Bette Davis, one of filmdom’s incontestably great actresses, would have turned 100 on April 5th. Instead of honoring her with the usual rundown of her classic performances, let’s look at her early career, her dues-paying period (1931-1937). Of her first six films, only the original Waterloo Bridge (1931) is memorable, though BD has minimal screen [...]

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Last week, the American Film Institute aired their annual countdown program.  This year’s topic was the top ten films in ten different genres.  Most of it was fairly predictable and decidedly tame, but a few of the choices demand to be ridiculed. Take their “Westerns” line-up.  Who in his right mind thinks that the mildly [...]

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In the summer of 1974, when I was thirteen, I saw That’s Entertainment! thirteen times.  One of the film’s most entrancing clips is the “Dancing in the Dark” routine from The Band Wagon (1953).  Danced exquisitely by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse, it begins as a nighttime stroll through Central Park, then effortlessly becomes one [...]

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Welcome to my new blog!  I’ll begin with some very exciting news.  Turner Classic Movies will be devoting its prime-time schedule on Monday, September 22nd, to my new book SCREEN SAVERS.  Host Robert Osborne has selected five movies featured in the book, and he will be introducing them on the air that evening. Here’s the [...]

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Hi, everyone! I just added Facebook compatibility to my blog. Now you can either read my blog posts here or on my Facebook page. You can also go to my Facebook page from my blog via the Facebook badge on the left hand sidebar. I hope this helps you keeping in touch with me and [...]

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