The Swank Quarterly

 No mask. No pants. Hilary is celebrating the end of Covid-19 restrictions in her own way!

'The Howling Wind' became even more impactful because of Covid-19 paranoia

The Howling Wind (2020)
Starring: Anthony Arkin, Nicky Boulos, and Mark Silverman
Directors: Lorian Gish and Justin Knoepffel
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

A strange storm carrying a dust cloud that drives people insane has engulfed a rural county. A gruff farmer (Arkin) allows a young stranger (Boulos) to take shelter with him in his house... but soon discovers he may have made a deadly mistake.

"The Howling Wind" is an interesting little chiller that effectively captures not only the look and feel of a 1960s horror film, but it's got a storyline that resonates very strongly due to the way Covid-19 shook up everyone's lives and some of the hysteria that came with it. The film is further lifted by excellent performances from Anthony Arkin (as a gruff but ultimately good-hearted farmer) and Nicky Boulos (as a mysterious young man who may or may not be carrying the deadly plague sweeping through the area).

Of course, the actors were aided by excellent dialog and a clever storyline. One thing that was especially effective was how the film was moved toward its climax by how Arkin's character trusted the media reports about how the plague was being spread through the county and how lethal it was

Also impressive about this short film is the cinematography and lighting. The filmmakers clearly knew how to use the black-and-white media to its full dramatic advantage, something that's not seen often enough in films like this. (That's the second time in recent weeks I've said that; either my trawling through YouTube short films has been yielding better pay-offs of late, or there's a generation of up-and-coming filmmakers who have absorbed what the great black-and-white films of the past had to teach them.)

I recommend you take a few minutes of your day to check out this moody, well-executed film. (If I steered your wrong, let the world know in the comments section. The same is true if there's something great about the film I didn't mention and you want to call attention to!)

Musical Monday with Hot Butter

Nearly 50 years ago, in 1972, Hot Butter (keyboardist Stan Free) released his cover of Gershon Kingsley's immortal, history-making tune "Popcorn." This is the version that everyone from lone keyboardists to death-metal bands to symphony orchestras have covered rather than Kingsley's original.

Here it is, along with an interpretative dance which should give all of your budding dancers and choreographers hope. If these people couple make it on some French television show in the early 1970s, then you can make your dreams a reality, no matter how insecure you feel!

The Avengers: Two's a Crowd

Two's a Crowd (1965)
Starring: Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Warren Mitchell, Julian Glover, Wolf Morris, Maria Machado, and Alec Mango
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

Super-spies John Steed (Macnee) and Emma Peel (Rigg) are on the verge of unmasking a mysterious Russian agent, but his crafty assistants (Glover, Mango, Machado, and Morris) stymie their efforts by replacing Steed with a lookalike (Macnee) in their employ.

"Two's a Crowd" got off to a really fun start for me. I watch so many old films with cheap and pathetic effects that I thought I was in for another "treat" in that department--but then the model turned out to be a model. (The foe of the Avengers loves model airplanes and he uses remote controlled model planes to committ assassinations.)

This bit of trickery/playing on perception sets the theme for the entire episode where many things aren't what they seem and models take the place of the real thing... but can be just as lethal. John Steed's double is literally a model: The man is a male fashion model, and while he may not be a trained combatant, like Steed, his completely lack of morals and regard for other human beings makes him every deadly to those who think he's Steed.

Storywise, this is a fast-paced episode that's as full of twists and turns as one would expect a tale involving a "faceless" assassin whose identity is kept secret by a cadre of ruthless assistants, traitorous dopplegangers, and elaborate assassination schemes. The balance between humor and suspense is expertly maintained throughout, with lots of witty banter, quirky characters, and lots of fun situations. The best scenes involved Steed's evil double--with the fashion show where he is first introduced being absolutely hilarious, and the scene where Emma Peel has to decide if Steed is himself or the double and whether she should kill or not is quite suspenseful.

The best thing about the episode is the performances by Patrick Macnee--and yes, I did say "performances". Not only does he play two characters in the episode, but the fake Steed goes in and out of the character of Steed... so Macnee is playing a character who is playing John Steed. It's lots of fun to watch a talented actor getting show off!

Wonder Woman Wednesday

Legend has it that Wonder Woman's personal presence is so powerful that she causes some people to see stars by just showing up. Today, we test that theory. Please let us know if any of the featured portraits cause you to see stars (other than the ones on her outfit).

Part homage, part spoof, all good

Miss Barton's Famous Cakes (2019)
Starring: Lauren LaVera, Michael Doherty, and Charlie McElveen
Directors: Jared Hirsch and Nelson Vicens

Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

On a rainy night, Miss Barton (LaVera) learns that a pair of homicidal maniacs are searching for her in order to sate their hunger for her award-winning cake.

"Miss Barton's Famous Cakes" captures the look and feel of 1950s film noir, slanted more in the direction of the British manifestation of the genre than the American one. It has fun with the style and conventions of the genre, but it's also obvious that the filmmakers have love and respect for the material they drew inspiration from. Viewers are treated to about 15 minutes of excellent cinematography and lighting (that takes full advantage of the black-and-white medium); tight dialogue and fine acting (that is equal parts dramatic and the delivery vehicle for several moments of hilarity you won't see coming); and nicely done period costumes and hair styles (which is where many films that this usually fail).

The only complaint I have is that Miss Barton's visitors are slightly miscast. Both actors (Charles Doherety and Michael McElveen) give fine performances, but they both seem a little young and/or fresh-faced for homicide squad detectives in a film noir bit. This might be an unfair and nitpicky complaint, but it's the only thing about the whole film that didn't quite work for me.

Take a few minutes to check out "Miss Barton's Famous Cakes" by clicking below. I'm sure you'll find it time well spent.

Tom Jones and the Art of Noise

Who needs Indiana Jones when we've got Tom Jones?! 

Consider these titles of action-filled adventure stories...

Tom Jones and the Thunderball  --  Tom Jones and the Voice

Tom Jones and the Sexbomb  -- Tom Jones and That Wonderful Sound

Tom Jones and the Green Grass of Home

And here's a theme from one of those fabulous tales!

Happy birthday to Emily Ratajkowski

 Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski was born on this day in 1991.

(And we know for sure this this is her 30th birthday, because we counted the rings in her hat.)

As for presents... we don't know she wanted for her birthday, but these pictures make it clear as to what she needs.

Musical Monday with June Christy

It's the first Musical Monday in June, so we're bringing you a Musical June!

Born in 1925, June Christy has been described as one of the most talented jazz singers to ever perform. She began her career in the mid-1940s, and had a career that lasted until the mid-1970s. She recorded numerous albums for Capitol Records, working primarily with arranger Pete Rugolo. Rugolo had been the arranger for the Stan Kenton Orchestra where Christy got her start. (Like Christy, Kenton and Rugolo are considered giants in jazz music.)

June Christy recorded her final album in 1974 and then retired from show business. She passed away on June 21, 1990, but her performances live on!

Otterly Human is Utterly Humorous

"Otterly Human" is a cute web comic that often features pun-based humor. It's done by writer Connor Stone and artist Jaime Smith. We hope you enjoy the samples here, and, if you do, be sure to swing by the official site by clicking here.