June 19, 1905: The first “nickelodeon” opens its doors, on Smithfield Street in Pittsburgh, charging a five-cent fee. First attraction: The Great Train Robbery. June 22, 1961: The Guns of Navarone, starring Gregory Peck, leads off with a bang at…
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Brad Pitt: Overrated or Underrated?
He’s made women around the world swoon…and men around the world envious. His appeal has been likened to that of Robert Redford; he’s been likewise maligned as a superficial “pretty boy” (much like…well, read my own defense of a much-mocked,…
Read more →Remembering Ann Rutherford
Born in Canada in 1920, Ann Rutherford got her start in Hollywood as a teenager, acting in weekly serials. She made her feature-length screen debut in 1935’s Waterfront Lady. In the early years of her career, the young starlet appeared…
Read more →Charles Lane: Such a Mean Old Man
He may be (kind of) smiling here, but from the 1930s to the ’80s actor Charles Lane excelled at playing crabs, curmudgeons and grumps in the movies and on TV. Read about his lenghty career, which included appearances in nine Frank Capra films.
Read more →Six Pix: Neo Noir
Six Pix presents a sextet of movie posters representing a particular actor/director/genre. You pick the one you feel is visually the most artistic or best sums up the film. These Six Pix are all Neo Noir posters—that is, film noirs…
Read more →The Big Combo (1955): Movie Review
The Big Combo (1955): Movie Review Sexually and sadistically charged, The Big Combo is a paradigm for what can be accomplished with spare change filmmaking. This film, and the earlier work Gun Crazy (1950) are director Joseph H. Lewis’ masterpieces….
Read more →Birdie Watching: Reflections on Bye Bye Birdie
My kids were in a production of Bye Bye Birdie over the last month. So, playing the part of the good father, I attended several shows. My kids had small parts in the chorus, so it wasn’t just their limited…
Read more →Movie Mash-Ups, Part VI
It’s been too long since the last Movie Mash-Ups. As always, I’ve mashed up posters and their titles creating new movie one-sheets that definitely will not be coming soon to a theater near you. Let’s get right to it… American Splendor In The Grass ….
Read more →What’s the Best Ray Bradbury Film/TV Adaptation?
This Week In Film History, 06.10.12
June 16, 1916: The merger of Famous Players and Jesse Lasky Feature Play Co. brings together Lasky, Adolph Zukor and Samuel Goldfish (Goldwyn). June 11, 1922: The “father of the documentary film,” Robert Flaherty, releases his greatest achievement, Nanook of…
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