StSparky Reviews

How to Murder Your Wife (1965)

Comic Strips in the film

[18 June 2006]

The comic strips in the film were actually drawn by the late Alex Toth. Alex Toth (June 25, 1928 – May 27, 2006), pronounced with a long "o", was a professional cartoonist. He began his career in comic strips and comic books but is best known for his animation designs for Hanna-Barbera throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

His work included Super Friends, Jonny Quest, Space Ghost and Birdman.

Toth's work has been resurrected in the late-night, adult-themed spinoffs on Cartoon Network: Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, Sealab 2021 and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.

Some newspapers even carried 10 days of teaser Bash Brannigan strips which got sillier and sillier with insider Hollywood comments each day of its' short run.

It was one of those things life blesses us with. - Sparky

99 and 44/100% Dead! (1974)

By The Way -

[8 January 2004]

The title refers to the now very old Ivory Soap claim of 99 and 64/100% Pure - and there is another "old" meaning for 'pure' that would be known to Frankenheimer and Dillon. It's another word for the material tanners would use in browning leather - dog turds. This should have been a clue to the humor to follow.

This is an interesting and odd film.

My Favorite Year (1982)

I got to thank Richard Benjamin for this film

[5 January 2004]

It's a fictional account of how the real-life Mel Brooks wooed Anne Bancroft while babysitting a hard drinking Errol Flynn before his appearance on "The Show of Shows."

The music is damn good too.

Macbeth (1971)

What would have Monty Python and Holy Grail parodied if not this?

[31 October 2003]

This film is brillantly parodied by Monty Python in the "Monty Python and Holy Grail," so it deserves our thanks. And it's way better than Orson Welles' attempt. And thank your stars that you missed "Chuck" Heston chew his way through Macbeth.

Fall Guy (1982)

A Funny Romantic Comedy of Errors

[9/10 · 15 February 2002]

FALL GUY (KAMATA KOSHINKYOKU) Directed by Kinji Fukasaku, 1982, 109 min

Fall Guy depicts the inside story of a film studio in a comical touch, where a nearly has-been movie star takes full advantage of an adoring member of his entourage & hanger on's blind devotion.

The former has the hanger on, who works as a bit player, marry the lovely actress he accidentally impregnated, in a bid to preserve his image, and then asks the fan to perform a show-stopping, life-threatening stunt in the hopes of making a big comeback.

At times moving, funny, and even romantic, Fall Guy, was well received and has won the first place in the "Ten Best Films" poll by Kinema Jumpo, as well as many other awards.

PS The honeymoon trip to Kyushu is a sweet moment of the film and clearly an inside joke.

Samurai Pirate (1963)

Toshiro Mifune as Sinbad the Sailor

[17 July 2001]

This film while translated to appeal to younger English viewers has the 10 basic classic battle lessons as the treat between the oh I see your panties humor from the supporting cast member who plays a lustful wizard/priest...

The sword versus long staff battle is a tremendous one.

I hope you enjoy this film.