Lost and Found: Call Me

The poster for the long-forgotten 1988 erotic thriller Call Me is one of the simplest, yet most effective of its era. A telephone cord wrapped around a woman’s long, nylon-sheathed legs, with the tagline, “Her fantasies could be fatal.” That’s a poster that knows what type of film it’s advertising and does it perfectly. That … Continue reading Lost and Found: Call Me →

Lost and Found: Fear City

Since I first discovered his work with King of New York (1990), Abel Ferrara has been one of my favorite independent filmmakers. His films’ provocative style and content defined the pre-Disney New York City for me. Ferrara documented on film the city I knew from my childhood and young adulthood, the one that scared me … Continue reading Lost and Found: Fear City →

Stella

Born in Mississippi, raised in Memphis, Tennessee, actress, model, producer, director, and all-around star Stella Stevens died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease in February of this year in Los Angeles, California. I’m a little late with this tribute but I wanted to do it nevertheless because Stevens was always a welcome presence in movies and … Continue reading Stella →

Lost and Found: Fright Night Part 2

For a stretch in the 1980s you couldn’t visit the multiplex without tripping over vampires in the lobby. The Lost Boys, Near Dark, and The Hunger are among the classics of the era. Tom Holland’s Fright Night (1985) ranks near the top of that crowded field. A near-perfect horror comedy—a genre-blend that was perfected in … Continue reading Lost and Found: Fright Night Part 2 →

Calendar Girl: Julie London for May

For May’s Calendar Girl track, Julie London sings wistfully of how “People Born in May” love deeply, consequences be damned. They’re also apparently always searching for someone born in July. Why? Your guess is as good as mine, but it’s another delightful tune made memorable by Ms. London’s trademark smoky, sexy vocals. Her May pinup … Continue reading Calendar Girl: Julie London for May →