Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Raquel Stecher has published her latest "New and Upcoming Classic Film Books" list at Out of the Past. I always find interesting ideas on Raquel's extensive lists. This time around I'm especially interested in Laura Wagner's forthcoming book from McFarland, HOLLYWOOD BOOZERS, BRAWLERS, AND HARD-LUCK CASES: FIFTEEN ILL-FATED ACTORS OF THE GOLDEN AGE. I really liked Wagner's well-researched book HOLLYWOOD'S HARD-LUCK LADIES, which I reviewed last summer, and will definitely be getting her latest title.

...Dennis Seuling's latest reviews for The Digital Bits include the Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray releases of THE MAN I LOVE (1947) and ACT OF VIOLENCE (1949).

...Vanda Krefft, author of THE MAN WHO MADE THE MOVIES: THE METEORIC RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF WILLIAM FOX, has a new book coming out early next year: EXPECT GREAT THINGS! HOW THE KATHARINE GIBBS SCHOOL REVOLUTIONIZED THE AMERICAN WORKPLACE FOR WOMEN. It will be published in March 2025 by Algonquin Books. This one went straight to my "future buy" list. And I love the cover design!

...Coming for Halloween from the Criterion Collection: A Val Lewton double-feature disc with I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943) and THE SEVENTH VICTIM (1943). It will include commentary tracks from the 2005 Val Lewton Horror Collection along with the same collection's documentary SHADOWS IN THE DARK: THE VAL LEWTON LEGACY (2005). New extras material includes an interview with one of my favorite film historians, Imogen Sara Smith.

...The Criterion Channel's August streaming lineup includes "Spotlight on Mikio Naruse," "Directed by Preston Sturges," and "Vacation Noir." The Naruse series is introduced by Imogen Sara Smith.

...Over at Speakeasy, Kristina reviews the pre-Code THE SIN OF NORA MORAN (1933). One I've never seen!

...July 20th marks the centennial of the birth of singer-actress Lola Albright, who passed away in 2017. Please visit my obituary tribute to remember this lovely woman and her career.

...Colin's latest review at Riding the High Country is IRON MAN (1951), starring Jeff Chandler and directed by Joseph Pevney.

...VCI Entertainment is currently having a sale, which runs through July 28th.

...Here's an interesting book I recently learned about: THE BARBIZON: THE HOTEL THAT SET WOMEN FREE by Paulina Bren. It was published in 2022 by Simon & Schuster.

...Notable Passings: James B. Sikking, a Best Supporting Actor Emmy nominee for his role as Howard Hunter on TV's HILL STREET BLUES (1981-87), has passed away at the age of 90. He was also a regular on DOOGIE HOWSER, M.D. (1989-93). As a college student in the early '80s I was fortunate to see Sikking on stage in an Anne Commire play with Mariette Hartley, PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER, at the Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles...Shannen Doherty, whose career began as a child actress on shows like LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE and OUR HOUSE before she moved on to BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 (1990-94) and CHARMED (1998-2001), has died at 53 after a long battle with cancer...French actress Yvonne Furneaux (LA DOLCE VITA) has died at 98...Hallmark Channel announced the death of director Neill Fearnley, who worked on many projects for the channel, including numerous episodes of the TV series WHEN CALLS THE HEART...Beloved TV comedy actor Bob Newhart has passed on at 94. THE BOB NEWHART SHOW (1972-78) and NEWHART (1982-90) will continue to delight audiences long into the future.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my July 13th column.

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