For film noir fans. I learned today that BLAST OF SILENCE ( Allen Baron , 1961) is being released by Criterion in April. To the best of my knowledge, this is its the first non-DVD-R release. Frankie Bono is an independent hit-man hired to assassinate a mob guy. Within that ultra-thin narrative, Baro...

I'm embarassed that I didn't have MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE on my list. Definitely one of the greats.

My NIGHTFALL one-sheet is over my computer desk...teasing me. Sterling Silliphant! JACQUES TOURNEUR!! I've never seen it and I'm ready.

Is it a Western? Maybe the action is in the western part of a city?

Absolutely! Robert Ryan + noir = great viewing.

The Windy City Chapter of the RECORD PARTY salutes MARTIN LUTHER KING with these performances by Chicago artists. THE STAPLE SINGERS want you to Respect Yourself [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsW4vk9uP8o[/youtube] The incomparable SAM COOKE knows A Change Is Gonna Come [youtube]http://www....

THE SEVEN SAMOURAI is an Eastern -- from a USA geo-centric point of view -- but if the polling guidelines allow self-definition of what constitutes a Western, then the guidelines allow THE SEVEN SAMOURAI to be a Western. Even though I -- who put STARS IN MY CROWN at No. 1 because I think it is that...

1. Truffaut is a director that I'm lukewarm about -- loved SMALL CHANGE and SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER , but never quite understood the fuss over THE 400 BLOWS and JULES AND JIM . Add in the other films of his I've seen and I'm left with no strong like or dislike. 2. I have been trying to collect the fi...

Psst...Mr. Arkadin...keep it under your hat, but I left 3 or 4 of my favorite Westerns (including THE WILD BUNCH ) off of my list based on my assumption that they'd get enough nominations to make the cut, so I wanted some others to have a chance. Call it the Rosenbaum Syndrome (Jonathan doesn't vote...

Dragnet -- Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. ...'nuff said Peter Gunn -- theme music = Henry Mancini Sanford and Son -- the show may have been disappointing, but not The Q Baretta -- hearing The Sammy tell me each week...

To deal with generalities, The City usually is corrupt, claustrophobic, and the source of all problems. Rural areas, on the other hand, seem to be dealt with ambiguously; as pointed out, sometimes The Country is where there is hope for redemption, and other times life there is just as bad as in The ...

Here are three rockin' Hanks. HANK WILLIAMS a-singin' Hey Good Lookin' [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxB1t2EEK0M[/youtube] HANK SNOW says I'm Movin' On [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQunHYfQs5U[/youtube] HANK THOMPSON with Whoa Sailor [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRggY...

Here's a few of the unusual suspects: 1. Stars In My Crown 2. Forty Guns 3. The Naked Spur 4. Great Day In the Morning 5. Silver Lode 6. Johnny Guitar 7. Pursued 8. Canyon Passage 9. 7 Men From Now 10. Broken Arrow 11. Dead Man 12. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia 13. Bad Day at Black Rock 14. On...

And I thought I was the only person who still loves Girl Don't Come . What a treat to see SANDIE SHAW in the later clip looking and sounding great. I saw she was wearing shoes in that performance, but couldn't tell if she was barefoot in 1965. DUSTY -- wow! I Only Want To Be With You , You Don't Hav...

Thank you for taking this on. You referred to "Suspensers, crime dramas and melodramas that eschewed the traditional happy ending". What is your working definition of film noir ? Classic film noir seems to have made a great resurgence in popularity over the past 5-10 years. Has it, or have...

There were many wonderful ones, but the three that immediately come to mind as favorites are: Twin Peaks (Season 1) -- One of those shows that one either loved or hated, which I take as a good sign. I loved it. Music, mood, murder and ...Russ Tamblyn. What's not to love? Hill Street Blues -- The sho...