Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Thanks to my friend Constance for making me aware of the book GIANT LOVE: EDNA FERBER, HER BEST-SELLING NOVEL OF TEXAS, AND THE MAKING OF A CLASSIC AMERICAN FILM. It was written by Julie Gilbert and published last December by Pantheon Books (Penguin Random House). I'd add that I read a number of Ferber books at one point in my life, and GIANT was by far by favorite.

...Another new book I just learned about is ANATOLE LITVAK: THE LIFE AND FILMS, published by McFarland Books in February. It was written by Michelangelo Capua, whose other books include JEAN PETERS: HOLLYWOOD'S MYSTERY GIRL.

...At Classic Movie Hub, Annette Bochenek has written about the background and former homes of one of my favorite child actresses, Marcia Mae Jones.

...This week Glenn Erickson has reviewed the new Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray releases of MGM's MYSTERY STREET (1950) and LILI (1953).

...An upcoming book of interest: This September Taschen will publish WALT DISNEY'S CHILDREN'S CLASSICS, an anthology of stories based on Little Golden Books. It's edited by Charles Solomon, who wrote the 2014 book THE ART OF THE DISNEY GOLDEN BOOKS, published by Disney Editions. (Via Keith Buczak.)

...Attention Southern Californians: On August 2nd UCLA will screen DARK WATERS (1944) in 35mm. It's a relative rarity starring Merle Oberon and Franchot Tone, directed by Andre DeToth. There will also be an interview with Mayukh Sen, author of the recently published LOVE, QUEENIE: MERLE OBERON, HOLLYWOOD'S FIRST SOUTH ASIAN STAR.

...A few days ago I wrote a tribute to actress Kathleen Hughes, who has just passed away. Her friend Alan K. Rode has now written a tribute which was published by Variety.

...Notable Passing: Loretta Swit of M*A*S*H (1972-83) has died at 87. I met her briefly and received her autograph on a memorable occasion: An Academy screening of BLACKBOARD JUNGLE (1955) at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Her TV costar Jamie Farr, who was in the film, was a special guest that night along with another actor from the movie, director Paul Mazursky. It was the last week M*A*S*H was filming, and she and Alan Alda came to be with Farr that evening. The TV show itself admittedly hasn't worn particularly well with me, but I will always remember how gracious she was, particularly as it was clearly an emotional week for Swit and her TV colleagues.

...More Notable Passings: Actress Valerie Mahaffey has passed away at 71. I particularly remember her for her Emmy-winning guest role as Eve on NORTHERN EXPOSURE (1991-95)...James McEachin, a busy working actor for decades, has died at 94. Besides voluminous TV credits, he appeared in four Clint Eastwood movies...Taina Elg, the last surviving cast member of the four main leads from MGM's LES GIRLS (1957), has passed on at 95. Her passing comes less than a year after her costar Mitzi Gaynor's death in October 2024. She's seen here with costar Gene Kelly...Actress Ena Hartman has died at 93. She appeared on TV's DAN AUGUST (1970-71) and was a stewardess in AIRPORT (1970).

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my May 24th column.

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