David Kerman Movies
- 1965
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Despite the title, this outrageously bad Rock 'n' Roll monster movie from Puerto Rico features neither the titular monster-maker nor his lumbering creation. Instead, we're presented with an "astro-robot" named Frank, who comes to save the day when Martian forces led by Princess Markuzan (Marilyn Hanold) begin kidnapping scantily-clad Earth females from sock-hops and beach-blanket shindigs everywhere -- apparently with the intent of populating a few parties of their own. The aliens manage to french-fry most of Frank's face off, but he nevertheless manages to snap back (after a few minor adjustments) and give the invaders what-for. Also known by the more honest title Mars Invades Puerto Rico. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Karen, Nancy Marshall, (more)
Filmed on a grand scale, Zulu is a rousing recreation of the January 22, 1879, siege of Rorke's Drift in Natal, Africa. An army of 4,000 Zulu warriors have already decimated a huge British garrison; now they are on their way to the much smaller Rorke's Drift. A Royal Engineers officer (Stanley Baker) is determined to stand his ground, despite having only a skeleton garrison at his command. His steamroller tactics are constantly at odds with those of a by-the-book lieutenant (Michael Caine), who feels that a retreat is called for, but it becomes clear that if the garrison is to survive, they'd better pay heed. Jack Hawkins and Ulla Jacobsson are also on hand as an idealistic missionary and his somewhat more pragmatic daughter. Richard Burton provides the narration for Zulu, closing the film with the observation that 11 of the 1,344 Victoria Crosses awarded since 1856 were bestowed upon the survivors of Rorke's Drift. Zulu was followed in 1979 by a "prequel," Zulu Dawn. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, (more)
- 1963
With a title like Farewell Performance, it's a safe wager that this British film has a showbiz theme. And that it does: Alfred Burke plays a wild animal trainer, married to beautiful but faithless Delphi Lawrence. When her pop-star lover is murdered, Delphi tries to solve the mystery herself. Shall we tell her? Featured in Farewell Performance are such real-life variety acts as The Tornadoes and Tommy Devel And Partner. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This true crime story was hardly "ripped from today's headlines," since the events took place some 20 to 30 years before the movie was released. Still, Murder, Inc. is not afraid to name names, notably those of syndicate boss Louis "Lepke" Buchalter (David J. Stewart) and killer Abe Reles (Peter Falk), who squeals on the Mob to earn immunity. The activities of Buchalter's murder-for-hire operation are played against a fictional story about a nightclub singer (Stuart Whitman) and a dancer (May Britt). Murder, Inc. has a queasy, unsettling quality, due in part to some offbeat casting: TV comedian Henry Morgan co-stars as a dead-serious federal agent, while "human joke machine" Morey Amsterdam shows up as a cabaret entertainer who is stabbed by the Mob. The film was a major boost for the career of Peter Falk, who very nearly managed to parlay his Murder, Inc. supporting role into an Academy Award. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stuart Whitman, May Britt, (more)
