Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on February 9, 2016

Registered Nurse may not crop up on many lists of must-see Pre-Codes, but for my money, it’s 63 minutes of worth-your-time cinema. Released in April 1934, Registered Nurse stars Bebe Daniels as Sylvia Benton, a wealthy Connecticut socialite whose would-be carefree life is marred by the fact that he   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on February 3, 2016

If you recall, I began last month’s Pre-Code Crazy post by stating that I’m not exactly wild about musicals. And what do you think? My pick this month is another musical! What is going on?!?! I’ll admit, February on TCM isn’t exactly brimming with pre-Code gems, but when I saw...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on January 7, 2016

If you know anything about me at all, you might know that I’m not a huge fan of musicals. Oh, don’t get me wrong – I definitely have my favorites, like Golddiggers of 1933, 42nd Street, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Singin’ in the Rain and, of course, The Wizard Oz. But as...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on December 6, 2015

Before my youngest daughter goes off to college next year (sniff!), I am determined to cram her with as much film noir as I can. In the last several months, I’ve had the opportunity to take her to see three of my favorites on the big screen (which is pretty...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on December 4, 2015

The pickings for pre-Code in the month of December are not exactly abundant, if you know what I mean. Aside from films that I’ve previously recommended – like Three on a Match – nothing really jumped out at me while reviewing my monthly TCM guide until my eyes fell upon When...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 30, 2015

If you know anything about me at all, you know that Double Indemnity is my favorite film noir, without question or hesitation. It’s the film that, when I wasn’t quite a teen, introduced me to the world of noir. I hadn’t yet heard of film noir at that tender age,...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 30, 2015

For my final contribution for Noirvember 2015, I offer up a tale as dark as any noir scenario – but this one was true: the rise and fall of Lynne Baggett. Baggett was born in 1924 in Wichita Falls, Texas (also the birthplace of Broadway actor Tommy tune and professional...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 28, 2015

Today’s Noirvember post takes a look at two films: one from the film noir era and one from the pre-Code era. Did you know…? Join me tomorrow for Day 29 of Noirvember! ~ by shadowsandsatin on November 28, 2015. Posted in Noir Films, Noirvember 2015 Tags: Convicted, film noir, Glenn...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 27, 2015

During a recent book sale, I brought home a great haul of film-related books – one of them was the Guinness Book of Movie Facts and Feats (1991) by Patrick Robertson. For today’s Noirvember post, I’m sharing some of the trivia I found in this book on noir films and their...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 26, 2015

Today’s Thanksgiving Day quote: “Decency and integrity are fancy words, but they never kept anybody well fed. And I’ve got quite an appetite.” Jack Early (Howard Duff) in Shakedown (1950). ~ by shadowsandsatin on November 26, 2015. Posted in Uncategorized Stuff   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 26, 2015

Femme fatale:  an attractive and seductive woman, especially one who will ultimately bring disaster to a man who becomes involved with her. For today’s Noirvember post, I’m offering a pictorial of my favorite femmes fatales. Did yours make the list? Dr. Lillith Ritter (Helen Walker) in N   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 24, 2015

They Won’t Believe Me, one of many fabulous noir features released in 1947, contains enough twists and turns to satisfy any noir fan; a would-be sympathetic protagonist who’s really a heel; and instead of a love triangle, a love QUADRANGLE. But that’s not the story I’m telling today. Today’s Noirvem   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 23, 2015

One of the many cool features on one of my favorite blogs, Vienna’s Classic Hollywood, displays foreign posters of some of Hollywood’s greatest films. In a nod to Vienna’s blog, today’s Noirvember post serves up 10 fantastic foreign film noir posters. Enjoy! The Enforcer (195   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 22, 2015

Blessed with a talent for versatility, Jean Hagen is probably best known for her performance as a self-centered silent screen star in Singin’ in the Rain (1952), but she was also featured in three films noirs: The Asphalt Jungle (1950), Side Street (1950), and The Big Knife (1955). Today’s Noirvembe   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 22, 2015

Perhaps most familiar to modern audiences for his television roles in the popular series Cannon and Jake and the Fatman, William Conrad possessed talents that stretched far beyond his portrayals of stocky small-screen lawmen. During his 50-year career, he served in such varied capacities as producer   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 21, 2015

Neville Brand was once told that his face looked as though the entire Russian Army had conducted a three-day battle on it in their mountain climbing boots. The actor with the craggy kisser and villainous reputation wasn’t offended. “Guys like me will be around this town a lot longer than...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 20, 2015

Thanks to a recent comment from fellow blogger Carol over at The Old Hollywood Garden, I was reminded of a list I wrote last year that consisted of my top 25 classic movies. It includes all types of films, from Gaslight to It’s a Wonderful Life to All About Eve — and six...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 18, 2015

New York Confidential (1955) is one of my favorite lesser-known noirs. It stars Richard Conte – and that fact alone is worth the price of admission – who’s ably backed by a stellar line-up that includes Broderick Crawford, Anne Bancroft, J. Carroll Naish, Marilyn Maxwell, and Mike Mazurki. Pen   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 17, 2015

Did you catch Kiss of Death on TCM the other night? You know, the one where Richard Widmark rolls a wheelchair-bound Mildred Natwick down a flight of stairs, and then cracks up laughing? (Yikes.) For today’s Noirvember post, here’s one of my favorite lines from the film, delivered by Wid   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on November 16, 2015

Barbara Payton’s life was more noirish than the noiriest noir. But that’s not the story we’re telling today. (Some snowy night, in front of the fire, as Margo Channing would say.) Instead, we’re simply remembering this lovely but tragic actress on the occasion of her birth, N   read more