News

Two charges of indecent assault against Harvey Weinstein have been dropped by the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (Cps), which said that a conviction is not “realistic.”

The Cps authorized the charges against the disgraced Hollywood mogul in June of 2022, stemming from an event in August 1996. The alleged victim is a woman who is now in her 50s, the Metropolitan Police said at the time.

However, on Thursday, the charges were dropped completely, given that there is “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”

“Following a review of the evidence in this case, the Cps has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein,” the head of Cps’ special crime and counter-terrorism division Frank Ferguson said.

He continued: “The Cps has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and we have decided that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”

“We have explained our decision to all parties,...

Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has had two charges of indecent assault against him dropped by the U.K.‘s Crown Prosecution Service (Cps).

In June 2022, the Cps authorized the charges against Weinstein for alleged offenses against a woman (now in her mid-50s) in 1996, according to the Metropolitan Police.

On Thursday, it was confirmed that the charges have been dropped as there is “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”

Frank Ferguson, head of the Cps’ special crime and counterterrorism division, said: “Following a review of the evidence in this case, the Cps has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein…. The Cps has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and we have decided that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.

“We have explained our decision to all parties…. We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and...

Two charges of indecent assault against Harvey Weinstein have been discontinued by the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (Cps) in the UK.

In a statement, Cps director Frank Ferguson said: “Following a review of the evidence in this case, the Cps has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein.

”The Cps has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and we have decided that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”

In June 2022, the former film producer was charged with two counts of indecent assault against a woman. The alleged offences are said to have...

Prosecutors in the U.K. announced Wednesday that they have discontinued indecent assault charges against Harvey Weinstein, citing in a statement, “there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”

Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service charged the disgraced producer in July 2022 in the aftermath of Weinstein’s conviction in sexual assault trials in both New York and Los Angeles trials; the New York conviction has since been thrown out, with a retrial pending.

In the U.K., Weinstein was facing two counts of indecent assault against one woman for an...

The indecent assault charges against Harvey Weinstein in the UK have been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (Cps).

“Following a review of the evidence in this case, the Cps has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein,” said Frank Ferguson, Head of the Cps Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division.

“The Cps has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and we have decided that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. We have explained our decision to all parties.

“We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.”

The Cps brought two charges of indecent assault against Weinstein in June 2022, relating to incidents that were said to have taken place in London in the mid-1990s. These have now been discontinued following a review of the evidence.

The U.K.’s Crown Prosecution Service will not pursue criminal charges against disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein saying there is not “a realistic prospect of conviction.”

In June 2022, the Cps authorized two charges of indecent assault against a woman by Weinstein. The alleged assaults were said to have taken place in London in 1996. These will now be dropped.

Frank Ferguson, head of the Cps Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “Following a review of the evidence in this case, the Cps has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein. The Cps has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and we have decided that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”

“We have explained our decision to all parties. We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.

We love this Fritz Lang western even though it’s not particularly good; only in hindsight do we realize that the brilliant director’s intentions may have been compromised. High-key lighting does Marlene Dietrich no favors, but she scores good scenes performing with Arthur Kennedy (revenged crazed cowpoke) and Mel Ferrer (tranquilized gunslinger). Lang fans will be impressed by the gaudy, over-bright restored Technicolor, and we can always blame Howard Hughes.

Rancho Notorious

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1952 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 89 min. / Available at Amazon.com / General site Wac-Amazon / Street Date January 10, 2023 / 21.99

Starring: Marlene Dietrich, Arthur Kennedy, Mel Ferrer, Lloyd Gough, William Frawley, Jack Elam, George Reeves, Frank Ferguson, Dan Seymour, John Doucette, Dick Elliott, Russell Johnson, Charlita.

Cinematography: Hal Mohr

Production Designer: Wiard Ihnen

Dietrich’s wardrobe designed by: Don Loper

Editorial Supervisor: Otto Ludwig

Original Music: Emil Newman

Written by Daniel Taradash, Silvia Richards

Produced by Howard Welsch

Directed...

In the glory days of Universal Pictures, the studio had two big things going for it at the box office: the Universal Monsters, and a comedy duo known as Abbott and Costello. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello met on the burlesque circuit — the story goes that one day, Costello's regular comedy partner got sick, allowing Abbott to step in and begin a long, prosperous partnership. Abbott, tall and thin, was the straight man; a surly, frowning bully who frequently had it up to here with his sidekick. Costello, short and stout, was the fool; the childlike clown who was prone to falling down and acting like a buffoon, all to Abbott's annoyance. The act worked like gangbusters, with the duo moving on to radio before landing a movie contract in 1940. By 1942, they were considered to be the top box office stars in the country.

As for the Universal Monsters, they...

Powerhouse Indicator moves forward to their fourth fancy box of noirs from the studio of Harry Cohn, six pictures stretching from the postwar boom to the end of the original classic noir era. This time around we have some notable directors, and a nice selection of stars — Dennis O’Keefe, George Murphy, Fred MacMurray, Kim Novak, Jean Simmons, Rory Calhoun and Richard Conte. Kim Novak makes her starring debut as a femme fatale; noir icon Richard Conte shines in a movie that marks a turn into a new kind of existential, paranoid thriller. And speaking of paranoid, we again get to lighten up with another selection of theme-appropriate Three Stooges shorts.

Columbia Noir #4

Region B Blu-ray

Powerhouse Indicator

1948-1957 / B&w + Color / 1:85 widescreen, 1:37 Academy / Street Date September 27, 2021 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / 49.99

Starring: Louis Hayward, Dennis O’Keefe; George Murphy; Fred MacMurray, Kim Novak; Jean Simmons, Rory Calhoun; Dennis O’Keefe,...

Vintage high-end Film Noir from the classic year 1947! Low Mileage too — this long cut hasn’t been seen since the early laserdisc days. I didn’t know it needed restoring until George Feltenstein talked about it a couple of years ago. It’s a domestic noir crossed with Double Indemnity with a little An American Tragedy thrown in for good measure. Normally squeaky-clean Robert Young throws his hat into the ring with the lowest of noir hero-villains: in this one he double-crosses three terrific noir leading ladies. We can now spell ‘Unspeakable Cad’ with the initial Ry. The most amazing thing about The Warner Film Archive’s new disc is that it restores a full fifteen minutes — Eddie Muller screened They Won’t on his Noir City show not long ago, with no mention that it was the short, edited version.

They Won’t Believe Me

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1947 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 95 min.

Here’s a pleasant surprise: one of Rko’s most popular releases of 1948 has suddenly emerged in an uncut version that’s a full twelve minutes longer than anything most of us have seen. The gentle, family-oriented frontier tale has an attractive trio of star performers, excellent location work and a thoughtful, teasing script. I must have seen the truncated version five times, and yes, it did seem a tad abbreviated here and there. Loretta Young is the bondservant/un-kissed bride with a roving eye. William Holden is the initially unimaginative husband, while good old, Robert Mitchum is perfectly cast as a potential sexual fox-in-the-henhouse.

Rachel and the Stranger

Blu-ray

The Warner Archive Collection

1948 / B&w / 1:37 flat Academy / 92 80 min. / Street Date April 21, 2020 / available through The WBShop / 21.99

Starring: Loretta Young, William Holden, Robert Mitchum, Gary Gray, Tom Tully, Sara Haden, Frank Ferguson, Walter Baldwin, Regina Wallace.

Cinematography: Maury Gertsman

Original...

This great, unheralded western is divorced from the usual concerns of law and order and gunslinger protocol. As in most every film by Jacques Tourneur, we feel a strong empathy for characters that behave like real people working out real problems. The Oregon Territory is pioneered by imperfect people — opportunists, knaves and hopeful dreamers — all rich in personality. Dana Andrews and Susan Hayward lead a large cast in a tale with just as much conflict and violence as the next western, but with an integrity one can feel. The icing on the cake is the presence of ‘troubadour’ Hoagy Carmichael and his beautiful music.

Canyon Passage

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1946 / Color / 1:37 flat Academy / 92 min. / Street Date March 10, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95

Starring: Dana Andrews, Susan Hayward, Brian Donlevy, Patricia Roc, Ward Bond, Hoagy Carmichael, Fay Holden, Stanley Ridges, Lloyd Bridges, Andy Devine, Victor Cutler, Rose Hobart, Halliwell Hobbes, James Cardwell,...

1965: Peyton Place's Elliot learned he was a grandfather.

1971: Dark Shadows' Gabriel stabbed Kendrick.

1989: Another World's original Donna Love returned.

2004: All My Children's Bianca remembered killing Michael."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1962: On The Edge of Night, Louise (Mary K. Wells) learned about Phil's (Ray MacDonnell) car crash, unaware that he had been replaced by a double, John Lambert (Ray MacDonnell).

1965: On As the World Turns, Chris (Don MacLaughlin) told Pa (Santos Ortega) about a rare disease that Dan had contracted,...

1954: The Brighter Day made its television premiere.

1979: Alice Horton performed in a hospital benefit on Days of our Lives.

1983: General Hospital's Edward learned Jimmy Lee was his son.

1985: Santa Barbara's Lionel learned Dominic's identify."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1954: Daytime soap opera The Brighter Day premiered on CBS-tv. Set in New Hope, Wisconsin, the series revolved around Reverend Richard Dennis (Blair Davies) and his four children: Althea (Brook Byron), Patsy (Lois Nettleton), Babby (Mary Linn Beller) and Grayling (Hal Holbrook). The Brighter Day...

1967: The Doctors' Althea turned in her resignation.

1997: General Hospital's Helena returned to Port Charles.

2008: All My Children celebrated the life of Myrtle Fargate.

2011: One Life to Live's Roxy dreamed about Fraternity Row."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Martin Peyton (George Macready) told a drunken Leslie Harrington (Paul Langton) that he had always been inferior.

1967: On The Doctors, Dr. Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) stopped by the home of Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett) to give him her official resignation from Hope Memorial Hospital.

A solid mainstream hit for 1947, Loretta Young and Joseph Cotten’s political fairy tale maintains its charm despite the usual populist dodges — a spirited young woman finds both romance and The American Dream when she runs for Congress. But will the political system accept her?

The Farmer’s Daughter

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1947 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 97 min. / Street Date September 25, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95

Starring: Loretta Young, Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymore, Charles Bickford, Rhys Williams, Harry Davenport, Tom Powers, William Harrigan, Keith Andes, Harry Shannon, Lex Barker, Thurston Hall, Art Baker, Don Beddoe, James Arness, Anna Q. Nilsson, Charles McGraw, John Gallaudet, William B. Davidson, Cy Kendall, Frank Ferguson, William Bakewell, Charles Lane Forrest J. Ackerman, Robert Clarke.

Film Editor: Harry Marker

Original Music: Leigh Harline

Written by Allen Rivkin, Laura Kerr, from a play by Juhani Tervapää

Produced by Dore Schary

Directed by H.C. Potter

This year...

1965: Peyton Place's Elliot learned he was a grandfather.

1971: Dark Shadows' Gabriel stabbed Kendrick.

1989: Another World's original Donna Love returned.

2004: All My Children's Bianca remembered killing Michael."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."

― Machiavelli

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1962: On The Edge of Night, Louise (Mary K. Wells) learned about Phil's (Ray MacDonnell) car crash, unaware that he had been replaced by a double,...

1954: The Brighter Day made its television premiere.

1979: Alice Horton performed in a hospital benefit on Days.

1983: Gh's Edward learned Jimmy Lee was his son.

1985: Santa Barbara's Lionel learned Dominic's identify."History is a vast early warning system."

― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1954: Daytime soap opera The Brighter Day premiered on CBS-tv. Set in New Hope, Wisconsin, the series revolved around Reverend Richard Dennis (Blair Davies) and his four children: Althea (Brook Byron), Patsy (Lois Nettleton), Babby (Mary Linn Beller) and Grayling (Hal Holbrook). The Brighter Day was based on Irna Phillips' NBC Radio serial of the same name that premiered...

1967: The Doctors' Althea turned in her resignation.

1997: General Hospital's Helena returned to Port Charles.

2008: All My Children celebrated the life of Myrtle Fargate.

2011: One Life to Live's Roxy dreamed about Fraternity Row."History is a vast early warning system."

― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Martin Peyton (George Macready) told a drunken Leslie Harrington (Paul Langton) that he had always been inferior.

1967: On The Doctors, Dr. Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) stopped by the home of Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett) to give him her official resignation from Hope Memorial Hospital. Althea was pregnant and unmarried at the time,...

Move over James Jones — Leon Uris clobbers the big screen with a sprawling adaptation of his WW2 combat novel, loaded down with roles for promising young actors. This is the one where twice as much time is spent on love affairs than fighting. War may be hell, but if Mona Freeman, Nancy Olson, Dorothy Malone and Allyn McLerie are going to be there for comfort, sign me up.

Battle Cry

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1955 / Color / 2:55 widescreen / 148 min. / Street Date , 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99

Starring: Van Heflin, Aldo Ray, Mona Freeman, Nancy Olson, James Whitmore, Raymond Massey, Tab Hunter, Dorothy Malone, Anne Francis, William Campbell, Fess Parker, Justus E. McQueen (L.Q. Jones), Perry Lopez, Jonas Applegarth, Tommy Cook, Felix Noriego, Susan Morrow, Carleton Young, Rhys Williams, Allyn Ann McLerie, Gregory Walcott, Frank Ferguson, Sarah Selby, Willis Bouchey, Victor Milian.

Cinematography: Sidney Hickox

Film Editor: William H. Zeigler

Original Music: Max Steiner...

On paper it’s a western with everything — a major star, decent supporting players, a cult director and sideways references to the blacklisting years. But even with its ya-gotta-see-it-to-believe-it high noon showdown scene, Joseph H. Lewis’s last feature film is still a lower-tier United Artists effort. Sterling Hayden goes up against Sebastian Cabot and Nedrick Young, armed with a, with a . . . aw, you probably know already.

Terror in a Texas Town

Blu-ray

Arrow Academy

1958 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 80 min. / Street Date July 11, 2017 / Available from Arrow Video / 39.95

Starring: Sterling Hayden, Sebastian Cabot, Carol Kelly, Eugene Martin, Nedrick Young, Victor Millan, Frank Ferguson, Marilee Earle, Byron Foulger, Glenn Strange.

Cinematography: Ray Rennahan

Original Music: Gerald Fried

Written by Dalton Trumbo, fronted by Ben Perry

Produced by Frank N. Seltzer

Directed by Joseph H. Lewis

Auteurists in the early 1970s championed directors like Phil Karlson, Budd Boetticher and Anthony Mann. These stylists...

Olive's new branded line reissues the Nicholas Ray classic with a full set of authoritative extras -- plus a never-before-seen widescreen transfer, in all of its Trucolor glory. Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden never looked better -- we can all compare theories about la Crawford's color-coded costumes. Just how masculine is Vienna supposed to be? Johnny Guitar (Olive Signature widescreen edition) Blu-ray Olive Films 1954 / Color / 1:66 widescreen / 110 min. / Street Date September 20, 2016 / available through the Olive Films website / 39.95 but heavily discounted Starring Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden, Mercedes McCambridge, Scott Brady, Ward Bond, Ben Cooper, Ernest Borgnine, John Carradine, Royal Dano, Frank Ferguson, Paul Fix, Rhys Williams. Cinematography Harry Stradling Film Editor Richard Van Enger Original Music Victor Young Written by Philip Yordan from the novel by Roy Chanslor Produced by Herbert J. Yates Directed by Nicholas Ray

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Wow, it's already been four years since Olive released a...

Stop! Don't touch that dial... if you like your atom-age propaganda straight up, MGM has the movie for you, an expensive 1946 docu-drama that became 'the official story' for the making of the bomb. The huge cast includes Brian Donlevy, Robert Walker, Tom Drake, Audrey Totter, Hume Cronyn, Hurd Hatfield, and Joseph Calleia. How trustworthy is the movie? It begins by showing footage of a time capsule being buried -- that supposedly contains the film we are watching. Think about that. Mom, Apple Pie, the Flag and God are enlisted to argume that we should stop worrying and love the fact that bombs are just peachy-keen dandy. The Beginning or the End DVD-r The Warner Archive Collection 1947 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 112 min. / Street Date September 22, 2015 / available through the WBshop / 21.99 Starring Brian Donlevy, Robert Walker, Tom Drake, Beverly Tyler, Audrey Totter, Hume Cronyn, Hurd Hatfield, Joseph Calleia, Godfrey Tearle, Victor Francen,...

Susan Hayward. Susan Hayward movies: TCM Star of the Month Fiery redhead Susan Hayward it Turner Classic Movies' Star of the Month in Sept. 2015. The five-time Best Actress Oscar nominee – like Ida Lupino, a would-be Bette Davis that only sporadically landed roles to match the verve of her thespian prowess – was initially a minor Warner Bros. contract player who went on to become a Paramount second lead in the early '40s, a Universal leading lady in the late '40s, and a 20th Century Fox star in the early '50s. TCM will be presenting only three Susan Hayward premieres, all from her Fox era. Unfortunately, her Paramount and Universal work – e.g., Among the Living, Sis Hopkins, And Now Tomorrow, The Saxon Charm – which remains mostly unavailable (in quality prints), will remain unavailable this month. Highlights of the evening include: Adam Had Four Sons (1941), a sentimental but surprisingly...

Hey Abbott! The bumbler and the straight man meet the creatures of the night in this funny film that was said to mark the end of the Universal Monsters era. It didn.t happen that way with me, but more on that later. Let.s open up the crypt and see if there are still laughs within. Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.) is frantically calling a shipping company to make sure two ominous crates are not delivered to McDougal.s (Frank Ferguson) House of Horrors. The phone is answered by Wilbur (Lou Costello) who misunderstands the snarling message thanks to the full moon in London. He.s chastised by his partner Chick (Bud Abbott) and it isn.t the first or last time.