Crossed Combs - retro, rockabilly, rhythm and blues, tiki and all that jazz.

Bettie Page Varietease on DVD

THE HOLY GRAIL OF BURLESQUE MOVIES! The legendary Queen of the Curve, Bettie Page, America s greatest pinup model, stars in Varietease, a unique peek of the wonderful world of burlesque complete with singers, slickers and saucy strippers! Flashing her sexy smile and gyrating in a harem girl costume, Bettie Page does her Dance of the Four Veils and easily steals the show. Another legend, the sophisticated and sparkling Lili St. Cyr, shows us just how elegant a striptease can be. Aiding and abetting are jokester Bobby Shields, bikini-clad Chris La Chris, Warblers Cass Franklin & Monica Lane, exuberant contortionist Twinnie Wallen, and fame female impersonator Vickie Lynn. First released in 1954. Produced and directed by girly-pix impresario Irving Klaw (the man who photographed Bettie in bondage).

Find out more about Varietease [DVD] at Amazon

Cadillac Records out on DVD and Blu-ray

Cadillac Records is Hollywood's take on the Chess label, created just after the Second World War in Chicago by Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody), the son of Polish immigrants, to promote young black performers, primarily from the South of the US. That means a host of blues and soul icons being taken off by modern-day actors and performers - including Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker), Chuck Berry (Mos Def) and Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles).

More about Cadillac Records [DVD] at Amazon

via Modculture News

Rockers movie 30 years - now on Blu-ray

Wienerworld proudly presents the Blu Ray edition of the classic reggae film Rockers, to coincide with the film's 30th anniversary since its release.

A riotous burst of energy and colour, almost documentary in style, Rockers is a cameo-packed gutsy thriller of the dread-locked, ganja-smoking drummer Leroy Horsemouth Wallace's attempts to succeed in the cut throat Jamaican music biz which provides much insight, amusement and education.

The film captures reggae at its musical apex with a vibrant and magnificent reggae soundtrack now digitally re-mastered from the original 35mm film made in 1978. Release date 15 June 2009.

Teenage Gang Debs (1966) trailer

Almost every B-movie has a little something. Teenage Gang Debs from 1966 features the top tune Don't Make Me Mad by Lee Dowell. Which does exist as a 45 but very few copies are known. Anyway, here's the trailer for Teenage Gang Debs. "The Go Go girls who go... too far".

One Sinatra movie, coming up!

Ever since Universal Pictures and Manadaly Pictures secured the rights to Frank Sinatra's music and life story, they have been looking for a suitable director. Now it has been announced that Martin Scorsese will direct the biopic.

No news yet on who will play the role of Frank Sinatra.

Via Electric Roulette

Oil City Confidential - upcoming Dr Feelgood movie

Today it is 15 years since the passing of Lee Brilleaux, lead singer of Dr Feelgood. We thought it could be a nice tribute to his memory to mention the upcoming movie Oil City Confidential.
Julien Temple is the man behind the Dr Feelgood documentary coming out this fall.

ROCKABILLY 514: NEW YORK PREMIERE ON JAN. 19th

The Knitting Factory is hosting the New York Premiere of ROCKABILLY 514 on Saturday, January 19th, 2008.

Saturday January 19th, 2008
8h00pm (doors open)
Screening at 8h45pm.
Knitting Factory
74 Leonard Street
New York, NY 10013
212.219.3132

There will be a live rockabilly band and a DJ to make you jive all night long!

McQueen's Machines: The Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Rebel

This is not a Hollywood biography, it is a book full of what late actor and style icon Steve McQueen knew and loved: fast cars, fast bikes, racing, and off-roading, and will appeal to his legion of admirers and racing fans everywhere!

Each vehicle featured in this 176 page book has been certified as having been driven, owned, and raced by Steve McQueen. Published by Motorbooks International.

Find out more about McQueen's Machines

Via RetroToGo

Are you into leather? The Leather Boys on DVD

Finally, The Leather Boys (1964) is available in the UK on DVD thanks to Orbit Media. Set in and around the famous Ace Café, this classic British film of the 60’s follows the lives of two young newly weds, Dot (played by Rita Tushingham) and Reggie (Colin Campbell). Mistaking lust for love, their marriage end up on the rocks. When Reggie moves in with his best mate Pete played by Dudley Sutton (Tinker in Lovejoy) he discovers a new world and relationship... This is one of very few movies made, if not the only one, during the Ton-up/Rocker era in the UK to have a plot set in the Leatherboy's world.

Get The Leather Boys from Orbit Media

Via Cinedelica

Rockabilly 514 screening

For over three years, the filmmakers documented the lives and struggles of a handful of characters within the rockabilly subculture in Montreal. The film is about a community of people who are dedicated to the 1950s rockabilly music and lifestyle. The film starts with the first annual Red Hot and Blue Festival and ends with the second edition, so it's only natural that the first screening takes places at the Red Hot and Blue Festival. August 2nd, 6pm.

Rockabilly 514 official site