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More than 10 years after the last installment of Spartacus aired, House of Ashur marks the return of Starz’ hit series. The teaser promises the same degree of stylized action, drama, and character complexity that previous iterations of the franchise have boasted.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, the series will be centered around Ashur, played by Nick Tarabay. Those with a keen memory may remember that in the 2012 series finale of Spartacus: Vengeance, Tarabay’s character died, but Starz explains his return as follows: "The series poses the question: what if Ashur, hadn’t died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of Spartacus: Vengeance? And what if he had been gifted the gladiator school once owned by Batiatus in return for aiding the Romans in killing Spartacus and putting an end to the slave rebellion?"

Related 'I've Been Asked': Friday Night Lights Fan Favorite Confirms Reboot Return Talks

Taylor Kitsch is game...

“Spartacus” is back — just without a Spartacus.

On Wednesday, January 15, Starz released the first-look teaser trailer for “Spartacus: House of Ashur,” a sequel to its original three-season “Spartacus” series, which started in 2010 with “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” continued with “Spartacus: Vengeance,” and concluded in 2013 with “Spartacus: War of the Damned.” Between “Blood and Sand” and “Vengeance,” Starz made a six-episode miniseries “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.”

(Spartacus, by the way, is a real historical figure. He was a Thracian gladiator and one of the escaped slaves who led an uprising against the Roman Republic in the early first century BC. Andy Whitfield played Spartacus for the first season and provided a brief voiceover for its prequel. At the time, he was battling stage IV non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Whitfield died in 2011; Liam McIntyre took over the role in Seasons 2 and 3. Kirk Douglas famously played Spartacus in Stanley Kubrick’s 1960 film.)

“Spartacus: House of Ashur...

Brad Pitt's character in "Babylon," Jack Conrad, mirrors real 1920s actors like John Gilbert, Douglas Fairbanks, and Rudolph Valentino. Conrad's tragic death in response to Hollywood's transition to sound films reflects the struggles of many silent era stars. "Babylon" features fictional characters inspired by real Hollywood figures, exploring the industry's shift from silent to sound films.

This article contains mention of suicide and substance abuse.

With Babylon's in-depth look into a certain period in Hollywood history, many people wonder if Brad Pitt's Jack Conrad is a real actor. Damien Chazelle's Babylon examines the rise and fall of several stars as 1920s Hollywood transitions from silent movies to talkies. Conrad plays a pivotal part in giving Nellie Laroy (Margot Robbie) and Manny Torres (Diego Calva) their big breaks, even as he feels they could replace him. At a time when the industry was in a great phase of transition,...

Move over, Xena! Deadline reports that Lucy Lawless is set to return to her other iconic role, that of Lucretia in the upcoming Spartacus: House of Ashur series.

Sadly, Lawless’ return won’t be as a series regular, but as a guest-starring role in the premiere. The report states that her appearance “will be instrumental in setting up the ‘what if’ alternate timeline.” In a statement on X, creator Steven DeKnight said, “The gods bless the House of Ashur! Thrilled to have the amazing [Lucy Lawless] dropping in to grace us with her awesome presence!“

House of Ashur is described as a “history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit. The series poses the question: what if Ashur, played by fan favorite Nick Tarabay, hadn’t died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of Spartacus: Vengeance? And what if he had been gifted...

Production on Spartacus: House of Ashur is currently underway in New Zealand, and the rest of the main cast for the upcoming Starz series has been revealed.

The series’ main cast will include Graham McTavish (The Witcher), Tenika Davis (Jupiter’s Legacy), Jamaica Vaughan (Home and Away), Ivana Baquero (Pan’s Labyrinth), Jordi Webber (Choose Love), Claudia Black (Farscape), India Shaw-Smith (The Pines Still Whisper), and Leigh Gill (Joker). Of course, Nick Tarabay will be reprising the role of Ashur, a former gladiator who used his cunning to serve the house of Batiatus and later the Romans in the original series.

Graham McTavish plays Korris, “a former gladiator who won his freedom in the arena and is now Ashur’s Doctore, training the gladiators in Ashur’s Ludus.“ Tenika Davis plays Achillia, “a female gladiator driven to surpass her male counterparts.“ Jamaica Vaughan plays Hilara, “a young, elevated house slave, deeply in love with Ashur.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” a friend said to me about halfway through this year’s Il Cinema Ritrovato, which takes over the center of Bologna for nine glorious days every summer, before correcting himself: “It actually makes a lot of sense that we’re here, but I still can’t believe it.”

My friend was in awe not that we––a pair of New York cinephiles, both fairly well-traveled––managed to make it to beautiful Bologna, but that we had entered some kind of an Olympic village for cinephiles, each day filled with some of the most memorable moviegoing events of our lives and each night filled with hours of discussion about the day’s pleasures. At the festival, everyone’s first question is “how many years have you been coming?” and newcomers are warmly welcomed into the fray. The favored departure is not a “ciao” or...

Venice Classics will screen restorations of Michelangelo Antonioni’s The Night and Vittorio De Sica’s The Gold Of Naples as part of an 18-film programme at the 81st Venice Film Festival (August 28-Septemer 7).

The Night, a 1961 black-and-white drama depicted a day and night in the life of a disillusioned novelist and his alienated wife, will play in the 100th anniversary year of the birth of its lead actor Marcello Mastroianni.

Scroll down for the full list of titles

De Sica’s 1954 The Gold Of Naples is formed of six episodes inspired by Giovanni Marotta’s short stories, and plays...

Nick Tarabay to star in ‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ (Photo Credit: Starz)

In February 2023, prior to the huge writers and actors strikes, Starz announced their plans to revisit the world of Spartacus. Now that the dust has (basically) settled on both strikes, Starz revealed the new Spartacus chapter will be called Spartacus: House of Ashur and that Nick Tarabay is reprising his role as Ashur.

Tarabay played the villainous character in Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

Spartacus creator, writer, and executive producer Steven S. DeKnight returns to guide the new 10-episode season as showrunner. “To be afforded the opportunity to return a decade later to a series you loved is such a rare, wonderful opportunity,” said Steven S. DeKnight. “I could not be more excited to craft this next chapter in the Spartacus saga with Starz, Lionsgate, and the incomparable Nick Tarabay.”

Starz’s journey...

The Spartacus revival series is officially moving forward.

Earlier this year, it was announced that there were plans for a Spartacus sequel series to be developed at Starz with original creator Steven S. DeKnight (Daredevil). Per Variety, it's been revealed that the network has officially greenlit the revival series while giving it an official tittle. Called Spartacus: House of Ashur, the new series will bring back original star Nick Tarabay to reprise his role as Ashur. DeKnight is also still on board to serve as showrunner as well as executive produce. Lionsgate Television is producing.

10 Best Season Finales Of All Time

Spartacus: House of Ashur Presents a "What If?" Scenario

Spartacus: House of Ashur will explain Ashur's return by retconning the events of Spartacus: Vengeance, thus opening the door for bringing back the character. Per the show's description, "The series poses the question: what if Ashur hadn’t died on...

Gratitude! Starz has ordered ten episodes of Spartacus: House of Ashur, a new sequel series from creator Steven S. DeKnight.

As you might tell by the title, Spartacus: House of Ashur will feature the return of Nick Tarabay as Ashur, the cunning and manipulative ex-gladiator who proved to be a thorn in the side of Spartacus. Per the official description, “[Spartacus: House of Ashur] poses the question: what if Ashur hadn’t died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of ‘Spartacus: Vengeance?’ And what if he had been gifted the gladiator school once owned by Batiatus in return for aiding the Romans in killing Spartacus and putting an end to the slave rebellion?“

“To be afforded the opportunity to return a decade later to a series you loved is such a rare, wonderful opportunity,” Steven S. DeKnight said in a statement. “I could not be more excited to craft this next chapter in the Spartacus saga with Starz,...

Starz is bringing one of its foundational original series — along with one of its characters — back to life.

The premium cabler has given a series order to Spartacus: House of Ashur, a continuation of the franchise that last aired a new episode in 2013. The pickup comes nine months after Starz announced it was developing a revival/sequel — and a day after actors union SAG-AFTRA announced a tentative agreement with studios and streamers, ending a four-month strike.

Series creator Steven S. DeKnight will serve as showrunner, and Nick Tarabay will reprise his role of Ashur from the former series.

“A decade ago the groundbreaking original Spartacus captivated viewers worldwide and we’re excited to deliver more enthralling, high-octane drama that our fervent fans have been anticipating,” said Kathryn Busby, president original programming at Starz. “It is an honor to team up with Steven again as he expands upon the storytelling within this thrilling,...

These last few years the Criterion Channel have made October viewing much easier to prioritize, and in the spirit of their ’70s and ’80s horror series we’ve graduated to––you guessed it––”’90s Horror.” A couple of obvious classics stand with cult favorites and more unknown entities (When a Stranger Calls Back and Def By Temptation are new to me). Three more series continue the trend: “Technothrillers” does what it says on the tin, courtesy the likes of eXistenZ and Demonlover; “Art-House Horror” is precisely the kind of place to host Cure, Suspiria, Onibaba; and “Pre-Code Horror” is a black-and-white dream. Phantom of the Paradise, Unfriended, and John Brahm’s The Lodger are added elsewhere.

James Gray is the latest with an “Adventures in Moviegoing” series populated by deep cuts and straight classics. Stonewalling and restorations of Trouble Every Day and The Devil, Probably make streaming debuts, while Flesh for Frankenstein,...

Rouben Mamoulian is one of the best directors of Golden Age Hollywood, but his efforts often go underseen and underappreciated. One only has to watch his films to admire, and love, his skill as a director. Love Me Tonight (1932) sweeps and swoons with romantic energy; Queen Christina (1933) is a moody biopic that plays with shadows and sexuality; Becky Sharp (1935) is one of the first Technicolor features and is an array of delectable pastels to backdrop to colourful cohorts. And, of course, Mamoulian’s finest work – Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1931) an imaginative horror that looks deep into the monster lurking in man’s soul.

Mamoulian’s Blood and Sand (1941) is also undeniably exquisite art. Played on the gorgeous, yet volatile nitrate as part of BFI’s Film on Film Festival, there has never been a Mamoulian presentation quite like it in recent years.

Starring Tyrone Power and Rita Hayworth, Blood and Sand revolves around Juan,...

It has been 10 years since the Starz network first wrapped up their popular Spartacus series, and now original showrunner Steven S. DeKnight is set to return to helm a new revival. Inspired by the historical tale of the Thracian gladiator who led a slave uprising, the show’s first season Spartacus: Blood and Sand starred the late Andy Whitfield as the titular warrior. However, after season 1 Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, so producers retooled their plans for season 2 into a prequel miniseries titled Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. The role of Spartacus was eventually recast with Liam McIntyre, who would go on to lead the show’s next two seasons, Spartacus: Vengeance and Spartacus: War of the Damned.

While the 2013 finale of Spartacus: War of the Damned eventually saw McIntyre’s character meet his fate, it seems that Starz is not yet finished with the franchise.

True. https://t.

Spartacus creator Steven S. DeKnight is expanding the franchise once again with a new series currently in development at Starz. DeKnight will serve as showrunner and executive producer of the as-yet-untitled project.

The next chapter will explore uncharted territory and new journeys of the original series’ iconic characters. In the aftermath of the defeat of Spartacus and his rebel army in the series finale, the new drama will depict a new tale of treachery, deceit, and blood unfolding beneath the foreboding shadow of Rome.

“It’s such an incredible honor to be invited to return to the world of Spartacus and to be met with unbridled creative support from my colleagues at Starz and Lionsgate,” said DeKnight in a statement. “Together we are crafting something truly unique and unusual for the next chapter in this epic story.”

The expansion of the Spartacus franchise is the latest to follow this new...

Budd Boetticher’s excellent semi-autobiographical film may be Hollywood’s most uncondescending depiction of high-end Mexican culture. Robert Stack is the pushy Gringo who only slowly understands Latin society’s definitions of loyalty and machismo; his rocky relationship with Joy Page’s cultured señorita is as important as the bullfighting story with Gilbert Roland. It’s Boetticher’s best film, presented for the first time in two encodings, the 87-minute release version and the UCLA Film and TV Archive’s restoration of the full 124-minute seen South of the Border. The extra commentary and featurettes are welcome too.

Bullfighter and the Lady

Region B Blu-ray

Powerhouse Indicator

1951 / B&w / 1:37 flat Academy / 124 + 87 min. / Torero, Muerte en la arena, Tarde de toros, L’amante del torero, El torero y la dama, Death in the Sands / Street Date , 2022 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99

Starring: Robert Stack, Joy Page, Gilbert Roland, Virginia Grey,...

It’s official: Marta Fernandez has been named President of Macro Television Studios, joining the financing and production company founded by former Wme Partner Charles D. King as it ramps up its TV operations. As we reported last month when Fernandez stepped down as Evp Original Programming at Starz, she had been in talks with Macro.

Macro’s TV series slate includes Gentefied, a half-hour bilingual dramedy from Marvin Lemus and Linda Yvette Chávez for Netflix; Raising Dion, also for Netflix; Dawn, an adaptation of Octavia E. Butler’s book from Ava DuVernay and Victoria Mahoney; a Tupac Shakur documentary series, with Allen Hughes directing; and documentary The Apollo, helmed by Roger Ross Williams.

Fernandez was a 12-year Starz veteran. In her most recent Evp role at the network, to which she was named in December, she expanded her leadership within the originals team while continuing to spearhead the network...

Former Wme partner Charles D. King’s media company MacRo has hired Marta Fernandez to serve as the president of MacRo Television Studios.

Fernandez will oversee MacRo’s television slate, which includes “Gentefied,” “Dawn,” and the Michael B. Jordan-produced “Raising Dion” for Netflix. Allen Hughes is also directing a five-part docuseries on Tupac Shakur with the full cooperation of the late rapper’s estate.

“I couldn’t be happier to have Marta join us to lead our television group. Her spot-on creative instincts, refined taste level and wealth of experience have made her a true force in our business. Additionally, she is a champion of storytellers and groundbreaking projects that align with our company’s overall mission. We are thrilled to be working with her,” King said.

Also Read: Charles King's Macro Inks First-Look Deal With Warner Bros

Fernandez was most recently with Starz as the executive vice president of original programming.

Marta Fernandez will step down as executive vice president of original programming at Starz.

She first joined the premium cable TV movie channel in 2007 and has overseen the development of several series, including the “Spartacus” franchise, “Boss,” “Flesh and Bone,” “Ash vs Evil Dead,” “Da Vinci’s Demons” and “Black Sails.” More recently, she helped to shepherd “American Gods,” “Vida” and the upcoming “P-Valley” from playwright Katori Hall.

Fernandez was promoted to her current role last December. She has also been responsible for leading the company’s inclusion initiatives.

Also Read: 'Power' to End with Season 6 on Starz

In February, Chris Albrecht stepped down as CEO of the network as parent company Lionsgate was further aligning Starz’s operations under Lionsgate. Starz is currently led by COO Jeffrey Hirsch, with the current leadership team, including president of programming Carmi Zlotnik, working closely with Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer.

Earlier this month,...

Marta Fernandez is exiting Starz where she most recently served as Evp Originals Programming. Fernandez, a 12-year Starz veteran, is leaving to pursue other opportunities. I hear she has been in talks with Charles D. King’s production company Macro.

Fernandez’s exit comes amid an executive transition at the pay cable network following the departure of CEO Chris Albrecht earlier this year as Starz and Lionsgate recently accelerated their integration with the merging of several TV operations. (Original programming was not one of them).

In her most recent role, to which Fernandez was named in December, Fernandez expanded her leadership within the originals team while continuing to spearhead the network’s inclusion initiatives across the slate. She had focused on female-forward programming, overseeing new development and current productions for the network including original series Vida and American Gods as well as the upcoming series from playwright Katori Hall, P-Valley.

Hollywood classics don’t have to be stuffy — this 1940 swashbuckling adventure has style, great action, laughs and one of the most attractive screen couples of their day, Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell. And that’s not mentioning a superb fencing match, a great, quaint Spanish dance, and a smart cast directed by Rouben Mamoulian at his best. This German import is fully compatible with U.S. players.

The Mark of Zorro

Im Zeichen des Zorro

All-Region Blu-ray Special Edition

Explosive Media GmbH

1940 / B&W/colorized / 1:37 Academy / 94 min. / Im Zeichen des Zorro / Street Date September 27, 2018 / Available through Amazon.de / Eur 15,99

Starring: Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Basil Rathbone, Gale Sondergaard,

Eugene Pallette, J. Edward Bromberg, Montagu Love, Janet Beecher, George Regas, Chris-Pin Martin.

Cinematography: Arthur Miller

Film Editor: Robert Bischoff

Original Music: Alfred Newman

Written by John Taintor Foote, Garrett Fort

Produced by Raymond Griffith, Darryl F. Zanuck

Directed by Rouben Mamoulian

“I am off to California,...

'The Love Goddess' herself, Rita Hayworth, was born on this day 100 years ago in Brooklyn. Audiences first noticed her in a small role in Only Angels Have Wings (1939) and she seguewayed into profile boosters like Blood and Sand (1941) and Strawberry Blonde (1941). A natural dancer she made two pictures she obviously cherished with Fred Astaire in You'll Never Get Rich (1941) and You Were Never Lovelier (1942) -- Astaire went so far as calling her his favorite dancer partner -- and was one of the two ubiquitous pinups of World War II for American soldiers (the other being Betty Grable)...

While we wait (impatiently) for the major Oscar contenders to show themselves to general audiences, why not check out an older Oscar nominees for kicks and to fill any gaps in your Oscar knowledge. Here are a few that iTunes is offering to rent for just 99¢... naturally I have to share the posters for the ones with exclamatory taglines.

• Sunrise (1927)/ Street Angel (1928) for Janet Gaynor, the very first Best Actress winner and the only Best Actress winner to win for multiple roles simultaneously (they changed the rule thereafter)

• In Old Chicago (1938) Tyrone Powers in a six-time nominated film which won Alice Brady supporting actress

• The Rains Came (1939) starring Myrna Loy and up for six Oscars

• Blood and Sand (1941) this torreador drama starring Tyrone Power won Best Cinematography

• This Above All (1942) a romantic drama starring Joan Fontaine and Tyrone Power received 4 nominations and a win for Art Direction

• The Snake Pit...

Decades before Hollywood got serious about the need for diversity, Anthony Quinn was diversity. This month marks the birthday of the Mexico-born, L.A.-raised actor who played Bedouins, Native Americans, Soviets — and even Mexicans and Americans in his 60-year career. He was the first Mexican-American to win an Oscar, for his supporting performance in “Viva Zapata!” (1952) and won another as French painter Gaugin in “Lust for Life” (1956). His two trademark performances were in “Zorba the Greek” (another Oscar nom) and as an Italian circus strongman in Fellini’s “La Strada.”

Antonio Rodolfo Oaxaca Quinn was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, on April 21, 1915, and began acting in 1936. His rise in Hollywood is especially remarkable considering the times. From 1929-36, the U.S.’ “Mexican Repatriation” program sent those of Mexican descent south of the border (even though many were U.S. citizens) out of fear they were taking jobs from whites. In...

No, it’s not a the-day-after sequel to The Lost Weekend, but a class-act mystery-horror from 20th-Fox, at a time when the studio wasn’t keen on scare shows. John Brahm directs the ill-fated Laird Cregar as a mad musician . . . or, at least a musician driven mad by a perfidious femme fatale, Darryl Zanuck’s top glamour girl Linda Darnell.

Hangover Square

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1945 /B&W / 1:37 Academy / 77 min. / Street Date November 21, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95

Starring: Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, George Sanders, Faye Marlowe, Glenn Langan, Alan Napier.

Cinematography: Joseph Lashelle

Film Editor: Harry Reynolds

Original Music: Bernard Herrmann

Written by Barré Lyndon

Produced by Robert Bassler

Directed by John Brahm

Here’s a serious quality upgrade for horror fans. Although technically a period murder thriller, as a horror film John Brahm’s tense Hangover Square betters its precursor The Lodger in almost every department. We don...

Ricardo Cortez: Although never as big a star as fellow 1920s screen heartthrobs Rudolph Valentino, Ramon Novarro, and John Gilbert, Cortez had a long – and, to some extent, prestigious – film career, appearing in nearly 100 movies between 1923 and 1950. Among his directors: Allan Dwan, Cecil B. DeMille, D.W. Griffith, James Cruze, Alexander Korda, Herbert Brenon, Roy Del Ruth, Frank Lloyd, Gregory La Cava, William A. Wellman, Alexander Hall, Lloyd Bacon, Tay Garnett, Archie Mayo, Raoul Walsh, Frank Capra, Walter Lang, Michael Curtiz, and John Ford. See previous post: “Remembering Ricardo Cortez: Hollywood's Silent “Latin Lover” & Star of Original 'The Maltese Falcon'.” First of all, why Ricardo Cortez? Since I began writing about classic movies and vintage filmmakers roughly 30 years ago, people have always been curious why I choose particular subjects. It sounds kind of corny, but I have always wanted to do original work and perhaps make a minor contribution to film history at the...

We have another busy week of home entertainment releases on the horizon, as there are over two dozen titles making their way to Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday. For those of you cult film enthusiasts, you have a lot of options when it comes to adding items to your collections, as Alienator is being resurrected by Scream Factory, Arrow Video is unleashing a special edition set for Madhouse, and Mondo Macabre has given Paul Naschy’s Inquisition an HD overhaul as well.

As if that wasn’t enough, we also have new releases for The Hound of Baskervilles, Medusa, and Nicholas Ray’s classic noir They Live By Night to look forward to as well. For you TV lovers out there, the box sets for the final season of both The Vampire Diaries and Grimm are being released Tuesday, and for those who are on the hunt for some new action cinema,...

Yet another puzzle picture, that came out on DVD back with the first wave of Wac films in 2010. An expensive romance with Albert Finney and Yvette Mimieux, it was filmed in Europe, co-written by Ray Bradbury and bears the music of Michel Legrand, including an exceedingly well known pop song. Yet it sat on a shelf for three years, only to make a humiliating world debut on TV — on CBS’s Late Nite Movie. It was clearly one of those Productions From Hell, where nothing went right.

The Picasso Summer

DVD-r

The Warner Archive Collection

1969 originally / Color / 1:85 enhanced widescreen / 90 min. / Street Date May 28, 2010 (not a mistake) / available through the WBshop / 17.99

Starring: Albert Finney, Yvette Mimieux, Luis Miguel Dominguín, Theodore Marcuse, Jim Connell,

Peter Madden, Tutte Lemkow, Graham Stark, Marty Ingels, Georgina Cookson, Miki Iveria, Bee Duffell, Lucia Bosé, Jean Marie Ingels.

Cinematography: Vilmos Zsigmond

Original Music: Michel Legrand

Animator:...

This past weekend, the American Society of Cinematographers awarded Greig Fraser for his contribution to Lion as last year’s greatest accomplishment in the field. Of course, his achievement was just a small sampling of the fantastic work from directors of photography, but it did give us a stronger hint at what may be the winner on Oscar night. Ahead of the ceremony, we have a new video compilation that honors all the past winners in the category at the Academy Awards

Created by Burger Fiction, it spans the stunning silent landmark Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans all the way up to the end of Emmanuel Lubezki‘s three-peat win for The Revenant. Aside from the advancements in color and aspect ration, it’s a thrill to see some of cinema’s most iconic shots side-by-side. However, the best way to experience the evolution of the craft is by...

Joseph Baxter Aug 31, 2016

The director of Taken 2 and Taken 3 - Olivier Megaton - is set to tackle The Champion...

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a science-fiction stylised take on the Gladiator genre is in the works with the Taken sequels director Olivier Megaton. Brandishing the title, The Champion, the prospective film is being described as 'a futuristic Spartacus', depicting the ordeal of a man imprisoned for an act of terrorism he apparently didn’t commit and forced to participate in a type of gladiator arena that yields the possibility of winning his freedom.

It’s a familiar sounding story, recalling the various versions of the Roman Empire-era-set Spartacus story like the 1960 Kirk Douglas-starring classic and the iterations of the 2010-2013 Starz Spartacus television series like Blood And Sand, starring the late Andy Whitfield. A futuristic take on the grueling grandiosity of the gladiator arena should make...

It's in glorious Technicolor Metrocolor, CinemaScope and StereoPhonic Sound! Fred Astaire's final MGM musical gives him Cyd Charisse and a Cole Porter score, plus some nice Hermes Pan choreography. The script and Rouben Mamoulian's direction aren't the best, but the combined magic of the musical and dancing talent saves the day. Silk Stockings Blu-ray Warner Archive Collection 1957 / Color / 2:40 widescreen / 117 min. / Street Date July 12, 2016 / available through the WBshop / 21.99 Starring Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Janis Paige, Peter Lorre, George Tobias, Jules Munshin, Joseph Buloff, Wim Sonneveld Cinematography Robert Bronner Art Direction Randall Duell, William A. Horning Film Editor Harold F. Kress Original Music Cole Porter Written by Abe Burrows, Leonard Gershe, George S. Kaufman, Leueen MacGrath, and Leonard Spigelgass Produced by Arthur Freed Directed by Rouben Mamoulian

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

On the Town?  The Pajama Game?  Damn Yankees?   The Warner Archive Collection's next musical up for the...

Happy Memorial Day my peoples. Let's have another history lesson via showbiz

On this day in history as it relates to the movies...

1431 Joan of Arc is burned at the stake. If you've never seen The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), one of the best movies of all time containing hugely powerful actressing by Falconetti you must repent. Save your soul and watch it.

1536 King Henry VIII, whose wives all tended to die prematurely (funny how that happens) marries Jane Seymour (not to be confused with the Dr Quinn Medicine Woman & Somewhere in Time actress). 477 years later Oscar Isaac sings about Queen Jane's tragic life in Inside Llewyn Davis's very best scene. 

1896 Howard Hawks is born. Makes so many great films but my favorites are: Bringing Up Baby (1938), Red River (1948) and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) 

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013): The Death Of Queen Jane (The Movie Title Song) from dky6dcnQbL dky6dcnQbL on Vimeo.

Los Angeles, Calif. (October 2, 2015) – In 1915 William Fox founded Fox Film Corporation and forever changed the course of cinema. Over the next century the studio would develop some of the most innovative and ground-breaking advancements in the history of cinema; the introduction of Movietone, the implementation of color in partnership with Eastman Kodak, the development of the wide format in 70mm and many more. Now in honor of the 100th anniversary of the studio, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will celebrate by releasing some of their most iconic films that represent a decade of innovation.

Starting today, five classic films from the studio will be made available digitally for the first time ever – Sunrise (1927), Drums Along the Mohawk (1939), Man Hunt (1941), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and The Flight of the Phoenix (1965). Throughout the rest of the year a total of 100 digital releases will follow from Fox’s extensive catalog, including 10 films...

Nightmare Alley

Written by Jules Furthman

Directed by Edmund Goulding

U.S.A., 1947

A carny cons his way up to high society through cold-reading and (un)timely circumstance. Based on that one-liner, who would you cast? If you say Tyrone Power, I’d say that my friend Stan Carlisle is on his way (The name Stan Carlisle being a con-industry handshake of sorts, informing one con-artist that he’s stepping in on another man’s con, or at least according to Eddie “The Czar of Noir” Muller’s introduction of this film at Tcmff). In Nightmare Alley, Tyrone Power, the 20th Century Fox matinee idol, plays a lowlife con man, who lies and cheats his way from a podunk carnival to becoming a spiritualist amongst the more gullible of Chicago’s upper crust. His character is also the namesake of the above con slang.

And any which way, yes, Tyrone Power...

By winning the Best Cinematography Oscar for a second year in a row, "Birdman" director of photography Emmanuel Lubezki has joined a truly elite club whose ranks haven't been breached in nearly two decades. Only four other cinematographers have won the prize in two consecutive years. The last time it happened was in 1994 and 1995, when John Toll won for Edward Zwick's "Legends of the Fall" and Mel Gibson's "Braveheart" respectively. Before that you have to go all the way back to the late '40s, when Winton Hoch won in 1948 (Victor Fleming's "Joan of Arc" with Ingrid Bergman) and 1949 (John Ford's western "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"). Both victories came in the color category, as the Academy awarded prizes separately for black-and-white and color photography from 1939 to 1956. Leon Shamroy also won back-to-back color cinematography Oscars, for Henry King's 1944 Woodrow Wilson biopic "Wilson" and John M. Stahl...

Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Season 1: Episode 2 – “Sacramentum Gladiatorum”

Written by Steven S. DeKnight

Directed by Rick Jacobson

Originally aired January 29th, 2010

“A man must accept his fate…or be destroyed by it.”

Following a pilot that enabled the world of Spartacus: Blood and Sand to come together, “Sacramentum Gladiatorum” is the beginning of a new life for the man now known as Spartacus. Even as he denies that identity, trying to say his true name out loud, Blood and Sand kicks him from behind and holds him down on his knees. The ability to accept one’s fate is much easier said than done when that fate is so unfortunate as Spartacus’. In a cruel opening sequence, his dream of being with his wife again is brutally cut off by visions of blood and pain. And as the warmth of Capua plagues its citizens with drought and harsh conditions,...

Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Season 1: Episode 1 – “The Red Serpent”

Written by Steven S. DeKnight

Directed by Rick Jacobson

Originally aired January 22nd, 2010 on Starz

A Short Introduction

Five years ago, Starz premiered Spartacus: Blood and Sand. The series was originally written off by most viewers and critics as being gratuitous, lacking quality storytelling and employing a juvenile aesthetic (or a borrowed one, in the case of the 300 comparisons). During its run on Starz, Spartacus garnered a respectable viewership by the network’s standards, but the number of people who went back to re-evaluate the series and see what was actually there was simply too small in the end. Fast forward to now. Netflix has released the entirety of Spartacus (which features three full-length seasons and a prequel mini-series, all with different subtitles), and subscribers to the streaming service now have a chance to take part in one of television...

This New Year’s Eve, celebrate in style with themed cocktails based on some of 2013′s most memorable pop-culture moments. Once we pop the cork on our cultural cocktails below, it’ll be likely “We Can’t Stop.” In fact, if you “Take Back the Night” with these themed libations, you’ll be having less than a 20/20 Experience… you’ll probably be seeing “Blurred Lines” (hey hey hey!).

In movies, Katniss & Co. are certainly clinking Catching Fireball shots to toast the second Hunger Games installment’s record-breaking opening. From Despicable Me 2, the year’s highest-grossing animated film, those bizarro...

Spartacus: War of the Damned, “Victory”

Written by Steven S. DeKnight

Directed by Rick Jacobson

Originally aired April 12, 2013

When Spartacus finished its run earlier this year, it was to relatively muted fanfare (“Victory” pulled in only 1.42 million viewers). For Starz, that’s a great number – but considering how good Spartacus was as a TV series alongside the popularity of its premium cable counterparts like Game of Thrones, that number is meager. Meager, too, was the critical reception Steven S. DeKnight’s masterpiece received, with most critics writing it off as over-stylized, violent and glorified porn after the first few episodes of its debut season, Blood and Sand. Did Spartacus come out swinging from the beginning with quality episode after quality episode? Not really. But it only took a few episodes for it to know what it wanted to be, and it was able to take that and run with it...

Primary Stages, in association with Ted Snowdon, launches their 29th season with the New York premiere of Harbor at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. The official opening night was yesterday, August 6 at 7Pm. Written by Tony-nominated Chad Beguelin Elf, The Wedding Singer and directed by Tony-nominated director Mark LamosSeascape, The Rivals, The Deep Blue Sea, the production features Erin Cummings Starz's 'Spartacus Blood and Sand', ABC's 'Pan Am,' CBS' 'Made In Jersey', Randy Harrison Showtime's 'Queer As Folk', Broadway'sWicked, Alexis Molnar world premiere of Harbor at Westport Playhouse, and Paul Anthony Stewart Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof, The People in the Picture. Harbor runs through September 8.BroadwyWorld was there for opening night and you can check out coverage below...

Films mentioned this week in our video review roundup include Sony's Magic Magic, West of Memphis and Shout Factory's Ralph Bakshi's Heavy Traffic, Swamp Thing, The Incredible Melting Man, Kentucky Fried Movie, and The Producers. 20th Century Fox catalogue titles Blood and Sand, Bus Stop, Niagara and Love Me Tender, as well as a new release of Francis Ford Coppola's Twixt. HBO's Blu-ray releases of Banshee Season One and Strike Back Season Two and the Synapse Films release of Hammer's hard to get Hands of the Ripper on Blu and Paramount's Star Trek Next Generation Season Four Blu-ray. Lastly, Universal releases Oblivion on Blu and IFC let's fly Brandon Cronenberg's debut Antiviral and the excellent documentary My Amityville Horror. Aaaaaand a big thanks to Red Bubble for their...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Primary Stages launches their 29th season with the New York premiere of Harbor by Tony-nominated writer Chad Beguelin Elf, The Wedding Singer. Directed by Tony-nominated director Mark Lamos Seascape, The Rivals, The Deep Blue Sea, the production features Erin Cummings Starz's 'Spartacus Blood and Sand', CBS' 'Made In Jersey', Randy Harrison Showtime's 'Queer As Folk', Broadway's Wicked, Alexis Molnar world premiere of Harbor at Westport Playhouse, and Paul Anthony Stewart Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof, The People in the Picture. Harbor runs tonight, July 23 - September 8 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is August 6.

Chicago – 1941’s “Blood and Sand” features Tyrone Power and Rita Hayworth at their charismatic peaks and the new Blu-ray HD transfer courtesy of Fox is a solid one for fans of this bullfighting melodrama. It’s far from a perfect film but Rouben Mamoulian’s saga of love, fame, and death works on its own terms and contains some notably strong cinematography, for which it won the Academy Award. A solid commentary track on the Blu-ray from a legendary cinematographer highlights the visual strengths of this 70-year-old classic.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The opening act of “Blood and Sand,” while setting up the visual palette, feels bloated to a degree that impacts too much of the rest of the film. It takes too long to get to the adult Juan Gallardo (Power), who returns to his Spanish home town a successful bullfighter like his controversial father. He finally has the fame and money to marry his first love,...

Alfred Hitchcock silent movies added to Unesco UK Memory of the World Register (photo: Ivor Novello in The Lodger) The nine Alfred Hitchcock-directed silent films recently restored by the British Film Institute have been added to the Unesco UK Memory of the World Register, "a list of documentary heritage which holds cultural significance specific to the UK." The nine Hitchcock movies are the following: The Pleasure Garden (1925), The Ring (1927), Downhill / When Boys Leave Home (1927), The Lodger (1927), Easy Virtue (1928), Champagne (1928), The Farmer’s Wife (1928), The Manxman (1929), and Blackmail (1929) — also released as a talkie, Britain’s first. Only one Hitchcock-directed silent remains lost, The Mountain Eagle / Fear o’ God (1926). Most of those movies have little in common with the suspense thrillers Hitchcock would crank out in Britain and later in Hollywood from the early ’30s on. But a handful of his silents already featured elements and themes that would recur in...

The Golden Age of Hollywood is filled with shining stars, brilliant directors and pioneering films that built a foundation for all to follow. As a result, films from those first decades are viewed with nostalgia and fondness, making us consider them all to be wonderful, especially the ones form the Big Name Stars. The magic of those early years was nicely captured by Martin Scorsese in Hugo and the bets of the best are restored and released on Blu-ray waiting to be rediscovered.

While we bemoan the justifiably bemoan the bloated nature of films, hoping they would be trimmed by 15-20 minutes and emphasis character over mindless action, we cite the classics in the field. And then come along older films that sound promising, look interesting and ultimately show they have not aged at all well. 20th Century Home Entertainment just released Tyrone Power’s Blood and Sand on Blu-ray...

Primary Stages launches their 29th season with the New York premiere of Harbor by Tony-nominated writer Chad Beguelin Elf, The Wedding Singer. Directed by Tony-nominated director Mark LamosSeascape, The Rivals, The Deep Blue Sea, the production features Erin Cummings Starz's 'Spartacus Blood and Sand', CBS' 'Made In Jersey', Randy Harrison Showtime's 'Queer As Folk', Broadway's Wicked, Alexis Molnar world premiere of Harbor at Westport Playhouse, and Paul Anthony Stewart Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof, The People in the Picture. Harbor runs July 23 - September 8 atPrimary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is August 6.The cast just met the press and BroadwayWorld brings you full photo coverage below...

Primary Stages launches their 29th season with the New York premiere of Harbor by Tony-nominated writer Chad Beguelin Elf, The Wedding Singer. Directed by Tony-nominated director Mark Lamos Seascape, The Rivals, The Deep Blue Sea, the production features Erin Cummings Starz's 'Spartacus Blood and Sand', CBS' 'Made In Jersey', Randy Harrison Showtime's 'Queer As Folk', Broadway's Wicked, Alexis Molnar world premiere of Harbor at Westport Playhouse, and Paul Anthony Stewart Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof, The People in the Picture. Harbor runs July 23 - September 8 atPrimary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is August 6. The cast just met the press and BroadwayWorld brings you a sneak peek below Be sure to check back later for our full coverage of the event.

Primary Stages launches their 29th season with the New York premiere of Harbor by Tony-nominated writer Chad Beguelin Elf, The Wedding Singer. Directed by Tony-nominated director Mark Lamos Seascape, The Rivals, The Deep Blue Sea, the production features Erin Cummings Starz's 'Spartacus Blood and Sand', CBS' 'Made In Jersey', Randy Harrison Showtime's 'Queer As Folk', Broadway's Wicked, Alexis Molnar world premiere of Harbor at Westport Playhouse, and Paul Anthony Stewart Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof, The People in the Picture. Harbor runs July 23 - September 8 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is August 6.

Da Vinci’s Demons, Season 1: Episode 7 – “The Hierophant”

Directed by Michael J. Bassett

Written by Sarah Goldfinger and Corey Reed

Airs Friday nights at 9 on Starz

After a week off, Da Vinci’s Demons returns just as bat-shit crazy as ever. In this penultimate episode of the season, most of the show’s weaknesses and strengths are on full display. Some of these storylines – after having given them the benefit of the doubt – just haven’t worked. At this stage in the game, Lorenzo’s political plays have become a distraction, leaving his character to fall to the peripherals of our interest. In fact, most of this political stuff between Florence and Rome is empty space eating up minutes. After last episode’s insane and enjoyable tangent involving Vlad the Impaler, it’s very obvious that the more seriously Da Vinci’s Demons takes itself, the higher the risk...

Spartacus: War of the Damned came to a bloody end a couple of weeks ago but fear not as the show hits DVD and Blu-ray this Monday! To celebrate the release, we got to speak to both Liam McIntyre who plays Spartacus and Todd Lasance who plays Caesar about their roles and how they decided top play them.

Liam was put into a very difficult place when he took over from Andy Whitfield as Spartacus after Andy tragically died from Cancer in 2011. Andy was always set to come back to the show and when it was evident that he wasn’t able to, Liam stepped into his place. During the interview, Liam talks opening about how he wanted to make Andy proud and how he tried to take his own spin on the role rather than copying what Andy did.

I also ask him about Starz decision to end the...