Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Festival producer and host Alan K. Rode has announced that the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival, which usually takes place in Palm Springs in May, is scheduled for October 21st through 24th. After the past 13 months, the prospect of attending this festival and the Lone Pine Film Festival this fall fills me with joy.

...Leonard Maltin has reviewed Tex Avery Screwball Classics Vol. 2 and the Bugs Bunny 80th Birthday Collection.

...Newly announced Blu-ray news from Kino Lorber: Joining the previously announced Cecil B. DeMille film THE PLAINSMAN (1936) on July 20th is DeMille's UNCONQUERED (1947), starring Gary Cooper and Paulette Goddard. Nick Pinkerton provides a commentary track. Also out from Kino Lorber on July 20th: A two-film set with 633 SQUADRON (1964) and MOSQUITO SQUADRON (1969).

...Kino Lorber's previously announced upcoming releases of SHENANDOAH (1967) and ALIAS JESSE JAMES (1959) have had a July 27th release date announced. Kino's latest "coming soon" announcements are THE SPIDER WOMAN STRIKES BACK (1946) and ALL MY SONS (1948).

...Coming in June, hosted by Silver Screen Classics: The 2021 Swashbucklathon, celebrating the swashbuckler in classic film.

...The Warner Archive Collection has announced its May Blu-ray releases. The most significant news is that THEY WON'T BELIEVE ME (1948), which has had 15 long-missing minutes restored and debuts at next month's Virtual TCM Classic Film Festival, will have its Blu-ray release the very same month. I am so looking forward to seeing the entire film for the first time!

...Additional May Warner Archive Blu-ray releases include MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (1948), ESCAPE FROM FORT BRAVO (1950), ATHENA (1954), THE TENDER TRAP (1955), and BACHELOR IN PARADISE (1961). That's a group of films I'm really looking forward to seeing on Blu-ray.

...Jeff Arnold's West takes a look at one of my very favorite Westerns, RIDE LONESOME (1959) starring Randolph Scott. He says it's "as close to the ideal Western as you can probably get. Short, simple, powerful, it sticks in the memory." I agree completely.

...The Hollywood Legion Theater, which has been running a successful drive-in for much of the pandemic, is reopening its beautiful indoor theater tonight, April 10th, with Patricia Ward Kelly introducing SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952). The reduced-capacity screening has been announced as a sellout.

...At Hamlette's Soliloquy Rachel has reviewed Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake in SAIGON (1947). I'm fortunate to have a "gray market" copy of this film, which as far as I know has never seen the light of day on any format. I'd sure love to see it come out in an authorized Blu-ray print!

...Please join me in sending prayers and good wishes to one of the nicest people in the classic film blogosphere, Caftan Woman, who has just undergone a long-awaited kidney transplant. At latest report she is recovering well. Hoping this is the start of wonderful new things for her!

...Notable Passings: Actress Gloria Henry, known to many as the mother on TV's DENNIS THE MENACE (1959-63), has passed away at the age of 98. She was in films from 1947; Toby notes at 50 Westerns From the 50s that she was in THE STRAWBERRY ROAN (1948) with Gene Autry and RANCHO NOTORIOUS (1954) with Marlene Dietrich. She was in several other interesting films including Autry's RIDERS IN THE SKY (1949), seen here, and AL JENNINGS OF OKLAHOMA (1951) with Dan Duryea. The Tinseltown Twins have posted a tribute...Biff McGuire, a steadily working actor whose film and TV career spanned over six decades, has died at 94. His stage career included two Tony nominations. McGuire is survived by his wife of over 60 years, British actress Jeannie Carson...Mark Elliott, whose voice is familiar from movie trailers, including many for Disney, has died at 81...Actor James Hampton, whose acting credits included MACKINTOSH AND T.J. (1975) with Roy Rogers, has died at 84. He also played the title role in the ROCKFORD FILES episode "The Aaron Ironwood School of Success" in 1975.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my April 3rd roundup.

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