Around the Blogosphere This Week
Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet......The annual November Barnes & Noble Criterion Collection half-price sale has begun! It runs through December 7th.
...I was sorry to receive letters informing me that two longtime classic film publications, Classic Images and Films of the Golden Age, ceased publishing in October. These magazines were favorites of both my late father and myself, and I have back issues going back a great many years. Longtime contributor Laura Wagner, especially known for her book reviews, has posted on Facebook and Instagram that she was as blindsided as subscribers. She hopes to start a new classic film magazine.
...The American Cinematheque has named Chris LeMaire Director of Programming. He's been promoted from Senior Film Programmer.
...A quartet of Claudette Colbert films are coming to Blu-ray next month from Universal: I MET HIM IN PARIS (1937), MAID OF SALEM (1937), ZAZA (1939), and SKYLARK (1941). Thanks to reader Ashley for sending me the information!
...Here's a terrific article on Randolph Scott and the Ranown films by Hannah Long.
...Martha Ross of the Bay Area News Group has written about writer-director Delmer Daves, whose film BROKEN ARROW (1950) is the subject of a new book by Angela Aleiss.
...Glenn Erickson's latest CineSavant reviews include I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES (1955) from the Warner Archive Collection and THE CAT AND THE CANARY (1927) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. I'm very much looking forward to reviewing I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES soon, especially to see its familiar locations in Lone Pine and Keeler, California.
...Attention Southern Californians: FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956) will be screened next weekend, on November 15th, at the Frida Cinema in Santa Ana. A promo for the screening may be viewed on YouTube.
...Notable Passings: Two great British actresses have passed on. Pauline Collins, whom I first knew as Sarah on UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS (portrayed from 1971-73), has died at 85. Collins was known for her Oscar-nominated role as SHIRLEY VALENTINE (1989). She was long married to her UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS costar John Alderton (seen here); their characters even spun off into THOMAS AND SARAH (1979)...Prunella Scales has also left us at 93. The FAWLTY TOWERS (1975-79) star was long married to Timothy West (EDWARD THE KING), who passed on just about a year ago, and was the mother of Samuel West (ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL).
...More Notable Passings: Emmy-nominated actress Maria Riva, the daughter of Marlene Dietrich, has died at the age of 100. She was active in '50s television and appeared in a small handful of films including SCROOGED (1988)...Diane Ladd, a three-time Oscar nominee who was the mother of Oscar-winning actress Laura Dern, has passed away at 89...Margaret DePriest, who was the head writer on GENERAL HOSPITAL during some of its best years (1978-81), has passed on at 94.
...I was overjoyed that the Los Angeles Dodgers followed last year's World Series Championship with another World Series win. It was an incredibly memorable series, including the classic 18-inning Game 3, won by Freddie Freeman's 18th-inning walkoff home run. The same Freddie Freeman who won Game 1 of the 2024 series with an incredible grand slam home run! I will never forget this series for a host of reasons.
...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my October 25th column.
posted by Laura @ 3:30 PM
7 Comments:
Pauline Collins was a wonderful actress but her SHIRLEY VALENTINE performance, terrific as it was, was not "Oscar-winning". She was nominated but did not win. The winner of the Best Actress Oscar for that year was Jessica Tandy for DRIVING MISS DAISY.
I'm glad for Dodger fans such as yourself, while at the same time, gnashing my teeth. The miracles that money can buy. On the other hand, the second-highest payroll was The Mets and they couldn't even make the post-season. Of course, they are...The Mets.
Re Hannah Long's essay on Randolph Scott and Ranown boiled down to a pair of observations: If John Wayne actually recommended Scott because he, Randy, was done, Wayne wins an award for arrogance and contempt, especially as he, Duke Wayne, was the producer -- Randolph Scott was 18 months away from the top ten. Observation two: Robert Young's name comes first in Western Union, but he is not the star...
Thank you, Rick! I knew that Collins didn't win and had a complete and total mind meltdown typing that incorrectly LOL. I'm grateful for the correction so I could fix it!
If you look over the Dodgers roster they also have considerable "home grown" talent or picked up people (i.e., Max Muncy) who were castoffs and were able to develop them. And two of their greatest players (Freeman and Betts) they were able to sign because Atlanta and Boston didn't bother to re-sign them. They of course have famously given a great deal of money to their Japanese stars but overall it's a more balanced roster than people assume.
Best wishes,
Laura
Barry, the great thing is that whoever said what about signing Scott for SEVEN MEN FROM NOW, it worked out so beautifully for all concerned! And surely Wayne had enough respect for Scott to want to sign him so...all good in the end. :)
Best wishes,
Laura
I am not familiar with the two publications that you reported have ceased publishing but I do know Laura Wagner who is an authority on - among other cinematic topics - movie dubbers, and I've read articles by her on this subject. I wish her every success if she indeed initiates a new magazine.
Thanks for link to great article on Randolph Scott westerns.
Sad indeed about the demise of these two great magazines.
Laura, thank you for the link to Hannah Long's really good write-up on Randolph Scott titled RANDOLPH SCOTT, VIRTUOUS LONER OF THE WEST. I think it's well worth reading. A couple of years ago you linked to Hannah Long's good write-up of RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY https://www.plough.com/en/topics/culture/film/ride-the-high-country
I think it's well worth reading, also. I think we should support a young writer like Hannah Grace Long who really likes and appreciates Western Movies and other Classic Movies. Also, I liked her photo, she wears a good hat.
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