Cinema Verdict » rip

RIP: John Hughes, 59

adam arseneau — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:18:43 +0000

TMZ is reporting that celebrated director John Hughes, writer and/or director of almost every good movie in the 1980s, has died today of a sudden heart attack. From the article:

Hughes suffered the heart attack while taking a morning walk during a trip to NYC to visit family.

He directed such hits as “The Breakfast Club,” “Pretty in Pink,” “Sixteen Candles” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”

The director of 59 was instrumental in bringing to the screen numerous classic 1980s comedies and dramas–Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Mr. Mom, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Home Alone, and on and on.

His passing is like the systemic destruction of an entire generation’s collective childhood. He will be sorely missed. Our condolences to his friends and family.

(via TMZ)

Legendary movie trailer voice Don LaFontaine passes away

adam arseneau — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:58:43 +0000

CBC is reporting that legendary movie trailer actor Don LaFontaine passed away on Monday. You might not know his face, but you definitely know his voice:

Don LaFontaine, the man who provided the sonorous voice for more than 5,000 movie trailers, died Monday at age 68.

LaFontaine died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of complications from a collapsed lung. He had been taken to the hospital Aug. 22 with a blood clot in the lung.

LaFontaine was known as the “king of the movie trailers,” having done the trailer voiceovers for films such as Terminator, Fatal Attraction, Cheaper by the Dozen, Batman Returns and his personal favourite, The Elephant Man.

His baritone voice and melodramatic delivery are famously associated with the oft-repeated movie trailer phrase, “In a world…”

Our thoughts go out to his family. The world of cinema wouldn’t quite be the same without this man’s sonorous baritone voice, and it (and he) will be missed.

(via CBC)

Breaking: Stan Winston RIP

adam arseneau — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:22:14 +0000

AICN is running an unconfirmed (but increasingly likely) story that Stan Winston, special effects guru has passed away. Say what you will about AICN and the historical accuracy of their breaking news, this doesn’t seem like the kind of story they’d mess about on.

As more information arrives, we’ll update the site.

Update: looks like the story has been confirmed as true. Our sympathies go to his family and friends. A great loss for the cinematic world.

(via Ain’t It Cool News)