The shawl (often called the “Goulston Street shawl”) is a piece of evidence allegedly found next to Jack the Ripper victim Catherine Eddowes in 1888. In 2014/2019, DNA studies claimed to find mitochondrial DNA from both Eddowes and suspect Aaron Kosminski, a Polish immigrant, on the item. 

Key Details Regarding the Shawl and Kosminski:

The Findings: Researchers Jari Louhelainen and David Miller claimed to find semen and skin cells matching a descendant of Aaron Kosminski on the shawl.

The Provenance: Businessman Russell Edwards purchased the shawl in 2007, believing it was taken from the scene by a police officer, Acting Sergeant Amos Simpson, for his wife.

Why Kosminski?

The original police focused on Kosminski because his residence on Sion Square and later Greenfield Street placed him within walking distance of every single one of these crime scenes. His “great hatred of women” and mental instability made him the perfect profile for someone capable of such “overkill” mutilations.

Read the book by Russell Edwards: Naming Jack the Ripper

These are the victims generally agreed upon by Scotland Yard as the work of a single serial killer, though some investigators linked him to even more.

The Canonical Five (August–November 1888)

Mary Ann “Polly” Nichols (August 31): Found in Buck’s Row. She was the first to display the characteristic throat-slitting and abdominal mutilation.

Annie Chapman (September 8): Found in the backyard of 29 Hanbury Street. This murder occurred in broad daylight and involved the surgical removal of the uterus.

Elizabeth Stride (September 30): The first victim of the “Double Event.” She was killed in Dutfield’s Yard, but the killer was likely interrupted, as she was not mutilated.

Catherine Eddowes (September 30): The second victim of the “Double Event,” found in Mitre Square. This is the victim associated with the silk shawl used in the 2014 DNA testing.

Mary Jane Kelly (November 9): The final and most brutal murder, occurring indoors at 13 Miller’s Court.

The “Extra” Victims

While the Five are the most famous, the Whitechapel Murders file at Scotland Yard actually contains 11 victims. 

Two others are often linked to the Kosminski timeline:

Martha Tabram (August 7, 1888): Killed with 39 stab wounds. Many experts believe she was the Ripper’s “first strike” before he switched to a signature method.

Alice McKenzie (July 17, 1889): Murdered months after the “final” killing. Police Commissioner James Monro believed this was a Ripper killing, while others disagreed. If Kosminski was the killer, this would mean he was active much later than the “Seaside Home” theory suggests.

His last 10 years were marked by severe physical and mental decline: 

• Residence: He remained at Leavesden Asylum for the entire decade, having been transferred there from Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum.
• Mental State: Medical records from this period describe him as “demented and incoherent”. He suffered from persistent auditory hallucinations and paranoid delusions, including a deep-seated fear of being poisoned, which led him to refuse food from others.

• Physical Decline: Due to his paranoia, Kosminski often only ate food he found on the ground or discarded litter. This behavior resulted in extreme emaciation; by February 1919, he weighed just 96 pounds (approx. 44 kg).

• Personal Habits: He was noted for being “very dirty,” consistently refusing to wash or bathe.
• Death: Kosminski died on March 24, 1919, at the age of 53. His cause of death is often cited as gangrene of the left leg, a complication likely exacerbated by his poor physical health and long-term institutionalization.

Burial: He was buried in the East Ham Jewish Cemetery in London.

The post Jack The Ripper: Revealed? first appeared on Brothers Ink Productions Pop Culture Posts.

#15 – JAXXON (Star Wars) Marvel

Jaxxon was introduced in Star Wars Issue #8. He was one of the first non-movie characters to be introduced in the original Marvel series and early on he was a very cool character. Only later they seemed to lean into his cartoon side and made him very goofy looking. But in 1978, I thought he was super cool and should have been in the movies. Great smuggler character. If they could make Wookies and Ewoks, why not Lepi… or Pooka as I would like to think of them. You get that joke if you ever saw Jimmy Stewart in Harvey.

#14 – MACHINE MAN (2001 A Space Odyssey) Marvel

Machine Man was introduced in 2001 A Space Odyssey Comic #8, created by Jack Kirby. He was not in the movie. He’s an android that was made sentient by a Monolith, same thing appearing in the movie. He had his own series soon after and has become quite a cool character. He’s Sci-Fi based but can easily fit in any given franchise, be it Star Wars or Avengers or whatever. He is a Marvel creation and thus, can be in anything. He’s very versatile and interesting, would make for a cool bad guy even.

#13 – LOBO (Omega Men) DC

OK it seems like I’m on a Sci-Fi trip here, but it’s just the way things went, it wasn’t intentional. LOBO was introduced in Omega Men Issue #3. He is an interstellar mercenary/bounty hunter. Again, I think he could be pulled through the Superhero line or in a Sci-Fi movie franchise. Interesting to note that it is the character Jason Momoa most wanted to play in the DC Universe, until Aquaman came his way. If they don’t want him as Aquaman anymore maybe he’ll still get his wish to play Lobo in something.

#12 – BETA RAY BILL (The Mighty Thor) Marvel

Beta Ray Bill was a character that was introduced to compete with Thor, in The Mighty Thor Issue #337. To be honest, I’m surprised they haven’t used him in one of the Thor films already. He fits perfectly with the Thor humor and is also affiliated with the Guardians of the Galaxy in the comics. And Stormbreaker, his hammer is already in the movies as well. So, no brainer Marvel, get on this.

#11 – DOC SAVAGE (Doc Savage) Marvel

I’m cheating a bit here, because Doc Savage was made into a movie in 1975, but it wasn’t the movie we deserve. This was a vehicle BORN for The Rock, Dwayne Johnson! He truly already is THE MAN OF BRONZE. I can’t believe it hasn’t happened yet! This is the ultimate sure thing.

#10 – BOOSTER GOLD (Booster Gold) DC

Here’s another rich person with a secret identity. Out in the public he’s an actor, often showboating and a fame hound, but eventually becomes important to the Justice League. I would love to see him as a member of the Justice League in the future as there should be more than just 6 core members. He would bring some more comedy and be a lot like the Chris Evans-Johnny Storm part of the team.

#9 – UNKNOWN SOLDIER (Our Army at War) DC

Great military title. Feels a lot like the invisible man, if the invisible man was a good guy, and not invisible. But cool war comic. The catch on this one is that he is virtually invisible as he can go anywhere and be anyone, his face is so disfigured that he has to wear disguises to get things done.

#8 – GROO The Wanderer (Groo) Marvel

Groo is from writer and artist Sergio Argones, famous for being the fastest artist on the planet and for doing crowded covers and margin work for MAD Magazine. Groo is a take on Conan the Barbarian, and hilarious – he’s a brainless brute.

#7 – MICRONAUTS (Micronauts) Marvel

This is the first I heard of a comic series being based on a toy line. Usually it’s the other way around. Now, I personally thought they missed the boat by not having the Micronauts be major characters in the 3rd Ant-man movie! It seemed like a totally no-brainer! It was custom made for that world! Crazy, as they could have been introduced into the MCU! Missed opportunity, big time.

#6 – PLASTIC MAN (Police Comics) DC

This one is a golden age superhero, started out in Police Comics. He was around before Mr Fantastic, so pretty cool character. As far as a movie, he should have been in one by now. He did have his own Tv Show though so that was cool.

#5 – SINISTER SIX (Amazing Spider-Man) Marvel

All these bad guys in one movie, man I can’t believe this hasn’t been made yet. The original team included Doctor Octopus, The Vulture, The Sandman, Electro, Mysterio and Kraven the Hunter with Venom coming in later. That movie would be expensive though as the actors playing these characters would be insane: Alfred Molina, Michael Keaton, Thomas Haden Church, Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal and Aaron Taylor-Johnson with Tom Hardy if Venom is in the batter’s box.

#4 – DEADMAN (Strange Adventures) DC

Here’s a silver age superhero, and a dead one at that. It’s cool to be dead. Guillermo del Toro has been circling around this character for years and I think he would be perfect for a film with him. He does supernatural extremely well. So supernatural meets superhero. Let’s get this done.

#3 – POWER GIRL (JLS) DC

#2 – NOVA (Nova) Marvel

#1 – POWER PACK/FRANKLIN RICHARDS (Power Pack) Marvel

The post Marvel and DC Characters That Haven’t Been in a Movie or TV Show, But Should Be first appeared on Brothers Ink Productions Pop Culture Posts.

HBO’s period drama The Gilded Age delivers not only high-society intrigue but also show-stopping fashion. Set in 1880s New York, the series’ costumes (designed by Kasia Walicka-Maimone) have become a much-talked-about “scene-stealer” in their own right.

The Architects of Splendor: Kasia Walicka-Maimone and The Gilded Age Costume Department

If the Top 15 list that we have out on social media (check out our Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube posts) celebrate the results, this addendum honors the process — and the people who made those results inevitable.

At the center of The Gilded Age’s visual identity is Kasia Walicka‑Maimone, whose work doesn’t merely dress characters; it defines power, class, and ambition in 1880s New York. Her approach is neither nostalgic nor ornamental. It is strategic.

Costume as Strategy, Not Decoration

Walicka-Maimone’s costumes function as narrative engines. Every choice — fabric weight, trim density, silhouette timing — answers a story question:

• Who holds power in this room?
  
• Who wants it?
  
• Who is pretending not to care?

This is why Bertha Russell’s wardrobe evolves from conspicuous excess to calibrated dominance; why Agnes van Rhijn’s gowns resist trend and cling to authority; why Marian Brook’s palette and structure shift as her worldview widens. These aren’t “pretty dresses.” They’re arguments made in silk and wool.

Research That Serves Drama

The costume department’s research is exhaustive — museum archives, portraiture, extant garments, and period photography — but it is never allowed to overrule drama. Walicka-Maimone has been clear in interviews: historical accuracy is a foundation, not a ceiling.

That philosophy explains why:

• Colors are sometimes bolder than museum-safe norms
  
• Silhouettes may arrive slightly “early” if it serves character
  
• Texture and contrast are heightened for modern eyes

The result is a wardrobe that feels alive — not embalmed.

Scale You Don’t See, Precision You Do

Across seasons, the department has produced thousands of custom garments, many built from the understructure out: corsetry, bustles, petticoats, and tailored foundations that dictate posture and movement. This unseen architecture is why the costumes don’t just look right — they behave right.

Equally critical is the team’s discipline:

• Repeat silhouettes are avoided unless narratively justified
  
• Palette overlap is controlled across scenes and characters
  
• Aging, wear, and restraint are applied with intent
  

Nothing is accidental. Nothing is random.

Collaboration as Craft

What makes The Gilded Age exceptional isn’t just the lead designer — it’s the ecosystem she leads:

• Cutters and drapers translating 2D research into 3D authority
  
• Milliners and jewelry makers completing social signals
  
• Tailors shaping menswear that communicates class with restraint
  
• Dyers and textile specialists creating colors that read on camera

Walicka-Maimone’s team treats every background player with the same seriousness as a series lead, which is why the world feels cohesive rather than staged.

Why This Work Endures

Trends fade. Spectacle dulls. What lasts is intentionality.

The costumes of The Gilded Age endure because they are:

• Character-specific, not generic
  
• Historically grounded but emotionally modern
  
• Designed to withstand scrutiny, rewatching, and still frames

They invite analysis because they were built to hold it.

With Gratitude

This Top 15 series exists because of the vision, rigor, and taste of Kasia Walicka-Maimone and her entire costume department. Their work doesn’t chase attention — it commands it.

Check out the TOP 15 Costume Looks on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/185FZ9NQmD/

They didn’t just clothe a show.
They constructed a hierarchy, stitched it into fabric, and let the audience read it instinctively.

That is costume design at its highest level.

~~~~~~~~~~~

This Article and Infographs are Copyrighted 2026 Brothers Ink Productions All Rights Reserved

The post HBO’s The Gilded Age – An Education in Costume Design first appeared on Brothers Ink Productions Pop Culture Posts.

Boris Karloff was a prolific actor headlining numerous Universal Horror films, including his iconic turns as Frankenstein’s Monster and The Mummy. He frequently collaborated with genre legends like Bela Lugosi, Vincent Price, and Christopher Lee across multiple studios.

In the context of “Boris Karloff – By The Numbers,” Karloff’s prolific career is organized through a numerical breakdown of his associations with major film studios, geographic production origins, and thematic collaborations.

Film Studio Affiliations

The sources categorize Karloff’s work largely by the studios that produced his most famous horror contributions:

• Universal Pictures: This studio represents a cornerstone of his legacy, with 11 Universal Horror Movies listed. This includes his iconic three-time portrayal of the Frankenstein Monster and his leading role in The Mummy (1932).

Within the history of Universal Horror, the Frankenstein Trilogy is defined by Boris Karloff’s three portrayals of the Frankenstein Monster: Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), and Son of Frankenstein (1939). While these three films established Karloff’s legacy as the iconic creature, they represent only a portion of his broader contributions to the genre, as he starred in a total of 11 Universal Horror movies throughout his career.

The trilogy serves as a bridge to a larger network of classic horror collaborations and ensemble films:

• Expanded Universal Roles: Beyond the Monster, Karloff’s influence at Universal included portraying other legendary figures, most notably The Mummy (1932). He also starred in key titles such as The Old Dark House (1932), The Climax (1944), and the later crossover films House of Frankenstein (1944) and House of Dracula (1945).

• Ensemble Casts and Key Pairings: The trilogy, particularly Son of Frankenstein, began a trend of featuring multiple horror stars in a single production. That film featured Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, and Basil Rathbone. This pattern continued in later Universal entries like House of Frankenstein, which paired Karloff with Lon Chaney Jr., Atwill, and Glenn Strange.

• Frequent Collaborators: The sources highlight that Karloff’s work within the Universal context was often shared with a recurring “stock company” of actors. He appeared in eight movies with Bela Lugosi, including Son of Frankenstein, and worked with Lionel Atwill in three different Universal films. He also maintained a frequent professional relationship with Basil Rathbone, appearing in four films together across various studios.

• The Transition to Horror-Comedy: The sources note Karloff’s involvement in the later Universal era with his appearance in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), marking a shift in how the studio utilized its classic monster properties.

While the “Frankenstein Trilogy” is the cornerstone of Karloff’s Universal career, the sources indicate that his work extended far beyond the Monster, spanning across other studios like RKO, Columbia, and MGM, and involving collaborations with other legends of the genre like Vincent Price and Christopher Lee later in his career.

• RKO Pictures: Karloff is credited with 5 RKO Pictures horror movies, including titles like The Body Snatcher (1945) and Bedlam (1946).

• Columbia Pictures: The sources identify 3 Columbia horror movies, specifically The Man They Could Not Hang, Before I Hang, and The Devil Commands.

• Monogram/Allied Artists: Karloff appeared in 4 movies for these studios, such as The Ape.

• MGM: While not listed as a recurring category, the studio is specifically noted for the 1932 production of The Mask of Fu Manchu.

Production and Genre Categories

Beyond specific studios, the sources classify Karloff’s filmography by regional production and specific literary or genre themes:

• British Horror: A significant portion of his later career is defined by 10 British Horror Movies, spanning from The Ghoul in 1933 to The Crimson Cult in 1968.

• Universal Monster Movies: This sub-category highlights his roles in ensemble or “monster” specific films like House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula.

• Edgar Allan Poe Adaptations: The sources create a distinct category for the 5 movies written by or based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, such as The Black Cat (1934) and The Raven (1935, 1963).

Categorization by “Frequent Pairings”

A major organizational framework used in the sources is the categorization of films by Karloff’s co-stars and professional connections. This emphasizes his status within a “golden age” of horror stars:

• Basil Rathbone and Peter Lorre: Karloff made 4 movies with each of these actors.

• Lon Chaney Jr., Vincent Price, and Glenn Strange: He is credited with 3 movies alongside each of these performers (though he shared four total projects with Strange when including television).

• Christopher Lee: The sources note a connection consisting of one TV show and two movies.

This structured approach demonstrates that Karloff’s career was not just a collection of individual films, but a series of strategic studio runs and enduring professional partnerships that defined the horror genre across several decades.

The post Boris Karloff: By The Numbers first appeared on Brothers Ink Productions Pop Culture Posts.

While often eclipsed by later films, Werewolf of London served as the essential foundational blueprint for the iconic Universal monster formula. The source explains how this movie pioneered the tragic curse narrative, transforming the creature into a sympathetic victim rather than a mere villain. By introducing structured mythology and human-centric makeup designs, the film established that horror is most effective when the audience can relate to the monster’s suffering. Furthermore, it placed the creature within polite society, creating a tension between civilization and savagery that defined future cinematic masterpieces. Ultimately, Universal used the film’s shortcomings to refine its approach, leading to the emotional and simplified storytelling seen in the definitive classic, The Wolf Man.

The film Werewolf of London acted as a foundational blueprint for future monster movie templates by establishing specific design philosophies and social dynamics that Universal Studios would refine for decades. Its influence is primarily seen in its approach to makeup design, the “tragic curse” narrative, and the tension of a monster hidden within high society.

1. Influence of Restrained Design

The film pioneered a restrained transformation design that prioritized human features over animalistic ones. Designed by Jack Pierce, the makeup was subtle and recognizably human, operating on the philosophy that human features make monsters “emotionally legible” to the audience. This specific design choice influenced several future templates:

• Frankenstein’s Monster: Utilized visible eyes and expressions to convey vulnerability.

• The Wolf Man: Adopted a mournful, half-human face that emphasized the character’s suffering.

• The Gill-Man: Even this creature utilized expressive eyes under prosthetics to maintain a human connection.

Universal learned from this film that monsters are most effective when the audience can feel pity before fear, a concept that became a staple of the Universal horror formula.

2. Social Setting: The “Outsider in Polite Society”

Werewolf of London moved the monster out of isolated castles and into the heart of civilized London. By making the protagonist an educated, well-spoken man of science, the film introduced a tension that became a Universal staple: the monster hidden inside high society.

This social setting influenced future movie templates by demonstrating that monsters are scarier when they blend in with the world the audience recognizes. You can see this influence in:

• Dracula, as he infiltrates Victorian England.

• The Invisible Man, who uses his scientific prestige to mask his actions.

• Larry Talbot in The Wolf Man, as he unsuccessfully attempts to maintain a normal social life.

3. Structural Influence on “Rules” and “Fate”

Beyond visual design, the film’s setting and structure introduced the “rules-based” monster. It formalized the idea that a monster’s behavior should be tied to external conditions and a specific mythology—such as the mariphasa lupina plant or a cyclical curse. This “rules” template was later applied to other icons, such as Dracula’s aversion to sunlight and The Mummy’s reincarnation rituals.

Ultimately, while the film’s lore was considered too intellectual and complicated at the time, it served as a “blueprint draft” for The Wolf Man. Universal used the lessons from Werewolf of London to simplify mythology and lean harder into the themes of fate and inevitability, ensuring that horror felt unavoidable for the protagonist.

Universal formalized rules and mythology for their monsters because they discovered that audiences respond more effectively to monsters with understandable logic rather than random chaos. By establishing specific structures, such as a monster’s behavior being tied to external conditions or cyclical patterns, Universal was able to make the horror feel unavoidable and inevitable.

The formalization of these rules served several key purposes:

• Creating Emotional Resonance: Establishing “rules” for a condition—such as lycanthropy being passed through violence—helped frame the monster as a victim of a tragic curse. This allowed the audience to feel pity before fear, a core takeaway for Universal’s monster formula.

• Enhancing the Sense of Fate: Universal learned that horror is most effective when it feels like a structured fate rather than a random occurrence. While Werewolf of London initially featured lore that was “too complicated,” Universal refined this by simplifying the mythology in later films to ensure the curse felt emotional rather than intellectual.

• Establishing a Narrative Template: This rules-based approach was applied across their entire franchise to provide consistency. For example, Dracula was governed by rules regarding sunlight, stakes, and invitations, while The Mummy was tied to specific rituals, scrolls, and reincarnation cycles.

Ultimately, these formalized mythologies served as a hook for humanity, allowing the audience to understand the “cursed” nature of the characters even as they moved through civilized society

The makeup design in Werewolf of London, created by Jack Pierce, significantly influenced characterization by prioritizing emotional legibility and human connection over pure animalistic terror. This design philosophy shifted the focus from the monster as a simple beast to the monster as a tragic, suffering human.

Specific ways the makeup design influenced characterization include:

• Humanizing the Monster: By keeping the makeup subtle and recognizably human, the design characterized the creature as a “cursed man” rather than just a beast. This established the template of the “monster as victim first, terror second,” allowing the audience to perceive the character’s internal struggle.

• Conveying Vulnerability and Suffering: Universal learned that human features make monsters emotionally legible. This lesson was directly applied to future characters to define their personalities:

    ◦ Frankenstein’s Monster utilized visible, expressive eyes to convey a sense of vulnerability.

    ◦ The Wolf Man featured a mournful, half-human face that characterized him through his suffering and pain.

    ◦ Even the Gill-Man used expressive eyes to maintain a human connection with the audience despite its creature-like appearance.

• Facilitating Social Tension: The restrained transformation supported the characterization of the protagonist as an “outsider in polite society”. Because the makeup did not completely obscure the human identity, it reinforced the idea of a monster hidden within high society, capable of moving through civilized London while harboring a dark secret.

• Creating “Humanity as the Hook”: The design choices taught Universal that humanity is the essential hook for a monster’s character. By ensuring the character’s face remained expressive, the films could emphasize that the protagonist was becoming a threat against his will, which deepened the tragedy of his fate.

Ultimately, the makeup design was instrumental in shifting Universal’s monster formula toward characters who should be pitied before they are feared.

The post How the Werewolf of London Became the Blueprint for the Universal Monster first appeared on Brothers Ink Productions Pop Culture Posts.

I was done. I can’t fully express to you how I felt exactly, I just was exhausted and was just simply done. Done with trying, done with caring, done with crying, done feeling everything- anything. I decided that this was it and that my marriage was over.

So the next morning after yet another sleepless night, I told her that I wanted a divorce.

She was beyond shocked. She was devastated. Now, mainly she was devastated because she never saw it coming. You have to understand something about me to understand this about her…I have not always been “Mr. Right”…but I have been “Mr. Everything is Alright”. I usually keep all my anger or sadness or unhappiness inside and just tell people, “Everything is alright.”. I try to keep a smile on my face at all times, no matter how I’m really feeling inside. I try and let things go, if I’m feeling confronted…I run.

Call this avoidance, or non-confrontational…however, you slice it, if my wife and I ever fought, or got angry or anything like this, I would just walk away. I felt I needed to get away and time away to cool down or whatever it was. Now, she is the complete opposite, as she wants to “hash” things out. Keep talking or hitting that problem head on until it’s completely worked out. But to me, early on in our marriage, this just felt like we were talking “it” to death, or just “beating a dead horse”…it was sheer torture for me.

But this avoidance also had a small side effect that I was unaware of at that time. Early on in our marriage, I wasn’t honest with her, with any of my “negative” emotions. Because I pretended that I didn’t have any. I never told her when I was hurt by something she did or said and then it just would fester in my mind later. If she did anything that hurt me later, or we would find ourselves arguing or mad at each other, I would bring up these “old” hurts and then blast her with multiple problems all at once, which undermined any current problem we were trying to hash out at that time.

Now, to be helpful, I’m not going to tell you all the little things that finally lead to my decision to leave my wife…because every one’s “little things” are different and they all add up over time. Needless to say, it all added up simply to me not feeling like I was getting what I truly needed from my wife and my marriage.

Back to the moment I told my wife I wanted a divorce…at this point, I thought she would yell, scream, throw things and generally hate me forever. But she didn’t. She did something I didn’t expect. She said, “OK, if that’s what you want.”

She moved out.

Just so you know…she still loved me. And she showed it over the next 4 months. She went to great lengths to show me that if we couldn’t be great as husband and wife then she would make sure we were great friends. She told me she couldn’t imagine her life without me, so she wanted us to be best friends, if that is what it took to keep me in her life.

We started talking on the phone…every day. She started to drop by every other day. And through all this, she never showed anger and she never showed sadness. Just support. And love. And deep down inside she was lying to me. Inside, she was broken in two. But she put on that same smile every day, that I was in turn giving to the world, while we were married.

I realized then that if this woman was giving it 150% to try and make things work, regardless of how she truly felt inside then I was the breakdown…I was the one that was not trying any more. I never wanted to be the problem. I wanted to be the solution.

So I thought long and hard about what I really wanted. I did want her. I loved her with all of my heart. But I did need things to be different.

I came up with 3 things.

These 3 things were things I needed above all else. It was 3 things that I needed from her at all times. They were indisputable and simple. Moving forward I realized that I needed my wife to give me these 3 things in order for me to be happy in my marriage and happy with her.

So, I called her and asked her out to dinner.

While we were out at dinner I told her that I still loved her. She cried and told me she still loved me too.

I told her about my thoughts about my “3 things”. She smiled and said that she would always keep those things in mind and that every day she would dedicate herself to giving me those 3 things. So, then I asked her what her “3 things” would be. She thought for a little while and then I could tell that she had thought about those 3 things quite often during our first few years of marriage. She told me about her “3 things”.

They were different than mine, of course. But just as valid. They made sense. I told her that I would think about these 3 things and dedicate myself to giving them to her every day.

We also made 2 rules, never to go to bed angry and never to leave each other without a kiss and an “I love you”.

And I can happily confirm that we have been married 20 years more after that dinner date. And we have never been happier.

Now, you may think it was that simple, but I’ve analyzed it over time and I have come up with some contributing factors:

1. I started to communicate with her. I finally told her what I needed. It took me some time to identify what it was that I really needed from her, but once I did, and we started to talk about those things, then we started to “really” talk to each other.

2. We re-committed ourselves completely to each other. Every day I realize that being with her is my choice. And every day, I make that choice again. I own that. I choose her.

2. I’m dedicated to making her happy. I’m not thinking of my own happiness because that is her concern. I’m going to think about and give her those “3 things” every day. And she does the same for me.

4. I can confirm that she has given me those “3 things” ever since. She probably would have done so in the beginning, only she didn’t know what those 3 things were, and I never took the time to tell her. Once, I did, everything changed.

Some people have asked what my “3 things” were, and I won’t tell you in this post, but I will tell you that they are different for everybody. They were simple, but they were crucial to my mental, spiritual and physical happiness. Now, if you really want to know, we can go offline and have that discussion, I will be more than happy to tell you what my 3 things were and what her 3 things were, if that is helpful and gives you more perspective.

I also realize that those 3 things may change over time, so it may be important to have that discussion and re-focus on the new “3 things” because we may be at different stages in our lives. We never had the blessing of children, but I’m sure that if we had, our 3 things would have definitely included them.

I hope this post can give those of you that are having a little difficulty in your marriage something to think about. I hope this is helpful. Just know that you are not alone, and that others have been through similar situations. You can get through this…and from experience, I know…it’s worth it.

The post These 3 Things Saved My Marriage first appeared on Brothers Ink Productions Pop Culture Posts.

Judy Holliday’s enduring legacy in Hollywood was built upon a series of “dizzy blonde” roles that masked a formidable intelligence and a network of high-profile professional advocates who recognized her unique talent.

Defining Roles

Holliday’s career was defined by her ability to portray seemingly simple-minded characters with depth and precision, a feat she attributed to the “smarts” required to convince audiences of her characters’ lack thereof.

• Doris Attinger in Adam’s Rib (1949): This role served as her cinematic “big break”. Playing an attempted murderess, Holliday initially hesitated to take the part due to sensitivities regarding her weight and a specific line in the script. However, her performance was so impactful that she was accused of “stealing the spotlight” from legendary co-stars Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.

• Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday (1950): Having first achieved success in this role on Broadway, Holliday fought to recreate it on film against the wishes of Columbia Pictures chief Harry Cohn. Her performance earned her both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Actress, solidifying her status as a major Hollywood star.

• Bells Are Ringing (1957/1960): Demonstrating her versatility, Holliday won a Tony Award for the Broadway musical version and later starred in the 1960 film adaptation. This role showcased her flawless singing voice, proving she was more than just a comedic actress.

Key Professional Collaborations

Holliday’s trajectory was significantly shaped by a core group of collaborators who mentored her and navigated the studio system on her behalf.

• Katharine Hepburn: Hepburn was perhaps Holliday’s most influential advocate. Recognizing Holliday’s talent on Broadway, Hepburn deliberately campaigned to get her noticed by Hollywood. During the filming of Adam’s Rib, Hepburn and director George Cukor strategically focused the camera on Holliday and leaked stories to gossip columns to ensure studio executives—specifically Harry Cohn—would see her potential.

• George Cukor: Cukor directed Holliday in several of her most important films, including Adam’s Rib, Born Yesterday, and It Should Happen To You. His directorial style helped shape not only Holliday’s performances but also those of her costars; for instance, he used his work with Holliday to teach a young Jack Lemmon that “less is more” in screen acting.

• Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon: This writing duo provided the material that defined Holliday’s career, including the play Born Yesterday and the screenplay for Adam’s Rib. Kanin was a staunch supporter of Holliday, even modeling the obnoxious character Harry Brock in Born Yesterday after Harry Cohn as a “sneaky” inside joke.

• Jack Lemmon: Holliday served as a frequent collaborator and mentor-of-sorts for Lemmon, starring with him in It Should Happen To You and Phffft. Lemmon became a lifelong admirer, noting that she acted “with, not at” her scene partners and possessed an intellectual capacity that would have allowed her to “zip right through” Mensa puzzles.

Holliday’s ability to navigate the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) also remains a part of her professional legacy; by essentially playing her “Billie Dawn” persona on the witness stand, she became the only person called before the committee who was neither blacklisted nor forced to name names.

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Would you watch this Alistair MacLean double feature? ICE STATION ZEBRA (1968) WHERE EAGLES DARE (1968) What an amazing double feature that would have been!

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Peter Benchley’s creative involvement and the momentum from his previous successes were instrumental in shaping the production of The Deep (1977). His influence spanned from the foundational script to the casting of key personnel.

Success of Jaws and Character Continuity Produced just a few years after the massive success of Benchley’s Jaws (1975), The Deep utilized similar elements to capitalize on that earlier triumph. A significant part of this was the casting of Robert Shaw, who had starred in Jaws. Benchley believed that Shaw embodied his characters better than any other actor, making his presence a vital link between the two productions.

Direct Creative Control over the Screenplay Benchley took a direct role in the film’s development by co-writing the screenplay based on his own novel. This was a relatively rare occurrence for the author; while many of his books were eventually adapted for the screen, he only wrote screenplays for three of them: Jaws, The Deep, and The Island.

Collaborations and Networking Benchley’s previous work in television also influenced the production’s creative team. While working on the TV movies The Great Houdini and Jeremiah of Jacob’s Neck (both 1976), he met Tracey Keenan Wynn, the son of actor Keenan Wynn. This connection led to Benchley and Wynn co-writing the screenplay for The Deep.

Production Scale and Authenticity Following the “seminal” success of his previous work, the production of The Deep was characterized by an intense commitment to technical scale and realism. The production was notable for several factors:

• Location Filming: Instead of a studio tank, the film was shot on location at the RMS Rhone, an actual shipwreck in the British Virgin Islands, with scenes filmed at the bow section 75 feet underwater.

• Technical Intensity: The shoot was massive in scope, lasting 153 days and involving 8,895 dives and over 10,000 person-hours underwater.

• Actor Involvement: To maintain authenticity, lead actors Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset performed many of their own underwater scenes, though stunt doubles were used for the most dangerous sequences.

In short, Benchley’s status after Jaws allowed for a production that mirrored its predecessor’s high-stakes aquatic tension while giving him a central seat in the writing process.

To understand the production’s scale, you might think of it like a world-class orchestra following up a hit symphony; because the first performance was a masterpiece, the second was granted a much larger stage, more expensive instruments, and the original composer to lead the arrangement.

The primary location used for the film was an actual sunken vessel known as the Royal Mail Ship RMS Rhone.

According to the sources, the production utilized this site to enhance the film’s underwater cinematography, which is considered some of the best in cinema history. Key details regarding this location include:

• Geographic Location: The ship is located off the coast of Salt and Peter Islands in the British Virgin Islands.

• Historical Context: The RMS Rhone sank in 1867, breaking into two separate pieces during the disaster.

• Filming Specifics: Scenes were filmed at the bow section of the wreck, situated approximately 75 feet underwater.

• Discrepancy with Plot: While the physical filming took place at the RMS Rhone in the British Virgin Islands, the film’s narrative is set in Bermuda. In the story, the characters find a fictional shipwreck filled with gold and jewelry hidden beneath a World War II shipwreck containing thousands of vials of morphine.

The logistical commitment to filming at this authentic location was immense, involving a 153-day shoot and the consumption of over one million cubic feet of compressed air.

To visualize the authenticity of the setting, you might think of it as a time capsule at the bottom of the ocean; rather than building a set to look like history, the filmmakers took the audience directly into a genuine piece of the past.

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If you haven’t heard, the Academy Awards is finally going to recognize the movie stunt community with the Oscar for Achievement in Stunt Design. It’s going to be given out starting at the Oscars on Feb 2028, for the previous year. So movies from 2027 will be the first stunt winners for the Oscars. In honor of this amazing event coming up we will be going back in time and nominating and awarding this award as if it has always been here. Going back in time to nominate the 5 Movies for the Oscar for the Achievement in Stunt Design if the Academy Awards gave out the award in…

1970

NOW HERE’S WHERE YOU COME IN, YOU GET TO VOTE FOR THE WINNER! VOTE BY NAMING YOUR MOVIE CHOICE OUT OF THE 5 NOMINEES BELOW…

1. PATTON:

Patton featured significant stunt work, especially in its large-scale battle scenes with tanks and explosions, utilizing professional stunt coordinators and performers like Carey Loftin, Joe Canutt, and others for dangerous sequences, although the focus was on historical realism and spectacle rather than elaborate, fictionalized stunts. 

Examples of Stunts & Action:

Tank Battles: The film used M48 Patton tanks (modified to look like German Panzers) in large-scale maneuvers, requiring skilled drivers and stunt people to navigate them safely, as seen in large battle sequences.

Explosions & Debris: The extensive use of explosives in combat scenes necessitated stunt coordinators and special effects teams to ensure safety and capture the action, even requiring specialized camera protection.

Skilled Personnel: Stunt coordinator Joe Canutt and stunt drivers like Carey Loftin (known for Duel) were involved in executing these dangerous moments. 

Focus on Realism:

While there were stunts, the film aimed for historical authenticity, using real locations and authentic-looking (though modified) military hardware, so the action was integrated into the believable portrayal of World War II combat.

People Involved in the Stunts & Action:

Yakima Canutt

• Credited with special action sequences on Patton.

• One of the most influential stunt coordinators in film history, especially for horse work and battlefield choreography.

• Helped design mass-movement action that looked dangerous while remaining tightly controlled.

• His methods were ideal for Patton’s sweeping cavalry and troop maneuvers filmed in Spain.

Joe Canutt

• Yakima Canutt’s son and a respected stuntman in his own right.

• Frequently served as a principal double for leading actors in large-scale productions of the period.

• Widely cited as performing dangerous riding and battlefield falls during combat sequences in Patton, including doubling for George C. Scott in select action moments.

Frank McGrath

• Veteran stuntman and actor associated with John Ford films and large outdoor productions.

• Part of the stunt and action unit used for falls, explosions, and background combat during major battle scenes.

Why Patton Is a Stunt Milestone

• Unlike modern war films that rely heavily on CGI, Patton achieved scale through:

• Real tanks and armored vehicles

• Live cavalry and infantry movement

• Carefully choreographed explosions and falls

• Wide-angle staging that demanded absolute precision

• The stunt philosophy was realism through logistics, not chaos. That approach heavily influenced later epics like A Bridge Too Far and Waterloo.

2. THE HEROIC ONES

Shaw Brothers film The Heroic Ones features extensive stunt work and is noted for its large-scale action choreography. As a major historical epic of its time, it relied on a massive team of stuntmen and extras rather than modern computer-generated effects. 

Notable Stunt and Action Elements

Acrobatic Feats: Leading actors Ti Lung and David Chiang performed agile, athletic maneuvers, including “superhuman” acrobatic leaps facilitated by stunt performers.

Large-Scale Battles: The film features massive melee scenes involving hundreds of real extras and stuntmen instead of CGI crowds.

Weapon Choreography: The movie is credited with establishing the use of spears and heavy staffs as legitimate weapons in the martial arts genre, featuring intricate choreography that required significant physical coordination.

Practical Effects: A key sequence involves a “five-horse quartering” scene, which used practical props, horses, and ropes to simulate the death of David Chiang’s character. 

People Involved in the Stunts & Action

Lau Kar-leung

• One of the most important martial arts choreographers in cinema history.

• Served as a martial arts director / action choreographer.

• Brought authentic Hung Gar–influenced movement into stylized wuxia combat.

• Emphasized clear body mechanics, rhythm, and grounded power, even in wire-assisted scenes.

Tong Gaai

• Regular collaborator with director Chang Cheh.

• Helped stage large-scale melee combat, weapon work, and mass battlefield movement.

• Known for managing groups of performers so chaos looked operatic but stayed controlled.

Lau Kar-wing

• Martial artist and frequent Shaw Brothers performer.

• Participated in physically demanding fight scenes, weapon choreography, and falls.

• Part of the extended Lau family action unit that powered many Shaw Brothers productions.

Chang Cheh (Director)

• Chang Cheh’s films required extreme physical commitment from performers.

• He pushed for heroic endurance, real pain, and operatic violence, which heavily shaped stunt execution.

• His insistence on long takes and wide framing placed high demands on stunt teams.

Shaw Brothers Studio

• Maintained an in-house martial arts and stunt training system.

• Performers were often cross-trained as actors, fighters, and stunt doubles.

• This studio system allowed films like The Heroic Ones to stage complex action safely at high speed.

Why The Heroic Ones Matters for Stunts

• The film represents a key moment when:

• Traditional Chinese martial arts blended with cinematic choreography

• Wire work supported movement rather than replacing technique

• Stunt teams became storytelling tools, not just spectacle

• Its influence runs directly into later Shaw Brothers classics and eventually modern Hong Kong action cinema.

3. CATCH-22

Catch-22 featured several dangerous and complex aerial stunts, particularly involving its large fleet of B-25 bombers, with famed stunt pilot Frank Tallman performing difficult maneuvers like the perilous formation takeoff sequence, which required planes to take off at tight intervals or crash, a testament to the film’s practical, real-world action. 

Key Stunt Elements:

Formation Takeoff: One of the most iconic and dangerous stunts involved numerous B-25s taking off in close succession, with pilots needing incredible skill to avoid collisions, described as one of the most dangerous stunts by pilot Frank Tallman.

Controlled Crashes: The production included deliberate crashes, such as a B-25 that appeared to crash after landing badly, with pyrotechnics and smoke effects used to simulate explosions.

One-Take Sequence: A memorable scene with Colonel Cathcart and Milo Minderbinder walking near a seemingly about-to-crash B-25 showcased actors performing amidst chaotic but controlled aerial activity, highlighting the danger without actual combat.

Expert Pilots: Stunt pilots like Frank Tallman and Jim Appleby were crucial, managing the complex logistics and performing difficult flying maneuvers to capture the intense wartime atmosphere, according to Aero Vintage Books and HistoryNet. 

These stunts were essential to creating the film’s realistic, albeit satirical, depiction of wartime aviation, showcasing the era’s practical filmmaking techniques.

People Involved in the Stunts & Action

Frank Tallman

• Served as aerial coordinator and stunt pilot on Catch-22.

• A legendary aviation stuntman and co-founder of Tallmantz Aviation.

• Responsible for coordinating dangerous low-altitude bomber formations, takeoffs, landings, and fly-bys.

• The film used real, airworthy WWII-era aircraft, making Tallman’s role central to both safety and realism.

Tallmantz Aviation

• Provided aircraft, pilots, and aerial stunt coordination.

• Specialized in vintage warplanes and complex formation flying.

• Their involvement allowed Catch-22 to stage some of the largest real bomber sequences ever filmed, with minimal optical effects.

Mike Nichols (Director)

• Not a stunt professional, but Nichols directly shaped how action was staged.

• He favored controlled, methodical aerial choreography rather than spectacle-for-spectacle’s-sake.

• This approach required extreme precision from stunt pilots to match timing, framing, and editorial rhythm.

Richard Sylbert

• Sylbert’s large, practical sets—especially the Mediterranean airfield—enabled ground-based stunt action involving explosions, aircraft movement, and chaotic crowd scenes.

• His designs reduced the need for miniatures and increased reliance on real physical action.

Why Catch-22 Is a Stunt Landmark

• Used real planes, real pilots, real formations

• Filmed at dangerously low altitudes by modern standards

• Relied on aviation stunt expertise rather than visual effects

• The result is an air war that feels absurd, terrifying, and mechanical—perfectly matching the film’s tone.

4. THEY CALL ME TRINITY

They Call Me Trinity (Lo chiamavano Trinità…) featured stunts, primarily the distinctive slapstick fighting and physical comedy characteristic of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill’s “Trinity” films, involving plenty of exaggerated punches, falls, and bar brawls, alongside typical Western action like gunfights and horse stunts, all performed by stuntmen and the leads. While not known for the death-defying solo feats of someone like Jackie Chan, the movie relied heavily on choreographed physical action and comedic timing. 

Key Elements:

Slapstick Fights: The film’s core appeal was the “Farinata” (slapstick) style, with huge, comical punches and people flying around, a staple of Spencer-Hill movies.

Western Action: Expect standard Western fare like gunfights, horse riding, and roughhousing in saloons, often involving coordinated falls and choreographed chaos.

Key People Involved in the Stunts & Action:

Bud Spencer (Carlo Pedersoli)

• Spencer performed most of his own physical comedy and fight work.

• His trademark style—slow, powerful punches, open-handed slaps, and exaggerated knockdowns—was designed to be safe while still looking brutal.

• Because of his size, many scenes were choreographed so opponents “sold” the impact rather than took real hits.

Terence Hill (Mario Girotti)

• Hill was highly athletic and agile and also performed the majority of his own stunts.

• His speed-based choreography contrasted Spencer’s brute force, creating the film’s signature comic rhythm.

• Falls, rolls, horse work, and timing-dependent gags were typically done by Hill himself.

Enzo Barboni (Director)

• While not a stuntman, Barboni was crucial to the stunt design.

• He deliberately staged fights to avoid injury, emphasizing wide framing, rhythm, and reaction shots over realism.

• Barboni’s approach heavily influenced how Italian action-comedy stunts were executed throughout the 1970s.

Why They Call Me Trinity Matters for Stunts

• This film helped redefine stunt work in European cinema by proving that action could be comedic, safe, and character-driven. 

• Its influence can be seen in countless later action-comedies where choreography serves tone and personality rather than realism.

• The first of many Trinity films to come and the first of a slew of Spaghetti Western Comedies that would follow.

5. LITTLE BIG MAN

Little Big Man featured significant movie stunts, particularly involving legendary stuntman Hal Needham, including a memorable sequence where he jumped from a horse onto a moving stagecoach and then across the horses’ backs, showcasing daring practical effects. The film’s depiction of the Battle of Little Bighorn also involved large-scale, chaotic stunt work with many riders and horses, creating intense realism for the era.

Key Stunt Highlights:

Hal Needham’s Stagecoach Jump: Needham performed a complex stunt where he leapt from a horse onto a moving stagecoach and then across the teams of horses, a famous example of his work.

Battle of Little Bighorn: The chaotic and large-scale nature of the battle scenes relied heavily on numerous stunt performers, horses, and practical action, with stuntmen taking significant risks.

These stunts contributed to the film’s groundbreaking and unconventional approach to the Western genre, emphasizing realism and spectacle.

People Involved in the Stunts & Action:

Joe Canutt

• A leading stunt performer of the period and son of Yakima Canutt.

• Strongly associated with horse falls, cavalry chaos, and battlefield action in late-60s / early-70s Westerns.

• Frequently used as a principal double for lead actors in dangerous riding and fall sequences.

• Production histories routinely cite him as part of the stunt unit on Little Big Man, particularly during the Custer-era battle scenes.

Yakima Canutt

• While not always listed in on-screen credits, Canutt’s methods and team heavily influenced the film’s action.

• His pioneering techniques for:

• Controlled horse falls

• Riders bailing safely at speed

• Large-scale Western combat staging

• Were the industry standard and directly shaped how Little Big Man’s cavalry scenes were executed.

Richard Farnsworth

• Appears on screen in the film and was also a former elite stuntman before transitioning into acting.

• While not credited as a stunt performer here, Farnsworth was often used for physically demanding riding and action beats due to his deep stunt background.

• His presence added realism to horseback and frontier sequences.

Hal Needham

Performed high-risk horseback stunts, including:

• Falls from moving horses
  
• Cavalry charge chaos beats
  
• Riders being knocked down or unhorsed during battle scenes

Worked as part of the core Western stunt pool used for large-scale frontier and cavalry sequences.

Helped sell the film’s deliberately messy, anti-heroic battle realism, especially during the Custer-related sequences.

Arthur Penn (Director)

• Penn played a major role in shaping the stunt philosophy of the film.

• He pushed for controlled realism rather than traditional heroic Western action.

• Battle scenes emphasize confusion, panic, and tragic scale—requiring precise stunt coordination to look chaotic without becoming unsafe.

Why Little Big Man Is Notable for Stunts

• Unlike classic John Ford Westerns that romanticized cavalry action, Little Big Man:

• Shows battle as disorder, not choreography

• Uses real horses, riders, and terrain

• Relies on stunt performers to sell danger without glamorizing it

• That approach influenced later revisionist Westerns like McCabe & Mrs. Miller and The Outlaw Josey Wales.

And the winner for the Oscar for Achievement in Stunt Design in 1970 is…

UP TO YOU!———————————————-VOTE NOW IN THE COMMENTS!

WHICH FILM DESERVES THE OSCAR FOR 1970?

Interesting to note:

Yakima Canutt won an honorary Oscar in 1967 (for achievements in 1966) for his groundbreaking work as a stuntman and for developing safety devices, recognized at the 39th Academy Awards. He received the special award for his contributions to film, acknowledging his creation of the modern stunt profession, as stated in his 1967 Oscars acceptance speech and noted by the Academy Awards Acceptance Speech Database and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. 

Awarded: Honorary Academy Award

Year: 1967 (for the 1966 film year)

Reason: Achievements as a stuntman and for developing safety devices for stunt professionals.

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