Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 8, 2012

Orson Welles’ tense post-war thriller, The Stranger (1946), is not as famous as his most iconic films, but as an example of Wellesian noir it stands up very well against The Lady from Shanghai (1947) and Touch of Evil (1958), and it shares with both of them a delirious sense...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 7, 2012

Directed by Edmund Goulding, Grand Hotel (1932) is unique in the annals of Oscar history; it is the only Best Picture winner not even to be nominated for any other awards. Despite the Academy’s odd response to the film, Grand Hotel offers a lot more to the modern viewer than...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 7, 2012

Directed by Edmund Goulding, Grand Hotel (1932) is unique in the annals of Oscar history; it is the only Best Picture winner not even to be nominated for any other awards. Despite the Academy’s odd response to the film, Grand Hotel offers a lot more to the modern viewer than...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 7, 2012

Directed by Edmund Goulding, Grand Hotel (1932) is unique in the annals of Oscar history; it is the only Best Picture winner not even to be nominated for any other awards. Despite the Academy’s odd response to the film, Grand Hotel offers a lot more to the modern viewer than...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 6, 2012

LEGO totally nailed Frodo's "Ring" face. You have to hand it to LEGO - when they get something right, they really get it right! The single best detail in the LOTR sets is Frodo's "Ring" face. In the films, Frodo falls under the power of the ring when he puts...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 6, 2012

LEGO totally nailed Frodo's "Ring" face. You have to hand it to LEGO - when they get something right, they really get it right! The single best detail in the LOTR sets is Frodo's "Ring" face. In the films, Frodo falls under the power of the ring when he puts...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 6, 2012

LEGO totally nailed Frodo's "Ring" face. You have to hand it to LEGO - when they get something right, they really get it right! The single best detail in the LOTR sets is Frodo's "Ring" face. In the films, Frodo falls under the power of the ring when he puts...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 4, 2012

Patriotism is not a quality one expects in a noir film, but Frank Tuttle’s 1942 picture, This Gun for Hire, reflects the moment of its making. The theme, however, sits awkwardly with the more conventional elements of the genre, especially in the third act. Despite a high profile cast that...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 4, 2012

Before Gone with the Wind (1939), even before Jezebel (1938), there was another 1930s Civil War melodrama, also starring one of Hollywood’s top leading ladies as a Southern belle caught in the crossfire of the conflict. That would be The Littlest Rebel (1935), with a heroine played by that tin   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 4, 2012

Patriotism is not a quality one expects in a noir film, but Frank Tuttle’s 1942 picture, This Gun for Hire, reflects the moment of its making. The theme, however, sits awkwardly with the more conventional elements of the genre, especially in the third act. Despite a high profile cast that...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 4, 2012

Before Gone with the Wind (1939), even before Jezebel (1938), there was another 1930s Civil War melodrama, also starring one of Hollywood’s top leading ladies as a Southern belle caught in the crossfire of the conflict. That would be The Littlest Rebel (1935), with a heroine played by that tin   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 4, 2012

Patriotism is not a quality one expects in a noir film, but Frank Tuttle’s 1942 picture, This Gun for Hire, reflects the moment of its making. The theme, however, sits awkwardly with the more conventional elements of the genre, especially in the third act. Despite a high profile cast that...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on June 4, 2012

Before Gone with the Wind (1939), even before Jezebel (1938), there was another 1930s Civil War melodrama, also starring one of Hollywood’s top leading ladies as a Southern belle caught in the crossfire of the conflict. That would be The Littlest Rebel (1935), with a heroine played by that tin   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on May 29, 2012

Let me start by saying that, overall, I'm pleased as punch with the new LORD OF THE RINGS LEGO sets. They have lots of great figures, neat play spaces, awesome new horses, and *omg!* they aren't a bunch of stupid vehicles (I'm looking at you, STAR WARS). There's just one...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on May 29, 2012

Let me start by saying that, overall, I'm pleased as punch with the new LORD OF THE RINGS LEGO sets. They have lots of great figures, neat play spaces, awesome new horses, and *omg!* they aren't a bunch of stupid vehicles (I'm looking at you, STAR WARS). There's just one...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on May 29, 2012

Let me start by saying that, overall, I'm pleased as punch with the new LORD OF THE RINGS LEGO sets. They have lots of great figures, neat play spaces, awesome new horses, and *omg!* they aren't a bunch of stupid vehicles (I'm looking at you, STAR WARS). There's just one...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on May 26, 2012

With all the awesome new LEGO themes coming out right now, plenty of people will be heading to toy stores looking for AVENGERS, LORD OF THE RINGS, and MONSTER FIGHTERS sets. Let me share some advice that serious LEGO collectors already know: stay away from Toys R Us. The massive...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on May 26, 2012

With all the awesome new LEGO themes coming out right now, plenty of people will be heading to toy stores looking for AVENGERS, LORD OF THE RINGS, and MONSTER FIGHTERS sets. Let me share some advice that serious LEGO collectors already know: stay away from Toys R Us. The massive...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on May 26, 2012

With all the awesome new LEGO themes coming out right now, plenty of people will be heading to toy stores looking for AVENGERS, LORD OF THE RINGS, and MONSTER FIGHTERS sets. Let me share some advice that serious LEGO collectors already know: stay away from Toys R Us. The massive...   read more

Virtual Virago Posted by Jennifer Garlen on May 24, 2012

Check out the Future Classic Movies Blogathon over at Paula's Cinema Club. All the usual suspects get some praise as future classics, as well as some less expected choices. My pick, BRIDE AND PREJUDICE (2004), is posted at The Cinementals. You can also find a longer write-up about the blogathon...   read more