Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Alien

Planet of the Vampires a Vampire-less Classic

In case you missed it, here’s the video of Roy Bjellquist and me defying the living dead and “Planet of the Vampires” (1965), arguably the most influential vampire movie not to have any vampires. Perhaps there wasn’t enough money in the budget for plastic teeth?

As always, spoilers are a part of the conversation. But the charm of “Planet of the Vampires” isn’t really in its plot, which we’ve seen many times now, most memorably in “Alien.” A distress beacon lures would-be rescuers to a creepy, unknown world, where an unseen threat aims to use them as hosts. Fortunately, Barry Sullivan is there in his rubber unitard to beat some sense into everyone. But the real magic is in director Mario Bava’s clever deployment of extremely limited resources, wringing every last drop out of the film’s dollar-ninety-eight budget.

Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner live-streams on Facebook every Friday and Sunday at 7 pm EDT. Roy will be taking off tomorrow, but on October 2 the gloves are off. Our Hallowe’en fest gets truly underway with Karen Black and “Trilogy of Terror!”

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner/

September 26, 2020
Alien Secrets & Star Trek Voyages with Roy

In case you missed it (and you probably did), here’s last night’s bull session about “Alien,” in which Roy Bjellquist and I share abundant behind-the-scenes minutiae and personal reflections, all in celebration of the loving craftsmanship that went into every aspect of the making of this landmark science fiction horror classic – an unusually literate monster movie with ample sexual and socio-political undertones.

“Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner” is live-streamed on Facebook every Friday and Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

Join Roy this Sunday for a conversation with Marc Cushman, author of “These Are the Voyages,” a three-volume set, authorized by “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, documenting each episode of the original “Star Trek” television series and offering behind-the-scenes glimpses into their creation. Roy and Marc will talk about Season One.

Then, if you’re an “Alien” nut, definitely tune in on Sunday, July 12, at a special time – 4:00 p.m. EDT – as Roy’s guest will be special effects legend Brian Johnson, the Academy Award winning artist who worked on “Alien,” “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Dragonslayer,” “Space: 1999,” “Thunderbirds,” and “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

Thanks, Roy, for inviting me back. Live long and prosper! Or, in light of the weather, perhaps, perspire.

June 27, 2020
Ross Amico Double Feature Tonight

It’s another Classic Ross Amico double-feature tonight, presented across two media!

First, at 6:00 EDT, rediscover lost worlds and forgotten civilizations on “Picture Perfect,” with music from “King Solomon’s Mines” (Mischa Spoliansky), “She” (James Bernard), “The Man Who Would Be King” (Maurice Jarre), and “Lost Horizon” (Dimitri Tiomkin), on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

Then, at 7:00 EDT, settle in for another deconstruction of a sci-fi classic from 1979, Ridley Scott’s “Alien,” with Roy Bjellquist, on “Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner.” Our bull session will be live-streamed on Facebook. Follow the link at 7 for a window-in – and to leave a question or a comment!

https://www.facebook.com/roytiediescificorner/

And yes, I will be talking about Jerry Goldsmith!

June 26, 2020
Ian Holm Remembered A Marvelous Actor

So sorry to learn of the death of Ian Holm, a marvelous actor, who enlivened any movie he was in, whether it be “Alien,” “Chariots of Fire,” “Greystoke,” or “Henry V.” Some may recognize him from his work in Peter Jackson’s bloated “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

Apparently, Holm suffered from crippling stage fright. Hard to believe, for an artist of his stature, but even Olivier claimed to struggle against it. The theater’s loss was the movies’ gain.

Thank you, Sir Ian, and rest your soul.

https://variety.com/2020/film/global/ian-holm-dead-bilbo-baggins-lord-of-the-rings-1234642549/

PHOTOS (counterclockwise from top): Holm as Phillippe d’Arnot, teaching Tarzan to shave in “Greystoke” (1984), as Bilbo Baggins, with his Ring of Power in “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001), as Napoleon Bonaparte in “Time Bandits” (1981), and as the “goddamned robot” Ash in “Alien” (1979)

June 19, 2020

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