New releases: Spy Vibers might want to check out a few upcoming 60s films getting the Blu-ray treatment from Kino Lorber. Kimo is also running a sale on many Blu-ray and DVD titles right now, so check out their sale page to see if you spot anything of interest. From my glance I spotted Diamonds For Breakfast, Smashing Time, Pink Panther cartoons, Adventures of Captain Marvel, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Night Stalker, The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming, and The Stranger.
Blue Panther: AKA Marie-Chantel vs. Doctor Kha: "French New Wave legend Claude Chabrol, the director of Le Boucher, The Third Lover, Line of Demarcation and L’Enfer, took a turn into the Eurospy genre with this ’60s-chic romp. On a train bound for Switzerland, a secret agent (Roger Hanin, Breathless, Code Name: Tiger) entrusts Marie-Chantal (Marie Laforêt, Purple Noon, The Girl with the Golden Eyes) with a jewel in the shape of a panther with ruby eyes. Unbeknownst to her, this jewel contains a virus powerful enough to destroy all humankind. The fiendish Doctor Kha (Akim Tamiroff, Touch of Evil, Alphaville) is just one among many spies from different nations trying to get their hands on the panther. But the cool-as-ice Marie-Chantal will evade all attacks by sheer female cunning, and shows panther-like qualities in dealing with her male—and female—foes. Francisco Rabal (L’Eclisse), Serge Reggiani (Le Doulos), Charles Denner (Bluebeard) and Stéphane Audran (Les Biches) lead the star-studded supporting cast in this colorful spoof of international espionage capers." Features include 4K Restoration from the Original Camera Negative, NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson, and Trailers. Due 9/14/21.
Rififi in Paris: "He Followed a Trail of Flesh, Gold and Violence! From acclaimed author Auguste Le Breton (Rififi, Bob Le Flambeur) comes this stylish crime caper starring screen icon Jean Gabin (Touchez Pas Au Grisbi, The Sicilian Clan). In Paris, a grizzled gold-smuggler (Gabin) is at war with other local gangsters who want a piece of the action. To make matters worse, he must match wits with a coin-tossing Mafioso (George Raft, Spawn of the North) and the U.S. Treasury Department. Denys de La Patellière (Taxi for Tobruk) directed this globetrotting Eurospy thriller chock-full of international stars including Gert Fröbe (Goldfinger), Nadja Tiller (The Night Affair), Claude Brasseur (Band of Outsiders), Daniel Ceccaldi (That Man from Rio), Marcel Bozzuffi (The French Connection), Jean-Claude Bercq (The Train), Claude Cerval (Classe Tous Risques), Mino Doro (La Dolce Vita), Claudio Brook (Cronos) and Mireille Darc (Icy Breasts)." Features include NEW Audio Commentary by Filmmaker/Historian Daniel Kremer and Cinematographer Aaron Hollander, Trailers. Due 9/14/21.
Masquerade: "The fun starts when they take their cloaks and daggers off! From Basil Dearden, the acclaimed director of The Captive Heart, The Blue Lamp, Pool of London, The Mind Benders and Woman of Straw, comes the tongue-in-cheek spy caper Masquerade. The British government is in negotiations with the Middle Eastern oil-rich nation of Ramaut to allow in British drilling agencies, but Ramaut withdraws from the talks, leaving Britain desperate. British Colonel Drexel (Jack Hawkins, When Eight Bells Toll) is enlisted in a covert operation to kidnap the Ramaut prince, Jamil (Christopher Witty, The Railway Children), in order to force an oil agreement between the countries. Drexel brings in American David Frazer (Cliff Robertson, Charly) to assist, but Frazer finds someone else has plans for Jamil. Marisa Mell (Danger: Diabolik), Michel Piccoli (Max and the Junkmen), Bill Fraser (Diamonds for Breakfast) and Charles Gray (The Mirror Crack’d) co-star in this rollicking spy spoof. Michael Relph (The Man Who Haunted Himself) and the legendary William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) adapted the screenplay from the novel Castle Minerva by Vincent Canning (Golden Salamander)." Features include Brand New 2K Master, NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger and Chris Poggiali, Theatrical Trailer. Due 9/14/21.
Arabesque: "Ultra Mod, Ultra Mad, Ultra Mystery! Enter the world of Arabesque—a high-speed, high-class tale of international intrigue starring screen icons Gregory Peck (Duel in the Sun, Mirage) and Sophia Loren (Five Miles to Midnight, Marriage Italian Style). An American hieroglyphics professor (Peck) is hired by a mysterious Arab oil magnate to decipher a secret message. When the hidden meaning is revealed, the chase is on as he and the oil magnate’s exotic yet unpredictable companion (Loren) find themselves caught in the middle of an assassination plot. The great Stanley Donen (Singin’ in the Rain, Charade) directed this exciting romantic thriller that features the stylish music of Henry Mancini (The Pink Panther, Touch of Evil) and the acting talents of Alan Badel (Force 10 from Navarone), Kieron Moore (David and Bathsheba) and George Coulouris (Citizen Kane). Features include NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson, Music by Mancini: Archival Featurette with Henry Mancini and Nationally Syndicated Columnist Leonard Feather, Theatrical Trailer, Theatrical Teaser, Television Trailer, 5 TV Spots, Poster Gallery. Due 9/14/21.
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid: "Steve Martin and Carl Reiner, the ingenious brains behind The Jerk and The Man with Two Brains, team up for Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, the ultimate in comedy-noir. As the private eye of private eyes, Martin is Rigby Reardon. He’s tough, rough and ready to take on anything when Juliet Forrest (Rachel Ward, Sharky’s Machine, The Thorn Birds) appears on the scene with a case: her father, a noted scientist, philanthropist and cheesemaker, has died mysteriously. Reardon immediately smells a rat and follows a complex maze of clues that lead him to the “Carlotta Lists.” By weaving the plot and production design around memorable movie clips, Martin and Reiner summon some familiar friends to assist Reardon: Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Kirk Douglas, Ava Gardner, Cary Grant, Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Burt Lancaster, Charles Laughton, Fred MacMurray, Ray Milland, Vincent Price, Barbara Stanwyck and Lana Turner—just to name a few!" Features include NEW Audio Commentary by Filmmaker Allan Arkush and Film Historian/Filmmaker Daniel Kremer." Features include 4 Radio Spots, 3 TV Spots, Buttometer Teaser Trailer, Theatrical Trailer. Due 9/21/21.
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Shag Eames Lounge, Firecracker Exotica, Spy Vibe Radio: Lola Albright, Tikyaki 5-0, Godzilla Scores, Mid-Century Village, Spy Vibe radio: Nicola Conte, Men's Adventure Quarterly, Billy May Frenesi, Gary Numan, Spy Vader Spy, Chris Barber Legacy, Phantom Retrospective, Astro-Man, Check in with Japanese book designs, Spy Vibe Radio: Batman, James Bond Lexicon, Ray Cathode, Spy Vibe Radio: Johnny Staccato, Matt Helm Blu, Cold War Auction, Avengers Francavilla Prints, Avengers 60th Event, Irma Vep Blu, Avengers Keel Design, Ronnie Scott's Doc, The Avengers 60th Design, New Year, Art of Pan Books, John Le Carre R.I.P., Sean Connery R.I.P., New 007 Vinyl, Burke's Law Ska, Dieter Rams Complete, 2-Tone Doc, Spy Vibe Radio: Vendetta Part 2, Diana Rigg R.I.P., Moog Micky Dolenz, Beetle Bailey 70th, RSD Spies Vinyl, Ian Fleming Tribute, Fellini Box Set, Spy Vibe Radio: Vendetta, The Saint Podcast Bonus, The Saint Podcast, Barber Lotus, Diana Rigg at 82, Trad Roots, Morricone R.I.P., Fleetway Spy Designs, John Steel Casebooks, Paul at 78, ITC Podcast: The Persuaders, Dazzle Ships, Spy Vibe Radio: Raumpatrouille, Remembering Richard Sala, Crime & Spy Jazz books, Soviet Space Graphics, Numan is FAB, Bruce Lee Blu, John Barry Event, RSD Vinyl Spies, James Bond's DB5, UFO CD Set, Spy Vibe radio: Phantom Agents, Steranko is Revolutionary!, Interview: The Saint I Ain't, Diabolik Interview, New 007 Song, Diabolik Figures, Diabolik Sounds, Diabolik Set Design, Diabolik Park Ride, Danger Diabolik Blu, Count Arthur Strong, Honey West Title Cards, Bowie Day, New Year Cosmonauts, Neil Innes R.I.P., Claudine Auger R.I.P., OHMSS at 50, Italian Job 50th OST, Charles Schulz Modern, Paul Desmond, Python 50th, Randall Hopkirk 50th, Thunderbirds Day, Lazenby Returns to MI6, Dr. John R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio: Lupin III, Lupin Ska, Spy Vibe Prime, Zigomar Translation, The Village: Part 1, Monkey Punch R.I.P., Bubble Girl 63, ITC Soundtracks, Spy Vibe Radio: Public Eye, UFO Prime, Spaceship to Mars, Modesty Blaise Companion, Spy Vibe Radio: Fantomas, George Day, Fantomas Blu, Dark Shadows Doc, Bedazzled Blu-ray, Mary Quant Exhibit, Laika Calypso, Lost in Space Japan, Spy Dust Calypso, Atomic Cafe, John Barry Mono, Interview: John Barry Book, Land of the Giants Score, Skyfall Concert, Dearest Emma, Spy Vibe Radio: Upperseven, Ogilvy at Elstree, Mabuse Propaganda, Bond Beatles Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Liquidator, Diabolik LP, Fab Dresses, Eurospy Music Collection, Beetle Bailey in West Berlin, Why Mort Walker?, Spy Vibe radio: The Beatles Help!, Avengers Critical Guide, The Spotnicks, Benny Spies, James Pond 0017', Satire Stones, Annette Andre Book, Cat Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Get Smart, Caine: My Generation, Interview: Ian Ogilvy, Horror of Party Beach, Sylvie Vartan Renown, Ringo At 78, Dark Shadows Strips, Spy Vibe Radio: Flint, Archie Batman 66, Paul at 76, Beatles Pac-Man, Spy Vibe Radio: Jerry Cotton, The Invaders, 007 Horowitz Book Tour, McGoohan/Prisoner Event at Elstree, The Prisoner Interviews Vol 1, British Underground Press, Interview: Fab4 Mania, Bond Cocktail Book, Bond at Bletchley, Spy Smasher, Spy Vibe Radio: Peter Gunn, Agent Zero M, New Prisoner Comic, Dr. No Villains Edition, Spy Vibe Radio: Danger Diabolik, Dr. No 60th, Oy-Oy-Seven, Spy Vibe Radio (UFO), Cold War Comic Strips, Thunderball Event, Mission to India, Mort Walker Celebration, Peter Wyngarde Celebration, Batman 66 Exhibit, Prisoner Fifty Event, Ian Fleming Publications 2017-2018, Interview: Ed Hulse Pulp, Avengers Audio Drama, Interview: Callan At 50, Interview: Playboys, Spies, Private Eyes, TWA Returns, Spy Vibe Radio 8, Interview: Ryan Heshka, Mid-Century Modern Schulz, Agent Werewolf, Johnny Sokko 50th, Interview: Trina Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.
