Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Cliff's been blogging up a storm at Immortal Ephemera, with excellent posts including a history of Mazo de la Roche's JALNA in books and on film, and his first impression of seeing one of my favorite films, LITTLE WOMEN (1933). I was especially interested in Cliff's interview with Scott Allen Nollen, author of the upcoming THREE BAD MEN: JOHN FORD, JOHN WAYNE, WARD BOND. I love the work of all three men and am particularly happy that Ward Bond will receive such significant attention. The book is due to be published May 8, 2013.

...I always enjoy the "Watch List" at Greenbriar Picture Shows. The January 15th list includes a look at one of my favorite Dick Powell films, JOHNNY O'CLOCK (1947), and I'm really looking forward to seeing Kay Francis in ALLOTMENT WIVES (1945) after reading John's take! The January 17th list includes a brief review of Richard Widmark in BACKLASH (1956).

...Released this month in the Universal Vault Series, available at Amazon: THE BLACK CAT (1934) starring Karloff and Lugosi. Wish there were an easy way to track the releases in this DVD series.

...The trailer for the upcoming AT ANY PRICE (2012), starring Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron, looks kind of interesting.

...Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks will be producing a third WWII miniseries for HBO, following their highly successful BAND OF BROTHERS and THE PACIFIC.

...Season 13 of AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN started on January 14th.

...Judy recently reviewed Clarence Brown's NIGHT FLIGHT (1933) at Movie Classics. I enjoyed her thoughts on what works and doesn't work in the film. I picked up this DVD a while back but haven't watched it yet. It has a fantastic cast.

...MC watched THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946) for the first time and shared her comments at Happy Thoughts, Darling.

...Many U.S. viewers have been hoping that next season DOWNTON ABBEY will be shown here simultaneously with the UK. The world is now so small, thanks to the Internet, that it's quite easy to stumble across plot spoilers before the series is shown here weeks later. The President of PBS put a damper on the idea, lamely saying that people know the outcome of tape-delayed Olympics and still tune in, implying that it should be the same with DOWNTON ABBEY.

...Loved Glenn Erickson's review of John Wayne in KING OF THE PECOS (1936), available on DVD from Olive.

...Dunkin' Donuts will try again to establish the company in California.

...Figure skater Michelle Kwan married a Coast Guard lieutenant and attorney yesterday. Skaters including Dick Button, Brian Boitano, and Dorothy Hamill were in attendance. Kwan's new husband is the grandson of the late U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell.

...This new biography looks rather interesting: AMERICAN LADY: THE LIFE OF SUSAN MARY ALSOP by Caroline de Margerie.

...Coming to DVD on March 12th: Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr in Cecil B. DeMille's SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949). It costars George Sanders and Angela Lansbury. Given how much I love cast, I wish the story interested me more.

...Attention Southern Californians: Looks like a wonderful program at the Egyptian Theatre next Saturday, January 26th, "Gotta Dance: The Art of the Movie Poster" accompanied by a screening of one of my favorite Fred and Ginger movies, CAREFREE (1938). There will be a 40-minute talk on Art Deco movie posters prior to the film.

...Notable Passings: Prince Philip's niece, Princess Margarita of Baden, has died at the age of 80. Her mother was Philip's sister, Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark...TV director Don Medford has passed away at the age of 95. His credits span nearly four decades and include many episodes of THE DETECTIVES, which starred Robert Taylor, THE RIFLEMAN, THE FUGITIVE, TWILIGHT ZONE, THE F.B.I., and DYNASTY, to name just a few shows...Hundreds gathered at the Mt. Griffith Observatory last week to pay tribute to Huell Howser, who was remembered at the end of last week's roundup.

Have a great week!