Welcome to BlogHub: the Best in Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Blogs
You can rate and share your favorite classic movie posts here.
You can rate and share your favorite classic movie posts here.
On Blu-ray: A Magnificent Restoration of the Two-Strip Horror Flick The Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Jun 17, 2020
My introduction to the pre-code horror flick Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) came from the book that provided most of my early film education, 500 Great Films, by Daniel and Susan Cohen. The brief passage dedicated to the movie revealed that it was lost for twenty-five years and over that time, read more
Book Review: An Mexican Immigrant Becomes a Movie Star in The Five Acts of Diego León
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Jun 10, 2020
The Five Acts of Diego León Alex Espinoza LARB Libros, 2019 (originally published 2013) I’m a fan of fiction set in the classic age of Hollywood, and The Five Acts of Diego León, a 2013 novel which was recently re-released in paperback somewhat scratches that itch. This story of a Mexican imm read more
On Blu-ray: Stewart Granger, Elizabeth Taylor, and Peter Ustinov in Beau Brummell (1954)
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Jun 3, 2020
Of all the screen adaptations of Beau Brummell, the 1954 MGM production is the most lavish. With grand settings, gorgeous costumes, and attractive stars, it is drawn directly from the studio’s basic blueprint for glossy historical dramas. Now available on Blu-ray from Warner Archive, the film read more
Podcasts for Classic Film Fans: May Roundup
Classic Movies Posted by KC on May 27, 2020
The more time I spend at home, the more meaningful podcasts have been for me as a way to connect to the outside world. This is the first time in a while that every podcast in my roundup has been new to me. I'm expecting to find many more in the months to come. The episode titles link to the shows: read more
On Blu-ray--Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
Classic Movies Posted by KC on May 20, 2020
There’s no better balm for tense times than the rowdy, absurd slapstick of Tex Avery. Made for a general audience, these 'toons aren’t always appropriate for the kids, though they aren’t likely to destroy their innocence either.
Newly released on Blu-ray from Warner Archive, read more
Book Review--Black Oscars: From Mammy to Minny, What the Academy Awards Tell Us About African Americans
Classic Movies Posted by KC on May 13, 2020
Black Oscars: From Mammy to Minny, What the Academy Awards Tell Us About African Americans
Frederick W. Gooding, Jr.
Rowman & Littlefield, 2020
The story of black victory at the Oscars is complicated: a saga of small steps forward, but often uneasy circumstances surrounding those gains. Winning read more
On Blu-ray: Walter Huston and Ruth Chatterton in William Wyler's Dodsworth (1936)
Classic Movies Posted by KC on May 6, 2020
I have revisited director William Wyler’s Dodsworth (1936), a film based on a Sinclair Lewis novel, many times over the years and the older I get, the richer it becomes. While any movie can change meaning with repeat viewings, this is a production that particularly reveals new facets with time read more
Podcasts for Classic Film Fans: April Roundup
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Apr 29, 2020
Since I've been at home for over a month, I've had a lot more time to listen to podcasts. As a result, I have more episodes than usual to share this month. I've already seen some eyerolling on social media over the prospect of there being even more podcasts sprouting due to social distancing, but I read more
On Blu-ray: Debbie Reynolds and Glenn Ford in It Started with a Kiss (1959)
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Apr 22, 2020
While it has its charms, It Started with a Kiss (1959) is best remembered as the film that introduced the bizarre vehicle that would one day be the Batmobile. Stars Debbie Reynolds and Glenn Ford are charming, but they are often adrift in this unfocused romance. I recently watched this mixed bag of read more
TCM Classic Film Festival Home Edition: Memories and Plans
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Apr 14, 2020
Nothing can match the feeling of community and excitement about classic films you find at the TCM Classic Film Festival. When I first attended in 2014, I decided almost right away that I had to return the next year. The glow you get from this event stays with you throughout the rest of the year.
Wh read more
Book Review--The Short Story of Film: A Pocket Guide to Key Genres, Films, Movements & Techniques
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Apr 8, 2020
The Short Story of Film: A Pocket Guide to Key Genres, Films, Techniques and Movements
Ian Haydn Smith
Laurence King Publishing, 2020
I’m a fan of Ian Haydn Smith’s concise film guide Cult Filmmakers: 50 Movie Mavericks You Need to Know. With his new book The Short Story of Film: A Pock read more
On Blu-ray--3-D Rarities: A Collection of Ultra-Rare and Stunningly Restored 3-D Films
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Apr 1, 2020
What struck me about Flicker Alley’s first edition of 3-D Rarities, a compilation of rare, vintage three dimensional films from 3-D Film Archive, was that the films were of such high quality that they were entertaining whether or not they were viewed in 3-D. I found the same to be true of the read more
On Blu-ray: Laurence Olivier and Diane Lane in A Little Romance (1979)
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Mar 27, 2020
In a time where virtually the whole human race is feeling the absence of loved ones, the charming A Little Romance (1979) has become a more bittersweet film. When I recently watched the movie on a new Blu-ray from Warner Archive, I appreciated it as a timeless tribute to many aspects of love and a t read more
Writing Elsewhere: With a Friend Like Harry (2000) for Crooked Marquee
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Mar 27, 2020
This week I wrote about the slow-burn French thriller With a Friend Like Harry (2000) for the film site Crooked Marquee. It's an interesting movie, because while it is in many ways a throwback to Hitchcock-style suspense, it has a lot of timely things to say about the way money can give one a sense read more
Writing Elsewhere: With a Friend Like Harry (2000) for Crooked Marquee
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Mar 26, 2020
This week I wrote about the slow-burn French thriller With a Friend Like Harry (2000) for the film site Crooked Marquee. It's an interesting movie, because while it is in many ways a throwback to Hitchcock-style suspense, it has a lot of timely things to say about the way money can give one a sense read more
Podcasts for Classic Film Fans: March Roundup
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Mar 24, 2020
This month I was especially impressed by the quality of the interviews in my favorite episodes. These are all lively, though-provoking conversations. As always, please share in the comments if you know of a podcast I should be listening to, even your own! Episode titles link to the show:
Th read more
On Blu-ray: Natalie Wood in Penelope (1966)
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Mar 18, 2020
I fell in love with Penelope (1966) when this candy-colored crime caper streamed on the dearly departed FilmStruck service. It’s got a stunning cast, led by the bright-eyed Natalie Wood and features a sprightly early soundtrack by John Williams, adorably credited as “Johnny Williams.R read more
Book Review--Citizen Canine: Dogs in the Movies
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Mar 11, 2020
Citizen Canine: Dogs in the Movies
Wendy Mitchell
Laurence King Publishing, 2020
Is there any other animal more beloved in the movies than dogs? For a while horses were in the running, but when you examine the past century of film, it is clearly canines who have dominated. In the lightly amusing Ci read more
On Blu-ray: Jane Russell, Richard Egan, and Gilbert Roland in Underwater! (1954)
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Mar 4, 2020
When a film title ends in an exclamation point as Underwater! (1954) does, it communicates the expectation of spectacle over substance. This is the best way to approach this Howard Hughes production with marketing featuring Jane Russell in a revealing bikini she never wears onscreen. The newly-remas read more
Podcasts for Classic Film Fans: February Round-up
Classic Movies Posted by KC on Feb 27, 2020
I enjoyed a great variety of podcast episodes new and old this month. If you know of a great podcast for classic film fans, even your own show, please share in the comments. Here are my favorites for February. Titles link to the episode:
Mobituaries with Mo Rocca
Anna May Wong: Death of a Trailb read more