Sad news out of Hollywood. Actor Peter Graves, star of TV's "Mission: Impossible," died yesterday in his Pacific Palisades home at the age of 83. Graves; first credited role was 1951's "Rogue River." He went on to log more than 100 film, television and video game performances, including high-profile gigs like Imf team leader Jim Phelps on "Mission: Impossible" (which earned him a Golden Globe), cowboy Jim Newton on NBC's '50s Western series "Fury," turncoat Price in Billy Wilder's "Stalag 17" and, of course, the comically perverse airline pilot Capt. Clarence Oveur in "Airplane!" and "Airplane II: The Sequel."
"Airplane!" and its sequel were one of those staples for anyone who grew up during the '80s. Along with Leslie Neilsen, Graves' scenes are among the most memorable. Such as the Abbott & Costello-inspired Oveur/Unger/Dunne crew introductions and Oveur's played-for-comedy fascination with gladiators, Turkish prisons and naked men. Graves...
"Airplane!" and its sequel were one of those staples for anyone who grew up during the '80s. Along with Leslie Neilsen, Graves' scenes are among the most memorable. Such as the Abbott & Costello-inspired Oveur/Unger/Dunne crew introductions and Oveur's played-for-comedy fascination with gladiators, Turkish prisons and naked men. Graves...
- 3/15/2010
- by Adam Rosenberg
- MTV Movies Blog
So many feature documentaries today are little more than self-indulgent, self-oriented personal "essays," so when one comes along that's actually about something, the effect is refreshing.
John Biffar's film about a Florida businessman's relationship with some of the pivotal figures of the 20th century is small in scale and scope, but it's a fascinating historical portrait of a real-life Zelig who managed to become friends with several titans who changed the world.
Narrated by the man America trusts, Walter Cronkite, "Uncommon Friends of the 20th Century," is catnip for history buffs and will no doubt become a public television staple. It opens today for an exclusive theatrical run at New York's Cinema Village.
The film is based on the autobiography of one Jim Newton, now 94, who spent his life working as a real estate developer in Fort Myers, Fla. In the 1920s, when he was just starting out, Newton became involved with the creation of a housing development next to the home of Thomas Edison. The elderly inventor and young Newton became fast friends. As the years went on, the latter went on to form relationships with other famous residents of the town, including Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, heart surgery pioneer Dr. Alexis Carrel and Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
The film is the usual mixture of interviews with the highly affable Newton (it's easy to see why even the pathologically shy Lindbergh was drawn to him), archival footage of his famous friends and somewhat cheesy re-creations. The relationships varied in intensity -- from his casual acquaintance with the automobile magnate to his deep bond with Lindbergh, who served as best man at Newton's wedding.
Although the film doesn't purport to provide substantial biographical information on its various subjects, Newton does present personal insights and anecdotes that illuminate these highly complex men. Along the way, we also get to know Newton himself, and though the film's claim of his "genius for friendship" seems a bit overblown, his charm and bedrock faith are undeniable.
UNCOMMON FRIENDS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
Bush Entertainment
Director-producer: John Biffar
Screenplay: Patrice Malloy, John Biffar
Co-Producer/editor: Davew Beaty
Cinematography: Flip Minott
Narration: Walter Cronkite
Color/stereo
Running time -- 63 minutes
No MPAA rating...
John Biffar's film about a Florida businessman's relationship with some of the pivotal figures of the 20th century is small in scale and scope, but it's a fascinating historical portrait of a real-life Zelig who managed to become friends with several titans who changed the world.
Narrated by the man America trusts, Walter Cronkite, "Uncommon Friends of the 20th Century," is catnip for history buffs and will no doubt become a public television staple. It opens today for an exclusive theatrical run at New York's Cinema Village.
The film is based on the autobiography of one Jim Newton, now 94, who spent his life working as a real estate developer in Fort Myers, Fla. In the 1920s, when he was just starting out, Newton became involved with the creation of a housing development next to the home of Thomas Edison. The elderly inventor and young Newton became fast friends. As the years went on, the latter went on to form relationships with other famous residents of the town, including Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, heart surgery pioneer Dr. Alexis Carrel and Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
The film is the usual mixture of interviews with the highly affable Newton (it's easy to see why even the pathologically shy Lindbergh was drawn to him), archival footage of his famous friends and somewhat cheesy re-creations. The relationships varied in intensity -- from his casual acquaintance with the automobile magnate to his deep bond with Lindbergh, who served as best man at Newton's wedding.
Although the film doesn't purport to provide substantial biographical information on its various subjects, Newton does present personal insights and anecdotes that illuminate these highly complex men. Along the way, we also get to know Newton himself, and though the film's claim of his "genius for friendship" seems a bit overblown, his charm and bedrock faith are undeniable.
UNCOMMON FRIENDS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
Bush Entertainment
Director-producer: John Biffar
Screenplay: Patrice Malloy, John Biffar
Co-Producer/editor: Davew Beaty
Cinematography: Flip Minott
Narration: Walter Cronkite
Color/stereo
Running time -- 63 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 10/13/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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