Yearly Archives: 2011

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

1939, which is generally considered one of the greatest years for Hollywood films, produced such classics as “The Wizard of Oz,” “Gone With the Wind,” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”  It also gave us a wonderful film called “The … Continue reading

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Sunset

I always enjoy movies about the silent era, so I recently rented a 1988 movie called “Sunset,” directed by Blake Edwards.  Bruce Willis stars as the iconic cowboy star Tom Mix, who is forced by studio head Alfie Alperin (Malcolm … Continue reading

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The Films of 1911

On Monday, November 21, at 7:00 PM, the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, California presents “A Century Ago:  The Films of 1911.”  The program features several short films with the theme of “Heroes and Heroines,” and it spotlights … Continue reading

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Jour de Fete

Before Jacques Tati became Monsieur Hulot, he played a bicycle-riding postman in “Jour de Fete.”  The film, originally filmed in color, came out in black and white in 1949 with hand-tinted color scenes.  Certain scenes present individual objects in color, … Continue reading

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Kansas Silent Film Festival

The Kansas Silent Film Festival plans its 16th annual event for Friday, February 24 and Saturday February 25, 2012.  The festival, which takes place in Topeka, Kansas, offers free showings of silent films.  Although the Whether it is a sport … Continue reading

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Days of Heaven

Terrance Malick’s “Days of Heaven,” from 1978, came to the big screen in 70 mm, but unfortunately I did not see it that way.  I enjoyed it very much on my TV screen, taking in the wheat fields on the … Continue reading

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Wild Rovers

During his long and interesting career, director Blake Edwards made about 3 dozen films.  Although well known for his comedies such as “The Pink Panther (1963),” “The Great Race (1965),” and “10 (1979),” Edwards occasionally directed dramas such as “Days … Continue reading

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Shasta Silent Film

The city of Redding, California presents the Shasta County Art Council’s Silent Film Festival on October 21 and 22, 2011.  The lineup includes the following: Friday, October 21, 2011 — 6:00 PM:  “Angora Love” (Laurel and Hardy, 1929), “Pass the … Continue reading

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Libeled Lady

“Libeled Lady,” a 1936 film from MGM, features an all-star cast of Jean Harlow, Merna Loy, William Powell and Spencer Tracy.  The terrific script gives each character rich and comedic dialogue.  The story concerns a newspaper managing editor, played by … Continue reading

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The Stunt Man

I watched “The Stunt Man” the other day, a 1980 film directed by Richard Rush and starring Peter O’Toole, Barbara Hershey, Steve Railsback and a lot of character actors.  O’Toole plays Eli Cross, a despotic director of a World War … Continue reading

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