Controversy Surrounds Auction of 'Some Like It Hot' Actor Tony Curtis' Belongings

Beverly Hills auction house Julien's is previewing a major sale Sept. 17 of the belongings of the late Tony Curtis. But none of Curtis' six children -- already pretty much disinherited from his will after Curtis died Sept. 30, 2010 -- are beneficiaries of it. The items, which include prints by Balthus (three worth about $35,000 each) and Andy Warhol (worth $20,000 to $30,000), have been put up for sale for about $600,000 by his sixth and last wife Jill, who inherited the bulk of the Curtis estate. But according to Allegra Curtis, daughter of Tony's second wife, actress Christine Kaufmann, Jill neither informed the rest of his family that the sale was happening nor allowed them to have any sentimental items. "Jill Curtis is the only beneficiary of this auction. She did not consult us. This is not what my dad would have wanted. Jill's even selling off credit cards and driver licenses. She's also selling my dad's letters to Cary Grant, Jerry Lewis, Picasso -- these belong in a museum. It's the dissemination of the estate of Tony Curtis. He deserves better." Meanwhile, Julien's Auctions owner Darren Julien says: "Tony came to many of our auctions with Jill and said he wanted Julien's to handle his auction after he died. I know this is exactly what he wanted." Related Topics Tony Curtis

Watch Movies Online Free

'Ghostbusters' Returns to Theaters for Halloween

Let's be realistic, unless of course obviously you're hosting an off-campus party or youthful enough to still go trick-or-coping with, Halloween just isn't as fun as back in the day. 'Ghostbusters,' however, remains as great since it is at 1984. That's good, since Digital Spy reviews that 'Ghostbusters' will probably be returning to theaters all over the world this Halloween in the solid effort to produce the holiday awesome again. Better still, the film will most likely be digitally remastered. Still unsure on 'Ghostbusters 3,' nevertheless the original's return to the silver screen may be the finest 'Ghostbusters' news we now have heard shortly. Same goes with the thing is 'Ghostbusters' in theaters this Halloween? [via Digital Spy]

Toronto 2011: Michael Fassbender's 'Shame' Sells to Fox Searchlight

Fox Searchlight has emerged because the buyer of director Steve McQueen's sex-filled drama Shame.our editor recommendsShame: Film Review The image, which stars Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, features graphic sex plus some gore. It will likely be ranked NC-17, meaning Searchlight may have a difficult marketing task on its hands. The buy may be the first large aquisition from the fall festival season. Regardless of the graphic character from the movie, there have been other bidders within the mix, such as the Weinstein Co. and Oscilloscope. The drama, featuring Fassbender like a depressed guy hooked on sex, performed at Venice and Telluride coupled with purchasers buzzing about his honours-worthy performance. Producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman stated Searchlight started making overtures following the movie tested at Telluride, unveiling an in depth marketing and distribution plan. Searchlight's Tony Safford, Megan O'Brien and Ray Strache made the offer with HanWay Films' Thorsten Schumacher and Claire Taylor. Related Subjects Toronto Worldwide Film Festival Worldwide

The Last Dogs of Winter

A Lone Pine Film production in association with the New Zealand Film Commission. Produced by Costa Botes, Caleb Ross. Directed, edited by Costa Botes.With: Brian Ladoon, Caleb Ross, Dave Daley, Mike Macri, Penny Rawlings.For the past 40 years, in a remote and harshly beautiful corner of northern Manitoba, Brian Ladoon has devoted his life to preserving and breeding an endangered species: the Qimmiq, Canada's indigenous Eskimo dog. Intimate, gorgeously rendered docu "The Last Dogs of Winter" from Kiwi helmer Costa Botes intelligently surveys Ladoon's quixotic mission, the numerous obstacles he faces, and the uneasy co-existence of man, animal and nature in the small town of Churchill (pop. 873). A wilderness lover's delight, "Dogs" reps a shoo-in for cablers, fests and the cinematheque circuit. One of only three surviving dog breeds indigenous to Canada, the Eskimo dogs were once essential to the native Inuit's nomadic life in Canada's north, but the population of these powerful, majestic looking animals dwindled to less than 100 by 1970, due to disease, government mandated slaughter, and the availability of motorized snow mobiles. A beloved local Bishop who predicted their genetic material would one day be as precious as jewels sparked Ladoon's interest in the breed. Helmer Botes comes to Ladoon's story through fellow New Zealander (and producer) Caleb Ross, a former Kiwi actor. As a twentysomething, the adventuresome Ross traveled to Canada for love, but, as he notes, the affair went south, and he went north, enticed by a job posting that read, "Come to Churchill, breed Eskimo dogs, see polar bears." (Churchill is known as one of the world's top spots for viewing the migrating bears.) But like Ladoon himself, the pic refuses to pander to those seeking only cute animal shots. Completing his third year on the job as Botes shoots, the affable, articulate Ross reps a distinct contrast to his tightly wound, frontiersman boss. As an eccentric character in a community full of them, Ladoon earns as many detractors as he does supporters, and the fair-minded helmer takes time (perhaps too much) to listen to all comers. Another bone of contention concerns the right of access to the government-owned land where Ladoon runs his operation. Both Ross and Ladoon speak to some of the criticisms, including uninformed allegations that the dogs, who spend their adult life chained out of doors in sub zero temperatures, are being mistreated. Although it is true, in a perfect world, that they would benefit from running and doing the work they were once bred for, such as pulling sleds, Ladoon's Canadian Eskimo Dog Foundation has only three full-time staffers and a handful of volunteers for a 7-day-a-week grind that includes driving more than 100 miles a day just to feed the animals and make sure they're healthy. Filming with a lightweight HD camera and only his wife as crew (a job that required her to drive a pickup truck down vast stretches of icy road and carry a gun with rubber bullets to be prepared for rogue polar bears), Botes intercuts artfully shot interviews with spectacular outdoor scenes. Among the most captivating are those of the chained dogs interacting with the curious bears, and the lumbering white bears gamboling with one another in the snow. Fine sound design and musical effects support the visuals, as does Thom McLeod's atmospheric score. The film ends with a final bit of trivia, pointing out that the breed was selected for a 1998 postage stamp and a 1997 coin. Ladoon was the breeder responsible for the models used for both.Camera (color, HD), Botes, Caleb Ross; music, Tom McLeod; sound (Surround Sound), Botes, Darren Maynard, Phil Burton. Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival (Real to Real), Sept. 9, 2011. Running time: 97 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Watch The Hangover 2 Full Movie

VIDEO Exclusive: Neil Patrick Harris Rocks Out on Penguins of Madagascar

Penguins of Madagascar Neil Patrick Harris has brought his powerful pipes to the stage,the Internet and How I Met Your Mother, but now he's taking his singing voice to Nickelodeon's animated Penguins of Madagascar special, "Blowhole Strikes Back." In the hourlong special (airing Friday at 8/7c), Harris returns as the penguins' sinister nemesis, Dr. Blowhole. In the exclusive clip below, Harris performs the power ballad "Mutant Disaster," one of six original songs from the movie. Check out the clip. Does Harris make a good monster, even in animated form?

RATINGS RAT RACE: Talent And Buried Treasure Rise, Big Brother Slips

Summer staples America’s Got Talent and Big Brother moved in opposite ratings directions last night. NBC’s Talent results show (2.8/8, 11.8 million viewers) at 9 PM was up 12% from its fast national 18-49 number last week (up 8% from the finals as the reality series always gets adjusted up). Its lead-in, Minute to Win It (1.3/4) was down a tenth. Meanwhile, CBS’ Big Brother (2.8/9) at 9 PM was down 12% from its season high last week to tie Talent as the highest-rated program of the night. NBC (1.9/5, 7.9 million) also tied CBS (1.9/5, 6.5 million) in the demo for the night while finishing No. 1 in viewers. There was encouraging news for Fox’s underperforming new reality series Buried Treasure (1.2/4), which was up 20% from last week to a series high. ABC’s special Primetime Nightline: My Extra Ordinary Family posted a 1.4/4 18-49 rating at 10 PM.

Watch Movies

TALENT SIGNINGS: New Business at WME, ICM, APA, Paradigm

Ambyr Childers, who'll come in Warner Bros.' Gangster Squad, has signed with WME. She's also slated to look within the Frozen Ground opposite John Cusack and Nicolas Cage.Childers can also be symbolized by managers Laura Myones and Mel McKeon at McKeon Myones Management her attorney is Dork Feldman. Arielle Kebbel, who seems within the Sundance hit I Melt Along With You, has signed with Paradigm. Her film credits include The new sony's The Grudge 2 and Fox'sJohn Tucker Must Die. Kebbel's television credits range from the CW's Vampire Journals and Cinemax's Entourage and True Bloodstream. Mexican actress-novelist Kate del Castillo, most widely known on her submit Underneath the Same Moon, has signed with ICM. She also lately starred in Telemundo's La Reina del Sur. Del Castillo's debut novel, Tuya, was launched in 2007. TV author-producer Bill Freiberger has signed with APA. His creating credits include MTV's Warren the Ape and Comedy Central's Attracted Together. He's also symbolized by attorney Phil Kline. Actor Luke Evans from the approaching Immortals and also the Three Musketeers has signed with management company Management 360. Evans' film credits include Clash from the Leaders and Robin Hood heis presently shooting The Hobbit. Evans can also be symbolized by WME. Rodman Flender, director from the documentaryConan O'Brien Can't Stop, has signed with management company Apostle. He's also symbolized by WME. Access Hollywood weekend anchor Rob Robinson has signed with management company IMG. Robinson is author of Exactly Like Me, a guidance book for women. Theresa Randle, whose credits include Bad Boys and Space Jam, has signed with management company NPR & Management. She's also symbolized by attorney Stephen Barnes of Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein & Kohner PC. Email: Daniel.Burns@THR.com Twitter: @DanielNMiller Related Subjects UTA WmE Paradigm ICM

Watch X-Men: First Class The Movie