Author Archives: chipkaufmann

THE LITTLE AMERICAN was the second of two movies that Mary Pickford and Cecil B. De Mille made together in 1917 (the other was A ROMANCE OF THE REDWOODS). It would be the only time that they would work together. While both films were very successful at the box office, Pickford and De Mille continuallyContinue reading “THE LITTLE AMERICAN (1917): De Mille & Pickford Together”

At last we finally have a quality release of Orson Welles’ fascinating but ill-fated 1948 production of “the Scottish play”. After its negative reception, Welles would make only one more movie in Hollywood (TOUCH OF EVIL) and that was 10 years later. The 3 Shakespearean films have now resurfaced in close to their original versions.Continue reading “Orson Welles’ MACBETH (1948): Shakespeare as Film Noir”

The first time I came across Orson Welles’ OTHELLO was in 1980 in Charleston SC. The Spoleto Festival that year was honoring Welles with a showing of all the movies that he had directed. The most recently completed (and the last one he finished) was the 1979 documentary FILMING OTHELLO which goes into great detail showing theContinue reading “Orson Welles’ OTHELLO (1952): Finally A Quality Version With Subtitles”

It has been almost 60 years since Orson Welles completed CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (1965) which was more frequently known as FALSTAFF until its recent restoration. It had been available off and on over the years in various versions most of which suffered from a poorly synchronized soundtrack which first happened when the movie was inContinue reading “CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT / FALSTAFF (1965); Orson Welles’ Shakespearean Masterpiece”

Every lover of film has had a pivotal film experience, the movie that made such an impact on them that they have never forgotten it. For me WITCHFINDER GENERAL is that film. I first saw it in 1969 as THE CONQUERER WORM (AIP’s American release title designed to cash in on the Vincent Price/Edgar AllanContinue reading “WITCHFINDER GENERAL / THE CONQUEROR WORM (1968)”

I clearly remember seeing this American International release in 1970 when it first came out and really disliking it. The movie was directed by Gordon Hessler who became AIP’s go to Poe director after Roger Corman moved on. It really seemed like a slipshod affair with a jumbled storyline and poor editing. I’m rather surprisedContinue reading “CRY OF THE BANSHEE (1970): WITCHFINDER GENERAL 2”

The trinity of producer Louis (Deke) M. Heyward, writer Christopher Wicking, and director Gordon Hessler, under the auspices of American International, were responsible for a series of 4 British horror movies from 1969-1971. 3 of these were marketed as Edgar Allan Poe movies. Their approach to the Gothic horror film reflects the cynical attitudes expressedContinue reading “THE OBLONG BOX (1969): The First Of The Price/Poe Pictures Not Directed By Roger Corman”

According to the numerous reviews of SWORD OF THE VALIANT, the majority are mostly positive although those that don’t like it REALLY don’t like it. Then there are those, like myself, who fall somewhere in the middle. However, of all the reviews, few mention the fact that director Stephen Weeks made an earlier version inContinue reading “SWORD OF THE VALIANT (1984): Not Nearly As Good As The Director’s First Version”

In 1973 Stephen Weeks directed the first of 2 versions of the SIR GAWAIN & THE GREEN KNIGHT saga. He would remake it 11 years later in 1984 as SWORD OF THE VALIANT. As far as I’m concerned, this first version is the best one by far. It’s also the film that Monty Python tookContinue reading “GAWAIN & THE GREEN KNIGHT (1973): The First & Best Of Stephen Weeks’ 2 Versions”

Between 1960 and 1971 American International Pictures (AIP) made 12 movies based on works by Edgar Allan Poe. They were HOUSE OF USHER (1960), THE PIT & THE PENDULUM (1961), TALES OF TERROR (1962), THE PREMATURE BURIAL (1962), THE RAVEN (1963), THE HAUNTED PALACE (1964), THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1964), TOMB OF LIGEIAContinue reading “MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE (1971): Better Than I Remembered”