• Ralph E. Donnelly (c.1932-2007) - Exhibitor who worked in the cinema business since the 1940s, primarily in New York City, working as a film buyer for City Cinemas, RKO-Stanley Warner Theaters, Creative Film Services and Associated Independent Theaters. He also was former president of Cinema 5 Theaters, he established Manhattan's First Avenue Screening Room and the Mini Cinema in Uniondale, New York and he was one of the founders of the annual ShowEast exhibitors convention. He died September 21 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Variety)
• Gary Franklin (c.1928-2007) - Film critic and entertainment journalist known for his trademark Franklin Scale ("on a scale of 1-10, 10 being best ... "). He played a radio reporter in the 1977 film Rollercoaster and he appears as himself in An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn. He died October 2 in Chatsworth, California. (Variety)
• Richard Goldwater (c.1936-2007) - President and co-publisher of Archie Comics. He was credited as an executive producer on Josie and the Pussycats, which was based on Archie Comics characters, of which he was also credited as co-creator. He died October 2. (news from me)
• Charles B. Griffith (1930-2007) - Screenwriter and director who worked for producer Roger Corman. Some of Corman's films that he scripted include Death Race 2000 (directed by Paul Bartel), The Little Shop of Horrors, A Bucket of Blood and Not of this Earth. As a director, Griffith made the Jaws knockoff Up from the Depths, the Ron Howard-starred car chase movie Eat My Dust and the 1989 fantasy Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II. He also served as a producer, a production manager, an assistant or second unit director and an actor, appearing as multiple characters in The Little Shop of Horrors and appearing uncredited in Bartel's Eating Raoul. Quentin Tarantino dedicated his recent Grindhouse segment Death Proof to Griffith. He died September 28 in San Diego. (Variety)
• George Grizzard (1928-2007) - Actor (pictured) most recently seen as the older John Bradley in the modern sequences of Flags of Our Fathers (Ryan Phillippe played the young, WWII-era Bradley). He also played Tobey Maguire's father in Wonder Boys, Tawny Kitaen's father in Bachelor Party, a senator in Otto Preminger's Advise & Consent, a governor in Seems Like Old Times and the President in Wrong is Right. He also co-starred in Mark Robson's film of Vonnegut's Happy Birthday, Wanda June as well as the director's From the Terrace, which stars Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward and Myrna Loy. Grizzard was most successful on television, for which he won an Emmy, and on stage, for which he won a Tony. He died of complications from lung cancer October 1, in New York. (AP)

Otto Preminger was born 100 years ago, yesterday. The Austrian-born director was both a notable and antagonizing filmmaker, which made him the perfect name to be tattooed on a certain guerrilla auteur's arm many years later. His acerbic manner is probably why he also excelled in some acting roles, most notably as one of the three men to play Mr. Freeze on the sixties Batman series, and as a German warden of a POW camp in the darkly comedic drama, Stalag 17.

Edward Copeland, a blogger we've mentioned before, has put up his own look at Preminger's films. While it's not a comprehensive list, it serves as a good reminder for Preminger fans into the filmmaker's triumphs and flops, as well as a great starting point for the Otto oblivious. There is love for the noir bits like Jean Simmons as a femme fatale in Angel Face and Where the Sidewalk Ends, which isn't a place for soft grass and children, but for gambling and drama. And, we can't forget his most recognized and remembered work, Anatomy of a Murder.

Copeland also managed to teach me a little about my beloved Twin Peaks . I had no idea the television show had nods to Preminger's Laura, from the name to the pet bird named Waldo and the vet named Dr. Lydecker. Obviously Lynch is a fan, and I now wonder if Angel Face also inspired the naming of Ian Buchanan's character, Dick Tremayne.

[via GreenCine Daily]