Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog and CMBA member. This month, we are featuring Lisle Foote of Grace Kingsley’s Hollywood.
CMBA: What makes a film a “classic” in your opinion?
Grace Kingsley’s Hollywood: Classic means it’s worth your time and attention, because someone figured how to tell a story in a clever, interesting way—after all, there’s only around eight plots. But because my blog has an odd gimmick (each week I look at what L.A. Times film journalist Grace Kingsley wrote about 100 years ago and pick a few stories), I often write about the other ones: the movies that are OK, good enough for a night out, or sometimes even the terrible ones. Those reviews are the most fun.
CMBA: What genres do you favor?
Grace Kingsley’s Hollywood: I like comedies best, and so did Grace Kingsley—so that works out well.
CMBA: Why should people care about “old” black and white movies?
Grace Kingsley’s Hollywood: Because you’re cutting yourself off from too many movies if you refuse to watch black and white ones. Besides, black and white is prettier!
CMBA: What classic films do you recommend to people who may not have seen many older films?
Grace Kingsley’s Hollywood: It depends on what other entertainment they enjoy. Comic book movie fans might like Thief of Bagdad for the spectacle. Call the Midwife fans could try Miss Lulu Bett. Almost anyone could spare twenty minutes to see Buster Keaton’s The Scarecrow.
CMBA: What is the most rewarding thing about blogging for you?
Grace Kingsley’s Hollywood: I like learning about forgotten people and writing about stories that deserve to be remembered. Some weeks not much happened, so I end up going down unusual rabbit holes, like the story of Charlotte Woods, a secretary who lucked into a small role, but then her acting career went nowhere. So she went back to being a secretary, and her boss thought that she was the best in California. That one was called “Not A Sob Sister Story.” You can find her story by clicking here.
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