Sad news.


The star of THE EXTERMINATOR dies of cancer at age 60

Sad. I saw both EXTERMINATOR movies in real grindhouses. I also loved his (very) short-lived TV series HAWAIIAN HEAT. I was actually thinking about trying to interview him last week.

He was also in BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP and tons of movies we watched on VHS during the '80s and '90s. I actually saw EXTERMINATOR 2 theatrically, which may have been the first time I remember seeing Ginty (although it's Mario Van Peebles you remember after it's over).

Sad indeed.

Ginty is one of those guys I constantly overlook in terms of being an influential action star with THE EXTERMINATOR. I remember he made a really entertaining action film called OUT ON BAIL in the late 80s that is a lot of fun. Looks like he made the transition to directing TV and has a pretty successful career there too.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0320180/

EDIT - And how could I forget WHITE FIRE with its catchy theme song ("White firrrrrrrrrrrrre!") and scary as hell flamethrower effects:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9yus0uvG1c

He'll be best remembered for THE EXTERMINATOR (a film which certainly disturbed me at a fragile young age) although I also recall his brief appearance as Bruce Dern's army buddy in COMING HOME and - I'm probably the only person who did like it - I must admit to having a soft spot for the Charles Band film THE ALCHEMIST - RIP.

THE ALCHEMIST--a movie with no alchemy in it whatsoever!

OUT ON BAIL is a FIRST BLOOD imitation with spirited direction by Gordon Hessler and an appearance by Kathy Shower, whom I believe was, at least at the time, the oldest Playboy Playmate ever.

THE RETALIATOR aka PROGRAMMED TO KILL is a TERMINATOR imitation with Ginty chasing a robot Sandahl Bergman. I wonder if the makers of EVE OF DESTRUCTION saw this.

Of course, MST3K fans remember WARRIORS OF THE LOST WORLD and its lame talking motorcycle.

No better time for me to throw in that VHS of THE ALCHEMIST I've had for the last few years.

"Tuuuuubular"

BTW, is it Ginty with a hard or soft "G"?

According to the EXTERMINATOR 2 trailer, Ginty is pronounced with a hard "G."

EXTERMINATOR 2 is one of the few Cannon action movies that MGM has not released on DVD. I don't think it ever came out as a sell-thru VHS, either. I just rememer it in one of those big, gray MGM VHS boxes from the early days.

Does anybody know if the first EXTERMINATOR was re-released on DVD after the Anchor Bay version?

Tango Entertainment released a non-anamorphic, bare-bones edition in 2005. I've heard it had several audio drop-outs, and other image issues, so I never picked it up. And I somehow missed out on the old Anchor Bay one. I have the Embassy VHS...

The Anchor Bay disc is the X-rated uncut version with more gore. And, obviously, the version to see, if you can imagine THE EXTERMINATOR being any sleazier.

I have the Anchor Bay edition, in fact it was one of the first DVDs I ever bought - back in 2000, its picture and sound quality, when compared to VHS, blew me away (how times have changed). The picture is sharp but there are instances of print damage, and there are a few audio drop-outs (I seem to recall the most noticeable occurring during the final car explosion, but I could be wrong). It is the unrated version, including the bits and pieces that the MPAA snipped out for the R-rating. I remember at the time comparing it to two UK video editions I had, one from the early eighties (same as the UK cinema version) which was missing about 30-odd seconds of footage, and a later early nineties release which had almost 4 minutes(!) removed.

I was most disappointed though, since it was reported in at least two film magazines during the mid-nineties that the 'director's cut' was going around film markets as being promoted as having an additional 30 minutes(!), but I doubt such as version ever existed.

Anyone remember his appearance on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous?