Sean Connery: James Bond actor dies aged 90

He was the first to bring the role to the big screen and appeared in seven of the spy thrillers.

Daniel Craig paid tribute to Sean Connery, calling his fellow 007, “one of the true greats of cinema.” Connery died overnight in his sleep. He was 90.

In a decades-long career, Connery won an Oscar for “The Untouchables” and appeared in such hits as “The Rock,” “The Man Who Would Be King,” “Time Bandits” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” He was best known, however, as the man who introduced James Bond to moviegoers with 1962’s “Dr. No.” Connery would go on to play the suave super-spy in six more films, including “Goldfinger,” “Thunderball” and “From Russia With Love.” As Bond, a ladies man with a license to kill, Connery was witty and sophisticated, with an ever-present hint of danger.

Craig became the most recent Bond in 2006’s “Casino Royale.” He’s played the role a total of five times, with the upcoming “No Time to Die” as his final outing. In recent times, Craig is generally considered to be the best Bond…with the exception of Connery’s original.

“It is with such sadness that I heard of the passing of one of the true greats of cinema,” Craig said in a statement. “Sir Sean Connery will be remembered as Bond and so much more. He defined an era and a style. The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in mega watts; he helped create the modern blockbuster. He will continue to influence actors and film-makers alike for years to come. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Wherever he is, I hope there is a golf course.”

Source: Sean Connery: James Bond actor dies aged 90

Paid Extras Wanted For New Netflix Series Filming In Pittsburgh Area – CBS Pittsburgh

A Netflix series that will start filming in the Pittsburgh area next month is looking for paid background actors.

The series is pitched as a “supernatural, mystery that follows two star-crossed lovers – Dan Turner and Melody Pendras – whose dual investigations unearth an inter-dimensional portal which puts them in the crosshairs of rival factions engaged in a battle for control of its power.”

No experience is necessary, and a press release says there will be opportunities for multiple days of work.

You can visit Movie Casting PGH’s website for more information.

Source: Paid Extras Wanted For New Netflix Series Filming In Pittsburgh Area – CBS Pittsburgh

Rhonda Fleming, film star of ‘40s and ‘50s, dies at 97

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actress Rhonda Fleming, the fiery redhead who appeared with Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston, Ronald Reagan and other film stars of the 1940s and 1950s, has died. She was 97.

Fleming’s assistant Carla Sapon told The New York Times that Fleming died Wednesday in Santa Monica, California.

From her first film in color, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court ” (1949) with Bing Crosby, Fleming became immensely popular with producers because of her vivid hues. It was an attraction she would later regret.

“Suddenly my green eyes were green. My red hair was flaming red. My skin was porcelain white,” Fleming remarked in a 1990 interview. “There was suddenly all this attention on how I looked rather than the roles I was playing.

Source: Rhonda Fleming, film star of ‘40s and ‘50s, dies at 97

Pittsburgh-area movie theater temporarily closes weeks after opening due to lack of new movies

BRIDGEVILLE, Pa. —Just weeks after reopening from a months-long shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Phoenix Theaters’ location in Bridgeville has announced it is temporarily closing.The theater announced on Facebook that it is closing due to a lack of new major studio films.

Source: Pittsburgh-area movie theater temporarily closes weeks after opening due to lack of new movies

‘The Batman’ halts production again after Robert Pattinson reportedly tests positive for COVID-19

“A member of The Batman production has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating in accordance with established protocols,” a Warner Bros. spokesperson said in a statement.

Source: ‘The Batman’ halts production again after Robert Pattinson reportedly tests positive for COVID-19

AMC to offer 15-cent tickets on first day of reopening | TribLIVE.com

2913747_web1_2913747-29a85afb4c154894b235b31678826809NEW YORK — AMC Theatres, the nation’s largest movie theater chain, will reopen in the U.S. on Aug. 20 with retro ticket prices of 15 cents per movie.

AMC Entertainment, which owns the chain, said Thursday that it expects to open the doors to more than 100 cinemas — or about a sixth of its nationwide locations — on Aug. 20 with throwback pricing for a day.

AMC theaters have reopened in numerous international countries but have remained shuttered in the U.S. since March. The chain touted the reopening as “Movies in 2020 at 1920 Prices.”

Locally, the world’s biggest theater chain has seven locations in western Pennsylvania: AMC Classic Westmoreland 15 in Greensburg; AMC Classic Delmont 12; AMC Waterfront 22 in West Homestead; AMC Classic South Hills Village 10; AMC Classic Mount Lebanon 6; AMC Classic South Pike 10 in Sarver; and AMC Classic Uniontown 6.

Source: AMC to offer 15-cent tickets on first day of reopening | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh-area Cinemark movie theaters set Aug. 21 reopening date

Theaters have been closed since March

Cinemark movie theaters in the Pittsburgh area are set to reopen on Aug. 21, according to the movie theater chain’s website.

That includes the locations in Center Township, Beaver County, Monroeville, the North Hills and Robinson Township.

The location in Tarentum at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall is permanently closed.

The theater closed its Pittsburgh area locations in March amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was initially planned that Cinemark’s Pittsburgh-area theaters would reopen in early July but that was later pushed back.

Source: Pittsburgh-area Cinemark movie theaters set Aug. 21 reopening date

Are Classic movies, Old and New, The Way To Go When Theatres Reopen? Could This Be The Best Idea For Moviegoers?

Harry Potter movies, “Footloose,” “The Wizard of Oz,” the “Jurassic” series and more will play at Epic Theatres of West Volusia’s drive-in theater through June

Epic Theatres of West Volusia, a movie theater in Deltona, Florida is offering drive-in movies nightly. The entertainment option has been well-received by families looking for something fun to do while following social distancing guidelines outside of their homes.

DELTONA — As the sun was setting, Holly Pell and her family arrived at Epic Theatres of West Volusia and settled in for a movie.

They never left their pickup.

It was the New Smyrna Beach family’s second visit since the theater’s conversion to show movies drive-in style, a change prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, but they looked like pros, having set up an inflatable mattress in the truck bed with plenty of pillows, blankets, snacks and drinks.

“I thought it was pretty fun,” said Cypress Wood, Pell’s 14-year-old niece.

“And you can just lay under the stars,” Lydia Pell, Holly’s 12-year-old daughter said.

Source: Classic movies, old and new, at Epic Theatres’ Deltona drive-in

‘Avengers: Endgame’ posts the first billion-dollar opening in history

Opening weekend box office records are built to fall eventually. But the one ‘Avengers: Endgame’ just set isn’t going anywhere for the forseeable future.

No movie in the U.S. has ever posted an opening weekend higher than $300 million. No movie anywhere has made more than $1 billion worldwide in the five days since it opened.

Source: ‘Avengers: Endgame’ posts the first billion-dollar opening in history

Netflix pulls out of Cannes amid feud with festival – CBS News

NEW YORK — The feud between Netflix and Cannes Film Festival is growing. Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, on Wednesday said the streaming giant is pulling its films from the Cannes Film Festival, further intensifying an ongoing dispute between Netflix and the world’s most prestigious film festival.

Cannes earlier banned any films without theatrical distribution in France from its Palme d’Or competition. That essentially rules out Netflix movies, which are released either on a day-and-date strategy — meaning simultaneously on Netflix and in some theaters — or simply go straight to Netflix. In France, it’s a law that films can’t be released on home entertainment platforms until 36 months after their theatrical release.

That still left Netflix the option of participating outside of competition at Cannes. But in an interview with Variety published Wednesday, Sarandos said he doesn’t want to send Netflix releases if they won’t be treated equally with other movies.

Source: Netflix pulls out of Cannes amid feud with festival – CBS News

Actress Susan Anspach of ‘Five Easy Pieces’ passes away at 75 – Global Times

Actress Susan Anspach, who appeared in the 1970 classic Five Easy Pieces with Jack Nicholson and other films, has died at the age of 75.

Her son, Caleb Goddard, confirmed her death to The New York Times.

He said she died on Monday of coronary failure at her Los Angeles home.

Anspach was best known for her role as an icy pianist in Five Easy Pieces.

Her other film credits included The Landlord with Beau Bridges, Blume in Love with Kris Kristofferson and as Woody Allen’s ex-wife in Play It Again Sam.

Anspach got her start on stage in New York where she appeared in plays alongside actors such as Robert Duvall, Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight.

Anspach was married from 1970 to 1978 to actor Mark Goddard, who adopted her two children from other relationships.

She claimed that Nicholson was the father of her son Caleb although the actor has never publicly acknowledged his paternity.

Source: Actress Susan Anspach of ‘Five Easy Pieces’ passes away at 75 – Global Times

CIA Operative Says Ted Kennedy Didn’t Know Mary Jo Kopechne Was in the Car at Chappaquiddick | TMZ.com

Ted Kennedy didn’t abandon Mary Jo Kopechne when his car plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island.

We’ve been asked not to use the CIA person’s name, but he worked for the agency for decades. He says back in 1969, Kennedy was romantically involved with the wife of a very powerful politician, and if word got out about the affair Kennedy was afraid it would ruin his career.

The operative says the night of the accident Kennedy and some of his buddies were all drunk and drove to a party on the Island. They went there because the politician’s wife was at the party and Kennedy wanted to hook up with her. Mary Jo Kopechne was at the party … she and Kennedy were acquaintances but not romantically involved.

According to the operative, Mary Jo was drunk, said she had a headache, got up and said she was going into one of the bedrooms to lie down.

At some point later in the evening, Kennedy and the politician’s wife wanted “some alone time” and didn’t want to do anything in front of the group, so they got in the car and drove … eventually plunging off the bridge into the water. They both swam to shore safely. The operative says both were not injured.

The operative says unbeknownst to either Kennedy or the politician’s wife, Mary Jo apparently was unable to sleep in the house because of the noise, so she went into the back seat of the car where she fell asleep … which is where she died. At least one person at the party knew Mary Jo had gone into one of the cars and told authorities that after the accident.

Source: CIA Operative Says Ted Kennedy Didn’t Know Mary Jo Kopechne Was in the Car at Chappaquiddick | TMZ.com

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