TV ALERT : PIERS MORGAN LIFE STORIES .. DAME JOAN COLLINS.. ITV1 .. SUNDAY 21ST JUNE 2021 ..

 Don't forget to tune into ITV1 this Sunday 21st June at 9:00pm for a special edition of 'Life Stories' hosted by Piers Morgan to celebrate Joan's 70 years in showbiz.. Don't dare miss it! 

PRESS UPDATE : WE LOVE TV MAGAZINE .. ITV1 .. SATURDAY JUNE 19TH 2021.

 To promote this Sunday's episode of 'Life Stories'  celebrating Joan's 70 years in showbiz, Joan appears on the cover of 'We Love' Tv' magazine, which comes with the The Daily Mirror newspaper.. There is a one page feature inside, as below...

' Life Stories' featuring Dame Joan Collins airs on Sunday 21st at 9:00pm on ITV 1 ..

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : THE BIG SLEEP .. UNITED ARTISTS / ITV STUDIOS ENTERTAINMENT .. UK 1977 ..

 ITC ENTERTAINMENT

Presents
A UNITED ARTISTS RELEASE
From TRANS AMERICA CORPORATION

THE BIG SLEEP

Starring

ROBERT MITCHUM as Philip Marlowe
SARAH MILES as Charlotte Greenwood
JOAN COLLINS as Agnes Lozelle
RICHARD BOONE as Lash Canino
CANDY CLARK as Camilla Sternwood
EDWARD FOX as Joe Brody
JOHN MILLS as Inspector Carson
JAMES STEWART as General Sternwood
OLIVER REED as Eddie Mars
HARRY ANDREWS as Norris
COLIN BLAKELY as Harry Jones
RICHARD TODD as Commander Barker
DIANA QUICK as Mona Grant
MARTIN POTTER as Owen Taylor
DUDLEY SUTTON as Lanny
DON HENDERSON as Lou

Director of Photography - Robert Paynter  
      Art Director - John Graysmark
          Music by Jerry Fielding
               Screenplay by Michael Winner 
                    From the Novel by Raymond Chandler
                          Edited by Freddie Wilson
                              Executive Producer - Lew Grade
                      Produced by Elliott Kastner & Michael Winner
                                    Directed by Michael Winner

(c) 1977 .. ITC.. 99 MINS .. Color 

Private eye, Philip Marlowe faces his deadliest and most dangerous case when he is hired to find a missing person by a wealthy general. Murder and blackmail abound! Where no one can be trusted! But his toughest challenge is trying to keep his eyes open.. to avoid The Big Sleep!!

This 1977 remake of the Bogart and Bacall classic, is the second appearance as Philip Marlowe by Robert Mitchum. He also played the character in the 1975 remake of 'Farewell My Lovely'. This version of 'The Big Sleep', directed by Michael Winner, most famous for his series of 'Death Wish' films, is more faithful to the original novel than the Hollywood classic. The only considerable change is the setting of London, rather than Los Angeles.
Michael Winner recalled....

" Little known London locations have been used to create a sort of magical city.. that could be anywhere.. a timeless setting for Marlowe to crusade against evil and corruption.."

Joan however found the plot rather confusing and difficult to follow!

" The plot was so convoluted, none of us could understand what we were doing! Candy Clark and I used to sit down and try to work out who is doing what to whom! I ended up having three boyfriends in the film. Edward Fox, Colin Blakely and somebody  else!. I saw Colin at a party recently and he said to me...'Hello Darling! We were lovers in 'The Big Sleep', but we never had a scene together!'..

Michael has done a good job of reworking the original.. He also has a better cast, with the exception of Bogie and Bacall! But Mitchun is great as Marlowe, he is very laconic, has this brilliant wit.. A brilliant wit!"

Joan on set with Michael Winner & Robert Mitchum

The film was shot on location in London at various spots, including Avery Hill Park and Winter Gardens, Knebworth House and Kensington. A varied cast of screen veterans were assembled for the production, although many have only small roles. Hollywood legend James Stewart has a cameo role as the General and was not in good health. He was also hard of hearing and suffered memory loss at this stage, finding it difficult to remember his lines. 
Robert Mitchum quipped...

"This film is all about corpses. But Jimmy looks deader than any of them!"

Joan with Edward Fox

Sarah Miles had a significant role in the film as Stewart's wacky daughter, Michael was only too aware of her reputation as a difficult star and was not surprised when she made a few demands of her own.

Sarah Miles is all white!

"Sarah played the General's daughter and we were shooting at Knebworth House, which acted as the Generals mansion. When Sarah saw the room that was to be her character's in the film she went ballistic!
' The room has to be white! It is white in the original film!'
I was amazed.. "Sarah! This isn't the original film. You don't get white rooms in a kind of English castle!" But she was adamant and we had to change the entire decor!"

Promotional Brochure

Joan enjoyed making the film, even though she had only a few key scenes in it. She does however provide some of the more memorable moments in the film. Michael had asked her if she would abandon her wig and wear her own hair for the shoot. She agreed and throughout filming she assured him that she was not wearing a wig, even resorting to letting him tug at it! At the end of the shooting schedule, as she was about to leave the set for the last time, she stood at the side, shouted to him.

"Michael Darling!''  Whilst pulling off her wig, which had been expertly pinned down during filming. She laughed as she threw the wig at him!

Not well received on it's release, the film is an entertaining view and it is great to see a collection of genuine stars in one film, many of whom sadly are gone now. Well worth staying awake for!!

You can still buy this great region 2 release from ITV Studios which also includes some good extras including commentary with Michael Winner and the featurettes 'The Big Sleep' on location, Robert Mitchum in Marlowe Country among others!

BUY THE BIG SLEEP DVD HERE!

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : POLIZIOTTO SENZA PAURA / FEARLESS FUZZ .. PROMER FILMS .. ITALY 1977 ..

 PROMER FILMS

Presents
A NEUE DELTA FILM VIENNA PRODUCTION

POLIZIOTTO SENZA PAURA

Starring
MAURIZIO MERLI as Walter Spada
JOAN COLLINS as Brigitte
FRANCO RESSEL as Dr Zimmer
WERNER POCHATH as Strauss
ANNARITA GRAPPUTO as Gina
ALEXANDER TROJAN as Von Straben
JASMINE MAIMONE as Renate
GASTONE MOSCHIN as Karl

Assistant Director - Danilo Massi
      Director of Photography - Riccardo Pallotini
         Music by Stelvio Cipriani
            Screenplay by Gino Capone / Stelvio Massi / Franz Antel
               From a Story by Fulvio Gicca Palli
                 Edited by Mauro Bonanni
                    Produced by Franz Antel
                        Directed by Stelvio Massi

(c) 1977.. Promer Films .. 91 mins

Walter Spada, an Italian detective, finds himself in deadly danger, when he agrees to help a wealthy banker find his missing daughter. But can Walter find the girl, without losing his life? Can he trust the seductive stripper Brigitte? Does the glamorous minx harbour a sordid secret? Walter Spada is a man on a mission... A man who is Fearless..He is the Magnum Cop!

Joan with Annarita Grapputo & Maurizio Merli

Originally set to star Martin Balsam and Sybil Danning, this co-production between Italy and Austria features Joan a seductive stripper with a grubby little sideline in grooming schoolgirls for a prostitution ring! Even with this over dramatic, if not seedy plot, the film manages to include moments of comedy which may seem out of place in a gritty thriller. Joan appears in the latter part of the film and more than makes up for her absence in the first forty minutes..

As her role is that of a night club stripper, she does do a more daring strip routine than we witnessed in the 1960 crime caper "Seven Thieves"! Joan looks sensational in the film and certainly gives the film a boost of international style and glamour. Like most Italian films, this release has been available under many titles including, 'Magnum Cop' (USA), 'Fearless Fuzz' (Europe), 'Fearless'(USA DVD), Die Zuhalterin (Germany). 

Press Brochure

The film has been released many times over the years, firstly on video under it's 'Fearless Fuzz' title, sometimes 'Fearless', 'Fatal Charm' 'Magnum Cop' and a similar story on dvd, many using the video masters.. I did manage to get a special edition Italian release under it's original title which includes the English soundtrack, however this release is not available at present.. Below are a selection of sleeves for previous releases, as you can see some have little to do with the actual film!

TV ALERT! : PIERS MORGAN LIFE STORIES .. CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! .. ITV .. SUNDAY 20TH JUNE 2021 .. 9:00PM

Tune into ITV this Sunday June 20th at 9pm as Piers Morgan hosts a special edition of Life Stories to celebrate Joan's 70 years in show business. Not to be missed! 

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : STARSKY AND HUTCH .. COLUMBIA PICTURES TELEVISION .. USA 1977 ..

 COLUMBIA PICTURES TELEVISION

Presents

STARSKY & HUTCH

Starring 
DAVID SOUL as Det Ken Hutchinson 
PAUL MICHAEL GLASER as Det Dave Starsky 
ANTONIO FARGAS as Huggy Bear 
BERNIE HAMILTON as Capt Harold Dobey 

'' MURDER ON PLAYBOY ISLAND''

( Season 3 - Episode 1 )

Guest Starring 

JOAN COLLINS as Janice 
SAMANTHA EGGAR as Charlotte 
CRAIG STEVENS as Walt Healy 
ROSCOE LEE BROWNE as Quatraine 
DON PEDRO COLLEY as Papa Theodore 
LOUIS NYE as Jerry 
LA WANDA PAGE as Minnie 
PAUL PICERNI as Johnny Doors 
LINDA THOMPSON as Meghan 

Directed by George McCowan

Its not all fun in the sun when voodoo gatecrashes the party involving a plot to kidnap one of the worlds richest men! Can Starsky & Hutch survive the dark magic and reunite Janice with her father before it's too late! 

Joan with Paul & David ( photo signed by David for me )

Joan with Roscoe Lee Brown

Like "Star Trek" and "Batman", "Starsky & Hutch" is one of those classic series that needs no introduction... The series began in 1975 and ran for 92 episodes until 1979. It featured the adventures of two Californian cops, David Starsky and Kenneth Hutchinson who drove a red and white two door ford gran corino. They reported to Captain Dobey (Hamilton) and were kept informed by old friend Huggy Bear (Fargos), who was their underworld contact and he ran his own bar...Joan appeared in this episode, which was a two parter to launch the third season. She was not too keen on the script, but she needed the work and she was pestered by daughter Tara, who was a fan of the show to do it! But apart from the script, she found the whole experience far from glamorous or memorable and even though it would take her to Hawaii for eight days of shooting, working conditions were deplorable. First of all she had to share a tiny dressing room with a bimbo bit player, who was as messy as she was beautiful. 

Joan with Craig Stevens

The episode was set on the luxurious Playboy Island and the cast had it's fair share of bimbettes, who seemed to have more clout than the genuine stars. Both Joan and Samantha Eggar couldn't even get a canvas chair to sit on, while on set, this problem did not affect the enhanced bits players! Samantha was playing the villianess on the show, while Joan played Janice who was undercover on the island to try an find her father who had disappeared.. Joan also had to become involved in some of the stunts on the show, a situation she did not approve off, remembering the advice she had received from old friend Gene Kelly, never do your own stunts as you are doing a stunt person out of a job!. By time this episode was shot, the tone of the show had been softened as there had been a backlash against TV violence and Paul Michael had voiced his own opinions on it and scriptwriters were told to tone down the violence and to produce more dramatic storylines and introduce some romance for the crime fighters..By the end of the fourth season, Paul Michael asked to leave the show and as the ratings were falling, it was decided to end the series... "Starsky & Hutch" is one of those series that will always be shown somewhere in the world and will always find an audience....

You can order the full series on dvd at the following link! Season 3 featuring Joan's episode is available on a stand alone set, but it costs almost the same as the full series set, so this is better value..

ORDER STARSKY & HUTCH FULL SERIES ON DVD HERE!

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : EMPIRE OF THE ANTS .. AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL .. USA 1977 ..

 

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL
Presents

EMPIRE OF THE ANTS

Starring

JOAN COLLINS as Marilyn Fryser
ROBERT LANSING as Dan Stokely
EDWARD POWER as Charlie Pearson
JOHN DAVID CARSON as Joe Morrison
JACQUELINE SCOTT as Margaret Ellis
ALBERT SALMI as Art Kincade
PAMELA SHOOP as Coreen Bradford
ROBERT PINE as Larry Graham
BROOKE PALANCE as Christine Graham

With

HARRY HOLCOMBE as Harry Thompson

IRENE TEDROW as Velma Thompson

TOM FADDEN as Sam Russell

JACK KOSSLYN as Thomas Lawson

Ilse Earl as Mary Lawson

Executive Producer - Samuel Z Arkoff  
   Assistant Director - Cariline Ann Davis
      Director of Photography - Reg Morris
          Music by Dana Kaproff
            Screenplay by Jack Turley Based on a story by H.G.Wells
               Edited by Michael Luciano
                    Produced and Directed by Bert I Gordon

(c) 1977 AIP  91MINS

A group of prospective buyers embark on a tour of up and coming development, Greenland Shores, with tough real estate agent Marilyn Fryser at the helm! But little do they know, the high price for this swampland haven, where the down payment is your life! After a toxic spillage on a nearby beach, the local ant colony 

consume the deadly waste. Soon they become too big for your pants, as they try to inherit the earth in the Empire Of The Ants!!

Joan with Harry Holcombe & Irene Tedrow

This cult classic, is one of Joan's least favourite films, more because of it's appalling shooting conditions, than for the finished presentation. Filmed in Belle Glade Florida and Jensen Beach, worst of all the filthy waters of the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee. The cast had to resort to doing their own stunts as the stunt personnel could not get to the location as the shoot was very near to Christmas. Joan has always expressed her feelings that the film was the worst film experience of her career. The cast were actually immersed in the murky swamp waters, that probably had not moved in hundreds of years! Even though the crew doctors has given them inoculation shots, Joan's legs got badly infected, that she had to wear plastic bags for the rest of the shoot. They were also plagued with swamp fleas and mosquito's as Joan recalled at the time.

Joan braves the swamps!

" I've got scars all over! Even at that, I'm lucky! Bert asked us to do things, that actors usually don't do. We were hip deep in swamp water!"

Joan's screams in the film were all too real, as she was in agony, almost drowning in one scene, where the boat they are travelling in turns over and they all end up in the filthy water!

Joan get touched up my make up artist Guy Del Russo

Joan with Count Dracula Society Award

Some of the special ant effects were shot using magnified images of the Panamanian bullet ant. Other effects were filmed using a new lens , The Matex Prism Lens. For her role, Joan was nominated for Best Actress at the 1978 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror films. 

As expected reviews were not kind, reviewers missing the point that it was meant to be in the style of the schlocky 50's  monster B-movies. The film did do well on the drive-in circuit.

VARIETY.....

" This H.G.Wells inspired slice of exploitation, is an above average effort about ants that grow bigger after munching on radioactive waste and then terrorize a group headed by Joan Collins and Robert Lansing. Periodic moments of good special effects are separated by reels of dramatic banality, as players flounder in flimsy dialogue, under sluggish direction."

Joan's not at all wellie in the dirty swamp!

SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY REVIEW....

" In the 50s, Bert I Gordon became notorious for his atomic mutant and giant insect films. So much that he was nicknamed "Mr Big". However he continued even in the 70's making the same old 50s style monster movies, with ultra cheap effects. For 'Ants', he assembled a disaster type character line-up, although is unable to afford any big names other than Robert Lansing and Joan Collins, who delivers a performance, that more than adds to the considerable pile of her camp classics!"

Joan with Jacqueline Scott, John David Carson, Robert Lansing & Pamela Shoop

''Empire of the Ants' has been available on dvd and recently blu-ray from Shout Factory, however this release plus the dvd version is no longer available.. 

Joan with director Bert I.Gordon

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : FUTURE COP .. PARAMOUNT TELEVISION .. USA 1977 ..

 PARAMOUNT TELEVISION

Presents

FUTURE COP .... 

Starring  
ERNEST BORGNINE as Officer Joe Cleaver 
MICHAEL SHANNON as Officer John Haven
JOHN AMOS as Officer Bill Bundy 
HERBERT NELSON as Captain Skaggs 
IRENE TSU as DR Tingley  

'' THE KANSAS CITY KID ''

   ( Series 1 - Episode 5 ) 

Guest Starring

JOAN COLLINS as Eve Di Falco 
JOSHUA BRYANT as Andrew 
DON REID as Geary 
MICHAEL MACRAE as Nolan  

BILL ZUKERT as Lieutenant Fisk

ANGELA MAY as Peggy

ZACHARY CHARLES as Sergeant Monroe

VICTOR IZAY as Phillips

REGIS CORDIC as Dugan

Directed by Robert Douglas

Joan with Michael Shannon

After an investment broker is swindled by a group of cardsharks, led by the glamorous but deadly Evie Di Falco, it is up to Joe Cleaver and his android side-kick Haven to pose as the cardsharks latest victims..No one outwits The Kansas City Kid!..

Joan with Ernest Borgnine, Johua Bryant, John Amos & Michael Shannon

This series from 1976 stars Oscar winning actor Ernest Borgnine as reliable Officer Joe Cleaver, who is partnered by a new form of law enforcement, an android cop! Years before Robocop went on the rampage, this series had similar ideas to clean up crime. However the series only lasted seven episodes and was embroiled in controversy as the prolific Sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison and his partner Ben Bova sued Paramount for taking their idea without involving them. In 1970 they wrote a story called "Brillo" and pitched the idea to Paramount who at that time were not interested in it. However a few years later a pilot for "Future Cop" was filmed and then a series, which used a similar story to Ellison's and Bova's. They sued Paramount and the case was settled with a $337,000 pay-out and the case was considered a landmark victory for writers in Hollywood..

 Paramount tried to revive the series sometime after "Future Cop" was canceled with another pilot, this time called "Cops and Robin", with the same cast , with Carol Lynley added as the doctor looking after Haven.. But this failed to make an impression.. Joan appears in "The Kansas City Kid" in a role similar to the one she played on "Switch" and brings a touch of glamour to her portrayal of the greedy, conniving Evie.

Although it was a very shortlived series of just seven episodes, was delighted that Mill Creek have released the full set of episodes including the original pilot and the revival pilot 'Cops & Robin' on dvd.. You can order at the following link!

ORDER FUTURE COP ON DVD HERE!    

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : THE FANTASTIC JOURNEY .. COLUMBIA PICTURES TELEVISION .. USA 1977 ..

 COLUMBIA PICTURES TELEVISION

Presents

THE FANTASTIC JOURNEY 

Starring 
JARED MARTIN  as Varian 
CARL FRANKLIN as DR Fred Walters 
IKE EISENMANN as Scott Jordan 
KATIE SAYLOR as Liana 
RODDY MCDOWALL as Dr Jonathan Willoway

'' TURNABOUT ''

( Season 1 - Episode 8 )

Guest Stars

JOAN COLLINS as Queen Halyana 
JULIE COBB as Adrea 
PAUL MANTEE as Morgan 
BEVERLY TODD as Connell 
AMY JOYCE as Masel

Directed by Victor French

The travelers arrive in a city ruled by men, who treat women as slaves, but are governed by a female computer and a trophy Queen, Halyana. But they become embroiled in a plot to overthrow the male populace by the rebellious females and to survive there has to be a Turnabout! 

When it comes to wearing the feathers.. Joan's met her match!!

This series from 1977 only lasted ten episodes, but has since become a cult favourite.. Originally called "The Incredible Island", it was planned for the castaways to stay on the island they arrive on in the pilot. However after the pilot was filmed, it was decided to steer the series in a different direction and also to axe half the original cast members which had included Susan Howard (Dallas), Scott Brady and Leif Erickson. The premise of the show was the adventures that befall a family and the people they are sailing with, who get lost in the Bermuda Trangle and end up in a green cloud and on a strange island.  They also end up in a vortex, which casts them into different dimensions..After the pilot, most of the characters are returned to their own time and the series regular characters include Varian (Jared Martin/Dallas), a man from the 23rd century who has awesome powers and who leads the travellers including teenager Scott Jordan (Eisenmann), whose parents are returned to their own time and Dr Fred Walter (Franklin) a doctor just out of medical school.. Along the way they pick up Lianna (Saylor) and her cat, who was the daughter of an Atlantean and an extraterrestrial mother and Dr Fred Walter (McDowall) a rebel scientist who was shunned by his peers, but has great knowledge.. They travel through different time portals in a bid to get back to their own time... The series although having an interesting premise was shortlived, this may have been due to it's constant cast changes.. 

Joan with Jared Martin & Roddy McDowell

The series story editor Dorothy Fontana, who also worked on "Star Trek" commented... 

"We had many problems with the series, The pilot sold in November of 1976 and we had to start shooting January 77, which meant it was a race to get the scripts ready.. Cast changes were also a problem..After shooting the pilot, producers decided the show was to go in a different direction and we had to axe most of the original cast. But it was an interesting experience." 

Although it may have looked futuristic in the 70's, today the series looks dated, however it is still worth viewing... Joan looks as campy as she can be as the Queen, in a shimmering pink outfit and matching intergalactic ear-rings.. But she as always has her tongue firmly in her cheek!!  The series is available on dvd from ViaVision at the link below.. A new release from MediumRare was due out April 21st but no order details are available or cover art as yet!

ORDER THE FANTASTIC JOURNEY DVD SET HERE!