To audiences, Buster Keaton is “the Great Stoneface.” A man capable of conjuring laughs from doing little more than standing in a dangerous situation and letting what happens happen. His … Continue Reading The Great Buster (2018)
The tragedy and sadness of Montgomery Clift’s life is well-documented. As a montage in Robert Anderson Clift and Hillary Demmon’s documentary, Making Montgomery Clift, shows, the actor with the impossibly … Continue Reading Making Montgomery Clift (2018)
As classic film fans will tell you, the new wave of Hollywood secrets coming out today are nothing if you know about studio era history. Certain stars troubles were well-known, … Continue Reading Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (2018)
In a world of CGI and franchise starters, we’ve lost sight of the hard work that used to go into filmmaking, like when a poster image was hand-drawn by an … Continue Reading Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story (2015)
ZZ Top once sang “Every girl’s crazy ’bout a sharp-dressed man.” Costume designer Orry-Kelly was Hollywood’s most sharp-dressed man, whose techniques swathed several legendary leading ladies in their best finery. Women He’s … Continue Reading Women He’s Undressed (2015)
To many, Tab Hunter’s name doesn’t inspire any recognition. But for those who enjoy obscure and studio era cinema, Hunter’s both an intriguing outcast who made quite the career comeback through the … Continue Reading Tab Hunter Confidential (2015)
Certain stars are larger than life, and with that reputation comes a tendency for documentaries and biographies to glamorize or deify their subject, placing them in a league above men … Continue Reading Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles (2014)
My experience with the works of Frank Sinatra are amateurish. I’ve watched a few of his films and I know his hits (haven’t listened to any of the deep cuts). … Continue Reading Sinatra: All or Nothing At All (2015)
Halloween is upon us and that means witches rule the week (outside of a few backdated reviews I hope to get up). Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages is the oldest … Continue Reading Haxan (1922)
Our final tribute to Nick and Nora Charles is a pair of documentaries included with the Complete Thin Man box set. (I assumed the final disc, Alias Nick and Nora, … Continue Reading Alias Nick and Nora (1991/2005)
Regulars to the site know of my tendency to discuss the roles of women in cinema, and the classic film era simultaneously marginalized and provided opportunities for women in Hollywood. … Continue Reading Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood (2000)
To introduce TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar a documentary directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman was commissioned showcasing the history of the Academy Awards. And the Oscar Goes To… … Continue Reading And the Oscar Goes To… (2014)
TCM is set to celebrate their 20th anniversary and their Private Screenings series, hosted by TCM’s resident historian/host/granddad/awesome person ever, Robert Osborne has run for about as long as the … Continue Reading Private Screenings: Robert Osborne (2014)
This post is in honor of the William Castle Blogathon being put on by The Last Drive-In. You can read other contributing pieces here. Last Halloween, this 2007 documentary made … Continue Reading Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007)
Audiences privileged enough to go to the TCM Classic Film Festival back in April were able to experience the bittersweet première of this documentary. Producer Richard D. Zanuck, alongside his father, … Continue Reading Don’t Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Richard D. Zanuck Story (2013)
The House on 92nd Street is commonly listed as a must-see entry in the film noir canon. I deign it a perfect example of a period piece in that it’s … Continue Reading The House on 92nd Street (1945)
