G.D. Spradlin, Prolific Character Actor, Dies at 90

G.D. was a top notch character that usually played the heavy oh so well.

New York Times

G. D. Spradlin, whose experience as a corporate lawyer, independent oilman and rancher influenced his nuanced portrayals of authority figures in more than 70 films and television shows, including “The Godfather: Part II” and “Apocalypse Now,” died on Sunday at his cattle ranch in San Luis Obispo, Calif. He was 90.

His grandson Justin Demko confirmed the death.
Over a 30-year career, Mr. Spradlin became one of Hollywood’s most prolific character actors, using his dignified bearing to portray forceful characters like presidents, senators, preachers, doctors, military officers, athletic coaches, a sheriff, a police chief, a chief executive and a newspaper editor.

In “The Godfather: Part II” (1974) he played Pat Geary, the corrupt United States senator who defies the Mafia boss Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, telling Corleone he intends to “squeeze” him. As punishment, Geary later wakes up to find himself drenched in a dead prostitute’s blood.

Five years later, in “Apocalypse Now,” Mr. Spradlin played the Army general who sends Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) into the jungle to find and kill Marlon Brando’s Colonel Kurtz.

More here

Here G.D. plays the head coach in North Dallas Forty

A Time to Kill, a father’s justice, suspense thriller

This 1996 film directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Ashley Judd, Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, and the always terrific Kevin Spacey tells the story the of a father out for revenge for the rape and attempted murder of his young daughter.

This film isn’t shown much on regular TV and I think it doesn’t meet PC standards. Nonetheless, it’s a very compelling movie that’s well worth the watch.

12 Angry Men, in the wake of Casey Anthony trial, well worth getting DVD

This 1957 film directed by the great Sidney Lumet and starring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, E.G. Marshal and Jack Klugman has been one of my favorite films for years.

However, in the wake of the Casey Anthony trial, this movie should take on a renewed significance and needs to be watched.

Like Anthony, a young man is on trial for the murder and faces the electric chair if convicted of the crime. But, unlike Anthony, this case dealt with witnesses as well as circumstantial evidence.

What happens next in the jury room is the utmost in drama performed by an ensemble cast of finest actors in the business. A cross section of society is reduced to 12 men each carrying their own agendas and prejudices, but still having the responsibility to come together to determine a man’s fate.

Go get it.

You won’t be disappointed and maybe afterwards you may look at Casey Anthony a little differently.

1776, a fun musical and teaches more history than the schools

I remember seeing this film on a class trip in 1972. I’ve made it my business to see it every July 4 ever since.




In this scene Thomas Jefferson had to remove language abolishing slavery otherwise the South would kill the Declaration of Independence.

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, a classic in every sense of the word

A 1967 American drama film starring Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Hepburn, and featuring Hepburn's niece Katharine Houghton.

The film was groundbreaking for its positive representation of the controversial subject of interracial marriage, which historically had been illegal in most states of the United States, and was still illegal in seventeen southern American states up until June 12 of the year of the film's release, when it was legalized by the Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia.

It was produced and directed by Stanley Kramer, and written by William Rose. The movie's Oscar-nominated score was composed by Frank DeVol. [2]


This my favorite scene


The last 5 seconds is cut off from this scene

Potier continues to say "But you see yourself as a colored man. I see myself as a man." Very powerful scene.

Exclusive review: Thor, is a great flick

I was able to see an exclusive pre-screening of Thor, the movie today at the Ziegfield theater in Manhattan for Marvel comics executives, family and friends. The place was packed to the gills and they were not disappointed when the flick was over.

Thor fans, get ready to hold onto yours seats because you’re gonna get rocked! I think this adaptation of the popular comic book will out due any Marvel film ever made.

It was that good!

The film opens nationally this Friday May 6th.

Not Another Teen Movie - Token Black Guy-Yeah, it is funny!

I still laugh at these scenes from this flick that spoofs all those teen films. And yes, what makes it so damn funny is there really always was a token black dude.

It’s whack!






That’s funny!

Gunfight at the OK Coral, good western fun!

This 1957 film directed by John Sturges and starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas was a late movie favorite back in the day. Who cares if it’s not historically accurate? It’s a joy for me to watch men acting like MEN!

Lord knows we don’t see much of that today.

A directing giant dies Sidney Lumet dead at 86

If someone were to ask me who is my favorite director, I would have to scratch my head. But, if somebody were to ask which of which director do you have the most DVDs, the answer is Sidney Lumut.

That says it all!

RIP Sidney I love your work!

My favorite Lumet film, 12 Angry Men

Lonesome Dove, possibly the greatest western of all time

I remember when Lonesome Dove first aired on CBS in 1989. It was a Sunday night and nothing else was on, so I left it on channel 2, here in New York.

The first 35 minutes or so was very slow. So I watched it and read a baseball mag a the same time, not thinking much of the mini series thus far.

Then came the scene when Gus and Widrow stampeded a herd of cows across the border from Mexico and stopped reading when I heard the most rousing Western theme I had ever listened to in my life! I’m talking better than The Magnificent 7 or Big Country.

I said, “Whoa! What the hell is this?”

It was the music that grabbed my attention and from that point forward, the action was non-stop and I was hooked, moth open, totally blown away at what I was watching.

Robert Duvall gave an unbelievable performance and cemented his place as the greatest Western hero second only to John Wayne.

Well worth picking up, if you haven’t already!


Listen to the music in the background

The Last Picture Show, the forgotten classic

I remember they used to show this 1971 film on ABC and me and all my friends couldn’t wait to see it because it was pretty racy. That was before I became a serious film aficionado and realized how well made the movie was.

It’s directed by Peter Bogdanovich and stars Timothy Bottoms and Jeff Bridges.

This is my favorite scene that features Ben Johnson who made many films with my all time fav actor, John Wayne.

Wow, Ben nailed it!

Fiddler on the Roof, universal theme of adjusting to a changing world

This is a 1971 musical directed by Norman Jewison and starring Topol, Rosalind Harris, and Michele Marsh, that is well worth watching.

I saw this movie 40 years ago on a class trip to Radio City when I was in the 3rd grade and never forgot it.

It was a huge hi that year.

Don’t letting the setting, pre-revolution Russia, fool you. This flick hits on universal themes of love, bigotry, humor, marital relationships, and faith in God that applies to most people on one level or another. The characters are so richly drawn that you’ll get sucked into the story in very short order.

Running Scared, buddy film cop comedy sets the standard

This 1986 comedy directed by Peter Hyams and starring Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines is really a lot of fun. What the film does so well is seamlessly blend comedy and high intensity drama.

That’s hard to do!

You’ll laugh and hold your breath at a taxi chasing a limo on The El, still one of the most creative chase scenes ever filmed. Hines and Crystal may sound like an unlikely crime fight duo, but the chemistry between them is great.

It’s the kind of flick you can watch over and over again.

War Games, still a thrilling ride after 28 years.

This movie came out when I was 20 yrs old and it scared the crap out of me.

Directed by John Badham and starring Matthew Broderick, Ally Sheedy, Dabney Coleman, John Wood, and Barry Corbin. Corbin, a great character actor, steals the movie in my opinion.

It’s funny how the computer equipment seems so ancient from out of the Stone Age. But, in 1983 it was all cutting edge and only computer geeks owned personal computers.

I don’t have War Games in my personal DVD collection and I rarely recommend films I don’t own. However, I’ll make an except for War Games which is still thrilling although somewhat dated as far as Cold War tensions between the Soviet Union which still existed at the time this film was released and the United S States. This is what made the film so impactful for its time.

Worth picking up!

Q and A, one of the finest cop movies about New York’s finest

This 1990 film directed by the legendary Sidney Lumet and starring Nick Nolte, Timothy Hutton, and Armand Assante is one of the best cop movies ever made.

The movie captures the grittiness of pre-Rudy Giuliani New York of the late 1980s when the city was dirty and crime infested. It’s no coincidence that a lot of my favorite movies were directed by Sidney Lumet. The man is a genius as well as an superb film maker.

Go get the DVD!

Patton, a film about the kind of hard men America used to produce

This 1970 film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring George C. Scott in the title role, has stood the test of time and could truly be called a classic.

That’s the difference between what Hollywood used to produce and the garbage that gets passed of as quality film making today. 20 years from now I doubt very highly anyone will consider Avatar a classic. But, Patton will be right there in the conversation along with The Godfather.

Patton was a hard man that would stick out like a sore thumb today in a country filled with chic-a-fied men. He was a kick ass take charge kind of guy that just got the job done. He was a tough breed tempered by a steel nerve.

We need more men him today!






The real George S. Patton as narrated by Ronald Reagan

Open Range, a Western classic for all times

Here’s another film that should’ve won Best Picture.

This 2003 movie directed and starring Kevin Costner and Robert Duval is a tale of friendship, love, and the pursuit of justice in a crooked world.

The acting is first rate, and the musical score is haunting and quintessential Western heroism.

School Daze, a mirror held to identity issues within the Black community

It was a slow day on TV today. So slow, that they were showing School Daze on channel 5 here in New York in the afternoon.

Boy, I had forgotten how good this 1988 film directed by Spike Lee truly was. Lee had the courage to delve into sensitive racial issues within the Black community.

But, in addition to the identity issues of good and bad hair, and light and dark skin with blue contact lenses mixed in, was the slamming music including Tisha Campbell and friends performing a hot pre-Destiny’s Child number.

Well worth watching and having in your collection.

Lost in America, a comedy that’s actually funny

Lost in America is a 1985 comedy film directed by Albert Brooks and co stars Julie Hagerty of Airplane fame.

I’m not a great fan of the sitcoms that are out today like The Office and 30 Rock. Call me crazy, but I think a good comedy is supposed to make me laugh. But these writers in Hollyeood today don’t know from funny.

Lost in America is about a 1980s upper middleclass couple that chooses to drop out of socieety to find real menaing in their lives. So they sell their home and all their pocessions to ramble through Americain a Winobego, only to have the wife blows all their money at a stop over in Las Vegas.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

This 2003 film directed by Peter Weir and starring Russell Crowe is a delight. If you like stories about men with bravery and courage, then this is the flick for you.

During the Napoleonic Wars, a brash British captain pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war.vessel around South America.