TCM Star of the Month: Ruth Roman

Actress Ruth Roman is the November Star of the Month on Turner Classic Movies!

Roughly 20 of Roman's films will be shown on Tuesday evenings this month. The list includes two TCM premieres, noted below.

The complete Star of the Month schedule is below. It's an entertaining collection of movies. I particularly recommend THE WINDOW (1949), TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY (1951), and DOWN THREE DARK STREETS (1954).

Of course, Hitchcock's STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951) is always worth seeing as well!

Please click any hyperlinked title to read my extended review.

November 5th

BELLE STARR'S DAUGHTER (1948) (TCM Premiere)

CHAMPION (1949)

THE WINDOW (1949)

INVITATION (1952)

ALWAYS LEAVE THEM LAUGHING (1949)

STARLIFT (1951)

November 12th

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951)

TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY (1951)

DOWN THREE DARK STREETS (1954)

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE (1951)

YOUNG MAN WITH IDEAS (1952)

November 19th

DALLAS (1950)

GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING (1956)

BARRICADE (1950)

COLT .45 (1950)

November 26th

5 STEPS TO DANGER (1947)

JOE MACBETH (1955)

THE SHANGHAI STORY (1954) (TCM Premiere)

MARA MARU (1952)

LOOK IN ANY WINDOW (1961)

For more on TCM in November 2024, please visit my posts TCM in November: Highlights and Quick Preview of TCM in November, along with TCM's online schedule.

Related post: Book Review: Ruth Roman: A Career Portrait.

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Tonight's Movie: Bathing Beauty (1944) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

MGM's delightful BATHING BEAUTY (1944) has just been released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection.

This Blu-ray release of the film which made Esther Williams a star is an absolute treat, starting with the print, a 1080p master from a new 4K scan of the original nitrate Technicolor camera negatives. When Esther climbs onto a diving board in a bright pink swimsuit early in the film, it's hard not to swoon over how incredible both she and the entire movie look.

Esther plays Caroline, a college gym teacher visiting California, where she plans to marry her fiance, a songwriter named Steve (Red Skelton, reviewed yesterday in THREE LITTLE WORDS).

Steve's colleague George (Basil Rathbone) deviously breaks up the wedding for reasons of his own, prompting broken-hearted Caroline to return to her old job in the East. Steve follows her, hoping to reconcile, and in desperation ends up enrolling at Caroline's school in order to be near her. The only problem with that plan is it's an all-girls college...!

The silly story is simply an excuse for a string of wonderfully colorful musical numbers featuring the likes of Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra with Lina Romay, Harry James and His Orchestra with Helen Forrest, organist Ethel Smith, and singer Carlos Ramirez.

The movie also gives Jean Porter and Janis Paige, who play students, the chance to shine in a musical number. I'll add here to watch for future Western leading ladies Karin Booth and Beverly Tyler as students in other scenes.

Watching this film, it's very easy to see why Williams became a star. She's confident, funny, and very beautiful. The finale is one of her best swim numbers, featuring fountains and swimmers in kaleidoscopic patterns; I first knew it thanks to THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! (1974) and have loved it ever since.

I like Red Skelton in very limited doses, and he's kept under fairly good control here by director George Sidney. The nice supporting cast includes Nana Bryant, Donald Meek, Margaret Dumont, Ann Codee, Bill Goodwin, Dorothy Adams, and Jacqueline Dalya.

The movie's gorgeous settings and colorful scenes, filmed by Harry Stradling Sr., must have been wonderful escapism for World War II audiences when this film was released in the summer of 1944. A closing card informs viewers that men and women serving in combat zones would be seeing the film free of charge.

I smiled for most of the movie's 101 minutes and very much recommend this disc for anyone who loves MGM musicals and/or Esther Williams movies.

Disc extras include the TCM PRIVATE SCREENINGS interview of Esther Williams with Robert Osborne; a trailer; the Tom and Jerry cartoon MOUSE TROUBLE (1944); the short MAIN STREET TODAY (1944; 20m) featuring Ray Collins and Henry O'Neill, directed by Edward L. Cahn.

The disc also includes a song selection menu.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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Tonight's Movie: Three Little Words (1950) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The delightful MGM musical THREE LITTLE WORDS (1950) has recently been released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection.

I've shared here in the past that MGM musicals were among the key films which made me a lifelong classic movie fan.  THREE LITTLE WORDS is a relatively unsung yet thoroughly enjoyable film I especially enjoyed as I was growing up.

In fact, a favorite memory of mine is my parents pulling me out of school just before Thanksgiving to see a matinee of this film at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's Leo S. Bing Theater. Watching Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen dancing instead of being in class is a near-lifelong fond memory.

The plot is fairly basic, chronicling the long and sometimes contentious teaming of songwriters Bert Kalmar (Astaire) and Harry Ruby (Red Skelton). Vera-Ellen plays Jessie, Bert's vaudeville partner and later his wife, while lovely Arlene Dahl plays actress Eileen Percy, who falls for Harry after he gets over the inconstant Terry (Gale Robbins).

Besides the beautiful women in their lives, Bert has an obsession with performing magic tricks, while Harry adores baseball.

First and foremost, the movie provides the chance to hear a wonderful catalogue of Kalmar-Ruby songs. Highlights include:

*Astaire and Vera-Ellen's dances "Mr. and Mrs. Hoofer at Home" and Thinking of You," choreographed by Hermes Pan; to my thinking Vera-Ellen was one of Astaire's finest partners, in both this and THE BELLE OF NEW YORK (1952), which I hope to see on Blu-ray one day.

*Gloria DeHaven portraying her own mother, Mrs. Carter DeHaven, singing "Who's Sorry Now?"

*Debbie Reynolds singing "I Wanna Be Loved By You," dubbed by the actress she was portraying, Helen Kane.

*Gloriously gowned and coiffed Arlene Dahl singing "I Love You So Much."

The movie, filmed by Harry Jackson in Technicolor, is a visual treat, with beautiful set designs and stunning gowns by MGM's great costume designer, Helen Rose.

It also sounds great, with Oscar-nominated scoring by music director Andre Previn; the distinctive "MGM" sound is heard in orchestrations by Conrad Salinger and others.

Astaire and Skelton are both moving at times as they contend with personal and partnership issues; they were each fine actors along with their better-known talents for dancing and comedy. 

When not performing musical numbers, Vera-Ellen and Dahl's functions are mostly portraying supportive spouses, but they're quite charming and nicely convey the way they "get" their husbands in few words.

The supporting cast includes Keenan Wynn, Carleton Carpenter, Phil Regan, Paul Harvey, and, in a tiny role, Beverly Michaels (WICKED WOMAN).

THREE LITTLE WORDS run a well-paced 102 minutes. It was directed by Richard Thorpe and scripted by George Wells.

The Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray print is superb. It's from a new 1080p HD master of 4K scans from the original nitrate Technicolor negatives. I've owned the 2006 DVD since it came out, and while it looked fine, my sense without doing a shot-by-shot comparison is that this Blu-ray is even better. That comes as no surprise given the consistent quality of Warner Archive Blu-rays.

Disc extras include the featurette "Two Swell Guys," imported from the DVD; the Tex Avery cartoon VENTRILOQUIST CAT (1950); the nine-minute Traveltalk short ROAMING THROUGH MICHIGAN (1950); the trailer; and a 15-minute radio promo from PAULA STONE'S HOLLYWOOD.

Like other Warner Archive MGM musical Blu-rays, the disc also includes a song selection menu, which is probably my favorite feature; the menu makes it easy to replay favorite musical numbers at will.

Recommended.

A closing note: The Warner Archive Collection also recently released MGM's Rodgers and Hart biopic WORDS AND MUSIC (1948), which I'll be reviewing in the near future.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered 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...

...The annual November Barnes & Noble Criterion Collection half-price sale is now underway! The sale ends December 2nd.

...Coming to Blu-ray soon from Kino Lorber: HOUSEBOAT (1958) starring Cary Grant and Sophia Loren. It will be from a 6K scan of the original 35mm VistaVision camera negative.

...I'm interested in seeing a couple new releases: CONCLAVE (2024), recently reviewed by Leonard Maltin, and JUROR NO. 2 (2024), the latest film directed by Clint Eastwood. Given Eastwood's age (94!), every additional film released by him is a wonder. Unfortunately Warner Bros. is not giving JUROR NO. 2 a wide release.

...Concerning news last week, as the Academy laid off a significant number of archivists, librarians, and film preservationists. The Academy seems to have skewed priorities of late, pouring money into the Academy Museum - which has made very questionable decisions on the history it's chosen to cover - while laying off actual preservationists and historians. Coverage: IndieWire, Deadline, and Variety.

...James L. Neibaur reviews David C. Tucker's new book on actor John Hodiak, published by McFarland.

...Coming to Blu-ray in December from the Warner Archive Collection: MR. LUCKY (1943), THE SPANISH MAIN (1945), NORA PRENTISS (1947), and THE TALL TARGET (1951).

...Next year Francis Ford Coppola will receive the AFI Life Achievement Award. He will be the 50th recipient.

...New later this month for fall cookbook season: MARTHA: THE COOKBOOK: 100 FAVORITE RECIPES, WITH LESSONS AND STORIES FROM MY KITCHEN by Martha Stewart.

...Tom Cruise is considering a sequel to his film DAYS OF THUNDER (1990).

...Some of the latest Blu-ray reviews from CineSavant Glenn Erickson at Trailers from Hell: I REMEMBER MAMA (1948) from the Warner Archive Collection and MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL & PRESSBURGER (2024) from Kino Lorber. Look for reviews here at a future date.

...Colin offers musings on director William Dieterle and three Joseph Cotten films at Riding the High Country.

...A fundraiser is underway to install a memorial cenotaph for actress Veronica Lake at Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood. I shared photos from a visit to Valhalla in 2020.

...Notable Passings: Actress Teri Garr has passed on at the age of 79...Alan Rachins of L.A. LAW has died at 82. He's survived by his wife, actress Joanna Frank...Artist Greg Hildebrandt, who created a famed STAR WARS (1977) poster with his twin brother Tim, has passed away at 85.

...Remembering the late Ann Rutherford on her November 2nd birthday...and there's a little more on Ann in this 2019 Western RoundUp column for Classic Movie Hub.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my October 26th column.

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TCM in November: Highlights

Happy November!

It's time for a close look at all the good things coming to viewers this month on Turner Classic Movies.

Ruth Roman will be the November Star of the Month, with 20 films shown spread across Tuesday evenings.

The lineup will include the TCM premieres of two of Roman's films, BELLE STARR'S DAUGHTER (1948) and THE SHANGHAI STORY (1954).

I'll have a separate post up early next week with the complete schedule of Roman's films, as well as review links for many of her movies. I've previously reviewed roughly 2/3 of the Ruth Roman titles on this month's schedule.  (Update: Please visit TCM Star of the Month: Ruth Roman.)

The Noir Alley schedule in November consists of NOBODY LIVES FOREVER (1946) on November 2nd-3rd, LE DEUXIEME SOUFFLE (1966) on the 9th and 10th, TRAPPED (1949) November 23rd-24th, and NAKED ALIBI (1954) on November 30th and December 1st. I like all three of the titles I've previously seen and recommend checking them out. John Garfield and Geraldine Fitzgerald are seen at the right in NOBODY LIVES FOREVER.

The TCM Spotlight on Wednesdays is titled "Could Have Been Hitchcock?" The lineup features 20 suspense films including titles such as NIAGARA (1953) and A KISS BEFORE DYING (1956).

TCM will also feature Powell and Pressburger films on Thursday evenings, including the TCM premiere of the new documentary MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER (2024). Incidentally, that documentary was just released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber and I will be reviewing it here.

Here are additional highlights from the November schedule. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read my full-length review.

...The Musical Matinee on Saturday, November 2nd, is ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1950). I revisited that film for the first time in years in 2021 and found it considerably better than I'd recommended; check it out. Howard Keel and Betty Hutton head the cast, filmed in some amazing Technicolor...Then stick around for a primetime double bill of two more Technicolor wonders, Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo in THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (1947) and A SONG IS BORN (1948).

...One of the movies which made me a Joan Crawford fan was the crime melodrama THE DAMNED DON'T CRY (1950), which I was fortunate to see on a big screen at the L.A. County Museum of Art's late, lamented Leo S. Bing Theater a dozen years ago. David Brian and Steve Cochran costar. It's on November 3rd.

...A memorial tribute to actress Gena Rowlands on November 4th will include GLORIA (1980), which I saw for the first time last year and really enjoyed.

...A day of Esther Williams films on November 6th includes two top favorites, THRILL OF A ROMANCE (1945) and DUCHESS OF IDAHO (1950). Van Johnson is Esther's costar in both.

...The Powell and Pressburger films on November 7th include the masterpiece THE RED SHOES (1948). When I revisited it last year at the TCM Classic Film Festival I found myself emotionally overcome, it's that beautiful. As I wrote at the time, few things on film have ever been as lovely as Moira Shearer in that movie. Highly recommended.

...One of my favorite discoveries last year was LITTLE MISS MARKER (1934), starring Shirley Temple, Adolphe Menjou, and Dorothy Dell. It's a very good film with considerable depth and great mood. It's part of an evening of Damon Runyon adaptations on November 8th.

...You can't go wrong spending a Saturday afternoon with John Wayne in Howard Hawks' RIO BRAVO (1959), showing on November 9th.

...November 10th TCM is showing FOUL PLAY (1978), a Goldie Hawn-Chevy Chase film from my teenaged years I'd like to revisit. I fondly recall the movie's theme song, "Ready to Take a Chance Again."

...TCM will feature war films on Veterans Day, November 11th, including Gary Cooper as SERGEANT YORK (1941).

...The "Could Have Been Hitchcock?" lineup on November 13th includes CHARADE (1963) and MIRAGE (1965), among other titles.

...One of my favorite Powell and Pressburger films is the strange yet wonderful A CANTERBURY TALE (1944). It's a movie which rather defies description, about everything and nothing, and it leaves the viewer feeling better for having seen it. A perfect film for Thanksgiving month. It's on November 14th.

...Margaret O'Brien's in several good films on TCM this month, including THE CANTERVILLE GHOST (1944) with Charles Laughton and Robert Young. It's part of a day of "ghost" films on November 15th. Another title airing that day, SYLVIE AND THE PHANTOM (1946), has been highly recommended to me and I look forward to seeing it.

...The Musical Matinee on the 16th is THE GLASS SLIPPER (1955), a Cinderella tale starring Leslie Caron. I wrote about my special feelings for this Charles Walter film in 2016 and also shared a gallery of stills from my personal collection.

...Silent Sunday Nights on November 17th features Ernst Lubitsch's crazy, inventive THE DOLL (1919).

...A day of films set in San Francisco on the 19th includes Bette Davis in the minor yet enjoyable FOG OVER FRISCO (1934).

...November 20th features an entire day of MAISIE films starring Ann Sothern.  Nine films released between 1939 and 1947 will be shown.

...There are more great Powell and Pressburger on November 21st, including one of my all-time favorite films, I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING! (1945).

...FUGITIVE LOVERS (1934) is a wonderful IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934) type film starring Robert Montgomery and Madge Evans which is shown on TCM relatively rarely. Montgomery and Evans, who were longtime friends offscreen, have wonderful chemistry.  Make it a point to catch this one on November 22nd.

...PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE (1952), which was not shown in November 2023, returns to the schedule this year on November 23rd, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It may not be the greatest film, but there aren't a great many movies featuring the Pilgrims, and it has a wonderful cast including Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney, and Van Johnson. The score by Miklos Rosza is another plus.

...Sunday, November 24th, TCM will show MGM's lovely Technicolor version of LITTLE WOMEN (1949), a great way to begin Thanksgiving week. June Allyson, Janet Leigh, Margaret O'Brien, and Elizabeth Taylor play the March sisters, with a great supporting cast.

...The films of director Fred M. Wilcox will be spotlights on November 26th, with titles including MGM's excellent version of THE SECRET GARDEN (1949) starring Margaret O'Brien and Dean Stockwell, seen here with costar Brian Roper.

...Thanksgiving Day, November 28th, will be spent with seven Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies, including SWING TIME (1936), SHALL WE DANCE (1937), and one of my particular favorites, CAREFREE (1938).

...Then on Thanksgiving evening TCM will feature an evening of movies about "Big Families." Ben Mankiewicz will be joined by guest host Kate Flannery, a "friend of TCM." (I saw Flannery introduced HIGH SOCIETY at the 2019 TCM Classic Film Festival and was impressed with her knowledge of and love for the movie.) The titles will be CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (1950), YOURS, MINE AND OURS (1968), PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES (1960), LIFE WITH FATHER (1947), and SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954).

...On November 29th there's a terrific lineup of films celebrating their 75th anniversary this year, including John Ford's SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (1949), which I just revisited in October at the Lone Pine Film Festival. John Wayne heads a great cast (seen here with Joanne Dru and Mildred Natwick) in one of my all-time favorite films; I can't recommend it highly enough. The rest of the lineup is terrific as well.

...I mentioned HIGH SOCIETY (1956) a couple paragraphs above, and as it happens it's the Musical Matinee title on November 30th. Dare I say that I might enjoy this remake of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940) more than the original?! Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holm, and John Lund star.

For more on TCM in November 2024, please visit my posts Quick Preview of TCM in November and TCM Star of the Month: Ruth Roman along with TCM's online schedule.

Best wishes to all for a very happy Thanksgiving!

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The 2024 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers!

I'm feeling great joy as last night my baseball team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, beat the Yankees and won the World Series!

This is the fourth time the Dodgers have won the World Series since I was a teenager, following 1981, 1988, and 2020, and it's the eighth time in franchise history.

The Dodgers reached this point despite a daunting number of injuries this season, especially losses to their pitching staff. They played in the World Series with just three starting pitchers - one of whom, in the stuff of legend, came out in relief on two days' rest to record the final three outs of Game 5.

From Game 1 to Game 5, this World Series featured incredible comebacks, making for an unforgettable end to a great year.

Go Dodgers!

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Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Here's longtime favorite Paulette Goddard with a selection of masks to celebrate the day.  Have a wonderful holiday!

Previous Halloween posts, in reverse chronological order: Ella Raines, Joyce Holden, Barbara Bates, Jane Adams, Patricia Alphin, Nan Grey, and Anne Gwynne (2023), Anne Gwynne, Peggy Moran, Anne Nagel, Nan Grey, Peggy Ryan, and Gloria Jean (2022), Ellen Drew (2021), Martha Vickers, Gale Robbins, Penny Edwards, and Barbara Bates (2020), Ann Rutherford (2019), Janis Paige (2018), Ella Raines (2017), Veronica Lake (2016), Barbara Bates (2015), Marsha Hunt (2014), Linda Darnell (2013), and the BEWITCHED cast (2012).

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New at Classic Movie Hub: The 2024 Lone Pine Film Festival

My coverage of this year's 34th Lone Pine Film Festival has just been posted at Classic Movie Hub!

Please click over to Classic Movie Hub to enjoy a photo-filled look at a marvelous festival, 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.

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Tonight's Movie: Cloak and Dagger (1946) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

I'm gearing back up on disc reviews following my recent time off!

First up is Fritz Lang's CLOAK AND DAGGER (1946) from Kino Lorber's newly released Dark Side of Cinema XXI collection.

I previously reviewed the same set's SHACK OUT ON 101 (1955), which I thoroughly enjoyed, and CLOAK AND DAGGER was another winner for me.

CLOAK AND DAGGER is a lesser-known film which is considered by many to be "minor Lang," but I seem to like minor Lang films, another example being the following year's SECRET BEYOND THE DOOR (1947).

CLOAK AND DAGGER was produced by United States Pictures and released by Warner Bros. It's interesting to note that the story bears considerable resemblance to O.S.S. (1946), a Paramount Pictures film released the very same year, including featuring a multinational group of spies and a similarly uncertain ending. O.S.S. starred Alan Ladd and Geraldine Fitzgerald.

In CLOAK AND DAGGER Gary Cooper plays Professor Alvah Jesper, a nuclear scientist recruited by the O.S.S. to travel to Switzerland and make contact with a Hungarian counterpart (Helene Thimig) who has been working on a nuclear bomb with the Germans but has escaped into Switzerland. The Allies are hoping to learn the extent of German progress towards a bomb.

Although Jesper makes his initial contact with the scientist, she is tragically killed, and Jesper is next instructed to travel to Italy and make contact with another physicist (Vladimir Sokoloff).

While in Italy Jesper is aided by underground fighters Pinkie (Robert Alda) and Gina (Lilli Palmer). During the perilous mission Jesper and Gina begin to fall for one another.

As evidenced by its similarity to O.S.S., this is a fairly standard WWII spy story, but I nonetheless found it engaging and enjoyed watching it. It's a well-paced, interesting story with appealing lead actors.

I can run hot and cold on Cooper, but he struck me as just right here for a mild-mannered man of science turned action man in service of his country. Cooper believably develops from a man at home on a university campus to someone who must kill to survive. He would later play a somewhat similar character as a man who unexpectedly finds himself commanding a ship during the war in YOU'RE IN THE NAVY NOW (1951).

Earlier this year I really liked Lilli Palmer in my first viewing of BODY AND SOUL (1947), which incidentally I'll be revisiting soon thanks to Kino Lorber's new Blu-ray release. CLOAK AND DAGGER is my second Palmer film, and I continued to very much enjoy her; she's moving as a woman whose wartime work and losses have understandably left her emotionally troubled.

Second-billed Alda is dashing as an underground fighter but doesn't have much back story to speak of; he adds some color, but for the most part the movie relies on Cooper and Palmer's relationship developing against its wartime backdrop to carry this 106-minute film.

A trio of actors from the recently reviewed CONFLICT (1945) appear in the film, including Marjorie Hoshelle (seen here), Patrick O'Moore, and James Flavin. The cast is rounded out by Dan Seymour, Marc Lawrence, and J. Edward Bromberg. Among the bit players in the large cast are Robert Coote, Lex Barker, Rory Mallinson, Janet Shaw, and Ross Ford.

The script was written by Ring Lardner Jr. and Albert Maltz based on a book about the O.S.S. cowritten by novelist Alistair MacLean. It was filmed in black and white by Sol Polito. The movie has an evocative score by Max Steiner.

Kino Lorber's print is from an HD master from a 4K scan. The print occasionally has faint vertical lines but overall is quite acceptable, especially given the film's relative rarity. I did note that I had to turn the sound on my TV up much higher than normal in order to hear the dialogue well.

Extras consist of a commentary track by Heath Holland (Cereal at Midnight) and Max Allan Collins, plus a gallery of three trailers for other films available from Kino Lorber.

It's worth noting that the cover art for the Blu-ray case insert, seen in the image near the bottom of this post, is especially outstanding.

CLOAK AND DAGGER may not be "film noir," per se, but who cares when we have the chance to own it for home viewing thanks to its inclusion in this set?! I liked it very much.

I'll be reviewing the final film in this collection, SHORT CUT TO HELL (1957), at a future date.

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

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Quick Preview of TCM in December

Here's a brief look ahead at what's coming to Turner Classic Movies this holiday season!

The December Star of the Month will be Mickey Rooney. Around 60 of Rooney's films will be shown in day-long marathons in December, including 16 Andy Hardy movies the day after Christmas.

This year's Christmas movie marathon is a bit shorter than last year's, which began December 17th; it will begin the evening of December 20th and run through Christmas Day.

Additional Christmas films will run on weekend afternoons.

There's a "ghostly" theme on Christmas Night, with films including TOPPER (1937), CABIN IN THE SKY (1943), and BLITHE SPIRIT (1945). TOPPER is seen here with Roland Young, Cary Grant, and Constance Bennett.

The daytime hours on New Year's Eve will be spent with Nick and Nora Charles in the THIN MAN movie series, followed by an evening of films which feature New Year's Eve as part of the story. REPEAT PERFORMANCE (1947), a big favorite of mine, is among the films in the New Year's Eve lineup.

December's Noir Alley titles will include NAKED ALIBI (1954), ACT OF VIOLENCE (1949), and THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (1946). One title is yet to be announced. (Update: The fourth film of the month is 1961's BLACK GRAVEL.)  Noir Alley will take the weekend off during the Christmas movie marathon.

The TCM Spotlight on Mondays will have a fun "Party" theme. Some of the films shown will include OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS (1928), MADAM SATAN (1930), and PALM SPRINGS WEEKEND (1963).

Daytime themes in December include the South Seas, marriage, pirates, Africa, wilderness adventure films, and "1930s Women in Trouble."

Of note: While TCM typically features World War II films on Pearl Harbor Day, this year December 7th falls on a Sunday and TCM will stick to regular weekend programming, including Christmas films.

A memorial tribute to Maggie Smith will take place on December 10th. Additional memorial tributes to several filmmakers who have died this year will take place on December 27th.

Other filmmakers receiving multifilm tributes in December will include Laurence Olivier, Ava Gardner, Gregory Peck, George Stevens, and Frank Sinatra.

There are still quite a few blank spots in the schedule, so stay tuned for the most complete schedule info, which will be published here at the end of November.

In the meantime, Ruth Roman will be up next as the November Star of the Month!

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...I'm back from a great trip to the Lone Pine Film Festival, as well as spots further north on Highway 395, followed almost immediately by our oldest son's wedding and related events. Catching up on my day job, not to mention watching Dodgers postseason baseball, has meant it's taken me a while to get up and running here again. (Seen in the photo is Mist Falls, found on the road to Lake Sabrina outside Bishop, California. Click on it to enlarge for a closer look.) 

...I'm looking forward to diving back into movie news and reviews! A few of the posts I have in the works are the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival announcement, a preview of TCM's December schedule, and a tribute to the late Mitzi Gaynor. Later next week look for TCM's November highlights. I'll also have a look at this year's Lone Pine Film Festival posted soon for my next Classic Movie Hub Western RoundUp column.

...Fantastic news from Kino Lorber Studio Classics: THE GREAT GATSBY (1949) starring Alan Ladd will have a U.S. home viewing release at long last! Kino Lorber says it's "coming soon"; the Blu-ray will be from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative. It will be available as a single-title release and will also be included in the upcoming Dark Side of Cinema XXVI collection. It's great news that the Dark Side of Cinema series is going on, and on, and on. Incidentally, I'll have a review of CLOAK AND DAGGER from a recent Dark Side of Cinema collection up here in the near future!

...But wait, there's more! Kino Lorber also just announced the release of the terrific Western LAW AND ORDER (1932), which I saw at this year's TCM Classic Film Festival. Like THE GREAT GATSBY, it will be a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative.

...Other upcoming Kino Lorber Blu-ray releases include THE KILLER IS LOOSE (1953), HATARI! (1962), FOR LOVE OR MONEY (1963), and THE BALLAD OF JOSIE (1968).

...Coming to Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection in January: The great WINCHESTER '73 (1950), directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart and an incredible cast. It's a new 4K digital restoration from Universal Pictures and will include an archival commentary including comments by James Stewart; a 1951 Lux Radio Theatre production; and an essay by Imogen Sara Smith.

...Contrasting Hallmark Channel news: Business continues to boom for the network, including an upcoming cruise, but there is controversy regarding employees and actors "aging out" of working for the channel.

...The November Criterion Channel streaming schedule will include "Columbia Noir," introduced by Imogen Sara Smith and Farran Smith Nehme, and "Starring Ida Lupino."

...Recent Blu-ray reviews from CineSavant Glenn Erickson for Trailers From Hell: PANDORA'S BOX (1929) from the Criterion Collection and a Columbia Horror collection from Powerhouse Indicator in the UK.

...Coming from Lyons Press next April: FIRST WOMEN OF HOLLYWOOD: FEMALE PIONEERS IN THE EARLY MOTION PICTURE BUSINESS by Mary Mallory, whose previous books include HOLLYWOOD CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS: 1920-1970. I expect to review it here next spring.

...Other recent books of interest: HOLLYWOOD SEX COMEDIES, 1953-1964: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF 25 FILMS by Hal Erickson from McFarland and PALM SPRINGS TIKI: POLYNESIA IN THE DESERT, just published by Gibbs Smith and written by Sven Kirsten and Peter Moruzzi. I have several books on mid-century Palm Springs and Los Angeles by Moruzzi which are all terrific.

...A new documentary, BOGART: LIFE COMES IN FLASHES, will have some theatrical screenings beginning in mid-November. I'll be watching for more information.

...Other new documentaries will include an upcoming Apple TV+ docuseries on the 2024 World Series; MUSIC BY JOHN WILLIAMS, coming to Disney+ November 1st; and a National Geographic documentary on the great survival story ENDURANCE which will be available on Disney+ the first week of November. Here's the ENDURANCE trailer.

...Congratulations to Virginie Pronovost on completing a decade blogging at The Wonderful World of Cinema.

...Happy 79th birthday to former "Charlie's Angel" Jaclyn Smith. I really enjoyed her in a series of '80s TV-movies and miniseries such as JACQUELINE BOUVIER KENNEDY (1981), GEORGE WASHINGTON (1984), FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (1985), and WINDMILLS OF THE GODS (1988).

...Attention Southern Californians: I'm excited to have tickets for a 35mm showing of the rarely seen but excellent PERSONS IN HIDING (1939), a "B" film starring Patricia Morison and J. Carrol Naish, which I first saw in a poor DVD copy a decade ago. Jeremy Arnold will be presenting it at the American Cinematheque's Los Feliz Theatre on November 3rd.

...Thanks to reader Christine for alerting me that the first Los Angeles Silent Film Festival, originally slated to take place at Mt. St. Mary's University in November, has been postponed indefinitely. I'll be watching for more info on a new date.

...Coming to San Diego next month: Noirvember Nights at Cinema Under the Stars. The Friday night series kicks off with TOO LATE FOR TEARS (1948) introduced by Alan K. Rode.

...Notable Passings: Singer Jack Jones, the son of Allan Jones and Irene Hervey, has died at 86...TV's TARZAN, Ron Ely, has also passed on at 86...Writer-producer Lynda Obst has passed away at 74.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my October 5th column.

...And GO DODGERS! (Update: Congratulations to the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers!)

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