CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on October 29, 2015

I believe in monsters. Don’t you? If they didn’t exist, how could Universal Pictures be able to feature them as a hallmark of their brand? Why, in this blogathon alone there are several entries covering monsters. If you click on The Universal Blogathon banner you will find those entries and...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on October 29, 2015

“The Cobra Goddess will avenge herself. One by one you will die!!” No no, she’s not talking about you guys.  You, please, keep reading… The Metzingers over at the SILVER SCENES blog is holding their Universal Pictures blogathon. When I think of Universal Pictures, the first thing that comes   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on October 18, 2015

Anthropologist Helen Fisher says: “People live for love. They kill for love, they die for love. They have songs, poems, novels, sculptors, paintings, myths and legends.” IF YOU WANT A THING YOU CAN’T HAVE…DO YOU  REALLY  WANT IT? Next month, the “What A Character! Blog   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on October 18, 2015

  That’s right…THE  Tab Hunter! And even got to ask him three questions. The Village East on Manhattan’s East 11th Street and Third Avenue was showing a very limited run of the new documentary: “TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL” so I made the trek into the East Village to see it   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on October 11, 2015

“The two most beautiful things in the world are the Taj Mahal and Dolores del Rio.” – George Bernard Shaw. But more on that later… Aurora’s Once Upon A Screen blog is hosting its second annual Hollywood’s Hispanic Heritage Blogathon. And what better way for me to contribute to Hollywood   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on October 9, 2015

Here I am in NYC’s Museum of Modern Art ( MoMA ) waiting for the day’s movie, when I saw the giant poster of the subject of my blog today. I asked the kind Security Guard lady to do me a favor and take my picture. I’m being Lewton’d here...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on October 6, 2015

      We classic film fans all have our favorite screen teams: Tracy and Hepburn, Fred and Ginger, Powell and Loy. You name ‘em, we got ‘em. But what about that most symbiotic of all relationships in motion pictures – The Director and His Star? I know, I know. These...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on October 3, 2015

IMAGINE. A big cheese like the former Mayor of Asbury Park, Ed Johnson, asking a small fry like me to introduce a classic film. So I am…and am flattered and honored to do it: I have to admit, my blood runs cold as soon as this movie’s music starts underneath the...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on September 20, 2015

“I want ten pounds of kumquats. And I’m in a hurry!” My friend Sheila asked me once if I’d seen “Mr. Muckle.” Huh? Who? She told me to watch it. I wasn’t that crazy about W.C. Fields, but she’s a friend so I watched. From that instant I became a...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on September 20, 2015

A DELIGHTFUL MELEE See the trailer Even though my formative years of education ( K – 12 ) ended in 1970 ( yes, I am a Hunter College graduate ), it is indelibly etched in my DNA what the Fall…what September means. It does NOT mean autumnal colors or the...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on September 16, 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN BACALL When Lauren Bacall looks at you, or gives you her side-eye glance, brothers and sisters…you  are  done! Her eyes are scorching laser beams, slicing through you like butter. Her gravelly voice can be commanding, withering or mesmerizingly sultry. When she died las   read more

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

Was there any director who could expertly tackle so many different genres as William A. Wellman? When I look over his filmography, I see he’s one tough cookie. His films look issues squarely in the eye. Think about his gangster, western, war, adventure,  satire and message movies. Many of his films   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on August 29, 2015

I shouldn’t admit, but I’m gonna admit. I am a BIG fan girl for INGRID BERGMAN. There I said it. TMI? Look, I love Barbara Stanwyck and I love Bette Davis. But my heart belongs to Ingrid Bergman. She is one of the most beautiful women in motion pictures. M-G-M’s...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on August 28, 2015

INGRID BERGMAN was born August 29th 1915. She died August 29th 1982. In preparing for the Wonderful Ingrid Bergman Blogathon, which started yesterday, I have been combing through photos of her and made a couple of connections. Alright, ya got me. This is just an excuse to post some photos...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on August 16, 2015

I saw the announcements for the ANTI-DAMSEL BLOGATHON hosted by Fritzi of MOVIES SILENTLY and Jo of THE LAST DRIVE-IN and my heart skipped a little beat. No arrythmia, nothing serious, nothing to call 9-1-1 about, but it did do a small happy dance. This quote in particular caught my eye: “Let’s...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on August 15, 2015

BARRYMORE. Maurice Barrymore and wife Georgiana Drew Barrymore The name alone is regal. They were the most prestigious acting family America has ever produced. The Barrymore name harkens back to near the end of the 19th century, the Drew name goes back to the beginning of the 19th century and...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on August 9, 2015

“Dodsworth.” I know “Dodsworth.” You know “Dodsworth.” I know you know “Dodsworth.” You know I know “Dodsworth” and I know you know I know “Dodsworth.” So let me quit beating around the bush and tell you briefly my thoughts on “Dodsworth.” What an excellent motion picture. I enjoy 1936’s “Dodsworth   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on August 4, 2015

TERESA WRIGHT. There were many very pretty girls-next-door in 1940’s Hollywood: Evelyn Keyes, Cathy O’Donnell, Esther Williams,  Allene Roberts and of course…Donna Reed. But my favorite of favorites is Teresa Wright. It’s not just that we share the same name ( me with the “H” and her without   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on August 2, 2015

 THE BRITISH ARE COMING! THE BRITISH ARE COMING! I greeted the British invasion with swoons and shrieks. When John, Paul, George and Ringo sang “I Want to Hold Your Hand” on the Ed Sullivan Show, I was right there with all the girls in class picking out my favorite Beatle....   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on August 2, 2015

In early July I jumped on the Criterion Collection’s DVD sale at Barnes & Noble, and picked up an Austrian film called “REVANCHE” ( 2008 ). You can find it on Amazon. Directed by Götz Spielmann  in a very slow and deliberate way, the film features a European cast including:...   read more