Category Archives: Festivals/Events
MoMA Presents “Leo McCarey: Seriously Funny,” Covering the Undersung Director from the Silents Onward
“I only know I like my characters to walk in clouds, I like a little bit of the fairy tale. As long as I’m there behind the camera lens, I’ll let somebody else photograph the ugliness of the world.” —Leo McCarey If you’re anywhere near New York this month, prepare to walk in the clouds. …
THE NITRATE PICTURE SHOW: When the Screen Glistened with Real Silver
There’s a reason they call it the Silver Screen. In the early days, reels of nitrate film contained actual silver. Most of these precious spools were melted down by studios for their metal content or neglected until they turned to dust, liquefied or burned in warehouse fires. But not all are lost—and earlier this month, the passionate film-preservation …
When Richard Widmark Hugs You, You Stay Hugged
Back in the spring of 2001, the Walter Reade Theatre had a retrospective of Richard Widmark films, with a special—to put it mildly—appearance by the man himself, who was then 86. I had loved Richard Widmark since I was a kid, when I saw him in Don’t Bother to Knock. He seemed like a bit of a …
Your Complete Guide to the 2016 TCM Classic Film Festival!
Ah, spring! When movie lovers’ thoughts turn to the TCM Classic Film Festival… For the past two years, I’ve covered this fabulous fest for Sister Celluloid, and the lovely folks at TCM were kind enough to invite me again. But then, life had other plans. My Mom, who’s 86 and was already frail, recently had a bad …
Joel McCrea and Jean Arthur “Stoop” to Conquer in THE MORE THE MERRIER
In Sullivan’s Travels, Preston Sturges made a convincing case that comedy is often the best balm for tragedy. But for his friend and colleague George Stevens, the horrors of World War II left him with little capacity for comedy when he returned home from the front lines. From 1943 to 1946, Stevens covered the war in Europe for the Army …
Please Join Us for the Backstage Blogathon!
I’m thrilled to be co-hosting another blogathon with the fabulous Fritzi at Movies Silently! And this one premieres in—gasp!—2016. Which is much closer than you think. On that cheery note, please join us January 15-18 for the Backstage Blogathon! What’s it about? Well, the entertainment industry has always loved looking in the mirror, and we’re going to …
Please Join Us for the “TRY IT, YOU’LL LIKE IT!” Blogathon!
When you’re plunking down on the sofa to watch a classic film, do your friends and loved ones react like… Or… not so much? Well, never fear, the “Try It, You’ll Like It!” Blogathon is here! Hosted by Sister Celluloid and the fabulous Fritzi at Movies Silently, the blogathon is a public service of sorts… …
The TCM Film Festival: Shirley MacLaine’s Terms of Endearment—and Otherwise
There are worse ways to spend a weekend than following Shirley MacLaine around Hollywood. The 81-year-old Oscar winner, whose career stretches back to the end of the Golden Age, was a featured guest at the recent TCM Classic Film Festival. But when she settled into Grauman’s Chinese Theatre with Leonard Maltin to talk about The Apartment, her microphone began …
TCM Festival Flashback: The Cast and Director of DELIVERANCE
Last year, I covered the TCM Festival for Sister Celluloid (click here for Sunday in New York, Mary Poppins and Margaret O’Brien, here for Eddie Muller’s fabulous interview with William Friedkin, here for Kim Novak’s thrilling and moving takedown of online bullies, here for Shirley Jones’ awesome introduction of Oklahoma! and here for Maureen O’Hara bringing the house down with How Green Was My Valley). …
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