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.
TCM Pick for November: Pre-Code
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Nov 3, 2012
There was something special about Constance Bennett. I don’t know what it was. Maybe it was her air of sophistication. Or the way she pronounced the word “can’t” like “cahnt.” Or her perfectly coiffed blonde bob. Or the way her face somehow seemed to be the perfect embodiment of the 1930s. read more
Character Assassination: The Killers (1946)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Oct 20, 2012
If you haven’t seen this movie, see this movie. Directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Burt Lancaster and Ava Garner, The Killers starts out with the murder of a gas station attendant known as “The Swede,” and spends the rest of its time showing us the hows, whys, and wherefores of the crime. read more
Happy Birthday, Mr. Rooney!
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Sep 22, 2012
Star of noir? You bet! Quick – think of your favorite film noir actor. Who comes to mind? Robert Ryan? Charles McGraw? Dan Duryea? Robert Mitchum? What about Mickey Rooney? No? Perhaps you only picture Mickey Rooney as the singing, dancing, hey-kids-let’s-put-on-a-show fella from numerous MGM musica read more
TCM Pick for September: Film Noir (1)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Sep 13, 2012
I sometimes like to use my TCM pick of the month to single out a film that’s not exactly in the mainstream – a film like, say, Shield for Murder or Nora Prentiss. But on other occasions, I just can’t help selecting a well-known, often-seen, much-loved film like this month’s goodie – The read more
Gene Kelly: Profile of a Dance Master
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Aug 20, 2012
“Gene Kelly created his own style. He was the most athletic, the most exciting, the most masculine, the most commercial dancer of his time. He created a technique. He was his own technique.” – Kenny Ortega, producer, director, choreographer One of the most successful dancers to ever tap, twirl, read more
TCM Pick for August: Pre-Code
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Aug 19, 2012
On Tuesday, August 21st, Turner Classic Movies will air 24 hours of films featuring one of my favorite pre-Code actresses – Kay Francis. And surprisingly, despite the surfeit of excellent features from which to choose, it didn’t take me long to decide on my pick of the month: Mandalay (1934). Releas read more
The 2012 SUTS Blogathon: White Heat – A Character Assassination
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Aug 14, 2012
How do I love White Heat? Let me count the ways. The unforgettable performance by James Cagney. The awesome lines. Raoul Walsh’s taut direction. The Max Steiner score. The explosive (if you will) ending. But most of all, I love the engrossing, fully realized characters, each offering a distinct set read more
TCM Pick for August: Film Noir
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 31, 2012
Best thing about selecting The Prowler as my TCM film noir pick of the month? It nudged me into replacing my barely watchable VHS copy with a spanking brand-new DVD! Second best? It gave me an excuse to give a much-appreciated re-watch to this unique and first-rate example of the film noir era. Rele read more
The “Best Hitchcock Films Hitchcock Never Made” Blogathon: Sudden Fear
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 8, 2012
Lester turns on the charm when he encounters Myra on the train. Myra’s play opens to rave reviews about a month later – with another actor in the starring role – and we meet up with her as she is boarding a train for a triumphant return to her home in San Francisco. Coincidentally, it so happens read more
TCM Pick for July: Pre-Code
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 7, 2012
My TCM pre-Code pick of the month stars one of my favorite pre-Code actresses – Norma Shearer. I first saw Shearer in The Women (1939), which (1) I believe I have seen more times than any other movie, and (2) if you have not seen, you simply must. It wasn’t until years after seeing The Women, though read more
TCM Pick for July: Film Noir
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 7, 2012
Deciding on this month’s TCM film noir pick of the month put me in quite a quandary, y’all. On Thursday, July 12th, TCM is airing, within scant hours of each other, two of my favorite noirs – Nora Prentiss and The Damned Don’t Cry. Both films are most deserving of a high recommendation – and read more
The William Wyler Blogathon: Counsellor at Law (1933)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 27, 2012
I’ve seen John Barrymore in quite a few films: Svengali, which I remember watching at a young age on a Sunday afternoon; one of my favorite comedies, Twentieth Century; those star-packed MGM offerings, Dinner at Eight and Grand Hotel; A Bill of Divorcement, notable as Katharine Hepburn’s first film; read more
Happy Blogiversary to Me!
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 23, 2012
One year ago today, I hit the “Publish” button on this site and, voila! With that, Shadows and Satin joined the blogiverse, providing me with a forum for sharing my thoughts about one of my life’s passions — classic film. Boy, time sure flies when you’re having fun! read more
We have a winnah!
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 17, 2012
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to announce that the winner of our first book giveaway, in conjunction with the Seven Shadows blog event last month, is Mike over at Films on the Box! Mike’s name was randomly selected to receive Film Noir: The Dark Side of the Screen by Foster read more
TCM Pick for June: Film Noir
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 12, 2012
With just days to spare, and with apologies for not being more timely, I am tickled pink to recommend Shield for Murder, airing on TCM on June 16th, as my film noir pick of the month. Starring Edmond O’Brien, this feature is one of my favorite “obscure” noirs – in fact, you can read more about read more
TCM Pick for June: Pre-Code
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 8, 2012
My TCM pre-Code pick of the month is the aptly named Street Scene (1931), starring Sylvia Sidney. Its name is apt because all of the film’s action takes place on a single street, focusing primarily on the tenants of a single apartment building. Next to Strange Interlude (airing on TCM late in the read more
TCM Pick for May: Film Noir
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on May 15, 2012
As I always say, better late than really, really late. (Well, I don’t always say that. Actually, what I usually say is, “HURRY UP! We’re going to be LATE!” But I digress.) I’d intended to share my TCM film noir pick of the month long before now, but with the Seven Shadows series a couple read more
TCM Pick for May: Pre-Code
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on May 9, 2012
What’s that phrase . . . an embarrassment of riches? Well, that’s what TCM is offering this month in the realm of pre-Code. I counted a whopping 28 pre-Code features airing in May – which certainly made it none too easy for me to select my pick of the month. It was a mighty struggle, but I finally read more
Seven Shadows – Day Seven: The Asphalt Jungle
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on May 7, 2012
Our final movie for Seven Shadows Week is The Asphalt Jungle (1950), arguably one of the best caper movies ever made, and a first-rate feature from the film noir era. The story of a jewelry heist that is intricately planned and executed by a motley crew of small-time crooks, Asphalt Jungle is based read more
Seven Shadows – Day Six: GUN CRAZY by Andrew D.
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on May 6, 2012
Running Time: 86 minutes Directed By: Joseph H. Lewis Written By: MacKinlay Kantor, Millard Kaufman Main Cast: John Dall, Peggy Cummins, Berry Kroeger, Anabel Shaw, Harry Lewis Third time’s the charm here at Shadows and Satin as I return for my third and final installment that will appear on this read more