Author Archives: Ted Hicks

Unknown's avatar

About Ted Hicks

Iowa farm boy; have lived in NYC for 49 years; worked in motion picture labs, film/video distribution, subtitling, media-awards program; obsessive film-goer all my life.

Christopher Walken & Talkin’ (& Dancin’)

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Ted Hicks

Everyone knows Christopher Walken, or thinks they do. He is a singular presence in American film, largely due to his uniquely eccentric line readings and vocal mannerisms, filtered through a frequently deadpan affect. Walken has cultivated this over the years, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video, Music, TV | 2 Comments

Al Feldstein — Seriously Mad

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Ted Hicks

Al Feldstein died the week before last on Tuesday, April 29. The obituaries I’ve  seen since then focus mainly on his association with Mad magazine, which he edited for 29 years, from 1956 to 1985. Mad is likely to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Comics, Fiction | 2 Comments

On the Radio — Movies, Zombies & “Homecoming”

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Ted Hicks

Two weeks ago I traveled to New Jersey with Mark Svenvold, a published author of non-fiction and poetry who teaches creative writing and literature courses at Seton Hall University. Mark, who I’ve known for many years, also co-hosts a half-hour … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fiction, Film, Home Video, TV | 1 Comment

“The Departed” – Shoot ’em in the Head

Posted on February 22, 2014 by Ted Hicks

It seems that my “Best of 2013” recaps keep getting pushed back by films that jump in my face and demand to be dealt with. That’s definitely the case with this one. Last Thursday through Saturday the Ziegfeld Theater here … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video, Music | Leave a comment

“The Broken Circle Breakdown” – Beauty, Sadness & Bluegrass

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Ted Hicks

The Broken Circle Breakdown has been playing in New York since last November, and though initial write-ups made me very interested, mainly because of the bluegrass-in-Belgium angle, I didn’t get around to seeing it until a week ago. I went … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video, Music | 3 Comments

Gunfights at the O.K. Corral

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Ted Hicks

John Ford’s My Darling Clementine (1946) just ended a one-week run at Film Forum here in New York, presented in a stunning digital restoration, clean and crisp, like the first time anyone had seen it. I’d seen the film only once, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Film, Home Video, TV | 14 Comments

Back in the Saddle (almost)

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Ted Hicks

I know I’ve been quiet for an unusually long time, but two days after my last post on October 24, I was run over by an airport shuttle van while crossing the street at the intersection of 94th & Amsterdam … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, TV | 7 Comments

“All Is Lost” — Unique & Amazing

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Ted Hicks

I’m still fresh from the impact of seeing All Is Lost several days ago. I think it’s a really great movie, and might be the best film I’ve seen so far this year. The story is as basic as it gets: … Continue reading →

Posted in Film | 5 Comments

Friction Fiction #5 — “Missing Vietnam”

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Ted Hicks

Bobby Olay was chasing a pig in the clearing when a shot knocked his helmet from his head and he dropped to his knees with blood spurting from his temple. I saw this as I came out of the hootch … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Fiction, Film, Home Video, TV | Leave a comment

Superman at 75

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Ted Hicks

Superman, created by two Jewish kids in Cleveland, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, first appeared in the June 1938 issue of  Action Comics #1. In the 75 years since then, this “strange visitor from another planet” has gone through many … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Film, Home Video, TV | 3 Comments