Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Like many of my readers, I've been enjoying a number of "old favorite" films during our enforced hibernation. This weekend I've rewatched GREEN FOR DANGER (1946), which I reviewed here in 2009. What a marvelous film! And strangely reassuring to watch others coping bravely with a life-threatening situation -- the movie depicts periodic bombings in WWII Britain. Highly recommended.

...Actor Norman Lloyd, who is now 105, is living through his second pandemic. He was a four-year-old during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

...Walt Disney's former home in Palm Springs is for sale. The Los Angeles Times provides a photo tour.

...Kenneth Turan has just retired as senior film critic at the Los Angeles Times. For his final column he listed 14 comfort movies he recommends for viewing during these nervous days. The terrific list includes one of my all-time favorite films, THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938); Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in SWING TIME (1936); James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan in THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940); more wonderful films starring Greer Garson and Irene Dunne; and one of my very favorite discoveries of the last few years, Hayao Miyazaki's MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988). The latter film seems particularly apt viewing for our current times, as magical creatures help two little girls navigate a challenging period in their own lives. Turan describes it thus: "A charming and joyful Japanese animated film, so magical it’s almost impossible to accurately describe." I agree 100%.

...Kino Lorber's latest upcoming Blu-ray announcements include KISS THE BLOOD OFF MY HANDS (1948), starring Burt Lancaster and Joan Fontaine. It will be released on June 9th, with extras including a commentary track by the always-worthwhile Jeremy Arnold. Coming in July: NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK (1941), starring W.C. Fields and Gloria Jean.

...I think I shared this 2015 video a few years ago, but this tour of Fred MacMurray and June Haver's Healdsburg, California ranch home hosted by their daughter Kate is worth another look. The MacMurrays' warm and low-key decor reminds me very much of McCrea Ranch, home of Joel McCrea and Frances Dee.

...Here's a quick peek into the projection room of Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre. Having seen many movies there, it was fun to take a look.

...I just came across a very nice extended February interview with Loretta Young's son Chris and his wife Linda.

...This year Kimberly Truhler of GlamAmor will be offering a web version of her annual "Fashion in Films of TCMFF" talk. The subject matter of her April 15th presentation will tie in with films shown in this year's "Special Home Edition" of the festival, which airs on TCM from April 16th to 19th. Registration for the fashion presentation is at Zoom.

...Disney has announced new release dates for its upcoming slate of movies. JUNGLE CRUISE has been delayed for a year, from July 24, 2020, to July 30, 2021. BLACK WIDOW (2020) originally scheduled to come out in May, is being bumped to November, and the Marvel films originally scheduled to be released in fall 2020 and beyond have all been bumped forward to as late as 2022.

...Ben Model has announced he'll be hosting "Silent Comedy Watch Party" for the next several Sundays. Visit YouTube on Sunday, April 5th, at noon Pacific/3:00 Eastern for the live stream.

...See's Candies announced that Oriental Trading Company will be selling and shipping See's unsold Easter candy, while supplies last. As mentioned last week, See's is fully closed for the first time in its nearly 100-year-old history due to the coronavirus shutdown. (April 7th Update: See's has announced that Oriental Trading Company has now sold out.)

...Festival producer Alan K. Rode has announced that this year's Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival, which was scheduled to take place in Palm Springs from May 7th to 10th, will be postponed to later this year.

...Notable Passings: Soap opera actor John Callahan, star of ALL MY CHILDREN and SANTA BARBARA, has passed on at the age of 66....Actress Patricia Bosworth, who also wrote several actor biographies, has died at 86...Teenaged actor Logan Williams, who appeared in the Hallmark Channel's THE COLOR OF RAIN (2014) and WHEN CALLS THE HEART, has sadly died at the age of 16...Actress Julie Bennett, known for voicing Cindy Bear on Yogi Bear TV cartoons for decades, has died at 88.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my March 28th roundup.

Have a great week!