Tonight's Movie: The Saint Strikes Back (1939)

Tonight I opened up the first of several wonderful DVD sets I received for Christmas, The George Sanders Saint Movies Collection from the Warner Archive.

This set contains the five RKO films Sanders made as Simon Templar, aka the Saint, between 1939 and 1941.

Louis Hayward had previously played the title role, in RKO's THE SAINT IN NEW YORK (1938), and when Sanders switched over from the Saint to the Falcon series in 1941, Hugh Sinclair played Templar in two films for RKO's British wing, THE SAINT'S VACATION (1941) and THE SAINT MEETS THE TIGER (1943). The latter two films are also available from the Warner Archive.

John Twist's screenplay for THE SAINT STRIKES BACK was based on the Leslie Charteris novel ANGELS OF DOOM, also known as THE SAINT MEETS HIS MATCH and SHE WAS A LADY.

The plot as laid out by Twist is frankly a bit too convoluted to follow in the early going, as Templar becomes a potential suspect in a nightclub killing on New Year's Eve in San Francisco. Also involved in the incident is lovely Val Travers (Wendy Barrie).

I found it didn't really matter too much when the plot was overly confusing, simply because I enjoyed Sanders' lead performance and the fine cast, including Jonathan Hale, Jerome Cowan, Neil Hamilton, Willie Best, Nella Walker, and Barry Fitzgerald, who like Sanders would one day win an Oscar.

Leading lady Wendy Barrie would return in two of Sanders' Saint films, playing a different character in each film. She also appeared in Sanders' first two Falcon entries. Her role here is a bit "one note," but she's pretty, gowned in costumes by Renie.

One of the things I most enjoy about a film like THE SAINT STRIKES BACK is the peek as life as it was in the '30s. One of my favorite scenes was set amidst sleeper berths on an airplane -- those were the days! (Of course, a cross-country plane trip also took a lot longer then!) The New Year's Eve opening made the film particularly appropriate to see at this time of year.

THE SAINT STRIKES back runs a fast-paced 64 minutes. It was directed by John Farrow, whose busy schedule in 1939 included SORORITY HOUSE (1939) with Anne Shirley and the chilling "B" classic FIVE CAME BACK (1939) with Chester Morris, Wendy Barrie, and Lucille Ball among the excellent cast.

In addition to the Warner Archive release, THE SAINT STRIKES BACK has had a release on Region 2 DVD in the UK.

This film can also be seen on Turner Classic Movies. TCM has a clip, described on the site as a "neat shot," which is indeed a great sequence as the camera gradually moves up to reveal the Saint in hiding.

Fans of RKO's "B" movies and George Sanders should enjoy this one.

Tonight's Movie: The Santa Clause (1994)

Disney's THE SANTA CLAUSE (2013) has been around for nearly two decades now, but somehow I'd never caught up with it before tonight. It proved to be an enjoyable spin on the Santa story.

THE SANTA CLAUSE called to mind the more recent ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (2011), as each movie presents a creative and original take on the "Santa succession" and North Pole operations.

Tim Allen, who's also voiced Buzz Lightyear in Disney's TOY STORY franchise, plays Scott Calvin, a divorced businessman who shares custody of little Charlie (Eric Lloyd) with his ex-wife (Wendy Crewson).

Charlie spends Christmas Eve with Scott and awakens his dad with the news that there's "a clatter" on the roof straight out of 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Scott goes outside and is stunned to see a man dressed as Santa on his roof, and he's even more shocked when the man slips off the roof and ends up lying unmoving in the snow. Scott searches for ID and finds a business card in the man's pocket saying that if anything happens to him, the person reading the card should put on his suit and the reindeer will know what to do. Sure enough, a ladder suddenly appears leading up to the rooftop, where Santa's reindeer await. Meanwhile Santa's body vanishes, leaving only the suit behind.

Charlie convinces his dad to put on the suit and the two of them are in for a wild ride, as they learn Santa's magical secrets, wrapping up with a stop at the North Pole. Scott wakes up the next morning and thinks it was all a dream...but what is he doing in red pajamas?

Over the course of the next year Scott's body and personality gradually change, as he truly becomes Santa. Unfortunately everyone around him thinks he's cracking up -- shades of MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947) -- and his joint custody of Charlie is jeopardized.

Although the plot may sound a bit brutal, what with Santa falling off the roof and a custody battle, it's actually a gentle tale filled with chuckles and heart. Some of the scenes where Scott deals with the shock of his new experiences are genuinely funny, particularly his relationship with the bossy Comet. And as Scott grows into being Santa, not just physically but emotionally, the film is nicely heartwarming, encapsulated in a lovely scene where he visits a little girl for the second year in a row.

The two most prominent elves are Bernard (David Krumholtz) and Judy (Paige Tamada).  The elves are adults but are portrayed by children, which works surprisingly well; among other things, this leads to a funny moment where the 1200-year-old Judy tells Scott she's "seeing someone in wrapping." The best payoff is when a squad of "elves with attitude" must break Santa out of jail.

The movie leaves behind some questions, such as why Santa died -- Comet provides Scott with a rope to help make sure he doesn't fall off a roof when carrying out Santa duties! -- and why Scott was chosen, or indeed if he was deliberately chosen or it was random chance. I also felt the sudden change of heart by the ex-wife near the end could have been more clearly explained. However, these are minor quibbles in a fast-paced 97-minute film which makes very enjoyable Christmas viewing.

The movie was directed by John Pasquin.

A sequel eight years later brought back many of the cast members, with little Charlie now a teenager. A third film followed in 2006.

Parental advisory: This film is rated PG. It's about as mild a PG film as one can find.

THE SANTA CLAUSE is available on DVD, Blu-ray, and VHS.

Christmas Joy!

I hope each one of my readers is enjoying a very happy Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to All!

Best wishes to all for a very Merry Christmas!!

Cinemark Classic Series in 2014

Cinemark has announced an interesting "Classic Series" for early 2014, consisting of films from the '80s and early '90s.

The movies in the series are:

BIG (1988) on January 5th and 8th

THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987) on January 12th and 15th

FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982) on January 19th and 22nd

FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (1986) on January 26th and 29th

GROUNDHOG DAY (1993) on February 2nd (Groundhog Day!) and February 5th

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (1993) on February 9th and 12th

I'm hoping to catch GROUNDHOG DAY and possibly SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE. GROUNDHOG DAY is one of my favorite movies of the last couple decades, but I've never seen it in a theater.

I had a very good experience seeing WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) at a Cinemark here in Orange County so hopefully these movies will look good as well.

Check the list to see if your city has a Cinemark theater participating in the series.

Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Here's an early Christmas present from Shout! Factory: Half a dozen years after 20th Century-Fox released the first season of NEWHART on DVD, we have the good news that Season 2 will be released on DVD at long last. NEWHART is one of my favorite comedies, a real "feel good" show, and I'm glad to see more of it will finally be available to own.

...The things one stumbles over on the internet: lovely home movies of Richard Egan and his wife Patricia Hardy Egan, whose passing was noted here in 2011.

...And if you're the last person on earth who hasn't seen the WestJet Miracle video, it's lovely, celebrating the sheer joy of giving a bunch of airline passengers the surprise of their lives. (And yes, it's great viral marketing, too.)

...Still looking for Christmas ideas for a classic film fan? The new book HOLLYWOOD IN KODACHROME looks gorgeous. It was written by Davis Wills and published by It Books.

...Leonard Maltin rounds up recent "New and Notable Film Books" in three separate posts: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. (Side note, there's one error in Part 3: Actually, there was a previous book on the films of 1939, HOLLYWOOD'S GOLDEN YEAR by Ted Sennett.)

...Coming soon here at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings: a review of the impressive new biography of Barbara Stanwyck by Victoria Wilson. In the meantime, here's a review by KC at Classic Movies.

...Over at DVD Savant, Glenn Erickson has posted "The Most Impressive Discs of 2013."

...The Film Noir Foundation has announced its schedule for the 12th Annual Noir City Festival to be held in San Francisco next month. We'll have to wait a while to learn the schedule for Hollywood's 16th Annual Noir City Festival, to be held next March and April, but it sounds like Hollywood will also get the new restoration of Lizabeth Scott and Dan Duryea in TOO LATE FOR TEARS (1949). Hopefully we'll also get the restoration of THE HITCH-HIKER (1953), with Frank Lovejoy and Edmond O'Brien, directed by Ida Lupino.

...The "Year of Ann Blyth" starts at Another Old Movie Blog on January 2, 2014. In the meantime, drop by Jacqueline's blog for video of Ann dueting "Winter Wonderland" with Perry Como for a 1958 TV show.

...A few days ago Warner Archive Instant announced the launch of an iPad app.

...From Robby at Dear Old Hollywood: The locations for COLLEGE COACH (1933) starring Pat O'Brien and Dick Powell, with John Wayne in a bit part. Love the then-and-now shots of the Coliseum and Rose Bowl.

...I recently caught up with a review of Robert Taylor in QUENTIN DURWARD (1955) at Kevin's Movie Corner. It's a Taylor film I've not yet seen, and Kevin certainly makes it sound appealing.

...The new National Film Registry list was announced. MIDNIGHT (1939) and MARY POPPINS (1964) are just two of the films which will be preserved by the Library of Congress.

...Coming from Criterion on March 25th: Harold Lloyd in THE FRESHMAN (1925). In keeping with Criterion's new policy, the movie will only be sold in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack; it cannot be purchased in one of those formats individually.

...Also coming from Criterion in March: Kurosawa's THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (1958), which apparently was a significant inspiration for STAR WARS (1977).

...Kay loves Sonja Henie in SUN VALLEY SERENADE (1941); visit her fun post at Movie Star Makeover. My review of last Christmas is here.

...As someone new this year to the films of Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu, I loved this photo, seen on Twitter, of teapots from Ozu's films. Click on it to enlarge.

...Short bits: Colin muses on "The Color Noir" at Riding the High Country...I'm looking forward to seeing Robert Ryan in DAY OF THE OUTLAW (1959) which Greenbriar Picture Shows calls "a snowbound comfort Western"..."Seven Enduring Lessons From IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE"...Westerns coming from Olive Films in 2014 listed by Toby at 50 Westerns From the 50s...Yvonne DeCarlo loves her Proctor toaster! Kristina's got wonderful vintage celebrity ads at Speakeasy...Busy Kristina's also got gorgeous photos of Brian Aherne and lots more fun stuff to check out...And here's Lou Lumenick's holiday gift guide for classic film fans.

...I've read Jon Weisman's Dodger Thoughts blog for years, following it to various URL's as he migrated around the web. The blog is finally coming to an end, but for the best of reasons: Jon is going to work for the Dodgers! I've removed Dodger Thoughts from my blogroll and thank Jon for years of great reading and insights.

...Attention Southern Californians: Two new film series have been announced by UCLA for the first quarter of 2014, Columbia in the 1930s: Recent Restorations and Dark City, Open Country: The Films of Anthony Mann. Plus, on January 11th, there's Joan Fontaine in FRENCHMAN'S CREEK (1944), directed by Mitchell Leisen. Needless to say, I expect I'll be spending a lot of time in Westwood in early 2014! I'll be posting more details on each series here in the coming weeks.

...Just a reminder to be sure to visit the Christmas Movie Blogathon at Family Friendly Reviews. There are lots of posts on some wonderful movies, not to mention classic Christmas TV shows.

Have a great week, and Merry Christmas!

Tonight's Movie: White Christmas (1954)

NOTE: This review is part of the Christmas Movie Blogathon being hosted this weekend at Family Friendly Reviews. Please visit the Family Friendly Reviews site for links to posts on many beloved Christmas movies. Day 1 of the three-day blogathon is here and Day 2 is here. And here is Day 3!

WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) is not simply one of my favorite Christmas movies, it's one of my favorite films of all time. I watch it nearly every year, yet I had never seen it on a big screen until I had the opportunity to catch a special screening at the local Cinemark theater last Thanksgiving weekend.

Having read of some other bloggers' negative experiences with digital screenings of classic films at multiplexes, I was prepared to be disappointed, but I couldn't have had a better experience. Other than a couple very grainy minutes early in the film, starting in the army hospital scene, the movie looked absolutely beautiful, and a nice-sized audience of all ages turned out to see it. The audience was quite appreciative, and when the lights came up at the end I noticed a couple people sitting near me had obviously teared up in the last scene, just as I always do.

WHITE CHRISTMAS is one of those movies, like MARY POPPINS (1964) and THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965), which is almost hard for me to write about. It's a film I've known my entire life, and though I love it as a film, it also represents decades of memories of the experiences seeing it, which are heightened because the movie was always seen at Christmastime. Happily, I've now made another wonderful memory with WHITE CHRISTMAS.

For those who might not have seen it yet, WHITE CHRISTMAS tells the story of two entertainers, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) who accompany a lovely pair of singing sisters, Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera-Ellen) to a Vermont lodge where the girls are booked to perform during the holidays.

Upon arrival, it's discovered that the lodge owner (Dean Jagger) was Bob and Phil's revered commanding officer during WWII, and what's more, the lodge is struggling due to no snow and thus no guests. Bob and Phil come up with an idea to turn things around at the lodge by bringing the cast of their latest show to Vermont for rehearsals; simultaneously they juggle romantic complications with Betty and Judy.

The plot of this 120-minute film may sound simple, but it's executed with charm and style by a perfect cast. The line readings alone simply couldn't be better; I suspect most of my family could probably recite all of the dialogue along with the soundtrack, getting the cadences and phrasings just right.

Really, everything about the entire movie is just right, from the choreography by Robert Alton to the costumes by Edith Head and the cinematography by Loyal Griggs. Everyone's work on this film has stood the test of time, and in fact the film has become a part of many people's holiday traditions.

For Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen, WHITE CHRISTMAS marked a reunion, years after they costarred in WONDER MAN (1945) and THE KID FROM BROOKLYN (1946) for Samuel Goldwyn. Their number "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" is just one of a succession of beautifully staged musical sequences, which include the classic "Sisters," sung by the ladies and hilariously reprised by Bob and Phil; Clooney's "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me," sung in a fantastic black gown; Crosby crooning "Count Your Blessings" to Clooney by a late-night fire; and of course the classic title song, which bookends the film. As I mentioned, that last scene, with the cast singing "White Christmas" as the stage door is opened to reveal falling snow, always induces happy, nostalgic tears.

For my money, the film may not get any better than the simply staged "Snow," sung by the lead foursome in a dining car on the way to Vermont. It's simply classic. Vera-Ellen is dubbed by Trudy Stevens.

(Speaking of that train...how is it that Betty and Judy are able to switch from Bob and Phil's Drawing Room A before "Snow" to  sleeper berths the next morning, when Bob and Phil had been told their only option was to sit up all night in the club car?)

Vera-Ellen has a couple more wonderful dance opportunities, including "Abraham," where she's partnered by John Brascia, who passed away earlier this year.

Dancer George Chakiris, who appears in the film, shared an interesting WHITE CHRISTMAS anecdote at a recent tribute held in his honor. Chakiris had just completed shooting the big group dance number "Mandy" when he got a call from his friend, dancer Matt Mattox, insisting that he come over to "Metro" and audition for Michael Kidd for SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954).

Chakiris somewhat ruefully admitted he had no interest in SEVEN BRIDES because he knew he had the chance to be one of four featured dancers in Rosemary Clooney's "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" in a couple more weeks and he really wanted to do that number! After receiving a second call from Mattox, who played Caleb in SEVEN BRIDES, Chakiris reluctantly went to MGM and gave Michael Kidd what he described as "the worst audition" of his career. However, Chakiris was happy with how things turned out, as he loved working with Rosemary Clooney on the WHITE CHRISTMAS number.

It's interesting to note that with Chakiris not then being a known "face," the producers were comfortable having him be in two places at once in the film, part of the dance company in Vermont while also appearing with Betty at the Carousel Club in New York!

The film's supporting cast also includes Mary Wickes, Anne Whitfield, Herb Vigran, Johnny Grant, Percy Helton, and I. Stanford Jolley.

WHITE CHRISTMAS was written by Norman Panama, Norman Krasna, and Melvin Frank. This would be a good place to mention that no matter how many people may try to insist to the contrary, WHITE CHRISTMAS is emphatically not a remake of Crosby's HOLIDAY INN (1942), written by Claude Binyon. The movies share Crosby, an inn, and composer Irving Berlin, including his classic song "White Christmas." That's it.

This film was directed by Michael Curtiz, who worked comfortably in all genres and directed some of the greatest movies ever made. A biography of Curtiz by Alan K. Rode, MICHAEL CURTIZ: A MAN FOR ALL MOVIES, will be out next year from the University Press of Kentucky.

Fans of WHITE CHRISTMAS will want to visit Hooked on Houses for a detailed look at the movie's Columbia Inn sets, as well as check out Kim's post at GlamAmor on Edith Head's costume designs for the film.

WHITE CHRISTMAS is available on DVD and Blu-ray. The DVD can be rented from Netflix and ClassicFlix; ClassicFlix also rents the Blu-ray.

The movie can be rented for streaming from Amazon and Netflix. WHITE CHRISTMAS also was released on VHS.

The trailer is on YouTube.

I consider WHITE CHRISTMAS, which will be 60 years old next year, to be the perfect Christmas movie. Most highly recommended.

August 2018 Update: I had the chance to see this favorite film in 35mm at UCLA.

December 2024 Update: I saw a 70th anniversary screening of WHITE CHRISTMAS at my local Cinemark Theatre thanks to Fathom Events.

Season's Greetings

These last few days before Christmas are a fun but busy time...here are a few great studio shots of classic film stars enjoying this time of the year!

Vera-Ellen:

Joan Leslie:

Andra Martin:

Wanda Hendrix:

Penny Edwards:

 

Susan Hayward:

Hope all my readers are enjoying the season as much as these lovely ladies!

Update: Season's Greetings (2014).

The Lynn Bari Centennial

Actress Lynn Bari was born 100 years ago today in Roanoke, Virginia.

Lynn Bari was a striking actress who made any film in which she appeared more interesting. The majority of Bari's career was spent at 20th Century-Fox, where she appeared in a number of particular favorites, including SUN VALLEY SERENADE (1941), ORCHESTRA WIVES (1942), MARGIE (1946), and I'D CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN (1951).

Bari was dubbed by Pat Friday in SUN VALLEY SERENADE and ORCHESTRA WIVES; below is one of my favorite '40s film sequences, performing "At Last" with Ray Eberle and the Glenn Miller Orchestra in ORCHESTRA WIVES:



In 2010 Bear Manor Media published FOXY LADY: THE AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF LYNN BARI by Jeff Gordon. It's on my wish list!

Lynn Bari films previously reviewed here, including a number of films in which the actress played small but noticeable bit parts: GIRLS' DORMITORY (1936), LADIES IN LOVE (1936), PRIVATE NUMBER (1936), ON THE AVENUE (1937), LOVE IS NEWS (1937), CAFE METROPOLE (1937), WIFE, DOCTOR AND NURSE (1937), THE BARONESS AND THE BUTLER (1938), LILLIAN RUSSELL (1940), SLEEPERS WEST (1941), SUN VALLEY SERENADE (1941), THE FALCON TAKES OVER (1942), SECRET AGENT OF JAPAN (1942), ORCHESTRA WIVES (1942), HELLO FRISCO, HELLO (1943), MARGIE (1946), SHOCK (1946), and I'D CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN (1951).

2014 Update: Additional reviews: THE PERFECT SNOB (1941) and NOCTURNE (1946).

2015 Update: New Lynn Bari film reviews: NEWS IS MADE AT NIGHT (1939), WE GO FAST (1941), HOME SWEET HOMICIDE (1946), and THE KID FROM CLEVELAND (1949).

2017 Update: Here's a review of CHASING DANGER (1939).

IMDb now lists Bari's birth year as 1917, incidentally.

Updates: Here are reviews of SHARPSHOOTERS (1938), SWEET AND LOW-DOWN (1944), HAS ANYBODY SEEN MY GAL (1952) (also here), and FRANCIS JOINS THE WACS (1954).

2021 Update: IMDb now lists Bari's birth year as 1919!

Tweet

Tonight's Movie: We'll Meet Again (1943)

WE'LL MEET AGAIN is a pleasant showcase for the British WWII singing star Vera Lynn, one of three films she made during the war.

Lynn plays Peggy Brown, who becomes a BBC radio star during the London Blitz. She also furthers the career of her composer friend Frank (Ronald Ward), and serves as matchmaker between old friends Ruth (Patricia Roc) and Bruce (Donald Gray).

That's pretty much all there is to the film's slight plot; this 84-minute movie is stitched together by Lynn's performances of a number of songs. My favorites included "Be Like the Kettle and Sing" and "All the World Sings a Lullaby." She also sings "Ave Maria" during a wedding scene.

The story and performances aren't especially compelling, but there's some nice wartime atmosphere -- Peggy's BBC boss has his office in an underground bunker -- and it moves along fast enough.

The end of WE'LL MEET AGAIN, with Lynn joined by what appears to be a real military audience as she sings the title song, is genuinely moving, both due to the lovely song and the sense of history.

I particularly like Patricia Roc so I enjoyed seeing her in a film released the same year she made the patriotic homefront film MILLIONS LIKE US (1943). The next few years were busy for Roc, as she appeared in a number of Gainsborough romances in the U.K., as well as the U.S. film CANYON PASSAGE (1946).

WE'LL MEET AGAIN was directed by Philip Brandon.

WE'LL MEET AGAIN is available on Region 2 DVD in the three-film Vera Lynn Film Collection, available at an affordable price from Amazon.UK.

Around the Blogosphere This Week...

...is taking the week off due to the busy holiday season! One of my kids came home from college Saturday, and one is due back later this week. Lots of decorating, wrapping, and addressing going on here.

Monday evening, December 16th, I plan to participate in an hour-long live chat regarding Warner Archive pre-Code films if you'd like to drop by Kumbaya. It will take place at 5:30 Pacific/8:30 Eastern. Our host is Aurora of Once Upon a Screen.

If you missed last week's link roundup, it can be found here.

Joan Fontaine Dies at 96

I regret having to post the sad news that the great Oscar-winning actress Joan Fontaine has died at the age of 96.

It's a bit hard to believe, coming the very same week as the passings of Eleanor Parker and Audrey Totter. Three favorite actresses of the classic film era, all gone within a week's time.

Fontaine was a brilliantly subtle actress it admittedly took a while for me to appreciate properly. I initially saw her as somewhat bland due to her series of "shy" roles in REBECCA (1940), SUSPICION (1941), and JANE EYRE (1943), yet when I returned to those films in more recent years I discovered shadings and nuances which had eluded me when viewing the films at a younger age.

My favorite Fontaine films are THE CONSTANT NYMPH (1943):

and FROM THIS DAY FORWARD (1946):

She plays entirely different characters in these two films, a frail European teenager and a struggling newlywed in the Bronx, inhabiting them so completely that even her body language and voice are different. Anyone who wants to understand Fontaine's brilliance need only watch and compare these two films -- yet there was so much more to her career, including one of my all-time favorite Hitchcock films, REBECCA (1940), and a marvelous performance in a film I watched just a week ago, LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN (1948).

Fontaine's survivors include her estranged older sister, 97-year-old fellow Oscar winner Olivia de Havilland, and two daughters.

A sad, fond farewell to a remarkably talented lady whose life's work will be appreciated for as long as movies exist.

December 16th Update: Turner Classic Movies will pay tribute to Joan Fontaine on December 29th, with a seven-film lineup consisting of BLOND CHEAT (1938), THE WOMEN (1939), REBECCA (1940), SUSPICION (1941), THE CONSTANT NYMPH (1943), BORN TO BE BAD (1950), and IVANHOE (1952).

The TCM Remembers tribute video for Joan Fontaine is now posted at the TCM site.

Wonderful tributes to Miss Fontaine were published today by many bloggers including The Self-Styled Siren, Will McKinley, Sheila O'Malley, and Lara Fowler, who conducted Fontaine's very last interview. Susan King of the Los Angeles Times shared five favorite Fontaine performances.

Joan Fontaine movies reviewed here over the last few years: NO MORE LADIES (1935), YOU CAN'T BEAT LOVE (1937), MAID'S NIGHT OUT (1938), THE MAN WHO FOUND HIMSELF (1937), SKY GIANT (1938), THE WOMEN (1939), SUSPICION (1941) (and here), THE CONSTANT NYMPH (1943), FROM THIS DAY FORWARD (1946), LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN (1948), SEPTEMBER AFFAIR (1950), BORN TO BE BAD (1950), DARLING, HOW COULD YOU! (1951), FLIGHT TO TANGIER (1953), UNTIL THEY SAIL (1957), and VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (1961).

Related Post: A Birthday Tribute to Joan Fontaine.