Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Happy birthday to Tippi Hedren, who turns 95 on January 19th.

..."Coming soon" to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics: HOLD THAT BLONDE! (1945) starring Veronica Lake and Eddie Bracken...Dates have been announced for CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY (1952), coming March 11th; HI-JACK HIGHWAY (1955), aka GAS-OIL, out on March 25th; and the Dark Side of Cinema XXIV collection, coming on March 4th. The Dark Side of Cinema collection will include UNION STATION (1950), JENNIFER (1953), and THE CROOKED CIRCLE (1957).

...The February 2025 Criterion Channel streaming lineup will include "Argentine Noir," "New York Love Stories," films directed by Buster Keaton and Joan Micklin Silver, and a collection of 15 Claudette Colbert films.

...Here's an article by Mary Mallory on the 1961 Bel-Air fire, a topic sadly relevant given this month's fire tragedies in the greater Los Angeles area.

...Coming from Flicker Alley in March: MERRY-GO-ROUND (1923) with Mary Philbin, directed by Erich von Stroheim and Rupert Julian, and a two-film set starring Hobart Bosworth, BEHIND THE DOOR (1919) and BELOW THE SURFACE (1920).

...On a happier Los Angeles note, I'm looking forward to the April release of sportswriter Bill Plunkett's book on the 2024 Dodgers season, L.A. STORY: SHOHEI OHTANI, THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS, AND A SEASON FOR THE AGES.

...A recently published book I've seen strongly recommended by a friend on Twitter is CHURCHILL'S CITADEL: CHURCHILL AND THE GATHERINGS BEFORE THE STORM by Katherine Carter, published last November by Yale University Press.

...Voting on Oscar nominations was extended due to the Palisades and Altadena fires.

...Rachel of Hamlette's Soliloquy is hosting the blogathon "We Love Musicals Week" in mid-February. Check out her site for details and to sign up.

...Glenn Erickson's latest reviews at Trailers From Hell include WINCHESTER '73 (1950) from the Criterion Collection and MR. LUCKY (1943) from the Warner Archive Collection.

...Over at Riding the High Country, Colin has written about SHE PLAYED WITH FIRE (1957) starring Arlene Dahl and Jack Hawkins...Toby has written about the Rough Riders film ARIZONA BOUND (1951) at 50 Westerns From the 50s...Kristina wrote about Kay Francis in MANDALAY (1934) for her blog Speakeasy...and check out John McElwee on "B" movies and "pulp noir" at Greenbriar Picture Shows.

...Phyllis Loves Classic Movies gives us some great close-up views of Ellen Drew's wedding gown in THE MAN FROM COLORADO (1948).

...I was very happy to hear that the Bay Theatre in Seal Beach is reopening. I saw a couple films there in 2012, shortly before it closed that summer, and am delighted by this good news. (Thanks much to Christine for sending me the news.) I snapped this photograph of the Bay in 2012. There's more on the theater's history at Cinema Treasures.

...THE PREVIEW MURDER MYSTERY (1936), hosted by Jeremy Arnold at the American Cinematheque's Los Feliz 3 Theatre, was originally scheduled for January 12th but was cancelled due to the Southland fires and evacuations. The movie has been rescheduled for Sunday, January 26th, at 1:00 p.m. Thanks to Elizabeth for letting me know!

...Notable Passing: I was very much saddened by the passing of Leslie Charleson at 79. She played Monica Quartermaine on GENERAL HOSPITAL for close to half a century. Monica's storyline was what first drew me to the show as a teen in the late '70s. Most of the actors who played the senior members of the Quartermaine family have now left us, including Anna Lee, David Lewis, John Ingle, and Stuart Damon (seen here with Charleson), as well as Jeff Donnell, who played the family housekeeper. Emmy-winning actress Jane Elliot, who just turned 78 a few days ago, continues to play Tracy Quartermaine.

...Another Notable Passing: Thanks again to Christine, who passed on a couple of lovely tributes to my friend Donna Hill of the blog Strictly Vintage Hollywood. Donna, who was the author of RUDOLPH VALENTINO - THE SILENT IDOL: HIS LIFE IN PHOTOGRAPHS, died suddenly around Christmas, and her loss has been felt deeply in the classic film community. Please read more about Donna at Silent-ology and the Louise Brooks Society.

...More Notable Passings: Former child actor Christian Juttner has passed away at the age of 60. His roles included RETURN FROM WITCH MOUNTAIN (1978). He played guest roles on many popular TV series in the '70s...Writer-Director-Producer David Lynch (TWIN PEAKS) has died at 78...Director Jeannot Szwarc (SOMEWHERE IN TIME) has died at 87...British actress Joan Plowright, the widow of Laurence Olivier, has died at 95...Editor John F. Burnett (THE GOODBYE GIRL) has passed on at 90...Costume designer Phyllis Dalton (LAWRENCE OF ARABIA) has passed away at 99.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my January 11th column.

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