CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on February 13, 2016

…what does success smell like? Thank goodness for the movies, ey? We can see how the other half lives withOUT literally jumping in the cesspool with them. I would program “SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS” on the same movie marquee with “Ace in the Hole” and “A Face in the Crowd.”...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on February 3, 2016

“LOVE LETTERS” ( 1945 ) Joseph Cotten, Jennifer Jones. Directed by William Dieterle. What can I say. I am a h0peless, c0ck-eyed r0mantic. And I lay this at the feet of both stars of this romantic drama. If you are not inclined to like either Jones or Cotten, you can skip to...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on January 23, 2016

BREAK OUT THE BUBBLY…or Bourbon or Glühwein or Sarsparilla even. Whatever gets you through the night. I am hosting my FIRST–EVER blogathon, and I’m drunk with happiness. Here is the “CLASSIC SYMBIOTIC COLLABORATIONS: The Star -Director Blogathon” making its debut this cold winter’s   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on January 23, 2016

CINEMAVEN’S CLASSIC SYMBIOTIC COLLABORATIONS BLOGATHON IS HERE!! Well…I had to think of SOME WAY to get you to want to check out my blogathon this weekend:      read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on January 20, 2016

  Even her name sounds strong and sturdy. Stanwyck sadly passed away this day in 1990. There are some people so vibrant and alive and potent, you forget that they too must shuffle off this mortal coil. She really was a force of Nature. But look, no sad songs today....   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on January 18, 2016

Happy  DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, Jr.  Day Today, January 18th, marks my blog’s first birthday and Cary Grant’s 112th birthday and my own  ____ th birthday.  ( A-hem! ) There’s a slew of other CAPRICORNS born today too. I say we’re ALL keeping rather good company this day. This weekend I am...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on January 9, 2016

Who IS ANITA LOUISE in the scheme of the Golden Age of Hollywood? She doesn’t have the exotic mien of Garbo or Dietrich. She doesn’t blaze through the screen like Bette Davis or Stanwyck or have the blinding sex appeal of Harlow, Marilyn or Rita. I would liken Anita Louise closer in sensibility to   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on January 8, 2016

Dagnabit, I’ve been Ophül’d again….recklessly. Mesdames et monsieurs, this is the second blogathon of the new year and we’re heading all the way to France for it. Serendipitous Anachronisms is hosting her first-ever blogathon and we’re in the country of wine and cheese and all things Fr   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on January 6, 2016

I am new to LORETTA YOUNG. Well, not exactly. More accurately, I’ve had my eyes wide shut to her through most of my early classic film journey. ( I know, I know… ‘there are none so blind as those who cannot see.’ ) A young friend of mine ( KM-P ) from a...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on January 5, 2016

“CITY LIGHTS” reeled me in. It pulled me by the string and led me where it wanted me to go. And I was a willing participant. Why did I misjudge NYC’s Film Forum audience. Showtime was 11:00am this past Sunday. When I walked in at 11:05am expecting to see trailers...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on January 1, 2016

H A P P Y    N E W    Y E A R  ~  2 0 1 6  *  *  *  *  *  *  ◊  *  *  *  *  *  *  WELCOME BACK!!! Thanxx so much for joining me here. I spent this December lazing on the couch watching old movies. So now I have some essays to share with...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on December 31, 2015

It’s the ninth inning, and for my last blogging act of 2015, I want to give you a round-up of the blogathons that made their presence known during the second half of 2015. There were some blogathons that I discovered a little late, so you might see ‘thons from earlier...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on December 23, 2015

I don’t know how crazy I am. Guess you’ll be the judge of that. When I walk around in my travels, I tend to notice things that remind me of classic films. My first immediate Rorschach reaction is a classic film. Here are a couple of examples of that association....   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on December 7, 2015

February 27, 1910 – December 7, 1990 “The ‘Golden Age’ is gone, and with it most of the people of great taste. It doesn’t seem to be any fun any more.”  ~  [ Joan Bennett, 1984 ] All eyes are on Elizabeth Taylor in “Father of the Bride” ( 1950 )....   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on November 23, 2015

The response to my upcoming blogathon ~ slight name change ~ “CLASSIC SYMBIOTIC COLLABORATIONS: The Star-Director Blogathon” has been so warmly supported I’m rather speechless. ( Who am I kidding…I can talk ’till the cows come home. ) I want to say thank you again for a   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on November 21, 2015

The “What A Character!” Blogathon is here and hosted by three blogging hostesses with the mostesses: Aurora at ‘Once Upon a Screen’ Kellee with ‘Outspoken and Freckled’ and Paula of ‘Paula’s Cinema Club’ and they’ve taken on this blogathon for its fourth year with a wide array of bloggers we   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on November 17, 2015

IT’S HERE!!!! The Criterion Collection has been opened wide for bloggers to mine their treasures in this mega-blogging event of the century. You think I’m exaggerating? Hey, just look at that roster; there are about 200 entries covering films from the United States, France, Sweden, Japa   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on November 13, 2015

In Paris, coordinated terrorist attacks in five areas kill over 100 people. When will this end. Here are a few movie clips to show who and why we fight, or realize when we are wrong. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on November 8, 2015

Despair. Devastating. That’s it! I’m done! John Kitzmiller and Carla Del Poggio No more Italian neo-realism for this girl. The story of Jerry and Angela put me over the edge of my emotional endurance. My dealbreaker is 1948’s “Without Pity” or “Senza Pietà” ( in Italian ) directed by Alberto Lattua   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on November 7, 2015

In memory of Maureen O’Hara, scroll to the very bottom of page. “We put our hands to a bargain. To make my hand good, I’ve been spread eagle, flogged. I’ve called red-handed cut-throats my friends. I’ve stood by and watched murders and worst…and that’s not all. Wi   read more