Good Times

Starring: Sonny Bono, Sonny amp Cher Director: William Friedkin Original UK Premiere: 1966 Dvd Release: 8th April, 2002 Number Of Discs: 1 Format: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen, Region 2 Encoding

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A real archaeological artefact from 1967, Good Times will be mostly of interest to anyone who wants to see a parade of fashions that Austin Powers would reject as too garish to be seen on the street in. The nothingy plot concerns then-married Sonny & Cher playing themselves as a one-note bickering sit-com couple, signing up with sinister film tycoon Mordicus to make a movie but not wanting to do the mouldy rags-to-riches hillbilly script on offer. Cher is supposed to be less interested than Sonny in making a movie, which might well have been the truth since she mostly lies around doodling outrageous fashion designs or contributing her strange sung-through-the-nose vocals as poor, goofy Sonny does all the hard work flogging life into skits that had been squeezed dry by the Monkees before being passed to him. The finale finds Sonny & Cher standing up for integrity & refusing to make a bad film even if it means they gets blacklisted all over town, a lesson its a shame that they didnt take to heart in their later careers. Astonishingly, this was the feature directorial debut of The Exorcists William Friedkin, who fills the screen with colour, action & gaggery after the manner of the then-hip Batman TV show while focusing on screaming outfits that remain among the darnedest things you ever saw. Aside from a reprise of I Got You, Babe, the score is a little light on the slim canon of S&C hits; the songs included are Its the Little Things, Good Times, Trust Me, Dont Talk to Strangers, Im Gonna Love You & Just a Name.

The DVD extras include a few sketchy bios & a jump-to-a-song feature.

Salvatore Phillip Sonny Bono was an American record producer, singer, actor, politician & Catholic whose career spanned over three decades. Bono began his music career working for the legendary record producer Phil Spector in the early 1960s. Later in the same decade, he achieved commercial success, along with his then-wife Cher, as part of the singing duo Sonny & Cher. Bono wrote, arranged & produced a number of hit records with singles like I Got You, Babe & The Beat Goes On though few people knew he did more than sing. Cher got more attention as a musical talent. Sonny & Cher starred in a popular television variety show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, which ran on CBS from 1971 to 1974. But there again, Cher seemed lively & funny & Sonny a bit slow. They had a daughter, Chastity Bono & divorced in 1974. Sonny continued his acting career, doing bit roles in such shows as Fantasy Island & The Love Boat. The Sequel. Bono married Susie Coelho & divorced her in 1984 ; he married again in 1986 to Mary Whitaker. He became a practicing Scientologist. Posters Of Good Times

Editors Choice: Good Times, View DVDology

William Friedkin is a movie & television director, producer & writer best known for directing The Exorcist & The French Connection in the early 1970 ’s. After seeing the movie Citizen Kane as a boy, he became fascinated with movies & immediately began working for WGN TV after high school. He eventually began directing live television shows & documentaries including The People vs. Paul Crump which won several awards & helped to commute the death sentence of the film’s subject. In 1965, Friedkin moved to Hollywood & by 1967 saw the release of his first feature film Good Times which starred Sonny & Cher. Several other films followed until 1971 when The French Connection was released to wide critical acclaim. It won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture & Best Director. Friedkin followed with 1973 ’s The Exorcist which revolutionized the horror genre & is considered one of the greatest horror movies of all time. The Exorcist was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including nominations for Best Picture & Best Director. Posters Of The Exorcist

Editors Choice: The Hunted, Rules Of Engagement, Jade, The Exorcist, French Connection, Directors Cut, Good Times, The Birthday Party, View DVDology

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