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From their expressions, I suspect that Jerry and Joan know what’s ahead. The films released during Hollywood’s pre-Code era undeniably have their fair share of admirable, upstanding fellas. There’s Warren William’s long-suffering hubby in Three on a Match (1932). Leslie Howard as the sensitive read more

Ruth Chatterton doesn’t get nearly as much attention as she should. And that’s a real shame. Perhaps best known for co-starring opposite Walter Huston in Dodsworth (1936), Chatterton was a pre-Code icon, appearing in no fewer than 20 features from the era, including some of my favorites – Frisco read more

She stood six-foot-two and weighed in at 230 pounds. She was a performer for more than 30 years, gaining prominence in film, on stage, in radio and television, and entertaining audiences with her “hot” piano playing in supper clubs nationwide. And she possessed a uniquely versatile talent that allow read more

She stood six-foot-two and weighed in at 230 pounds. She was a performer for more than 30 years, gaining prominence in film, on stage, in radio and television, and entertaining audiences with her “hot” piano playing in supper clubs nationwide. And she possessed a uniquely versatile talent that allow read more

December 9, 2016:  the day that we all say HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY to that master of fiery intensity, that possessor of mega-talent, the one who wears that cleft chin so well: Kirk Douglas! Join us in celebrating the centennial of this legendary, first-rate actor by diving into some great posts all abo read more

This month’s TCM pre-Code offerings left me in a fair tizzy when it came to settling on my pick. There’re two first-rate Irene Dunne vehicles — The Secret of Madame Blanche (1933) and No Other Woman (1933). Manhattan Melodrama (1934), the Clark Gable starrer that was the last film seen by read more

Kathie Moffatt was so bad, she was good. On today, the last day of Noirvember 2016, I am pleased to shine a shadowy spotlight (is that even possible?) on my Top 10 Favorite Femmes. In the coming weeks and months, I’ll talk more about each of them, and why I love them so. Sherry Peatty (Marie Windsor read more

Nearly Miss Venice. I simply can’t get enough of movie trivia. I hope you can’t, either . . . At the age of 17, Yvonne DeCarlo was chosen as first runner-up in the Miss Venice bathing beauty contest, and a short time later, she was hired for the chorus line at the Florentine Gardens in H read more

I hate to love Bruno, but I do! Strangers on a Train (1951), masterfully directed by Alfred Hitchcock, tells the story of two men who meet by happenstance on a train, and wind up wholly intertwined in each other’s lives. Especially after one of them murders the wife of the other. The film contains read more

Tune in to TCM on November 27th for The Big Sleep (1946), starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, directed by Howard Hawks, and containing what wins the prize for one of noirs most convoluted plots. Click below for one of my many favorite scenes from the film, featuring Bogart and Sonia Darrin. read more

Now that the last bite of macaroni and cheese has been devoured and every morsel of leftover bird has been recycled into turkey sandwiches, turkey hash or turkey pot pie, it’s time for another installment of the 2016 Turner Classic Movies Film Festival: Even More Adventures in Paradise! Today’s read more

Happy birthday, John Stevens. Born John Daugherty Stephens on today’s date in 1919, Steve Brodie took his screen name from the real-life New York saloon keeper who claimed to have survived an 1886 leap into the East River from the Brooklyn Bridge. The name change helped to jumpstart his fledgl read more

. . . and Joan Crawford! And join me tomorrow for Day 25 of Noirvember!   ~ by shadowsandsatin on November 24, 2016. Posted in Noirvember 2016 Tags: Joan Crawford, Noirvember, Noirvember 2016, Thanksgiving read more

Adler with sister Stella. Film noir is practically overflowing with famous actors who made the era’s anti-heroes come to life. Who can forget Dick Powell in Murder, My Sweet (1944)? Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep (1946)? Robert Mitchum in Out of the Past (1947)? But these big name performers read more

Kim Novak smolders in this one. Some may call Pushover a “poor man’s Double Indemnity” — and the label is understandable. Like Double Indemnity, Pushover stars Fred MacMurray as a respected professional man pulled into a web of deception and murder at the urging of a beautifu read more

Not Norma. Ruth Roman’s parents owned a carnival sideshow in Boston. Roman was first christened Norma, but she was renamed Ruth after a fortune teller predicted that her original moniker would bring bad luck. Years later, Roman and her son, Richard, were passengers aboard the Andrea Doria when read more

Although creating an absolute definition of film noir is sometimes an elusive task, I’ve found over the years that a simplistic but revealing description of the era can be found in some of the frequently repeated words in the titles of the films themselves. Some of these include “fear,” “night,” read more

The beautiful and talented Gene Tierney was born on November 19, 1920. We remember her today. “I dated dozens of men, had fun with all, made commitments to none.” “I approached everything, my job, my romances, my family, with intensity.” “The word actress has always read more

I’m celebrating Noirvember today with one of my favorite pictures — this nighttime shot in Chicago in the 1940s. Tres noir!   Join me tomorrow for Day 19 of Noirvember! ~ by shadowsandsatin on November 18, 2016. Posted in Noirvember 2016 Tags: Chicago, film noir, Noirvember, No read more

A picture, they say, is worth a thousand words. But what about words AND pictures? Today’s Noirvember post serves up some memorable noir quotes and some equally memorable visuals. Enjoy! “You, this’ll be the first time I’ve ever killed anyone I knew so little and liked so we read more