The Silver Screen Oasis

I am still giggling over that photo from Ice Follies of 1939. Jimmy Stewart probably hoped that would never see the light of day again.

SCENE OF THE CRIME (d. Roy Rowland) isn't all that noir in visual design, but turned out to be quite watchable. I like Van Johnson more often than not, and he is fine as a cop trying to solve the murder of another cop. He's married to the beautiful Arlene Dahl, and part of the investigation involve...

I can understand anyone not liking LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES , for adolescent siblings Paul and Elisabeth are not very likable. To put it another way, this is one of the truest, most honest portrayals of adolescence I’ve ever seen. Jean Cocteau—for this is his film more than Jean-Pierre Melville’s, alth...

LE SILENCE DE LA MER is a remarkable film, an even more remarkable first film. Great work by Henri Decae as cinematographer and Edgar Bischoff as composer. The music becomes an important character in the story. I was captured from the beginning where the novel is transmitted as a secret document, w...

Speaking of Capra, I recently saw Meet John Doe . Our much missed buddy Kyle Kersten has pointed out the importance that one of the first things we see is a jackhammer removing the newspaper's motto, "A free press for a free people." This is a very powerful image. Like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ,...

As some of you probably know, TCM Festival passes go on sale Thursday, Nov. 13 , at noon EST. Citi customers can begin buying their passes on Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. EST. The theme will be History According to Hollywood , and the first four films to be announced are: Apollo 13 The Hunchback of Notre Dame...

Somewhere, probably in the foreign film thread, is my rave review of Melville's Un Flic , which is generally thought to be one of his lesser films. If so, I have a lot of great stuff to see. The only other film of his I've seen is Bob le Flambeur , very good though the extended baccarat sequence nea...

Thanks so much for all the information about NIGHT OF THE HUNTER and STAR TREK . I had a couple of questions on other subjects: 1. Your bio mentions that you knew Judith Light, Francesca James, and William Atherton before their success. Any memories you would like to share with us? Were you sure at ...

Sunday night has a Film Imports double feature I'm eager to see: LE SILENCE DE LA MER ( SILENCE OF THE SEA ) and LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES (on the schedule as " THE STRANGE ONES "), both directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, the later based on a work of Jean Cocteau. These have not been shown at least in th...

It's not surprising there are so few Halloween-themed films in early Hollywood films. The idea of "trick or treat" was only brought by Northerners to the South during the WWII years. I don't know exactly when this custom started in the north.

Masha,

The best of wishes to you crazy kids! You and Capuchin may face occasional difficulties along the way, but boredom will not be one of them!

I'm glad that the U.S. government sees the value of granting citizenship to someone so smart, funny, and original.

Raphael Ravenscroft has died of a heart attack at age 60. Though he did a little composing for TV shows, he is best known as a musician, especially for the thrilling saxophone solo which opens "Baker Street."

Moira, thanks for a lovely and perceptive review. And for the pictures of those clothes! Ulmer's daughter said that her mother claimed one of the coats worn by Margaret Lindsay, but didn't say which one. I think she wears a cloth coat in one scene and a fur coat in another. Her Sister's Secret is ce...

I agree with the general consensus that Zulu Dawn (1979), though not nearly so good as Zulu (1964), is still well worth watching. Like its predecessor, this would be fine viewing on the big screen, with some spectacular scenery and fine battle scenes. To see several thousand Zulu warriors on screen ...

Moira, I have seen The Defector, which is not, alas, all that good. Clift is not in very good condition. It's not awful, but once is probably enough.