Saturday, July 19, 2025

Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...I'm excited about an upcoming book by David Meuel, ASSEMBLY-LINE AUTEUR: THE PRE-CODE FILMS OF WILLIAM WELLMAN, which will be published by McFarland. I've read several books by Meuel, particularly enjoying THE NOIR WESTERN and JOAN CRAWFORD IN FILM NOIR: THE ACTRESS AS AUTEUR. Given how much I've enjoyed Wellman's pre-Codes over the years, this should be a terrific book.


...Many thanks to Keith Buczak for the information that J.B. Kaufman's upcoming book WORLDS TO CONQUER: THE ART AND MAKING OF WALT DISNEY'S FANTASIA, now has cover art available. The book, which I first mentioned here in February 2023, has taken longer than expected to be published, but based on Kaufman's past books, I'm sure it will be worth the wait! It will be published by Weldon Owen (of Simon & Schuster) in November 2025.

...Another fun book, due out early in 2026, comes from Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, cowritten with Michael Blank. It's about Shohei's beloved dog, Decoy. I suspect a copy of DECOY SAVES OPENING DAY will be going to my grandsons next year.

...Raquel Stecher's exhaustive lists of upcoming film and entertainment books at her blog Out of the Past are always greatly appreciated, and her latest edition, No. 25, is no exception. One of the titles which particularly caught my eye was TOO FAST, TOO SHORT: THE LIFE OF DIANA BARRYMORE by Jennifer Ann Redmond, part of the Hollywood Legends series from the University Press of Mississippi. It will be out this September. Diana strikes me as looking a great deal like her niece, Drew Barrymore, in the book's cover photo.

...GILMORE GIRLS reruns are coming to the Hallmark Channel.

...Liam Neeson stars in THE ICE ROAD: VENGEANCE (2025), which is coming to Blu-ray on September 9th. Set near Mount Everest, it's a sequel to THE ICE ROAD (2021).

...The August Blu-ray titles from the Warner Archive Collection will include THE HARD WAY (1943) with Ida Lupino and Joan Leslie, THAT MIDNIGHT KISS (1949) with Mario Lanza and Kathryn Grayson, and INTRUDER IN THE DUST (1949) with Claude Jarman Jr. and Juano Hernandez.

...Glenn Erickson's latest reviews at Trailers From Hell include HIS KIND OF WOMAN (1951), from the Warner Archive Collection, and SHANE (1953), from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

...Upcoming Kino Lorber Studio Classics Blu-ray titles include FATHER BROWN, DETECTIVE (1934) and a complete set of the four AIRPORT films. They're due out in September.

...I'm especially excited that Kino Lorber Studio Classics is releasing the delightful DEAR RUTH (1947) on Blu-ray in September, the first time it's been available for home viewing. William Holden, Joan Caulfield, Mona Freeman, and Edward Arnold star. Even better, it has a commentary track by Farran Smith Nehme (the Self-Styled Siren).

...This month at Comet Over Hollywood Jessica is reviewing Western "B" musicals, including SWING IN THE SADDLE (1944) and SAN FERNANDO VALLEY (1944).

...Prince Albert of Monaco, the son of Princess Grace (aka Grace Kelly) and Prince Rainier, is celebrating two decades on the throne this month.  Photos may be enjoyed in this Twitter thread.

...Attention Southern Californians: A series of Akira Kurosawa restorations will play in August at all three American Cinematheque theaters, the Egyptian, Aero, and Los Feliz.

...Notable Passings: Actress-Singer Connie Francis (WHERE THE BOYS ARE) has passed away at the age of 87...Composer Alan Bergman has died at 99. Among many other things, he wrote the title song of my favorite Frank Sinatra album, NICE 'N' EASY. His wife and longtime collaborator, Marilyn Bergman, died in 2022...Longtime AS THE WORLD TURNS star Eileen Fulton has passed on at 91...British actress Judy Loe, the mother of actress Kate Beckinsale, has died at 78.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my July 12th column.

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