Stunning Behind-the-Scenes Photos Show Iconic Movies in a New Light

We love the magic of the movies, that trickery that lets us believe in beautiful robots, time-traveling scientists, wolf men, and flying superheroes. But sometimes it's fun to peek behind the curtain, and see the secrets and candid faces behind our favorite films.

Photos from the set of Metropolis (1927, dir: Fritz Lang), taken by brother-in-law, Horst von Harbou

(photos by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images, Hulton Archive/Getty Images and Horst von Harbou)

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980, dir: Irvin Kershner)

http://io9.com/5654412/photos...

(via blastr, screencrush, Slightly Warped and saurabh)

Star Wars (1977, dir: George Lucas)

(via Slightly Warped)

Back To The Future I-II-III (1985, 1989 and 1990, all directed by Robert Zemeckis)

(via Nights Into Dreams, GeekTyrant)

Iron Man 2 (2010, dir: Jon Favreau)

(via Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki)

Alien 3 (1992, dir: David Fincher)

(via cswap)

Planet of the Apes (1968, dir: Franklin J. Schaffner)

(via Chelloveck)

Superman (1978, dir: Richard Donner)

(via Capedwonder)

Godzilla (or Gojira, 1954, dir: Ishiro Honda)

(via The Sky Has Fallen and Retronaut)

Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964, dir: Ishiro Honda)

(via Retronaut)

War Of Worlds (1953, dir: Byron Haskin)

(via Las Cr?nicas de Tino)

Alien (1979, dir: Ridley Scott)

(via Geektyrant)

Frankenstein (1931, dir: James Whale)

(via vintag.es)

The Wolf Man and Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1941/1943, dir: George Waggner/Roy William Neill)

(via Vitagraph American)

Close Encounters Of Third Kind (1977, dir: Steven Spielberg)

(via The Bearded Trio, DVDTalk and Aint It Cool)

E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial (1982, dir: Steven Spielberg)

(via Cinema Salem and Cracked)

Blade Runner (1982, dir: Ridley Scott)

(via Douglas Trumbull)

Clockwork Orange (1971, dir:Stanley Kubrick)

(via Malcolm McDowell's Facebook, The Mathhattan and Awesome Phil)

2001: Space Odyssey (1968, dir: Stanley Kubrick)

(via A Clockwork Orange Tumblr, James Vaughan, Making Stanley Kubrick's 2001: Space Odyssey and FILMDetail)

Source: http://io9.com/stunning-behind-the-scenes-photos-show-iconic-movies-in-512190237

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'Thrones' author wants fans to really grieve

TV

Ree Hines TODAY contributor

4 hours ago

If you still get a little choked up when you think back to last Sunday's Red Wedding scene on "Game of Thrones," good! That's exactly how the man behind the tale wants you to feel.

Author George R.R. Martin, who wrote the novels that sparked the HBO series and serves as a producer and writer for the show, spoke with Ryan Seacrest in an interview that aired on TODAY Friday morning and confessed that he wants fans to feel it when he kills off a character.

"I can respect where they're coming from," Martin said of those still reeling from the latest bloodbath. "I want to go for the really strong emotions. I want you to be involved. I want to make characters that are so real to you, that when they die, it's like your mother died or you dog got run over by a truck. ? You really do feel it, profoundly."

In other words, don't expect things to get easier as the story continues.

"I want my readers, or the viewers, in the case of a television show, to feel the danger, to feel they don't know what's going to happen next," he explained. "They don't know who's going to live or who's going to die."

That's why he took so much time to craft what eventually became "Game of Thrones" in his fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire" -- after all, it takes time to build a multilayered world with rich characters and plenty of suspense. It's also what originally led him to leave his past work of quick-turnaround TV writing (such as what he did for the 1980s hit drama "Beauty and the Beast") behind him.

"I'm going to do something as big as my imagination," he said of the thought process behind his "Ice and Fire" stories. "I'm going to write this series of books. They're never going to be filmed. I'm never going to have to worry about a budget. I'm never going to have to worry about shooting time. And, of course, the irony is ? (it's) on TV."

Get ready for the next chapter of the TV epic. The season finale of "Game of Thrones" airs Sunday night at 9 p.m. on HBO.

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/game-thrones-author-wants-fans-really-grieve-over-character-deaths-6C10233479

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Sweden's Princess Madeleine to wed New York banker

Swedish Princess Madeleine, center, her fianc?e, New York banker Chris O'Neill, left, and her brother Prince Carl Philip seen during the traditional National Day celebrations at Skansen in Stockholm, Thursday June 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Scanpix Sweden/Henrik Montgomery)

Swedish Princess Madeleine, center, her fianc?e, New York banker Chris O'Neill, left, and her brother Prince Carl Philip seen during the traditional National Day celebrations at Skansen in Stockholm, Thursday June 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Scanpix Sweden/Henrik Montgomery)

The Swedish Royal family, from left to right, Prince Daniel, Chris O'Neill, Princess Estelle, Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Madeleine, King Carl Gustaf, Prince Carl Philip and Queen Silvia pose for a family photo during the Swedish National Day celebrations at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday June 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Scanpix Sweden/Maja Suslin)

The Swedish Royal family, from left to right, Prince Daniel, Chris O'Neill, Princess Estelle, Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Madeleine, King Carl Gustaf, Prince Carl Philip and Queen Silvia pose for a family photo during the Swedish National Day celebrations at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday June 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Scanpix Sweden/Maja Suslin)

Sweden's Princess Madeleine and her fianc?e Chris O'Neill converse during the traditional National Day celebrations at Skansen in Stockholm, Thursday, June 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Scanpix Sweden, Henrik Montgomery) SWEDEN OUT

STOCKHOLM (AP) ? Three years ago she crossed the Atlantic with a broken heart. Now Sweden's "party princess" returns from New York to Stockholm to tie the knot with her new, British-American love.

On Saturday, Princess Madeleine ? the Duchess of Halsingland and Gastrikland ? will wed New York banker Christopher O'Neill in the Swedish capital, bringing together European royals and top New York socialites for a grand celebration.

Madeleine, 30, is the youngest of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia's three children and fourth in line to the throne. She became known as Sweden's party princess in her early 20s, when she was frequently spotted at Stockholm's high-end nightclubs, and has attracted widespread attention for her stylish clothes and glamorous lifestyle.

But her life hasn't always been a fairytale. In 2010, Madeleine fled to New York after breaking off her first engagement to Swedish attorney Jonas Bergstrom amid media reports that he had cheated on her. The couple had been together for eight years and had made a big announcement of their engagement in August the year before.

Since then, Madeleine has lived in New York, working for the nonprofit World Childhood Foundation, founded by her mother.

Two years ago, she met O'Neill, now 38, who works as a partner and head of research at Noster Capital.

This time around the princess has kept a lower profile, announcing their engagement through a video on the Royal Court's website.

Jenny Alexandersson, the royal reporter at Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet, says the breakup with Bergstrom had been "really, really hard" for Madeleine.

"She was really sad, and I think she felt a bit humiliated, "Alexandersson told The Associated Press." So, this time I really hope it's a big love. They look really, really happy together so I'm crossing my fingers for them."

The Royal Court on Friday said Madeleine's wedding dress has been made by Italian designer Valentino Garavani. Alexandersson said she expects a glamorous ceremony, adding that O'Neill has invited many friends from his party days among the New York glitterati.

The Royal Court said guests include the U.K.'s Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward and Sophie, Princess Takamado of Japan and princes and princesses from Norway, Denmark, Greece, Luxembourg and Monaco.

Other well-known invites include the CEO of fashion retailer H&M, Karl-Johan Persson, golfer Jesper Parnevik, Roxette singer Marie Fredriksson, Broadway's "Phantom of the Opera" star Peter Joback and Colombian billionaire Alejandro Santo Domingo.

Although Madeleine's wedding will be a lavish affair, it won't compare to her sister Crown Princess Victoria's marriage to her personal trainer Daniel Westling in 2010, when Stockholm was transformed into one giant party for citizens and royals alike.

Officials say that no side events for the general public have been arranged this time, but Swedes can watch the royal couple's meander through the capital in a horse and carriage after the wedding ceremony in the Royal Chapel. Then, the couple will sail to the royal residence and UNESCO World Heritage site Drottningholm Palace, 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of the city center, for a private wedding reception with an estimated 500 guests.

O'Neill was born into a wealthy family. His late father, Paul O'Neill, set up the European head office of Oppenheimer & Co in London in the 1960s and his mother, Eva Maria O'Neill, is involved in several charities. He studied at a boarding school in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Boston University and a master's degree from Columbia Business School in New York.

O'Neill, who holds dual American and British citizenship, has declined a royal rank in Sweden, which would have required him to become a Swedish citizen. He has chosen to continue working and the newlyweds are expected to move back to the United States.

The Swedish royal family has only ceremonial duties, such as attending award ceremonies, promoting Swedish businesses abroad and supporting charities. As the head of state, the king also receives foreign dignitaries on formal visits to Sweden.

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Associated Press television producer David MacDougall contributed to this report.

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View the entire guest list online at: http://www.kungahuset.se/download/18.4ea495e313c19c119aa6c0f/130608_gastlista_vigsel.pdf

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-06-07-Sweden-Royal%20Wedding/id-ce0940c158f042989be9b7a8822b4d45

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Ariz. sheriff suspends immigration efforts

FILE - In this April 3, 2012 file photo, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio listens to one of his attorneys during a news conference in Phoenix. Arpaio, who led the way for local police across the country to take up immigration enforcement, is reconsidering his crackdowns _ and other law enforcement officials who followed his lead are expected to eventually back away, too. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

FILE - In this April 3, 2012 file photo, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio listens to one of his attorneys during a news conference in Phoenix. Arpaio, who led the way for local police across the country to take up immigration enforcement, is reconsidering his crackdowns _ and other law enforcement officials who followed his lead are expected to eventually back away, too. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

PHOENIX (AP) ? An Arizona sheriff who led the way for local police across the country to take up immigration enforcement is reconsidering his crackdowns ? and other law enforcement officials who followed his lead are expected to eventually back away, too.

Joe Arpaio, the sheriff for metropolitan Phoenix, has temporarily suspended all his immigration efforts after a federal judge concluded two weeks ago that the sheriff's office had racially profiled Latinos in its patrols, Arpaio spokesman Brandon Jones told The Associated Press.

Arpaio critics, including the federal government, are gaining ground in their fight to get the sheriff out of immigration enforcement. Even before the ruling, Washington had stripped Arpaio's office of its special federal immigration arrest powers and started to phase out the program across the country amid complaints that it led to abuses by local officers. The Arpaio ruling is expected to impact state immigration laws in Arizona, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, where local officers question people's immigration status in certain instances.

The national mood on immigration also has changed dramatically. Fewer states are seeking their own immigration laws, and proponents for Congress to overhaul the nation's immigration system have public opinion on their side.

Peter Spiro, a Temple University law professor who specializes in immigration law, said the May 24 ruling marks a big blow for Arpaio and the movement for more local immigration enforcement. "It's a cautionary tale for any other would-be Joe Arpaios out there," Spiro said. "This is an example that others can hardly afford to ignore."

The temporary suspension of Arpaio's immigration enforcement efforts marked the first pause since the lawman launched his crackdowns more than seven years ago and made combatting the nation's border woes a central part of his political identity.

His immigration work will remain on hold until at least June 14, when lawyers will attend a hearing and discuss possible remedies to the constitutional violations found by U.S. District Judge Murray Snow. It's not known whether Arpaio will resume immigration enforcement after the hearing. The ruling doesn't altogether bar Arpaio from enforcing the state's immigration laws, but imposes a long list of restrictions on his immigration patrols, such as a prohibition on using race as a factor in deciding whether to stop a vehicle with a Latino occupant.

The sheriff won't face jail time or fines as a result of the ruling. But lawyers opposing the sheriff are expected to seek more training for officers, better record-keeping of arrests and a court-appointed official to monitor the agency's operations to make sure the sheriff's office isn't making unconstitutional arrests.

"We are out of the immigration business until that hearing," Jones said. "Until that hearing, better safe than sorry."

After Arpaio lost his federal immigration arrest powers in October 2009, he cited state immigration laws as he continued to carry out enforcement efforts.

It has been almost two years since Arpaio conducted his last signature sweep, in which deputies flood an area of a city ? in some cases, heavily Latino areas ? over several days to seek out traffic violators and arrest other offenders. Even so, he continued enforcing Arizona's immigrant smuggling law and another state law that bans employers from hiring immigrants living in the country without permission. The sheriff's office put both enforcement approaches on hold after Snow's ruling.

Cecillia Wang, a lawyer who pressed the profiling case on behalf of a group of Latinos and the leader of the American Civil Liberties Union's immigrant rights project, said the Arizona sheriff isn't the only local official that has violated the rights of Latinos in immigration enforcement, but he's the most vocal about it. "There are other agencies out there that have been doing similar things more quietly," Wang said.

The ACLU pointed to several counties in North Carolina, for instance. The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit in December alleging that Alamance County Sheriff Terry S. Johnson and his deputies made unwarranted arrests with the goal of maximizing deportations. Federal authorities accuse Johnson of ordering his deputies to arrest motorists who appeared Latino ? even for minor traffic infractions ? while letting white drivers off with warnings. They also allege Johnson ordered special roadblocks in neighborhoods where Latinos live.

Chuck Kitchen, an attorney representing Johnson's office, vigorously denied the allegations and said he didn't see any similarities between the cases. "I don't think the ruling has any effect on Alamance," Kitchen said.

Jessica M. Vaughan, a local immigration enforcement expert for the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for stricter immigration laws, disputed the notion that Arpaio's racial profiling ruling will have a chilling effect on local immigration efforts. Vaughan said the prevailing view within local agencies is that it's their responsibility to work with the federal government on immigration. "They would be derelict in their duty if they did not," Vaughan said.

In an interview earlier this week, Arpaio said he was surprised by Snow's ruling, but declined to talk about the decision's effects on his immigration enforcement. "I respect the courts, but they have a job to do. We have a job to do," Arpaio said. "The federal justice system also gives you the opportunity to appeal."

Tim Casey, Arpaio's lead attorney, said the decision against Arpaio's office is historic in the world of immigration law. "It will invariably impact individual rights and law enforcement operations throughout the United States," Casey said. "It's going to be cited and relied upon for many others for a long time."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-06-07-Arizona%20Sheriff-Racial%20Profiling/id-cb1123eccefd4228a61904c79a7a075f

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Pigeons Are Smarter Than You Might Think And Can Use Touchscreens

Pigeons are everywhere in cities, but they don't get a lot of love. True, they can spread disease and aren't very personable, but maybe they're not getting the credit they deserve. Like city-dwelling humans they have places to be and lunch deals to scavenge. And like good urbanites (and penguins) they know their way around a touchscreen.

Researchers at the University of Iowa found that pigeons do well on task-based intelligence tests, even when the assessments are digitized and conducted on a touchscreen. In this case, pigeons were presented with the "string task," in which there are two strings to choose from but pulling the one with food attached to it has a greater benefit. But the pigeons took a digital version, where they got actual food if they consistently pecked the "string" attached to a square that looked like it was full of food. The pigeons performed well on different versions of the test and you can see them following the strings with their eyes to figure out which one is attached to the dish full of "food." Pigeons are apparently smart enough to figure out what they were supposed to peck because those depictions of food kind of don't look like food at all. Pattern recognition probably explains it, but seriously good job pigeons. Didn't know you had it in you. [PhysOrg via DVICE]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/pigeons-are-smarter-than-you-might-think-and-can-use-to-510935016

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