I was reminded of this stellar series while reviewing "Stripes," one of four films the critics discuss in this episode.
Oh, how great it is to see Siskel and Ebert again, looking so young, and regaling one with lively, thoughful commentary.
This segment aired an eternity ago, on June 25, 1981, just around the time I'd started my first daily-newspaper job in the suburbs of DC. I'm sure I was too distracted to catch the show live, but I'm glad I caught up with it now.
The guys enjoyed "Stripes," probably more than I did, calling it an irreverent, slapstick, "up-the-establishment" comedy and excerpting its best scene, that of Bill Murray leading his platoon in an offbeat marching formation at boot camp.
S&E proceed to give thumbs-down to the slasher flick "Eyes of a Stranger," showing excerpts described as scarier in the theater -- now there's another throwback! "The director is prostituting his talent for some very rough stuff...hardly legitimate entertainment...it's more of a crime than a movie," Gene says.
The duo then tackles the "dumb car-crash fiasco...Cannonball Run," featuring dozens of cameos. "They had no respect for the audience -- all that matters is that they had a good time," we're told.
The fourth film on the marqee is "Superman II," and what a pleasure it is to see Christopher Reeve in fine form. He's a dreamboat, and his chemistry with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) plays beautifully. The sequel's described as better than the first, high praise indeed.
It's cool to remember that every 25-minute show concluded with the "dogs of the week," which in my 25th summer were "Bare Knuckles" and "It Came Without Warning."
As the episode ends, Gene laments that "the movies are tending to become the exclusive property of the young," to which Roger points out that 80 percent of movie-goers were under 25!
I miss these guys. They were treasures. But it's great to see that their legacy is on youtube...
Oh, how great it is to see Siskel and Ebert again, looking so young, and regaling one with lively, thoughful commentary.
This segment aired an eternity ago, on June 25, 1981, just around the time I'd started my first daily-newspaper job in the suburbs of DC. I'm sure I was too distracted to catch the show live, but I'm glad I caught up with it now.
The guys enjoyed "Stripes," probably more than I did, calling it an irreverent, slapstick, "up-the-establishment" comedy and excerpting its best scene, that of Bill Murray leading his platoon in an offbeat marching formation at boot camp.
S&E proceed to give thumbs-down to the slasher flick "Eyes of a Stranger," showing excerpts described as scarier in the theater -- now there's another throwback! "The director is prostituting his talent for some very rough stuff...hardly legitimate entertainment...it's more of a crime than a movie," Gene says.
The duo then tackles the "dumb car-crash fiasco...Cannonball Run," featuring dozens of cameos. "They had no respect for the audience -- all that matters is that they had a good time," we're told.
The fourth film on the marqee is "Superman II," and what a pleasure it is to see Christopher Reeve in fine form. He's a dreamboat, and his chemistry with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) plays beautifully. The sequel's described as better than the first, high praise indeed.
It's cool to remember that every 25-minute show concluded with the "dogs of the week," which in my 25th summer were "Bare Knuckles" and "It Came Without Warning."
As the episode ends, Gene laments that "the movies are tending to become the exclusive property of the young," to which Roger points out that 80 percent of movie-goers were under 25!
I miss these guys. They were treasures. But it's great to see that their legacy is on youtube...