Frank Capra’s indelible brand of feel-good morality tales, sprinkled with romance and humor, has led to his films being labeled as “Capra-corn” by some critics. And it’s true that some of his most beloved and well-known movies tend toward the sentimental. But to deride Capra’s work as mere schmaltz is to ignore the sheer talent…
It’s that time of year again: time to get out and vote. Hollywood has a long-standing fascination with the political machine: witness the long line of politically-centered films that have been released over the years. And though many consider Hollywood the bastion of liberal-mindedness, many of these films convey simple values and moral principles that…
Being an inveterate Alfred Hitchcock fan, when someone asks me to name my favorite film from the prolific director, I find it a difficult question to answer at first. I can give a top five quite easily: North by Northwest, Strangers on a Train, Notorious, Rear Window, and Shadow of a Doubt. Each of these,…
The ever-delightful Clara over at Via Margutta 51 posted a cinema survey composed by Amanda of A Noodle in a Haystack. Amanda’s survey features some interesting questions, so I figured I’d give it a shot! If you’re interested in completing the survey yourself, make sure you leave a comment for Amanda over at her site!…
Those of you who catch up with our humble blog through Google Reader or similar RSS viewers may not visit our actual site often enough to notice changes, so I wanted to give all of you a brief heads-up to come check out our new banner, which we’ve updated in time for Halloween with some…
Continuing our weekly trip down Disney memory lane, today’s Saturday Morning Cartoons entry will focus on the studio’s two trips south of the border: 1942’s Saludos Amigos and 1944’s The Three Caballeros. These two films were elicited by the United States government during World War II to support President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s ongoing Good Neighbor…
It’s been a while since my last Feminist Fridays post, so I thought today I’d take a crack at one of my favorite minor Bette Davis dramas—1943’s Old Acquaintance, costarring Miriam Hopkins, Gig Young, John Loder, and Dolores Moran. Davis plays Kit Marlowe, a celebrated author who returns to her hometown to give a lecture.…
If there is one movie that I really wish TCM would play sometime in the near future, it’s The Farmer’s Daughter, an absolutely delightful comedy starring Loretta Young, Joseph Cotten, and Ethel Barrymore. The movie’s never been released on DVD as far as I can tell (drats!), and I’m seriously jonesing for a fresh viewing.…
True Classics 