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Hello dear readers, my goodness, it has been a long time since I’ve posted. I’ve been so busy with various projects that I feel that Backlots has been relegated to the back burner. I still owe you the post about my final day at the TCMFF, but I’m here to announce another festival read more

YouTube Film Noir Series "The Port of San Pedro" A new YouTube series, The Port of San Pedro, captures the look and feel of film noir movies of the 1940s and 50s. Created by Cleo Valente and shot in black and white, the series takes place in the Port of San Pedro in California. Cast and crew read more

YouTube Film Noir Series "The Port of San Pedro" A new YouTube series, The Port of San Pedro, captures the look and feel of film noir movies of the 1940s and 50s. Created by Cleo Valente and shot in black and white, the series takes place in the Port of San Pedro in California. Cast and crew read more

The Seattle International Film Festival announced its 2015 line-up today, and it is going to be a fantastic year for classic film fans. SIFF has long offered a bold and fascinating program of archival movies, but as I enter my third year of covering the festival, now in its 41st year, I have never b read more

Eyes of the Underworld began production on May 1, 1928 at Universal Studios, under the direction of Leigh Jason; filming was completed by the middle of August of ‘28.[1] One month later, Eyes, was assigned the opening date of April 28, 1929, by Universal; this date remained the same in all Hollywoo read more

Eyes of the Underworld began production on May 1, 1928 at Universal Studios, under the direction of Leigh Jason; filming was completed by the middle of August of ‘28.[1] One month later, Eyes, was assigned the opening date of April 28, 1929, by Universal; this date remained the same in all Hollywoo read more

Eyes of the Underworld began production on May 1, 1928 at Universal Studios, under the direction of Leigh Jason; filming was completed by the middle of August of ‘28.[1] One month later, Eyes, was assigned the opening date of April 28, 1929, by Universal; this date remained the same in all Hollywoo read more

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One year, one film: 1931 The film: Dracula, dir. Tod Browning starring Bela Lugosi Rating: Recommended | Highly Recommended | MUST-SEE (Image via Wikimedia Commons) Bela Lugosi gives an iconic performance in the title role of this early-’30s Universal horror flick. Tod Browning, best-known f read more

For those who live in Los Angeles and are going through a bit of withdrawal from our time at the recent TCM Classic Film Festival, I hope you'll join me next Saturday for a talk on the influential style of film noir at the historic Egyptian Theatre!    Saturday, April 25th FEMME read more

2015 Turner Classic Movies Film Festival: Tips for next year and beyond As noted in previous posts, Turner Classic Movies Film Festival was a wonderful experience, beyond this first-timers expectation. There were so many things going on at one time that it was difficult to decide what to do. In read more

2015 Turner Classic Movies Film Festival: Tips for next year and beyond As noted in previous posts, Turner Classic Movies Film Festival was a wonderful experience, beyond this first-timers expectation. There were so many things going on at one time that it was difficult to decide what to do. In read more

I couldn't think of a better way to start day four of TCMFF than with the rousing opening number of Calamity Jane (1953). Doris Day standing on top of a speeding stagecoach singing at the top of her lungs was quite the eye-opener. Though I knew it was ridiculous, there was a part of me that hop read more

Image Source Saturday was one of the most purely enjoyable days of the festival. All I did was watch movies and I think the simplicity of it all appealed to me. My energy started to flag a little, partly because I hadn't had a sit down meal for too long, and because I attempted another midnight mo read more

I  went light on the movies the second day of TCMFF. Only at a film festival can you say that seeing four flicks in a day is a "light" viewing schedule. After the Christopher Plummer hand/foot print ceremony (which I wrote about here), I had planned to see The Proud Rebel (1958) with Ala read more

CLOSING NIGHT I wind up this year’s 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival by seeing two of Hollywood’s biggest stars in person, confirming once and for all, in my mind…they actually EXIST. And I also got to hang out at a pretty cool after-party. The first movie I ever saw with a bunch of kids, ( read more

April is the Lucky Movie Month Mary PickfordThe Little Princess "Is it any wonder that the same sign of the Zodiac should produce Mary Pickford the screen's best known star and Charlie Chaplin, the screen's greatest artist?  "Is it to be wondered that Harold Lloyd and Lon Chaney and Thoma read more

2015 Turner Classic Movies Film Festival Recap: Day 4 Day four of the TCM Film Festival was bittersweet. Sweet because there were some great movies on the schedule and bitter because I knew the festival was soon coming to an end. As usual, several movies were running on or around the same time, read more

2015 Turner Classic Movies Film Festival Recap: Day 4 Day four of the TCM Film Festival was bittersweet. Sweet because there were some great movies on the schedule and bitter because I knew the festival was soon coming to an end. There were some interesting choices to make. As usual, several mo read more

If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, in the following one it should be fired. – Anton Chehkov ACT ONE: (Interior) A plane bound for Hollywood. WILL, a handsome reporter who looks younger than his 45 years thanks to decades of moisturizer use, boards expectantly. Before he can stow read more