Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...First Showing has a peek at the terrific poster for TOY STORY 3. Just 3 more months till its June 18th release date!

...Forbes interviewed Ree Drummond, aka the Pioneer Woman. She has a new cookbook in the works, as well as a book version of her courtship by the "Marlboro Man." (Hat tip: Instapundit.)

...C.K. Dexter Haven of Hollywood Dreamland is looking forward to becoming more acquainted with Robert Montgomery's work. Turner Classic Movies will celebrate Montgomery's May 21st birthday again this year, showing 8 films.

...And...scene! has an excellent review of the 1932 version of SMILIN' THROUGH, which starred Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard, and the always-wonderful Fredric March. It sounds like a great movie. (Update: I'm even more interested in this film after reading another review at Out of the Past.)

...John Podhoretz reviewed THE YOUNG VICTORIA (2009) in the Weekly Standard, and Leonard Maltin has posted a video review. The movie is due on DVD in the United States on April 20th. Last week DVD Times listed the film's DVD extras, which mirror last year's Region 2 release in the UK. (Sunday Update: THE YOUNG VICTORIA won the Academy Award this evening for Best Costume Design.)

...Mrs. Happy Housewife also liked THE YOUNG VICTORIA; she links to information about a Buckingham Palace exhibition about Victoria and Albert's love of art.

...Here's a beautiful new baking book seen last night in Barnes and Noble: CHOCOLATE CAKES: 50 GREAT CAKES FOR EVERY OCCASION by Elinor Klivans. Klivans' book BIG FAT COOKIES is one of my "go to" books for cookie recipes; she's also the author of THE ESSENTIAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKBOOK.

...I've never cared much for the depressing Judy Garland-James Mason version of A STAR IS BORN, but I deeply admired the late Ronald Haver, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art curator who restored the film. (He wrote a great book on the subject.) The restored edition will be released on DVD on June 22nd. DVD Times has all the info; it's great to see Haver's name mentioned several times in the press release.

...Dan Gliagasso pulls together research about John Wayne's attempts to serve in WWII in an interesting article at Big Hollywood. Documents from the National Archives show that Wayne applied to serve in the OSS.

...Martha Stewart's Everyday Food, one of my favorite cooking resources, is now an app available for the iTouch and iPhone.

...Fans of Tyrone Power and Loretta Young will want to check out this February 2009 post with gorgeous photos at Greenbriar Picture Shows.

...Disneyland's Rivers of America area has been undergoing rehab...sounds like a contractor made it a bit too perfect and used so much concrete that it turned the river into something more closely resembling a swimming pool!

...The attempt of some on the left to racially segregate Hawaii is deeply disturbing, and counter to our nation's ideals.

...Interesting thoughts from a liberal, Patrick Goldstein, on a controversial forthcoming JFK miniseries.

...The Great Silence has some terrific photos of Sierra movie location sites, including Lone Pine. It's a must blog stop for fans of Westerns in general or movies shot in the Alabama Hills in particular. (Hat tip: 50 Westerns From the 50s.)

...Captain Chesley Sullenberger, hero of the "Miracle on the Hudson," retired from U.S. Airways last week. His copilot on his final flight was Jeffrey Skiles, who also served as his copilot during the miracle landing of January 2009. Flight attendant Doreen Welsh, who was also on the Hudson flight, is also retiring and made her final flight for U.S. Airways along with Captain Sullenberger Wednesday. Half a dozen passengers from the Hudson flight went along for the ride on Sully's final trip.

...Alan Rode has some very interesting posts at One Way Street, including the story behind Canoga Park's Lederer Street, which is named for actor Francis Lederer, and a tribute to the late actor-stuntman Bobby Hoy.

...Notable passings: Ed Thomas, owner of the Book Carnival in Orange, California, passed away recently at the age of 77... Actress Nan Martin, a regular on stage in Southern California and elsewhere, has died at 82. I saw Martin in the "Mary Wickes" role as the nurse in a Long Beach theatrical production of THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER circa 1980, with James Whitmore in the lead.

Have a great weekend!