Category: classic film review

Classic Film, classic film review, Horror Classics

A Haunting Hometown: CARNIVAL of SOULS (1962)

A charming, small town in ‘Middle America.’ A simple way of life where neighbors are friendly, polite, but cautiously on guard of strangers that behave strangely. In Herk Harvey’s only feature film/now cult classic, CARNIVAL of SOULS (1962), the small college town of Lawrence, Kansas was the perfect setting for the eery, atmospheric horror. In the early 1960s, with a population of little over 30,000 … Continue reading A Haunting Hometown: CARNIVAL of SOULS (1962)

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Classic Film, classic film review

Cary Grant Builds Trust Issues in NOTORIOUS (1946)

By the Autumn of 1945, Cary Grant, along with our global allies, surely breathed a collective sigh of relief. Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945. After the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan followed by surrendering on September 2, 1945. The second world war was over, but this was the deadliest global conflict in human history, with an estimated 50 to 85 … Continue reading Cary Grant Builds Trust Issues in NOTORIOUS (1946)

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Classic Film, classic film review

Cary Grant Steps Out in MY FAVORITE WIFE

In my last entry, we discussed Cary Grant’s first feature-length film, Frank Tuttle’s THIS IS THE NIGHT. That year, Cary starred in many Paramount films, under the first year of his contract. Today’s session, we’ll cover MY FAVORITE WIFE (1940). From 1932 to this film in 1940, Cary worked in 35 films. By the late 1930s, Cary finished up his Paramount contract, signed onto a … Continue reading Cary Grant Steps Out in MY FAVORITE WIFE

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Classic Film, classic film review, Comedy

A Christmas Miracle Comes for Trudy Kockenlocker

Many a cinephile enjoy debating what films merit the definition for a holiday movie. Ever since Preston Sturges directed THE MIRACLE of MORGAN’S CREEK (1944), the controversy surrounding the film was less focused on whether it’s a Christmas movie, but more on the shock that it ever passed the production code under Breen’s watchful eyes. Written and directed by the king of screwball comedies, Preston Sturges, The Miracle … Continue reading A Christmas Miracle Comes for Trudy Kockenlocker

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Classic Film, classic film review, Westerns

A Western Rarity: SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (1960)

With this Ford film, we’ll continue the themes from rugged wilderness and racism as discussed in my coverage of THE SEARCHERS, into similar territory in SERGEANT RUTLEDGE. We will take a closer look at the ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ of the U.S. Cavalry history, but with the suspense of a courtroom drama. For discussion of this film’s story, it’s important to note the historical relevance of Black … Continue reading A Western Rarity: SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (1960)

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Classic Film, classic film review, Horror Classics

WEREWOLF OF LONDON (1935)

We’ve reached the end of our cinematic journey of Universal Classic Monsters. As we focused on Universal Pictures’ transition into sound production films and their successes in the genre of horror, we finish appropriately enough at the end of the Laemmle empire. Even with the financial and critical success of SHOW BOAT (1936), the too many flops and debts from over-spending added up. Carl Laemmle … Continue reading WEREWOLF OF LONDON (1935)

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Classic Film, classic film review, Horror Classics

A Case for Campy or Creepy-THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)

We’re in for a real treat. Many consider, and I’m in full agreement, that James Whale’s THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935) to be the best of the Universal classic monster films. The question is WHY? We’ll discuss that, and perhaps you’ll have your own opinions on this. We have studied several Universal horrors up to this point, along with the details of what was transpiring … Continue reading A Case for Campy or Creepy-THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)

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Classic Film, classic film review, Horror Classics

A Sinister Study: THE BLACK CAT (1934)

This marks the first of eight films that paired Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. Both big names in Hollywood coming off of their huge successes of DRACULA and FRANKENSTEIN. But while Karloff would continue his success in the years that followed, Lugosi’s career struggled. DRACULA would be his first major Hollywood role, and his biggest. Lugosi didn’t seem the right fit for many roles that … Continue reading A Sinister Study: THE BLACK CAT (1934)

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Classic Film, classic film review, Horror Classics

Deep Focus on THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933)

As we traverse into our latest Universal monster film, James Whale’s THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933), we feel a sense of familiarity with another examination into madness. But this tale goes deeper and more personal than our prior films. This time, the scientist is not just driven into insanity by his passionate pursuits, but could he be the monster, too? H.G. Wells published his novel, “The … Continue reading Deep Focus on THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933)

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Classic Film, classic film review, Horror Classics

THE MUMMY (1932)

In our 3rd film in this Universal Horror series, we’re studying Karl Freund’s THE MUMMY (1932). While we travel to ancient Egypt via California and Universal City, this tale feels strangely familiar territory. Again, we see familiar faces. But have we been here before? One of the themes of THE MUMMY is reincarnation; but in many aspects, the story itself is a reincarnation of DRACULA … Continue reading THE MUMMY (1932)

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