Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...One of the latest releases from VCI is Raoul Walsh's SEA DEVILS (1953), starring Rock Hudson and Yvonne DeCarlo. I love VCI's colorful DVD cases.

...The Food Network is launching a spinoff, the Cooking Channel, on May 31st. I watch the Food Network often, but isn't one cooking channel enough? Hmmm.

...Laura Wagner has posted a lengthy history and critique of Eleanor Parker's INTERRUPTED MELODY (1955) at And Then I Watched. It's a great read, and the info in her post highlights why Eleanor Parker has become an actress I especially enjoy watching. Laura's new blog has started off on a high note with her initial posts.

...MorlockJeff has posted coverage of the first three days of the TCM Film Festival at the TCM blog: Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. One day to go! (Sunday Update: Here is the link for the final day.)

...If I could have picked one event to attend at the TCM Festival, I think it would have been the poolside screening of NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER (1949), with appearances by Esther Williams and Betty Garrett. I love them both!

...More on the Festival from the L.A. Times.

...If you like William Wellman's WESTWARD THE WOMEN (1951), which features one of Robert Taylor's best performances, this discussion thread at the TCM website features some great photos.

...I wish a company like VCI would put out the TV series THE DETECTIVES STARRING ROBERT TAYLOR on DVD. It ran from 1959 to 1962.

...Thanks to C.K. Dexter Haven of Hollywood Dreamland for making me aware of the website Vintage Disneyland Tickets, which I've added to my Disney blogroll. Take a look at the photos he posted today of new Matterhorn sleds!

...And speaking of the Matterhorn, the Disney Parks Blog has photos of nifty new retro-style Matterhorn and Flying Saucer t-shirts.

...Kevin's Movie Corner and Classic Movies Digest both recently wrote about Cecil B. DeMille's UNCONQUERED (1947), starring Gary Cooper and Paulette Goddard. The DVD is in my MTW (Movies To Watch) stack!

...Spare us from the ever-encroaching nanny state: the FDA has announced plans to regulate salt.

...If you use Hulu for online viewing, they are about to launch a $9.95 subscription service...possibly with commercials? It sounds like Hulu is trying to bring the cable TV model to the internet.

...Reviews, reviews, and more reviews: CRISS CROSS (1949) was reviewed by Dave at Goodfella's Movie Blog... Glenn Erickson takes a look at one of Margaret O'Brien's best films, OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES (1945), at DVD Savant... I love THE BIG COUNTRY (1958), which was reviewed by Livius at Riding the High Country... And WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY (2009) was reviewed at Progress City, U.S.A.

...Rush Limbaugh has a good column in the Wall Street Journal on patriotism and the "violence card." Earlier this week Bookworm Room and Karl of Hot Air wrote interesting pieces on Limbaugh and closed liberal minds vs. closed conservative minds. I thought Karl's listing of the sheer number of references Rush analyzed in a single day's show was quite interesting.

...Moira Finnie critiques Joan Crawford in A WOMAN'S FACE (1941). So many movies to see, so little time!

...ClassicFlix lists a July 13th release date for UNION STATION (1950), DARK CITY (1950), and APPOINTMENT WITH DANGER (1951). More details will be posted here when they're available. (May 2010 Update: Amazon now lists a July 27th release date.)

...Glamoursplash has a nice piece on MGM's legendary costume designer, Adrian. (Hat tip: Classic Movies.)

...Notable passing: jazz historian Gene Lees has passed away at the age of 82. Lees was also a composer-lyricist who wrote lyrics for songs such as Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars."

...Tom of Motion Picture Gems was kind enough to let me know that Laura's Miscellaneous Musings has cracked the Top 50 Film Blogs as listed at Technorati. Thanks to all for reading!

Have a great weekend!