Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...The May Warner Archive Collection has announced its May Blu-ray lineup. Titles will include POSSESSED (1931), FOLLOW ME QUIETLY (1949), and a Monogram Matinee Volume 3 set featuring two films starring Johnny Mack Brown. Another May Warner Archive title of great interest is the release of IT'S A WISE CHILD (1931), starring Marion Davies, which I was unable to see last fall when it was shown at Cinecon.

...A 75th anniversary restoration of Disney's ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951) will be out on May 5th, shortly after premiering at the TCM Classic Film Festival; unfortunately for those of us not collecting 4K high-definition releases, it is only being sold on 4K, packaged with a Blu-ray. The Digital Bits site says "The Blu-ray in the package appears to be the exact same disc released in 2011 for the 60th anniversary." Since I already own that disc, it appears this release won't be for me, but perhaps this information will benefit 4K collectors.

...Here's a Los Angeles Magazine article by Chris Nichols on Leonard and Jessie Maltin and their new book, FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT MENUS: RECIPES AND FILMS FOR UNFORGETTABLE TIMES TOGETHER.

...Coming next month from the University Press of Kentucky: RICHARD FLEISCHER: JOURNEYMAN by Jason A. Ney, with a foreword by Eddie Muller. This should be a very interesting read for many reasons, including Fleischer's family history in animation and his work in film noir and for Disney.

...The three surviving members of the CHARLIE'S ANGELS (1976-81) TV series, Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson, and Cheryl Ladd, were recently reunited and interviewed.

...Recent reviews by Jessica Pickens at Comet Over Hollywood include THAT POWERS GIRL (1943) with George Murphy, Anne Shirley, and Carole Landis, and UP IN CENTRAL PARK (1948) with Deanna Durbin and Dick Haymes. I completely agree with Jessica's comment that Deanna is "great in every film."

...Speaking of Deanna Durbin, her terrific film THREE SMART GIRLS (1936) is coming to Blu-ray in May. Thanks to Adam for the info.

...And thanks also to Keith Buczak for alerting me to the upcoming book THE WONDERFUL WORLDS OF DISNEY: THE SCENIC ART OF WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS by Didier Ghez. It will be published by Chronicle Books in late September.

...I'm a fan of Jason Statham action films, most recently SHELTER (2026); here's the trailer for his next film, MUTINY (2026), due out in August. It's directed by Jean-Francois Richet, who also directed the very good PLANE (2023), which starred Gerard Butler.

...I always enjoy perusing the latest films viewed at Phyllis Loves Classic Movies. She's watched some favorites of mine recently!

...Coming to Blu-ray soon from Kino Lorber Studio Classics: THE ATOMIC MAN (1955), also known as TIMESLIP, starring Gene Nelson and Faith Domergue.

...Attention Southern Californians: THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951) will screen at the Frida Cinema in Santa Ana on April 18th...There's a remarkable series of rare films directed by William Beaudine currently ongoing at the New Beverly...and SINGIN' IN THE RAIN will be shown in 35mm at UCLA's Billy Wilder Theater on Sunday, April 12th.

...Please note that Around the Blogosphere This Week not appear next weekend, on April 18th, when I'll be traveling. The column will return on April 25th and then will be off two additional weekends while I attend back-to-back film festivals.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my April 4th column.

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