The Bootleg Files: To Tell the Truth

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 713: “To Tell the Truth” (long-running television game show).

LAST SEEN: Plenty of old episodes are on YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: A few of the older episodes are on DVD from a highly dubious label.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: Never properly repackaged for home entertainment channels.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely at all.

Liars are the most fascinating people. After all, they can give you a spiel that could be utterly convincing and compelling, but it is only later when you realize their smoke-and-mirror act played you for a fool. And it takes a certain brand of talent to sell a falsehood in a manner that it is happily embraced as a fact and its seller is welcomed as an all-around good sort.
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The Return of Crackpot Christmas Movies

Posted on December 23, 2019 by Phil Hall

Santa teaming with Merlin the Magician to defeat Satan? Charlie Brown’s Christmas with a Rudy Ray Moore-worthy soundtrack? And why are the prehistoric Flintstones celebrating a holiday rooted in the birth of Jesus? Facebook’s funniest man, Anthony “Kingfish” Vitamia, returns to roast the silliest, most violent and least likely holiday movies of all time in this encore presentation of “The Online Movie Show.”

The episode can be heard here.

Trapped (1949)

Posted on December 21, 2019 by Phil Hall

Richard Fleischer’s 1949 thriller, made at the low-budget Eagle-Lion Studios, offers all of the virtues and all of the vices of the old-school B-movies. Mercifully, the film’s virtues ultimately turn this into a mini-triumph.
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The Bootleg Files: The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 712: “The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood” (1965 television special starring Liza Minnelli).

LAST SEEN: On DailyMotion.com.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: On a highly dubious label.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: The absence of the original color production.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely at all.

During the 1960s, the Christmas season brought a glut of holiday-oriented productions to television. But for every “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” that became an instant classic, there were scores of efforts that never clicked with audiences and became quickly forgotten.
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The Jean Harlow Films

Posted on December 16, 2019 by Phil Hall

Jean Harlow was Hollywood’s original blonde bombshell, and she lit up the Pre-Code screen with spirit and sexiness that has never been duplicated. In this episode of “The Online Movie Show,” James L. Neibaur, author of “The Jean Harlow Films,” pays tribute to the great star’s too-brief life and stellar career.

The episode can be heard here.

The Bootleg Files: Snack Boy

Posted on December 13, 2019 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 711: “Snack Boy” (1998-2001 online video series starring Terry Crummitt).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: Long-forgotten pioneering production of online-exclusive entertainment.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely at all.

Did you ever stop and ask yourself: where did the concept of an online video star begin? After all, we are currently overburdened with characters who have become rich and famous by making wacky videos for YouTube. But there had to be a time and place where this show business phenomenon actually took root, yes?
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The Elvis Movies

Posted on December 9, 2019 by Phil Hall

Elvis Presley was the king of rock ‘n’ roll, but he was also one of the most popular film stars from the mid-1950s through the late 1960s. In this episode of “The Online Movie Show,” film historian James L. Neibaur, author of “The Elvis Movies,” considers Elvis’ cinema output and place in film history.

The episode can be heard here.