Saturday, October 18, 2025

Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...The 2025 TCM Classic Cruise came to an end last week, and TCM has announced a 2026 cruise which will take place from October 13th through 18th. The Disney Wonder will sale from San Diego to Catalina Island off the California Coast plus Ensenada, Mexico. Since it's a Pacific Coast cruise which several friends will be on, we're seriously considering it.

...The Criterion Collection has announced it will release the Warner Bros. classic CAPTAIN BLOOD (1935) in January 2026. Extras will include a commentary track by Alan K. Rode, biographer of the film's director Michael Curtiz, plus a booklet essay by Farran Smith Nehme and the 1937 Lux Radio Theatre production. It's interesting to me that this is coming from Criterion rather than the Warner Archive Collection.

...Glenn Erickson's latest CineSavant reviews at Trailers From Hell include THE HARD WAY (1943) from the Warner Archive Collection, THE STRANGE WOMAN (1946) from Film Masters, THE AMAZING MR. X (1948) from Film Masters, and the highly regarded animated film FLOW (2024) from the Criterion Collection.

...Released last month: THE OFFICIAL DISNEY PARKS DESSERTS COOKBOOK by Pam Brandon, along with Disney chefs.

...Region B Blu-ray releases coming in January from Powerhouse Indicator in the UK: IVY (1947), ALL MY SONS (1948), and UNDERTOW (1951). Although the latter two films have had U.S. Blu-ray releases from Kino Lorber, these editions come with plentiful new extras. To my knowledge, IVY has not had a U.S. DVD or Blu-ray release; I saw it at the Noir City Hollywood Festival in 2014, but my only copy is a recording from a showing on Turner Classic Movies.

...The Lifetime Channel has announced its 2025 Christmas movie lineup.

...The November Criterion Channel streaming lineup will include "Blackout Noir," a series of film noir titles centered around amnesia, programmed by Farran Smith Nehme and Glen Kenny; "Directed By Howard Hawks," with an introduction by Imogen Sara Smith; and, to fit with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons, a "Family Reunions" collection. The latter series will include HANNAH AND HER SISTERS (1986), which I watched during Thanksgiving week a couple of years ago.

...The Hollywood Reporter has celebrated the silver anniversary of TV's GILMORE GIRLS (2000-07; 2016) with interviews with several cast members.

...The Classic Movie Blog Association website has a wonderful interview with Bud and RR of Jeff Arnold's West.

...Leonard Maltin has a new book out, EVERY MOVIE IS A MIRACLE, in which he's interviewed at length by Nat Segaloff. It's from Sticking Place Books.

...The Warner Archive Collection has an exciting slate of November Blu-ray releases, including IT'S LOVE I'M AFTER (1937), AT THE CIRCUS (1939), I LOVE YOU AGAIN (1940), THE BRIDE CAME C.O.D. (1941), SILVER RIVER (1948), and THE IRON MISTRESS (1952). I vaguely recall that the DVD release of SILVER RIVER wasn't available for review and am curious!

...At Riding the High Country, Colin reviews BACK FROM ETERNITY (1956), a remake of FIVE CAME BACK (1939).

...Notable Passing: I was very much saddened to learn of the passing of Diane Keaton at 79. She's a special actress I've enjoyed in numerous films; those reviewed here include BABY BOOM (1987), MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY (1993), and SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE (2003). She also served for many years on the board of the Los Angeles Conservancy, which I support annually. It's sad to think there will be no more performances from her, but she left behind a great body of work.

...More Notable Passings: Oscar-nominated actress Samantha Eggar has passed on at 86. Those of us "of a certain age" especially remember her for DOCTOR DOLITTLE (1967); more recently she was the voice of Hera in Disney's animated HERCULES (1997). I also remember her from the one-season series ANNA AND THE KING (1972) which aired on TV when I was young...Actress Susan Kendall Newman (I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND), the daughter of Paul Newman and his first wife Jacqueline, has died at 72...Actress Penelope Milford (HEATHERS) has died at 77...The great movie poster artist Drew Struzan (STAR WARS) has passed away at 78.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my October 4th column.

Saturday, October 11, 2025

Around the Blogosphere This Week...

...will not appear this weekend, as I'm attending the annual Lone Pine Film Festival.

I shared a preview of this year's festival in my latest Classic Movie Hub Western RoundUp column. There will be lots of great movies, location tours, and guests!

Around the Blogosphere This Week will return on Saturday, October 18th

For recent news links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my October 4th column.

Monday, October 06, 2025

Off to Lone Pine!

We're headed to the annual Lone Pine Film Festival today!

The festival takes place this year from October 9th through 12th.

We're taking a couple extras days this year to head as far north as Mammoth Lakes on Highway 395 and enjoy relaxing amidst the beautiful mountain scenery before heading back south to Lone Pine later in the week.

I've shared detailed information on this year's festival in my Western RoundUp column at Classic Movie Hub.  Please click the link for details on the movies, location tours, and special guests.

I'm looking forward to sharing lots of photos and other info about the festival when I return!

Sunday, October 05, 2025

Tonight's Movie: Bright Leaf (1950) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The post Civil War melodrama BRIGHT LEAF (1950) is now available on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

This film, starring Gary Cooper and directed by Michael Curtiz, seems to be relatively lesser known.  It had escaped my notice until its recent Blu-ray release. 

The movie starts off well, with a deep cast playing an initially interesting collection of characters, but as the film's 110 minutes goes on in increasingly depressing fashion, boredom sets in.

The screenplay, written by Ranald MacDougall from a novel by Foster Fitz-Simons, casts Gary Cooper as Brant Royle. In the opening scenes Brant returns to the Southern town he and his financially beleaguered family had been thrown out of years before by wealthy tobacco grower Major James Singleton (Donald Crisp).

Brant has an opportunity for business success thanks to a cigarette-rolling machine invented by John Barton (Jeff Corey). Brant's former flame Sonia, who owns a bordello, becomes his business partner and helps him invest in Barton's invention; they're joined by a former medicine show salesman, Chris Malley (Jack Carson).

Brant becomes wealthy enough to drive Major Singleton out of business; he later abandons his relationship with Sonia to marry Major Singleton's brittle daughter, Margaret (Patricia Neal).

Brant manages to alienate every true friend, while also learning his marriage to Margaret is not quite as it had seemed...

The first hour or so of the film was enjoyable thanks to the deep cast and some unusual premises; the story combined familiar "building a fortune out of nothing" themes with a storyline probably not seen in any other movie, the automation of cigarette manufacturing.

The film is also somewhat unique for its time in that Sonia's profession, so to speak, is quite clear, despite calling the women she lives with (including Cleo Moore and Nita Talbot) "cousins." References Sonia makes to how she's made her money don't leave much to the imagination.

Unfortunately financial success doesn't make Brant happy; instead he becomes increasingly impatient and cruel to his loyal friends Sonia, John, and Chris. As his behavior becomes more and more obnoxious, the film is in turn harder and harder to watch.

Cooper's character starts out with a chip on his shoulder, and instead of being satisfied with success he becomes angrier and angrier. Brant never really learns or develops, other than in a negative fashion. It's really an unpleasant role for Cooper. I noted he looks increasingly haggard as the film goes on and wondered if it were an intentional part of the characterization or if the actor was just looking poorly.

Bacall, Carson, and Corey are all fine as the truly loyal friends Brant doesn't appreciate. Carson in particular always made the most of a role such as this, simultaneously funny and poignant.

I've never been much of a Neal fan, finding her voice and persona off-putting, but she's perfect in this role as an unstable Southern belle. Margaret is initially excited flirting with Brant, the "stranger in town," but ends up loathing him. Her calculating character reminded me a bit of her scheming wife in RATON PASS (1951), in which she ends up starting a range war.

Smaller roles are played by Gladys George (who is mostly wasted), James Griffith, Elizabeth Patterson, Marietta Canty, Thurston Hall, Bill Walker, and Taylor Holmes.

The movie was shot in black and white by Karl Freund. The score was by Victor Young.

The Warner Archive Blu-ray print is from a 1080p HD master from a 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative. It looks and sounds outstanding.

The lone extras are a pair of cartoons, HILLBILLY HARE (1950) and BUNKER HILL BUNNY (1950).

In the end I'd class BRIGHT LEAF as worth checking out, especially in this fine print, but ultimately disappointing despite its director and cast.

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.


Saturday, October 04, 2025

Tonight's Movie: Confessions of a Co-Ed (1931) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

CONFESSIONS OF A CO-ED (1931) is the second movie in a two-film set of Sylvia Sidney pre-Codes recently released by Kino Lorber.

The other film in the set is LADIES OF THE BIG HOUSE (1931), an entertaining "women in jail" film I reviewed several days ago.

CONFESSIONS OF A CO-ED is the weaker of the two films, due in part to an unfortunate ending, but it's still an entertaining 75 minutes. It even has an early film appearance by Bing Crosby and the Rhythm Boys!

This fast-paced movie tells the story of Pat (Sidney), a college freshman who's head over heels for Dan (Phillips Holmes).

They have an "interlude" during a ski vacation, but Dan is kicked out of college for an ethical transgression before Pat can tell him she's expecting a baby.

Pat doesn't hear from Dan again, so thanks to some engineering by Dan's former girlfriend Peggy (Claudia Dell), the desperate Pat marries Hal (Norman Foster), who's always been crazy about her.

Three years later, Dan returns...

CONFESSIONS OF A CO-ED was directed by David Burton and Dudley Murphy, while the movie curiously has no writing credit.

Both the leading men are on the drippy side, not particularly interesting, but just as with LADIES OF THE BIG HOUSE, Sidney is radiant. It's hard to resist her soulful eyes and sweet manner. And dare I say her interactions with her fellow sorority sisters are considerably more interesting than her love life?

The movie does have a mind-blowing ending which made me want to tear my hair out. It somewhat reminded me of the Loretta Young pre-Code SHE HAD TO SAY YES (1933), in terms of leaving me gaping at the screen when "The End" came on. It's insanely silly, in terms of both some truly terrible dialogue and the film's actual outcome.

It's memorable, I'll give it that, and so despite the ending, I'd rate this double-film set as a solid pickup for anyone who loves pre-Codes or Sylvia Sidney.

The cast includes Martha Sleeper, Florence Britton, George Irving, and Eulalie Jensen.

Look for Bruce Cabot and Claire Dodd as extras. Adorable little Dickie Moore plays Patricia's son in the movie's final scenes.

The movie was photographed by Lee Garmes. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray print shows off the movie's visuals in fine style thanks to a new HD master from a 4K scan.  Sound quality is excellent.  This is just about as good as anyone could expect a film from 1931 to look or sound, which is all the more reason to check out this set.

This collection is a Kino Lorber Special Edition with a cardboard slipcase. The movie comes with a commentary track by David Del Valle and Stan Shaffer. Along with the other film, the disc also includes a gallery of five trailers for other films available from Kino Lorber.

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

Around the Blosophere This Week

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

...Kino Lorber has just announced that the John Wayne film THE WAR WAGON (1967) is coming soon as a 4K release. Burt Kennedy directed. I'm assuming, as it wasn't mentioned, that this will be 4K only and not have a standard Blu-ray release, but I'll be watching for more news.

...Recently enjoyed 2025 releases F:1 THE MOVIE (2025) and DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE (2025) will be out on Blu-ray October 7th and November 11th, respectively. And THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (2025), which I liked so much I went to see it twice, is out on October 14th.

...At Riding the High Country Colin shares notes on a month of Hitchcock viewing...Toby reviews Anthony Mann's DEVIL'S DOORWAY (1950) at 50 Westerns From the 50s...and Glenn Erickson reviews Kurosawa's superb HIGH AND LOW (1963) at Trailers From Hell.

...Notable Passing: I was sorry to learn of the recent death of James (Jim) Mitchum at the age of 84; he died on September 20th. Jim Mitchum was the older of the two acting sons of Robert Mitchum, followed a couple years later by brother Chris (BIG JAKE). Over a decade after Chris's birth their little sister Petrine was born; she authored HOLLYWOOD HOOFBEATS, about movie horses. Chris and Petrine both survive their brother, along with other family members. Jim Mitchum notably played his father's kid brother in THUNDER ROAD (1958), seen here, and appeared in a number of other films including RIDE THE WILD SURF (1964) and IN HARMS' WAY (1965).

...This was a short news week ahead of my upcoming vacation. Please note that Around the Blogosphere This Week will not appear the weekend of October 11th, when I'll be attending the Lone Pine Film Festival. The column will return on Saturday, October 18th.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my September 27th column.

Thursday, October 02, 2025

New at Classic Movie Hub: Lone Pine Film Festival 2025

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

September's column is a detailed look at the upcoming Lone Pine Film Festival.

The festival begins October 9th and runs through the 12th. My post looks at some of the movies, tours, and special guests which will be part of this year's festival.

As always, I'll be there to enjoy and cover it all, and I'd love to see some readers there as well.

Please click over to Classic Movie Hub to check it out, and thanks, as always, 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; March 2025; April 2025; May 2025; June 2025; July 2025; August 2025.

Wednesday, October 01, 2025

TCM Star of the Month: Angela Lansbury

Actress Angela Lansbury is the October Star of the Month on Turner Classic Movies.

Lansbury was previously the Star of the Month in January 2012. Over 13 years later, TCM is celebrating the centennial of Lansbury's birth on October 16, 1925.

Lansbury passed away on October 2022, a few days short of her 97th birthday.

I feel very fortunate that I saw her in person briefly as part of a panel discussion honoring Robert Osborne in October 2019.

Below is the complete Star of the Month schedule. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read a full-length review.


October 2nd

THE HARVEY GIRLS (1946)

TENTH AVENUE ANGEL (1948)

THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1948)

THE RED DANUBE (1949)

NATIONAL VELVET (1944)


October 9th

IN THE COOL OF THE DAY (1963)

IF WINTER COMES (1947)

DEAR HEART (1964)

THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT (1964)

MISTER BUDDWING (1966)


October 16th (Lansbury's centennial)

GASLIGHT (1944)

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (1945)

THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)

KIND LADY (1951)

SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET (1982)


October 23rd

DEATH ON THE NILE (1978)

THE RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE (1958)

ALL FALL DOWN (1962)

THE HOODLUM SAINT (1946)

TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY (1946)


As is often the case with Star of the Month programming, there are a number of other titles which won't be shown as part of the series due to licensing or other reasons.

I also recommend seeking out Lansbury's work in films such as STATE OF THE UNION (1948), SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949), THE COURT JESTER (1956), BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS (1971), THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (1983), and of course BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991).

For more on TCM in October 2025, please visit my posts TCM in October: Highlights and Quick Preview of TCM in October, along with TCM's online schedule.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

TCM in October: Highlights

Happy October! It's time for a close-up look at this month's schedule on Turner Classic Movies.

Angela Lansbury is the October Star of the Month.

Lansbury was previously the Star of the Month in January 2012. This month TCM is honoring the centennial of Lansbury's birth. The actress was born October 16, 1925.

Lansbury's films will be shown on Thursday evenings, excepting October 30th. There will be a separate post on this month's Angela Lansbury films posted here in the next day or so.  (Update: Please visit: TCM Star of the Month: Angela Lansbury.)

October's Noir Alley schedule will consist of THE BIG STREET (1942) followed by three TCM premieres: NEW YORK CONFIDENTIAL (1955), BLACK TUESDAY (1954), and SOUTHSIDE 1-1000 (1950).

Mario Cantone will host "Creepy Cinema" again this October, introducing spooky films of all types on Friday evenings. Continuing the spooky theme, Alfred Hitchcock movies will be featured on Sunday nights.

October 30th and 31st will be given over to a two-day Halloween horror marathon.

Here are a few additional highlights from the October schedule. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read my extended review.

...The month begins on October 1st with a marvelous lineup of films released in 1950, followed by a prime time tribute honoring Julie Andrews on her 90th birthday. The evening will include the second-ever TCM showing of THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965), which made its TCM debut last August.

...An October 3rd day of films featuring femme fatales includes MURDER, MY SWEET (1944) starring Dick Powell and Claire Trevor.

...Dave Karger's Musical Matinee on October 4th features Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in their first film together, FLYING DOWN TO RIO (1933). A few years ago I attended a memorable rooftop screening of the film.

...One of Alfred Hitchcock's best films, REAR WINDOW (1954), will be showon on Sunday evening, October 5th. James Stewart and Grace Kelly star, ably supported by Thelma Ritter.

...Actor Chill Wills is honored on the evening of October 6th, with the films including one of my favorite lesser-known Westerns, GUN GLORY (1957), starring Stewart Granger and Rhonda Fleming. The lineup also includes three Francis the Talking Mule films, FRANCIS (1950), FRANCIS GOES TO THE RACES (1951), and FRANCIS GOES TO WEST POINT (1952); the latter two films are TCM premieres.

...For beautiful, very colorful musical entertainment check out THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT (1967) on October 7th. Gene Kelly, George Chakiris, Catherine Deneuve, and Deneuve's real-life sister Francois Dorleac star.

...There's a seven-film Randolph Scott lineup on October 8th. Titles include SHOOT-OUT AT MEDICINE BEND (1957) costarring James Garner.

...Deborah Kerr and Trevor Howard star in I SEE A DARK STRANGER (1946), part of a day of films with the word "dark" in the title on October 9th.

...The Val Lewton classic CAT PEOPLE (1942) makes perfect October viewing; it will be shown on the 11th. Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Jane Randolph, and Tom Conway star, directed by Jacques Tourneur.

...There's more great Hitchcock on Sunday evening, October 12th, with one of my all-time favorites: NOTORIOUS (1946) starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains.

...Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan star in DESPERATE JOURNEY (1942), part of a day of films focused on World War II's European front. It airs October 15th.

...Marco Cantone's Creepy Cinema on October 17th features Gene Tierney as the chilling killer of LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945), followed by Tierney and Ginger Rogers costarring in BLACK WIDOW (1954). The latter is a 20th Century-Fox film rarely shown on TCM.

...The sequel to CAT PEOPLE, THE CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE (1944), will be shown October 19th. Kent Smith, Simone Simon, and Jane Randolph again star, directed by Jacques Tourneur.

...WHERE THE BOYS ARE (1960) is a colorful, funny collegiate summer break film with a great cast headed by Dolores Hart, George Hamilton, Paula Prentiss, and Jim Hutton. It's on October 22nd.

...There are some good military comedies on October 23rd, including Ida Lupino and Sydney Greenstreet in the amusing PILLOW TO POST (1945).

...Another Hitchcock favorite, SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943), shows on Sunday evening, October 26th. This summer I was able to visit locations for the film in Santa Rosa, California, which will make my next viewing even more enjoyable.

...There's a fantastic lineup of pre-Code films on Tuesday evening, October 28th. It includes some of the best "jaw-droppers" of the era, including EMPLOYEES' ENTRANCE (1933) and NIGHT NURSE (1931).

...A day of Van Heflin films on October 29th includes the enjoyable MGM musical SEVEN SWEETHEARTS (1942) with Kathryn Grayson.

...Many of the films showing in the Halloween marathon on the 30th and 31st are a little too "much" for me, but happily there are also more good Val Lewton movies including THE LEOPARD MAN (1943) and I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943) on the 30th.

For more on TCM in October 2025, please check out my posts TCM Star of the Month: Angela Lansbury and Quick Preview of TCM in October, along with TCM's online schedule.

Have a fun October, and happy Halloween!

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