The gangster genre is traditionally male-dominated, so imagine my surprise at seeing the arrival of Lady Scarface from Warner Archive. A gangster who’s a woman?! What’s next, mixing French fries … Continue Reading Lady Scarface (1941)
I sound like a broken record, but I don’t like the majority of films Jean Negulesco directed. I can count the number of films of his I’ve liked on one … Continue Reading Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
Director Jean Negulesco and I have a contentious cinematic relationship. His patented blend of noirish melodrama doesn’t always sit right with me, yet I’ve seen so many of his features … Continue Reading TCMFF Review: Road House (1948)
In 1947 the feature Crossfire took a harsh look at the rise of antisemitism in America, taking an story that examination homosexuality initially and presenting it to post-war audiences as … Continue Reading TCMFF Review: Open Secret (1948)
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)
Clark Gable and Joan Crawford starred in eight movies together, and if the preceding seven showed them as beautifully as their final feature, Strange Cargo, I’m in for a massive … Continue Reading Strange Cargo (1940)
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)
Back with another Throwback Thirstday article all about my favorite deceased paramour, Mr. John Garfield. Raise your hand if you think I should just rename this series “the John Garfield … Continue Reading Throwback Thirstday: Saturday’s Children (1940)
Originally published December 15th, 2012 Part two of my three-part series of Little Women reviews discusses the 1994 version of Louisa May Alcott’s classic. This is the Little Women I … Continue Reading 25 Days of Christmas: Little Women (1994)
Originally published December 4th, 2012 Tonight’s 25 Days of Christmas film appears on many “Best Of Christmas” lists and I figured I’d give it a look. It’s one of two … Continue Reading 25 Days of Christmas: Holiday Inn (1942)
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)
Originally published December 2nd, 2011 This is an odd one to group with Marilyn movies as she’s literally in it for a minute (I’d say less but I didn’t time … Continue Reading 25 Days of Christmas: O. Henry’s Full House (1952)
Originally published December 15th, 2015 Maybe it’s the forced togetherness and spirit of brotherhood that makes the holidays so perfect for the noir genre. Whether it’s the glittery Hollywood pulp … Continue Reading Lady on a Train (1945)
Originally published December 1st, 2014 As one comment on the Facebook page read when I alluded to my less-than-positive review of this film, it may be time to get out … Continue Reading 25 Days of Christmas: The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Originally published December 4th, 2012 I decided to watch all three film adaptations of Little Women as a subset of my 25 Days of Christmas. I’ve seen them all separately, … Continue Reading 25 Days of Christmas: Little Women (1949)
Originally published December 16th, 2014 Merry Christmas to all my awesome readers (or whichever holiday you choose to celebrate around this time). I always close out my 25 Days of … Continue Reading I’ll Be Seeing You (1944)
