Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

War is Hall

Too soon?
Too soon?

One sweet, one sour. Let’s open on bitterness.

  • This is in regards to the movie review by Scott Marks on May 29 (Run Toward Danger). As usual, the facts about the Vietnam War are misconstrued. The reference to General Nguyễn Ngọc Loan, the chief of police in Saigon, is completely dubious. I wish to read a direct quote from an authority on that subject:
  • “[T]he most famous executioner was General Nguyễn Ngọc Loan, who shot a Viet Cong ‘suspect’ on the Saigon street. The Viet Cong had reportedly just shot an ARVN lieutenant and his family. General Loan was well within his rights of summarily executing an enemy soldier caught in civilian clothing. But the Pulitzer-Prize winning photo that captured the incident became part of the Left’s indictment of the war, even though the photographer himself thought Loan was a hero and apologized to him for the way the photo had been used to ruin the general’s reputation.”
  • This is from Mr. Phillip Jennings book on the Vietnam War [The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Vietnam War]. Mr. Jennings was a U.S. Marine during that time.
  • So, the continual destruction of the true history of the Vietnam War is carried on by Scott Marks, and by people who weren’t there and who don’t know a damn thing about it. I hope that your readers will look into Phillip Jennings’s book and get the true story of Vietnam.
  • — Name Withheld, via voicemail

Did you even bother to read what I wrote? This was a review of a war documentary that made me question a cameraperson’s responsibility, not a dissertation on the Vietnam War. Watch the video of Loan sidling up to Lém, swaggering as he waves his gun in the air like Ethan Edwards about to shoot out a Comanche’s eyes to prevent its soul from ever reaching heaven. I think my choice of the word “cavalierly” was appropriate.

Sponsored
Sponsored

South Vietnam’s top cop was performing before a camera, and since Adams later apologized, why am I wrong for questioning his motive for not averting his lens? For whatever reason, we both agree the picture never should have been taken!

Just because something is legal doesn’t make it morally right or good. As of today, 32 states believe they are “well within their rights” to play God and execute people in several states. Sadly, I live in one of them, but at least it’s 72 and sunny every day.

On to a more pleasant subject in the form of another letter penned by my #1 fan, Name Withheld:

  • Thanks to Scott Marks for reviving childhood memories of Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall, and then later, Invasion of the Star Creatures and Attack of the Mushroom People — most deliciously some of the worst movies ever. I really enjoyed the article, even though some of these movies weren’t mentioned (Big Screen: Invasion of the Star Creatures, May 29). I just wanted to give thanks.
  • — Name Withheld, via voicemail

You are so very welcome, Name. Anyone who’d single out Attack of the Mushroom People — a film never once referenced in my piece — must be a person on mushrooms.

In his review of the Ray Danton-directed dud The Psychic Killer, former Chicago Reader critic Dave Kehr forever planted the term “So bad it’s educational” in my mental word-hoard. Bad movies are an occupational hazard, but a film that goes out of its way to achieve its awfulness is one to be worshipped and adored.

I’m not sure there’s enough time left in life for me to ever squeeze in another viewing of Star Creatures, particularly when trash such as Hot Rods to Hell, The Babe Ruth Story, Men of Boys Town, Death Wish III, Hitler: Dead or Alive, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, St. Elmo’s Fire, Georgia Rule, Cancel My Reservation, and too many others demand and survive innumerable viewings.

I’m on my knees praying to the Saints of Bad Cinema (and/or Olive Films) for a speedy Blu-ray release of The Oscar, second only to Hell as the one bad film I’ll ask that Satan allow me to pack. The dialogue is so ripe you can pick it, and if you’ve never seen Tony Bennett’s one “dramatic” performance, all I can say is, “Man, what a scene — forget it!” If there is such a thing as “so bad it’s educational,” I’ve learned as much from watching the rise and fall of Frankie Fane as I have Charlie Kane.

The only reason I suggest Olive Films is because they seem to have worked out an agreement with Paramount to bring to home video some of the studio’s more obscure titles. The Oscar was released by Joe Levine’s indy company, Avco Embassy, but something tells me he struck a trick-deal with Paramount to lease their facilities. There are a couple of sets and props left over from The Nutty Professor that I’d love to show you, but the film just ain’t out there for me to screencap!

Video:

Bowery Blitzkrieg

Seriously, there is an audience for The Oscar, probably the same crowd that stood in line for a copy of Skidoo!, another divine train wreck from hell sparklingly restored by Olive Films.

For the anonymous beauty who wrote the letter, I close with the Castle Films version of my personal favorite Bowery Boys creation, Bowery Blitzkrieg. I have it on good authority that Scorsese had a print of it on set while shooting the pool-room fight in Mean Streets.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

2024’s Best Bitcoin & Crypto Casinos – Play BTC Casino Games Online

Best Bitcoin Casinos (2024): Top 10 Crypto Casino Sites for BIG Payouts
Next Article

Reader Music Issue short takes

Obervatory's mosh pit, frenetic Rafael Payare, Lemonhead chaos, bleedforthescene, Coronado Tasting Room
Too soon?
Too soon?

One sweet, one sour. Let’s open on bitterness.

  • This is in regards to the movie review by Scott Marks on May 29 (Run Toward Danger). As usual, the facts about the Vietnam War are misconstrued. The reference to General Nguyễn Ngọc Loan, the chief of police in Saigon, is completely dubious. I wish to read a direct quote from an authority on that subject:
  • “[T]he most famous executioner was General Nguyễn Ngọc Loan, who shot a Viet Cong ‘suspect’ on the Saigon street. The Viet Cong had reportedly just shot an ARVN lieutenant and his family. General Loan was well within his rights of summarily executing an enemy soldier caught in civilian clothing. But the Pulitzer-Prize winning photo that captured the incident became part of the Left’s indictment of the war, even though the photographer himself thought Loan was a hero and apologized to him for the way the photo had been used to ruin the general’s reputation.”
  • This is from Mr. Phillip Jennings book on the Vietnam War [The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Vietnam War]. Mr. Jennings was a U.S. Marine during that time.
  • So, the continual destruction of the true history of the Vietnam War is carried on by Scott Marks, and by people who weren’t there and who don’t know a damn thing about it. I hope that your readers will look into Phillip Jennings’s book and get the true story of Vietnam.
  • — Name Withheld, via voicemail

Did you even bother to read what I wrote? This was a review of a war documentary that made me question a cameraperson’s responsibility, not a dissertation on the Vietnam War. Watch the video of Loan sidling up to Lém, swaggering as he waves his gun in the air like Ethan Edwards about to shoot out a Comanche’s eyes to prevent its soul from ever reaching heaven. I think my choice of the word “cavalierly” was appropriate.

Sponsored
Sponsored

South Vietnam’s top cop was performing before a camera, and since Adams later apologized, why am I wrong for questioning his motive for not averting his lens? For whatever reason, we both agree the picture never should have been taken!

Just because something is legal doesn’t make it morally right or good. As of today, 32 states believe they are “well within their rights” to play God and execute people in several states. Sadly, I live in one of them, but at least it’s 72 and sunny every day.

On to a more pleasant subject in the form of another letter penned by my #1 fan, Name Withheld:

  • Thanks to Scott Marks for reviving childhood memories of Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall, and then later, Invasion of the Star Creatures and Attack of the Mushroom People — most deliciously some of the worst movies ever. I really enjoyed the article, even though some of these movies weren’t mentioned (Big Screen: Invasion of the Star Creatures, May 29). I just wanted to give thanks.
  • — Name Withheld, via voicemail

You are so very welcome, Name. Anyone who’d single out Attack of the Mushroom People — a film never once referenced in my piece — must be a person on mushrooms.

In his review of the Ray Danton-directed dud The Psychic Killer, former Chicago Reader critic Dave Kehr forever planted the term “So bad it’s educational” in my mental word-hoard. Bad movies are an occupational hazard, but a film that goes out of its way to achieve its awfulness is one to be worshipped and adored.

I’m not sure there’s enough time left in life for me to ever squeeze in another viewing of Star Creatures, particularly when trash such as Hot Rods to Hell, The Babe Ruth Story, Men of Boys Town, Death Wish III, Hitler: Dead or Alive, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, St. Elmo’s Fire, Georgia Rule, Cancel My Reservation, and too many others demand and survive innumerable viewings.

I’m on my knees praying to the Saints of Bad Cinema (and/or Olive Films) for a speedy Blu-ray release of The Oscar, second only to Hell as the one bad film I’ll ask that Satan allow me to pack. The dialogue is so ripe you can pick it, and if you’ve never seen Tony Bennett’s one “dramatic” performance, all I can say is, “Man, what a scene — forget it!” If there is such a thing as “so bad it’s educational,” I’ve learned as much from watching the rise and fall of Frankie Fane as I have Charlie Kane.

The only reason I suggest Olive Films is because they seem to have worked out an agreement with Paramount to bring to home video some of the studio’s more obscure titles. The Oscar was released by Joe Levine’s indy company, Avco Embassy, but something tells me he struck a trick-deal with Paramount to lease their facilities. There are a couple of sets and props left over from The Nutty Professor that I’d love to show you, but the film just ain’t out there for me to screencap!

Video:

Bowery Blitzkrieg

Seriously, there is an audience for The Oscar, probably the same crowd that stood in line for a copy of Skidoo!, another divine train wreck from hell sparklingly restored by Olive Films.

For the anonymous beauty who wrote the letter, I close with the Castle Films version of my personal favorite Bowery Boys creation, Bowery Blitzkrieg. I have it on good authority that Scorsese had a print of it on set while shooting the pool-room fight in Mean Streets.

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

San Diego's Uptown Planners challenged by renters from Vibrant Uptown

Two La Jolla planning groups fight for predominance
Next Article

Making Love to Goats, Rachmaninoff, and Elgar

Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.