Monthly Archives: January 2011

The Artist Film

Posted on January 31, 2011 by John Grant

In “Lust for Life,” Vincent Minnelli’s 1956 film about Vincent Van Gogh, Kirk Douglas gives a solid performance as the troubled painter, whose unstable mental condition provides the basis for the plot.  He starts out as preacher sent to a … Continue reading →

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Italian Silent Festival

Posted on January 27, 2011 by John Grant

I want to spend the first 10 days of October 2011 in Pordenone, Italy, to see the 30th Pordenone Silent Film Festival.  Us fans of silent film wait eagerly for the posting of the program, as I do every year … Continue reading →

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Country vs. City

Posted on January 23, 2011 by John Grant

When I watch films like “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House,” (1948) and “The Egg and I,” (1947), I’m reminded of a lost world where there once existed a major difference between people from the city and people from the … Continue reading →

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A Life in the Circus

Posted on January 20, 2011 by John Grant

For a wonderful movie experience, get a copy of “Dumbo,” the terrific animated film from the Walt Disney Studios.  Today’s audiences don’t all think alike, but back in 1941 when Disney made this film, an almost universal feeling of uncertainty … Continue reading →

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San Francisco Silent Film Festival

Posted on January 18, 2011 by John Grant

In a few weeks, on Saturday, February 14, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival holds its winter event at the Castro Theater in San Francisco.  The festival shows films from the silent era as they were meant to be seen, … Continue reading →

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Japanese Wartime Film

Posted on January 15, 2011 by John Grant

After watching so many World War II American movies, I watched a Japanese wartime film called “The Most Beautiful”  (1944), about a group of women who join the war effort to make precision optic gunsights.  Since this is about what … Continue reading →

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TCM Treasure

Posted on January 13, 2011 by John Grant

I tell everyone that if I was ever stranded on a desert island and could bring along only one television station, it would be Turner Classic Movies (TCM).  They offer consistently great programming for a movie buff, and they do … Continue reading →

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Indian Movies

Posted on January 11, 2011 by John Grant

I made an effort this year to watch some Bollywood flicks, and a few Tamil movies (aka Kollywood) too.  Like Hollywood, star power goes a long way in Indian cinema.  Take Shahrukh Khan, for example.  I attended the Regal Cinema … Continue reading →

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Netflix Rules

Posted on January 9, 2011 by John Grant

Although Netflix continues to amaze me with their selection, I wonder sometimes why some classic movies don’t seem to be available.  My “Saved DVD” queue currently contains 35 titles, many of whom have been on the list for several years. … Continue reading →

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Low Budget

Posted on January 7, 2011 by John Grant

Zasu Pitts, another prolific character actor from Hollywood’s golden age, had a career that lasted from the silent era to television of the early 1960s.  She estimated that she appeared in 500 films, and I’m sure she forgot quite a … Continue reading →

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