Event Alert: Exoticon 2 is scheduled for next month and promises a fulfilled schedule of Tiki culture, cocktails, Mid-Century Modern, tours, artwork, live music, seminars, and more! From the press release: "EXOTIKON is a rollercoaster, weekend-long celebration of Mid-20th Century suave escapism culture. Here, we’ll celebrate the many worlds of EXOTICA: Lounge, Latin, Tiki, Jungle Funk, Trip Hop, Mod Dance, Psychedelia, Space, Electronica and so much more!" June 8 & 9 in Los Angeles. Check out all the details on the official website.

 

James Bond location guide: "On the Tracks of 007: Cote d'Azur, Written by Simon Firth, Cover artwork by Jeff Marshall.

 Chinese comics books from 1989

Magazine cover, Starburst #470  "No Time To Die" March 2020
 

Book covers from Czech Republic using  the artwork by Aslan Sukur, published by Rodokaps Books.

Thanks to Ömer for sharing these.

Cameron Diaz has made a lot of movies, but there's one title that stands above the rest, at least according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Denzel Washington may yet join the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a role in Black Panther 3, at least according to the Oscar-winner himself.

Marvel Legends' new Deadpool & Wolverine action figures are among the best Marvel Cinematic Universe collectibles that Hasbro has released so far.

The animated series Futurama has a very unique look, so much so that the color supervisor gave the show's color scheme a specific name.

Yellowstone made its long-awaited return without Kevin Costner this week. Judging by the initial numbers, it's still a ratings monster.

Soon after filming began, Al Pacino was almost fired from The Godfather. Then Francis Ford Coppola shot a now-iconic scene that changed everything.

The character who died in The Penguin's season 1 finale was always doomed, though the circumstances of their death changed as the show developed.

This new feature length film by Amy Flannery is a rollicking docu-comedy about a couple's year-long sailing adventure. Amy and Ken set out on a cruise from Chesapeake Bay to Nova Scotia and then back down the coast to the Bahamas. Along the way they encounter assorted equipment failures, make new friends, visit many interesting places, improve their navigational skills, and film this movie. Now available as a YouTube Rental for just $2.99. Rent more videos at TheSailingChannel YouTube Documentary Playlist. HIGH QUALITY VIDEO DOWNLOAD JUST $12.99 Available in both Windows Media (WMV) and QuickTime (MOV) versions suitable for full screen viewing. Also available in two parts: Chesapeake Bay to Nova Scotia and Norfolk, VA to the Bahamas. Just $7.95 each. Pay with Paypal or your Credit Card, download and watch on your PC or MAC. FULL SHOW 85-minutes . PART 1: Chesapeake Bay to Nova Scotia 49-minutes PART 2: Norfolk, VA to the Bahamas 45-minutes DVD-US: $24.95 (includes s&h) Sailing Videos from $2.99. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY TheSailingChannel.TV presents Cast Off for Mexico, the indispensable Video Guide for boaters entering and exiting Mexican waters. Available at Vimeo On Demand. Cast Off for Mexico is a must-see before you sail and while you're there. It includes everything you need to know about visiting Baja's northernmost Port of Entry, Ensenada. Produced by Ted Field and Mark Ritts, the same team that produced the popular cruising video, "Cast Off for Catalina". The video features a roundtrip voyage to Ensenada, Mexico and back to San Diego as your return Port of Entry into the United States. You'll learn about immigration procedures and required documents for you, your crew, and your vessel for a hassle free voyage to and from Mexico. Included are extensive tours of Ensenada, its harbor, marinas and boating facilities, plus in-depth interviews with Mexican boating experts, and Mexican and U.S. immigration and port officials. There is also advice on destinations throughout Baja and the Sea of Cortez, plus a side trip to Baja's scenic wine region. For DVD purchase, visit http://www.thesailingchannel.tv/mexico/ All Sailing Videos Just $2.99 or Less. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY 23 minute documentary. Voyage with Amy and Kenny aboard their 1984 Morgan 384 sloop as they explore Newfoundland's Southwest Coast. Sail past grand vistas of rock bound shores into stunning fjords. Visit remote outports frozen in time and learn the sad story of their slow decline. Meet the locals who tell of vanishing fisheries and a government that's eliminating their support including mail, mainland ferries and electricity. Witness a homecoming celebration in the small island village of Ramea where a traditional way of life is quickly disappearing. Then sail east to the small island of St. Pierre & Miquelon, the last remaining French position in North America. Available at Vimeo On Demand. Download: $9.95 | $4.99 Streaming Rental Sailing Videos from $2.99. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY Cost Control While You Cruise. What does it actually cost to cruise? How do you keep from blowing the budget you set? Join Lin and Larry Pardey as they share the financial lessons they have learned during 45 years of voyaging and from countless interviews with cruising sailors from dozens of different countries and walks of life. Based on the Pardey's popular boat show seminar of the same name, this new video includes footage shot by the Pardey's over 25 years of cruising the world's oceans. Divided into 22 chapters, the main 64-minute movie provides a wealth of information about cruising costs and ways to control your budget once you're out there. The DVD is fully interactive so you can easily reference different chapters. The Video Download MP4 file is also "chapterized" so you can jump between topics. Purchase at http://feeds.thesailingchannel.tv/~/557582072/0/thesailingchannel/ HD Video Download $12.99 | Streaming Rental $5.99 DVD with Video Extras $24.95 + s&h Check out the entire collection of Pardey Videos and Books at http://www.thesailingchannel.tv/pardey. Videos are available as high quality Windows Media and QuickTime downloads. You can rent Pardey Videos on our YouTube channel at Pardey YouTube Rentals for just $2.99. Sailing Documentaries from $2.99. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY Preview of Part 1. Originally shot in 16 mm color, the film has been restored and converted to HD video. Completed in 1976, this is a two part sailing documentary by skipper and noted Hollywood cinematographer, Gene Evens (Roots, Jeremiah Johnson, Lady Sings the Blues, Batman and many more movie and television productions) and his wife Josie aboard their 32 foot sloop, "Discubridor" ("Discoverer"). Their two-year sailing adventure takes them over 10,000 miles from southern California south to Costa Rica, offshore to Cocos Island and the Galapagos Islands, then home to San Diego. Along the way they explore remote locales, fish, struggle against storms, and on a few occasions fight for survival. In Part 1, Gene and his wife Josie, sail "Discubridor" ("Discoverer") south from San Diego down the coast of Baja California, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica where they are joined by their son Ron and a couple of friends for a 300 mile off shore sail to the mysterious Cocos Island. In Part 2, the crew explore Cocos Island, sail onto the legendary Galapagos Islands for more exploration, then Gene and Josie sail back across the Pacific alone and home to San Diego. Available at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/600days HD 1280 x 720 (Original format: 16mm color) Pt. 1: To Cocos & the Galapagos Islands Running Time: 90 Minutes Pt. 2: Cocos & the Galapagos Islands Running time: 65 Minutes Sailing Documentaries from $2.99. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY Preview of Part 2 Originally shot in 16 mm color, the film has been restored and converted to HD video. Completed in 1976, this is a two part sailing documentary by skipper and noted Hollywood cinematographer, Gene Evens (Roots, Jeremiah Johnson, Lady Sings the Blues, Batman and many more movie and television productions) and his wife Josie aboard their 32 foot sloop, "Discubridor" ("Discoverer"). Their two-year sailing adventure takes them over 10,000 miles from southern California south to Costa Rica, offshore to Cocos Island and the Galapagos Islands, then home to San Diego. Along the way they explore remote locales, fish, struggle against storms, and on a few occasions fight for survival. In Part 1, Gene and his wife Josie, sail "Discubridor" ("Discoverer") south from San Diego down the coast of Baja California, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica where they are joined by their son Ron and a couple of friends for a 300 mile off shore sail to the mysterious Cocos Island. In Part 2, the crew explore Cocos Island, sail onto the legendary Galapagos Islands for more exploration, then Gene and Josie sail back across the Pacific alone and home to San Diego. Available at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/600days HD 1280 x 720 (Original format: 16mm color) Pt. 1: To Cocos & the Galapagos Islands Running Time: 90 Minutes Pt. 2: Cocos & the Galapagos Islands Running time: 65 Minutes Sailing Documentaries from $2.99. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY A film by Rob & Dee Dubin Take four U.S.-Mexico West Coast cruising adventures: San Francisco Bay, the Sea of Cortez, the Channel Islands, and Ensenada, Mexico. Hosted by America's Cup Champ and sailing commentator, Gary Jobson. From the Sailing Quarterly Video Magazine series. Your voyage begins with a cruise of San Francisco Bay from the Golden Gate Bridge to remote coves far from the city's center. Next, sail south to Mexico's Sea of Cortez. Enjoy a crewed charter that takes you to the villages and islands of this rugged and beautiful cruising ground. Returning to southern California sail to the uninhabited Channel Islands. Explore the diverse flora and fauna on Santa Cruz Island, often referred to as the Galapagos of the North. Complete your West Coast cruise with a one-day flotilla sail from San Diego to Ensenada, Mexico. Tour this popular cruising destination and the surrounding countryside. Finally, cast off for the picturesque Todos Santos islands and a flotilla raft up before sailing home. (D5Z) Watch the Extended Trailer. Check out more Sailing Quarterly destination and how-to videos ABOUT SAILING QUARTERLY Produced in the late 1980's, Sailing Quarterly Video Magazine's 24 one-hour programs set the standard for sailing television. It's content represents over 200 years of sailing knowledge from its hosts and presenters such as Gary Jobson, Don Street, Tristan Jones and John Rousmaniere. We've taken individual stories, and grouped them under instructional categories and cruising destinations. The complete series includes nine instructional volumes, eight destination volumes, and the 24 original SQ one-hour programs. This is timeless content that will benefit every sailor, racer or cruiser. Presented by TheSailingChannel.TV Browse our VOD collection Join our eNewsletter for news and discount offers. Sailing Documentaries and How-To Videos. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY VIDEO SUBSCRIBE TO SAILFLIX.COM through 31 May, 2019 for a chance to win an Oceanus Brass Bow-Shackle Pen. SAILFLIX is our new sailing video subscription service powered by Vimeo OTT. SailFlix features contemporary and classic sailing documentaries and how-to videos from some of the most renowned sailors of our time. DISCOVER OCEANUS BRASS Oceanus Brass is as bold as it is thoughtful. We make timeless instruments that are both rich in heritage and innovative in design. Tools that you can use every day with proud confidence on the open ocean or in your office. Presented by TheSailingChannel.TV Subscribe to SailFlix, our new sailing video subscription service. Browse our VOD collection of destination and how-to sail videos. Join our eNewsletter for news and discount offers. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

Plus 4 more new releases to watch at home this week on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD!

Mesoporous silicon nanoparticles co-deliver chemotherapeutic and genetic drugs with a time lag for more effectively countering cancer-cell protection mechanisms against drugs, as well as inhibiting cell growth and metastasis.

They might also be used as highly-sensitive sensors and even as integrated light sources.

The magnetotransport properties of materials can be tailored by changing their nanostructure geometry.

For less demanding applications Hiden Analytical offer compact gas analysers

Pittcon Conference and Expo 2018

In which our heroes do it to Colonel Mustard in the study with the lead pipe. With special guests Josh Brandon and Jonathan Lynn

In which our heroes are reunited. With Scott Mosier! SPONSOR: Go to https://keeps.com/smod if you're ready to take action to prevent hair loss and get your first month of treatment for FREE!

After her 2021 breakout in The Worst Person in the World, Renate Reinsve’s 2022 and 2023 seemed fairly quiet for the viewer, but she was working on no shortage of projects that finally saw the light of day this year. Following A Different Man, Handling the Undead, Another End, and Presumed Innocent, she leads Armand, […]

The post Armand Trailer: Renate Reinsve Leads Norway’s Oscar Contender first appeared on The Film Stage.

Most men think about the Roman Empire several times a week, if a recent meme is to be believed. With Gladiator II, Ridley Scott brings the era back to life in the way only a teenage boy could imagine it. Historical accuracy continues to be an irrelevance for the director, and who could blame him? […]

The post Gladiator II Review: Ridley Scott’s Sequel Bests Predecessor By Going Dumb first appeared on The Film Stage.

Here’s a very welcome surprise before the end of the year: Leos Carax’s stunning cine-memoir It’s Not Me is getting a release this December. Sideshow and Janus Films announced today that the Cannes and NYFF selection will hit theaters in NY and LA as well as arrive on the Criterion Channel and VOD platforms on […]

The post Leos Carax’s It’s Not Me Coming to Theaters and Criterion Channel on December 10 first appeared on The Film Stage.

This new feature length film by Amy Flannery is a rollicking docu-comedy about a couple's year-long sailing adventure. Amy and Ken set out on a cruise from Chesapeake Bay to Nova Scotia and then back down the coast to the Bahamas. Along the way they encounter assorted equipment failures, make new friends, visit many interesting places, improve their navigational skills, and film this movie. Now available as a YouTube Rental for just $2.99. Rent more videos at TheSailingChannel YouTube Documentary Playlist. HIGH QUALITY VIDEO DOWNLOAD JUST $12.99 Available in both Windows Media (WMV) and QuickTime (MOV) versions suitable for full screen viewing. Also available in two parts: Chesapeake Bay to Nova Scotia and Norfolk, VA to the Bahamas. Just $7.95 each. Pay with Paypal or your Credit Card, download and watch on your PC or MAC. FULL SHOW 85-minutes . PART 1: Chesapeake Bay to Nova Scotia 49-minutes PART 2: Norfolk, VA to the Bahamas 45-minutes DVD-US: $24.95 (includes s&h) Sailing Videos from $2.99. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY TheSailingChannel.TV presents Cast Off for Mexico, the indispensable Video Guide for boaters entering and exiting Mexican waters. Available at Vimeo On Demand. Cast Off for Mexico is a must-see before you sail and while you're there. It includes everything you need to know about visiting Baja's northernmost Port of Entry, Ensenada. Produced by Ted Field and Mark Ritts, the same team that produced the popular cruising video, "Cast Off for Catalina". The video features a roundtrip voyage to Ensenada, Mexico and back to San Diego as your return Port of Entry into the United States. You'll learn about immigration procedures and required documents for you, your crew, and your vessel for a hassle free voyage to and from Mexico. Included are extensive tours of Ensenada, its harbor, marinas and boating facilities, plus in-depth interviews with Mexican boating experts, and Mexican and U.S. immigration and port officials. There is also advice on destinations throughout Baja and the Sea of Cortez, plus a side trip to Baja's scenic wine region. For DVD purchase, visit http://www.thesailingchannel.tv/mexico/ All Sailing Videos Just $2.99 or Less. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY 23 minute documentary. Voyage with Amy and Kenny aboard their 1984 Morgan 384 sloop as they explore Newfoundland's Southwest Coast. Sail past grand vistas of rock bound shores into stunning fjords. Visit remote outports frozen in time and learn the sad story of their slow decline. Meet the locals who tell of vanishing fisheries and a government that's eliminating their support including mail, mainland ferries and electricity. Witness a homecoming celebration in the small island village of Ramea where a traditional way of life is quickly disappearing. Then sail east to the small island of St. Pierre & Miquelon, the last remaining French position in North America. Available at Vimeo On Demand. Download: $9.95 | $4.99 Streaming Rental Sailing Videos from $2.99. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY Cost Control While You Cruise. What does it actually cost to cruise? How do you keep from blowing the budget you set? Join Lin and Larry Pardey as they share the financial lessons they have learned during 45 years of voyaging and from countless interviews with cruising sailors from dozens of different countries and walks of life. Based on the Pardey's popular boat show seminar of the same name, this new video includes footage shot by the Pardey's over 25 years of cruising the world's oceans. Divided into 22 chapters, the main 64-minute movie provides a wealth of information about cruising costs and ways to control your budget once you're out there. The DVD is fully interactive so you can easily reference different chapters. The Video Download MP4 file is also "chapterized" so you can jump between topics. Purchase at https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/557582072/0/thesailingchannel/ HD Video Download $12.99 | Streaming Rental $5.99 DVD with Video Extras $24.95 + s&h Check out the entire collection of Pardey Videos and Books at http://www.thesailingchannel.tv/pardey. Videos are available as high quality Windows Media and QuickTime downloads. You can rent Pardey Videos on our YouTube channel at Pardey YouTube Rentals for just $2.99. Sailing Documentaries from $2.99. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY Preview of Part 1. Originally shot in 16 mm color, the film has been restored and converted to HD video. Completed in 1976, this is a two part sailing documentary by skipper and noted Hollywood cinematographer, Gene Evens (Roots, Jeremiah Johnson, Lady Sings the Blues, Batman and many more movie and television productions) and his wife Josie aboard their 32 foot sloop, "Discubridor" ("Discoverer"). Their two-year sailing adventure takes them over 10,000 miles from southern California south to Costa Rica, offshore to Cocos Island and the Galapagos Islands, then home to San Diego. Along the way they explore remote locales, fish, struggle against storms, and on a few occasions fight for survival. In Part 1, Gene and his wife Josie, sail "Discubridor" ("Discoverer") south from San Diego down the coast of Baja California, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica where they are joined by their son Ron and a couple of friends for a 300 mile off shore sail to the mysterious Cocos Island. In Part 2, the crew explore Cocos Island, sail onto the legendary Galapagos Islands for more exploration, then Gene and Josie sail back across the Pacific alone and home to San Diego. Available at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/600days HD 1280 x 720 (Original format: 16mm color) Pt. 1: To Cocos & the Galapagos Islands Running Time: 90 Minutes Pt. 2: Cocos & the Galapagos Islands Running time: 65 Minutes Sailing Documentaries from $2.99. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY Preview of Part 2 Originally shot in 16 mm color, the film has been restored and converted to HD video. Completed in 1976, this is a two part sailing documentary by skipper and noted Hollywood cinematographer, Gene Evens (Roots, Jeremiah Johnson, Lady Sings the Blues, Batman and many more movie and television productions) and his wife Josie aboard their 32 foot sloop, "Discubridor" ("Discoverer"). Their two-year sailing adventure takes them over 10,000 miles from southern California south to Costa Rica, offshore to Cocos Island and the Galapagos Islands, then home to San Diego. Along the way they explore remote locales, fish, struggle against storms, and on a few occasions fight for survival. In Part 1, Gene and his wife Josie, sail "Discubridor" ("Discoverer") south from San Diego down the coast of Baja California, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica where they are joined by their son Ron and a couple of friends for a 300 mile off shore sail to the mysterious Cocos Island. In Part 2, the crew explore Cocos Island, sail onto the legendary Galapagos Islands for more exploration, then Gene and Josie sail back across the Pacific alone and home to San Diego. Available at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/600days HD 1280 x 720 (Original format: 16mm color) Pt. 1: To Cocos & the Galapagos Islands Running Time: 90 Minutes Pt. 2: Cocos & the Galapagos Islands Running time: 65 Minutes Sailing Documentaries from $2.99. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY A film by Rob & Dee Dubin Take four U.S.-Mexico West Coast cruising adventures: San Francisco Bay, the Sea of Cortez, the Channel Islands, and Ensenada, Mexico. Hosted by America's Cup Champ and sailing commentator, Gary Jobson. From the Sailing Quarterly Video Magazine series. Your voyage begins with a cruise of San Francisco Bay from the Golden Gate Bridge to remote coves far from the city's center. Next, sail south to Mexico's Sea of Cortez. Enjoy a crewed charter that takes you to the villages and islands of this rugged and beautiful cruising ground. Returning to southern California sail to the uninhabited Channel Islands. Explore the diverse flora and fauna on Santa Cruz Island, often referred to as the Galapagos of the North. Complete your West Coast cruise with a one-day flotilla sail from San Diego to Ensenada, Mexico. Tour this popular cruising destination and the surrounding countryside. Finally, cast off for the picturesque Todos Santos islands and a flotilla raft up before sailing home. (D5Z) Watch the Extended Trailer. Check out more Sailing Quarterly destination and how-to videos ABOUT SAILING QUARTERLY Produced in the late 1980's, Sailing Quarterly Video Magazine's 24 one-hour programs set the standard for sailing television. It's content represents over 200 years of sailing knowledge from its hosts and presenters such as Gary Jobson, Don Street, Tristan Jones and John Rousmaniere. We've taken individual stories, and grouped them under instructional categories and cruising destinations. The complete series includes nine instructional volumes, eight destination volumes, and the 24 original SQ one-hour programs. This is timeless content that will benefit every sailor, racer or cruiser. Presented by TheSailingChannel.TV Browse our VOD collection Join our eNewsletter for news and discount offers. Sailing Documentaries and How-To Videos. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

CLICK TO PLAY VIDEO SUBSCRIBE TO SAILFLIX.COM through 31 May, 2019 for a chance to win an Oceanus Brass Bow-Shackle Pen. SAILFLIX is our new sailing video subscription service powered by Vimeo OTT. SailFlix features contemporary and classic sailing documentaries and how-to videos from some of the most renowned sailors of our time. DISCOVER OCEANUS BRASS Oceanus Brass is as bold as it is thoughtful. We make timeless instruments that are both rich in heritage and innovative in design. Tools that you can use every day with proud confidence on the open ocean or in your office. Presented by TheSailingChannel.TV Subscribe to SailFlix, our new sailing video subscription service. Browse our VOD collection of destination and how-to sail videos. Join our eNewsletter for news and discount offers. Brought to you by TheSailingChannel.TV

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A whole decade after the release of his second OSS 117 spy spoof, Lost in Rio (review here), Jean Dujardin (who picked up an Oscar for Best Actor in the interim) has at long last stepped back into the role that brought him international fame. Cameras began rolling this week on a third OSS 117 comedy, as announced by director Nicolas Bedos via video of a clapperboard on Instagram. OSS 117: Alerte rouge en Afrique noire (literally translated as OSS 117: Red Alert in Black Africa, which very much has the ring of a Jean Bruce novel title, but the ultimate English title is unlikely to be a direct translation of the French one) is scheduled to film in Paris and Kenya, with Bedos (La belle époque) taking the reins from Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist), who helmed the first two. Hazanavicius and Bedos both contributed to the controversial 2012 sex comedy portmanteau The Players, which also starred Dujardin. Jean-François Halin, who co-wrote the first two OSS 117 comedies with Hazanavicius and went on to create the very funny, Sixties-set comedic spy series Au service de la France (known as A Very Secret Service in America, where it streams on Netflix) handles solo scripting duties on this one. Pierre Niney (Yves Saint Laurent), Fatou N'Diaye (Spiral), and Wladimir Yordanoff (currently appearing with Dujardin in An Officer and a Spy) are also among the cast.

Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, code name OSS 117, began life long before Dujardin. The redoubtable secret agent was the brainchild of French author Jean Bruce, and starred in a series of 234 novels (of which only a handful have ever been translated into English) beginning in 1949 (and thus predating Ian Fleming's more famous superspy). The books are serious spy stories, and the character was initially treated seriously on screen, too, beginning in the 1950s, but most famously in a series of five exceptional Eurospy movies directed or produced by André Hunebelle (Fantomas) between 1963 and 1968. (Read my review of my favorite, OSS 117: Terror in Tokyo, which presaged many James Bond moments, here.) Once notoriously hard to track down in English-friendly versions, Kino Lorber has now, happily, released a set of those five films on DVD and Blu-ray. For a more in-depth history of the character and links to my reviews of all the films, see my post OSS 117: An Introduction.

In 2006, Michel Hazanavicius revived the character in the hilarious send-up OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (review here). That first spoof was set in the Fifties and brilliantly parodied the early Bond films (with Dujardin partly channeling young Sean Connery) and Alfred Hitchcock movies... along with the prevalent casual racism and sexism of that era. The 2009 sequel was set in the late Sixties, spoofing the Sixties Bond movies and Eurospy movies.

A third film has been mooted ever since, always intended to be set in Africa. At one point it was supposed to be set in the Seventies and parody blaxploitation movies, Jason King, and Jean-Paul Belmondo action flicks, as well as the Roger Moore Bond movies (and fashions) of that period. Now, presumably since so much time has passed, Premiere reports that OSS 117: Alerte roughe en Afrique noire will be set in the 1980s. While I'm sorry we won't see Dujardin sporting Peter Wyngarde-style fashions, the Eighties setting will still provide ample opportunity to spoof the Moore Bond films and Belmondo, whose own African spy epic The Professional was made in 1981.
Thanks to Jack for the red alert on this one!

EW shared the first teaser today for Bravo's upcoming reality competition series Spy Games. According to EW, the show "features 10 contestants living together in a large house and attempting to gather intel on their fellow players while competing in challenges designed by three former spies, alumni of the CIA, Secret Service, and FBI. Players will be eliminated until one remains to claim a $100,000 prize." Apparently the format is in some ways based on a real-life World War II-era scheme known as Station S, "in which civilians were recruited and relocated to a 'remote estate' to be trained as spies." Spy Games, which is hosted by model and martial artist Mia Kang, premieres on Monday, January 20, 2020, at 10/9c. I tried to embed the video, but Bravo's own awful, awful video platform (which is really quite terrible) automatically plays a Real Housewives promo instead. So check out the trailer here.
Thanks to Jeff for the intel alert!

Eurospy fans, your collective prayers have been answered! The Sixties Bond knockoff (a term I use with great affection) title I've heard most often requested is finally coming to Blu-ray! In the UK, anyway. So American Eurospy aficionados who don't yet have all-region Blu-ray players (and you really ought to), add them to your Christmas lists! On February 17, 2020, Network will release the Bondified Jet Age Bulldog Drummond movie Some Girls Do (lesser sequel to the greatest Eurospy movie of all, Deadlier Than the Male) in Region B high-def. On the same date the title will also make its standalone DVD debut (Region 2). Both releases are quite notable, because they mark the first time ever that this title has been available in its native 1.66:1 widescreen aspect ratio. It was previously available only on a Region 2 double feature DVD from Network paired with Deadlier Than the Male (which the company has offered on its own on Blu-ray for some time now). While that title came in widescreen, the Some Girls Do on offer was a panned and scanned 4x3 version--and transferred from a rather iffy source. Hopefully (and presumably, given the new aspect ratio), Network have uncovered a better source print for the new 1080p HD transfer. So even if you don't have an all-region Blu-ray player, but do have an all-region DVD player, you'll still have a way to finally see this movie the way it was meant to be seen!

Some Girls Do (1969) stars Richard Johnson (Deadlier Than the Male, Danger Route), Daliah Lavi (Casino Royale, The High Commissioner), Beba Loncar (Fuller Report, Lucky the Inscrutable), James Villiers (For Your Eyes Only, Otley), and the great Robert Morley (Hot Enough For June,  Topkapi) in a scene-stealing role as cooking teacher "Miss Mary." Here's Network's description of the movie:

Richard Johnson returns as Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond in this action-packed take on the exploits of H.C. McNeile's famous fictional hero - this time with an added dose of late '60s whimsy when Drummond comes up against a gang of armed, gorgeous fembots! Some Girls Do is presented here as a new High Definition transfer from original film elements in its original aspect ratio.
Drummond is hot on the trail of his nemesis, the devious Carl Petersen, who is hell-bent on sabotaging the new British fighter airplane. Peterson must be stopped - whatever the cost - but this time he's protected by a bodyguard of murderous female androids!

Special features are limited to the theatrical trailer and an "extensive image gallery," but just having this title in its proper aspect ratio is reason enough to buy the disc! And to have that great, great poster art on the cover! (My own Some Girls Do UK quad with that key art hangs in a place of pride in my apartment protected by UV-coated museum glass.)

Pre-order the Blu-ray from Network here.
Pre-order the DVD from Network here.
Read my review of Deadlier Than the Male here.

This week MGM has ramped up the campaign for Daniel Craig's long awaited and highly anticipated fifth James Bond movie, No Time To Die. And as fans are painfully aware, this is actually the film's second campaign. No Time To Die had a whole advertising campaign back at the beginning of this year leading up to a hoped for April release, including many posters and even the much publicized, chart-topping release of the movie's excellent theme song by Billie Eilish. But, as we all know, the global pandemic came along and the April release was scrapped. Since then the film has been set for a November release, though even that has been uncertain given the unpredictable nature of the novel coronavirus. Now it certainly looks like EON, MGM, and distributors United Artists and Universal are doubling down on that November release! The date is proudly proclaimed across this brand new poster (frankly a little uninspired compared to the less typical previous campaign's 1-sheet) and in the brand new second trailer. And it's quite a trailer! As far as I can recall, this marks the first time a Craig Bond movie has had this kind of text tagline: The mission that changes everything begins! 

A few weeks ago, Paramount announced a remake of The President's Analyst was in the works. Now comes even better news.... The 1967 original, starring James Coburn, Godfrey Cambridge, and Severn Darden, is at long last coming to Blu-ray! Australian label Via Vision will release the title via its Imprint imprint (yes, you read that right: two "via's" and two "imprint's") on May 26. It' can be imported from the Via Vision site, and is available to pre-order from American outlets like Amazon (from which this site receives a kickback) and DeepDiscount. Imprint Blu-rays are region-free. The 1080p HD presentation of the film with LPCM 2.0 mono audio comes with brand new special features including an audio commentary by the great Tim Lucas (who recently provided the company with an updated audio commentary for their release of Danger: Diabolik to supplement his classic original DVD commentary with John Philip Law) and an appreciation of the film from Kim Newman, as well as the original theatrical trailer and optional English subtitles. The first 1500 copies will come in a limited edition slipcase. The President's Analyst is one of the all-time great spy comedies, and remains as timely as ever. If you love it as much as I do, you'll already have pre-ordered. If you've never seen it... now's your chance!

On the eve of Killing Eve's series finale (airing this weekend), Deadline reports that "producer Sid Gentle Films is in early stage development on [a] spin-off, though it hasn’t got a greenlight yet." The spin-off (for BBC America and AMC Networks) would focus on Fiona Shaw's character, Carolyn Martens... but not as the cool, commanding spymaster we met in the show's first season. Instead, the potential spin-off would focus on her early days with MI6. From what we know of her history on the show, that could be incredibly compelling! Presumably such a series would focus on her time on Russia Desk and in Moscow during the waning days of the Cold War, when she recruited a crucial asset. I'm not so interested in this potential series because of its Killing Eve connection (though I do love that show's wit and tone and performances, and it would be nice to see them continue), but because of its setting. We don't see many Cold War era series, and when they do come along, I'll always be watching! It would be particularly cool to see one set in the late 80s with that focus. The Americans of course reveled in its 80s setting, but that was focused on Soviet agents undercover in America. A show about a British agent operating in Moscow at that time would be very different! 

If you feel exhausted trying to solve today's Connections puzzle, we have something better than coffee to help you finish it up in the form of clues.

Feyres empathy, bravery, and unique diplomacy with magical creatures make her an ideal High Lady in Sarah J. Maas A Court of Thorns and Roses.