Val Lewton, Russian émigré turned horror master, was a reporter, pulp novelist and MGM publicity writer before moving into film. He spent the 1930s as David O. Selznick’s story editor, directing second unit work on A Tale of Two Cities (1935) and script doctoring Gone With the Wind (1939), warning Selznick it would be “the mistake of his life.” While not Hollywood’s most prescient man, Lewton’s professionalism earned Selznick’s respect, and their collaboration led to Rko offering Lewton a producing job in 1942.
Rko was reeling from Orson Welles’ The Magnificent Ambersons, an expensive flop forcing a refocus on low budget films. Charles Koerner headed the studio’s B Unit, envisioning a horror series inspired by Universal Studio’s successful franchises. Where Universal culled from established literature (Dracula, Frankenstein), Rko worked from Koerner’s whim: he created a title and left the filmmakers to handle trivia like plot and characters.
Rko was reeling from Orson Welles’ The Magnificent Ambersons, an expensive flop forcing a refocus on low budget films. Charles Koerner headed the studio’s B Unit, envisioning a horror series inspired by Universal Studio’s successful franchises. Where Universal culled from established literature (Dracula, Frankenstein), Rko worked from Koerner’s whim: he created a title and left the filmmakers to handle trivia like plot and characters.
- 10/6/2015
- by Christopher Saunders
- SoundOnSight
Chicago – The romance of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, has fascinated sensibilities for centuries. William Shakespeare, no slouch when it comes to cultural commentary, wrote his version of the pairing in “Antony and Cleopatra,” the latest in the Stratford (Ontario) Festival of High Definition cinema adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays. Chicagoan Gary Griffin directed the stage production, that was rendered to HD. The screenings of “Antony and Cleopatra” will take place on May 21st, 2015, in various movie theaters across the country, including Chicago.
Griffin is a professional theater veteran, originally from Rockford, Illinois, who cut his teeth in the Chicago theater scene. For the Stratford Festival – besides this version of “Antony and Cleopatra” – he has directed the musicals “42nd Street,” “Camelot,” “Evita” and “West Side Story.” Locally, he has worked with the the Lyric Opera of Chicago, among other area theatrical venues, and he has won eight Joseph Jefferson Awards for direction.
Griffin is a professional theater veteran, originally from Rockford, Illinois, who cut his teeth in the Chicago theater scene. For the Stratford Festival – besides this version of “Antony and Cleopatra” – he has directed the musicals “42nd Street,” “Camelot,” “Evita” and “West Side Story.” Locally, he has worked with the the Lyric Opera of Chicago, among other area theatrical venues, and he has won eight Joseph Jefferson Awards for direction.
- 5/21/2015
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Dan Jones in The Plantagenets from Acorn Media Rlj Entertainment
By Kieran Kinsella
Heraldic dramas like Game of Thrones and The White Queen serve to whet your appetite but nothing beats a healthy dose of historical skullduggery. Athena deliver just that with the DVD release of Britain’s Bloodiest Dynasty: The Plantagenets.
Long before the house of Windsor burst onto the scene, the Plantagenets sat on the throne of England. French speaking descendants of William the Conqueror, their dynasty lasted for just over three hundred years and spawned some of histories grizzliest scandals. Do you remember Ts Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral when the Archishop of Canterbury was killed by the King’s knights? The King in question was Henry II — a Plantagenet. How about Bad King John of Robin Hood fame? He was a Plantagenet too as was Richard III who achieved notoriety for killing off the young princes in the tower.
By Kieran Kinsella
Heraldic dramas like Game of Thrones and The White Queen serve to whet your appetite but nothing beats a healthy dose of historical skullduggery. Athena deliver just that with the DVD release of Britain’s Bloodiest Dynasty: The Plantagenets.
Long before the house of Windsor burst onto the scene, the Plantagenets sat on the throne of England. French speaking descendants of William the Conqueror, their dynasty lasted for just over three hundred years and spawned some of histories grizzliest scandals. Do you remember Ts Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral when the Archishop of Canterbury was killed by the King’s knights? The King in question was Henry II — a Plantagenet. How about Bad King John of Robin Hood fame? He was a Plantagenet too as was Richard III who achieved notoriety for killing off the young princes in the tower.
- 5/19/2015
- by Edited by K Kinsella
Rowan Atkinson is to appear in the next series of Horrible Histories.
The Blackadder star will feature in the upcoming sixth series of the BBC's historical comedy children's show, playing Henry VIII.
Ben Miller will also appear in the series as King John, while Kevin Eldon will play William the Conqueror. Sanjeev Bhaskar will also feature in an unconfirmed cameo role.
Lorna Watson and Kathryn Drysdale will have roles as Boudicca and Cleopatra during the series, which will also focus on historical figures such as George III, Napoleon and Winston Churchill.
Meanwhile, series regulars Jim Howick, Simon Farnaby and Sarah Hadland will continue to feature.
Jessica Ransom, Adam Riches, Naz Osmanoglu, Jalaal Hartley, Louise Ford, Natalie Walter, Tom Stourton and Tom Palmer (Totally Tom) complete the lineup.
Cbbc controller Cheryl Taylor said: "Horrible Histories has a well-earned reputation as one of the most popular TV shows of a generation, delighting children and adults alike.
The Blackadder star will feature in the upcoming sixth series of the BBC's historical comedy children's show, playing Henry VIII.
Ben Miller will also appear in the series as King John, while Kevin Eldon will play William the Conqueror. Sanjeev Bhaskar will also feature in an unconfirmed cameo role.
Lorna Watson and Kathryn Drysdale will have roles as Boudicca and Cleopatra during the series, which will also focus on historical figures such as George III, Napoleon and Winston Churchill.
Meanwhile, series regulars Jim Howick, Simon Farnaby and Sarah Hadland will continue to feature.
Jessica Ransom, Adam Riches, Naz Osmanoglu, Jalaal Hartley, Louise Ford, Natalie Walter, Tom Stourton and Tom Palmer (Totally Tom) complete the lineup.
Cbbc controller Cheryl Taylor said: "Horrible Histories has a well-earned reputation as one of the most popular TV shows of a generation, delighting children and adults alike.
- 1/6/2015
- Digital Spy
Dodgy history and dodgier accents, but Kevin Costner's medieval romp still has some magic – and shouldn't be judged on the weakness of its imitators
Most things about Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves are terrible. Kevin Costner's and Christian Slater's attempts at English accents: terrible. Bryan Adam's theme song which refused to go away during the summer of 1991 and can conjure mass feelings of nausea to this very day: terrible. Seeing Costner's naked arse as he gets washed in a waterfall: terrible. But I've still probably watched it more than any other film and will (in true Robin Hood spirit) defend it until my dying breath.
I was a pretty sickly child, and when I was off school I'd always put it on. The stupid accents, shoe-horned in Moorish sidekick (played by Morgan Freeman) and romantiscied outlaw life were like a security blanket as I watched it while...
Most things about Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves are terrible. Kevin Costner's and Christian Slater's attempts at English accents: terrible. Bryan Adam's theme song which refused to go away during the summer of 1991 and can conjure mass feelings of nausea to this very day: terrible. Seeing Costner's naked arse as he gets washed in a waterfall: terrible. But I've still probably watched it more than any other film and will (in true Robin Hood spirit) defend it until my dying breath.
I was a pretty sickly child, and when I was off school I'd always put it on. The stupid accents, shoe-horned in Moorish sidekick (played by Morgan Freeman) and romantiscied outlaw life were like a security blanket as I watched it while...
- 3/26/2014
- by Lanre Bakare
- The Guardian - Film News
Recently graduated from the University of Southern California's theater program, Troian Bellisario is debuting this week at one of Los Angeles' preeminent midsize theaters, the Geffen Playhouse, in Bill Cain's "Equivocation." The play, directed by David Esbjornson, centers on William Shakespeare (Joe Spano) and the request by King John that the bard write the "true" history of the Gunpowder Plot—the botched attempt to blow up Britain's Parliament and assassinate the royal family.This summer, Bellisario understudied in "Farragut North" at the Geffen, in the role of a young intern on a high-octane presidential campaign. In "Equivocation," Bellisario plays Shakespeare's daughter. Back Stage spoke with her during previews.Back Stage: Where are you from and where did you train?Troian Bellisario: I was born in Los Angeles, in Studio City. And I went to the same school—I went to Campbell Hall from kindergarten to 12th grade.
- 11/20/2009
- backstage.com
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