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TCM shines the spotlight on one of its newbies for Day 10 of Summer Under the Stars: Meryl Streep! It’s a selection that’s a bit outside of the norm, but I’m here for it. Streep is one of my favorite modern-day actresses, and I think her inclusion is an excellent idea as the needle for what constitu read more

Day 9 of Summer Under the Stars returns me to familiar and comfortable (not to mention incredibly attractive) territory – it’s Montgomery Clift Day! For my money, Clift was one of the most talented (and attractive . . . did I mention that already?) actors of his generation. Or any other, quite read more

My pal Kristina, over at the Speakeasy blog, has introduced a new feature where she offers a prompt and invites bloggers to answer the question on their blogs. I’m a week behind, but there’s no time like the present to catch up. Here’s her first prompt: I really wish _______ had done read more

It’s always a pleasure to review a new release by Flicker Alley – some of their previous gems have included El Vampiro Negro, Foolish Wives, and French Revelations. But with Never Open That Door, they’ve outdone themselves. I try to steer clear from overly enthusiastic praise but believe me when read more

Just when you think there won’t be another Summer Under the Stars Day filled with films I’ve never seen before . . . along comes Eleanor Powell Day! That’s right – for Day 8, I had to once again do some on-the-spot scrambling in order to come up with a recommendation for you, because I’d read more

What a roller coaster ride this Summer Under the Stars is turning out to be! From Gordon McRae to Jean Harlow, and then a deep dip to . . . Peter Ustinov? Don’t get me wrong – I’m certainly familiar with Ustinov, but I was slightly amazed to discover that, until today, I’d never seen him in read more

After back-to-back SUTS days where I’d seen only one of each star’s movies, I’m pleased to indulge in a veritable smorgasbord of goodies on one of my favorite days of the month: Jean Harlow for Day 6! Of the films airing on Jean Harlow Day, there are only three that I haven’t seen, and so many read more

Here we go again, y’all – another SUTS day where I’ve only seen one of the star’s films. Day 5 features Gordon McRae, who is known mostly for his musicals, like On Moonlight Bay (1951) and By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953), both starring Doris Day, and Carousel (1956), with Shirley Jones. read more

I suspect that this may happen more than once this month, but of the films airing on TCM’s Day 4 of this year’s Summer Under the Stars, I’ve only seen one. It’s Julie Andrews Day, and although I’m familiar with them, I’ve never seen movies like Torn Curtain (1966), Thoroughly Modern Millie read more

The star for TCM’s Summer Under the Stars Day 3 is none other than John “Duke” Wayne. Until I embarked on a journey of discovery of western films during the pandemic shutdown, I’d only seen one John Wayne film all the way through – True Grit (1969). I still haven’t seen many, I’ll admit, read more

Day 2 of Summer Under the Stars features one of my all-time favorites – the fabulous Ida Lupino, who was as talented as an actress in front of the camera as she was as a director behind it. So many of her first-rate films are airing, including They Drive By Night (1940), where she turns in an unforg read more

It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . No – not Christmas! It’s August – because that means for 31 days, we get Summer Under the Stars (SUTS) on TCM! What better gift to classic movie lovers is back-to-back-to-back films celebrating 31 of our favorite stars? If it weren’t for this read more

I recently finished my big project (I’ll be sharing info about it soon!), followed by a gloriously memorable vacation in California to celebrate, but for the third month in a row, I’m selecting a pre-Code and film noir recommendation from two features I’ve previously covered here a read more

Happy July, y’all! I’m still working on a final project (but coming into the home stretch with a deadline of July 11th!), so this month, I’m again shining the light on two simply outstanding pre-Code and film noir features that I previously covered here on the blog. My shadowy pick read more

I’m doing a little something different with this month’s Shadowy and Satiny TCM recommendations. Because I’m working on a couple of big projects right now, I’m delighted to shine the light on two first-rate films airing in June that I previously covered here on the blog. My satiny pick is Street read more

In The Accidental Star, his fourth classic film book, Dan Van Neste tackles the life and career of Warner Baxter, who I’d previously known solely for his performances in Craig’s Wife (1928), 42nd Street (1933), and Penthouse (1933).  Admittedly, I’d never thought much about him one way or the read more

Of all the film debuts I can think of, there are none more impressive, for my money, than Kirk Douglas’s in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers. In this 1946 noir, he’s no bit player or minor character – he plays a pivotal part in the film’s shadowy proceedings. And he does it like a veteran. Barbara read more

When it comes to pre-Code dames, there’s a whole lot ‘o strange stuff goin’ on. Films from the Golden Age of Hollywood were no strangers (no pun intended) to titles with the word “strange” in them. But two of my favorites also just happen to feature the names of the women who make those films read more

May is bustin’ out all over with pre-Code and film noir gems – there are so many flicks from the shadowy side, in fact, that I’m recommending an entire day of noir instead of just one film. But first, my . . . Satiny Pick: My Past (1931) This isn’t one of those films that’s typically mentioned read more

Caged (1950), categorized in most cinema circles as film noir, takes a grim and often harrowing look inside a women’s prison, concentrating primarily on one Marie Allen (excellently portrayed by Eleanor Parker), a 19-year-old who’s convicted as an accessory to an armed robbery committed by her husba read more