Jackie Cooper Movies

Reconstructed using archival film and sound elements long thought to be extinct, this special cut of Superman II pieces together unseen footage shot by Richard Donner in order to present the most comprehensive version of what was to be the original cut of the blockbuster sequel. As initially planned, the first two films were to be filmed back-to-back using the same sets and actors to save on production costs. However, with a budget escalating out of control and Warner Bros. breathing down the producers' necks, the decision was made to drop any further filming on the sequel in order to finish the first movie and usher it into theaters. Of course, the first Superman was a wild success, so then it was just a matter of ramping up production again, though this time, Donner was not asked back. Instead, producers went with Richard Lester, who had served them well with his Three Musketeers films. Decisions were made to drop most of the key scenes that were already in the can, including all of the footage featuring Marlon Brando as Jor-El, the Man of Steel's father. After completion, the sequel found much success in theatrical and home-video box-office returns, though that didn't stop die-hard fans from speculating what Donner's cut would have looked like. Once the Internet was spawned, Warner Bros. saw interest grow more and more for this alternate version, even prompting the company to send cease and desist letters to individuals who had posted a re-edit of the film using deleted footage taken from an alternate TV version from the U.K. With the release of Superman Returns, the company saw this as a chance to finally deliver what people had wanted for years and enlisted Michael Thau to oversee the restoration process. Under the tutelage of Donner's notes, scripts, storyboards, and the director himself, the new version was delivered to home audiences in 2006, thereby not only giving people a look into what could have been, but giving a director an unprecedented chance to realize a vision long thought lost in the annals of movie history. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this episode, the darker side of Hollywood is examined, including some of its famous murder cases. It details the murders of William Desmond Taylor and Thelma Todd as well as the strange death of George Reeves, known to a generation as Superman. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi

Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this particular episode viewers look at the way Hollywood promotes its product. The enormous sums of money involved in the success of a picture have always tied executive careers to the pictures they make. In this tape, viewers get an inside peek at the outrageous lengths to which these men will go to ensure a picture's success. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi

Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this episode viewers review the accomplishments of some of the silver screen's greatest clowns. Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and the Marx Brothers are all profiled here. Also included is a look at the vaudeville roots of many of these beloved stars. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi

Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This particular episode examines the newsreels. Before the era of television, the newsreels played before each feature gave most people their only glimpse of the events of their day. Featuring hard news, the reels also brought sports and entertainment news to large audiences. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi

Ron Fazio returns as The Toxic Avenger, "the first hideously deformed monster hero of superhuman size and strength ever to come from New Jersey," in Troma's mercenary sequel to its hit film The Toxic Avenger. Since Toxie cleaned up Tromaville, New Jersey in the first film, he now has no one to fight. He works at the Tromaville Center for The Blind and has a girlfriend named Claire (Phoebe Legere). But the peace in Tromaville is shattered when an evil chemical company, Apocalypse Inc., and its dastardly chairman (Rick Collins), set their sights on Tromaville. In order to take over Tromaville, the Toxic Avenger must be eliminated. By intense study, Apocalypse's second-in-command, Maifaire (Lisa Gaye), discovers that Toxie's desire to vanquish villains is caused by particles manufactured in his body called "tromatons." Apocalypse Inc. bribes Toxie's psychiatrist to suggest that Toxie form a relationship with his father in order to get Toxie out of the country. His father happens to be in Japan and Toxie makes the trip to find him. While out of sight of his hometown, Apocalypse Inc. takes over Tromaville. Meanwhile, in Japan, Toxie finally finds his father but it turns out that his father is an arch-villain who must be killed. "Anti-tromatons" employed in the battle with his father render him weak and wounded, but a team of sumo wrestlers nurse him back to health and Toxie travels back to New Jersey for a confrontation with Apocalypse Inc. in Tromaville. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this tape, viewers examine a critical moment in movie history, the founding of the major studios, along with the consequences for smaller production companies. The rise of companies like MGM and 20th Century Fox is examined in detail. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi

Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This episode of the series looks at some of Hollywood's most independent directors, men willing to lay it all on the line to realize their artistic vision. Those profiled include Orson Welles and D.W. Griffith. Interviews with some of modern day's rebels are also featured, including Stanley Kramer. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi

Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This particular tape offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the craft of moviemaking. Viewers investigate many facets of movie production from camera technique to wardrobe selection and prop construction. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi

Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This episode examines the experience of black actors in Hollywood, considering the strides that have been made and the road that yet stretches before them. Prominently featured are interviews with Della Reese and Nick Stewart. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi

Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This selection from the series takes a look at the close relationship between the movies and Christianity, both on and off the screen. The program examines how this relationship has affected what is seen in the final product. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi

Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this episode, some of Hollywood's greatest scandals are given close attention. Included are examinations of the Fatty Arbuckle case, the Red Scare in Hollywood, and the arrest of Errol Flynn on rape charges. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi

Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This episode looks at the very beginnings of Hollywood's involvement with motion pictures and profiles some of the men that were there at the very start, men like Carl Laemmle and D.W. Griffith. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi