Brian De Palma turned 86 years old on September 11. As I’ve mentioned many times over the years, he’s one of my absolute favorite filmmmakers. Serendipitously, he once made a movie with my two favorite actors. That movie, Scarface (1983), features Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino in contrasting performances that, together, positively crackle with electricity. … Continue reading Poolside Pfeiffer
Bombshells: Franca Gondolfi
I recently stumbled on these fabulous images of the striking Italian actress, showgirl, and singer Franca Gondofli and, after picking my jaw up from the floor, immediately looked her up online. There’s very little about Franca out there, it seems. Born in Messina in 1932, and apparently still alive today, Franca’s career in Italian cinema … Continue reading Bombshells: Franca Gondolfi
Kelly Bounces Back
The night of October 28, 1990 was a night when unexpected greatness touched many of our lives. You see, that was the night of a momentous television event for young, impressionable Gen Xers like myself. Boomers might remember where they were when man touched down on the moon, but my generation can tell you exactly … Continue reading Kelly Bounces Back
Into the Night at 40…Okay, 41
A better-late-than-never tribute to a beloved ‘80s classic. The fortieth anniversary of John Landis’s eccentric gem Into the Night (1985) came and went in February of last year. My plans to celebrate it here went by the wayside. Life! *shakes fist at the sky* Argh. So, after having recently rewatched it, and in the spirit … Continue reading Into the Night at 40…Okay, 41
Lips Like Sugar: Angela on the Bus
If you’ve ever spent an inordinate amount of time pausing and rewinding the scene in Married to the Mob (1988) where Michelle Pfeiffer’s character Angela de Marco looks through the want-ads while riding the city bus…well, then you and I have a lot in common. As I’ve gone on about many times before, Married to … Continue reading Lips Like Sugar: Angela on the Bus
The Art of the Ad: Sex, Lies, and Video Games, Part VI
The series within a series that will never die—the Jason Voorhees of the Starfire Lounge’s roster—“Sex, Lies, and Video Games” returns for a sixth installment of vintage video game advertisements. Vintage video game and arcade ads are endlessly entertaining—sometimes more so than the games they were advertising—so it’s always a good time looking back at … Continue reading The Art of the Ad: Sex, Lies, and Video Games, Part VI
Pinup of the Week
Somebody get me a ladder! I’m gonna need one to climb these legs… I’d hazard to guess that this gorgeous pinup shot has been shared here at the Starfire Lounge more often than any other single image. It doesn’t take a genius to see why. It’s a truly stunning photo from 1980, featuring an absolute … Continue reading Pinup of the Week






