July, 2010 Archive
Brian Sieck | Unsung Stars
She can be sour and sweet, sometimes simultaneously. A while back, I did a feature on the fabulous Jennifer Jason Leigh where I mentioned the film Crooked Hearts and how delighted I was to see Leigh co-starring alongside the inimitable Juliette Lewis, two of my favorite actresses. Well, after first covering Leigh, it’s now time that I give Lewis her due respect. Upon further reflection since first deciding to do this piece, I’ve come to the conclusion that there definitely hasn’t been and probably will never be an actress more deserving of coverage in this “unsung stars” feature than Lewis. Why did I come to this minor epiphany? When mentioning that I would be paying tribute to the impressive yet largely unrecognized career of Lewis in the office, a few of my esteemed colleagues took it upon themselves to voice their disdain for the lithe thespian. One of these opinionated gentlemen—who will remain nameless—stated that she’s “a completely annoying screen presence,” specifically citing her role in the remake of Cape Fear as an example. The other, rather caustic, co-worker even went so far as to call her a “skank.” While that is perhaps not the kindest term to use when discussing a young lady, his argument wasn’t lost on me. It seems that Miss Lewis is a completely polarizing figure. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Fortunately, I have my own voice on this quaint little website, and hearing these base criticisms only solidified my resolve to come to the lovely lady’s defense.
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George D. Allen | Staff Notes
One of the fringe benefits of producing Ghouly Irv’s MovieFrightFare videos is how often I can wax nostalgic—both inside my head and occasionally by way of little nods in our programs—about Dr. Shock.
Remember Dr. Shock? If you’re a monsterfan of a considerably younger vintage, or if you grew up outside the Philadelphia area, you may have no recollection at all of television “horror host” Joseph Zawislak (the Doctor’s “real” name). He was one of my local region’s most beloved TV personalities from 1970-79—the period of time also known as the pre-home-video era, also known as the time of great hardships, when you could see your favorite fear films only when they were broadcast on television. Zawislak, a former stage magician, adopted--some may say inhabited--the creepy doc's skin after being inspired by the success of John Zacherle’s popular “Roland” character.
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Victoria Balloon | FanFare Guests
Guest contributor Victoria Balloon writes:
Combine outrageous scenarios with slapstick humor, then add witty, fast-paced dialogue and light romantic situations and you have that wonderful cinematic treasure called the screwball comedy -- or as film critic Andrew Sarris describes it, "a sex comedy without the sex." The basic elements of the screwball comedy were not particularly new; director Ernst Lubitsch had made sophisticated comedies such as Trouble in Paradise and slapstick was integral to the silent films of Charlie Chaplin, while Hollywood already had tough-talking blondes like Mae West and Broadway had light comedies by Noel Coward.
What made screwballs a completely new genre was the combination of these elements against the backdrop of three events in Hollywood history: the transition to sound in film, stricter enforcement of the Production Code and the Great Depression.
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George D. Allen | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
Bad boys, bad boys, what'cha gonna do...when the MovieFanFare cameras spot you chatting idly about your favorite heist films? Check out the two would-be video thieves we caught with their pants down (figuratively speaking, of course), and see if you agree with their picks for the best movies about making big scores:
Why did two such insightful movie fans turn to a life of crime? I guess they figured their gigs with Movie Geeks Roadshow and picking the best Offbeat Christmas Movies didn't pay so well. They have voluntarily entered a program of rehabilitation.
Irv Slifkin | Ask Movie Fanfare
Question: Will the movie To Each His Own ever be released on DVD? I fell in love with it and haven't been able to find it.
Answer: Olivia De Havilland won an Oscar for her performance as Jody Norris, a woman who becomes pregnant by a soldier during World War I, then gives the baby up for adoption. She eventually encounters her grown-up son during World War II in this well-liked 1946 effort from "womans' director" Mitchell Leisen (Easy Living, Midnight) and frequent Billy Wilder writing partner Charles Brackett. The Paramount picture is now owned by Universal; if Uni has no immediate plans, there's hope for release with Turner Classic Movies issuing Paramount/Universal library titles of late through their manufacture-on-demand DVD program.
Question: Are there rights problems with the Fox film Margie from 1946? Are there are many requests for this film to be shown and/or released on DVD?
Answer: We don’t think there is a rights problem with the Roaring ‘20s-set comedy starring Jeanne Crain. We just think Fox has sadly overlooked it in their library and doesn't recognize the amount of people interested in this nostalgic delight.
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guest-blogs | FanFare Guests
Guest blogger Alyson Krier writes:
A Star Is Born (1937)
Before inventions like reality TV and YouTube, Hollywood hopefuls would have to pack up and actually move to Hollywood to have any chance at stardom. With the aid and well wishes from her grandmother, Esther Victoria Blogett (Janet Gaynor) ventures to Hollywood, convinced that she can become a great actress. Things look pretty bleak when she’s told over and over again that there’s no work, not even as an extra. With the help of an out of work director, Danny (Andy Devine), she gets a job as a waitress serving orderves at parties for celebrities. She sees this as a chance to act in front of directors, a pretty funny scene. When the famous actor, Norman Maine (Fredric March) gets drunk at the party, he takes an interest in Esther and whisks her away from her waitress job. At first, it’s not quite clear whether Norman is looking for a new actress or a girlfriend, but he ends up with both. He gets Esther her first leading role and she’s an instant star. The problem is that she is getting all the limelight while Norman is slowly being forgotten. After they marry, this problem only grows and eventually Norman turns back to the bottle.
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Irv Slifkin | Staff Notes
Quick. What is Rizzoli & Isles?
A: A law firm
B: An accounting firm
C: A new cable TV series
D: A large book store chain
If you answered “C,” then you are correct, sir (or madam).
In the debuting TNT show Rizzoli & Isles, Angie Harmon co-stars as Jane Rizzoli, a sassy homicide detective who teams with stylish medical examiner Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander) to solve crimes in the Boston area. Rizzoli uses her instincts to track down the perpetrators while Isles depends on forensics and science. Together these new BFFs attempt to uncover crimes committed by unsavory crooks and even serial killers.
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Chris Cummins | New Releases This Week
There's a lot of great new releases--including a cult British series, MTV's controversial look at life at the Jersey shore, a rock biopic, and much more--making their DVD and Blu-ray debuts this week, so let's jump right in and see what titles are worth your time and money.
Being Human: Season One
This wildly entertaining supernatural dramedy from the BBC chronicles the adventures of werewolf George (Russell Tovey), ghost Annie (Lenora Crichlow) and vampire Mitchell (Aidan Turner). Sharing a house together, the trio attempt to make sense of their complicated lives and otherworldly abilities while avoiding those wishing to do them harm. With Jason Watkins, Sinead Keenan. All six episodes from the first season are featured in a two-disc set. Recommended for fans of True Blood, Doctor Who and good TV in general.
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Jason Marcewicz | Create-A-Caption
You know the drill. Below is a classic movie photo with Jason’s caption.
You’re encouraged to leave your own suggestion in the comment section below!
“Cheri, you know I’m not the most dainty chick around,
but the way you’re sitting…it’s not exactly ladylike.”
guest-blogs | FanFare Guests
Guest blogger Ted Brown writes:
Skull Heads
Plot: For generations, the strange, inbred Arkoff family has lived in their creepy Italian castle undisturbed by the outside world.
Until one night when their sanctuary is invaded by a trio of treacherous art thieves and the Arkoffs must fight for their lives, aided only by the ancient protectors of the castle. The deadly Skullheads !
Review: Skull Heads much like Demonic Toys 2 is a nice reminder of my horror roots, and also a reminder of some of the best years of my life growing up. I remember every weekend running to the local video store and renting as many Horror movies as I could possibly watch over the span of two days. When I got this film in the mail it gave me the same feeling I got as a child when I would stumble upon a possible hidden gem that I had not had the pleasure of viewing before.
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Jay Steinberg | This Week in Film History
July 22, 1934: After seeing MGM's Manhattan Melodrama at Chicago's Biograph Theater, gangster John Dillinger is gunned down outside by G-men.
July 20, 1938: The major film studios are named to a governmental antitrust lawsuit over their dominance in both production and distribution of motion pictures.
July 23, 1947: The subject of anti-Semitism is dramatized in RKO's Crossfire and, in November, by 20th Century Fox's Oscar-winning Gentleman's Agreement.
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