YT is below, you'll have to deal with the timecode. Enjoy!  2.75 stars/2.75

My original song "Evel Knievel" from 2006 album Fairly Twisted Logic >

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