Not So Obscure Trailer, but Still MIA on DVD:Brewster McCloud (1970, Robert Altman)

"Something else" from the director of M*A*S*H

This was one of my late father's favorite films and I must say, in the words of Irwin Fletcher, that "I commend him on his choice."  It was directed by Robert Altman, and it sure was a bewildering follow-up, at least to most critics and audiences, to the superstar filmmaker's hugely successful  M*A*S*H.  I had a great time revisiting it several years ago (in a new 35mm print) at the Film Forum's Altman retrospective.

At this point, I do not know why Warner Home Video is dragging its feet on the DVD of Brewster McCloud.  There have been indications in previous chat sessions at the Home Theater Forum, with Warner reps, that the film was coming to DVD, but there has been no official announcement.

For now here's the trailer via TCM:

The Movie Promotional Tour: Fast Times at Ridgemont High

These old promotional campaigns for the opening of Fast Times at Ridgemont High first in Los Angeles, and later in New York, are a blast from the past.  However, some things never change as evidenced by publicity hound Sean Penn's absence from either of the two events. If I'd been old enough and savvy enough to attend, I would have been able to meet two of my twenty favorite actresses--Jennifer Jason Leigh and Phoebe Cates.  I did meet Brian "Mark Ratner" Backer much later on.  But, that's clearly not the same thing...

 

LA: A free concert at Universal Studios with the Plimsouls(!), the Plugz(!), and some bands lost to the ages (Jamie James and the Kingbees & the Valley Boys) + a Valley Girl fashion show (yay) + a pizza-eating contest (um, okay) + writer Cameron Crowe and star Jennifer Jason Leigh

NY: The publicity machine takes advantage of the availability of the film's New York-based stars Phoebe Cates & Brian Backer + gives free soundtrack LPs to the first 100 people who show up with a high school yearbook or diploma (creative)

All in all not a bad effort for a studio that was said to loathe the film.

Trailer Not on the DVD: Reckless (1984, James Foley)

"His name is Johnny Rourke."  Aidan Quinn on location of his debut film, James Foley's Reckless.

I always love trailers that begin with "His name is...." and this is one of them.  The v.o. artist is, of course, the late Don LaFontaine, the man who helped make such copy as "His name is..." archetypal.  The trailer prominently includes several of the pop songs that appear in the film so it's easy to see how this film was aggressively marketed on the fledgling MTV.  The film is available via the Warner Archive, but the trailer is, unfortunately, not on that disc.

The Twenty Actresses Meme

This is an older meme, but another easy one to help get me back on the horse.  It originated at the Film Experience Blog and I saw it at J.D.'s site and Jeremy's Moon in the Gutter.  I'll tag Pam again at Scarlett Cinema.  My choices are from all eras and, as Jeremy and J.D. did, I will list a key or favorite role alongside each choice.  In no particular order:

Jean Arthur (Easy Living)

Elodie Bouchez (The Dreamlife of Angels)

Phoebe Cates (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)

Kay Francis & Miriam Hopkins (Trouble in Paradise; Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde)

Tuesday Weld (Pretty Poison)

Elizabeth McGovern (Racing with the Moon)

Jane Greer (Out of the Past)

Ida Lupino (Road House)

Julie Christie (Petulia)

Myrna Loy (The Thin Man)

Claudette Colbert (The Palm Beach Story)

Barbara Stanwyck (Baby Face & The Lady Eve)

Natalie Wood (Splendor in the Grass)

Carole Lombard (My Man Godfrey)

Gloria Grahame (In a Lonely Place)

Daryl Hannah (Splash)

Glynnis O'Connor (Jeremy)

Jennifer Jason Leigh (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)

Diane Lane (A Little Romance)

20 Men I Admire

I've been so lax in updating this blog that nobody tagged me for this meme.  If someone had tagged me, I would link back to them.  I saw jd's list at his fine site Radiator Heaven and decided to follow suit.  This is called the 20 Men I Admire Meme.  It originated at The Dino Lounge.  Tag 5 other people to participate in this meme.  Be sure to post the above rules and follow them when constructing your list.  

Steve at the Last Picture Show doesn't seem to have been tagged so I am tagging him.  I'm also tagging Pam at Scarlett Cinema.  If you do participate, please provide a link back to my site. And, if you choose, send a link to list back to Keith at the Dino Lounge.

A mix of living and dead, but mostly dead, these are in no particular order:

Ennio Morricone

Howard Hawks

Rouben Mamoulian

David Byrne

Ernst Lubitsch

Warren Oates

Burt Lancaster

Robert Mitchum

John Garfield

Giorgio Moroder

Richard Pryor

Budd Boetticher

Andy Gill & Jon King (Gang of Four)

Brian & Dennis Wilson

Lee Marvin

Jack Nitzsche

Arthur Lee

Sean Penn