Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Retro: Kimmer

Retro: Kimmer

Link to Retro: Kimmer

ELIZABETH TAYLOR PASSED AWAY....

Posted: 23 Mar 2011 07:09 AM PDT


Rest in Peace Elizabeth

We lost one of our brightest stars....

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor, who rose from child actor to become one of Hollywood's most talented actresses with a tumultuous life, died on Wednesday at age 79, her publicist said.

She died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles surrounded by her four children after having been hospitalized six weeks ago with congestive heart failure, a statement from publicist Sally Morrison said.


Mike Todd and Elizabeth Taylor

In a career spanning seven decades, Taylor was nominated for five Oscars and won the best actress honor twice.

In real life, she battled excess weight and drug addiction, and was married eight times, including twice to actor Richard Burton. Full Story

[New post] The Brain Eaters

The Brain Eaters

dailypop | March 23, 2011 at 5:05 pm | Tags: corman movies, heinlein puppet masters science fiction | Categories: cult movies | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-2r9

I recently caught this on a late night digital cable airing, reminiscent of the old-school UHF airings from my youth. I find all I really use my cable service for is to watch random movies late at night... I wonder if I'm the only guy who does that? Brain Eaters is an alien invasion movie set in a small town being bullied by a Senator. It has a very small budget yet boasts pre-Star Trek Leonard Nimoy in the credits. I found myself waiting with baited breath for Spock to show up at any minute, imagining that he must be playing a lead character, but the star only materialized near the end of the movie.

The 1958 Bruno VeSota film bears a strong similarity to another Corman flick, Night of the Blood Beast. It's fascinating that both movies deal with rather heavy material (free will and the moral complexities of alien invasion) yet are schlocky movies all the same. The Brain Eaters opens with a senatorial hearing regarding the arrival of an alien craft in Riverdale, Illinois. Senator Walter K. Powers is determined to debunk the event and noisily departs for the sleepy town just as alien invaders embark on an unusual invasion.

Small parasites have escaped the watchful eye of dashing and brilliant scientist Dr. Paul Kettering and his aged wise assistant. They attempt to take over the bodies of stray dogs with little success but hit paydirt when they overwhelm the town's mayor. The plot becomes a standard paranoid science fiction film, popular during the late 50's but it boasts some inspired ideas such as the 'alien craft' is actually a drill head sent from beneath the Earth's crust rather than being from the stars. Also, the parasites see their invasion as more of a gift than a hostile action, foreseeing that the complete possession of all humans will result in world peace.

One of the strangest recurring moments in this movie is that everyone seems to be armed; from scientists to the mayor. The parasitic creatures are also very crafty and after they realize Kettering is onto them, decide to possess his girlfriend who taunts him dressed only in a see-through nightie, making for a thrilling and saucy confrontation.

The movie is heavily influenced by Robert Henlein's Puppet Masters, so much so that a messy legal battle ensued between Henlein and producer Roger Corman. In the end, they settled out of court and the author's name was not included in the credits as he felt the movie was more than a little bit lacking.

watch?v=jHk2KC-S5Z0

The Brain Eaters is a fun black and white piece of vintage sci-fi that is rather slow in pacing but strong in ambition. The big reveal of Nimoy at the climax of the movie will take you completely off-guard as by that time you will likely have forgotten that he is even in it. I won't spoil the moment, but it is very entertaining.

Add a comment to this post


Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://subscribe.wordpress.com

Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


eBay watch: 1968 Porsche 912 Classic - at just 99 pence

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 01:56 PM PDT

Porsche

Ok, it's unlikely to stay at that price for long, but it's nice to see a low starting price for a very cool car on eBay - this 1968 Porsche 912 Classic.

An incredibly stylish coupe, it's not perfect and has been stood in dry storage for a few years. But if you are willing to invest a bit of time, effort and money in this, it will really pay off. According to the seller, it will need some recommissioning, although it runs when parked and has no bodywork issues.

Lots of images on the site if you need a closer look and as we said, just 99 pence right now.

Find out more at the eBay website

Retro Styled Sweaters by Sonia Rykiel

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 11:30 AM PDT

Rykielsweaters

Warmer weather may be just around the corner for most of us, but that doesn't rule out the room for stylish knitwear in your retro wardrobe just yet. Especially when we're talking about items as stylish as these Retro Sweaters from Sonia by Sonia Rykiel.

The skinny knit tops both start with a slim and feminine silhouette, with a classic crew neck to finish. But it's the subtle addition of fifties motifs that makes these stand out, borrowing from 50s tattoo imagery with both the cherry and anchor emblems. Ideal for a more relaxed nod to retro style, these jumpers are the sort of item you'll wear with everything.

Available now from Matches Fashion in the UK, they're both priced at £208, with the striped option in two colour choices.

Find out more from the website

Denim Button Dress from Oasis

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 11:15 AM PDT

Denimdress

Denim is a fabric that famously made its way into fashion from workwear in the 1950s, but it was a later decade that truly embraced it throughout fashion. The seventies took the classic blue stonewash and used in everything from jackets to dresses, like this retro Button Through Dress from Oasis.

The pinafore style of the dress is simple yet structured, creating a silhouette that wears well with such a stiff material. With a mid-length hemline, tailored waist and thick straps, the seventies style points are easy to see throughout.

It's available now from Oasis for £55.

Find out more from the website

Eames-inspired Keep On Rocking print by Yumalum

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 10:17 AM PDT

Rock1

Love the Charles and Ray Eames Rocker? Well, you can show your love to everyone who visits your home with this Eames-inspired Keep On Rocking print by Yumalum.

It's a retro-styled piece of artwork celebrating that particular seat, throwing in more than a splash of colour and a psychedelic twist. It's printed onto heavyweight 180gsm matte paper and sized at 50 x 70cm, so perfect for a standard Ikea frame.

£34.56 secures you one. See it 'in situ' per the page and check out the site for more similarly-styled artwork.

Find out more at the Yumalum Etsy website

Rock2

Ceiling Rose Wall Sticker

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 10:01 AM PDT


  Ceiling-rose-wall-sticker-spiro-design-4784-p

Wall stickers have become a regular feature of the interiors landscape but for a slightly different take, check out this Ceiling Rose Wall Sticker from Spiro Design.

The sticker is an amusing riff on a sought-after period feature and would certainly add interest to your average plain white ceiling.

It comes in two semi-circular halves for easy application and measures 49.5cm in diameter.

The sticker costs £39.50 and you can buy it from Rockett St George here

Antique brass desk spotlight

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 08:45 AM PDT

Antique-brass-desk-spotlight-3795-p
We've featured a couple lights in this style recently: now this antique brass desk spotlight offers the same look with a twist. 

The twist is revealed in the name. While this looks like a free standing floor model, in fact it measures just 45cm high making it more suitable to a table than making a grand lighting statement. The scale aside, it's got that vintage look, with the requisite tripod legs, and offers an interesting look for your desk. 

The price is £220.

Buy it from Alexander & Pearl 

Heritage teapot from Marks and Spencer

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 08:40 AM PDT

Heritage teapot

 

If you like to celebrate tradition while indulging in your cuppa, this Heritage teapot from Marks and Spencer could be the thing for you. 

It's made from English earthenware and is decorated with the Union Jack on its side and lid. Add to that the description Land of Hope and Glory that's emblazoned across the side of the teapot and you've got a pretty patriotic accompaniment to your tea. 

If you want to carry the look further, you can buy mugs and plates in the same range. 

The teapot costs £29.50. 

Buy it online

Carrie Bicycle Basket

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 07:45 AM PDT

 

Product_thumb php If you're finding that the lengthening days and warmer weather mean that you're venturing out and about on your bicycle once more then why not treat yourself to the Carrie Bicycle Basket?

Inspired by traditional crochet tablecloths but made out of far more enduring polypropylene, the Carrie can be used as a shopping or picnic basket and even flipped upside-down to make an impromptu picnic table.

It comes in black, white and green, complete with a set of hooks for attaching to your bicycle and it costs £64.20.

You can buy the basket from Made in Design here

Etch A Sketch iPhone case

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 06:45 AM PDT

Etch

You might remember that we featured an Etch A Sketch iPad case some time back, which turned the fashionable tablet into a vintage kids toy. At least in looks anyway. Well, somehow we missed its little brother - the Etch A Sketch iPhone case.

In essence, it does the same thing to your iPhone as it did with the iPad. Although let's be honest, the proportions aren't quite the same with the tablet and iPhone versions. Still, it's guaranteed to catch the eye when you pull out your iPhone on the bus or trains.

Officially licensed and made of impact resistant ABS plastic, you can grab one for $24.99 online.

Find out more at the ThinkGeek website

For sale: 1960s Peter Charles-Greed-designed house in Burley, New Forest, Hampshire

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 06:34 AM PDT

House1

I'm not sure it's all that from the outside, but inside, the 1960s is alive and well in this Peter Charles-Greed-designed house in Burley, New Forest, Hampshire.

Designed in 1968 by the architect for his own use, the house is located on a large, secluded site with a paddock in a peaceful part of the New Forest National Park. Inspired by Alvar Aalto and Frank Lloyd Wright, it's all about space inside, with large rooms and floor-to-ceiling windows. But best of all, the lavish interior from the 1960s is still pretty much in place - including lots of built-in marble and American walnut furniture and some great period light fittings. For lovers of the era, it's a dream.

House2

Just two bedrooms, but both are large, as are most of the other rooms, which include a study, huge living room, dining room and garden room. There's also ample outside space (around five acres) and a double garage, plus permission to extend further if you wish.

Well worth your time to check out the full gallery of interior shots. If you like what you see, you'll probably need a decent Lotto win to secure it. A price tag of £1,495,000 puts it out of reach for most of us sadly.

Find out more at the Modern House website

Cyclepedia: A Tour of Iconic Bicycle Designs book by Michael Embacher

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 06:14 AM PDT

Cyclepedia

We love a vintage bicycle, which is why we'll be investing in a copy of Cyclepedia: A Tour of Iconic Bicycle Designs book by Michael Embacher.

It's packed with such things, specifically charting 100 models designed over the past 90 years, models apparently chosen for their 'innovative mechanisms, engineering precision, and commendable design'. Mountain, racing, single-speed, touring, kids', tandem, urban, folding, cargo, and curiosities, they're all here.

Wallpaper has an online gallery of some of those models if you want a glimpse inside. If you like what you see, the book has just been published by Thames & Hudson and available on Amazon now for a discounted £11.73.

Find out more at the Amazon website

April Font Night at the Design Museum, London

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 03:15 AM PDT

Wim 
We've already briefly mentioned the Wim Crouwel exhibition at the Design Museum, in relation to the wallpaper being sold along side it, but now one of the accompanying event has also fired our imagination.

April Font Night, on (you guessed it) 1 April, is part of the Design Overtime late night openings. Not only will you get to see the exhibition early in its run, but you will have the chance to do a bit of font-based design yourself. The evening will include practical but fun workshop such as compiling your own A is for Alphabet compendium or constructing weirdly proportioned letters, activities which are sure to appeal to typography geeks and font fanatics.

Tickets cost £7.50 in advance or £11 on the door. Visit the Design Museum website for more information.

Sliced Grandfather Clock

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 03:00 AM PDT

5527464920002_Assort_l1 
The Sliced Grandfather Clock from Urban Outfitters provides a suggestion of the style of the traditional grandfather clock, but taking up a fraction of the space - ideal for those of us whose homes have hallways that are less than majestic.

The clock consists of a cross-section of an old-fashioned grandfather clock face. Not only is it missing the grand casing, it isn't even the whole clock face, but there is just enough of the numbers there for you to be able to tell what the time is. Which leaves more space on your walls for all the prints and artwork we've featured recently.

It costs £45 from Urban Outfitters.

Don't Be So Quick to Overlook the Maserati Grecale Folgore

If the GranTurismo Folgore is a guide, this Grecale Folgore could be surprisingly competitive. The EV GT was one of the year's best surp...