Typecast as a “nice guy”, Noah Beery, Jr. made his film and TV career one big smile.  You have to admire and envy making a living “being nice” on screen.  By all accounts Noah was a charm, on and off screen.  His family was all Hollywood.  Noah, who got his start in the 30’s, rubbed shoulders with John Wayne, Robert Mitchum (Gung Ho), and James Garner (in the Rockford Files), and had a long and distinguished career.  Catch him young, catch him old, easy to enjoy either way…and still with us in film.

There are good OTHs and bad OTHs.  Nevada Heat is good.  It is a cop movie–a pretty dame, a tough cop, intriguing mugs pushing their attitude in Las Vegas.  Telly Savalas (aka Kojak of the small screen) headlines this surprisingly entertaining 1970’s crime flick.

Pia Zadora, one of the few survivors with film careers of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, is all grown up in this picture.  Like in Santa Clausshe sings (and pretty well) as a night club act—mirroring her real life talents and career path.  She also bares herself—as said above “she’s all grown up”.  Pia herself made it worth watching.  But added to these stars there are minor faces to recognize including Telly’s brother George (who stays near Telly’s shadow) and Larry Storch of F-Troop fame playing a flamboyant hustler to cringing perfection. 

There is main plot and some subplots, some glimpses at Las Vegas nightlife circa 1970s and some casino destruction that has none of the digital overlay of CGI.  I picked this movie up on the cheap and it is a nice Saturday Afternoon movie with mild violence and sex.

This movie is quickly becoming a cult classic and a Christmas Classic.  The Griswold family redefines “Christmas spirit”.

Beyond the absolutely first rate ensemble cast and pratfalls enough to fill every stocking in North America, the music soundtrack and the every sexy Beverly D’Angelo add to high rating deemed by its popularity.  Worth watching anytime of the year, I strongly suggest it as a must see.

“Great” movies rarely remake themselves in the same glory and majesty as the original production.  King of Kings plays equally well in 1961 as did in 1927 when the always pedestal bound Cecil B. deMille “made” it.

deMille’s production (screened at Wilton Town Hall Theater) had zebras, harlots, and black and white to color.  The movie was long by even today’s standards, but Jeff Rapsis played the scenes (on his do everything electric keyboard) with gusto, fury, and stamina–lots of stamina.  Unfortunately the crowd was less than hoped due to the “religious nature” of the film.  Jeff also emceed–laying out front office information and back story with humor and celerity.  The 1961 version is no small thing.  As 1961 was at the height of the Hollywood big budgets this production was big, bold, and beautiful.  Jeffrey Hunter and Robert Ryan lead the cast of multitudes.  Both are well worth the time and effort to see.