TCM “Big Screen Classics:” “West Side Story” (1961) to be re-released in select cinemas (a brief post)

Fellow classic film aficionados will be interested in an upcoming coast-to-coast re-release of a classic silver screen adaptation of a famous musical.

Turner Classic Movies’ “Big Screen Classics” series: “West Side Story” (1961)

 

Poster artwork for the cinematic adaptation of “West Side Story” (1961).

Turner Classic Movies, in conjunction with Fathom Events, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (United Artists holdings) and Park Circus (exclusive cinema re-issue representatives for MGM/UA) will present the upcoming re-release of “West Side Story” (1961).

The TCM/Fathom Events “Big Screen Classics” revival showcase of “West Side Story” will occur in participating cinema venues throughout the nation on Sun., June 24 and Wed., June 27 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (local time).  This is part of the network’s “Big Screen Classics” series of classic/cult feature film revival presentations.

The TCM/Fathom/MGM (UA)/Park Circus re-release of the cinematic adaptation of the Leonard Bernstein–Arthur Laurents–Stephen Sondheim musical will also have pre-recorded opening introduction and closing conclusion segments by TCM host Ben Mankiewicz.

The screenplay adaptation of “West Side Story” was written by Ernest Lehman.  The cinematic adaptation was directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise.

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“Svengoolie” to showcase “The Night Walker” (1964), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be excited about his upcoming showcase of a classic Universal Studios thriller from one of the legends of macabre cinema.

“Svengoolie” presents: “The Night Walker” (1964)

Original 1964 Universal Studios theatrical trailer for William Castle’s “The Night Walker.”

1964 Universal Studios poster art for William Castle‘s “The Night Walker.”

The iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based horror/thriller film host will present “The Night Walker” (1964), this Sat., June 23 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Me-TV.

“The Night Walker” was directed by veteran thriller/horror film director William Castle, who was best known for “House on Haunted Hill” (1959, with Vincent Price),  “The Tingler” (1959, with Price) and “Mr. Sardonicus” (1961, with Oscar Homolka).

The screenplay for Castle’s thriller was written by Robert Bloch, who also wrote the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” (1960).

This will mark Sven’s third showing of “The Night Walker” on Me-TV.  He previously aired William Castle’s 1964 Universal thriller back in Sept. 2015 and Dec. 2016.

Who was in “The Night Walker” (1964)?

The players who appeared in Castle’s 1964 thriller were Barbara Stanwyck (as Irene Trent), Robert Taylor (as Bobby Moreland), Hayden Rorke (as Howard Trent), Judi Meredith (as Joyce Holliday), Rochelle Hudson (as Hilda), Jess Barker (as Malone), Marjorie Bennett (as a manager), Lloyd Bochner (as “the dream”), Tetsu Komai (as a gardener) and voice-over artist Paul Frees (as the narrator).

“Svengoolie” to showcase “Man-Made Monster” (1941), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals and enthusiasts of vintage Universal Studios monster thrillers will be excited about his upcoming presentation of a 1941 classic.

Altered theatrical trailer for Universal’s “Man-Made Monster” (1941).  This was from the Realart re-release of the film, under the title of “Atomic Monster.”

“Svengoolie” presents: “Man-Made Monster” (1941)

1941 Universal Studios poster artwork for “Man-Made Monster.”

The iconic Chicago/Berwyn-based horror film host will present “Man-Made Monster” (1941), this Sat., June 16 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

“Man-Made Monster” was directed by veteran film director George Waggner.  Around the same year that “Man-Made Monster” was released, Waggner directed another landmark Universal monster feature, “The Wolf Man” (1941).  During the latter part of his career, Waggner directed 10 episodes of the live-action “Batman” TV series with Adam West and Burt Ward from 1966-67, according to IMDB.

This will mark Sven’s third airing of “Man-Made Monster” (1941) on Me-TV.   He previously showcased Waggner’s Universal monster/sci-fi shocker back in May 2015 and Sept. 2016.

Who was in “Man-Made Monster” (1941)?

The players who appeared in “Man-Made Monster” were Lon Chaney Jr. (as Dan McCormick), Lionel Atwill (as Dr. Paul Rigas), Anne Nagel (as June Lawrence), Frank Albertson (as Mark Adams), Samuel S. Hinds (as Dr. John Lawrence), William B. Davidson (as Dist. Attorney Ralph B. Stanley), Ben Taggart (as Detective Sergeant Regan), Constance “Connie” Bergen (as a nurse), Chester Gan (as Wong), Frank O’Connor (as a Police Detective) and George Meader (as Dr. Bruno).

 

“Svengoolie” to showcase “The Mole People” (1956), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals will be interested in Sven’s upcoming presentation of a cult classic Universal Studios sci-fi fantasy creature feature.

“Svengoolie” presents: “The Mole People” (1956)

Original 1956 Universal Studios theatrical trailer for “The Mole People.”

1956 Universal Studios poster art for “The Mole People.”

The legendary Chicago/Berwyn-based sci-fi/horror film host will showcase “The Mole People” (1956), this Sat., June 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

“The Mole People” was directed by Virgil Vogel, who also directed “The Land Unknown” (1957) and the final installment in Universal Studios’ “Ma and Pa Kettle” comedy film franchise series, “The Kettles on Old MacDonald’s Farm” (1957).  Vogel’s 1956 Universal sci-fi monster/creature entry took only 17 days to film, according to IMDB.

This will mark Sven’s fifth showing of “The Mole People” (1956) on Me-TV.  He previously showcased Vogel’s feature in Sept. 2012, April 2013, Jan. 2014 and Dec. 2015.

Who was in “The Mole People” (1956)?

The players who appeared in Vogel’s Universal sci-fi creature feature were John Agar (as Dr. Roger Bentley), Cynthia Patrick (as Adad), Hugh Beaumont (as Dr. Jud Bellamin), Alan Napier (as the High Priest Elinu), Nestor Paiva (as Prof. Etienne Lafarge), Phil Chambers (as Dr. Paul Stuart), Rodd Redwing (as Nazar), Robin Hughes (as a first officer) and UCLA English professor Dr. Frank C. Baxter as himself.

 

Gettysburg’s Majestic Theater to kick off their 2018 “Summer Classic Movies” series with “Casablanca” (1942)

One of cinema’s all-time greats will be returning to the big screen in Gettysburg to kick off a historic theater’s summer classic film showcase.

Gettysburg’s “Majestic Theater” presents the return of their “Summer Classic Movies” series for 2018 with “Casablanca” (1942) on the big screen

Original 1942 Warner Bros. theatrical trailer for “Casablanca.”

Original Warner Bros. lobby card art for “Casablanca” (1942).

The historic Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania will kick off their “Summer Classic Movies” anthology series of classic/cult cinematic favorites for 2018 with their presentation of “Casablanca” (1942) on the big screen.  The screening of the Michael Curtiz–Hal B. Wallis classic at the historic cinema will take place on the evening of Wed., June 6 at 7:30 p.m. (local time).

The Majestic’s presentation of “Casablanca” (1942) will have an opening introduction by area film historian and executive founding director of the Majestic Theater, Jeffrey W. Gabel.  Attendees of the Majestic’s presentation of “Casablanca” (1942) will be eligible to win a raffle prize, according to the official website of the Majestic.

 

Who was in “Casablanca” (1942)?

1942-43 Warner Bros. trade advertisement for “Casablanca.”

Appearing in “Casablanca” (1942) were Humphrey Bogart (as Rick Blaine), Ingrid Bergman (as Ilsa Lund), Paul Henreid (as Victor Lazlo), Claude Rains (as Louis Renault), Peter Lorre (as Ugarte), Dooley Wilson (as Sam), S.Z. “Cuddles” Sakall (as Carl), Conrad Veidt (as Strasser), Sydney Greenstreet (as Ferrari), Madeleine Lebeau (as Yvonne), Joy Page (as Annina Brandel), John Qualen (as Berger) and Leonid Kinskey (as Sacha).

“Svengoolie” to showcase “Werewolf of London” (1935), this Sat. evening on Me-TV

Fellow coast-to-coast Svengoolie SvenPals will be jumping for joy for his upcoming showcase of a classic 1935 Universal Studios monster entry.

“Svengoolie” presents: “Werewolf of London” (1935)

Theatrical trailer for “Werewolf of London” (1935).  Note: This was altered for the later Realart re-issue of the Universal monster classic.

1935 Universal Studios poster art for “Werewolf of London.”

The legendary Chicago/Berwyn-based horror film host will showcase “Werewolf of London” (1935), this Sat., June 2 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

“Werewolf of London” (1935) was directed by Stuart Walker.  That same year, Walker also directed a musical comedy for Universal, titled “Manhattan Moon” (1935, with Ricardo Cortez, Dorothy Page and Regis Toomey).  Walker also served in uncredited roles as producer and associate producer for the later “Bulldog Drummond” series of mystery films at rival studio Paramount Pictures from 1937–39, according to IMDB.

Walker’s 1935 Universal horror entry served as the precursor to the studio’s later series of “Wolf Man”/werewolf-themed monster franchise films; including George Waggoner’s “The Wolf Man” (1941, with Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Claude Rains, Ralph Bellamy, Evelyn Ankers, Warren William and Patric Knowles).

This will mark Sven’s sixth showcase of “Werewolf of London” (1935) on Me-TV.  He previously showcased the film in Oct. 2012, Feb. 2013, Sept. 2014, Jan. 2016 and March 2017.

 

 

 

 

Who was in Walker’s Universal “werewolf” monster feature?

The actors who appeared in “Werewolf of London” (1935), were Henry Hull (as Dr. Wilfred Glendon), Warner Oland (of “Charlie Chan” fame as Dr. Yogami), Spring Byington (as Ettie Coombes),  Valerie Hobson (as Lisa Glendon), Lawrence Grant (as Sir Thomas Forsythe), Lester Matthews (as Paul Ames), Clark Williams (as Hugh Renwick), J.M. Kerrigan (as Hawkins; Kerrigan would be later cast in the role of Charles Conliffe in 1941’s “The Wolf Man”), Charlotte Granville (as Lady Forsythe), Ethel Griffies (as Mrs. Whack), Zeffie Tilbury (as Mrs. Moncaster) and Jeanne Bartlett (as Daisy).

Memorial Day

1944 Western Electric/Bell System advertisement for developments in the company’s motion picture sound and telecommunications equipment used for defense by the United States Armed Forces during World War II.