Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...In April 2021 I shared the news here that the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood would not be reopening after its extended government-mandated shutdown during the pandemic. Good news is that there are now plans for a reopening under new ownership in 2022. Here is coverage from the Los Angeles Times, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety. (Photo courtesy of Turner Classic Movies.)

...My friend Toby Roan of 50 Westerns From the 50s has announced the 50 Westerns which he plans to include in his forthcoming book, also named 50 WESTERNS FROM THE 50S. Can't wait to read it!

...Coming in May from the University Press of Kentucky: MY PLACE IN THE SUN: LIFE IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD AND WASHINGTON by George Stevens Jr.

...Here are two interesting reviews of the new version of WEST SIDE STORY (2021) by my friends Jessica Pickens of Comet Over Hollywood and Annette Bochenek at Hometowns to Hollywood. I do plan to see it although I'm not sure if I'll catch it in a theater or wait for it to be available for home viewing. The original film is one of my favorites, so if nothing else I'm curious to see how this "revival" compares.

...Although WEST SIDE STORY has had disappointing box office returns to date, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (2021) is racking up amazing numbers, the most successful film since theaters have reopened post COVID-related shutdowns. It will ultimately be either the third or fourth biggest opening weekend of all time. I have tickets to see it next week! (Update: It made $260 million over the weekend and had the No. 2 box office opening of all time, just after AVENGERS: ENDGAME, released in 2019.)

...I'm hoping ETERNALS (2021) might still be playing locally when I have time to see it the last week of the year, but if not it will be available on Disney+ as of January 11th and on Blu-ray and DVD February 15th. I've seen every Marvel film in a theater since ANT-MAN (2015), but it's been a very busy few weeks!

...The Noir City Film Festival returns to the Bay Area in January, moving from San Francisco's Castro Theatre to a new location, the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland. The 2022 festival will be a four-day event. The theme: "They Tried to Warn Us!" Titles include THE KILLER THAT STALKED NEW YORK (1950), about the race to stop a pandemic in New York City.

...New titles added to the National Film Registry include STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951) and RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983).

...The Beverly Hills home owned by Kirk Douglas has gone on the market listed at $7.495 million. A unique feature: A backyard "walk of fame."

...Speaking of homes, Benjamin McVey has another interesting photo spread on celebrity homes at Cinema Scholars. The latest is "The Vintage Celebrity Homes of Rodeo Drive." I especially enjoyed photos of Gene Kelly's home.

...Coming in March from the Criterion Collection: THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (1965) starring James Stewart, Ernest Borgnine, and Dan Duryea, among others. It's an aviation disaster film about men marooned in the Sahara which was directed by Robert Aldrich.

...At The Hollywood Revue, Angela takes a look at the similar-yet-different sets for BRINGING UP BABY (1938) and CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945).

...Coming from Kino Lorber in February: A three-disc set for TOUCH OF EVIL (1958), available on either 4KUHD or Blu-ray.

...Karolyn Grimes and Jimmy Hawkins, two of the Bailey children in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946), share their memories.

...A few weeks ago Karen Burroughs Hannsberry reviewed HIGHWAY DRAGNET (1954) for Classic Movie Hub. That's a movie I really enjoy, starring Joan Bennett, Richard Conte, and Wanda Hendrix, plus some great locations.

...Colin has reviewed RED CANYON (1949) at Riding the High Country. It was directed by George Sherman and based on a Zane Grey story, starring Ann Blyth, Howard Duff, and George Brent.

...Some of Glenn Erickson's latest CineSavant reviews: IVANHOE (1952) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection; THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW - SEASON 1 on Blu-ray from ClassicFlix; and THE RED SHOES (1947) on 4KUHD and Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection.

...Notable Passings: Actress Cara Williams has passed away at 96. Known for TV's PETE AND GLADYS (1960-62), she had small roles in a number of interesting films of the '40s and larger supporting roles in '50s musicals such as THE GIRL NEXT DOOR (1953), seen here with Dennis Day, and MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS (1956). Williams was married at one point to John Drew Barrymore; survivors include her son, John Blyth Barrymore. A nice tribute to Williams was published by The Tinseltown Twins...Bridget Hanley, who played Candy on TV's HERE COME THE BRIDES (1968-70), has died at the age of 80. Hanley's hometown paper, the Edmonds Beacon in Washington State, has interesting insight into her family history.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my December 4th roundup.

...Around the Blogosphere This Week will not appear on Christmas Day or New Year's Day. It will return on Saturday, January 8th. Be watching for Tonight's Movie in 2021: The Year in Review on New Year's Day!

Tweet

Tonight's Movie: Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

Steve Martin and Carl Reiner's detective film spoof DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID (1982) has been released in a Special Edition Blu-ray by Kino Lorber.

Reiner and Martin wrote the screenplay with George Gipe; Reiner directed and Martin stars as Detective Rigby Reardon.

For those who aren't familiar with the film, Reardon solves a crime while interacting with a plethora of Golden Era stars whose lines are cleverly cut into the movie.

Along the way he romances his stunning client, Juliet Forrest (Rachel Ward, a year ahead of THE THORN BIRDS).

I hadn't seen the film since it was first released, and I'm absolutely certain I got a lot more out of the movie this time around, as by my count I've now seen all but one of the films which provided the source material for the movie clips. Although I'm a longtime film fan, I came relatively late to film noir, and I suspect the only "clipped" films I'd seen when the movie was originally released were the Bogart and Hitchcock films.

The most extensive classic footage in the film comes from THE BRIBE (1949), which I didn't see for the first time until almost exactly a dozen years ago. I had no memory of scenes like the big fireworks finale being in the movie and got quite a kick out of it.

The movie is most successful when it has Reardon interact with Humphrey Bogart's Philip Marlowe, who helps him solve the case. The scenes are well edited and amusing.

Additional actors seen in the film clips include Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Lana Turner, Fred MacMurray, Ava Gardner, Bette Davis, Ray Milland, Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and even more! I appreciated the end credits, which shows clips of each actor and lists the films they were seen in.

The one movie used in the film which I haven't yet seen? Barbara Stanwyck in SORRY, WRONG NUMBER (1948).

The DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID costumes -- including a stunning wardrobe for Rachel Ward -- were designed by Edith Head, who had designed some of the costumes seen in the original clips from Paramount films. This was Head's last film, and the movie is dedicated to her and the other craftsmen who made the original films.

It was also quite appropriate that the movie was scored by Miklos Rozsa (DOUBLE INDEMNITY). The new scenes were shot in black and white by Michael Chapman.

The movie runs a fairly well-paced 88 minutes. It's frankly only mildly entertaining, thanks to the clips and the beautiful Ward; my fellow classic film fans will probably find it's worth a look-see, but at the same time it's a bit of a "one-joke" film. A little goes a long way, and the movie probably could have stood to be a bit shorter. The film has several tasteless crass moments which simply aren't my kind of humor, and excising those scenes would have saved a couple minutes.

The Blu-ray print is good, though not of the very highest caliber; there are inherent issues with the film matching up the "looks" of the new footage and the clips. The clips often look unrestored and grainy, but I believe that's more of an issue with how they looked in the original film than anything to do with the quality of the Blu-ray itself. It's more a matter that there's only so much that can be done to make the "new" sections of the film look sharp while also matching up with the look of the clips.

The Special Edition extras include a new commentary by Allan Arkush and Daniel Kremer; multiple trailers, radio and TV spots; and reversible case cover art. The earliest sets to ship had cardboard slipcases but those are no longer available, according to the current listing at the Kino Lorber website.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.

Tweet

Tonight's Movie: Unconquered (1947) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

Director Cecil B. DeMille's American frontier epic UNCONQUERED (1947), an engaging tale of 18th century pioneers, is available in a spectacularly good-looking Blu-ray print from Kino Lorber.

UNCONQUERED is one of a few DeMille films Kino Lorber has released on Blu-ray in the last couple of years, including FOUR FRIGHTENED PEOPLE (1934), UNION PACIFIC (1939), and REAP THE WILD WIND (1942), the latter of which also starred Paulette Goddard.

UNCONQUERED arrived around the time I was on a trip to Oregon this past summer, and as other screeners arrived, I was doing quite a bit of "last in, first out" in terms of reviews. I just caught up with it, and my only regret is that I didn't watch it sooner, simply because I enjoyed it so much.

The cast is outstanding, the Technicolor photography by Ray Rennahan is superb, and while the script is sort of a "perils of Pauline" (Paulette?) tale, I found it quite entertaining.

Paulette plays Abby Hale, a British woman (who mysteriously has no British accent) sentenced to indentured servitude in the U.S. colonies after being involved in an incident in which her brother and a soldier both died.

Slimy Garth (Howard da Silva) and honorable Chris Holden travel to the colonies on the same ship with Abby; Garth is determined to have her, but Chris beats Garth's price for Abby in a shipboard auction. Chris then sets Abby free, but is unaware that Garth later finds a way to cancel Abby's freedom and put her right back into servitude.

The paths of Abby, Chris, and Garth will all cross time and again in the Ohio Valley, where Garth plots with the Seneca Indians against the local settlers. Garth has his own problems, however; he wants Abby, but he already has an Indian wife (Katherine DeMille), and she and her brother (Boris Karloff) don't take kindly to Garth's interest in another woman.

Before it's all over there are battles galore, while Paulette's Abby has hair breadth escapes from things such as being burned at the stake or riding a canoe through rapids and over a waterfall.

What the movie lacks from the script by Jesse Lasky Jr., Charles Bennett, and Fredric M. Frank, based on a novel by Neil Swanson, is made up for by the sheer enthusiasm of the incredibly deep cast, an action-packed story, and the movie's stunning visuals. This movie is the very definition of Technicolor "eye candy," especially when it comes to the beautiful Paulette. The movie runs a longish 146 minutes, but my interest never wavered.

Goddard is always an entertaining actress, and her vivacious character is well matched with Cooper's more stoic soldier. I enjoyed their interactions as she tries to figure out what's going on behind his terse words, and the ultimate payoff as they find their way to one another is quite lovely.

As an aside, Goddard fans will want to be on the lookout for Kino Lorber's upcoming 2022 Blu-ray release of SO PROUDLY WE HAIL! (1943), for which the actress received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.

The UNCONQUERED cast is almost mind-blowingly deep; it's the kind of movie where a soldier who asks Abby to dance at a ball is Lloyd Bridges, and Chris's fiancee in a single early scene is played by Virginia Grey. In addition to cast members already mentioned, some of the larger roles are played by Ward Bond, Cecil Kellaway, Mike Mazurki, Victor Varconi, Virginia Campbell, and Henry Wilcoxon, who worked with DeMille on many occasions.

Smaller roles are played by Alan Napier, Sir C. Aubrey Smith, Richard Gaines, Porter Hall, Jane Nigh, Raymond Hatton, Paul E. Burns, Mary Field, Iron Eyes Cody, Jay Silverheels, Jeff Corey, Byron Foulger, Dorothy Adams, Marc Lawrence, Lex Barker, Jeff York, Clarence Muse, Francis Ford, and Ray Teal.

Director DeMille is heard delivering the film's opening narration.

The sound quality of Kino Lorber's Blu-ray is as good as the picture. Disc extras consist of a commentary track by Nick Pinkerton, the trailer, and a collection of 11 additional trailers for films also available from Kino Lorber.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.

Tweet

Latest 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival Announcements

Earlier this week Turner Classic Movies made some new announcements regarding next April's TCM Classic Film Festival.

TCM confirmed that Leonard Maltin, who was scheduled to receive the second Robert Osborne Award at the 2020 festival, will be honored at the 2022 festival.

Maltin will receive the award prior to a screening of the wonderful film COUNSELLOR AT LAW (1933).  I'm especially glad to hear this news!

TCM also announced that Lily Tomlin will be honored with a Hand & Footprint Ceremony at the Chinese Theatre. Tomlin's ceremony had also originally been scheduled for 2020.

A few additional movie titles were also announced for the festival: BABY FACE (1933), AFTER THE THIN MAN (1936), HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO (1944), FORCE OF EVIL (1948), and THE SLENDER THREAD (1965).

Previously announced titles may be found at last month's post on TCM Classic Film Festival Announcements.

The TCM Classic Film Festival will take place in Hollywood April 21-24, 2022.

Previously: TCM Announces 2022 Film Festival.

Tweet

Around the Blogosphere This Week...

...is taking the weekend off in order to have more time to enjoy the busy Christmas season, including attending today's annual performance of Trombone Christmas in Anaheim.

Stay tuned for lots of reviews coming soon, along with photos from Disneyland's Merriest Nites Christmas party.

Around the Blogosphere This Week will return next weekend on December 18th, then take Christmas and New Year's weekends off before returning to a normal schedule on January 8th.

New Year's Day will instead feature my annual giant Tonight's Movie: The Year in Review post! For a sense of what to expect, here's last year's post on my 2020 movie viewing.

For those who may not recognize her, that's Penny Edwards seen wrapping gifts in the photo.

For recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my December 4th roundup.

Happy Advent and Merry Christmas!

Tweet

Tonight's Movie: Santa Fe Trail (1940) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

SANTA FE TRAIL (1940), starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, has happily been rescued from years of indifferent public domain prints by the Warner Archive.

The movie was recently released in an excellent Blu-ray print which is probably the best the film has looked in decades.

Flynn plays Jeb Stuart, with Ronald Reagan as a young George Custer and Raymond Massey as abolitionist John Brown.

Stuart, Custer, and their army comrades deal with Brown's violent raids in the 1850s, doing battle with Brown and his followers on multiple occasions. In their free moments, both Stuart and Custer vie for the hand of pretty, spunky young Kit (de Havilland).

One might say the film was "inspired by" history, as it's not exactly historically accurate. It's also a bit of a curiosity for the modern viewer in terms of some of the leading characters being men who would eventually fight for the Confederacy, including Flynn's Stuart. I'll leave these issues aside and focus on it strictly as movie fiction.

The film itself is frankly only so-so; the top cast does its best but can't make up for Robert Buckner's uninteresting, unbalanced script, which spends way, way too much time with Massey's disturbed, violent Brown. The movie culminates in Brown's execution, which frankly I could have done without. Massey, incidentally, would return to the role 15 years later in SEVEN ANGRY MEN (1955).

Flynn and de Havilland's romantic chemistry is as wonderful as ever, but their story is underdeveloped and mostly serves as light relief to the Brown scenes, with dashing Flynn and appealing Reagan good-naturedly wooing de Havilland. Still, I've returned to this movie multiple times over the years, especially drawn by the two leads, and perhaps hoping that I'll find the movie better than I remembered it.

Ironically, the very next year Flynn would play Custer himself, with de Havilland as his wife. A young, blonde Susan Peters (billed Suzanne Carnahan) shows up in SANTA FE TRAIL near movie's end to ease Custer's romantic disappointment; seeing her in this was a delight.

The excellent cast includes Van Heflin, William Lundigan, Henry O'Neill, Moroni Olsen, Alan Hale (Sr.), Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, John Litel, Gene Reynolds, and Alan Baxter.

Many familiar faces are further down in the cast, including Ward Bond, Russell Simpson, Charles Middleton, Spencer Charters, Joe Sawyer, David Bruce, Hobart Cavanaugh, Roy Barcroft, and Nestor Paiva.

The production values of this 110-minute film, directed by Michael Curtiz, are also solid, including a musical score by Max Steiner and black and white photography by Sol Polito.

The Warner Archive Blu-ray picture is sharp and a joy to watch, especially remembering that the last time I saw the film the picture was quite fuzzy. Sound quality is outstanding. The disc includes the trailer.

While it's not one of their top films together, fans of Flynn and de Havilland will want to give SANTA FE TRAIL a look, and the movie is also of historical value insofar as it costarred a future President of the United States. I'm delighted that the Warner Archive has given this film such an excellent restoration.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from the Warner Archive Collection Amazon Store or from any online retailers where Blu-rays are sold.

Tweet

New Western RoundUp Column at Classic Movie Hub

My new Western RoundUp column is now available at Classic Movie Hub!

This month I take a look at a favorite Joel McCrea Western, CATTLE DRIVE (1951).

CATTLE DRIVE costars Dean Stockwell, who also starred with McCrea in STARS IN MY CROWN (1950). Stockwell's recent passing inspired me to return to CATTLE DRIVE in his honor.

Please click over to Classic Movie Hub to read it. Thanks to everyone for your ongoing support of my Classic Movie Hub columns!

Previous Classic Movie Hub Western RoundUp Column Links: June 2018; July 2018; August 2018; September 2018; October 2018; November 2018; December 2018; January 2019; February 2019; April 5, 2019; April 30, 2019; May 2019; June 2019; July 2019; August 2019; September 2019; October 2019; November 2019; December 2019; January 2020; February 2020; March 2020; April 2020; May 2020; June 2020; July 2020; August 2020; September 2020; October 2020; November 2020; December 2020; January 2021; February 2021; March 2021; May 2021; June 2021; June 2021 (No. 2); July 2021; August 2021; September 2021; November 2021.

Tweet

Quick Preview of TCM in January

Here's a preview of January on Turner Classic Movies!

Thanks to various sources I've had a peek at the incomplete January schedule; while there are still some major blank spots, I've gleaned enough information to provide an advance look at the upcoming schedule.

Many classic film fans will be happy to hear that the January Star of the Month is Kay Francis. She's certainly a favorite of mine! Kay was last a Star of the Month in September 2008. Over three dozen of Kay's films will be screened on Monday evenings.

TCM has shared the first page of the January highlights calendar, which indicates GIRLS ABOUT TOWN (1931) will have its TCM premiere. Other sources don't list the film, so we'll have to see whether it turns up on the final schedule. I saw this film, costarring Joel McCrea, at the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival.

Only a couple of January's Noir Alley titles have been announced. The wonderful REPEAT PERFORMANCE (1947), which incidentally comes out on Blu-ray and DVD next month, is scheduled for January 1st and 2nd. Since the movie is set at New Year's, the timing couldn't be more perfect! The following weekend Noir Alley will feature NIGHTMARE ALLEY (1947).

The TCM Spotlight theme for January is "true crime." Films inspired by true events will include ROPE (1948) and THE HITCH-HIKER (1953).

Another prime time theme will be "Movie Accents," including sub-themes such as "Americans Playing Brits" and "The Trans-Atlantic Accent."

Additional January themes include Wales, POWs, Latin lovers, musicals set on ships, and opera, plus a day focused on Martin Luther King Jr.

Filmmakers receiving multifilm tributes in January include Constance Bennett, Ray Milland, Luise Rainer, Jane Wyman, Joanne Dru, Cary Grant, Frank Capra, Ernest Borgnine, Paul Newman, and costume designer Walter Plunkett.

I'll have much more on the TCM January schedule posted here around New Year's.

December 31 Update: For more on TCM in January 2022, please visit TCM in January: Highlights and TCM Star of the Month: Kay Francis.

Tweet

Tonight's Movie: O.S.S. (1946) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

The World War II espionage film O.S.S. (1946) has been released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber.

At the time I first watched this movie in 2012 the only way I could see it was via a used VHS tape. Years later the movie did have a couple of DVD releases, via Universal Vault and TCM, but I'm quite thrilled that it's now available in an excellent Blu-ray print from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

O.S.S. is a fine film which stars one of my top favorite actors, Alan Ladd. It's the story of a group of spies working behind enemy lines in Europe. After the death of the team leader (Don Beddoe), John Martin (Ladd) heads a small group which includes Elaine (Geraldine Fitzgerald) and radio man Bernay (Richard Benedict).

Martin is initially wary of working with a woman under life-or-death circumstances, but the unflappable Elaine proves to be a fine partner. The team successfully pulls off multiple missions, but just when rescue is in sight in the form of a plane to carry them out of danger, their commander (Patric Knowles) asks them to pull off one more mission.

As I noted in my 2012 review, this film is somewhat stressful to watch due to the constant state of tension and threats, illustrated by the significant number of Allied team members who go down fighting. That said, I found it easier to watch this time around, as I'm the type of viewer who finds it easier knowing what to expect, and I very much enjoyed returning to it.

I particularly admire the suspense created when filming entirely on a studio backlot, including the use of a few well-done back projections. The film's believability and level of suspense is a testament to the quality of the filmmakers in front of and behind the camera.  It's an excellent example of studio filmmaking of the '40s, and I recommend it.

Ladd and Fitzgerald are both excellent in subdued performances as people who are constantly in high-stress situations. Fitzgerald's character is particularly distinctive as she deals with Ladd as an equal, rather than being relegated to being a love interest in need of rescue.

We never know quite why Ladd and Fitzgerald's characters are so willing to repeatedly risk their lives but at the time the film was released it went without saying why they would do so. We can easily infer they're dedicated patriots, especially given Ladd's final lines.

There's a very effective subplot regarding the communications between Bernay and a WAC radio operator nicknamed Sparky (Gloria Saunders) which I think I appreciated even more this time around.  Those brief moments also provide a needed break from the ongoing tension.

The cast also includes John Hoyt, Richard Webb, Onslow Stevens, Harold Vermilyea, and Frank Ferguson.

O.S.S. runs 108 minutes. It was written and produced by Richard Maibaum, who also worked with Ladd on a fine adaptation of THE GREAT GATSBY (1949).

The movie was directed by Irving Pichel and filmed in black and white by Lionel Lindon.

The Kino Lorber Blu-ray is from a brand-new 2K master. It looks and sounds great.

Disc extras are a commentary track by Samm Deighan, the trailer, and a trailer gallery for seven additional films available from Kino Lorber.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.

Tweet

Tonight's Movie: Hot Saturday (1932) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

The pre-Code drama HOT SATURDAY (1932), which provided early lead roles for Cary Grant and Randolph Scott, is now available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

Nancy Carroll plays Ruth, who works as a bank clerk in the small town of Marysville.

Gossip is a blood sport in Marysville, and when jealous "friends" spread untrue stories about Ruth spending time alone with wealthy Romer Sheffield (Grant), she loses her job.

Childhood friend Bill (Scott), who has recently arrived in town for a visit due to his work, seems to be a likely "escape hatch" for Ruth when he proposes. She's genuinely fond of Bill and will have the security of marriage while moving away from the destructive gossip. And then Bill hears some of the stories about Ruth...

This is an interesting little 73-minute film which would pair well with PARTY WIRE (1935), in which Jean Arthur's life is nearly destroyed by small-town gossip.

HOT SATURDAY was released during the pre-Code era so it includes some relatively racy bits, including a moment near the end when Ruth decides that since her reputation is lost, she'll turn the gossip into reality. Despite that, there's still talk of finding a minister at the end, so all's well that ends well!

I previously enjoyed Carroll in the pre-Codes FOLLOW THRU (1930) and SCARLET DAWN (1932), and she's also appealing here as a restless young lady whose life consists of supporting her grasping parents during the week, followed by a weekend social life with people who go out with her yet aren't truly friends. Ruth's ultimate "liberation" at movie's end is a fascinating pre-Code twist.

Grant comes off for much of the movie as way too smooth, and the viewer is persuaded that he will prove to be a villain and Scott the hero. The course of action for both men thus proves to be quite interesting as they each show an unexpected side.

I certainly did not see the last 10 minutes or so of the movie coming, and it was refreshing to have a story conclude in a way that was "out of left field," defying typical storytelling conventions, yet also made perfect sense.

HOT SATURDAY was directed by William A. Seiter and filmed by Arthur L. Todd. The screenplay was by Seton I. Miller, adapted from a Harvey Fergusson novel by Josephine Lovett and Joseph Moncure March.

The supporting cast includes Jane Darwell, Lilian Bond, Edward Woods, Grady Sutton, Stanley Smith, and Jessie Arnold.

The Blu-ray print and sound are both excellent; I was quite impressed with the picture's sharpness, given the film's age.

The disc includes trailers for four additional films available from Kino Lorber which star various HOT SATURDAY cast members, plus a commentary track by Lee Gambin. An added plus is attractive reversible case cover art.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.

Tweet

Tonight's Movie: The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The fifth film in the beloved THIN MAN series, THE THIN MAN GOES HOME (1944), was just released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive.

Detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and wife Nora (Myrna Loy) have left their usual digs in New York and San Francisco in order to pay a long-overdue visit to Nick's parents (Harry Davenport and Lucile Watson) in their small town.

Naturally someone is murdered on the Charles family doorstep almost as soon as Nick and Nora arrive, and although Nick is ostensibly on vacation, he's soon hard at work helping the police chief (Donald MacBride) solve the crime.

There are a plethora of suspects, including Gloria DeHaven, Leon Ames, Morris Ankrum, Anne Revere, and more. Will Nick solve the mystery, and will his cranky physician father be impressed? What do you think?

This is a pleasant enough entry in the series, though at the same time it's admittedly nothing particularly special. It's just a tad sluggish at 100 minutes, and the crime, which involves paintings, gets a bit hard to follow as the bodies pile up.

While any time spent with Nick and Nora is always a good time, things seem a little "off" in this go-round. Nick Jr. is nowhere in sight, and Nick is on the wagon, drinking cider (!).

Nick's relationship with his parents, particularly his father, is edgy; he apparently hasn't visited in years (have his parents met their grandson?!), and his father finds Nick's skill in solving mysteries silly. He'd hoped Nick would be a doctor like himself.

Fans of the series will remember that Nora had her own family challenges in AFTER THE THIN MAN (1936). For a lighthearted, good-natured couple, they certainly have familial relationship issues! Maybe there was something behind all that prior drinking...

The film does have its moments, with lovely Gloria DeHaven particularly fun as an overly dramatic young miss. I wished she had more screen time.

The large cast also includes Edward Brophy, Helen Vinson, Donald Meek, Anita Sharp-Bolster, Nora Cecil, Lloyd Corrigan, Irving Bacon, Virginia Sale, and Minor Watson.

W.S. Van Dyke, who directed all four of the previous films, had died in 1943, so THE THIN MAN GOES HOME was directed by Richard Thorpe.

The screenplay was by Robert Riskin and Dwight Taylor, based on a story by Riskin and Harry Kurnitz. The movie was filmed in black and white by Karl Freund and the uncredited Joseph Ruttenberg.

The Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray print is excellent, just as the other Blu-rays in this series have been.

Disc extras are the Robert Benchley short WHY DADDY? (1944), the Tex Avery cartoon SCREWBALL SQUIRREL (1944), and the trailer.

The Warner Archive has just announced that the final film in the series, SONG OF THE THIN MAN (1947), will be available on Blu-ray in January 2022.

Links to the previous Warner Archive Blu-ray reviews in this series: THE THIN MAN (1934), AFTER THE THIN MAN (1936), ANOTHER THIN MAN (1939), and SHADOW OF THE THIN MAN (1941).

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from the Warner Archive Collection Amazon Store or from any online retailers where Blu-rays are sold.

Tweet

Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...The latest Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray announcements are SONG OF THE THIN MAN (1947) and STAGE FRIGHT (1950). They'll be released in January. With SONG OF THE THIN MAN, all six THIN MAN films are now available on Blu-ray.

...Toby Roan has reviewed the Warner Archive's new Blu-ray release of THE NAKED SPUR (1953) at 50 Westerns From the 50s. THE NAKED SPUR stars James Stewart, Janet Leigh, and Robert Ryan.

...Ben Pearson writes at SlashFilm about why movie dialogue has often become so difficult to understand.

...VCI Entertainment has announced the release of a Library of Congress restoration of SPARROWS (1926) starring Mary Pickford. It will be released in a combination Blu-ray/DVD set. It will be available December 21st.

...David Derks has written about Disney films directed by Norman Tokar for MiceChat. I've shared in the past that Tokar's SNOWBALL EXPRESS (1972), which starred Dean Jones, holds a special place in my heart.

...Ruth pays tribute to the great character actor Charles Lane at Silver Screenings.

...At Watching Classic Movies KC reviews a new biography of Charles Boyer by John Baxter, just published by the University Press of Kentucky.

...I was intrigued by Jessica's review of a Fred MacMurray-Irene Dunne film I've never seen, INVITATION TO HAPPINESS (1939). The review is available at her blog Comet Over Hollywood.

...Up till now I've been watching IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) on VHS, but thanks to a new review by CineSavant Glenn Erickson, I just ordered a new 75th Anniversary Blu-ray. A big part of my decision to purchase this version is the inclusion of a featurette by Craig Barron and Ben Burtt on the movie's special effects. They did a wonderful presentation at the 2016 TCM Classic Film Festival, and I'm thrilled they've recorded their research on the movie. (PS It makes me smile remembering that I watched the film a few seats over from a gentleman who was the Martinis' baby in the movie!) The set also includes a colorized version of the film which frankly I'll choose to ignore.

...Speaking of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, Raquel has reviewed the new IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: THE OFFICIAL BAILEY FAMILY COOKBOOK at her blog Out of the Past.

...Jeff Arnold just published an interesting review of DENVER & RIO GRANDE (1952) at Jeff Arnold's West. I enjoyed the movie a few years ago, especially appreciating the location photography and train crash, but Jeff's enthusiasm is such I'm interested in taking a fresh look to see if I like it even more on closer acquaintance. The excellent cast is headed by Edmond O'Brien and Sterling Hayden.

...I just learned Sissy Spacek's daughter, Schuyler Fisk, is a singer who released a Christmas album a few years ago.

...Notable Passing: Actress-Dancer Yvonne Wilder, who played Consuelo in WEST SIDE STORY (1961), has passed away at 84.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my November 27th roundup.

Tweet