Rarely one finds a friend on the Criterion Channel—discounting the parasitic relationship we form with filmmakers, I mean—but it’s great seeing their March lineup give light to Sophy Romvari, the <bias>exceptionally talented</bias> filmmaker and curator whose work has perhaps earned comparisons to Agnès Varda and Chantal Akerman but charts its own path of history and reflection. It’s a good way to lead into an exceptionally strong month, featuring as it does numerous films by Pier Paolo Pasolini, the great Japanese documentarian Kazuo Hara, newfound cult classic Arrebato, and a number of Criterion editions.
On the last front we have The Age of Innocence, Bull Durham, A Raisin in the Sun, The Celebration, Merrily We Go to Hell, and Design for Living. There’s always something lingering on the watchlist, but it might have to wait a second longer—March is an opened floodgate.
See the full...
On the last front we have The Age of Innocence, Bull Durham, A Raisin in the Sun, The Celebration, Merrily We Go to Hell, and Design for Living. There’s always something lingering on the watchlist, but it might have to wait a second longer—March is an opened floodgate.
See the full...
- 2/21/2022
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Tod Browning’s “Freaks”
Before R-ratings, anti-heroes and gratuitous violence and nudity in mainstream Hollywood movies, there was the Hays Code. As a form of self-policing the industry, virtually every movie released up until 1968 needed that stamp of approval if it wanted distribution. And while it helped produce all of Old Hollywood’s true classics for several decades, it often included ridiculous rulings like not being able to show or flush a toilet on screen, not allowing married couples to be shown sleeping in the same bad or always making sure criminals, even protagonists of the movie, got punished in the end.
But before the Hays Code was nothing, and it was a gloriously weird, scandalous time for the movies. Certain Hollywood films in the early ’30s as “talkies” were rapidly taking hold have since been labeled “Pre-Code” films that never received Hollywood’s stamp of approval.
Every Friday in September,...
Before R-ratings, anti-heroes and gratuitous violence and nudity in mainstream Hollywood movies, there was the Hays Code. As a form of self-policing the industry, virtually every movie released up until 1968 needed that stamp of approval if it wanted distribution. And while it helped produce all of Old Hollywood’s true classics for several decades, it often included ridiculous rulings like not being able to show or flush a toilet on screen, not allowing married couples to be shown sleeping in the same bad or always making sure criminals, even protagonists of the movie, got punished in the end.
But before the Hays Code was nothing, and it was a gloriously weird, scandalous time for the movies. Certain Hollywood films in the early ’30s as “talkies” were rapidly taking hold have since been labeled “Pre-Code” films that never received Hollywood’s stamp of approval.
Every Friday in September,...
- 9/4/2014
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Randolph Scott and Cary Grant: Gay lovers or good friends and roommates? (See previous post: “Randolph Scott Movies: From Westerns to Cary Grant Comedy.”) Now, one suggestion: Do not believe those rumors about Randolph Scott and Cary Grant having been gay lovers. Anything is possible, of course, but there’s no credible evidence indicating that the two actors were more than good friends / roommates who had first met on the set of the Nancy Carroll star vehicle Hot Saturday in 1932. (See also: “TCM Movie Lineup: Randolph Scott Westerns.”) (Image: Shirtless Randolph Scott and Cary Grant in publicity photo ca. 1933.) But what about all those pictures showing Randolph Scott and Cary Grant cozying up at the house they shared in the posh Los Feliz Hills? Well, those were publicity photos, taken at a time when both actors were up-and-coming Paramount contract players. Rooming up likely gave them a chance to...
- 8/19/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
DVD Playhouse—April 2009
By
Allen Gardner
Milk (Universal) Sean Penn deservedly captured his second Best Actor Oscar (and Dustin Lance Black a statuette for his original screenplay) in director Gus Van Sant’s portrait of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to hold public office in the U.S. Alternately heartbreaking, infuriating and very funny, a film that both captures a bygone era and is still very timely. Fine support from Josh Brolin, Victor Garber, James Franco and Emile Hirsch. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Three featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
Slumdog Millionaire (20th Century Fox) The Best Picture of 2008 is a kinetic, clever audience-pleaser about a determined lad (Dev Patel) from the slums of Mumbai, who has his chance at literal and financial redemption as a contestant on India’s version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Best Director Danny Boyle dazzles...
By
Allen Gardner
Milk (Universal) Sean Penn deservedly captured his second Best Actor Oscar (and Dustin Lance Black a statuette for his original screenplay) in director Gus Van Sant’s portrait of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to hold public office in the U.S. Alternately heartbreaking, infuriating and very funny, a film that both captures a bygone era and is still very timely. Fine support from Josh Brolin, Victor Garber, James Franco and Emile Hirsch. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Three featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
Slumdog Millionaire (20th Century Fox) The Best Picture of 2008 is a kinetic, clever audience-pleaser about a determined lad (Dev Patel) from the slums of Mumbai, who has his chance at literal and financial redemption as a contestant on India’s version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Best Director Danny Boyle dazzles...
- 4/11/2009
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
DVD Links: DVD News | Release Dates | New Dvds | Reviews | RSS Feed Doubt I have this Blu-ray sitting right here and plan on popping it in as soon as I get done with this column and will hopefully have a review up in the next day or so. Doubt is a solid film with fantastic performances and with cinematography from Roger Deakins I am sure it will look gorgeous in high-def (even though Deakins didn't exactly bring his A-game to this one). The features, however, do look a bit on the weak side with four traditional featurettes and a commentary from writer/director John Patrick Shanley, but Shanley's comments may prove to be solid enough for a recommendation. However, all likelihood is this one is best left as a rental as I don't consider it a buy based on my one theatrical experience. No Country for Old Men (Collector's Edition) Along...
- 4/7/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is going back to its studio parent's roots for a new DVD line.
The Universal Backlot Series will consist of historic films from the studio's library. The first batch of films, coming April 7, includes a 75th anniversary edition of Cecil B. DeMille's "Cleopatra" and six saucy classics from Hollywood's notorious pre-Production Code era.
"Cleopatra," nominated for five Academy Awards, ranks as one of DeMille's most lavish historical epics. The 1934 production stars Claudette Colbert as the cunning queen of the Nile, Warren William as Julius Caesar and Henry Wilcoxon as Marc Antony.
The six films in what Universal is billing as the "Pre-Code Hollywood Collection" are "The Cheat," with Tallulah Bankhead as a woman willing to do anything to pay off her gambling debt; "Merrily We Go to Hell," with Fredric March as an abusive alcoholic; "Hot Saturday," with Cary Grant; "Torch Singer," with Claudette Colbert; "Murder at the Vanities,...
The Universal Backlot Series will consist of historic films from the studio's library. The first batch of films, coming April 7, includes a 75th anniversary edition of Cecil B. DeMille's "Cleopatra" and six saucy classics from Hollywood's notorious pre-Production Code era.
"Cleopatra," nominated for five Academy Awards, ranks as one of DeMille's most lavish historical epics. The 1934 production stars Claudette Colbert as the cunning queen of the Nile, Warren William as Julius Caesar and Henry Wilcoxon as Marc Antony.
The six films in what Universal is billing as the "Pre-Code Hollywood Collection" are "The Cheat," with Tallulah Bankhead as a woman willing to do anything to pay off her gambling debt; "Merrily We Go to Hell," with Fredric March as an abusive alcoholic; "Hot Saturday," with Cary Grant; "Torch Singer," with Claudette Colbert; "Murder at the Vanities,...
- 2/17/2009
- by By Thomas K. Arnold
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.