Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Kino Lorber has Tweeted the Blu-ray release dates of several previously announced titles: SO PROUDLY WE HAIL! (1943) and BRIGHT VICTORY (1951) will be coming out on September 13th, with THE LAST TRAIN FROM MADRID (1937) and THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS (1947) due on September 20th. I'm particularly enthused about a commentary track by Julie Kirgo for SO PROUDLY WE HAIL and by Alan K. Rode for THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS.

...Jacqueline Stewart, head of programming at the Academy Museum since January 2021, was named the director and president last week. She succeeds Bill Kramer, who recently moved from heading the Museum to serving as the head of the Academy as a whole. Stewart also hosts the "Silent Sunday Nights" franchise on Turner Classic Movies.

...At Out of the Past Raquel has posted one of her amazing lists of new and upcoming film books. An incredible number of interesting books are on the way in coming months. Thanks to Raquel for all the work involved putting these very useful lists together.

...Glenn Erickson's latest reviews include DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA (2022) which he says is "quality goods" and may be better than the first film, which I loved. I didn't get to catch A NEW ERA in a theater due to a hectic schedule, but my Blu-ray arrived yesterday!

...At Hometowns to Hollywood, Annette takes a look at HER HIGHNESS AND THE BELLBOY (1945) starring June Allyson, Hedy Lamarr, and Robert Walker. Her post includes some lovely photos.

...Congratulations to Tynan of Four Star Films, who is celebrating a decade of blogging.

...I'm very interested in seeing the new Nolan Ryan documentary, FACING NOLAN (2022). Here's a review from Texas Monthly.

...At Mystery File David Vineyard reviews the aviation suspense film CONE OF SILENCE (1961) starring Michael Craig, Peter Cushing, and George Sanders. I've had this DVD in my collection for a while but have not yet caught up with it. Sounds interesting.

...Jessica of Comet Over Hollywood reviewed one of my favorites, George O'Brien, in THE FIGHTING GRINGO (1939) as part of her ongoing "Watching 1939" series.

...Notable Passing: Veteran actor L.Q. Jones has passed on at the age of 94. Jones was a regular as Belden on TV's THE VIRGINIAN (1963-71), seen at right, and was also a semiregular as the sheriff on a modern Western I especially liked, THE YELLOW ROSE (1983-84). His film career spanned BATTLE CRY (1955) to A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION (2006) and included notable titles like RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY (1962), HANG 'EM HIGH (1968), and THE WILD BUNCH (1969). Over the years he also appeared in countless TV shows. Jones got his role in BATTLE CRY thanks to his college roommate, future DAVY CROCKETT and DANIEL BOONE star Fess Parker; originally named Justus McQueen, Jones adopted his BATTLE CRY character's name as his professional name from that point on.

...More Notable Passings: F TROOP (1965-67) costar Larry Storch passed on at the age of 99. Storch was a friend of Tony Curtis and appeared in several of Curtis's films, beginning with his first credit in THE PRINCE WHO WAS A THIEF (1951). In 1987 I saw Storch as Dr. Einstein -- the role played by Peter Lorre in the 1944 film -- in a Los Angeles theatrical production of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. The stellar cast included Marion Ross and Jean Stapleton as the aunts, Gary Sandy (WKRP IN CINCINNATI) as Mortimer, and Jonathan Frid (DARK SHADOWS) as Jonathan...James Caan has died at the age of 82. He may be best remembered as Sonny in THE GODFATHER (1972), but I will always remember him best as Brian Piccolo in BRIAN'S SONG (1971) -- one of the first movies to make me cry! Last week Caan's BRIAN'S SONG costar Billy Dee Williams Tweeted a recent photo of the two captioned "Team mates and friends to the end. RIP Jimmy."

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my July 2nd roundup.

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