Tonight's Movie: Mogambo (1953) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

I tend to cast a wary eye on remakes, but MOGAMBO (1953), just released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive, is certainly a worthy exception to that rule.

MOGAMBO is rather unique in that it loosely remakes RED DUST (1932) -- also just released on Blu-ray and reviewed by me here -- with the identical lead actor. Clark Gable may have aged a couple decades since RED DUST, but he's lost nary a step, showing why he was the King of Hollywood.

While RED DUST is a very fine pre-Code, I noted in my Blu-ray review that its theatrical origins are quite apparent. That's not the case whatsoever in MOGAMBO, despite having the very same screenwriter, John Lee Mahin, whose work was based on a play by Wilson Collison.

Mahin and director John Ford open up the story with extensive location shooting in Africa. Gable's business is changed from managing a rubber plantation to that of big game trapper, anticipating Howard Hawks' HATARI! (1962), which I reviewed almost exactly a year ago. (I'd also note that Elsa Martinelli wasn't the first to feed baby elephants, that honor went to Ava Gardner!)

As in RED DUST, Gable's Victor Marswell contends with two distinctively different women: The apparently "loose living" Eloise "Honey Bear" Kelly (Ava Gardner) and Linda Nordley, the prim young wife of an anthropologist (Donald Sinden) researching in Africa with Vic's assistance.

Eloise loves Vic, who's attracted to Linda until his conscience finally gets the better of him. Alls well that ends well at the end of the movie's 116 minutes -- surely that's not a spoiler -- but it's a grand time getting there.

As much as I love the delightfully pre-Code RED DUST, a film dripping with steam and sass, in the end MOGAMBO is the better film. It somewhat echoes another Africa-shot MGM film, KING SOLOMON'S MINES (1950), but the overall tone is Fordian, and needless to say it's all the better for it.

The spunky Eloise and her luggage, the helpful priest (a Ford staple!), and the friendly musical natives conjure strong overtones of Ford's later DONOVAN'S REEF (1963). We never worry too much about Vic destroying Linda's marriage, because it's clear he's better suited for the fiery Eloise, and their union will allow him to continue his congenial lifestyle in the great outdoors among people who care about him.

This isn't to give short shrift to Kelly's Linda, who isn't simply a simpering young woman in whom Vic awakens something new. Kelly, aided by the screenplay, gives Linda depth and a real sense of conflict; beyond that, while she may be somewhat out of place in Africa, she's also charmed and even thrilled by all the wildlife she sees.

As for Gardner, she's simply terrific as the brash Eloise, and a worthy successor to a Ford heroine such as played by Maureen O'Hara. Like Kelly's Linda, Gardner's character is allowed greater depth than her RED DUST predecessor; scenes where Eloise confesses her wild behavior was a reaction to losing the man she loved in the war, along with an actual confession scene, show the viewer different sides to her character.

I liked that the confessional scene, with the words between priest and penitent unheard by the viewer, is followed by Eloise attempting to befriend Linda and give her some wise advice. By the time Eloise reaches her happy ending, the audience knows she's a genuinely good woman and fully deserves it.

Under Ford's direction both actresses were nominated for Academy Awards, Gardner for Best Actress and Kelly for Best Supporting Actress, and the nominations were well deserved.

The supporting cast also includes Philip Stainton, Denis O'Dea, Laurence Naismith, and Eric Pohlmann.

The movie was shot in Technicolor by Robert Surtees and F.A. Young in Kenya and Tanzania. There are noticeable process and soundstage shots typical of the era, but the overall impressions of the African landscapes are stunning.

The Warner Archive Blu-ray print is from a new 1080p HD master from 4K scans of the original Technicolor negatives. While it's been quite a while since I looked at my DVD, I'm confident in saying the Blu-ray is far superior than the print I described in my 2009 review.  It was a joy to watch the movie looking and sounding so great.

The fairly minimal disc extras consist of the trailer, the Tom and Jerry cartoon JUST DUCKY (1953), and the Traveltalks short LAND OF THE UGLY DUCKLING (1953). As is standard on Warner Archive Blu-rays, optional English captions are included.

Recommended.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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TCM Star of the Month: George Brent

The 2026 31 Days of Oscar schedule on Turner Classic Movies has come to a close as of March 15th, and TCM resumes regular programming for the second half of March.

I'm very pleased that George Brent is the March Star of the Month!

Brent was previously honored as Star of the Month in May 1997. It's great that TCM is celebrating him again close to three decades on.

There may be only three Star of the Month nights in March, but the schedule is packed with 48 Brent films, beginning on Tuesday evening, March 17th.

St. Patrick's Day is the perfect day to begin the celebration of the Irish-born actor, whose birthday coincidentally is the same week, on March 15th. 

The entire Brent schedule is below. As a big Brent fan, I've reviewed 30 of the month's 48 titles; please click any hyperlinked title to check out a review.

March 17th

SO BIG (1932)

THE RICH ARE ALWAYS WITH US (1932)

THE KEYHOLE (1933)

HOUSEWIFE (1934)

THE PAINTED VEIL (1934)

THE RIGHT TO LIVE (1935)

THE PURCHASE PRICE (1932)

LILLY TURNER (1933)

THEY CALL IT SIN (1932)

WEEK-END MARRIAGE (1932)

THE CRASH (1932)

MISS PINKERTON (1932)

DESIRABLE (1934)

STRANDED (1935)

LIVING ON VELVET (1935)

42ND STREET (1933)

FEMALE (1933)

BABY FACE (1933)

March 24th

FROM HEADQUARTERS (1933)

SOUTH OF SUEZ (1940)

THE MAN WHO TALKED TOO MUCH (1940)

SNOWED UNDER (1936)

WINGS OF THE NAVY (1939)

GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN (1936)

FRONT PAGE WOMAN (1935)

SPECIAL AGENT (1935)

THE GOOSE AND THE GANDER (1935)

IN PERSON (1935)

THE GOLDEN ARROW (1936)

GIVE ME YOUR HEART (1936)

SECRETS OF AN ACTRESS (1938)

MOUNTAIN JUSTICE (1937)

THE GO-GETTER (1937)

STAMBOUL QUEST (1934)

March 31st

DARK VICTORY (1939)

'TIL WE MEET AGAIN (1940)

HONEYMOON FOR THREE (1941)

EXPERIMENT PERILOUS (1944)

YOU CAN'T ESCAPE FOREVER (1942)

SWINGTIME IN THE MOVIES (1938) (short)

MONTANA BELLE (1952)

THE GAY SISTERS (1942)

GOLD IS WHERE YOU FIND IT (1938)

THE OLD MAID (1939)

JEZEBEL (1938)

THE GREAT LIE (1941)

IN THIS OUR LIFE (1942)

MY REPUTATION (1946)

For more on TCM in March 2026, please visit TCM in March: Highlights, along with TCM's online schedule.

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Tonight's Movie: Man About Town (1939) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

One of the Kino Lorber releases I've most looked forward to in early 2026 is the Jack Benny Comedy Classics set.

This two-film set, released at the end of February, contains the Benny films ARTISTS AND MODELS (1937) and MAN ABOUT TOWN (1939).

I started off watching MAN ABOUT TOWN this weekend, which I found quite enjoyable.

The screenplay was by Morrie Ryskind, from a story he wrote with Allan Scott and Z. Myers. Ryskind had a long history of writing (or cowriting) solid comedies, including ANIMAL CRACKERS (1930) and MY MAN GODFREY (1936), so I had hopes for the quality of this film and was not let down. It's an amusing movie with a handful of laugh-out-loud funny moments.

Jack Benny plays Bob Temple, an American theatrical producer and performer who has brought his latest hit show to London.

Bob is in lovely with his show's beautiful star Diana (Dorothy Lamour), but she doesn't think they're a fit, finding Bob too "solid and respectable," and has been dating Ted Nash (Phil Harris), the show's conductor.

Soon Bob is entangled with Lady Arlington (Binnie Barnes) and Madame Dubois (Isabel Jeans), who are hoping to use him to make their husbands (Edward Arnold and Monty Woolley) jealous. Meanwhile Bob is hoping to make Diana jealous with any combination of these two ladies or one of the chorus girls, Susan (Betty Grable).

They all end up at a country house party...

This was quite a fun 85 minutes. It ends a bit abruptly, in terms of Bob and Diana's romance, but there's also a good laugh at the end to make up for it.

Benny is funny but doesn't overdo things. One of my favorite moments was early on, when he was walking in the fog and ended up circling back to the same place he'd started.

Lamour is exquisitely lovely, though I'm still trying to understand why she sang a song in the musical review in chains. It was odd staging.

Eddie "Rochester" Anderson is quite funny and at times threatens to steal the movie with his great repartee. A scene where Rochester chats with a butler (E.E. Clive) is hilarious. I was especially impressed by a dance he does during a party sequence; I didn't realize Rochester was such a smooth dancer!

The cast also features Charles Coleman as a hotel doorman and Clifford Severn as a bellboy.

Famed "dress extra" Bess Flowers can be spotted at the party. I recall when her IMDb credits numbered in the 800s, and she's now listed in over 1100! I've added a couple titles to that list myself. It's always fun to notice her.

MAN ABOUT TOWN was directed by Mark Sandrich, who directed several of the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies. It was filmed in black and white by Ted Tetzlaff.

Kino Lorber's lovely print is from a new HD master from a 2K scan of the 35mm fine grain. Sound quality is strong.

Disc extras include a commentary track by Paul Anthony Nelson and Lee Zachariah; the trailer, newly mastered in 2K; and a gallery of nine additional trailers for other films available from Kino Lorber.

I enjoyed this and found it a relaxing fun time. I'll be reviewing ARTISTS AND MODELS in the near future.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a copy of this Blu-ray collection.

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TCM in March: Highlights

The 31 Days of Oscar series on Turner Classic Movies comes to an end on March 15th, and it's now time for a look at the rest of the month's programming!

The March Star of the Month is George Brent, beginning on March 17th. There will be a separate Star of the Month post published tomorrow. It's a marvelous lineup!  (Update: Please visit TCM Star of the Month: George Brent.)

The Noir Alley films for the next two weekends are WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR? (1965) on March 21st and 22nd and CAGED (1950) on March 28th-29th.

Below are more TCM viewing highlights from the second half of March. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read my extended review.

...A tribute to director Ray Enright on Monday, March 16th, includes the excellent pre-Code BLONDIE JOHNSON (1933), starring Joan Blondell and Chester Morris.

...St. Patrick's Day will feature a lineup of seven Irish-themed filmes, including THE DAUGHTER OF ROSIE O'GRADY (1950) starring June Haver and Gordon MacRae.

...There will be a special "Hollywood Humanitarians" theme the evenings of March 18th and 25th, paying tribute to actors who have done extensive charitable work. Films on the 18th include NATIONAL VELVET (1944) and THE AFFAIRS OF DOBIE GILLIS (1953), honoring Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds.

...The latest National Film Registry selections will be celebrated on March 19th. Titles include the MGM musical HIGH SOCIETY (1956).

...March 20th there's a seven-film tribute to Gordon MacRae, including two favorites he made with Doris Day, ON MOONLIGHT BAY (1951) and BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON (1953); I reviewed the latter film just a few days ago.

...I recommend Powell and Pressburger's A CANTERBURY TALE (1944) on March 21st. As I wrote in my 2017 review, "It's about everything and nothing...moments in life, and the continuity over centuries." A magical film.

...A pair of good Carole Lombard romantic comedies screen the evening of March 22nd: LOVE BEFORE BREAKFAST (1936) with Preston Foster and HANDS ACROSS THE TABLE (1935) with Fred MacMurray.

...Only on TCM: MGM's great art diretor Cedric Gibbons is honored with a diverse eight-film lineup of films including LITTLE WOMEN (1949), ACT OF VIOLENCE (1949), and SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952). It's an especially great day of movies, on March 23rd.

...On March 26th TCM features four films on which director Alfred Hitchcock teamed with composer Bernard Herrmann, including NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959.

...March 27th there's a ten-film tribute to an actress I think everyone loves, Joan Blondell. It includes DAMES (1934) and I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER (1934), to name just two I've enjoyed!

...THEM! (1954), showing on March 28th, is absolutely terrific sci-fi. I also enjoyed visiting the movie's desert location a few years ago.

...TWO WEEKS WITH LOVE (1950) is a relatively lesser-known all-time favorite MGM musical for me. Jane Powell, Ricardo Montalban, and Debbie Reynolds star. It's on March 29th.

...Two wonderful examples of smalltown Western Americana, THE ROMANCE OF ROSY RIDGE (1947) and STARS IN MY CROWN (1950), will be shown on March 30th.

...A day of films written by Raymond L. Schrock on March 31st includes minor yet enjoyable "B" fare such as SECRET ENEMIES (1942), a 57-minute "B" film with Craig Stevens, Faye Emerson, and John Ridgely.

For more on TCM in March 2026, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in March and TCM Star of the Month: George Brent, along with TCM's online schedule.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...The Warner Archive Collection has announced its April titles. They include ARROWSMITH (1931), 20,000 YEARS IN SING-SING (1932), CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS (1937), CRACK-UP (1946), KING RICHARD AND THE CRUSADERS (1954), and a Monogram Matinee Vol. 2 set containing the Jimmie Davis Western LOUISIANA (1937) and Jimmy Wakely in SONG OF THE RANGE (1944). (There's more on the Monogram set from Toby Roan at 50 Westerns From the 50s.) Meanwhile several of the March Warner Archive discs announced last month are on the way to me for review, so stay tuned!

...Universal also has a great list of Blu-rays ahead for April: MILLION DOLLAR LEGS (1932), INTERNATIONAL HOUSE (1933), HERE COMES COOKIE (1935), MISSISSIPPI (1935), and THE PRIVATE WAR OF MAJOR BENSON (1955). I hope to review at least a couple of these; in the meantime I have Cary Grant's debut film, THIS IS THE NIGHT (1932), on the way to me for review. Anyone who missed the March list of Universal releases may find it here.

...VCI Entertainment has a set of East Side Kids films coming out under its Poverty Row Classics line: EAST SIDE KIDS (1940) and THAT GANG OF MINE (1940).

...Kino Lorber Studio Classics is bringing out an upgraded print of all-time favorite BEND OF THE RIVER (1952) on Blu-ray in May, from a 4K restoration. In addition to the Toby Roan commentary on their 2019 Blu-ray release, this will have a second track, by Julie Kirgo and C. Courtney Joyner. BEND OF THE RIVER was directed by Anthony Mann; James Stewart leads a very deep cast.

...Also coming from Kino Lorber in May: NIGHT WORLD (1932) with Lew Ayres and Boris Karloff; it will have two commentary tracks, by Jeremy Arnold and Tim Lucas. And listed as "coming soon" is WALK A TIGHTROPE (1963) starring Dan Duryea.

...The UCLA Festival of Preservation has announced it will take place from May 29th through 31st at the Billy Wilder Theater in Westwood. The full schedule is not yet out, but it will include LORNA DOONE (1922), MERRILY WE LIVE (1938), and PITFALL (1948). Thanks to reader Christine for making me aware of this great news.

...Christine also shared the news that the Academy Museum is hosting a series of all Akira Kurosawa's films, starting in late March and continuing through May.

...I also want to mention that both the Noir City Hollywood and Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festivals announced their schedules yesterday. For anyone who missed my posts, the schedules may be reviewed here and here.

...The Vista Theater in Hollywood is hosting extremely rare 35mm roadshow showings of PORGY AND BESS (1959) this week. Update: Here's a little more info on the print, which is now owned by Quentin Tarantino, and the movie.

...The annual Cowboy Cookout fundraiser at McCrea Ranch will take place Saturday, May 16th. Registration is via the Conejo Recreation and Park District. The cookout includes the very rare chance to tour the inside of the home of Joel McCrea and Frances Dee, which is remarkable in its simplicity and homey touches. It's hard to believe it's been nearly 15 years since the ranch first opened to the public; I've been fortunate to return several times over the years, and I'm looking forward to the cookout!

...Last summer I shared the news of the upcoming biography of Ben Johnson by Kathryn Jones, published by the University Press of Mississippi. TALL IN THE SADDLE: THE LIFE OF BEN JOHNSON, HOLLYWOOD'S REAL COWBOY was just published, on March 10th. I'm looking forward to it!

...As I mentioned in my preview of the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival, Kirk Ellis has a new book out on BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967), published by the University of New Mexico Press. Kirk is a regular at both the Arthur Lyons and Lone Pine Film Festivals, and I really enjoyed his book on RIDE LONESOME.

...Cole's French Dipped Sandwiches, a Downtown Los Angeles staple since 1908, may be closing for good this summer. I wrote about Cole's here in 2020.

...Coming in June from the University Press of Kentucky: A CENTURY OF HITCHCOCK: THE MAN, THE MYTHS, THE LEGACY by Tony Lee Moral.

...Glenn Erickson has reviewed the new Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray of MOGAMBO (1953), which I'll also be reviewing in the very near future...James L. Neibaur reviewed Kino Lorber's new Jack Benny set, containing ARTISTS AND MODELS (1937) and MAN ABOUT TOWN (1939). Again, I should have a review of MAN ABOUT TOWN up in the next couple days!...At Comet Over Hollywood, Jessica reviewed LET'S MAKE MUSIC! (1940) with Bob Crosby and Jean Rogers. It's available on a Warner Archive DVD.

...Notable Passing: British actress Jane Lapotaire has passed on. A 1981 Tony winner for PIAF, I particularly remember her for her role as Princess Dagmar of Denmark (later Empress of Russia) in TV's EDWARD THE KING (1975).

...Note: Around the Blogosphere This Week will not appear next weekend, when I'll be attending the 2nd Annual Cinecon "Pop-Up" Fundraiser in El Segundo, California.  The column will return on March 28th.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my March 7th column.

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The 2026 Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival Schedule

The Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival returns to Palm Springs in May!

This year's festival opens on Thursday evening, May 7th, and runs through Friday afternoon, May 10th.

The festival takes place at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, formerly known as the Camelot Theatres, located at 2300 E. Baristo Road.

Passes are now on sale for the festival, which will feature a dozen movies.

The festival is programmed and hosted by Alan K. Rode. It will feature a mix of 35mm prints and digital screenings; some of the digital films shown will be world premiere restorations.

Rode's guests this year will be authors Scott Eyman and Kirk Ellis, along with Wyatt McCrea, the grandson of Joel McCrea and Frances Dee.

Here's the 2026 lineup:

Opening night on May 7th will feature a world premiere digital restoration of SLIGHTLY SCARLET (1956) starring John Payne, Arlene Dahl, and Rhonda Fleming. I haven't seen this since a "California Noir" series at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art many years ago and I'm excited to see it again, and in a great print.

Friday starts with an all-star cast in the British film HELL DRIVERS (1957), a great roller coaster ride of a movie.

That's followed by the world premiere digital restoration of Craig Stevens in GUNN (1967), a big-screen spinoff of Stevens' PETER GUNN (1958-61) TV series,

Next is a 35mm print of CITY GIRL (1938), a "B" film which I enjoyed seeing at Cinecon last fall. It stars Phyllis Brooks and Ricardo Cortez.

Friday wraps up with BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967). At the screening Kirk Ellis will be signing his new book THEY KILL PEOPLE: BONNIE AND CLYDE, A HOLLYWOOD REVOLUTION, AND AMERICA'S OBSESSION WITH GUNS AND OUTLAWS, published by the University of New Mexico Press.

I'm excited to see the world premiere digital restoration of MANHANDLED (1949) Saturday morning, May 9th. I've never seen it, and it stars Sterling Hayden, Dan Duryea, and Dorothy Lamour.

Next I'm looking forward to seeing Val Lewton's I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943) theatrically for the first time. Guest Wyatt McCrea will talk about his grandmother, Frances Dee, who stars. She's seen in this still with costar Tom Conway.

I've never seen THE MOB (1951), which stars Broderick Crawford and Richard Kiley; Kiley's a favorite of mine so this is yet another title I'm excited to see. It will be shown in 35mm.

Saturday concludes with one of Joan Crawford's very best films, THE DAMNED DON'T CRY (1950), which like SLIGHTLY SCARLET I saw many years ago at the L.A. County Museum of Art. Crawford biographer Scott Eyman will be on hand signing his new book JOAN CRAWFORD: A WOMAN'S FACE from Simon & Schuster.

Sunday, May 10th, will start with Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Sullivan in a 35mm print of LET US LIVE (1939), which I recall from a Noir City Hollywood screening over a decade ago.

The day continues with John McCallum and Googie Withers in the British "kitchen sink noir" IT ALWAYS RAINS ON SUNDAY (1947).

The final film of the day, and the festival, is the hard-hitting NO WAY OUT (1950) with Richard Widmark, Sidney Poitier, Stephen McNally, and Linda Darnell.

It promises to be another great series! For more information on the movies, tickets, and more, please visit the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival website and ticketing page.

For a look at past Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival coverage, please visit these links: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

I hope to see some of my readers in Palm Springs in May!

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Quick Preview of TCM in April

Here's a brief preview for TCM's April schedule!

The April Star of the Month will be Sophia Loren. She was last Star of the Month in June 2008.

Loren's films will be shown on Monday evenings. We don't yet know how many of her films will be shown, as only part of the schedule is currently available, but the first evening will feature four films and SOPHIA LOREN: LIVE FROM THE TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL (2016).

The April Noir Alley films will be T-MEN (1948), BAD BLONDE (1953), HIS KIND OF WOMAN (1951), and 711 OCEAN DRIVE (1950).

BAD BLONDE, starring Barbara Payton, is a TCM premiere.

The TCM Spotlight will focus on Texas. The weekend Musical Matinee series will include KISMET (1955) and ZIEGFELD GIRL (1941).

April themes will include WWII spies, CinemaScope, and the Andy Hardy series. There will also be an evening celebrating Leonard and Jessie Maltin's new book FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT MENUS. 

And as always, EASTER PARADE (1948) will air on Easter Sunday!

Filmmakers receiving multifilm tributes in April include James Garner, Roger Corman, Doris Day, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon.

There's no further information available yet on the April schedule, but I'll have much more news here during the last week of March. 

In the meantime, George Brent is coming up as Star of the Month for the second half of March.  Brent's films will begin airing on March 17th.

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2026 Noir City Hollywood Festival Schedule Announced

The Noir City Hollywood Festival, presented by the Film Noir Foundation and the American Cinematheque, returns to the Egyptian Theatre in April 2026.

This year's festival opens Friday, April 3rd, and runs through Sunday, April 12th. Movies will be screened Friday through Sunday evenings, with weekend matinees along with the evening screenings.

The theme is "Face the Music!" All of the films shown this year have a musical theme, and there will be live music performances at each screening.

As usual, Noir City Hollywood will be hosted by the Film Noir Foundation's Eddie Muller and Alan K. Rode. The festival also features a pair of very special guests, actors Pat Boone and Elliott Gould, as well as author Steven C. Smith.

I plan to attend a significant number of screenings. I'm especially excited that it will be my first chance to see ANATOMY OF A MURDER (1959) and SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957) theatrically.

The complete schedule is listed below, including screening format. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read my full review.

Please check the American Cinematheque website for times and additional information.

April 3rd: BLACK ANGEL (1946) (35mm) and BLUES IN THE NIGHT (1941) (35mm)

April 4th: HANGOVER SQUARE (1945) (DCP); Bernard Herrmann biographer Steven C. Smith will sign copies of his book HITCHCOCK AND HERRMANN before the film and then join Eddie Muller for the introduction

ANATOMY OF A MURDER (1959) (DCP)

THE YELLOW CANARY (1963) (DCP) and THE CRIMSON CANARY (1945) (35mm); an interview with Pat Boone will follow THE YELLOW CANARY

April 5th: TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (1944) (35mm)

LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME (1955) (DCP)

A MAN CALLED ADAM (1966) (DCP) and ALL NIGHT LONG (1962) (DCP)

April 10th: THE MAN I LOVE (1946) (35mm) and NORA PRENTISS (1947) (DCP)

April 11th: THE LONG GOODBYE (1973) (DCP) with Elliott Gould interviewed after the film

SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957) (DCP)

KING CREOLE (1958) (DCP) and YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN (1950) (DCP)

April 12th: THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM (1955) (35mm)

ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW (1959) (DCP)

KANSAS CITY (1996) (DCP) and PETE KELLY'S BLUES (1955) (DCP)

To purchase tickets, please visit the American Cinematheque website.

Key posts on past Noir City Hollywood Festivals: A Visit to the Noir City Film Festival (2010); A Visit to the 13th Noir City Film Festival (2011); First Preview of 14th Annual Noir City Film Festival; Schedule Announced for Noir City 14 in Hollywood; Final Week of Noir City 14 Schedule Announced; A Visit to the 14th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2012); Schedule Announced for Noir City 15 in Hollywood; A Visit to the 15th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2013); Schedule Preview of Noir City 16 in Hollywood; A Visit to the 16th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2014); 17th Annual Noir City Film Festival Opens in Hollywood This Friday; A Visit to the 17th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2015); 18th Annual Noir City Film Festival Opens in Hollywood This Friday; A Visit to the 18th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2016); 19th Annual Noir City Film Festival Opens in Hollywood March 24th; A Visit to the 19th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2017); 20th Annual Noir City Festival Opens in Hollywood April 13th; A Visit to the 20th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2018); 21st Annual Noir City Hollywood Festival Opens March 29th; A Visit to the 21st Annual Noir City Film Festival (2019); 22nd Annual Noir City Hollywood Festival Opens March 6th; A Visit to the 22nd Annual Noir City Film Festival (2020); Noir City Hollywood Festival Returns April 15-17, 2022; A Visit to the Noir City Film Festival (2022); Noir City Hollywood Festival Returns in August (2023); Last Week at the Noir City Hollywood Festival (2023); Noir City Hollywood Festival Returns to the Egyptian Theatre (2024); A Look Back at the Noir City Hollywood Festival (2024); 2025 Noir City Hollywood Festival Schedule Announced (2025).

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Tonight's Movie: For the First Time (1959) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

I've loved MGM musicals most of my life, but there have been a small handful of gaps in my MGM viewing.

One of the MGM films I'd never caught up with until now was Mario Lanza's final film, FOR THE FIRST TIME (1959), which was just released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection.

I'm happy to say I found FOR THE FIRST TIME quite enjoyable, a winning combination of music, glorious Capri locations, and a Cinderella romance.

Lanza plays Toni, a famous singer going through a "bad boy" phase. After turning up late for a concert, forcing audience refunds, Toni's loyal yet exasperated manager (Kurt Kasznar) ships him off to Capri to lay low for a while.

Soon after arriving in Capri Toni meets Christa (Johanna von Koczian) and falls head over heels for her. Christa reciprocates his feelings, but there's just one catch: Christa is deaf.

Toni doesn't care, but Christa is concerned about marrying a famed singer she can't hear and worries her deafness could impact their relationship over the long term.

Toni sets up a series of concerts in European cities where prominent hearing specialists are located, and he takes Christa and her uncle (Hans Sohnker) with him on the tour. A doctor agrees to try to restore Christa's hearing with an operation...

The idea that Christa's hearing could potentially be restored with an operation struck me as fanciful, but I was willing to suspend disbelief, especially as the overall film, from a story and screenplay by Andrew Solt, has a certain fairy tale quality. The promise of a "magical operation" fits, even if it's not especially realistic.

In essence Christa meets a world-famous Prince Charming who has resources to find a way to help her, and in return Christa helps Toni grow up and become a more responsible performer and man. As Christa says, "No more cancellations for you!"

The film is additionally buoyed by a lovely, colorful performance by Zsa Zsa Gabor as Gloria, who loves Toni but isn't resentful when he falls for someone else. Gloria is always ready to help ("one helpless woman against a thousand beastly music lovers"), with very amusing lines, and she's dressed to the nines while doing so.

The film was a reunion for Gabor and Kasznar, who had each appeared in LILI (1953) half a dozen years before. They have little screen time together in this, but each actor brings quite a bit of verve to the film.

Johanna von Koczian was a German-born actress who had made some prior films, including VIKTOR UND VIKTORIA (1957), but was billed as "Introducing..." in this, her first English-language film. She's not conventially beautiful, but she has a sweet appearance and a winning personality.

As for Lanza, he's great as the irresponsible performer matured by love. He's quite likeable, and he has the chance to sing a great many songs.

The movie was filmed from June to September of 1958 and released in the U.S. nearly a year after completing filming, in late August 1959. Lanza sadly died just a few weeks later, on October 7th, 1959, and the world lost a great voice and performer.

Lanza was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. I've been honored to visit his final resting place.

FOR THE FIRST TIME was directed by Rudolph Mate and runs 92 minutes. It was filmed by Aldo Tonti in Technicolor.

The Blu-ray print is from a new 1080p HD master from a 6K scan of the original Technirama negative. It's in excellent condition, very sharp and colorful, with a strong soundtrack. Anyone who watches this disc should be pleased.

Blu-ray extras consist of the trailer; the cartoon LONG-HAIRED HARE (1949); and a very appreciated song selection menu.

FOR THE FIRST TIME is admittedly not a "great" movie, but it's a very likeable film which I quite enjoyed and will return to in the future. Recommended.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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TCM Classic Film Festival Announces Additional Titles

The TCM Classic Film Festival has now announced its opening night movie.

BAREFOOT IN THE PARK (1967) will be shown on April 30, 2026, in the Chinese Theatre.

Jane Fonda will be on hand and will pay tribute to her late costar, Robert Redford, who died last September.

TCM made several other festival announcements. The annual Robert Osborne Award will be awarded to Bruce Goldstein of Rialto Pictures and New York's Film Forum.

Goldstein is a longtime presenter at the TCM Classic Film Festival whose detailed introductions to pre-Codes always draw a crowd.

Goldstein follows in the steps of Leonard Maltin, Martin Scorsese, Kevin Brownlow, Jeanine Basinger, George Stevens Jr., and Donald Bogle.

The festival will also pay tribute to actress Barbara Hershey and composer Paul Williams.

Newly announced films for the festival include:

*NIGHTS OF CABIRIA (1957) which will be shown when Goldstein is honored

*THE MUPPET MOVIE (1979) with Williams in attendance

*HANNAH AND HER SISTERS (1986) with Hershey interviewed

*ISHTAR (1987) with Williams in attendance

*A WORLD APART (1988) with Hershey in attendance

So far three dozen films have been announced for the festival, which typically screens roughly 80 movies each year.

The festival will take place in Hollywood from April 30 through May 3, 2026.

For more on the latest announcements, stories have been published by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.

Previously: TCM Announces 2026 Festival Dates and Theme; TCM Classic Film Festival Passes on Sale December 9th; New Titles Announced for 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival; The Latest 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival Titles; More Titles Announced for the 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival.

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