Alex Cox

Moviedrome Mondays: Ace in the Hole (1951)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing legendary director-writer Billy Wilder’s 1951 Film-Noir drama Ace in the Hole, my readers will have to make due with a transcript once again (read here). The episode’s original airdate was July 23, 1989 (read here). When it comes to summing up Wilder career as a whole, I do not know If I can go as far as Cox does here in calling him the cinematic equivalent of Vladimir Nabokov. Cox says that he’s completely cynical, without sentimentality, without remorse, and he’s as great a craftsman with film as Nabokov was with words. – well, that depends on what Wilder film he is talking about. This aspect does apply (at least for me) to three of the four Wilder films he mentioned – Sunset Boulevard, this one and Some Like It Hot, but The Apartment contained some unnecessary sentiment. All that being said, Ace in the Hole is undoubtedly Wilder at his most cynical and I rank it somewhere in the top four of my favorite films from him. Also, when it comes to Cox’s closing paragraph on this film, I could not have said what he said any better (read here). If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Billy Wilder films, read here.

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

Also, here is a youtube video link to Director/Screenwriter Josh Olson’s Trailers from Hell commentary on the film

Moviedrome Mondays: The Grissom Gang (1971)

by John Charet

Unlike the last few entries, this Moviedrome Monday will not feature a youtube video link to presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to Robert Aldrich’s 1971 period gangster film The Grissom Gang. The reason for this is because I could not find a youtube video link to it, so my readers will have to rely on his transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was July 16, 1989 (read here). Although Cox calls the film efficient, he is not as crazy about it when compared to my reaction. Whereas Cox subtly criticizes it’s use of color, for me, Aldrich and screenwriter Leon Griffiths decision to depict the title characters more as caricatures was more than offset by the vibe that it (and in this case a rarity) came off as fascinating. Interesting pieces of trivia: this is the second Aldrich film to premiere on Moviedrome (the first was …All the Marbles – a.k.a. The California Dolls). This is also the second film adaptation of James Hadley Chase’s 1939 novel No Orchids for Miss Blandish – the previous version (a British production btw) came out in 1948 from director St. John Legh Clowes under that aforementioned name. In case you readers missed it, here is a link to my list of my favorite Robert Aldrich films (read here).

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

 

Moviedrome Mondays: Night of the Comet (1984)

by John Charet

At the end of this blog entry, I will post a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Thom Eberhardt’s 1984 low-budget science-fiction horror comedy Night of the Comet. My readers can read Cox’s transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was July 9, 1989 (read here). While by no means a great or even very good film, Night of the Comet is throughly enjoyable. I do agree with Cox though that it’s attempts at humor backfires. Nevertheless, the film’s two appealing lead heroines (played here by Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney) serve as the glue that holds everything together. For those who have seen this film, try spotting early Cox regular Dick Rude as a mutant Stock Boy. Of similar interest, film director/writer (not to mention comic book writer) Joss Whedon cited this film as an influence (particularly concerning Maroney’s character) regarding the creation of the Buffy Summers character from his own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (both the 1992 film and the 1997-2003 television series). For more information on this, read this 2003 interview from IGN’s UK site (read here).

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Night of the Comet

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

Moviedrome Mondays: Stardust Memories (1980)

by John Charet

At the bottom of this blog entry, I have posted a youtube link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing Woody Allen’s 1980 comedy-drama Stardust Memories. You can read his transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was July 2, 1989 (read here). True, Federico Fellini’s 1963 Italian classic 8 1/2 may have served as a main influence (especially Gordon Willis black-and-white cinematography), but Allen has denied that his own film is similarly autobiographical (read here). His controversial personal life notwithstanding, Allen was an immensely talented director and writer, not to mention comedian, at one time. Since the mid-1990’s though, he became a hit-or-miss director with more examples of the latter. Nevertheless, I could not have stated what Cox says in that last paragraph of his alone, especially concerning the presence of the always lovely and wonderful Charlotte Rampling (read here). If you are interested in reading my list of my favorite Woody Allen films, read here.

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Stardust Memories

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

Moviedrome Mondays: THX 1138 (1971)

by John Charet

At the end of this blog entry, I will post a youtube video link of Moviedrome Presenter Alex Cox introducing George Lucas 1971 cult science-fiction film THX 1138. You can read Cox’s transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was June 25, 1989 (read here). Although my favorite film directed by George Lucas is still American Graffiti, I do admire  THX 1138 for all of the ideas that Lucas touches upon in his script – even If the results are not always entirely successful. At the very least, it does give us a glimpse of what Lucas would expand upon in his iconic 1977 science-fiction space opera Star Wars.

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to THX 1138

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

Moviedrome Mondays: …All the Marbles (1981) (a.k.a. The California Dolls)

by John Charet

I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing Robert Aldrich’s 1981 sports comedy-drama …All the Marbles (a.k.a. The California Dolls); so my readers will have to make due with his transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was June 11, 1989 (read here). Not unlike what Cox implies here, If one looked beyond the film’s silly premise – a manager and his female wrestling team (The California Dolls) on the road – you will find a road movie with a lot on it’s mind. While maybe not as memorable as some of the best ones of the period – Monte Hellman’s Two-Lane Blacktop or Wim Wenders Road Movie Trilogy – there is still plenty to admire here. Interesting bit of trivia: 1981’s …All the Marbles was the final film that Aldrich directed – he died two years later in 1983. If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Aldrich films, read here.

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

Moviedrome Mondays: The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing Jack Arnold’s 1957 science-fiction horror classic The Incredible Shrinking Man, my readers will have to make due with the episode’s transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was June 4, 1989 (read here). Interestingly enough, as Cox implies in his introduction, the only films that actually properly addressed the theme of nuclear war in the 1950’s (for the most part), were (ironically enough) campy science-fiction horror entries of that aforementioned decade. If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Jack Arnold films, read here.

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

Here is another youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer – with Orson Welles providing voiceover duties

 

 

Moviedrome Mondays: The Thing from Another World (1951)

by John Charet

UPDATED on 09/07/2020: Frequent visitor Steve (click here to see his youtube channel) just reminded me that a youtube video link for Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to The Thing from Another World exists and I just found it. I shall post it below on here.

Once again, I could not find a youtube video of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing the 1951 science-fiction horror classic The Thing from Another World directed by Christian Nyby and co-produced by the legendary Howard Hawks. The episode’s original airdate was May 28, 1989 (read here). Not much to say here except as with all classic 1950’s monster movies, it is one that is every bit as thrilling as it is subtly intelligent.

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to The Thing from Another World. His intro begins at the 0:50 mark of the video

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

Moviedrome Mondays: D.O.A. (1949)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introducing former cinematographer-turned-director Rudolph Mate’s 1949 film noir D.O.A., readers will have to rely on the episode’s transcript by clicking here. The episode’s original airdate was May 21, 1989 (read here). I enjoyed hearing Cox talk about the background history regarding the characteristics of the film noir genre and yes, be on the lookout for that whistle sound every time an attractive woman enters the scene in the film 🙂 As much as I love D.O.A., I must admit that the previously mentioned running gag does get old fast during one’s viewing of the film.

In case you are interested in watching the entire film, here is a youtube link below:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=D.O.A.+1949

As for the film’s original theatrical trailer, I strangely could not find one from it’s initial release, so you will just have to depend on your viewing of the film based on that link above.

Moviedrome Mondays: Jabberwocky (1977)

by John Charet

I will post a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to former Monty Python animator/member Terry Gilliam’s first solo outing as a director in 1977 entitled Jabberwocky at the end of this blog entry. Terry Gilliam’s first film as a director was with Terry Jones two years earlier with 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail. You can read his transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was May 14, 1989 (read here). I can’t really tell what Cox thinks of the film since his intro consists only of his recitation of legendary British children’s author Lewis Carroll’s (1832-1898) nonsensical poem of the same name that first appeared in his 1871 novel Through the Looking Glass (read here, here and here). As for myself, compared to Holy Grail, Jabberwocky is only half as funny as it should be. Nevertheless, as a whole, it is very creative for a fantasy comedy shot on a tiny budget and as with Holy Grail, Jabberwocky contains a fair share of gory sequences welcomely played for comedic effect. If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Terry Gilliam films, read here.

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Jabberwocky

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