We all know that so many Hollywood stars got their start on the stage, Broadway or otherwise, and one of the most famous is Vincente Minnelli. Among the things Minnelli did so well in his films was communicate emotion without beating an audience over the head, and one of his lesser-known films is 1955's The … Continue reading It’s All About the Drapes
Lauren’s Big Break
Time to look for some clues, all... The hard-boiled detective trope really came into its own during the 1930s, and one of its patron saints is Raymond Chandler, whose Philip Marlowe graced the screen several times, as well as books and radio. One of these is 1946's The Big Sleep, starring Humphrey Bogart, who turned hard-boiled … Continue reading Lauren’s Big Break
This Train Is Bound For Murder
Nice to see Ms. Bergman again... In the seventies, studios liked a lot of star wattage in their prestige films. Maybe it was because their output was so much smaller than it was in past decades, or maybe they were desperate to get audiences away from their TVs and back into theaters. It was probably … Continue reading This Train Is Bound For Murder
Grumpy Old Presidents
Well hello, Mr. Garner... OK, so 1996's My Fellow Americans is a political satire and, I'll admit, an ironic choice for an election year, but we're gonna roll with it. Heck, we're going to lay the irony on thick here, because 1996 was the year Bill Clinton and Bob Dole locked horns for the Presidency. However, I'm … Continue reading Grumpy Old Presidents
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
Adjustments, All Sorts
Well, hello, Ms. Bacall... When life is in turmoil, people need release wherever they can find it, and the 1957 film, Designing Woman was one such break for Lauren Bacall. She called it "a nice, light comedy," and though she didn't think so initially, it was just what she needed during one of the toughest times … Continue reading Adjustments, All Sorts
Hostage Hotel
Even after his mobility became limited, Lionel Barrymore had a busy career right up to his death in 1954. While he was with MGM for decades, he was loaned out on many occasions, one of the later ones being the 1948 film, Key Largo. Barrymore's role is definitely memorable, and shows his power as an actor even … Continue reading Hostage Hotel
Taking Up Room 