Spooktober: “The Bat” (1959)

“The Bat” does not contain any of the cheesiness normally associated with horror films of its era. Despite being a low budget thriller, “The Bat” is a taut, suspenseful film that will keep you guessing from start to finish. Based on a 1920 Broadway play of the same name, “The Bat” was put on film […]

Spooktober: “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1931)

One of the greatest special effects ever put on film are the transformation sequences in 1931’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde“. Fredric March, who plays the kind scientist who changes into an evil man when he takes a potion, looks right into the camera in these scenes as his face undergoes dramatic changes. The cuts […]

Spooktober: “House of Wax” (1953)

“House of Wax” is one of the most notable horror movies to come out of the 1950s, for technical reasons and because it’s simply a great film. It’s actually a remake of the 1933 movie “Mystery of the Wax Museum“; while that film is also great, this one has more distinct horror elements in it. Vincent Price stars […]

Cinema Classics: “In This Our Life” (1942)

Hattie McDaniel has indirectly been in the news quite a bit in the last month or so. The first time was for “Gone with the Wind,” the 1939 drama in which she played the smart and sassy Mammy and for which she became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award. That film was […]

Throwback Review: “Hail, Caesar!”

There are two very different sides to the Coen Brothers’ body of work. One is the serious drama, the likes of “No Country for Old Men” or “Inside Llewyn Davis;” the other is the light-hearted farce, such as “Burn After Reading” or “Raising Arizona.” Their latest directorial effort, “Hail, Caesar!,” belongs in the latter category. “Hail, […]

Cinema Classics: “Jezebel” (1938)

Today’s Cinema Classics spotlight is devoted to another film that is airing on Turner Classic Movies this weekend as part of the TCM Film Fest: Special Home Edition. The tale of a fiery Southern belle looking for love around the time of the Civil War quickly became one of the most memorable films of all […]

Cinema Classics: “The Lady Vanishes” (1938)

Sadly, Turner Classic Movies’ annual Classic Film Festival, which was to take place in Hollywood this month, had to be cancelled due to the current situation surrounding COVID-19. But in its place, the station is having a TCM Film Fest: Special Home Edition this weekend, which kicked off tonight with the 1954 version of “A […]

Cinema Classics: “The Young Girls of Rochefort” (1967)

In 1964, French director Jacques Demy’s musical film “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (Las parapluies de Cherbourg) was an international sensation, winning the Palmes d’Or at Cannes and being nominated for five Academy Awards. Even watching it today, it’s easy to see why. “Cherbourg” is unique in that it is entirely sung through, as opposed to […]

Cinema Classics: “Four Daughters” (1938)

What a crazy couple weeks it has been! The last article I posted was my review of “Onward,” the last film I saw in theaters about two weeks ago. Since then, movie theaters have closed and most major theatrical releases have been postponed until further notice. While that is absolutely the right thing to do […]

Review: “Stan and Ollie”

4 out of 5 stars. Laurel and Hardy. Even those who haven’t seen their films likely at least know the names, and recognize their appearance: the tall and thin Stan Laurel, and the portly and mustached Oliver Hardy, bowler hats in hand. The comedy duo attained popularity with their short and feature length films for […]