Before "Star Wars," there was "Thx 1138." A strange, dystopic science fiction movie packed with big ideas up to its eyeballs, "Thx 1138" is now mostly known as the feature directorial debut of one George Walton Lucas Jr. (though it also came back in conversation when the best episode of "Andor" paid homage to it). The future Lucasfilm founder originally created this story of repressed emotions and stymied sexuality as a student film, but by the time it was reimagined as a feature, it had gained backing from Warner Bros.
Lucas' American Zoetrope co-founder Francis Ford Coppola also had faith in the movie, and served as one of its producers. "Thx 1138" starred Robert Duvall, then already known for his work on stage and television, not to mention in films like "To Kill A Mockingbird," "M*A*S*H," and "True Grit." Future "Halloween" actor Donald Pleasence co-starred, along with a then-unknown actress named Maggie McOmie.
Lucas' American Zoetrope co-founder Francis Ford Coppola also had faith in the movie, and served as one of its producers. "Thx 1138" starred Robert Duvall, then already known for his work on stage and television, not to mention in films like "To Kill A Mockingbird," "M*A*S*H," and "True Grit." Future "Halloween" actor Donald Pleasence co-starred, along with a then-unknown actress named Maggie McOmie.
- 5/12/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Religiosity isn’t a particularly good look lately, at least as it’s being performed by politicians. Artists, though — especially one the caliber of Jamaica’s Samory-Tour Frazer, a.k.a. Samory I — can still conjure the unifying power, beauty and healing that religion sometimes brings. Samory made this clear on Black Gold, his promising 2017 debut, with its Rastafarian calling card “Rasta Nuh Gangsta,” a policy brief to a local cop book-ended by Nyabinghi drumming and a potent dub breakdown. And his new album Strength is, even more so, a...
- 11/17/2023
- by Will Hermes
- Rollingstone.com
Given how revered Disney's "Pinocchio" is today, it's hard to believe it was a flop when it was first released exactly three quarters of a century ago. Upon its New York City premiere, on February 7, 1940, critics hailed the film as a masterpiece, and even to this day, many prefer it to Disney's pioneering first animated feature, 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Yet it took the film many years and multiple re-releases to make a profit.
Today, of course, the legacy of "Pinocchio" is inescapable. Everyone's image of the puppet-boy with the nose that grows when he lies comes not from Carlo Collodi's original novel but from the kid with the Tyrolean hat and the Mickey Mouse gloves, as drawn by Disney animators. And the opening tune, Jiminy Cricket's "When You Wish Upon a Star," is ubiquitous as the theme music played before every Walt Disney movie and home video release.
Today, of course, the legacy of "Pinocchio" is inescapable. Everyone's image of the puppet-boy with the nose that grows when he lies comes not from Carlo Collodi's original novel but from the kid with the Tyrolean hat and the Mickey Mouse gloves, as drawn by Disney animators. And the opening tune, Jiminy Cricket's "When You Wish Upon a Star," is ubiquitous as the theme music played before every Walt Disney movie and home video release.
- 2/7/2015
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
“Will there be an Iron Man 4?” is the kind of thing Robert Downey Jr. is going to continue being asked until there is one.
Most recently, the actor has caused a stir by telling Variety, “There isn’t one in the pipe. No, there’s no plan for a fourth Iron Man.” So is it time to tearfully hurl our Officially Licensed Iron Man Movie Arc Reactor Prop Replica into the sea?
The thing to remember is that the Marvel Studios movie schedule is a closely held game of cards, and speculation has run rampant about their upcoming slate ever...
Most recently, the actor has caused a stir by telling Variety, “There isn’t one in the pipe. No, there’s no plan for a fourth Iron Man.” So is it time to tearfully hurl our Officially Licensed Iron Man Movie Arc Reactor Prop Replica into the sea?
The thing to remember is that the Marvel Studios movie schedule is a closely held game of cards, and speculation has run rampant about their upcoming slate ever...
- 9/8/2014
- by Anthony Breznican
- EW - Inside Movies
Iron Man 4 might not happen, according to Marvel franchise star Robert Downey Jr.
No 'Iron Man 4'?
Downey seemed to suggest that the Iron Man franchise might end with Iron Man 3 in a recent interview, worrying fans of the franchise that they may have seen the last of the actor as Tony Stark. “There isn’t one in the pipe,” Downey is quoted as saying in an interview with Variety. “No, there’s no plan for a fourth Iron Man.”
At the Toronto International Film Festival promoting The Judge, Downey was forced to address not only the well-received father/son film in which he costars with Robert Duvall, but the future of the superhero flick that reignited his Hollywood career.
“It’s down to Kevin [Feige] and Ike [Perlmutter] and Disney to come to us with what the proposal is, and that’s on us to agree or disagree,” Downey told Entertainment Weekly,...
No 'Iron Man 4'?
Downey seemed to suggest that the Iron Man franchise might end with Iron Man 3 in a recent interview, worrying fans of the franchise that they may have seen the last of the actor as Tony Stark. “There isn’t one in the pipe,” Downey is quoted as saying in an interview with Variety. “No, there’s no plan for a fourth Iron Man.”
At the Toronto International Film Festival promoting The Judge, Downey was forced to address not only the well-received father/son film in which he costars with Robert Duvall, but the future of the superhero flick that reignited his Hollywood career.
“It’s down to Kevin [Feige] and Ike [Perlmutter] and Disney to come to us with what the proposal is, and that’s on us to agree or disagree,” Downey told Entertainment Weekly,...
- 9/8/2014
- Uinterview
For all the unlikely casting of U.S. presidents in "Lee Daniels' The Butler" (Robin Williams as Ike? James Marsden as JFK? Uh... okay...), the movie's highly subjective recreation of history actually seems to work. Maybe the actors aren't up to the task of playing such formidable real-life titans, but then, as seen by the long-serving White House manservant of the movie's title, these presidents are all just men, overwhelmed by the burdens of politics, world events, and history's eventual judgment. He sees them all at their most vulnerable and proves the old adage that no man is a hero to his valet.
Still, as subjective as the movie is about the many presidents that Forest Whitaker's character serves and the crises they address while he pours their coffee, it holds pretty close to the historical record. In fact, the movie takes its greatest liberties not with the presidents...
Still, as subjective as the movie is about the many presidents that Forest Whitaker's character serves and the crises they address while he pours their coffee, it holds pretty close to the historical record. In fact, the movie takes its greatest liberties not with the presidents...
- 8/12/2013
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
When it comes to actresses, the movie business has always had an eye for beautiful faces. Unfortunately, it has often only been an afterthought as to whether or not that beautiful face could do anything other than be beautiful. Leaf through the archives of any of the movie glamour magazines from long ago and you’ll find them a cemetery of beautiful faces primped and hyped by the Hollywood PR machine to be The Next Great Thing. Some never made it past a screen test, while others managed to survive a few screen roles, but through lack of talent, charisma, the right roles — whatever mysterious magic it is that causes a performer to click with an audience — soon disappeared, never to be heard of again. It’s a long, looong casualty list of forgotten pretties like Merrilyn Grix, Eleanor Counts, Kathy Marlowe, Myrna Dell, Sandra Giles, Jean Colleran, Sunnie O’Dea,...
- 8/2/2011
- by Bill Mesce
- SoundOnSight
GroomscakesWedding GroomscakesIn international news, as the royal wedding approaches Prince William of England has put in his requests for his grooms cake -- a simple recipe of McVite's Rich Tea Biscuits (or cookies in America) and chocolate. While grooms cake don't make it to the wedding reception very often these days, we love the sentiment of a special treat just for the groom. Since we began to run our "Bridal Bliss" column on Essence.com, a few brides have surprised their hubbys with grooms cakes. Let's take a look at our favorites...Footballer's WifeWhen Dana married her college sweetheart, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Matt Ware, she wanted to show him that she appreciated his love of the game.TouchdownDana ordered Matt a grooms cake with a Cardials helmet to show him she was ready to go the distance.Always and ForeverEven when she were 19, Audrey knew that Kevin was the guy for her.
- 3/29/2011
- Essence
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