The 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival in Review
The 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival has now come to an end, and it's possible that this was the best festival yet!
The 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival has now come to an end, and it's possible that this was the best festival yet!
...will not appear this weekend due to my attendance at the TCM Classic Film Festival.
I'm pleased to share that I have an article appearing in the latest issue of The Dark Pages!
One of the movies I most enjoyed at the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival was the pre-Code COCKTAIL HOUR (1933).
I also loved the Art Deco settings, especially the cruise ship. Movies set on ships and trains are among my favorite things.
The movie was directed by Victor Schertizinger and filmed by Joseph August. The screenplay was by Gertrude Purcell and Richard Schayer, based on a story by James Kevin McGuinness.
The supporting cast includes Muriel Kirkland, Jessie Ralph, George Nardelli, Willie Fung, and Marjorie Gateson.The Blu-ray print is pristine, which adds to the enjoyment. A censored scene which now exists only via the soundtrack is included, with stills used while the dialogue plays.
There are no extras on the Blu-ray disc. English subtitles are available.
Kudos to Sony for making this rarely seen movie widely available, especially in such a nice print. Recommended for fans of pre-Code fun!
Thanks to Allied Vaughn and Sony for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. COCKTAIL HOUR may be purchased from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.
TweetThree years ago this summer I began watching Mae West films for the first time, and -- frankly somewhat to my surprise -- I discovered that I thoroughly enjoyed them.
In the interests of full disclosure, this is a good place to pause and mention that I had the lovely surprise of finding my review of West's first film, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT (1932), quoted in the book. I loved her in it!
West was a unique movie personality; as Neibaur notes in his introduction, due to her pre-film stage fame she was able to have some control over her characters and dialogue, although she faced challenges when Production Code enforcement began in 1934. I appreciated the book's behind-the-scenes descriptions of these issues.
I found the book an informative and enjoyable guide which would also be the perfect companion to read alongside viewing the films; I'll return to it as I watch MY LITTLE CHICKADEE (1940) and THE HEAT'S ON (1943) for the first time, and I'm sure I'll consult it again when I rewatch her earlier movies in the future.I reviewed a paperback edition of this book, which is also available in hardcover and e-book formats. The paperback measures six by nine inches and is 211 pages including bibliography and index. A nice selection of well-reproduced black and white photographs are printed directly on the pages.
Finally, I loved seeing that the book is dedicated to someone I admire very much, Farran Smith Nehme, aka the "Self-Styled Siren."Previous reviews of books authored by James L. Neibaur: FRANK SINATRA ON THE BIG SCREEN; THE GEORGE RAFT FILMS; THE FILMS OF JUDY GARLAND; THE JOHN WAYNE B-WESTERNS 1932-1939.
My previous reviews of Mae West films: NIGHT AFTER NIGHT (1932), SHE DONE HIM WRONG (1933), I'M NO ANGEL (1933), BELLE OF THE NINETIES (1934), GOIN' TO TOWN (1935), KLONDIKE ANNIE (1936), GO WEST YOUNG MAN (1936), and EVERY DAY'S A HOLIDAY (1937).
Thanks to James L. Neibaur and Bear Manor Media for providing a review copy of this book.
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I'll add that the film he made with director John Ford, THE PRISONER OF SHARK ISLAND (1936), will be playing at the upcoming TCM Classic Film Festival, so perhaps I'll have the chance to see another of his movies.
Despite having been aware of Baxter for many years, I couldn't have told you he was an Oscar-winning actor! He won Best Actor for IN OLD ARIZONA (1928).Baxter worked in movies beginning with bit roles in 1918 and continued working until 1950, the year before his passing. He was a well-liked professional and steadily working actor who was long married to actress Winifred Bryson.
Baxter maintained his career despite ongoing mental health struggles and later declining physical health, including cancer. He was only 62 when he died on May 7, 1951, and was buried at Forest Lawn Glendale.
I found THE ACCIDENTAL STAR to be both well researched and engagingly written. The amount of material the author was able to share about Baxter's early years is particularly admirable, given that that time period is now a century or more ago.The author concludes the biographical section of the book with reflections on his subject. He assesses some of the reasons for Baxter's relative obscurity, including much of his silent work being lost, and also writes about his legacy.
Like the author, I was left with a positive opinion of Warner Baxter, who had a successful career despite his struggles; moreover, he seems to have been a fine person. The book, including the filmography section, sparked my interest in exploring more of Baxter's films.
I read a paperback edition of the book, which is also available in hardback and e-book form. It's well illustrated with black and white photographs printed directly on the pages.In addition to the information listed above, the book also includes a list of Baxter's radio appearances, a bibliography, extensive end notes, and index.
As a postscript, I was moved to discover the book was dedicated to three women, two of whom were special in my own life: "Moira Finnie" (Gina Neylon) and "Caftan Woman" (Patricia Nolan-Hall). What a lovely tribute.
Recommended.
Thanks to the author and Bear Manor Media for providing a review copy of this book.
TweetMiscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...
Gerson was born to Russian Jewish immigrants in Tennessee in 1914. Bailey does a nice job reconstructing the Gerson family history, as well as placing it in a wider historical context. She was able to collect an impressive amount of information on family events which took place over a century ago.
Betty's father became a successful, well-off industrialist, and she had a comfortable upbringing in Birmingham, Alabama, but the family was rocked by his sudden death just as she entered her teens.
As a young woman living in Chicago, Betty took acting classes and in fairly short order became a radio actress in the 1930s. She moved to Hollywood in the '40s, working steadily not only in radio but movies and television. At one point she was appearing in nearly a dozen radio shows per week, as well as in occasional small roles in films like UNDERCOVER GIRL (1950).Gerson was a steady working actress who was constantly busy yet never became a household name...but her most famous role, Cruella, certainly did!
Betty Lou Gerson died in Los Angeles in 1999, a few days after suffering a stroke. She was 84.
Bailey tells Gerson's life story in a fast-paced and interesting volume. The book seems to be very well-researched; Bailey describes some of her sources, such as recorded interviews and family remembrances, in general terms in the opening author's note.The biographical section of the book is 121 pages, followed by lengthy lists of Gerson's impressive performance credits; the total page count is 222. There are no photographs.
I enjoyed THE VOICE OF VILLAINY and learned quite a bit about the actress behind the iconic character. As a result of reading this book I'm likely to seek out the author's other books in the future.
Thanks to the author for providing a review copy of this book.
TweetI've now wrapped up viewing Season 2 of COLUMBO via Kino Lorber's Blu-ray collection, with a trio of 1973 episodes. Two of them were big winners, while the other was a rare dud.
Over the last few years I've been gradually working my way through the filmography of actor-director Clint Eastwood.
In a brisk 111 pages, Toby covers every aspect of the movie: The film's development, background on the cast and crew, production history, music, critical reception, poster art, and more, along with his personal thoughts on why he appreciates -- indeed, loves -- the movie.
The book has some fun information, such as Eastwood's "passive-aggressive" maneuvers to make sure his costar was Locke rather than Barbra Streisand (!), for which I'm grateful.
Mara Corday had been widowed when her husband, Richard Long, died in 1974. I loved reading that Eastwood hired her for THE GAUNTLET to help her with health insurance, later casting her in SUDDEN IMPACT (1983) for the same reason. I noted looking at her filmography that her last four films, in fact, were all Eastwood projects. As I write this review, Corday is now 94, as is Eastwood.
ANOTHER RUN THROUGH THE GAUNTLET is a breezy read which was the perfect companion for my first viewing of this very enjoyable film, and I'd love to see Toby do similar books in the future.Previous reviews of films starring or directed by Clint Eastwood: FRANCIS IN THE NAVY (1955), STAR IN THE DUST (1956), AWAY ALL BOATS (1956), AMBUSH AT CIMARRON PASS (1958), COOGAN'S BLUFF (1968), BREEZY (1973), EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE (1978), BRONCO BILLY (1980), MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL (1997), SULLY (2016).
Although not reviewed, I've also seen ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ (1979) (at the 2019 TCM Classic Film Festival) and IN THE LINE OF FIRE (1993).
There may be another Eastwood film on the horizon for me in the near future, as I hope to see DIRTY HARRY (1971) at this year's TCM Classic Film Festival.
Sincere thanks to Toby Roan for providing a copy of ANOTHER RUN THROUGH THE GAUNTLET.
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