MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on February 6, 2012

Welcome to another installment of Name that Movie Poster. Can you guess what movie the poster advertised despite my having concealed its title and key players’ names? If you cannot guess off the bat, tell me the quiz is too hard and I’ll give you a hint. To see if your...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on February 3, 2012

Something to Sing About (1937) Something to Sing About had a number of things going against it when I sat down with it last weekend. The DVD was one of those cheap three-movies-in-one discs and the picture quality was choppy from the start. I certainly thought to myself at the beginning...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on February 2, 2012

     I recently watched two more Screen Directors Playhouse episodes, one of which was highly thrilling the other of which was greatly amusing. The first, White Corridors, was like a mini horror movie. We open on Linda Darnell as Ellen who is distressfully driving her convertible with a panting pas   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 31, 2012

The Letter (1940)      For anyone who has ever seen Bette Davis in The Letter, I am sure there is one scene that we all retain as the most memorable: the opening one. We hear a shot fired and the camera brings us to a man stumbling out the front...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 30, 2012

Road to Singapore (1931)      Before you get ahead of yourself I must warn that this is not a post about the Bing Crosby-Bob Hope road movie. This unsavory William Powell romance has nothing to do with the string of movies that all but trademarked the title “Road to …” ....   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 25, 2012

Boom Town (1940)      One could potentially maintain a blog focused solely on movies employing the hackneyed plot element that ties financial success with romantic promiscuity. Thankfully this approach is usually a minor aspect of a greater story as is the case of the two very different movies I&#8   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 12, 2012

Love on the Run (1936)      If one were to pit Franchot Tone against Clark Gable in vying for a woman’s affections on screen who would win? One might say the answer depends on the woman. In the case of Love on the Run, Joan Crawford is our leading lady, but...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 11, 2012

     Do you know what 1956 television audiences apparently found funny? A man who is skilled at putting together an organized breakfast. I concede that in the Screen Directors Playhouse episode Apples on the Lilac Tree that a group of wives greeting each other in the hallway of their apartment buil   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 10, 2012

The Kid (1921) I find it difficult to think of Charlie Chaplin as anything but a comedic actor, but one of his most notable films is in essence a drama. The Kid was the silent star’s first feature-length picture at one-hour in length. Associated First National Pictures was reluctant to...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 6, 2012

Animal Crackers (1930)      I am sure glad I did not start my trek into the world of the Marx Bros. chronologically because Animal Crackers sure disappointed me. I have appreciated the movies the men made that borrowed material from their stage shows, but this second of their motion pictures...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 5, 2012

That Funny Feeling (1965)      I fell in love with Bobby Darin as a singer vicariously through Kevin Spacey. That would sound nonsensical if you were unaware of a contemporary flick called Beyond the Sea. That musical biopic was written, directed, produced and starred in by Spacey as his favorite s   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 4, 2012

     What was going on with the institution of marriage in 1956? Based on my viewing of two episodes of Screen Directors Playhouse from that year I would conclude that no one took that romantic bond very seriously. The two disheartening stories of married couples in What Day Is It?...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 3, 2012

The House I Live In (1945)      I am not sure whether it is really worth giving the 10-minute short The House I Live In a rating as it is not something one can really grade. The only reason I sat down with this quickie is because I’m such a Frank...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 2, 2012

San Francisco (1936) All I really remembered from my past viewing of San Francisco years ago was that it had to do with the San Fran earthquake of 1906, but as I began watching it this week, I started to question that conclusion. Although this Clark Gable movie concludes with...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on December 30, 2011

Turner Classic Movies has yet again arranged for one of the funniest comedy groups to take over New Year’s Eve programming. For those of you looking for something to do for the 14 hours leading up to your evening plans for the holiday, the network has arranged for me you...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on December 28, 2011

Lady L (1966) It is easy to forget or perhaps not even contemplate that Sophia Loren was actually a very talented actress because she played so many fun or purely sexual parts. Lady L is not an example of a film that showed off her acting talent in a serious...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on December 27, 2011

Sudden Fear (1952) What would be more shocking: Discovering the man you just married and are mad about doesn’t love you and is having an affair or that he wants to kill you for your money? I had a hard time deciphering which of these circumstances, which come hurtling at...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on December 25, 2011

Welcome to the holiday installment of Name that Movie Poster. Can you guess what movie the poster advertised despite my having concealed its title and key players’ names? If you cannot guess off the bat, tell me the quiz is too hard and I’ll give you a hint. For this one...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on December 21, 2011

Welcome to the fourth installment of Name that Movie Poster. Can you guess what movie the poster advertised despite my having concealed its title and key players’ names? If you cannot guess off the bat, tell me the quiz is too hard and I’ll give you a hint. To see...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on December 20, 2011

Anything Goes (1956)      I have been wanting for some time to see any version of Anything Goes I can manage to because I am such a big Cole Porter fan. The version I found is one of three featuring Bing Crosby in a lead part. He starred in the...   read more