Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Fahrenheit 451 50th, 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, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art.
STYLE IN ACTION
Showing posts with label george clooney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label george clooney. Show all posts
April 13, 2017
PROPAGANDA MABUSE
The arch-villain Doctor Mabuse was created by novelist Norbert Jacques and popularized in a series of films between 1922-1971, most notably by director Fritz Lang. He was a master criminal, much like Fantomas, whose dedication to organized evil became, in the lore, an undying idea that lived on in the hearts of his followers. Dr Mabuse returned as a character in the 1980s in a single by avante-pop band, Propaganda. The group hailed from Dusseldorf and recorded under Trevor Horn's ZTT label in the mid-1980s. Spy Vibers may remember Horn from The Art of Noise. After relocating to the UK, Propaganda released a number of interesting projects, including a cover of Throbbing Gristle's Discipline and the acclaimed album, A Secret Wish (1985). One of the album's singles, Dr. Mabuse, charted in both Germany and in the UK and became a popular track on entertainment programs such as The Tube (1982-1987). The promotional video (version 1) for Dr. Mabuse celebrated the era of German Expressionist films, and it was one of the first video projects by Anton Corbijn- famed photographer for many 1980s/1990s bands and director of The American (2010) starring George Clooney. Filmed in beautiful black and white at night, the Mabuse video featured the band members in cloak and dagger vibe, and none other than actor Vladek Sheybal (From Russia With Love, Secret Agent, The Baron, The Saint, Casino Royale, Billion Dollar Brain, The Champions, Callan, UFO) in the role of Dr. Mabuse! The video's rich imagery also recalls Fritz Lang's M and the hooded menace and secret societies of Edgar Wallace Krimi stories. The lyrics of the song warn: "The man without shadow promises you the world. Tell him your dreams and fanatical needs. He's buying them all with cash. Sell him your soul." Check it out below. Read more about Propaganda member Claudia Brücken. Speaking of music, I'm writing and producing a new Spy Vibe radio segment for Cocktail Nation out of Australia! More info HERE.
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Fahrenheit 451 50th, 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, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art.
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Fahrenheit 451 50th, 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, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art.
May 24, 2011
DEAL ALERT: OCEAN'S TRILOGY
Deal Alert: Through May 28th, Amazon is selling the Blu-ray box set of Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Trilogy for $17.99. Details at Amazon here. Soderbergh is currently in pre-production for a 2012 movie based on the 1960s hit spy show, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
January 13, 2011
CINEMATOGRAPHY: THE GOOD GERMAN
Spy Vibers shared some great suggestions over the past few days about some of their favorite cinematography. How does color and black and white not only support the story, but also become an element of its era that we savor as viewers? One contemporary film that attempted to capture some essence of vintage black and white imagery was The Good German (2006). I seem to remember seeing Steven Soderbergh in an interview talk about how they hoped to use vintage equipment to match the visual tone of period dramas, and how old-style lighting, cameras, etc would also affect things like composition and scene-blocking. Their effort is apparent in this trailer, though I haven't seen the film recently enough to speak for the whole project. A quick study of clips, however, suggests some inconsistency of success. The still below is quite beautiful and reminds me of those iconic sewer shots of Joesph Cotten and Orson Welles (and Bernard Lee!) in Carol Reed's The Third Man (1949). I'll put together a series of clips from reader suggestions to view over the weekend.
October 23, 2010
OCEAN'S 11 BLU!
In celebration of the epic Mondo Lounge fest this weekend in Las Vegas, which will feature rare film screenings, fashions shows, cocktail parties, music, and exhibiting artists Shag and Bosko, Spy Vibe wants to give fans the heads-up about the 50th anniversary Blu-ray edition of the original Ocean's 11 (1960). This Frank Sinatra/Rat Pack classic is an excellent time capsule that centers around a group of post-war buddies who knew which way the cultural winds were blowing in 1960. The characters embody a rejection of the suburban values of the era to live life as swingers. Sinatra and his gang occupy a Hugh Hefner-inspired lifestyle based on individual freedom, pleasure, adventure, and fraternal loyalty. They are the jet-setting first wave of the sexual revolution, middle-aged heroes at a turning point before the culture shifted toward the space race and the youth market.
The film, similar to the modern version with George Clooney and Brad Pitt (2001), centers around cool characters, cool outfits, cool apartments, and impossibly cool schemes to rob casinos in Las Vegas. Check out the bachelor pad decor above where Sinatra and Martin shoot some pool. It's a stylish ride! It's interesting to think about other iconic works from this era. Along with Ocean's 11, the world also saw the release of Kind of Blue by Miles Davis (1959), Time Out by Dave Brubeck (1959), Danger Man with Patrick McGoohan (1960), and by 1961, a couple of movie producers were working with Ian Fleming to launch 007 to the big screen. Seven days after the premiere of Ocean's 11 on August 10th, 1960, The Beatles began their first residency in Hamburg, West Germany, at the Indra Club on Grosse Freiheit on Wednesday August 17th. A cultural tidal wave was forming, but the Rat Pack would hold their place for a little longer. Although I had seen news of a delay in production for the Ocean's 11 disc, it appears that the Blu-ray is available on Amazon for a November 9th release. Blu-ray.com review here.
From Amazon: New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas. Roulette wheels spin, cards snap, slots chime, champagne fizzes, shows go on…and the lights go out. It’s the perfect time to steal a kiss or a $25 chip. But for Danny Ocean (Frank Sinatra) and 10 partners in crime, it’s the ideal moment to steal millions. Sinatra and off-screen pals Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop and more play army buddies who scheme to knock out power to the Vegas strip, electronically rig five big casino vaults and raid them all at the same instant. Packed with location-lensed glamour, sweaty suspense, swinging comedy and a stunning twist ending now in gorgeous hi-def, Ocean's 11 is your entertainment best bet.
The film, similar to the modern version with George Clooney and Brad Pitt (2001), centers around cool characters, cool outfits, cool apartments, and impossibly cool schemes to rob casinos in Las Vegas. Check out the bachelor pad decor above where Sinatra and Martin shoot some pool. It's a stylish ride! It's interesting to think about other iconic works from this era. Along with Ocean's 11, the world also saw the release of Kind of Blue by Miles Davis (1959), Time Out by Dave Brubeck (1959), Danger Man with Patrick McGoohan (1960), and by 1961, a couple of movie producers were working with Ian Fleming to launch 007 to the big screen. Seven days after the premiere of Ocean's 11 on August 10th, 1960, The Beatles began their first residency in Hamburg, West Germany, at the Indra Club on Grosse Freiheit on Wednesday August 17th. A cultural tidal wave was forming, but the Rat Pack would hold their place for a little longer. Although I had seen news of a delay in production for the Ocean's 11 disc, it appears that the Blu-ray is available on Amazon for a November 9th release. Blu-ray.com review here.
From Amazon: New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas. Roulette wheels spin, cards snap, slots chime, champagne fizzes, shows go on…and the lights go out. It’s the perfect time to steal a kiss or a $25 chip. But for Danny Ocean (Frank Sinatra) and 10 partners in crime, it’s the ideal moment to steal millions. Sinatra and off-screen pals Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop and more play army buddies who scheme to knock out power to the Vegas strip, electronically rig five big casino vaults and raid them all at the same instant. Packed with location-lensed glamour, sweaty suspense, swinging comedy and a stunning twist ending now in gorgeous hi-def, Ocean's 11 is your entertainment best bet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)