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It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten a DVD where I loved the extras more than the film itself – but that was my experience with Flicker Alley’s double-movie DVD/BluRay set on The Guilty and High Tide, both released in what is arguably film noir’s greatest year, 1947. In addition to their read more

It may be sweltering outside, but I’ve got Christmas on my mind. To be specific, my favorite Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, starring James Stewart and Donna Reed. Sadly, there’s no way I can spin this post into having any kind of durable pre-Code or film noir connection – except maybe read more

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I’m always sad to see August roll around, because it signals the beginning of the end of summer . . . but it’s also my favorite month of the year because it gives us TCM’s Summer Under the Stars! In case you’re not familiar with this month-long read more

Picking this month’s Shadowy and Satiny TCM recommendations was a veritable cakewalk. There are a number of top-notch film noir and pre-Code features on the docket for July, including Dinner at Eight, Red-Headed Woman, Laura, and Gilda, but I didn’t think twice about these once I saw that Act read more

Better late than really, really late, I always say. Well, sometimes I say that. Actually, I never say that – but it’s true in this case. Real life intervened to prevent me from getting June’s Shadowy and Satiny recommendations up at the start of this month; I realized just today, though, that read more

If you’re a fan of TCM, you’re already familiar with Alicia Malone, who has been one of the hosts on the network since 2018. A native of Australia, Malone is the author of three books: Backwards and in Heels: The Past, Present and Future of Women Working in Film (2017); The Female Gaze: Essential read more

Miss a National Classic Movie Day blogathon? Not this girl! I love the annual blogathons hosted by Rick over at the Classic Film and TV Café to celebrate National Classic Movie Day – they always give me the perfect opportunity to identify and discuss a variety of first-rate classic films. When I read more

Like so many bloggers across the Internet, I was stunned and saddened to learn earlier this year of the passing of Patricia “Paddy” Nolan-Hall, author of the Caftan Woman blog. I never met Paddy in person, but she felt like a friend. She wrote for many years for my film noir newsletter, The Dark read more

After waiting for two years for the in-person Turner Classic Movies film festival to return, I was primed and ready for four days of friends, fun, and film at this year’s event, held in Hollywood April 21-24, 2022!! And that’s just what I got – and more! It was so awesome to be back – there’s read more

Now that I’m starting to come down off the high that was the TCM film festival, I’m excited to recommend my Shadowy and Satiny TCM picks for May. They are a pair of don’t-miss gems! SATINY PICK: She Had to Say Yes (1933) I’m going to admit, up front, that my initial Satiny pick was Shanghai read more

I have lots of favorite noir films and lots of favorite performances, but right up there near the top is William Holden’s portrayal of Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard (1950). The plot of this celebrated film centers on Joe, a down-on-his-luck screenwriter, who gets more than he bargains for when he read more

In less than two weeks, I’ll be in Hollywood, California, for the 2022 Turner Classic Movies Film Festival! For the last two years, the fest has been presented virtually, and while they were lovely experiences (especially the 2021 event!), there’s nothing like being in L.A., reuniting with old frien read more

It’s TCM Film Festival month! So watch for lots of goodies about this fabulous event, which returns this year to an in-person fest after back-to-back virtual celebrations in 2020 and 2021. Meanwhile, tune in to TCM for these top notch film noir and pre-Code offerings . . . SHADOWY PICK: Kansas read more

As I mentioned in my previous post, I love the Oscars – even this year, when so many unsavory changes are being implemented, I’ll be watching – I can’t imagine missing it. In addition to dressing up with my daughters every year, and having pizza for dinner, I have one more annual tradition – read more

I’ve always loved awards season, and I’ve always been a huge fan of the Academy Awards – I never miss them; before my daughters went away to college (and then moved out of my house), we used to have Oscar parties every year where we’d dress up, eat pizza, and watch the show. As soon as the nominatio read more

Beginning this month, I’m stepping into my Shadows and Satin past and resurrecting a series I used to have back in the day – serving up monthly recommendations for film noir and pre-Code features airing on TCM. As part of its annual celebration of the Academy Awards, the March line-up on TCM focuse read more

I’ve always been a collector. I have collections of dolls, ashtrays, shot glasses, vintage radios, refrigerator magnets, souvenir bells, and books that were made into classic movies. But my favorite collection is my classic movie magazines. I’m fascinated by these publications – they offer such read more

Once again, TCM is going film noir nutty! Coming up on February 10th (which happens to be the day that my beloved grandmother – who lived to be 109 – was born), TCM is airing not one, not five, not seven – but a whopping TEN features from the classic noir era. From morning ‘til night, you can read more

Usually, in this spot, I offer my half of Pre-Code Crazy, where I share my recommended TCM pre-Code feature for the coming month. My partner in this venture, Kristina over at Speakeasy, is working on other projects for a while, so I’m doing a bit of retooling; starting in March, I will be serving read more

I saw Flesh (1932) for the first time when it aired on TCM last year. I don’t remember now what made me decide to watch it, but I enjoyed it so much that I tracked down the DVD and promptly added it to my collection! And when I saw it on the TCM schedule for this month, I didn’t have to look any read more