Jonathan Melville
@jonmelville
Fan of old films and telly / Author of books on Local Hero, Highlander, Tremors, Hamish Macbeth and Jim Henson / Owner of too many Blu-rays. Letterboxd:
Filmhouse went Connery crazy tonight with a 30th anniversary screening of The Rock on 35mm, introduced by Jason Connery. Think I first saw it at the South Clerk St Odeon, at a time when fun action blockbusters were everywhere. We didn’t know we had it so good!
Contract signed 2024. First draft submitted December 2025. It’s been a long journey, but my copy of The Art & Making of Highlander has arrived, and it’s gorgeous. Plenty of unpublished photos and new interviews. Publication date September 2026.
As the 40th anniversary of Highlander’s UK release approaches on 29th August, the hardback of my 1st book on the film, A Kind of Magic, is still available signed with a free booklet and now with a poster of @benmorrisillo.bsky.social’s cover! www.polarispublishing.com/book/a-kind-...
My new book on 1986’s Highlander - The Art & Making of Highlander - is out 1st September from Titan in the UK/US, but it’s also getting a French translation. Highlander: Behind the Scenes of an Immortal Film is out in October with a very different cover.
New Spidey was fine, but I had the best time with Robert Duvall (and Sheree North) in Breakout and The Outfit. The new Arrow of the latter is a beauty, it’ll keep me going through the week. Also check out the new @projectionbooth.bsky.social episode. #lastfourwatched #letterboxdfriday
£1.50 for the Ocean’s Trilogy from a local charity shop seemed like a good deal.
I was hoping for another forgotten New York classic like Night of the Juggler, but Nighthawks doesn’t make quite the same impression. The location filming is superb - everyone looks freezing in every scene - and Stallone is pretty good as the troubled hero. Worth spending a few quid on the DVD.
Bought my ticket for the 30th anniversary screening of The Rock at EIFF in August, time to celebrate with some appropriate background music.
Happy Highlander 4K Day! The new box set is out, stuffed with goodies including a new 100-page booklet of essays and my 84-page deep dive into an early draft of the screenplay. There’s also a mini version of my Art & Making Of book (out in September) and an audio commentary on the disc itself. ⚔️
It’s #LetterboxdFriday, so here’s my four: The Chaser Hell or High Water Broadway Danny Rose Electra Glide in Blue #LastFourWatched
I’ve been wanting to watch Electra Glide in Blue for years, now the random old movie generator that is Prime Video has delivered the goods.
Last time I saw this on the big screen it was being introduced by Sean Connery and Saeed Jaffrey at Edinburgh International Film Festival. Maybe EIFF will show it again this year as part of their new annual Connery celebrations?
Name a TV show you're positive no one remembers but you (and @jayfaerber.bsky.social)
My condolences Lucy, I enjoyed talking to Peter and Larry for my first Highlander book. I asked for this to be added to my new booklet in this set.
The 40th anniversary Highlander 4K set is out this month, my contributor copy arrived today. It’s a thing of beauty. I wrote the script to screen booklet and the minibook, @priscillapage.bsky.social @thekempster.bsky.social and @ryanlambie.bsky.social wrote essays for the 100-page booklet.
Wasn’t expecting the new Highlander 4K set to arrive JUST AS I WAS LEAVING THE HOUSE, but had to take a few photos - I’d be rubbish at unboxing videos.
Went for a Minder double bill tonight, with Scotch Harry doing the bizzo and Anthony Valentine getting dealt some dodgy hands. Leon Griffiths at his best.
Quite enjoyed Jonathan Mahler’s The Gods of New York, a look at the late 80s in NYC as Mayor Koch seems to stumble from one mess to the next, while Trump poisons everything he touches and Giuliani rises through the ranks.
Working my way through the new Marlowe Blu-ray from Arrow - this is a belter of a promotional still, Bruce Lee causing havoc as James Garner looks on.
Back to February 1976 for tonight’s Rockford Files, Where’s Houston?
Midnight Run was my first film of the day, still on Channel 4 for a day or so. A lot of fun, right down to the goons kicking each other while at the payphone. The Equalizer is the next film suggested to me, tempting.
Thought I’d watched Every Which Way But Loose before, but I think I’d remember more about the rambling nature of it all and the almost cheerful lack of anything resembling a plot. Not quite up there with the likes of Hooper, but Clint seems to be enjoying himself and it’s a good Friday night film.
Last night I was watching 1960’s Battle of the Sexes, starring Peter Sellers and filmed in Edinburgh. Today I passed one of the locations, the entrance to Lady Stair’s Close, so took a few photos. There’s a bit more tartan around these days.
A week of Wake in Fright screenings are coming to Edinburgh Filmhouse from 15th May. Have a beer or three while you’re there 🍻
I first watched The Rockford Files during a 90s repeat run on the BBC, then bought this book on the show during a 1996 trip to Canada - I was clearly very happy about it. Also managed to record various eps on late night TV while there, including Nice Guys Finish Dead, which would make anyone a fan.
The Rockford Files reboot has been given a full season with David Boreanaz. Much as I love the original - I’m watching an episode right now - I’m just happy to see a new PI show on TV and hope it brings more viewers to the original. It’s never been on a UK streamer and a 4K boxset might now happen.