Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Critics' Choice has released another exclusive three-film set, this one featuring William Holden comedies. The titles: MEET THE STEWARTS (1942) with Frances Dee, MISS GRANT TAKES RICHMOND (1949) with Lucille Ball, and FATHER IS A BACHELOR (1950) with Coleen Gray. These multifilm Critics' Choice sets are a great value. Here's a list of what's current available.

...Coming soon from Kino Lorber: HELL IS FOR HEROES (1962) starring Steve McQueen, Bobby Darin, Fess Parker, and Bob Newhart.

...Leonard Maltin has an overview of a number of interesting recent Blu-ray releases, I was also interested in his short review of the new documentary BACK TO THE DRIVE-IN (2022).

...New book: THE GEORGE RAFT FILMS by James L. Neibaur, published by Bear Manor Media. I reviewed Neibaur's book on Frank Sinatra films last month and expect to review this new book in the next few weeks.

...Coming in January from the University Press of Kentucky: A reprinting of IDA LUPINO: A BIOGRAPHY by William Donati, originally published in 1996. It has a new cover, which I mention because when I first saw it I thought it was a brand-new book.

...I was disappointed that Warner Bros. has pushed back SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS (2023) from its planned December release to March 2023. In turn, AQUAMAN AND THE LOST CITY (2023) is pushed from next March to Christmas 2023. The films are sequels to a fun pair of movies I've watched a couple times each, SHAZAM! (2019) and AQUAMAN (2018).

...Actress Vera Miles turned 93 last week, on August 23rd. Vienna paid tribute to Miles at Vienna's Classic Hollywood. I will always associate Miles first and foremost with her role as Laurie in John Ford's THE SEARCHERS (1956).

...One of my favorite Westerns, CANYON PASSAGE (1946), has been restored by Universal Pictures and the Film Foundation. It will be screened at the New York Film Festival, to be held in September and October 2022. Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg both "consulted" on the restoration. The movie stars Dana Andrews, Susan Hayward, and Brian Donlevy along with a superb supporting cast. For a little more on CANYON PASSAGE, read on to the obituaries at the end of this post.

...NBC is considering dropping seven hours of primetime programming per week, getting rid of its 10:00 p.m. lineup. Hard to imagine times have changed so much, but here we are.

...A new book coming in November: CHRISTMAS PAST: THE FASCINATING STORIES BEHIND OUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS by Brian Earl, published by Lyons Press.

...For fall cookbook season: MODERN BISTRO: HOME COOKING INSPIRED BY FRENCH CLASSICS from America's Test Kitchen.

...Thanks to CineSavant Glenn Erickson for the great tip on the Los Angeles Theatres website, which I look forward to exploring. I've also added the site to my blogroll at the left of this page, under "Southern CA Classic Film Theaters & Festivals."

...At Out of the Past, Raquel Stecher has reviewed the recent Flicker Alley Blu-ray release of a favorite film for me, REPEAT PERFORMANCE (1947). Joan Leslie stars.

...This week Jessica Pickens' Musical Monday at Hollywood Comet focused on SWEET AND LOW-DOWN (1944), which I saw at Cinecon in 2018. Benny Goodman and Linda Darnell star.

...Speaking of Cinecon, it was confirmed to me via email this week that next weekend's Cinecon festival in Hollywood will be going ahead with its plans for masks and vaccine passes. I am unwilling to spend the festival's five days of movies with a mask covering where I breathe and will sadly be passing on this festival.

...From January, a list by Fiona Underhill of SlashFilm of Alfred Hitchcock's 20 Best Films. While much of my list would look quite a bit different, comparing notes is the fun of a list such as this.

...Here's a really interesting DVD find I made this week: A 1958 episode of PLAYHOUSE 90 titles "No Time at All," put out by Reel Vault, which specializes in public domain releases. The cast is led by William Lundigan, Betsy Palmer, and Jane Greer; the supporting cast seems to stretch for a mile, with names including Keenan Wynn, Buster Keaton, Chico Marx, Regis Toomey, James Gleason, Charles Bronson, and Mary Beth Hughes. The full cast may be found at IMDb. I ordered it and am very curious to try it out, especially as I like aviation-themed drama.

...Thanks to John Aldrich for letting me know that the Harkins Theatres chain shows classic movies on Tuesdays for $5. They will be screening GIANT (1956) on Tuesday, September 6th. I first became familiar with the Harkins chain as my son saw movies there when he was at college in Flagstaff. There is also a Harkins theater in driving distance from me in Cerritos. A list of upcoming Tuesday night titles is here.

...Notable Passings: Virginia Patton, who played Harry Bailey's pretty wife Ruth in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1947), has passed on at the age of 97. Patton also played Liza, a young bride in CANYON PASSAGE (1946)...Character actor Joe E. Tata has passed away at 85. His many episodic TV appearances included multiple roles on shows such as BATMAN, MANNIX, ADAM-12, and THE ROCKFORD FILES, where he appeared a total of eight times, including repeat performances as bail bondsman Solly Marshall.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my August 20th roundup.

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