A Fitting Tale for Our Times… THE MORTAL STORM (1940)

For our 2nd film to explore in our journey into “the Greatest Year in Cinema History: 1939,” we’re taking a liberty with the primary goal of our course by discussing a film from 1940. Initially, I had scheduled Anatole Litvak’s CONFESSIONS of a NAZI SPY (1939), starring dynamic Edward G. Robinson. I do highly recommend CONFESSIONS, but I think there is a more finessed approach … Continue reading A Fitting Tale for Our Times… THE MORTAL STORM (1940)

kelleeprattOctober 1, 2025Leave a comment

Classic Film, Film Noir, Politics in Hollywood

THE BREAKING POINT (1950)

While Michael Curtiz would go on to make more films (22 more) in the decade following 1950, it is with good reason that I have chosen THE BREAKING POINT as the film to finish out our Curtiz journey. “Noir Czar” Eddie Muller while being interviewed on TCM by Robert Osborn once described this film as” brilliant,” and his favorite Michael Curtiz film; and yes, he … Continue reading THE BREAKING POINT (1950)

kelleeprattSeptember 20, 2025Leave a comment

Classic Film, Biography, Drama, Musical

To jazz up your day… YOUNG MAN with a HORN (1950)

As we cruise farther along our Michael Curtiz journey, today we’re pulling over to a little jazz club to discuss, YOUNG MAN with a HORN (1950). At this point, we have explored a variety of film genres that Curtiz not only explored but excelled in directing. Now let’s look at a film that is not only a biopic, but a musical biopic. American novelist Dorothy … Continue reading To jazz up your day… YOUNG MAN with a HORN (1950)

kelleeprattSeptember 9, 20251 Comment

Classic Film, classic film review, Politics in Hollywood

A Film Study: CASABLANCA (1942)

I’m shocked, shocked to find any evidence of a cinematic soul that isn’t in love with the film we’re discussing today, CASABLANCA. It’s not only a film that many a classic film fan would describe as their favorite, but it’s easily a film that could be described as an essentially perfect film. In many ways, with the experience of working within a wide variety of … Continue reading A Film Study: CASABLANCA (1942)

kelleeprattAugust 19, 2025Leave a comment

Classic Film, Crime Drama

A Gangster Morality: ANGELS with DIRTY FACES (1938)

Warner Brothers’ house style during the 1930s embraced gangster films, along with the occasional big production musicals. During the Pre-Code years of the early 1930s, those gangster films were gritty and violent and made James Cagney (THE PUBLIC ENEMY, 1931) and Edward G Robinson (LITTLE CEASAR, 1931) big stars. But once the production code became enforced during the second half of the 1930s, the studio … Continue reading A Gangster Morality: ANGELS with DIRTY FACES (1938)

kelleeprattJuly 22, 2025July 23, 20252 Comments

Adventure, Classic Film

The ADVENTURES of ROBIN HOOD: A Technicolor Dream in Tights

We venture forth in our Michael Curtiz adventure with our next film, THE ADVENTURES of ROBIN HOOD (1938). To pivot from 2-strip color Pre-Code horror with cannibalistic themes to the Technicolor swashbuckling men in tights of Robin Hood is a perfect example of the Curtiz versatility. As a reminder, the Pre-Code era (late 1929 – summer of 1934) has ended, and as such Joseph Breen … Continue reading The ADVENTURES of ROBIN HOOD: A Technicolor Dream in Tights

kelleeprattJuly 18, 2025Leave a comment

Classic Film, Biography

“ONLY CURTIZ SPOKEN HERE”

A Film Study of MICHAEL CURTIZ One of Hollywood’s greatest directors of its pinnacle ‘golden era’ is a name you’ve possibly never heard of. Michael Curtiz directed an impressively prolific filmography, from silents to the early sixties, including popular classics that endure to this day. And yet, his is not a household name. Directors like Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, and Steven Spielberg are well-known names- … Continue reading “ONLY CURTIZ SPOKEN HERE”

kelleeprattApril 21, 2025April 21, 20251 Comment

Classic Film, classic film review, Horror Classics

WHAT EVER HAPPENED to BABY JANE?

We have arrived at the final film in this Bette Davis film study series. The opportunity for WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE came nearly twelve years after our last film, ALL ABOUT EVE. She continued working in those dozen years, but the golden era of Oscar nominated romantic lead roles was rapidly fading away. Now fifty-six years old, Davis was entering the last chapter in … Continue reading WHAT EVER HAPPENED to BABY JANE?

kelleeprattApril 3, 20252 Comments

Classic Film, classic film review, Melodrama

The Background Story: Bette Davis in NOW VOYAGER

In today’s stop along our grand Bette Davis adventure, we are studying NOW VOYAGER (1941). It is undoubtedly a dramatic tale of romance, but also rooted in a theme of psychiatry and mental health. As a bonus, we are treated to a character makeover. This is a coming out tale. Who doesn’t love a dazzling ‘before and after’ reveal? NOW VOYAGER is based upon a … Continue reading The Background Story: Bette Davis in NOW VOYAGER

kelleeprattMarch 5, 20252 Comments

Classic Film, classic film review, Film Noir

Bette Davis Delivers in THE LETTER

In our last film, DARK VICTORY (1939), we explored a medical mystery surrounding a privileged socialite. Today we are discussing THE LETTER (1940), another mystery, yet this time of murder and less mystery; and Bette Davis is not just another socialite of privilege, but very much of white colonial privilege. Today we’ll address whether she is portraying a true vixen or perhaps a deeply complicated … Continue reading Bette Davis Delivers in THE LETTER

kelleeprattFebruary 12, 20253 Comments

Outspoken & Freckled

Kellee instructs on classic film, with historical perspective and deeper study.

Tag: movies