Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...a Boxing Day Edition!

...Happy birthday to fabulous film noir leading lady Audrey Totter, who turned 93 on December 20th. Totter's excellent films include HIGH WALL (1947), LADY IN THE LAKE (1947), THE UNSUSPECTED (1947), THE SAXON CHARM (1948), THE SET-UP (1949), and TENSION (1949). I've linked in the past to an interview she gave about her career; it's delightful.

...There's a very nice new blog celebrating the career of Ricardo Montalban. I especially enjoyed looking at photos of Montalban and his lovely wife, Georgiana Young, in this slide show and an old issue of Life magazine.

...Donna Reed's TV children, Shelley Fabares and Paul Peterson, reminisce about her and Carl Betz in the Los Angeles Times. I was both touched and impressed by Peterson's comment, "Donna and Carl were very much aware of the difficulties on other family shows. They made a commitment to Shelley and me as surrogate parents to be on our side and be with us for the long haul. They kept that commitment up to their deaths. Donna's last few words [were] to make sure Shelley's birthday present was wrapped and ready for delivery. That is true!"

...Coming to DVD on May 1st: Season 6 of THE VIRGINIAN. So far I own Season 1, and it's a real pleasure that this series is receiving such beautiful DVD releases. I hope to buy more!

...WE BOUGHT A ZOO (2011), starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, has received some excellent reviews. It's gone onto my list of movies I'd like to see.

...Kristina has a wonderful piece up on Ella Raines and PHANTOM LADY (1944) at Speakeasy. Raines is a relatively unappreciated talent who deserves to be better known.

...JavaBeanRush recently posted a link for a short but sweet video interview with dancer Marge Champion. She seems to exemplify thinking positive!

...Mark has reviewed THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES (1940), starring Vincent Price, George Sanders, and Margaret Lindsay, at Cin-Eater.

...The 1962 TV series GOING MY WAY, starring Gene Kelly and Leo G. Carroll, is now out on DVD.

...Dorian has a most enjoyable post up on Bogart and Bacall in THE BIG SLEEP (1946) at Tales of the Easily Distracted. It was part of a Humphrey Bogart blogathon; lots more Bogart links are posted at Forever Classics.

...Leonard Maltin recently gave an interesting interview describing the process of updating his annual MOVIE GUIDE.

...Glenn Erickson shares his picks for The Most Impressive Discs of 2011 at DVD Savant. His choices include Warner Archive's THE CONSTANT NYMPH (1943) (which he just reviewed) and Criterion's SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957).

...Over at 50 Westerns from the 50s, Toby recently posted a review of Victor Mature in ESCORT WEST (1958). It's a nice, cozy little Western which I enjoyed last summer.

...The Girl With the White Parasol recently reviewed the Gainsborough Pictures costume melodrama THE WICKED LADY (1945), starring Margaret Lockwood, James Mason, and Patricia Roc: "This movie is pure fun from start to finish."

...Karen profiles John Payne at Shadows and Satin. Musicals, Westerns, film noir -- Payne could do it all.

...Notable Passing: Pedro Armendariz Jr. has passed away at the age of 71. Armendariz Jr. was an actor, following in the footsteps of his namesake father; his credits included ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO (2003) and THE LEGEND OF ZORRO (2005). The senior Armendariz, who died in 1963, appeared in John Ford's THE FUGITIVE (1947), FORT APACHE (1948), and 3 GODFATHERS (1948).

...Coming next week at Another Old Movie Blog: THE LAS VEGAS STORY (1952) with Victor Mature and Jane Russell, and MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS (1956).

...Screen Snapshots shares thoughts on a visit to the Hollywood Heritage Museum and the Lasky-DeMille Barn.

...For another big batch of recent links, please visit last Saturday's post, A Christmas Eve Roundup.

Have a great week, and Happy New Year!