Trailer Tuesday: Donald Sutherland in ‘Alex in Wonderland’

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Alex Morrison is searching for inspiration. Can you dig it?
Donald Sutherland in ‘Alex in Wonderland,’ 1970

In December of 1970 Paul Mazursky released Alex in Wonderland – a film about a movie director struggling to follow up his successful debut film. Alex in Wonderland was Mazursky’s second film, following the great success of his 1969 debut Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. Yes, Mazursky seems to have made a movie inspired by real life events.

Donald Sutherland stars as the title character and Ellen Burstyn plays his wife. Famed European directors Federico Fellini and Jeanne Moreau appear as themselves. Mazursky portrays a Hollywood exec. The film contains many strange dream sequences and garnered mixed reviews. Roger Ebert rather liked the movie in his March ’71 review. Take in the trailer below.

Alex in Wonderland Theatrical Trailer, 1970

Alex in Wonderland Wiki, IMDb
Alex in Wonderland review at Every70sMovie

Previously, on Trailer Tuesday: Robert Redford in ‘The Hot Rock’

Music for Monday: Angel, ‘The Winter Song’ (A Hard Rock Holiday Classic, 1978)

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‘Hear the angels join the choir’
Angel, ‘The Winter Song,’ 1978

Androgynous glam rock band Angel were discovered by Gene Simmons of Kiss and signed to the Casablanca label in 1975. Angel dressed in white, featured a keyboard-laden sound and weren’t afraid to look pretty while rocking out.

The group never really cracked the big time but they did appear in the Jodie Foster flick Foxes and they scratched the top 50 with a cover of The Young Rascals’ “Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore.”

The song I’ve got for you today is in the holiday spirit and will likely blow your mind. At least a little bit. Here’s Angel with “The Winter Song” which appeared on the band’s 1978 L.P. White Hot.

“There’s a feeling in the air. Feel the spirit everywhere…”

Angel, ‘The Winter Song,’ 1978

Previously, on Music for Monday: Gordon Lightfoot, ‘Sundown’

Rad Ads: LIFE magazine, Dec. 03,1971

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A lazy Sunday is upon us and the time is right for some Rad Ads! Let’s blow 41 years of dust off the cover of the December 3rd, 1971 issue of LIFE magazine and take a peek inside.

‘Tis the season and all that so you’ll find a few Christmas-themed ads mixed in there. Have a look. (By clicking one image you can easily enlarge and scroll through them all. Look to the lower right and click the next image link).

He loves him some bourbon!

Jaunty topper and stripey trousers. Someone’s sure to stop soon…

Bastard. That cigarette was keeping my lungs warm!

Singer in a snow globe. Shake that sucker, Santa!

That sure is a nice looking…thing…in the driveway

Raise your hand if you miss yellow shag carpet. Anyone?

Santa…you didn’t.

Flowery, yes. But I like it too.

Previously, on Rad Ads: Black Belt magazine (Nov. ’79)

(Source: Google Books/LIFE)

Happy Birthday, Richard Pryor

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Happy Birthday, Richard Pryor!

Comedian, actor and social commentator Richard Pryor would have been 72 years old today. The sorely missed, boundary-pushing funnyman was born December 1st, 1940 in Peoria, Illinois.

Let’s celebrate Pryor, who appeared on TV and in film throughout the 1970s, by watching a brief clip from his NBC TV special from May of 1977. And before you go, check this article at HuffPost: “Happy Birthday Richard Pryor: 25 Reasons To Love The Legendary Comedian.”

The Richard Pryor Special?, 1977

Richard Pryor Wiki, IMDb

More Richard Pryor at Bionic Disco

Funshine Friday: Devlin

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Hanna-Barbera’s Devlin, an animated series inspired by Evel Knievel, originally ran on ABC from September to December of 1974. This was a rare dramatic cartoon from HB and the series focused on a traveling circus and a young stunt-riding team. Episodes ran 30 minutes in length and a total of 16 were produced.

Michael Bell (Charlie’s Angels, Super Friends) voiced motorcycle daredevil Ernie Devlin and Michelle Robinson and Monkee Micky Dolenz played Devlin siblings Tod and Sandy. Norman Alden (Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Super Friends) played circus owner, Hank.

Devlin TV Intro, 1974

Devlin Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Funshine Friday: Speed Racer

Show Toppers: Phyllis

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‘Who charms the crabs of Fisherman’s Wharf right out of their shells?’
‘Phyllis,’ second season TV intro title, 1976

Phyllis, a spin-off series from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, starred Cloris Leachman as Phyllis Lindstrom. The sitcom ran for two seasons from September, 1975 to August, 1977.

Can you guess where the show was based?
‘Phyllis,’ 1975

Phillis, originally Mary Tyler Moore’s landlady, moves with her daughter from Minneapolis to San Francisco after the death of her husband. Not having any money to speak of, Phyllis moves in with her husband”s mother, Audrey, and Audrey’s husband, Judge Dexter. In the first season Phyllis worked in a photography studio. In the second season she had taken a job as an assistant to a S.F. City Supervisor.

The death of three cast members; Barbary Colby, Judith Lowery and Burt Mustin, as well as sagging ratings in the second season, contributed to the series cancellation.

Phyllis season one intro, 1975

Phyllis Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Show Toppers: What’s Happening!!