Monday Move Night is back with a very special evening dedicated to those we lost in 2016. Last year was a tough year to be a celebrity and with the looming apocalypse we may not make it to 2018. This is our chance to appreciate classic films from amazing actors, directors and musicians who are no longer with us. With that in mind, here are your contenders!
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960) – 128min
Known to the younger generation for his role as the evil Baxter Caine in the early Trey Parker and Matt Stone comedy BASEketball, Robert Vaughan already had a successful career in the 1960’s and 70’s with films like Bullitt, The Towering Inferno and the TV show The Man From U.N.C.L.E. We remember him tonight for one of the best westerns of all time.
An oppressed Mexican peasant village hires seven gunfighters to help defend their homes.
GOLDFINGER (1964) – 110min
Though less publicized than many others, we also lost the great director Guy Hamilton who directed four James Bond films. His first Bond is arguably one of the series greatest with Sean Connery’s Goldfinger!
Investigating a gold magnate’s smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.
WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) – 100min
Gene Wilder passed away in 2016 due to complications from Alzheimers, having kept his condition private so as to not sadden his many fans. Tonight we honour this titan of comedy with his brilliant adaptation of a Roald Dahl classic.
Charlie receives a golden ticket to a factory, his sweet tooth wants going into the lushing candy, it turns out there’s an adventure in everything.
THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH (1976) – 139min
&
LABYRINTH (1986) – 101min
David Bowie was larger than life which is why he is deserving of a double-dose for this list.
Thomas Jerome Newton is a humanoid alien who comes to Earth to get water for his dying planet. He starts a high technology company to get the billions of dollars he needs to build a return spacecraft, and meets Mary-Lou, a girl who falls in love with him. He does not count on the greed and ruthlessness of business here on Earth, however.
A 16-year old girl is given 13 hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother when her wish for him to be taken away is granted by the Goblin King.
STAR WARS (1977) – 120min
2016 took the last great princess in the wonderful Carrie Fisher but it also took a plucky little person who made a voiceless robot the true hero of the galactic rebellion. Kenny Baker, who played R2-D2, also passed away.
If you need a description of this movie I have a real problem with you so get your life together.
PURPLE RAIN (1984) – 110min
I never wanted to be your weekend lover… which is why we’re remembering Prince on Monday Movie Night with Purple Rain.
A young musician, tormented by an abusive situation at home, must contend with a rival singer, a burgeoning romance, and his own dissatisfied band, as his star begins to rise.
DOGMA (1999) – 130min
Alan Rickman finally took that long fall from Nakatomi Plaza and sadly made it onto this list. His most famous movie is meant for the Christmas season so we’ll celebrate his life with another of his classic roles, as the Voice of God in Dogma.
An abortion clinic worker with a special heritage is called upon to save the existence of humanity from being negated by two renegade angels trying to exploit a loop-hole and reenter Heaven.
ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE (2013) – 123min
Tragedy struck in 2016 and Anton Yelchin sadly joined the 27 Club.
A depressed musician reunites with his lover, though their romance – which has already endured several centuries – is disrupted by the arrival of her uncontrollable younger sister.
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