Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...I was delighted to recently learn that a biography of Ben Johnson is on the way from the University Press of Mississippi. TALL IN THE SADDLE: THE LIFE OF BEN JOHNSON, HOLLYWOOD'S REAL COWBOY by Kathryn Jones will be out in the Hollywood Legends series in March 2026.

...The Warner Archive Collection has announced more multifilm Blu-ray collections. A four-film Greta Garbo set and a six-film Errol Flynn collection will be out in September.

...Kino Lorber Studio Classics has announced a release date of September 23, 2025, for FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS (1940) starring Ray Milland and Ellen Drew. The Blu-ray will include a commentary track by Gary Gerani.

...Here's the August lineup for the Criterion Channel streaming service.

...COYOTE VS. ACME (2026), the animated film which was deep-sixed by Warner Bros. Discovery after its completion in 2023, will be released on August 28, 2026. It's great to know this movie, which has been received enthusiastically by those who have seen it, will be seen by audiences after all.

...At 50 Westerns From the 50s, Toby Roan has reviewed Whip Wilson in NIGHT RAIDERS (1952). It's available on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

...Toby also discusses the new ClassicFlix release Hopalong Cassidy - The Legacy Collection, Volume 1. (He did one of the commentary tracks!) It's been reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman at Blu-ray.com.

...For fall cookbook season, a new title from Ree Drummond: THE PIONEER WOMAN COOKS: THE ESSENTIAL RECIPES.

...Here's an update on the five surviving children from THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965).

...Coming soon: A review of THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (2025), which I very much enjoyed.

...Notable Passing: I was terribly sorry to learn of the passing of former child actor Jimmy Hunt at the age of 85. Two summers ago I had the great privilege of meeting him at a McCrea Ranch screening of THE LONE HAND (1953), which I wrote about in my column at Classic Movie Hub. He was absolutely lovely, and to top things off, we learned he had worked in the same field as my husband and they had mutual acquaintances. Small world! Over less than a decade he racked up extensive credits, including favorites such as THE MATING OF MILLIE (1948), SHADOW ON THE WALL (1950), SADDLE TRAMP (1950), CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (1950), and more. His best-known film may be INVADERS FROM MARS (1953). My sincere condolences to his family.

...More Notable Passings: I was sorry to learn of the passing of singer Cleo Laine at the age of 97. I have a vivid memory of seeing Laine and her husband, John Dankworth, in concert when I was quite young. (Dankworth died in 2010.) Thanks to my late father, I had many unique musical experiences from an early age, including names like Maynard Ferguson, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and the Sons of the Pioneers, to name just a few...Very sad news this week that Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Theo of TV's THE COSBY SHOW (1984-92), died at the age of 54.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my July 19th column.

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