Below are images from the 1950 adventure film called "BUCCANEER'S GIRL". Directed by Frederick De Cordova, the movie starred Yvonne De Carlo and Philip Friend: ( Read more... )

"A BROKEN HEART IN THE 'STAR WARS' SAGA

There have been many complaints of Padme Amidala’s role in the last installment of the STAR WARS saga – "REVENGE OF THE SITH". The main contention for many fans seemed to be her death. ( Read more... )

"THE HISTORY OF TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING" (1997) Review

The year 1963 saw the release of Tony Richardson's Academy Award winning adaptation of Henry Fielding's 1749 novel, "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling". Another thirty-four years passed before another adaptation of the novel appeared on the scene. It turned out to be the BBC's five-episode miniseries that aired in 1997. ( Read more... )

Below are images from "DARK SHADOWS", Tim Burton's new adaptation of the 1966-71 television series. The movie stars Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfieffer and Eva Green: ( Read more... )

"FLASHMAN AND THE TIGER" (1999) Book Review

Out of all the books featured in George MacDonald Fraser's The Flashman Papers, only one featured more than one tale. This turned out to be "FLASHMAN AND THE TIGER", first published in 1999. Instead of one novel, the book contained three novellas featuring an aging Harry Flashman between the ages of 56 and 72. ( Read more... )

"WUTHERING HEIGHTS" (1939) Review

Considering the popularity of the Brontë sisters, it is not surprising that there have been considerable movie, stage and television adaptations of their novels. I discovered there have been at least fifteen (15) adaptations of Emily Brontë's 1847 novel, "Wuthering Heights". ( Read more... )

The following is Chapter Three of my story about a pair of free black siblings making the journey to California in 1849: ( Read more... )

Below are images from the 1987 movie, "THE UNTOUCHABLES". Directed by Brian DePalma, the movie starred Kevin Costner, Sean Connery and Robert DeNiro: ( Read more... )

"CENTENNIAL" (1978-79) - Episode Eleven "The Winds of Death" Commentary

A recent critic of "CENTENNIAL" once complained that the miniseries had failed to breach the topic of land environmental issues in an effective manner. Author James Michener allowed this subject to dominate his 1973 novel. But this critic seemed to hint that producer John Wilder had more or less dropped the ball on this topic in the television adaptation. ( Read more... )

"STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE" (1999) Review

Sixteen years after the 1983 movie, "STAR WARS: EPISODE VI - RETURN OF THE JEDI" hit the movie screens, producer-director George Lucas returned to the world of STAR WARS for a new trilogy that depicted the years before the 1977-1983 movies, starting with the 1999 film, "STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE". ( Read more... )