Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on September 3, 2015

Why did I pick Central Park (1932) for my Pre-code Crazy selection of the month? Because, for gosh sakes, it’s got everything in it but the kitchen sink – resulting in an economical 57 minutes of sheer entertainment! (Plus, it stars Joan Blondell. I actually should have said that first!)...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on August 15, 2015

When we first meet Blondie Johnson, she’s begging for help from the Welfare and Relief Association. She tells the unsympathetic operative that she lives in the backroom of a drug store. She and her mother were turned out of their last apartment. They rely on the kindness of their neighbors...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on August 2, 2015

I have to share this with y’all. My choices for August’s Pre-Code Crazy pick came down to two movies: Sadie McKee (1934) and Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise (1931). I love Sadie McKee and I’ve seen it, like, a gazillion times. Before today, I’d seen Susan Lenox just once,...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 15, 2015

It was delightful! It was delicious! It was delovely! It was Day 3 of the 1947 Blogathon! The third and final day of this fabulous event was jam-packed with scrumptious posts from a variety of talented bloggers – so grab yourself a snack, settle back, and enjoy today’s awesome offerings! The   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 14, 2015

Day 1 of the 1947 Blogathon has been absolutely marvelous, truly stupendous, positively outstanding — just downright GREAT! Today’s posts have run the gamut from the exquisite nuns of Black Narcissus to the frenetic antics of Tom and Jerry and everything in between, and we are simply tic   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 14, 2015

Originally posted on Speakeasy: It’s been another wonderful day celebrating the films of 1947, with many bloggers investigating crime and noir, while others highlight comedy and foreign cinema. Lots of memorable stories and performances to enjoy in this collection of posts: . Now Voyaging: The Bac   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 14, 2015

Admittedly, I haven’t seen every movie Lawrence Tierney was in, but I can’t imagine that he ever played the romantic lead or the goofy but lovable sidekick. No, he was just too perfect as the bad guy – the guy who’d kill you as soon as look at you. The...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 3, 2015

Typically, when I review the TCM pre-Code line-up for a given month, several films jump out at me as possible picks for our Pre-Code Crazy series. For the month of July, I’d almost reviewed the entire month before even a single movie caught my fancy – and boy, was I...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 27, 2015

Barbara Stanwyck wore many cinematic hats. This talented thespian first made a name for herself in a series of pre-Code gems, including Night Nurse (1931), Ten Cents a Dance (1931), Forbidden (1932), and the granddaddy of them all, Baby Face (1933). She was also a presence in such dramatic fare...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 23, 2015

I believe it was that great thespian Julianna Margulies who once said, “Do what you love doing.” It was four years ago, today, that I first clicked the “Publish” button on this site and started the Shadows and Satin blog, combining my passion for writing and my passion for classic...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 21, 2015

“I AM big. It’s the pictures that got small.” Sunset Boulevard (1950), which focuses on aging silent film star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), is fairly jam-packed with fascinating couples. There’s Norma and the young, down-on-his-luck writer, Joe Gillis (William Holden), who stumbles into her orbit   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 19, 2015

Sexy? Design for Living? You bet. Directed by Ernst Lubitsch. A cast featuring Miriam Hopkins, Gary Cooper and Fredric March (a trio of lookers if ever there was one). Screenplay by Ben Hecht, based on a Noel Coward play. How could it be anything BUT sexy? This pre-Code confectionery focuses...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 9, 2015

When I think of my favorite beach movies (and I do have some favorite beach movies!), I must admit that film noir doesn’t exactly spring to mind. But when I learned of the Beach Party Blogathon, hosted by Kristina at Speakeasy and Ruth at Silver Screenings, the first movie I thought of...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 8, 2015

I am thrilled to bits to share with y’all that I am the recipient of another Liebster Award! I am ever so grateful to Liz over at Now Voyaging – she’s not only a great writer, but she’s a super nice person, to boot – and if you haven’t checked...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 5, 2015

What do Out of the Past, Born to Kill, Forever Amber, and the Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap have in common? They were all released in 1947! Whether you’re a fan of film noir, comedy, westerns, or four-hankie weepers, you’re sure to have a favorite that hit the big screen in...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 1, 2015

My Pre-Code Crazy pick for the month of June was a no-brainer. As soon as I saw that TCM was airing Hot Saturday (1931), that was all I needed to know. The film stars pre-Code veteran Nancy Carroll, whose huge, expressive eyes and heart-shaped face always put me in the mind of...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on May 16, 2015

When I first heard about the “Favorite Classic Movie” blogathon sponsored by the good folks over at the Classic Film and TV Café, I was tickled pink. My colorful reaction began to fade a bit, though, when I really started thinking about it. After all, my site is devoted to film...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on May 2, 2015

In previous months, my Pre-Code Crazy pick has always been a film that I’ve seen numerous times before. And while I was initially quite certain that this month’s selection also fit into that category, it turns out that I’d actually never seen it before! Oh, I’d seen the film’s beginning...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on April 26, 2015

Jack, Connie, and Tony. Don’t let the smiles fool ya. This ain’t exactly the Gleesome Threesome. Three observations about Men Call It Love. These considerations notwithstanding, I’m here to say that I’m simply wild about this movie and cannot get enough of it. What’s it all about? Men Ca   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on April 18, 2015

Originally posted on Speakeasy: The Great Villain Blogathon 2015 was exceptional. View original 457 more words ~ by shadowsandsatin on April 18, 2015. Posted in Uncategorized Stuff   read more