Grab the Kleenex... There was no shortage of tearjerker movies during the World War Two period, and one of the most successful was 1943's The Human Comedy. The public loved it. The critics loved it. It was also reputed to be Louis B. Mayer's favorite movie. How does it hold up today? Surprisingly well in a … Continue reading Close To Home
Judy’s Last MGM Movie
Miss Judy is back... It's no secret that Judy's life got difficult towards the end of her time at MGM, which was an endless push-pull between her trying to take control of her health and well-being and the studio wanting her back at work. Judy was fired from two movies in 1949--Annie Get Your Gun and The … Continue reading Judy’s Last MGM Movie
Ma and Pa In Paris, Mais Oui
Wheels up, y'all... One of the fixtures of nineteen fifties cinema was the Ma and Pa Kettle series. My parents grew up on it, they introduced me to it, I grew up on it, and I've introduced it to my son. These movies have their own brand of charm. Marjorie Main plays herself except that … Continue reading Ma and Pa In Paris, Mais Oui
We’ve Just Begun To Fight
I don't know about anyone else, but discovering old-time radio was a real ear-opening experience. OK, yes, that's a lame pun, but I couldn't resist. Anyway, when I found the now sadly out-of-print Radio Spirits collection, America At War, I encountered a whole raft of Lux Radio Theatre versions of movies I had never heard … Continue reading We’ve Just Begun To Fight
Shamedown #6: I Want You
Is it June already? Yep. For another day, anyway. If anyone is coming in late and wants to know what a Shamedown is, please click here. The Korean War is often called "the forgotten war," and to a large extent it is, although it is significant for everyone in that it was one of the … Continue reading Shamedown #6: I Want You
Shamedown #9: Touch of Evil
Well, lookee what we have here...another Shamedown. Anyone who's new to the blog and is wondering what the heck this is all about, please visit Cinema Shame. Orson Welles's relationship with Hollywood was always a contentious one, but by the late nineteen-fifties, a few things were changing. A lot of the old guard executives had … Continue reading Shamedown #9: Touch of Evil
Semper Fidelis
As I've said before, with many of their bigger stars and directors overseas, Hollywood studios had to get creative as to what kinds of films they made. Actors and actresses who normally played character or supporting roles were commonly moved into lead parts, and one example of this is the 1943 film, Salute To the Marines. Featuring … Continue reading Semper Fidelis
Taking Up Room 