Month: April 2021

Moviedrome Mondays: Face to Face (1967)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Sergio Sollima’s 1967 spaghetti western Face to Face, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 29, 1993 (read here). While 1966’s The Big Gundown still ranks as my number one favorite of Sollima’s spaghetti westerns, Face to Face, not to mention Run, Man, Run! made the following year, prove to be every bit as electrifying. Speaking of which, it has been alleged that Sollima considered Face to Face to be his personal favorite of the bunch (read here). If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Sergio Sollima films (read here).

Update: 11/17/2022: Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Face to Face

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer

Here is an Amazon link to learn more about Alex Cox’s take on the spaghetti western in his 2009 book 10,000 Ways to Die: A Director’s Take on the Spaghetti Western

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Moviedrome Mondays: The Big Combo (1955)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing cult B-filmmaker Joseph H. Lewis 1955 film noir gem The Big Combo, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 23, 1993 (read here). I could not state any of Cox’s sentiments about this film any better. 1950’s Gun Crazy may be Lewis number one greatest film, but The Big Combo (also directed by him) proves to be every bit as (If not more) masterful as that earlier film. Now everything about The Big Combo is undeniably brilliant, but the true standout aspect of this film lies in John Alton’s dazzling cinematography, which is evident from it’s first frame to it’s iconic final shot. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Joseph H. Lewis films (read here).

Since I could not find a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer, readers will have to either watch the film on the aforementioned website (click here) or find it on Blu-Ray/DVD (click here). In addition, If you are a UK visitor to my site (some of my dear readers live there), click here for the link to what may be the Region 2 Blu-Ray/DVD of the film.

Moviedrome Mondays: The Long Riders (1980)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing action director Walter Hill’s 1980 western The Long Riders, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 15, 1993 (read here). While it may not be my number one favorite film dealing (whether on the surface or in the center) with infamous outlaw Jesse James and his gang (that honor goes to 2007’s The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), I nevertheless adore The Long Riders on a whole. The selling points here are the bloody shootouts (a homage to Sam Peckinpah), Ry Cooder’s music score and most fittingly, a cast of real-life actor brothers. The ones in this case would be The Keaches (James and Stacy), The Carradines (David, Keith and Robert), The Quaids (Dennis and Randy) and The Guests (Christopher and Nicolas). Along with his 2004 pilot episode of Deadwood, The Long Riders ranks as two of director Walter Hill’s great westerns. I also admire 1993’s Geronimo: An American Legend, 1995’s Wild Bill and his 2006 two-part television miniseries Broken Trail. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Walter Hill films (read here).


Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer