...Here's a really interesting new book that's just out: THE ASTAIRES: FRED AND ADELE by Kathleen Riley. Looking forward to learning more about it.
...And here's a neat children's picture book from last year which my dad called to my attention: JUST BEING AUDREY, about the life of Audrey Hepburn. It's by Margaret Cardillo, illustrated by Julia Denos.
...While on the subject of Audrey, I recommend a book I mentioned here a couple of years ago, AUDREY HEPBURN: INTERNATIONAL COVER GIRL by Scott Brizel.
...For anyone who missed it, the cover art has been revealed for the upcoming release of Season 1 of MAVERICK. Here it is, posted at the right....Part 3 of a series on THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (1942) has now been posted at Jim Lane's Cinedrome. I linked Parts 1 and 2 in my recent review of the film.
...I admire all that Gary Sinise does on behalf of the military and our nation's veterans.
...LOVE IS A BALL (1963) has a fun cast, including Glenn Ford, Ricardo Montalban, and Charles Boyer. After reading Raquelle's review at Out of the Past I'll be sure to see it!
...I really liked Stewart Granger in GUN GLORY a few years ago and was glad to see that Deb of Sidewalk Crossings enjoyed watching it also. One of those relatively unheralded Westerns that's well made and entertaining; it's available from the Warner Archive. Deb's been watching a lot of Stewart Granger films lately, including ALL THE BROTHERS WERE VALIANT (1953) and MOONFLEET (1955)....The Self-Styled Siren shared thoughts last week on Linda Darnell, an actress I've always very much enjoyed. Darnell was equally effective as the sweet innocent of THE MARK OF ZORRO (1940) or as more hard-edged characters in FALLEN ANGEL (1945) and A LETTER TO THREE WIVES (1949).
...Glenn Erickson has recently reviewed THE MAGNETIC MONSTER (1953) and TCM's new Film Noir Classics collection. I thought THE MAGNETIC MONSTER was quite fun. It stars one of my faves, Richard Carlson.
...I always enjoy the classic film DVD reviews by Barrie Maxwell, which can be found at The Digital Bits.
...New from Warner Archive: UNTAMED (1929) starring Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery. It's remastered, too. This is a Montgomery film I haven't seen yet, and it's definitely going on my wish list....Kristina's got more of the latest releases in her Shopping List at Speakeasy.
...The Hollywood Revue recently posted an account of "An Evening with Kerry Kelly Novick." Kerry is the daughter of Gene Kelly and Betsy Blair. It sounds like it was a very special evening.
...Speaking of Gene Kelly, my friend Moira has posted an introduction to his non-musical films at Skeins of Thought. I'm looking forward to more of Moira's thoughts on these films. And her post includes video of a navy short he made on combat fatigue, be sure to check it out.
...Here's a list of the upcoming guest programmers at Turner Classic Movies. (Via KC at Classic Movies.)
...ClassicFlix tipped me off on a TV series coming to DVD next month: Bob Cummings and Julie Newmar in MY LIVING DOLL, VOLUME 1. It sounds like a crazy premise; Julie plays a robot?!...John Nolte has written an appreciation of the film THE HUMAN COMEDY (1943) at Big Hollywood. It's available from Warner Archive. The Saroyan novel used to be on the reading list for high school freshmen in California; it's a shame it's no longer used, especially as it's an uplifting title, and so much of the required reading focuses on "downer" material.
...A pair of the fabled ruby slippers from THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939) will be going to the Academy thanks to Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, and others.
...Royal Watch: Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden gave birth to a daughter a few days ago. The future queen's daughter, also a future queen, was named Estelle Silvia Eva Mary.
...At Comet Hollywood, Jessica wrote a lovely post on SINCE YOU WENT AWAY (1944), focusing on the role Soda the Bulldog plays in the family's life. It was part of the recent Classic Movie Dogathon....Dennis Quaid, one of the actors I like most from the last couple decades, is filming a pilot about 1960s Las Vegas for CBS. Quaid plays a sheriff cleaning up the city. Michael Chiklis costars as a mobster.
...Leonard Maltin shares photos of a Cecil B. DeMille display at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. There's more info in the L.A. Times and at the USC website. Last fall USC established a Cecil B. DeMille Chair for the Study of Silent Film.
...And here's the no-holds-barred thoughts of esteemed USC professor Drew Casper about this year's Oscar nominees.
Have a great week!
I've seen Untamed a few times and it's a creaky (yet fun) early talkie, but I did a double-take when I read here that it's been remastered. The prints I've seen were all pretty terrible, so hopefully now we'll all be able to see it in it's pristine form!
ReplyDeleteLove Is A Ball is not only a fun movie - the cinematography is superb, with wonderful views of the French Riviera making it almost as good as a travelogue of this part of the world. Best viewed on the big cinema screen, it's not bad viewed on your TV screen either.
ReplyDeleteLaura, as always, your "Around the Blogsphere This Week" is must reading! I'll especially be sure to let my hubby know about MY LIVING DOLL, a fave of his when he found it on TV as a young'un. Thanks for the tip about Linda Darnell, too. Ever see HANGOVER SQUARE (our beloved Laird Cregar's final film, alas)? I thought Darnell was a terrific femme fatale in that one!
ReplyDeleteHi Rob, it will be great to see a new-to-me Montgomery film in a nice print!
ReplyDeleteMel, thanks for adding your endorsement to LOVE IS A BALL. It sounds beautiful. I recorded it a while back so I'm going to have to make it a point to get it out and watch it!!
Best wisehs,
Laura
Thanks so much, Dorian! Glad I could provide your hubby with the info on MY LIVING DOLL. I'm curious to see what it's like. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Linda Darnell is wonderful in HANGOVER SQUARE. :) A very underrated actress! Thanks for mentioning her performance in that one.
Best wishes,
Laura
Hi, Laura - That's a nice tribute to Gary Sinise and the work he does for our troops. I smiled when the author wrote of first seeing Sinise in a makeshift theater in a Catholic church basement in Highland Park, Illinois. Fresh out of college with a minor in acting, I, too, was in the audience that magical summer when Sinise and his friends John Malkovich and Laurie Metcalf formed their little troupe that would become Steppenwolf Theater. I still have the playbills -- I knew great things were ahead for those gifted young actors! Jane
ReplyDeleteJane, that's completely amazing that you also saw Sinise & Co. performing in Chicago back when, as the author describes! Love that. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Laura
Thanks for the hat tip. You found so much stuff this week! I feel like it's got to be at least twice as much stuff.
ReplyDelete