Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...There was very good news last week from the Criterion Connection, which announced, via an article by film historian Imogen Sara Smith, that the Eclipse series will return, now on Blu-ray instead of DVD. Along with first-time releases, some prior Eclipse DVD sets, including the set of Lubitsch pre-Code musicals, will be released as Blu-ray upgrade. My favorite Eclipse sets include Late Ozu, Nikkatsu Noir, and Gainsborough Pictures melodramas, and I'm excited to see what will come out in the future.

...Karen Burroughs Hannsberry pays tribute to the noir work of actress Cathy O'Donnell in her Noir Nook column at Classic Movie Hub.

...The complete run of Jack Webb's EMERGENCY! TV series (1972-79) is coming to Blu-ray. This is a good spot to share, for those who may have missed it at the time, that in August 2022 I attended a 50th anniversary tribute to the show featuring surviving stars Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe, who remain close friends to this day.

...Programming exec Michelle Vicary, who left Hallmark Channel in 2021, is returning to the network as head of programming.

...HBO Max, which recently reverted from Max to its original name, will be cracking down on password sharing soon.

...Will the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood ever reopen? The Hollywood Reporter reports that the owners don't seem interested in opening it or even leasing it to another company.

...The AMC movie theater chain has annoyed just about everyone, including studios, with longer trailers and ads, and may be shortening their pre-show advertising.

...At Greenbriar Picture Shows John McElwee has a nice piece on classical music in classic movies.

...Chris Yogerst now has a Substack, Adventures in the Archive, and pays tribute to SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950) in its 75th anniversary year...And over at IndieWire, actress Nancy Olson, who turne 97 last month, shares memories of making the film with Jim Hemphill.

...Reviews, reviews, and more reviews: Colin reviews George Montgomery in ROBBERS' ROOST (1955) at Riding the High Country...At Comet Over Hollywood Jessica has reviewed Esther Williams, Howard Keel, Ann Miller, and more in MGM's TEXAS CARNIVAL (1951)...At Trailers From Hell Glenn Erickson reviews the new Warner Archive Blu-ray of THE CITADEL (1938), starring Robert Donat and Rosalind Russell...Ted at Just a Cineast looks at a fun MGM "B" movie, CODE TWO (1953)...Tynan of 4 Star Films looks at Harold Lloyd in SAFETY LAST! (1923)...and Kristina reviews the great BORN TO KILL (1947), starring Claire Trevor and Lawrence Tierney, at Speakeasy.

...Thomas Hobbs of the BBC recently wrote a nice article on Bernard Hermann's score for PSYCHO (1960), which includes quotes from my friends Brandon Brown and Steven C. Smith. Smith, author of a biography of Max Steiner, is the author of HITCHCOCK & HERRMANN: THE FRIENDSHIP & FILM SCORES THAT CHANGED CINEMA, which will be published by Oxford University Press in October. Brown has been working on a documentary of the composer.

...Thanks to Elisabeth for passing on these great "recycled costumes" posts. I was amazed to learn that when guest-starring on THE WALTONS in 1974, favorite actress Linda Purl wore a dress from Ann Sheridan's GEORGE WASHINGTON SLEPT HERE (1943) wardrobe over three decades earlier...and check out how a Mary Astor dress from LITTLE WOMEN (1949) later ended up in Columbia Pictures Westerns, including on Barbara Hale in 7th CAVALRY (1956).

...Warner Bros. Discovery is splitting into two companies, Warner Bros. and Discovery. While most TV networks will be on the Discovery side, Turner Classic Movies will remain with Warner Bros.

...I liked THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (2025) so much that I did something fairly rare for me these days and went and saw it again, just 12 days after my first viewing. If anything, I loved it even more. I added a brief note on my repeat watchto my original review.

...Speaking of Marvel, Variety recently ranked 54 Marvel movies and shows. I strongly disagree with some of their rankings -- THE FANTASTIC FOUR is certainly in my Top 5 and might be my favorite -- while agreeing with others, such as ranking AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019) and WANDAVISION (2021) in the Top 5. I present their list here so Marvel fans can peruse it, and probably argue with it, themselves.

...It's been a long time since I've attended a John Williams concert at the Hollywood Bowl, and I'm glad to say I'll be at one later this month! It will feature music from JAWS (1974), RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981), E.T. (1982), and more, and conclude with "The Throne Room" from the original STAR WARS (1977), which was our wedding recessional.

...Notable Passings: Loni Anderson, fondly remembered by many of us as Jennifer on WKRP IN CINCINNATI (1978-82), has sadly passed on at the age of 79...Alfie Wise, who appeared in many films starring Anderson's ex, Burt Reynolds, has died at 82...Director Jonathan Kaplan, the son of actress Frances Heflin and the nephew of Van Heflin, has died at 77...Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell has died at 97. Lovell was notably played by Tom Hanks in the classic APOLLO 13 (1995).

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my July 26th column.

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