Ah, 2019's next-to-last Shamedown. And another silent movie, but I'm not complaining. I like silent movies, and it is Lon Chaney, after all. If anyone would like to know what this Shamedown business is all about , please visit Cinema Shame. And now on with the show... Lots of people remember Lon Chaney, the Man … Continue reading Shamedown #10: The Phantom Of the Opera
Origins: A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood
When Mister Rogers' name comes up, people invariably smile. So do I. Fred Rogers was an unfailingly pleasant part of many Americans' childhoods. It was a comforting thing to see him come through the door, go to the closet, change his coat for a cardigan and leather street shoes for sneakers, all the while singing, … Continue reading Origins: A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood
Your Face Is Bogart’s
Nice to have you back, Ms. Bacall... Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart made five movies together. Their chemistry was so electric that no matter what the story was about, she would always smolder and he would always appraise her coolly and wordlessly. The 1947 film, Dark Passage, however thinks outside of the box due to one simple … Continue reading Your Face Is Bogart’s
Reading Rarities: Eating For Victory
OK, if you're thinking we've been here before, you'd sort of be right. It's World War Two-themed and it centers around food and family. Heck, I even did a review of a Marguerite Patten cookbook three years ago that had this exact title, sans the "Reading Rarity" part. Still, there are a few differences here, … Continue reading Reading Rarities: Eating For Victory
The William Goldman Blogathon Wrapup and Thank You
Our William Goldman Blogathon, sadly, has officially ended, but the examination of Goldman's work doesn't have to. Speaking of which, if anyone has late entries for us, please feel free to spirit them my way and I will post them here. A huge heap of thanks to my wonderful and talented participants who sent in posts this … Continue reading The William Goldman Blogathon Wrapup and Thank You
The William Goldman Blogathon Has Arrived
We've made it to the blogathon! Inconceivable! OK, maybe not, but it's here, and it's gonna be awesome. I will be updating this post throughout the weekend, so please send me your wonderful entries and I will add them here. Happy reading! MovieRob brings us three reviews with this look at the 1966 film, Harper, 1978's Magic, and Heat from 1986. … Continue reading The William Goldman Blogathon Has Arrived
A Dangerous Story
Mr. Goldman, I presume... To those of us who are older than thirty-five, the name, "Watergate" is rather charged, as it's one of the most notorious incidents of the last fifty years. I remember my high school history teachers talking more about Watergate than about World War Two or the Civil War. For those who … Continue reading A Dangerous Story
Fatima In Hollywood
Bom dia... The fifties are somewhere we've all been to in terms of Hollywood movies, and we know it was an interesting time in the film industry. Big bad television and blacklisting made the studios rather nervous, and subjects that were once avoided now seemed safe. Religion was one of those, and Christian-centered films of … Continue reading Fatima In Hollywood
You Say “Da,” I Say, “Nyet.”
Florence Vidor is apparently kind of an unknown quantity in film history; she's mainly remembered for her marriage to respected director King Vidor. Vidor had been instrumental in his wife's rise to fame, but in 1924 the two of them divorced and each carried on alone. One of Vidor's post-King movies was 1926's You Never Know … Continue reading You Say “Da,” I Say, “Nyet.”
Ten Hut
From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli... My uncle is a Marine. Well, he's not on active service, but they say a Marine is never really out, so he's technically still a Marine. He's also a Vietnam vet, and he always flies the Marine flag outside his house. So, I have a … Continue reading Ten Hut
Announcing the Second So Bad It’s Good Blogathon!
It's back, it's badder than ever, and it needs you to make it shine in all its cringeworthy glory. Yes, Round Two of the So Bad It's Good Blogathon is going to take place from February 21st until February 23rd in the year of our Lord, 2020. If you missed last year, here's the premise … Continue reading Announcing the Second So Bad It’s Good Blogathon!
Walking the Tightrope
Mr. Rains is back... Claude Rains had a lot of classic roles, and one of his best in my opinion is that of Senator Joseph Paine in the 1939 film, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. This movie is well-trod territory for film buffs and Frank Capra fans, and it's definitely James Stewart's show, but he's effectively matched … Continue reading Walking the Tightrope
More Cuisine, Stars Hollow Style
If you've been reading my blog for a while, you probably remember a post I did a couple of years ago in which I reviewed Eat Like A Gilmore: The Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Gilmore Girls. Well, dear readers, author Kristi Carlson and her entourage of chefs are back with more eats for the … Continue reading More Cuisine, Stars Hollow Style
The William Goldman Blogathon Is One Week Away
Seven days to go, people. Are you ready to take the plunge? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyR7XB0VBPM There's still plenty of room left if anyone wants to sign up. Click here for the rules and comment if you're interested, and I hope you are, because it's gonna be awesome. All righty, see you later, all...
Origins: Midway
When I heard there was going to be a movie about Midway, I thought, "Cool!" It's not a topic that's been delved into much in Hollywood, probably because it wasn't as high-profile as Pearl Harbor or Iwo Jima, although it was extremely important to the Pacific theater. My dad's stepdad was at Midway--he was a … Continue reading Origins: Midway
Stage To Screen: On the Town
"New York, New York, it's a {insert adjective here} town..." Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green's story of three sailors on leave in New York City is probably one of the most famous musicals of the World War Two period. It was both satire and commentary, as it came from a time when relationships … Continue reading Stage To Screen: On the Town
Taking Up Room 