CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on August 1, 2015

These are the stars TCM wants us to spend the summer with. And a fine batch indeed. If you miss any of their films, there’s always the WATCH TCM app for you to play catch-up. Some of the films I’m looking forward to seeing are: “In This Our Life” “Hush,...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on July 26, 2015

I don’t know why Colbert was Oscar’d for “IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT” when clearly, her performance the year before in “TORCH SINGER” ( 1933 ) puts her through her paces royally, and shows her off to good advantage in a grand way. SPOILERS! SPOILERS! FOR GOSH SAKES…SPOILERS! CLAUDETTE COLBERT In...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on July 19, 2015

Yeah, but… …they ain’t got nuthin’ on “SHE HAD TO SAY YES.” Lovin’ pre-code. Adult, frank storylines, lingerie for the fellas and liberated women ( who, of course, have to get married by the end of this playing at work thing ). But “She Had To Say Yes” is such...   read more

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

“And you’re a coward.” Robert Preston, Joan Bennett and Gregory Peck It’s a jungle out there. I believe there are a couple of banner years for classic films. 1939, of course, is the Gold Standard. I’m finding 1932 a pretty special year as well ( pre-code, baby ). But you’ve got...   read more

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

“ON DANGEROUS GROUND”  is a good solid little movie. I’ve read a bit of discussion on “tone” in films; what works…what doesn’t work. “ODG” doesn’t have a big grandiose sweeping story. It has a simple one, in fact. But THIS is a good example of what it looks like when...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on July 5, 2015

I haven’t seen this one in for ever and it is chock full of plot: pirates, typhoon, jewel thieves, unrequited love, rekindled lost love, duty, redemption, Gable struggling between what he wants and what he needs…and the wonderful wardrobe malfunction by Harlow that remains in the picture. What   read more

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

A blogger can’t live by her blog alone. That’s just like talking to yourself. ( Not that there’s anything wrong with that ). There is a community of bloggers out there sharing their love of classic films. I’ve been at this six months now with my own blog – ( thank...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on July 1, 2015

The Ultimate Errol Flynn Leading Lady. The heart and soul of “GWTW.” She weathered victoriously against the hurricane that is Bette Davis. She was a fair maiden, a damsel-in-distress, an old maid learning cruel life lessons from those who should have protected her most. She played a good AND evil...   read more

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

 Overt, covert, explicit or implied, lesbian and gay characters have weaved their presence throughout motion picture history in one way or another. Were there really coded ways to read these characters or just wishful thinking from a population desperately seeking their own positive reflection on t   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on June 27, 2015

Okay. “Don’t know much about history,” as the old Sam Cooke song goes. I hope to learn something in this Classic Movie History Project Blogathon that’ll teach me about Hollywood throughout the decades. Click on this banner, and get yourself a good dose of knowledge. This is a woman’s pic   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on June 26, 2015

I did it. I did it for History. I did not blink. I did not avoid. I did not retreat. I watched a silent movie. “THE CROWD.” WoW! What a simple epic tale of the life of a young man. I was stunned and amazed by the simple, straightforwardness of...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on June 19, 2015

Ra-ta-ta-ta, ta-ta-ta, ta-tahhhhh! WHEW!!! I need a cigarette. STAT!!! Well wouldn’t you if you were participating in the Sex Blogathon? Yep. Click on this banner and dive <—into the smorgasbord of sex and desire in classic cinema by bloggers all over the blogosphere. My contribution will   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on June 14, 2015

I’ve got a twisted pretzel in “THE FLAME WITHIN.”  In this film, Harding does not want to marry. Big deal you say? Yeah, me too. But this is the 30’s and every woman wants to be married. Or NEEDS to be married. In fact it’s like there’s some kinda Law on...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on June 10, 2015

Hi – I started off my sixth month of blogging by telling you my favorite films made in the 1930’s. I don’t know if you had a chance to go through it because it was lot of information. But if you did, thank you, and you could compare your list...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on June 10, 2015

I’d like to thank my friends and family and, well…you know who you are. Apparently in the world of blogging, you can win stuff. Who knew? And now that I’ve won this award…I just do not know what to do with myself. Well a good place for me to start...   read more

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

                Lee Tracy and Jean Harlow in Victor Fleming’s “BOMBSHELL” ( 1933 ) Folks, for my money “BOMBSHELL” ( 1933 ) is a qualitative, unequivocal hit. Loud, shrill, over-the-top, shrieking, sharp and most of all…funny? It’s those very elements that offers up my...   read more

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

She wasn’t a dramatic actress, but she could do drama. She wasn’t a comedic actress, but she could handle comedy. Her name seems to have fallen in between the cracks when one talks about the Lombards and Harlows, Stanwycks and Davises, Hepburns and Russells. She was regular. She was Paulette...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on June 1, 2015

This is the big year for classic movies. 1939. And as Sinatra would sing, this was a very good year. I’m sure everyone’s 1939 list differs. I offer up mine. Again, these are movies that I like above all else I’ve seen. I know I’ve got a long loooong way...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on June 1, 2015

My my. What a paltry little list I have. L0L! I’ve seen twenty-seven movies this year ( a couple from M-G-M, a couple from the Brothers Warner ). But I even had to remove some names because I wasn’t really being truthful with myself. Oh, I liked a bunch of...   read more

CineMaven's Essays from the Couch Posted by Theresa Brown on June 1, 2015

I’ve seen many movies in 1937; ones that I like a lot. But “like-a-lot” and “favorite” are two different things. ( What, no Garbo? Yeah, no Garbo. ) ___________________________________________________________________________ THE AWFUL TRUTH –  (  Leo McCarey  )        Cary Grant, Ralph   read more