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2012 West Carrollton graduation
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20,000 Leagues’ Richard Fleischer, 1916-2006
Director Richard Fleischer has passed away at the age of 89.
What a fascinating career he had. The son of the animator Max Fleischer, who made the Betty Boop and early Popeye shorts, he’s best remembered for two genuine sci-fi classics, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and Fantastic Voyage, but he also directed big-studio gloss ranging from the American portions of Tora Tora Tora to Doctor Dolittle. (Some worked, some didn’t.)
Then there are cult favorites like Soylent Green and Mr. Majestyk, the latter of which starred the late Monroe actor Taylor Lacher. (The poster for this Charles Bronson vehicle can be spotted in Kill Bill Vol. 2, in Bud’s trailer just before the big girl-on-girl swordfight.)
His late career was marked by what could charitably called the stylish trash of The Jazz Singer, Conan the Destroyer and Red Sonja, but his sci-fi hits have earned him a soft spot in the hearts of geeks everywhere.
PS It’s not strictly movie-related, but now also seems a good time to mark the passing of Buck Owens, who wrote one of the best movie-related tunes of all, “Act Naturally.” (Might win an Oscar, you can never tell/The movie’s gonna make me a big star/”Cos I can play the part so well).
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