Cine Classics, classic movie reviews, classic movie stars

TCM's 31 Days of Oscar

2009-02-11T17:17:00.000-08:00

After much sweat and tears trying to figure out Wordpress, I’ve decided to keep this blog right where it is until further notice. Sorry to all my followers and subscribers for my neglect.

Now, let’s get down to business. As you know Turner Classic Movies has kicked off their 31 days of Oscar! With today’s economic woes, what better comfort than to sit down on your couch with a bag of Doritos and watch Oscar winning classics? Enjoy this TCM montage of Oscar Winning Classics, and be sure to check the TCM schedule to watch or TiVo your favorite.

Oh, and btw be sure to visit JC’s randomshelf blog for his interview with none other than TCM’s Robert Osborne!

Classic TV: The Honeymooners & Tax Cheats

2009-02-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

The funny Honeymooners clip below came to mind when I heard the day’s headliners. Honestly, I can’t believe all the BS I am hearing from so called intelligent and professional people, and their stupid “mistakes” on income tax returns. In this clip, you have two slobs (affectionately) worrying about a letter Ralph gets from the IRS. He goes into panic mode and hopes he didn’t forget to report the following (too funny, the little details we regular folk worry about):

1. A skinny Chicken
2. Interest from his sad savings account
3. Polka winnings
4. And lastly the horse with a clock in its stomach.

Well, if you are like me, we can identify with this. Here we are working, and middle class families terrified of the IRS. If we play the game these politicians have been playing lately, we’d be in jail! And the funny part is that we’d go to jail, or fined for as little as $1000. Both Thomas Daschle and Timothy Geithner get a “get out of jail” card, pat on the back, and a sweet gig to boot.

How can these men say this with a straight face? “I am deeply embarrassed and disappointed by the errors that required me to amend my tax returns,” Tom Daschle wrote to Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). “I apologize for the errors and profoundly regret that you have had to devote time to them.” This from a man who made a $146,000 mistake on his taxes! This from a man who once said, “Make no mistake, tax cheaters cheat us all, and the IRS should enforce our laws to the letter.” Huh? The zenith in hypocrisy!

And to add insult to injury the Secretary of our Treasury Department, Timothy Geithner is another tax cheat, he did not pay Social Security and Medicare taxes for four years for some contracting job with the International Monetary Fund totaling to some $30,000. I watched some of the hearings and I just couldn’t believe how smug he looked as he explained his so called, stupidity and how it was Turbo Taxes’ fault! You try doing that citizen, and see if the IRS will eat this BS.

As for me, I will try do as Ralph in the clip does, stay “calm and cool,” and if ever I get audited by the IRS I will say as Ralph said to the IRS agent, “just like you to understand, that Ralph Kramden will never be accused of not putting a horse down with a clock in its stomach!” Integrity in Washington is dead, I am afraid.

Classic Movie: Virgin Spring/Innocence Lost

2009-01-30T13:32:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a life altering experience which created a crisis of faith? I have, and these experiences are what might draw you closer to God, or completely tear you away. This is the theme of Ingmar Bergman’s Oscar winning drama, “Virgin Spring,” (1959). The tragic, but touching story is based on a 13th century Swedish Ballad. It’s a story of revenge and redemption during the medieval times, a time when the world was torn between Paganism and Christianity. “Virgin Spring” is a story of a pious man (Max Von Sydow) whose world is turned upside down when his only child is raped and killed.

Herr Tore (Max Von Sydow) is a wealthy farmer married to Mareta (Birgitta Valberg) in Medieval-era Sweden. They have a beautiful teenage daughter, Karin (Birgitta Pettersson). Both parents practice Christianity in the strictest form, but give Karin a little slack. Karin as any teenager, in any era, wants her way and she cajoles her mother into letting her wear her best finery to deliver candles to the family’s church. The ride to the church will take an entire day. Although these are medieval times, as you watch Karin get dressed, and excited about her finery; you forget the time she is living in, and you can’t help to think, “Teenagers have always been teenagers no matter the era.” I thought it to be an interesting insight by Bergman.

On her way to the church she sings, and takes in all that is good and fine, she inhales all of God’s goodness. In all this goodness, and light, darkness creeps in. She is lured by three herdsmen, raped, and then killed. They later seek shelter from the cold at the victim’s farm. The Tore family takes them in, feeds them, and gives them a place to rest. In the film’s most unforgettable moment, one of the rapists offers Karin’s mother the blood stained finery Karin used on the day of her murder, as a payment for their hospitality. Karin’s mom just freezes and steps back as if almost to pass out; you can almost read her thoughts. She quickly tells her husband. Herr’s stern façade disappears and he becomes anguished and confused. He exacts violent revenge on his guest, but that does not give him peace. Herr’s faith in a just and loving God is shaken; his whole world has fallen from under his feet. He feels there is no redemption for Karin or for him until he witnesses a miracle.

The movie will undoubtedly leave an impression on you. The focal point here is Herr, a pious man who did all things right, is shocked both by the tragedy that touched his life, and the sin he had to commit. But in the end learned, that for God there is no sin too great that he cannot forgive, and that sometimes bad things happen to good people, but a just and loving God will hold our hand through it all. Some may say that Tore’s faith was “medieval,” or “simple,” I say, it’s the faith we should all strive for.

Pre-code Gangster Movie Will Crack You Up!

2009-01-26T08:54:00.001-08:00

“A criminal is only as brave as his gun, you take his gun away and he's a coward just like anybody else.” Arthur Ferguson Jones – Played by Eddie G. Robinson in classic movie “The Whole Town's Talking.” I could go on forever about this wonderful comedy starring Jean Arthur and Eddie G. Robinson, but Bacall does not pay me enough.

Eddie G. plays dual roles in this 1935 comedy Pic. Eddie G. stars as a sheepish bookkeeper who looks just like a gangster also played by Robinson. Much of the comedy is provided by Jean Arthur who plays a tough, sassy 30's gal. She has more courage and spunk than all the men who work in her office.

When Jones, the bookkeeper gets mistakenly picked up by police as Mannion, the gangster, what follows is ten minutes of a funny frenzy of crazed reporters, police, and detectives trying to sort the whole thing out. When fingerprints did not match the killer, Jones is released with a special passport signed by the police chief identifying Jones as the bookkeeper. Eventually Robinson, the gangster figures the passport is a great get-out-of-jail-card and uses it regularly when on his crime sprees.

My favorite scene: when Jones, a shy guy who does not drink or smoke, gets loaded when his boss gives him a few drinks and some cigars. It was great fun to watch Eddie G. who can play just about anything, in this role. Arthur, who played Ms Clark, Jones' co-worker, is sort of the bookkeeper’s backbone and biggest cheerleader, sticking up for the poor innocent sap. I love a strong woman.

Classic Movie: Cause For Alarm!

2009-01-20T12:34:00.001-08:00

“Cause For Alarm!” (1951) with Loretta Young and Barry Sullivan is a thriller and if you’ve never seen it, you should. Loretta plays doting housewife, Ellen Jones. Ellen married George Jones during WWII. When he returns from the war he is diagnosed with a heart condition and is relegated to the bed. He becomes temperamental and morose. He soon becomes delusional and accuses his wife of having an affair with his best friend, Dr Ranney Grahame. Unbeknownst to Ellen or Ranney, George is secretly writing a letter to the district attorney, accusing them both of plotting to kill him.

George’s moods worsen and despite this, Ellen delays in getting him any help. Poor thing was in total denial. She tries to appease him to only be treated worse than a dog by him. But she continues to try to make all things better by tending to him and isolating herself from others. He only wants her and no one else, and she complies. One morning, he pretends to feel better and asked her to prepare him lunch; she is elated just to see him feeling better and obliges him. He in turn continues his letter writing, and embellishes it with details that further incriminate Ellen. After lunch, George asks her to mail this letter, and she does, not knowing it was a letter that would put her behind bars for life.

George begins to argue with Ellen, accusing her of horrible things, and tells her what the letter had and to whom it was sent to. Ellen is aghast. He threatens to kill her and grabs a gun and Ellen pleads for her life. In the struggle, George has a heart attack and dies. Good riddens! For the rest of the movie Ellen is in a cat and mouse chase trying to intercept this incriminating letter. I won’t spoil the movie for you, so I won’t tell you the end.

The movie is a thriller. Loretta Young as the frightened and doting housewife is great. Those huge puppy dog eyes of hers want to make you cry when she does. She captured the women’s fear, and desperation like only Loretta could. Again, if you’ve not seen this one, you must.

Cine Classics Remembers: Ricardo Montalban

2009-01-15T14:47:00.000-08:00

Many may just remember him from the show, “Fantasy Island,” but Ricardo Montalban was a classic movie star before that. It was sad to hear that he passed yesterday at the age of 88. Montalban paved the way for many future Latino actors in Hollywood such as, Edward James Olmos, who said, "He was a stellar artist and a consummate person and performer with a tremendous understanding of culture ... and the ability to express it in his work." I have to agree.

Back in the 40’s Montalban starred in many films alongside names like Clark Gable, and Lana Turner. He had other roles during the 50’s and 60’s. By the 70’s, roles were scarce for him, so he turned to stage and later TV. TV is what made him a memorable star as Mr. Rouke in Fantasy Island. How can we forget the famous line, “Welcome to Fantasy Island,” delivered with a most beautiful Spanish accent? A line only Montalban could deliver with finesse. It was during his time in Fantasy Island that he gave one of his best performances as Khan Noonien Singh in the 1982 movie “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” This was a follow-up to a much loved episode of TV’s Star Trek in 1967, which Montalban starred in.

Montalban was a class act, suave, elegant, and a pioneer. He will be missed. Rest in peace.

How Hitler Changed Hollywood

2009-01-13T11:53:00.000-08:00

German Expressionist Film

Germany in the 20’s and 30’s was a good time for the arts. The German Expressionistic film movement was in full swing with pictures like “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” “Nosferatu,” and the eerie “M,” were the talk of the town. Little did the people of Germany know that a real life drama was unfolding in their midst. How the rise of Hitler gave new life to Hollywood is the topic of PBS’ “Cinema Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood.”

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see this documentary which aired on January 3rd, and am now searching for an encore presentation. What I am telling you now, I got from an article written in the LA Times, and from PBS’ web site. What happened to the arts in Germany during the rise of Hitler, and how it brought new talent to Hollywood was an eye opener for me. Over 800 actors, directors, writers, composers, and producers fled Europe to America when they noticed the ominous cloud hovering over their nation.

Many of the émigrés were secular Jews and their contribution to Hollywood was energizing and changed Hollywood forever. Among the many talents which came to America were: directors, Billy Wilder, Fritz Lang, Henry Koster, Fred Zinnemann, Robert Sidodmak, actors like Hedy Lamarr, Marlene Dietrich and Peter Lorre to name just a few.

According to the writer of “Exiles,” Karen Thomas, what she found most surprising was that some of the artist that came to America after escaping Germany rarely, if ever, “looked back or appeared to be angry about what happened.” Some did go through changes, but were “too busy having a life.” Was it because they just used that inner protection we all have and blotted it out of their minds? Did they think that anger, bitterness, and resentment would get them nowhere, that if anything it would rob them of “life?” Maybe both. It’s not like they didn’t care about the loved ones they lost in Europe, they mourned the loss, but moved on. An example would be Billy Wilder who lost his mother, stepfather, and grandmother in Auschwitz.

The next time you watch the Oscar winning “Casablanca,” think of this: Paul Henreid, Conrad Veidt, Peter Lorre, S.Z. Sakall, and Leonid Kinskey, Helmut Dantine, Marcel Dalio, Ludwig Stossel, and Wolfgang Zilzer, all starred in this movie, and all fled Europe’s Nazi rule and came to our shores. I am sure you will never see this film the same again.

The Nazis managed to run the artists out of town, and German Expressionist film all but disappeared, but in Hollywood a new dawn was coming.

Jack Lemmon-TCM's Star of The Month

2009-01-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about TCM’s star of the month, Jack Lemmon! One of the things I’d like to add on to this blog is a little blurb each month on TCM’s Star of The Month, so here it goes. I love Jack Lemmon. I have never seen him on anything I didn’t like because even if the movie was so-so, it had Jack Lemmon and that is all that mattered to me.

Jack Lemmon was one versatile actor, although he is known for his comedic roles, he also played serious roles as well. Did you know?

1. Jack graduated from Harvard University in 1947 at the age of 22.
2. He knew he wanted to be an actor at the tender age of 8.
3. Was a member of the US Navy right after graduating Harvard
4. Taught himself the piano, and played the harmonica and bass fiddle (my inspiration because I am just now learning the piano)
5. Debbie Reynolds had a major crush on him (per Carrie Fisher)

Known by Billy Wilder as an actor that “overacted,” but Billy loved him anyway, in fact, Jack was his favorite. In Wilder’s biography, Nobody's Perfect, Wilder is quoted as saying, "Lemmon, I would describe him as a ham, a fine ham, and with ham you have to trim a little fat." In the same book Lemmon is quoted as saying: "I am particularly susceptible to the parts I play... If my character was having a nervous breakdown, I started to have one." Don’t you just see this in his roles? That is exactly what made his characters come to life for us. He made them believable and tangible.

Jack won two Oscars, one as best supporting actor in 1956 for Mr. Roberts and Best Actor in 1973 for his role in Save the Tiger, making him the first actor to win both Oscars (supporting actor and actor). He was nominated Best Actor for his role in Some Like it Hot, and for his role in the controversial movie, Missing. In 1982 the AFI awarded him “A Lifetime Achievement Award.” Jack’s favorite role was the one of Joe Clay, the young, spirited, alcoholic businessman in The Days of Wine and Roses, (1962). Thirty years later he said that when he delivered the line in the movie, “My name is Joe Clay and…I am an alcoholic,” that line was all too real, that he, in fact, was an alcoholic. He struggled with it and only towards the end of his life did he recover from alcoholism.

Lemmon was one of the most liked, or loved Hollywood stars. His best friend was Walter Matthau, I could’ve guessed that one. In addition to the above mentioned awards, Jack was nominated Best Actor 17 more times, 2 Cannes Film Festival Awards, 6 Golden Globe Awards, but nominated 22 times, surpassing Meryl Streep. What a career and what a man. Jack Lemmon died June 2001, and is buried by his buddy Walter Matthau. Visit TCM to see what films TCM will be featuring each Wednesday this month with Jack Lemmon.

My favorites:

The Out of Towners
The Days of Wine and Roses
The Apartment
Some Like it Hot
Prisoner of Second Ave

Frances Farmer-Dark Era Of Bedlam

2009-01-02T13:16:00.001-08:00

The story of classic movie star Frances Farmer is one you rarely hear about, but it is one that is sad and interesting. Her story is well documented in her book, “Will there ever be morning?” The movie “Frances,” where Jessica Lange played Frances, sparked an interest and I decided to read the book. Because frankly I just couldn’t believe that something like that had happened to a beautiful, glamorous, Hollywood star.

Farmer’s film debut was in 1936 in “Too Many Parents,” during the next six years she appeared in 18 films, three Broadway plays, thirty major radio shows and seven stock company productions – all by the age of 27. I can’t say I’ve ever seen her in any movies, but she rose to stardom back in the 30’s, in fact, she was coined “The new Greta Garbo,” but quickly spiraled down into a life of alcoholism, arrests, and confinement in a mental institution.

The story goes that it was her mother that was actually crazy and caused a lot of Farmer’s troubles. While Farmer’s professional career was in the upswing, her personal life was going down the tubes and fast. She had a number of failed relationships, one being with Lief Erickson, she became addicted to alcohol and amphetamines. This combination made her volatile and difficult. In 1943 she got into a fight and was arrested. The next day she was placed into the custody of psychiatrist Thomas H. Leonard. Farmer refused to cooperate with the shrink, and he soon diagnosed her as “suffering from manic-depressive psychosis-probably the forerunner of a definite dementia praecox.” She was transferred to the screen actor’s sanitarium in La Cresenta.

For the next seven years, Farmer would experience the darkest and primitive, by today’s standards, psychiatric treatment and abuse. She underwent a series of violent shock treatments, insulin shock treatments, and hydrotherapy, all intended to strip her of her dignity and talent. It has been said that she even underwent a lobotomy, but that is still questionable, or debated. She was repeatedly raped; she was also used as an experimental subject for drugs.

The dark era of bedlam was far from over in the 30’s and 40’s as we can see from this classic movie star’s experience. I have to think that if in fact she suffered a mental breakdown of some kind, and meds like we have today were available, she would’ve been ok. She was no different than the Brittney Spears, and Lindsey Lohan of today. In high school, Frances wrote a controversial poem titled, “God Dies,” and in fact, she won $100 in a contest for it. I’ve read it, many atheists think she was denouncing God, I saw it more like a kid mad at God, and not really understanding the ebb and flow of life. Sadly, this experience may have completely crushed any faith left inside her.

Frances Farmer died of cancer at the age of 57, destitute, and broken hearted.

Auld Lang Syne

2008-12-30T14:45:00.000-08:00

I am still "technically" in Christmas mode and majorly behind on my blog. 2008 is coming to a close, and good riddens. What a year, huh? I am so thankful for classic film; they are what take me away from the hubbub. Not that my life is all that bad, but it’s all that is going on in the world that just clutters, and muddles my thoughts. When I sit down to watch a classic film, its two hours of bliss, silence, and euphoria. All the ruckus around me grows strangely dim.

I remember as a kid living in New York City, every Christmas WOR-TV would feature awesome Christmas movies that just moved you. Every kid on the block would gather in front of their TV sets and watch these classic films. I can remember, “Mighty Joe Young,” “March of the Wooden Soldiers,” “Heidi,” and other kid centered classic films. It was the station’s gift to us on Christmas. I don’t know that they still do this. More than likely they don’t. It was this station that introduced me to classic film. It was this station that kept me and others in New York City out of trouble. Life was tough in NYC, but these movies provided an escape for me and other kids.

As this 2008 comes to a close, let us all look forward to 2009. The good old days are long gone, but classic film can transport us there even if just for a little while. And if this makes for peace in some small way, it is all worth it. Be safe, blessed, and may all good things come to you and yours in 2009! Happy New Year! Enjoy this youtube video, “Auld Lang Syne,” in classic film “Waterloo Bridge.”

Meme: 20 Favorite Actresses

2008-12-16T08:50:00.000-08:00

J.C. Loophole from Random Shelf blog tagged me with a whopper. I am to choose my favorite actresses of all time. Now isn’t that a lot of homework? I mean that is hard because to me, there were so many talented actresses in classic Hollywood, it is pretty hard to pick and choose. Now, if you were to tell me to pick from today’s actresses, I couldn’t even pick 10. Sorry if I sound too harsh, but it is very difficult for me with todays so called actresses, they just don’t measure. I digress…I chose the following because they’ve been in a movie that has impacted me greatly, and because most, if not all, portrayed women in stronger roles. Here it goes.

Bette Davis
Joan Crawford
Dorothy McGuire

Kaye Francis
Ruth Chatterton

Ida Lupino
Norma Shearer
Olivia de Havilland
Barbara Stanwyck
Alida Valli

Dame May Whitty (ah, the days when age was appreciated in Hollywood)
Thelma Ritter (the side kick with pizzazz)
Greer Garson
Marlene Dietrich
Loretta Young

Jennifer Jones
Audrey Hepburn
Joan Blondell
Eve Arden ( love her sarcasm)
Carole Lombard

This was a very difficult task for me, I know I have left some out and it was hard choosing one over the other. Oh well, are any of the ones on my list one of your favorites? Why?

Classic TV: The Honeymooners

2008-12-09T17:43:00.000-08:00

I grew up watching the re-runs of The Honeymooners, and I got to tell you, I still watch them and I still laugh. Classic TV is wonderful, just wonderful. I know life wasn’t peachy cream in the 50’s, but I have to guess that times were simpler and maybe that is why I watch classic TV, and movies. I want to be transported to a “kinder and gentler” time.

This is the very first episode of The Honeymooners which aired in 1951 with a different actress playing Alice. Audrey Meadows was much prettier, but from the looks of this, the Alice on this clip is a lot tougher, in fact, a woman ahead of her day. Take a look at how much slimmer Ralph (Jackie Gleason) was when the show first aired. Art Carney, who we know as Ralph’s buddy Norton, plays a cop in this clip.

Only a few episodes were made of America’s favorite couple and that is sad because the show had potential. Enjoy this clip.

Straw Dogs: How Far Will You Go?

2008-12-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

How far will a man go to defend his wife and home? This is the theme of a highly controversial classic film, Straw Dogs (1971). Dustin Hoffman plays a pacifistic math professor who is forced into a violent confrontation when his wife Amy is raped by 2 local losers. The main theme of the movie is how a man, who is peaceful in every sense, can wake up the sleeping violent nature inside if provoked. Although the movie is thought provoking, it is not for the faint of heart. It is however, one of the greatest studies of violence on film.

This was my very first time seeing this film and I got to tell you it was jaw-dropping. It is a film that slowly builds up to an exploding last half hour; this brilliantly done by director Sam Peckinpah.

David, perfectly, and I mean perfectly, played by Dustin Hoffman is as mild-mannered as they come, American which has moved to England on a research grant along with his English wife Amy (Susan George). Their home is no castle, but sure gives you an impression it is with its beautiful fortress like stone walls, and medieval décor. Amy is silly and childish, and as newlyweds would have it, in need of constant attention from her husband. Attention he just can’t spare as a mathematician.

David tries very hard to fit in the town, but soon finds he is not welcomed and is ostracized. Amy knows the deal when it comes to small town living in England and lives by the code of the community, the code that intellectual David looks down on. Amy is portrayed as a subservient, dumb, lecherous woman, but at the same time a woman with a lot of common sense. David hires local men, one of which Amy knows very well named Charlie. Amy sensed danger when her cat is killed and left in her bedroom closet. David down plays it, and feels he can handle it without getting into any confrontations.

David believed in “talking,” “negotiating without preconditions” so to speak. Amy on the other hand, smelled danger and understood that civility would only take you but so far in life. But although she was much more aware of the danger than her husband was, she invites it in, as if to urge on a battle which at a subconscious level she knows must be fought.

Amy is raped by Charlie, but, this is what I find most disturbing in the film, Amy is not exactly an unwilling partner. Her feelings quickly change when one of Charlie’s cohorts takes his turn. This is a very, very disturbing scene.

All hell breaks loose in the last half hour of the movie. All codes are violated in every sense. A mob of men surround David's home and are out for blood. Murder, mayhem, destruction, lunacy run about the fortress like home, like demons devouring all in its path. David is forced to use any tool in the house to defend his home and in a Rambo-esque fashion he kills all 5 men.

David learned that there are very real battles in this world; battles that will not end unless you use violence. “Talking” with those that would kill you and your family without batting an eyelash, will not work, period. Violence in many battles is the only option in order to have peace. It wasn’t so much that the intellectual David turned into a savage, but rather the intellectual used his wit and in the end smarts won over savagery.

The Day The Earth Stood Still Has Gone Green

2008-11-24T16:27:00.000-08:00

If you visit my blog often you know I am not a fan of Classic movie remakes. But Hollywood can’t create things anymore, so they recycle the good stuff. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) a movie which shook a generation to the core by making it realize that before any alien can destroy the earth, man would destroy themselves first. In the 50’s we were in the cold war and America had fears about the Eastern Bloc, or Communism. Films in the 50’s used aliens, creatures, or any other metaphor which represented Communism or what America feared most. However, this film was different in that it placed the responsibility of man’s destruction on everyone. The one to fear was man, or the “nature of man and the terrible violence that humanity is capable of.”

What the classic film told us about ourselves as humans is timeless and it unfortunately still applies to us today. As Hollywood would have it, the remake tackles “issues and conflicts that are affecting us now." Hollywood has decided in the remake that man is destroying the earth and it must be stopped! Forget the economy, war, and terrorism, those don’t matter or Americans are not afraid of those. We have sleepless nights thinking of the milk carton we forgot to throw in the recycle bin. I guess the theme in the remake has gone green because that’s what we worry about…huh? Well I don’t know about that, I just heard about a poll which said that Americans don’t worry as much about the environment than they do about the economy. Please Hollywood, we all care about the earth, but right now what is scaring us is the economy. Why can’t Hollywood just leave a good thing alone? The movie opens in December, if you must see it, the only thing that will make it worth your while is Keanu Reeves as Klaatu .

Source iesb.net

Hollywood and War Bonds 1942

2008-11-19T15:55:00.000-08:00

During World War II the Hollywood crowd supported the US Army and America in its time of need. Some stars like Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, Clark Gable and others enlisted, others helped by raising money. They made the country aware of War Bonds, and encouraged every American to buy them for the sake of the country.

TV was not around so these stars promoted War Bonds in theaters nationwide. The theaters had short films and newsreels where stars like James Cagney, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich and others would appear as themselves and encouraged the purchase of War Bonds. When the movie “Desperate Journey” (1942) opened in Illinois, each ticket required a purchase of a $25 War Bond. That’s how committed Americans were to the cause. Talk about patriotism. These stars used their talents not to hurt the country, but to help it because they believed in it.

Nobody likes War, but when Pearl Harbor was attacked the United States mobilized and came together, including those in Hollywood for the greater good. War Bonds were used to supply the US Army with supplies, food and weapons. These stars raised millions of dollars. One star that comes to my mind is Carol Lombard, who single-handedly raised two million dollars worth of War Bonds in her hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana. She made the ultimate sacrifice, in my mind, she died in a plane crash as she was returning to California. President Roosevelt awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom as being the first woman killed in the line of duty for WWII.

These Classic Hollywood stars stepped outside of themselves to help, some in the war front, others in the home front, but both were soldiers in my book, and worthy of the highest honors indeed.

Good Bye Heros and Heroines

2008-11-11T13:55:00.000-08:00

When I watch a classic movie it is a rarity I am ever disappointed with the actors, actresses, or plot. Rare. Heck, even what some called “b” movies when first released, I consider brilliant. Are your favorite classic movie stars remembered more for their acting ability, or beauty and sex appeal? I have to say their acting ability.

Unlike today’s movies where youth, beauty, and sex appeal trump acting ability, the movies of yesteryear were just the opposite. Jason Kettinger wrote an article regarding just this on ofb.biz. I gather from the article that classic movies are new to him and especially Katharine Hepburn. He states that today’s actresses are “so chained to her sex appeal that she is not allowed to act.” The actresses of old had something more. I don’t think it really mattered about the sex appeal thing as much. It was more about showing off their acting ability. It was about making a character in a movie “bigger than life,” so much so that many didn’t take notice of the actresses’ beauty and sex appeal until much later, if ever. Being sexy and beautiful came in due time, but the great acting is what perhaps made us see the beauty and sex appeal, even in those that were not considered so back in the day. I think we fall in love with the characters played than we do with the star.

Kettinger goes on to say that he didn’t think it an “overstatement or moralism to say that sex appeal is now the only criterion.” I agree. Just take a look at what Hollywood calls stars today. Back in the day, the actor or actress became one with the character they played, so much so that you “forgot the actor’s name,” but remembered the role very well. Today all you have are famous people, famous names, fluff, but no substance. It’s no wonder one can remember a contemporary actor’s name, but not their achievements.

Katharine Hepburn in a two hour interview in 1973 stated that “sexual self-absorption” had ended the era of true acting. She believed, in 1973 mind you, that “we had begun to turn inward so much that people lacked the skills to either act or live the great hero and heroine stories of her earlier decades.” What would she think today?

Somehow I feel a sense of dread about it all. In my mind, Katharine wasn’t only speaking about the movies, but also about her generation, or the last great generation. They too are gone. Those which were willing to “live the great hero and heroine stories.”

Hollywood's Love Affair With Politics

2008-11-03T11:47:00.000-08:00

Today is Election Day eve, and how appropriate to have stumbled upon this article from election2008.usc.edu. The article lists several Hollywood stars and moguls which influenced an election at one time or another. I was a bit surprised about some, but knew of others.

My feeling on this is that Hollywood has used their platform and still does to bring out their agenda. And this may have worked back in the day, but I don’t believe it works as well today. Americans know that Hollywood lives in fantasyland, completely out of touch with the people. And so their crude comments, movies, opinions, don’t matter. People turn to celebrities, or movies for entertainment, not political speak or advice. Do you really believe that celebrities have some special insight into politics?

What I find interesting in this article, is that it wasn’t just about movies, comments, or opinions like we have today; it was a bit more. I can’t say that it was all to sway the vote; it was more like the stars were fighting for a particular cause, thus swaying the vote or changing political views on whatever issue or cause they were standing up for.

Example: Ronald Reagan had been working since the 40’s going from state to state talking to “serious conservatives” who wanted to dismantle the New Deal. It was these efforts that made him governor of California for 2 terms, and started the “conservative revolution” of the 80’s.

Louis B. Mayer swayed the vote in 1928 when he arranged a meeting between Republican Herbert Hoover and William Randolph Hearst (Newspaper Tycoon) who then threw his complete support behind Hoover.

Again, Hollywood does things similarly today, but I believe that Americans today are not as easy to fool especially when opinions, comments, movies, are way over the top, seriously.

Read the article to read on other classic film stars and how they influenced their respective elections. And please go out to vote.

The Honeymoon is Over...

2008-10-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

The Honeymoon killers, (1970) a film done in docudrama form is chilling, disturbing, unique, and unforgettable. I wanted to say funny, but I really can’t because the story is true. But you can’t help finding dark comedy in this horrible story. The story is of a couple who were serial killers back in the 40’s known as the “The Lonely Heart Killers.” Martha Beck (Shirley Stoler) an obese nurse from Alabama and a Spanish immigrant, Ray Fernandez (Tony Lo Bianco) meet through a “lonely hearts” ad placed by Fernandez who has been swindling women for a while. His intention was not to really meet Martha as a love interest, but rather to find another victim. However when he meets the broke, heavy, chocolate eating Martha he is fascinated. He makes her a partner in crime.

After some time Ray tells her of his practice of using his appearance and charm to persuade middle-aged women to part with their money. The lost and morose Martha thinks nothing of it; she will do whatever to keep Ray by her side. The pair embarks in a crime spree which shocked a nation just recovering for the Second World War. At first they lure middle-aged women and steal from them. Soon the crime graduates to killing off the victims. In total it is believed the pair killed a total of 20 women including a 2-year-old child.

The film done in black and white is creepy and the somber, emotional Mahler music is the icing on the cake. It’s a disturbing psychological thriller that will have you thinking twice about answering a “lonely heart,” ad ever again. The murder scenes are too real, especially when the child is led to her death. But what makes this film all the chilling is the fact that this really happened. The pair were executed in 1951. A must see for classic crime fans.

Beautiful Monsters

2008-10-17T17:36:00.000-07:00

I’ve always been a lover of old classic horror flicks. I’ve never thought of monsters as being beautiful, but after reading this blogger’s article at Cinema Styles, I’ve had a change of heart. What else can a monster be but beautiful when played by Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester? Dracula, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein are movies you can see over and over again. And yes, all three are beautiful monsters indeed. For the next few days I will take you back in time and write about the classic horror flicks that scared generations in the past, and still do today. In the meantime enjoy this montage of beautiful monsters courtesy of Cinema Styles blog.

Wild is The Wind

2008-10-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

I was scanning my TiVo the other day for one of the many classic films I regularly record and came across this enjoyable 50's flick. Wild is the Wind, (1958) stars Anthony Quinn, the Mexican-born actor, and the Italian born actress (or is it actor...in our new freak world?), Anna Magnanni.

Quinn plays Gino, a wealthy Italian American sheep farmer, with Italian accent and all, living with his daughter, brother, sister-in-law, and a young man he calls Bene (Tony Franciosa) whom he loves as a son.

Years after his wife's death Gino travels to the old country to meet and marry her younger sister. She arrives with Gino to her new home and life to a true Italian hyper energy fest, wine, a million words a minute, arms flailing, the whole Italian experience...it was fun to watch. If you're Italian, or speak it, you'll get a kick out the Italian lingo; you'll the love the interaction.

Anna Magnanni’s character, Gioia, is played with awesome energy as a pure Italian ball of fire. Gino still loves his first wife, and has a hard time dealing with his new one. As result, tensions mount and he inadvertently pushes her into another man's arms and the love triangle is on. Tony Franciosa, “Bene” is the third side of the triangle, but you hardly noticed him with the amazing performance from Anna and Tony. I like the ending.

Sarah Palin and Mr Smith Goes to Washington

2008-10-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

I came across this youtube video of the unforgettable classic, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” (1939) with Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur. I wonder what ever happened to public servants. When did they begin to miss the mark? Corruption has existed in Washington for too long. Just take a look at the financial crisis we are in now? And now the tax payer flips the bill. Last time I checked, congress was supposed to be our voice. Is it really?

Sarah Palin will be debating Joe Biden today and I know that she has come under a lot of criticism for her few gaffes, which seems to trump Biden’s 100. But if I understand Palin well, she will be like Mr. Smith in this clip. She is no quitter.

Tonight we will see that like Mr. Smith, Sarah has “faith in something bigger” than the George Town elite (Taylors and Paines). She will demonstrate that she has “plain, decent, everyday common rightness.” “And this country can use some of that.” So Sarah, “don’t quit!” Give them all you’ve got. And remember that all the good that came into this world came from those who went against all the odds.

Why I Love Paul Newman

2008-09-29T17:26:00.000-07:00

In the midst of the country's financial woes which in and of it self is sad and surreal, we got the bad news of Paul Newman's passing. I don't know, I always thought he'd live to see 100! Why do I love Paul Newman? Not only was he "ridiculously good-looking," no other actor compares, but he was also a brilliant actor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and an amazing human being.

Just read this quote from someone who knew him well to get a feel of the type of person Newman was: "He had an utter lack of narcissism. He was never comfortable as part of that generation of brilliantly self-absorbed actors. He was kind of old-fashioned, very direct," Robert Towne Writer-Director. Somehow you were able to see this in Newman. He was drop-dead gorgeous, but all too human and humble, and I suppose that made him all the more beautiful to fans. They just don't make them like that anymore. A classic movie icon has left us, but leaves a wonderful legacy, and like George Clooney said, "He set the bar too high for the rest of us ... not just actors, but all of us. He will be greatly missed."What more can I say?

Together Brothers-Black Experience In America

2008-09-23T11:47:00.001-07:00

Together Brothers (1974) an obscure, but good movie, with young inexperienced actors is worth your while to watch. The movie directed by William Graham, with an awesome musical score by Barry White and The Love Unlimited Orchestra is a touching and all too real story of the black experience in America.

When a much loved police officer called Mr. Kool by the neighborhood people is horribly murdered, a 15-year-old gang leader, HJ (Ahmed Nurradin) of Galveston, Texas makes it his mission to find the demented killer. HJ realizes he will need more than his small gang to find the killer. He manages to build up enough nerve to ask the Chicano gang leader, Vega, played by gorgeous Richard Yniguez, for help. Soon the gangs unite and have one goal, to find the killer. When one good person is killed in the neighborhood there are no racial barriers. Race issues went out the window. Suddenly they were just all human beings.

The only witness to this horrible killing is HJ’s little 5-year-old brother, Tommy (Anthony Wilson) who is now the killer’s target. While the killer pursues the little boy, the gang gains enough clues to put the killer behind bars. And here is when the movie gets intense.

The performances of Nurradin as the gang leader, and Wilson as his little brother make the movie work. Nurradin captured the anguish and struggle of a young black male in a poor Texas City who had seen the all too real affects of poverty, but managed to keep it together in spite of his reality. His demeanor made him seem older than his years. Wilson as the little brother will make you want to reach out to your TV set and rock him to sleep. There are powerful, funny, and scary, moments in the film. For Barry White fans, you will love the music and songs sung by White like: “Honey, Can’t Ya See,” and “People of Tomorrow Are the Children of Today.” Look out for the eerie music whenever the killer is around.

If you’ve never seen this movie, I recommend you do.

"The Women" Remake A Flop!

2008-09-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

Like I warned you all…don’t waste your money. Read this review from the San Francisco Sentinel and save a few bucks. If you want a bang for your money, watch the ORIGINAL “The Women,” (1939) tonight at 8:00 PM EST on TCM .

Here are a few funny quotes from the review of “the remake.”

“lacks the essential components that catapulted its predecessor into Hollywood Legend.” No kidding???

“Seven decades later, the original version maintains its integrity and its leadership as a money-making wrap-around-the-block Classic and perennial Cult Favorite.”

“Nice try. End result? The focus is lost. Too much celebration, too much shifting, not enough tooth in the biting wit department, and the hallmarks are gone with the wind.”

“Ms. English’s screenplay is a bumpy ride, wanting in humor, halting, occasionally lumbering, fraught with missed opportunity, plagued by improvisation and drowning in promotions for Saks Fifth Avenue. Boring.”

And finally:

As the “Countess De Lave” of Mary Boland stated when L’Amour had disappointed once again, “Get me a bromide! And put some gin in it!”

Hollywood please stop trying to emulate excellence…talent is a gift and Hollywood’s golden age had plenty, unlike today’s Hollywood. But I give you half a star for even attempting the task.

The Women (1939) Remake

2008-09-08T13:52:00.001-07:00

Look...Jungle Red

Here we go again, Hollywood trying to surpass an original masterpiece. The Women, (1939) a bitchy, melodramatic, comedy film starring Norma Shearer, and host of other stars like, Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Paulette Goddard, and Joan Fontaine will be hard to match.

Although the movie is called “The Women,” it is actually about men… It’s about women and how they fight, adore, adjust, and connect with men. But it is also about relationships between women, you know “girlfriend” stuff and how they sabotage each other, ah, for men. Talk about catty, this is the film that personifies the word! When you have Rosalind Russell and the biggest b_tch to walk across the screen, Joan Crawford, catty is an understatement. Norma Shearer starts off being the dutiful wife, the martyr until she learns the feline ways. And it is at this moment, I began to like her character in the movie. By becoming catty she seems stronger, empowered, like a pillar of feminine strength.

This month Hollywood is releasing the remake. Only this time, the girls are friends, good friends that don’t back stab each other. Annette Bening who plays Norma Shearer’s role, said this: "The good news is Diane's script is about female friendship and bonding," Bening says. "I think that's more realistic now, because I have many close friends who are women and we don't backstab each other. We depend on each other.” I am sorry to say that this is fantasy land. Yeah, we women have close friends that we can trust, but girls you know all too well that at times you will encounter women like the ones in the old film. Yes, a lot of the old version is dated, but it was the realistic chemistry between the women in the film that made it all the funnier. Why? Because we women were able to laugh at the dynamics that go on when more than two women are in a room!

The new version in my opinion is “an updated,” version which I am sure will have plenty of “F” bombs, dumb humor, sex, and Oprah Winfrey moments. I won’t waste my money. But I will buy the “Jungle Red” nail polish any day of the week.

Sarah Palin and Pre-code Movie: Politics

2008-08-30T04:55:00.001-07:00

Before I get into Sarah Palin, let me talk to your about the movie she reminded me of. Politics, (1931) a pre-code movie with Marie Dressler and Polly Moran is a gem and I highly recommend you see it. If you’ve ever seen Dinner at Eight, (1933) Marie Dressler played the very funny role of Carlotta. She appeared in silent films with Charlie Chaplin, and was paired often with Wallace Beery, and with comedian Polly Moran. I love her!

I loved the movie because it dealt with crooked politicians, thugs, and how 2 women believed they could turn it all around if given the chance to run the town. This was pretty ambitious for the day. Marie plays an unassuming woman named Hattie Burns. She cooks, sews, and takes care of her family, like “women ought to.” Her side kick, Ivy Higgins played by Polly Moran is politically involved. Ivy is in support of, unbeknownst to her, a crooked politician.

In one of the rallies for the politician Ivy urges other women to vote for him, but somehow it doesn’t sit well with Hattie. What makes him such a good politician? He hadn’t changed anything; he spoke well, but did nothing. Hattie cut-off all the melodious speak, and really heard the words. Empty words is all it was, no substance. The docile woman builds up enough courage to confront the mayor on the issues at hand. The mayor repudiates her and this wakes up the bear within in Hattie. Hattie finds her strong fighting spirit and lets the mayor have it, she promises to run the mayor and all the other Lake City thugs out of town and into jail where they belong!

The crowd reacts and nominates her to run against the crooked mayor. She is shocked at herself. But in her heart she knew she cared enough to really make “change,” and offer “hope,” to her town. Her words had substance, no music, just action.

Well, when I watched Sarah Palin, John McCain’s running mate, I thought of Hattie Burns. Seeing Sarah Palin speak yesterday was so refreshing and energizing. I thought this is the woman leader we’ve been waiting for. Ms Palin has taken on “the good old boys,” on both sides for the greater good of her state. She tells congress, thanks, but no thanks, “if Alaska wanted a bridge to nowhere, we’d build it ourselves.” No wasteful spending in her camp. This is a woman with true conviction, integrity, guts, and grit. She is just like the character Hattie in the movie, but prettier ;-).

Hattie in the movie was a woman in a time when the suffragists were just starting their movement. Sarah Palin is a product of that movement. She is a woman who really knows the struggle of the people and sacrifices a lot for the good of the country she loves. Like Hattie in the movie, Sarah’s heart is wrapped all around the country, and that my friend will give us true “change,” and “hope,” for the future.

Raymond Burr--Serial Liar

2008-08-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

A new book just released titled: “Hiding in Plain Sight: The Secret Life of Raymond Burr,” by Michael Seth Starr reveals how classic film star Raymond Burr was a serial liar and why. According to the book Burr lied just about everything in his life. He made up enormous stories like this one: he claimed he was a widow, and that his wife, Scottish actress Annette Sutherland, had died in a plane crash, the same plane crash which killed actor Leslie Howard in 1943. He didn’t stop there; he embellished the story by adding that he had a son who also died of Leukemia, and a second wife who also died. Talk about pathological liar!

In order for us to have some understanding of why he lied, we must step back in time. You see, it turns out the Burr was gay and as such he had to keep his life, his real life in hiding back in 40’s, 50’s, and so on. He managed to do just that when he lied because when he lied he created a façade if you will. His fabricated past explained off why he was not involved with women. And the press kept the pressure off because his life was just too tragic and personal, so it seemed. It’s got to be the Burr’s greatest act. But I still can’t help think how sick this was, his lies that is. These weren’t little white lies, these were whoppers. I have to suspect that when someone lies like he did eventually they start to believe their own lies. It must’ve been very hard to distinguish between reality and fantasy. Imagine Perry Mason lying… Oops, but Perry Mason was not real, or was he???

Read a complete review of the book at tcm.com.

Classic Movie: Infidelity Does Not Pay

2008-08-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

I’ve always thought that Kim Novak had no real acting ability. I feel differently after I saw her in “Strangers When We Meet,” (1960). Kim plays a woman, Margaret Gault, who is deprived of love and affection from her very disconnected husband. She goes through all the motions of being a wife and mother and has become numb until she meets Larry Coe ruggedly played by Kirk Douglas. Any woman would sin for that…I digress. Larry Coe is a neighbor and married to a beautiful, but ambitious wife played wonderfully by Barbara Rush.

As life may have it Larry Coe is swepted off his feet by Margaret. They have an affair and their love grows more and more with each passing day. It didn’t matter who they were hurting as long as they were together. Their passion for each other was much stronger than guilt. A nosey and lecherous neighbor Felix Anders played to the tilt by Walter Matthau lets Larry know he knows what is going on, but not to worry Felix understands, so he says. Felix was like, do what you want, whenever you want to, it’s all good.

Larry knows differently. He knows the secret is out and the affair must end. He tries to break off the relationship, but it is gut retching. You get the feeling he was going to break it off with his wife rather than his lover. Meanwhile Felix thinks he can take liberties with Larry’s wife. He attempts to rape her and feels justified in doing so. After all her husband is a cad. Larry comes clean with his wife and tells her of the affair. This scene is pretty intense. The mix of high emotions his wife has is heart retching. But the love she has for her husband is much stronger than her rage. Larry realizes the pain he has caused his wife. You get the feeling that he realized how much he really loved his wife. You can also feel the anguish and storm inside his head about Margaret. But he knew he had to do the right thing.

In the last scene Larry is breaking off the relationship with Margaret, (this is when you will need the tissue) and Margaret is taken a back, but realizes that this had to end. Her heart is torn to pieces. They both speak of what could’ve been in another place and time. But they were in the here and now, and the consequence of their infidelity was all too clear.

Kim Novak played this sad and lost wife so powerfully. She captured Margaret’s sadness, loneliness, confusion, and courage. Although I didn’t condoned the act of infidelity, I couldn’t help feeling bad for her, and understanding why she did it. But most of all, I admired her courage to do the right thing in spite her feelings for Larry.

The movie is a little melodramatic and long…a chick flick. However, it is a pretty good movie from a bygone era starring two of Hollywood’s legendary actors in leading roles, and Barbara Rush and Walter Matthau in supporting roles. It is my opinion that this role was the role for Kim Novak and makes the movie worthwhile to watch.

Broken Dreams At Dragonwyck

2008-08-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

What happens to a young woman when lust and greed take over? This is the storyline of Dragonwyck (1946). Circa 1844 beautiful, young, and naïve Miranda Wells perfectly played by Gene Tierney, is looking for something exciting and different. You see Miranda is a farmer’s daughter in a small town outside of Connecticut and life, well is boring. Miranda is a bit of a romanticist, and desires a better life; a life of luxury with no money worries. Who doesn’t want that? But as life may have it, the grass is not always greener on the other side.

One can only imagine how thrilled Miranda became when a letter is received by her mother from a distant cousin who is a rich land owner. The letter asks that one of the Wells daughters be sent to Dragonwyck, a mansion on the Hudson River.

Miranda is chosen to go and meets her most eccentric cousin, Nicholas Van Ryn played eerily by Vincent Price. She salivates when she sees all the opulence and abundance. She is captivated, spellbound, and lured. But so is Nicholas, he falls for beautiful Miranda from the moment he sees her. Miranda meets the rest of this eccentric family, his daughter Katrine, and his gluttonous wife. Miranda spends a lot time with Katrine, a melancholic child, who quite clearly is a product of her pathetic, icy parents.

Miranda soon discovers that Nicholas is a pitiless landowner who mistreats his tenants. The tenants hate Nicholas and soon let him know it. A revolt looms, but that does not stop Nicholas or Miranda. Nicholas begins to plot a way out of his marriage and Miranda overlooks Nicholas’ cruelty and falls in love with him, ah, more like, with his money.

Nicholas mistreats his wife; he is disgusted with her and wants Miranda bad. He spends hours in a room in the upper part of the house. His wife fruitlessly begs him for his love. The more she begs, the more he hates her. Nicholas surprises her one day when he begins to treat her well, and tells her he wants to spend time with her, and even brings her his favorite plant, an Oleander. He indulges her and gives her cake, her favorite. That night his wife dies. Nicholas cleverly murders his wife with poison and gets away with it.

The same night his wife died he meets Miranda in her bedroom and tells her he was never happy with his wife who never gave him a son to inherit his land and wealth. Miranda admits she too loves him. Nicholas marries Miranda and all seems happy for a while. He returns from a business trip and meets a maid Miranda has hired, Peggy O’Malley, a woman he calls a “lame creature,” and “cripple.” It would be the one of the many horrible outbursts she’d see in Nicholas. His true colors shine through and through. Miranda is shocked and expresses her disappointment. They quarrel and despite the fury Nicholas feels, he has a bi-polar moment when Miranda tells him she is pregnant, his mood quickly changes to bliss.

The baby is born, a son, and soon after dies. This throws Nicholas over the edge. The laws have changed for the tenants as well; they now can buy the land they have toiled, this stripping Nicholas of his historic rights. He continues to spend hours upon hours in the upper room. Miranda surprises him in the upper room and discovers he has been using drugs, and has become a drug addict. Yes folks drugs existed back in the day, the drug of choice in the 1800’s were Opium and Morphine.

He soon plots to murder Miranda as he did his first wife. This time he is discovered before he can act. Miranda leaves the house in total horror and disbelief. Nicholas is later killed while being arrested for the murder of his 1^st wife. Miranda packs a few belongings and returns to Greenwich and realizes you can’t marry a dream. One can daydream, but its ok if dreams aren’t realized; after all, there might be a reason and purpose all dreams are not.

Peg Entwistle's Final Act

2008-08-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

Why would a beautiful young actress jump from the Hollywood sign back in 1932? Who was this actress? If you’ve ever seen the movie “Thirteen Women,” (1932) you may have spotted her in some short scenes. The movie, a thriller revolving around Astrology, revenge, and with a mostly women cast was a total flop. It is what happened after this movie that caused a 24-year-old Peg Entwistle to leap from this sign which at the time still read “Hollywoodland.”

This actress had a series of tragedies early in life, which in my opinion, led to her eventual suicide. She lost her father shortly after immigrating to the US from Wales and was left destitute. She managed to star in a few Broadway shows to support herself. The depression came and people did not go to Broadway to watch shows. She decides to head West to Hollywood to try the movies. She landed a role in the movie “Thirteen Women.”

Around this time Peg began to drink heavily. The movie got horrible reviews and negative feedbacks from test screenings. RKO did not renew her contract and in fact, it is rumored, that they didn’t even invite her to the premier of the movie!

Peg Entwistle told her uncle on the night of the premier that she needed to go for a walk. It would be her last walk. She headed to the 50-foot Hollywood sign. She neatly folded her coat, shoes, and handbag and placed them on the ground; she then climbed a ladder of the “H” and jumped to her death. Her body was found 2 days later. The ironic thing about this is that on the day she was found, a letter arrived offering Peg a lead role in a stage production. Her character in the play would have committed suicide in the final act!

Her suicide note read "I am afraid, I am a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this a long time ago, it would have saved a lot of pain. P.E." She had expressed to her uncle her disappointment at not being able to impress the studios days before her death. Hollywood is a hard place to stand out in the crowd, then and now. I love classic film and film stars, but I got to say it looks all glitzy, but “all that glitters isn’t gold.” Can you imagine what it was for these stars? The competition, the constant striving to be the best, and the fight against aging just to name a few, must be a living nightmare. Some people in Hollywood can take the letdown, while others are completely destroyed. It’s self-worship in my eyes and that is a sad place to be in.

Hollywood real life is a series of tragic movies being played out 3-D to the amazement of the world. It’s a movie within a movie, but the actors and stories are all too real. I guess the life in Hollywood is really different than living a regular life, an ordinary life like ours. But I take my ordinary life over the tinsel town’s life any day.

AH! Grave Robbers Are Coming!

2008-07-28T07:42:00.000-07:00

"Plan 9 From Outer Space," (1959) is a typical, cheesy, campy sci-fi movie from the 50’s, but very entertaining if only to crack up at Criswell's opening monologue. Ah! grave robbers from outer space!" I just had to share this funny review from The Independent. I think you will get the picture.

“The phenomenally popular cult classic, immortalised in celluloid by the celebrated writer, producer and director Edward D. Wood Jr."

“It's all here, the infamous not-so-special effects, as aliens in car-hop outfits invade Earth in paper flying saucers to implement the ninth plan of conquest (the first eight failed.) “

“An army of zombies, Vampira, Tor Johnson and the legendary Bela Lugosi in his "after death" performance, menace the world, (Lugosi died five months after filming started, so a local chiropractor took on the difficult Lugosi role).” Ha, Ha!!!! [source The Independent]

Download movie for free here.

Production-Code Didn't Stop Hollywood

2008-07-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the FBI’s 100^th anniversary, TCM will be featuring pre-code movie “G-man,” on Thursday, July 24^th with Jimmy Cagney playing the lead G-man who catches crooks. This was a different role for Jimmy. Before this role he played roles on the other side, violent crooks like in “Public Enemy,” (1931). So why were the roles reversed? The Production Code Standards had just been enacted, but the masses still wanted juicy stuff during the depression, and Hollywood had to figure out how to do that without violating the Code.

Here was their chance to still show violence, and all kinds of vice, and come out smelling like a rose. Although these movies had a good mix of “sin” and violence, there was a good guy getting the bad guys. And that is all that mattered to the Production Code people. Somehow all the vice was overlooked because a hero was ridding the world of scum. Talk about a win-win situation. The Hayes office and the audiences were happy, and Hollywood was raking in the dough.

The world loved Cagney on the other side. Somehow Cagney had the power to keep audiences captivated either way. But I get the impression that he was more loved when he went to the other side. Only Cagney could pull that one off. Will Rodgers once said, "Every time I see him work, it looks to me like a bunch of firecrackers going off." That about sums up Cagney!

But the movie sounds like a gem. Cagney plays a G-man who is put through law school with the help of a gangster. The gangster ends up killing Cagney’s friend who happens to be an FBI agent. Cagney decides to join the FBI and goes after the villains including the one who put him through school. The movie has realistic crime scenes that will send chills down your spine. In fact, in one of the scenes with Cagney getting shot at, real bullets were used!

I am just amazed at how Hollywood was able to take something as the Production Code and used it to their advantage…ingenious indeed.

Classic Musicals On Large Screen

2008-07-21T05:12:00.000-07:00

"On The Town" (1949)

How would you like to see the classic musicals on a large screen? These movies were meant to be seen on a large screen. I don’t think anyone can get the full experience until they’ve seen movies like "Singin' in the Rain," "Top Hat," "An American in Paris," and my favorite "On the Town,” on a large screen.

Well, if you live in or around Sarasota, FL, you just might get the golden opportunity to see these gems on a large screen. The John and Mable Ringling Museum and the Sarasota Film Festival series presents "A Summer of Song: The Great Cinematic Musicals."

On the opening night last week, "Singin' in the Rain," brought in a good group of movie-goers, said Dwight Currie, the museum's curator of theater programming.” They are hoping that not only will the older generations enjoy this, but the younger ones as well.

“Many of the films scheduled are kid-friendly, providing an opportunity for youths to see the films of yesteryear in a movie-theater setting they are familiar with - minus the popcorn and drinks, though.” "I just hope parents take the opportunity to get their kids in to see it," Currie said. "To see these films as they were meant to be - it's a great opportunity. And it's fun."

As classic movie fans we can appreciate the value of this opportunity. Many, however, have no idea of what a classic movie is. This would be a good way to bring in a new crop of people so to speak, and educate them about classic film. Classic film in my mind, is not only entertaining, they are also historical, and can tell us a lot about the past, present, and yes, the future. I hope like Currie, that parents will take advantage of this “golden” opportunity. Visit Bradenton.com for the full article, and movie schedule.

[source: bradenton.com]

Scarlett O'Hara's Sister Dies

2008-07-15T15:56:00.001-07:00

Actress and writer Evelyn Keyes, who played Scarlett O'Hara's younger sister Suellen in "Gone With the Wind" died at age 91 on July 4^th. If you don’t really know or remember her it’s because she mainly played “b” parts in movies. Her personal life was more Academy Award winning stuff. She had turbulent marriages to John Huston, band leader Artie Shaw and Charles Vidor. She lived with the flamboyant producer Mike Todd for three years during his preparation and filming of "Around the World in 80 Days." She played a cameo role in the movie and helped on publicity. He later called her from Caracas with this line "Listen, I have to tell you. I've fallen in love with Elizabeth (Taylor)." Hollywood who can figure them out? She definitely gave the tabloids juicy, juicy stuff.

Keyes gives an honest account of her love affairs and life in Hollywood in her book "Scarlett O'Hara's Younger Sister." Among her notable roles: as Robert Montgomery's lover in "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" (1941), the Ruby Keeler role as Al Jolson's wife in "The Jolson Story" (1946), and as Dick Powell's wife in "Mrs. Mike" (1949).

She also starred in B pictures that were later praised by movie critics as prime examples of film noir: "Johnny O'Clock" (1947), "The Killer That Stalked New York" (1950), "The Prowler" (1951), "99 River Street" (1953) and "The Big Combo" (1955).

In a 1999 interview she said : "To become a big movie star like Joan Crawford you need to wear blinders and pay single-minded attention to your career. Nobody paid attention to me, including me. I was the original Cinderella girl, looking for the happy ending in the fairy story. But my fantasy prince never came." Rest in peace.

Bette’s Centennial Celebration

2008-07-14T17:36:00.001-07:00

I am back....long and hard June. If you can believe it, I haven't had the chance to sit my butt down and watch a classic film in weeks. Something I do just to de-stress. But I am back and today I thought about Bette Davis. I have a wallpaper on my computer with her and Leslie Howard in the fabulous movie titled "Of Human Bondage." My all time favorite movie.

Bette Davis would have turned 100 this past April, and in celebration of her 100th a theater in Massachusetts is having a Bette Davis film fest.

The Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, Mass is known for showing the best in classic, cutting-edge, foreign, and art-house films. Wow, what a way to celebrate this great actress' legendary career. It must have been very difficult to make the choice of what movies to show. The theatre has chosen to show several of her movies. Including:

“All About Eve” (1950)---no one can play Margo like Bette did!

“Three on a Match” (1932)—Bette in her pre-code tough sister role

“Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” (1961)—Ugh, this was a campy one, but Bette played the evil, aging actress, to the hilt!

“The Whales of August” (1987)—never seen this one, but it’s one her last roles which also starred other classic film stars like Lillian Gish, Vincent Price, and Ann Sothern. Got to try to catch this one some time, it “is a rarely screened and subtly composed gem.”

The Letter (1940)---Bette plays an adulterous wife who kills her lover. One of her best roles ever.

Many, many other movies will be featured. This is sure to be a treat for classic movie fans. Imagine seeing Bette in all her glory on a large silver screen. It must be awesome.

Sophisticated and Lovely Cyd Charisse Dies At age 86

2008-06-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

Cyd Charisse dancer and actress passed away Tuesday, June 17 at age 86 from a heart attack.

Cyd Charisse was said to have changed dancing in Hollywood with her sensual looks and moves. She was to dance what Marilyn Monroe was to movies so to speak. I loved her most in "Singin in the Rain," opposite gorgeous Gene Kelly. How can we ever forget the "steamy" ballet scene in the film with her and Kelly?

All the good ones are leaving us, how sad.... Rest in peace.

Gene Tierney's Misery

2008-06-18T16:22:00.001-07:00

"Wealth, beauty, and fame are transient. When those are gone, little is left except the need to be useful." Gene Tierney

Gene Tierney was by far one of the most beautiful classic movie stars. Did you know she suffered greatly from mental illness? It is said that it was Humphrey Bogart who discovered how really bad Gene was doing mentally on the set of "The Left Hand of God," (1953). It was Bogart who encouraged her to seek professional help. After filming she was admitted to Harkness Pavillion in New York. She was then institutionalized and given shock treatments. She hated it, and soon tried to escape the asylum, but was later caught.

She tried to commit suicide in 1957 by the worse method possible, jumping off a ledge. She was caught before she had the chance to do away with herself. It is said she had bipolar disorder which was triggered when she had her first child who was born severely handicapped.

Tierney was a close friend of Howard Hughes, who is also rumored to have had mental issues himself. He however took care of her and her daughter during those tumultuous years.

Gene Tierney is rumored to have had affairs with Howard Hughes, John F. Kennedy, and Tyrone Power. Gene's quote above speaks volumes. Here was a woman with what we may think had everything. But when Gene put her head down on her pillow, it was all a vast world of emptiness. Funny, but sometimes when I see her movies, I can almost see the sadness and mental anguish in her roles, like in "Leave Her to Heaven," 1945.

Clint Eastwood’s Rebuttal

2008-06-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

I was wondering when Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood) was going to contest Spike Lee’s accusation of, well, racism. In an article at guardian.co.uk , Eastwood said, in a Dirty Harryesque way, about Spike Lee’s comments, "A guy like him should shut his face." I second that.

In this article Eastwood speaks of his controversial (for Liberals anyway), Dirty Harry movies. The comments from the left went as far as calling the movie “fascist.” Did these outrageous comments stop Eastwood? No, he felt there “had been enough politically correct crap going around.” And so he kept on with the Dirty Harry series. All of which people love and watch over and over again.

He makes it very clear, he is not a racist, but a good director who will tell the story using facts and not Hollywood fantasy, or fiction. He will not enter the world of pandering either. There is no making Spike happy, even when Eastwood did a movie about a black composer, Charlie Parker (Bird), Spike complained about that. Spike said (boo-hoo), “Why would a white guy be doing that?” Eastwood: “I was the only guy who made it, that’s why.” The epitome of the cliché “dam if you do, dam if you don’t.”

You know here is my take on this whole stuff, Spike should concentrate on making good movies, and stop making outrageous statements, which only perpetuates the race issue. This type of talk makes me feel we are still in the hype of the civil rights movements of the 60’s. Hasn’t America made tremendous strides in race issues? You may argue that we have a ways to go, but we have moved forward, haven’t we? This type of talk takes us backwards, not forward.

Eastwood is an artist who makes his points of view quite obvious in his movies. He doesn’t care who gets offended. He is gifted and talented, and as such he will tell the story as it was, and not the way anyone thinks it should’ve been. That is fantasy land. If Lee chooses to have a gripe with anyone, it should be with history and not Eastwood. Things happened in the past, ugly things, which can't be changed.

Eastwood is not losing any sleep over Lee’s comments. According to the article, Eastwood is going to be working on a movie about Nelson Mandela. When asked if he would be “sticking with historical record on this film,” he laughed, and said, “Yeah, I’m not going to make Nelson Mandela a white guy.” What now Spike?

Sophia Loren TCM's Star of the Month

2008-06-04T04:20:00.000-07:00

I have always loved Sophia Loren. I found her to be not only beautiful, but funny, witty, and a talented actress. The one movie I will never forget with her in the starring and Oscar winning role, is “Two Women.” The movie tells the story of a widow and her 14-year-old daughter during WW II in Italy. The movie showed the world the horrors of war 3-D.

I read this interview with her in the LA Times, and her answers to the questions are not surprising. She is everything I’ve always imagined her to be. TCM will show her movies starting tonight and every Wednesday this month. Visit TCM.com for schedule.

If you can’t see them all, be sure not to miss “Two Women.” Sophia will knock you out!

Dirty Harry Criticized!

2008-05-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

Spike Lee criticized legendary actor and director Clint Eastwood for not depicting blacks in both his world war II films, "Flags of Our fathers," and "Letters From Iwo Jima." He came short of calling Eastwood a racist.

Here are the facts according to Wikipedia there were about 900 black soldiers in Iwo Jima, accounting for about .8% of the total American soldiers. The platoons were segregated. As far as I am concerned, Eastwood's version of story is quite accurate. If Eastwood had black soldiers fighting along side white ones in the movie, it would've been historically incorrect. Should he do it for the sake of appeasing others? I am Latina, my grand uncle fought in WW II, do you see Latinos demanding Eastwood also include Latinos in the movie?

Enough of this political correctness people. Let directors tell the story and stop asking them to enter the realm of pandering. I think this is Spike's way of getting some publicity for his upcoming film. Spike get a life and leave dirty Harry alone.

My Love Affair With TCM

2008-05-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

Why do you love Turner Classic Movie Channel? See why this blogger from tvsquad.com thinks TCM is the best thing since pizza and beer!

I remember when I lived in NYC I had to wait until Friday nights to watch a classic movie on PBS, that was a treat. When I finally got cable I’d watch hours on American Movie Classic channel before they ruined it with commercials and awful movies. How dare they call movies like “Halloween,” classic? I digress... I’d go between AMC and TCM, it was hard making chooses about what to watch. Thank God for TiVo!

I’ve been watching TCM for many years and I have many of the same reasons this blogger has for watching as fanatically as I do. In a nutshell here are the reasons:

1.Lots and lots of movies to choose from

2.They have an interactive web site, and it keeps the fans well informed on “what’s playing,” and a plethora of information on anything classic film.

3.Robert Osborne, ah yes, Osborne, he is a class act and I couldn’t imagine TCM without him. A walking encyclopedia and an icon.

4. Uncut and commercial free. Political correctness is non-existent. They show all classic movies the way they were produced and it doesn’t matter who gets offended today. Talk about artistic freedom!

5.Add-ons, it isn’t just the movies, it’s also all the add-ons like film history, documentaries, to name just a couple.

Visit tvsquad.com to read the entire article. Why do you love TCM?

Classic Cartoon The Flintstones Promoted Smoking

2008-05-19T12:28:00.000-07:00

This totally freaked me out. See this 1950's commercial with The Flintstones promoting cigarette smoking. Can you imagine a cartoon today pushing Cigarette smoking? Apparently, it wasn't a problem back in the fifties.

Ah, but notice how they let the ladies do "men's work," while they puffed away. I guess some things were moving forward. I wonder how many kids started to smoke on account of Fred and Barney? The 50's were strange times indeed.

1936’s Marijuana: Requiem For A Dream

2008-05-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

There is nothing new under the sun. History did not start when I was born. These are the thoughts that ran through my head as I watched “Marijuana” (1936) also known as “Marijuana-The Devil’s Weed.”

Circa 1930’s at the height of Prohibition, a group of teenagers frequent a jazz club, where illicit drinking and other vices occur each night. A couple of drug dealers notice the teenagers drinking and decide to introduce them to the drug Marijuana. The thugs know that when they are young, they are too stupid to know, and “easy to hook.”

At one of these drinking parties, the drug dealers add “Reefer” cigarettes in a cigarette case, and the unaware teenagers smoke these “funny looking cigarettes.” Instantly, the gals begin to giggle at everything, lose their inhibitions, and get into all kinds of trouble. It turns out that one of the gals is so, to use the term of the day, “tight” that she completely undresses and decides to go for a swim. The others follow. They undress and swim in the buff. They all return to the club and realize that one of them is missing. She has drowned and the drug dealers tell them they must all keep this on the down low.

Meanwhile, two other kids lose their inhibitions in this jazz club and make love on the beach. The girl (Harley Wood) is only seventeen and gets pregnant. The boy is all of nineteen. When she tells him she is pregnant, he gets desperate and works for the drug dealers to only later lose his life. The young girl comes from a genteel family and in those days, unwed mothers were completely immoral and a disgrace. It would completely ruin the family. She decides to run away with the drug dealers who offer her an escape. She has her baby out of town and gives it up for adoption. She becomes hooked on heavier drugs like Heroine. She becomes more criminally minded than her teachers the drug dealers. She now runs the show. She deals dope, takes dope, and plans to kidnap for ransom her own sister’s child. Drugs have taken over her life.

The child is kidnapped and a meeting place is arranged for the exchange of money. When she gets there, she throws the child’s coat to the child’s father to prove to him that in fact she has his child. She demands the money, 50 G’s, and he refuses to pay. She can’t believe his defiance, but he continues to tell her that the child is not his. The child is his wife’s sister’s child. She almost passes out because she realizes that the child is hers, the one she gave up for adoption. She runs back to her drug dealing friends for refuge. But the cops are already there waiting to arrest her. Before she enters the apartment she shoots up dope, and swallows other drugs. She didn’t want to live anymore.

In this very eerie scene you see her slowly walk, ghostly like, into the apartment, losing her balance, and giving up her last breath. She dies in the arms of the very men that started her off this awful path.

Many call these types of films of the 30’s propaganda films. The war against drugs started way before we heard it from Nancy Reagan in the “just say no,” campaign. In the 30’s the public believed that Marijuana caused insanity, criminality, and death. And to a degree it does. The government passed all kinds of laws at the time to curtail the use, but as we all know, it was all futile. The drug problems only worsen with time.

These films were a little exaggerated, but it must’ve scared the living day lights out of people. This pre-code film was very real, and it totally surprised me. I didn’t expect to see all of this in a 1930’s film, and I’ve seen many pre-code films. The movie reminded me of the more recent film "Requiem To A Dream." It showed the world what drugs can do to people, and how it can change your life forever. And the way I see it, if it stopped one kid from becoming a dope addict it was all worth it. We still see the horrible affects of drugs on people and society. Can we really win the war on drugs? While we have demand, the supply is endless. The war on drugs is truly “a quagmire.”

The Red Balloon Remake

2008-05-05T17:48:00.000-07:00

I remember being a kid in school and watching Albert Lamorisse's 1956 French short, "The Red Balloon.” Ah, I can still hear the projector reeling in magic into my heart. If you didn’t go to school back in the sixties and seventies you probably don’t even know what I am talking about.

The film tells a story of a little boy who becomes friends with a balloon, trains it, and the balloon takes on a life of its own. It becomes his friend, it follows him everywhere like a little dog, and it plays with the boy in the pretty streets of Paris. The balloon even warns him of danger, and helps him escape from a gang of bullies who want to destroy the balloon.

For a while the balloon manages to escape the gang of bullies, but eventually the balloon is caught and destroyed. I remember crying in this scene along with my classmates. All of sudden an army of colorful balloons appear in the skies and take the boy away to the heavens...Away from all harm. Our school auditorium was filled with children clapping and stomping in celebration. Our tears became joy in an instant.

I must’ve seen this film a couple of times as a child and what an impression it made on me. A new movie titled “Flight of the Red Balloon,” is now out and from what I can understand it’s not really a re-make, but an “homage” to the beloved movie. I don’t know, but my feeling on this is, just leave classic film alone. Why ruin a good thing? Click here to read about the new film. Have you ever seen this classic film?

Were Women Stronger in Pre-code Film?

2008-04-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

Ann Dvorak

One of the things I love most about pre-code movies is how real women were portrayed. Not all of it was good, but real nonetheless. Heat Lightening (1933) with Aline Macmahon and Ann Dvorak is a gem. Two sisters run a gas station/auto repair shop in the middle of the dessert at the Mexican border in California. Olga (Macmahon) is an auto mechanic and when it comes to men, she’s been jaded, and so she is very distrusting. Her younger sister Myra, played by Dvorak is just dying to taste life, but Olga keeps her on a tight leash.

Two losers killed a cashier and are on the run to the Mexican Border. They come across Olga’s gas station and decide to kill some time there. One of the losers, George, played by Preston Foster, recognizes Olga. George and Olga used to be lovers. George knows Olga very well. It turns out she wasn’t always a plain Jane with greasy, dirty hands. In fact, she was a beautiful cabaret dancer in her day. Olga decides to trade in her overalls for a beautiful dress to prove to George that she still “has it.” Actually, I think she was trying to prove it to herself. Long have been the days and nights in the dessert.

Two very rich divorcées drop by the station with car problems and decide to stay the night. George notices their jewels and realizes they have “dough” and decide to stay the night so as to steal the jewelry from the safe. He plans to seduce Olga while his crony steals the jewelry. He sleeps with Olga, and while this went on, baby sister Myra makes a run for the door to meet a guy she has fallen in love with.

Myra returns used by her boyfriend who no longer wants her. She catches George sneaking out of her sister’s room and realizes what has gone on. Distraught and confused she sits on a chair in her bedroom. Olga walks in to the room and indignantly reprimands her sister for what she has done. But Myra confronts her about her own “sinful” ways, and just rubs it in her face. Olga realizes she has no right to ask of her sister, what she herself is not able to do. She leaves the room, and overhears a conversation with the losers trying to break into the safe. She hears it all, how George used her just to get the jewelry.

A distressed Olga can’t take the pressure, gets a gun and shoots George dead. The character of Olga was that of an unemotional woman. A woman that had been jaded, and once again tried to get love, and was betrayed. It was as if she was in a spell for many years, until George came in to her life and snapped her out it, only to shove her back. Only this time, Olga was going to let her lack of emotion work for her. Olga knew very well she had many faults, but wanted to spare here baby sister the heartache and pain she had endured.

I was impressed with Olga’s “life goes on,” attitude after experiencing all of this. She realized she couldn’t have any emotions if she was going to survive. She was strong, determined, and powerful even after George.

Brigitte Bardot On Trial

2008-04-17T18:16:00.001-07:00

Classic movie star, model, turned animal activist, Brigitte Bardot is on trial in France for allegedly “inciting anti-Muslim hatred.” What do I have to say about this? Socialism...you got to love it. We may not agree with what she thinks and feels, but she should have the right to say it, don’t you think? What would they have done to Reverend Jeremiah Wright in France? Let’s go a step further, what if Brigitte spoke against Christians; would it cause such a stir? Hmm…

Thank God I live in America!

Why Do You Watch Classic Film?

2008-04-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

I read this article titled “Life Should be Like Old Movies.” I had to think about why I watched classic film. It’s funny, but each time I watch a classic it’s like a ritual for me. I set time aside so as not to miss anything and watch the movie as if it were a poem come to life. I don’t just watch a movie, I analyze everything about it.

I like all the warm and fuzzy feelings I get when I watch these movies. I had to think after reading this article about why these films do this to me. Like the writer of this article, I love these films not so much because they’re old movies, I love them because of where they take me. They take me to a “gentler” time. A time of no cell phones, computers, and voices beckoning “a million smart, enticing, empty theories on what the good life really is...” To a time when kids were kids playing stick ball, marbles, just being kids. And parents were sort of in the shadows, but always “steadily there, always watching,” they loved their kids, but knew that kids had their world and needed their space.

Classic film takes me to a time when family meant something. Random acts of kindness were widespread. They take me to time when America was strong and united. They take me to a time when integrity, decency, and honor were attributes of a great person, a hero.

“ Movies have always been a large-screen mirror that reflects our society back to us –gentle society, gentle movies.” "Crass society, crass movies.” Just watch today’s movies and you get the point. Classic film portrayed society as it was with a few exceptions. Of course, we know that Hollywood will embellish for the sake of drama or to just push their agenda. However, old Hollywood did things a lot differently back in the day. When they made films there was a sense of duty and responsibility to society. Classic Hollywood worked very hard to portray life as it was at the time. And if you do some research on the generations of those days, I would say it portrayed it quite accurately.

So when I watch classic film, I too “long for the lost society they portray.” Why do you love classic film?

At the movies with Hillary - Viewpoint

2008-04-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

Recently Hillary Clinton compared herself to Rocky Balboa the character of the classic movie "Rocky." I thought, huh? Doesn't she know the ending of the movie? Rocky lost to Apollo Creed, a black boxer. Is she predicting her doom? Dah Hilliary... Read this most interesting article on Hilliary At the movies with Hillary - Viewpoint

A Tribute To Charlton Heston...

2008-04-06T15:17:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to the sad news of Charlton Heston’s passing. I thought about all the movies I’ve seen with him and picked out my absolute favorite. I remember when I first saw “The Planet of the Apes,” (1968) and the scene which impress me most. In the movie George Taylor the astronaut (Charlton Heston) lands on earth years into the future to find that man was the beast and apes were the rulers. And I remember how angry I felt that “man” was treated so harshly by the apes. And how proud I felt when George Taylor finally opens his mouth to Dr. Zira’s amazement and delight. The famous line which I never will forget… "Take your stinking paws off of me, you dam dirty ape!”

In Tribute to the legendary actor and true blue American Charlton Heston, below is the clip of the movie which made us think about the future of man and our planet in a big way. Rest in peace…

Samuel Goldwyn's Advice To Hollywood

2008-04-05T06:18:00.000-07:00

OK I am going to go on a political rant…I watched the O’Reilly Factor last night, (please do not stone me) and he had a segment on how Hollywood is producing movies that are Anti-anything American.

O'Reilly quoted from a letter written by Samuel Goldwyn to one of his producers on November 9, 1961… “I feel we each must execute today a higher degree of self-discipline, and self-censorship than ever before. We should never lose sight of the fact that no matter how entertaining a picture may be or how much money it may make, it can do our country a great deal of harm if it plays into the hands of our enemies.”

Whatever happened to responsible thinking like this? Does Hollywood even care how dangerous their movies are “in the hands of our enemies?” Whatever happened to producers, and actors that fought for the greater good of America? Stars like Jimmy Stewart who earned numerous medals for bombing Germans in WWII. Clark Gable, Charles Durning, Lee Marvin, and Charles Bronson just to name a few fought. Today the USO can’t even get stars to perform for the soldiers. What on earth has happened to us? Whatever happened to movies that made Americans proud?

Today’s Hollywood in my eyes most definitely has an agenda when they invest millions of dollars producing sub-par anti anything American movies and make absolutely no money, in fact they lose money. Movies like “Redacted,” (which by-the-way billionaire Mark Cuban spent 5 million dollars making it, and the flop grosses $65,000) “Lions and Lambs,” and others like this are losing big time. Why are these movies flops? Well, maybe just maybe Americans don’t want to see our troops portrayed as savages. Maybe they believe that although America has many faults, we are still a good country. A country the world looks up to in times of crisis.

Yes, maybe the Iraq thing could’ve been done differently and some Americans are discouraged with no clear end in sight. But does that mean that we should turn on our own country? Although Iraq is disheartening to many, aren’t we happy that an evil man like Saddam Hussein is no longer breathing the same air we breathe? Isn’t it good to know that many Iraqi citizens although struggling are happier without a tyrant like Saddam? We cannot doubt for a moment that things are better in Iraq today than they were in 2001. And yes it has cost us big time in life and money. But do we turn our backs on those that have sacrificed their very lives now?

I concur with Bill O’Reilly “There is a difference between loyal dissent, a good thing, and trying to make your country look bad. You, Hollywood people, often do the latter. And the folks know it. So, please stop.” [source billoreilly.com]

Thou Shalt Not...Pre-Code Hollywood Forbidden Collection Vol 2

2008-03-27T04:10:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Forbidden Collection Vol. 2 has been released. This DVD set has 5 other controversial (for the day) pre-code movies. It has 2 of my very own favorites.

The DVD also has a documentary on pre-code movies titled “Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin, and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood.” And although, these films are dated they still shock, stun, titillate us.

"The Divorcee" (1930), with Norma Shearer;

"A Free Soul" (1931), with Lionel Barrymore and Clark Gable;

"Three on a Match" (1932), with Bette Davis, Joan Blondell and Ann Dvorak;

"Female" (1933), with Ruth Chatterton;

"Night Nurse" (1931), with Barbara Stanwyck;

The movies are restored, and re-mastered. I’ve seen each and every one of these films, but my absolute favorite are the ones with Norma Shearer, “The Divorcee” totally blew me away, and if it did that to me, what did it do to the audience of the day? In this film she plays a wife who catches her husband in an affair. Norma’s character decides to apply the “eye for an eye,” law. To teach her husband a lesson she embarks on numerous love affairs. She takes the infidelity a step further, eventually leading her to self-destruction.

“A Free Soul,” Norma plays opposite Clark Gable and Lionel Barrymore. The movie exposes the dark side of human beings without any apologies. In the end the bad guy gets it all and all his sins go unpunished.

The others are just as good and controversial for the day, but I have to single out the two above. Norma Shearer was the quintessential pre-code diva. The DVD Set is worth every dime.

Richard Widmark Dies At Age 93

2008-03-26T15:28:00.000-07:00

Legendary actor Richard Widmark died at age 93 on Monday 3/24. I remember Widmark for the eerie role he played in the 1947 thriller “Kiss of Death.” The most unforgettable scene in this film is the one where he ties up an old lady to a wheelchair and just throws her down the stairs as he malevolently cracks up. It is the most realistic role of a psychotic I’ve ever seen anyone play. Film critics described Widmark's performance in the film as one of the scariest ever seen on screen. It is memorable indeed, a role which made him a star overnight, and earned him an Oscar nomination.

Early on in his career he was pretty much type casted. He later branched out to other roles, but I think most fans remember him most for his tough guy roles. I heard it once said that he was a close friend of Sydney Poitier. They were both in a film that tackled the day’s race issues, 1950 “No Way Out.” In the film, Widmark played a bigot and used harsh racial slurs. It is said that he had a hard time playing this role. He felt sick inside when he had to read those lines.

That tells me a lot about Widmark. It tells me that he truly was an actor and a good person. He played his roles so well, so much so that he made us believe that Tommy Udo in "Kiss of Death" really existed, and that bigots like Ray Biddie in “No Way Out,” were heartless, ruthless and that the madness had to stop. Only a good actor can do that. It just crushes my heart that we are losing all the great ones… Richard Widmark, gone, but never forgotten.

The Dark Side Of Human Nature

2008-03-16T16:31:00.000-07:00

The Visit a 1964 movie starring legendary actors Anthony Quinn and Ingrid Bergman is a intriguing movie. The movie blends all the ingredients of the dark side of human nature: greed, revenge and corruption. If you want to know the meaning of the cliché “money can buy anything,” this is the movie to watch. It will bring anyone that watches it to their knees. It’s the kind of movie that makes you think of what human beings are capable of, all humans.

Karla Zachanassian played to the hilt by Ingrid Bergman is the world’s richest woman. She returns to her birthplace, a poor, European town called Guellen. The town is having a depression when she visits, and it is the hopes of Guellen’s inhabitants that Karla will bail them out. They prepare for her visit as if God Himself was arriving. The red carpet treatment is an understatement. She arrives ahead of schedule and the town is caught off guard. When she gets off the train she seems cross, distant, cold, like a volcano that wanted to erupt on the whole town. Hundreds of the townspeople run to the railroad to greet her, but when they see her they are afraid to even approach her. They reminded me of what the Indians must’ve looked like when Columbus landed in the New World. She finally smiles and the town loosens up. She arrived with her bodyguards and her pet panther.

Karla greets the people and in the crowd she notices Serg, powerfully played by Anthony Quinn. Serg used to be her lover when she was 17. She reminds Serg of the passionate love they shared and even points out the pet names they had for each other, his being “Panther.” The conversation is a little unsettling for Serg, but he goes along with it after all he’s got to kiss up to her to get the money for the dying town.

During a banquet in Karla’s honor, Karla shocks the people by offering them 2 million dollars under one condition. They must execute Serg. She explains that when Serg was her lover, she got pregnant, and to get out of his responsibilities, he bribed two men and others to testify that Karla was a whore who slept with anyone in town. The town believed the rumors and ran Karla out of town. Karla had her child; the child was taken away from her, and died a year later. With no other choice Karla was forced to get into prostitution. She later marries a rich man.

At first the town was enraged with her request and thought she was joking. But Karla was not joking. Karla must get the town to side with her. Karla sends for alluring items for the townspeople. She wets their appetites with materialism and even offers credit, “buy now, and pay later.” The sort of thing that has gotten a lot people in trouble for ages. The town could not resist these tasty morsels and slowly turned on Serg and did whatever Karla wanted, yes, even murder. After all money can buy anything, even justice if need be. Serg is like a trapped animal in the town; he is ostracized, and terrorized by the citizens of Guellen. He tries to escape, but the citizens of Guellen have become lust-blinded monsters and stop him. He is their meal ticket.

Finallly Serg is forced to stand trial and he is officially sentenced to death. The day of the execution Karla announces that she will free Serg if one person thinks his sentence is unjust, but no one speaks out. Karla decides to free Serg anyway. Her revenge? Serg will have to live with the very people that try to kill him for money. It is as if Karla had a great big mirror and showed the townspeople “the man in the mirror,” an ugly reflection. These were normal people going through life just like you and me. They knew each other, they played together, did all things together. And one day like an ominous spirit, Karla, a woman filled with hate and bitterness arrives and shows them who they really are inside. Human beings are capable of anything for money. The power that comes from money can make a man hateful, murderous, and can collapse of the very foundation of morality. A powerful movie indeed. If you’ve not seen it, you must.

Pre-Code Movie Lilly Turner

2008-03-08T06:33:00.000-08:00

"Lilly Turner" a 1933 pre-code movie starring the legendary Ruth Chatterton is a typical “depression” era movie. “Prepossessing” Ruth Chatterton plays Lilly Turner, a wronged woman, living through life as if just existing. Lilly Turner is an attraction in a side show. She meets a flamboyant magician who marries her. He skips town when he finds out Lilly is going have his child. What a loser... To add insult to injury his real wife shows up and informs Lilly he is a bigamist! Lilly freaks out because she is having a baby without a husband. Loyal friend Dave played with much melancholy by Frank McHugh offers to marry Lilly just to give the baby a name. Lilly accepts his offer to her doom. Dave is a drunk, and a unable to hold a job. Lilly's baby dies and she is stuck with the sad drunk. Law of reciprocity rules.

She is forced to work for a snake oil quack, Doc McGill played by Guy Kibbee, who claims he has the cure to all ills. Lily goes on day by day in a drab existence. This existence pushes her to go through a number of empty love affairs until she meets Bob Chandler played by George Brent as only Brent can play. By-the-way Brent was Chatterton's real life, much younger husband. It lasted all of 2 years...but I digress. As life would have it especially in pre-code movies, Lilly Turner isn't going to get off that easy. She must suffer. Why is it that pre-code movies loved to show women suffer? That must have gotten old for the audience.

Lilly and Bob are in love and he has gotten his break to work as an engineer. Bob wants to marry Lilly. Lilly is willing because her marriage to Dave is meaningless. She knew that and so did Dave. One of Lilly's lovers who is in insane asylum escapes and severely injures Lilly's husband Dave. When Dave is injured he asks Lilly to stay with him. She feels she owes him, she can't walk away and she stays. She must let go of the one man who truly loved her.

The movie has funny lines, and typical pre-code sarcasm. The movie was trying to make Dave the drunk seem funny, but I don't think it was funny at all. A man living in a stupor, and constantly in need of whiskey is not funny. Chatterton as Lilly was well done, but I am used to seeing Chatterton in stronger roles. The love scenes with real life husband George Brent are electrifying. The best role in this movie was that of Doc McGill. Guy Kibbee is awesome in this role.

Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" More Than A Horror Film

2008-03-02T17:17:00.000-08:00

I just watched Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 thriller, “Psycho.” Being a classic crime “wannabe” sleuth, as was Hitchcock, this movie has always been very interesting to me. I've watched it a few times and still am captivated, uh, horrified by it. Virtually everything about this movie is amazing, no other film can compare although many have tried to copy it. Hard to believe that this film was done on a budget. The film was nominated for 4 academy awards and I don't think any other horror film will ever achieve that.

Alfred Hitchcock has his main star (Janet Leigh) die half way in the movie and although she is dead for the second half, you can't help but keep her in your mind. I remember when I was in High School, one of my teachers, who was in college when Psycho was released, told me that after seeing this film many women did not take showers! And she wasn't kidding. Even today many of us will have a hard time turning our backs in the shower after seeing this movie. For me, the most frightening thing about the film is the eerie, and ominous, violin music and the murder scene. The dark imagery in the film is unforgettable. The house on the hill, the Bates Motel off some lonely, forgotten and abandoned road, Anthony Perkins nervously looking for words to cover his most atrocious act. It's all unforgettable and will leave a long and lasting impression.

The movie begins with a woman on the run from the law and quickly turns into a horrible story of a sick man who murders her. In a scene before the murder, villain and victim to be, are having a “life” conversation. Ironically it is this very conversation that turns this woman around. She realizes she has done wrong and must turn back to make things right. Her intentions were good, but her fate was sealed.

In the murder scene the camera pans out to the woman reaching out in vain, hanging on to dear life, but instead she gets a hold of a shower curtain which is neatly torn away from it's hooks. The same shower curtain which will be used by the killer to bury her in. The camera continues to pan around the bathtub and woman's body lying dead in a pool of blood . The eerie silence and the camera focusing on her lifeless eyes, made me think how sad it all was for her. How very sad. The bloodied water as it went down the drain, a metaphor of her very life gone down the drain.

All I could think of at the end of the movie is how a woman's hopelessness caused her to cross paths with a killer, a psycho. It all seemed so sad and unfair to me. She didn't get her break after all. So I guess we can say that “Psycho,” isn't all horror, but also, a sad story of a woman who thought that the answers to her problems was running away to an “island,” but what she found instead was a road that led to her destruction.

Sharon Stone's Great Pain

2008-02-24T10:33:00.000-08:00

Sharon Stone said in an interview with an Arab paper, "I feel at great pain when the spotlight is on the death of 4,000 American soldiers, while 600,000 Iraqi deaths are ignored," she said. "War is not a movie, it is a tragedy of dead bodies, victims, the disabled, orphans, widows and the displaced." [source:wibw.com]

Maybe Ms Stone should see a re-run of the 2001 Oscars. “From 2001 (Oscar) - Woody Allen making his first appearance ever at the Academy Awards. He's won Oscars before, he has been nominated many times, especially for writing awards. But yet, he was one of those few who had decided to never show up at the Oscars, even to accept his own awards. But finally, the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and a special invitation by the Academy brought him to Oscar's stage for the first time, and what a moment. He was invited to introduce a film clip retrospective of various films shot in New York City, including his own beautiful tribute to the city, MANHATTAN. It had been a well kept secret that Allen would be appearing, and he arrived on stage to a very warm standing ovation. He then proceeded to give a wonderful comic, self-deprecating, and sincere intro to why he accepted the Academy's invitation this time, and then rolled the film, reminding us of the beauty of a city which had undergone such hell in that terrible year.” [source: oscarworld.net]

And that Ms Stone is why we are in Iraq…for the “tragedy of dead bodies, victims, the disabled, orphans, widows and the displaced,” victims of 9/11! How quickly we forget. Maybe what Ms Stone saw on TV on 9/11 was “a movie,” and not reality. And Hollywood wonders why Oscar viewership drops each year. Try your Basic Instinct act on a terrorist Ms Stone and see if that works.

President Commends Hollywood

2008-02-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

In the 1941 Academy Award Ceremony President Roosevelt gave the starlets a six minute radio address. The president praised Hollywood for its defense fund raising efforts, and even praised filmmakers for promoting the “American way of life,” and “Truths of our democracy.” This was the first and unlikely to ever happen again. Hollywood was a different place in the 40’s than it is today. Can you imagine Hollywood raising funds for the war in Iraq? Can you imagine a Hollywood which actually promotes the “American way of life?” Can you imagine a Hollywood which shows the “truths of our democracy?” Isn’t it all the opposite today in Hollywood?

If a president were to attempt this today, he or she would be stoned, unless of course, the politician defends and protects Hollywood’s agenda. And that my friend is a fact, just take a long hard look at most nominated films, especially those in the documentary category. No doubt about it, the Hollywood of old was much, much different than it is today.

The Longest Oscar Acceptance Speech-Greer Garson

2008-02-09T06:24:00.000-08:00

The Academy has a cap on how long a winner can take on stage when accepting the Oscar. They have a total of 45 seconds! Give me a break, Hollywood is so full of themselves, do you really think 45 seconds will cut it? I suppose they have to squeeze in all the “me, me,” “you love me,” in that little time. And Hollywood being what it is, I am sure they don’t have problem working that out. All have broken the 45 second cap, but not as bad as Greer Garson. Greer Garson didn’t let that 45 second rule stop her. She won Best Actress in 1942 for her role in “Mrs Minniver” and her acceptance speech was clocked at 7 minutes! She is in the Guinness World Records as the longest, and no one has broken her record since.

It is said that Joan Fontaine who presented Ms Greer with the Oscar had to take a seat. Ms Greer went on and on about crazy stuff like the “arbitrary nature of awards,” thanked, and thanked everyone including the ants on the set, no just kidding. But you get the picture. But to her credit, it was 1:00 in the morning when she was called and her first line was “I’m practically unprepared.” Yeah, right. Her speech was so long and boring that the starlets in the audience questioned their very own sanity! It is also said that “WC Fields called tipsily for the deployment of snipers.” Something WC would do.

Needless to say Garson never won an Oscar again. Hum, I wonder why?

When Hollywood United America-Oscar Fact

2008-02-07T13:53:00.001-08:00

Today's Oscar fact will make us feel like, well, losers. Yes, losers, they say that the 1940's generation was the “last great generation.” I have to agree. Harold Russell won best supporting actor in 1947 for his role in “The Best Years of Our Lives,” a heart wrenching, but heart warming story of soldiers which return back home only to fight another battle. You see not only had the war changed them forever, but it changed the world as they knew it. And no one knew this better than real life returning WW II veteran, turned actor, Harold Russell.

Russell was so deeply affected by the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7^th, that he enlisted in the Army December 8th! Talk about pride for one's country. He became an Army instructor and during filming of one of his training films, a defective fuse detonated an explosive he was holding. He lost both his hands and was given hooks to work as hands. He went on to college and while at college he was given a role in a movie called “Diary of a Sergeant,” another movie about veterans in rehabilitation.

He was then given the role of Parrish in the movie “Best Years of Our Lives,” and he won best supporting actor for this role. Before he was given the Oscar that night, they gave him an Honorary Oscar for “bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans.” Actually the Board of Governors came up with this type of award because they really wanted to salute him, and felt he didn't have a chance for the Oscar. How wrong they were! It was the first time the Oscar was awarded twice for the same role.

When he received his Oscar he was given an ovation to remember and it brought tears to his eyes. In 1947 Hollywood and real life came together and the world was touched, and impacted in a powerful way. This is truly a rare Hollywood moment. All political views went out the window, and for one moment America was United in Hollywood.

Grace Kelly's Oscar Facts

2008-02-06T13:03:00.001-08:00

Since TCM is having their annual 31 days of Oscar, I am going to have my 31 days of Oscar facts. I am little late, but better late than never. For the next few days I will try to find out something not widely known to fans about an Oscar winning classic movie.

Today TCM is featuring “Country Girl,” (1954) the sad story of an alcoholic actor/singer trying to make a comeback. Bing Cosby plays the role of the alcoholic, and Grace Kelly plays his frumpy, and depressed wife. It's hard to believe that Edith Head managed to make Grace Kelly look depressed and frumpy. Here are some facts you may not know about:

Grace Kelly's impeccable beauty made it difficult for Edith Head. It was a feat to make this angel look anything but beautiful. It took 24 sweaters before they settled on one that made her look “dowdy”. But that wasn't quite enough, Edith got a drab dress, and big spectacles which were pushed back on Kelly's forehead, a basket of laundry, put her in front of an ironing board and achieved the look of a depressed wife who lost all respect for her husband.

Grace Kelly was having an on again, off again, love affair with William Holden who plays Crosby's friend/manager in the movie. She had just broken off with Crosby and “out of respect” Holden broke up with Kelly for good. Kelly resumed her relationship with Crosby, and he actually wanted to marry her. She didn't marry him. It is said by her sister that Kelly “loved” him, but wasn't “ “in love” with him. Wow, I am still shocked at what Holden did “out of respect.” My, my what a different world it used to be.
It was well known that Crosby had problems with drinking. But now remember, he had to play a drunk, while sober in this movie. Crosby had his sons stay up with him on the night before he had to play the scene where he is blasted out his mind with “drink.” He wanted his sons to stay up with him all night, so that he wouldn't fall asleep. He managed to not sleep and did the scene with blood shot eyes and all. The scene was so real that his mother who was present during the take, ran out the studio inconsolably.
Although Grace Kelly won the Oscar that year for her role, it was this movie that showed the world that Crosby could act and not just sing.

Brother John's Take On Mankind

2008-01-29T18:11:00.000-08:00

I just watched an obscure, but pretty good movie with Sidney Poitier. Brother John, (1970) done around the time the civil rights movement was cooling off, but making inroads. Times were changing, but were they really?

John Kane (Sidney Poitier) is a mysterious, enigmatic, well travelled man who knows of the past, present, and future of mankind. He was somehow commissioned to leave his home in Alabama at the age of 16 on a mystical journey. He is to study man’s inhumanity to man. Things like hunger, hate, bigotry, murder, you name it.

John returns to his hometown in Alabama because his sister has died. He watches all those around him closely. He encounters racism, prejudices, and social injustices. You can almost see the eyes of God in his…sad eyes and just grieving for mankind. He becomes disheartened with the future of mankind. At this point you realize as a viewer, that Brother John is not from this earth, he is from somewhere else, another time, and his findings will impact the human race. Whoever has sent Brother John is going to act soon based on his findings.

The movie is open to all types of interpretations. You can see Brother John as God returned to earth to end it all. Or you can see him as an angel or higher life form from another planet. Sidney Poitier's performance captures Brother John’s pain and burden.

The best scenes are the "catch me if you can" games between the town doctor (Will Geer) and Brother John. Their final scene in the county jail is chilling, ominous, sobering, and mysterious. Some scenes are too hard to watch like when Brother John’s brother-in-law is humiliated in front of his children by a redneck deputy. One funny scene is one with Brother John sitting calmly on rocking chair and watching the keystone cops scrambling about trying to find him. All along he was right in front of their faces. This movie is one undiscovered gem of the 70’s, it is timeless, and resonates today as it did back in the 70’s.

The Revival of Charles Burnett Films

2008-01-21T09:06:00.000-08:00

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, TCM will be featuring Charles Burnett’s films tonight. Don’t know who he is? Well that is not too surprising. The New York Times put it all too well; Charles Burnett is “the nation’s least-known great filmmaker and most gifted black director.” I blogged on Charles Burnett a few months ago click here to read my post. I am stoked about watching these relatively obscure films. All his films deal with the black experience in America.

Back in the day black filmmakers were not given the applause and recognition they deserved. Burnett and others in the UCLA film school got together to make films depicting black experience in America. They were tired of the “blaxploitation” of the day and produced a number of shorts and movies. Soon they would be known as the “LA Rebellion,” or the “LA School.” Although many of Burnett’s films became obscure, they are now being honored and rewarded by the American Film Institute, Howard University’s Paul Robeson Award, New York Film Critics Circle Awards, and his directorial debut movie “Killer of Sheep,” was declared a national treasure by Library of Congress. I guess we can say that Burnett has finally seen the fruits of his labor.

These are movies that just can’t be missed by the classic movie buff. They are historically important and sure to be movies that will impact generations to come.

TCM will feature the following tonight EST:

8:00 PM Killer of Sheep (1977)

9:40 PM The Horse (1969 movie short)

10:00PM My Brother’s Wedding (1983)

11:30 PM When it Rains (Critic Jonathan Rosenbaum chose this short as one of the “Ten Best Films of All Time” calling it “a near miracle!”)

12:00 AM Several Friends

How Shadows and Sound Scared A Generation

2008-01-13T18:05:00.000-08:00

Scene From The Cat People (1942)

Turner Classic Movies will have a documentary on Val Lewton, classic horror filmmaker on Monday, January 14^th at 8:00 PM EST. The documentary will be hosted by Martin Scorsese. Val Lewton is known for his “less is more school of poetic film making,” using shadows and sounds to scare us-- (the unseen). This made his movies all the more chilling; imagine that, being afraid of what we cannot see. These types of films scare me more than a movie where the creature is all in your face.

Two of his movies come to my mind, “The Cat People,” (1942) and my favorite, “The Body Snatcher,” (1945), not to be confused with the "The Invasion of The Body Snatchers (1956), just thought I'd make that clear. Val Lewton's movie is a lot more sinister, and is based on a true crime committed in England back in the early 1800’s by a couple of scoundrels named Burke and Hare. Yes, this actually happened, in fact, because of The West Port Murders, in 1832 the Anatomy Act was passed. This makes the movie even scarier to watch. But getting back to Lewton… Lewton strongly inspired and influenced many future horror film directors. Films like “The Haunting,” (1963), and more recently, The Sixth Sense, (1999), and “The Others” (2001) used shadows and sound to scare us.

Remember that scene in the movie “Gone with the Wind,” when at the very end of the movie you see Scarlett walking through rows and rows of dead and wounded Confederate soldiers? Wasn’t that a very eerie scene? Well, Lewton came up with this shot when he was editorial assistant for David O. Selznick at the time. Lewton had it him from early on, he was innovative and very creative. Who can create masterpieces like he did on a meager budget today? Lewton was a wonder as far as I am concerned. His movies not only scared his generation, they still scare us today.

You can catch the documentary on TCM on Monday, January 14^th at 8:00 PM, and a marathon of his films will follow starting at 9:30 PM.

Dorian Gray

2008-01-04T17:24:00.000-08:00

The 1945 adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray is the best. It’s a macabre story of greed, lust, and destruction. A gorgeous young man, Dorian (Hurd Hatfield) makes a pact with the devil. He offers the devil his soul in exchange for eternal beauty and youth. Dorian manages to keep his youth, but as the devil may have it, at a cost. It’s not like the devil will have Dorian have many friends, and influence others. Instead in a Mr. Hyde-esque way Dorian dabbles with the dark, committing “sins’ beyond redemption. Although he is pretty and young on the outside, he is evil and vile on the inside.

Jeckyll and Hyde shine through and through as Gray meets a beautiful singer (Angela Landsbury) from the “bad” side of town. He takes advantage of her naiveté and soon takes her for a ride that will end in her destruction.

Gray grows increasingly wary of what others will think since years go by and he does not age, but all those around him do. He knows that his true self is the self portrait which he has locked away in the attic. The portrait that with each passing day grows hideous with decay and sin. A dark picture of his soul.

The film sets give you a feel for the creepy atmosphere in Gray’s home. The performance of Hurd Hatfield as Gray is spine tingling. A young Angela Lansbury puts on a great performance as the doomed girl. But, I got to say that George Sanders as the devil’s advocate is breathtaking.

The most awesome part of this black and white film is when Dorian Gray shows the monstrous painting to the artist who created it nearly two decades earlier. The portrait is shown in Technicolor allowing the viewer to appreciate the deep darkness of Dorian's soul. This is one unforgettable and unique sequence. If you haven't seen it, you must.

Pre-code Gem Other Men's Women---

2007-12-20T21:02:00.000-08:00

The film “Other Men’s Women” (1931) left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It’s a love triangle gone completely bad. But can any love triangle turn well? Grant Withers and Regis Toomey play the role of the men in love with the same women, a very young and beautiful Mary Astor. Mary Astor is happily married to Toomey until Withers steps into their lives. Withers falls in love with Mary and wants her bad. Toomey and Withers get into a fight on the job over Mary. The train derails and Toomey is blinded for life. Toomey is depressed over his blindness and feels like he is a burden to Mary. When the river floods, the now repentant Withers comes up with a plan to dam it. He plans to drive his engine across the bridge. I still don’t understand how this was supposed help dam it. He knows this will mean his death, but he needs atonement. Toomey hears of this plan and decides that he should be the one to die. He finds his way to the engine and drives it across the bridge and dies.

Withers, Regis, and Astor were great, but the supporting roles played by Jimmy Cagney and Joan Blondell steal the show! These two overshadowed the main star, and the plot for that matter. You will enjoy the pre-code frank lines in the movie. Blondell plays a tough-talking waitress which speaks her mind, and will smack a man when she is dissed. She doesn’t take anybody’s crap. Ah, the good old pre-code days. Cagney plays a friend of the two guys in the triangle. Cagney with his cool, smooth talking, wit, and the “in control,” kind of man ways will sweep you off your feet. And he does a dance number that will leave you in total awe. He is sweet in this film. Watch the trailer here

The movie has a soap opera kind of feel, but Cagney and Blondell steal the show and make it worth your while. Oh, and the climactic bridge collapse is pretty impressive for the day.

A Dark Victorian Tale

2007-12-15T16:16:00.000-08:00

“Footsteps in The Fog” (1955) starring Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons totally impressed me. An Edwardian thriller which has all the ingredients of a dark and twisted story of betrayal and murder. Jean plays a maid who knows her employer (Stewart Granger) has killed his wife and decides to blackmail her way into love, acceptance, and wealth. Little does she know that her employer is always one step ahead of her, and his twisted ways will eventually be the end of them both. For the entire movie you feel like evil is having a field day and is prevailing. But ultimately the dead reach out from the grave and have the ultimate revenge. This is a must see. Jean Simmons' role of the maid is captivating. She captured the maid’s sadness, loneliness, worthlessness, and vain hopes. Stewart Granger as the cad husband and murderer is unforgettable. He is one guy you love to hate. The cinematography brings the dark story to life. The settings are bursting with vibrant Victorian color. I totally enjoyed this movie and recommend it.

It's A Wonderful Life On Stage

2007-12-09T15:59:00.000-08:00

Remember Frank Capra's, George Bailey, you know the guy that just wanted to die one Christmas day in "It's A Wonderful Life," because he just felt he was a nothing, a nobody, a zero, a nada? Remember the great lesson he learned? He learned that we all mean something. He learned that he, one person, made all the difference in lives of others. Remember all the characters in the movie, Mary his wife, Clarence the angel, his kids, the mean banker and others? Well, now imagine this wonderful story coming on the stage with one person playing the entire story? Wow, I certainly can't but it is happening in the Lyric Stage Company of Boston.

According to this review, it's a must see. The one-man show is titled " This Wonderful Life." Neil Casey is narrator and actor. The review goes on to say that the actor utilizes the small area on stage to effectively shift from one character to another, and change from one to scene to another. "He is constantly in motion." He plays 32 roles to the hilt, so much so that when he shifts to George Bailey you'd think you were hearing Jimmy Stewart himself.

"Casey single-handedly brings Bedford Falls to life without even one costume change, giving fantastic impressions of each character in Capra's masterpiece. He is humorous but convincing as the shamelessly flirtatious and blonde Violet Bick. He is appropriately wide-eyed and innocent as Bailey's children, and the effect is both silly and adorable. He jumps into the chair and stiffens in his impersonation of cranky and miserly Mr. Potter, originally brought to life by the great Lionel Barrymore." [Source tuftdaily.com]

The unique thing about this on stage translation of the classic story is that the narrator parenthetically puts his two sense in with opinions, jokes, etc,. It's "much like that of someone whispering into your ear during a movie." The actor adds a little light fair, "without losing the poignant meaning at the heart of the movie." The on stage translation is also interactive with the audience " at one point gesturing for the audience to call out the name of the guardian angel - which any fan of the movie would immediately know to be "Clarence."

Although this on stage translation is done with a 21 century mind set, the story comes to life, you still get the "warm and fuzzy" feeling inside. I guess we can say that this story is timeless. That no matter how it's done, or when it's done, it is still true, we are somebody, and we can make a difference in the lives of others.

Hollywood Glamor Shots Sell For 1.25 Mil

2007-11-23T17:54:00.000-08:00

Profiles In History has sold original Hollywood Glamor photography for a whopping 1.25 mil! Original Photos Of Marlene Dietrich, Carole Lombard, Barbara Stanwyck, Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy, Louise Brooks, Veronica Lake, Clara Bow and Others, along with Vintage Movie Posters were in the mix. What makes this all the more interesting is that these photos were taken during the pre-code era and they are being "embraced by the fine art world," and why wouldn't they be?

"Fine art photographs featuring history’s most legendary actresses including Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, Clara Bow, Marlene Dietrich and Louise Brooks − the greatest assemblage of its kind − shot by legends in their own right including George Hurrell, Clarence Sinclair Bull and Ruth Harriet Louise and posters from films including My Man Godfrey, The Wolf Man, Cabin in the Sky, Casablanca, True to the Navy, Unholy Three, Dr. X and Lawrence of Arabia contributed to the record-setting two-day total."

Here is a list of what some of these photos and posters brought in:

My Man Godfrey one-sheet poster $85,000
The Wolf Man one-sheet poster $40,000
Cabin in the Sky one-sheet poster $30,000
Casablanca insert poster $27,500
True to the Navy one-sheet poster $27,500
Unholy Three half-sheet poster $25,000
Doctor X one-sheet poster $20,000
Lawrence of Arabia three-sheet poster $16,000
Marlene Dietrich oversize gallery portrait by Eugene Robert Richee $15,000
Carole Lombard oversize gallery portrait by Wm. E. Thomas, inscribed and signed by Lombard $13,000
Jezebel one-sheet poster $12,000
The Taming of the Shrew one-sheet poster $12,000
The Eagle and the Hawk half-sheet poster $11,000
Tarzan and His Mate window card $11,000
Barbara Stanwyck oversize publicity portrait by William A. Fraker for Shopworn $10,000
Murders in the Rue Morgue window card $10,000
Her Husbands Trademark one-sheet poster $10,000
Louise Brooks publicity still from The Canary Murder Case $9,000
Madeleine Carroll large format publicity portrait by Otto Dyar $9,000
The Maltese Falcon insert poster $9,000
Veronica Lake oversize gallery portrait by A.L. Whitey Schafer for Out of this World $9,000
Lifeboat one-sheet poster $8,500
Myrna Loy oversize publicity portrait by Clarence Sinclair Bull for The Mask of Fu Manchu $8,000
Jacqueline Logan large format publicity portrait by Wm. E. Thomas for Cecil B. DeMille‟s The King of Kings $7,500
Jean Harlow (circle motif blouse) oversize gallery portrait $7,500
Louise Brooks large format publicity portrait by Eugene Robert Richee from Now We‟re In the Air $7,500
Clara Bow nude bathing publicity still for Hula $7,000

My, my did these stars, and photographers ever think that one day their photo or art would cause such a stir?

source [news-antique.com]

What Would You Pick?

2007-11-06T14:21:00.000-08:00

TCM is letting celebrities pick movies this month. Stars like Alfred Molina, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Stiller, Martha Stewart, and more get to choose 3 movies and share it with us. You will be a little surprised at some of their picks. It kinda doesn’t go… like Matt Groening creator of the Simpsons, picks an interesting mix, including Way Out West (Laurel & Hardy) I can see this one, but somehow I can’t see I Was A Fugitive From A Chain Gang, this one should’ve been picked by Martha Stewart. But hey maybe many will be surprised at my picks. If I was a guest at TCM and I had to pick three, I’d pick, “Double Indemnity,” “Ace in the Hole,” and “The Bigamist.” Notice how they are all film noir-ish? And believe me I am no “femme fatal,” but I love these films just the same. If you were a guest on TCM what would you pick?

The Freaks....know how to party!

2007-10-26T19:21:00.000-07:00

This video from youtube is hysterical, it makes us laugh at a pretty scary movie.

"But for the accident of birth...You might be even as they are!" It is amazing to me that this film has become as popular as it has even after all these years. What makes this film so horrible? Is it the storyline, or the freaks themselves? I say we are more afraid of the freaks because it could've easily been "one of us." What are your thoughts? For more information on the actors of this great horror film, visit this site.

From Here To Eternity...

2007-10-23T03:55:00.000-07:00

TCM will be paying tribute to Deborah Kerr on Sunday, October 28th, who passed away on Friday, October 19th at the age of 86. Deborah was a six time Oscar nominee. At 8 p.m., she stars as a lonely military wife who seeks happiness through an illicit affair in From Here to Eternity (1953), co-starring Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra and Donna Reed. And at 10:15 p.m., she plays a spinster who is completely dominated by her mother while staying at an English seaside resort in Separate Tables (1958), with Lancaster and Oscar winners David Niven and Wendy Hiller.

"Deborah Kerr was one of the great jewels of the movie industry," said TCM host Robert Osborne. "Not only was she an immensely gifted and versatile actress, but also someone who made every film she touched better." [Source krul8.com]

My absolute favorite film with Deborah Kerr is "From Here To Eternity." There never has been, nor ever will be, a kissing scene like the one between her and Burt Lancaster in this film. Didn't you just feel the love? Deborah has gone from here on to eternity... Gone but never forgotten.

Spooky Friday On TCM

2007-10-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

Are you ready to be spooked this Friday night? This Friday TCM will be featuring four of Tod Browning’s spooky films. Tod didn’t know it at the time, but he gave birth to horror movies as we know them. All his movies contain all the elements needed to make your skin crawl and stomach turn: outlandish characters, lust, envy, and murder. He specialized in a unique brand of grotesque melodrama. Browning was a director ahead of his day. What inspired this director? He was fueled by turn-of-the-century dime novels, traveling circuses and music hall performances. Can you tell?

This Friday be sure to watch four of his best films ever. Here is the list:

8:00 PM Mark of The Vampire (1927) “Set in a small Czechoslovakian village, Mark of the Vampire teams up Lionel Barrymore (as a professor of demonology) and Lionel Atwill (as a police inspector) for a murder investigation which appears to be the work of vampires. The scene of the crime is an eerie castle previously owned by the late Count Mora (Bela Lugosi), who was rumored to have murdered his own daughter (Carroll Borland) before committing suicide. Ever since that tragedy, the villagers have noticed strange sights and sounds in the vicinity of the Count's estate, leading everyone to suspect that the place is haunted.” [Source] TCM.Com

9:15 PM Freaks—if you haven’t seen this one, you must. It will freak you out (no pun) I’ve blogged on this one before, click here to read my post on this film. Browning searched carnivals across America to find his cast. Freaks was banned in Britain and censored in America during its original release. The world wasn’t ready for this.

10:30 PM Devil Doll in this film we get to see Lionel Barrymore cross dress. Read my post on this film here.

12:00 AM London After Midnight (1927) This is TCM’s "special showing of Lon Chaney's lost masterpiece, London After Midnight (1927), reconstructed entirely from stills. It will be the first time the film has been seen in more than 50 years in any format, as the last print known to exist was destroyed in a vault fire at MGM in the 1960s. Listed on the American Film Institute's Ten Most Wanted "Lost" Films, London After Midnight is referred to by proponents as the most famous of lost films." [Source: tcm.com]

1:00 AM The Unknown (1927) “Alonzo The Armless Wonder (Lon Chaney) is a circus sideshow attraction whose specialty is a knife-throwing act. With his well-trained feet, he tosses the flashing blades at his lovely assistant, Nanon (Joan Crawford), who has a deep seated fear of being touched by men. Offstage, Alonzo is not who he appears to be. Not only does he have two perfectly functioning arms (he conceals them for his act with a tightly laced straitjacket) but he is also a wanted criminal who uses the sideshow as his cover. His only weakness is an all-consuming love for Nanon which requires a major sacrifice on his part and leads to the Grand Guignol finale.” [Source Tcm.com]

Another one of Browning’s films which you have to see and that will not be featured this Friday is The Unholy Three. We get to see Hans (Harry Earles) from “Freaks,” in another eerie role. See what happens when a ventriloquist, a strong man and a midget form a criminal alliance. A must see, its horror with a humorous side.

Have a frightful weekend!

Dresses For A Cause

2007-10-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

A collection of Classic Film Star Marilyn Monroe dresses will go on display in England. The dresses have been kept from public view for 40 years! The one dress, sure to cause a stir, is the iconic white dress which is blown up by the breeze in the subway in the movie "The Seven Year Itch." Other gowns will be on display from movies, "How To Marry A Millionaire," and "Diamonds Are Girl's Best Friend." The exhibition hopes to raise funds for Alzheimer's Disease.

Source: The Press Association

When Hollywood Was Not Silent

2007-09-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

My head wanted to explode yesterday as I watched the dictator of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speak in Columbia University. I am still aghast that this mad man was allowed to step on our soil and spurt out his religious and anti-American rhetoric in one of our country’s finest universities. As I watched this mad man speak I thought about Charlie Chaplin’s first talkie, “The Great Dictator.” How I wished Charlie was around today to make Ahmadinegad look like a buffoon as he did Hitler in the movie “The Great Dictator.” Only I don’t think it would be funny at all.

"The Great Dictator" released in 1940, a year before we entered the war, was a daring move for Chaplin. This movie bitterly and boldly satirizes Nazis and Adolf Hitler, and ends with a sober and blatant political plea to defy fascism. When this movie was released the U.S. was at peace with Nazi Germany. I would have to guess that around this time the rumors of the atrocities that were occurring in Nazi Germany were rampant. But the U.S. couldn’t or wouldn’t believe such horrors could happen in a 20^th century world. How wrong we were.

Chaplin went full speed ahead with his film. The movie was daring enough to show Hitler for what he was, a tyrant, whose main goal was world domination. Chaplin saw Hitler and his cronies for who they were, "machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts." The world wanted to wish this mad man away. As if, we ignore him, he’d go away. Chaplin knew differently. He wanted the world to know what was going on and what would happen if we did nothing about it. The movie condemns Nazism, fascism, and Hitler quite clearly. Chaplin knew he was staring evil in the face and couldn’t stand there and do nothing. He instead chose to use his art and sent a strong message to the world.

In the movie, “The Great Dictator,” Chaplin plays an unnamed private in the army of a fictional nation named Tomania. He gets hurt and loses his memory while trying to valiantly rescue another officer named Schultz. He spends the next 20 years in a hospital totally oblivious to the changes that have taken place in Tomania. While he slept a “great dictator,” has risen Arenoid Hynkel also played by Chaplin in a double role. The great dictator has taken to persecuting and killing off Jews with the help of ministers Garbitsch (Henry Daniell) and Herring (Billy Gilbert).

Upon returning to his barbershop, the private still unaware of the political situation tries to move on with life as usual, but is taken by surprise when the storm troopers smash the windows to his shop. In the chaos of the streets, he bumps into a friend Hannah, which he eventually falls in love with (Paulette Goddard). Hannah is also a Jew and lives in the Jewish Ghetto. Hannah and the Jewish barber must fight for their lives.

In one of their run-ins with the storm troopers, Schultz, the officer the barber rescued, recognizes him and orders the troopers to let the Jewish barber and Hannah alone. Meanwhile Hynkel the great dictator has lessened the torture of the Jews in hopes of getting some financing from a Jewish financier. Hynkel is obsessed with world domination and he needs money to do it, even if it means getting it from a Jew. The most memorable scene is the haunting ballet dance between the power-mad dictator and a balloon globe in his palatial office. The Jewish financier refuses to finance the mad man’s dreams of world domination. The tyrant resumes his atrocities against the Jews only now the mayhem is worse.

Schultz refused to do nothing while evil danced all around him. He voices his objections and Hynkel orders him and the Jewish Barber be sent to a concentration camp. Hynkel encounters opposition by Benzino Naploni (aka Benito Mussolini) played by Jack Oakie. Napoloni is another despot who also wants world domination. In a very funny scene, these two crazies meet and try to negotiate world domination. The food fight is hilarious!

Schultz and the barber escape the camp wearing army uniforms. Border guards have mistaken the barber for Hynkel, who look identical. Hynkel was on a fishing trip that day and was mistaken for the barber and is arrested by his very own soldiers. The barber who is now mistaken for the great dictator is scheduled to give a victory speech. Garbitsch introduces the great dictator and it is here when Chaplin makes his plea to the world.

Although this movie is funny, Chaplin was quite serious about his message. In his autobiography he stated that had he really known about the extent or true horrors of the Nazis he would not have been able to make light of it. Are we in a sleep state and ignoring a mad man in hopes that he will disappear? Are we aware of the political changes around us, and how these changes can greatly affect us all? What would Charlie Chaplin have to say today? I think he’d say Ahmadinejad is the new Hitler and if he goes ignored we will all pay for it. In this instance “ignorance is not bliss.”

Bacall Gets Pissed Off!

2007-09-21T06:22:00.001-07:00

A reel mix-up in Toronto International Film Festival frustrates classic film star Lauren Bacall. While the crowd was waiting for the tech to correct the problem, they asked, ah, begged Lauren to get on stage for a “dog & pony show.” She was asked to tell more of her relationship to Bogie, and she amply replies “that’s private.” Another fan yells out, “but it’s in your book,” and Lauren answers, as only Lauren can answer, “so, then, honey, why are you asking.” I can hear her say this with an attitude, and in her iconic raspy voice.

The classic film star eventually gets so “exasperated,” and her “auteur” colleague, film director Paul Schrader, exclaims: “Someone arrest this man!” “Later, she just sat down on a chair on the stage, as if to say, "OK, I'm going on strike."

Bacall proceeded to do a “bee” line to the door, and someone built up enough courage to convey regrets of this most unfortunate situation. She replies like someone with a PhD or someone with much “wisdom” in life, “It’s the luck of the draw.”

“Arrest this man,” is a bit too much to ask for when a curious fan asks questions, stupid questions at that. Granted film stars need their privacy and should be given that, but when they are in the public with fans, that in many cases adore them, this is no way to treat them. I feel this could’ve been handled differently. I never quite understand why famous people get frustrated with situations like this one. If you are a public figure, these are events that will predictably happen when in the public eye. You would think Lauren was used to this.

source: Canada National Post

Jane Wyman Dies at 93

2007-09-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

Oscar Winner Jane Wyman dies at 93. Wyman won an Oscar for her role as the deaf girl which is raped in “Johnny Belinda,” (1948). I loved Jane in “The Yearling,” 1946 and in the “The Lost Weekend.” Wyman also earned best actress Oscar noms for "The Yearling" (1946), "The Blue Veil" (1951) and "Magnificent Obsession" (1954). She won three Golden Globes for best actress for her work in "Belinda" and "Blue Veil" and in 1951 was given a trophy for as World Film Favorite (Female).

She also married actor and future president Ronald Reagan in 1940 and divorced in ’48. I once heard it said that while filming “Johnny Belinda,” Jane had just lost a baby and was in the process of divorcing Reagan. Maybe that’s what made her so convincing in the role of Johnny Belinda. Her tears and pain appeared too real on film, which won her an Oscar.

Gone, but forever immortalized on film.

Pre-Code Movies To See Before You...

2007-09-06T12:45:00.001-07:00

Ecstasy "The most whispered about picture in the world."

See how and why this blogger has picked nine “must see pre-code movies.” Gosh, I could think of at least 50 more, but this list is a good start. Here is their list:

Little Caesar (1931) the movie that paved the way for future gangster movies. Edward G. Robinson was superb as Rico. This movie is loosely based on the life of Al Capone.

The Public Enemy (1931) this was a pretty daring movie for the day. The famous grapefruit in the face sequence (Cagney & Mae Clarke) still shock audiences today. According to this blogger the way gangsters and violence were portrayed in these films was too much for the Hays enforcers, and they made sure that future gangster films were a lot more tamed.

Machen In Uniform (1931) and Ecstasy (1931) these are both European imports Ecstasy introduced us to Hedy Lamarr, and was "the most whispered about picture in the world" at its release. I’ve never seen either one of these films, but Ecstasy was band not so much for the Hedy Lamarr’s nude scenes, but more so for the infidelity plot.

Freaks (1932) I’ve blogged on this one—read my take on it and yes, this is one you need to watch.

Trouble in Paradise (1932) and Bird of Paradise (1932) both are comedies, but have frank discussions about sex, and exotic characters, one of which is Delores Del Rio walking around scantily clad. Both are “exotic adventures.”

Born to Be Bad (1934) and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1931) both these films have prostitutes in the main lead, and portrays Mr. Hyde not only violent, but a horrible sexual pervert as well. Read my take on Mr. Hyde here.

These topics may seem dated to us today, but these were ‘no-no’s” back in the day of Hays code enforcement. Although many of these films are around today, many were edited after the Hays Code, some were remade, and some are completely restored to its original state (edited parts put back in).

It is my humble opinion that government can’t legislate morality. People, I am sure found other ways of viewing “prohibited” film, and went on with their “sinful” ways regardless of the Hays Code. In fact, the Hays code may have made things worse for society. You tell someone not to do something, and it’s the first thing they turn around and do. Still, it was well intended and quite possibly slowed down the looming “sexual revolt.” Visit the “Cine Classic” Store for these movies on DVD and more titles!

A Greek Tragedy

2007-08-31T18:42:00.000-07:00

Take murder, adultery, incestuous love and what do you get? A Greek tragedy turned into a movie. Eugene O’neill’s play, turned movie, “Mourning Becomes Electra,” (1947) is a dark and haunting story of a family during the civil war. In the Greek myth the characters are Orestes and Electra the children of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Electra persuades her brother Orestes to avenge Agamemnon’s death by helping her to kill her mother Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus.

The movie “Mourning Becomes Electra,” (1947) has the same characters and the same storyline only it’s an updated version of the story. Orin (Michael Redgrave) and Lavina (Rosalind Russell) are the children of an American Civil War General Ezra Mannon (Raymond Massey). Ezra’s wife Christine (Katina Paxinou) is a sultry middle age woman who has been alone in her dark and dreary mansion in New England during the Civil War. While her husband was out fighting, Christine was having an affair with a younger man Adam Brant (Leo Genn).

Little did she know that not only was Adam sleeping with her, but was also sleeping with her daughter Lavina. Lavina finds out of her mother’s affair and confronts her about it. Lavina reminds her mother about her age and predicts that Adam will eventually leave an aging woman. Christine doesn’t care; she wants Adam, no matter the cost. She plots with her lover to kill her husband when he returns from the war. Ezra returns and wants to rekindle the love he and Christine once had for each other. Christine can’t bear his touch and just wants him dead. Ezra has a weak heart and Christine hopes to excite him enough to get his ticker to stop. On the same night of his return she argues with him, and tells him of her affair with Adam. Ezra gets excited, and his heart begins to fail. He asks his loving wife, ah, murderous wife for his pills. She instead gives him poison, but before he dies, Lavina who adores her father walks in and hears Ezra’s last words, words that damned Christine. Ezra is buried, but Lavina knows what happened and threatens her mother with telling Orin the truth should she stay with Adam.

Christine agrees to never see Adam again…I don’t think so. She continues to have clandestine meetings with Adam. They talk and dream of going away to some Island “where they don’t know sin.”

Orin returns and doesn’t put much importance to his father’s death, he is more concerned with his mother. He worships the ground she walks on. You can clearly see the incestuous relationship Christine has with her son. He confronts his mother about the rumors of the affair which she vehemently denies. After much pleading, and crying from Christine, Orin believes her. Lavina knows differently and tells Orin that she can prove that Christine is having an affair, and is guilty of killing their father. A distraught Orin demands proof, and so he gets it. Lavina takes him to the boat where the lovers meet and plot their get-away. Orin sees it all and Lavina persuades him to avenge their father’s death. He must kill Adam. Orin kills Adam and tells his mother. His mother moans like a banshee. Orin realizes that his mother does not love him as much as she loved Adam. Orin becomes distraught because he can’t comfort his mother. Christine is so hopeless that she commits suicide.

Lavina and Orin leave the ominous house and its ghosts and go off to an island for a while. Although Orin cannot get out of the depression that has overtaken him, Lavina has blossomed and seems happy since her parent’s death. In fact, Lavina had many lovers while on the island, and is even planning to marry Peter (a very young Kirk Douglas). Orin can’t take the guilt. Lavina is cold and perfectly fine with everything, after all, “it was justice,” in her mind. Orin finally ends his life…the pain was too much. Lavina breaks up the engagement to Peter after realizing that the dead will always “come between them.” Lavina stays in the house, all the shutters are nailed shut, and the door forever closes to the outside world.

The movie was well done. Rosalind Russell as Lavina was superb. Katina Paxinou’s short, but powerful role as Christine is memorable. The film has great close-up shots, and crispy black and white cinematography, the use of shadows and lighting brings the dark story to life. At times I felt that it was a story written by Freud himself. The family loyalty was extreme and seemingly incestuous. Other times I felt that the movie was Shakespearean-esque. The movie is long, dramatic, suspenseful, and a little depressing, but excellent nonetheless. I highly recommend you see it.

Jonny Quest On The Big Screen?

2007-08-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

The classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon "Jonny Quest," may be coming to the big screen this according to The Hollywood Reporter. It first premiered in 1964, and it only ran for one year. The show was cancelled not because it was bad, but because it was too expensive to produce. In fact, the show was an instant success and was noted for its realistic portrayal of people. For those of you that don’t know anything about this series, let me tell you a little bit about it. Jonny Quest is eleven years old, and has a cute white pug named Bandit, who by-the-way provides comic relief, an adopted brother Hadji, from India, and a genius scientist father who takes the clan on adventures. Add to the mix a “man in black,” Race Bannon (a government man) who is assigned to protect them. They all go off to fight the “bad guys.” The adventure series was inspired by an old time radio show “Jack Armstrong,” a comic strip titled “Terry and the Pirates,” and none other than the James Bond Movie,
“Dr. No,”(1963). Barbera took all three and came up with Jonny Quest.

After the show was cancelled stations ran re-runs for decades which I watched as a kid. In the 80’s some new shows were produced for syndication and later Quest was revived in the 90’s in a spin-off series “The Real Adventures Of Jonny Quest.” Will the big screen keep Jonny alive? Will Jonny Quest fans be happy with the movie? We shall see.

Blue Denim: Choose Life

2007-08-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

Teenagers fall in love, and get pregnant in small town USA circa 1950’s is Blue Denim (1959) story line. The movie tackles controversial social issues of the day one being abortion. The year 1959 in my mind must’ve been a turbulent time in America. The cold war, teen violence, dawn of the Vietnam war, civil rights movement, just to name a few. Oh, and let’s not forget the abortion issue, which really wasn’t an issue until the 70’s, but there were “abortionist,” that were unscrupulous and many women ended up dead in the so called “back alley abortions.”

What I found most interesting was how not once, but twice, abortion was called “murder;” in this movie, it was something reprehensible and shameful. There is even a scene where the young father of the baby, (Brandon De Wilde) tries to justify the insignificance of a baby that had just been conceived.

Janet played by Carol Lynley is naïve and young. She lets her guard down when she falls for Arthur, (Brandon De Wilde). Like most us do at the tender age of 16. Funny that even with today’s sex education kids still make these life altering mistakes. Janet gets pregnant and doesn’t know what to do. In their haste to rid themselves of this problem, they find out about abortionist that will do it for a fee. The decision to have the abortion causes other vises to surface, things like, check forgery, and lying. After getting the money for the abortion, Arthur worries that Janet will die while having the abortion. After much pleading from his loyal friend Ernie played by Warren Berlinger with much humor and candor, Arthur builds up enough courage to tell his emotionally distant parents.

You can imagine the shock these parents felt when they got this news. Arthur’s family was a typical middle class family that did all the right things. How could this happen? When both families find out they head out to save Janet from the abortionist quack. They save Janet and bring her home. Janet decides to keep the baby, but doesn’t want to trap Arthur into marriage. She takes full responsibility for her actions. Her decision and demeanor make her seem much older than her 16 years. Janet decides to move away with an aunt to have her baby alone. When Arthur finds out he speeds off to meet her and reassures her that they can face this together, not apart. Arthur too takes responsibility.

While the movie maybe a little dated for some, it deals with a controversial issue that still resonates today. The abortion issue is still hot and debated today. The story is sincere and moving, a young couple choosing life despite the cost. The sequence in the movie where the teen lovers meet the ominous abortionist is still spooky even after all these years, and was considered quite frank in its day.

The lead roles were played brilliantly by a very young cast. My favorite is Brandon De Wilde, but I can only see him as the little boy in the movie Shane (1953). The musical score is great, if you like the 50’s sound you’ll love the scene with Ernie and another girl singing in the school dance. I caught this movie on Fox Movie Channel, and it’s not on DVD yet. I highly recommend you see it if you haven’t yet.

Halloween In August

2007-08-10T04:49:00.000-07:00

Today TCM’s Summer Under the Stars, will feature Vincent Price. Mr. Debonair himself will scare you all day. His classy looks, upper-class manners, and silken speaking voice are what we think of when we hear “Vincent Price.” Not only was this man a great actor, but he was a Yale graduate, a champion at quiz shows, art and antique collector, author, and even entered the world of rock back in the 80’s when his silken speaking voice was used in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Most Vincent Price fans will always remember his role as horror film star.

These are I recommend you watch:

Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, (1939)

Dangerous Mission (1954)

Tower of London (1939)

Mad Magician, The (1954)

Tingler, The (1959)

Master Of The World (1961

Last Man On Earth, The (1964)

Tower Of London (1962)

House Of Usher (1960)

Pit And The Pendulum (1961

Tales Of Terror (1962)

Masque Of The Red Death, The (1964)

Tomb Of Ligeia, The (1964)

Abominable Dr. Phibes, The (1971)

Theatre of Blood (1973)

Click Here For Vincent Price Movies On DVD!

AFI's Top 100 and Citizen Kane Still Number One!

2007-08-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

The American Film Institute has picked the best 100 films of all time. On the top ten list are six classic films from the 30's and 40's. Gee I wonder why? AFI started this list ten years ago and Citizen Kane made number one for the second time! Only classics from old Hollywood can stand the test of time. I agree with all top ten. The list is as follows:

1.Citizen Kane
2.The Godfather
3. Casablanca
4.Raging Bull
5. Singin' In the Rain

6. Gone With the Wind
7. Lawrence Of Arabia
8. Schindler's List
9. Vertigo
10. The Wizard Of Oz

Although 4 of these films are from the 70's-90's era they are still classics as far as I am concerned. A classic film is not one that is just "old," or black and white. What makes a movie a classic is a list of things such as good direction, acting, script, and more. I tend to compare a lot of the newer movies to old Hollywood and 99.9% of the times they just don't measure up. It's no wonder that it took the AFI 10 years to come up with the second 100 list. Visit AFI for the rest of the list which has many more classics.

Mia Farrow Starts a Celebrity Exchange Program

2007-08-07T13:31:00.001-07:00

Did something happen to Mia Farrow on the set of Rosemary's Baby? The race is on... What is going on? Celebrities are coming out of the woodwork (Clooney, Jolie, etc.) for all kinds of causes in Africa. Hungry kids, aids, abused women, and now Mia Farrow wants to exchange her Connecticut farm for a Sudanese jail cell. Do they really care? Or is this all a publicity stunt? Did she really think the Sudanese government would call her bluff? I think not. [Source: Foreign Policy Blog]

When Joan Got Her Groove Back

2007-08-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

I just watched two movies with Joan Crawford, which much to my surprise, I’ve never seen before. Vincent Sherman’s “Harriet Craig,” (1950) and Robert Aldrich’s “Autumn Leaves.” (1956) are films Joan did well into her 40’s. I am not going to talk about “Harriet Craig” today; suffice it to say that if you’ve seen Joan in “Queen Bee,” it’s pretty much the same.

Joan got her groove back in “Autumn Leaves.” At the time of filming Joan was 50 and Cliff Robertson was 31! You go Joan! These types of relationships don’t sit too well with a lot of people today; can you imagine what they thought of this back in the 50’s?

In the movie, “When Stella got Her Groove Back,” an older woman falls for a younger, beautiful man she meets in Jamaica. And they lived happily ever after. “Autumn Leaves,” is a little more complicated. Milly Weaterby falls for Burt Hanson (Cliff Robertson) a much, much younger man. Milly is thrilled with his attention, affection, and love. She finds it almost a dream come true. However, deep down inside, she feels Burt is too young. You can almost feel her ambivalence, anxiety, confusion, and sadness. Burt convinces her that age doesn’t matter when it comes to love. They can make it work. Burt looks like a little lost sheep when he looks her. A lost and distressed soul. Milly overlooks that, and perceives that look to be of one that is truly and completely in love with her. After all, she too is a lonely soul.

They soon marry and troubles soon begin to surface. She finds out that Burt is a pathological liar. All he has told her up until this point has been nothing but a pack of lies. His web of lies has even confused Milly. She tries to ignore all these signs of mental instability and brushes it off. A phantom from Burt’s past makes a visit to Milly and changes everything. The young woman claims to be Burt’s ex-wife. Milly’s world comes crashing down on her.

She confronts Burt about all his lies to only get more lies from him. She realizes he is sick and needs help. She tries to help him, but narrowly escapes being killed by him. Doctors tell Milly, Burt is schizophrenic and advises hospitalization. Milly agrees although she knows that after he is “cured” he may not need her anymore. Burt is hospitalized for months and there is no communication between the two. A letter finally arrives indicating his release from treatment. Although happy, Milly is nervous. Will he love her? Will he still need her? I won't ruin the end for you.

Autumn Leaves was well done, and I love the musical score. The famous Nat King Cole sings the main theme song, "Autumn Leaves." In both these films Joan played the roles to the hilt. Although “b” movies, she played these roles realistically and seriously. As far as she was concerned she was still “the star,” and she made sure the movie credits reflected that…her name had first billing on the credits. She didn’t let age, or what others thought of her get in her way. And that’s amiable.

A Joan Crawford Marathon On TCM!

2007-08-03T05:30:00.000-07:00

Attention Joan Crawford fans, today on TCM we will be able to lavish in 11 of Joan's films. See a young Joan this am in a pre-code movie, "Rain" 1932. She plays a prostitute that is reformed then raped by a missionary. A powerful performance! The marathon will end with her last horror films "Berserk," (1967) and "Trog," (1970). Sadly Joan's career ended with these "b" movies. A desperate, aging actress had very little choice. "The washed up, the has been, and the rejects of Hollywood all found open arms in the realm of B-horror." Although these films are considered "b" movies, Joan always saw these as her "next picture." She just couldn't give up the idea that her days were over.

Walter Houston, Joan Crawford in "Rain" (1932)

George Cukor shook his head at how Joan Crawford defended the merits of her horror films: “Of course she rationalized what she did,” Cukor told himself, “You could never tell her they were garbage. She was a star, and this was her next picture. She had to keep working, as did Bette. The two of them spawned a regrettable cycle in motion pictures.”

An aging, but beautiful Joan in 1967 (Berserk)

Oh well, I will always remember her in "Mildred Pierce."

So What's Wrong with Classic Films?

2007-08-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

What is wrong with classic film? Do you sometimes talk about classic films to others, ah perhaps someone younger, and they give you this blank stare? Humphrey who? Casa what? Look, I am not much older than many of these folks, and I still can’t understand it. Why can’t they appreciate these films? Can’t they appreciate real acting? What about script with an actual story line? Ah, let me guess why they can’t stand black and white film, maybe, just maybe, it’s because they don’t have all the bells and whistles, questionable morals, and let’s not forget the swearing. Yeah that’s it. Read this blog by a classic movie fan. He’s afraid that classic film, and classic film stars “are being lost to the fading memory of old Hollywood.” Not if I can help it!

Film Icon Dies at age 89

2007-07-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

Ingmar Bergman dead at age 89. Considered by some to be the greatest film-maker ever, many of his films dealt with loneliness (Wild Strawberries, 1959) and the search for meaning in life. It is said that he "exorcised a traumatic childhood through cinematic masterpieces..." He had a "broken childhood," enduring both physical and verbal abuse from his father, but managed to rise to ranks of the "greatest film artist."

"In a career spanning half a century, in which he produced more than 50 films and 125 theatre productions, Bergman became Scandinavia's most acclaimed cultural personality."

"Films such as "Wild Strawberries", "Scenes From a Marriage", and his great classic, "Fanny and Alexander", elevated him to be one of the masters of cinema though it brought Sweden, his country, a reputation for melancholy." [Source: uk.reuters.com]

Amazing how this man was able to fight the demons of his childhood through film. If you've never seen any of Ingmar's films, you must. They are unforgettable.

Buy Now!

“In Cold Blood” Revisited

2007-07-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

After this week’s gruesome home invasion of the Petit family home in Connecticut, I couldn’t help thinking of Truman Capote’s book, “In Cold Blood,” I also couldn’t help thinking about the movie by the same name. Richard Brooks’ 1967 horrific film with Robert Blake and Scott Wilson in the lead roles will send chills down your spine. The shear horror these two vagrants imposed on the Clutter family back in the fifties in a sleepy town in Kansas is eerily similar to this week’s murders in Connecticut.

It is said that Truman Capote lost himself while writing this story back in the 60’s. He became a heavy drinker, and severely depressed soon after finishing the book. After reading Capote’s book, I felt that he wanted his readers to have more sympathy for the villains than for the victims in the story. Although brilliantly written, I just couldn’t side with that take on the story. He got so wrapped up with the killers and their lives that he lost himself and was a changed man for the rest of his life.

Before I get into the movie, did you know…that Brooks was so obsessive about making his films seem true to life, that nearly all of the filming was done on location in the places where the events depicted occurred--including the same Kansas house in which the Clutter family was murdered. In addition, six of the actual jurors from the trial of the killers appeared in the film's trial scene, some of the extras in the film were real-life neighbors of the murdered family, and the hangman in the execution scene was THE hangman at the execution of the real-life killers!

In Cold Blood, (1967) is the true story of a notorious crime in Kansas in 1959. At 2:00 a.m. on November 15, 1959, in the farming town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Herbert Clutter family are roused from their sleep, bound and gagged, and then brutally murdered by two assailants.

The killers, Perry Smith, played powerfully by Robert Blake, and Dick Hickok, played grimly by Scott Wilson, met at a state prison where the stuck-up Dick picks the short-tempered Perry as his partner in crime. Perry is aspirin addicted due to lingering and excruciating pain in his legs due to a motorcycle accident. Dick takes notice of Perry’s bad temper, but also takes notice of his weak, child-like, mind. A mind, Dick could mold to his liking.

Dick was thinking robbery, but not just any robbery; this was going to be the “big leagues,” his ticket out. He planned the robbery of the Clutter family, when a former inmate told him that Mr. Clutter kept $10,000 in a safe in his home. There was no safe, and all the killers took that night was $43.00, that adds up to $10.75 a life.

The murders are investigated by police and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The murders astonish the small town of farmers. Everyone buys guns, lock their doors, and even stand guard over their homes. The once luminous, blissful town of Holcomb becomes a murky sea of terror with inhabitants wondering how could this happen? They were staring at evil in the face and couldn’t stand it.

The killers manage to cash a series of bad checks and make their way to Mexico. Perry is a dreamer, he dreams of becoming a gold prospector. The wave of crime left behind is but a distant and forgotten memory to both natural born killers. Perry’s dreams come to a crashing naught when his plans, like most of his plans and dreams, don’t pan out. Dick is sick of Perry’s dreams and plans. He insists they return back to the States. He is arrogant enough to believe that they had committed the perfect crime. They, he felt could never be caught. Why, why, I ask are criminals so stupid? So stupid were these criminals that when they got back to the states, they cash more bad checks. The cops were already on their tail. The killers are caught in Las Vegas and are subjected to intensive questioning. The intensive questioning turns Dick into an informer, turning the two against each other. Finally the police match the soles of their shoes to bloody footprints in the Clutter crime scene.

These two natural born killers are swiftly brought to trial, convicted, and hanged in April 14, 1965, leaving behind a multitude of people in total disbelief. When I first heard of the recent family killings in Connecticut, I immediately thought of this film. I even pondered whether these losers watched this film and others like it and somehow copied. Many people thought the same as I. God be with us, if this is the case.

These crimes are beyond all words horrible. We truly can’t understand them because it’s beyond our understanding, evil that is. Yes, evil. Why is it so hard for us to call evil, evil? Why must we make excuses for evil or call it by another name? As far as I am concerned what happened to the Clutter and Petit family is evil, straight from the pit of Hell. My thoughts and prayers are with the Petit family. There is a higher judge.

Death and Rebirth Of A Sci-Fi Classic

2007-07-20T12:46:00.001-07:00

Viewing King Kong (1933) today still impresses me. The special effects that that classic film has is fascinating. O.K. you may not think so compared to today’s special effects. But hang on a minute, did you ever wonder how they did these special effects without the tools we have today? It took a patient genius to do special effects back in the 30’s.

Special effects legend Ray Harryhausen can certainly concur with me. According to the interview in ign.com , Harryhausen remembers how fascinated he was when he first saw the King Kong’s animated gorilla terrorize a city. He thought that the gorilla in the film was “just another man in a suit,” but it wasn’t. He said it “infected” him and the idea of stop-motion photography was just “original & distinguished.” It never left his mind.

And thank goodness for that. It was Mr. Harryhausen that brought that creature from “20 Millions Miles to Earth,” (1957) to life. The colorized version (50th Anniversary) of the movie is scheduled to be released July 31st!

And how does Mr. Harryhausen feel about modern day epic films? "They've gone overboard, I think - like they usually do - and they forget that there's a story to be told, with a beginning, a middle and an end. Today, it's forgotten. It's simply a series of specially effects. Every five minutes, you have to have an explosion and some kind of violence. I fear that young people, growing up, won't be inspired the same as I was inspired." He goes on to say that he doesn’t completely write off ‘modern day epic that use special effects, “it’s a tool and has its advantages.” “ You just have to use correctly.” But he will always be a passionate fan of stop motion.

About the “20 Millions Miles To Earth” colorized version to be released…he said, he would’ve done it color, but lack of funds did not allow it. He goes on to say, “It was such a spectacle that it should have been filmed in color. And I'm so grateful that we're now able to revise them and that people have been able to see them again in their best form, because at the time of their release, these were considered b-pictures, but they've lasted longer than the others of the time."

Will today’s grand epics stand the test of time? Few and far between…

Buy It Today!

Hey, Where's Hitch?

2007-07-17T04:38:00.001-07:00

Read how the BBC and the UK Film Council have picked seven classic films of all time. These films will be digitally restored and featured in theaters throughout England. That's all good and fine, but the chosen " Magnificent Seven" Classic films of all time does not include any Alfred Hitchcock's British made films. Are they serious? Hitchcock was the best in British Cinema, ("The Lady Vanishes") and and the best gift from England to American Cinema. Alfred must be stirring in his grave. Oh well at least some us can appreciate talent when we see it. Visit The Herald for the rest of the story...

Kill A Sheep--Black Experience in America

2007-07-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

Charles Burnett-Director "Kill of Sheep."

"Kill A Sheep," a film done on a budget of $10,000, done in black and white, on location in the ghetto of Watts in just a few weekends, is finally ready for international release and I can't wait to see it. Charles Burnett's "Kill A Sheep" (1977) is a moving story of an insightful man living in the ghetto of Watts in the mid 70's. He works real hard in a slaughterhouse, hence "Kill A Sheep." He has a family he is trying to support, and like many people having hard times in a tough place, Stan is "growing detached and numb." Hard work and nothing to show for it… money is tight, and bills are plenty. He finds comfort however, in the simple things of life like a warm cup of coffee, slow dancing with his wife, and holding his child. "The film offers no solutions; it merely presents life — sometimes hauntingly bleak, sometimes filled with transcendent joy and gentle humor." [killerofsheep.com]

The National Society of Film Critics crowned this film the "100 essential films of all time." A poor quality 16mm print of the film was shown sporadically in museums and festivals since its debut in '77. Expensive music copyrights has kept this gem away from theaters and video. The film has now been "brilliantly" restored and will be available for the world to see. I've not seen this gem, and am not sure which theaters will be featuring it. Visit the film's official website for information at killerofsheep.com also view the trailer here. I think this film will become a cult classic for sure.

When Old Meets New

2007-06-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

When was the last time you watched a good old silent movie? I have posted a couple reviews on films like "Noferatu," and " Lady of The Night." Before you say, No thanks, that's not for me, I ask, no I will nag you until you do, to give these gems a chance. Unlike Hollywood today, actors in silent film were exactly that, "actors." There were no bells and whistles we have today, they had to act to make the audience feel and hear the words that were being spoken. I think there are directors that think as I do because one has just made a new film with a silent era twist.

I came across this review on a new film titled "Brand Upon A Brain!" Curious title... The movie is directed by Guy Maddin. Maddin uses effects of the silent era and "embraces the melodramatic aesthetics of German expressionist classics" in this story of a man who revisits his childhood home, sorta like a walk down memory lane. Its more like a run down memory lane. In this memory lane orphan children, and a insane scientist come together. According to this review it has all the "beauty of black and white silent film but with modern sensibility."

Visit the film's official website for more information and view the trailer at http://branduponthebrain.com/ and also read this review on it at the Berkeley Daily Planet.

IDA LUPINO

2007-06-19T03:28:00.000-07:00

born into an Italian theater family, acted in films steadily from the age of 13 and in the 1950s was one of the few female directors working in Hollywood. Turner Classic Movies is paying tribute to this actress, director, writer and producer throughout June; tonight a series of her performances will be showcased, starting with "ON DANGEROUS GROUND;" this 1952 drama about a police detective (Robert Ryan) who helps a blind girl whose brother has been murdered. Next, at 9:30 p.m., is “While the City Sleeps” (1956); at 11:15 p.m. Ms. Lupino plays a widow terrorized by a deranged handyman in “Beware, My Lovely” (1952); and at 12:45 a.m. comes “Ladies in Retirement” (1941), an understated thriller about women living on the moors.

SOURCE : NEW YORK TIMES

Vintage Art In Motion

2007-06-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

TCM brings Edward Hopper's art to life! Have you ever seen those "Sunny Side Of Life," promos on TCM? My favorite is one of a couple having coffee at an all night diner circa 1940; you can almost hear the conversation and noises in the diner. The short 30-second promo just takes you back. When I first saw this, I thought it looked like an animated Hopper art print, but had no idea that that is exactly what it is.

TCM has a company named Exopolis work on these. The most recent one, which aired for the first time in April features a populated, and run-down city, lonely subway platforms, trains in which people sit sadly, and thinking of their troubles, the camera quickly pans across buildings, revealing more people going about their lives, man reading, woman dressing. The closing shot moves to a nostalgic coffee shop window, and the TCM logo "Now Showing" appear on the coffee shop glass. It is just another busy day in a Hopper-esque city and we get to see it in motion for 30 seconds. Amazing how modern-day animation techniques can do this.

If you have not seen the newest one yet visit expolis.com and click on "Turner Classic Movie," (4/14/07 News) to view it.

"Brokeback Mountain" In Early Films

2007-06-08T04:49:00.000-07:00

TCM will be featuring film that dealt with homosexuality going as far back as the silent era. Films like “Algie, the Miner” (1912), “Stage Mother” (1933), and “Exit Smiling” (1926) are three of the many early films that TCM will feature this month. The films start during the pre-code years and moves along through the 70's. Although these films dealt with the subject of homosexuality it was left up to the audience to decipher the hidden messages. The filmmakers had reins on due to the production code but somehow managed to bring forth the message especially to those who lived the lifestyle. According to the article in popmatters.com the filmmakers had a "sort of secret bond" with the audience.

I've seen a few of these films in the past, and I've had to look hard to see the message with some, and with others it was pretty obvious. Read the interesting article on this, and below is the list of films that will be featured on TCM.

June 11: Men and Women Behind Bars

8 p.m. - “Hell’s Highway” (1932)
9:15 p.m. - “Ladies They Talk About” (1933)
10:30 p.m. - “Caged (1950)
12:15 a.m. - “So Young, So Bad” (1950)
2 a.m. - “The Strange One” (1957)
4 a.m. - “Women’s Prison” (1955)
June 13: The Dark Side: Film Noir and Crime
8 p.m. - “The Big Combo” (1955)
10 p.m. - “Suddenly, Last Summer” (1959)
12 a.m. - “Reflections in a Golden Eye” (1967)
2 a.m. - “Gilda” (1946)
4 a.m. - “The Maltese Falcon” (1941)

June 18: Horror

8 p.m. - “The Uninvited” (1944)
10 p.m. - “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (1945)
12 a.m. - “Voodoo Island” (1957)
1:30 a.m. - “The Haunting” (1963)
3:30 a.m. - “The Seventh Victim” (1943)

June 20: Comedy

8 p.m. - “Manhattan Parade” (1931)
9:30 p.m. - “Sylvia Scarlett” (1936)
11:15 p.m. - “Turnabout” (1940)
12:45 a.m. - “That Touch of Mink” (1962)
2:30 a.m. - “The Producers” (1968)
4:15 a.m. - “Designing Woman” (1957)

June 25: Code-Busters

8 p.m. - “Tea and Sympathy” (1956)
10:15 p.m. - “The Children’s Hour” (1961)
12:15 a.m. - “Staircase” (1969)
2:15 a.m. - “The Boys in the Band” (1970)
4:30 a.m. - “Victim” (1961)

June 27: Out and Open

8 p.m. - “Advise and Consent” (1962)
10:30 p.m. - “Walk on the Wild Side” (1962)
12:30 a.m. - “The Fox” (1967)
2:30 a.m. - “The Killing of Sister George” (1968)

Spring In A Small Town

2007-05-15T16:56:00.000-07:00

No I haven't died...its been a heck of a month for me, but I am back. I found this most interesting DVD review on a Chinese classic film, Fei Mu’s 1948 "Spring In A Small Town." Here is part of the review.

"The film’s principal female character Yuwen (Wei Wei) has all but given up on any kind of fulfilment in her life. Trapped in the ruins of their house in a small town devastated by the Second World War, Yuwen is caught up in a marriage with Dai Liyan (Yu Shi), a man she never really loved. Liyan has been ill with a heart condition for six of the eight years they have been married, and the relationship between them has for a long time lacked any passion, Yuwen’s role being reduced to a nursemaid looking after the sick man. "

"One day however, Liyan’s old schoolfriend Zhang Zhichen (Wei Li) arrives in the town by train and stays with them as a guest. His presence throws the quiet household into turmoil. Liyan starts to feel better and is able to take more air and reduce his medication. His young sixteen year-old sister who lives with them, is enchanted by this man who has seen so much more of the world beyond the confines of their small town, and Liyan thinks Zhang might make a good match for the young girl. However, unknown to him, Yuwen and Zhang once had a relationship until the young man left to study and work in the provinces as a doctor. Brought together again unexpectedly, the frustrations Yuwen has been experiencing in her marriage give rise to old passions, long ago put aside. "

"Director Fei Mu depicts both the surface narrative of the story and the incredible flux of the internal emotional states of the characters with remarkable facility and expressiveness. The presence of Zhang Zhichen gives rise to powerful conflicting passions within each of the characters, creating several situations where little is said, but the tensions between them are palpably felt. Much of this is expressed in the subtlest of gestures and the suggestive and symbolic use of objects – scarves, orchids, a bottle of medicine – but also in an exquisite sense of pacing and editing. The cuts between scenes at the start of the film start to give way to a delicate flow of cross-fades when Zhang arrives, as if time has started to flow again for Yuwen and, with dream-like elliptical jumps, it even appears to move forward faster than she can keep up with any time the young doctor is in close proximity." [Source: www.dvdtimes.co.uk]

The story sounds romantic, dangerous, and alluring. Its worth the buy just to see how symbolism is used, after all symbolism is a universal language.

A Day That Will Live in Infamy

2007-04-17T04:35:00.000-07:00

My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of yesterday's tragedy in the sleepy town of Blacksburg, Virginia. I live in Virginia and have friends in Blacksburg, suffice it to say that that town will never be the same again. There are no answers for this tragedy, none.

Citizen Kane--Vast Collection of Emptiness

2007-04-14T12:49:00.000-07:00

In between getting my taxes ready before Monday, I managed to see for the 3rd time in my life, "Citizen Kane." Each time you watch this movie you learn something new. I still can't get over the lighting and photography done in this movie by genius Orson Welles. This actor, director, and writer was ahead of his time. Much to my surprise the movie when first released did not do well, I guess America wasn't ready for something such as this… However, today it has been hailed as the greatest movie to ever come out of Hollywood! And rightly so, the movie, humorous, moving, and political, still resonates today.

Charles Foster Kane played movingly and perfectly by Orson Welles, is a 75-year-old newspaper tycoon who dies in his palatial Florida Home, alone, but surrounded by many, many things. Things that add up to millions of dollars, but his life was an empty one. The last words Kane utters before he dies is "Rosebud." Kane was well known by the public due his newspaper, politics, and scandals. Was he really??

A curious reporter Jerry Thompson sets out to find out what "Rosebud" meant. He sets out to find out the heart of Kane. He figures "Rosebud" is the spirit of Kane, it covers what Kane was really all about. He questions Kane's second wife, Susan Alexander, a failed singer who is now an alcoholic. Susan is just one of the many Kane casualties of pain. After many questions by Thompson, and many tears from Susan, Rosebud is still a mystery in the wind. She doesn't know what it means. Thompson reads the unpublished memoirs of Wall Street financier Walter Parks Thatcher, Kane's guardian and trustee of the mining fortune left to Kane by his mother.

The memoirs start in 1871, when Kane was just a little boy. Kane's mother owns a boarding house in Colorado. Kane's mother played by Agnes Moorehead, learns she is now a wealthy woman from mining shares left her by a former boarder. She decides that it will be best for Kane to be reared in the East where he will get a good education and have a better life. It is hinted somewhat that Kane is being physically abused by his father who doesn't want him to leave. But Kane's mom calls the shots; since it is only to her the money has been assigned. He reluctantly, but plainly gives in. A small, and venerable Kane is outside playing with his sled. He is told he will be going with Thatcher to a better life. He starts to protest; he doesn't want to leave his mother. Despite his protest, he is taken away. His sled left behind in the cold snow.

Thompson questions newspaper partner, Bernstein. Bernstein begins the story when Kane turns 25 and inherits all the money and decides to run a struggling newspaper. Kane turns it into a dynamic, muckraking, and a controversial publication. He attacks the sharks of society, slumlords, swindlers and big business. He vows to report the truth, and make his paper a defender of its readers' rights as citizens and as human beings. He writes sort of a declaration of this and prints it on the front page of his paper. The paper's circulation increases. But that increase was not enough for Kane. Years later he hires his rival's top reporters and his circulation surpasses the rival. He is on top of the world. It is at this time that Kane begins to collect all kinds of things from all over the world. These things are expensive things like statues, and paintings. On one of his trips to Europe he meets and marries Emily Monroe Norton, the president's niece. But still Bernstein has no real explanation of "Rosebud." He thought it may be a woman, a lost love, but couldn't say for sure.

Thompson moves on to another partner, Leland (Joseph Cotton) who is now in a nursing home. Leland tells Thompson that Kane believed in nothing but himself. Leland believed that Kane was a loveless man. Kane could give love to no one. He explains how unhappy his marriage was with Emily. Kane now seeks solace and love in a young woman he meets on a rainy night, Susan Alexander. Susan is a struggling, ahh, wannabe singer. He has an affair with her. He now wants to run for governor. His campaign is a successful one. He attacks his rival, and vows to put him in prison for stealing from "the people." The rival finds out of Kane's affair with Susan, and threatens to reveal it, unless he withdraws from running. Despite the hurt and scandal this will bring to his family, he does not withdraw, and loses his race for governor. He felt the people loved him, no matter the scandal. He was wrong. He loses his wife, and best partner, Leland. He marries Susan Alexander. He builds an Opera House for her. He gets her the best voice teachers. But she can't sing at all. He pushes her to keep singing, even with the awful and embarrassing reviews. One of which Leland started, and Kane finished.

Susan's life with Kane was no picnic. Kane orchestrated her life for the sake of his reputation. He tried to buy her love and affection with things. After much pleading, he lets her stop her singing career. They retire to the palatial home in Florida, Xanadu. The days and nights are long. The deep rooted problems between them are ever magnified. Susan leaves the immense and lonesome house.

Thompson goes to Xanadu to try to get answers. In Xandu all of Kane's possessions are being inventoried and crated. Thompson gives up trying to figure out the meaning of "Rosebud." He figures "Rosebud" will not really explain the man Kane. How wrong he was. Among the many things being crated is an old child's sled. A man casually throws the sled into a fiery furnace, the word "Rosebud" is painted across the top, is consumed by flames. All that was left of the man Kane was a vast collection of emptiness.

Jane Eyre On DVD

2007-04-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

The Jane Eyre (1944) DVD will be released on April 24! The dark, but romantic movie based on Charlotte Bronte's novel is about a spinster governess (Joan Fontaine) who takes a position in a remote castle like home located in a remote part of the Yorkshire moors. She falls in love with her employer played eerily by Orson Wells. The film features an unforgettable Barnard Herrman score and dark photography. Look out for a very young and uncredited Liz Taylor.

Unmasking Hollywood

2007-03-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

"Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night," words from a woman turning 40. Joseph L. Mankiewic'z "All About Eve" is a masterpiece. If you really want to know what goes on in show biz this is the film to watch. Bette Davis and Anne Baxter both earned Academy Award nominations for their role. And they deserved it. Bette plays an actress, Margo Channing, who is troubled about aging, and Anne plays the part of her seemingly meek and very young assistant, Eve, who eventually shows her true colors. Incidentally, Bette Davis did turn 40 the year she filmed this movie. She knew that in her real life, her days were numbered in Hollywood. Margo's life paralleled hers.

George Sanders won for Best Supporting Actor. This movie also won Best Picture over Sunset Boulevard that year. If you think about it both these films unmasked Hollywood. "All About Eve," held the record for most nominations (14) until Titanic (1997), wow!

The plot is fascinating and the script is sharp and insightful. At the very end of the movie we are introduced to a new character that tells us what Eve's future holds. You can't help thinking, "ah the sweet smell of revenge. The story of what happens to show biz people is told without any restrain in this film. It's a dog-eat-dog world. It's a vicious cycle. There is a lot to chew on in this film, definitely a movie that is food for thought and very open for discussion. It's an eye-opener and it’s a movie that can be seen over, and over again.