The Ticklish Trio travel to Japan to discuss the first foreign film in our show’s history. We dissecting Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 drama Ikiru. We talk about influences, both classic and contemporary, … Continue Reading Ticklish Business Episode #67: Ikiru (1952)
As much as I hate to let my Americanism show, it crops up the worst when it comes to cinema. I don’t have a natural aversion to foreign cinema, but … Continue Reading Donkey Skin (1970)
Originally published October 26th, 2015 Halloween is imminent and TCM and Fathom Events answered the call with their Dracula double feature this Sunday (with a repeat this coming Wednesday). I’ve … Continue Reading Dracula (1931)
Twilight Time, long the company providing beautiful Blu-ray transfers of oft-neglected titles, enters the giallo business with La Bambola di Satana or The Doll of Satan. Unlike the giallo work … Continue Reading The Doll of Satan (1969)
This month’s theme is haunted houses, but I bet even the spookiest house couldn’t compete with the house director Nobuhiko Obayashi throws audiences into in House (aka Hausau). I’m at … Continue Reading House (1977)
Director Francois Truffaut will always be associated with iconic works like The 400 Blows (1959) and Jules and Jim (1962). And yet the man directed 27 films outside of those … Continue Reading Mississippi Mermaid (1969)
The universal nature of cinema is best illustrated through tributes by other directors. Acclaimed French director Francois Truffaut, part of the French New Wave, was directly influenced by the work … Continue Reading The Bride Wore Black (1968)
This is what happens when inspiration knocks. I originally had zero plans to review Gigi. I’d seen it years ago and didn’t care for it, but figured I’d give it … Continue Reading Gigi (1958)
The Mario Bava collection keeps rolling out movies courtesy of Kino Classics. Bava swathed in ermine and bathed in blood is the best way to describe The Whip and the … Continue Reading The Whip and the Body (1963)
This review originally ran Christmas Eve 2011. I finally purchased this on DVD this year and it’s become a staple in my household. Its multilingual story is still relateable today … Continue Reading 25 Days of Christmas: Joyeux Noel (2005)
Weimar cinema isn’t my forte, but after featuring Marlene Dietrich in my inaugural July Five event, I wanted to review the movie which propelled her into international cinema. Kino Classics … Continue Reading The Blue Angel (1930)
You always notice the fingerprints of a Tennessee Williams production: An exotic locale within the US, unrepentant sexual longing bound up within questions of femininity and masculinity. The Rose Tattoo … Continue Reading The Rose Tattoo (1955)
After watching the far superior A Bay of Blood (produced the year after), Mario Bava was seeing what works and what doesn’t with Five Dolls for an August Moon, aka … Continue Reading Five Dolls for an August Moon (1970)
Kino Classics kickstarts Halloween with the first of several Blu-rays devoted to the horrific. In the case of A Bay of Blood (aka Twitch of the Death Nerve and about … Continue Reading A Bay of Blood (1971)
Kino Classics’ Mario Bava Collection continues to put out quality transfers (although skimping on bonus content) of movies that wouldn’t get that type of treatment otherwise. For several decades, Kidnapped … Continue Reading Kidnapped (a.k.a Rabid Dogs) (1974)
This isn’t necessarily a reprint of my original review. While the content of the film remains the same, Kino has released a restored Blu-ray edition. I will include new information … Continue Reading Black Sabbath (1963) – UPDATED
