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PCR #264. (Vol. 6, No. 15) This edition is for the week of April 11--17, 2005.
Mike's RantMike's Bust
Hello, gang! Almost moved in so hopefully next week's will be more action packed. Shall we begin?

LA FLORIDIANA
Charlie Carlson’s "Weird Florida": Unleashed!!!! Book Release Party
 by William Moriaty
THIS WEEK'S MOVIE REVIEW
The Amityville Horror
 by Mike Smith
ODDSERVATIONS
Debralee Scott Dies at 52...."Zombiethon" (1986)
 by Andy Lalino
NICHOLAS REX
Right To Die, Right To Live
 by Nicholas King
CREATURE'S CORNER
Conversations With Gorbly...."Sahara"
 by John Lewis
MATT'S RAIL
Bucco Focus....Stupid Is As Stupid Does
 by Matt Drinnenberg
MIKE'S RANT
Where's Matthew McConaughey?...Beautiful Noise....Passing On....Speaking Of Music....I'm A Star....Jaws: The Story, Part 14
 by Mike Smith
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WHERE'S MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY?
I must apologize here for my delay in transcribing my interview with Matthew McConaughey for this issue of the PCR. Due to my moving to another position at work, coupled with the fact that I'm still unpacking from my move, I didn't have the time to type up the interview and get it to Nolan in a timely manner for him to do the outstanding graphics job he does for the "CrazedFanboy Presents" interview series. I promise that I will have it to him by the end of the weekend and that it will be up next week. Again, I sincerely apologize for the delay.

BEAUTIFUL NOISE
What do Nirvana's "Nevermind" album, the Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" and Neil Armstrong on the moon have in common? All three have been chosen by the Library of Congress as part of this years 50 additions to the National Recording Registry. Other audio inductees include James Brown "Live at the Apollo," Muddy Waters' "Hootchie Coochie Man" and John Williams' "Star Wars" soundtrack music.

PASSING ON
Johnny Johnson
, who collaborated for years with fellow St. Louis native Chuck Berry on such songs as "Roll Over, Beethoven" and "No Particular Place to Go," died Wednesday at the age of 80. Johnson, a 2001 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, also played with Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and John Lee Hooker. It's long been rumored that Berry wrote "Johnnie Be. Goode" as a tribute to his friend.

SPEAKING OF MUSIC
Film soundtracks are a funny thing. It used to be that you could throw a few popular songs in or hire a composer and things would go smoothly. That all ended with "American Graffiti." In 1973, director George Lucas had to beg Universal for an extra $10,000 to get the songs he wanted in "American Graffiti." Today, one popular song can cost a film production up to $100,000. And thanks to that high cost, often a film you saw in theatres will sound entirely different when you watch it on cable or home video. I associate so many songs with the movie "Slap Shot." However, unless you were fortunate to get an early VHS copy, all of the songs have been replaced with songs that sound something like the originals but are totally different. And it's not just popular tunes. Sometimes a composer will spend months working on a film only to have his work replaced at the last minute. Most famous is Jerry Goldsmith's score for Ridley Scott's film, "Legend." At the last moment Goldsmith's score was dropped and replaced by one composed by the band Tangerine Dream. I have both scores on CD and, though very different in mood, they both serve the film well. This past year, composer George Fenton was surprised when he went to see the film "Hitch" because his score was no where to be heard. Director Andy Tennant explained to him that, for screening purposes, popular songs were inserted over the film action. The songs proved so popular to screening audiences that he left them in. But, not to be denied, Fenton's score will be restored when the film makes it's DVD debut next February.

I'M A STAR
Back in PCR #258 I mentioned that I was pleased as punch to be asked to contribute my thoughts as part of the JAWS fan documentary entitled "The Shark Is Still Working." I believe as I write this that Matt is preparing his part to be included in the film. For those interested, here is a link to the film's web site sharkisstillworking.com Speaking of JAWS:

THE STORY OF JAWS - PART 14
This week we're going to focus on the last two remaining members of the main cast.

Making her film debut as Ellen Brody was 37 year old Lorraine Gary. Born in New York City in August 1937, Gary began acting on television shortly after she finished high school. Early work on such shows as "The Virginian," "Dragnet" and "Night Gallery" led to roles on many early television movies. In 1973 she gained fame in the pilot film for the series, "KOJAK," entitled "The Marcus Nelson Murders." In 1975 she was cast in "Jaws," and later appeared in "Car Wash," "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" and then reprised her role as Ellen in "Jaws 2." After working with George Burns in "Just You and Me, Kid" and re teaming with Spielberg for "1941," Gary retired from acting. In 1987 she returned to the big screen in "Jaws: The Revenge." Gary has been married for almost 50 years to film producer and former head of Universal Pictures, Sid Sheinberg. As a tribute, in 1985, writers Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale named Marty McFly's mother "Lorraine" in "Back to the Future."

Amity mayor Larry Vaughn was played by distinguished North Carolina native Murray Hamilton. Hamilton's career started in the early days of television with appearances on such distinguished shows as "Philco Television Playhouse," "Kraft Television Theater" and "Playhouse 90." With his looks and slight accent, he was cast either as a cowboy in "Have Gun Will Travel" and "Gunsmoke" or as a lawman in "The F.B.I.," "Barnaby Jones" and "The Streets of San Francisco." He began his film career in the mid 1950s, appearing in such major features as "The Spirit of St. Louis," "Houseboat" and "The Hustler." In 1967 he starred as Mr. Robinson in "The Graduate" and appeared with Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford in "The Way We Were." A gifted stage actor he was nominated in 1965 for the Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Featured Role for the play, "Absence of a Cello." After "Jaws" he did some television work then was asked to return as Mayor Vaughn in "Jaws 2." During production he learned that his wife, Teri, was suffering from cancer and asked to be let off the film so that he could be with her. Rather then recast the role, producer David Brown had the schedule reworked so that all of the scenes Hamilton was to appear in were shot first. This gave him time to complete the film and then be with his wife. In 1979 he appeared in "1941" then worked again with Redford in 1980s "Brubaker." Hamilton worked periodically through 1986, his final role being in the television film, 'The Last Days of Patton." On September 1, 1986 Hamilton died of cancer in his hometown of Washington, North Carolina.

Well, that's all for now. Have a great week! See ya!


"Mike's Rant" is ©2005 by Michael A. Smith. Webpage design and all graphics herein are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2005 by Nolan B. Canova.