Tag Archives: Brian Dennehy

Now Streaming: 80s and 90s Western Double Feature

Our need for entertainment has never been greater. Let’s check out some of the great television and movies available on streaming platforms.

Tonight’s Genre: WESTERN

Tonight, we dive into a double shot of 1980’s and 1990’s Westerns. There weren’t many during that period, but there were some great ones!

First Pick: Unforgiven (1992)

In this Western drama, two rival bounty hunters come into conflict with each other as they try to be the first to murder a gang of criminals. The film stars and was directed by Clint Eastwood, and it won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1993.

– Yidio Plot Synopsis

To stream this with AMAZON PRIME for a low cost, click this link:

https://amzn.to/3axPCrr

Second Pick: Silverado (1985)

Silverado is an enchanting western comedy. Without giving, too much away the basic plot for the movie is simple, yet it will keep you very entertained for the entire film. Two brothers are heading to California during the late 1800’s and they need to stop in a town called Silverado so they can say goodbye to their only sister. Along the way, they run into several troubling situations like a caravan that needs help and a town that is run by a corrupt sheriff. They get out of one predicament and along come another. During their travels, they meet up with two other men that are in similar predicaments. The four men decide that they should ride together. They become quick friends and soon find out that they have a common goal.

This movie features some well-known actors that are early in their professional careers. It is one of the movie’s that helped launched the career of Kevin Costner. Kevin Costner plays one of the two brothers that is on their way to California. He plays an entertainingly goofy and unpredictable character. The brother playing opposite to Kevin Costner is Scott Glenn. Scott Glenn was an up and coming actor at the time. The other two members of their little group were Danny Glover and Kevin Kline. Kevin Kline was fresh off a hit movie and Danny Glover was an unknown. All four went on to great careers. These four worked perfectly together and they all made very believable characters. The rest of the cast for the movies featured some excellent role players. People like Jeff Goldblum, Rosanna Arquette, Brian Dennehy, and Linda Hunt did great jobs with their characters.

Western comedies that are both well written and funny are rare. Silverado is both of those things. It is a great chance to see some of your favorite actors at the beginning of their careers.

– Yidio Plot Synopsis

To stream this with AMAZON PRIME for a low cost, click this link:

https://amzn.to/2VD85io

Now Streaming: 80s and 90s Western Double Feature

Darkroom (1981 TV Series)

James Coburn goes DARK

When the past comes calling, sometimes it is very disappointing. I was bracing myself for that experience when diving back into 1981’s Darkroom. I had fond memories of the show, but nothing concrete. I couldn’t remember a single story.

Or so I thought.

Darkroom was one of a wave of anthology shows to hit television in the early half of the Eighties. I suspect it was due to the success of “Twilight Zone” in syndication and, frankly, without recurring characters, you could pay your actors dirt cheap.

Helen Hunt while her career was still developing

Now that I think about it, probably more to do with the latter of those than the former.

Good selection for reading material, James.

Darkroom was produced by Universal TV, but actually aired on ABC. I’m not sure if that is why it is currently streaming on NBC.com instead of Peacock, but who the heck understands all that stuff anyway? James Coburn, with his shock of silver hair, gravely voice, and decked out in all black turtleneck and slacks, was the host from the titular darkroom supposedly discussing some photos he is developing. Honestly, he only introduces about half of these things, so his involvement was probably filmed in a day or two.

Let’s do that voodoo you do so well.

The stories are what shines. A few of them were written by Robert “Psycho” Bloch and we get early peeks at Helen Hunt and Billy Crystal on the program. Also in the festivities is Claude Akins, David Carradine, Brian Dennehy, Rue McClanahan, June Lockhart, Jack Carter and Ron Cox.

Not too shabby?

As I watched, I smiled in glee as I figured out the “twist” endings that came shambling back from their graves in my ten year old boy’s mind. There is something very satisfying with this type of storytelling.

This story left a lasting film in my memory.

My favorite part of the show is each 60 minute show could have two or three stories/segments. They let each story take as long or short as it needed. Too often, horror overstays it’s welcome, but these get to the point, trying to beat you to the punch of figuring out the twist, and move on.

Mah-velous performance.

If you do nothing else, watch the episode/segment featuring Billy Crystal and Brian Dennehy called “Make Up.” It’s a great look at Billy Crystal doing a dramatic turn and has that classic Twilight Zone vibe you are looking for in a series like this.

I recommend taking a dive into the Darkroom.

Grade: A-

Darkroom (1981 TV Series)