Tag: charlton Heston

It’s People!!! SOYLENT GREEN December 5th at Urban Chestnut


“You know, when I was a kid, food was food. Before our scientific magicians poisoned the water, polluted the soil, decimated plant and animal life.”


Webster University’s Award-Winning Strange Brew Film Series has moved! The new location is Urban Chestnut in the Grove (4465 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis 63110). This month’s film is SOYLENT GREEN. It’s this Wednesday, December 5th. The movie starts at 8pm and admission is $5.


It’s the year 2022 and the world has fallen into chaos. Greenhouse gases have lead to widespread global warming, overpopulation and the fall of living standards. Humanity has to survive with the food they manage scrape together from the oceans and waste heaps. Enter the Soylent Corporation, the foremost provider of foodstuff.

The 1973 classic SOYLENT GREEN follows  corrupt cop Frank Thorn (Charlton Heston), who investigates the death of William R. Simonson (Joseph Cotten), one of the wealthiest men in the nation. In the process we explore the world of Soylent and ponder the mysteries of just how much we’re filling to bend for such basic commodities such as food or shower or soft bed.

One of the people laying the theme thick on you is Thorn’s roommate and investigative partner Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson), a man old enough to remember the good old days when you could eat red meat, drink beer and not worry about the sun burning the skin right off your bones. Very nice role and the one with the best scenes in the film.


As a whole SOYLENT GREEN is a nostalgic cult classic from the 70s. The themes and problems have certain patina to them, but at the same time they’re closer to us than they’ve ever been. It’s only four years to the events of this film and while we’re not quite there, thankfully, the situation hasn’t exactly improved since the 70s.


SOYLENT GREEN is well worth seeing when it screens at Urban Chestnut December 5th. Good characters, interesting world and that end twist. It’s hard to ask for more.

A Facebook invite for this event can be found HERE

https://www.facebook.com/events/308484046425300/
The movie starts at 8pm and admission is $5. There will be food to order and plenty of pints of Urban Chestnut’s famous home-brewed beer.

TOUCH OF EVIL Screens May 10th at The Tivoli – ‘Classics in the Loop’


“This isn’t the real Mexico. You know that. All border towns bring out the worst in a country. I can just imagine your mother’s face if she could see our honeymoon hotel.”


TOUCH OF EVIL screens Wednesday May 10th at The Tivoli Theater (6350 Delmar in ‘The Loop’) as part of their new ‘Classics in the Loop’ Crime & Noir film series. The movie starts at 7pm and admission is $7. It will be on The Tivoli’s big screen.


Mike Vargas (Charlton Heston) is a Mexican detective who gets caught up in the strange case of a car being blown up in an America-Mexico border town. Not only does the ethical Vargas have to deal with criminal factions in the area, he must butt heads with the domineering Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles), a celebrated police detective. Vargas must prove that Quinlan isn’t the hero that others make him out to be, but is actually corrupt and is railroading a Mexican youth (Victor Millan) into prison for the crime.


Head to the Tivoli Wednesday night and see why film fans and scholars hold TOUCH OF EVIL high regard. That elegant, extended opening tracking shot is merely the beginning of an intense, stark, and atmospheric tale. Based on the novel “Badge of Evil” by Whit Masterson, it moves forward with incredible purpose. It forces its audience to stay on their toes and pay attention, with rapid fire dialogue and breathless delivery by many of the actors. It’s wonderfully lit by Russell Metty, with a sizzling Latin rock score composed by Henry Mancini.

Director / co-star Welles, who adapted the novel for the screen himself, certainly has an overwhelming presence, and he doesn’t turn his character into a purely one-dimensional antagonist. Heston is magnetic in the role of the honest cop determined to find answers. Janet Leigh has never looked more ravishing than she does here, in the role of Vargas’s American wife Susan. There are lots of first rate performances from the supporting cast: Joseph Calleia, Akim Tamiroff, Ray Collins, Dennis Weaver (in a memorable part as a VERY nervous night manager of a hotel), and Mort Mills, with delicious cameos by the likes of Marlene Dietrich, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Joseph Cotten, and Mercedes McCambridge.

TOUCH OF EVIL is riveting from the very first frame, with a great opening and a tense final confrontation. Don’t miss it!


Here’s the rest of the line-up for the ‘CLASSICS IN THE LOOP’ film series:
May 17th – CHINATOWN – 1974
May 24th – BLOOD SIMPLE – 1984

Look for continued coverage of the ‘CLASSICS IN THE LOOP’ film series here at We Are movie Geeks.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS Screens October 5th at The Tivoli – ‘Classics in the Loop’

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“Oh, Moses, Moses, you stubborn, splendid, adorable fool!”

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THE TEN COMMANDMENTS screens Wednesday October 5th at The Tivoli Theater (6350 Delmar in ‘The Loop’) as part of their new ‘Classics in the Loop’ film series. The movie starts at 7pm and admission is $7. It will be on The Tivoli’s big screen.

Sixty years after its initial release, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS remains one of the highest-grossing and most popular titles of all time. Filmed in Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula with one of the biggest sets ever constructed for a motion picture, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS remains a cinematic triumph and perennial fan-favorite. Directed by renowned filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS grossed more than $65 million at the U.S. box office in 1956—equal to more than $1.1 billion today—ranking it below only Gone With the Wind, Star Wars, The Sound of Music, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Titanic on the list of highest-grossing titles. In its initial release, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS played in many theaters around the country for more than a year.

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THE TEN COMMANDMENTS tells the epic story of the life of Moses (Charlton Heston), once favored in the household of the Pharaoh (Yul Brynner), who turns his back on a privileged life to lead his people to freedom.

The all-star cast also includes Anne Baxter, Edward G. Robinson, Yvonne De Carlo, Debra Paget, John Derek, Cedric Harwicke, Nina Foch, Judith Anderson, Martha Scott, Vincent Price and John Carradine.

Don’t miss your chance to see an epic on the big screen when THE TEN COMMANDMENTS plays Wednesday night, October 5th at the Tivoli

Here’s the rest of the line-up for the ‘CLASSICS IN THE LOOP’ film series:

Oct. 12                  GONE WITH THE WIND

Oct. 19                  SEVEN SAMURAI

Oct. 26                  DOCTOR ZHIVAGO

BEN-HUR (1959) Screens September 7th at The Tivoli – ‘Classics in the Loop’

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“When the Romans were marching me to the galleys, thirst had almost killed me. A man gave me water to drink, and I went on living. I should have done better if I’d poured it into the sand!”

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BEN-HUR (1959) screens Wednesday September 7th at The Tivoli Theater (6350 Delmar in ‘The Loop’) as the inaugural feature in their new ‘Classics in the Loop’ film series. The movie starts at 7pm and admission is $7. It will be on The Tivoli’s big screen.

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The recent BEN-HUR cost over 100 million dollars to make and is already being called the bomb of the summer. That’s too bad, because I think it’s actually quite good. It was made for a modern audience and runs 132 minutes. The 1959 version of BEN-HUR costs 16 million to make and lasts 100 minutes more than the new remake. I wonder if today’s attention-challenged audiences would have flocked to it at that length like they did 57 years ago. If you missed the new version, go and see it (if it’s still showing), then head over to the Tivoli next Wednesday night and see the original. I’ve never seen the ’59 version on the big screen so I’ll be there to compare.

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BEN-HUR won 11 Oscars in 1959 and deserved every one of them. It’s a titanic film both in structure and scope. It doesn’t need me to go over old ground about how much the film cost to make, the number of extras, the number of sets and etc, it’s now folklore that this film could have bankrupted MGM such was the investment, but they needn’t have worried since the film went on to make a healthy profit. Every cent spent was worth it because it’s a magnificent film, the kind that you can get swept away with, the minute the overture starts you feel little tingles as the hairs on your arms stand up on end, you are aware that for well over three hours director William Wyler and lead actor Charlton Heston are going to own you.
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The story centers around Judah Ben-Hur (Heston) who through his staunch loyalty to the Jewish race falls out with his dear Roman friend Messala (Stephen Boyd). He is dispatched to be a slave in the galleys and swears revenge on Messala. After pirates attack the ship he is slaved on, he manages to escape and in the process he saves Roman Admiral Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins) and this sets Juda on his destiny to enact revenge on his old friend as Quintus makes him a citizen of Rome.

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It’s epic, it’s simply beautiful, it’s actually essential viewing for any serious cinema fan, the film’s set pieces are still wondrous even today. You will marvel at the chariot race (a stunning 20 minutes long), you will hoist the flag during the pirate attack, and if you have the emotion in you? You will be hit with somber silence as Christ is crucified. Everything that is great about cinema is right there on the big screen at The Tivoli Wednesday September 7th

Here’s the rest of the line-up for the ‘CLASSICS IN THE LOOP’ film series:

Sept. 14                THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Sept. 21                LAWRENCE OF ARABIA

Sept. 28                LA DOLCE VITA

Oct. 5                    THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)

Oct. 12                  GONE WITH THE WIND

Oct. 19                  SEVEN SAMURAI

Oct. 26                  DOCTOR ZHIVAGO

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THE TEN COMMANDMENTS Back on the Big Screen March 20th & 23rd

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Sixty years after its initial release, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS remains one of the highest-grossing and most popular titles of all time, and on Sunday, March 20, and Wednesday, March 23, Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) offer a rare chance to see the monumental epic on the big screen.

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For four screenings only – two each day – the TCM Big Screen Classics series presents this fully restored Vista Vision production, which reveals every vibrant detail of the stunning landscapes, costumes and visual effects, digitally projected in its original 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio. This special presentation of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS will play at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (local time) each day in more than 650 theaters nationwide.

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Filmed in Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula with one of the biggest sets ever constructed for a motion picture, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS remains a cinematic triumph and perennial fan-favorite. Directed by renowned filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS grossed more than $65 million at the U.S. box office in 1956—equal to more than $1.1 billion today—ranking it below only Gone With the Wind, Star Wars, The Sound of Music, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Titanic on the list of highest-grossing titles. In its initial release, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS played in many theaters around the country for more than a year.

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THE TEN COMMANDMENTS tells the epic story of the life of Moses (Charlton Heston), once favored in the household of the Pharaoh (Yul Brynner), who turns his back on a privileged life to lead his people to freedom.
The all-star cast also includes Anne Baxter, Edward G. Robinson, Yvonne De Carlo, Debra Paget, John Derek, Cedric Harwicke, Nina Foch, Judith Anderson, Martha Scott, Vincent Price and John Carradine.
TCM host Ben Mankiewicz will present all-new commentary for THE TEN COMMANDMENTS both before and after the feature.
Tickets to TCM Big Screen Classics: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS can be purchased online from Fathom Events.

Check out the trailer for this classic:

 

The Original PLANET OF THE APES Midnights This Weekend at The Tivoli

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“You did it. You cut up his brain, you bloody baboon! “

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The Original PLANET OF THE APES screens Midnights This Weekend (September 25th and 26th) at The Tivolias part of their ‘Reel Late at The Tivoli’ series.

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The original PLANET OF THE APES from 1968 is a witty, cynical masterpiece that more than stands the test of time. Sure, some of the jokes are a bit creaky, but they reinforce that the film is not meant to be read as a realistic piece of speculative sci-fi. Rather, it’s a winking, cautionary fable or satire (it was written by Rod Serling after all). Coming from the late sixties, the beginning of that great cinematic age when mainstream movies simultaneously entertained and challenged, PLANET OF THE APES is still as fun as it is thought-provoking. The technical elements continue to impress: the stylish art direction, pioneering makeup, and wonderfully out-there score are all as enjoyable now as they were then. And though Roddy McDowell and Charlton Heston continue to be the actors most associated with this series, it’s really Maurice Evans, non-actress Linda Harrison, and Kim Hunter who turn in the best performances. In particular, Hunter’s work in this and the other `Apes’ films has never been properly recognized. Her Zira is a full-blooded, completely believable creation; I would even call her the most human character in the film, and surely she is one of the great original female characters from this period. I highly recommended everyone check out PLANET OF THE APES when it plays this Friday and Saturday (September 25th and 26th) midnights at The Tivoli as part of their ‘Reel Late at the Tivoli’ midnight series.

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The Tivoli is located at 6350 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis 63130. Admission is $8.

A facebook invite for this event can be found HERE

https://www.facebook.com/events/1626297740977586/

The Tivoli’s website can be found HERE

http://www.landmarktheatres.com/market/st.louis/tivolitheatre.htm

Here’s the Reel Late at the Tivoli Line-up for the next few weeks:

Oct 2-3                                              LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

Oct 9-10                                            WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS

Oct 16-17                                         MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL

Oct 23-24 and Oct 31-Nov 1    ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with live shadow cast with the Samurai Electricians.

 

Blu Monday: March 29, 2011

Your Weekly Source for the Newest Releases to Blu-Ray

Blu-Ray for Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

  1. Jeff Bridges stars in AGAINST ALL ODDS: Special Edition (1984)
  2. ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN/ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN 2 (1989/1996)
  3. Ryan Gosling & Kirsten Dunst in ALL GOOD THINGS (2010)
  4. Vintage Mel Gibson in ATTACK FORCE Z: 30th Anniversary Edition (1981)
  5. Robert DeNiro & Robin Williams in AWAKENINGS (1990)
  6. Academy Award-Winner Natalie Portman in BLACK SWAN (2010)
  7. Children’s Classic retold CHARLOTTE’S WEBB (2006)
  8. Rose McGowan & Amy Smart are DEAD AWAKE (2010)
  9. Francis Ford Coppola’s DEMENTIA 13: Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack (1963)
  10. Academy Award Nominee DOGTOOTH (2010)
  11. Naomi Watts & Sean Penn in FAIR GAME (2010)
  12. THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965)
  13. HOTEL FOR DOGS: Blu-Ray/DVD Combo (2009)
  14. Dario Argento’s INFERNO (1980)
  15. Nicholas Ray’s KING OF KINGS (1961)
  16. LEGALLY BLONDE 2: RED, WHITE & BLONDE (2003)
  17. Extreme Japanese Gore in MACHINE GIRL (2008)
  18. Anjelica Huston & The Sisters Duff in MATERIAL GIRLS (2006)
  19. MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY #1 (2011)
  20. THE MIKADO: Criterion Collection (1939)
  21. Kevin Pollack in PICTURE THIS (2008)
  22. Shelley Winters in POOR PRETTY EDDIE: Blu-Ray/DVD Combo (1975)
  23. Hilary Swank in THE RESIDENT (2010)
  24. SCAR 2D/3D – with 2 pair of 3D glasses (2007)
  25. Wes Craven’s SCREAM (1996) / SCREAM 2 (1997) / SCREAM 3 (2000)
  26. Animated Classic THE SECRET OF NIMH (1982)
  27. Basil Rathbone in SHERLOCK HOLMES: The Complete Collection (1939)
  28. Sasha Grey in SMASH CUT: Unrated (2009)
  29. Charlton Heston in SOYLENT GREEN (1973)
  30. SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES: 2-disc Blu-Ray/DVD Combo (2008)
  31. THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE: 2-disc Blu-Ray/DVD Combo (2004)
  32. Franchise Collection: STAR TREK II: WRATH OF KHAN/STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME
  33. TANGLED 2D/3D: 4-disc Blu-Ray/DVD Combo (2010)
  34. Michael J. Fox is TEEN WOLF (1985)
  35. Charlton Heston in THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: 2-disc Special Edition (1956)
  36. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: Limited Edition 6-disc Gift Set (1956)
  37. Boris Karloff & Jack Nicholson in Roger Corman’s THE TERROR (1964)
  38. THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK: Criterion Collection (1984)
  39. Mike Leigh’s TOPSY-TURVY: Criterion Collection (1999)

DVD for Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

  1. Randolph Scott 4-Film Collection: COLT. 45/FORT WORTH/TALL MAN RIDING/RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY
  2. 3-Film Collection: ACE VENTURA Trilogy
  3. Paul Perry’s AFTERLIFE (2010)
  4. ALL GOOD THINGS (2010)
  5. Frank Sinatra in ANYTHING GOES (1954)
  6. BECOMING EDUARDO (2008)
  7. BENEATH THE DARK (2010)
  8. Best of British Classics: CANDLELIGHT IN ALGERIA (1944)
  9. Best of British Classics: CHILD IN THE HOUSE (1956)
  10. Best of British Classics: THUNDER IN THE CITY (1937)
  11. BLEADING LADY (2011)
  12. BUREAUCRACY (2009)
  13. Ben Gazzara & Sylvester Stallone in CAPONE (1975)
  14. COLONY: The Endangered World of Bees (2009)
  15. Ondi Timoner’s COOL IT (2010)
  16. Double Feature: Shirley Temple in CURLY TOP/DIMPLES
  17. DEAD AWAKE (2010)
  18. FAIR GAME (2010)
  19. FATAL SECRETS (2009)
  20. FATHER OF MY CHILDREN (2009)
  21. 3-Film Collection: FRIDAY Trilogy
  22. THE GOOD WAR & THOSE WHO REFUSED TO FIGHT IT (2000)
  23. HEAVEN AIN’T HARD TO FIND (2010)
  24. THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE (2008)
  25. After Dark Originals: HUSK (2010)
  26. IMAX: HUBBLE (2011)
  27. INFERNO (1980)
  28. INGREDIENTS (2009)
  29. LOVING LAMP POSTS (2011)
  30. MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY #1 (2011)
  31. THE MIKADO: Criterion Collection (1939)
  32. Charlton Heston in MOTHER LODE (1982)
  33. MY TIME WILL COME (2008)
  34. ONE WEEK (2008)
  35. THE OWLS (2010)
  36. After Dark Originals: PROWL (2010)
  37. British Double Feature: THE 20 QUESTIONS MURDER MYSTERY/TREAD SOFTLY
  38. THE RESIDENT (2010)
  39. THE RESTAURATEUR (2010)
  40. 3-Film Collection: RUSH HOUR Trilogy
  41. SCAR (2007)
  42. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1995)
  43. THE SWIMSUIT ISSUE (2009)
  44. TANGLED (2010)
  45. TEENAGE PAPARAZZO (2010)
  46. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)
  47. THOSE THREE [An Seh] (2007)
  48. THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK: Criterion Collection (1984)
  49. TINY LITTLE LIES (2008)
  50. TOPSY-TURVY: Criterion Collection (1999)
  51. THE VANQUISHED [I Vinti] (1953)
  52. WATERHOLE (2009)
  53. Sarah Silverman in WHO’S THE CABOOSE (1999)
  54. ZOMBIE WOMEN OF SATAN (2009)