Maverick Time Machine :)

Here's another South American look at Maverick and Jack Kelly, this time from Uruguay:

La maquina del tiempo ("Time Machine") was a circa 2007 supplement to the "El Pais" periodical. "El Pais" published a series of these nostalgic magazines which showcased vintage TV series and films. The cover tagline describes Maverick as "A new style of western, where the protagonists weren't lawmen but seductive rogues."

The two-page "Nota De Tapa" (cover story) begins, "One of the most original series was undoubtedly Maverick, a new style of western. It was really innovative with its comedic tone. In effect, the television reign of the great families, of honest pioneers and workers (not to mention the lonely lawmen) was disrupted with the arrival of Maverick and his numerous family members, including a cousin from England (Roger Moore), and friends."

 

The second page of the story shows a picture of the statue of James Garner as Bret Maverick in Garner's hometown of Norman, Oklahoma. I wish there was a statue of JK as Bart somewhere, too--well, maybe some day.

 

Where in the world will TDS go next? Please stay tuned! :)

A Bundle From Brazil--Pt. II

As we've seen before, Maverick was still going strong on Brazilian television after its original network run ended in the US. These two TV Programas are from 1964, when a third season of Maverick episodes was airing in Brazil.

The first issue is dated January 27:

While the cover story is mainly about James Garner leaving the show ("Why James Garner Isn't Playing 'Brother Bret' Anymore"), it does have a nice pic of Jack Kelly and Roger Moore:

 

It also mentions a couple of things which I hadn't heard before. Reportedly, actor John Smith (of Cimarron City and Laramie TV fame) was originally considered for the role of Bret Maverick. And, after JG left Maverick, Warner Bros. supposedly thought about replacing him with Wayde Preston, formerly star of Colt .45!

The second TV Programas issue is dated October 26. It lauds Maverick for "Three Years of Success" on Brazilian TV:

 

The text of the cover story (roughly translated from Portuguese) reads:

"THREE SUCCESSFUL YEARS ON PARANAENSE TV--
In its third year on television in [the Brazilian state of] Paraná, Maverick remains popular with viewers. Although the series lost James Garner ('brother Bret'), who decided to go into movies, a new member of the family came on the scene: 'cousin Beau', personified by Roger Moore, who previously appeared on Brazilian screens in the Ivanhoe series. And it is possible that we may still see Robert Colbert ['brother Brent'], Garner's substitute. As for Jack Kelly, he remains firm as 'brother Bart', staying near the poker table with a handful of 'straights'.

Living incredible adventures in the old west, the Mavericks quickly became famous. They don't need to prove they are 'fastest on the draw'. They prefer to be known as romantic and adventurous players. And in each episode, they provide moments of mild humor, interspersed with a gentle dose of romanticism. Even though they tread different paths, they invariably walk in search of a beautiful girl. That's when they're not around a poker table, risking a bluff or doing a little trick, though they swear great honesty. 'Bret', 'Bart' and 'Beau' alternate in their weekly adventures, sometimes appearing together.

Milton Rangel, a popular national actor (he created the celebrated 'Jeronimo, Hero of Sertao' on National Radio in Rio) dubs the 'voices' of 'Bret' and 'Beau', while Domingos Martins speaks in Portuguese for Jack 'Bart' Kelly.

Maverick airs Mondays at 9:20 pm on TV-Paranaense, Channel 12."

There's another nice pic of JK (one I don't think I'd seen before) in this story:

The caption says, "A Maverick doesn't live only for poker.

Jack Kelly is well-accompanied here."



Plus, there's even a couple of cute Maverick cartoons in the 10/26 issue:

Roughly translated, the first cartoon says, "I'm just practicing until the other players show up." The second one says, "Maverick! Don't smoke so much while we're playing cards!"

STAY TUNED NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER LOOK AT Maverick FROM "SOUTH OF THE BORDER" :)
　

A Bundle From Brazil! :)

Some neat things from Brazil:

Coffee...

Image courtesy Eight O'clock Coffee

 

Mangalarga Marchador horses...

Image courtesy Brasil Cowboy  

the Bossa Nova...

Image courtesy Wikipedia

 

...and these rare vintage "TV Programas" magazines with Jack Kelly on the cover!

 

 

NEXT TIME: A look inside "TV Programas" with JK--please stay tuned! :)



JK Goes "Commandos" Again! :)

Ciao!

Direct from Italy, here's a fantastico fotobusta for Commandos which just joined the Kellection:

A close-up of Jack Kelly:

Yikes--that's probably the scariest pic I've ever seen of JK! So, here are some much nicer views of our man as "Captain Valli", courtesy of my Commandos DVD: 

 

  

 

Please stay tuned for more movie (and TV) moments with JK in TDS! :)

 

COMING UP NEXT: A bundle from Brazil!



Your Morning "Danish"! :)

¡Buenas Dias!

Here's another rare treat from the wonderful world of Jack Kelly movie Kellectibles: a colorful Danish poster for the 1956 Mexican film Canasta de Cuentos Mexicanos, or, A Basket of Mexican Tales:

¡Olé! A close-up of JK and co-star Mari Blanchard that's even hotter than this July's weather:

Coming soon in TDS:

• More JK movie moments!
• A bundle from Brazil!
• And more--please stay tuned! :)

Friday Night "Fever"! :)

Hola!

There's a lot going on in this magnifico Mexican lobby card that just joined the Kellection. But, look closely at the black-and-white inset and you'll see Jack Kelly as "Dan Callahan" in A Fever in the Blood.

District Attorney Callahan's overweening political ambition has led to tragedy: while speeding to a TV station, he accidentally runs down a young boy in the street. The boy will survive, but Callahan's dream of becoming his state's next governor doesn't.

Please stay tuned for more JK movie moments in TDS! :)  

JK Goes "Commandos"! :)

(I've been waiting a long time to use that line!) ;>

A set of original British lobby cards and a British pressbook for Jack Kelly's World War II drama Commandos (a.k.a. Sullivan's Marauders) just landed in the Kellection, so let's take a look at this 1968 Italian-German co-production.  

According to the book Cinema Italiano: The Complete Guide From Classics to Cult  (2011) by Howard Hughes, Commandos was filmed on location on Sardinia, a large Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea, during July and August 1968. Interior scenes were filmed at Incir-De Paolis Studios. 

Here is the cast and credits list (from the British pressbook):

 

Set in 1942, Commandos stars Lee Van Cleef as testy, battle-hardened "Master Sargeant Sullivan" and JK as career soldier "Captain Valli". Although Valli is higher-ranked than Sullivan, he has no combat experience.

Sullivan resents Valli's presence at the "secret Mediterranean base" where both men are tasked with training a group of Italian-American commandos whose mission is to seize an oasis in North Africa which contains the only well for miles around, disguise themselves as the Italian soldiers holding the oasis, and secure the site for two days until the Allied landings occur.

The first part of the mission goes as planned and most of the Italians guarding the oasis are killed. Despite Sullivan's protests, Valli orders that the handful of Italians who survived the siege be imprisoned instead of being put to death.

The Captain's decision to spare the Italians comes back to bite him when the POWs escape in a truck. The truck explodes after hitting a mine, but one of the Italian escapees survives and blabs to a German patrol about the American commandos' switcheroo at the oasis.

Then, the Americans receive orders to abandon the oasis, since their mission is no longer considered necessary. However, before they can leave, the oasis is attacked by a heavily armed German outfit equipped with tanks. The ferocious battle which follows leaves only one American and one German soldier alive. (Neither Sullivan nor Valli survive.)

Although Commandos was released in Italy in 1968, it took its sweet time getting to the rest of the world. The British pressbook dates to 1972, the same year the film was exhibited in Canada.

A reviewer in the Ottawa Journal was dismissive: "...Commandos stars Lee Van Cleef and is possibly the worst war film ever made in Italy. The commandos are Americans who land in Italy, sloppily massacre an entire section of the Italian army and pose as the murdered men in order to capture a water hole in North Africa. The soldiers do a great deal of grunting and hard breathing. This is obviously director Armando Crispino's idea of neo-realism. Dreadful."

The film arrived in the US later in 1972, playing towns such as Hallettsville, Texas, and Burlington, North Carolina. It was usually paired on a double-bill with another "macaroni combat" film titled Salt in the Wound (a.k.a. Il dito nella piaga and War Fever).

Today, Commandos is sort of a cult classic, earning favorable fan reviews such as this one and this one (which has a display of color fotobustas for the film).

Of course, Commandos is worth watching because of JK. He looks great and does very well with the role of Captain Valli. But, don't take my word for it--here's a preview, and the entire flick can be purchased for peanuts online.

Incidentally, you may have noticed the "X" on the lobby cards. It signifies that Commandos was rated "Certificate X" by the British censors, meaning one had to be over 16 to see the movie in English cinemas. 

Well, Jack Kelly fans of all ages are welcome at TDS. What's coming up next? Please stay tuned! :)