Classic and James Bond films unite
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)
It's difficult to say why I find A Notorious Affair so enjoyable. Basil Rathbone has an abysmal Italian (I think) accent, Billie Dove isn't terribly charismatic, and the characterisation isn't exactly hugely well rounded for anyone. Basil really could play the violin, even if he looks a trifle nervous in this screenshot But what I… Continue reading Many-a-melodrama: A Notorious Affair (1930)
I am thrilled to say that The Suave Swordsman: Basil Rathbone Blogathon has finally arrived! I am so excited to share this event with all of you and the wonderful bloggers (of which there are happily many) who have generously donated their swashbuckling time to writing entries! First up is Maddy, who shares her thoughts… Continue reading The Suave Swordsman has arrived!
As human beings, we often fail to think about, or realise, how important the big picture is. We talk about "seeing" the big picture or how we need to look at the "big picture", but we very rarely do. A lot of the time, we make decisions, often crucial, life changing ones, based on assumption,… Continue reading Anatomy of Murder: Blood Simple (1984)
Like most people, my first exposure to Vincent Price was through horror films, and the only early film of his that I really knew was Dragonwyck. But over the years, as my appreciation for classic film has continued to grow and mature, I've sought out more films from his pre-horror career, such as the two other classics… Continue reading Paging Dr Death: Vincent Price in “Shock” (1946)
A few months ago I undertook the task of watching all fourteen of the Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes movies. I am very glad to say that I was successful in my little quest. Like most classic film fans, my feelings about the series are mixed. I feel that the majority of the… Continue reading A Glowing Mist: Sherlock Holmes and The Scarlet Claw (1944)
When my mother was a child, her mother took she and my mother’s younger brother to the movies whenever she was able. The mother of four, my grandmother had little time for leisure activities, but books and movies were very important to her, and she passed her love for both onto her two youngest children.… Continue reading A Silver Discovery: How I became a classic film fan
Like most people born before the 2000s, I came into contact with classic films through two avenues: a video tape that my parents or some other adult bought and which was rewatched until it gave a dying jolt in the video machine, or through TV. Where I live, there's an open access channel which does… Continue reading Sailing Takes Me To Where The Evil Magician Wants To Be: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
Ernest Lubitsch is one of the finest directors of the Golden Age of Hollywood. I've waxed lyrical about him before in my post on To Be Or Not To Be, but every time I watch one of his movies, I am dazzled by his sensational satire and his incredible ability to construct complex but relatable films. Cluny… Continue reading The Class of Cluny Brown (1946)
Pale Writer 