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Decisions, Decisions: She Had to Say Yes (1933)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jan 2, 2012
In light of Loretta Young’s wholesome screen image in the 1940s and 1950s, it has been a real kick for me to discover her pre-Code films. I’ve already discussed two of them at Shadows and Satin – Born to Be Bad and Employees Entrance – and I’m also fond of several others, including Midnight read more
Quotes in Pre-Code: She Had to Say Yes (1933)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jan 1, 2012
“Uh uh — can look, but mustn’t touch. Say, listen — just because you’re a customer, I don’t have to let you move in, body and soul, do I? Now you be a good little boy, and take your little kiddie car, and go on home before your wifey finds out, see?” Winnie read more
Lucky Star: John Hodiak
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Dec 14, 2011
According to John Hodiak, his film career was sheer luck. “I’ve always been a firm believer in the Fates,” he once said. But luck was not on his side when Hodiak, hailed near the start of his career as “another Gable,” went from leading man to supporting player in a matter of years and, later, read more
A Thoughtful and Deliberate Actor: Lloyd Nolan
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Dec 6, 2011
With appearances in nearly 100 films, most of which are scarcely remembered today, Lloyd Nolan was known as the actor who gave “A” performances in “B” films. However, the respected character actor was not only seen in such notable features as Guadalcanal Diary (1943), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn read more
It’s Not a Threat — It’s a Promise: My Favorite Noir Quotes, Part 2
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Nov 24, 2011
You gotta love the language of film noir. Hard-boiled, cynical, straight to the point and unmistakable — this era of filmmaking offers some of the best quotes in all cinema. Here, I offer for your consideration, Part 2 of my favorite noir quotes — and these ain’t no idle threats . . read more
Jane Russell: On the Dark Side
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Nov 24, 2011
When I think of film noir fatales, Jane Russell is not necessarily the first name that springs to mind. Known mainly for her singing and comedic talents, as well as her voluptuous figure and coal black mane, Russell nonetheless made her mark in the realm of film noir, appearing in three features in read more
True Classics Presents: The Great Citizen Kane Debate
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Nov 13, 2011
When I read about the great Citizen Kane debate that was raging through cyberspace (and hosted by True Classics), I had a hankering to lend my voice. But as you know, Shadows and Satin is devoted to my two cinematic passions – film noir and pre-Code. Citizen Kane, released in 1941, most certainly read more
The Top 10 in Film Noir — Part 2: The Lesser-Known Gems
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Nov 11, 2011
At long last, in response to a request from a Shadows and Satin subscriber (Hello, Jörn!), I’ve finally managed to compile another list of Top 10 films noirs – not the better-known features like the ones I covered here, but the lesser-known gems. These are the movies that are not often mentioned read more
Happy birthday, Claude Rains!
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Nov 9, 2011
In "Mr. Skeffington." Talented, suave, and distinguished, the great Claude Rains was born 122 years ago, on November 10, 1889. He was seen in a wide variety of classic films, from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Now Voyager, to The Sea Hawk and Lawrence of Arabia. Rains also starred in read more
Happy Noir Day — November 1st on TCM!
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Oct 29, 2011
I started this post with grand plans to outline some of the films noirs and pre-Code features coming in November on Turner Classic Movies, but after I opened my trusty Now Playing movie guide and prepared my yellow highlighter for business, I stopped short. For there, listed on the very first day of read more
Scandalous Scenes in Pre-Code: Beauty and the Boss (1932)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Oct 26, 2011
Every now and then I come across a scene in a pre-Code film that literally leaves me with my mouth open. Beauty and the Boss (1932), starring Warren William, David Manners, Mary Doran, and the lovely Marian Marsh, contains such a scene. I haven’t yet seen the entire movie, but from what I’ve been read more
Happy 94th Birthday, Joan Fontaine!
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Oct 22, 2011
Joan Fontaine: Happy birthday! One of our last living cinema legends from Hollywood’s Golden Age, Joan Fontaine, celebrates her 94th birthday on October 22, 2011! Born Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland in Tokyo, Japan, Fontaine is the baby sister of actress Olivia de Havilland, and enjoyed a screen care read more
From Heroes to Heels: My Favorite Noir Quotes, Part 1
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Oct 16, 2011
Film noir, arguably, offers some of the best quotes in all cinema. Along with noir’s distinctive characters, shadowy presentations, labyrinthine plot tangles, and cynical, hopeless tone, it is the hard-boiled dialogue that makes it such a fascinating era of filmmaking. Here’s Part 1 of m read more
Things I Love About The Big Heat (1953)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Oct 10, 2011
Our film begins. I find it hard to believe that, as much as I love The Big Heat, and as many times as I’ve seen it this year alone, I’ve yet to write about it (except to fittingly include it in my list of top 10 films noir). This great movie aired again recently on Turner Classic Movies and, as read more
Things I Love About Baby Face (1933)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Sep 27, 2011
Baby Face (1933) is one of the first pre-Code movies that I saw after I learned what pre-Code was. And it turned out to be a perfect example of these wonderful, fascinating, oh-so-scandalous films. Starring Barbara Stanwyck (who, I believe, comes just after Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in my list read more
The Heel with Charm: Zachary Scott
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Sep 25, 2011
The cad you love to hate. Smooth-talking, darkly handsome and effortlessly sophisticated, Zachary Scott excelled at roles that depicted him as the charming cad you love to hate. In most of his nearly 40 Hollywood features, Scott was cast as the villain who achieved his nefarious ends through the use read more
Tidbits of Trivia
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Sep 23, 2011
Today at Shadows and Satin, some miscellaneous tidbits of noirish trivia . . . Broderick Crawford: Dapper appearance. Voice like a caribou crossed with a streamliner. The distinctive voice of Broderick Crawford (The Mob, Human Desire) was once likened to a cross between “the love call of a caribou read more
Homme Noir Discoveries . . . or, How I Got My Big Break
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Sep 21, 2011
Ever wonder how some of the stars of noir got their big breaks on the big screen? Read on! John Dall, in disguise with his partner in crime, Peggy Cummins, in Gun Crazy. When John Dall (Gun Crazy, The Man Who Cheated Himself) was 10 years old, his father’s work took the family to Panama, where the read more
Forbidden Pleasures: Employees’ Entrance (1933)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Sep 17, 2011
Employees’ Entrance (1933) stars the dashing and delightfully bad Warren William, Loretta Young and Wallace Ford. It’s one of the first pre-Code movies I ever owned, part of the Turner/MGM/UA “Forbidden Hollywood” series, and it’s a gem. The film’s principal characters are Kurt Anderson read more
Femme Dissection: Angel Face
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Sep 15, 2011
Jean Simmons – perhaps best known for her portrayals of pious biblical women, as in The Robe or Spartacus – was an excellent choice for the title role in Angel Face (1952) – a murderous she-wolf in deceptively refined sheep’s clothing. Her polished English accent and velvety eyes combine to read more