Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...There are more classic Blu-ray releases coming from Universal, including the charming THIRTY DAY PRINCESS (1936) with Sylvia Sidney and Cary Grant; IF I HAD MY WAY (1940) with Bing Crosby and Gloria Jean; the all-star WWII extravaganza STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM (1942); and YOU GOTTA STAY HAPPY (1948) starring James Stewart and Joan Fontaine.

 

...Glenn Erickson's latest Warner Archive Blu-ray reviews at Trailers From Hell include ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT (1942) and MACAO (1952).

...I'm looking forward to THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (1983) being released on Blu-ray and 4K by Kino Lorber Studio Classics. It will be out in October. I've long owned a DVD but will enjoy a Blu-ray upgrade.

...Today Tom Cruise announced he'll be starring with Anne Hathaway in a sequel to DAYS OF THUNDER (1990), releasing in 2028.

...Travel writer Rick Steves has purchased a movie theater in Edmonds, Washington. The theater opened over a century ago.

...ClassicFlix has another interesting rare TV series coming out: LOCK UP (1959) starring Macdonald Carey and John Doucette. Volume 1, with the first 13 episodes from Season 1, will be released on Blu-ray in November 2026. The set will feature 4K restored prints from the show's original camera negatives.

...Over at Riding the High Country, Colin has reviewed Alan Ladd in CHICAGO DEADLINE (1949).

...The Los Angeles Silent Film Festival returns next month in collaboration with the American Cinematheque. The festival will take place at the Los Feliz 3 Theatre from September 11th through 13th, 2026. Films include Douglas Fairbanks (Sr.) in THE BLACK PIRATE (1926). Leonard Maltin will be honored during the festival.

...Thanks to Christine at ClassicFilmLA for alerting me to an upcoming Disney film series, Walt Disney Studies, hosted by Disney historian Jeff Kurtti at the Frida Cinema in Santa Ana. The films shown will be 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (1954), ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951), SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON (1960), SALUDOS AMIGOS (1942), and LADY AND THE TRAMP (1955), plus the documentaries WALT AND EL GRUPO (2008) and DISNEYLAND HANDCRAFTED (2026). Special guests will also be on hand at some of the screenings.

...Somehow I missed hearing about a 2022 biography of actress Marie Windsor titled A SHEEP IN WOLF'S CLOTHING: THE LIFE OF MARIE WINDSOR. The author is Denise Noe, and it was published by Bear Manor Media.

...Notable Passings: Some sad recent losses, beginning with singer-songwriter-actress Dolly Parton, who passed on at the age of 80. She was also a theme park owner and so much more. I can't say much about her which hasn't already been said by many, but what a great lady, life, and career...Shelley Fabares has passed away at the age of 82. Best known for the TV series THE DONNA REED SHOW (1958-65) and COACH (1989-97), not to mention her three films with Elvis Presley, I think of her most often from ANNETTE (1958) on THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, which might be where I first saw her. She was the niece of Nanette Fabray and was married to actor Mike Farrell...It was belatedly announced that Leslie Parrish, who starred in LI'L ABNER (1959), died last November at the age of 90.

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

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