Yearly Archives: 2012

All Mine to Give

Posted on June 23, 2012 by John Grant

Put “All Mine to Give,” a Technicolor film made by RKO Radio Pictures in 1957, in the family drama category.  It concerns an immigrant married couple from Scotland who have six children in 1850.  They go through various challenges trying to … Continue reading →

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The Circle

Posted on June 19, 2012 by John Grant

“The Circle,” a charming silent movie made by MGM in 1925, features Eleanor Boardman as Elizabeth, a woman contemplating running away with her husband’s best friend.  Her husband, Arnold, played by Creighton Hale, is a stuffy neat freak and general … Continue reading →

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Odd Man Out

Posted on June 16, 2012 by John Grant

The 1947 film, “Odd Man Out,” follows the story of a Johnny McQueen, a rebel leader in Northern Ireland who kills a man during a robbery.  The wounded McQueen, played by James Mason, hides out in various places while the … Continue reading →

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I Married a Witch

Posted on June 12, 2012 by John Grant

Veronica Lake stars as Jennifer the Witch in “I Married a Witch,” a 1942 film directed by René Clair.  The film also features Fredric March as several members of the Wooley clan, including a gubernatorial candidate in the present day.  The film … Continue reading →

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Dead Reckoning

Posted on June 8, 2012 by John Grant

Humphrey Bogart puts his faith in yet another dame, only to face betrayal and violence in “Dead Reckoning,” a 1947 film directed by John Cromwell.  Bogart plays Captain Rip Murdock, who travels to Gulf City to find his paratrooper buddy … Continue reading →

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San Francisco Silent Film Festival

Posted on June 3, 2012 by John Grant

The San Francisco Silent Film Festival announces the roster of films for their 17th annual festival, set for the Castro Theater in San Francisco from Thursday, July 12 to Sunday, July 15, 2012 — Thursday, July 12 — 7 PM … Continue reading →

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The Mad Miss Manton

Posted on May 28, 2012 by John Grant

One of the best things about the Hollywood studio system is that it offers a chance to see great stars paired up in more than one picture.  Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck appeared in 3 films together, including Preston Sturges’ … Continue reading →

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Eternal Sunshine

Posted on May 21, 2012 by John Grant

It’s interesting that “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” from 2004, deals with memory, because I wanted to forget seeing two previous Charlie Kaufman-written films, the awful “Adaptation“ from 2002, and the mediocre “Being John Malkovich” from 1999.  Perhaps the … Continue reading →

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The Incredibles

Posted on May 15, 2012 by John Grant

“The Incredibles,”  a movie made in 2004, is an animated movie that isn’t a comedy.  I’m sure the people at Pixar thought up a whole lot of jokes while they worked on it, but few made it into the movie. … Continue reading →

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Akira Kurosawa

Posted on May 8, 2012 by John Grant

If you rent or buy Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 film, “Ikiru,” you’ll be treated to an extra disk that contains a documentary about Kurosawa’s filmmaking technique.  He discusses scriptwriting, editing, music, lighting, set design and other aspects of producing a movie. … Continue reading →

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