 I have had the Netflix service for about 3 years now, and the last 6 months has been some of the most enjoyable to me as a classic movie fan. That is because I have taken advantage of the streaming video service that Netflix provides.As someone who really enjoys watching those ‘oldies but goodies’, the Netflix plan allows me to view many films that I would otherwise not have access to. As many studios are releasing more and more ‘classic’ content to DVD, it is still quite certain that many films will never be released, in part because of the sheer volume of films produced, the fact that the studios would lose money, as many of the classic titles would not have wide enough appeal to make a profit. So enter Netflix, who has the catalog and ability to stream many of these films.Now there are some films that should never ‘see the light of day’, but many of the films available via Netflix streaming are quite good. Here is just a sampling of some of the films I have watched and thoroughly enjoyed via streaming> - Carve Her name with Pride‘58
- The Betrayal ‘57
- Strange Intruder ’56 w/Ida Lupino
- Man Trap ’61 w/David Janssen/Jeffrey Hunter/Stella Stevens Dir: Edmond O’Brien
- The Cruel Tower w/Charles McGraw/John Ericson
- Cage of Evil ’60 w/Patricia Blair
- Flame in the Streets ’61 w/John Mills/Sylvia Syms/Johnny Sekka
- Man with My Face ’51 w/Barry Nelson
- Beware of Pity ’46
- The Big Night ’60 w/Randy Sparks (personal favorite because of its simplicity)
- The Big Night ’51 w/John Drew Barrymore/Preston Foster
- High Jump ‘59
- Short Cut to Hell ’57 - This was a remake of the classic ‘This Gun for Hire’, and was the only film ever directed by James Cagney. Well worth a look.
So, if you are craving more classics Netflix can satisfy your appetite. If you are a true fan of classic film and TV, you owe it to yourself to check them out.
 You may not recognize the name, but if you are a fan of crime and noir films of the 40’s and 50’s Elisha Cook, Jr, will no doubt have made an impression on you. Many will probably remember Cook’s recurring role on the long running series, Magnum P.I, as the underworld boss ‘Ice pick’, but before that he had made his mark as one of Hollywood’s most sought after character actors.
Many of the roles Elisha Cook portrayed were of low-life, slimy, frightened little men. But he brought them to life and made then stand out. In the film Phantom Lady ‘44, he plays a jazz drummer who is mesmerized by the ‘Phantom Lady’, and goes into a drumming frenzy while perfuming in the night club she visits, or his sympathetic, yet tragic role in The Killing. This fine character actor always delivered, and for that has always ranked as one of my favorite all-time character actors.
If you’ve never seen any of his films you owe it to yourself to do so, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
A Brief filmography:
- Salem's Lot (1979) (TV) (as Elisha Cook) .... Gordon 'Weasel' Phillips
- Electra Glide in Blue (1973) (as Elisha Cook) .... Willie
- Johnny Cool (1963) .... Undertaker
- Platinum High School (1960) .... Harry Nesbit
- Baby Face Nelson (1957) .... Homer van Meter
- Plunder Road (1957) .... Skeets Jonas
- Chicago Confidential (1957) .... Candymouth Duggan
- The Lonely Man (1957) (as Elisha Cook) .... Willie
- The Killing (1956) (as Elisha Cook) .... George Peatty
- Shane (1953) .... Frank 'Stonewall' Torrey
- Don't Bother to Knock (1952) .... Eddie Forbes
- Flaxy Martin (1949) .... Roper
- The Long Night (1947) .... Frank Dunlap
- Born to Kill (1947) .... Marty
- Fall Guy (1947) .... Joe
- The Big Sleep (1946) .... Harry Jones
- Blonde Alibi (1946) .... Sam Collins (cab driver)
- Dillinger (1945) .... Kirk Otto
- Dark Waters (1944) .... Cleeve
- Phantom Lady (1944) .... Cliff Milburn
- I Wake Up Screaming (1941) .... Harry Williams
- The Maltese Falcon (1941) .... Wilmer Cook
- Sergeant York (1941) (uncredited) .... Piano player
- Stranger on the Third Floor (1940) .... Joe Briggs
 Many fans will remember, The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven, Bullitt (who could forget the car chase), and yes, The Blob, likewise many will remember the Honeymooners, or Requiem for A Heavyweight, and yes, Smoky and the Bandit. But few probably remember Soldier in the Rain a much underrated film starring both Steve McQueen and Jackie Gleason, in a story about friendship, loyalty and love.
The first time I saw the film it was in the early 80’s during an A&E broadcast, and even then it was a partial viewing, as I had started watching from the middle of the film. But I was so moved by the story that I had to rent the film and watch it from beginning to end. And what I discovered was a film that to this day remains on my top 15 list of all-time favorite films. The movie does not have a huge budget, there are no explosions or gun battles (there is a very realistic fist fight in a bar), but there are two men (McQueen and Gleason), who are at the top of their game in creating characters who are three dimensional. McQueen’s character is egotistical yet ‘ambitious’ while Gleason’s MSgt. Maxwell Slaughter is comfortable in his position in life and insecure with women (his scenes with Tuesday Weld are memorable) , but together they make a wonderful team in a story that plays both men against type (although Gleason did play against type in Gigot).
For those who have not seen the film I will not reveal much more, but will only say that if you have never seen the film, please give it a look, and if you have seen it, maybe you wanna pop it in your machine again. But for me, it will always remain a favorite and one I will watch again and again…’Until That Time…’
 As a huge fan of classic films, I have always had a real passion for the Film Noir or Crime film. In many cases the settings were dark and dingy, the real underbelly of society, but yet interesting. During the 1940’s and 1950’s (the heyday of Noir), there were many tons of films produced, and like the Westerns, which were also popular, many of holly woods leading men of the day took a ‘shot’ and noir fame. Actors, such as Fred MacMurray, Alan Ladd, Burt Lancaster, Brian Donlevy, Glenn Ford, Dan Duryea, Barry Sullivan, Edmond O’Brien, Zachary Scott, Dick Powell, and many others were all staples of the genre.
Any discussion of this genre would have to include the classic’s Double Indemnity, Laura, The Maltese Falcon, Sunset Boulevard, The Big Clock, The Big Heat a and many others. But there were also countless others that were produced by lesser studios, with lesser budgets, but still packed a mighty punch when it came to being true to the genre. I have spent many years acquiring some of the lesser titles so that I might have an opportunity to quench my thirst for these alluring films. I have included a partial list of many of my lesser known favorites, and look forward to you feedback including your choices.
Here is my list:
ØDo You Know This Voice? (‘64) w/Dan Duryea
ØManhandled (‘49) w/Dan Duryea
ØAtomic City (‘52) w/Gene Barry
ØDesperate (’47) w/Raymond Burr
ØRogue Cop (’54) w/Robert Taylor
ØScandal Sheet (’52) w/Broderick Crawford
ØThe Killer is Loose (’56) w/Joseph Cotton
ØBlack Tuesday (‘54) w/Edward G. Robinson
ØBetween Midnight and Dawn (‘50) w/Edmond O’Brien
ØGood Die Young (‘54) w/Richard Baseheart
ØPushover (‘54) w/Fred MacMurray
ØA Cent leman After Dark (’42) w/Brian Donlevy
 I remember sitting on the couch in the living room of my grandparent’s house in the late sixties and getting ready for another adventure with Marlin Perkins, the host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. What makes this memory even more heart-warming is that it was shared (every Sunday) with my Grandfather, who was also a huge fan show. We would sit, side-by-side after the family dinner and watch, as Marlin Perkins went off on another adventure in the wilds of Africa or some other far off land.
I recently watched some episodes of this amazing show, which is now available on DVD, and must say, it still holds up after all of these years. The program has been updated (the latest in a trend to recapture those glory days) and was aired on the Animal Planet network. I applaud the efforts to have more programs like this available, as it is very important we understand our role in the conservation and preservation of our environment. Unfortunately as with most imitators, it is a far cry from the original program. Wild Kingdom was truly a pioneer in the nature/wildlife genre, which today, has evolved to include countless imitators. But for me, Wild Kingdom will always be number one, where memories, so long ago, on lazy Sunday evenings, my granddad and I would explore the wilds, with a man named Marlin.
Click the link below for more memries...Enjoy
Mutal of Omana's Wild Kingdom Opening Credits
 Boy, would I enjoy a cookie right now! But not just any cookie. If I could, I would visit my local convenience store and pick up several boxes of Nabisco’s Chocolate Snap cookies, but sadly I cannot since Nabisco no longer makes them gem. In my youth I recall the many trips I made to our neighborhood store and spending one dollar, which would yield me four little boxes of cookies. I usually got that number because inevitably I would have to share with the rest of my clan, which included 3 sisters and 4 brothers.
As I look back after all these years it is with great fondness as they were being shared with my siblings during a place and time that would never come again.
When I discovered that the cookies where no longer available I was saddened, but also strangely relieved. Because as much as those golden memories have brought a smile to my face, I have discovered those times are frozen in the past and that IF the cookies were made today, they would not be the SAME, and I would be disappointed. Memories, especially fond memories from our past are to remind us of a simpler time (in our lives), a time that we should cherish and build on, but a time that cannot be repeated.
So, I salute those days gone by, those days of Chocolate Snaps and boyhood memories. May they live on in my heart and mind forever?
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