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A Six-Million-Dollar Slander: The High-Stakes Romance and Hilarious Hoaxes of “Libeled Lady” Libeled Lady (1936) directed by Jack Conway, is a breathless, high-stakes MGM screwball comedy that weaponizes romance to avert a devastating legal crisis. The chaos begins when the unscrupu read more

Inside the Hollywood Madhouse: The Frantic Satire of Jean Harlow’s “Bombshell” Bombshell (1933), a fast-paced pre-Code satirical comedy directed by Victor Fleming, stars Jean Harlow as Lola Burns, a glamorous but utterly exhausted Hollywood movie star. Lola is the top “b read more

A “Gentleman’s Agreement” Exposed: Unmasking the Polite Facade of American Anti-Semitism Gentleman’s Agreement (1947) is a groundbreaking social drama that follows Philip Schuyler Green (Gregory Peck), a distinguished, widowed journalist who relocates to New York City wi read more

Shadow of Suspicion: Out of the Foxhole and Into the Noir Light with “Crossfire” Directed by Edward Dmytryk, Crossfire (1947) opens in the shadows of a dimly lit Washington, D.C. apartment, where a Jewish civilian named Joseph Samuels is beaten to death. Police Captain Finlay (Rober read more

2026 #TCMFF Wrap-Up Another Turner Classic Film Festival (TCMFF) is in the books. This year’s festival was held from April 30 to May 3. The anticipation for the TCMFF is huge. Thinking about the film festival helps get me through the Chicago winters. At this festival, I saw 11 movies. Th read more

“Jezebel”: A Southern Firebrand’s Descent from Scandal to Redemption Released in 1938 and directed by William Wyler, Jezebel is a classic Southern melodrama set in 1850s New Orleans. The story follows Julie Marsden (played by Bette Davis), a headstrong and defiant socialite wh read more

“Not as a Stranger”: The Clinical Arrogance and Human Fallibility of Lucas Marsh Not as a Stranger (1955), which marked the directorial debut of Stanley Kramer, centers on Lucas Marsh, a brilliant but cold and fiercely ambitious medical student who views the profession of medicine w read more

Through “The Dark Mirror”: A Twisted Tale of Twins and Terror Released on October 18, 1946, and directed by the noir master Robert Siodmak, The Dark Mirror is a sophisticated psychological thriller that plunges into the unsettling mysteries of identity and the human mind. The story read more

Unlocking the Vault: A Psychological Descent into Hitchcock’s “Marnie” Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Marnie (1964) is a psychological thriller that delves into the fractured psyche of its titular protagonist, played by Tippi Hedren. The story follows Margaret “MarnieR read more

A Journey Through Guilt and Subconscious Shadows: Alfred Hitchcock’s “Spellbound” Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and released in 1945, Spellbound is a pioneering psychological thriller that explores the mysteries of the human subconscious. The film stars Ingrid Bergman as Dr. Co read more

Duty, Dignity, and the Desert: Re-evaluating “Sergeant Rutledge” Directed by John Ford and released in 1960, Sergeant Rutledge is a groundbreaking Western that blends a courtroom drama with the rugged aesthetics of Monument Valley. The film stars Woody Strode in a career-defining ti read more

Catch Up on Our Classic Cinema Discussions! Whether you missed a live session or just want to revisit a favorite film, we’ve made it easy to stay caught up. We are now uploading our Meetup discussions to YouTube, where you can dive deep into the history, trivia, and legacy of the Golden A read more

Martinis, Mystery, and Marriage: William Powell and Myrna Loy in “The Thin Man” Directed by W.S. Van Dyke, the 1934 classic The Thin Man introduces audiences to Nick and Nora Charles, played by the incomparable William Powell and Myrna Loy. Nick is a retired detective who prefers mi read more

“Twentieth Century” (1934) - Egos on the Express: A High-Speed Clash of Broadway Giants Directed by the legendary Howard Hawks, Twentieth Century (1934) is a seminal screwball comedy that captures the high-octane, ego-driven world of Broadway. The story follows Oscar Jaffe, a flambo read more

A Whimsical Experiment in Altruism: Margaret Sullavan as “The Good Fairy” Directed by William Wyler and released in 1935, this sparkling screwball comedy features a screenplay by the legendary Preston Sturges. The story follows Luisa Ginglebusher (Margaret Sullavan), a naive and wid read more

Olivia de Havilland’s Masterclass in “To Each His Own” Directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Olivia de Havilland in an Academy Award-winning performance, To Each His Own (1946) is a sweeping drama that spans nearly three decades. The story begins in London during the Blitz read more

Ambition’s Dark Shadow: Ida Lupino’s Ruthless Rise in “The Hard Way” Set in the gritty landscape of a Pennsylvania coal town, The Hard Way (1943), directed by Vincent Sherman, follows Helen Chernen (Ida Lupino), a woman driven by a fierce, uncompromising desire to escape read more

Spency Tracy and Irene Dunne star in “A Guy Named Joe” A Guy Named Joe (1943) is an American romantic drama directed by Victor Fleming and starring Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne, and Van Johnson in a breakout performance. Also in the cast are Lionel Barrymore, Ward Bond, James Gleason, read more

Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell are “The Women” The Women (1939), directed by George Cukor, is a biting, high-society comedy-drama unique for its entirely female cast—not a single man appears on screen. However, their influence looms over every scene. The st read more

Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney are “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” Set in the early 1900s, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, directed by Joseph Mankiewicz, follows Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney), a headstrong young widow determined to escape her overbearing in-laws and forge an independent life. Against read more