Miss Agnes is back... Some movies don't deserve to be forgotten, and 1962's Jessica is one of those. While it's not a great film, it's a charmer and well-worth a watch. While our guest of honor has a pretty memorable, albeit minimal part, in it as an Italian grandmother, this is definitely Jessica's movie. The film opens … Continue reading A Most Unusual Midwife
Why I’ve Seen “Since You Went Away” Umpteen Times
Since You Went Away is very well-trod territory for me. I've parsed it, studied it, scoured the Web for information about it. I've even counted the number of times the movie mentions war bonds and stamps (five times and twice, respectively, in case anyone is wondering). For those who might not be familiar with the plot, it follows … Continue reading Why I’ve Seen “Since You Went Away” Umpteen Times
Impressing Bette Davis
Miss Moorehead is back... One thing that can be said about Agnes Moorehead, and Bette Davis for that matter, is that in an industry that prizes youth above talent they managed to stay relevant. And they did it without seeming contrived or going under the knife, thank you very much. A flagship example of their … Continue reading Impressing Bette Davis
Page To Screen: Since You Went Away
There were a lot of films made about the American home front during the Second World War, but few are as sprawling or epic as David O. Selznik's 1944 movie, Since You Went Away. The story of a Midwestern family, the Hiltons, the film is based on a book of the same name by journalist Margaret Buell … Continue reading Page To Screen: Since You Went Away
Lionel On the Air
Lionel Barrymore was a towering actor, but unfortunately he had to deal with severe physical pain after the mid-nineteen-thirties, which limited his prospects somewhat. The possible causes range from rheumatoid arthritis to a drawing room table falling on him in 1936, to breaking a kneecap, to hip injuries. No one knows for sure. Some think … Continue reading Lionel On the Air
There’s A War On, Darling
Agnes Moorehead was a busy lady her entire life, and she was all over the place during the forties. While under contract at M-G-M, Agnes was loaned out to various studios, including Selznik International, where she made one of my all-time favorite movies, Since You Went Away. Very loosely based on a book of the same name … Continue reading There’s A War On, Darling
Taking Up Room 