A Report on the Party and the Guests (1966)

A Report on the Party and the Guests (O slavnosti a hostech) Directed by Jan Nemec Written by Esther Krumbachova and Jan Nemec 1966/Czechoslovakia Filmove studio Barradonov First viewing/Criterion Channel I liked this scathing allegory on enforced conformity in a Communist State. A group of friends ... Read full article

"The Chapman Report," or I Kinsey What You Did There

A funny thing happened to movies in the early 1960s -- they got more "daring" in the sense that they included sexual language and dealt with adult themes. The weird thing is, they did this in an awkward, shame-based way -- so much so that they seem downright childish compared to the sense of frankne... Read full article

"The Chapman Report," or I Kinsey What You Did There

A funny thing happened to movies in the early 1960s -- they got more "daring" in the sense that they included sexual language and dealt with adult themes. The weird thing is, they did this in an awkward, shame-based way -- so much so that they seem downright childish compared to the sense of frankne... Read full article

Screening Report: THE KILLERS (1946) at the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival

There are many things I like to do outside; watching movies isn’t one of them. Especially in New York City. Especially in the summer. The popularity of outdoor screenings has always baffled me: humidity; bugs; no seats; imperfect projection; ambient noise/light; shady bathrooms (if any); and t... Read full article

The (Claudette) Colbert report: Get 'Frightened' on Friday

Relatively little has been written over the years about the relationship between Carole Lombard and her Paramount cohort, Claudette Colbert (seen here with Carole at the famed Venice Pier party in June 1935). Perhaps it was because they rarely vied for the same roles, but more likely it was because,... Read full article