CMBA Profile: Silver Screen Classics and Nostalgia

 

Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This Month, we are featuring Seleus Blelis who writes at Silver Screen Classics and Nostalgia.

1. Why do you blog?

Ever since my introduction to classic cinema starting with the iconic "Frankenstein" (1931), I've wanted to share my thoughts and opinions about these brilliant glimpses into film culture - and this was in 1978, when I was five years old!  After creating various websites and Facebook groups as well as other "classic cinema" opportunities since then, blogging of course was the next obvious vehicle to spread my passion for classic film by transporting you out of the cinema and into a "different", more fun, personal and insightful way to experience these beloved pieces of film artistry.  You won't be just learning about the film, but getting a chance to live it as well by linking cinema of the past with film curiosities of the present (and even future). So "...fasten your seatbelts - it's going to be a bumpy ride"!

2. Besides classic movie blogging, what are some of your other passions?

When I'm not indulging my love for cinema at the movies or local drive-In theaters, you can find me always on the road looking for amazing adventures, museums, roadside curiosities, experiences and people.  I love collecting classic movie memorabilia, classic cinema era vintage makeup compacts, bygone classic foreign film posters, as well as movie replica props including my latest acquisition - Guy's lighter from Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train".  You can find me doing all these things in my 1930's and 40's vintage fashions channeling my innermost Barbara Stanwyck. Also the holidays and decorating for them is something I relish so I can bring out the Cedric Gibbons styling in me. 

3. If you could program a perfect day of classic movies for TCM, what would be the seven films on your schedule?

All About Eve (1950)

I mean, what can I say about this movie that hasn't already been gushed over?  From backstage to backstabbing - it's got everything! The casting is spot-on, the script is fire, and it all comes together to create movie magic. The clever banter alone is worth the price of admission. I was fortunate enough to see it in theaters, and let me tell you, watching it with a crowd adds a whole new layer of enjoyment. Finally, the standouts for me are the smart and observant George Sanders as Addison de Witt and Thelma Ritter as Birdy. 

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

When it comes to classic films, this one is my all time favorite. It's the epitome of classic cinema, showing the struggles of WWII soldiers returning home with a heartbreaking yet realistic touch that never fails to surprise me viewing after viewing.  The actors completely shine with their raw emotion due to the flawless directing of the Master and personal favorite director - William Wyler.  The stellar cast, especially Dana Andrews' outstanding performance, always manages to tug at my heartstrings, and let's not forget real-life vet Harold Russell, whose portrayal remains as timeless and fresh as ever. The  film is a masterpiece that feels fresh and relevant today. 

Swingtime (1936)

Oh, Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers! Their movies truly ignited my passion for classic films. The romance and happiness they exude are unmatched, with "SwingTime" standing out as a timeless classic. The way they effortlessly weave music into the plot is pure magic, always leaving me in a great mood. And let's not forget their phenomenal dance routine in "Pick Yourself Up" - it's my all time favorite dance on film. Sigh... if I could just crawl into a film...

Mildred Pierce (1946)

I absolutely adore Joan Crawford and this film is definitely one of her finest works, exhibiting one of my favorite performances from her, It's the perfect blend of film-noir and melodrama that hooks you in from the start. The script is incredibly well-crafted and the cast is impeccable. I especially enjoy Jack Carson and Eve Arden, who add levity to the story with their strong performances and witty lines.

Footlight Parade (1933) 

Before watching Yankee Doodle Dandy, I only knew James Cagney from gangster movies, so I had no idea he could sing and dance so well. He's fantastic in this movie, and does both with flair and charisma! It's such a fun and sassy film, with the amazing kaleidoscope of Busby Berkeley musical numbers that are just mind-blowing. And let's not forget the delightful fire of Joan Blondell. An all around visual delight for sure - I absolutely love this pre-code musical comedy! 

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) 

I first watched this classic during a PBS tribute to Frank Capra in 1991, on a sweltering hot summer day with no AC in a tiny NYC apartment, where I was so completely captivated by it, that I didn't even notice the high temperature. It wasn't until later that I realized it was that Christmas movie. The story always fills my heart and soul, and I find myself in tears every time I see James Stewart's powerful performance.  Much like the rest of the world, it's become a holiday tradition for me and my family to watch year after year..

The Tingler (1959)

William Castle’s The Tingler!! It's a fun and gimmicky film, and anyone who knows me, knows I have a soft spot for 1950s B-Movies - especially this one!  To give you an idea of how much I consider this my absolute favorite B-Movie - I even have a replica prop of the TINGLER that lives on your spine sitting proudly on my shelf!  How can you not love the cheesy special effects, crazy plots, and exaggerated acting?!  Speaking of acting - I love when actors keep a straight face while delivering a serious performance in the face of all the craziness of bad B-Movies, just like Vincent Price does masterfully here. 

4. What is a classic movie that you love, but most people don't know about -- and what do you love about it?

Sudden Fear  (1952)

I was totally caught off guard by this hidden gem.  Joan Crawford delivers yet another Oscar-nominated performance in my second favorite role of hers.  The film kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, with its brilliant showcase of on-screen emotion, which she really pulls together, as well as showcasing all the skills she picked up during her silent film days to create a beautifully tormented woman.  Watch when her character plays a recording and hears her fiancé’s plan to kill her.  You can see every bit of fear and horror in her expressive eyes!  Perfection!  Then there's a moment with our heroine hiding in a closet that's just as amazing, and she doesn’t have any dialogue in either scene!  She simply listens and reacts, showing us why she's a classic cinema favorite!  The lighting combined with her incredibly expressive eyes is something else to see.  I also appreciated the careful planning she does to thwart the plot, with close-ups of her hands organizing everything and her imagining how it will all unfold.  I absolutely love this film and I make sure to wear my Sudden Fear t-shirt (featured on my Blogger profile) with every viewing.

5. What is something that most people don't know about you?

I’m also artist and sell my graphite caricatures of classic film actresses. Currently, I'm trying my hand at "sky" photography - it's a new palette every second, and in true Cineaste fashion, I'm always inspecting the heavens with a cinematographer's eye like my favorite Master Gregg Toland. 

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We thank Seleus for participating in our Q&A profile and encourage you to visit Silver Screen Classics and Nostalgia

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CMBA presents: A Haunting Blogathon: In the Afterlife

CMBA presents: A Haunting Blogathon: In the Afterlife

The blogathon will run from November 11-15, 2024.

This event, for CMBA members only, allows you to explore the captivating theme of the afterlife in film. A realm where past and present are woven together and the echoes of lost souls connect us. But this exploration can also extend well beyond the supernatural. It invites us to reflect on the haunting nature of being tormented by the memories of trauma, abandonment, or unattainable love, the relentless pursuit of a dream just out of reach, or the depths of obsessions that linger like a shadow. Films dealing with the afterlife and hauntings are not all gloom and darkness. Some are quite funny and charming or have a unique beauty or performances that are haunting in themselves. These interwoven tropes reveal how we’re often haunted by people and events that shape our lives. In this coming season, which pays tribute to these inextricable experiences, let us celebrate! From phantoms to preoccupations… from the ethereal to the deeply personal.

Please use this form to submit your topic choice, blog name, and preferred date for posting, if any. 

Because there is such a variety of topics to choose from, we won't be accepting duplicates. Topic selections will be accepted in order of receipt.

To promote the blogathon on your blog, take your pick from any of the banners at the bottom of this post. 

We’re really looking forward to another great blogathon! 

November 11 Monday 

• Cinematic Scribblings: Cría cuervos...
• Realweegiemidget Reviews Films, TV, Books and more: Fantasma d'amore (Ghost of Love) (1981)
• A Person in the Dark: The Time of Their Lives (1946)

November 12 Tuesday

• Whimsically Classic: Random Harvest (1942)
• Speakeasy: A Place of One's Own (1945)
• Outspoken & Freckled: Carnival of Souls (1962)

November 13 Wednesday 

• Poppity Talks Classic Film: Fantasy in the Highlands: Brigadoon (1954)
• Once upon a screen...: Topper (1937)

November 14 Thursday

• Crítica Retrô: Blithe Spirit (1945)
• Taking Up Room: Heaven Can Wait (1943)
• Another Old Movie Blog: Possessed (1947)

November 15 Friday

• In The Good Old Days Of Classic Hollywood: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
• Nitrate Glow: Kuroneko (1968)
• Hamlette's Soliloquy: Blackbeard's Ghost (1968)
• The Last Drive In: The Uninvited (1944)

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CMBA Profile: Those obscure objects of desire

Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This Month, we are featuring Stela Zoric, who writes at Those obscure objects of desire. 

1. Why do you blog? 
We live in a world of abundant data, data that has never been easier to access. But real information? Something worthwhile? That has always been, and will always be, more difficult to obtain. Since I started exploring the vast spaces of the internet (it was in 2000 and I was in elementary school), I have developed a deep appreciation for all bloggers who put their time, effort, and energy into creating concrete, wonderful observations from a mass of data.

I read a lot of everything back then but got hooked on Old Hollywood. It was a logical turn of events that I would veer more and more in that direction. And, after years of consuming so much content, I decided to create a blog. Thus, my blog is a combination of Hollywood (my interest) and a form of creativity. An inner creativity, deeply embedded in all of us. If I can help someone even a little bit, it’s enough for me. Not to mention that satisfying one's creative urges is a delight all in itself. Thus, I blog to provide people with creative, and hopefully quality, content, the same I receive from their valiant efforts. It's always a game of give and take, and we should rejoice in both swings of the pendulum—savor what others have written, and write for others yourself.

2. Besides classic movie blogging, what are some of your other passions? 

Lots and lots! Always learning! I am a huge lover of all arts, but literature and paintings are my favorites! I am a voracious reader and very much enjoy Victorian literature and early 20th-century literature. I am also a big fan of 90s games, am learning Chinese, take courses at a school of philosophy, and practice pole dance. There is so much more, but I prefer not to overwhelm you too intensely...

3. If you could program a perfect day of classic movies for TCM, what would be the seven films on your schedule?

1. Deception - Just for Claude Rains. I love him to bits in this otherwise lukewarm movie. The restaurant scene is a masterclass in acting! And the gorgeous music.

2. Gone to Earth - I mostly like Jennifer Jones and find her filmography intriguing. This movie is a special favorite of mine—it's simply pure magic! And I mean it both as something remarkable and occult.

3. Deep Red - I am a HUGE giallo fan, so let's select one of the best giallos ever made. Argento at his absolute peak. A must-watch. Perhaps the movie with the most incredible atmosphere I have ever watched. And the locations are stunning. The twist at the end left my jaw on the floor. Pure genius!

4. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence - David Bowie perfection! And Ryuichi Sakamoto was an absolute revelation! The music, the story, the mise-en-scène, the subtext—it’s all wrapped up and tied to perfection by a master director (Nagisa Oshima). And the music! So phenomenal!

5. The Big Combo - Jean Wallace plus Richard Conte make this movie for me. Jean's scenes, especially the one with the famous innuendo (won't write it outright, take a peek yourselves), delighted me so much! And Conte's brand of menace is other-worldly and so excessively masculine I was almost hypnotized. While it's too low-budget to be a must-watch classic, and Cornel Wilde is a wood-adjacent actor, these two make it an enduring minor classic.

6. The Thomas Crown Affair - This is pure, top-class elegance made with a sleek hand into a deceptively simple movie. Or is it? I find this one of the best psychological movies of the 60s, and every serious student of Jung should watch it.

7. Dragonwyck - Gene Tierney! Love love love! I adore her in this movie. And Vincent Price kills it from scene one to the last scene. The gothic sensibility doesn't distract from the dark, smoky quality this movie nails down so perfectly. I am generally unhappy with how few quality gothic horrors were made in this period, but gems like this one keep me afloat.

4. What is a classic movie that you love, but most people don't know about—and what do you love about it? 

Definitely the not-so-elegantly named The Journey, from 1959. I have never met anyone who watched or even heard of this movie, despite its stellar cast (Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, Jason Robards, Robert Morley). And this makes me a bit melancholic! It's such a fine movie, with many layers, and it contains wildly opposing sensibilities—one dainty, delicate, not unlike the brush of butterfly wings, the other blunt, savage ruthlessness—so well drawn out in its two clashing main characters. While the movie's most prominent layer, that of political critique, may be strong, well-written, and very much relevant even today, it's the dark side of the mirror that has caught my fancy. Yes, I mean the forbidden fruit/love! Deborah Kerr is my favorite actress, and this is my personal favorite out of her whole filmography. In terms of Deborah "power," what a movie! Deborah and Yul are aflame and radiate such passion I can't help but watch them again and again! Just for the two of them, this is more than worth the effort.

5. What is something that most people don't know about you? 

Since Spain just won the Euro Cup, I remembered this funny story—in 2010, I was in Madrid when Spain was playing in the FIFA World Cup finals. There was pandemonium in the streets, and everybody was talking about football incessantly, and seemingly everyone was going to watch the game somewhere. As I am completely blasé about football, I just chucked it aside and went to the Prado Museum. I was there when they won and the streets literally erupted. I, deep inside the museum, watching Baroque art, was completely oblivious and living in my own art-history wonderland. I only found out hours later when I exited the museum and saw the overcrowded streets. When I told this story to my friend, she told me not to tell anyone, since it's semi-shameful to have been in Madrid at that time and completely ignoring the happenings. So almost nobody knows this!

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We thank Stela for participating in our Q&A profile and encourage you to visit Those obscure objects of desire. 

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CMBA Profile: Nitrate Glow

Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This month, we are featuring Emma Stefanzick, who writes at NITRATE GLOW. 

1. Why do you blog?

The most basic answer is because I enjoy writing and classic films, so why not combine them?

I used to say my blog had no centering focus. Some people focus on the 1930s-1950s period, others on silent movies or older cult films. I tend to jump all over the place, from the nickelodeon era to the 1970s. Genre-wise, I veer towards the macabre, the melodramatic, and the satirical much of the time. I tend to prefer my films—be they comedies or dramas—more on the dark side, so you won’t often see fluffy rom-coms or super-lighthearted fare on the Nitrate Glow blog.

Lately, I’ve noticed a pattern in the subject matter I pick, however. I enjoy writing about films that I feel have been overlooked or unfairly dismissed. I like looking at less-celebrated works of prominent filmmakers and creatives. I like asking if a reviled film is really as bad as its legacy makes it out to be. And when I write about more popular titles, I try examining them from a fresh perspective.

Blogging about classic films also often inspires me to go beyond my comfort zone as a creator. I recorded my first audio commentary in 2022 after years of wanting to do so but being too timid to try. I really enjoyed the process and am currently planning another commentary, hopefully to be released this autumn. I also posted my first video essay in June. That was even more difficult, but I enjoyed learning new skills to create the video. Going beyond just the written word prevents me from getting stuck in a rut and losing my enthusiasm.

2. Besides classic movie blogging, what are some of your other passions?

I’m an avid reader. Shakespeare is a great love of mine—I’m currently re-reading all the plays yet again (my favorite is Richard III—not historically accurate, but great wicked fun). My favorite novels are Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Deerskin by Robin McKinley, A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, and A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. I’ve recently gotten into the John Carter of Marsbooks too. I also read a lot of non-fiction, mostly about history, spirituality, the arts, and different cultures around the world.

I enjoy creative writing and am currently working on a long-gestating fantasy novel. As a child, I used to write stories all the time, but as I got older, I became more self-conscious about my work. I felt as though I weren’t good or original enough. However, I’ve recently been fighting this self-doubt. As with my blogging, I believe in pushing beyond my comfort zone. I work on my story at least a little bit every day, be it by shaping the fictional setting I’ve created or outlining the plot.

I’m a casual anime fan. I’ve long loved Studio Ghibli, which was a major part of my childhood and adolescence. I adore the Lupin III franchise, which has been ongoing since 1967. Other anime series I enjoy are Princess Tutu and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.

I enjoy baking. Few things give me as much pleasure as trying out new recipes to share with family and friends.

Beyond movies on physical media, I have a small collection of vinyl records (mainly movie soundtracks and jazz) and vintage books (the gems of my library are a nearly pristine edition of Mary Pickford’s novel The Demi-Widow, a few movie novelizations from the ‘60s and ‘70s, and a 121-year old edition of Thackeray’s The Luck ofBarry Lyndon, the basis for one of my favorite Stanley Kubrick films).

3. If you could program a perfect day of classic movies for TCM, what would be the seven films on your schedule?

Oh God, that’s a difficult question! I’m tempted to pull out very obscure titles, but instead I’ve decided to select some classic films that are very personal to me.

The General (1926)

During the Civil War, a southern engineer pursues the northern spies who hijacked his locomotive. Buster Keaton was so multi-talented and inventive that it's not hard to see why his movies are often recommended as gateways into the pleasures of the silent era. It's hard to pick a favorite Keaton movie, but if you twisted my arm, I must go with The General. It's an elegantly constructed action-comedy and visually one of Keaton's most striking features.

The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

Shipwrecked on a mysterious island, a big game hunter finds himself the quarry of a nobleman who likes to thrill-kill human beings. The 1930s is my favorite decade for horror and The Most Dangerous Game, a taut adaptation of Richard Connell's legendary short story, is my favorite of that cycle. While the early sound period is often lambasted as static and talky, The Most Dangerous Game breaks that mold with its dynamic camera work and thrillingly edited climax.

Wait Until Dark (1967)

A recently blinded housewife fights back against dangerous criminals searching her apartment for misplaced heroin. Few films are as skillful as Wait Until Dark in ratcheting up the suspense until the viewer's nerves are completely shredded. Laced with dramatic irony and dark humor, it deserves the Hitchcockian label. Beyond the strong writing and direction, the three elements that really elevate the movie to greatness are Audrey Hepburn and Alan Akin's stunning performances, and Henry Mancini's sinister music.

Ball of Fire (1941)

When the cops want to interrogate her about her gangster boyfriend, a nightclub singer hides out with a group of eccentric academics, only to fall in love with one of them. I'm not the biggest screwball comedy person in the world, but I love me some Barbara Stanwyck and she is a delight in this. The plot is a clever riff on the Snow White story, turning the princess into a fast-talking gangster's moll and the dwarfs (and the prince!) into professors. The scene where Stanwyck teaches Gary Cooper about "yum-yum" is just perfection.

Duck Soup (1933)

It's a Marx Brothers film, so summarizing the "plot" is difficult-- in essence, Duck Soup is the tale of a corrupt politician whose shenanigans escalate tensions with a foreign country. In high school, my sister and I would quote this movie all the time, particularly, "Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot, and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot." Despite my familiarity with it, none of the edge has ever been taken off the humor and I still belly laugh when I watch it.

He Who Gets Slapped (1924)

An embittered circus clown endeavors to rescue an innocent bareback rider from the lecherous aristocrat that ruined his life-- and get some revenge along the way. This film features yet another brilliant Lon Chaney performance. It’s morbid, melancholy, and even a bit kinky in a pre-code way, but it's also a compassionate work, throwing light upon the ways people casually dehumanize one another. The ending never fails to make me cry.

The Heiress (1949)

An affection-starved heiress believes she's found love with a young charmer, but her father believes her new suitor to be a mere fortune hunter. Don't let the Victorian drawing room vibes fool you. The Heiress is emotionally brutal, aided greatly by a trifecta of great performances from Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, and Ralph Richardson as well as William Wyler’s brilliant direction. If ever a movie rewarded multiple viewings, it’s this one.

4. What is a classic movie that you love, but most people don't know about -- and what do you love about it?

After Death (1915). It’s a Russian silent film by Yevgeni Bauer, one of the most distinctive filmmakers of the 1910s. The plot involves a morbid young man who becomes obsessed with an actress after she mysteriously dies. A lot of people write off silent films as simplistic and unsophisticated, but this is an excellent psychological ghost story with a lot of layers to it. The visuals and atmosphere are astonishing. Obviously, being over a century old and a slow-burn tale to begin with, this is the sort of film that asks patience of the viewer, but it’s worth the effort.

5. What is something that most people don't know about you?

I’m not so interesting, but my great-grandmother got to meet Maureen O’Hara sometime in the 1940s. She always raved about how nice O’Hara was. One of my great regrets is that my great-maw-maw died before I got into old movies, so I never really grilled her for more details on the encounter.

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We thank Emma for participating in our Q&A profile and encourage you to visit NITRATE GLOW. 

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CMBA Profile: HAMLETTE'S SOLILOQUY

 

Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This month, we are featuring Rachel Kovaciny, who writes at HAMLETTE'S SOLILOQUY. 

1. Why do you blog?

I blog because I love to discuss movies and books, and life in general, but I am better at writing out my thoughts than speaking them, generally.  I'm a pretty shy introvert in real life, and am much more comfortable typing my thoughts than saying them out loud, so when I discovered a new communication tool called blogging in 2002, I decided to try it.  For quite a while, my blog was only read by a handful of people, most of whom I knew or was related to in real life.  But I gradually got braver and started to read other people's blogs, and interact with them, and that's when the real fun began.  Two decades later, I've met so many friends thanks to blogging and the way it lets us get to know each other and exchange ideas and opinions in this informative-yet-casual way.

2. Besides classic movie blogging, what are some of your other passions?

Well, I said "movies and books" above -- I actually love movies more than books, but since it's not possible for me to create whole movies of the stories I make up in my head, I write books instead.  In fact, I have a book series out called Once Upon a Western in which I retell fairy tales as non-magical westerns.  Westerns have always been my favorite movie genre, and although I've written quite a lot in other genres too, the Old West is my favorite setting and era to write about.  

When I write books, I first imagine the story as a movie in my head, then I write it down and try to capture how it looks and sounds, and I later add sensory details like smells and tastes you don't get in a movie.  A lot of times, my books start out with me brainstorming things like, "What if Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington made a western together?  And what if Zendaya and Chadwick Boseman played Snow White and her Handsome Prince?  Put them all together, but they're all pioneers?"  And there you have the initial spark for some of the major characters for my book One Bad Apple.  

I tend to dedicate the books in my Once Upon a Western series to a Classic Hollywood actor or actress I think would be perfect for some prominent role if the story was a movie and not a book.  (I've dedicated books to Alan Ladd, Bobby Darin, Sidney Poitier, Barbara Stanwyck, and Vic Morrow so far, if you are curious.)  

3. If you could program a perfect day of classic movies for TCM, what would be the seven films on your schedule?

What a dream that would be!  I'd love to highlight some of my favorite westerns that star some of my favorite actors and actresses.  Here's my lineup:

The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)  Four brothers (including John Wayne and Dean Martin) reunite at their mother's funeral and work together to find out how their parents lost their ranch. My favorite John Wayne movie.

Branded (1950)  A shady loner (Alan Ladd) poses as a rich rancher's missing son to gain a hefty inheritance, only to discover himself beginning to love with the family he's intent on swindling.  My favorite Alan Ladd movie.

Gunfight in Abilene (1967) A Civil War veteran (Bobby Darin) agrees to resume his job as sheriff out of guilt for accidentally killing the brother of the man (Leslie Nielson) who runs Abilene and is all set to marry the veteran's old flame (Emily Banks). My favorite Bobby Darin movie.

The Rare Breed (1966) A British widow (Maureen O'Hara) and her daughter (Juliet Mills) accompany the prize bull they've sold on its way to its new owner (Brian Keith) with the help of a determined cowhand (James Stewart).  I've seen this so often, the characters all feel like dear old friends.

3:10 to Yuma (1957) A down-on-his-luck rancher (Van Heflin) takes a job transporting a wily outlaw (Glenn Ford) to the train that will take him to the state penitentiary in Yuma, Arizona.  The outlaw does everything in his considerable powers to convince the rancher to let him go, resulting in a simmering suspense story that eventually boils over in a surprisingly upbeat climax.

The Magnificent Seven (1960) Poor Mexican villagers hire seven gunfighters to defend them from the bandit who's been oppressing them for years. Steve McQueen, Yul Brenner, Charles Bronson, James Coburn... oh man, what a cast.  I consider this the finest western ever made.

Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969)  A mild-mannered man (James Garner) who is basically just on his way to Australia takes on the job of sheriff in a goldrush boomtown.  His unorthodox methods and unflappable demeanor keep everyone bewildered and off balance, from baddies (including Walter Brennan and Bruce Dern), to the mayor (Henry Morgan), to his former-town-drunk deputy (Jack Elam). 

4. What is a classic movie that you love, but most people don't know about -- and what do you love about it?

Not enough people know about We're No Angels (1955), and that is a shame.  It is one of the three funniest movies I have ever seen!  It's a dark comedy about three convicts (Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov, and Aldo Ray) who break out of a French prison on Devil's Island and decide to rob a store of respectable clothes and money for their getaway -- but they get all involved in the lives of the family that owns the store and end up helping solve all kinds of problems for them.  Also, it's a Christmas movie.  If you are having trouble envisioning Humphrey Bogart in a dark Christmas comedy, well, find it.  Watch it.  Be prepared to laugh.

I love it because of how genuinely nice and kind the three convicts and the family they help are.  The convicts pretend they're mean and tough and horrid, but they're actual so helpful and soft-hearted.  Also, everyone in the cast is clearly having an absolute blast making the movie, including Basil Rathbone as the real villain of the piece, and that sense of on-set fun always adds to my enjoyment of a film.

(The other two funniest movies I've ever seen are Support Your Local Sheriff [1969] and The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming! [1966].  Now you know.)

5. What is something that most people don't know about you?

I once set off the security alarms at Rudolph Valentino's home, Falcon Lair.

 

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We thank Rachel for participating in our Q&A profile and encourage you to visit HAMLETTE'S SOLILOQUY. 

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CMBA Profile: I FOUND IT AT THE MOVIES

Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This month, we are featuring Debbi Mack, who writes at I FOUND IT AT THE MOVIES. 

1. Why do you blog? 

There's a long answer and a short one to this. I'll give you the short one. Once upon a time, I had five blogs. On each of them, I reviewed books, educated writers, or talked about my life as a writer. Now, most of my blogging is either to review books and movies, talk about the writing life, educate people, and/or talk about my (somewhat bumpy) writing journey. 

2. Besides classic movie blogging, what are some of your other passions? 

First comes reading. I love to read almost anything. However, I'm partial to crime fiction (particularly involving private eyes-- male or female, although we can always use more females), contemporary or historical, sci-fi, and fantasy. And young adult and middle grade stories, in general. 

Also, watching movies of all sorts. I'm also a huge Doctor Who fan, as well as a fan of the show Red Dwarf, which I came to know thanks to late night showings on Maryland Public Television. 

Writing is another passion. Without question. 

Travel. I love travel, despite long lines, cancelled or redirected flights, and whatnot. I love exploring new places. 

3. If you could program a perfect day of classic movies for TCM, what would be the seven films on your schedule? 

Now, that's not impossible to answer at all, is it? ;)

Wow! My perfect lineup? So many choices!

Okay, at least one of them's gotta be a musical. And a silent. And, if you read my blog, you may notice I tend to like film noir. Movies from the 40s on get plenty of my attention. There are also more recent movies that I will always want to watch. 

Try these on for size (in no particular order). 

a. SAFETY LAST! I love Charlie Chaplin, I love Buster Keaton, but there's something about Harold Lloyd in this movie. There's the climatic scene with him scaling the side of the building, leading up the iconic "hanging from a clock" scene. But there's more than that. His expressions, the way his face tells you the story. 

And there's something about the glasses and overall nerdy look that appeals to me. 

b. SINGING IN THE RAIN. A film worthy of inclusion for many reasons. Gene Kelly's dancing, Debbie Reynolds' dancing, Donald O'Connor's launching himself against a wall and eventually through a window. There are memorable songs sung by talented people. And a love story, naturally. 

But it's also a movie about Hollywood. It's about a big disruption in the industry known as sound. It's interesting to look back on that era during our own times of disruption in the entertainment industry and think about that.  

c. THE MALTESE FALCON. Two words: Peter Lorre. 

Think about it. 

I was going to leave it at that, but Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstrret, and Elijah Cook, Jr. are all awesome in it. 

Plus, the story is practically copied from the novel, with the exception of the Flitcraft Parable, which digresses in a non-cinematic way from the plot. 

d. WHERE EAGLES DARE. I will never tire of seeing this movie. Not only is it a great action movie with great actors (Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure, to name a few), but the plot is so full of twists that upon first seeing it, I was really shocked at some of the reveals. Which is why you should watch it at least twice, so you can revisit the joy of those reveals, knowing what's coming. 

Also, Mary Ure gets to kill Nazis, with an automatic weapon. She's a total badass. Not typical of most cinematic depictions of women in the late 1960s. And she doesn't seem at all threatened by the presence of the equally awesome Ingrid Pitt as Heidi, who assists with a high-risk WWII operation to infiltrate a German castle and rescue an American general with plans for a second front. Now, that's all I dare tell you. 

e. THE BIG LEBOWSKI. Great (satirical?) take on the hardboiled mystery genre. If you think about it, this movie took the 60s/70s hippie detective trope established by Robert Altman in The Long Goodbye and took it a step farther into the 90s with the slacker detective  archetype, the Dude. 

So many great characters. So many great lines. 

I love the Coen Brothers, but this one tops my list of favorite Coen Brothers films. 

 

f. SHADOW OF A DOUBT. One of my favorites by Hitchcock. I had to pick at least one of those.  

Joseph Cotten plays a killer named Charles who wheedles/seduces his way into moving in with his sister and her family in the small town of Santa Rosa. His niece, Charlie, adores him and fancifully thinks their common names provide a psychic link between them. You could say she's in for a rude shock. The movie also serves as a commentary on small town living, suggesting that darkness can dwell beneath the shiniest surfaces. 

Great story, great acting. Great movie all around. 

g. NIGHT AT THE OPERA. Yes, I am a Marx Brothers fan. (And, yes, I know. Duck Soup was better. But I still love this movie.) How can you not like the crowded stateroom scene? Or the scene where they keep moving beds from room to room? Or the contract negotiation between Groucho and Chico?  

4. What classic movie do you love, but most people don't know about-- and what do you love about it? 

One of my favorite old movies is What's Up, Tiger Lily? This film marks Woody Allen's directorial debut and I just love it. It's beens too long since I've seen it shown anywhere, so I'm overdo for a watch session. 

The technique of overdubbing a Japanese spy film with completely unrelated dialogue is so clever and (when you think about) so relatively cheap to produce. Exceptionally clever! 

5. What is something that most people don't know about you? 

I once drove my car in a traffic scene that occured in an episode of Homocide: Life on the Street. I recall Andre Braugher as Detective Pembleton giving me the once-over through the passenger window as I drove past him. 

It's the episode about the I-95 serial killer. Look for a very brief shot of a whte MR2 in a traffic scene on Route 40 (pretending to be an interstate highway). That's me at the wheel. 

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