MEN OF BOYS TOWN (1941)

The sequel remains pretty much as it is today:  repeat box office receipts with the same formula.  That itself is passable in the day of the studio system when film output to fill the theaters with product was required.  Sometimes it works  as in BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935) and sometimes it doesn't, as in ANGELS...

DEATH IN A CLOSET: MARIE WINDSOR IN THE NARROW MARGIN (1952)

The single light bulb of interrogation now shines on Marie Windsor as Mrs. Frankie Neall in the model B classic picture  THE NARROW MARGIN (1952).  The  subject is the  Femme  Fatale.  The term Femme Fatale is defined loosely as "a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, dangerous,...

FISHNETS AND CIGARETTES: An Opinion on Rock and Roll, Youth and the Movies

Gone were the days of the Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney musicals with kids saving their farm, their home, their malt shoppe. Or something.  The sounds of "bobby soxer' Frank Sinatra (who changed himself to record some of his biggest songs) changed to Bobby Darrin, Fabian, and others with that curled up lip, smoldering smile and...

HOLLYWOODLAND (2006)

Connecting truth, scandal, fabrication and lies are a huge guilty pleasure that gets the audience thinking, talking and yes, writing. Hollywood loves to take a look at itself in complimentary and not so complimentary ways.  Pictures such as  WHAT PRICE HOLLYWOOD (1932) ,  SOULS FOR SALE  (1923), IN A LONELY PLACE (1950),  THE BAD AND  BEAUTIFUL...