On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark takes a feature-length beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.
First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.
Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.
The Pitch: Then All the Cavemen (and Founding Fathers) Loved Him
The magic of a good Christmas is an unparalleled childhood experience, but it always ends with the anticlimactic holiday hangover that is New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The final day of the year and the first day of the new one can be plenty of fun for adults, as they revolve around a paradoxical combination of socially sanctioned binge drinking and a renewed focus on fitness and career goals. But since one of those things is off...
First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.
Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.
The Pitch: Then All the Cavemen (and Founding Fathers) Loved Him
The magic of a good Christmas is an unparalleled childhood experience, but it always ends with the anticlimactic holiday hangover that is New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The final day of the year and the first day of the new one can be plenty of fun for adults, as they revolve around a paradoxical combination of socially sanctioned binge drinking and a renewed focus on fitness and career goals. But since one of those things is off...
- 12/30/2023
- by Christian Zilko and Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — except on subscription streaming, where you still can’t find classic Rankin/Bass holiday specials like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
“Rudolph,” the 1964 Animagic stop-motion TV special was produced by Videocraft International — later renamed Rankin/Bass — for broadcast network NBC and sponsor General Electric. Five years later, Rankin/Bass Productions, now actually named Rankin/Bass Productions after Videocraft founders Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, made the animated “Frosty the Snowman” special for broadcast network CBS.
In 1972 “Rudolph” joined “Frosty” at CBS, where they have remained for more than 50 years. In recent times, “Rudolph” and “Frosty” have also been a part of the Disney-owned cable channel Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” marathons. Though they run simultaneously, broadcast and cable are contractually considered different “windows” here, several sources with knowledge of the deals told IndieWire. The Rankin/Bass specials are also available on DVD and Blu-ray.
“Rudolph,” the 1964 Animagic stop-motion TV special was produced by Videocraft International — later renamed Rankin/Bass — for broadcast network NBC and sponsor General Electric. Five years later, Rankin/Bass Productions, now actually named Rankin/Bass Productions after Videocraft founders Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, made the animated “Frosty the Snowman” special for broadcast network CBS.
In 1972 “Rudolph” joined “Frosty” at CBS, where they have remained for more than 50 years. In recent times, “Rudolph” and “Frosty” have also been a part of the Disney-owned cable channel Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” marathons. Though they run simultaneously, broadcast and cable are contractually considered different “windows” here, several sources with knowledge of the deals told IndieWire. The Rankin/Bass specials are also available on DVD and Blu-ray.
- 12/16/2023
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Music has always played an important role in Tolkien adaptations. J.A. Bayona, producer and director on Amazon’s Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, told Den of Geek last year that he played music on set for the actors to help them get “the right tone” for their characters, and that “there’s an… obvious sense of musicality when you read the books” which is “all about language and the beauty of language.” The show’s season one finale even featured a new musical setting for Tolkien’s “Rhyme of the Rings,” written by Bear McCreary and performed by Fiona Apple, which was generally well-received by fans.
Anyone who has read The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings knows that the books are full of songs. Aragorn sings old Elvish ballads, Bilbo is quite the composer, the Dwarves have songs about their ancient mines, the Rohirrim love melancholic battle epics,...
Anyone who has read The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings knows that the books are full of songs. Aragorn sings old Elvish ballads, Bilbo is quite the composer, the Dwarves have songs about their ancient mines, the Rohirrim love melancholic battle epics,...
- 3/20/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
By the late 1970s, there were two major animated adaptations of The Lord of the Rings in development. Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, known for their holiday season specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, had directed an animated dramatization of The Hobbit for television, broadcast in 1977 and they were planning a sequel, also for television, based on The Lord of the Rings. But filmmaker and animator Ralph Bakshi beat them to it in 1978 when he directed an animated feature film, The Lord of the Rings, which he intended to be Part 1 of 2. The studio (United Artists) refused to put Part 1 on the title though, and never greenlit Part 2. Instead, Rankin and Bass released a made-for-television sequel to their Hobbit film under the title The Return of the King, which finished off J.R.R. Tolkien‘s epic story.
The Rankin/Bass Hobbit film is seriously underrated these days,...
The Rankin/Bass Hobbit film is seriously underrated these days,...
- 1/17/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Whether you’re looking for stocking stuffers for others or a nice little gift for yourself, we’ve got a roundup of some of the best new Blu-rays and DVDs for the holidays.
Christmas Favorites
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment offers up four of their holiday favorites in 4K for the first time this holiday season: “Elf,” “A Christmas Story,” “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and “The Polar Express” all get shined up for your library. Whether you’re giving (or getting) a 4K system this Christmas or already have one ready to go, this quartet of titles represent the apex of holiday classics for a wide audience. (Whether or not the sequel “A Christmas Story Christmas” will eventually merit its own schmancy physical release remains to be seen.)
Also available:
“The Apartment” (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): Billy Wilder’s bittersweet, Oscar-winning holiday tale made its 4K debut earlier this year.
Christmas Favorites
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment offers up four of their holiday favorites in 4K for the first time this holiday season: “Elf,” “A Christmas Story,” “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and “The Polar Express” all get shined up for your library. Whether you’re giving (or getting) a 4K system this Christmas or already have one ready to go, this quartet of titles represent the apex of holiday classics for a wide audience. (Whether or not the sequel “A Christmas Story Christmas” will eventually merit its own schmancy physical release remains to be seen.)
Also available:
“The Apartment” (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): Billy Wilder’s bittersweet, Oscar-winning holiday tale made its 4K debut earlier this year.
- 11/21/2022
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
There are certain films I saw growing up that left me forever scarred: "The Neverending Story," "Watership Down," and "The Last Unicorn," to name the most memorable. However, I loved "The Last Unicorn" so much that it didn't matter that I felt inexplicably saddened by watching it. Much like "Watership Down" — also not meant for children — the 1982 film was watched by a generation of kids because it was animated. Naturally, that meant it was safe for children, right? Interestingly, the film, which just turned 40, wasn't originally intended for kids at all.
For one thing, the movie is scary. Not just obvious terrors like the monstrous Red Bull, but something even more frightening to children: being smothered by the ample bosom of a living tree — if you know, you know. The film was gorgeously animated by Rankin/Bass, the team that brought us the 1977 version of "The Hobbit." The screenplay was penned by Peter S. Beagle,...
For one thing, the movie is scary. Not just obvious terrors like the monstrous Red Bull, but something even more frightening to children: being smothered by the ample bosom of a living tree — if you know, you know. The film was gorgeously animated by Rankin/Bass, the team that brought us the 1977 version of "The Hobbit." The screenplay was penned by Peter S. Beagle,...
- 11/19/2022
- by Jamie Gerber
- Slash Film
Jules Bass, one half of the legendary animation team Rankin/Bass, has died. He was 87.
Jules Bass’ career is forever linked to Arthur Rankin Jr.–which certainly isn’t a bad thing, since the duo played major roles in creating some of the most iconic Christmas movies ever.
Rankin/Bass was of course best known for their holiday classics Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), Frosty the Snowman (1969), Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970), and so many more. But now that it’s October, let’s not forget Mad Monster Party? (1967), which had the benefit of the voice talents of Boris Karloff, who lent his distinct vocals as Baron Boris von Frankenstein, a take on Victor Frankenstein, the creator of Karloff’s most famous role of Frankenstein’s Monster.
While Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer remains one of the duo’s true classics, it wasn’t until three years later that Arthur Rankin Jr....
Jules Bass’ career is forever linked to Arthur Rankin Jr.–which certainly isn’t a bad thing, since the duo played major roles in creating some of the most iconic Christmas movies ever.
Rankin/Bass was of course best known for their holiday classics Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), Frosty the Snowman (1969), Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970), and so many more. But now that it’s October, let’s not forget Mad Monster Party? (1967), which had the benefit of the voice talents of Boris Karloff, who lent his distinct vocals as Baron Boris von Frankenstein, a take on Victor Frankenstein, the creator of Karloff’s most famous role of Frankenstein’s Monster.
While Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer remains one of the duo’s true classics, it wasn’t until three years later that Arthur Rankin Jr....
- 10/26/2022
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Jules Bass, the co-producer and co-director of such animated classics as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “The Last Unicorn,” died Tuesday of age-related illness at an assisted living facility in Rye, New York, his publicist confirmed to TheWrap. He was 87.
Through their banner Rankin/Bass, Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr. (who died in 2014) made some of the most beloved children’s programming of all time, including stop-motion classics “Rudolph” (1964), “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” (1970), and “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (1974). Bass also wrote many of the iconic songs, including Heat Miser and Snow Miser’s catchy showstopper and “Put One Foot in Front of the Other” with composer/conductor Maury Laws.
Bass also produced and directed the 1967’s “Mad Monster Party?” starring Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller.
Also Read:
Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2022 (Photos)
Rankin/Bass’s hand-drawn projects include the 1969 holiday special “Frosty the Snowman,...
Through their banner Rankin/Bass, Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr. (who died in 2014) made some of the most beloved children’s programming of all time, including stop-motion classics “Rudolph” (1964), “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” (1970), and “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (1974). Bass also wrote many of the iconic songs, including Heat Miser and Snow Miser’s catchy showstopper and “Put One Foot in Front of the Other” with composer/conductor Maury Laws.
Bass also produced and directed the 1967’s “Mad Monster Party?” starring Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller.
Also Read:
Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2022 (Photos)
Rankin/Bass’s hand-drawn projects include the 1969 holiday special “Frosty the Snowman,...
- 10/25/2022
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
Jules Bass, who produced and directed a number of classic animated holiday specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, has died at the age of 87, his publicist confirms to our sister site Variety.
Bass is most famous for his collaborations with Arthur Rankin Jr., including the 1964 stop-motion animated special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which Bass co-produced. The retelling of the famous Christmas carol narrated by Burl Ives became a beloved annual tradition for TV viewers and still runs each year on CBS. Rankin/Bass followed up that success with 1968’s The Little Drummer Boy, 1970’s Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town...
Bass is most famous for his collaborations with Arthur Rankin Jr., including the 1964 stop-motion animated special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which Bass co-produced. The retelling of the famous Christmas carol narrated by Burl Ives became a beloved annual tradition for TV viewers and still runs each year on CBS. Rankin/Bass followed up that success with 1968’s The Little Drummer Boy, 1970’s Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town...
- 10/25/2022
- by Dave Nemetz
- TVLine.com
Jules Bass, whose work as a producer and director of stop-motion and animated television specials such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town and The Year Without A Santa Claus has become an integral part of the holiday season for generations, died today in Rye, New York, of age-related illnesses. He was 87.
His death was confirmed by publicist Jennifer Fisherman Ruff.
Bass was working in advertising in New York City when, in 1960, he teamed up with an art director at ABC named Arthur Rankin Jr. to form a film production company called Videocraft International. The company was launched with the 1960 series The New Adventures of Pinocchio, utilizing traditional animation, but found its breakthrough success in 1964 with the stop-motion classic Rudolph, featuring the voice of Burl Ives as Sam the Snowman.
Rankin died in 2014 at 89.
Based on the Gene Autry hit song of 1949, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer...
His death was confirmed by publicist Jennifer Fisherman Ruff.
Bass was working in advertising in New York City when, in 1960, he teamed up with an art director at ABC named Arthur Rankin Jr. to form a film production company called Videocraft International. The company was launched with the 1960 series The New Adventures of Pinocchio, utilizing traditional animation, but found its breakthrough success in 1964 with the stop-motion classic Rudolph, featuring the voice of Burl Ives as Sam the Snowman.
Rankin died in 2014 at 89.
Based on the Gene Autry hit song of 1949, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer...
- 10/25/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Jules Bass, the animator, producer, director and composer whose work included stop-motion holiday television specials like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” died at the age of 87 on Tuesday at an assisted living facility in Rye, New York, publicist Jennifer Fisherman-Ruff confirmed.
The three prominent holiday specials, “Rudolph,” voiced by Burl Ives, “Frosty” starring Jackie Vernon and Jimmy Durante and “Santa Claus,” voiced by Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney, all debuted during the 1960s and 1970s. In the decades since, the specials have become staples of seasonal holiday programming on television.
Bass was known for his longstanding creative partnership with director Arthur Rankin Jr., who died in 2014 at 89. The two pushed many productions through their banner Rankin/Bass Productions, which was known for its laborious cel-animated, stop-motion films that took long periods of time to turn into full-length features.
Bass and Rankin...
The three prominent holiday specials, “Rudolph,” voiced by Burl Ives, “Frosty” starring Jackie Vernon and Jimmy Durante and “Santa Claus,” voiced by Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney, all debuted during the 1960s and 1970s. In the decades since, the specials have become staples of seasonal holiday programming on television.
Bass was known for his longstanding creative partnership with director Arthur Rankin Jr., who died in 2014 at 89. The two pushed many productions through their banner Rankin/Bass Productions, which was known for its laborious cel-animated, stop-motion films that took long periods of time to turn into full-length features.
Bass and Rankin...
- 10/25/2022
- by EJ Panaligan
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Jules Bass, the animator, producer, director and composer who partnered with Arthur Rankin Jr. on the stop-motion holiday TV specials Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, has died. He was 87.
Bass died Tuesday at an assisted living facility in Rye, New York, publicist Jennifer Fisherman Ruff told The Hollywood Reporter.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, based on the song popularized by Gene Autry and featuring the voice of Burl Ives, debuted in 1964. Frosty the Snowman, starring Jackie Vernon and Jimmy Durante, bowed in 1969, and Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, starring Fred Astaire, premiered in 1970. All three have remained strong television draws through the decades.
Rankin/Bass Productions’ cel-animated, stop-motion features were farmed out to Japanese animators and were painstaking to make, with thousands of still photos of their characters’ incremental movements put together at 24 frames...
Jules Bass, the animator, producer, director and composer who partnered with Arthur Rankin Jr. on the stop-motion holiday TV specials Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, has died. He was 87.
Bass died Tuesday at an assisted living facility in Rye, New York, publicist Jennifer Fisherman Ruff told The Hollywood Reporter.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, based on the song popularized by Gene Autry and featuring the voice of Burl Ives, debuted in 1964. Frosty the Snowman, starring Jackie Vernon and Jimmy Durante, bowed in 1969, and Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, starring Fred Astaire, premiered in 1970. All three have remained strong television draws through the decades.
Rankin/Bass Productions’ cel-animated, stop-motion features were farmed out to Japanese animators and were painstaking to make, with thousands of still photos of their characters’ incremental movements put together at 24 frames...
- 10/25/2022
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On Aug. 31, 1998, Variety reported that New Zealand filmmakers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh would transform J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy of books into three films. Reporter Benedict Carver added that the books are “a highly prized literary property that has eluded filmmakers for years.”
It was the culmination more than three decades of trying to adapt Tolkien’s work for the screen, after the world of visual effects had finally caught up to the British author’s fantastical storylines.
But three decades before, the Beatles had tried to get a “Lord of the Rings” film off the ground. After playing themselves in “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Help!,” the Fab Four was ready to play fictional characters. Apple Films executive Denis O’Dell spearheaded the hunt for material, and Lennon reportedly loved the idea of “Rings.” Lennon would play Gollum, Paul McCartney would play Frodo, George Harrison would...
It was the culmination more than three decades of trying to adapt Tolkien’s work for the screen, after the world of visual effects had finally caught up to the British author’s fantastical storylines.
But three decades before, the Beatles had tried to get a “Lord of the Rings” film off the ground. After playing themselves in “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Help!,” the Fab Four was ready to play fictional characters. Apple Films executive Denis O’Dell spearheaded the hunt for material, and Lennon reportedly loved the idea of “Rings.” Lennon would play Gollum, Paul McCartney would play Frodo, George Harrison would...
- 12/15/2021
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
The Bermuda Depths (1978) is now available on Blu-ray from Warner Archive
What secret lurks 20,000 feet below the waves in the paranormal realm called the Bermuda Triangle? That’s the question a scientist (Burl Ives), his student (Carl Weathers) and a young man (Leigh McCloskey) haunted by nightmarish memories of his Bermuda childhood ask themselves. The answer involves a beauty (Connie Sellecca) who has sold her soul for eternal youth and a giant sea turtle that leaves death in its wake. Eerie and hypnotic, The Bermuda Depths was produced by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass (The Year Without a Santa Claus), who meld their imaginative fantasy style with the live-action horror genre.
Special Features: Includes Both the 1.33:1 US Broadcast Television Version and the 1.85:1 International Theatrical Version; New Audio Commentary by Author/ Film Historian Amanda Reyes (Are You in the House Alone? A TV Movie Compendium: 1964-1999) and Kindertrauma co-founder Lance Vaughan.
What secret lurks 20,000 feet below the waves in the paranormal realm called the Bermuda Triangle? That’s the question a scientist (Burl Ives), his student (Carl Weathers) and a young man (Leigh McCloskey) haunted by nightmarish memories of his Bermuda childhood ask themselves. The answer involves a beauty (Connie Sellecca) who has sold her soul for eternal youth and a giant sea turtle that leaves death in its wake. Eerie and hypnotic, The Bermuda Depths was produced by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass (The Year Without a Santa Claus), who meld their imaginative fantasy style with the live-action horror genre.
Special Features: Includes Both the 1.33:1 US Broadcast Television Version and the 1.85:1 International Theatrical Version; New Audio Commentary by Author/ Film Historian Amanda Reyes (Are You in the House Alone? A TV Movie Compendium: 1964-1999) and Kindertrauma co-founder Lance Vaughan.
- 3/11/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
After unveiling the discs that will be arriving in April, including Bong Joon Ho’s Memories of Murder, Olivier Assayas’ Irma Vep, and more, Criterion has now announced what will be coming to their streaming channel next month.
Highlights include retrospectives dedicated to Guy Maddin, Ruby Dee, Lana Turner, and Gordon Parks, plus selections from Marlene Dietrich & Josef von Sternberg’s stellar box set. They will also present the exclusive streaming premieres of Bill Duke’s The Killing Floor, William Greaves’s Nationtime, Kevin Jerome Everson’s Park Lanes, and more.
Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, which recently arrived on the collection, will be landing on the channel as well, along with a special “Lovers on the Run” series including film noir (They Live by Night) to New Hollywood (Badlands) to the French New Wave (Pierrot le fou) to Blaxploitation (Thomasine & Bushrod) and beyond. Also...
Highlights include retrospectives dedicated to Guy Maddin, Ruby Dee, Lana Turner, and Gordon Parks, plus selections from Marlene Dietrich & Josef von Sternberg’s stellar box set. They will also present the exclusive streaming premieres of Bill Duke’s The Killing Floor, William Greaves’s Nationtime, Kevin Jerome Everson’s Park Lanes, and more.
Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, which recently arrived on the collection, will be landing on the channel as well, along with a special “Lovers on the Run” series including film noir (They Live by Night) to New Hollywood (Badlands) to the French New Wave (Pierrot le fou) to Blaxploitation (Thomasine & Bushrod) and beyond. Also...
- 1/26/2021
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Maury Laws, who as musical director for Rankin-Bass productions supervised the scoring of such animated TV classics as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “The Hobbit,” died March 28 in Appleton, Wisc. He was 95.
Laws’ greatest achievement in TV was arranging and conducting all of the music for the 1964 stop-motion animation version of “Rudolph,” which featured new songs by original “Rudolph” songwriter Johnny Marks. Laws’ warm orchestral settings for such songs as “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “There’s Always Tomorrow” and the title tune helped to make the hour-long show a holiday season perennial.
The success of “Rudolph” led to a series of animated specials by the Rankin-Bass company. Laws worked with Fred Astaire on “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (1970), Danny Kaye on “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” (1971), Angela Lansbury on “The First Christmas” (1975) and Judy Collins on “The Wind in the Willows” (1987), often writing the songs with lyricist and...
Laws’ greatest achievement in TV was arranging and conducting all of the music for the 1964 stop-motion animation version of “Rudolph,” which featured new songs by original “Rudolph” songwriter Johnny Marks. Laws’ warm orchestral settings for such songs as “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “There’s Always Tomorrow” and the title tune helped to make the hour-long show a holiday season perennial.
The success of “Rudolph” led to a series of animated specials by the Rankin-Bass company. Laws worked with Fred Astaire on “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (1970), Danny Kaye on “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” (1971), Angela Lansbury on “The First Christmas” (1975) and Judy Collins on “The Wind in the Willows” (1987), often writing the songs with lyricist and...
- 4/1/2019
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Jim Knipfel Oct 31, 2018
Rankin-Bass teamed up with Boris Karloff, Mad Magazine, Forry Ackerman, and Frank Frazetta for a Halloween special. What the hell?
Three years after producing 1964’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer but before going on to make other warm-hearted and sincere animated holiday standards like Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman and the questionable Here Comes Peter Cottontail, Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass took a hard left turn into the dark, delightfully strange, and intensely geeky with Mad Monster Party.
Predating Tim Burton and Henry Selick’s Nightmare Before Christmas by over a quarter-century, the sinister duo’s stop-motion musical comedy celebration of classic Universal horror, which was released as a theatrical feature before becoming a semi-regular October TV standby, never quite cornered the Halloween specials market as planned. Somehow it was never able to lure audiences away from that damned Great Pumpkin.
Rankin-Bass teamed up with Boris Karloff, Mad Magazine, Forry Ackerman, and Frank Frazetta for a Halloween special. What the hell?
Three years after producing 1964’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer but before going on to make other warm-hearted and sincere animated holiday standards like Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman and the questionable Here Comes Peter Cottontail, Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass took a hard left turn into the dark, delightfully strange, and intensely geeky with Mad Monster Party.
Predating Tim Burton and Henry Selick’s Nightmare Before Christmas by over a quarter-century, the sinister duo’s stop-motion musical comedy celebration of classic Universal horror, which was released as a theatrical feature before becoming a semi-regular October TV standby, never quite cornered the Halloween specials market as planned. Somehow it was never able to lure audiences away from that damned Great Pumpkin.
- 10/3/2015
- Den of Geek
Got Milk? Cowan & Shomali See The Glass Half Full, Celebrating Community Action In Beit Sahour With Stop-Motion
Paul Cowan and Amer Shomali’s partially animated docu-drama, The Wanted 18, a film that ruminates on the quiet collective rebellion of the First Palestinian Intifada via the underground farming of dairy during the years of 1987 to 1993, oddly but astutely alludes to Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr.’s classic stop-motion holiday special Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town. In a throwaway clip of a stop motion Israeli commander that suspiciously resembles the fun hating kaiser Burgermeister Meisterburger, steps from his military jeep, much to his dismay, into a freshly made cow pie, just as the Burgermeister accidentally slipped upon a toy duck left by Mickey Rooney’s youthful Kris Kringle in a covert effort to enrich the lives of the town’s children.
Consciously or not, that Christmas classic is a perfect...
Paul Cowan and Amer Shomali’s partially animated docu-drama, The Wanted 18, a film that ruminates on the quiet collective rebellion of the First Palestinian Intifada via the underground farming of dairy during the years of 1987 to 1993, oddly but astutely alludes to Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr.’s classic stop-motion holiday special Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town. In a throwaway clip of a stop motion Israeli commander that suspiciously resembles the fun hating kaiser Burgermeister Meisterburger, steps from his military jeep, much to his dismay, into a freshly made cow pie, just as the Burgermeister accidentally slipped upon a toy duck left by Mickey Rooney’s youthful Kris Kringle in a covert effort to enrich the lives of the town’s children.
Consciously or not, that Christmas classic is a perfect...
- 6/17/2015
- by Jordan M. Smith
- IONCINEMA.com
CW has released their prime time line up for the week of March 30th and it will be a strange week. With new episodes becoming limited as we approach season finales, CW is filling in the gaps with a few random choices. Such The Flash taking a big chunk of that week with other mixes of new and old episodes network wide. However, they will take a child friendly approach on April 3rd with Here Comes Peter Cottontail. Random? Yes, very much so! Here is the official listing that kindly provided us all with.
Monday, March 30
The Originals
“I Love You, Goodbye” — (8:00-9:00 p.m. Et) (TV-14, V) (HDTV)
The Big Day — With the final preparations for her union to Jackson (guest star Nathan Parsons) underway, Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) begins to question whether the ritual will actually work. After arriving to the compound, Elijah (Daniel Gillies) has a...
Monday, March 30
The Originals
“I Love You, Goodbye” — (8:00-9:00 p.m. Et) (TV-14, V) (HDTV)
The Big Day — With the final preparations for her union to Jackson (guest star Nathan Parsons) underway, Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) begins to question whether the ritual will actually work. After arriving to the compound, Elijah (Daniel Gillies) has a...
- 3/12/2015
- by Sarah Peel
- Boomtron
Arthur Rankin Jr., who along with partner Jules Bass, was responsible for several iconic television Christmas specials, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, passed away Thursday at his home in Bermuda at the age of 89.
Rankin formed Videocraft International with Bass in the early 1960s. While their first project was The New Adventures of Pinocchio, Rankin/Bass's most iconic contributions to pop culture are doubtlessly the Rudolph and Frosty specials, which aired on CBS in 1964 and 1969, respectively, and were the two highest-rated programs of the night.
In the 1970s, Rankin produced and directed episodes of the animated Jackson 5 series,...
Rankin formed Videocraft International with Bass in the early 1960s. While their first project was The New Adventures of Pinocchio, Rankin/Bass's most iconic contributions to pop culture are doubtlessly the Rudolph and Frosty specials, which aired on CBS in 1964 and 1969, respectively, and were the two highest-rated programs of the night.
In the 1970s, Rankin produced and directed episodes of the animated Jackson 5 series,...
- 2/3/2014
- by Alex Heigl
- People.com - TV Watch
Arthur Rankin Jr., the man responsible for the most beloved stop-motion of the '60s and '70s, has died. Along with fellow producer-director Jules Bass, the animator redefined what an entire generation of American families watch at Christmas. Using their signature combination of painstaking cel-animation and a lot of whimsy, the two brought to life beloved classics like Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Rankin was 89 years old when he passed away in his Bermuda home on Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter writes.Below, watch some favorite moments from the Ranking/Bass catalogue, along with a rare interview in which Rankin discusses his successful creative process. Certainly, we'll remember him fondly every time these specials air.
- 2/2/2014
- by Delia Paunescu
- Vulture
The man whose animated holiday TV specials have touched generations of fans died Thursday at his home in Bermuda. Arthur Rankin Jr was 89. His death was reported by local newspaper The Royal Gazette. With his partner Jules Bass, Rankin mined popular Christmas songs to create enduring stop-motion TV classics including Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) — which beat The Voice and Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the 18-49 demo when CBS aired it Thanksgiving Eve last year – The Little Drummer Boy (1968), Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (1970) and The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974). The Jimmy Durante-narrated Frosty The Snowman (1969) was done in tradition cel animation and was the first of their Christmas specials done as a half-hour rather than an hour. Rankin and Bass founded their company in 1960 as Videocraft International, and the name was changed to Rankin/Bass Productions eight years later. They also produced plenty of non-holiday fare as well,...
- 2/1/2014
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Arthur Rankin Jr., the animator, producer and director behind the whimsical holiday stop-motion TV specials Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, has died. He was 89. Rankin died Thursday at his home by Harrington Sound in Bermuda, The Royal Gazette newspaper reported. In the early 1960s, Rankin and Jules Bass founded the film production company Videocraft International (now called Rankin/Bass Productions). Their stop-motion, cel-animated features were painstaking to make and known for their doll-like characters. Photos: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2014 Their first production was the syndicated TV series The New Adventures of
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- 2/1/2014
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mad Monster Party (1967) is screening at 7pm Thursday, December 5th at Schlafly Bottleworks – 7260 Southwest Ave St Louis, Mo 63143. Doors open at 6:30pm. It’s a fundraiser for Helping Kids Together. Attend wearing a monster costume and you may win a DVD of the film!
“Rankin/Bass” is a moniker long associated with television for the company’s long line of animated specials, the best-known being Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer which first aired in 1964. Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass brought their craft to the big screen the first with Willy McBean And His Magic Machine in 1965, which was a flop as were their primarily live-action Hans Christian Andersen musical The Daydreamer (1966) and the traditionally-animated The Wacky World Of Mother Goose (1967). While Rankin/Bass was soon to become a fixture in holiday television, a fact we were all reminded of every December, the studio tried once more for cinematic success...
“Rankin/Bass” is a moniker long associated with television for the company’s long line of animated specials, the best-known being Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer which first aired in 1964. Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass brought their craft to the big screen the first with Willy McBean And His Magic Machine in 1965, which was a flop as were their primarily live-action Hans Christian Andersen musical The Daydreamer (1966) and the traditionally-animated The Wacky World Of Mother Goose (1967). While Rankin/Bass was soon to become a fixture in holiday television, a fact we were all reminded of every December, the studio tried once more for cinematic success...
- 11/25/2013
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Clocking in at 558 minutes (683 if you’re an elitist with the special extended editions, and a whopping 726 minutes is you’re lucky enough to have the Blu-ray editions), the Lord of the Rings trilogy requires some pretty epic commitment. Yet despite being closer to retirement age by the time Return of the King reaches its lengthy end credits, Peter Jackson’s films are widely regarded amongst certain circles as some of the best of all time.
If you’ve been living under a rock, Lord of the Rings – based on J.R.R Tolkien’s novel from 1955 – tells the story of Frodo Baggins, a hobbit from The Shire who inherits a golden ring from his uncle; a ring that naturally turns out to the One Ring (or Ring of Power, depending who you ask), forged by the Dark Lord Sauron to rule Middle Earth. Simply put, what follows is an...
If you’ve been living under a rock, Lord of the Rings – based on J.R.R Tolkien’s novel from 1955 – tells the story of Frodo Baggins, a hobbit from The Shire who inherits a golden ring from his uncle; a ring that naturally turns out to the One Ring (or Ring of Power, depending who you ask), forged by the Dark Lord Sauron to rule Middle Earth. Simply put, what follows is an...
- 3/6/2013
- by Claire Fulton
- Obsessed with Film
Bilbo Baggins's adventure to the Lonely Mountain had quite a few twists and turns along the way. Little known fact: that dangerous, winding path included the Soviet Union.
While the internet geeks out over the new quick tease trailer of Peter Jackson's upcoming big screen adaptation of "The Hobbit," they'll have to wait until December of 2012 to see the whole film. But if they're feeling particularly antsy, they could always watch a full length version of the story.
The catch? It's a Russian-language film, shot in 1984 on a budget that looks like it was just a smudge less than the $150 million Oscar-winner Jackson is supposedly spending on his film. The Jrr Tolkien novel has an interesting Soviet history. It was first published in the country in 1976 with some locally-sourced illustrations (which you can see here), and went through a number of reprints over the years.
There's also the 1977 animated version of the story,...
While the internet geeks out over the new quick tease trailer of Peter Jackson's upcoming big screen adaptation of "The Hobbit," they'll have to wait until December of 2012 to see the whole film. But if they're feeling particularly antsy, they could always watch a full length version of the story.
The catch? It's a Russian-language film, shot in 1984 on a budget that looks like it was just a smudge less than the $150 million Oscar-winner Jackson is supposedly spending on his film. The Jrr Tolkien novel has an interesting Soviet history. It was first published in the country in 1976 with some locally-sourced illustrations (which you can see here), and went through a number of reprints over the years.
There's also the 1977 animated version of the story,...
- 12/21/2011
- by Jordan Zakarin
- Huffington Post
HollywoodNews.com: Our selected celebrity to be included in our “Hot Hollywood Female Celebrity Photo Gallery of the Day” is Leighton Meester.
Leighton Meester, Selena Gomez, and Katie Cassidy ◄ Back Next ►Picture 1 of 22
Leighton Meester, Selena Gomez, and Katie Cassidy in Monte Carlo
◄ Back Next ►Picture 1 of 22
Leighton Meester, Selena Gomez, and Katie Cassidy in Monte Carlo
Leighton Meester, best known for her performance in the CW’s Gossip Girl series, co-stars alongside Selena Gomez and Katie Cassidy in this weekend’s young femme comedy Monte Carlo.
Leighton Marissa Meester (born April 9, 1986) is an American actress and singer. Meester gained fame for playing the role of Blair Waldorf in the CW young-adult television series Gossip Girl. She most recently appeared in the 2010 country drama film Country Strong and the 2011 thriller The Roommate.
Early life
Meester was born in Fort Worth, Texas, the daughter of Constance (née Haas) and Douglas Meester.
Leighton Meester, Selena Gomez, and Katie Cassidy ◄ Back Next ►Picture 1 of 22
Leighton Meester, Selena Gomez, and Katie Cassidy in Monte Carlo
◄ Back Next ►Picture 1 of 22
Leighton Meester, Selena Gomez, and Katie Cassidy in Monte Carlo
Leighton Meester, best known for her performance in the CW’s Gossip Girl series, co-stars alongside Selena Gomez and Katie Cassidy in this weekend’s young femme comedy Monte Carlo.
Leighton Marissa Meester (born April 9, 1986) is an American actress and singer. Meester gained fame for playing the role of Blair Waldorf in the CW young-adult television series Gossip Girl. She most recently appeared in the 2010 country drama film Country Strong and the 2011 thriller The Roommate.
Early life
Meester was born in Fort Worth, Texas, the daughter of Constance (née Haas) and Douglas Meester.
- 7/3/2011
- by Anastasia
- Hollywoodnews.com
Clips from Monte Carlo, starring Selena Gomez, Katie Kassidy and Leighton Meester. 20th Century Fox's comedy opens July 1st. Thomas Bezucha directs as well as writing the screenplay along with April Blair, Maria Maggenti from the screen story by Kelly Bowe, based on the "Headhunters" novel by Jules Bass. Monte Carlo is produced by Nicole Kidman, Denise Di Novi, Alison Greenspan, Per Saari and Nick Schwartz. We have 1 behind-the-scenes clip as well as interviews with stars Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy, Cory Monteith and Andie McDowell. Grace (Selena Gomez) is an ordinary girl who becomes an accidental princess when a family summer trip to Paris turns into the fantasy of a lifetime. Living like royalty, Grace, along with her two best friends, discovers who she really is – by assuming another person’s identity. Freshly minted high school grad Grace (Selena Gomez) and best friend Emma (Katie Cassidy) are jettisoning...
- 6/15/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Clips from Monte Carlo, starring Selena Gomez, Katie Kassidy and Leighton Meester. 20th Century Fox's comedy opens July 1st. Thomas Bezucha directs as well as writing the screenplay along with April Blair, Maria Maggenti from the screen story by Kelly Bowe, based on the "Headhunters" novel by Jules Bass. Monte Carlo is produced by Nicole Kidman, Denise Di Novi, Alison Greenspan, Per Saari and Nick Schwartz. We have 1 behind-the-scenes clip as well as interviews with stars Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy, Cory Monteith and Andie McDowell. Grace (Selena Gomez) is an ordinary girl who becomes an accidental princess when a family summer trip to Paris turns into the fantasy of a lifetime. Living like royalty, Grace, along with her two best friends, discovers who she really is – by assuming another person’s identity. Freshly minted high school grad Grace (Selena Gomez) and best friend Emma (Katie Cassidy) are jettisoning...
- 6/15/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Fresh clips from "Monte Carlo" offer hilarious moments of Grace, Meg, and Emma who are pretending to be socialites. In one clip, the trio find a comfortable time wearing a set of make-up that actually belongs to Cordelia, a British heiress who happens to look identically similar to Grace.
In another video, they try to give Cordelia an explanation why they are there, before forcing her to shut her mouth. In the third clip, Grace and Meg get another trouble when their friends suddenly pop out.
Based on Jules Bass' novel titled "Headhunters", the upcoming movie revolves around a girl and her best friend who travel to Paris, accompanied by her future, uptight stepsister. When one of the girls is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, they are caught up in a whirlwind of attention and find themselves going on a dream vacation to Monte Carlo.
Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester...
In another video, they try to give Cordelia an explanation why they are there, before forcing her to shut her mouth. In the third clip, Grace and Meg get another trouble when their friends suddenly pop out.
Based on Jules Bass' novel titled "Headhunters", the upcoming movie revolves around a girl and her best friend who travel to Paris, accompanied by her future, uptight stepsister. When one of the girls is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, they are caught up in a whirlwind of attention and find themselves going on a dream vacation to Monte Carlo.
Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester...
- 6/15/2011
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Twentieth Century Fox have just sent over the brand new international trailer for their new movie, Monte Carlo which stars Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy, Cory Monteith, Andie MacDowell and is directed by Tom Bezucha. It’s set for release in the UK 26th August and if you missed it, you can see the Us domestic trailer here. This new international version gives us rather a lot of new footage from the movie which is based on the novel by Jules Bass called Headhunters.
Synopsis: Three graduates fulfill their dreams of vacationing in Paris. They accidentally find themselves in a lavish world, where they live like royalty and experience romance. But at the end of their journey, they discover the true magic of friendship.
Synopsis: Three graduates fulfill their dreams of vacationing in Paris. They accidentally find themselves in a lavish world, where they live like royalty and experience romance. But at the end of their journey, they discover the true magic of friendship.
- 5/16/2011
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
20th Century Fox have released the first image (above), synopsis and international trailer for Monte Carlo, a new romantic comedy based on the novel “Headhunters” by Jules Bass directed by Thomas Bezucha (The Family Stone) and starring Selena Gomez, Gossip Girl actresses Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy, Glee’s Cory Monteith and Hollywood stalwart Andie MacDowell.
Three graduates fulfill their dreams of vacationing in Paris. They accidentally find themselves in a lavish world, where they live like royalty and experience romance. But at the end of their journey, they discover the true magic of friendship.
Monte Carlo, which is produced by Nicole Kidman, is released in the UK on August 26th...
Three graduates fulfill their dreams of vacationing in Paris. They accidentally find themselves in a lavish world, where they live like royalty and experience romance. But at the end of their journey, they discover the true magic of friendship.
Monte Carlo, which is produced by Nicole Kidman, is released in the UK on August 26th...
- 5/5/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Sneak Peek the new poster supporting the upcoming romantic comedy "Monte Carlo", directed by Tom Bezucha, produced by Nicole Kidman, Denise Di Novi and Alison Greenspan, for 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises.
The film is loosely based on the novel "Headhunters" by author Jules Bass.
Cast includes Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy and Leighton Meester as three friends posing as wealthy socialites in Monaco.
"Monte Carlo" will be released July 1, 2011.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Monte Carlo"...
The film is loosely based on the novel "Headhunters" by author Jules Bass.
Cast includes Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy and Leighton Meester as three friends posing as wealthy socialites in Monaco.
"Monte Carlo" will be released July 1, 2011.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Monte Carlo"...
- 4/29/2011
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
From Nicole Kidman’s production company Blossom Films, watch the trailer for Monte Carlo due in theaters July 1st.
Synopsis:
Based on the novel “Headhunters” by Jules Bass, Monte Carlo tells the story of a girl and her best friend who travel to Paris, accompanied by her future, uptight stepsister. When one of the girls is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, they are caught up in a whirlwind of attention and find themselves going on a dream vacation to Monte Carlo.
The film is produced by Denise Di Novi, Alison Greenspan, Arnon Milchan, and Nicole Kidman. Monte Carlo stars Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy, Cory Monteith (TV’s Glee) and Andie MacDowell. Distributed by Fox 2000 Pictures, look for the film July 1, 2011.
Synopsis:
Based on the novel “Headhunters” by Jules Bass, Monte Carlo tells the story of a girl and her best friend who travel to Paris, accompanied by her future, uptight stepsister. When one of the girls is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, they are caught up in a whirlwind of attention and find themselves going on a dream vacation to Monte Carlo.
The film is produced by Denise Di Novi, Alison Greenspan, Arnon Milchan, and Nicole Kidman. Monte Carlo stars Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy, Cory Monteith (TV’s Glee) and Andie MacDowell. Distributed by Fox 2000 Pictures, look for the film July 1, 2011.
- 4/26/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Netflix has revolutionized the home movie experience for fans of film with its instant streaming technology. Netflix Nuggets is my way of spreading the word about independent, classic and foreign films made available by Netflix for instant streaming.
This Week’s New Instant Releases…
Promised Lands (1974)
Streaming Available: 04/19/2011
Cast: Documentary
Director: Susan Sontag
Synopsis: Set in Israel during the final days of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, this powerful documentary — initially barred by Israel authorities — from writer-director Susan Sontag examines divergent perceptions of the enduring Arab-Israeli clash. Weighing in on matters related to socialism, anti-Semitism, nation sovereignty and American materialism are The Last Jew writer Yoram Kaniuk and military physicist Yuval Ne’eman.
Vision: From the Life of Hildegard von Bingen (2009)
Streaming Available: 04/19/2011
Cast: Barbara Sukowa, Heino Ferch, Hannah Herzsprung, Gerald Alexander Held, Lena Stolze, Sunnyi Melles
Synopsis: Directed by longtime star of independent German cinema Margarethe von Trotta, this reverent...
This Week’s New Instant Releases…
Promised Lands (1974)
Streaming Available: 04/19/2011
Cast: Documentary
Director: Susan Sontag
Synopsis: Set in Israel during the final days of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, this powerful documentary — initially barred by Israel authorities — from writer-director Susan Sontag examines divergent perceptions of the enduring Arab-Israeli clash. Weighing in on matters related to socialism, anti-Semitism, nation sovereignty and American materialism are The Last Jew writer Yoram Kaniuk and military physicist Yuval Ne’eman.
Vision: From the Life of Hildegard von Bingen (2009)
Streaming Available: 04/19/2011
Cast: Barbara Sukowa, Heino Ferch, Hannah Herzsprung, Gerald Alexander Held, Lena Stolze, Sunnyi Melles
Synopsis: Directed by longtime star of independent German cinema Margarethe von Trotta, this reverent...
- 4/20/2011
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Check out the trailer for Monte Carlo, starring Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy! Monte Carlo opens July 1st this year and is helmed Thomas Bezucha who scripts with April Blair and Maria Maggenti, from the story by Kelly Bowe, based on the "Headhunters" novel by Jules Bass. Also in the cast of the comedy adventure are Cory Monteith, Andie McDowell, Brett Cullen, Catherine Tate, Pierre Boulanger and Luke Bracey. In Monte Carlo, stars Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy and Leighton Meester are three American girls who travel to Paris and then end up heading for Monaco when one of them is mistaken for a spoiled princess...
- 4/10/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Check out the trailer for Monte Carlo, starring Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy! Monte Carlo opens July 1st this year and is helmed Thomas Bezucha who scripts with April Blair and Maria Maggenti, from the story by Kelly Bowe, based on the "Headhunters" novel by Jules Bass. Also in the cast of the comedy adventure are Cory Monteith, Andie McDowell, Brett Cullen, Catherine Tate, Pierre Boulanger and Luke Bracey. In Monte Carlo, stars Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy and Leighton Meester are three American girls who travel to Paris and then end up heading for Monaco when one of them is mistaken for a spoiled princess...
- 4/10/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Some of you may be too young to remember The Last Dinosaur. Others of you are old enough to remember seeing it when it first aired in 1977 or the million times it ran in syndication throughout the Eighties. Now everyone can get reacquainted with this cult favorite that has dwelled in obscurity for too long thanks to the Warner Archive.
A joint production between Rankin/Bass (the makers of such classic Christmas specials as "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer") and Tsuburaya Productions (the creators of "Ultraman"), The Last Dinosaur was originally scheduled to be a theatrical release but ended up premiering as an ABC TV movie in 1977. The subsequent repeat airings and limited VHS release have all been of the 90-minute TV cut. The Warner Archive just released 16x9 full frame print contains the never before seen in the Us 106-minute theatrical cut.
“It eats meat! Us!!” "It" is a Tyrannosaurus,...
A joint production between Rankin/Bass (the makers of such classic Christmas specials as "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer") and Tsuburaya Productions (the creators of "Ultraman"), The Last Dinosaur was originally scheduled to be a theatrical release but ended up premiering as an ABC TV movie in 1977. The subsequent repeat airings and limited VHS release have all been of the 90-minute TV cut. The Warner Archive just released 16x9 full frame print contains the never before seen in the Us 106-minute theatrical cut.
“It eats meat! Us!!” "It" is a Tyrannosaurus,...
- 3/25/2011
- by Foywonder
- DreadCentral.com
The first official picture from "Monte Carlo" has finally landed online. It features three female stars, Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy, sporting glamorous looks and wearing beautiful gowns.
Based on Jules Bass' novel titled "Headhunters", the upcoming movie revolves around a girl and her best friend who travel to Paris, accompanied by her future, uptight stepsister. When one of the girls is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, they are caught up in a whirlwind of attention and find themselves going on a dream vacation to Monte Carlo.
Taking the lead role, Gomez had to learn two different British accents, one for the real Cordelia and another for the impostor Grace. "Accent training was the hardest thing on top of learning lines," the 18-year-old star, who uses "Monte Carlo" to take "baby steps" for building her movie resume, claims.
Gomez also hints that her co-star Meester's role...
Based on Jules Bass' novel titled "Headhunters", the upcoming movie revolves around a girl and her best friend who travel to Paris, accompanied by her future, uptight stepsister. When one of the girls is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, they are caught up in a whirlwind of attention and find themselves going on a dream vacation to Monte Carlo.
Taking the lead role, Gomez had to learn two different British accents, one for the real Cordelia and another for the impostor Grace. "Accent training was the hardest thing on top of learning lines," the 18-year-old star, who uses "Monte Carlo" to take "baby steps" for building her movie resume, claims.
Gomez also hints that her co-star Meester's role...
- 3/22/2011
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
The first official picture from "Monte Carlo" has finally landed online. It features three female stars, Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy, sporting glamorous looks and wearing beautiful gowns.
Based on Jules Bass' novel titled "Headhunters", the upcoming movie revolves around a girl and her best friend who travel to Paris, accompanied by her future, uptight stepsister. When one of the girls is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, they are caught up in a whirlwind of attention and find themselves going on a dream vacation to Monte Carlo.
Taking the lead role, Gomez had to learn two different British accents, one for the real Cordelia and another for the impostor Grace. "Accent training was the hardest thing on top of learning lines," the 18-year-old star, who uses "Monte Carlo" to take "baby steps" for building her movie resume, claims.
Gomez also hints that her co-star Meester's role...
Based on Jules Bass' novel titled "Headhunters", the upcoming movie revolves around a girl and her best friend who travel to Paris, accompanied by her future, uptight stepsister. When one of the girls is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, they are caught up in a whirlwind of attention and find themselves going on a dream vacation to Monte Carlo.
Taking the lead role, Gomez had to learn two different British accents, one for the real Cordelia and another for the impostor Grace. "Accent training was the hardest thing on top of learning lines," the 18-year-old star, who uses "Monte Carlo" to take "baby steps" for building her movie resume, claims.
Gomez also hints that her co-star Meester's role...
- 3/22/2011
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury
Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
The Scoop: (1982) An all-star voice cast buoys this animated effort based on the book by Peter S. Beagle. Though critics haven't always been thrilled with the Rankin-Bass animation (the guys who did all those stop-motion holiday specials in the '60s), the strength of the story has turned this film into a cult hit. Previous releases have been marred by poor quality, making this restored edition a must-have for fans.
Special Features: Commentary, featurettes, multi-media gallery, trailer
Rated G, 92 min. | Watch the trailer...
Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
The Scoop: (1982) An all-star voice cast buoys this animated effort based on the book by Peter S. Beagle. Though critics haven't always been thrilled with the Rankin-Bass animation (the guys who did all those stop-motion holiday specials in the '60s), the strength of the story has turned this film into a cult hit. Previous releases have been marred by poor quality, making this restored edition a must-have for fans.
Special Features: Commentary, featurettes, multi-media gallery, trailer
Rated G, 92 min. | Watch the trailer...
- 2/22/2011
- by NextMovie Staff
- NextMovie
Thirty years have passed since "The Last Unicorn" hit theaters, and the animated adaptation of the Peter S. Beagle novel remains a revered classic to this day. Fans can mark the occasion with the 2-disc DVD and Blu-ray release of "The Last Unicorn," hitting theaters this coming Tuesday.
But before that, we've got something that fans are going to enjoy: an exclusive clip from the upcoming release! In the video, "Last Unicorn" enthusiasts are taken on a behind-the-scenes tour that reveals exactly how Jeff Bridges came to be cast as the heroic Prince Lír.
"I got a call one day from Jeff Bridges, and he said, 'I understand you're doing 'The Last Unicorn,' and my friend Rene Auberjonois is in it. He's playing the Skull, and I want to be in it. Do you have anything for me?'" director Jules Bass reveals in the clip. "I said,...
But before that, we've got something that fans are going to enjoy: an exclusive clip from the upcoming release! In the video, "Last Unicorn" enthusiasts are taken on a behind-the-scenes tour that reveals exactly how Jeff Bridges came to be cast as the heroic Prince Lír.
"I got a call one day from Jeff Bridges, and he said, 'I understand you're doing 'The Last Unicorn,' and my friend Rene Auberjonois is in it. He's playing the Skull, and I want to be in it. Do you have anything for me?'" director Jules Bass reveals in the clip. "I said,...
- 2/18/2011
- by Josh Wigler
- MTV Movies Blog
Machine Gun Preacher
Opens: 2011
Cast: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Shannon, Madeline Carroll, Kathy Baker
Director: Marc Forster
Summary: After finding God, drug-dealing biker Sam Childers renounces his outlaw ways and embarks on a spiritual path, becoming a crusader for hundreds of desperate and helpless children who were being forced to become soldiers in war-torn southern Sudan.
Analysis: Despite taking the freshly rejuvenated James Bond franchise and nearly destroying it with the very disappointing "Quantum of Solace", German-Swiss filmmaker Marc Forster still has a decent amount of good will left thanks to strong earlier efforts like "Monster's Ball," "Finding Neverland," "Stranger Than Fiction" and "The Kite Runner".
Now, in his first film since that Bond outing, Forster returns to serious drama with this true story tale of a biker who became a humanitarian crusader for children in the Sudan. The story itself is fascinating, the born again Sam Childers and...
Opens: 2011
Cast: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Shannon, Madeline Carroll, Kathy Baker
Director: Marc Forster
Summary: After finding God, drug-dealing biker Sam Childers renounces his outlaw ways and embarks on a spiritual path, becoming a crusader for hundreds of desperate and helpless children who were being forced to become soldiers in war-torn southern Sudan.
Analysis: Despite taking the freshly rejuvenated James Bond franchise and nearly destroying it with the very disappointing "Quantum of Solace", German-Swiss filmmaker Marc Forster still has a decent amount of good will left thanks to strong earlier efforts like "Monster's Ball," "Finding Neverland," "Stranger Than Fiction" and "The Kite Runner".
Now, in his first film since that Bond outing, Forster returns to serious drama with this true story tale of a biker who became a humanitarian crusader for children in the Sudan. The story itself is fascinating, the born again Sam Childers and...
- 1/17/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
After being captured on camera in casual outfits as well as in bikini earlier, Selena Gomez showed off her elegant side on the set of "Monte Carlo". The 17-year-old songstress has been seen trading her jeans and tank tops with a strapless gown when shooting at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco on Thursday morning, July 1.
Unlike the previous on-the-set spottings, the Alex Russo of "Wizards of Waverly Place" was not joined by her two fellow stars in the movie, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy, this time around. Instead on the particular day of shooting, she was seen brushing shoulders with another cast member Catherine Tate.
"Monte Carlo" is loosely based on Jules Bass' novel "Headhunters". It revolves around two best friends, Grace and Emma. Joined by Grace's soon-to-be step-sister Meg, the two decide to go on a trip to Paris. But, when Grace gets mistaken for a spoiled British heiress,...
Unlike the previous on-the-set spottings, the Alex Russo of "Wizards of Waverly Place" was not joined by her two fellow stars in the movie, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy, this time around. Instead on the particular day of shooting, she was seen brushing shoulders with another cast member Catherine Tate.
"Monte Carlo" is loosely based on Jules Bass' novel "Headhunters". It revolves around two best friends, Grace and Emma. Joined by Grace's soon-to-be step-sister Meg, the two decide to go on a trip to Paris. But, when Grace gets mistaken for a spoiled British heiress,...
- 7/2/2010
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
After snapped filming "Monte Carlo" in France for few days, Leighton Meester has continued the production in another country. On Friday, June 25, she has been pictured shooting the film in Monaco, Italy with a male co-star, Luke Bracey.
The 24-year-old actress is seen sporting a purple one-piece topped with a peach-colored robe. The Aussie hunk, meanwhile, shows off his abs as he is shirtless. In several shots, the two are captured standing face to face while filming their scenes. Selena Gomez and Katie Cassidy who joined Meester in Paris are not seen during the June 25 filming.
"Monte Carlo" follows a girl and her best friend who travel to Paris, accompanied by her future, uptight stepsister. When one of the girls is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, they are caught up in a whirlwind of attention and find themselves going on a dream vacation to Monte Carlo.
The film is...
The 24-year-old actress is seen sporting a purple one-piece topped with a peach-colored robe. The Aussie hunk, meanwhile, shows off his abs as he is shirtless. In several shots, the two are captured standing face to face while filming their scenes. Selena Gomez and Katie Cassidy who joined Meester in Paris are not seen during the June 25 filming.
"Monte Carlo" follows a girl and her best friend who travel to Paris, accompanied by her future, uptight stepsister. When one of the girls is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, they are caught up in a whirlwind of attention and find themselves going on a dream vacation to Monte Carlo.
The film is...
- 6/26/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Disney star Selena Gomez has stripped down to her bikini on the Monaco set of "Monte Carlo". The 17-year-old actress has been spotted soaking up the sun on the beach along with her co-stars Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy as they continued shooting scenes for the romantic comedy.
On Friday, June 25, the Alex Russo of "Wizards of Waverly Place" was snapped strolling along the shores in the south of France in a turquoise two-piece. Her co-star, "Gossip Girl" beauty Leighton in the meantime, is seen donning a deep purple one-piece, while "Melrose Place" star Katie got down to a printed two-piece.
Selena has been traveling around Europe for the filming of "Monte Carlo". Having joined the film's production when it was kicked off in Budapest, Hungary, she was recently seen shooting in Paris, France. On the set, she was seen throwing a fit as she argues with Leighton and Katie...
On Friday, June 25, the Alex Russo of "Wizards of Waverly Place" was snapped strolling along the shores in the south of France in a turquoise two-piece. Her co-star, "Gossip Girl" beauty Leighton in the meantime, is seen donning a deep purple one-piece, while "Melrose Place" star Katie got down to a printed two-piece.
Selena has been traveling around Europe for the filming of "Monte Carlo". Having joined the film's production when it was kicked off in Budapest, Hungary, she was recently seen shooting in Paris, France. On the set, she was seen throwing a fit as she argues with Leighton and Katie...
- 6/26/2010
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
Having just flown into town the previous day, Selena Gomez was looking fabulous on the set of "Monte Carlo" while on the beaches of Monte Carlo on Friday (June 25).
The "Wizards of Waverly Place" darling showed off her fine figure in a turquoise two-piece as she joined co-stars Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy for the day's filming duties.
Due out in 2011, the Thomas Bezucha directed film is based on the Jules Bass novel while written for the big screen by Thomas Bezucha.
A synopsis of the movie describes the picture as being about "three young women vacationing in Paris who find themselves whisked away to Monte Carlo after one of the girls is mistaken for a British heiress."...
The "Wizards of Waverly Place" darling showed off her fine figure in a turquoise two-piece as she joined co-stars Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy for the day's filming duties.
Due out in 2011, the Thomas Bezucha directed film is based on the Jules Bass novel while written for the big screen by Thomas Bezucha.
A synopsis of the movie describes the picture as being about "three young women vacationing in Paris who find themselves whisked away to Monte Carlo after one of the girls is mistaken for a British heiress."...
- 6/25/2010
- GossipCenter
Footage of Selena Gomez throwing a fit on the set of "Monte Carlo" for a scene has been made available. An on-set video has offered a look at the "Naturally" singer when she shoots the particular scene where her Grace gets upset at Leighton Meester's Meg and Katie Cassidy's Emma while in Paris.
The footage of the Disney beauty and her two co-stars acting out their scene isn't the only thing the video has to offer. When the camera stops rolling during the shooting, it can be seen that the Disney beauty gives Leighton a big hug. Similar friendly gesture is shown by Selena when they filmed another scenes in different location as seen in another video.
"Monte Carlo" is loosely based on Jules Bass' novel "Headhunters". It revolves around the life of two teenage best friends, Grace and Emma. Joined by Grace's soon-to-be step-sister Meg, they...
The footage of the Disney beauty and her two co-stars acting out their scene isn't the only thing the video has to offer. When the camera stops rolling during the shooting, it can be seen that the Disney beauty gives Leighton a big hug. Similar friendly gesture is shown by Selena when they filmed another scenes in different location as seen in another video.
"Monte Carlo" is loosely based on Jules Bass' novel "Headhunters". It revolves around the life of two teenage best friends, Grace and Emma. Joined by Grace's soon-to-be step-sister Meg, they...
- 6/25/2010
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
Fox 2000 Pictures has given a release date for "Monte Carlo". The romantic comedy is planned for a winter movie, occupying February 11, 2011 slot. The Selena Gomez-starring flick will compete with Jennifer Aniston's "Just Go with It" and 3-D animation "Gnomeo and Juliet" which will be released on the same day.
In another news, the production for the movie is still underway in Paris, France. After filming near Eiffel Tower on Monday, June 21, Gomez and her co-stars, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy, have been pictured shooting at Louvre Museum on the next day.
Later, the three beauties were seen moving to another location, the Arts of Bridge. They were additionally joined by Valerie Lemercier, who possibly plays a tour guide. During the break, Gomez was snapped giving autographs to fans who have been following them.
Based on Jules Bass' novel "Headhunters", "Monte Carlo" follows a girl and her...
In another news, the production for the movie is still underway in Paris, France. After filming near Eiffel Tower on Monday, June 21, Gomez and her co-stars, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy, have been pictured shooting at Louvre Museum on the next day.
Later, the three beauties were seen moving to another location, the Arts of Bridge. They were additionally joined by Valerie Lemercier, who possibly plays a tour guide. During the break, Gomez was snapped giving autographs to fans who have been following them.
Based on Jules Bass' novel "Headhunters", "Monte Carlo" follows a girl and her...
- 6/23/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Selena Gomez and Leighton Meester have been snapped teaming up for the production of "Monte Carlo". On Monday, June 21, they were photographed shooting a running scene at Champs de Mars in Paris, France with a background of the famous Eiffel Tower.
Katie Cassidy also joined them during the filming that day. At some point, the "A Nightmare on Elm Street" actress was seen ditching his green high heels and replacing it with sandals. Gomez, in the meantime, opted to wear boots with Meester sporting flip-flops.
"Monte Carlo" is adapted from Jules Bass' novel "Headhunters". It tells the story of a girl and her best friend who travel to Paris, accompanied by her future, uptight stepsister. When one of the girls is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, they are caught up in a whirlwind of attention and find themselves going on a dream vacation to Monte Carlo.
Nicole Kidman...
Katie Cassidy also joined them during the filming that day. At some point, the "A Nightmare on Elm Street" actress was seen ditching his green high heels and replacing it with sandals. Gomez, in the meantime, opted to wear boots with Meester sporting flip-flops.
"Monte Carlo" is adapted from Jules Bass' novel "Headhunters". It tells the story of a girl and her best friend who travel to Paris, accompanied by her future, uptight stepsister. When one of the girls is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, they are caught up in a whirlwind of attention and find themselves going on a dream vacation to Monte Carlo.
Nicole Kidman...
- 6/22/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
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