CMBA Awards

The Classic Movie Blog Association established the annual CMBA Awards in 2010 as a means of honoring and promoting excellence in classic film blogging within the group. There are currently six categories: Best Review-Drama, Best Review-Comedy or Musical, Best Profile, Best Article, Best Series, and Best Blog Event. Each year members submit their own work for consideration at the end of August. Two votes by the full CMBA membership are then held, the first to select five finalists in each category, the second to select a winner in each category.


Below is a listing of winners from 2010 through the current awards year. Year titles link to posts with more details. 

2025 CMBA Award Winners

Best Blog Entry

Annette Bochenek at Hometowns to Hollywood, “Once Upon a Time”

https://hometownstohollywood.com/2025/05/07/the-once-upon-a-time-blogathon/


Best Classic Movie Entry

Crystal Kalyana for Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood on Elizabeth Montgomery

https://crystalkalyana.wordpress.com/2024/12/21/elizabeth-montgomery-from-bewitched-to-the-legend-of-lizzie-borden-and-beyond/


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

Lea Stans at Silent-ology for a profile on Myra Keaton

https://silentology.wordpress.com/2025/05/27/myra-keaton-wife-mother-vaudeville-veteran/


Best Film Review (Drama)

Jacqueline Lynch at Another Old Movie Blog for "Massacre"

https://anotheroldmovieblog.blogspot.com/2025/05/massacre-1934.html


Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

Maddy Langham at Classic Film & TV Corner for "High Society"

https://classicfilmandtvcorner.wordpress.com/2024/11/11/high-society1956/


Best Classic Movie Series

Jo Gabriel at The Last Drive In for 150 Days of Classic Horror

https://thelastdrivein.com/monstergirls-150-days-of-classic-horror/

2024 CMBA Award Winners

Best Film Review (Drama)

Dead Ringer (1964): A Dual Showcase for Bette Davis | In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood

https://crystalkalyana.wordpress.com/2024/08/31/dead-ringer-1964-a-dual-showcase-for-bette-davis/

Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

Introducing Jack Lemmon, A Guy You're Gonna Like | Once Upon A Screen

https://aurorasginjoint.com/2024/05/24/introducing-jack-lemmon-a-guy-youre-gonna-like/

Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

Ida Lupino, Fearless Actress Turned Trailblazing Independent Director | Classic Film and TV Corner

https://classicfilmandtvcorner.wordpress.com/2024/08/02/ida-lupino-fearless-actress-turned-trailblazing-independent-director/

Best Classic Film Article

1924- 100 Years Ago in Hollywood | Once Upon a Screen

https://aurorasginjoint.com/2024/01/07/1924-100-years-ago-in-hollywood/

Best Classic Movie Series

THE MUMMY (1932) (Universal Horror Series) | Outspoken & Freckled

https://kelleepratt.com/2023/10/16/the-mummy-1932/

Best Classic Movie Blog Event

The Agnes Moorehead Blogathon | In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood

https://crystalkalyana.wordpress.com/2024/04/01/announcing-the-third-agnes-moorehead-blogathon/

2023 CMBA Award Winners

Best Film Review (Drama)

Dracula (1931): A Film Study - Outspoken & Freckled

https://kelleepratt.com/2023/02/09/dracula-1931-a-film-study/


Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

Fred and Ginger in Technicolor: The Barkleys of Broadway (1949) - Filmland Follies

https://filmlandfollies.blogspot.com/2022/10/fred-and-ginger-in-technicolor-barkleys.html?m=1


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

An Interview with Sunset Blvd.'s Nancy Olson Livingston - Classic Film & TV Cafe

https://www.classicfilmtvcafe.com/2022/09/nancy-olson-livingston-actress-interview.html


Best Classic Film Article - Three-way tie

Buster Keaton Blogathon - Buster Keaton's Influence on Lucille Ball - Whimsically Classic

https://whimsicallyclassic.wordpress.com/2023/03/13/buster-keaton-blogathon-buster-keatons-influence-on-lucille-ball/


Air Conditioning at the Movies: Staying Cool at a Theater Near You - Once Upon a Screen

https://aurorasginjoint.com/2023/07/27/air-conditioning-at-the-movies-staying-cool-at-a-theater-near-you/


How 'Murder, She Wrote' kept the spotlight shining bright on classic films and their stars - Watching Forever

https://watchingforever.wordpress.com/2023/05/16/how-murder-she-wrote-kept-the-spotlight-shining-bright-on-classic-films-and-their-stars/


Best Classic Movie Series

31 Flavors of Noir on the Fringe to Lure You In! (Parts 1-4) - The Last Drive In

https://thelastdrivein.com/2022/09/17/31-flavors-of-noir-on-the-fringe-to-lure-you-in-part-1/


Best Classic Movie Blog Event

The 2023 Classic Literature on Film Blogathon - Silver Screen Classics

https://silverscreenclassicsblog.wordpress.com/2023/07/14/the-2023-classic-literature-on-film-blogathon-is-here/

2022 CMBA Award Winners

Best Film Review (Drama)

To Be or Not to Be - Lady Eve's Reel Life

http://www.ladyevesreellife.com/2021/10/to-be-or-not-to-be-1942-daring-mixed.html

Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

(three-way tie)

Sun, Sand & Screen Teams: Flying Down to Rio (1933) - Filmland Follies

https://filmlandfollies.blogspot.com/2022/05/sun-sand-screen-teams-flying-down-to.html?m=1


Fun in the Sun: Excitement on the French Riviera in Alfred Hitchcock's "To Catch a Thief" (1955) - Lady Eve's Reel Life

https://www.ladyevesreellife.com/2022/05/fun-in-sun-excitement-on-french-riviera.html

Hold That Ghost! (1941) - Silver Scenes

https://silverscenesblog.blogspot.com/2021/10/hold-that-ghost-1941.html


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

Beyond Tara: Hattie McDaniel - Vienna's Classic Hollywood

https://viennasclassichollywood.com/2021/12/27/beyond-tara-hattie-mcdaniel/


Best Classic Film Article

The Great Dispute: Bette Davis Versus Warner Bros. - In the Good Old Days of Hollywood

https://crystalkalyana.wordpress.com/2022/05/06/the-great-dispute-bette-davis-versus-warner-brothers/


Best Classic Movie Series

Really Old Films Month - Silent-ology

https://silentology.wordpress.com/tag/really-old-films-month/


Best Classic Movie Blog Event

The Caftan Woman Blogathon - Honoring Patricia Nolan-Hall - Lady Eve's Reel Life and Another Old Movie Blog

http://www.ladyevesreellife.com/2022/05/the-caftan-woman-blogathon.html

2021 CMBA Award Winners

Best Film Review (Drama)

I Know Where I’m Going! (1945), a Black & White Jewel from Powell &Pressburger - Lady Eve’s Reel Life


Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

Noirvember Fun: My Favorite Brunette (1947) - Caftan Woman


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

Lucille Ball: Fashion Icon - Hometowns to Hollywood

Remembering Mabel Normand, Queen of Slapstick - Once Upon a Screen


Best Classic Film Article

In Memory of Buster and Eleanor’s House - Silent-ology


Best Classic Movie Series

Old Hollywood Haunts - Lady Eve’s Reel Life


Best Classic Movie Blog Event

The 120 “Screwball” Years of Jean Arthur Blogathon - The Wonderful World of Cinema

2020 CMBA Award Winners

Best Film Review (Drama)

Mrs. Danvers, the Menace of Manderlay - Once Upon A Screen


Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

Favourite Movies: Call Me Madam, 1953 - Caftan Woman


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

“A 180 Pound Diamond”: The Bright Life and Tragic Death of Wallace Reid - Silent-ology

Agnes Moorehead – A Bewitching Life - In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood


Best Classic Film Article

Rochester and Jack: Breaking Racial Barriers - Hometowns to Hollywood


Best Classic Film Series

TCM 2020 Summer Under the Stars - Shadows and Satin

Best Classic Film Blog Event

The 4th Alfred Hitchcock Blogathon Begins hosted - Maddy Loves Her Classic Films

The Luso World Cinema Blogathon hosted - Critica Retro and Spellbound By Movies

2019 CMBA Award Winners

Best Film Review (Drama)

Thoughts on the Son of the Sheik (1926) - Silent-ology

Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

His Girl Friday (1940) - Cinema Essentials


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

The Activism of Myrna Loy - Backlots

Best Classic Film Article

Irving Berlin at the Oscars - Caftan Woman

Best Classic Film Series

Sheik Month - Silent-ology


Best Classic Film Event

Vive la France! Blogathon hosted - Lady Eve's Reel Life and Silver Screen Modes


In addition, in 2019 the CMBA Board of Governors chose to present a special award to the group's founding member and first Board Chair, Rick Armstrong of The Classic Film & TV Cafe. Rick founded the CMBA 10 years earlier, on October 31, 2009. He developed the group's organizational structure as well as its charter and was instrumental in launching CMBA activities that have continued on, including annual blogathons and the CMBA Awards. Rick has continued to support and advise the Board whenever asked. And so, in the CMBA's 10th anniversary year, the Board honored Rick Armstrong with a special 2019 Board of Governors Award in recognition and appreciation of his efforts on behalf of the Classic Movie Blog Association and classic film blogging.

2018 CMBA AWARD WINNERS

Best Film Review (Drama)

The Beautiful Refugees of Casablanca - Silver Screenings

Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

"On the Town," in Celebration of Leonard Bernstein’s Centenary - Lady Eve’s Reel Life


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

A Mesmerizing Talent: The Life and Career of Conrad Veidt - Silent-ology


Best Classic Film Article -Fascism, Nationalism and the Banned Films of Marlene Dietrich - Lady Eve’s Reel Life


Best Classic Film Blog Event

The Food in Film Blogathon - Silver Screenings and Speakeasy


Best Classic Movie Blog Design

Silver Scenes


Best Classic Film Series

Olivia de Havilland vs. FX: Backlots at the Courthouse - Backlots

2017 CMBA AWARD WINNERS

Best Film Review (Drama)

Self-Plagiarism is Style: Hitchcock, Grant and North by Northwest (1959) - Once Upon a Screen https://aurorasginjoint.com/2016/11/30/self-plagiarism-is-style-hitchcock-grant-and-north-by-northwest-1959/


Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

Me and My Pal (1933) - Caftan Woman https://www.caftanwoman.com/2017/05/nuts-in-may-laurel-and-hardy-blogathon.html


Best Classic Movie Article

A Government by Classic Movie Characters - Once Upon a Screen https://aurorasginjoint.com/2016/11/06/a-government-by-classic-movie-characters/


Best Classic Movie Series

Crime Does Not Pay - Thrilling Days of Yesteryear https://thrillingdaysofyesteryear.blogspot.com/2010/06/crime-does-not-pay-as-well-as-it-used.html


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

Louise Fazenda, Comic Venus - Silentology https://silentology.wordpress.com/2016/08/28/louise-fazenda-comic-venus/


Best Classic Movie Blog Event

What a Character! Blogathon - Once Upon a Screen


Best Classic Movie Blog Design

The Blonde at the Film

2016 CMBA AWARD WINNERS

Best Film Review (Drama)

Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936) - Caftan Woman https://www.caftanwoman.com/2016/01/backstage-blogathon-charlie-chan-at.html


Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

The Gang's All Here (1943) - Second Sight Cinema https://secondsightcinema.com/a-viewers-guide-how-to-watch-the-gangs-all-here-1943/


Best Classic Movie Article

Hal Roach and the "Lot" of Fun - Caftan Woman https://www.caftanwoman.com/2016/08/classic-movie-history-project-hal-roach.html


Best Classic Movie Series

History Through Hollywood - The Blonde at the Film https://theblondeatthefilm.com/2015/03/27/history-through-hollywood/


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

Harry Carey and Harry Carey, Jr. - Caftan Woman https://www.caftanwoman.com/2015/11/what-character-blogathon-harry-carey.html


Best Classic Movie Blog Event

The 2016 TCM Summer Under the Stars Blogathon - Journeys in Classic Film


Best Classic Movie Blog Design

Cinema Crossroads

2015 CMBA AWARD WINNERS

Best Film Review (Drama)

Queen Christina - Pre-Code.com https://pre-code.com/queen-christina-1933-review-greta-garbo-john-gilbert/


Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

In Defense of Lina Lamont - The Vintage Cameo https://thevintagecameo.com/2015/04/in-defense-of-lina-lamont/


Best Classic Movie Article

Real Life Society Honor Slaying Inspires Two 1932 Films - Immortal Ephemera https://immortalephemera.com/56204/honor-slaying-inspires-1932-movies/


Best Classic Movie Series

History Through Hollywood - The Blonde at the Film


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

Eddie Cantor - Once Upon a Screen https://aurorasginjoint.com/2014/10/27/cmba-forgotten-stars-eddie-cantor/


Best Classic Movie Blog Event

The Great Villain Blogathon - Speakeasy

Best Classic Movie Blog Design

Silver Scenes

2014 CiMBA AWARD Winners

Best Film Review (Drama)

Roman à Clef: All About Eve (1950) - Lady Eve’s Reel Life https://www.ladyevesreellife.com/2014/03/roman-clef-part-i-all-about-eveand-margo.html

Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

Meet Me in St. Louis - Once Upon a Screen https://aurorasginjoint.com/2013/12/03/meet-me-in-st-louis/

Best Classic Movie Article

Classic Movie History Project blogathon: 1945 - Caftan Woman https://www.caftanwoman.com/2014/01/classic-movie-history-project-blogathon.html

Best Classic Movie Series

The Year of Ann Blyth- Another Old Movie Blog

Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

A Q&A with Joan Fontaine in Honor of Her 96th Birthday - Backlots https://backlots.net/2013/10/22/a-qa-with-joan-fontaine-in-honor-of-her-96th-birthday/


Best Classic Movie Blog Event

The Classic Movie History Project Blogathon: co-hosted - Movies Silently

Best Classic Movie Blog Design

The Blonde at the Film

2013 CiMBA Awards

Best Film Review (Drama)

Scarface: The Shame of a Nation - Once Upon a Screen https://aurorasginjoint.com/2013/03/09/scarface-the-shame-of-a-nation/


Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

Search for Beauty (1934) - Pre-Code.Com https://pre-code.com/search-for-beauty-1934-review/


Best Classic Movie Article

Top 10 Oscar-Less Dames and Their Oscar-Worthy Roles - Shadows and Satin https://shadowsandsatin.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/top-10-oscar-less-dames-and-their-oscar-worthy-roles/


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

Cagney - Lady Eve’s Reel Life https://www.ladyevesreellife.com/2013/04/cagney.html


Best Classic Movie Blog Design
Pre-Code.com

Best Classic Movie Series 
TCM Pre-Code Pick of the Month - Shadows and Satin


Best Classic Movie Blog Event
James Cagney Blogathon - The Movie Projector

2012 CiMBA AWARD WINNERS

Best Film Review (Drama)

Movie Review: The Gunfighter - The Girl with the White Parasol https://thegirlwiththewhiteparasol.blogspot.com/2012/01/movie-review-gunfighter.html


Best Classic Movie Article

Minority Opinion: The Magnificent Ambersons - Jim Lane’s Cinedrome https://jimlanescinedrome.com/series/minority-opinion-the-magnificent-ambersons


Best Classic Movie Blog Event

A Month of Vertigo - Lady Eve’s Reel Life https://www.ladyevesreellife.com/p/a-month-of-vertigo-bloggers-their-posts.html


Best Film Review - Comedy or Musical

Grift Tips from the Lady Eve (1941) - 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

Thelma Todd Profile - My Love of Old Hollywood https://myloveofoldhollywood.blogspot.com/2012/03/gone-too-soon-blogathon-thelma-todd.html

Best Classic Movie Blog Design

Sittin' On a Backyard Fence


Best Classic Movie Discussion

Interview with Stunt Double Martha Crawford Cantarini - Twenty Four Frames

2011 CiMBA AWARD WINNERS

Best Film Review (Drama)
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex - Lady Eve's Reel Life https://www.ladyevesreellife.com/2011/05/cmba-movies-of-1939-blogathon-private.html

Best Classic Movie Article
Mobsters, Pals and Skirts - ClassicBecky’s Brain Food https://classicbeckybrainfood.blogspot.com/2011/04/mobsters-pals-and-skirts-golden-age-of.html

Best Classic Movie Blog Event
The Loving Lucy Blogathon - True Classics

Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)
The Women (1939) - My Love of Old Hollywood

Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker
Celebrating Women in Classic Film: The Silent Directors - True Classics https://truefilmclassics.com/2011/03/08/celebrating-women-female-directors/

Best Classic Movie Discussion (Tie)

The Final Scene of "The Heiress" - Backlots

and

3 on 3 Panel Discussions - Classic Film & TV Café

Best Classic Movie Blog Design

Via Margutta 51

2010 CiMBA AWARD WINNERS

Best Film Review (Drama)
“You know what they call my films today? Camp! High camp!” (A review of Targets) - Ivan G. Shreve, Thrilling Days of Yesteryear http://thrillingdaysofyesteryear.blogspot.com/2009/11/boris-karloff-blogathon-day-7-you-know.html


Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

Love Me Tonight (1932) - R.D. Finch, The Movie Projector http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2010/06/love-me-tonight-1932.html


Best Classic Movie Article

The Best Fred Astaire Musicals Without Ginger Rogers - R.D. Finch, The Movie Projector http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2009/12/best-fred-astaire-musicals-without.html


Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

About John Gilbert: An Interview with Leatrice Gilbert Fountain - The Lady Eve, Classic Film & TV Cafe

http://classic-film-tv.blogspot.com/2010/08/about-john-gilbertan-interview-with.html


Best Classic Movie Blog Event

Trivia Time - Paul2, Classic Film & TV Cafe


Best Classic Movie Discussion

10 Questions with John Stangeland, author of Warren William: Magnificent Scoundrel of Pre-Code Hollywood - Cliff Aliperti, Warren-William.com


Best Classic Movie Blog Design

Brian Kleeman, Classicfilmboy’s Movie Paradise