Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...My latest article for the ClassicFlix site is a biographical sketch of Alan Ladd, with accompanying DVD recommendations. I invite my readers to click over to ClassicFlix to check it out!

...The L.A. Times recently published an article on the unusual challenges faced by Netflix in France...and thanks to Kristina for passing along the article "For Cinephiles, Netflix is Less and Less an Option."

...A big congratulations to my pal Toby at 50 Westerns From the 50s, where he's celebrating five years of blogging!

...Over at Toby's other blog, The Hannibal 8, the Jack Webb Blogathon is coming soon. Check out the list of participants. The blogathon is October 17th-19th so there's still time for more Webb fans to sign up!

...Blake Lucas has contributed a terrific list of 5 Underrated Action-Adventure Films to at Rupert Pupkin Speaks.

...Attention Southern Californians: There's an exhibit of movie costumes at the future site of the Academy film museum through March 2nd.

...The wonderful O Canada Blogathon is now underway. The great posts I've enjoyed reading this weekend include Dorian of Tales of the Easily Distracted on Canadian Ann Rutherford in TWO O'CLOCK COURAGE (1945), Caftan Woman on Canadian movie host Elwy Yost, Colin on Errol Flynn in NORTHERN PURSUIT (1943) at Riding the High Country, and Clayton of Phantom Empires on MRS. MIKE (1949). A roundup of links from Day One can be found at Speakeasy or Silver Screenings, and here's Day Two. For those who might not have caught it yet, my contribution is on a Tyrone Power Mountie film, PONY SOLDIER (1952).

...There's a lovely interview with Rene Russo in the Wall Street Journal, written by Mark Myers of the blog JazzWax.

...MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939) comes to Blu-ray in December. Thanks to Lindsay for the info.

...Film and stage actress Patricia Morison turns 100 next March. Morison, who was the original Broadway Kate in KISS ME, KATE, recently paid a visit to a new production of the classic musical at the Pasadena Playhouse. This summer I reviewed Morison in the films THE ROUNDUP (1941) and PERSONS IN HIDING (1939).

...Additional musical theater news: Steve Martin has cowritten a stage musical, BRIGHT STAR, currently playing in San Diego. It stars Carmen Cusack, who starred in the remarkable production of SOUTH PACIFIC which I saw twice in October 2010. The Los Angeles Times reviews it here.

...Angela Cartwright (THE SOUND OF MUSIC) has cowritten a new photo book, STYLING THE STARS: LOST TREASURES FROM THE 20TH CENTURY FOX ARCHIVE. According to an interview with the L.A. Times' Susan King, Cartwright got the idea for the book when researching SOUND OF MUSIC photos in the Archive for THE SOUND OF MUSIC FAMILY SCRAPBOOK. STYLING THE STARS is cowritten with Tom McLaren, and there's a foreward by Maureen O'Hara.

...For fans of Coca-Cola: This summer's "Share a Coke" campaign was a big success...Mexican Coca-Cola, the focus of a recent New York Times article, is popular here in a number of restaurants and is also sold in our grocery store.

...More food news: Top Secret Baristas at the CIA Starbucks.

...Reviews, reviews, and more reviews: Here are just a few of the movie reviews I've enjoyed recently at various blogs: Caftan Woman on the wonderful British mystery GREEN FOR DANGER (1946)...Kevin's Movie Corner on PRINCE VALIANT (1954), which has such a phenomenal cast I have to check it out...The Blonde at the Film on Esther Williams in BATHING BEAUTY (1944)...Cliff of Immortal Ephemera on the mind-boggling Loretta Young pre-Code SHE HAD TO SAY YES (1933)...John McElwee on Mitchell Leisen's strange-looking BRIDE OF VENGEANCE (1949), which stars Paulette Goddard, John Lund, and Macdonald Carey, at Greenbriar Picture Shows...and Jacqueline on BRUTE FORCE (1947) at Another Old Movie Blog. That's another film with an amazing cast!

...Notable Passing: The great bass trombonist George Roberts has passed away at the age of 86. Roberts played in countless classic recordings; he's featured in my all-time favorite Frank Sinatra track, "How Deep is the Ocean?" on the Nice 'N' Easy album. Roberts also founded the Bones West music group in Orange County, California, which my husband has been involved with for a number of years. A sad loss but a full life, well lived.

...More Notable Passings: Yoshiko Yamaguchi, also known as Shirley Yamaguchi, has died at 94. In addition to a career in Japanese cinema, Yamaguchi starred in a few U.S. films, JAPANESE WAR BRIDE (1952), HOUSE OF BAMBOO (1955), and NAVY WIFE (1956)...Deborah, the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire and the last of the Mitford sisters, has died at the age of 94. Her funeral began last Thursday with a procession at her home, the famed Chatsworth estate. Her life was celebrated after the service with a huge garden party on the grounds of the estate.

...There will be no Around the Blogosphere This Week column next weekend, as I will be attending the 25th Lone Pine Film Festival. Look for festival coverage here in the near future!

Have a great week!