Tim Burton Wants Gong Li: "Believe It Or Not"

May 6, 2006

Chinese film actress Gong Li will co-star in Paramount Pictures' upcoming bio-pic "Believe It Or Not", directed by Tim Burton, based on the globe-trotting exploits of cartoonist Robert L. Ripley.

Gong's fluency in English was reportedly a big factor in her winning over the role.

Premise of the film starts with Ripley at the time when he gained celebrity status through his newspaper-syndicated "Believe It Or Not" column, chronicling his search for the world's strangest oddities, many of which he kept in his home.

The film is expected to be released by Paramount for 2007.

Gong rose to stardom over a decade ago with art house hits "Red Sorghum" and "Raise the Red Lantern". She recently appeared in "Memoirs of a Geisha" and director Michael Mann's "Miami Vice" feature.

November 29, 2005

Tim Burton will direct actor Jim Carrey in a Paramount Pictures action-adventure based on the eccentric life of Leroy 'Robert' Ripley, the artist/explorer/newspaper columnist who created the syndicated comic strip "Ripley's Believe It or Not."

"Believe It or Not!, will film in London, UK, October 2006, for a late 2007 release.

Screenplay is by "Ed Wood" writers Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander.

Premise of the film revolves around 'Ripley' (Carrey), previously married to a beauty queen and now a confirmed bachelor, basking in his celebrity status, while chronicling his search for the greatest oddities on the planet.

Ripley sold his first drawing to Life magazine when he was 14, then landed a job as a cartoonist covering sports for the San Francisco Chronicle, changing his name to 'Robert'.

In New York City in 1918, he worked for the New York Globe, creating his first collection of 'odd facts and feats', called "Champs and Chumps". After much editorial deliberation, the title was changed to "Believe It Or Not!".

In 1922 Ripley travelled to South America for the syndicated feature "Rambles Around South America".

In 1925, crossing through Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines, Ripley embraced Chinese culture and began to sign his cartoons as 'Rip Li!'.

His many houses became crammed with artifacts including wallhangings, totem poles and giant bronze statues.

Although he often used recording equipment for his CBS radio broadcasts, Ripley was afraid to use a telephone for fear he would be electrocuted.

He owned a Chinese sailing junk moored at B.I.O.N. Island, his estate in Mamaroneck, New York.

Throughout the 1930s-40s, Ripley gave lectures in vaudeville theaters.

A self-educated high school drop-out, Ripley received honorary university titles/college degrees and was the first newspaper cartoonist to become a millionaire.

THE PLANETS ALIGN FOR LIVE-ACTION "STAR BLAZERS"

April 23, 2006

In the wake of the upcoming Paramount/DreamWorks big screen adaptation of Hasbro's Japanese toy line "Transformers", comes word that Japanese anime TV series "Star Blazers" is now being developed into a live-action feature by Benderspink.

Previously known as 1970's Japanese anime TV series "Space Battleship Yamato", "Star Blazers" broadcast across North America during the 1980's.

The property has now been developed into three TV series, five animated features and assorted merchandise.

Original premise begins in the future after a hostile alien attack forces the survivors of mankind to live underground. But an optimistic message intercepted from a distant planet promises the remaining population a cure for the deadly fallout on the earth's surface. A special crew is assembled to rendezvous with the planet in an untested spaceship, with their mission to find the cure and return to Earth.

Josh C. Kline, rights holder of "Star Blazers" will also produce.

CAMERON'S 3-D "SANCTUM" MAY PRECEDE "PROJECT 880" AND "BATTLE ANGEL"

April 23, 2006

According to a Variety interview with Canadian-born writer/director James "Terminator" Cameron, "There isn't a film that I've got in my queue -- and I'm four deep right now in projects that I've got scripted and want to shoot -- that I wouldn't want to make in 3-D."

"I'm betting the frickin' farm on this."

Cameron has spent the last 10 years working in 'stereography', beginning with theme-park attraction "T2 3-D: Battle Across Time" in 1996.

Since the success of "Titanic", the Roger Corman movie-factory alumnus began developing a stereoscopic camera system that could support a live-action 3-D feature, testing it on "Ghosts of the Abyss" and "Aliens of the Deep".

"The best stereo experience is one that's more of a guided experience by the filmmaker, not one that is selected by the viewer," he said.

"By the time I come out with my feature film in summer of 2008, I'm hoping for a minimum of 1000 (screens)."

Cameron confirms that film is "Project 880" aka "Avatar", that will include performance capture and a virtual production pipeline.

"But, I have another project that is a straight, live-action 3-D project," he said.

"It might be done first. The working title right now is "Sanctum" and we're still writing it, but it's designed as kind of a fast-turn project."

On the news that George Lucas intends to re-release all of his "Star Wars" films in 3-D, and of Cameron's own plans to re-release "Titanic" in a similar format, the director said, "making a 3-D movie is fun and cool and challenging, but having your film dimensionalized after the fact is always a compromise."

But he added, "Any film that's made more than half a billion dollars is a very good candidate for 'dimensionalization' and re-release."

MORE JOLIE FOR "TOMB RAIDER 3"

April 21, 2006

According to reports, actress Angelina Jolie has agreed to reprise her role as 'Lara Croft' for "Tomb Raider 3".

The Oscar-winner, eight months pregnant by actor Brad "Fight Club" Pitt, is currently staying in Namibia.

"Paramount has optioned it and Angelina has agreed to star in the third," said Ian Livingston, Eidos games co-founder/creator of the 'Lara Croft' video game character.

"If the (new) game is as successful as the others, it's likely Paramount will put the third movie into production soon."

Reports also confirm that a new screenplay, unlike the last outing "Cradle Of Life" will take advantage of the Oscar-winner's acting abilities, delving into Lara Croft's intriguing backstory.

GAIMAN CONFIRMS MORE CASTING FOR "STARDUST"

April 19, 2006

From Neil Gaiman:

"So today the cast and crew of STARDUST flew up to Inverness. They start principal photography tomorrow, on the Scottish mainland and then on Skye. I want to wish them all the very best of luck. (I think the only main actor to be added since my last note is Rupert Everett as 'Secundus'.) "

PARADOX SADDLES UP FOR HOWARD'S "VULTURES OF WAHPETON"

April 21, 2006

Following their acquisition of the entire literary works of "Conan" author Robert E. Howard, Paradox Entertainment are now developing a motion picture based on Howard's western story "Vultures of Wahpeton".

Originally appearing in "Smashing Novels Magazine" (December 1936), "Vultures" is a satirical actioner focusing on 'Steve Corcoran', an amoral Texas gunslinger, appointed sheriff of a booming mine town, in order to provide cover for a conspiracy led by a corrupt gang known as 'The Vultures'.

The movie will be produced by Paradox's Peter Sederowsky/Fredrik Malmberg with producer Ken Aguado via his company, Standard Film Group. Leif Rahmqvist is executive producer.

Paradox has hired writer David Heller to adapt Howard's novella into a screenplay.

"This is really one of the best stories I've read since `Unforgiven'" said Aguado.

"It has all the elements of the great Hollywood westerns: a strong, enigmatic lead fighting evil while battling his inner demons."

"DOA" Big Screen Teaser Goes Live ...

April 18, 2006


The trailer for the big screen adaptation "DOA: DEAD OR ALIVE" is now online, based on the Tecmo "Dead or Alive" 'fighting' video game series.

The original games story/characters are the creation of Tomonobu Itagaki and developed by Tecmo's 'Team Ninja'.

A popular feature in the games, credited to Itagaki, is the level of 'graphical detail' designed into the breasts of the female characters, with Tecmo creating an entirely new 'physics engine' dedicated to 'breast animation'.

Other new Tecmo "Dead or Alive" games include "Dead or Alive: XTreme Beach Volleyball 2" and "Dead or Alive: Code Chronos."

The feature film "DOA: Dead or Alive" is directed by Corey Yuen, starring Devon Aoki, Kevin Aoki and Jaime Pressly scheduled for a September 2006 release.


SNEAK PEEK THE "DOA" TRAILER HERE !!!


SNEAK PEEK: DOA

DC's "Sgt. Rock" Shoots for the Big Screen

April 18, 2006

In the wake of director Quentin Tarantino's upcoming WW II adventure INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS and a developing re-make of "The Dirty Dozen", comes word that screenwriter John Cox has been hired to write "Sgt. Rock", a big screen adaptation of DC Comics' World War II comic book series, being produced by Joel "Lethal Weapon" Silver for Warner Bros. Pictures:

Cage Looking Forward To Dick's "Next" ...

April 19, 2006

Filming has begun in Los Angeles on Revolution Studios' "Next" a science fiction action thriller starring Academy Award winner Nicolas "Face/Off" Cage, Academy Award nominee Julianne Moore and Jessica Biel.

The film, directed by Lee Tamahori (yes THAT Lee Tamahori) will be released domestically by Columbia Pictures in 2007. IEG Virtual Studios, an affiliate of Initial Entertainment Group, holds the international distribution rights.

"Next" is being produced for Revolution Studios by Cage and his Saturn Films producing partner Norm Golightly, Broken Road Productions' Todd Garner, Initial Entertainment Group's Graham King and Arne Schmidt.

Screenplay is by Gary Goldman, based on the Philip K. Dick short story "The Golden Man"written for "If" Magazine, April, 1954.

Goldman, Jason Koernick and Ben Waisbren are serving as executive producers.

Dick's stories have been the basis for such films as "Blade Runner", "Total Recall", "Minority Report" and the upcoming "A Scanner Darkly".

In "Next" Cage plays a man with the unique ability to see future events and affect their outcome. Relentlessly pursued by the FBI, seeking to use his powers to prevent a global threat, he is ultimately faced with the daunting choice of saving the world or the woman he loves.

Zellweger Horrified By Paramount's "Case 39" ...

Actress Renee Zellweger is set to star in the Paramount horror thriller Case 39, with a Vancouver start date of July 31.

The Case 39 screenplay by Ray Wright, focuses on a social worker and a 10-year-old girl.

The last 'genre' film Zellweger appeared in was 1994's The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Kevin Misher will produce Case 39 with Steve Golin.

Zellweger last starred opposite actor Russell Crowe in director Ron Howard's Toronto-shot Cinderella Man.

Sneak Peek "The Da Vinci Code" Video Game ...

2K Games and developer The Collective have teamed up for The Da Vinci Code video game.

The upcoming PC, PS2, and Xbox game is due this May.

Gamers assume the role of 'Professor Robert Langdon', who with French cryptographer 'Sophie Neveu', uncovers the mystery behind the Da Vinci Code.

In the process of solving a crime, Langdon and Neveu discover a 2,000-year-old conspiracy through clues encoded in paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci.

'Elvira' Staking Out Another 'Mistress of the Dark' ...

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, aka actress Cassandra Peterson, has teamed up with reality TV producer Stuart Krasnow and FremantleMedia North America to pitch an unscripted project featuring contestants competing for a one-year contract to portray Elvira in various personal appearances.

Contestants would be put through elimination challenges designed with a macabre twist. Elvira herself will serve as 'tor-mentor' to the group.

Peterson has played the horror movie hostess Elvira for more than 25 years, inspired in part by the original 1950's TV vamp 'Vampira', who appeared in director Ed Wood's "Plan 9 From Outer Space".

FMNA, which produces shows like Fox's American Idol, would produce.

Peterson would executive produce.

"We're looking at a show where the cast is going to be sleeping in coffins in a pretty scary place," Peterson said.

"And part of the production will be shot in Transylvania".

Gaiman Confirms Peter O'Toole For "Stardust" ...

According to Stardust graphic novel creator Neil Gaiman, more casting has been finalized on Paramount's Stardust feature film:

"The wall of people-who-have-been-cast in Stardust at Pinewood now includes on it Mr Peter O'Toole, Miss Billie Whitelaw and Mr Ricky Gervais," Gaiman said.

"It starts shooting on location in Skye next week.

"I don't know if having the multitudinous readers of a blog concentrate on making sure the weather in Skye is as unseasonably clear, warm and sunny as possible starting next Wednesday will do any good, but it couldn't hurt.

"I won't be there, alas, although Skye is possibly my favourite place in the world, whatever the weather."

Vancouver Start For "Sisters" Remake ...

Vancouver filming has started on director Douglas Buck's remake of Brian DePalma's 1973 psychological thriller Sisters.

The new Sisters stars French actress Lou Doillon, with Chloe Sevigny and Stephen Rea.

In the updated screenplay, written by Buck and John Freitas, a young woman (Doillon) leads a sheltered existence under the care of a control-freak psychiatrist (Rea). A reporter (Sevigny), suspicious of the doctor's motives, gets involved, leading to her witnessing a ghastly crime.

"In the original film, which I love, DePalma chose style over substance," Buck said.

"I'm interested in exploring all the other stuff that's there -- the perversity, the tragedy, the sadness. All those character traits make it, to me, more interesting.

"I want to make the characters more alive."

Pink Loses Faith In "The Gospel According to Janis " ...

SOUND MIND

Punk singer 'Pink' says she is no longer being considered to portray rock legend Janis Joplin in the upcoming feature The Gospel According to Janis, accusing director Penelope "Suburbia" Spheeris of turning the casting process into "a circus".

Spheeris and Brad Vanderburg wrote the screenplay to The Gospel According to Janis, as a dramatic musical biopic following the hard drinking, hard rocking exploits of Joplin when she first moved to California, ending with her death eight years later at the age of 27.

Reportedly every female singer/actress in Hollywood is trying out for the role including Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Scarlett Johansson.

Spheeris previously said Pink would be her first choice for the part, but the singer has now decided not to pursue the project.

"I dropped out of it," Pink said.

"Plus they're trying to turn it into some circus pop contest - who's the 'it' girl ... who wants to play Janis.

"Janis was so much deeper than that."

TORONTO FILM UPDATES ...

April 4, 2006

Director Doug "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" Liman has now lined up the cast for his next film, "Jumper", a teen, sci-fi drama based on the 1992 novel by Steven Gould.

Screenplay is by David S. Goyer, Simon Kinberg and Jim Uhls.

"Jumper" will be produced by Lucas Foster, Joe Hartwick Jr., Simon Kinberg, Arnon Milchan and Jay Sanders.

Shooting begins in June at Toronto's Cinespace Film Studios.

Premise of the book focuses on a youth from a broken home, who can 'teleport' from one place to another. In his quest to find the man that caused the death of his mother, the boy attracts the attention of the 'National Security Agency' and another kid with the same 'jumping' abilities.

Tom "Being Julia" Sturridge stars alongside Jamie "Billy Elliot" Bell and Teresa "The Grudge 2" Palmer.

Fox-financed producers New Regency Pictures hope to have a trilogy springing out of the first film.

April 3, 2006

Director Darren Lynn Bousman of horror thriller "Saw II" notoriety will be back in Toronto to helm "Saw III", for Saw III Canada Productions Inc.

Bousman contributed to the screenplay, written by Leigh Whannell, based on the story by James Wan.

Actor Tobin Bell will reprise his role as creepy 'John Kramer', aka 'Jigsaw', with Shawnee Smith as 'Amanda'.

Producers of "Saw III" are Mark Burg and Oren Koules. Executive producer is Daniel J. Heffner and Stacey Testro, original music by Charlie Clouser, Cinematographer is David A. Armstrong and Production manager is Greg Copeland.

Shooting runs May 1 to June 12.

Saw 3
In Theaters
October 27, 2006

April 3, 2006

Sir Richard "Jurassic Park" Attenborough will be in Toronto May 3 to June 9, to produce/direct the romantic drama "Closing The Ring".

Besides Toronto, other locations for "Closing The Ring" include Belfast and Cave Hill, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK .

Screenplay for "Closing The Ring" is by Peter Woodward.

Premise of the film, beginning in 1943, focuses on a dying WW II bomber pilot who gives his ring to a local to return to his girlfriend in America. Fifty years later, another man finds the ring and attempts to find the woman.

"Closing the Ring" stars Attenborough, Mischa Barton, Chris Evans, Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer and Pete Postlethwaite.

WW II movies are no stranger to Attenborough, who starred in British RAF service films during the 1940's and is fondly remembered as the character 'Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett' aka "Big X", in director John Sturges 1963 feature "The Great Escape".

April 2, 2006

Director Mikael Salomon, an accomplished cinematographer and noted episodic TV director of Playtone's "Band Of Brothers" and the Toronto-filmed mini-series "The Grid", continues his Toronto-shoot of the Sony Pictures Television pilot "Runaways", March 27 to April 11, at Toronto Film Studios for the CW Network.

Starring Donnie Wahlberg, executive producer of "Runaways" is Darren Star, prolific creator of multiple hit TV series including "Sex and the City", "Melrose Place" and "Beverly Hills, 90210".

Producer of "Runaways" is Lynn Raynor.

March 28, 2006

CBC-TV has named film/TV producer Fred "Bram Stoker's Dracula" Fuchs, the former president of director Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope, its new head of arts and entertainment programming.

Over a 25-year career, Fuchs produced a range of TV programs and movies, with credits including children's TV series "Faerie Tale Theatre" and "The Godfather: Part III".

After more than a dozen years working with Coppola at American Zoetrope, Fuchs left in 1998 to start a San Francisco independent film, TV and new media production company.

He then re-located to Canada to work in the Canadian independent production community.

Fuchs's recent credits include working with Brad Peyton on "What It's Like Being Alone", a stop-motion family series, scheduled to air on CBC-TV later this year.

During his time in Canada and in his past work with the CBC, Fuchs said, he has observed one of the public broadcaster's main challenges: "both producing great Canadian programming for Canadians and bringing more Canadian viewers to it."

Fuchs said he was looking forward to working with the "remarkable array of talent" in Canada and felt "honoured" to become one of those upholding the CBC mandate.

February 14, 2006

Natalie Portman and Dustin Hoffman will star in "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium", a family feature from Stupid Zebra Productions.

The Toronto location shoot will run March 27 to June 6.

Produced by Richard Gladstein and Jim Garavente, executive producers are Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane.

Portman will play 'Molly Mahoney', manager of toy store 'Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium', who is bequeathed the store by 'Mr. Magorium' (Hoffman), a 243 year-old eccentric.

But once Molly assumes ownership of the premises, a dark and ominous presence begins to take control over the establishment.

February 9, 2006

The province of Ontario has extended a tax credit for foreign film productions.

Culture Minister Madeleine Meilleur announced that the 18 per cent tax credit for foreign productions is being extended for another year, until March 31, 2007.

Meilleur says this will ensure Ontario will be able to boost the number of movies and television series filmed in the province.

Meilleur said film and television brought just under $1 billion to Ontario's economy in the past year.

January 19, 2006

Opening April 21, 2006, Toronto producer Don "The Boondock Saints" Carmody's TriStar horror thriller "Silent Hill", an Ontario-shot, big screen video game adaptation, directed by Christophe "Brotherhood Of The Wolf" Gans, focuses on 'Rose', desperate to find her child 'Sharon', who suddenly becomes trapped in an alternate dimension.

Rose follows her daughter's silhouette to the town of 'Silent Hill', smothered by fog, and overcome by a living 'Darkness' that transforms everything it touches.

Joined by 'Cybil', a local police officer, Rose searches for her daughter, realizing that Sharon is a pawn in a much larger game.

Silent Hill
In Theaters
April 21, 2006

January 18, 2006

Clive "Sin City" Owen, Monica "Brotherhood Of The Wolf" Bellucci and Paul "Cinderella Man" Giamatti will be in Toronto, the end of January to shoot the 'dark' feature "Shoot 'Em Up".

Written and directed by Michael Davis, premise of the film focuses on a man named 'Mr. Smith' (Owen), who delivers a woman's baby during a shootout, then called upon to protect the newborn from an army of gunmen.

January 10, 2006

Filming continues at Toronto Film Studios on the Double Agent Productions' feature "BREACH".

Starring Chris "Adaptation" Cooper, Ryan "Crash" Phillippe and Laura "Kinsey" Linney, "BREACH" is written/directed by Billy "Shattered Glass" Ray.

The film is produced by the late Bobby "Training Day" Newmyer (who died December 12, 2005 of an apparent heart attack while working out in a Toronto gym), Scott "The Last Samurai" Kroopf and Scott "Mindhunters" Strauss.

Executive producers are Adam Merims, Sidney Kimmel and William Horberg.

Inspired by true events, based on the book "The Eleventh Hour" by Adam Mazer/Bill Rotko, "BREACH" is a thriller set inside the FBI.

"This is a story about lying in the pursuit of truth," said Ray.

"It's also about how our mentors can teach us even as they are betraying us."

Filming in both Toronto and Washington, DC locations, "BREACH" is set for a wide release later this year.

DOBKIN TO PATROL THE DEADBEAT IN DARK HORSE' "R.I.P.D."

April 3, 2006

SNEAK PEEK: R.I.P.D.

According to internet reports, director David "Wedding Crashers" Dobkin is set to direct the comedic thriller "R.I.P.D.", an adaptation of the Dark Horse comic book, that has been in development since 2002.

Premise of "R.I.P.D." ('Rest In Peace Department') focuses on deceased officers of 'divine' law enforcement that 'patrol the deadbeat'.

Main character 'Nick Cruz', having died an untimely death, joins the R.I.P.D. to find out the identity of his killer, forced to hunting down leads and demonic creatures before being able to finally rest in peace.

BENDERSPINK PRODUCING CHAYKIN'S "POWER AND GLORY"

April 3, 2006

SNEAK PEEK: POWER AND GLORY

New Line has purchased film rights to artist/writer Howard Chaykin's 1990's Malibu Comics graphic novel "Power and Glory".

The property is being produced by Chris Bender and JC Spink through their Benderspink Productions.

Premise of "Power And Glory" focuses on a genetically engineered crime fighter, teamed up with a former CIA agent.


Screenwriters Damien Shannon and Mark Swift of "Freddy vs. Jason" fame will adapt the story for the big screen.

Chaykin is noted as one of the first writers of graphic novels, including "American Flagg," "Black Kiss," "Mighty Love" and "City of Tomorrow".

SILVERMAN DIRECTING "THE SIMPSONS MOVIE" ...

April 3, 2006

Its now official.

Twentieth Century Fox has announced that "The Simpsons Movie", a big screen animated feature will be directed by David Silverman, co-director of "Monsters Inc." and "The Simpsons" TV series supervising animation director.

The movie will open worldwide theatrically July 27, 2007.

The upcoming film was first revealed in a promo during Fox's "American Idol" broadcast with 'Springfield' newsman 'Kent Brockman' saying the planned feature would be announced on the upcoming Sunday broadcast of "The Simpsons" series.

Fox then introduced a teaser trailer Friday on prints of "Ice Age: The Meltdown", where the release date was officially flashed.

Producer James L. Brooks and his staff are in the storyboard stage following two years of script drafts and three cast readings.

News of the movie first became known in 2001, when a feature option was made part of contract renewals for the show's voice cast.

"We've taken script security to the point of lunacy, though it helped that we wrote it in Aramaic," said Mike Scully, who wrote the screenplay with creator Matt Groening, Brooks, Al Jean, Ian Maxtone-Graham, George Meyer, David Mirkin, Mike Reiss, Matt Selman, John Swartzwelder and Jon Vitti.

Cast will include show regulars Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Pamela Hayden and Tress MacNeille.

"We tried to save this until the end of the series, but that intention was undone by good ratings," said Groening.

Brooks will produce "The Simpsons Movie" with Groening, Jean, Scully and Richard Sakai.

THERE'S NO NEED TO FEAR ... "UNDERDOG" IS HERE !!!

SNEAK PEEK: UNDERDOG

March 31, 2006

Actor Peter Dinklage, currently filming the CBS-TV pilot "Ultra" at Toronto Film Studios has now signed on to play evil scientist 'Simon Barsinister' for Spyglass Entertainment's upcoming live-action "Underdog" feature, based on the 1960's cartoon series of the same name.

Shooting begins April 10 in Rhode Island under the direction of Frederik Du Chau.

Spyglass' Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber and Jonathan Glickman are producing "Underdog" along with Jay Polstein. Eric Ellenbogen and Bob Higgins executive produce.

Debuting on NBC-TV October 3, 1964, the "Underdog" cartoon series, created by artist Chet Stover and writer Buck Biggers, moved to CBS in 1966, appearing on the network until September 1, 1973.

The voice of "Underdog" was originally played by actor Wally "Mr. Peepers" Cox, as a super-dog who would talk in rhyme.

Underdog's secret identity was 'Shoeshine Boy', called into action by his poochie-girlfriend, ace TV reporter 'Sweet Polly Purebred', voiced by actress Norma McMillan.

When Polly would sing "Oh where, oh where has my Underdog gone?", Shoeshine Boy would jump into a phone booth and emerge as Underdog.

The series would always start with the "Superman" parody opening of, "Look, up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's a frog...a frog?" Underdog would then chime in, "Not bird, nor plane, nor even frog, it's just little 'ole me, Underdog !"

Whenever Underdog felt his powers begin to wane, he would pop a 'revitalizing' energy pill hidden in a secret compartment in his ring.

Underdog's main foes included underworld boss 'Riff Raff' and 'Simon Barsinister', a mad doctor who created a 'Big Dipper Machine' to siphon off the world's water supply.