W.B. Kelso of Scenes From the Morgue and 3B Theater: Micro-Brewed Reviews has, as the saying goes, forgotten more about film than I’ve ever known. He owns copies of every vintage movie ad ever printed and, I have secretly discovered, had the best damn birthday party ever last year. (He doesn’t know I know this!…
Ida Lupino Blogathon: The Big Knife (1955)
This post is my entry for the Ida Lupino Blogathon hosted by the Miss Ida Lupino blog. Don’t forget to visit the other fine blogs who are participating! Clifford Odets’ vicious drama The Big Knife is a Tinseltown Macbeth, part Hollywood exposé and part exercise in self-aggrandization. Charles Castle, enormously popular film actor, says halfway…
Monster Mash Blogathon: Plan 9 From Outer Space
My excitement over being the first to pick Plan 9 From Outer Space for the Monster Mash Blogathon was quickly replaced with apprehension as I realized positively everything to be said about Plan 9 has already been said. To combat this disadvantage, I decided to approach P9 as movie that needed improvement and I, winner…
Hilda!
NSFW: Cheesecake drawings and almost nudity! Which means it’s totally worthwhile, but your boss may not agree. Hilda: 1950s-era pin up girl by Duane Bryers. More information about Hilda here and here. The first article says that Hilda was never put in demeaning situations because of her weight, but I question this. Images of…
Guest Post: Songs for the Unsung
My friend Eric Grayson, Usenet pal and overall mensch — he brought his gorgeous print of Lon Chaney’s Phantom of the Opera to the 2005 Kansas Silent Film Festival, which I enjoyed immensely — has recently started his own blog, Dr. Film. Eric is also the producer of the “Dr. Film” television pilot, a show…
Guest Post: The Magical Mystery SBBN Tour
This summer, I am proud to present several fine guest bloggers who were kind enough to contribute entries during the SBBN hiatus. First up for your consideration is a serious, probing documentary by my friend and yours, Mr. Ivan G. Shreve, Jr. of the superlative Thrilling Days of Yesteryear … who would like everyone to…
Maneater Week: Maneater (2007)
For Mr. Gable’s Maneater Week, I took the literal approach and watched Maneater (2007). For those of you who don’t find yourselves staring at the SyFy Channel on Saturday nights watching people get eaten by various creatures both real and imaginary, you probably don’t know what the Maneater series is. Let me explain: It’s approximately…
Queer Films Blogathon: GLBT Characters in Early Hollywood, Part 2
This part two of my entry for the Queer Films Blogathon held by Garbo Laughs. Part one is here if you didn’t catch it yesterday. Check out all the entries, as they are listed beginning about 10 AM Eastern time this morning. *** Earlier I listed a few examples of pre-code gay characters, ending with…
Queer Film Blogathon: Pictures
While you’re waiting for more posts in the Queer Film Blogathon, enjoy these fine photos and links, won’t you? Harvey Fierstein circa 1971. Photographed by Gilles Larrain. Courtesy the now-defunct Chateau Thombeau. Farley Granger, Jane Powell and Roddy McDowall courtesy The Film Experience: Sal Mineo and Gay Hollywood. Janet Gaynor and Margaret Lindsay…
Queer Films Blogathon: GLBT Characters in Classic Hollywood
This entry is for Garbo Laughs’ Queer Films Blogathon, held June 27. Because my post ran long, I put this part up early and posted the second half Monday, which you can find here. ***Despite what you may have heard, portrayals of GLBT characters in early and classic Hollywood were not particularly rare, and…