Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Lots of news to share after a weekend off! We'll start off with some updates from Kino Lorber on future releases. THE DIAMOND WIZARD (1954) starring Dennis O'Keefe and restored by the 3D Film Archive, will be out November 15th. It includes 2D and 3D versions (with glasses!) and a commentary by Mike Ballew.

...Announced by Kino Lorber for November 29th: The Dark Side of Cinema XI with A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE (1948), I WAS A SHOPLIFTER (1950), and BEHIND THE HIGH WALL (1956). A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE will have a commentary by Jason A. Ney.

...The Warner Archive Collection's October Blu-ray releases are DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1931) and MARK OF THE VAMPIRE (1935).

...ClassicFlix has just combined its previous releases of Season 1 and Season 2 of PUBLIC DEFENDER (1954-55) into a Complete Series collection.

...The upcoming Lifetime movie A CHRISTMAS SPARK (2022) will reunite Jane Seymour and Joe Lando, stars of DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN (1993-98). Lifetime has some other interesting holiday films coming, including Rita Moreno appearing in SANTA BOOTCAMP (2022) and Jodie Sweetin (MERRY & BRIGHT) in MERRY SWISSMAS (2022).

...It's hard to believe, but the TV series THE WALTONS (1972-81) is now 50 years old. I vividly remember watching the very first episode, about a little deaf girl. I was hooked and I don't believe I ever missed an episode in its decade-long run -- not an easy feat in pre-VCR days. (When I got a VCR, A DECADE OF THE WALTONS was the first thing I recorded.)...Last year the CW network remade THE HOMECOMING (1971) as THE WALTONS' HOMECOMING (2021). This year a new special is on the way, A WALTONS THANKSGIVING (2022), airing November 20th. I recorded the film last year but haven't gotten around to watching it yet...maybe I will someday.

...Here's an interesting just-published Hitchcock book: THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUSPENSE: THE BUILT WORLD IN THE FILMS OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK by Christine Madrid French, from the University of Virginia Press. The foreword is by Alan Hess who wrote two great books in my collection, GOOGIE REDUX: ULTRAMODERN ROADSIDE ARCHITECTURE and RANCH HOUSE. For a sample from THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUSPENSE, Vanity Fair recently adapted the chapter on NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959).

...I just recently became aware of the book MAKING THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES by Alison Macor, published by University of Texas Press.

...THE FARROWS OF HOLLYWOOD by Marilyn Ann Moss, published by Skyhorse and distributed by Simon & Schuster, has had its publication date pushed back from next month to January 2023.  (October 2022 Update: The book is now scheduled for a February 7th publication date.) (December 2022 Update: The book is now scheduled for March 7th.) (February 2023 Update: The release date has changed yet again, to April 11, 2023.)

...Coming from TCM and Running Press in April 2023: EDDIE MULLER'S NOIR BAR: COCKTAILS INSPIRED BY THE WORLD OF FILM NOIR. 

...John Stamos, who starred on GENERAL HOSPITAL in the years I watched it and later was part of the cast of FULL HOUSE (1987-95), has a memoir due out in 2023, IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME. Stamos grew up not far from where I live in North Orange County and is a huge Disneyland fan with impressive park memorabilia in his backyard.

...I ordered Alicia Malone's BACKWARDS AND IN HEELS: THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF WOMEN WORKING IN FILM thanks to this review by Karen Burroughs Hannsberry at Shadows and Satin. I liked Malone's GIRLS ON FILM: LESSONS FROM A LIFE OF WATCHING WOMEN IN MOVIES earlier this year.

...Just out from Wayne State University Press: GENE TIERNEY: STAR OF HOLLYWOOD'S HOME FRONT by Will Scheibel.

...From Leonard Maltin: "Where Film Buffs Get Their Thrill."  I enjoyed saying hello to Mr. Maltin at last weekend's D23 Expo. I also had the pleasure of briefly chatting with film and Disney historian J.B. Kaufman at the Expo.

...Cineworld Group, the parent company of the Regal and Edwards theater chains, recently declared bankruptcy...In other theater news, look for Hollywood's Cinerama Dome to reopen in 2023.

...I'm intrigued by this trailer for SEE HOW THEY RUN (2022), an Agatha Christie style mystery starring Saoirse Ronan and Sam Rockwell. The film, which opens this weekend, is set against the backdrop of West End theater in 1950s London.

...Another interesting upcoming film is Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical THE FABELMANS (2022); here's a trailer.  Justin Chang, an L.A. Times critic I enjoy, gave a thumbs up to THE FABELMANS at the Toronto Film Festival. In the same review Chang enthuses about GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY (2022), which is a sequel to KNIVES OUT (2019); here's the trailer for that film. John Defore of The Hollywood Reporter said GLASS ONION is "wildly enjoyable." THE FABELMANS is due out November 23rd; GLASS ONION will appear in theaters this fall at a date to be announced, then debut on Netflix December 23rd.

...Disney has officially removed the planned STAR WARS film ROGUE SQUADRON from its release schedule. It was originally to be directed by Patty Jenkins (WONDER WOMAN) for release at Christmas 2023. Jenkins is said to have "scheduling conflicts." Films added to the release calendar include SNOW WHITE (2024), with WONDER WOMAN's Gal Gado as the Evil Queen opposite Rachel Zegler (WEST SIDE STORY) in the title role; INSIDE OUT 2 (2024), a sequel to INSIDE OUT (2015); and MUFASA (2024), a spinoff from THE LION KING (1994).

...Here's a great-looking CD due out in a few weeks, with music from WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) and HOLIDAY INN (1942). It's "a release of complete film scores...from pre-recordings made during the filmmaking process." This sounds especially interesting as a WHITE CHRISTMAS soundtrack album was never available due to Rosemary Clooney's recording contract obligations; instead an album was released with Peggy Lee singing Clooney's songs alongside Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Trudy Stevens, who dubbed Vera-Ellen in the film.  The new CD set is a "Day One" purchase for me.

...Next month Annette Bochenek is hosting the "Take Two! Blogathon" on movie remakes. Participation details are at her blog Hometowns to Hollywood.

...From earlier this year at Cinema Scholars: "The Los Angeles Homes of Barbara Stanwyck" by Benjamin McVey. I always enjoy his photo-filled articles on celebrity homes.

...Interesting recent classic film reviews include KC of Watching Classic Movies on the new Flicker Alley release THE SILENT ENEMY (1930)...Jessica wrote about Joan Leslie and Robert Alda in CINDERELLA JONES (1946) for her blog Comet Over Hollywood...At 50 Westerns From the 50s Toby has reviewed CONQUEST OF COCHISE (1953), which reunited Robert Stack and Joy Page from BULLFIGHTER AND THE LADY (1951); John Hodiak costars...CineSavant Glenn Erickson wrote about Kino Lorber's brand-new Blu-ray release of SO PROUDLY WE HAIL! (1943) for Trailers From Hell. Look for a review of that disc here in the future...Erickson also reviewed a new region-free Blu-ray film noir set from Australia's Viavision/Imprint. Two of the films in the set, THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS (1946) and THE TURNING POINT (1952), are also out on Blu-ray in the U.S. next week from Kino Lorber...At Riding the High Country Colin reviews Audie Murphy's DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER (1954). Be sure to catch the Robert Fuller interview with Cheryl Rogers Barnett which Walter links to in the comments. That led me to a whole list of interesting interviews Barnett has available on YouTube. I'll add that I've had the pleasure of meeting Barnett at the Lone Pine Film Festival and she's an extremely nice and friendly lady.

...Notable Passing: Henry Silva has passed away at the age of 95. His half-century film career included the classic Budd Boetticher-Randolph Scott Western THE TALL T (1957), seen here, where he was absolutely chilling as one of Richard Boone's trigger-happy (but not too smart) henchmen. Silva was in several other Westerns including THE LAW AND JAKE WADE (1958), THE BRAVADOS (1958), RIDE A CROOKED TRAIL (1958), and THE JAYHAWKERS! (1959). Other notable credits were OCEAN'S 11 (1960) and THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962). His last credit was a cameo in the OCEAN'S 11 (2001) remake.

...More Notable Passings: Artist Lorinda Roland, the daughter of Gilbert Roland and Constance Bennett, has died. She was 84. She is survived by a sister, Gyl Roland.  Both girls are pictured here with their mother, with their half-brother Peter seen with their mother in the portrait on the wall...Actor-Screenwriter Mark Miller has died at 97. He starred with Pat Crowley on TV's PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES (1965-67) and was in countless other TV shows. His writing credits including cowriting A WALK IN THE CLOUDS (1995) with Keanu Reeves and Anthony Quinn. Miller was the father of actress Penelope Ann Miller...Greek actress Irene Papas has died in Greece; I've seen her age listed as both 93 and 96. Her films included TRIBUTE TO A BAD MAN (1956) with James Cagney; THE GUNS OF NAVARONE (1961) with Gregory Peck heading a large cast; Disney's THE MOON-SPINNERS (1964) with Hayley Mills; and ZORBA THE GREEK (1964) with Anthony Quinn, who was also in NAVARONE.

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

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