Around the Blogosphere This Week
...Tonight on CBS: the latest JESSE STONE movie, INNOCENTS LOST (2011), starring Tom Selleck. Returning cast members include Kathy Baker, William Devane, Kohl Sudduth, Stephen McHattie, William Sadler, and Saul Rubinek. This is an excellent film series with tremendous atmosphere. Those who are new to these films may want to check out my reviews of STONE COLD (2005), NIGHT PASSAGE (2006), DEATH IN PARADISE (2006), and SEA CHANGE (2007). Titles still ahead of me to watch: THIN ICE (2009) and NO REMORSE (2010).
...Season One of Selleck's series BLUE BLOODS will be out on DVD later this year.
...50 Westerns From the 50s says THE BIG COUNTRY (1958) is coming to Blu-ray next week, exclusively at Walmart. I imagine the impressive widescreen vistas in that film would look particularly nice in the Blu-ray format.
...I'm delighted by the number of remastered titles coming from the Warner Archive in recent weeks. Last week the Archive released a remastered widescreen print of UNTIL THEY SAIL (1957), the story of four sisters in New Zealand during World War II. The women are played by Joan Fontaine, Jean Simmons, Piper Laurie, and Sandra Dee. Paul Newman is the American soldier who enters Simmons' life. Robert Wise directed....Dear Old Hollywood has a fun post on Ronald Reagan's Hollywood office.
...Barrie Maxwell's Classic Coming Attractions column at the Digital Bits is always interesting. Barrie's latest reviews include new Tracy-Hepburn releases and a bunch of Warner Archive releases, including DEVOTION (1946), WHIPLASH (1948), and THE UNFINISHED DANCE (1947).
...For anyone who missed last week's 1939 blogathon, here's a list of all the links. Posts I enjoyed over the last few days included Dorian writing on IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD at Tales of the Easily Distracted, Kevin's Movie Corner on THE RAINS CAME, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS at Another Old Movie Blog, and Twenty Four Frames on THE CAT AND THE CANARY.
...At Via Margutta 51, Clara explains why she loves Gregory Peck and Deborah Kerr in BELOVED INFIDEL (1959). She's got me convinced to add it to my viewing list! I also enjoyed her thoughts on Flynn and Stanwyck in CRY WOLF (1947), which I recently saw for the first time.
...Jim Lane's Cinedrome takes a close look at Ray Milland in ALIAS NICK BEAL (1949), including an interesting history of screenwriter Jonathan Latimer. Latimer also teamed with ALIAS NICK BEAL director John Farrow on NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES (1948) and THE BIG CLOCK (1948); the latter title, like ALIAS NICK BEAL, starred Ray Milland....A feel-good video: A sweet lady who recently lost her Tuscaloosa home to a tornado happened to find her cat -- who'd been missing since the tornado hit three weeks ago -- as a news camera was rolling.
...Glenn Erickson's latest reviews at DVD Savant include the Warner Archive release of STARS IN MY CROWN (1950) and an MGM Limited Edition of a Robert Preston film which sounds quite different, CLOUDBURST (1951).
...It's rather curious that the long-awaited DVD release of THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (1942) will be as an extra for the Blu-ray edition of CITIZEN KANE, sold exclusively at Amazon. I have to think that later on AMBERSONS will be widely available as a standalone DVD. I certainly hope so!...I came across an interesting article by Mark Rappaport, "The Secret Life of Objects," when looking for confirmation that a dress shop set seen in THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL (1951) was Eve's living room from ALL ABOUT EVE (1950). This piece has lots of interesting screen caps of how movie sets and props were used, reused, and used again!
...Chris Yogerst has reviewed the new book by USC professor Drew Casper, HOLLYWOOD FILM 1963-1976: YEARS OF REVOLUTION AND REACTION, at Big Hollywood....There's an interesting article about playwright David Mamet's journey to conservatism by Andrew Ferguson at The Weekly Standard.
...Over at Immortal Ephemera, Cliff has a nice post on WOMAN WANTED (1935), an enjoyable, creatively shot film starring Joel McCrea and Maureen O'Sullivan.
...I also very much enjoyed the Self-Styled Siren's thoughts on THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE (1941), starring James Cagney, Olivia deHavilland, and Rita Hayworth.
...Mike Clark of Home Media Magazine gives a thumbs up to Warner Archive's newly remastered edition of I LOVE MELVIN (1953) starring Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor. Incidentally, Debbie's keeping up with the times -- she has a brand-new Twitter account!...Notable Passing: Donald Krim, the president of Kino International, which is known for high quality VHS and DVD releases, has passed away at the age of 65. Among Kino's most recent releases: a set of Ingrid Bergman's early Swedish films.
Have a great week!
posted by Laura @ 3:00 PM
5 Comments:
Just finished watching the new Jesse Stone, and it was, of course, excellent. You do have to have some knowledge of previous events from the other films in the series. I did find it curious, however, that they did leave some things open and questions unanswered, so I believe another installment should be in order. I believe Tom Selleck has indicated that he will keep producing and filming them as he is able. It's an unusual thing to have a made for TV movie os such high caliber. I've often wondered if it would do well as a regular series drama, but I think Selleck is approaching it in the right way. The crisp dialogue, the brooding, the atmosphere, the small town politics and tension- all of it like strands on a loom being woven into a piece of fabric that makes up the film. Good stuff.
I enjoyed that article on recycled sets. Usually what I'm looking for is familiar costumes (have you seen the Recycled Movie Costumes website?) and sometimes I recognize outdoor locations, but I never realized that sets were recycled so much.
Thanks for your feedback on the Jesse Stone series, RandomBlogger. Glad you've enjoyed it too! I agree, they're of very high caliber.
Elisabeth, thanks so much for the tip on the Recycled Costumes site, I've bookmarked it! Looks like fun. There's a photo of Robert Shore wearing a dress I remember very well from THE VIRGINIAN (I think it was in the opening credits one year) -- how interesting to see it on other actresses!
Best wishes,
Laura
Yes, it was the Season 3 opening credits. I've seen dozens of costumes recycled across the series Wagon Train, The Virginian and Laredo - there should be more of them up on the site eventually.
Thank you so much for the link, Laura. The 1939 blogathon was a very satifying project, I think for everyone involved and the variety of posts was very interesting.
Post a Comment
<< Home