post

The Rapid Rise of Martin and Lewis

In celebration of the 75th anniversary year of the teaming of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis (and conversely, the 65th anniversary of their split), this episode of “The Online Movie Show” takes a look at how the zany comedy duo became overnight sensations. Richard S. Greene, author of “Marketing Mayhem!: Selling Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis to Post-War America,” is the episode’s guest.

The episode can be heard here.

post

The Bootleg Files: Julie & Carol at Carnegie Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 801: “Julie & Carol at Carnegie Hall” (1962 TV special starring Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO:
None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: Mostly likely due to music rights issues.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Probably not.

In 1962, Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett were on the cusp of superstardom. Andrews had back-to-back Broadway triumphs with “My Fair Lady” and “Camelot” while Burnett had gained fame from her standout comedy performances in the Broadway musical “Once Upon a Mattress” and on Garry Moore’s television variety show. Surprisingly, there was initial reluctance from CBS to move forward with a proposed TV special starring the two women – the network felt that Andrews was not that well known to the wider American public while simultaneously arguing that Burnett was too familiar from Moore’s weekly show.
Continue reading →

post

The Glory of Valerie Perrine

Valerie Perrine was one of the most beautiful and dynamic stars of the 1970s and 1980s, bringing vibrancy and charm to such memorable films as “Slaughterhouse Five,” “Lenny” (for which she received an Oscar nomination), “Superman” and the unfairly maligned “Can’t Stop the Music.” On this episode, we celebrate Valerie Perrine’s legacy with Stacey Souther, director of the new documentary “Valerie.”

The episode can be heard here.

post

The Bootleg Files: Nirvana

BOOTLEG FILES 800: “Nirvana” (re-edited version of the 1951 Laurel and Hardy feature “Atoll K”).

LAST SEEN: Available for private request screenings.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: A bit of a copyright issue.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Probably not.

Before I begin this week’s column, I want to pause and point out that this is the 800th entry in The Bootleg Files series that began in September 2003 on Film Threat before becoming part of Cinema Crazed in February 2017. My goodness, I cannot believe that there have been 800 entries in this weekly column! I need to give my deepest and sincerest thanks to Felix Vasquez Jr., publisher and editor at Cinema Crazed, for providing The Bootleg Files with a loving home, and I need to thank the readers of this long, long, long-running series for checking in with me every Friday – I’ve ton too much writing in the course of my career, but this is the achievement that has been the true labor of love. Okay, enough gushing – on with the show!
Continue reading →