Saturday, August 10, 2024

Around the Blogosphere This Week...

...will not appear this weekend, as I'm attending the biannual D23 Expo in Anaheim.

The column will return on August 17th.

For recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my August 3rd column.

posted by Laura @ 9:00 AM  0 comments

Thursday, August 08, 2024

Off to the 2024 D23 Expo!

It's hard to believe that two years have passed since the last Disney D23 Expo!

Today we attended the first-ever D23 Day at Disneyland, which included a brief parade with numerous Disney Legends. I'll be at the Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center all weekend, from Friday, August 9th, through Sunday the 11th.

This is the eighth D23 Expo. After attending one day to "sample" the first Expo 15 years ago, in the years since I've attended all three days of every Expo.  The Expos are normally held every other year.

We count ourselves fortunate to have "floor" tickets for each day, as tickets for the most part sold out during the "pre-sales" for select groups, before going on sale to the general public. By the time we were able to purchase, the tickets for this year's evening panels at the Honda Center -- something new this year -- were completely sold out.

I'm not sure we'll mind missing out on the chaos of moving from the Anaheim Convention Center to the Honda Center at the end of each long day, though the panels will all be fun. But we've got plenty to do at the Convention Center!

Some of the panels of interest this year include "Disneyland Foods: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow"; "Walt Disney and El Grupo: A Journey Through Latin America"; "Jolly Holiday: A Musical Celebration of Richard M. Sherman"; and "Walt Disney Treasures: Personal Art and Artifacts from the Walt Disney Family Museum."

We're also hoping to go to the Friday night Princess Concert. We attended a similar concert last year and thought it was fantastic.

There is much, much more to see this weekend, including not just floor exhibits but lots of great shopping.

For "as it happens" photos this weekend, please follow my Twitter account.I hope to share more about the Expo here in the future.

Previously: Off to the 2015 D23 Expo!, Off to the 2017 D23 Expo!, Off to the 2019 D23 Expo!, Off to the 2022 D23 Expo!

posted by Laura @ 9:20 PM  0 comments

Monday, August 05, 2024

Cinecon Classic Film Festival Opens in Beverly Hills August 29th

The Cinecon Classic Film Festival opens in Beverly Hills on Thursday, August 29th, 2024.

The festival, which takes place this year at the Writers Guild of America Theater on South Doheny Drive, runs through Labor Day, September 2nd.

I very much enjoyed attending the festival in the years 2017-2019 -- coverage links may be found at the bottom of this post -- and while I'm not yet certain if and when I'll be attending this year, I wanted to alert my readers to the many interesting things taking place at the festival.

This is the 60th edition of Cinecon, which focuses on relatively rare, hard-to-find films. I've seen some real gems at past festivals! The movies are screened both digitally and on film.

This year's guests include former teen actor Tommy Cook, who I was fortunate to see at the Noir City Hollywood Festival last year; Russ Tamblyn (at a screening of THE KID FROM CLEVELAND); George Chakiris; Tina Cole; Stefanie Powers; Neile Adams McQueen; and former child actress Cora Sue Collins, who is now 97.

Some of the titles which I find especially intriguing:

*FORCED LANDING (1935), a Republic Pictures film with Esther Ralston, Onslow Stevens, and Toby Wing. I love aviation films!

*THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE (1940), a film version of the Rodgers & Hart musical starring Allan Jones, Irene Hervey, Martha Raye, Charles Butterworth, and Rosemary Lane.

*SONG OF ARIZONA (1946) with Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and Tommy Cook.

*LANCER SPY (1937) starring George Sanders, Dolores Del Rio, and Peter Lorre.

*THE HARVESTER (1936), a Gene Stratton-Porter story filmed with Alice Brady, Ann Rutherford, and Cora Sue Collins.

*THE BRIDE WORE CRUTCHES (1941), a "B" film with Lynne Roberts and Ted North.

*HOTEL FOR WOMEN (1939) starring Linda Darnell, Ann Sothern, James Ellison, and Lynn Bari.

The last four films listed above are all shown on Labor Day, and I hope to be there if possible.

Sadly, a film I was especially interested in from the original schedule, MOON OVER BURMA (1940), appears to have fallen off the schedule, unless its omission was accidental. Robert Preston, Dorothy Lamour, and Preston Foster sounds like my kind of movie!

Festival tickets are being handled via Eventbrite. Both full festival passes and day passes are available.

Previously: Cinecon 53 (2017), Cinecon 54 (2018), Cinecon 55 (2019).

posted by Laura @ 9:40 AM  0 comments

Saturday, August 03, 2024

Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Kino Lorber Studio Classics has now announced a September 24th release date for a pair of previously announced Alan Ladd films, RED MOUNTAIN (1951) and BOTANY BAY (1953). RED MOUNTAIN will be a scan of the original nitrate camera negative, with a commentary track by Samm Deighan. BOTANY BAY will have a commentary by Heath Holland of Cereal at Midnight.

...Kino Lorber Studio Classics has also announced that THE BALLAD OF JOSIE (1967) starring Doris Day is "coming soon," and the new documentary MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER (2024) will be coming out October 1st from the Kino Lorber/Cohen Media Group Contemporary Classics line.

...I'm very excited that Sony is following the excellent Blu-ray releases of the pre-Codes COCKTAIL HOUR (1933) and MAN'S CASTLE (1933) with ONCE TO EVERY WOMAN (1934). ONCE TO EVERY WOMAN stars Ralph Bellamy and Fay Wray. It will be released on September 10th.

...At Once Upon a Screen Aurora previews Capitolfest, which takes place in Rome, New York, this month. This year's festival celebrates Reginald Denny and Edward Everett Horton.

...Last week I revisited PARKLAND (2013) for the first time in a decade. I again found it a very interesting "procedural" on how medical staff and law enforcement handled the assassination of President Kennedy. I appreciate the movie's unique perspectives.

...Greenbriar Picture Shows has an interesting post on John Wayne and Raoul Walsh's THE BIG TRAIL (1930). I shared thoughts on THE BIG TRAIL here after revisiting it at the Lone Pine Film Festival in 2018.

...New book: MADE IN CALIFORNIA, VOLUME 2: THE CALIFORNIA-BORN BURGER JOINTS, DINERS, FAST FOOD & RESTAURANTS THAT CHANGED AMERICA, 1951-2010. I have three other California restaurant history books by author George Geary, including Volume 1, and they're all excellent, so I'll definitely be getting this.

...Notable Passings: Writer Gail Lumet Buckley, daughter of the late Lena Horne, has died at 86. She was the ex-wife of director Sidney Lumet...Dancer-Choreographer-Actor Bobby Banas has passed away at 90. His onscreen dance roles included Joyboy in WEST SIDE STORY (1961) and a chimney sweep in MARY POPPINS (1964)...Daniel Selznick, son of David O. and Irene Mayer Selznick, has died at 88. I saw him at a Noir City Hollywood screening in 2011; when I noticed him he was chatting with Ann Rutherford, who played Carreen O'Hara in his father's most famous film, GONE WITH THE WIND (1939). An important link to the Classic Hollywood era, now gone...

...Please note that Around the Blogosphere This Week will not appear next weekend, as I will be attending the Disney D23 Expo. The column will return on August 17th.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my July 27th column.

posted by Laura @ 8:15 PM  2 comments

Friday, August 02, 2024

Quick Preview of TCM in September

It's time for a brief look ahead at what's in store this September on Turner Classic Movies!

TCM will be honoring Lauren Bacall as the September Star of the Month. Her films will be shown on Monday evenings, including on the September 16th centennial of the actress's birth.

The September Noir Alley films are OUT OF THE PAST (1947), A LADY WITHOUT PASSPORT (1950), SPLIT SECOND (1953), and HIGH WALL (1947).

The TCM Spotlight on Wednesdays will focus on studio directors, while a "Special Theme" on Fridays will be political films.

September programming themes include trains, James Stewart Westerns, Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals, animals, family secrets, prisons, and Mexico. National Silent Movie Day will be celebrated on the evening of September 29th.

September will feature memorial tributes to Barbara Rush and Donald Sutherland. Additional filmmakers receiving multifilm tributes in September include Alan Ladd, Virginia Mayo, Robert Wise, Val Lewton, Joseph Calleia, Brian Donlevy, Helen Morgan, Mickey Rooney, and Deborah Kerr.

I'll have more information about the September schedule posted here around September 1st. In the meantime, the annual Summer Under the Stars festival is now underway!

posted by Laura @ 10:00 AM  0 comments

Thursday, August 01, 2024

TCM in August: Summer Under the Stars Highlights

It's time for the annual August Summer Under the Stars festival on Turner Classic Movies!

For a quick overview of this month's 31 stars, please visit the list in my June preview post.  For the films themselves, TCM has a printable schedule available.

As always, TCM's regular franchises go on "summer vacation" in August, including Noir Alley and Silent Sunday Nights. The normal schedule will resume in September.

Below are just a few of this month's highlights. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read a complete review.

...I'm later than usual getting this posted due to a heavy workweek, but I'm not too late to note a couple very entertaining William Powell movies airing overnight! THE EX-MRS. BRADFORD (1936), costarring Jean Arthur, and JEWEL ROBBERY (1932), costarring Kay Francis, are part of the first Summer Under the Stars Day, which started on August 1st and carries over into the 2nd. Set those DVRs!

...August 2nd is Ida Lupino Day! There are many good films being shown, and I've recommended several in the past. For this day I'm particularly recommending THE MAN I LOVE (1947), which I just revisited for the first time in years and absolutely loved. Hopefully TCM will be showing the restored print with Ida singing "Bill."

...Another all-time favorite, John Wayne, will be celebrated on August 3rd. The day's movies range from Wayne's early B Westerns through a WWII film, classic Ford Westerns, and more. The evening features an interesting lineup including my two favOrite non-Ford, non-Hawks Wayne Westerns, ANGEL AND THE BADMAN (1947) and TALL IN THE SADDLE (1944).

...Gordon MacRae is one of the stars being featured for the first time. Primetime will have a double bill of his two big Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals, OKLAHOMA! (2955) and CAROUSEL (1956). Neither are shown frequently on TCM so be sure to catch them on August 5th.

...Jean Harlow is celebrated on August 6th. There are a number of great pre-Codes, including one of my favorites, HOLD YOUR MAN (1933) with Clark Gable. Seeing it at UCLA over a dozen years ago is a treasured memory.

...Eleanor Powell has her first-ever Summer Under the Stars Day on August 8th. All her musicals are worth seeing, including LADY BE GOOD (1941).

...August 11th is Cary Grant Day! I've seen all but the very last movie on his schedule, and they're all worth seeing. This month I'll particularly recommend TOPPER (1937) which might have been the first Cary Grant film I ever saw.

...Anita Page is another actress being celebrated for the very first time during this year's Summer Under the Stars festival. Her special day is August 12th. I've seen several of her films and especially enjoyed OUR MODERN MAIDENS (1929).

...Anne Bancroft's day on August 14th includes an Audie Murphy film I've not yet seen, WALK THE PROUD LAND (1956). I don't think I've seen a bad Murphy Western yet, so I'm assuming it's worth seeing!

...Joseph Cotten is celebrated on August 15th. Among the films shown are favorites PORTRAIT OF JENNIE (1948) and SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943). Very different movies and characters, and both very worthwhile.

...August 16th is Jane Russell Day. I especially enjoy THE LAS VEGAS STORY (1952) with Victor Mature and Vincent Price. It's just a fun film!

...I'm truly delighted that one of my favorite actresses, Jeanne Crain, will be honored on August 20th. I've seen most of the movies shown and am especially thrilled that all-time favorite MARGIE (1946) will be shown in prime time. Robert Osborne loved it so much that he showed it on TCM on Christmas Eve in 2011.

...It's hard to believe this is Grace Kelly's first time being honored during Summer Under the Stars. There's a great lineup of her films on August 24th, including everybody's favorite, REAR WINDOW (1954).

...There's a wonderfully diverse list of films being shown on August 25th, which is Fred MacMurray Day. Among the films is SWING HIGH, SWING LOW (1937) with Carole Lombard. I'll be interested to see what the print is like; I saw a great one at UCLA a dozen years ago but it's usually shown on TV looking kind of rough. Regardless, I'm really glad it's being shown.

...Donna Reed is on the schedule for August 26th! I recommend trying out the unusual, little-known Western GENTLE ANNIE (1944) with James Craig and Marjorie Main. It's very good.

...I'm a big Ginger Rogers fan so I'm delighted to see her films being shown on August 30th. I've seen all but one of the films being shown. I'll recommend SHALL WE DANCE (1937), one of her relatively lesser-known films with Fred Astaire which I revisited for the first time in years a couple years ago.

There are many, many more terrific films on this month's schedule! I highly recommend taking the time to explore the schedule in detail, and whenever possible take a "deep dive" on an actor's filmography. This month is a wonderful opportunity for both longtime movie fans and those newer to classic films.

For more on TCM in August 2024, please check out my Quick Preview of TCM in August and TCM's Summer Under the Stars schedule.

posted by Laura @ 9:25 PM  4 comments

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Tonight's Movie: Rollercoaster (1977)

It's been a while since I've seen a disaster movie, and ROLLERCOASTER (1977) filled the bill nicely -- although for the most part it's actually more police procedural than disaster movie. But that was fine with me!

It was a nice surprise to discover during the opening credits that the screenplay was written by Richard Levinson and William Link of COLUMBO.

An even bigger surprise was discovering the screenplay was based on a story by former teen actor Tommy Cook. I double-checked to be sure, and according to IMDb it's the same Tommy Cook who appeared in films such as CRY OF THE CITY (1948) and who made an appearance at least year's Noir City Hollywood Festival. Cook is now 94.

George Segal plays Harry Calder, a safety inspector who was the last person to inspect a wooden rollercoaster before it collapses, killing a number of riders.

Shortly after the rollercoaster disaster, a fire erupts at a different amusement park, and it's realized that the same person was responsible for both incidents. The rollercoaster at the first park didn't collapse, it was bombed.

The saboteur (Timothy Bottoms) attempts to extort money from theme park owners, and Calder works with a short-tempered FBI agent, Hoyt (Richard Widmark), to try to catch the man before he kills again.

ROLLERCOASTER is for the most part engaging and at times nicely suspenseful. That said, I found Widmark's perpetually irate FBI man more interesting than Segal's bland inspector.

I don't think I've ever seen Segal in anything other other than a bit in THE LONGEST DAY (1962), and this film doesn't make me anxious to see more. He's not bad, just rather dull.

ROLLERCOASTER runs 119 minutes, and the movie could have also used a more compact screenplay. Eliminating the characters of Harry's girlfriend (Susan Strasberg) and daughter (13-year-old Helen Hunt) would have streamlined things.

The movie throws out a red herring with the girlfriend and daughter to make viewers anxious they'll end up in harm's way, but that aspect comes to nothing, and removing them from the story would have saved several minutes of screen time. What does watching young Helen Hunt riding at an equestrian center add to the story?

Henry Fonda basically phones in a cameo as Harry's boss, who's as cranky as Widmark's character, but it's good to see him.

I found it especially enjoyable seeing William Prince (PILLOW TO POST) as one of the theme park owners; his film roles went back to the '40s. Another of the owners is longtime DAYS OF OUR LIVES star Quinn Redeker.

Producer Jennings Lang's wife, singer-actress Monica Lewis, is said to have played a bit role but I didn't spot her. Lang produced several well-known '70s disaster films, in which Lewis had small roles.

One of the things I particularly enjoyed about ROLLERCOASTER was the location shooting, including at Magic Mountain, which I visited with my Girl Scout troop roughly around the year the movie was shot. Magic Mountain's Revolution rollercoaster, which is a focal point of the story, had opened in real life in May 1976.

The film also features lots of '70s Harvest Gold and avocado decor, including an eye-popping hotel lobby.

I also enjoy seeing how the lack of modern cell phone technology impacts stories like this which take place in the relatively recent past; here we see the use of pay phones, walkie-talkies, and even an early version of a car phone. (I remember when the attorney I worked for got a car phone; they weren't around long, pushed out by cellphones.)

ROLLERCOASTER was directed by James Goldstone and filmed by David M. Walsh. The musical score was by Lalo Schifrin.

I watched ROLLERCOASTER on DVD.

posted by Laura @ 5:00 PM  2 comments

Monday, July 29, 2024

A Visit to Palm Springs: Homes of Classic Stars (2024 Edition)

We always enjoy some sightseeing when we attend the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival in Palm Springs each year, and there are certainly many things to see in the area.


Something I find interesting is checking out the former homes of classic era filmmakers. In many cases all that can be seen today are gates, but surprisingly often there are historic markers and other signs next to the gates documenting the location's Hollywood and architectural history.

I shared a number of classic star home photos in 2023, and that post also links to a few of my older photos. Today we'll visit a few more.

This year we again stayed at the Old Ranch Inn, and we noticed something we hadn't picked up on when we were there in 2021: The inn is right across the street from the former Gloria Swanson Estate!


The Swanson Estate is now the Amin Casa Historic Hotel, located on West Arenas Road.


The hotel's side gate is on South Patencio Road, right across from the Old Ranch Inn, and it bears this marker documenting the location's history.


Continuing our tour around Palm Springs, a home rental company and other sources say this home on North Patencio was lived in by Mary Pickford and her husband, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, although I will note that I didn't find anything in this history of the address.


Multiple sources, including a Redfin listing, say the home below, on Hermosa, was owned by Ronald Reagan; one source says he owned it around the time he was governor of California.


The gate below on East Tamarisk hides the estate which once belonged to Darryl F. Zanuck, the head of 20th Century-Fox.


The Zanuck home was named Ric-Su-Dar after his children Richard, Susan, and Darrylin, and a sign bearing that name remains next to the address.


Right across the street from the Zanuck estate is a home once owned by Randolph Scott.


The Zanuck and Scott homes are located in the "Movie Colony" neighborhood.


Many Palm Springs street signs have white signs attached, such as seen below, designating the neighborhood name.


This is said to have been Spencer Tracy's home, located on Mission Road:


The former Kirk Douglas Estate on West Via Lola:


Like many well-known homes in Palm Springs, the former Douglas estate bears a plaque in front documenting its ownership and architectural history. Wexler also designed Alan Ladd's estate; the Ladd Estate sign may be seen in this 2023 post.


The Dinah Shore Estate on Hermosa was also a Wexler design:


This home on North Patencio once belonged to Jim and Marian Jordan, aka radio stars "Fibber McGee and Molly." A couple of years ago I also visited the Jordans' final resting places at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.


Cowboy star Hoot Gibson lived at this address on Merito....


...and Lena Horne lived on the same street:


I really appreciate how much of Palm Springs home history has been preserved and hope my readers enjoy this photographic tour.

posted by Laura @ 10:00 AM  1 comments

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