WHITE LIGHTNING (1973) – Some readers have been asking for non-Christmas blog posts, so here we go with a review of this Burt Reynolds movie back before he settled in to lazily being a clownish parody of himself. Back when he was still legitimately a film star who could play things seriously.
In White Lightning Reynolds was at his dead-serious, dangerous best as an Arkansas convict who starts out the movie with just a year and a half left in his prison term for running moonshine whiskey aka “white lightning.” For the benefit of overseas readers or for readers in their teens or twenties let me take a moment to add some background on the illegal liquor business.
Moonshine liquor was illegal because not only were no taxes paid on the sale of the alcoholic product but because its illicit manufacture meant there were no safety standards. Anti-freeze or other fluids might have been used as ingredients, plus if you’ve ever seen an illegal still there might be drowned rats or squirrels that needed skimmed off the top of the vat from time to time. Continue reading
DREAM NO EVIL (1970) – A horror movie so bad that I was almost devastated that I never knew it existed until March of this year. Edmond O’Brien and cult favorite Michael Pataki are in the cast. Click 
X-MEN: THE NEW TEAM’S FIRST TWENTY 1970s STORIES – In 1975 Wolverine, Storm and others joined the team, beginning a legendary run of stories. Click 
GARRISON TALES FROM TONQUIN (1895) – American James O’Neill, who served in the French Foreign Legion in the 1880s and 1890s, wrote this collection of short stories based on his Legion experiences in Vietnam. Jaw-droppingly prescient material from this man. Click 
It’s the latest installment of Faculty Lounge Fascist Roundup! It’s no secret that privileged white Democrats aka “baizuos” have distorted the educational system into a partisan “church” of irrational thought and ugly intolerance. 
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1947) – Yet another Christmas Carol version produced by the long-gone Dumont Network. This one aired live on December 25th, 1947 and starred John Carradine as Ebenezer Scrooge. According to Variety the broadcast was simulcast in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Baltimore. There were 22 cast members and 12 sets. 
LIFEPOD (1981) – My review of another of the 10 cheapjack Robert Emenegger/ Allan Sandler science fiction movies from 1980 and 1981. In my view this is the best of the bunch. For the review click 
THE DEFENDERS: THEIR FIRST TWENTY 1970s STORIES – The opening tales of the Defenders, back before they were the mere street-level heroes that fans consider them today. 
RIVALS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE MOABITE CIPHER – My review of the final episode of the 1971-1973 BBC series, this one featuring a Dr Thorndyke mystery. Plus a look at the subsequent radio series about Holmes’ rivals. Click 
TRUMBO (2015)- My review of the movie that proves Democrat hypocrisy is hilarious. We need 3rd Parties. Click 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS were on the road against the defending National Champions of NAIA football – the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS. A 14-7 Vikings lead in the 1st Quarter became a 21-20 Blue Raiders edge by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Lindsey Wilson College on top 28-26 but the 4th saw Grand View U win the game 34-28. 
SECOND SEMIFINAL – In this game the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS welcomed the NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS. The Mustangs were chasing the Red Raiders 13-7 in the opening Quarter and 16-14 at the Half. Morningside College moved out in front 21-19 in the 3rd Quarter, then won out 28-19. 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS took on the visiting ANGELO STATE RAMS. This was a tale of two Halves, with the Orediggers holding a comfortable 20-3 advantage at the midpoint only to have to hold on tight in the 2nd Half against a Rams rally. Colorado School of Mines won a 34-28 thriller. 
SPIDER-MAN Vol 1 #145 (June 1975) 
Peter himself is in a state of shock, while the “new” Gwen, whose memories are months out of date, cries and pleads with him to help her understand what is going on. When Gwen tries to embrace him, Peter loses it, recoiling from her and screaming at her that she must be an impersonater. 
A CAROL CHRISTMAS (2003) – Here’s another entry in Balladeer’s Blog’s Twelfth Annual Christmas Carol-A-Thon. This version is one of the many that tries mining laughs out of setting the Dickens classic in the modern age. These adaptations have varying degrees of success and on a scale of 1 to 10 I would give this effort a 6.5. 
As regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog know, December is not just the month in which I cover umpteen versions of A Christmas Carol but also the month in which I look at versions of the tales of Charlemagne and his Paladins. These are the legends about Charlemagne, not the actual history, so there will be dragons, monsters and magic. Roland shows up in this story. 
THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA – Princess Angelica of Cathay, in our previous tale, had failed to win the heart of the Paladin Reinold despite holding him at her enchanted isle for a time. Just as the escaped Reinold was even now trying to make his way back to the court of Charlemagne, Angelica returned to her father’s court in Cathay. 
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