Victorian literature is recognized for its emphasis on repression, social hierarchy, and gender politics. When William Thackery published Vanity Fair in 1848 he couldn’t have assumed that its heroine, Becky … Continue Reading Becky Sharp (1935)
Though not sponsored content, I was provided a copy of this by the awesome folks at ClassicFlix. All opinions strictly my own. In 1937 MGM released the film Topper starring … Continue Reading Merrily We Live (1938)
Long-time readers of JiCF know I’m a sucker for a domestic melodrama and only Old Hollywood knows how to take a simple story about a couple struggling to make a … Continue Reading Made for Each Other (1939)
Originally published December 4th, 2011 We move on to another diverse Christmas film, one that has a more tenuous connection to Christmas than even Rent could boast, but nonetheless takes … Continue Reading 25 Days of Christmas: The Thin Man (1934)
The last in my series of reviews on the three adaptations of Little Women is the 1933 George Cukor version. This one is widely considered the de facto interpretation of … Continue Reading Little Women (1933)
There are several reasons to praise Warner Archive, but the main one is that they support all manner of classic film, even small comedic outings like Kansas City Princess. This … Continue Reading Kansas City Princess (1934)
Another Throwback Thirstday devoted to my number one classic film love, John Garfield. I’ve pretty much decided that ’30s Garfield is my favorite, mainly because his cynicism is just adorable … Continue Reading Throwback Thirstday: They Made Me a Criminal (1939)
The implementation of the Code in 1934 left many films in a state of disarray, having to tweak scripts and direction at the last second to comply. Cinema was left … Continue Reading The Gay Bride (1934)
As cinephiles we’re aware of two truths: actors in biopics won’t look like their respective subjects and movies based on novels don’t often please fans of the book. This latter … Continue Reading A Lost Lady (1934)
Actresses were always pigeonholed during the classic era, but Kay Francis always seems especially confined to her particular brand of persona. Watching Comet Over Broadway immediately draws comparisons to another … Continue Reading Comet Over Broadway (1938)
I’m a sucker for a good marriage plot. Nearly every genre of classic film works better during the golden era but marriage plots are particularly unique. For one, they showcase … Continue Reading The First Hundred Years (1938)
Ryan Murphy might have spent an entire season talking about the feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, but the story that’s always enthralled me is about a different feud: … Continue Reading The Old Maid (1939)
When I first started Journeys in Classic Film I was immediately drawn to the work of pre-Code star Jean Harlow. (It helped that I’d received a box set of her … Continue Reading Red Headed Woman (1932)
Outside of being an amazing opportunity to gather with like-minded folks and watch movies, the TCM Classic Film Festival is the place to hear bizarre stories about movies caught in … Continue Reading Rafter Romance (1933)
Last year I reviewed the Alfred Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) starring James Stewart and Doris Day. I wasn’t in love with it, but Day was … Continue Reading The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
The Phantom of Crestwood is the equivalent of watching a radio serial play out on-screen. Maybe that’s because it was! As the film’s introduction states, the series was broadcast via … Continue Reading The Phantom of Crestwood (1932)
