CMBA Blog Profile: Silver Screen Modes

The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month, on the 1st and the 15th. Today we're celebrating Christian from Silver Screen Modes.

Author and researcher Christian Esquevin has an infectious passion for classic film costume design.

His blog, Silver Screen Modes, presents a thoughtful, fascinating look at Hollywood costume designers and the design process. He's also the author of Adrian: Silver Screen to Custom Label.

But his interests include more than costume design. He has a true appreciation for film itself, including films that are lesser known or are not widely appreciated, such as Michelangelo Antonioni's Blowup (1966).

"The film is not everyone’s cup of tea, but part of the problem is that many people say they don’t understand it," says Christian. "[I want] to explicate the movie to others, or at least to point out that it does not follow a plot that has a neat resolution at the end. It also has a lead character that is not particularly nice to women, but he’s not nice to men, either, and that’s the story/character showing his alienation. On the other hand, it has tremendous vitality and shows swinging London in the 1960s. It’s a mystery where the answer dissolves the closer you look at it – much like life, really. I saw it in the theater in France when it first came out, and it left an indelible impression on my youth."

You can read Christian's review of Blowup HERE.

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CMBA Blogger Profile: Strictly Vintage Hollywood

 

The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month, on the 1st and 15th. Today we're toasting Donna from Strictly Vintage Hollywood.

Donna at Strictly Vintage Hollywood has a thing for Rudolph Valentino.

But let's face it: who doesn't?

Not only does she curate a well-researched blog, she's written a book on Valentino, entitled Rudolph Valentino The Silent Idol: His Life in Photographs. She's now hard at work on a second book, tentatively titled The Films of Rudolph Valentino - A Chronological History.

"I have collected and studied Valentino for decades," says Donna. "I am still researching and learning; enjoying the process of research that I hope will result in an entertaining second book, my magnum opus on Valentino."

You can read more about Valentino, and his unique friendship with screenwriter June Mathis, HERE.

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CMBA Blogger Profile: Movies Silently

The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month, on the 1st and 15th. Today we're celebrating Fritzi from Movies Silently. 

Reading the blog Movies Silently is like visiting an amusement park. If you plan to drop by, it's guaranteed you'll end up spending the day. Better bring a lunch.

Fritzi's site is an adventurous look at silent film, as explored through reviews, Top 10 (or Bottom 5) Lists, amusing silent film gifs, and even vintage recipes. It is a celebration of silent film in all its forms – the serious, the witty, the tragic.

It's also a groundbreaking site that isn't afraid to attack cherished misconceptions.

"My review of The Cossacks is an example of what I most want to accomplish on my blog," says Fritzi. "It represents six months of research culminating in an epic takedown of a reasonably beloved film and an expose of its shameless plagiarism. Looking below the surface was rewarding in this case because it allowed me to both dig deep into film history and expose an injustice that has been ignored for almost eighty years."

You can read Fritzi's review HERE.

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CMBA Blogger Profile: Classic Movie Hub

The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month, on the 1st and 15th. Today we're toasting Annmarie from Classic Movie Hub.

The tagline for Classic Movie Hub is "The Classic Movie Cheerleader!"

Indeed it is. The site includes contests, classic celebrity birthdays and Top 100 movie lists – truly a hub of classic movie information. (Psst! It's also a great place to advertise your classic film blogathon.)

Classic Movie Hub features an intriguing blog that delves into a number of eclectic topics. Annmarie, the site founder, is a dedicated researcher who delights in the "odd things you can discover when you're blogging."

For example, Annmarie found buried treasure while working on a post about Kathleen Howard for the 2013 Funny Lady Blogathon.

"I chose Howard as my subject simply because I adored her in It's a Gift," says Annmarie. "Imagine my surprise when I started my research and learned that she was successful in three distinctly tough and impressive careers: opera singer, fashion editor, and actress. It was like hitting pay dirt -- finding mp3s of her voice, newspaper articles about her career moves, and a book she had written about singing. Such wonderful discoveries about an actress that I only knew as W.C. Fields shrewish wife!" 

You can read Annmarie's post HERE. 

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CMBA Blogger Profile: The Movie Night Group's Guide to Classic Film

The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month, on the 1st and 15th. Today we're featuring Patricia from The Movie Night Group's Guide to Classic Film.

Patricia of The Movie Night Group's Guide to Classic Film is a dual-purpose film historian.

Not only do her posts include behind-the-scenes history of classic movies, she also records the discussions of her movie group – a group that's been meeting for over 20 years. (Patricia gives more detail on this in the discussion below.)

Her blog reads like a classic film catalogue, which covers several film genres. However, if there is one subject that resonates with Patricia, it's female doctors in classic film.

"Years ago, I became interested in the image of the woman doctor in classic film," says Patricia, "and I've actually presented a paper about it several times. For instance, Strange Lady in Town is a wonderful example of the trend I'd been seeing in earlier films. Plus, it stars Greer Garson, who is always wonderful."

You can read Patricia's post HERE. 

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CMBA Blogger Profile: Virtual Virago

The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month – on the 1st and the 15th. Today we're honoring Jennifer from Virtual Virago.

Virtual Virago is one of those blogs that helps you see films a little differently.

It's no wonder, considering Jennifer Garlen taught English at the University of Alabama in Huntsville for several years. She is also the author of Beyond Casablanca: 100 Classic Movies Worth Watching.

Her blog offers thoughtful analysis of films you thought you knew, and she explores delightfully surprising territory such as Classic Movies for Cat Lovers and Southern Voices on the Silver Screen.

"One of the most successful posts on Virtual Virago is about Laird Cregar, one of my favorite actors," says Jennifer. "I think Cregar had tremendous talent, and he deserves to be remembered and more widely known. His story is so tragic and utterly Hollywood that it really ought to be the basis for a book or a film."

You can read Jennifer's post on Laird Cregar HERE.

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CMBA Blogger Profile: Another Old Movie Blog

The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month – on the 1st and the 15th. Today we're celebrating Jacqueline from Another Old Movie Blog.

Reading through Another Old Movie Blog is like sneaking into a film historian's library.

Here you'll find reviews and film history on subjects and actors not often discussed. Once you click on this site, you might as well get comfortable – you'll likely be perusing it for the rest of the afternoon.

In addition to her blog, Jacqueline is also the author of the recently released biography Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. This is the first published comprehensive biography of Ms Blyth. Jacqueline says the idea of a book began with the "Year of Ann Blyth" series on her blog.

"It prefaced a year-long fascinating journey for me," says Jacqueline, "and led to the publication of my book on Ann Blyth. That post started it all–where readers left comments suggesting that I write a book."

You can read the series introduction HERE.

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5 Movies on an Island Blogathon

Monday, May 16th marks the second annual National Classic Movie Day. As part of this year's festivities, the Classic Film & TV Cafe will host the 5 Movies on an Island Blogathon. 

As it name implies, the intent is for participants to write about the five classic movies they'd want to have with them if stranded on a deserted island. (Yes, you can assume you have electricity, a projector, big screen, and popcorn!) These might be your all-time five favorite movies. Or, you might mix in some "comfort films" to give your tropical habitat that desired "homey feel." Just be sure to describe your criteria when you list your five films. 

If you wish to participate, please send your blog's name and web address in an e-mail to: rick@classicfilmtvcafe.com. Do not send your list of five films; Rick will publish a link to the list on your blog. Please ensure that your list of five films is published no later than May 15th. Thatwill give Rick a day to add all the links.

Hope you can participate! You can view the continually updated schedule at 

http://www.classicfilmtvcafe.com/2016/03/5-movies-on-island-blogathon.html.

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CMBA Blogger Profile: All Good Things

The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month – on the 1st and the 15th. Today we're celebrating Monty from All Good Things.

Monty from All Good Things has been building relationships in the classic film community for quite some time.

In fact, he began a Be My Guest series on his blog in May, 2010 that ran until October, 2013. In this series, he interviewed fellow classic film bloggers about their favorite actors and films, as well as their classic movie experiences.

"I started the series as a way of getting to know my fellow bloggers and classic movie lovers," he says. (Read one of these interviews HERE.)

Monty also features his famous Famous Actress Tournaments on his site. Click HERE to join the fun and cast your vote.

But he's also a dedicated and passionate film fan, especially when it comes to his favorite actress, Carole Lombard. You can find out why she's his favorite HERE.

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It's Time for the CMBA Spring Blogathon - Words, Words, Words!

The Classic Movie Blog Association is proud to present Words, Words, Words!, running from April 11th to 15th. Please tune into the blogs below on the dates listed to read some writers writing about writers and writing in classic film!

April 11th

• Old Hollywood Films - The Third Man
• Silver Screen Modes - The Postman Always Rings Twice
• Caftan Woman - Full of Life
• Classic Film and TV Cafe - The Prize and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella 

April 12th

• A Person in the Dark - Theodora Goes Wild
• Silver Screenings - All The President's Men
• 24 Frames - The Front
• Satin & Shadows - Sunset Boulevard

April 13th

• Film Noir Archive - The Girl Hunters
• Speakeasy - The Chase
• Cary Grant Won't Eat You - The Razor's Edge
• pre-code.com - The Famous Ferguson Case  
• Century Film Project - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea & Stuart Paton 

April 14th

• Once Upon a Screen - Murder, My Sweet
• Silents Please! - The Film Explainer by Gert Hoffmann
• Another Old Movie Blog - Letter writing in movies
• Man on the Flying Trapeze - Adam's Rib
• Hometowns to Hollywood - Libeled Lady
• Blonde at the Film - My Sister Eileen 
• Mildred's Fatburgers - Meet John Doe 

April 15th

• Stars and Letters - Margaret Mitchell correspondence on the making of Gone with the Wind
• Classic Movie Hub - Robert Riskin
• Silentology - Elinor Glyn and her novel Three Weeks 
• Silver Scenes - Bertram Milhauser
• Outspoken and Freckled - Deathtrap
• Second Sight Cinema - Citizen Kane

Several of these pieces are also available in a special eBook! You can get it for free over at Smashwords or buy it at Amazon for $0.99, with all profits going toward the National Film Preservation Fund.

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