Celebrating Summer with a Kino Classics Giveaway (July via Twitter)

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Annmarie Gatti

Celebrating Summer with a Kino Lorber Giveaway!
Winner’s Choice of 4 Classic Titles

Time for our next contest! This time we kick off summer with a Kino Classics giveaway… We are happy to say that we have TEN classic DVD or Blu-Rays to giveaway on Twitter this month, winners’ choice of four titles – western classic The Big Country, Hitchcock’s Under Capricorn, Fritz Lang’s The Woman in the Window, or family favorite The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. And don’t forget to stay tuned because we’ll also be giving away TWO more DVDs/Blu-Rays via a separate Facebook/Blog giveaway this month too. That said, here we go…

alfred hitchcock's under capricorn movie poster Alfred Hitchcock’s Under Capricorn (1949) starring Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten

In order to qualify to win one of these prizes via this contest giveaway, you must complete the below entry task by Saturday, Aug 4 at 10PM EST. However, the sooner you enter, the better chance you have of winning, because we will pick two winners on five different days within the contest period, via random drawings, as listed below… So if you don’t win the first week that you enter, you will still be eligible to win during the following weeks until the contest is over.

  • July 7: Two Winners
  • July 14: Two Winners
  • July 21: Two Winners
  • July 28: Two Winners
  • Aug 4: Two Winners

We will announce each week’s winner on Twitter @ClassicMovieHub (or this blog, depending how you entered), the day after each winner is picked at 10PM EST — for example, we will announce our first week’s winners on Sunday July 8 around 10PM EST.

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Here are the titles up for grabs:

The Big Country: Blu-Ray or DVD available. Newly Mastered in HD! From William Wyler, the legendary director of Mrs. Miniver, The Best Years of Our Lives and Ben-Hur, comes this epic western featuring an incredible cast of screen legends Gregory Peck (On the Beach), Jean Simmons (Elmer Gantry), Charlton Heston (The Ten Commandments), Carroll Baker (Baby Doll) and Burl Ives (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) in his Oscar-winning performance (Best Actor in a Supporting Role). This bold, sweeping tale of a ship’s captain (Peck) who ventures west to find a hotbed of jealousy, hatred and dangerous rivalries. As the reluctant hero is thrust into the maelstrom, he must summon all of his resolve to save not only his own life, but also the life of the woman he loves. The Big Country is an action-packed adventure that triumphs as a work of art. The film’s legendary rousing score by Jerome Moross (The War Lord) was nominated for an Oscar. The stellar cast includes Charles Bickford (Duel in the Sun) and Chuck Connors (TV’s The Rifleman and Branded).

Under Capricorn:  Blu-Ray or DVD available. Brand New 4K Restoration! Mystery, murder and passion from the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock (Lifeboat, Psycho). Screen legends Ingrid Bergman (Joan of Arc, Intermezzo) and Joseph Cotten (Portrait of Jennie, The Farmer’s Daughter) star in Under Capricorn, a lush Technicolor drama. Cotten plays Sam Flusky, a native Briton banished to Australia for murder. Bergman is his wife, Henrietta, the disturbed sister of the man Flusky was convicted of killing. When a new governor (Cecil Parker, 23 Paces to Baker Street) arrives, he brings with him his cousin Adare (Michael Wilding, Stage Fright), an old friend of Henrietta’s, who sets out to help her conquer her demons and return her life to normal. But is Henrietta going insane, or is someone trying to drive her mad? Is she merely an alcoholic, or is someone trying to poison her? No one but Hitchcock could handle these questions with such surefire tension, and the performances by the entire cast are excellent. A rich account of emotional self-sacrifice, Under Capricorn is that rare film which captures the humanity of its characters while keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Beautifully shot by Jack Cardiff (Black Narcissus).

The Woman in the Window:  Blu-Ray or DVD available. Newly Mastered in HD! Richard Wanley (Edward G. Robinson, The Stranger) is no criminal… at least, he wasn’t until he met “the woman in the window.” With his wife and kids out of town, the chaste professor engages in an innocent flirtation with a chance acquaintance (Joan Bennett, Scarlet Street) and inadvertently commits a shocking and unspeakable crime. But that’s just the beginning of his problems, for as the cunning D.A. (Raymond Massey, The Hurricane) – one of Wanley’s dearest friends – gets closer and closer to identifying the killer, Wanley finds he’s more and more willing to resort to desperate measures to avoid being caught. Masterfully directed by the legendary Fritz Lang (Metropolis, Spies), The Woman in the Window is a suspense-laden, gripping thriller with the logic and plausibility of a nightmare. Co-starring Dan Duryea (Storm Fear).

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer:  Blu-Ray or DVD available. This special edition includes both the original 91-minute cut and the 77-minute reissue! In this glorious adaptation of the Mark Twain classic, young Tom Sawyer (Tommy Kelly) is a big troublemaker. When he’s not tricking others into doing his work, he’s upsetting his aunt Polly (May Robson), or wooing his young love, Becky (Ann Gillis). But sometimes Tom’s mischief gets him in over his head, and when he and his pal, Huckleberry Finn (Jackie Moran), witness a murder, they take a vow of silence and head down the river on a raft. The whole town believes they’re dead, so when the boys return they’re in a world of trouble. Norman Taurog (Don’t Give Up the Ship) directed this David O. Selznick (Duel in the Sun) production featuring Walter Brennan (Dakota), Victor Jory (Canadian Pacific) and Margaret Hamilton (Driftwood).

fritz lang's the woman in the window movie posterFritz Lang’s The Woman in the Window, starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett and Raymond Massey

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ENTRY TASK (2-parts) to be completed by Saturday, Aug 4 at 10PM EST— BUT remember, the sooner you enter, the more chances you have to win…

1) Answer the below question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog post

2) Then TWEET (not DM) the following message:
Just entered to win the Summer Kickoff Celebration #DVDGiveaway courtesy of @KinoLorber and @ClassicMovieHub #CMHContest link: http://ow.ly/7vXy30kNKaw

THE QUESTION:
Which of the above films would you like to win and why? 

*If you do not have a Twitter account, you can still enter the contest by simply answering the above question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog — BUT PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ADD THIS VERBIAGE TO YOUR ANSWER: I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.

ALSO: Please allow us 48 hours to approve your comments. Sorry about that, but we are being overwhelmed with spam, and must sort through 100s of comments…

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You can visit Kino Lorber on their website, on Twitter at @KinoLorber or on Facebook.

Please note that only Continental United States (excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and the territory of Puerto Rico) entrants are eligible.

And — BlogHub members ARE eligible to win if they live within the Continental United States (as noted above).

For complete rules, click here.

And if you can’t wait to win any of these titles, you can click on the images below to purchase on amazon :)


Good Luck!

–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

Posted in Contests & Giveaways, Posts by Annmarie Gatti | Tagged , , , , | 41 Comments

Looking at the Stars: The Brown Derby

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Aurora Bugallo

 “It is a place where the stars gather at lunch time and after premieres  to be seen–and to relish some caviar.” – 1932 article about The Brown Derby

There’s a lot to celebrate in the month of July – our country’s independence and hot dogs to name just two. However, I found my topic for this month’s Looking at the Stars while perusing the world wide web recently as the month has been designated National Culinary Arts Month. The history of this month-long celebration is unknown to me, but who needs a reason to celebrate culinary sensations? After all, who doesn’t enjoy food and all its delights?

Considerable thought was given to culinary arts for this month’s posting. We could have easily dedicated an entry to any number of movie star recipes, such as Cary Grant‘s barbecue chicken, Joan Crawford‘s charcoal broiled steak, Oliver Hardy‘s Baked Apples with honey and almonds, or even Elvis Presley‘s rocking peanut butter and banana sandwiches. But there are just too many to choose from so instead we are honoring a famed Hollywood eatery, a favorite of the great and near great, the Hollywood Brown Derby. Brown Derby menu art from 1948 The original Brown Derby restaurant, which opened in 1926 at 3427 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles was built in the shape of a hat hence its name. The restaurant was destined for Hollywood royalty. The Derby was the brainchild of movie producer, restaurateur, and one time husband of Gloria Swanson, Herbert K. Somborn and Robert Cobb, owner of the Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League before major league baseball and the Dodgers moved West. Cobb was at one point married to Gail Patrick. Several newspaper articles of the time mention such original Brown Derby regulars as Mabel Normand, Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino who visited the eatery for its famous home-cooked offerings. When celebrities brought in their own recipes for preparation the dishes often made it onto the menu. This Brown Derby was popular and its image is often thought to be that of the Brown Derby that became part of Hollywood lore, but that distinction went to another one. The original Brown Derby Restaurant on Wilshire Boulevard The original Wilshire Brown Derby location was quickly followed by the Hollywood version in 1929 with two others following suit at 9537 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills in 1931, and the Los Feliz Brown Derby, which stood at 4500 Los Feliz Boulevard. That building was purchased by Cecil B. DeMille who converted it into a Brown Derby in 1941. The most famous and now legendary Brown Derby, however, was the second one, the one that stood on Vine Street off Hollywood Boulevard from its opening day on February 14, 1929 until 1985 when a lease dispute closed its doors forever. It was at this establishment that Hollywood power players made history. It was where careers were made, contracts signed, ideas pitched and many a wrap party took place. The Hollywood and Vince location of the second Brown Derby went far to making that intersection the legendary one it became. This restaurant was placed at a perfect junction between all of the major studios in Hollywood. Major television and radio studios were also nearby, making this particular Derby an instant success with movie actors, studio executives and agents. These movie people ate specially prepared dishes and they drank their favorite drinks, which were made in front of them on rolling carts. The high and mighty of the movie world were catered to at the Brown Derby.

The Brown Derby wasn’t a fancy restaurant by anyone’s standard. The menu featured  traditional, basic dishes at affordable prices. Specialties of the house listed on the 1941 menu include Fresh Chicken Livers sauteed in butter and bacon for $1.50, a plate of Spaghetti Derby for .85, and Creamed Turkey Derby for $1.50. For dessert you could have a slice of the Derby’s famous Grapefruit Cake. And then, of course, you have the Cobb Salad reputed to have been invented at the Brown Derby. One story goes that general manager, Bob Cobb was hungry one night and hastily threw leftovers together. Another that the Cobb Salad was created for showman and theater owner, Sid Grauman, who came in for dinner with mouth work done and needed something easy to chew. Grauman and Somborn were good friends. The reason why doesn’t really matter because the Cobb Salad remained a menu staple at the Derby and is now common everywhere. Cobb Salad from Brown Derby Cookbook

Meet me at the Derby!

Despite the Brown Derby’s simple menu, the rich and famous flocked to the place. “Meet me at the Derby” was heard everywhere. It was the place to be seen if you were a somebody or wanted to be a somebody. The Derby took full advantage of that fact and thrived off of local publicity and word of mouth. In fact, publicity was so important to the establishment that press passes were issued to the likes of Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, who dined for half price. Parsons and Hopper were regular lunch patrons at the Derby and the place got a regular mention in every gossip column of note. And something always happened at the Derby.

Second Brown Derby Restaurant on Vine St. off Hollywood Blvd.

Legend has it that Alfred Hitchcock was first told the story of “Uncle Charlie” by Gordon and Margaret McDonell at the Hollywood Brown Derby. That story became the basis for his film Shadow of a Doubt (1943). In 1933, Marlene Dietrich caused a scene and was refused service, despite her star power, because she showed up to the Derby wearing trousers. Numerous, legendary spats took place at the Brown Derby through the years, as well as many romantic entanglements. Famous imbibers like Spencer Tracy, Pat O’Brien, and Ralph Bellamy often stayed past closing time. (findinglosangeles) Legend also has it that Clark Gable proposed to Carole Lombard at the Hollywood Brown Derby in 1939 in Booth no. 5. I’ve also read that Carole and her mother had lunch at the Derby on her final day in Hollywood before embarking on that fateful bond tour.

Lombard and Gable at the Hollywood Brown Derby

Some of the regulars at the Brown Derby would hear their names over the loud speaker as calls came in for them at which time they would simply pick up the innovative plug-in telephones installed in their booths. Incidentally, booths were assigned to regulars based on name importance. Another sign that you had made it to the big time was having a caricature of your likeness by artists Vitch, Zel, and others up on the walls of the Derby. In contrast, fans and “ordinary” people went to the Brown Derby to dine among their favorite movie stars. Fans usually crowded outside the restaurant doors for autographs and glimpses. This fan wishes she’d been among them.

Interior of the Hollywood Brown Derby with Burns and Allen dining in the foreground

The Brown Derby has been featured in numerous movies. The one that comes to mind is George Cukor’s What Price Hollywood (1932) where both the interior and exterior of the original location appear. Television offered at least two prime examples of the prominence of the Hollywood Derby. The first is The Ralph Edwards Show, better known as This is Your Life. Edwards would always surprise the celebrity being celebrated on the show. As he left the Pantages Theatre, where This is Your Life was filmed, he could easily access the Derby right around the corner to find the unsuspecting celebrity. The episodes featuring the Brown Derby offer a glimpse into the inner happenings as celebrities saw it.

The second and far more popular example of the Hollywood Brown Derby on TV is, of course, the “L.A. at Last” episode of I Love Lucy. Directed by William Asher, “L.A. at Last” is the first of the Hollywood Lucy episodes and it remains one of the best. While Ricky is at a studio meeting, Lucy and the Mertzes go about Hollywood to look for movie stars and end up at the Brown Derby where they run into Eve Arden and William Holden. Well, “run into” is an understatement, particularly when it comes to Holden who ends up with a plate of food all over him as a result.

Lucille Ball and William Holden in I Love Lucy episode, L. A. at Last filmed at the Hollywood Brown Derby

 

The Hollywood Brown Derby was destroyed in a fire in 1987, the Beverly Hills restaurant was razed in 1983, and the original building sporting the famed hat was partially incorporated into a shopping center in 1980. Although all reports say “partially” no details or pictures were found to show any piece of the original restaurant survives on that property. The only remaining building of the original four is the one on Los Feliz Blvd., which was declared a historic cultural monument by the City of Los Angeles in 2006, protecting it from demolition or significant alteration. The building has been home to a bank and a restaurant among other things since the Los Feliz Derby closed for business in 1960.

The significance of the history lost when these icons of Hollywood were demolished leaves one dumbfounded. Our only choice is to remember the stories told of the important people who filled the air with the chatter of Hollywood’s golden age – they wheeled, dealed, and enjoyed culinary sensations made specifically for them.

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Similarly themed pages…

Hollywood Walk of Fame – Hollywood Blvd.

Hollywood Walk of Fame – Vince StreetVine Street

Grauman’s Chinese Theatre 

Movie Sites/Locations

The Baker’s Wife (1938)

 Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978)

Fast Food (1989)

Movie quotes about food

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Until next month, –Aurora Bugallo for Classic Movie Hub.

Aurora Bugallo is a classic film-obsessed blogger, and co-founder and co-host of the Classic Movies and More Youtube show. You can read more of Aurora’s articles at Once Upon a Screen, or you can follow her on Twitter at @CitizenScreen.  

Posted in Looking at the Stars | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

What’s Happening in Classics: July 2018

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Annmarie Gatti

The CMH Guide for July 2018:
Movie Screenings, TV Schedules, Contests and More!

What's happening in classic movies and tv classic movie hub guide

Welcome to our monthly ‘CMH Guide’ for Classics! And welcome summer. We’re hoping this handy dandy classic movie & TV guide will help you plan for a classic-viewing July 🙂

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steve mcqueen tcm star of month

TCM…

  • Star of the month: Steve McQueen – Spend Thursdays primetime with the “king of Cool”
  • TCM Spotlight: 50 States in 50 Movies – Mondays and Tuesdays in July, take a summer trip to regions across the U.S. in the cool comforts of your own home with this destination-inspired list of films
  • TCM Presents: Saturdays mornings- Classic MGM cartoons and shorts
  • Slavery In Film: July 18th and 25th – Film historian Donald Bogle joins Ben Mankiewicz for a two part retrospective with a fascinating perspective on the history of slavery as examined via 7 films
  • Happy Independence Day: Wednesday, July 4th explore a patriotic line-up of movies even Betsy Ross would approve
  • Noir Alley: Saturdays at midnight ET/Sundays at 10am ET– Eddie Muller hosts “Armored Car Robbery” (1950), “Party Girl” (1958), “Roadblock” (1951), “Dark Passage” (1947), “Scene Of The Crime” (1949)

For more info about what’s playing on TCM this month, visit the TCM Movie Schedule at CMH here.

film struck yankee doodle dandy

FilmStruck… subscription needed…

  • Contest: Check back here on this blog for our ongoing contests, but don’t delay! Our first FilmStruck Contest end July 28th — CMH will be giving away one-year subscriptions to FilmStruck all month long!
  • Star Of The Week: New Stars of the Week including James Cagney, Gene Kelly and more!
  • Films: Fresh content added in this month’s library from “Anchor’s Away” to “What’s Up Doc”
  • Featured Collections: Natalie Wood, Miss Marple, Greta Garbo, and more!
  • Podcast: Alicia Malone hosts a lively podcast with fascinating guests…
  • FilmStruck Forum: CMH just launched our monthly FilmStruck Column – join the conversation!

Especially for CMH Fans:)

filmstruck exclusive 30-day trial subscription

Movies TV Network…

  • Always a nice collection of classics mixed into the Movies TV Network schedule (which also includes more recent films). This month’s mix includes The African Queen, Peyton Place, The Stranger, They Made Me A Criminal, Black Widow, Murder On The Orient Express and more.
  • And Sunday Night Noir.
  • And five new affiliates coming soon: Charlotte NC, Salt Lake City UT, Boise ID, Wausau WI and Victoria TX.
  • Where to Watch.

GetTV… Classic Movies and Retro TV…

MeTV…

Antenna TV…

Decades TV… 

New Addition – Pluto TV… Would love to know what you think of this free streaming movie service…

  • Pluto TV is like an old-school TV set — you flip through the channels to see what’s on. The good news is that the service is FREE, and they have a Classic Movie Channel and a Classic TV Channel.  Would love to know what you think… 
  • Classic Movie Channel
  • Classic TV Channel
  • You might want to check out the other channels as well, right now I’m seeing a really cool Beatles Hamburg documentary on their Live Music Replay Channel

Fathom Events “TCM Big Screen Classics”… movies on the Big Screen at select theaters nationwide…

fathom events tcm big screen classics 2018Click above to see the full Fathom Events classic movie schedule

Blogathons…

For a full listing of Blogathons, click here. Or add your own and we will help promote it.

TCM Parties for June… Follow along and live tweet using the #TCMParty hashtag…

Check out the complete list and times here.

Movie Screenings across the US…

From Indiscreet to Rio Bravo and more, check out the CMH Event Calendar to see what’s playing at Theaters across the US including:

If we’re missing a ‘classic movie’ theater in your neighborhood, please let us know!

ClassicMoviesEvents300 cropped
Click above to visit the CMH Events Calendar

And of course our Monthly Contests! Including:

For a listing of all of our CMH contests, click here.

And a Happy Classic Viewing to All!

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–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

Posted in Posts by Annmarie Gatti, What's Happening in Classics | Leave a comment

Western Roundup: Five of my Favorite Westerns

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Laura Grieve

Western Roundup: Five of my Favorite Westerns

From John Ford and John Wayne to Tim Holt and Hopalong Cassidy, Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea to George O’Brien and Johnny Mack Brown, and all points in between, I love Westerns! I’m truly delighted to have the opportunity to share my deep affection for the genre at Classic Movie Hub and hope my pieces will remind readers of some favorite viewing memories while also pointing them in the direction of new Westerns to check out. By way of introduction, here are five of my all-time favorite Westerns:

Wagon Master Johnson CareyBen Johnson and Harry Carey Jr. in Wagon Master (1950).

Wagon Master (John Ford, 1950)

This deceptively simple film often cited as one of director Ford’s personal favorites, encapsulates everything I love about Westerns, with a great — if relatively lesser-known — cast in awe-inspiring locations, backed by beautiful music. Ben Johnson, who was still a couple decades away from winning an Oscar, and Harry Carey Jr. play a pair of nice young cowboys who sign on to guide a wagon train of Mormons headed by Elder Wiggs (Ward Bond). Things get complicated when the wagon train runs into a nasty outlaw family headed by Charles Kemper; look for a young James Arness playing one of his sons. The otherwise peaceable Mormons and their guides need to find a way to stay alive.

This movie has it all, from memorable little bits of business (Carey whipping off his hat and bowing whenever he greets beautiful Kathleen O’Malley) to the majestic grandeur of Moab, Utah, along with Monument Valley. The film has an unusually realistic feel, as if Ford and cameraman Bert Glennon just happened upon the group and started shooting, a feeling which is underscored by unplanned moments left in the film, including a horse fall and a dog shredding Bond’s pants (!). And of course, Johnson, one of the great movie horsemen, does all his own riding scenes. Yet as seemingly “natural” as it all is, this is also John Ford and company creating an exquisite piece of American art. I can’t watch a long shot of the wagon train moving forward, with the Sons of the Pioneers singing softly in the background, without tearing up at the movie’s beauty.

Saddle Tramp Hendrix McCreaJoel McCrea and Wanda Hendrix in Saddle Tramp (1950).

Saddle Tramp (Hugo Fregonese, 1950)

I have a deep love for both Joel McCrea and colorful Universal Pictures Westerns, and this movie, first seen by me at a young age, is part of the reason why. I didn’t know it when I first saw it, but offscreen Joel McCrea was a rancher who loved getting up in the morning and going to work on a horse, whether at his ranch or on a movie set; indeed, with a couple of exceptions, McCrea spent all of the ’50s making Westerns. Here he plays footloose cowboy Chuck Conner, who visits an old friend (John Ridgely) and is shortly thereafter stunned to find himself the guardian of four young boys when his widowed friend dies in an accident. Before long he also finds himself protecting a young girl named Della (Wanda Hendrix), who’s on the run from an abusive uncle (Ed Begley Sr.).

Like most Universal Westerns, this film has a great cast, including John McIntire as a child-hating rancher and McIntire’s real-life wife Jeanette Nolan as a kindly woman who whimsically believes food Chuck’s been snitching for the kids has been taken by “the little people.” John Russell, the future star of TV’s Lawman, is also on hand as a ranch foreman who clashes with Chuck. I love the way the movie encompasses humor, romance, action, and poignancy. A closing scene where Chuck, now a settled man with responsibilities, wistfully watches geese fly away is a moment of great depth; though Chuck is a good man who realizes what he’s gained is far greater than what he’s lost, the film takes time to acknowledge that he also feels a sense of loss that his traveling days are over. That’s a fully realized character and a marvelous piece of cinema in what at the time was probably thought of as “just another Universal Western.”

Westward the Women TaylorRobert Taylor in Westward the Women (1951).

Westward the Women (William Wellman, 1951)

This movie seems to have received more critical appreciation in recent years, but I’d love for many more film fans to become acquainted with it. It’s a gripping and gritty adult Western with an outstanding lead performance by Robert Taylor and superb location filming in Utah. Taylor plays no-nonsense trail guide Buck Wyatt, whose employer (John McIntire) gives him the job of escorting 140 women from Missouri to their California valley, where the men are longing for wives. The women, including Denise Darcel, Julie Bishop, and Hope Emerson, want new lives and sign up despite being told that one in three of them won’t survive the trip. The odds get even worse when most of the men hired for the journey abandon their jobs, leaving only the Japanese cook (Henry Nakamura) and a hired hand (Pat Conway) to help Buck. The women refuse to quit and quickly pick up the basics of the rough work which is part of wagon train life.

This is a surprisingly tough film for the era, with a fairly high body count; Buck meting out instant “trail justice” is a particularly shocking moment, as is the unseen yet disturbing crime which precedes it. There are great roles for a number of people, including Nakamura as the insightful, spunky cook, Emerson as a hearty seaman’s widow, Lenore Lonergan as a quiet girl with glasses who has amazing aim with a gun, and Beverly Dennis as a young unwed mother; the film’s incorporation of the latter storyline, of a girl seeking a new life for herself and her unborn child, is another aspect which makes the film different from typical early ’50s fare. The film’s finale has a profound emotional impact, having accompanied these brave women on their journey. A superb film from start to finish.

Bend of the RiverJulie Adams and James Stewart in Bend of the River (1952).

Bend of the River (Anthony Mann, 1952)

It could be argued that Anthony Mann made even better Westerns than the fine Bend of the River, but for me, this film defines that funny yet evocative term, “movie comfort food.” It’s a movie I’ve seen time and again, yet rather than tiring of it, each time I love and appreciate it more. In a fast-paced opening sequence, cowboy Glynn McLyntock (James Stewart) saves a stranger, Emerson Cole (Arthur Kennedy), from a hangman’s noose. Each man has a violent past, but while McLyntock is determined for a new start, heading to Oregon with a wagon train, the love of Laura (Julie Adams) may not be enough to keep Cole on the straight and narrow. Eventually, McLyntock and Cole’s friendship will be irreparably ended with a betrayal.

This is another Universal Pictures Western which has a tremendous amount going for it, starting with the performance of James Stewart; he may be an outdoorsman who knows what to do even in the direst of circumstances, but that’s also real fear you see in his expressive eyes. The script by Borden Chase is excellent (“You’ll be seeing me!”), and there are marvelous set pieces including an Indian fight, a saloon shoot-out, and an exciting escape from town, racing horses onto a paddlewheeler. The film also boasts gorgeous Oregon locations and a typically deep Universal cast with great faces like Rock Hudson, Lori Nelson, Jay C. Flippen, Harry Morgan, Chubby Johnson, and Frank Ferguson, among others. It’s grand entertainment start to finish.

Ride Lonesome Scott RobertsRandolph Scott and Pernell Roberts in Ride Lonesome (1959).

Ride Lonesome (Budd Boetticher, 1959)

Ride Lonesome is my favorite of the “Ranown” films starring Randolph Scott and directed by Budd Boetticher, just managing to edge out Seven Men from Now (1956). To my way of thinking, the compact 73-minute Ride Lonesome is a perfect Western in every regard. It features the classic Western theme of a group of disparate travelers forced by circumstances to band together, including bounty hunter Ben Brigade (Scott) and Billy John (James Best), a killer Brigade is going to turn in for a reward; Carrie Lane (Karen Steele), who’s been waiting for her husband to return to the stagecoach station he manages; and nice guy outlaws Sam (Pernell Roberts) and Whit (James Coburn), who wants to turn in Billy John themselves so they can receive amnesty and start a new life as ranchers. Mescalero Indians and Billy John’s brother Frank (Lee Van Cleef) are all after the group.

The Burt Kennedy script is outstanding, with Brigade revealed to be a man with a tragic past whose capture of Billy John is part of a larger plan only made clear near movie’s end. Roberts is almost shockingly good in a charismatic performance as the genial Sam, a revelation for anyone mainly familiar with him as dour Adam Cartwright, and Coburn, in his film debut, is so delightful that the unselfish and canny Scott recommended that lines be added to the script to give him more screen time. There’s not a wasted moment in the movie, which builds to an unforgettable ending. I really love this film and revisit it regularly, and I hope anyone not yet familiar with it will give it a look.

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– Laura Grieve for Classic Movie Hub

Laura can be found at her blog, Laura’s Miscellaneous Musings, where she’s been writing about movies since 2005, and on Twitter at @LaurasMiscMovie. A lifelong film fan, Laura loves the classics including Disney, Film Noir, Musicals, and Westerns.  She regularly covers Southern California classic film festivals.  Laura will scribe on all things western at the ‘Western RoundUp’ for CMH.

Posted in Western RoundUp | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Win Tickets to see “TCM Big Screen Classics: The Big Lebowski” (20th Anniversary) (Giveaway runs through July 21)

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Annmarie Gatti

Win tickets to see “The Big Lebowski” on the big screen!
In Select Cinemas Nationwide Sun Aug 5 and Wed Aug 8!

“I’m the Dude. So that’s what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino”

CMH continues into our 3rd year of our partnership with Fathom Events – with the 8th of our 13 movie ticket giveaways for 2018, courtesy of Fathom Events!

That said, we’ll be giving away EIGHT PAIRS of tickets to see “TCM Big Screen Classics: The Big Lebowski” – The Coen Brothers movie that spawned a religious movement — on the Big Screen!

In order to qualify to win a pair of movie tickets via this contest, you must complete the below entry task by Saturday, July 21 at 6 PM EST.

We will announce the winner(s) on Twitter on Sunday, July 22, between 6PM EST and 7PM EST. If a winner(s) does not have a Twitter account, we will announce that winner(s) via this blog in the comment section below.

TCM BIG Screen Classics Present The Big Libowsky

The film will be playing in select cinemas nationwide for a special two-day-only event on Sunday, August 5 and Wednesday, August 8 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time. Winners will be responsible for their own transportation to the Event. Only United States entries are eligible. Please click here before you enter to ensure that the Event is scheduled at a theater near you and that you are able to attend. (please note that there might be slightly different theater listings for each date)

ENTRY TASK (2-parts) to be completed by Saturday, July 21 at 6PM EST…

1) Answer the below question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog post

THE QUESTION:
Although not officially a classic-era film, what in your opinion makes “The Big Lebowski” a classic? And, if you haven’t seen it, why do you want to see it on the Big Screen?

2) Then TWEET* (not DM) the following message:
I just entered to win tickets to see “TCM Big Screen Classics Presents: The Big Lebowski” on the Big Screen courtesy of @ClassicMovieHub & @FathomEvents #EnterToWin #CMHContest link here: http://ow.ly/lLgP30kKLHc

*If you don’t have a Twitter account, you can still enter the contest by simply answering the above question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog — BUT PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ADD THIS VERBIAGE TO YOUR ANSWER: I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.

NOTE: if for any reason you encounter a problem commenting here on this blog, please feel free to tweet or DM us, or send an email to clas…@gmail.com and we will be happy to create the entry for you.

ALSO: Please allow us 48 hours to approve your comments. Sorry about that, but we are being overwhelmed with spam, and must sort through 100s of comments…

Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski

About the film: From the Academy Award®-winning Coen brothers, The Big Lebowski is a hilariously quirky comedy about bowling, a severed toe, White Russians and a guy named…The Dude. This 20th Anniversary event includes exclusive insight from Turner Classic Movies.

Please note that only United States residents are eligible to enter this giveaway contest. (see contest rules for further information)

BlogHub members ARE also eligible to win if they live within the Continental United States (as noted above).

You can follow Fathom Events on Twitter at @fathomevents

Good Luck!

–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

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Musical Interlude: What is a Musical? A New Answer Comes with Each Decade

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Jessica Pickens

What is a musical? A New Answer Comes with Each Decade.

When you can’t express how you feel in words … belt out a song or break out into a lively dance number.

That is typically how musicals have been defined: Singing or dancing when the emotion builds up too high to express feelings with speech, and the songs sometimes help move along the plot.

While this is true for most musicals, it isn’t so for all.

The Sound of MusicThe Sound of Music (1965).

In contemporary society, if you ask a person on the street between ages 18 and 50, “What is your favorite movie musical?” I have a strong hunch The Sound of Music (1965) would be widely cited with perhaps Singin’ in the Rain (1951), Mary Poppins (1964) or Grease (1978) not far behind.

These musicals are great and while they follow the definition, these aren’t the “rule.”

I started thinking about this while reading La La Land criticism on social media after it was released in 2016. I was struck by one post in particular: La La Land wasn’t a musical (in the Broadway sense) and they need to watch more musical theater.

This comment made me pause. As someone who has seen a lot of movie musicals (589 to be exact), La La Land fits the bill. Movie musicals are not limited to musical theater or Broadway adaptations, as film history shows.

Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Oliver!, or The Sound of Music are Broadway film adaptations that are remembered by contemporary audiences. But these robust musicals weren’t always what graced the screen. In fact, most of these were released when the musical genre was packing its bags and starting to head out the door — leaving audiences without the steady diet of musical releases that they had from 1929 to the late 1950s.

From MGM’s first musical (and first talkie) The Broadway Melody (1929) to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), there were technical advancements in films and storytelling. Each decade had its own musical style.

Take Footlight Parade (1933) — this is a movie musical about putting on musical shows. The music and dancing are performances of the show in this film. None of these are performed out of romance or emotion, but purely to entertain the audiences within the film (and the audiences watching the film).

The 1930s musicals, such as the Warner Brothers musicals with elaborate Busby Berkeley choreographed numbers or RKO’s sophisticated Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals, were used to entertain audiences during the Great Depression. Most of these were original for the screen, rather than stage adaptations.

Bathing Beauty Movie Poster (1944)Bathing Beauty Movie Poster (1944).

The social media comment particularly made me think of 1940s musicals like Bathing Beauty (1944) or Eve Knew Her Apples (1945), musical comedies that couldn’t be further from the idea of “musical theater.”

Bathing Beauty (1944) introduced the world to champion swimmer Esther Williams and her choreographed under-water numbers. These were all set to music, but the singing corresponded with popular performers of the time. These bands performed in nightclubs or poolside. The only true breakout into song is during a classroom scene when a version of “I’ll Take the High Road” is performed by Red Skelton, Jean Porter, Janis Paige, Carlos Ramírez, Helen Forrest, Harry James and Buddy Moreno with Harry James and His Orchestra and Ethel Smith on an organ.

And as for Eve Knew Her Apples (1945), Ann Miller is a radio performer in the film and her songs are tied to performances. The songs further the plot. This film was more the rule than the exception during this time.

Eve Knew Her Apples 1940s

Eve Knew Her Apples (1945).

The musicals that provided the “musical theater” vibe didn’t become status quo until the 1950s when everything was bigger, more vibrant and successful. With that came films like Annie Get Your Gun or the flood of musical remakes like High Society. Studios like MGM churned out more musicals.

However, by the mid-to-late-1950s, MGM, for example, known for their musicals, was making more serious films, thanks to new studio head Dore Schary.

By the 1960s, the high-dollar, widely cited favorite musicals like The Sound of Music (1965) killed the Hollywood musical genre. The Sound of Music was a disaster to make and went over budget, however, it was successful with audiences. Because of this, Hollywood went on to make even more expensive musicals like Camelot (1967) and Star! (1968), and they failed and lost money, according to Matthew Kennedy’s book, Roadshow! The Fall of Film Musicals in the 1960s.

By the 1970s, musicals were dead and couldn’t be resuscitated over the next few decades by releases like Annie (1982), Moulin Rouge (2001), Chicago (2002), or Mamma Mia (2008).

So is it really all that bad for a musical not to follow the “musical theater” guidelines? It seems like the movie musical flourished before these rules were followed.

…

– Jessica Pickens for Classic Movie Hub

Jessica can be found at cometoverhollywood.com and on twitter at @HollywoodComet. In addition to her overall love of classic movies, she has ongoing series on her site including “Watching 1939” and “Musical Monday.”

Posted in Musical Interlude, Posts by Jessica Pickens | Tagged , | 3 Comments

FilmStruck Forum: Exploring FilmStruck

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Annmarie Gatti

FilmStruck Forum: Exploring FilmStruck
My First Log-in to the Streaming Movie Service

As part of our long-term partnership with FilmStruck (which includes lots of monthly giveaways throughout the year), we are launching a monthly CMH column called FilmStruck Forum in which I will be exploring the many movies available on the FilmStruck streaming service.

Now, as CMH fans know, I would never promote a product unless I felt it was a good one, so that said, I have no qualms in writing about FilmStruck because quite frankly it’s the perfect streaming platform for classic movie fans — a treasure trove of real classic films. More specifically, it’s the exclusive home of the Criterion Collection, Warner Archives and TCM Select, plus lots of rare TCM archival content and exclusive bonus material. Granted, it’s a paid subscription service, but well worth the price for classic movie fans, given the amount and selection of carefully curated classic content, and the lack of classic content available on other platforms.

In the spirit of full disclosure, my own subscription is courtesy of FilmStruck, however the value of the subscription was apparent to me from the first time I logged in… I knew from first glance that my access to the classics had been greatly improved (understatement), and that I’d be able to, not only watch the classics that I already know and love, but that I would also be able to freely explore the many classics that I’ve just never had the chance to see before. It was almost as if my own DVD collection had been doubled, no tripled, in the blink of an eye.

So, for my first FilmStruck Forum post, I’d like to share the three films I watched upon my first day’s journey into the platform…

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LOCAL HERO, 1983

Local Hero 1983 film, dvd, burt lancaster, peter reigertPeter Riegert and Burt Lancaster, Local Hero (Bill Forsyth, director)

Oddly enough, although classics are my ‘true love’, the first movie I watched on FilmStruck was Local Hero (1983) – simply because about a month or two prior, I had a hankering to watch it, but couldn’t find it on Netflix and didn’t want to purchase it again on amazon (my VHS copy was long gone and I couldn’t find my DVD anywhere). So imagine my surprise when I logged into FilmStruck and saw it in a category called ‘Fish out of Water Comedies’…

Local Hero cast Burt Lancaster, Fulton Mackay, Peter Capaldi, Peter Riegert and Christopher Rozycki
Burt Lancaster, Fulton Mackay (BBC sitcom Porridge), Peter Capaldi, Peter Riegert (you may remember him from Animal House) and Christopher Rozycki (top to bottom, left to right)

If you’re not familiar with Local Hero, it stars Burt Lancaster as an eccentric Texas oil billionaire who sends company exec Peter Riegert (‘Mac’) to a small fishing village on the west coast of Scotland to purchase land rights to build an oil refinery there. This movie has long been a favorite of mine due to its charming and quirky characters and storyline, but more particularly because of the beautiful (understatement) scenery, the beautiful (again) soundtrack by Mark Knopfler – and the way in which it portrays the differences (and sometimes similarities) between fast-paced city life and quaint village life, the power of money (or not), and ultimately what’s really important in life. This film resonated so strongly with me that it compelled me to visit Scotland (which I did) and add the Aurora Borealis to my ‘must see’ list (been soooo close, but haven’t seen it yet).

local hero 1983 could you imagine a world without oil 2“Could you imagine a world without oil? No automobiles, no heat. And polish. No ink. And nylon. No detergents. And Perspex. You wouldn’t get any Perspex. No polythene…”

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local hero 1983 beach at duskPeter Riegert silhouetted against the Scotland coast and sky

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PANDORA’S BOX, 1929

pandora's box poster 1929Louise Brooks in Pandora’s Box (Georg Wilhelm Pabst, director)

After Local Hero, I switched gears (quite a bit) and watched a classic that I’ve always wanted to see, but never had the chance – Pandora’s Box, the 1929 silent film starring Louise Brooks.  In retrospect, this probably wasn’t the best film to watch directly after Local Hero, as it was very intense and abruptly changed my mood, for which I wasn’t entirely prepared…  The story revolves around selfish seductress Lulu (Brooks) who brings devastation and ruin to herself and all those around her. Spoiler alert, there is no happy ending here, but that said, I’m glad I finally had the chance to see this film.

louise brooks in pandora's box
“Now I’ll marry Lulu! It’ll be the death of me!”

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THE MISFITS, 1961

the misfits movie posterMovie Poster, The Misfits (John Huston, director)

My third pick for the day was The Misfits. This was one of those films that I’ve always wanted to see, but just kept putting it off until ‘another time.’ But, since it was going to expire soon on FilmStruck, I grabbed my chance to see it.  The film stars Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable in their last feature film roles, as well as Montgomery Clift who would go on to make three more feature films (Judgment at Nuremberg, Freud and The Defector). The story revolves around a newly divorced woman (Monroe) who meets, and spends time with, an aging cowboy (Gable) and his friends – a widowed tow truck driver (Eli Wallach) and a rodeo cowboy (Clift). The ending scene which involves roping wild mustangs in the Nevada desert was quite heart-wrenching (for me anyway), and I was particularly struck by the stunt work, as well as Monroe’s acting here, making me again think that she was under-rated in many respects. 

the misfits montgomery clift marilyn monroe clark gableMontgomery Clift, Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, The Misfits

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All told, I would say that my first foray into FilmStruck was an interesting and fun one… And I am looking forward to exploring it further. There are so many great movies available here, that it will be difficult for me to decide what to watch next. Do I watch one of my favorite Chaplin films, or perhaps a Beatles film? Or maybe Casablanca or Now Voyager or Bringing Up Baby – oh gosh, or what about Lili or Some Like It Hot or Stagecoach or Lawrence of Arabia? Or better yet a documentary on Billy Wilder, or something I’ve never seen before like Blithe Spirit or Reckless or Seven Samurai???   Decisions, decisions 🙂 But what a delightful candy store for this kid to be in!

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And just to remind everyone, we’re giving away LOTs of FilmStruck subscriptions this year, courtesy of FilmStruck. Our first contest is running now through July 28th. You can click here to enter:

filmstruck classic movie hub contest

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And, if you don’t want to wait to win, you can enjoy an EXCLUSIVE 30-day Trial by clicking here. filmstruck exclusive 30-day trial subscription

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Thanks for reading, and see you next month!

–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

 

Posted in FilmStruck Forum, Posts by Annmarie Gatti | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Funny Papers: Top 10 Slapsticks in the Ring – Comedies That Pack a Punch

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Kellee Pratt

Top 10 Slapsticks in the Ring – Comedies That Pack a Punch

There are plenty of serious films that have taken on the drama of boxing. Often they play up the angle of the unknown, struggling underdog who works hard, and defies the naysayers to beat all odds and make it as a champion. Some have focused on the sport’s cultural integration in society. But boxing is also a sport that makes the perfect set-up for physical comedy.

Generally speaking, the funniest formula in the ring pairs up an unlikely hero who is deeply out of his league against the typical champion. The contrasts are striking and punctuated – often facing off a meagerly meated and inexperienced David, who is outmatched in every way from physicality to confidence, against his all-brawn and rarely any brained Goliath.

Here is my list of favorites, from the humorous views inside the ropes:

Myrna Loy, Max Baer, and Primo Carnera in The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933)Myrna Loy, Max Baer, and Primo Carnera in The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933).

10: The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933)

More of a rom than com, this film is worthy of a footnote on this list because it’s a marvelous Pre-Code era gem. It’s a cinch namely for its cast, its Oscar-winning story from Marion Francis, and the truly authentic boxing performances. The terrific talent includes Myrna Loy, just prior to her Thin Man partnership with director WS “Woody” Van Dyke, Walter Huston, and the surprisingly solid performances from actual professional boxers, like Max Baer.

Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)Scene from Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941).

9: Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)
This heavenly classic stars Robert Montgomery as boxer Joe Pendleton who negotiates with angelic gatekeepers (Claude Rains, Edward Everett Horton) in search for his old boxing life (before being prematurely yanked from earthly bounds prior to the big championship) and a worthy body up for the task. The comic moments are light yet charmingly enduring. Based on the novel Heaven Can Wait the premise is unique in a timeless way, enough to later result in two remakes and a sequel. In one funny scenario, Montgomery lays on a thick, street-wise accent as he attempts to convince his old manager not only that he’s been reincarnated in a new body, but somehow they’re both not totally crazy.

I’ll Play Your Favorite Tune (video clip)

Jimmy Durante, Tom Dugan, Stuart Erwin in Palooka (1934)Jimmy Durante, Tom Dugan, and Stuart Erwin lace up in Palooka (1934).

8: Palooka (1934)
Based on the comic strip character Joe Palooka created by cartoonist Ham Fisher in 1930, this boxer became a popular cultural figure across radio, Vitaphone shorts, television, and film. By the 1940s, Palooka was even merchandized and put on a cereal box. With an energetic ensemble cast, this film showcases Palooka’s first appearance in a feature film. This one takes boxing to a musical level, too. We are treated to the beauty and singing talents of Lupe Velez, wedged in between the wisecracking one-liners of Jimmy Durante.

 Kelly the Second Movie PosterMovie Poster for Kelly the Second (1936).

7: Kelly the Second (1936)
After 21 comedy shorts teamed with Thelma Todd and playing second banana to other leading lady beauties, Hal Roach was ready to debut Patsy Kelly as the female lead. A prime example of the bounties found in boxing for physical comedy, this Hal Roach/MGM film peppers on the classic gags and silly slapstick to highlight the comic skills of Charley Chase and Patsy Kelly. Kelly plays a sassy Irishwoman, named Molly Kelly, who trains an Irish truck driver, Guinn Williams as Cecil Callahan, to become a prizefighter. It heavily relies on Irish stereotypes to enhance the standard bits, which I personally thought made it even more charming and amusing. I only recently discovered this film and I recommend this lesser-known gem, especially for Patsy Kelly fans.

Sailor Beware Boxing SceneJerry Lewis in Sailor Beware (1952).

6: Sailor Beware (1952), the boxing scene
This Paramount picture is Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis’s fifth film from their infamous film collaborations. Spoiler alert: it’s not a boxing film at all. It actually takes Martin and Lewis out to sea by enrolling them into the navy under hypochondriac circumstances. But it features a boxing match scene of supreme Jerry Lewis rubbery shtick in the ring. Check it out:

Boxing match with Jerry Lewis from the movie Sailor Beware.
Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo in The Kid From Brooklyn.Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo in The Kid from Brooklyn.

5: The Kid from Brooklyn (1946)

Harold Lloyd The Milky Way (1933)Harold Lloyd in The Milky Way (1933).

4: The Milky Way (1933)
Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo headline The Kid from Brooklyn (1946), which is a remake of the 1933 version, The Milky Way, starring Harold Lloyd. In each film, the plot is essentially the same, of the male lead who goes from the mild-mannered milkman to a boxing champ via happen-chance circumstances. Each takes on the flavor of their leads Lloyd and Kaye. Personally, as a fan of both comedy icons, I find both renditions to be funny-bone-tickling solid entertainment. While the remake offers up gorgeous Technicolor and the deliciously dry sass of Eve Arden, Harold Lloyd has less of these types of distractions so the central focus remains on his solid gold gags and physicality.

Buster Keaton Battling Butler (1926)Buster Keaton in Battling Butler (1926).

3: Battling Butler (1926), boxing scene
It should come as no surprise that the arguably most athletic silent film star would rank high for displaying the boxing sport on the big screen. Buster Keaton, the star, and director of this film who performed his own stunts showcases his extraordinary dexterity. Beyond the typical cowardly type, Keaton enhances this inept persona as being also an impossibly spoiled playboy. This sets the stage for extremely clever and hilarious camping/hunting scenes. By the time this wealthy weakling springs into the ring for a climatic finish, “Stone Face” has won us over again. Considered his own personal favorite, and made during the peak of his prime years, I highly recommend screening this silent gem if you’ve never seen it before.

Victor McLaglen and John Wayne duke it out in The Quiet Man (1952)Victor McLaglen and John Wayne duke it out in The Quiet Man (1952).

2 ~ The Quiet Man (1952)
I’ve repeatedly sung the praises of this John Ford homage to his Irish roots. At the time of the original release, many Irish citizens were not pleased with several examples in this film that portray the stereotype of Irish fighting. Luckily for those of us who have found nothing but pure joy in The Quiet Man, we know the magic of the movies is as wonderfully magical as leprechauns and pots of gold at the end of a rainbow. Besides, the reality is dull – when you can embrace a John Ford’s vision instead. The boxer, in this case, is John Wayne as “Trooper” Sean Thornton, who attempts to escape his recent past, by going back to his ancestor’s (and his own) origins in Ireland. His love for Maureen O’Hara as Mary Kate Danaher and rallying support from a tight-knit community allows Sean to face his personal demons via a very long fighting match, outside the ring. In the end, this fight brings respect and admiration from his new family and for himself. I guess you can go home, after all.

Charlie Chaplin City Lights Movie Poster (1931)Charlie Chaplin City Lights Movie Poster (1931).

1: City Lights (1931)
I have listed many examples above of boxing comedies that are a sure-bet for knock-out entertainment. But the one cinematic boxing example that is so intrinsically funny that tears have streamed down my face, is Charlie Chaplin’s infamous boxing scene in City Lights. In addition to a natural instinct for survival, “The Tramp” had a finessed panache for rhythm. He truly dances in the ring. He may not “float like a butterfly, nor sting like a bee” like the great Muhammad Ali, but Chaplin is a heavy-weight world champ in making me laugh.

Special Mention:

The Main Event 1979Barbara Streisand and Ryan O’Neal in The Main Event (1979).

The Main Event (1979)

Filled with potential but somehow just misses its mark, this film has all the right ingredients but perhaps it was simply born in the wrong era, not unlike many of us classic film fans. I realize 1979 is not exactly what I would define as within the ropes of the classic timeline, but that may pinpoint its real challenge. It’s a film that attempts old-school methods of slapstick-meets-romantic comedy but something feels off. What does work well is the chemistry between the stars Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal. Both are skilled veterans of comedy at this point. Their performances bring the fun to this boxing flick that dukes out a battle of the sexes match-up in the ring. I felt compelled to add this one addendum as I’m a big Streisand fan.

What are your favorite classic boxing films or scenes that make you laugh?

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–Kellee Pratt for Classic Movie Hub

When not performing marketing and social media as her day gig, Kellee Pratt writes for her own classic film blog, Outspoken & Freckled (kelleepratt.com). Kellee teaches classic film courses in her college town in Kansas (Screwball Comedy this Fall). Unapologetic social butterfly, she’s an active tweetaholic/original alum for #TCMParty, member of the CMBA, Social Producer for TCM (2015, 2016), and busy mom of four kids and 3 fur babies. You can follow Kellee on twitter at @IrishJayHawk66.

Posted in Posts by Kellee Pratt, The Funny Papers | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

The Big Country 60th Anniversary Blu-Ray Giveaway (now-Aug 4)

Posted on June 24, 2018 by Annmarie Gatti

The Big Country 60th Anniversary Special Edition
Blu-Ray Giveaway

“Kino Lorber’s majestic Blu-ray presentation of The Big Country is nearly an essential presentation of William Wyler’s masterpiece, on a disc loaded with enough extras to satisfy casual and rabid collectors alike.” –Slant Magazine

It’s time for our next giveaway, courtesy of Kino Lorber. This time, we’ll be giving away SIX Blu-Ray copies of the classic western, The Big Country (60th Anniversary Special Edition), directed by William Wyler and starring Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston, Burl Ives and Charles Bickford.

In order to qualify to win one of these Blu-Rays via this contest giveaway, you must complete the below entry task by Saturday, Aug 4 at 10PM EST. However, the sooner you enter, the better chance you have of winning, because we will pick a winner on six different days within the contest period, via random drawings, as listed below… So if you don’t win the first week that you enter, you will still be eligible to win during the following weeks until the contest is over.

  • June 30: One Winner
  • July 7: One Winner
  • July 14: One Winner
  • July 21: One Winner
  • July 28: One Winner
  • Aug 4: One Winner

We will announce each week’s winner on Twitter @ClassicMovieHub (or this blog, depending how you entered), the day after each winner is picked at 10PM EST for example, we will announce our first week’s winner on Sunday July 1 at 10PM EST.

the big country blu ray

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ENTRY TASK (2-parts) to be completed by Saturday, Aug 4 at 10PM EST— BUT remember, the sooner you enter, the more chances you have to win…

1) Answer the below question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog post

2) Then TWEET (not DM) the following message:
Just entered to win “The Big Country” Blu-Ray #Giveaway courtesy of @KinoLorber and @ClassicMovieHub contest link: http://ow.ly/q4GR30kKkTh

THE QUESTION:
Why do you love most about this film, and if you haven’t seen it, why do you want to win this Blu-ray?

*If you do not have a Twitter account, you can still enter the contest by simply answering the above question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog — BUT PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ADD THIS VERBIAGE TO YOUR ANSWER: I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.

ALSO: Please allow us 48 hours to approve your comments. Sorry about that, but we are being overwhelmed with spam, and must sort through 100s of comments…

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the big country movie poster

About The Film:  This 60th Anniversary Special Edition of The Big Country has been Newly Mastered in HD! From William Wyler, the legendary director of Mrs. Miniver, The Best Years of Our Lives and Ben-Hur, comes this epic western featuring an incredible cast of screen legends Gregory Peck (On the Beach), Jean Simmons (Elmer Gantry), Charlton Heston (The Ten Commandments), Carroll Baker (Baby Doll) and Burl Ives (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) in his Oscar-winning performance (Best Actor in a Supporting Role). This bold, sweeping tale of a ship’s captain (Peck) who ventures west to find a hotbed of jealousy, hatred and dangerous rivalries. As the reluctant hero is thrust into the maelstrom, he must summon all of his resolve to save not only his own life, but also the life of the woman he loves. The Big Country is an action-packed adventure that triumphs as a work of art. The film’s legendary rousing score by Jerome Moross (The War Lord) was nominated for an Oscar. The stellar cast includes Charles Bickford (Duel in the Sun) and Chuck Connors (TV’s The Rifleman and Branded).

You can visit Kino Lorber on their website, on Twitter at @KinoLorber or on Facebook.

Please note that only residents of the Continental United States (excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and the territory of Puerto Rico) entrants are eligible to win.

For complete rules, click here.

And if you can’t wait to win, you can click on the image below to purchase on amazon 🙂

Good Luck!

–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

Posted in Contests & Giveaways, Posts by Annmarie Gatti | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 34 Comments

Silents are Golden: A Little Tour Through The History Of Silent Comedy

Posted on June 21, 2018 by Lea Stans

A Little Tour Through The History Of Silent Comedy

When it comes to the genre of silent comedy, everyone’s familiar with the great Charlie Chaplin– perhaps the single most famous figure in cinema– and the solemn-faced Buster Keaton has a large and devoted following as well. And even if you haven’t seen his movies, the image of Harold Lloyd dangling from that clock is no doubt etched into your mind.

Buster Keaton Clock SceneActually showing it might not be necessary.

But while these three were certainly at the top of their genre (they were considered exceptional even back in the 1920s), there’s a ton of silent comedy to explore even beyond their extensive filmographies, everything from “polite” comedy to farce too, yes, even custard pie-throwing.

Who were the very first film comedians? If we’re being technical, we might say some of the earliest film comedians were stage actors and vaudevillians who agreed to perform their acts in front of motion picture cameras (filmmakers back then loved to document popular stage acts). Although the “pictures” were low-brow entertainment at the time, some actors quickly realized that films allowed them to be seen by tens of thousands of people all over the country–more than the biggest theaters could hold.

Little Tich Big Boots SceneEnglish comedian “Little Tich” performing his Big Boots dance.

Among the very first silent comedy stars were the French comedians André Deed (who played a bumbler named Foolshead) and dapper, top-hatted Max Linder. Linder, in particular, could be considered our very first official movie star, since the Pathé studio decided to launch a full-on publicity campaign for him–a first for a film actor.

Other comedians began following in their footsteps, resulting in a full-on flood by the early 1910s. Studios like Biograph, Vitagraph and Edison made sure to offer light comedies along with their usual dramas, making comedians like John Bunny, Flora Finch, Alkali Ike, Wally Van and Lillian “Dimples” Walker familiar to many theatergoers.

Bunny and Finch in Bunny’s Birthday Surprise (1913).Bunny and Finch in Bunny’s Birthday Surprise (1913).

In the mid-1910s silent comedy was beginning to establish itself, and there was a more definite divide between light comedy and zany slapstick. A studio like Vitagraph was associated with more “genteel” humor while the Keystone Film Company is even today synonymous with slapstick. By this point, the most popular comedians included Mabel Normand, Roscoe Arbuckle, Ford Sterling, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew and Fay Tincher.

Barney Oldfield's Race for a LifeMabel Normand and Ford Sterling in the melodrama spoof Barney Oldfield’s Race For a Life (1913)

1914 would turn out to be a hugely significant year. For one thing, there was a sudden rise in comedy duos, from Plump and Runt (“Plump” being played by Oliver Hardy!) to Pokes and Jabbs to Waddy and Arty. These would pave the way for the famous teams to come, such as Laurel and Hardy. And for another thing, this was when a British music hall performer named Charlie Chaplin decided to join the Keystone studio. He quickly proved himself to be a unique and charismatic performer, and within the next two years, he would be the most popular comedian on the planet–if not the most popular face in cinema. In 1916, stage star Minnie Fiske wrote an article proclaiming Chaplin a “genius” and an “artist,” and the world’s been calling him the same ever since.

Charlie ChaplinArtist.

New comedians kept cropping up throughout the rest of the Edwardian era. By 1917, Larry Semon’s broad slapstick was very popular, and a fellow named Harold Lloyd was starting to make himself noticed. Cross-eyed Ben Turpin was a uniquely familiar face. Female clowns Alice Howell and Louise Fazenda were gaining fans, and Buster Keaton was appearing in his first films as support to the wildly popular Roscoe Arbuckle.

By the early 1920s, Chaplin was still on top of the world, and Keaton had his own film studio where he was churning out well-received comedies. Arbuckle was no longer in the picture thanks to the unfortunate Labor Day scandal in 1921. Harold Lloyd had worked his way up to being a box office sensation and would remain one of the top movie stars right up to the end of the silent era. Indeed, Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd were widely acknowledged as excellent comedians, and any new comics who became successful were usually compared with them at some point.

Clipping from Exhibitor’s Trade Review, June 6, 1925.Clipping from Exhibitor’s Trade Review, June 6, 1925.

Highlights of the 1920s included a baby-faced comedian named Harry Langdon becoming a sensation, and Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy finally being teamed up in a series of shorts. All-American types like Johnny Hines and Douglas MacLean made a number of hits, and the Our Gang series started in 1922 and wouldn’t stop until 1944. There were also a number of stars who were adept at both comedy and drama–actresses like Mary Pickford, Constance Talmadge, and Colleen Moore being among them. In general, much of silent comedy had hit its stride by this decade, with finer cinematography being used and the pace of many films actually being slower than your typical hectic, high-energy 1910s slapstick shorts.

Colleen Moore in Her Wild OatColleen Moore in Her Wild Oat (1927).

Throughout the whole era there were, of course, countless comedians who tried and failed to make it big, or else became popular for just a short time, or else gamely acted in countless shorts that always seemed to fly just under the radar. Then there were the hundreds of supporting players, of all ages and appearances. The names could easily fill a good-sized book–and their surviving films makes for years of quirky enjoyment.

I hope you enjoyed this brief tour (and yes, it’s very brief) through the crowded world of silent comedy. Feel free to explore it at your leisure, and thoroughly, too–for you never know what obscure performer might end up becoming one of your favorites!

…

–Lea Stans for Classic Movie Hub

You can read all of Lea’s Silents are Golden articles here.

Lea Stans is a born-and-raised Minnesotan with a degree in English and an obsessive interest in the silent film era (which she largely blames on Buster Keaton). In addition to blogging about her passion at her site Silent-ology, she is a columnist for the Silent Film Quarterly and has also written for The Keaton Chronicle.

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