Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the internet...in a slightly abbreviated holiday edition.

...Coming to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber in April 2021: BATTLE HYMN (1957) starring Rock Hudson, Martha Hyer, and Dan Duryea.  It will include a commentary track by Nick Pinkerton.

...John Latchem of Media Play News on Season 2 of THE MANDALORIAN: "The eight episodes of the second season...offer the kind of STAR WARS moments the franchise's fans have been clamoring to see for decades... Instead of trying to reinvent the universe the way the sequel trilogy seemed to be trying to do, THE MANDALORIAN unmistakably wants to play in George Lucas' sandbox." Yep.

...USA Today ran a story a few days ago about the history of the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and how it particularly fits our strange COVID Christmas.

...My Christmas gifts this year included the beautiful new book THE DISNEY PRINCESS: A CELEBRATION OF ART AND CREATIVITY. Jess Salafia Ward interviews the author, esteemed animation historian Charles Solomon, at Laughing Place.

...Andy Wolverton's movie lists are always fun and a great resource for viewing ideas.  Here's his Best Film Noir Discoveries of 2020, Part 1 and Part 2.

...Last week I mentioned that Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood is hosting a fundraiser to assist employees impacted by California's restaurant shutdown. Miceli's, located across the street from Musso & Frank, is now holding a fundraiser as they attempt to avoid closing forever. We'll be dealing with the collateral damage from California's extreme lockdowns, which currently ban all but takeout, for years to come.

...Notable Passings: Actress Skye Aubrey has passed away at the age of 74. Aubrey worked steadily on TV throughout the '70s.  Her former husband, producer Ilya Salkind, cast Aubrey's mother, actress Phyllis Thaxter, as Ma Kent in SUPERMAN (1978)...Ned Wynn, the son of Keenan Wynn, has died at 79. Like his father and his grandfather Ed Wynn, Ned Wynn was an actor; he was also the author of a memoir, WE WILL ALWAYS LIVE IN BEVERLY HILLS. His stepfather was Van Johnson; his brother was screenwriter Tracy Keenan Wynn...Lee Wallace, who played the Mayor in THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE (1974), has passed on at 90. He was married to longtime ONE LIFE TO LIVE player Marilyn Chris...I was saddened to learn of the death of Broadway singing star Rebecca Luker (seen here), who passed away from ALS at the age of 59. Her Broadway appearances included productions of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, SHOW BOAT, THE MUSIC MAN, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and MARY POPPINS.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my December 19th roundup.

Have a great week!

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