John Barry 1933-2011

by Kimberly Lindbergs | February 3, 2011

Categories | Movie Reviews, Soundtracks, Composers, British Cinema, John Barry, Jane Birkin

Jane Birkin and John Barry (1965)

John Barry’s a special figure here at Cinebeats. Now that he’s left this earth I can comfortably refer to him as one of the blog’s many Patron Saints. Remind me to make a list of the others some day…

Barry composed some of my favorite soundtracks and I was honored to be asked to contribute a piece on Boom (1968) when Harkit Records released Barry’s score for the film on CD. My father was a James Bond fan so I grew up dancing to his music. Born Free was a real favorite when I was a kid and when I started buying soundtracks for myself his scores where some of the first that I purchased and I think that’s probably true for a lot of film fans like fellow bloggers Greg Ferrara and Steve Saragossi. Barry’s music was accessible, exciting and often incredibly moving.

My lengthy tribute to John Barry can be found at the Movie Morlocks and if you’d like to read more about the composer’s work you can find previous pieces I’ve posted here.

Some easy to follow links:
- John Barry 1933-2011: The Beat Goes On @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog
- John Barry @ Cinebeats

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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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From the Archive of Hammer Films

by Kimberly Lindbergs | December 2, 2010

Categories | Books, British Cinema, Hammer Horror, Movie Morlocks, TCM

I recently rediscovered some old film posters that I had in storage for over 15 years and one of them was for the Hammer film, Frankenstein Created Woman (1967). I love Hammer’s Frankenstein movies and Frankenstein Created Woman is one of my favorites. The poster was a gift given to me many years ago and I’m planning on getting it framed soon so I can hang it proudly in my new home. I thought it would be fun to share a picture of my Hammer poster that I snapped yesterday.

In an odd coincidence Titan has recently released Marcus Hearn’s latest book, The Art of Hammer: The Official Poster Collection From the Archive of Hammer Films, which I just reviewed for the Movie Morlocks. I really admire Hearn’s devotion to Hammer. The author has written three books about the “Studio That Dripped Blood” in recent years, including Hammer Glamour: Classic Images from the Hammer Archives, which I wrote about last year. His latest book is the first collection of Hammer film posters ever published and it’s a real treat for Hammer fans like myself.
- From the Archive of Hammer Films @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

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Looking Into the Eye of the Devil

by Kimberly Lindbergs | October 28, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, Horror, British Cinema, Actresses, David Hemmings, Bewitching Movies, Deborah Kerr

Sharon Tate and David Hemmings in Eye of the Devil (1966)

Halloween is fast approaching and over at the Movie Morlocks blog we’re counting down the days with an “obscure and offbeat” horror movie blogathon. All week long my fellow Morlocks and myself have been writing about some of our favorite lessor known films and I decided to tackle J. Lee Thompson’s Eye of the Devil (1966), which also became available on DVD this week from the Warner Archives. It contains one of my favorite opening montages and it’s just a great undervalued occult thriller that deserves a wider audience. It also features some of my favorite actors including a very young and very handsome David Hemmings, the amazing Deborah Kerr, a stunning Sharon Tate and the dapper David Niven. With a cast that good you just know the film is worth a look… or two!

More images from Eye of the Devil can be found in my Flickr Gallery.

I hope to share my thoughts about one more “Bewitching Movie” before the month ends so keep an eye on Cinebeats for further updates. In the meantime I hope I’ve given my faithful readers a few good recommendations for Halloween viewing. I’ve really enjoyed the last month but I’m not really looking forward to Halloween. I wish October could last forever. Saying goodbye to my favorite month always hurts a little.

I also thought I’d mention that one of my fellow Morlocks has written about another one of my favorite “Bewitching Movies,” the incredible Night of the Demon (1957). If you haven’t had the chance to see the classic supernatural thriller yet I highly recommend giving it a look. TCM is showing Night of the Demon tomorrow (Friday, October 29th) followed by a mini Hammer film marathon featuring my favorite monster and mad doctor, Frankenstein. For more information on all the horror films being shown this Halloween weekend visit the official TCM site.

- Looking Into the Eye of the Devil @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

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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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Bewitching Movies October 1-31 @ Cinebeats

by Kimberly Lindbergs | September 30, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, News, Horror, British Cinema, Movie Morlocks, TCM, Barbara Steele, Bewitching Movies

“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” - Witch
(from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth)

Horror films are currently trendy. There’s just no getting around that fact. But something seems to be amiss between the teenage vampires, 3D piranhas and countless remakes of classic horror films that Hollywood churns out month after month. I think this trend mirrors something deeply troubling that is echoed in the hollow entertainment filling up our multiplexes as I type this. We live in fearful times. People are afraid of their neighbors, their politicians, their doctors and their own shadows. They’re afraid of losing their jobs, losing their freedoms, losing their homes and losing their minds. Our televisions transmit fear daily to remind us that we’re too fat, too skinny, too old and too young. People seem content to live in a state of fear and they remain in that state continually. I love horror movies. I love the rush of excitement I feel whenever I spot a ghost floating across my TV screen during a William Castle production or the thrill that I get every time I see Christopher Lee rise from a coffin. But I don’t live my life in fear. Maybe that’s why I don’t follow trends? I’m not afraid of being slightly out of step with the rest of the world. I watch more old movies than new ones. Most of the music I listen to was released before 1989 and I prefer buying second-hand goods instead new things whenever possible because the world is producing too much crap. But I digress.

The point of this post is to announce that Cinebeats is going to be trendy this October and indulge in all things spooky and scary. As I’ve said countless times before, horror is my favorite film genre but I don’t write about horror films enough. In an effort to satisfy my cinematic cravings and celebrate one of the best months of the year I’m going to be joining many of my fellow film bloggers including Arbogast on Film, Greg at Cinemastyles and Bob at Eternal Sunshine of the Logical Mind; and for the next 31 days I’ll be spending all of my free time writing about horror movies. But not just any horror movies. I’m going to focus all of my attention on witches. Not scary politicians, mother-in-laws or your friendly neighborhood Wiccans. I’ll be writing about movie witches that enchant me, fascinate me and frighten me. I probably won’t be able to post something every day but when I’m able to I will. You can expect to see more than one weekly update at Cinebeats during the month of October.

You’ll find my first post about movie witches over at TCM’s Movie Morlocks blog. Today I shared some thoughts about one of my favorite H.P. Lovecraft adaptations; The Crimson Cult (aka Curse of the Crimson Altar; 1968), which features the fabulous Barbara Steele as a beautiful green skinned witch called Lavinia. Want to know more? Check out It’s Lovecraft Season.

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Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (1967)

by Kimberly Lindbergs | September 16, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, Directors, British Cinema, Comedies, Movie Morlocks, TCM

I recently watched Clive Donner’s teenage sex farce Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (1967) for the first time. Soon afterward I learned that the director had died at age 84 so in tribute to Donner I decided to write about the film for TCM this week. I really enjoyed Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush and had so much fun taking screen grabs from the movie that I created a small gallery for them over at Flickr. If you’d like to read my piece about Clive Donner’s film you’ll find it at the Movie Morlocks Blog.

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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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Summer Under the Stars: Julie Christie

by Kimberly Lindbergs | July 30, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, Horror, British Cinema, Actresses, Science Fiction, Donald Cammell, Julie Christie

Julie Christie in an early promo shot for Billy Liar (1963)

I recently wrote a lengthy piece about Donald Cammell’s science fiction thriller Demon Seed (1977), which has been published at the Turner Classic Movies site. My article coincides with TCM’s annual Summer Under the Stars event that celebrates the careers of various actors and actresses all summer long. This year many of my favorite screen stars will be represented in TCM’s lineup including Steve McQueen, Errol Flynn, Gene Tierney, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter O’Toole and the lovely ’60s icon, Julie Christie. Demon Seed will be shown on August 2 along with many other terrific Julie Christie’ films such as The Go-Between (1971), Doctor Zhivago (1965), Far From the Madding Crowd (1967), Billy Liar (1963), Darling (1965) and Petulia (1968). You can read my piece on Demon Seed as well as articles about all the other Julie Christie films being shown on August 2 at the TCM site.

- Summer Under The Stars - August 2/2010: Julie Christie

Julie Christie in Demon Seed (1977)

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