Jump to content
Vaagheid

The Stars Of B-cinema

Recommended Posts

One of cinema's most prolific B-movie producers and screenwriters has died at the age of 88.

 

Harry Alan Towers has produced and wrote screenplays for over 100 films, many of which became instant cult classics. Some of his better known films include The Phantom of the Opera (with Robert Englund), The Mangler (also with Robert Englund), The Hitman (with Chuck Norris), and The Castle of Fu Manchu (with Christopher Lee).

 

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111800681...yId=13&cs=1

 

Unfortunately, his death was ignored by virtually all the media.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Here's one for Vaagie and BC Alan:

 

La Meurte Loca by Christian Poveda

 

 

And yes, I know this isn't the right thread but there are far too many to waste time looking, can't we combine all the relevant things in one place? It's ridiculous but if you post in the dead thread you get lambasted because there is already a death by ingrowing toenail thread. [end of p'tit rant]

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Davy Jones' Locker

This is an old one but I just watched a great little obscure murder myster, "The Big Clock" the other day and looked up one of the actresses, Rita Johnson, who was a very strong performer but never quite made the big time.

 

 

 

It seems that, just after this film was made, she was involved in a freak accident in which a hair dryer fell on her head, leading to brain damage. After this, she became an alcoholic...

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Johnson

 

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040160/board/...mp;p=1#51894104

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
This is an old one but I just watched a great little obscure murder myster, "The Big Clock" the other day and looked up one of the actresses, Rita Johnson, who was a very strong performer but never quite made the big time.

 

 

 

It seems that, just after this film was made, she was involved in a freak accident in which a hair dryer fell on her head, leading to brain damage. After this, she became an alcoholic...

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Johnson

 

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040160/board/...mp;p=1#51894104

 

I had to read this post twice to realise that the movie was called 'The Big Clock' with an 'l' in it... As I'm at work, I was not very eager to follow any link leading to a movie like that.

 

Now I think of it: I still am not.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
In terms of who might die next, my predictions are Ray Harryhausen and Michael Gough, but that's probably more b/c of age than anything else.

 

Harryhausen turns 90 today, the BFI throws a big shindig to celebrate. Seems to be in a wheelchair but otherwise in decent fettle, in case you were expecting his motion to stop any time soon.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
In terms of who might die next, my predictions are Ray Harryhausen and Michael Gough, but that's probably more b/c of age than anything else.

 

Harryhausen turns 90 today, the BFI throws a big shindig to celebrate. Seems to be in a wheelchair but otherwise in decent fettle, in case you were expecting his motion to stop any time soon.

I hope Ray H does't apply his stop-start animation to his wheelchair motion....... ^_^

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Did some research - This list includes: Actors\Actresses - Writers - Directors and others. Some have nothing to do with this category but they have never been mentioned so I figure 'why not'. I do what I want.

 

[slash]

Jimmy Sangster (Director\ also scripted 'The Curse of Frankenstein 1957 - Dracula 1958) 1927

[burn]

 

Jimmy Sangser has died. As well as the gems listed above, he also gave us TV shows like Wonder Woman and The Six Million Dollar Man. :P

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest me

with all due respect I don't think Hammer horror films can be described as B movies.They are high quality films with top actors

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
with all due respect I don't think Hammer horror films can be described as B movies.They are high quality films with top actors

 

Notaguest you again.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Could add Ennio Morricone (b 1928) to that list, although he seems fighting fit, still conducting and composing rather than convulsing and decomposing.

He celebrates his 83rd birthday today. :birthday:

 

A quick look at his website taught me that he's still a busy man. He also intends to be in Perth, Western Australia in February 2012. It seems to me his health has changed little in the last three years.

 

regards,

Hein

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

with all due respect I don't think Hammer horror films can be described as B movies.They are high quality films with top actors

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

B-movie veteran Dick Miller (b. 1928) is worth keeping an eye on, did make a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in Joe Dante's The Hole last year. Also Clifton James (b. 1921) best known for playing redneck sheriff J.W. Pepper in the James Bond films Live and Let Die & The Man With The Golden Gun.

 

Though I'm sure he's been mentioned countless times already (but I can't be arsed to check) B-Movie king Roger Corman (b. 1926) is also one to watch, still producing as of last year.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Came across this old git, R. G. Armstrong, while surfing the 'Net:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._G._Armstrong

 

Born in 1917, appeared in dozens of westerns and worked with Sam Peckinpah, so he seems like a prime candidate for the B Cinema thread.

 

To people of my generation, though, he is most famous ("famous" being a relative term in this guy's case), for playing Pruneface in Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy film.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Came across this old git, R. G. Armstrong, while surfing the 'Net:

 

http://en.wikipedia....R._G._Armstrong

 

Born in 1917, appeared in dozens of westerns and worked with Sam Peckinpah, so he seems like a prime candidate for the B Cinema thread.

 

To people of my generation, though, he is most famous ("famous" being a relative term in this guy's case), for playing Pruneface in Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy film.

I've got "Pruneface" on my list, see my sig.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Guest

Joan Taylor has died at 82.She was the leading female star of Earth Vs the Flying Saucers. The most Famous b movie of all time.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Taylor_%28actor%29

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Did some research - This list includes: Actors\Actresses - Writers - Directors and others. Some have nothing to do with this category but they have never been mentioned so I figure 'why not'. I do what I want.

 

Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins) 1924 -

 

 

 

Dead - http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/04/dark-shadows-jonathan-frid-dies.html

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Came across this old git, R. G. Armstrong, while surfing the 'Net:

 

http://en.wikipedia....R._G._Armstrong

 

Born in 1917, appeared in dozens of westerns and worked with Sam Peckinpah, so he seems like a prime candidate for the B Cinema thread.

 

To people of my generation, though, he is most famous ("famous" being a relative term in this guy's case), for playing Pruneface in Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy film.

I've got "Pruneface" on my list, see my sig.

 

Pruneface has finally died at 95 years of age.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Western television and film actor Dale Robertson has died aged 89 (not 90 as stated on the link) according to a Western fan site: http://www.westernclippings.com/

 

A unique pick for All Quiet on the Westerns Front on the DDP, for which I believe an obit should come along soon.

 

P.S. Still not sure how to embed links here, used to know how but I see it's changed. Help anyone?

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×

Important Information

Your use of this forum is subject to our Terms of Use