THE LOOTERS (1955) is one of a number of interesting spring Blu-ray releases from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. To my knowledge, this brand-new release is the first time is the first time this Universal Pictures film has been released for home viewing. As THE LOOTERS begins, no-good Pete (Ray Danton) shows up at the remote Colorado cabin where his old army buddy Jesse (Rory Calhoun) lives. Pete has lost everything gambling and Jesse, who owes Pete his life, agrees to let Pete stay while he figures out his next steps. Shortly after Pete's arrival the men hear a plane crash and set out to fin ..read more

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet... ...There's lots of interesting information on new releases this week, starting with the Warner Archive Collection's upcoming Blu-ray of THE MAN I LOVE (1947), starring Ida Lupino. I last saw it in 2007 and am excited to see it again in a beautiful print-- especially as the film has had six minutes restored which have been unseen by the public since 1956! It will be out on June 14th. ...Also coming in June from the Warner Archive Collection: THE SHINING HOUR (1938), ACT OF VIOLENCE (1948), and the TV series THE ALASKANS (195 ..read more

My new Western RoundUp column has just been posted at Classic Movie Hub. This month I return to the topic of books on the Western film genre, sharing information on titles old and new. Please click over to Classic Movie Hub for the column, and thanks, as always, for reading! Previous Classic Movie Hub Western RoundUp Column Links: June 2018; July 2018; August 2018; September 2018; October 2018; November 2018; December 2018; January 2019; February 2019; April 5, 2019; April 30, 2019; May 2019; June 2019; July 2019; August 2019; September 2019; October 2019; November 2019; December 2019; Janu ..read more

The 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival has now come to an end, and it's possible that this was the best festival yet! This was the 15th edition of the festival, which was held from Thursday evening, April 18th, through Sunday night, April 21st. Turner Classic Movies is also celebrating its 30th anniversary this month, and it was wonderful to gather in Hollywood and celebrate! Reuniting with friends from across the country, Canada, and beyond is always the very best part of the festival. Screenings were spread across five main theater venues this year, plus the Hollywood Roosevelt pool and ..read more

will not appear this weekend due to my attendance at the TCM Classic Film Festival. My tentative schedule picks for the festival may be perused here. Around the Blogosphere This Week will return on Saturday, April 27th. For recent links of interest to classic film fans, please see my April 13th roundup. Tweet ..read more

I'm pleased to share that I have an article appearing in the latest issue of The Dark Pages! My 2019 review of the Flicker Alley Blu-ray release of TRAPPED (1949) has been adapted for the March/April 2024 edition which is Volume 20, No. 2. Other articles in this print issue include Andy Wolverton writing on NIGHT EDITOR (1946) and Kristina Dijan on a pair of Robert Douglas crime films, HOMICIDE (1949) and THIS SIDE OF THE LAW (1950). The Dark Pages may be subscribed to here. Back issues are also available, including issues I've written for in the past; descriptions of those issues are linke ..read more

One of the movies I most enjoyed at the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival was the pre-Code COCKTAIL HOUR (1933). The movie was introduced by the late Cari Beauchamp, so it seemed fitting that I watched it again this weekend on the day her memorial service took place. At the 2022 screening Cari interviewed Suzanne Lloyd about her grandfather Harold's friendship with the movie's star, Bebe Daniels. A fond memory. At the time of that screening I expressed the hope that COCKTAIL HOUR would come out on DVD or Blu-ray, so what a delightful surprise to learn that the movie has just had a Blu-ray relea ..read more

Three years ago this summer I began watching Mae West films for the first time, and -- frankly somewhat to my surprise -- I discovered that I thoroughly enjoyed them. As I described at the time, West had been something of a punchline to jokes when I was growing up, and I hadn't been interested in digging deeper. I'm certainly glad I changed my mind, as I found West "a completely unique film persona in both looks and personality...[she] absolutely owns the screen." West's films proved to be a wonderful discovery for me. I've now seen all but the last couple of West's films of the '30s and '40 ..read more

I've seen Warner Baxter in a number of films over the years, but I can't claim to have known much about him That's changed thanks to the excellent recently published book, THE ACCIDENTAL STAR - THE LIFE AND FILMS OF WARNER BAXTER. It was written by Dan Van Neste and published by Bear Manor Media. This is an impressively detailed 491-page book. The first half is a biography which runs 243 pages; the second half of the book contains details on all Baxter's films, including cast credits, review excerpts, and miscellany regarding the productions. The filmography also includes information on wh ..read more

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet... ...Russ Tamblyn's new memoir, DANCING ON THE EDGE: A LIFE OF LIVING, LOVING, AND TUMBLING THROUGH HOLLYWOOD, has just been published by Blackstone Publishing. ...Leonard Maltin has a short but welcome column focused on rare cartoons now available on Blu-ray. ...Thanks to Chris Yogerst for sharing the interesting title GANGSTERS VS. NAZIS: HOW JEWISH MOBSTERS BATTLED NAZIS IN WARTIME AMERICA by Michael Benson. It came out in hardcover in 2022 and is due out in paperback this summer. ...The latest book by TV and film musi ..read more