Tonight's Movie: I Died a Thousand Times (1955) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES (1955), a worthy remake of Raoul Walsh's HIGH SIERRA (1941), has been released on Blu-ray by the Warner Achive Collection.

As with the 1941 version, W.R. Burnett wrote the screenplay from his novel HIGH SIERRA. Whereas the 1941 version also credits John Huston for cowriting the script, I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES is credited to Burnett alone.

The familiar story finds Roy Earle (Jack Palance), just pardoned after several years in prison, newly arrived in California to take part in a heist.

The others in the gang are portrayed by Lee Marvin, Lon Chaney (Jr.), Earl Holliman, James Millican, and Perry Lopez, with Howard St. John as their trusted doctor on call.

Earle falls for pretty Velma (Lori Nelson), a girl whose family (Olive Carey and Ralph Moody) he meeds on the road. He pays for Velma to have an operation to cure her clubfoot, only to have her spurn him in favor of an old boyfriend (Richard Davalos).

Earle turns to Marie (Shelley Winters) for companionship, but the robbery and its aftermath lead to Roy's inevitable confrontation with law enforcement at the top of Whitney Portal Road.

I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES may not resonate as a classic in the same way as the Humphrey Bogart-Ida Lupino does, but it's an involving 109 minutes, directed by Stuart Heisler.

Palance is strong as the vulnerable tough guy rejected by the sweet young thing but realistically better suited to Winters' dime-a-dance gal. I'll never be Winters' biggest fan, but I guess one could say I've gotten used to her after years of seeing her in film noir and crime films, and she's solid as the physically and emotionally battered Marie.

The actors playing Roy's fellow hoodlums sketch characters of varying degrees of interest. Millican, in one of his last feature films before his too-early passing within days of this film's release, is especially good as a crooked former cop. I also enjoyed St. John as the doctor who takes a weirdly congenial interest in the criminal goings-on.

The film's supporting cast, in roles of varied sizes, includes Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, Nick Adams, Olive Carey, Dennis Hopper, Mae Clarke, Fay Baker, Larry J. Blake, and Myrna Fahey. A hotel cigar salesgirl is played by Carol Kelly, the sister of Nancy and Jack (MAVERICK) Kelly.

Like HIGH SIERRA, I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES filmed in and around Lone Pine, California. One of the great things about this version is the CinemaScope photography (by Ted McCord) of Lone Pine's scenic vistas, including Mt. Whitney and Lone Pine Peak.

For me part of the film's appeal is that I've been to most, if not all, of the movie's locations, including the previously mentioned Whitney Portal Road, which I wrote about here in 2019.

The film opens at a gas station in Keeler, California, which I wrote about in 2014. The gas station is still standing, although (like the entire town of Keeler) it's worse for the wear.

The next notable location in the film is the Best Western Frontier Motel, where I've stayed on multiple occasions.

From there it's on to Cuffe Ranch just outside Lone Pine, where I enjoyed a barbecue dinner in October 2024.

And just before turning onto Whitney Portal Road, Roy careens down Lone Pine's Main Street, where various buildings including the historic Dow Villa Hotel can be seen.

The widescreen Warner Archive Blu-ray print is excellent, with an equally good soundtrack.

Disc extras consist of the tailer plus the Bugs Bunny cartoons HARE BRUSH (1955) and SAHARA HARE (1955).

The movie and this disc are recommended viewing.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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Tonight's Movie: Lovely to Look At (1952) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The MGM musical LOVELY TO LOOK AT (1952) has just been released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection.

The film is a loose remake of RKO's ROBERTA (1935), which starred Randolph Scott, Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rogers. The MGM version retains the Jerome Kern score, composed with several different lyricists.

LOVELY TO LOOK AT is a relatively minor film in MGM's pantheon of great musicals, but sometimes the "lesser" films are among my top favorites, another example being the recently reviewed TWO WEEKS WITH LOVE (1950).

The plot, scripted by George Wells and Harry Ruby, is fairly simple: A trio of performers (Howard Keel, Red Skelton, and Gower Champion) can't get backing for a new Broadway review.

When Al (Skelton) inherits partial ownership of a Parisian dress shop, the men fly to Paris hoping to cash in on the inheritance as a means of financing their show. However, they discover from the shop's other owners, sisters Stephanie (Kathryn Grayson) and Clarisse (Marge Champion), that the shop is a failing enterprise.

Amid various romances, which also involve "Bubbles" (Ann Miller), a musical fashion show is created to save the shop, with Broadway success sure to follow.

The film is fairly light on story and heavy on glorious musical numbers, choreographed by longtime Astaire collaborator Hermes Pan.

Marge and Gower Champion have three dance numbers, two of which I consider all time greats: Their closing fashion show dance with Gower as a thief and Marge as his willing victim, and especially the great "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes." The swooping camera work of George J. Folsey is the perfect complement to the latter dance's choregraphy.

"Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" is a stunning number I've watched countless times, and the Blu-ray's song selection menu makes it easier than ever to revisit favorite musical moments.

As a side note, I found a still online (seen here) which seems to indicate a fourth dance number featuring the Champions was cut.

The Champions are easily the best part of the film for me, with their charmingly uncomplicated love story. Miller is underused, with only one substantial dance number, but she lights up every scene, and the development of her affection for Skelton is sweet.

Grayson and Keel's relationship is more complicated, but naturally all's well that ends well. This was the middle of Grayson and Keel's three films together, falling between the better-known Kern musical SHOW BOAT (1951) and Cole Porter's KISS ME KATE (1953).

The only blight on the film is a typically unfunny stand-up routine by Skelton, although even that has the plus of the viewer being able to watch handsome Gower Champion's reactions, which appear to be genuinely amused laughs.

Otherwise this is a "feel good" movie for me from the start to the finish of its 103 minutes. As the lead couples swirl around the dance floor to the title song at the end, I can't help having misty eyes from pure happiness.

LOVELY TO LOOK AT was directed by Mervyn LeRoy. The uncredited director of the gorgeous fashion show sequence, showcasing designs by the great Adrian, was by Vincente Minnelli. (Look for the future Rosemarie Stack as one of the models; she married Robert Stack in 1956. She's second from left in a still here.)

The supporting cast includes Kurt Kasznar and Zsa Zsa Gabor, who would also appear together in the follow year's MGM musical LILI (1953).  Familiar faces such as Marcel Dalio, Thomas Browne Henry, and John Maxwell are also in the cast.

The Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray offers a typically superb print with outstanding sound. The print is from a 4K scan of the original Technicolor negatives.

Disc extras consist of the Tom and Jerry cartoon DOG TROUBLE (1952); a Pete Smith Specialty short, HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED (1947); the trailer; and the previously mentioned song selection menu.

Recommended.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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TCM in December: Christmas Movies

It's time for my annual look at the Christmas movies on this year's Turner Classic Movies December schedule!

As usual, Christmas movies are scattered around the schedule in the first weeks of the month, leading up to the annual Christmas movie marathon. This year the marathon runs from December 19th through Christmas Day.

As there is inevitably some disappointment when a favorite film doesn't turn up on the schedule, I like to remind readers that it's normal and expected for some fluctuation in titles from year to year; this happens for a variety of reasons, including the licensing budget.

This year there won't be appearances by several films shown in 2023 or 2024, including HOLIDAY INN (1942), THE CHEATERS (1945), CHRISTMAS EVE (1947), GOOD SAM (1948), or THE HOLLY AND THE IVY (1952). The New Year's film REPEAT PERFORMANCE (1947) will also not be shown on TCM this holiday season.

On the other hand, several titles return to the schedule after not being shown last year, including AND SO THEY WERE MARRIED (1936), LADY ON A TRAIN (1945), THE MAN I LOVE (1947), MR. SOFT TOUCH (1949), and O. HENRY'S FULL HOUSE (1952).

This year will also see the TCM premiere of PRANCER (1989), a lovely film I saw when it was initially released theatrically. It's a worthy addition to TCM's holiday schedule which I hope many viewers will enjoy.

Looking ahead to New Year's Eve, this year there will be a Marx Brothers marathon during the daytime hours, followed by an evening of films with New Year's themes such as BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY (2001), SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (1993), and more.

New Year's Day will feature a marathon of THIN MAN movies.

The schedule includes films with general religious themes along with Christmas movies. Please click any hyperlinked title to read a complete review. For films showing more than once in December, the review is only linked the first time it appears on the schedule.

December 3rd

A CHRISTMAS STORY (1972) (short) (TCM premiere)

December 4th

THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947)

December 5th

OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES (1945)

December 6th

IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (1947)

KING OF KINGS (1961)

December 7th

CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945)

December 10th

YOURS, MINE AND OURS (1968)

THE GATHERING (1977) (TCM premiere)

December 13th

CASH ON DEMAND (1961) (Noir Alley)

December 14th

CASH ON DEMAND (1961) (Noir Alley)

HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949)

IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME (1949)

THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)

December 19th

HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949)

THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)

BELL BOOK AND CANDLE (1958)

BUNDLE OF JOY (1956)

BACHELOR MOTHER (1939)

A CAROL FOR ANOTHER CHRISTMAS (1964)

December 20th

TENTH AVENUE ANGEL (1948)

LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY (1938)

ON MOONLIGHT BAY (1941)

PRANCER (1989) (TCM premiere)

THREE GODFATHERS (1948)

THE THIN MAN (934)

THE APARTMENT (1960)

REMEMBER THE NIGHT (1940)

WE'RE NO ANGELS (1955)

LADY IN THE LAKE (1947)

ALIAS BOSTON BLACKIE (1942)

COVER UP (1949)

THE CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE (1944)

December 21st

HELL'S HEROES (1929)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938)

ROOM FOR ONE MORE (1952)

SUSAN SLEPT HERE (1954)

DESK SET (1957)

GOING MY WAY (1944)

THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S (1945)

THERE AIN'T NO SANTA CLAUS (1926) (short) (TCM premiere)

CHRISTMAS PAST (1925)

MON ONCLE ANTOINE (1971)

PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT (1962)

December 22nd

BLOSSOMS IN THE DUST (1941)

THE DAUGHTER OF ROSIE O'GRADY (1940)

OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES (1945)

METROPOLITAN (1990)

THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT (1964)

THE TROUBLE WITH ANGELS (1966)

NEVER SAY GOODBYE (1946)

IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (1947)

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942)

FITZWILLY (1967)

LADY ON A TRAIN (1945)

MIRACLE ON MAIN STREET (1939)

ROADBLOCK (1951)

December 23rd

KIND LADY (1935)

AND SO THEY WERE MARRIED (1936)

THE MAN I LOVE (1947)

LARCENY, INC. (1942)

BACKFIRE (1950)

MR. SOFT TOUCH (1949)

MY REPUTATION (1946)

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)

IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME (1949)

MEET JOHN DOE (1941)

LITTLE WOMEN (1949)

AUNTIE MAME (1948)

December 24th

THREE GODFATHERS (1936)

BACHELOR MOTHER (1939)

ALL MINE TO GIVE (1957)

THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)

IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (1947)

HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949)

CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945)

THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947)

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (1947)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938)

O. HENRY'S FULL HOUSE (1952)

BEYOND TOMORROW (1940)

STAR IN THE NIGHT (1945) (short)

December 25th

BOYS TOWN (1938)

THE GREAT RUPERT (1940)

LITTLE WOMEN (1933)

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)

POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES (1961)

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942)

IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME (1949)

December 27th

BEN-HUR (1959)

December 28th

KING OF KINGS (1927)

For more on TCM in December 2025, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in December, TCM in December: Highlights, and TCM's online schedule. 

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Tonight's Movie: Zootopia 2 (2025)

Has it really been almost a decade since Disney's ZOOTOPIA (2016) was released?

Somehow it has, and this Thanksgiving weekend a sequel, ZOOTOPIA 2 (2025), was released. My daughter and I went to see it on Black Friday.

This time around Zootopia Police Officers Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) are juggling to balance their fondness for one another with their clashing personality types as they settle into their careers.

Judy and Nick unexpectedly become friends with a snake named Gary (Ke Huy Quan) while solving a mystery involving weather walls and the longtime absence of snakes in Zootopia.

The plot, written by codirector Jared Bush, is pleasant yet didn't particularly wow me, and while the setting remains great fun, it also doesn't hit the viewer with the sheer creativity which impressed in the original film.

While I thought the story itself could have been more interesting, the script does include a lot of good dialogue -- as with the first movie, much of the humor will be best appreciated by adults -- and the characters remain fun. 

Just as with the first film, I think the sequel has been overrated by some reviewers, but that said, it provided an enjoyable afternoon with numerous chuckles. An unexpected use of the sloth -- the funniest character in the original film -- was quite amusing.

One area where this film has the edge over its predecessor is it drops the "message agenda" of the first film, which just about hit viewers over the head with its themes on bullying. The communication issues in this film are relatable without feeling as though "lessons" are being pushed at the audience.

Overall, I'd class ZOOTOPIA 2 as an enjoyable, if somewhat redundant, effort. It doesn't offer much new, but it entertains, causing me to laugh out loud at several points. 

ZOOTOPIA 2 runs 108 minutes. It was directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard.

The voice cast includes Idris Elba, Patrick Warburton, Shakira, Danny Trejo, Bonnie Hunt, Macaulay Culkin, Auli'i Cravalho, and more.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week...

...is taking the holiday weekend off.

It's a slow news week and there's not much to report, so I'm focusing on family time and movies this weekend, along with some college football.

Please check out my new review of Disney's ZOOTOPIA 2 (2025), which I've just seen.

Around the Blogosphere This Week will return on Saturday, December 6th.

For recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my November 22nd column.

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New Western RoundUp Column at Classic Movie Hub

My latest Western RoundUp column has just been posted at Classic Movie Hub.

This month I pay tribute to ten Western filmmakers via visits to their final resting places in a variety of Southern California locales.

Please click over to Classic Movie Hub to read it, and thanks, as always, for everyone's support of my Westerns column.

Previous Classic Movie Hub Western RoundUp Column Links: June 2018; July 2018; August 2018; September 2018; October 2018; November 2018; December 2018; January 2019; February 2019; April 5, 2019; April 30, 2019; May 2019; June 2019; July 2019; August 2019; September 2019; October 2019; November 2019; December 2019; January 2020; February 2020; March 2020; April 2020; May 2020; June 2020; July 2020; August 2020; September 2020; October 2020; November 2020; December 2020; January 2021; February 2021; March 2021; May 2021; June 2021; June 2021 (No. 2); July 2021; August 2021; September 2021; November 2021; December 2021; December 2021 (No. 2); January 2022; February 2022; March 2022; April 2022; May 2022; June 2022; July 2022; August 2022; September 2022; November 2022; November 2022 (No. 2); January 2023 (No. 1); January 2023 (No. 2); March 2023; April 2023; May 2023 (No. 1); May 2023 (No. 2); June 2023; July 2023; September 2023; September 2023 (No. 2); October 2023; November 2023; December 2023; January 2024; February 2024; March 2024; April 2024; May 2024; June 2024; July 2024; August 2024; September 2024; October 2024; November 2024; December 2024; January 2025; February 2025; March 2025; April 2025; May 2025; June 2025; July 2025; August 2025; September 2025; October 2025.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's cute little Margaret O'Brien, looking very happy about the Thanksgiving feast she's about to enjoy.

Happiest Thanksgiving wishes to all my readers!

Previous Hollywood Thanksgiving photos: Jeanne Crain, Angela Greene, Ann Blyth, Marsha Hunt, Hedy Lamarr, Phyllis Thaxter, Loretta Young, Alan Ladd, Ginger Rogers, Janis Paige, Esther Williams, and Joan Leslie.

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Tonight's Movie: Speaking of Murder (1957) - A Kino Lorber DVD Review

This summer Kino Lorber rereleased a three-film French Noir Collection. The set was originally released in 2022 and is currently available on both Blu-ray and DVD.

A four-film Volume II French Noir Collection is due out later this month, on Blu-ray only.

I'll be reviewing the original first volume via DVD preparatory to reviewing Volume II in due course.

The first film I've watched in the original set is SPEAKING OF MURDER (1957), known in its native France as LE ROUGE ES MIS.

Also in the set are BACK TO THE WALL (1958), known in France as LE DOS AU MUR, and WITNESS IN THE CITY (1959), also known as UN TEMOIN DANS LA VILLE.

SPEAKING OF MURDER stars Jean Gabin as Louis, whose "respectable" garage business is a front for his gang of thieves.

As the film's 95 minutes unspools, the gang's robberies grow increasingly violent. There is also conflict as hotheaded gang member Pepito (Lino Ventura) suspects that Louis's parolee brother Pierre (Marcel Bozzuffi) may have ratted on them to the police in exchange for favorable treatment.

The cast also includes Annie Girardot as Pierre's greedy lover; Jean Berard and Paul Frankeur are the other members of the gang.

SPEAKING OF MURDER was directed by Gilles Grangier, who also directed Gabin in HI-JACK HIGHWAY (1955), another solid crime film released by Kino Lorber. I reviewed HI-JACK HIGHWAY earlier this year.

SPEAKING OF MURDER is nothing particularly out of the ordinary, but it's a well-executed and interesting film with a fine script by director Grangier, Michel Audiard, and Auguste Le Breton, whose novel inspired the film. The story builds to a memorable conclusion.

The acting is good, and the Parisian settings and jazzy credits music are all pluses in the movie's favor. I enjoyed it and would definitely watch it again.

The movie was filmed in black and white by Louis Page. Kino Lorber's DVD print is excellent, with good sound quality.

The lone extras on this disc are the trailer, which is surprisingly long and explains a great deal of the plot, plus four additional trailers for other films available from Kino Lorber.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray collection.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...As shared here early last year, the venerable Fox Westwood Village Theater was bought by a large group of filmmakers. It has just been announced that the group, called Village Directors Circle, will partner with the American Cinematheque to run and program the theater, with a scheduled reopening date of 2027. The directors involved in the ownership group include Jason Reitman, Guillermo del Toro, Christopher Nolan, and Steven Spielberg, to name just a few.

...In more good theater news, there is hope that the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood will finally reopen.

...Coming from Kino Lorber Studio Classics in January: HOLD THAT BLONDE! (1945), starring Veronica Lake and Eddie Bracken, and the enjoyable remake of SABRINA (1995) starring Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond.

...Nearly 20 years ago I reviewed THE FAMILY STONE (2006), a very enjoyable Christmas film about a troubled family. There is now talk that there may be a sequel.

...The Letterboxd site plans to start an online streaming service.

...The Kit Parker Blu-ray release of a restored print of Joel McCrea in STRANGER ON HORSEBACK (1955) will be released December 16th.

...December's Criterion Channel streaming lineup will include collections focused on "Hotels on Film" and actress Julianne Moore.

...The Warner Archive Collection will release four-film Blu-ray sets of James Stewart and Robert Taylor films in January.

...The latest Hyperion Historical Alliance Annual, which covers Disney history, has just been published. I always buy these Annuals and recommend them.

...Reviews I've enjoyed reading recently include Karen Burroughs Hannsberry on THE WALKING HILLS (1949), starring Randolph Scott, at Shadows and Satin...CineSavant Glenn Erickson has written about the new Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray of THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE (1953) at Trailers From Hell. Errol Flynn stars...Colin's latest review at Riding the High Country is on the Universal Pictures crime film UNDERTOW (1949) starring Scott Brady, John Russell, and Peggy Dow...Tynan at 4 Star Films has reviewed THE UNSUSPECTED (1947) with Claude Rains...DforDoom of Classic Movie Ramblings has reviewed FOREVER AMBER (1947) starring Linda Darnell.

...Notable Passings: Actress and Disney artist Dawn Little Sky has died at 95...Richard Zamboni, son of Frank Zamboni -- creator of the famed ice resurfacing machine -- has died at 95.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my November 15th column.

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