From the Moment They Met it was Murder
Hometowns To Hollywood
by Annette Bochenek
1w ago
Film noir has long fascinated moviegoing audiences and continues to have ardent fans to this day. However, Double Indemnity (1944) was particularly influential and had a fascinating production story, from actual murder to magazine fiction and, later, a film incarnation. Alain Silver and James Ursini offer an exciting addition to the TCM library with From the Moment They Met it was Murder: Double Indemnity and the Rise of Film Noir, which delves into the backstory that inspired the classic film. This book offers an interesting examination of the impact that the Hays Code had upon the productio ..read more
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Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles
Hometowns To Hollywood
by Annette Bochenek
1w ago
Fans of classic Hollywood-inspired fiction can rejoice in the publication of Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles, cemented in the days of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Elizabeth Crowens’ novel is written in the spirit of The Thin Man series. Complete with a shrewd combination of screwball comedy and the whodunnit, this novel centers around the disappearance of Asta from the Thin Man series. Private detectives Babs Norman and Guy Brandt face a trend of celebrity dognapping and soon find themselves engrossed in a plan to try and recover the missing dogs. With numerous nods to the Golden Age Hol ..read more
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Mavericks
Hometowns To Hollywood
by Annette Bochenek
1w ago
Exploring the stories behind the making of different films can be quite fascinating, as is learning about film production from the directors themselves. Mavericks: Interviews with the World’s Iconoclast Filmmakers by Gerald Peary offers interesting discussions with a variety of filmmakers on their craft and accomplishments. This book includes interviews with Mel Brooks, Agnieszka Holland, Liv Ullman, and more. It is recommended to fans of more contemporary films who are interested in direction. While this book leans toward New Hollywood, it occasionally discusses the influence of classic Holl ..read more
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Is Harpo Free?
Hometowns To Hollywood
by Annette Bochenek
2w ago
The Marx Brothers’ antics and entertained audiences on the screen for decades and have certainly kept them guessing as to how they will succeed in whichever silly situation they find themselves in. However, Matthew Cipa’s recent work explores one particular question tied to the quietest brother: Is Harpo free? Cipa’s Is Harpor Free? and Other Questions of the Metaphysical Screen examines the concepts of metaphysics and philosophical arguments tied to artistic expression. he argues that these portrayals help us understand ourselves, the world, and our function in it. This book also discusses t ..read more
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Ian Fleming
Hometowns To Hollywood
by Annette Bochenek
2w ago
The James Bond saga has long entertained readers and moviegoers. However, the story of the author behind this series is also quite fascinating and worth exploring. Nicholas Shakespeare’s Ian Fleming: The Complete Man offers a well-researched biography of Fleming, portraying his complex personal life and providing information about the inspiration behind his work. Fleming was well-traveled and met numerous historical figures. He also worked as a member of the Allied efforts in setting up the OSS, the forerunner to the CIA. Moreover, Fleming had numerous friendships and love affairs. In the fin ..read more
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Ruth Orkin
Hometowns To Hollywood
by Annette Bochenek
2w ago
American photographer Ruth Orkin had a keen eye for detail, as often portrayed in her excellent street photography. Rediscovered negatives from her archive, however, examine the lives of a group of women in the 1940s and 1950s, following them from cocktail parties to beauty salons to Hollywood film sets. Ruth Orkin: Women is edited by Nadine Barth and Katharina Mouratidi to allow readers to enjoy these beautiful photographs. Fans of classic Hollywood will particularly enjoy the photographs featuring the likes of Lauren Bacall, Jane Russell, Joan Taylor, and Doris Day, both candid and posed. A ..read more
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Connecticut in the Movies
Hometowns To Hollywood
by Annette Bochenek
2w ago
Connecticut has been portrayed in films since the early days of cinema through to the present. Whether depicted through Hollywood sets or on-location filming, there have been many varied albeit engaging portrayals of Connecticut as the backdrop to numerous films. Illeana Douglas takes readers on a journey through various Connecticut-oriented films in Connecticut in the Movies: From Dream Houses to Dark Suburbia. The book includes fascinating entries on silent films of Connecticut, country living comedies, Christmas in Connecticut, suburban sex comedies, and more. Additionally, the book featur ..read more
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Jean Darling
Hometowns To Hollywood
by Annette Bochenek
3w ago
Jean: Heaven sent him. He’s all mine! Joe: Heaven nothin’. Wheezer comes from Goat Alley! —Crazy House (1928) Dorothy Jean LeVake was born on August 23, 1922, in Santa Monica, California, to Rollin Darling and Dorothy Hamilton. Her name was changed to Jean Darling at five months old when her mother and father separated. By the next month, she began appearing in films fulfilling baby roles. In 1926, she performed a screen test for the Our Gang series, working in 46 silent featurettes and five silent featurettes for the series. Her tenure with the series ended in 1929. As the years went on, Da ..read more
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March Presentations
Hometowns To Hollywood
by Annette Bochenek
3w ago
Dr. Annette Bochenek loves to take Hometowns to Hollywood on the road–in person or virtually–to offer fun and engaging presentations about Hollywood’s Golden Age. Her presentations range from focusing on various subjects related to Golden Age Hollywood, in addition to presentations that profile individual performers. Below is a listing of upcoming presentations and screenings for Hometowns to Hollywood. Attendance is free of charge unless otherwise noted. To learn more about booking Hometowns to Hollywood at your organization, click here. UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS: A Night at the Oscars: Aca ..read more
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Harry Spear
Hometowns To Hollywood
by Annette Bochenek
1M ago
Harry Spear was born Harry Sherman Bonner on December 16, 1921, in Los Angeles, California, to Joseph Bonner and Louise Spear. He was born at French Hospital in Los Angeles and initially resided at 5619 Fernwood Ave., Hollywood, California. His father served in the Navy, and his mother was a homemaker. After his parents divorced, his last name was typically listed as Spear. Spear worked as a child actor and vaudevillian, appearing in Educational Pictures shorts in the mid-1920s, including the Tuxedo Comedies and Smith Family shorts. His grandmother, Bertha Spear, managed his career. He perfor ..read more
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