I finally saw Allen Baron's 1961 movie BLAST OF SILENCE, a brutal, cold piece of low-budget film noir that I've been hearing great things about for years. I'm pleased to report that it lives up to the hype…and is unlike any Christmas movie you've ever seen. The fantastic, gravel-voiced second-person narration (written by Waldo Salt under a pseudonym and performed by an uncredited Lionel Stander) and the startlingly bleak visuals more than make-up for the thin plot and weak acting. I recommend it.
Film and Television
Shirley Bassey’s Rejected Quantum Theme
Here's Shirley Bassey's rejected QUANTUM OF SOLACE theme, set to the opening titles. The music is by David Arnold (who clearly lifted some elements from the song in his final QUANTUM score) and lyrics by longtime Bond vet Don Black.
Interceptors, Immediate Launch!
Variety reports that the feature film version of the TV series UFO is taking shape. Joshua Jackson has been cast as Capt. Paul Foster, the role originally played by Michael Billington in Gerry Anderson's 1970s series. No word yet on who is in line to play Commander Straker (Ed Bishop), the leader of SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization), with secret bases on the moon and underneath a movie studio. (Michael Billington and Ed Bishop are pictured above, Joshua Jackson below).
She-Wolf of London Coming to DVD!
I never thought I'd say this…but the 1990 first-run syndicated series SHE-WOLF OF LONDON aka LOVE & CURSES is finally coming out on DVD. TVShowsOnDVD reports that the complete series, the London and L.A. episodes, will be out February 2. William Rabkin and I were the showrunners and wrote almost all of the episodes.
The show was hardly seen…it aired as part of Universal Studios' fledgling "Hollywood Premiere Network," which basically consisted of KCOP in Los Angeles and a station in New York. Other shows on the "network" were THEY CAME FROM OUTER SPACE and SHADES OF L.A.
You can find some of the SHE-WOLF scripts, and even the Writers Guidelines for the show, here.
Good News for Fanboys
Looks like BORAT director Larry Charles and CHARLIE'S ANGELS director McG have been watching STAR TREK: THE NEW VOYAGES, PHASE II, the fan-produced sequel to STAR TREK. Variety reports they've sold a pilot to NBC about a group of fans in a small town who produce their own version of a canceled TV show.
Speaking of CHARLIE'S ANGELS, Variety reports that Josh Friedman is scripting a remake for ABC. Friedman previously wrote & produced the Fox series TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES with writer/producer John Wirth who, incidentally, wrote a CHARLIE'S ANGELS reboot with LOST's Carleton Cuse that ABC passed on a few years ago.