Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Kino Lorber Studio Classics Blu-ray releases coming in January will include THE SPIRAL ROAD (1961), THAT FUNNY FEELING (1965), and TEACHER'S PET (1958). FOUL PLAY (1978) is "coming soon."

...Western film historian Henry C. Parke, a regular at the Lone Pine Film Festival, recently wrote an essay, "The Tale of Two Destrys," for the Inspiration Channel; it's about the 1939 and 1954 versions of DESTRY RIDES AGAIN. (The latter version was simply called DESTRY.)

...Powerhouse Indicator in the UK has just announced its February releases: NOW AND FOREVER (1934), PETER IBBETSON (1935), HARRIET CRAIG (1950), and QUEEN BEE (1955). All come with plentiful extras.

...Due to my travel schedule I missed previously reporting on Powerhouse Indicator's January releases: THE LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER (1935), THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS (1941), SAHARA (1943), and EDGE OF ETERNITY (1959). Some of these films have been previously released in the U.S. by Kino Lorber; the Indicator editions have new extras.

...The new Netflix Christmas movie HOT FROSTY (2024), starring Hallmark Channel Christmas queen Lacey Chabert, has received some good reviews, including from Courtney Howard at Variety.

...Coming from Fathom Events to many U.S. theaters in mid-December, WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954). Ticket info is here.

...At The Hannibal 8, Toby Roan shares news of a new VCI release, Poverty Row Classics, with Monogram's KING OF THE ZOMBIES (1941) and PRC's MISS V FROM MOSCOW (1942). The latter film sounds like my kind of thing, with Lola Lane playing a Soviet spy.

...Also coming from VCI, STREET SCENE (1931) in a Blu-ray/DVD combo set.

...Sony continues this year's string of classic film Blu-ray releases with YOU CAN'T RUN AWAY FROM IT (1956), a remake of IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934) starring June Allyson and Jack Lemmon, directed by Allyson's husband, Dick Powell. It's due out November 19th, and I'll be reviewing it here.

...Leonard Maltin reviews "New and Notable Film Books" including several Disney history titles and the excellent HOLLYWOOD SIGNS.

...Sales! McFarland Books is currently offering 35% off with the coupon code HOLIDAY24 - I'm interested in David Tucker's new book on John Hodiak - and ClassicFlix is having a Winter Blowout Sale of Blu-rays and DVDs.

...The Criterion Channel's December streaming lineup includes Hitchcock for the Holidays and Pre-Code Columbia.

...Over at Trailers From Hell, CineSavant Glenn Erickson reviews Kino Lorber's Dark Side of Cinema XXII collection, with THE ENFORCER (1951), THE SCARLET HOUR (1956), and PLUNDER ROAD (1957).

...THE SEARCHERS (1956) is coming out in a Warner Archive Collection 4K/Blu-ray combo set December 17th.  Movie Zyng is offering a pre-order special of 10% off with the code DUKE. Orders using the code must be placed by November 30th. The movie will also be released as a stand-alone Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection on the 17th. Both discs will include an archival commentary track by director Peter Bogdanovich.

...At Shadows and Satin, here's Karen Burroughs Hannsberry on "Why I Love Kathie" of OUT OF THE PAST (1947).

...Notable Passings: I've not found anything online, but the latest issue of the magazine Classic Images reports that former child actress Donna Corcoran passed away in Southern California this summer at the age of 81. Her films included ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD (1951), SCANDAL AT SCOURIE (1953), and GYPSY COLT (1954)...The great British actor Timothy West has passed away at the age of 90. I especially remember him for EDWARD THE KING (1975), aka EDWARD THE SEVENTH. Survivors include his wife, actress Prunella Scales, and his son Samuel West, who stars as Siegfried on ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my November 2nd column.

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