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

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

"LADIES & GENTLEMEN, THE ROLLING STONES" (1974) TURNS 50 AND I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO SEE IT IN THE THEATER IN NYC

  ORIGINAL POSTER

It was 1974, I was 12 years old, a Stones freak and in my second year playing guitar. Living with my mom in NYC just blocks away from the theater it debuted at called the Ziegfried or something like that. You can bet your bottom dollar that I was hounding my mom on a daily basis to take me to this when it came out. And so, I want to say it was on a Saturday but whatever it was, we were at the first matinee show.

As the poster mentions above, the movie was presented with an actual JBL mini-concert sound system, I remember speakers sitting to the left and right of the screen, similar to sound systems of that era but much smaller. There was even a sound engineer employed at these original screenings to twist knobs and get the best effect depending on how many were in the theater. 

A bit of trivia here - this 1972 American Tour had a unique ticketing system, you had to send in post cards. You could send one or a hundred, but it was the only way to get tickets. We had tried but weren't picked but I'm happy to report I got to see them the following year, 1973 at the LA Forum for a very special concert known as the Nicaraguan Benefit Concert with Santana and Cheech & Chong opening for the Stones. What a special night. 

And then again in 1975 also at the Forum with the lotus stage. Yes, those were the days, my friends. Raised lighters, good vibes and what was really also an occasion to forget about business, the world and all it's trappings. This eventually gave way to the corporate sponsored tour model, cell phones, technology. And guess who was responsible for all that happening? Yep, the Rolling Stones. 

2.75 stars/2.75

 ORIGINAL NEW ZEALAND 60 SEC TRAILER

 MOST OF THE MOVIE, SANS "MIDNIGHT RAMBLER" & "STREET FIGHTING MAN" 
If you want to see the original uncut film, only on Amazon, 3.99 to rent, 9.99 to buy., 

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