Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Warner Archive Collection May Blu-ray releases will include RHAPSODY IN BLUE (1945), including newly discovered footage; THREE COMRADES (1938); MYSTERY STREET (1950); and HIGH SOCIETY (1956), which will also be released in 4K.

...LAW AND ORDER (1932) will be coming from Kino Lorber Studio Classics on June 17th. Kino Lorber has also announced a June 10th release date for the Audie Murphy Collection, Vol. V. Toby Roan will be providing two commentary tracks for this set, with another track from Gary Gerani.

...Annette of Hometowns to Hollywood has announced the Once Upon a Time blogathon for May 7-9. Details are at Hometowns to Hollywood.

...Over at 50 Westerns From the 50s, Toby Roan takes a look at Johnny Mack Brown in WESTERN RENEGADES (1949), part of the new Warner Archive release Monogram Matinee Vol. 1.

...Interesting new books on Southern California history: LOS ANGELES BEFORE FREEWAYS: IMAGES OF AN ERA 1850-1950 by Arnold Hylen with Nathan Marshak, and CANYON COUNTRY CLUB: HISTORY AND DESIGN OF PALM SPRINGS' GARDEN OF EDEN by Steve Treinen.

...Warner Bros. has sold COYOTE VS. ACME (2026). Although industry buzz on the animated film was positive, WB took a tax writeoff instead of releasing it. It's anticipated the movie will finally be in theaters next year.

...A bio film on chocolate magnate Milton Hershey is also coming in 2026.

...Coming in November: A book on Disney artist/Imagineer X Atencio.

...Glenn Erickson's latest disc reviews include SADIE MCKEE (1934), THE CRUEL SEA (1953), DONOVAN'S REEF (1963), and LADY OF VENGEANCE (1957). I appreciate his mention of my review for the latter film! An odd but interesting movie for a number of reasons.

...Justin Sluss reviews the 4K release of THE SEARCHERS (1956).

...Here are some lovely photos of Jimmy Stewart and his family.

...The Los Angeles Conservancy has announced the 2025 Last Remaining Seats movie series, which will take place in June at three Downtown Los Angeles theaters, the Million Dollar, Orpheum, and United. There are some terrific films on the schedule; click on the link here for complete details. Thanks to Christine for passing this on.

...Notable Passings: Richard Chamberlain passed away shortly after my last column. He was 90. Like many, I have special memories of him from classic TV series, in my case CENTENNIAL (1978-79) and THE THORN BIRDS (1983). I had the good fortune to see him in person at close range at a 2013 UCLA screening of THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT (1967)...Sian Barbara Allen, remembered for her noteworthy early '70s TV work in guest roles on THE WALTONS, COLUMBO, and THE ROCKFORD FILES, has passed away at the age of 78...Actor Val Kilmer has passed on at the age of 65. I reviewed him in TOMBSTONE (1993), where he portrayed Doc Holliday, and in a very memorable one-scene role in TOP GUN: MAVERICK (2022)...Jay North, TV's DENNIS THE MENACE (1959-63), has passed on at 73...Robert McGinnis, who created memorable James Bond movie posters, has died at 99.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my March 29th column.

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Tonight's Movie: Detour (1945) at the Noir City Film Festival

It's been a busy few weeks for me, attending numerous events and screenings in Los Angeles, and this year's TCM Classic Film Festival is right around the corner. I should have my schedule picks for TCMFF posted in the next few days!

First, though, I want to take a look back at the Noir City Hollywood Festival. I'll be reviewing the two new-to-me films I saw there, DETOUR (1945) and MY TRUE STORY (1951), and when time permits I'll also be sharing an overview of the festival with photographs.

Somehow I'd never caught up with DETOUR, which I've tended to confuse with DECOY (1946) due to the similarity of names and mid '40s release years. When I finally saw DECOY at the 2023 Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival I loved it, and I was anticipating feeling similarly about DETOUR.

Alas, although I expected and wanted to love it, DETOUR really didn't work for me. It started well and there were elements I enjoyed, with perfectly "noir" settings such as a diner and the "Break O' Dawn" nightclub, but overall I found its 66 minutes surprisingly dull.

Tom Neal plays Al Roberts, a New York musician hitch-hiking to California, where he hopes to marry his girlfriend Sue (Claudia Drake), a singer.

Al catches a ride with a bookie named Haskell (Edmund McDonald), who unfortunately dies while Al takes a shift driving. Al opens the car door when trying to rouse Haskell, who falls out of the car and hits his head.

Al is convinced the police will believe he's a murderer if he reports the death, so he instead hides the body and takes off in Haskell's car. He also helps himself to Haskell's cash and ID. Is he a man who's panic-stricken...or maybe just not a very good guy?

Al picks up a hitch-hiker named Vera (Savage), who in short order reveals she knows Al isn't Haskell, as Al initially claims. And her blackmail of Al begins...

This is a dark story which had potential, but while I love some of director Edgar G. Ulmer's other films -- HER SISTER'S SECRET (1946) is a favorite -- Savage's performance brings down the entire movie. Whereas I found Jean Gillie in the very wild DECOY fascinating, Savage seemed to play the vicious Vera using a single note. Although she's often praised for her performance, which some find bravely audacious, I frankly found her shrill and monotonous.

Neal was a little more interesting as the hapless Al, though it was never clear to me from Martin Goldsmith's screenplay why Al was so convinced he'd be in dire trouble if he promptly reported Haskell's death. It almost seems to imply that perhaps Al has other things in his past which caused him to feel such guilt. Whatever the reasons, his bad choices quickly throw Al's life into a dark, noirish spiral from which he may never recover.

I love noir, which of course is often bleak, but this story simply wasn't interesting to me. I'm open to going back to it one day and seeing if it hits differently -- after all, it's only a little over an hour long -- but this is the rare noir I didn't love.

I recognize this is a minority opinion and am happy to consider defenses of the film in the comments if anyone is so inclined. I've read a couple since seeing the movie, including a review by Glenn Erickson, trying to understand what other people appreciate about it. I loved that Glenn called it "loser noir" and think I enjoyed his enthusiastic descriptions and quotes more than the movie.

DETOUR was filmed in black and white by Benjamin H. Kline. It was released by the low-budget PRC (Producers Releasing Corporation). The supporting cast includes Tim Ryan and Esther Howard.

A restored copy of DETOUR is available from the Criterion Collection on Blu-ray or DVD.

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Tonight's TV: Columbo (1975): "Forgotten Lady," "A Case of Immunity," "Identity Crisis" - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

It's time for one of my periodic surveys of COLUMBO episodes, as I continue to work my way chronologically through the marvelous set of "1970's" episodes released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber.

This time around we'll take a look at the first three episodes from Season 5, "Forgotten Lady," "A Case of Immunity," and "Identity Crisis." All were from the fall of 1975.

I thought all three episodes were quite good, with the exceptional acting and strong writing of "Forgotten Lady" making it one of the best episodes.

In "Forgotten Lady" 48-year-old Janet Leigh plays Grace Wheeler, a faded film actress who sees a chance at a Broadway comeback and shoots her elderly physician husband (Sam Jaffe), who holds the purse strings necessary for the show's backing and doesn't approve. Grace sets her husband's death up to look like a suicide.

Grace gets to work on the show with her old movie partner, Ned Desmond (John Payne, who was 63). Ned has carried a torch for Grace for years. But Grace's behavior is becoming increasingly erratic...

I won't spoil exactly how things turn out, but this was an extremely well-written show (by William Driskill), which goes in unexpected directions; it's a bit unusual as COLUMBO mysteries go. The episode was directed by Harvey Hart and filmed by Charles Correll.

Leigh is great, but it must be said that Payne absolutely steals the show with a performance so good that I'm shocked he wasn't Emmy-nominated.

One of the interesting things about this episode is it falls to Payne to have the arguments smart villains often have with Columbo -- but in this case the arguments are different because he's an innocent man defending someone else. For his part, Falk was also especially good in this one, especially the moment when he tells Payne "I think she did it."

The supporting cast includes Maurice Evans (BEWITCHED) as Grace's butler, plus Francine York and Ross Elliott. There's also the return of Columbo's beloved Dog.

The next episode, "A Case of Immunity," was written by Lou Shaw from a story by James Menzies. It was directed by Ted Post, with photography by Richard C. Glouner.

The episode guest stars Hector Elizondo and Sal Mineo, with Kenneth Tobey (THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD) as the Police Commissioner. The plot concerns a murder at the Los Angeles embassy for a Middle Eastern country.

The suspects have diplomatic immunity, which complicates things for Columbo considerably... I really enjoyed that angle, and it was also enjoyable to watch the young Elizondo, who did quite a bit of TV work in that era; I remember him guesting on THE ROCKFORD FILES.

This was a very interesting show which was filmed at Harold Lloyd's Greenacres Estate. The looks at '70s Southern California in general, and Los Angeles in particular, is one of my favorite things about the series.

"A Case of Immunity" was also fun for me due to supporting actress Brioni Farrell, who was the great-niece of Oscar-winning actress Katina Paxinou (FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS); Farrell is billed here as Xenia Gratsos. She's little remembered today, yet her presence brought back a fun memory for me.

Roughly half a decade after this COLUMBO episode, Farrell briefly appeared on GENERAL HOSPITAL as Martha, a waitress at Kelly's Diner. I found Farrell to be a striking presence and sent her a fan letter.

In those pre-Internet days, networks and especially soap stars were typically very responsive to fan mail, which would also help influence the success of actors or TV series. When I was in college I would periodically use some of my "down time" to write and share my appreciation of an actor or series, and then I'd often find fun mail in my dorm mailbox a few weeks later. And indeed, Brioni Farrell sent me a very nice note on a postcard not long after I wrote her, which I still have in my memorabilia collection. She died in 2018, at the age of 78.

If you look very, very carefully -- you might need to use the pause button -- you can spot a young Jeff Goldblum as one of the student protestors in this episode.

The third episode of this batch, "Identity Crisis," starred and was directed by Patrick McGoohan, who had a long-running relationship with COLUMBO.

Like "Forgotten Lady" it was written by William Driskill, and like "A Case of Immunity" it was filmed by Richard C. Glouner. David White (BEWITCHED), Bruce Kirby, and Vito Scotti were among the supporting cast.

The story concerned the murder of a secret agent (Leslie Nielsen) by another spy (McGoohan) and the tricky work Columbo must do to unravel the case. His home is even bugged by his prime suspect!

This was another very well-done episode which has especially interesting locations, including the Long Beach Pike, which has been gone for many years now, plus the Santa Monica Pier, the Travel Town Museum at Griffith Park, and "The Enchanted Hill" estate used in several episodes.

All three of these episodes are very good television and strong examples of why the COLUMBO series continues to be enjoyed decades after the shows first aired.

There were three more episodes in Season 5 which aired in 1976, and they'll be the focus of my next COLUMBO post.

Previous COLUMBO review posts: "Murder By the Book" (1971), "Death Lends a Hand" (1971), "Dead Weight" (1971), "Suitable for Framing" (1971), "Lady in Waiting" (1971), "Short Fuse" (1972), "Blueprint for Murder" (1972), "Etude in Black" (1972), "The Greenhouse Jungle" (1972), "The Most Crucial Game" (1972), "Dagger of the Mind" (1972), "Requiem for a Falling Star" (1973), "A Stitch in Crime" (1973), "The Most Dangerous Match" (1973), "Double Shock" (1973), "Lovely But Lethal" (1973), "Any Old Port in a Storm" (1973), "Candidate for Crime" (1973), "Double Exposure" (1973); "Publish Or Perish" (1974), "Mind Over Mayhem" (1974), "Swan Song" (1974), "A Friend in Deed" (1974), "An Exercise in Fatality" (1974), "Negative Reaction" (1974), "By Dawn's Early Light" (1974), "Troubled Waters" (1975), "Playback" (1975), "A Deady State of Mind" (1975).

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

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Tonight's Movie: The Glass Web (1953) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

The Kino Lorber Studio Classics line has brought out some very interesting 3D restorations over the last couple of years, including the previously reviewed THE DIAMOND WIZARD (1954) and BWANA DEVIL (1952).

The latest 3D release from Kino Lorber is THE GLASS WEB (1953), a twisty and fast-paced murder mystery from Universal Pictures.

The setting for this murder mystery is a TV studio, where MAD MEN-esque production and advertising types are worried about their CRIME OF THE WEEK series being renewed.

Behind the scenes, the show has its own murder mystery evolve when actress Paula Rainier (Kathleen Hughes) is found dead of strangulation.

Was it Paula's ex-husband (John Verros), who's just out of jail? The CRIME OF THE WEEK technical adviser (Edward G. Robinson) Paula has been stringing along for money and introductions? Or the TV writer (John Forsythe) Paula is blackmailing over their affair, who's desperate to keep his wife (Marcia Henderson) from finding out?

When the show's producer-director (Richard Denning) decides to cover Paula's murder on CRIME OF THE WEEK, solving the mystery goes in unexpected directions.

This was quite a fun little movie, written by Robert Blees and Leonard Lee from a novel by Max Simon Ehrlich. I loved the engrossing plot and fast 81-minute pace, the TV production setting, and the deep cast, which includes Jack Kelly (MAVERICK), Beverly Garland, and Kathleen Freeman in small roles. Other familiar faces such as Jean Willes, Eve McVeagh, and Brett Halsey round out the cast.

The clever climax had a bit of a COLUMBO feel to it; fans of that series will probably like this one.

The movie was directed by Jack Arnold and filmed in black and white by Maury Gertsman.

Kino Lorber's Blu-ray print is a 3D restoration by the 3D Film Archive. It can be seen via three different versions on the disc: In flat 2D, which is how I chose to watch; Blu-ray 3D; and anaglyphic 3D with an included set of blue/red glasses, seen in this photo. The 2D version looked terrific, with a sharp print and excellent sound.

This is a Kino Lorber Studio Classics Special Edition presented in a cardboard slipcase, with reversible cover art. The disc has a commentary track by Jason A. Ney, along with 3D experts Mike Ballew and Greg Kintz, plus a trailer and TV spot in 2D.

There have been quite a number of worthwhile Edward G. Robinson films to catch up with thanks to Kino Lorber, including VICE SQUAD (1953), BLACK TUESDAY (1954), and NIGHTMARE (1956). I'm appreciative of Kino Lorber having supplied all of them.

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

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Around the Blogosphere This Week...

...is taking the weekend off.

I'll be attending events at the Hollywood Heritage Museum and UCLA's Billy Wilder Theater today, followed by a memorial service for film historian Michael Schlesinger on April 6th.

My column will resume on Saturday, April 12th. In the meantime, please visit my March 29th roundup for the latest news links.

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The 2025 Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival Schedule

The Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival returns to Palm Springs next month!

The annual festival opens on Thursday evening, May 8th, and runs through Sunday, May 11th, 2025.

As always, the festival takes place at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. The Center, formerly known as the Camelot Theatres, is located at 2300 E. Baristo Road.

Passes are now on sale for the festival, which will present a dozen films. There's also a special half-price Sunday evening screening; more on that below.

I'm very enthused about the schedule created by festival producer and host Alan K. Rode. The lineup includes a number of films I've never seen, along with some films I've seen on disc but not theatrically. Indeed, I've only seen three of the festival's 12 movies previously on a big screen.

The festival's special guests are scheduled to include Rory Flynn (daughter of Errol), Wyatt McCrea (grandson of Joel McCrea and Frances Dee), and Eddie Muller.

Here's a look at the lineup:

Opening night features CRY WOLF (1947), starring Errol Flynn and Barbara Stanwyck. Despite some flaws I'm very fond of this film, which was directed by Peter Godfrey, and I'm excited to see it theatrically. Rory Flynn will sign her memoir THE BARON OF MULHOLLAND: A DAUGHTER REMEMBERS ERROL FLYNN. The movie is followed by a reception.

Friday, May 9th, starts with a 35mm screening of SWELL GUY (1946), starring Sonny Tufts and Ann Blyth, directed by Frank Tuttle.

SWELL GUY is followed by Dick Powell, Evelyn Keyes, and Ellen Drew in the terrific JOHNNY O'CLOCK (1947), directed by Robert Rossen. Prior to the screening Eddie Muller will be signing his newly published "expanded and revised" edition of DARK CITY DAMES: THE WOMEN WHO DEFINED FILM NOIR.

After JOHNNY O'CLOCK comes a 35mm print of Glenn Ford and Ida Lupino in LUST FOR GOLD (1949), directed by S. Sylvan Simon and the uncredited George Marshall.

LUST FOR GOLD is followed by the digital theatrical premiere of PAID IN FULL (1950) starring Bob Cummings and Lizabeth Scott. The terrific supporting cast of PAID IN FULL includes Eve Arden, Diana Lynn, Ray Collins, and Kristine Miller. William Dieterle directed.

Saturday, May 10th, starts with the 60-minute UNMASKED, starring Robert Rockwell, Barbra Fuller, and Raymond Burr, directed by George Blair. This sounds like my kind of "unknown" movie! It's another digital theatrical premiere.

The day continues with the very memorable ANGEL FACE (1953) starring Robert Mitchum, Jean Simmons, and Mona Freeman, directed by Otto Preminger.

There's more Mitchum in THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE (1973), directed by Peter Yates, followed by a relatively rare screening of THE UNSEEN (1945) starring Joel McCrea and Gail Russell, directed by Lewis Allen.

On the final day, May 11th, the first screening is KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE (1950) with James Cagney and Barbara Payton, directed by Gordon Douglas.

It's followed by ACT OF VIOLENCE (1948), with Fred Zinnemann directing a top cast including Van Heflin, Janet Leigh, and Robert Ryan, and ON THE WATERFRONT (1954), directed by Elia Kazan and starring Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint.

As an added bonus, festival passholders are eligible for half-price tickets to a Sunday evening screening of Guillermo del Toro's version of NIGHTMARE ALLEY (2021), shown in a black and white edition. Alan Rode will interview del Toro and Kim Morgan after the screening.

For additional details on the films, tickets and more, please visit the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival website and ticket ordering page.

This is always a wonderful festival for many reasons, including not only the films but the relatively intimate venue and ability to interact with festival guests. There's also plenty of time for relaxed meals in between the movies, which is a major plus for those of us used to the breakneck pace of the TCM Classic Film Festival.

I hope to see some of my readers in Palm Springs this May!

For a look at past Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival coverage, please visit these links: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Update: The 2025 Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival in Review.

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TCM in April: Highlights

It's time for a look at the April schedule on Turner Classic Movies!

Red Skelton is the April Star of the Month. Over a dozen Skelton films will be shown on Monday evenings beginning April 7th.

Skelton was previously honored in April 1998. I will have some recommendations of his films below; please note that there is not a separate Star of the Month post this month.

The April Noir Alley films are THE NARROW MARGIN (1952) on April 5th and 6th, THE STEEL TRAP (1952) on the 12th and 13th, THE SET-UP (1949) April 19th and 20th, and THE PROWLER (1951) April 26th-27th.

THE NARROW MARGIN is one of my all-time favorite films, and I highly recommend it.

The TCM Spotlight is "Pulp Fiction" on Friday nights, while a Special Theme on Wednesday is "Acts of Faith," with, as one might guess, films with religious themes.

Below are a few of this month's highlights. Please click any hyperlinked title to read my extended review.

...The month kicks off with an April 1st birthday tribute to Debbie Reynolds. I've enjoyed most of the films on the list and am especially fond of THE TENDER TRAP (1955), costarring Frank Sinatra. The title song reels me in every single time.

..."Acts of Faith" begins on April 2nd with half a dozen films including GOING MY WAY (1944) and ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN (1941).

...I love that the daytime lineup on April 4th pays tribute to screenwriter F. Hugh Herbert. There are a couple delightful minor gems showing on that day, SNOWED UNDER (1936) and PERSONAL MAID'S SECRET (1935), both of which I've enjoyed multiple times. The lineup also includes the TCM premiere of VANITY FAIR (1932), a modern-dress version of the Thackeray story starring Myrna Loy.

...The "Pulp Fiction" series starts in the evening on April 4th, with a lineup including TARZAN THE APE MAN (1932) and LOST HORIZON (1937).

...There are several fun films on April 6th, including future WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939) costars Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier in the more lighthearted (and Technicolor!) THE DIVORCE OF LADY X (1938).

...Red Skelton's Star of the Month films on April 7th include HAVING WONDERFUL TIME (1938), which he made at RKO, and all three of the "Whistling" movies with Ann Rutherford. I have fond memories of watching the Whistling movies on local television when I was a child.

...Eddie Muller's newly revised and expanded version of his classic book DARK CITY DAMES is being published on April 8th, and TCM celebrates its publication day with several film noir titles including THE KILLING (1956) and TENSION (1949), both of which I just saw at the Noir City Hollywood festival. I took along my advance review copy of DARK CITY DAMES, and Eddie told me it was the first one he'd signed!

...Greer Garson is the focus in a six-film lineup on April 9th, including top classics RANDOM HARVEST (1942), MRS. MINIVER (1942), and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1942).

...Marjorie Main will be celebrated in prime time on April 10th with five films including MA AND PA KETTLE (1949).

...Another "only on TCM" lineup this month, on April 11th, features films costarring the talented dog Asta (real name: Skippy). Titles including FOG OVER FRISCO (1934), CALL IT A DAY (1937), BRINGING UP BABY (1938), and of course, THE THIN MAN (1934).

...April 14th is TCM's 31st anniversary! The Star of the Month films that evening including LADY BE GOOD (1941) with Red Skelton, Eleanor Powell, and Ann Sothern.

...I love that Tax Day, April 15th, features movies about crimes revolving around taxes and tax evasion. The films including George Brent and Bette Davis in SPECIAL AGENT (1935).

...April 17th is one of two evenings featuring the films of Merchant Ivory. Titles include MERCHANT IVORY: THE DOCUMENTARY (2024) which I recently reviewed.

...A night of movies inspired by pulp fiction on April 18th includes the very good THE SAINT IN NEW YORK (1938), featuring a different take on the title character, by Louis Hayward, than we're used to seeing from the next actor to play the Saint, George Sanders.

...The Musical Matinee on April 19th includes the MGM musical LOVELY TO LOOK AT (1952), a very engaging film featuring Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ann Miller, Red Skelton, and Marge and Gower Champion, who have a couple spectacular dance numbers. The movie will be encored on April 28th as part of the Star of the Month lineup.

...Easter Sunday, April 20th, will of course feature EASTER PARADE (1948), along with a lineup of religious films. In the late evening, stick around for Yasujiro Ozu's LATE SPRING (1949) and EARLY SUMMER (1951), both starring the radiant Setsuko Hara.

...Some of Red Skelton's best MGM musicals will be shown the evening of April 21st, including NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER (1949) and THREE LITTLE WORDS (1950).

...Eight Joan Blondell films will be shown on April 22nd, including the pre-Code gangster drama BLONDIE JOHNSON (1933). Chester Morris costars.

...On April 23rd the daytime lineup focuses on movies set in Los Angeles, including THE BIG SLEEP (1946) with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

...SINBAD THE SAILOR (1947), featuring spectacular Technicolor and stars Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Maureen O'Hara, will be shown April 25th. Marvelous escapism.

...Tim Holt and Marjorie Reynolds star in the RKO "B" Western CYCLONE ON HORSEBACK (1941) on Saturday morning, April 26th.

...The Acts of Faith series concludes on April 30th with a relatively rare TCM showing of the 20th Century-Fox film THE SONG OF BERNADETTE (1943), starring Oscar winner Jennifer Jones.

For more on TCM in April 2025, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in April, along with TCM's online schedule.

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Tonight's Movie: Outpost in Malaya (1952) - An MGM Blu-ray Review

The post-World War II action film OUTPOST IN MALAYA (1952) was just released on Blu-ray by MGM.

Jim and Liz Frazer (Jack Hawkins and Claudette Colbert) and their young son Mike (Peter Asher) live on a rubber plantation in Malaya in the early '50s.

The Frazer marriage has survived wartime imprisonment in Japanese camps, including the death of one of their children, but their relationship has now been pushed to the breaking point.

Jim is under pressure to protect their estate from local bandits who are terrorizing the community; things are bad enough that planters get check calls from the military every few hours. Meanwhile he's paying scant attention to Liz, partly because he's so concerned about providing for her safety.

Liz is on the verge of taking Mike to boarding school in England and is considering staying there unless Jim can show some interest in the future of their marriage. Before she can leave, things go from bad to worse and the Frazers' home is under attack; Jim's careful preparations for such an eventuality may not be enough. Ironically, the attack may also reset the Frazers' fading relationship.

OUTPOST IN MALAYA is a fairly engrossing 91 minutes, alternating suspenseful action with marital melodrama; it has a bit of a split personality in this regard, with Jim romancing Liz in the middle of an assault on their home, but it remains engaging. Director Ken Annakin (SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON) keeps things moving along nicely.

While Jim has made considerable plans to repel an attack on his estate, at times the Frazers don't seem to recognize the depth of the threats they're facing. Or perhaps they do, but are inured to the danger to some extent, having survived the worst life has to offer during the war. One would think that at least they would show more concern for the safety of their little boy, however, having already lost his sibling.

Hawkins and Colbert are well matched and enjoyable to watch, with Anthony Steel engaging as Hugh, their friend in the local military. There are hints Hugh may be interested in Liz himself, given the very personal nature of his conversations with Liz, but in the end he seems to be genuinely invested in helping his friends save their marriage.

The film's supporting cast includes Ram Gopal, Tom Macauley, Jeremy Spenser, Helen Guss, and Bill Travers.

The screenplay was by Guy Elmes and Peter Proud, based on the novel THE PLANTER'S WIFE by S.C. George. The movie was shown under the novel's title in the UK.

OUTPOST IN MALAYA was filmed in black and white by Geoffrey Unsworth, and MGM's Blu-ray print shows off his cinematography nicely. The movie was filmed in England, with lots of second unit photography which required some obvious use of process shots, but the work is pretty good as these things go.

In the end, while the script could have used some polishing, I enjoyed OUTPOST IN MALAYA and was particularly glad to see a new-to-me film starring one of my favorite actresses, Claudette Colbert. This is a nice-looking disc and a worthwhile pickup for fans of the lead actors.

MGM's disc has an option for English-language subtitles but no extras.

Thanks to Allied Vaughn and MGM for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. OUTPOST IN MALAYA may be purchased from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...While at the Lone Pine Film Festival last fall, I was excited to learn directly from author Scott Eyman that he was working on a biography of Joan Crawford. It's now been announced by publisher Simon & Schuster that the book will be out on November 18th, 2025; the title is JOAN CRAWFORD: A WOMAN'S FACE. I'm very interested in getting Eyman's take on the beloved-yet-controversial actress.

...CineSavant Glenn Erickson's latest reviews include the Kino Lorber Blu-ray release of TOPKAPI (1964).

...GENERAL HOSPITAL celebrates its 62nd anniversary on April 1st, and as part of that, the show will honor Dr. Monica Quartermaine, the character played for decades by the late Leslie Charleson. Charleson is seen here at the bottom left, with fellow longtime cast members John J. York, Genie Francis, Kristina Wagner, and Jon Lindstrom.

...Warner Bros. plans to demolish the building where Looney Tunes cartoons were created dating from the '50s.

...The blog Dear Mr. Gable shares lovely photos of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, who married March 29, 1939.  The post includes a reprint of a 1939 article, "The Gables at Home," which is a fun read.

...Notable Passings: Clive Revill, who voiced the Emperor in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980), has passed on at the age of 94. EMPIRE is one of my all-time favorite films...Dennis Arndt, a busy working actor for decades, has died at 86. He had a recurring role as attorney Jack Sollers on L.A. LAW.

...Please note that Around the Blogosphere This Week will not appear on April 5th, when I'll be spending the day attending multiple events, including an appearance by ADAM-12 star Kent McCord at the Hollywood Heritage Museum. The column will return on Saturday, April 12th.

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

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New Classic Movie Hub Column: Lots of Western Movie News!

My latest Western RoundUp column has now been posted at Classic Movie Hub!

This month I share a wide variety of news items related to Western movies, including new and upcoming disc releases, film festivals, and more.

Please click over to Classic Movie Hub to check out my column, and thanks very much for reading!

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; December 2021; December 2021 (No. 2); January 2022; February 2022; March 2022; April 2022; May 2022; June 2022; July 2022; August 2022; September 2022; November 2022; November 2022 (No. 2); January 2023 (No. 1); January 2023 (No. 2); March 2023; April 2023; May 2023 (No. 1); May 2023 (No. 2); June 2023; July 2023; September 2023; September 2023 (No. 2); October 2023; November 2023; December 2023; January 2024; February 2024; March 2024; April 2024; May 2024; June 2024; July 2024; August 2024; September 2024; October 2024; November 2024; December 2024; January 2025; February 2025.

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