Manhunter (1986) - Newspaper Ad [Oakland Tribune]

August 10, 1986

Thief had made me something of a Michael Mann fan, although the artistic and narrative choices he made adapting F. Paul Wilson's The Keep both baffled and frustrated me. The same applies for this adaptation of the bestselling thriller Red Dragon by Thomas Harris.

While there were definitely things I liked and admired about the film. I thought it fell short of capturing the darker and more harrowing aspects of its source material. In 1986, when I watched the film on home video, I thought it seemed to be a failure on Mann's part. Nowadays, however, I think it has more to do with how certain aspects of the story that most resonated with me could not be translated from the page to the screen and retain what had made them so powerful when I experienced them as a reader.

Learning to let go of that perceptual intimacy from when I read a story and to appreciate a filmmaker's unique interpretation of said work would take me a few decades to accept and even embrace.
 

Fright Flicks - Sticker #5

 

Alien 3 (1992) - Trading Card #59

Weyland-Yutani File No. 121156

Prisoner:    Thomas Murphy

Offense:    grand theft, space vehicle

Distinguishing Marks:    none

Notes:    well-behaved, quite protective of his dog

Indistinguishable Bald Dude #1. 

I think it is equal parts hilarious and necessary to have these cards handy so one can get an idea of who these indistinguishable bald dudes are.
 

Fright Flicks - Sticker #4

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 Dream Warriors (1987)

 

Suspiria (1977) - Newspaper Ad [San Francisco Examiner]

August 7, 1977

Memorable, albeit weird, marketing line for this one. Wish I had some kind of memory of its release, but I don't.
 

Alien 3 (1992) - Trading Card #58

Behind the Scenes - Ready to Pounce

A mock-up of the Alien puppet was created from a myriad of sketches and models. This working model was only used in test shots to determine if the size, shape, and movement of the puppet would work in the actual filming.
 

Warlords of Atlantis (1978) - Newspaper Ad [Oakland Tribune]

August 6, 1978

Saw this at the Alameda Showcase, before it became the South Shore Cinema, on its opening weekend. At least I think it was on its opening weekend. I remember enjoying it, but I have no idea if it would hold up today.
 

Fright Flicks - Sticker #3

Fright Night (1985)

 

Doc Savage (1975) - Newspaper Ad [San Francisco Examiner]

August 5, 1975

All I remember about this movie is the snakes.
 

Alien 3 (1992) - Trading Card #57

Behind the Scenes - Suiting Up

Tom Woodruff, Jr., dons the latex Alien suit to prepare for a scene calling for a full shot of the Alien. The transformation takes over an hour. Woodruff, along with Alec Gillis, is co-Alien effects designer and creator. Gillis is the one preparing Woodruff for the Alien headpiece.