Category: classic film review

Blogathon, classic film review

THE MORE THE MERRIER (1943) Kiss- Is it HOT in here??

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend. For some, that means honoring friendships by going out with a group of girlfriends, for young ones it’s likely exchanging cards and heart-shaped candy. For the romantic celebrators, perhaps dinner, flowers and those pretty Hallmark cards are in store. (Forgive the shameless plug- we’re a Hallmark family.) As for me, I became engaged on Valentine’s in New York City in front … Continue reading THE MORE THE MERRIER (1943) Kiss- Is it HOT in here??

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Blogathon, classic film review

Ford & Duke Bromance: STAGECOACH (1939)

Hollywood is known for many storied collaborations. Duos that worked together so well that the results are of cinematic legends. Such is the case of director John Ford and actor John Wayne aka Marion Robert Morrison aka ‘the Duke.’ Theirs was a rugged bromance, often contentious and many would say dysfunctional; but hardly like those BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN boys. The two experienced a lifelong partnership that … Continue reading Ford & Duke Bromance: STAGECOACH (1939)

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Blogathon, classic film review

Barbara Stanwyck in BABY FACE (1933)

It doesn’t get much more ‘Pre-Code’ than Barbara Stanwyck and her role in Alfred E. Green’s BABY FACE (1933). Decades later many have since crowned her the reigning queen of Pre-code after this film stirred up the censors in its direct look at the female power of sex. Barbara Stanwyck is Lily Powers who has been raised by her slimy, abusive father (Robert Barrat as … Continue reading Barbara Stanwyck in BABY FACE (1933)

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Blogathon, classic film review

Abbott and Costello Meet the Universal Monsters

Modern horror has gone through various subgenre influences from vampires, zombies, Japanese horror, slasher blood-and-gore, to ‘documentary style camera work’ (think Blair Witch Project or Paranormal Activity), with a slew of sequels plus parodies and a host of others. Those are okay, I guess. But what really does it for me are the Universal horror films or any classic horror comedy. The best of these … Continue reading Abbott and Costello Meet the Universal Monsters

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Blogathon, classic film review, silent film

Buster Keaton in COLLEGE (1927)

Buster Keaton was at his best in the years prior to leaving for MGM. During this time in the mid to late twenties, anything collegiate was all the style rage. Although Harold Lloyd tackled the topic first in THE FRESHMAN (1925), Keaton ‘took a run’ at it in his lesser known classic, COLLEGE (1927). In this story, scholarly nerd Ronald (Buster Keaton) starts off on … Continue reading Buster Keaton in COLLEGE (1927)

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Blogathon, classic film review

CMBA’s Planes, Trains, and Automobiles blogathon… TAXI! (1932)

Crooked cabbies, hot Irish tempers, and bad situations with good intentions. Roy Del Ruth’s 1932 PreCode nugget has a variety sampling of yummy delights. As if struggling to make ends meet as a taxi driver in the Depression isn’t bad enough, mafia styling competition just made it worse. Our story begins with Guy Kibbee as ole man Pop Riley who has comfortably carved out a … Continue reading CMBA’s Planes, Trains, and Automobiles blogathon… TAXI! (1932)

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Blogathon, classic film review, silent film

Dolores Del Rio in RAMONA (1928)

“Take care of your inner, spiritual beauty. That will reflect in your face.” … Dolores Del Rio Of his romance with her, Orson Welles called her “the most exciting woman I’ve ever met.” Her friend Marlene Dietrich thought she was, “the most beautiful woman in Hollywood.” As impressive as that sounds, Dolores Del Rio was all of this and so much more. Drawn to the … Continue reading Dolores Del Rio in RAMONA (1928)

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Blogathon, classic film review

My TCM Discovery, Colleen Moore in WHY BE GOOD?

Turner Classic Movies channel has acquired a cult-like following of devoted fans who enjoy sharing their retro film nerdiness together via social media and activities like the TCM Film Festival. The network is elevating this social-meets-movie-watching experience for their fandom with the #LetsMovie campaign, as part of their overall strategy to include a broader audience. To reflect a slew of social sharing activities this month, … Continue reading My TCM Discovery, Colleen Moore in WHY BE GOOD?

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Blogathon, classic film review

Murder On the Orient Express (1974)

In a startling intro, we hear eery, jagged chords as shocking headlines of a baby kidnapping starkly flash onto the screen. Headlines of names (baby Daisy Armstrong and her famous parents) that are unmistakably a mirroring of a real event, the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. Cut to five years later to the introduction of the eccentric and colorful cast of characters on board the Orient Express, … Continue reading Murder On the Orient Express (1974)

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Blogathon, classic film review

Alan Arkin in CATCH-22 (1970)

Do you ever feel like you must be going insane because it seems like you’re the only sane one in a messed up world of lunatics? I know modern-day politics drives me to this point many times over. Mike Nichol’s CATCH-22 (1970) takes on this premise in the darkest of comedies. At the core of this film, Alan Arkin as Captain John Yossarian is perfection … Continue reading Alan Arkin in CATCH-22 (1970)

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