Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...A new book of interest for classic film fans: PERSISTENCE OF VISION is a newly published crime thriller by Steven Deeble which is set in 1929 Hollywood, Long Beach, and other California locations. The author's website is here.

...Kino Lorber and Zeitgeist Films will be distributing the new documentary on Hedy Lamarr, BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY (2017), which will debut in New York this November. In addition to theatrical screenings, BOMBSHELL will be shown on U.S. public television's AMERICAN MASTERS documentary series.

...Karen Burroughs Hannsbery has written a terrific piece on Rosemary DeCamp's film noir roles for Classic Movie Hub. DeCamp, a whiz with accents who was also able to play "older," is a welcome face in any film in which she appeared. Of her noir films I especially enjoyed DANGER SIGNAL (1945).

...This piece by Gracy Olmstead for The Federalist makes me think maybe I need to check out THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW on Netflix...

...Speaking of cooking, here's Robert Mitchum's chili recipe from Eat Drink Films.com. His secret ingredient: Bitter chocolate.

...Here's an article by Richard Bann, published at Leonard Maltin's site, on nitrate preservation.

...Just out from the Warner Archive: A favorite Western, COW COUNTRY (1953), starring Edmond O'Brien. I reviewed it in 2012.

...Hayley Atwell of TV's AGENT CARTER has been cast opposite Ewan McGregor in an upcoming Disney feature film, CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. The film will take a look at the adult life of Christopher Robin of the WINNIE THE POOH books. Atwell was also in Disney's CINDERELLA (2015).

...Found on YouTube thanks to Raquel, THE MILLS BROTHERS STORY (1986).

...From earlier this year, UCLA's Daily Bruin looked at the historic theaters of Westwood, CA.

...New biography: GO SLOW: THE LIFE OF JULIE LONDON by Michael Owen.

...Lots of pretty screen caps and video at The Blonde at Film, where Cameron takes a look at MGM's ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (1948). As a bonus, she features a link to Ricardo Montalban and Cyd Charisse's spectacular dance in FIESTA (1947).

...Here's a Screen Crush article from last year which is still relevant, discussing the lack of "screen masking" at modern movie theaters. Masking no longer takes place when I see most "newer" films at local theaters, which is a shame.

...TCM's Ben Mankiewicz has done a brief TV interview about the network's current Summer Under the Stars lineup.

...Notable Passings: As most of my readers will be aware by now, actor Martin Landau passed away on July 15th. He was 89. Whenever I think of him the first role that comes to mind is in NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)...The great voice actress June Foray has died just a few weeks short of her centennial birthday. Foray had countless famous roles in TV and film cartoons, including considerable work for Disney, such as Lucifer the Cat in CINDERELLA (1950) and Grandmother Fa in MULAN (1998); for me, though, my favorite Foray role was Cindy Lou Who in TV's HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (1966)...Red West has passed away at 81. His colorful life included a close friendship with Elvis Presley and an acting career which stretched from 1959 to 2015, but I'll always remember him best as cigar-chewing Sgt. Micklin, the mechanic on TV's BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON in the '80s...Frank Sinatra's widow Barbara recently died at 90. Her funeral was attended by familiar faces including Robert Wagner and Dick Van Dyke.

...More Notable Passings: Lois Laurel, the daughter of the late comedian Stan Laurel, died at 88. She was once married to Rand Brooks, who was known as Scarlett's first husband, Charles Hamilton, in GONE WITH THE WIND (1939) and later as a "B" Western star...Editor Judith Jones has passed away at 93. She was a key player behind the U.S. publication of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK and discovered Julia Child's MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING. A decade ago Jones wrote a memoir, THE TENTH MUSE: MY LIFE IN FOOD...Warner Bros. TV Western star Ty Hardin (BRONCO) has passed away on August 3rd in nearby Huntington Beach, California. (As it happens, another longtime WB TV Western star, Jack Kelly, was once mayor of Huntington Beach.) Hardin was 87...Former California Angels baseball player Don Baylor has passed away at 68...Longtime former Philadelphia Phillies catcher Darren Daulton has died of cancer at 55.

...For additional recent links on classic movies and more, please visit my July 11th link roundup.

Have a great week!