Faux double features

The release of "Grindhouse" this week reminded me of another fake double feature that was a tribute to the movie-going pleasures of an earlier era, Stanley Donen's Movie Movie. Like "Grindhouse," it had two films and a coming attraction, but this one was set in the 1930's. There was a black and white drama about a boxer (Harry Hamlin) and a color musical. And, as in "Grindhouse," some players appeared in both. A terrific cast included George C. Scott, Ann Reinking (as "Troubles Moran" who almost makes the pure-hearted hero forget what's important), and a script co-written by "M*A*S*H"'s Larry Gelbart, it well deserves a release on DVD.