Blake Edwards and the Art of Slapstick (Part Two)

If you were with us yesterday, you saw how Blake Edwards had reached the very pinnacle of success in Hollywood as a comedy director.  And how a lot of this achievement had come via a very “painful” collaboration with actor Peter Sellers. But like a lot of people with successful careers, Edwards found himself at …

Blake Edwards and the Art of Slapstick (Part One)

Have you ever had a co-worker that you couldn’t get along with?  How about one you absolutely hated?  So much so you weren’t even on speaking terms?  And kept promising yourself you’d never work with them again… only to find yourself returning to that same gig over and over?  Each time lured back by the …

SCI-FI Low

Yesterday, we took a look at four films which we think represent the very best when when it comes to classic science fiction films from the 1950s.  So, you know what that means... in the interest of equal time, we now want to dig deep into the opposite end of the spectrum. Not that the …

SCI-FI High

Hello!  And welcome to another edition of Miracle Movies!!  After our look at the making of King Kong from a few months ago, we heard from several people.  They suggested a follow on post looking at famous science fiction films from the 1950s.  This didn't seem like a bad idea at all... goodness knows we've …

The King of Hollywood (Part Four)

Welcome to our last post in this series. We sincerely hope you've been enjoying our look at the life of Merian C. Cooper and the "secrets" behind the making of "King Kong."  And we hope our conclusion won't disappoint. In our last installment, we described the release of the film and the huge impact it …

The King of Hollywood (Part Three)

As we saw in our previous post, in late 1932, the production of "King Kong" was nearing the finish line. A rough cut of the film had been assembled and Merian Cooper was trying to decide what scenes stayed and which ones would go.  But the film still needed a little help in post.  And …

The King of Hollywood (Part Two)

"How Tall is King Kong?"  - The Stunt Man.  The answer to that question if you've never seen the 1981 movie is 18 inches.  And following up on our post from yesterday, Willis O'Brien built three separate models of the giant ape for the upcoming film. Anticipating the wear and tear they would be subjected …

The King of Hollywood (Part One)

Okay... after describing the early adventures of Merian Cooper and Ernest Schoedsack, it's time to turn our attention to Hollywood.  The early 1930s were an extremely difficult time for the film industry.  The double whammy of the depression and the investment needed to convert to talkies had hit all the studios hard.  Almost every single …

Keeping it Distant, Difficult, and Dangerous (Part Two)

Yesterday, we introduced you to a gentleman by the name of Merian C. Cooper.  We outlined some of his early explorations and showed how he was no stranger to danger and adventure. But now, we'd like to continue with his life story and explain how he first got involved with the movie business. You see, …

Keeping it Distant, Difficult, and Dangerous (Part One)

One of the questions we get all the time here at Miracle Movies is "What's your favorite film?"  Sounds simple enough. But the truth is, it's a very difficult thing to answer honestly.  A top 100 might be more like it.  Besides, when choosing a favorite film, do you go with the one which made …