Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Out this week from the Warner Archive: Season 3 of LAWMAN, with an exceptionally fantastic cover shot of John Russell.

...Also new from the Archive: Tim Holt and Bonita Granville in HITLER'S CHILDREN (1943), Patricia Morison and John Carradine in HITLER'S MADMAN (1943), Ida Lupino in PILLOW TO POST (1945), a movie I have previously reviewed here, and Ann Sheridan, Alexis Smith, Jane Wyman and Eve Arden as THE DOUGHGIRLS (1944), which I reviewed here.

...My friend Beth Ann Gallagher, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in person for the first time at this year's Lone Pine Film Festival, has reviewed what sounds like a very interesting new book by Michelle Morgan: THE ICE CREAM BLONDE: THE WHIRLWIND LIFE AND MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF SCREWBALL COMEDIENNE THELMA TODD. I've been interested to learn about the restaurant Todd owned on Pacific Coast Highway, Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe.

...Another new book: THE FIRST KING OF HOLLYWOOD: THE LIFE OF DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS by Tracey Goessel.

...Ohio State always has amazing marching band shows, and this show paying tribute to the 50th anniversary of the film THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965) is special.

...Is Amazon building the "cord-cutter's streaming dream"?

...Music historian Will Friedwald writes "We've Been Watching the Wrong Version of Oklahoma!" for the Wall Street Journal. Friedwald compares the CinemaScope and Todd-AO versions of the film. I've actually had both versions on a DVD set for several years, and it is indeed fascinating to compare. I remember watching the movie years ago and having an unsettling feeling that it was...different. The line readings and such just seemed slightly off from what I remembered watching most of my life. It was only later that I realized I must have watched the "other" version...though I couldn't tell you know which one I'd watched when! (Incidentally, there is also a SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS set which contains two different versions, CinemaScope and "flat"...comparing the minor differences in staging, etc., is really interesting if you're a fan.)

...Famed Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully says he cannot imagine returning after his 2016 farewell season. Scully just turned 88, and next year will be his 67th consecutive year broadcasting Dodger games.

...Popular former Dodgers player Dave Roberts is the team's new manager. I'm very enthused about Roberts' selection.

...More Southern California sports news: The University of Southern California has named interim coach Clay Helton as permanent head coach. USC, incidentally, beat UCLA last weekend for the first time since 2011.

...Heartiest congratulations to Colin, who celebrated his blog Riding the High Country's 8th anniversary this weekend with a review of Dana Andrews in COMANCHE (1956). I link to Colin's blog regularly here as I enjoy his thoughtful reviews so much.

...There's a short review of Douglas Sirk's LURED (1947) by Pablo Kjolseth at the TCM Movie Morlocks site. It's a good movie starring George Sanders and Lucille Ball, which I reviewed in 2010.

...Also at the Movie Morlocks site, an article by R. Emmet Sweeney on the book WHITE HORSE, BLACK HAT: A QUARTER CENTURY ON HOLLYWOOD'S POVERTY ROW by C. Jack Lewis.

...Notable Passing: Actor David Canary, best known as foreman Candy on BONANZA and later for his multi-Emmy-winning performance(s) as twins Adam and Stuart Chandler on ALL MY CHILDREN, has passed on at the age of 77.

...For even more classic film links on books, DVDs, and much more, please visit last week's link roundup.

Have a great week!