Classic Sci-Fi on TCM tonight (2 Viewers)

[dragon53]

TRIVIA----in John Carpenter's THE THING, Kurt Russell played a helicopter pilot for an Antarctica research team, who battles a shape-shifting alien.
In THE LAND UNKNOWN, Russell's father, Bing Russell, played a radioman communicating with a helicopter and its Antarctica research team, who battle dinosaurs.

In John Carpenter's THE THING, Kurt Russell played a helicopter pilot for an Antarctica research team, who battles a shape-shifting alien.

In THE LAND UNKNOWN, Russell's father, Bing Russell, played a radioman communicating with a helicopter and its Antarctica research team, who battle dinosaurs.

 

[dragon53]

STAR WARS---the Disney+ presentation of the original STAR WARS movie's revised scene has Han Solo and Greedo shooting at each other at the same time. Also, Greedo has new dialogue when he says, "Maclunkey!". Greedo actor Paul Blake commented on "Maclunkey!", "I couldn't understand a word of it. (laughs) It confused me incredibly, but I've never understood anything about the movies anyway, particularly that. The convention I've just come back from, I had a million opinions from everybody. This new word! How absolutely absurd, what is George [Lucas] doing these days?"

Greedo says, "Maclunkey!" at 28 seconds elapsed time.

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH19gKo7W7w

 

[dragon53]

TRIVIA---Sean Connery and Sam Neill starred in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. The two almost reunited for JURASSIC PARK when Steven Spielberg offered the John Hammond role to Connery. Spielberg and Connery worked together in INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, and Connery was good friends with JURASSIC PARK author Michael Crichton, who directed Connery in THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY. However, Connery wanted too much money, so Richard Attenborough starred with Neill in JURASSIC PARK instead of Connery.

Sean Connery and Sam Neill starred in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER.

JURASSIC PARK director Steven Spielberg offered the John Hammond role to Connery. Spielberg and Connery worked together in INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE.

Connery was good friends with JURASSIC PARK author Michael Crichton, who directed Connery in THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY.

However, Connery wanted too much money, so Richard Attenborough starred with Neill in JURASSIC PARK instead of Connery.

 

[theBaron]

TRIVIA---Sean Connery and Sam Neill starred in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. The two almost reunited for JURASSIC PARK when Steven Spielberg offered the John Hammond role to Connery. Spielberg and Connery worked together in INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, and Connery was good friends with JURASSIC PARK author Michael Crichton, who directed Connery in THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY. However, Connery wanted too much money, so Richard Attenborough starred with Neill in JURASSIC PARK instead of Connery.

It's a good thing Connery wanted too much money, because casting him would have been yet another way in which Spielberg ruined that story.

Connery was too tall to play Hammond, whom Creighton described as a short man. That was part of his character-he was a short, arrogant, wealthy man who felt there were no limitations on him.

As it was, Attenborough fit the physical description, but instead of being a millionaire prick, Spielberg turned him into a kindly old elf, who didn't get his comeuppance at the end, as he did in the novel.

The book is still much better than the movie.

Prost!
Brad

A PS--

Connery's accent made him an amusing Captain Ramius, too. A Lithuanian with a Highland accent.

 

[BobZ]

TRIVIA - Veronica Cartwright and Doodles Weaver appeared in Hitchcock's The Birds. Later as an adult, Cartwright played Lambert in Alien, supporting Sigourney Weaver, who is Doodles' niece.

Doodles Weaver in The Birds.



Veronica Cartwright in The Birds.



Cartwright and Sigourney Weaver in Alien.

 

[dragon53]

TRIVIA---before George Takei was the helmsman for the starship Enterprise in STAR TREK, he was the helmsman for the Japanese destroyer Amagiri that rammed John F. Kennedy's PT boat in the 1963 JFK biomovie PT 109. The movie starred Cliff Robertson, Ty Hardin and Robert Culp.

 

[lancer]

TRIVIA---before George Takei was the helmsman for the starship Enterprise in STAR TREK, he was the helmsman for the Japanese destroyer Amagiri that rammed John F. Kennedy's PT boat in the 1963 JFK biomovie PT 109. The movie starred Cliff Robertson, Ty Hardin and Robert Culp.

I wonder if he contacted the engine room and said, 'Scotty, give me ramming speed.'? I bet he did. -- Al

 

[BobZ]

TRIVIA - Two more pieces of Birds trivia (sorry, it was on the other day & got me interested):

1. Richard Deacon had a very small but important scene in the The Birds, where he tell Tippi Hendren's character where Rod Taylor lives. He is better known for his role as Mel Cooley, the hapless producer of the Alan Brady show on The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Richard Deacon in The Birds.



Richard Deacon as Mel Cooley.




2. Hitchcock and the writers discussed having the radio broadcast at the end of the movie assign blame for the attacks on the Red Chinese or Soviets. Hitchcock finally decided it would have more impact if he left it unexplained. He was right - 50 years later people are still arguing over it.

 

[theBaron]

TRIVIA - Two more pieces of Birds trivia (sorry, it was on the other day & got me interested):

...Richard Deacon had a very small but important scene in the The Birds, where he tell Tippi Hendren's character where Rod Taylor lives. He is better known for his role as Mel Cooley, the hapless producer of the Alan Brady show on The Dick Van Dyke Show...

Don't forget his role as Fred Rutherford, Lumpy's dad, on "Leave It to Beaver".

Prost!
Brad

 

[dragon53]

I did some trivia on THE BIRDS about a year ago. I'll find it and post it here in the future.

 

[dragon53]

About a year ago, I heard a new, more realistic PT 109 movie, based on a new book, was underway, but I haven't heard anything new about it.

 

[dragon53]

TRIVIA---in INDEPENDENCE DAY, two character actors are the fathers of famous actors. Robert Pine, who played President Thomas Whitmore's Chief of Staff, is the father of Chris Pine (STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, WONDER WOMAN). John Bennett Perry, who played First Lady Marilyn Whitmore's Secret Service agent, is the father of Matthew Perry (FRIENDS).

In INDEPENDENCE DAY, Robert Pine, who played President Thomas Whitmore's Chief of Staff, is the father of Chris Pine (STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, WONDER WOMAN).

John Bennett Perry, who played First Lady Marilyn Whitmore's Secret Service agent, is the father of Matthew Perry (FRIENDS).

 

[dragon53]

TRIVIA---Richard Dysart played a doomed doctor in two movies: Arthur Hiller's THE HOSPITAL (George C. Scott, Dianna Rigg) and John Carpenter's THE THING (Kurt Russell, Wilfred Brimley).

Dysart played the greedy Dr. Welbeck, who died of a heart attack after he found out his business partner has stolen his medical empire assets, in THE HOSPITAL.

Dysart played Dr. Cooper, who died when his arms were bitten off by the shapeshifting alien, in THE THING.

 

[dragon53]

TRIVIA---gaunt-faced character actor Reggie Nalder appeared in a number of roles which focused on assassination. In Alfred Hitchcock's THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, Nalder played Rien, the assassin. In John Frankenheimer's THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, Nalder played Communist spymaster Gomel at the request of Frank Sinatra. In Dario Argento's THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, Nalder played Needles the assassin. In the STAR TREK episode "Journey to Babel", Nalder played Andorian Ambassador Shras, whose fellow Andorian is an alien assassin.

Reggie Nalder played assassin Rien in Alfred Hitchcock's THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (Jimmy Stewart, Doris Day).

Nalder played Communist spymaster Gomel in John Frankenheimer's THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE in which an American soldier is brainwashed to assassinate a presidential nominee.

Nalder played assassin Needles in Dario Argento's THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE (Tony Musante, Suzy Kendall).

Nalder played Andorian Ambassador Shras, whose fellow Andorian is an alien assassin, in the STAR TREK episode "Journey to Babel". The episode was the first appearance of Mark Lenard and Jane Wyatt as Spock's parents.

 

[dragon53]

TRIVIA---character actor Robert Cornthwaite and voice/character actor Paul Frees appeared together in two classic 1950s sci fi movies. the original THE THING and the original THE WAR OF THE WORLDS.

In the original THE THING, Robert Cornthwaite played Dr. Arthur Carrington (seated), and Paul Frees played Dr. Voorhees (center).

In the original THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, Cornthwaite played Dr. Pryor.

In the original THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, Frees played the radio reporter and the introduction narrator.

 

[Combat]

I always loved "The Thing" both the original and Carpenter's remake. The latter is probably the most underrated movie in history next to "Idiocracy." For anyone interested in Sci Fi there is a great trilogy of HG Wells books being produced by Suntup Press. A bit pricey but it goes with the territory:

https://suntup.press/the-time-machine

 

[dragon53]

TRIVIA---in the sci fi movie THE FINAL COUNTDOWN (Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen, James Farentino) the time warp that transported the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz back to before the attack on Pearl Harbor was designed by Maurice Binder. Binder is best known for designing the opening credits for the classic James Bond movies including DR. NO. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, GOLDFINGER, THUNDERBALL, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, MOONRAKER and THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

In the sci fi movie THE FINAL COUNTDOWN (Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen, James Farentino) the time warp that transported the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz back to before the attack on Pearl Harbor was designed by Maurice Binder.

Binder is best known for designing the opening credits for the classic James Bond movies including DR. NO. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, GOLDFINGER, THUNDERBALL, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, MOONRAKER and THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

 

[dragon53]

TRIVIA---director Richard Donner is known for the LETHAL WEAPON franchise, SUPERMAN and THE OMEN, but early in his career he directed six episodes of THE TWILIGHT ZONE including the classic NIGHTMARE AT 20,000 FEET starring William Shatner. The episode was written by famed sci fi writer Richard Matheson and co-starred Christine White, a University of North Carolina graduate who was the girlfriend of James Dean.

Director Richard Donner is known for the LETHAL WEAPON franchise, SUPERMAN and THE OMEN.

Early in his career Donner directed six episodes of THE TWILIGHT ZONE including the classic NIGHTMARE AT 20,000 FEET starring William Shatner. The episode was written by famed sci fi writer Richard Matheson and co-starred Christine White, a University of North Carolina graduate who was the girlfriend of James Dean.

 

[dragon53]

TRIVIA---in PREDATOR, Kevin Peter Hall (7'-2") played the deadly alien hunter. At the end of the movie, Hall also played the pilot of the helicopter that rescued Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Jean-Claude van Damme was originally going to play the Predator, but van Damme quit because he wasn't going to be seen inside the Predator costume. The original costume was rejected as being too silly-looking, so Schwarzenegger recommended creature-designer Stan Winston who worked with Schwarzenegger on James Cameron's THE TERMINATOR. While on an airliner, Winston showed his Predator sketches to Cameron. It was Cameron who suggested that Winston add the unique mandibles to the Predator.

Schwarzenegger's former commanding officer, Major General Phillips, was played by veteran character actor RG Armstrong, who was a former classmate of Andy Griffith's at the University of North Carolina.

 

[dragon53]

TRIVIA---in the original KING KONG, the biplane pilot and gunner who shot Kong off the Empire State Building were played by the movie's directors/producers, Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. Cooper said about their cameos, "We should kill the son-of-a-***** ourselves."
Cooper was a US Army Air Service pilot in World War I and was a POW after his DH4 biplane was shot down. Schoedsack was a cameraman in the Signal Corps and flew a number of combat missions in World War I.

Merian C. Cooper played the biplane pilot who killed King Kong.

Ernest B. Schoedsack played the biplane's gunner.