When you mention PEEPING TOM (’60) to classic film fans the response is typically “That’s the movie that ended Michael Powell’s career!” and a quick Google search will unearth countless critics and film historians repeating a similar refrain. While it is true that PEEPING TOM received a brutal lashing from the British critical establishment that … Continue reading Reassessing the Critical Response to PEEPING TOM (1960)
My Favorite Films of 2017
I contributed a list of my 20 Favorite Films seen in 2017 to the annual Senses of Cinema World Poll in the form of an illustration scanned & cleaned up in Photoshop. I wanted to have fun with the process this year and didn't feel much like writing about all the films on my list … Continue reading My Favorite Films of 2017
Culture Clash: RUDE BOY (1980)
“We felt that the whole machine was teetering on the brink of collapse. Some amazing things went down in Britain during the ’70s—the government decided they could disempower the unions by having a three-day week, for instance. Can you imagine that? … There were garbage strikes, train strikes, power strikes, the lights were going out—everything … Continue reading Culture Clash: RUDE BOY (1980)
BORIS KARLOFF IS THE BODY SNATCHER (1945)
Director Robert Wise is widely regarded as a journeyman filmmaker with no defining traits or distinct talents. In The American Cinema: Directors And Directions 1929-1968 critic Andrew Sarris famously labeled Wise’s output as “strained seriousness” asserting that the director’s “stylistic signature . . . is indistinct to the point of invisibility.” David Thompson parroted these claims in … Continue reading BORIS KARLOFF IS THE BODY SNATCHER (1945)
CRIME & PASSION: POOL OF LONDON (1951)
I, along with some of my fellow StreamLine colleagues, have been modestly building a case for the reassessment of Basil Dearden’s career during the past year by spotlighting many of his films including Sapphire (1959), The League of Gentlemen (1960), Victim (1961), All Night Long (1963), Frieda(1947), The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970) and The Captive Heart (1946). Despite the fact that the British director has been the … Continue reading CRIME & PASSION: POOL OF LONDON (1951)
ONE FOR ALL, AND ALL FOR ONE!
Director Richard Lester was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but he made some of the best British films of the 1960s. Inspired by Buster Keaton and Jacques Tati, he developed an acute funny bone and an appreciation of the absurd that allowed him to work side-by-side with bastions of British comedy such as Spike Milligan … Continue reading ONE FOR ALL, AND ALL FOR ONE!
Film Writing Nov. 2016 – April 2017
It's been awhile. Work obligations, as well as personal projects and other responsibilities, have taken precedence over updating my blogs. Of course, you can always find me on my Tumblr as well as Twitter & Facebook. Before I let another month get away, I thought I'd finally share an update to the film writing I've … Continue reading Film Writing Nov. 2016 – April 2017
Now at FilmStruck – Streamline
In case you haven't noticed, the Turner Classic Movie's Morlocks blog has been renamed Streamline and is currently part of the new TCM & Criterion film streaming service at FilmStruck.com What is FilmStruck? Here's an excerpt from a Time Warner press release: "Developed and managed by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) in collaboration with the Criterion … Continue reading Now at FilmStruck – Streamline
Jan. & Feb. 2016 at TCM’s Movie Morlocks
Links to some of the writing I did for TCM's Movie Morlocks blog in Jan. & Feb. Jan. 7: William Cameron Menzies: Chandu the Magician (1932) Excerpt: "In recent weeks, you might have heard about the upcoming Doctor Strange film currently scheduled for release in November of 2016. The news caught my attention because I’ve … Continue reading Jan. & Feb. 2016 at TCM’s Movie Morlocks
Sept. & Oct. at The Movie Morlocks
It's that time again. Time to collect & share links to the writing I've published on TCM's Movie Morlocks blog in the past few months. In September I spent a lot of time obsessing over TCM Star of the Month Susan Hayward. I reference her in at least three of the pieces I wrote that … Continue reading Sept. & Oct. at The Movie Morlocks
FATAL CHARM: CAST A DARK SHADOW (1955)
On Monday, October 12th TCM is airing a batch of suspenseful films focusing on “Treacherous Spouses.” Most critics wouldn’t classify any of these films as horror but some of them contain genuinely horrific moments. The impressive line-up includes Experiment Perilous (1944), Suspicion (1941), Strangers on a Train (1951), Dial M for Murder (1954), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) Elevator to the Gallows (1958) and the day’s … Continue reading FATAL CHARM: CAST A DARK SHADOW (1955)
6 Months of Film Writing
I'm afraid I've been neglecting Cinebeats again but I've been busy with various personal projects and obligations. I've also recently started writing for Publishers Weekly but I thought I'd finally update with some highlights from TCM's Movie Morlocks. Here's some of the more interesting (in my estimation) film related writing & entertaining babble I've produced … Continue reading 6 Months of Film Writing
