Girls on Film by Alicia Malone

Girls on Film

Lessons from a Life of Watching Women in Movies

by Alicia Malone

Mango Publishing

Paperback ISBN: 9781642506563 

March 2022 

224 pages 

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Larry Edmunds — Powell's

This review was originally published at the Classic Film Collective Patreon in June 2022.

As movie lovers, what we watch during the different stages in our lives really shapes the person we become. This can have both positive and negative effects on our emotional well-being. Especially for women and minorities, who may see themselves reflected poorly or not represented at all in the movies that they consume. 

TCM host and author Alicia Malone explores the films shaped her life in her new book Girls on Film: Lessons from a Life of Watching Women in Movies. This book is part memoir, part film analysis with a special focus on women in movies, a topic that Malone has been passionate about for many years. Each chapter in the book chronicles one pivotal stage in Malone's life and the movies that influenced her perception of society and herself. For example, watching National Velvet (1944) as a child helped introduced Malone to classic movies, especially ones about "heroic young girls. Her early fascination with Marilyn Monroe led her to film analysis. Learning from movie reviewers like Leonard Maltin and movie hosts like Bill Collins (Mr. Movies) and Robert Osborne led her to a career in television. Learning about Ingrid Bergman and Malone's encounter with a contemporary movie star helped Malone realize what she truly wanted out of life.

The chapters each have their own themes that tie into a time in Malone's life with mentions of several related movies and an in-depth look into a couple films in particular. These include: Merrily We Go to Hell (1932), Woman of the Year (1942), The Enchanted Cottage (1945), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Cleo From 5 to 7 (1962) etc. More contemporary movies include: Carrie (1976), The Little Mermaid (1989), Smooth Talk (1985), Mad Love (1995). etc.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book include: 

"The curiosity about Marilyn Monroe led me to read film books for the first time and begin to consider beyond the images I saw on screen: to stop watching passively and start to question what was being presented to me, particularly when it came to women." — Alicia Malone

"Classic cinema felt like my secret. It was special, and my own experience—my private way of escaping life when I felt I needed to." — Alicia Malone

 "Watching classic movies with modern eyes can be a confronting experience, but one of the biggest ways we can keep classic films alive and relevant to the next generation is to engage with them. Society changes as the years go on, and our own attitude shift too, but classic films remain locked in their moment. They're time capsules, filled with relics of the past..." — Alicia Malone

They say that the more specific the story is the more universal its appeal. This definitely rings true with Girls on Film. While the book focuses on Malone's personal journey with movies and how it led to her different life decisions along the way, readers will find her story incredibly relatable. 

There were several moments throughout the book where a story Malone related triggered a core memory within me. I would put the book aside and stop to think about my own journey. It made me think of those halcyon days during high school and college when I would spent countless hours at a local Blockbuster perusing the shelves and picking just the right movie to watch. When she spoke of The Little Mermaid, I remembered how obsessed I was with that film as a girl. I played my VHS tape so many times (including 7 times in one day) that it broke. Back then Disney would limit their VHS releases of their major movies and it broke at a time when the movie wasn't available to purchase. So my mom bought be a Disney Singalong tape with an Under the Sea theme so I could at least watch a couple scenes from the movie. It held me over until I could watch The Little Mermaid again. And like Malone, Marilyn Monroe was one of several catalysts for my interest in classic film. 

Alicia Malone is a very private person and Girls on Film is a small glimpse into her world. I was particularly interested in reading about her early career in television, her work at press junkets, her start at TCM and her recent move to New England. My only complaint about the book that there weren't more stories about her work as a movie presenter.

Girls on Film is touching, relatable and ultimately grounded by a deep understanding of film history. A must read for any TCM fan.

2022 TCM Classic Film Festival: Day #3 Recap

 The Flame and the Arrow (1950)

My day started with an impossible time block. There were so many good events happening at the same time and it was difficult to chose. It came down to one person: Gordon Gebert, the child star of one of my all-time favorite movies of all time, Holiday Affair (1949). It was imperative that I see him in person! And he was going to be at the special screening of The Flame and the Arrow (1950). 

This swashbuckler starring Burt Lancaster, Virginia Mayo, Nick Cravat, Norman Lloyd and of course Gordon Gebert, was being screened at the Hollywood Legion Theatre. Ahead of the film there was a special presentation by visual effects artist Craig Barron and sound designer Ben Burtt in which they discussed the film's use of color, forced perspective and painted backgrounds and the various sound effects. They also shared the story of Lancaster and Cravat's working relationship as acrobats turned actors and their lifelong friendship and we were treated to some rare home video clips of the two palling around.

The presentation was followed by an interview with Gordon Gebert who delighted us with all sorts of stories about being a child actor working for Warner Bros. and RKO, being on set of The Flame and the Arrow, his stunts in the film and learning archery and ballet for certain key scenes. After the presentation and interview we were treated with a 1960s Technicolor print of the film. It was a fun movie made better by the amazing cast and Jacques Tourneur's direction. 

The French Way (1940)

The next block was a difficult one too. I had to choose between several amazing options, including seeing The Hustler (1961) with Piper Laurie in attendance. But I opted for the Josephine Baker film The French Way which was made in 1940 but released in 1945 due to the war. Film historian Donald Bogle gave a presentation which included lots of background information about Josephine Baker herself. We were also treated with an archival interview of Baker on a cruise ship and a beautiful restoration of the film by Jeff Joseph of SabuCat Productions. International films are few and far between at the festival and I'm always delighted to catch at least one during my festival experience. 

Donald Bogle

The French Way was a beautiful little film. Baker shines despite the fact she's given limited screen time and no love interest. Micheline Presle is also in the film playing a young French woman debating whether to elope with her beau. Filmed during the French occupation, the story includes the characters preparing for air raids including a scene where Josephine Baker of hobo Leon (Lucien Baroux) to help tape up her windows and several scenes in bomb shelters.

Blue Hawaii (1961)

My goal at this year's festival was to attend all three of the poolside screenings, even if I didn't stay for the whole movie. The third and final screening was the Elvis movie Blue Hawaii (1961) which is quite perfect for the poolside setting. Attendees dressed up Hawaiian shirts, wore leis and sipped on Blue Hawaiian cocktails. I was planning on leaving early to attend to attend the special screening of Drunken Master II (1994) but alas after having a few of those cocktails I was quite literally too drunk to go see the other film. After a couple of really tough years, this was just the sort of evening I needed.

Stay tuned for more TCMFF coverage!

Day #1 Recap

Opening Night Red Carpet

Day #2 Recap

TCMFF YouTube videos

TCM: The Essential Directors by Sloan De Forest

The Essential Directors
The Art and Impact of Cinema's Most Influential Filmmakers

by Sloan De Forest

foreword by Peter Bogdanovich and Jacqueline Stewart

TCM and Running Press

Paperback ISBN: 9780762498932

344 pages

November 2021

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's 

“Ultimately, the final list was based on each filmmaker’s influence on the medium, cultural impact, and degree of achievement.” — Sloan De Forest 

What happens behind the scenes is sometimes more important that what we witness on screen. Film directors influence many aspects of the filmmaking process. They shape the look of a movie, add important themes, guide the actors to better performances, and can turn chaos into order. And in some cases the volatility they bring to the table inspires art. However, the role of a director, especially to those who've never worked on a movie set, can be a bit of an enigma.

Author Sloan De Forest provides movie buffs an excellent guide to the most influential film directors and their impact on film history. This carefully curated collection of directors, with figures from the beginning of film history to present day, highlights the importance of each individuals contributions as well as demonstrates the impact they had on a whole on how movies are made and how they influence culture.

The Essential Directors spotlights over 50 filmmakers with mentions of many more. Each of the filmmakers gets their own 5 page section which includes a biographical essay, a quote from another filmmaker that director influenced, photos, a list of must-see movies and a key scene to watch. The book begins with two forewords by Peter Bogdanovich and Professor Jacqueline Stewart of TCM. The directors are presented chronologically which each section focusing on a different era of film history. These sections include an introduction that explore how film directing changed with the evolution of the industry, technology and the role of directors in general. Also throughout are smaller sections that look at other film directors including German expressionists, Neorealists and other international filmmakers. De Forest addresses controversy, gender and race disparity in filmmaking in her introduction. It's a reality that women and POC directors have not been given a space to create during much of film history and I'm glad this was touched upon in the book.

Some notable names in the book include: Cecil B. DeMille, D.W. Griffith, Oscar Micheaux, Lois Weber, Fritz Lang, King Vidor, Dorothy Arzner, Frank Capra, Victor Fleming, Michael Curtiz, John Ford, John Huston, George Stevens, Preston Sturges, Orson Welles, William Wyler, Alfred Hitchcock, Ida Lupino, Billy Wilder. The list goes on and on.

My favorite aspect of reading this book was getting to De Forest's beautifully crafted lines that captured the essence and importance of the particular director being spotlighted. I looked forward to these with each new chapter. Here are some of my favorites:

On Howard Hawks — “racked up a multi-faceted filmography for himself in the decades between, not only criss-crossing into a variety of different genres but seemingly equal at home in all of them.”

On W.S. Van Dyke — “a marvel of efficiency, a reliable studio journeyman who managed to inject streaks of creative brilliance into his rapidly shot movies.”

On Dorothy Arzner — “Arzner is set apart by her consistent success within the studio system... [she] made 16 features during her Hollywood tenure, and everyone focused on a central woman—always of the spunky, independent variety.”

On Leo McCarey — “McCarey’s movies are informed by a deep understanding of human nature, in all its hilarity and its heartache.”

On W.S. Van Dyke — “a marvel of efficiency, a reliable studio journeyman who managed to inject streaks of creative brilliance into his rapidly shot movies.”

On Nicholas Ray — “Perhaps the most subversive filmmaker to ascend the ranks in 1950s Hollywood, Nicholas Ray was a trained Method actor who brought a dark urgency to midcentury movies... [he was the] reigning king of misfits, outsiders, and tortured souls.”

On Fred Zinnemann — “he left behind a rich fourty-year legacy of handsomely crafted films, many of which concern individuals forced to choose between compromising their moral integrity and following their consciences.”

Of course there will be classic movie fans who will ask "well why didn't you include so-and-so?" The Essential Directors could easily be a three volume set. But one 300+ page book does have its limitations. There is a lot covered here so while each section is a breezy read overall this book will take a while to get through. It's worth the effort for the scope it covers.

A big thank you to Running Press for sending me a copy of this book for review. I recommend reading my other reviews for TCM Running Press titles here.

Stay tuned as I will be interviewing Sloan De Forest here on the blog!

2020 Classic Film Holiday Gift Guide

 

Today I'm proud to share with you my 2020 Classic Film Holiday Gift Guide. It's a little late to be sharing (better late than never right?) but these are great options for last-minute gifts or to treat yourself with. These are mostly new products but I also included one older release. I did things a little differently this year and decided to present each recommendation in a styled photo. I hope you enjoy them. And I will be adding a few more options in an update so stay tuned.

Shopping with my buy links helps support this site. Thank you!

Happy Holidays!

 

 

This Was Hollywood: Forgotten Stars & Stories
by Carla Valderrama
TCM and Running Press

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — TCM Shop

52 More Must-See Movies and Why They Matter
by Jeremy Arnold
TCM and Running Press

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's — TCM Shop

Bruce Lee: The Greatest Hits
The Big Boss (1971), Fist of Fury (1972), The Way of the Dragon (1972),

Enter the Dragon (1973) and Game of Death (1978)

2 Disc Supplements

Blu-ray Boxed Set

Criterion Collection

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Deep Discount — TCM Shop

Tony Curtis Collection
The Perfect Furlough (1958), The Great Impostor (1960), 40 Pounds of Trouble (1962)

Blu-Ray set

Kino Lorber

Amazon — Deep Discount — TCM Shop 

Holiday Affair (1949)

Dir. Don Hartman

Starring Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, Wendell Corey, Gordon Gebert

Blu-Ray

Warner Archive Collection

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Deep Discount — TCM Shop —Warner Archive

Sergeant York (1941)
Dir. Howard Hawks

Starring Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Joan Leslie, George Tobias, Stanley Ridges

4K Restoration Blu-Ray
Warner Archive Collection

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Deep Discount — TCM Shop —Warner Archive

Lonesome (1928)

Dir. Paul Fejos

Starring Barbara Kent and Glenn Tryon

Blu-Ray

Criterion Collection

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Deep Discount — TCM Shop 

Outside the Law (1920)

Dir. Tod Browning

Starring Lon Chaney, Priscilla Dean, Wheeler Oakman

Blu-Ray

Kino Lorber

Amazon — Deep Discount — Kino Lorber — TCM Shop 

Drifting (1923)

Dir. Tod Browning

Starring Priscilla Dean, Anna May Wong, Wallace Beery

White Tiger (1923)

Dir. Tod Browning

Starring Priscilla Dean, Matt Moore, Wallace Beery

Blu-Ray

Kino Lorber

Amazon — Deep Discount — Kino Lorber — TCM Shop 

Image Makers: The Adventures of America’s Pioneer Cinematographers

When we talk about the art of classic film many of us tend to focus on the work of the director. It's easy to do that. Their names are directly linked with their work in a way that other crew members, beyond the cast, are not. It's easy to ignore the contributions of the cinematographers who do so much with framing, composition, lighting, focus and movement of the camera to create the masterpieces we love.

Director Daniel Raim's new documentary Image Makers: The Adventures of America's Pioneer Cinematographers celebrates the work of seven early visionaries who learned their craft through practice, curiosity and invention. Their work is simply incredible because there was no precedent. Cinematographers developed their art form from scratch and their techniques would lay the foundation for technicians for decades to come. The film calls them a "fraternity of light" and they would share their craft with their fellow cinematographers through apprenticeship and collaboration.

Image Makers spotlights seven notable cinematographers from the 1910s to the 1950s. These seven include Billy Bitzer, Charles Rosher, Rollie Totheroh, William Daniels, Karl Struss, Gregg Toland and  James Wong Howe. Bitzer was one of the early pioneers who came from nothing to establish a career working with D.W. Griffith. Totheroh was a former baseball player who had a background in illustration and his talent for being able to frame a shot lead to his long-time collaboration with Charlie Chaplin. Rosher had a background in photographer, gained the trust of Mary Pickford and became a master at lighting. Daniels worked with Greta Garbo at MGM developing techniques to best display Garbo's stunning countenance. Struss collaborated with Rosher on Sunrise (1927), used German camera movement techniques and even invented his own lens. Toland tragically died young at the age of 44 but during his short career photographed some majors including Citizen Kane (1941), Wuthering Heights (1939) and The Grapes of Wrath (1940). Wong Howe developed a love of photography as a child and after a brief career as a boxer found himself working in the film industry and quickly adapted to sound, color and widescreen working through the 1930s and into the 1970s.

"Cameraman Billy Bitzer and director D.W. Griffith ignite Hollywood spectacle with Intolerance (1916)"

"Cameraman James Wong Howe trailblazes on roller-skates for his breakthrough boxing film Body and Soul (1947)"

"Greta Garbo surrenders lovingly to William H. Daniels’ camera for the pre-code talkie Romance (1930)"

Film discussed at length include Intolerance (1916), Way Down East (1920), The Kid (1921), City Lights (1923), Greed (1924), Flesh and the Devil (1926), Sunrise (1927), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931),  The Thin Man (1934), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Body and Soul (1947) and Hud (1963). Other cinematographers mentioned include Karl Freund (the inventor of the unchained camera technique) and Harry Stradlings.

The documentary is directed, produced and edited by Daniel Raim. I really enjoyed his film Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story and the focus of his work is primarily on those in the industry who work behind the scenes. Illustrator Patrick Mate, who did wonderful artwork for Harold and Lillian, fills in the blanks with vibrant and expressive illustrations. They are always such a joy and add a unique energy to the documentary that archival images just cannot by themselves. The film has plenty of film clips, behind-the-scenes photographs and archival audio clips of cinematographer interviews in addition to the illustrations. 

Image Makers is narrated by Michael McKean and features interviews with various experts including the father of silent film research Kevin Brownlow as well as film historian and critic Leonard Maltin who wrote the book The Art of the Cinematographer (which I need to get my hands on!). Other talking heads include cinematographers John Bailey and Rachel Morrison, director of the Margaret Herrick Library, curator of the ASC Camera Museum Steve Gainer, David Totheroh, grandson of Rollie Totheroh, Lothia Toland, daughter of Gregg Toland, among others. One of the highlights of the film is a scene with Kevin Brownlow and David Totheroh as they geek out over a makeshift camera projector that Rollie Totheroh and Charlie Chaplin used back in 1916. 

Image Makers is an enlightening and informative documentary that shines a much needed spotlight on the work of early pioneers in cinematography. TCM fans, especially those who want to learn more about film history, will definitely want to check this one out.

Image Makers: The Adventures of America’s Pioneer Cinematographers is a TCM original documentary and premieres on the channel on November 6th. Check your local listings for air times.

Check out my interview with the director Daniel Raim on the TCM website!

Hollywood Black by Donald Bogle

Hollywood Black
The Stars, The Films, The Filmmakers
by Donald Bogle
TCM and Running Press
Hardcover ISBN: 9780762491414
264 pages
May 2019

Amazon — Barnes and Noble —Powell's

“Hollywood Black presents a gallery of important talents, both in front of the camera and behind it – actors, actresses, writers, directors, producers – who struggled against the odds to make unique statements on-screen.” - Donald Bogle

If ever there was a primer on the history of African American cinema, Hollywood Black by Donald Bogle is it. This new book out from TCM and Running Press offers a comprehensive look at the contributions made by black performers and filmmakers from the birth of cinema to the present day. Bogle offers insights, breaks down misconceptions and fills in the gaps of knowledge. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about black film history whether they know little or a lot. It offers a bounty of information without being overwhelming. The hybrid format of a coffee table book meets non-fiction history book makes it as approachable as it is educational.

For me context is key and Hollywood Black offers that it in its chronological approach to telling the history of African American cinema. We learn about the trends, the milestones, the movements, the struggles and how far we've come and how far we still have to go. Each chapter is devoted to a particular decade from the silent era to modern day. We learn about how black representation in film changed and evolved through the Great Depression, WWII, the Civil Rights movement, etc. Within each chapter are themed essays with a focus on one or two particular players.

Subjects discussed include:
Stepin Fetchit
Bill Bojangles Robinson
Hazel Scott
Theresa Harris
Herb Jeffries
Clarence Muse
Hattie McDaniel
Lena Horne
Dorothy Dandridge
Ruby Dee
James Edwards
Ethel Waters
Sidney Poitier
Harry Belafonte
Eartha Kitt
Sammy Davis Jr.
Cicely Tyson
Pamela Grier
Melvin Van Peebles
etc.

Each decade is given equal amount of coverage which becomes a problem when we get to the 1970s and beyond because there are many more movies and filmmakers to discuss. However it's necessary to include every decade to appreciate the depth and breadth of this history.

Hollywood Black features a foreword by the late, great John Singleton which I found to be quite touching. This is book would serve as a fine addition to any home library but could also be great for an introductory course to African American cultural or film studies.

If you want to learn more about how the book is structured, watch my video book review below. And make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel! I'm trying to reach the milestone of 1,000 subscribers and every little bit helps!

You can hear me chat about Hollywood Black and other film books with Carl Sweeney host of The Movie Palace Podcast here.




Thank you to TCM and Running Press for sending me a copy of Hollywood Black to review.

This is my third review for the Summer Reading Challenge.

Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season by Jeremy Arnold

Christmas in the Movies
30 Classics to Celebrate the Season
by Jeremy Arnold
Turner Classic Movies/Running Press
Hardcover ISBN: 97807624924801
October 2018
208 pages

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's— TCM Shop


You can’t watch 30 Christmas movies in one day. But you can experience them all in one afternoon with Jeremy Arnold’s new book Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season. Starting with Miracle on Main Street (1939) and ending with Love, Actually (2003), this new genre book from Turner Classic Movies’ joint imprint with Running Press captures the spirit of the holiday with the most beloved of the beloved Christmas classics.

Each of the 30 films gets a 5-6 page treatment with photos, credits, an overview of the plot, and information on how the movie came to be made and how it uses the holiday to tell its story. There is also a Holiday Moment aside which describes a particularly Christmassy scene from the film. All the classics are here including Remember the Night (1940), Holiday Inn (1942), Meet Me In St. Louis (1944), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), The Bishop’s Wife (1947), White Christmas (1954), etc . And my personal favorites Christmas in Connecticut (1945) and Holiday Affair (1949) are in here too. Arnold spotlights films that either completely framed within the holiday or they feature Christmas in a significant way. Some of the latter include The Apartment (1960), Gremlins (1984), and Die Hard (1988) (which people love to proclaim is or is not a Christmas movie). Modern classics featured in the book include Little Women (1994), Elf (2003) and Love, Actually (2003) among others.

Why are Christmas movies so enduring? Arnold explains that they conjure up feelings of nostalgia, they focus on family dynamics, they lend themselves to the rituals of the holiday and their feel-good vibes and happy endings make them utterly enjoyable to movie going audiences.

Reading about each of these movies taps into the pleasure that the films themselves. I really enjoyed Arnold’s narrative voice which is very welcoming. The book goes down easy like a cup of hot cocoa with extra marshmallows. While the articles featured are not ground-breaking, I found some nugget of information to take away from almost every single one. You may know everything there is to know about Christmas movies (or can easily Google the information you need) but I don’t think that will hamper your appreciation of this book. I learned the most from the Love, Actually article, a film I used to adore but have grown to dislike over the years and have been meaning to revisit, and was interested in the background of how the story came to be. And there are a few films I had never seen before, including Miracle on Main Street and The Holly and the Ivy (1952) that I bookmarked for future viewing.

Some interesting tidbits include:

• The original and final lyrics for “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", the song written for Meet Me In St. Louis, are presented side by side in the book. I’m glad they were changed because the original song was quite dark.
• There was a backlash against Alastair Sim starring as Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1951 adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge. 
• Warner Bros. threw a parade in Norwalk, CT for the premiere of Christmas in Connecticut.
• I got a newfound appreciation for how TV was instrumental in making so many overlooked Christmas movies into widely appreciated classics.
• The idea for The Apartment came to Billy Wilder after he saw one particular scene in Brief Encounter (1945)

Christmas in the Movies is a keepsake treasure perfect for gift giving. And it’s very likely that if your loved one doesn’t watch classic movies that they’ve seen several of the classic Christmas films listed in the book. It’s beautifully designed and I particularly liked its more compact size. If you’re looking for a coffee table type book this is not it. It’s better suited on your mantle next to your Elf on the shelf and above your Christmas stocking.

Thank you to Jeremy Arnold and Running Press for sending me a copy of Christmas in the Movies for review.

2018 Classic Film Holiday Gift Guide

Another holiday season is upon us and if you're looking for a gift for the classic film lover in your life you've come to the right place. Today I present to you my 2018 Classic Film Holiday Gift Guide. Here you'll find a variety of gift ideas that would make for great stocking stuffers or wrapped presents under the tree. Or if you're looking for great products to buy for yourself with gift cards or holiday cash, I have some nice selections for you. Yay for physical media!

The guide is split into two sections. These are some of the products that I've enjoyed over the past year. The second section is my personal wish list of items I have my eye on.

When you use my buy links to do your holiday shopping you help support this site. Thank you!

As always, I'd love to hear from you. In the comment section below tell me which of these items appeals to you or would make a great gift for a loved one. And I want to know what's on your holiday wish list this year!

Kino Lorber's Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers Blu-ray Set

An ambitious project resulted in one of the most impressive film boxed sets ever released. A must have for film historians and feminists alike, this set includes a variety of female directed silent films and a bunch of amazing extras. Review to come!

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Best Buy — TCM Shop

And if you're passionate about supporting women in film, check out Alicia Malone's latest book. 

The Female Gaze Essential Movies Made by Women by Alicia Malone (Review)

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's

Warner Archive Blu-rays

2018 was an especially good year for Blu-ray releases from the Warner Archive Collection. They keep cranking out some great discs and I'm forever grateful. Here are four of my favorites from this year. No surprise that two of them are Fritz Lang films!

Harper (1966) Blu-ray (Review)

Amazon — Best Buy — TCM Shop —WB Shop

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956) Blu-ray (Review)

Amazon — Best Buy — TCM Shop —WB Shop

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) Blu-ray (Review)

Amazon — TCM Shop —WB Shop

While the City Sleeps (1956) Blu-ray (Review)

Amazon — Best Buy — TCM Shop —WB Shop

Warner Archive DVDs

The good folks at the Warner Archive Collection keep digging into their vaults to find more treasures for us classic film lovers to enjoy. Whether it's a film new to DVD or one that's gone out of print, access is key and WAC is making that happen. Here are three previously unreleased films now available on DVD-MOD.

Hide-Out (1934)

Amazon — Best Buy — TCM Shop —WB Shop

Comet Over Broadway (1938) (Review)

Amazon  — TCM Shop — WB Shop

Tender Comrade (1943) (Review)

Amazon — Best Buy — TCM Shop —WB Shop

Kino Lorber Blu-rays

Kino Lorber has been growing their classic film Blu-ray and DVD releases for their main catalog and also for their Studio Classics line. A lot of these are independent releases, not attached to a particular studio, and it's great that KL has stepped in to give these films the release they deserve. Here are some of my favorites from this year.

Lisbon (1956) Blu-ray

Amazon — TCM Shop

The Woman in the Window (1944) Blu-ray (Review)

Amazon — Best Buy — TCM Shop

Intermezzo: A Love Story (1939) Blu-ray (Review)

Amazon — Best Buy — TCM Shop

Trapeze (1956) Blu-ray (Review)

Amazon — Best Buy — TCM Shop

Olive Films Blu-rays

Olive Films continues to release unique offerings that keep us cinephiles happy. Whether it's their super deluxe Signature Editions that sell like hotcakes or their regular Blu-ray and DVD releases jam packed with extras, there is much to enjoy from their catalog. Here are some of my favorite Olive Films Blu-ray releases from 2018.

Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) Blu-ray (Review)

Amazon  — Best Buy — TCM Shop

The Miracle Worker (1962) Blu-ray (Review)

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Best Buy — TCM Shop

Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) Blu-ray (Review)

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Best Buy — TCM Shop

Mr. Capra Goes to War: Frank Capra's World War II Documentaries Blu-ray (Review)

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Best Buy — TCM Shop

TCM and Running Press Genre Books

Running Press' joint imprint with Turner Classic Movies keeps cranking out some really great classic film books. I feel like they're hitting their stride with these two genre books. 

Must See Sci-Fi: 50 Movies That Are Out of This World by Sloan de Forest (Review)

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's — TCM Shop 

Christmas in the Movies: 50 Classics to Celebrate the Season by Jeremy Arnold (Review coming soon!)

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's — TCM Shop 

TIME Life Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In

Earlier this year I celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In with a look back at the history behind this zany and hilarious show. TIME Life has released individual seasons in DVD boxed sets and the second season happens to be my personal favorite.

Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In: The Complete Second Season DVD Set (Review)

Amazon — Best Buy — TCM Shop

Complete collection available at TIME Life

Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes' Hollywood
by Karina Longworth

I'm endlessly fascinated with Howard Hughes and his impact, both negative and positive, on Hollywood. And being familiar with Longworth's podcast You Must Remember This, I know her new book will be well-researched and juicy!

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's 

Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood
by William J. Mann 

Hearing Vanessa Buttino discuss this book on the Movie Palace Podcast made me move it up further on my wish list of must have books! Watch her Book Talk on YouTube for more details.

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's 

Notorious (1946) Criterion Collection Blu-ray

My husband and I realized we don't have a copy of this Hitchcock classic so we're holding out for the upcoming Criterion release which looks amazing. Just look at

Coming January 2019

Fandango Gift Cards

I love watching movies on the big screen but it can get pricey. I was treated to a few gift cards this year and I felt absolutely pampered.

Fandango Shop