Around the Blogosphere This Week...
...is taking the weekend off.
...is taking the weekend off.
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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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.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.
...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.
Rico is terrified, and with good reason, as hit men (including one played by Bob Steele) are after him.
Rico does die near the outset of the film, and Ferguson is facing the prospect of having to let Mendoza walk free due to the lack of enough evidence for a conviction. Ferguson and Police Captain Frank Nelson (Roy Roberts) spend hours combing through evidence books and interview tapes desperately searching for something else which might be enough to keep Mendoza in prison and take him to trial.
Directors Bretaigne Windust and the uncredited Raoul Walsh keep the story moving forward at a rapid pace for all of its 87 minutes, building to an exciting climax.One of the interesting aspects of the film is that terms such as "contract" and "hit man" were apparently new concepts mid century, with the police initially confused by these references.
Bogart plays a fairly button-down, "by the book" character, but his charisma does a great deal to maintain interest. I especially enjoyed Bogart's relationship with Roy Roberts, who's essentially repeating his police detective character from HE WALKED BY NIGHT (1948); they share a large number of scenes, and it's enjoyable watching these two pros discussing their case.I also especially enjoyed King Donovan as a police sergeant. Susan Cabot and Patricia Joiner play two young women whose lives are in danger. The cast includes many more interesting faces including Zero Mostel, Lawrence (Michael) Tolan, Don Beddoe, Tito Vuolo, John Maxwell, Ralph Dunn, John Kellogg, Jack Lambert, and more.
The movie was filmed in atmospheric black and white by Robert Burks.
Kino Lorber's good-looking Blu-ray print is from an HD master of a 4K scan.THE ENFORCER was previously available on DVD and Blu-ray from the now-defunct Olive Films. Happily Kino Lorber has now reissued several of Olive's releases, including THE ENFORCER, and in some cases also included new commentary tracks.
THE ENFORCER has a commentary track by Alan K. Rode, who in a nice "full circle" connection is also the producer and host of the Arthur Lyons Festival, where I first saw the movie!
This set, which also contains the previously reviewed THE SCARLET HOUR (1956) and PLUNDER ROAD (1957), is highly enjoyable and very much recommended.
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...Glenn Erickson's latest reviews at Trailers From Hell include OUTPOST IN MALAYA (1952) starring Claudette Colbert. It's just been released on Blu-ray by MGM. I'll be reviewing it here soon.
...Over at 50 Westerns From the 50s, Toby Roan reviews JOHNNY RENO (1966) starring Dana Andrews and Jane Russell....Coming to UCLA's Billy Wilder Theater on April 4th, a tribute to the late David Lynch, with a marathon screening of the seven episodes of his short-lived TV series ON THE AIR (1992). Ian Buchanan, better known to me from his role as Duke on GENERAL HOSPITAL, starred on the show and will be at the theater in person.
...A reminder that the Noir City Hollywood Festival is now underway at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Films will be screened this weekend and then the 27th through the 30th. Complete details are in this post.
...A tribute to the late film historian Michael Schlesinger is set for the afternoon of April 6th at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. Anyone interested in attending should RSVP to celebrateschlesinger@gmail.com....Notable Passings: Actor-Stuntman Jack Lilley has passed away at the age of 91. Melissa Gilbert of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, where Lilley served as a stuntman and bit player, called him "one of my favorite people on the planet." Lilley also played bit parts on MAVERICK and many other TV Westerns...Actor Wings Hauser has died at 77. He appeared in many TV shows over the years. His son Cole Hauser is in the cast of YELLOWSTONE.
...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my March 15th column.