A sad day for the industry as Hollywood loses one of its most influential figures. Roger Corman, the King of B-Movies, has sadly passed away at the age of 98 on May 9th, 2024.
The following statement was issued by his family:
“His films were revolutionary and iconoclastic, and captured the spirit of an age. When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, ‘I was a filmmaker, just that,.’“
Born in Detroit, Michigan, his career in film began at the 20th Century Fox mailroom, where he eventually became a story reader. Through his connections, he began producing and directing films such as The Fast and the Furious and Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet. Over the years, he worked with multiple industry veterans, such as Vincent Price and Boris Karloff.
His biggest period was when he launched New World Pictures with his brother Gene. Under the ownership of 20th Century Fox,...
The following statement was issued by his family:
“His films were revolutionary and iconoclastic, and captured the spirit of an age. When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, ‘I was a filmmaker, just that,.’“
Born in Detroit, Michigan, his career in film began at the 20th Century Fox mailroom, where he eventually became a story reader. Through his connections, he began producing and directing films such as The Fast and the Furious and Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet. Over the years, he worked with multiple industry veterans, such as Vincent Price and Boris Karloff.
His biggest period was when he launched New World Pictures with his brother Gene. Under the ownership of 20th Century Fox,...
- 5/12/2024
- by Mr. Milo
- Pirates & Princesses
David Attenborough and Jon Favreau team up for the new natural history doc series “Prehistoric Planet”, scored by Hans Zimmer, streaming May 23-27, 2022 on AppleTV+:
“…’Prehistoric Planet’ takes viewers 66 million years back into the Earth's past. Across five episodes airing every night for a week, the series will take viewers on a journey exploring the lives of dinosaurs as they roamed the Earth, including some species that have only recently been discovered…”
Click the images to enlarge….
“…’Prehistoric Planet’ takes viewers 66 million years back into the Earth's past. Across five episodes airing every night for a week, the series will take viewers on a journey exploring the lives of dinosaurs as they roamed the Earth, including some species that have only recently been discovered…”
Click the images to enlarge….
- 4/5/2022
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
HBO Max has released the trailer and key art for Season 2 of dark comedy series “The Flight Attendant.” The new season will premiere on Thursday, April 21.
The dark comedy series focuses once again on lead character Cassie Bowden, played by Kaley Cuoco. Bowden is living a sober life in Los Angeles while moonlighting as a CIA asset in her free time when she is assigned overseas, leading her to accidentally witness a murder. Once again, Bowden is entangled in another sprawling network of international intrigue.
The series stars Cuoco, and Season 2 will bring back series regulars Zosia Mamet, Griffin Matthews, Denis Akdeniz and Rosie Perez, as well as returning recurring guest stars T.R. Knight, Yasha Jackson and Audrey Graace Marshall. The new season will also introduce Mo McRae, Callie Hernandez and JJ Soria as well as new guest stars Alanna Ubach, Cheryl Hines, Jessie Ennis, Mae Martin, Margaret Cho, Santiago Cabrera,...
The dark comedy series focuses once again on lead character Cassie Bowden, played by Kaley Cuoco. Bowden is living a sober life in Los Angeles while moonlighting as a CIA asset in her free time when she is assigned overseas, leading her to accidentally witness a murder. Once again, Bowden is entangled in another sprawling network of international intrigue.
The series stars Cuoco, and Season 2 will bring back series regulars Zosia Mamet, Griffin Matthews, Denis Akdeniz and Rosie Perez, as well as returning recurring guest stars T.R. Knight, Yasha Jackson and Audrey Graace Marshall. The new season will also introduce Mo McRae, Callie Hernandez and JJ Soria as well as new guest stars Alanna Ubach, Cheryl Hines, Jessie Ennis, Mae Martin, Margaret Cho, Santiago Cabrera,...
- 4/4/2022
- by Carson Burton and Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
"Join us for a story you've never heard... on a scale you've never witnessed." An epic new dinosaur series?! Yes! Apple has revealed two new teasers for a series called Prehistoric Planet, made by BBC Studios and the team at BBC Studios Natural History Unit. They have wrangled an epic line-up of talent for this and the first looks below are promising. Prehistoric Planet presents little-known and surprising facts of dinosaur life set against the backdrop of the environments of Cretaceous times, including coasts, deserts, freshwater, ice worlds and forests. From revealing eye-opening parenting techniques of Tyrannosaurus Rex to exploring the mysterious depths of the oceans and the deadly dangers in the sky, Prehistoric Planet brings Earth's history to life like never before. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough and featuring an original score by multiple Academy Award-winner Hans Zimmer, and it's executive produced by Jon Favreau on top of it all.
- 4/3/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
BBC factual controller Alison Kirkham is set to join streaming platform Apple TV Plus.
Kirkham will join Apple TV Plus this summer, reporting into creative director for Europe Jay Hunt. Based in London, the executive will have responsibility in Europe for unscripted original series and films.
Kirkham is the first major hire for Apple’s U.K. team since film producer Joe Oppenheimer joined the tech giant in 2018.
Apple TV+ global team is led by heads of worldwide video Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht.
The appointment comes as the platform, in common with other streamers, looks to expand its non-scripted output. Apple’s non-scripted commissions include “Prehistoric Planet” and “Long Way Up” with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman.
Kirkham joined the BBC in 2005 as an executive producer and became controller of factual commissioning in 2015. Programming highlights include “Planet Earth II” and “Blue Planet II,” “Ambulance,” “Exodus,” “Hospital,” ”Muslims Like...
Kirkham will join Apple TV Plus this summer, reporting into creative director for Europe Jay Hunt. Based in London, the executive will have responsibility in Europe for unscripted original series and films.
Kirkham is the first major hire for Apple’s U.K. team since film producer Joe Oppenheimer joined the tech giant in 2018.
Apple TV+ global team is led by heads of worldwide video Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht.
The appointment comes as the platform, in common with other streamers, looks to expand its non-scripted output. Apple’s non-scripted commissions include “Prehistoric Planet” and “Long Way Up” with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman.
Kirkham joined the BBC in 2005 as an executive producer and became controller of factual commissioning in 2015. Programming highlights include “Planet Earth II” and “Blue Planet II,” “Ambulance,” “Exodus,” “Hospital,” ”Muslims Like...
- 5/6/2020
- by Tim Dams
- Variety Film + TV
Apple has officially unveiled its first British scripted original, a relationship comedy starring Harry Potter’s Imelda Staunton and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’s Rafe Spall.
The Svod service is set to globally premiere the eight-part series on Friday May 1.
The half-hour comedy has been rumored in the UK for over six months and has regularly been referred to by its working title of Alabama.
Spall plays Jason, while Cuckoo star Esther Smith, best known for starring in the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play, stars as his partner Nikki. The pair want a baby. But it’s the one thing they just can’t have. Staunton also stars in the series, which was written by new writer Andy Wolton, whose credits include animated series The Amazing World of Gumball and Channel 4’s Lookalikes.
It is produced by BBC Studios, which has previously produced The Office and The Thick Of It...
The Svod service is set to globally premiere the eight-part series on Friday May 1.
The half-hour comedy has been rumored in the UK for over six months and has regularly been referred to by its working title of Alabama.
Spall plays Jason, while Cuckoo star Esther Smith, best known for starring in the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play, stars as his partner Nikki. The pair want a baby. But it’s the one thing they just can’t have. Staunton also stars in the series, which was written by new writer Andy Wolton, whose credits include animated series The Amazing World of Gumball and Channel 4’s Lookalikes.
It is produced by BBC Studios, which has previously produced The Office and The Thick Of It...
- 1/19/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Several shows announced at TCA tour in Los Angeles.
Apple TV+ has given a title and premiere date to the Rafe Spall relationship comedy series it commissioned last year from BBC Studios.
Trying, in which Spall and Esther Smith playing a young couple attempting to have a baby, will debut worldwide – in its entirety – on Apple TV+ on May 1, marking the first appearance of an original series from the UK on the tech giant’s fledgling streaming service. The eight half-hour episodes also star Imelda Staunton and were written by Andy Wolton.
The comedy was first revealed last spring as...
Apple TV+ has given a title and premiere date to the Rafe Spall relationship comedy series it commissioned last year from BBC Studios.
Trying, in which Spall and Esther Smith playing a young couple attempting to have a baby, will debut worldwide – in its entirety – on Apple TV+ on May 1, marking the first appearance of an original series from the UK on the tech giant’s fledgling streaming service. The eight half-hour episodes also star Imelda Staunton and were written by Andy Wolton.
The comedy was first revealed last spring as...
- 1/19/2020
- by 31¦John Hazelton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Several shows announced at TCA tour in Los Angeles.
Apple TV+ has given a title and premiere date to the Rafe Spall relationship comedy series it commissioned last year from BBC Studios.
Trying, in which Spall and Esther Smith playing a young couple attempting to have a baby, will debut worldwide – in its entirety – on Apple TV+ on May 1, marking the first appearance of an original series from the UK on the tech giant’s fledgling streaming service. The eight half-hour episodes also star Imelda Staunton and were written by Andy Wolton.
The comedy was first revealed last spring as...
Apple TV+ has given a title and premiere date to the Rafe Spall relationship comedy series it commissioned last year from BBC Studios.
Trying, in which Spall and Esther Smith playing a young couple attempting to have a baby, will debut worldwide – in its entirety – on Apple TV+ on May 1, marking the first appearance of an original series from the UK on the tech giant’s fledgling streaming service. The eight half-hour episodes also star Imelda Staunton and were written by Andy Wolton.
The comedy was first revealed last spring as...
- 1/19/2020
- by 31¦John Hazelton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Ryan Lambie Feb 21, 2017
Before he made The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, Francis Ford Coppola got his start by editing monsters into a Soviet sci-fi film...
Everyone loves a good success story, and Hollywood history's full of them. Actors sleeping in their cars until they get their first lucky break. Writers papering the walls of their lodgings with rejection letters until they finally get a script in front of a receptive producer. Filmmakers who've spent years paying their dues before a studio finally comes calling.
See related Robot Wars interview: presenter Angela Scanlon Robot Wars episode 6 review Robot Wars episode 5 review Robot Wars episode 4 review Robot Wars episode 3 review
Director Francis Ford Coppola, before he shot to fame - and, for a time, considerable wealth - with such films as The Godfather, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now, scrabbled around at the lower end of the industry like just about everyone else.
Before he made The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, Francis Ford Coppola got his start by editing monsters into a Soviet sci-fi film...
Everyone loves a good success story, and Hollywood history's full of them. Actors sleeping in their cars until they get their first lucky break. Writers papering the walls of their lodgings with rejection letters until they finally get a script in front of a receptive producer. Filmmakers who've spent years paying their dues before a studio finally comes calling.
See related Robot Wars interview: presenter Angela Scanlon Robot Wars episode 6 review Robot Wars episode 5 review Robot Wars episode 4 review Robot Wars episode 3 review
Director Francis Ford Coppola, before he shot to fame - and, for a time, considerable wealth - with such films as The Godfather, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now, scrabbled around at the lower end of the industry like just about everyone else.
- 2/20/2017
- Den of Geek
By Hank Reineke
Though the 1966 space-age vampire flick Queen of Blood is not new to home video, it has been one of the more elusive science-fiction titles of the 1960s. Issued on VHS as Planet of Blood back in the early 1980s on the budget “Star Classics” label and later in 1990 on a much improved laser disc from Image (paired with Mario Bava’s similarly-themed Planet of the Vampires), Queen of Blood has been mostly unavailable to collectors for nearly twenty-five years. In March 2011 MGM finally re-issued the title as part of its Limited Edition Collection, but only as a made-on-demand release. In 2015, Kino Lorber has – very happily for genre fans and collectors - rescued this title from the wasteland of cult-film marginalia with their superb Blu-Ray release of this Roger Corman-Curtis Harrington classic.
Queen of Blood (for reasons we’ll get into a little later on) more...
Though the 1966 space-age vampire flick Queen of Blood is not new to home video, it has been one of the more elusive science-fiction titles of the 1960s. Issued on VHS as Planet of Blood back in the early 1980s on the budget “Star Classics” label and later in 1990 on a much improved laser disc from Image (paired with Mario Bava’s similarly-themed Planet of the Vampires), Queen of Blood has been mostly unavailable to collectors for nearly twenty-five years. In March 2011 MGM finally re-issued the title as part of its Limited Edition Collection, but only as a made-on-demand release. In 2015, Kino Lorber has – very happily for genre fans and collectors - rescued this title from the wasteland of cult-film marginalia with their superb Blu-Ray release of this Roger Corman-Curtis Harrington classic.
Queen of Blood (for reasons we’ll get into a little later on) more...
- 1/24/2016
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
The meanest gargantuan creature-feature yet is set to arrive on DVD from Chelsea Films on 7th January 2013 – I am of course talking about the Roger Corman-produced Piranhaconda. To celebrate this occasion we have an extra special *Monstrous* prize package to give-away which consists of the following monster delights:
Sand Sharks - A shark that swims in sand?! No, honestly! Sunbathing on a beach has never been the same since this came out earlier this year and I’m not sure whether that’s something to do with the sharks or Brooke Hogan’s (daughter of the mighty Hulk Hogan) acting… Sand Sharks Review
Dragon Wasps - The ultimate cross breed between timely jungle thrillers like “Predator” and “Anaconda” and giant critter delights such as “Eight Legged Freaks” and “Lake Placid”. Let’s put it this way, “Dragon Wasps” does for bees what “Arachnophobia” did for spiders! Dragon Wasps Review
and of course…...
Sand Sharks - A shark that swims in sand?! No, honestly! Sunbathing on a beach has never been the same since this came out earlier this year and I’m not sure whether that’s something to do with the sharks or Brooke Hogan’s (daughter of the mighty Hulk Hogan) acting… Sand Sharks Review
Dragon Wasps - The ultimate cross breed between timely jungle thrillers like “Predator” and “Anaconda” and giant critter delights such as “Eight Legged Freaks” and “Lake Placid”. Let’s put it this way, “Dragon Wasps” does for bees what “Arachnophobia” did for spiders! Dragon Wasps Review
and of course…...
- 1/4/2013
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Over at the Prometheus Forums is an interesting post and set of picture-comparisons by the poster 'Lethal_Mutation', in which it's suggested that the space-suits in Ridley Scott's Alien prequel, released in early June of this year, derive a lot of tech-dna from a 1962 Soviet science-fiction film called Planeta Bur (aka Planet of the Storms, Planet of Storms, Planet of Tempests, and Storm Planet, among many others).
Lethal_Mutation (those of us who don't speak Russian will have to trust him on this) has translated part of a rather aggrieved article from a popular Russian Prometheus blog...
It appears that the design of the Prometheus spacesuits is not original but based on spacesuits from the Ussr developed in the early 1960's. Spacesuits of a similar design were first shown in the 1961 Soviet science fiction film, Planet of the Storms directed by Paul Klushantsev...It was purchased by the American studio,...
Lethal_Mutation (those of us who don't speak Russian will have to trust him on this) has translated part of a rather aggrieved article from a popular Russian Prometheus blog...
It appears that the design of the Prometheus spacesuits is not original but based on spacesuits from the Ussr developed in the early 1960's. Spacesuits of a similar design were first shown in the 1961 Soviet science fiction film, Planet of the Storms directed by Paul Klushantsev...It was purchased by the American studio,...
- 3/30/2012
- Shadowlocked
Versatile production designer, screenwriter and producer of Hollywood films
Popular legend has it that the new wave of American film-making in the late 1960s and early 1970s was an exclusively masculine phenomenon, a myth bolstered by the hard-living excesses documented in Peter Biskind's book Easy Riders, Raging Bulls. But women were instrumental in many of the movies which defined that era, and few more so than Polly Platt, who has died aged 72 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
"I call myself a confused careerist," she said of her switches from production and costume design to writing and producing. She was credited as production designer on the films which brought to prominence her second husband, the director Peter Bogdanovich, notably The Last Picture Show (1971) and Paper Moon (1973), but her contribution extended far beyond that job description. "They discussed every shot," wrote Biskind of the making of The Last Picture Show.
Popular legend has it that the new wave of American film-making in the late 1960s and early 1970s was an exclusively masculine phenomenon, a myth bolstered by the hard-living excesses documented in Peter Biskind's book Easy Riders, Raging Bulls. But women were instrumental in many of the movies which defined that era, and few more so than Polly Platt, who has died aged 72 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
"I call myself a confused careerist," she said of her switches from production and costume design to writing and producing. She was credited as production designer on the films which brought to prominence her second husband, the director Peter Bogdanovich, notably The Last Picture Show (1971) and Paper Moon (1973), but her contribution extended far beyond that job description. "They discussed every shot," wrote Biskind of the making of The Last Picture Show.
- 8/7/2011
- by Ryan Gilbey
- The Guardian - Film News
We may think of Kubrick's 2001 as the great grown-up sci-fi film, but many beautiful, thoughtful cosmic adventures came out of the Eastern Bloc too
If we can begin with a sweeping generalisation, American science-fiction movies are usually distinguished by a fast pace that gets faster and ends with an enormous bang. Not all: George Lucas's Thx 1138 and Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey are different. But these are exceptional even within those directors' work: Lucas's other sci-fi films being fast-moving toy-operas, while Kubrick's Doctor Strangelove and Clockwork Orange are relentless in their irony and forward movement.
Partially, I think, this is because Us sci-fi films were born of very low budgets in the 1950s, in the hands of independents such as Jack Arnold. They were often parables about the danger of nuclear testing, which caused men to shrink, or ants to grow giant, or prehistoric sea-beasts to carry off swimsuited girls.
If we can begin with a sweeping generalisation, American science-fiction movies are usually distinguished by a fast pace that gets faster and ends with an enormous bang. Not all: George Lucas's Thx 1138 and Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey are different. But these are exceptional even within those directors' work: Lucas's other sci-fi films being fast-moving toy-operas, while Kubrick's Doctor Strangelove and Clockwork Orange are relentless in their irony and forward movement.
Partially, I think, this is because Us sci-fi films were born of very low budgets in the 1950s, in the hands of independents such as Jack Arnold. They were often parables about the danger of nuclear testing, which caused men to shrink, or ants to grow giant, or prehistoric sea-beasts to carry off swimsuited girls.
- 6/30/2011
- by Alex Cox
- The Guardian - Film News
Mike Davis’ outrageous, sexy, recycled sci-fi flick Sex Galaxy is now available on DVD. Using 99% public domain footage, Sex Galaxy tells of a dim future where sexual intercourse has been outlawed thanks to global overpopulation, so when a team of astronauts hear of a distant planet filled with horny chicks — man, they are so there! Distributed by Breaking Glass Pictures, Sex Galaxy is available on Amazon, Netflix, Blockbuster, GreenCine and loads more places.
Although the title and premise may imply Sex Galaxy is just a one-joke kind of film, in fact Davis stuffs his film with a real wit and intelligence. Yes, the dialogue can be completely crass and crude and includes offensive characters such as a robotic pimp named Rod and a hideous monster called a vagisaur, there’s a real streak of humanity and care underneath the vulgarity, which is what ultimately makes the film so successful. I...
Although the title and premise may imply Sex Galaxy is just a one-joke kind of film, in fact Davis stuffs his film with a real wit and intelligence. Yes, the dialogue can be completely crass and crude and includes offensive characters such as a robotic pimp named Rod and a hideous monster called a vagisaur, there’s a real streak of humanity and care underneath the vulgarity, which is what ultimately makes the film so successful. I...
- 4/13/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Body Count: Volume 12 Some of my earliest horror movie memories are in the early 80's. I was a cartoon junkie like most kids my age and you know how it goes on any saturday morning. Or maybe you know how it used to go. Get up wicked early, pour a massive bowl of cereal and hunker down for a good five solid hours of cartoon programming. From 7am to noon you could find all manner of colorful adventure but like most communities, noon time rolled around and it was time for kids to go outside and play so the grown ups could catch the weekend edition of the news or candlepin bowling. At least that's how it was around these parts, except for one thing. Back in the early 80's, we still had a holdout saturday afternoon monster movie show. Ours was Wlvi's Creature Double Feature, a show so patently...
- 6/25/2009
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
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