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Private Benjamin (1980 Film)
''Private Benjamin'' is a 1980 American comedy film directed by Howard Zieff, written by Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer, and Harvey Miller, and starring Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan, and Armand Assante. The film was one of the biggest box office hits of 1980, and also spawned a short-lived television series starring Lorna Patterson as Judy Benjamin, with Brennan reprising her role as Captain Lewis. ''Private Benjamin'' ranked No. 82 on the American Film Institute's 100 Years...100 Laughs list, and No. 59 on Bravo's list of "100 Funniest Movies". Plot Judy Benjamin, a 28-year-old Jewish woman from a sheltered wealthy upbringing whose lifelong dream is to "marry a professional man", is devastated after Yale Goodman, her new husband, dies on their wedding night. Emotionally adrift, Judy tells her story on a radio call-in show and meets another caller, Army recruiter SFC James Ballard, who leads her to believe military life will provide the "family" she seeks. He also pitches t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Howard Zieff
Howard Burton Zieff (October 21, 1927 – February 22, 2009) (pronounced Zeef) was an American director, television commercial director, and advertising photographer. Early life Zieff was born to Jewish parents in Chicago, Illinois, then moved to Los Angeles, CA. with his family.Mel Heimer. "Zany TV commercials do so sell goods," ''The Titusville Herald'' (Pennsylvania), November 11, 1969, page 5. Career He studied art for one year at Los Angeles City College, then dropped out in 1946 to join the United States Navy. He learned photography at the Naval Photography School in Pensacola, Florida and then, after his discharge, at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He became a commercial photographer in New York City in the 1950s, earning a reputation in the 1960s as one of the city's best-known advertising photographers. His campaigns included "You Don't Have To Be Jewish" for Levy's rye bread, "Mamma Mia, that's a spicy meatball" for Alka-Seltzer, and ads for th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Comedy Film
The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the oldest genres in film, and it is derived from classical comedy in theatre. Some of the earliest silent films were slapstick comedies, which often relied on visual depictions, such as sight gags and pratfalls, so they could be enjoyed without requiring sound. To provide drama and excitement to silent movies, live music was played in sync with the action on the screen, on pianos, organs, and other instruments. When sound films became more prevalent during the 1920s, comedy films grew in popularity, as laughter could result from both burlesque situations but also from humorous dialogue. Comedy, compared with other film genres, places more focus on individual star actors, with many former stand-up comics transitioning to the film industry ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gretchen Wyler
Gretchen Wyler (born Gretchen Patricia Wienecke; February 16, 1932 – May 27, 2007) was an American actress and dancer. She was also an animal rights advocate and founder of the Genesis Awards for animal protection. Biography Early life Wyler was born Gretchen Patricia Wienecke in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the daughter of Peggy (née Highley) and Louis Gustave Wienecke, a petroleum engineer. She was raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and opened her own dancing school there before going to New York City to pursue a career as a professional actress and dancer. Acting career She appeared on Broadway in six original productions: * '' Guys and Dolls'' as a dancer and as understudy for "Miss Adelaide" (1950–1953) * '' Silk Stockings'' as "Janice Dayton" (1955–1956) * '' Damn Yankees'' as "Lola" as replacement for Gwen Verdon (1955–1957) * '' Rumple'' as "Kate Drew" (1957) * '' Bye Bye Birdie'' as "Rose Grant" as replacement for Chita Rivera (1960–1961) * '' Sly Fox'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Damita Jo Freeman
Damita Jo Freeman is an American dancer and actress, who started her career on the TV show '' Soul Train''. In 1973 Freeman became a featured dancer on ''Soul Train'' after only her second appearance on the show, when Joe Tex Yusuf Hazziez (born Joseph Arrington Jr.; August 8, 1935 – August 13, 1982), known professionally as Joe Tex, was an American singer and musician who gained success in the 1960s and 1970s with his brand of Southern soul, which mixed the style ... invited her on stage to dance to his song ''I Gotcha'' in an unchoreographed impromptu performance. Her regular dance partner was Don Campbell. Freeman's dancing on Soul Train has been described as, "One breakout star, in particular, Damita Jo Freeman, kept our eyes riveted on her every graceful move. Controlled, yet fluid, and oh so very limber, Damita Jo performed for the cameras like no other and her fuel was the outta sight music of the times." Acting Freeman was also known for her work in film: '' Elvira: ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toni Kalem
Toni Z. Kalem (born August 29, 1956) is an American actress. Kalem is best known for her portrayal of Angie Bonpensiero on the HBO series ''The Sopranos''. Kalem grew up in Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey. She appeared in such films as ''Double Jeopardy'', '' Private Benjamin'', '' Sister Act'', '' The Wanderers'', '' Eyes of the Beholder'', '' Silent Rage'' and '' The Boy Who Drank Too Much''. Her television credits include guest appearances on '' Starsky and Hutch'', ''MacGyver'', '' Another World'' and '' Police Woman''. During the sixth season of ''The Sopranos'', Kalem was elevated from guest star to series regular for her character Angie Bonpensiero, the widow of Sal "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero who runs a body shop in partnership with Tony Soprano. In 1999, Kalem wrote and directed the film '' A Slipping Down Life''. In 2004, she wrote the fifty-sixth episode for ''The Sopranos'', called " All Happy Families..." Filmography Awards and nominations Sundance F ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Herd
Richard Thomas Herd Jr. (September 26, 1932 – May 26, 2020) was an American actor appearing in numerous supporting, recurring, and guest roles in television series and occasional film roles from the 1970s to the 2010s. He was well known in the science fiction community for his role in the 1983 NBC miniseries '' V'' and 1984 sequel '' V: The Final Battle'', as John, the Visitors' Supreme Commander. Other major roles in his career included recurring parts on the NBC series '' seaQuest DSV'' as Admiral William Noyce; on '' Star Trek: Voyager'' as Admiral Owen Paris, the father of helmsman Tom Paris; and as George Costanza's boss Matt Wilhelm on ''Seinfeld''. In two guest appearances on '' Quantum Leap'', he played children's show host "Captain Galaxy", a would-be time traveler, and a miner named Ziggy Ziganovich. He also voiced Father Elijah in the ''Dead Money'' expansion for '' Fallout: New Vegas''. Herd appeared at several fan conventions for his science fiction roles. Ear ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the south, and the North Sea to the west. Belgium covers an area of and has a population of more than 11.8 million; its population density of ranks List of countries and dependencies by population density, 22nd in the world and Area and population of European countries, sixth in Europe. The capital and Metropolitan areas in Belgium, largest metropolitan region is City of Brussels, Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges, Namur, and Leuven. Belgium is a parliamentary system, parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a complex Federation, federal system structured on regional and linguistic grounds. The country is divided into three highly autonomous Communities, regions and language areas o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is the military headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Allied Command Operations (ACO) that commands all NATO operations worldwide. SHAPE is situated in the village of Casteau, near Mons, Belgium. ACO's and SHAPE's commander is titled Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), and is always a U.S. four-star general officer or flag officer who also serves as Commander, U.S. European Command. From 1951 to 2003, SHAPE was the headquarters of Allied Command Europe (ACE). Since 2003 SHAPE has been the headquarters of ACO, controlling NATO also outside Europe. Even though the geographical scope of its activities was extended, SHAPE retained its traditional name with reference to Europe.PedlowEvolution of NATO's Command Structure 1951-2009 History Premises 1 January 1951 – 2 April 1951: Hôtel Astoria, Paris, France General Eisenhower arrived in Paris on January 1, 1951, and quickly set to work ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Drill Instructor
A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces, fire department, or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. Foot drill, military step, and marching are typically taught by drill instructors. Australia Australian Army In the Australian Army, the staff responsible for training recruits are known as recruit instructors. They teach recruits discipline, fieldcraft, marksmanship, service knowledge and drill. Each recruit platoon is commanded by recruit instructors, usually consisting of a lieutenant, a sergeant, and up to four instructors of the corporal or Bombardier (rank), bombardier rank. A recruit instructor can be identified by a Army Recruit Training Centre, 1st Recruit Training Battalion colour patch on his or her slouch hat and a small Recruit Instructor badge worn on the right breast pocket, if the position has been held long enough. Members from all List of Australian Army Corps, Corps in the Army are eligible to become recruit instru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Basic Training
Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique demands of military employment. Major characteristics Initial military training is an intensive residential programme commonly lasting several weeks or months, which aims to induct newly recruited military personnel into the social norms and essential tasks of the armed forces. Common features include foot drill, inspections, physical training, weapons training, and a graduation parade. The training process resocializes recruits to the demands made of them by military life. Psychological conditioning techniques are used to shape attitudes and behaviours, so that recruits will obey all orders, face mortal danger, and kill their opponents in battle. According to an expert in United States military training methods, Dave Grossman, recru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bravo (US TV Network)
Bravo is an American basic cable television network, launched on December 8, 1980. It is owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. The channel originally focused on programming related to fine arts and film. Since the 2000s, its has focused heavily on reality series targeted at 25-to-54-year-old women and the LGBTQ community at large. Its former sister channels are Nickelodeon and IFC, which are currently owned by Paramount Global and AMC Networks, respectively. , Bravo is available to approximately 70,000,000 pay television households in the United States, down from its 2013 peak of 95,000,000 households. History Launch and early programming Bravo originally launched as a commercial-free premium channel on December 8, 1980. It was originally co-owned by Cablevision's Rainbow Media division and Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment; the channel claimed to be "the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts". [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
