Up until this point I’ve only reviewed (and seen) two Bob Hope features, both of them straightforward comedies – The Ghost Breakers (1940) and the fantastic The Cat and the … Continue Reading Mad About Musicals: Son of Paleface (1952)
I missed seeing Those Redheads From Seattle when it screened at the TCM Classic Film Festival last year and, really, that might have been for the best. The year 1953 … Continue Reading Mad About Musicals: Those Redheads From Seattle (1953)
Throughout the next four weeks I’ll be reviewing various musicals in support of TCM’s newest interactive online course, Mad About Musicals. Any classic film lover will tell you mitigation is … Continue Reading Mad About Musicals: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
Gene Kelly is responsible for crafting two of the most enduring musicals of the 1950s, 1951’s An American in Paris and 1952’s Singin’ in the Rain. But by 1957 Kelly … Continue Reading Les Girls (1957)
One of the many countless reasons we appreciate classic cinema is glorious Technicolor. Better yet, give me vibrant Technicolor that shows off magnificent costumes and beautiful faces and it won’t … Continue Reading A Date With Judy (1948)
I’ve seen nine of director Henry Koster’s films and it’s safe to say he’s one of my favorite directors. There’s something about his features, whose plots walk on a tightrope … Continue Reading It Started With Eve (1941)
My year-long Centennial Celebration kicks off with a two-episode look at composer Leonard Bernstein.
Esther Williams always knew her career wasn’t permanent. So when the quality of her films hit a certain level she walked away, and it’s all Jupiter’s Darling’s fault. The film … Continue Reading Jupiter’s Darling (1955)
Originally published May 6th, 2013 Meet Me in St. Louis came highly recommended due to its place as a musical classic, and because it’s got the downright angelic Margaret O’Brien … Continue Reading Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
This review originally ran December 25th, 2011. This is still a must-watch as many times as you can. I recently watched the Ron Howard remake for this month a few … Continue Reading 25 Days of Christmas: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
This originally ran December 14th, 2011. Really my thoughts on this film haven’t changed. I still adore Vera-Ellen‘s dancing but I don’t love this movie. Yep, it’s official: I’m not … Continue Reading 25 Days of Christmas: White Christmas (1954)
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)
Originally published December 3rd, 2014 A double post to catch me up, and another Christmas first-time viewing! Tonight’s film is the Jim Henson 1977 movie Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. I’d … Continue Reading 25 Days of Christmas: Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas (1977)
The studio era had a way of doing things with genres that weren’t unique but, in execution, make all the difference in the world. Director Henry Koster was adept at … Continue Reading Music for Millions (1944)
The 1960s have come represent a decade in turmoil, and that’s true. With Vietnam, political and racial unrest, it doesn’t appear too far removed from our current times; but in … Continue Reading A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
The liminal threshold between the 1950s and 1960s seems as distinct as to be a literal crevasse between the two decades, and the clearest divide comes through in the cinema … Continue Reading The Girl Most Likely (1958)
