Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...Last week Leonard Maltin called my attention to the brand-new book THE 100 GREATEST LOONEY TUNES CARTOONS edited by Jerry Beck, with a foreward by Maltin... Leonard also had kind words for DAY AND NIGHT, the Pixar short currently playing with TOY STORY 3, saying DAY AND NIGHT is "so clever it's almost impossible to describe."

...The Self-Styled Siren recently published a very interesting interview with actress Mary Astor's daughter, Marylyn. Be sure to check out the Siren's links, as well, and then read this postscript. A terrific piece of blogging and film history.

...Over at Classic Movies Digest, Rupert has recently reviewed THE WICKED LADY (1945), starring Margaret Lockwood and James Mason, and Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS (1935) with Madeleine Carroll and Robert Donat. THE WICKED LADY is on my "short list" of films to see soon...of course, my "short list" has something like 60 titles on it! So many movies...

...While on vacation I noticed an interesting item in the New York Times: the British Film Institute is asking for donations to restore nine early films directed by Alfred Hitchcock, including THE LODGER. $40 can restore 50 centimeters of film. For details visit Rescue the Hitchcock 9 at the BFI website.

...Fluttering Ivy Media describes "My Evening With Jane Russell" at the Hollywood Heritage Museum. (Hat tip: KC at Classic Movies.)

...Here's an interesting cookbook I recently came across which was released last fall: MAD HUNGRY: FEEDING MEN AND BOYS. The author, Lucinda Scala Quinn, is executive food director for Martha Stewart Living. Since I have two constantly ravenous sons, ages 12 and 18, I just might have to check this title out. Here's a good review.

...C.K. Dexter Haven has some wonderful print ads featuring movie stars at Hollywood Dreamland. I especially love the automobile ads with Ginger Rogers and Carole Lombard.

...Here is another interesting piece from the New York Times, on the revival of a 1966 SUPERMAN musical from the composers of BYE BYE BIRDIE. Patrick Cassidy is playing a role once created by his father, Jack Cassidy.

...The Classic Film and TV Cafe has recently posted reviews of THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL (1951), by Rick29, and ME AND MY GAL (1932), written by Kim Wilson.

...We had a milkman deliver milk during most of the years I was growing up. The L.A. Times ran an article on modern-day milkmen, who still exist and possibly are becoming more popular. Who knew?

...Here's the latest DVD reviews and "coming attractions" from Barrie Maxwell at The Digital Bits. I always look forward to his columns!

...Matthew of Movietone News has started a spinoff blog, Movietone Cameos, for shorter reviews and pieces.

...Reviews, reviews, and more reviews: Glenn Erickson reviewed the new Criterion DVD release of NIGHT TRAIN TO MUNICH (1940) at DVD Savant...R.D. Finch took a look at HOUSE OF STRANGERS (1949) at The Movie Projector...Mark reviews OUR VERY OWN (1950), with Ann Blyth, Natalie Wood, and Ann Dvorak, at Cin-Eater. I remember watching this on TV more than once as a teenager...At Another Old Movie Blog, Jacqueline wrote about THE HOWARDS OF VIRGINIA (1940), a Revolutionary War era film with Cary Grant and Martha Scott...Triple O takes a quick look at a Ginger Rogers film I'd like to see, THE MAGNIFICENT DOLL (1946)...and Toby wrote about Errol Flynn's ROCKY MOUNTAIN (1950) at 50 Westerns From the 50s.

...And here's more from DVD Savant, Glenn Erickson's review of the new Sony Noir Film Noir Classics II collection, which contains HUMAN DESIRE (1954), PUSHOVER (1954), THE BROTHERS RICO (1957), NIGHTFALL (1957), and CITY OF FEAR (1959). Erickson says the set contains "nigh-perfect enhanced widescreen transfers of these rewarding late-period noir thrillers."

...At A Quiet Simple Life Sallie called my attention to the book READICIDE: HOW SCHOOLS ARE KILLING READING AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. This sounds like an interesting read. One of my biggest gripes with schools in years past has been required summer reading lists...imposing reading requirements at the time of year my children finally had lots of time to read whatever they chose!

...Dear Old Hollywood has a great report, with lots of photos, on a celebration honoring Disney archivist Dave Smith. Participants included Leonard Maltin, Karen Dotrice (Jane of MARY POPPINS), and Roy P. Disney.

...The Nanny State, aka the federal government, is cracking down on unpaid college internships, and the result is what one might expect: vastly reduced internship opportunities for young people. Our daughter has greatly benefited from unpaid internships, and it would be a shame to see these fade away because of onerous regulations and credits requirements. Bit by bit freedom and the ability to make one's own choices evaporates as the government takes it upon itself to be the arbiter of what's "right" and what's not.

...New releases from the Warner Archive include half a dozen Lana Turner films: DANCING CO-ED (1939), THESE GLAMOUR GIRLS (1939), TWO GIRLS ON BROADWAY (1940), SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS (1943), KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY (1945), and CASS TIMBERLANE (1947).

...William Schoell gave Season 1 of FALCON CREST a positive three-star review at Great Old Movies. I remember this series fondly and look forward to taking another look at it at some point.

Have a great week!