Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on October 13, 2015

Like The Fly (1958), The Alligator People (1959) merges science fiction and horror with a premise about dangerous experimentation gone horribly wrong, although in the second movie's case the combination of animal and human traits is intentional rather than tragically coincidental. Thus we get Richar   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on October 13, 2015

Like The Fly (1958), The Alligator People (1959) merges science fiction and horror with a premise about dangerous experimentation gone horribly wrong, although in the second movie's case the combination of animal and human traits is intentional rather than tragically coincidental. Thus we get Richar   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on September 18, 2015

Singin' in the Rain (1952) might be the most popular of Gene Kelly's musical films, but An American in Paris (1951) proved his biggest Oscar success. The Best Picture Winner, directed by Vincente Minnelli, took home six Academy Awards in all, including wins for Best Musical Score and Best Color...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on September 18, 2015

Singin' in the Rain (1952) might be the most popular of Gene Kelly's musical films, but An American in Paris (1951) proved his biggest Oscar success. The Best Picture Winner, directed by Vincente Minnelli, took home six Academy Awards in all, including wins for Best Musical Score and Best Color...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on September 11, 2015

The illustrious Robert Wise directs Born to Kill (1947), a sharp, smart noir drama that showcases the considerable talents of Claire Trevor as its morally ambivalent protagonist. It's an early foray into the genre for Wise, who would go on to direct The Set-Up (1949) and The House on Telegraph...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on September 11, 2015

The illustrious Robert Wise directs Born to Kill (1947), a sharp, smart noir drama that showcases the considerable talents of Claire Trevor as its morally ambivalent protagonist. It's an early foray into the genre for Wise, who would go on to direct The Set-Up (1949) and The House on Telegraph...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on August 28, 2015

Although she makes appearances in two earlier feature films, Bathing Beauty (1944) marks the debut of Esther Williams as a fully realized Hollywood star, with plenty of opportunities to show off her attractive figure and her signature swimming skills. This light, frothy comedy from director George S   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on August 28, 2015

Although she makes appearances in two earlier feature films, Bathing Beauty (1944) marks the debut of Esther Williams as a fully realized Hollywood star, with plenty of opportunities to show off her attractive figure and her signature swimming skills. This light, frothy comedy from director George S   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on August 25, 2015

Where will you find the asphalt jungle? In a lonely place, Where danger lives - There they drive by night, gun crazy, Lured by brute force and the sweet smell of success. Between night and the city, Somewhere past Sunset Blvd. You'll find the lady from Shanghai. "Kiss me deadly,"...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on August 25, 2015

Where will you find the asphalt jungle? In a lonely place, Where danger lives - There they drive by night, gun crazy, Lured by brute force and the sweet smell of success. Between night and the city, Somewhere past Sunset Blvd. You'll find the lady from Shanghai. "Kiss me deadly,"...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on August 11, 2015

Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney, Jr., only have supporting roles in The Black Castle (1952), but their presence adds genre credibility to this minor period thriller directed by Nathan Juran, here making his directorial debut. Richard Greene, Stephen McNally, and Paula Corday are the real stars of the p   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on August 11, 2015

Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney, Jr., only have supporting roles in The Black Castle (1952), but their presence adds genre credibility to this minor period thriller directed by Nathan Juran, here making his directorial debut. Richard Greene, Stephen McNally, and Paula Corday are the real stars of the p   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on July 23, 2015

Atomic age hysteria fuels the British low-budget shocker, Fiend without a Face (1958), in which invisible vampire brain monsters rampage through a Canadian village near a U.S. Air Force base. The title of this picture seriously understates the glorious weirdness of its killer creatures, who lack lim   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on July 23, 2015

Atomic age hysteria fuels the British low-budget shocker, Fiend without a Face (1958), in which invisible vampire brain monsters rampage through a Canadian village near a U.S. Air Force base. The title of this picture seriously understates the glorious weirdness of its killer creatures, who lack lim   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on July 22, 2015

Robert Mitchum takes another dive into darkness in Where Danger Lives (1950), and once again he plays an easy mark for a dangerous dame, this time embodied by the sultry Faith Domergue. An icon of film noir, Mitchum made more celebrated forays into the genre both before and after this...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on July 22, 2015

Robert Mitchum takes another dive into darkness in Where Danger Lives (1950), and once again he plays an easy mark for a dangerous dame, this time embodied by the sultry Faith Domergue. An icon of film noir, Mitchum made more celebrated forays into the genre both before and after this...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on July 17, 2015

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) is a different kind of war story, but its focus on the domestic aftermath of World War II is still powerful today, nearly seventy years after its original release. It certainly spoke to the cultural moment in 1946, winning seven Academy Awards out...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on July 17, 2015

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) is a different kind of war story, but its focus on the domestic aftermath of World War II is still powerful today, nearly seventy years after its original release. It certainly spoke to the cultural moment in 1946, winning seven Academy Awards out...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on July 15, 2015

Shadowy cinematography and a twisted murder plot make Crossfire (1947) seem like standard noir fare, but this movie also has a serious message for its audience about the dangers of prejudice and bigotry. Anti-Semitism is the particular concern, with the murder of a Jewish man setting the action in m   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on July 15, 2015

Shadowy cinematography and a twisted murder plot make Crossfire (1947) seem like standard noir fare, but this movie also has a serious message for its audience about the dangers of prejudice and bigotry. Anti-Semitism is the particular concern, with the murder of a Jewish man setting the action in m   read more