(212) Tip du Jour

*THIS POST IS BEING MADE BY GUEST-BLOGGER, FRANK ANTHONY POLITO

Because I’m a firm believer in the whole “pay it forward” policy, I wanted to share a tip (my first ever as a guest-blogger!) that I received yesterday from (212) reader, Matt Riddlehoover…

“Jennifer Tilly, Maria Conchita Alonso, Debi Mazar, Ione Skye, Tippi Hedren and celebrity stylist turned actor Phillip Bloch light up the screen in RETURN TO BABYLON, a saucy silent film that's screaming to be heard.

BABYLON is an episodic film, stringing together the lives of scandalous Clara Bow (Jennifer Tilly), fiery Mexican film star Lupe Verez (Maria Conchita Alonso) and husband Johnny 'Tarzan' Weissmuller, ill-fated Virginia Rappe (Ione Skye) and rapist-murderer Fatty Arbuckle, Gloria Swanson (Debi Mazar), Ramon Navarro (Phillip Bloch), Josephine Baker (Rolonda Watts), Rudolph Valentino (Alex Monty Canawati) and a host of others in 1920s Hollywood. Turner Classic Movies fans, rejoice!

The tragicomic biopic is sure to be a hit amongst paranormal enthusiasts as well. In the film, as well as here in the trailer (cut by Matt Riddlehoover), the star-studded cast will occasionally -- and mysteriously -- morph into unnerving, ghostlike characters. The production was also allegedly haunted as actress Jennifer Tilly mentioned on the "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. If that's not reason enough, you'll definitely want to see Tarzan's... banana!”

I immediately checked out the
bananatrailer, and was indeed intrigued…



I’ve been a fan of Jennifer Tilley’s since her brief stint as Garry Shandling’s girlfriend, Angelica, on It’s Garry Shandling’s Show back in 1987. (Anyone remember the episode? Garry goes on Love Connection with Chuck Woolery, and after he starts dating Angelica, he changes the name of his show to It’s Garry and Angelica’s Show, complete with a revised theme song!)

Though I couldn’t figure out why Tarzan (and his banana) wasn’t credited in the info Matt provided for me, or on the movie’s IMDB page. So I asked who this fine specimen of a man is, and was told he’s “non-actor Kevin Dailey.” (Hope Mr. Dailey doesn’t mind my
outingcrediting him here!)

I’ve also been told that BABYLON “test-screened in 2008... It's due for actual release this year. No dates yet... as far as I know.”

Won’t some distributor out there please give Mr. Dailey (and his banana) a chance to show
itselfhimself to the world?!

UPDATE: The whole film