Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...MORNING GLORY (2010) came out on DVD last week. I thought it was a fun movie and will definitely be watching it again in the future.

...The schedule's not up yet, but a few hints have emerged about the schedule for the 28-film Noir City festival, coming to Hollywood next month. Peter Ford will be signing his biography of his father, Glenn Ford, at a Ford double bill of FRAMED (1947) and MR. SOFT TOUCH (1949). And I'm very excited a new print of Robert Taylor's HIGH WALL (1947) has been announced. I hope I have the opportunity to see it!

...Legendary dancer Jacques D'Amboise, one of the brothers in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954), has written an autobiography, I WAS A DANCER. It was released on March 1st.

...There was recently a staged reading in L.A. of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, with Jon Hamm, Scarlett Johannson, and John Krasinski. Scarlett Johannson? I can't see that one. Could it be headed to Broadway? (A side note, I saw the late Natasha Richardson on stage in HIGH SOCIETY in London in the late '80s. The Grace Kelly-esque Richardson was perfect as Tracy.)

...Virginia Postrel of the Wall Street Journal muses on the "Magical Mystery Box," the iPad. I'm curious what the advantages are to owning an iPad for those who already have both a computer and a "smart phone." What makes the iPad unique?

...Glenn Erickson has reviewed the Warner Archive release LIBEL (1959), a courtroom drama which stars Olivia deHavilland and Dirk Bogarde. It sounds quite interesting.

...Greenbriar Picture Shows spotlights THE GANG'S ALL HERE, which I have fond memories of seeing for the first time at the late, lamented Vagabond Theater in Los Angeles. The color was dazzling, Alice Faye was beautiful, plus Benny Goodman and Carmen Miranda, too! It's on Netflix Instant or DVD.

...The Self-Styled Siren recently wrote about COVER GIRL (1944), the Gene Kelly-Rita Hayworth musical which is another happy memory of my days seeing films at the Vagabond. "Make Way for Tomorrow" was just the ticket to lift a teenager's spirits, and it still is years later. I've never owned this film on DVD, but the new release is on the way, thanks to a sale and a coupon!

...It's time for another entry in Martha Stewart's series of softcover books on baking: MARTHA STEWART'S PIES AND TARTS will be out on March 22nd. I especially liked her book MARTHA STEWART'S COOKIES.

...Here's Lou Lumenick on Tim Holt Westerns and other recent DVD-R releases.

...Actor Bruce Bennett turns up in countless Warner Bros. movies of the '40s, including MILDRED PIERCE (1945), NORA PRENTISS (1947), CHEYENNE (1947), and THE MAN I LOVE (1947). I especially enjoyed him as the forensic scientist working with detective Ricardo Montalban in MGM's MYSTERY STREET (1950). Here's an article on Bennett by Kristina, reprinted from the Dark Pages.

...Darrell Rooney and Mark Vieira have written a new book, HARLOW IN HOLLYWOOD. Vieira was the author of the excellent HOLLYWOOD DREAMS MADE REAL: IRVING THALBERG AND THE RISE OF MGM. Susan King of the Los Angeles Times has more info.

...I'm looking forward to seeing Jeffrey Lynn, Martha Scott, and Harry Morgan in STRANGE BARGAIN (1949), which Jacqueline wrote about last week at Another Old Movie Blog.

...Finally but most importantly, the scale of the disaster in Japan is almost too great to comprehend. We were glad to learn our friend Marina and her family are safe, but thousands of families have not been so fortunate. Please consider helping the people of Japan by donating to Samaritan's Purse, the Salvation Army, or another reputable relief organization.

Have a good week!