Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...The Warner Archive Collection has announced its April titles. They include ARROWSMITH (1931), 20,000 YEARS IN SING-SING (1932), CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS (1937), CRACK-UP (1946), KING RICHARD AND THE CRUSADERS (1954), and the Monogram Matinee Vol. 2, containing the Jimmie Davis Western LOUISIANA (1937) and Jimmy Wakely in SONG OF THE RANGE (1944). (There's more on the Monogram set from Toby Roan at 50 Westerns From the 50s.) Meanwhile several of the March Warner Archive discs announced last month are on the way to me for review, so stay tuned!

...Universal also has a great list of Blu-rays ahead for April: MILLION DOLLAR LEGS (1932), INTERNATIONAL HOUSE (1933), HERE COMES COOKIE (1935), MISSISSIPPI (1935), and THE PRIVATE WAR OF MAJOR BENSON (1955). I hope to review at least a couple of these; in the meantime I have Cary Grant's debut film, THIS IS THE NIGHT (1932), on the way to me for review. Anyone who missed the March list of Universal releases may find it here.

...VCI Entertainment has a set of East Side Kids films coming out under its Poverty Row Classics line: EAST SIDE KIDS (1940) and THAT GANG OF MINE (1940).

...Kino Lorber Studio Classics is bringing out an upgraded print of all-time favorite BEND OF THE RIVER (1952) on Blu-ray in May, from a 4K restoration. In addition to the Toby Roan commentary on their 2019 Blu-ray release, this will have a second track, by Julie Kirgo and C. Courtney Joyner. BEND OF THE RIVER was directed by Anthony Mann; James Stewart leads a very deep cast.

...Also coming from Kino Lorber in May: NIGHT WORLD (1932) with Lew Ayres and Boris Karloff; it will have two commentary tracks, by Jeremy Arnold and Tim Lucas. And listed as "coming soon" is WALK A TIGHTROPE (1963) starring Dan Duryea.

...The UCLA Festival of Preservation has announced it will take place from May 29th through 31st at the Billy Wilder Theater in Westwood. The full schedule is not yet out, but it will include LORNA DOONE (1922), MERRILY WE LIVE (1938), and PITFALL (1948). Thanks to reader Christine for making me aware of this great news.

...Christine also shared the news that the Academy Museum is hosting a series of all Akira Kurosawa's films, starting in late March and continuing through May.

...I also want to mention that both the Noir City Hollywood and Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festivals announced their schedules yesterday. For anyone who missed my posts, the schedules may be reviewed here and here.

...The Vista Theater in Hollywood is hosting extremely rare 35mm roadshow showings of PORGY AND BESS (1959) this week.

...The annual Cowboy Cookout fundraiser at McCrea Ranch will take place Saturday, May 16th. Registration is via the Conejo Recreation and Park District. The cookout includes the very rare chance to tour the inside of the home of Joel McCrea and Frances Dee, which is remarkable in its simplicity and homey touches. It's hard to believe it's been nearly 15 years since the ranch first opened to the public; I've been fortunate to return several times over the years, and I'm looking forward to the cookout!

...Last summer I shared the news of the upcoming biography of Ben Johnson by Kathryn Jones, published by the University Press of Mississippi. TALL IN THE SADDLE: THE LIFE OF BEN JOHNSON, HOLLYWOOD'S REAL COWBOY was just published, on March 10th. I'm looking forward to it!

...As I mentioned in my preview of the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival, Kirk Ellis has a new book out BONNIE AND CLYDE, published by the University of New Mexico Press. Kirk is a regular at both the Arthur Lyons and Lone Pine Film Festivals, and I really enjoyed his book on RIDE LONESOME.

...Cole's French Dipped Sandwiches, a Downtown Los Angeles staple since 1908, may be closing for good this summer. I wrote about Cole's here in 2020.

...Coming in June from the University Press of Kentucky: A CENTURY OF HITCHCOCK: THE MAN, THE MYTHS, THE LEGACY by Tony Lee Moral.

...Glenn Erickson has reviewed the new Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray of MOGAMBO (1953), which I'll also be reviewing in the very near future...James L. Neibaur reviewed Kino Lorber's new Jack Benny set, containing ARTISTS AND MODELS (1937) and MAN ABOUT TOWN (1939). Again, I should have a review of MAN ABOUT TOWN up in the next couple days!...At Comet Over Hollywood, Jessica reviewed LET'S MAKE MUSIC! (1940) with Bob Crosby and Jean Rogers. It's available on a Warner Archive DVD.

...Notable Passing: British actress Jane Lapotaire has passed on. A 1981 Tony winner for PIAF, I particularly remember her for her role as Princess Dagmar of Denmark (later Empress of Russia) in TV's EDWARD THE KING (1975).

...Note: Around the Blogosphere This Week will not appear next weekend, when I'll be attending the 2nd Annual Cinecon "Pop-Up" Fundraiser in El Segundo, California.  The column will return on March 28th.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my March 7th column.

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