4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on November 21, 2024

“When you came here that first day, I fell flat on my face over your suitcase. I never really got up.” – Joan Leslie as Donna Born to Be Bad is not high-grade stuff. Its trashy exploitive title says as much, but it’s also worthwhile for exactly these reasons. Nicholas...   read more

Backlots Posted by Lara on January 17, 2015

The 1407 seat Castro Theatre was packed solid last night for the opening night of what has become a veritable San Francisco tradition, the Film Noir Foundation’s Noir City film festival. For the past 13 years, film aficionados passionate about the dark side of classic cinema have flocked to   read more

Flickers in Time Posted by Beatrice on April 21, 2013

Born to Be Bad Directed by Lowell Sherman 1934/USA 20th Century Pictures First viewing Loretta Young plays Letty Strong, an unwed mother who works as a “model” and “sales promoter” to support herself and her seven-year-old son, Mickey.  Life has made her hard as nails and she   read more

Journeys in Classic Film Posted by Kristen on June 6, 2012

Today’s post is a tad late, I know.  Blame it on the beautiful Idina Menzel who I saw in concert today (well technically Tuesday!).  I’m gushing I know but enough about me let’s talk about Joan Fontaine.  The amazing Dawn of Noir and Chick Flicks recently reviewed today’s fil   read more

Noir and Chick Flicks Posted by Dawn on May 29, 2012

Born to Be Bad(1950). Melodrama directed by Nicholas Ray. Cast: Joan Fontaine and Robert Ryan. It is based on the novel.. All Kneeling, by Anne Parrish. On the same day that Donna Foster, is planning on hosting a party for artist, Gabriel, her boss John Caine's niece, Christabel, arrives to...   read more

The Motion Pictures Posted by Lindsey on February 27, 2012

Born to Be Bad (1934): 4/5 Let’s be honest, we all know what attracted me to this movie. Two words: CARY. GRANT. I’ll watch anything he’s in. His leading lady is Loretta Young, who portrays a young, unmarried mother named Letty Strong. Letty relies on her looks and wit to...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 2, 2011

“Mal is what’s called a gentleman – a man with decent, proper instincts. And you’re an ill-bred little tramp. . . . Almost any woman can pick almost any man – your way, the cheap way – used by cheap women. But it won’t last. Men like Mal are after...   read more