Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Turner Classic Movies has announced the schedule for this year's 10-city Road to Hollywood tour, which will precede the festival being held in Hollywood from April 12 through 15, 2012. The films shown on these special evenings across North America will including SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954), RIO BRAVO (1959), NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959), and MARNIE (1964); actors making personal appearances will include popular "friends of TCM" such as Jane Powell, Angie Dickinson, Eva Marie Saint, and Tippi Hedren.

...Kristina has a new series at Speakeasy called You Look Familiar, and her first entry is on actor Phillip (sometimes billed as Philip) Reed. As I mentioned to Kristina, I'd just come across his name last week and wondered who he was -- now I know! In fact, I saw him in BODYGUARD (1948) last year, but the name didn't stick with me.

...New on DVD: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL. For those of us who prefer memories of the stage production to watching what sounds like an ill-advised film version, this DVD may be the closest thing to actually experiencing the show again.

...The 1987 TV series BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, which starred Linda Hamilton, Ron Perlman, and Roy Dotrice, is being remade.

...Speaking of remakes, last week I linked to a story about a planned remake of REBECCA (1940), It turns out another remake of a Hitchcock-Fontaine film is planned, as Paramount intends to redo SUSPICION (1941). A 1988 TV version of SUSPICION starred Anthony Andrews (THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL) and Jane Curtin. I have trouble getting the casting of Curtin in that role...

...Mark has a terrific profile of Alan Ladd at Where Danger Lives, which was originally written for the Film Noir Foundation. He gives quite a bit of insight into Ladd, including his working relationship with Veronica Lake and his close offscreen friendship with frequent costar William Bendix. Don't miss it.

...At New England Travels, Jacqueline posted a wonderful review of the new musical theater production of DADDY LONG LEGS. I hope the show is a success and I have the opportunity to see it in the future.

...Cliff recently shared his impressions of the excellent Orson Welles-Joan Fontaine version of JANE EYRE (1943) at Immortal Ephemera.

...ClassicFlix reports several new titles coming to MGM's manufactured on demand DVDR program at month's end, including Robert Mitchum and Julie London in THE WONDERFUL COUNTRY (1959) and Victor Mature and Yvonne DeCarlo in TIMBUKTU (1959). (Hopefully MGM will fix the misspelling of Joanne Dru's name in the cover art of SOUTHWEST PASSAGE before the release!)

...Raquelle's latest posts at Out of the Past include thoughts on Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler in FLIRTATION WALK (1934) and photos of her classic film book collection.

...The Self-Styled Siren just saw Joel McCrea, Maureen O'Hara, and Linda Darnell on the big screen in BUFFALO BILL (1944).

...I just learned about the Classic Movie Dogathon which started today. Click here for a list of participating blogs and the movies they'll be covering. Initial posts include a writeup of Disney's GREYFRIARS BOBBY (1961) at the Classic Film & TV Cafe and Dorian writing on AFTER THE THIN MAN (1936) at Tales of the Easily Distracted. And many thanks to Dorian for mentioning my review of YOU NEVER CAN TELL (1951) in the comments of a post on OH! HEAVENLY DOG (1980).

...I enjoyed Matthew's musings on the Golden Age of VHS at Movietone News.

...A few days ago MC posted some lovely photos of William Holden and Audrey Hepburn on the set of SABRINA (1954) at her blog, Happy Thoughts, Darling.

...Attention Southern Californians: POLDARK star Robin Ellis Tweets that he'll be signing his new book DELICIOUS DISHES FOR DIABETICS at Chevalier's Books in Hollywood from 1:00 to 3:00 on Saturday, March 17th. POLDARK fans will enjoy reading this new interview with Robin from Business World Insider.

...Royalty Watch: Sad news this week, as Prince Johan Friso, the second son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, fights for his life after being buried in an avalanche while skiing. Doctors may not know his prognosis for a few days. Johan Friso is married and has two young daughters.

Have a great week!