The original Big G is coming soon from Criterion!

The original  1954 film is scheduled for a January 24th release on DVD & BD.  The previous Classic Media blu-ray, from all reports, was weak at 1080i and unrestored.  Criterion should blow that one away with little effort.

RIP Richard Gordon, Producer (1925-2011)

Richard Gordon was a casual acquaintance.  I knew him for about 20 years and he was a faithful subscriber and friend to Video Confidential for the few years it ran.  Richard produced some very good films (CORRIDORS OF BLOOD for example!) and some not so very good films- not at all a small achievement and nothing to be ashamed of.  He was a super nice guy and extremely knowledgeable about film, particularly British cinema.  He will be missed.

Frank Miller's HOLY TERROR!

Comic Artist/Writer Frank Miller talked and signed his new HOLY TERROR graphic novel in New York City tonight at the Union Square Barnes & Noble.  Miller took questions that mostly centered around his reaction to 9/11 and how his original Batman vs. Al Qaeda story transformed into his new character, "The Fixer."  He said his inspiration was Jack Kirby's Captain America taking on Adolf Hitler.  Miller also said that he expected the completion of the SIN CITY 2 script to be soon and production to begin in Spring '12.  He is thinking of doing more SIN CITY books but has nothing definite planned yet.

B-DAY FOR THE BEAST!

DO WHAT THOU WILT... It's Aleister Crowley's birthday today!  Celebrate and read MOONCHILD or DIARY OF A DRUG FIEND- both excellent works of twisted fiction!  There is also a recent and awesome U.K. collection of short fiction (mostly horror) available from Amazon, THE DRUG & OTHER STORIES (http://www.amazon.com/Other-Stories-Tales-Mystery-Supernatural/dp/1840226382/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318436745&sr=8-1).  I'm currently half-way through reading a new biography of The Beast by Tobias Churton that attempts to revise and elevate Crowley reputation as an artist, an enlightened thinker and magician.  So far so good! (http://www.amazon.com/Aleister-Crowley-Biography-Spiritual-Revolutionary/dp/1780280122/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318436880&sr=1-2)

Remembering David Hess (1942-2011)

(Pictured: David Hess, Ruggero Deodato, Lee Demarbre)

The last time I saw David Hess was at last year's Rock And Shock convention in Worcester, MA.  I produced an exclusive blu-ray extra for the Shriek Show release of Lee Demarbre's SMASH CUT.

R.I.P. Charles Napier (1936-2011)

I met Charles Napier once in the mid-90's at the American Film Market and saw him at a few conventions.   I still have a script of he wrote laying around somewhere.  I think it was a hillbilly horror film.  With so many memorable roles, his most awesome line of dialog for me is from THE BLUES BROTHERS (1980) when he threatens Jake and Elwood saying, "You're gonna look awful funny eating corn on the cob with no f#$%ing teeth!"

HARD CASE KICKS A@#!

Tonight, subdued, rain slicked lower Manhattan was the scene of a low-key re-boot celebration for Hard Case Crime books (http://www.hardcasecrime.com/) hosted by Otto Penzler at his renowned Mysterious Bookshop (http://www.mysteriousbookshop.com/).  After a year or so hiatus, Hard Case is now back with those eye-popping killer covers and pulpy prose via a new publisher Titan Books (http://titanbooks.com/) and celebrated in true hard-boiled style with a libation-fueled book signing and Q&A party with beloved authors Lawrence Block (http://www.lawrenceblock.com/) and Christa Faust (http://www.christafaust.com/) hosted by shop owner Penzler and publisher/author Charles Adai.  Block graciously signed copies of the first Hard Case hardcover, GETTING OFF (a new novel written under an old pseudonym), while the tattooed Ms. Faust signed advance copies of CHOKE HOLD, a follow up to her stunning 2008 Hard Case paperback original, MONEY SHOT.  CHOKE HOLD continues the harsh exploits of her porn-queen-pushed-to-the-edge protagonist Angel Dare!  Other authors in attendance included Russell Atwood (LOSERS LIVE LONGER), Jason Starr (FAKE I.D.), Peter Pavia (DUTCH UNCLE) and Megan Abbott (BURY ME DEEP).  Look for the new releases in fine bookstores- wherever they may still exist- or your friendly neighborhood cybershop!