THE EASIEST WAY (1931)

I have a film going weakness for the early talkies.  There is something naive yet fun to watch in these pictures:  the  Vitaphone System title for  Warner Brothers/ First National and, the propeller aircraft going around the globe for Universal, or the single title card with with all the "players" listed along with the title...

THE FIXERS: Eddie Mannix, Howard Strickling and the MGM Publicity Machine (Book review)

Paperback: 315 pages Publisher: McFarland Publishing (Nov. 30 2004) Hollywood's morals (or lack of)  have long been with us as we discover even today. I have been interested in that part of Hollywood for a long time and wanted to find out more.  Hence, I got myself a copy of E.J. Fleming's book  THE  FIXERS: Eddie Mannix,...

CHEERS FOR MISS BISHOP (1941)

Hollywood loved to make films about doctors, nurses, lawyers, scientists, truck drivers,  electric linemen,  oil riggers; and, of course, teachers. The noble occupation of teaching  makes one think of the various narratives: GOODBYE MISTER CHIPS (1939),  TOM BROWN'S SCHOOL DAYS (1940) and  THE BROWNING VERSION (1951).   The Tay Garrett   directed CHEERS FOR MISS BISHOP puts...

TITANIC (1953)

James Cameron's mega budget picture aside, the sinking of the  Titanic, first and foremost, is a human story. The sinking of the unsinkable has been filmed many times,  beginning in silent film to the definitive British production A NIGHT TO REMEMBER (1958).   Director Jean Negulesco's  version of the story sits as a bridge to the...