Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on August 3, 2020

S.Z. Sakall was unforgettable. S.Z. Sakall, the featured player for Day Four of TCM’s Summer Under the Stars, is making his first-ever appearance in this annual celebration. Known for his amiable demeanor, his smiling eyes, and a lovable presence that led to his nickname “Cuddles,” Sakall was never   read more

The Stop Button Posted by on January 2, 2020

Spawn is really bad. It’s bad from the first frame, the first bad CGI vision of Hell. I’m not sure if it’s bad until the last frame, I didn’t bother with the end credits. But based on the music accompanying the start of the end credits… yes, yes, it’s bad...   read more

The Wonderful World of Cinema Posted by Virginie Pronovost on September 6, 2018

Ah, Jo, Joseph, Joseph Cotten… What a man! Perhaps one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood, he surely deserves his own tribute. And his own blogathon! Crystal from In The Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood and Maddy from Maddy Loves Her Classic Films are back to take care...   read more

The Wonderful World of Cinema Posted by Virginie Pronovost on April 18, 2018

For his centenary that we celebrated yesterday (but that I still continue to celebrate today), I wanted to do something new to hounour the fantastic William Holden! So, I thought I would explore his life and the man he was and the man he is to us through a fun...   read more

The Wonderful World of Cinema Posted by Virginie Pronovost on February 12, 2018

8 years before he made his debut in Hollywood with Dallas Buyers Club and 12 years before he won an Emmy Award for Big Little Lies, Jean-Marc Vallée released what is, for me, one of the best French-Canadian films ever made: C.R.A.Z.Y. Dallas Buyers Club, The Young Victoria, and Wild...   read more

The Stop Button Posted by Andrew Wickliffe on December 30, 2017

Horse Feathers finally finds its funny sometime in the second half. The film plays like the main plot has been removed and just a subplot remains, so it’s impressive it ever does. And when it does, it’s depressing–director McLeod and (wow, four) writers Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, S.J. Perelman, and...   read more

Classic Film & TV Cafe Posted by Rick29 on April 21, 2014

A - The Avengers. Could there be a better way to start this list? This lighthearted spy series starred Patrick Macnee as the well-tailored, unflappable, and charming John Steed. He was the anchor of the series, even if his fermale co-stars grabbed the headlines: Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg, Linda Tho   read more

The Movie Rat Posted by Bernardo Villela on July 12, 2013

As I have proven in the past by watching many more Hellraiser, Friday the 13th and Children of the Corn than I likely would have otherwise; I am at times inclined to watch a series long past its best days being behind it. However, what delineates those examples from, say...   read more

Pretty Clever Films Posted by Brandy Dean on July 3, 2013

Okay, World War Z, the new zombie apocalypse flick from one Mr. Brad Pitt, has gotten some pretty mixed reviews. I cannot imagine why they’re so mixed. World War Z is smart, fast paced, fun and full of some stunning zombie visuals. If you want a lot of zombies in...   read more

Classic Film & TV Cafe Posted by Rick29 on June 24, 2013

Aargh, maties! We're back with a new A to Z list and this time, the subject is those men--and women--who sail the seas beneath the jolly roger flag. Don't look for any of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies in this list. Our focus is strictly classic cinema. Jean Peters...   read more

ScribeHard on Film Posted by ScribeHard on June 21, 2013

If there is anything you can accuse Hollywood of doing TOO well, it’s exploiting something popular to the point that it becomes a scourge.  When the public gets a taste for a certain flavor, Tinseltown senses it, whets the public’s appetite with more offerings, then force-feeds the mark   read more

Classic Film & TV Cafe Posted by Rick29 on May 5, 2013

Tyrone Power in full Zorro guise. For me, Errol Flynn dominated the swashbuckler genre from his appearance in Captain Blood (1935) through Against All Flags (1952). However, I freely admit that I can't envision him as the lead in one of the best swashbuckler pictures of that period. Simply put,...   read more

Classic Film & TV Cafe Posted by Rick29 on March 29, 2013

A – It’s for Annette, of course! (Though Avalon is a fine choice, too.) B – Beach Party, the 1963 movie that started it all. Or, it can also be for Bonehead, Frankie’s dimwitted pal played by Jody McCrea (Joel’s son). Candy Johnson. C – Candy Johnson, the fr   read more

Classic Film & TV Cafe Posted by Rick29 on March 6, 2013

Astro Boy originated in a 1952 manga. A - Astro Boy. This Japanese 1960s import about a boy robot was a favorite of mine as a youth. I thought it was cool how his feet turned into jets when he flew! A new version of the series appeared in 2003...   read more

Classic Film & TV Cafe Posted by Rick29 on January 17, 2013

Robert Horton, as Flint on WagonTrain, and Ward Bond. A - Amnesia. Robert Horton left Wagon Train at the peak of his popularity to pursue movie stardom--but eventually returned to television as an amnesiac trying to discover his identity in A Man Called Shenandoah. B - The Barkley family in...   read more

Classic Film & TV Cafe Posted by Rick29 on October 31, 2012

In my house, watching a Hammer movie every Halloween is a tradition. While I love the Universal monster flicks, too, I grew up on Hammer's colorful, lively, gothic fright classics. With special thanks to my Cafe collaborators Toto and Sark, here's my A to Z tribute to the British House...   read more

Classic Film & TV Cafe Posted by Rick29 on October 8, 2012

One of the most popular features at the Cafe is our "A to Z" list. This month, we tackle film noir--a daunting task because there so many good ones. For example, for "D", we could have gone with any of the following: The Dark Corner, Dark City, Detour, Desperate Hours,...   read more

The Stop Button Posted by on September 28, 2012

It takes about seventeen minutes for Monkey Business to start. The first seventeen minutes are the Brothers running around a cruise ship, on the run from the ship’s officers. In those seventeen minutes–about a fifth of the picture–they manage to get in a number of gags, including   read more

Classic Film & TV Cafe Posted by Rick29 on July 19, 2012

What's a cult movie? Let's skip the formal definitions and focus on five common attributes: (1) a cult film wasn't a a success--with audiences or critics--when first released; (2) it has since acquired a fan base that champions it; (3) it features an offbeat plot, theme, or visual style; (4)...   read more

The Best Picture Project Posted by Alyson on January 21, 2011

Grigoris Lambrakis was a left-winged Greek political activist involved in the Pacifist Movement and opposed the Vietnam War.  On May 22 1963, he gave a speech at a peaceful anti-war meeting.  As he left, a three-wheeled vehicle drove by with two right extremists on board, and one man beat him...   read more