Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Lots of nice upcoming Blu-ray announcements from Kino Lorber Studio Classics over the last few days. The Westerns TOMAHAWK (1951) and BORDER RIVER (1954) are coming March 28th, the latter with a commentary track by Toby Roan of 50 Westerns From the 50s. Both films star Yvonne DeCarlo, with Van Heflin costarring in TOMAHAWK and Joel McCrea in BORDER RIVER.

...Donald O'Connor stars in DOUBLE CROSSBONES (1951), arriving March 14th, and Bob Hope stars in THANKS FOR THE MEMORY (1938), releasing March 21st.

...Also on the way: Loretta Young in Cecil B. DeMille's THE CRUSADES (1935) on March 7th and John Barrymore in William Wyler's COUNSELLOR AT LAW (1931) on March 28th. Both films are well worth seeing.

...I was sorry to hear that Turner Classic Movies programmer Millie De Chirico was laid off just before Christmas. She programmed TCM Underground, booked films for Noir Alley, and is the author of the new book from TCM and Running Press, TCM UNDERGROUND: 50 MUST-SEE FILMS FROM THE WORLD OF CLASSIC CULT AND LATE-NIGHT CINEMA. Needless to say, with ongoing corporate changes one has to wonder a little what the future holds for TCM.

...This 2020 article at Vintage Leisure on Shannon Farnon -- sister of THE SOUND OF MUSIC's Charmian Carr and actress Darleen Carr -- is quite interesting. Their mother, Rita Oehmen, was George O'Brien's leading lady in GUN LAW (1938).

...Coming to the Criterion Channel streaming service in January: "Starring Joan Bennett," a series of ten films with one of my favorite actresses. The titles span two dozen years and include the rare WILD GIRL (1931) and an all-time favorite, LITTLE WOMEN (1933).

...The new film BABYLON (2022), about the early days of Hollywood, has been deconstructed by my friends Chris Yogerst (for The Hollywood Reporter) and Farran Nehme (for Vanity Fair). Based on the unpleasant trailer I don't think it's my kind of movie, but I enjoyed their articles very much!

...THE FARROWS OF HOLLYWOOD by Marilyn Ann Moss, which I shared last September was scheduled for publication in October 2022, has had its release date pushed back a couple of times. According to Amazon, the current release date is now March 7, 2023. It will be published by Skyhorse and distributed by Simon & Schuster.  (February 2023 Update: According to Amazon the release date has changed again, to April 11, 2023).

...A Fathom Events showing of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) did well at the box office last week. On that topic, I recommend this essay by Clare Coffey on Mary Bailey (Donna Reed, seen here with costar James Stewart).

...At Mystery File Steve recently wrote about the Republic Pictures film EXPOSED (1947), with Adele Mara playing a lady P.I. Robert Scott, Robert Armstrong, and Adrian Booth costar. I'll be hunting it down.

...Jessica has interesting titles on her "Favorite New-to-Me Films of 2022" list at Hollywood Comet. There are a couple listed which I've been meaning to see, including THE LAST OF SHEILA (1973).

...Colin's latest review at Riding the High Country is of Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney in WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS (1950).

...For my fellow fans of Hallmark movies, here's a nice interview with Hallmark leading lady Lacey Chabert at Vulture.

...Notable Passings: Actress Diane McBain has passed on at the age of 81. Her memoir FAMOUS ENOUGH was published in 2014. Her earliest screen roles were in a pair of 1959 episodes on TV's MAVERICK. She worked regularly in episodic television and appeared in films such as PARRISH (1961) and MARY, MARY (1963). She retired from screen acting in 2001...Prolific TV director Gabrielle Beaumont has died at 80. The series she worked on included REMINGTON STEELE, HILL STREET BLUES, and L.A. LAW. She last directed in 2000.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my December 17th roundup.

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