Seduced by Pierre Clémenti

by Kimberly Lindbergs | January 27, 2011

Categories | Movie Reviews, Actors, Italian Cinema, Romance, Ennio Morricone, Pierre Clementi, Gay Interest, Movie Morlocks, TCM

Pierre Clémenti in Listen, Let’s Make Love (1967)

Regular Cinebeats’ readers are undoubtedly familiar with my fascination with the French actor and filmmaker Pierre Clémenti. I’ve written about him enough that he’s earned his own blog category so you can imagine my surprise when I came across one of the little seen films that he appeared in playing on Netflix Instant Watch recently. The erotic European drama Listen, Let’s Make Love (1967) is the last thing I’d expect to come across on Netflix but I’m really glad that I stumbled on it. It’s a gorgeous film with some amazing set designs and eye-popping art direction as well as a fantastic score by Ennio Morricone. Fans of Euro cult films like Radley Mizger’s incredible Camille 2000 (1969) should give it a look but be forewarned, I suspect that the version of Listen, Let’s Make Love that’s currently available at Netflix might be edited. The film is dubbed and contains no nudity except for a few derrieres and breasts displayed at an erotic art exhibit. But don’t let that stop you from watching it. Listen, Let’s Make Love is an interesting film and if you’re a Pierre Clémenti fan like myself it’s a must see!

You can find my full review and lots of images from the movie posted at the Movie Morlocks.
- Seduced by Pierre Clémenti @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

I’ve also created a Flickr Gallery for the film if you want to see more images from Listen, Let’s Make Love (1967)
- Listen, Let’s Make Love (1967) Flickr Gallery

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In Praise of Peter Sellers

by Kimberly Lindbergs | January 6, 2011

Categories | Actors, British Cinema, Comedies, Movie Morlocks, TCM, Peter Sellers, Hal Ashby

TCM’s “Star of the Month” for January is the one and only Peter Sellers. Sellers is one of favorite performers but I haven’t written much about him so I took the opportunity to discuss the actor and some of his best films at the Movie Morlocks today. Many of Sellers’ greatest movies such as I’m All Right Jack (1960), Lolita (1962), The Pink Panther (1963), A Shot In the Dark (1964), Dr. Strangelove (1964), Casino Royale (1967) and Being There (1979) are being showcased on TCM in the coming weeks. It’s a great opportunity for Sellers’ fans to revisit some of their favorite films and if you’re unfamiliar with his work you’ll find a wide variety of movies showing every Thursday that might spark your interest.
- In Praise of Peter Sellers @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

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Let It Snow

by Kimberly Lindbergs | December 24, 2010

Categories | Actors, Alain Delon, Anthony Perkins

Alain Delon and Romy Schneider (early ’60s)

Things have been pretty festive around here all month but I wanted to share a photo of Alain Delon and Romy Schneider as well as a song before I disappeared for a 7 day holiday. Regular readers are well aware of my interest in Anthony Perkins and his singing career so it’s probably no surprise that I was thrilled to discover that the actor had recorded a number of Christmas songs including his own rendition of “Let It Snow.” It was recorded later in his career so his voice doesn’t have the same melodic tone that his earlier recordings have but it’s still fun to listen to. Enjoy and happy holiday from Cinebeats!

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Have Yourself A Merry Lorre Christmas

by Kimberly Lindbergs | December 23, 2010

Categories | Actors, Movie Morlocks, TCM, Peter Lorre

Peter Lorre & Sydney Greenstreet playing Santa Claus

I’ve been thinking a lot about Peter Lorre since I wrote about his performance in Michael Curtiz’s Passage to Marseilles (1943) last month. This week I thought I’d shine a light on Lorre’s radio career and discuss his performance in the holiday themed SUSPENSE play, “Back for Christmas.” If you’re looking for some macabre yuletide entertainment I highly recommend making your way over to the Movie Morlocks.
- Have Yourself A Merry Lorre Christmas @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

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Lorre & Bogey

by Kimberly Lindbergs | November 19, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, Actors, American Cinema, War, Movie Morlocks, TCM, Peter Lorre

Peter Lorre and Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Peter Lorre and Humphrey Bogart. They’re one of my favorite film pairings and over at TCM’s Movie Morlocks blog I just posted an appreciation of one of the movies they appeared in together, Michael Curtiz’s Passage to Marseilles (1943). It’s not the best film that Bogart and Lorre made but it’s the only one I hadn’t seen until now so I’m glad that I finally got the opportunity to watch it thanks to the DVD re-release contained in Warner Brothers’ new Humphrey Bogart: The Essential Collection.

I’ve been fascinated, terrified and obsessed with Peter Lorre for as long as I can remember but my appreciation for Bogart has really only taken shape in the last 15 years. Some actors are like that. They grow on you after you’ve watched them again and again in movie after movie. With others, like Lorre, there’s an instant connection and appreciation for what they’re doing. Whether you’re a Lorre fan, a Bogart fan or happen to like them both, I think Passage to Marseilles is well worth a look and if you want to know why you’ll find my explanation over at the Movie Morlocks: Bogart & Lorre: A Match Made In Movie Heaven.

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Alain Delon Turns 75

by Kimberly Lindbergs | November 4, 2010

Categories | Actors, Alain Delon, Claudia Cardinale, Movie Morlocks, TCM

Top & Center: The many faces of Alain Delon in the ’60s
Bottom: Alain Delon with Claudia Cardinale at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival

Halloween is over and I didn’t accomplish everything I set out to do. There are still a few more Bewitching Movies that I’d love to write about in the future but now that November has arrived I wanted to make sure I made some time to salute my favorite French actor on his upcoming 75th birthday.

I’ve written in length about my affection for Alain Delon before and I’m proud of the fact that a lot of the current information you find online about the actor originally came from my long forgotten tribute site that celebrated Delon’s impressive career. The site went offline in 1998 but since then the information I compiled and had translated has found its way onto Wikpedia, IMDB.com and countless other English language fan sites so it can still be enjoyed by fans and easily accessed by other writers when they’re waxing poetically about the actor known as the “Ice-Cold Angel.” An aging old bat like myself can remember the dark days before everyone owned a computer and started taking information for granted. I’m happy that times have changed and information about Alain Delon is so widely available. I’m also happy that Alain Delon has lived long enough to celebrate his 75th birthday!

My birthday salute to Alain Delon can be found at TCM’s Movie Morlocks blog along with a lot more eye-candy: The Ice-Cold Angel Turns 75

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Mike Raven: Actor, Artist & Witch

by Kimberly Lindbergs | October 21, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, Actors, British Cinema, Movie Morlocks, TCM, Bewitching Movies

Mike Raven in Crucible of Terror (1971)

I recently watched and reviewed the British supernatural thriller Crucible of Terror (1971) for the Movie Morlocks Blog. The film stars Mike Raven; an underrated British actor who resembled Christopher Lee and appeared in only four horror films during his lifetime. I didn’t know much about Raven before writing my review so I did some research about his background and I was fascinated to learn about his interest in the occult. It seems that Mike Raven enjoyed dabbling in magic (or magick) for awhile and was associated with a witch’s coven in Cornwall, England where he retired from acting in 1972 to focus on sculpting. Raven liked to wear black and apparently his country house was also painted black and contained black furniture, black rugs, etc.

Late in life Mike Raven reportedly converted to Christianity and started using his birth name (Austin Churton Fairman). His sculptures often reflected his personal religious explorations and deep fascination with spiritual themes. I’ve seen three of the four films that Mike Raven appeared in; Lust for a Vampire (1971), I, Monster (1971) and Crucible of Terror (1971), and I’ve enjoyed them all. Finding out that Raven was actually practicing witchcraft while he was making these movies was an interesting surprise and has added some intrigue and allure to his performances. He’ll probably always be remembered as a second-rate Christopher Lee, but with more training and experience I think Mike Raven could have become a more disciplined actor and gotten better roles. His best performance can be found in Crucible of Terror, which was just released on DVD by Severin Films.

- Mike Raven: Actor, Artist & Witch @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

Recommended Links:
- My review of Crucible of Terror (1971) starring Mike Raven
- My Crucible of Terror Flickr Galler
- An online exhibition of work by Austin Churton Fairman (Mike Raven) 1924-1997
- Radio Rewind: Mike Raven (a look at Raven’s career as a DJ)
- The official site of Severin Films

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Sean Connery at 80

by Kimberly Lindbergs | August 25, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, Actors, Spies & Secret Agents, Sean Connery

Sean Connery in From Russia With Love (1963)

Sean Connery celebrated his 80th birthday today and there was a brief interview with him published in Scotland’s Daily Record that’s worth a read. He talks about retiring from acting and why From Russia With Love (1963) is his favorite of all the films he made. Good stuff!

Interview:
- Sean Connery at 80: My acting days are over but I’m still loving life.

And a great interview with Connery done at Cannes in 1968 . . .

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Happy Birthday Shane Briant!

by Kimberly Lindbergs | August 17, 2010

Categories | Actors, British Cinema, Hammer Horror, Shane Briant

Shane Briant in Straight on Til Morning (1972)

One of my favorite Hammer horror stars, the wonderful Shane Briant, is celebrating his 64th birthday today. He recently stopped by Cinebeats and left a link to a new youtube film he made where he revisits the character of Peter Clive that he played in Peter Collinson’s horror film Straight On Til Morning (1972) and I thought today would be a great day to share it. Straight On Til Morning is one of Hammer’s best and most unusual films in my opinion and features one of Briant’s greatest performances so it was really fun to see him in the title role again some 30 years later. Maybe someone could be encouraged to film a sequel? Shane Briant would obviously be up for it!

Recommended Links:
- My interview with Shane Briant
- Soundings: The Official Shane Briant Tribute Site

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