MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (Gary Goddard, 1987)

[Jox]

While a NEW GODS movie based on Jack Kirby's comic has just been announced, here's a article reminding that the 1987 MOTU film was intended as a tribute to this FOURTH WORLD comic series (Kirby was even acknowledged in the credits but the producers had that removed). According to this article, Kirby himself would have commented in the "Comic Shop News" magazine that MOTU the best NEW GODS film...

How Masters of the Universe Was Almost Like a New Gods Film…in 1987
https://www.cbr.com/new-gods-masters-of ... k-kirby/2/

[Jox]

[Jox]

Wow, I was not aware of the existence of this early promo from 1986!
It was probably used when Cannon began to pre-sell the film before they started filming that summer...

[Jox]

Did anybody get one of these Burger King / Pepsi meals tied with the movie?

[Jox]

Japanese Blu-ray release on June 29
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07C3C5SKC/

[Jox]

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: STAR WARS AND THE FALL OF GRAYSKULL
https://vhsrevival.com/2018/04/25/maste ... ic-smarts/



While Cannon was the only studio that signed on to greenlit the movie, providing some of the financing and ressources, the project of a live-action MOTU movie was not of their initiative and many of the creative decisions had been made before they came on board, as the actual producer behind it was the famous Edward R. Pressman who had bough the adaption rights of the toys when they first came out (he comes from a family that prospers in the toy business). Cannon was more in charge of the physical production, distribution and marketing. Of course how they dealt with the budget and managed the whole thing led to arguments between Pressman and Golan/Globus, and impacted some of the decisions made ultimately.

[Jox]

He-man Original stunt dagger (prop)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/112975312264?s ... Track=true



Trivia from the description:

In his Movie debut, He-Man originally only had a sword.

But Chris Gilman, the founder of Global Effects Inc. told us an interesting story of how the short sword for He-Man came to be.
In 1987, his company was named "Diligent Dwarves Effects Lab" and Masters of the Universe was one of their first big jobs. They had already made a number of props for the show and Chris was delivering one of these to the set, a gas station location in Pacoima (California)

On the set, The director, Gary Goddard, and the star, Dolph Lundgren, were discussing an action sequence they were going to film the next day. When Dolph says, "Well I could use my dagger." to which Gary replied, looking at the prop Master, "Does he have a dagger?" Ellen, the prop master quickly looks across at Chris Gilman (who is standing behind Dolph) with the expression on her face of "Can you make me one?", to which Chris nods (yes).
After the meeting breaks up, Ellen, rather panicked, comes over to Chris and says, "You know this works tomorrow, are you sure you can make it in time!?" Well in the movies, the answer is always "Yes".
So, after an all-night build in his brother garage, the He-man short sword or dagger was born, complete with a scabbard. After a couple of days of shooting, there was a break over the weekend, which allowed Mr. Gilman to make a mold on the one-of-a-kind prop. This mold was used to make a second hero dagger and some rubber stunt versions.

This is one of those rubber stunt "short swords". It's missing it's leather wrapping on the handle, but for 30 years of, banging around in a box, it's in pretty good shape.

[savagesketch]

I wonder how many of these were made... This piece can be seen hanging on Dolph's hip in virtually all of the production stills!

[Jox]

It ads a little more edge to his costume and look, it might have been used in some of the fighting footage that was deleted?


(click to enlarge)
http://www.he-man.org/cartoon/document. ... image=2411

He-Man (Dolph Lundgren) half sword / dagger
http://www.thepropgallery.com/he-man-do ... half-sword

[Jox]

R.I.P. Anne V. Coates...

Pioneer and legendary editor of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, ELEPHANT MAN, FAREWELL TO THE KING, OUT OF SIGHT, ERIN BROCKOVICH, even 50 SHADES OF GREY recently...

She was 92 and joined her husband director Douglas Hickox.

I had the honor and privilege to interview Mrs. Coates on MOTU in 2010. She was amazingly nice and it was like having a private lesson on editing...





Thoughts to her children, Anthony, Emma, and James Hickox.

[preacher]

R.I.P indeed!
So she was mother to Anthony Hickox? Har no Idea.

[Jox]

Yes indeed, as her husband / his father was the late director Douglas Hickox. I know Anthony showed her at least a cut of JILL RIPS...

James Hickox was an assistant editor on MOTU and also became a director, and Emma Hickox is an editor herself (I believe she worked on JOSHUA TREE but I'd have to check again)...

[Jox]

On the Gary Goddard case...

It's really strange because last night, I dreamt that Goddard had committed suicide. This morning, I looked up if there were any updates on his case, and I found this story from yesterday that recounts the story of one of his victims having killed himself in 2014 while he was trying to expose him...
A notorious mansion. An alleged assault by a Hollywood producer. A suicide. What happened to Brian Claflin?
http://www.latimes.com/newsletters/la-m ... story.html


Summary based on the previous article:

Four years after his death in Germany, Brian Claflin's parents are still trying to understand what happened to their son. Claflin's father received via email a statement his son sent to a law firm just before his death, alleging that filmmaker Gary Goddard had drugged and sexually assaulted him at age 18 in Los Angeles. It was an allegation Brian Claflin had made repeatedly in the preceding decade. The Times spoke to three people — two close friends and his sister, Molly Jones — who said Claflin told them about the alleged assault, and he accused Goddard directly in an email exchange in 2006. Goddard vociferously denied the allegation then, as he does now.

http://www.latimes.com/newsletters/la-m ... story.html


And Anthony Edwards gave this interview in April:
‘ER’ Star Anthony Edwards: I Don’t See My Childhood Sexual Abuse as a ‘Tragedy’
https://www.thedailybeast.com/er-star-a ... -a-tragedy

[Jox]

Not sure what I think of this article

He-Man Rib Bones
https://medium.com/@justinkemerling/he- ... 23b3806af1

[lt.brannigan]

I have no idea what the heck I just read. At first I thought it was an abstract comedy piece, but checking out his official site; there is no hint of it being satire or comedy of any type.

It's an unusual article to say the least, and it has a unique point of view, but I don't understand the intent.