Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...The Kino Lorber Anna May Wong Blu-ray set, first announced in March 2022, now has a release date: May 2, 2023. The films are DANGEROUS TO KNOW (1938), KING OF CHINATOWN (1939), and ISLAND OF LOST MEN (1939). All three films have commentary tracks. KING OF CHINATOWN is a 4K nitrate restoration.

...Kino Lorber also announced a May 2nd release date for the Dark Side of Cinema XIII Collection which contains SPY HUNT (1950), THE NIGHT RUNNER (1957), and STEP DOWN TO TERROR (1958). Again, all three films will have commentary tracks. As mentioned here last August, at least two more Dark Side of Cinema sets will be coming out from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

...I'm very interested in the upcoming ClassicFlix Blu-ray and DVD release of HI DIDDLE DIDDLE (1943). The movie stars Dennis O'Keefe and Martha Scott. It will be out in May.

...This month's Criterion Channel lineup includes a collection of 13 pre-Code Paramount films, with a 16-minute introduction by Imogen Sara Smith.

...Variety has posted a new article by film music historian Jon Burlingame on John Williams.

...A 2016 book from McFarland which recently came across my radar: UNSUNG HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS OF THE GOLDEN ERA: 50 OVERLOOKED FILMS AND THEIR STARS, 1929-1939. The author is Edwin M. Bradley. I mentioned another book by the author in my February 18th roundup.

...At Mystery File, Dan Stumpf has reviewed a favorite film noir title, THE NARROW MARGIN (1952).

...The third season of ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL will be released on DVD and Blu-ray in the U.S. on March 14th.

...Toby has just reviewed the new Warner Archive Blu-ray of Fritz Lang's RANCHO NOTORIOUS (1952) at 50 Westerns From the 50s. My own review should be posted at Classic Movie Hub in the next few days.

...Marvel's ROGERS: THE MUSICAL, as seen in TV's HAWKEYE (2021), will be playing this summer live on stage at Disney California Adventure.

...Russ Tamblyn has announced the 2024 publication of his memoir DANCING ON THE EDGE.

...A favorite lesser-known actress, Martha O'Driscoll, was born in Tulsa on March 4, 1922. Please visit Annette Bochenek's marvelous, photo-filled tribute to the actress at Hometowns to Hollywood...And over at Jeff Arnold's West, he recently posted a review of UNDER WESTERN SKIES (1945), in which O'Driscoll starred with Noah Beery Jr.

...Notable Passings: Former child actor Ted Donaldson has died at 89. Donald's best-known role was as Neeley, younger brother of Peggy Ann Garner's Francie Nolan, in A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN (1945). I was privileged to see Donaldson interviewed by Jeremy Arnold at the 2016 TCM Classic Film Festival, seen here...Ricou Browning, the "Gill-Man" in CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954), has passed on at 93...Producer Walter Mirisch, who was also a former Academy President, has passed away at the age of 101. I've always loved the story about Joel McCrea buying Mirisch a Cadillac when WICHITA (1955) did well...Disney Legend Burny Mattinson, an animator who was Disney's longest-tenured employee, has passed away at 87. Mattinson's many credits included directing MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL (1983). In 2012 I was fortunate to hear him speak as part of a panel discussion on Disney's "Nine Old Men" at Destination D.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my February 25th roundup.

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