Classic and James Bond films unite
The year that Mannequin had its nationwide release, Joan Crawford was featured on the list of actresses termed as "Box Office Poison". It was a list that featured Katherine Hepburn, Kay Francis, Norma Shearer and John Barrymore, to name but a few. It was a list that is now largely seen as being inaccurate, or… Continue reading The Working Man: Spencer Tracy in “Mannequin” (1937)
The Sound of Music is one of the most successful and famous films of all time. It's unlikely that you do not know the film, unless perhaps, unlike me, you did not watch it on video until the title song became a bit wonky from overuse. Whenever one thinks of the film, Julie Andrews and… Continue reading A Beautiful Baroness: Eleanor Parker in “The Sound of Music”
The story of Anastasia, the supposed last living member of the Russian royal family, is famous the world over. The hope that one last symbol of pre-Communist Russia exists/existed, is one that has lived on in the collective imagination for a long time. Twentieth Century Fox made the film twice, once in 1956 and again… Continue reading The Last Romanov: Anastasia (1956)
This review contains major plot point spoilers. Don’t read any further if you haven’t seen the film. Frenzy is, in my humble opinion, Hitchcock’s most intense and disturbing film. Because it was made long after the production code had folded, it has all the graphic imagery that the 1970s, with its lack of overarching censorship,… Continue reading The intensity of “Frenzy” (1972)
So many of you who know me, also know that I am a HUGE Maxwell Caulfield fan. It's so bad that when I make a decision, I often think: What would Michael Carrington do? Yes. It's indeed... that... bad... Maxwell Caulfield is best known now for portraying British geek heartthrob, Michael Carrington, in the cult… Continue reading Announcing the Cool Rider: Maxwell Caulfield Blogathon
Jeopardy (1953) is the kind of film that exists on a star's filmography and gets overshadowed by bigger, better known fare. When you think about Barbara Stanwyck's career, you immediately think of Double Indemnity, The Lady Eve or Baby Face. You don't think about, because you probably don't know about, a modestly budgeted film noir,… Continue reading A Matter of Time: Barbara Stanwyck in “Jeopardy” (1953)
Hooray! The day for our wonderful Queen of the Silver Screen and Sass, Barbara Stanwyck, to be celebrated, has arrived! So without further ado, let's get into the lovely entries from our awesome participants! First up we have Kevin, who writes about Stany and Capra's work together. Then Lê writes about Barbara's performance in one… Continue reading The Queen of Sass: Barbara Stanwyck Blogathon has arrived!
Olivia de Havilland has been in some of the most iconic films of all time, from Gone With The Wind, to The Snake Pit and The Heiress. But in 1955 she starred in a film that despite having an almost all star cast, including Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra, Broderick Crawford, Charles Bickford and Gloria Grahame,… Continue reading Love and Medicine (Not Necessarily in that Order): Olivia de Havilland in “Not As A Stranger” (1955)
Barbara Stanwyck, or Missy or Stanny as she is often referred to with great affection in the classic film community, is one of the greatest actresses to ever live. Hands down. No contest. Even people who have never, or will never (pity on them) ever watch a classic film, are pretty likely to know who… Continue reading Announcing The Queen of Sass: Barbara Stanwyck Blogathon
Rathbone, Bruce and Brookes perviously starred in Sherlock Holmes Faces Death together Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce's third last outing in the series of films they made as Holmes and Watson between 1939 and 1946, is one of the best. Atmospheric, cerebral and quite disturbing in some ways, it's a film that is saved from… Continue reading Hypnotic Pools: The Woman in Green (1945)
Pale Writer 