CMBA Profile: SHADOWS and SATIN

 

Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This month, we're featuring Karen Hannsberry, who writes at SHADOWS AND SATIN.  

CMBA: Why do you blog? 

Karen: I have a pretty simple answer to that one - because I love to write and because I love classic movies. Blogging was made for me - it gives me the chance, on any given day, to write to my heart's content about whatever I want to explore and discuss.  

CMBA: Besides classic movie blogging, what are some of your other passions?  

Karen: I'm passionate about the film noir newsletter, The Dark Pages, that I started almost 20 years ago. It may not make me rich, but it's a true labor of love. Also, I'm passionate about my collections- I have many: classic movie magazines, old radios, clocks, shot glasses, refrigerator magnets, dolls, ashtrays, autographed photos, classic movie lobby cards, and books that were made into classic films. 

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

Karen: This was a lot harder than I thought it would be- I wanted to include a silent movie, a western, a musical, a Pre-Code, and a film noir- plus movies featuring my favorite three actresses: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Barbara Stanwyck. So here goes ...

The Gunfighter (1950) 

I'm fond of a lot of westerns, but I love The Gunfighter the best. It's such a good story, with memorable performances from all of the cast, especially Gregory Peck and Helen Westcott. And a great ending. 

Night Nurse (1931)

This film filled the bill for both a Pre-Code and a Stanwyck movie - and it's one of my favorites for both. Plus, it's one of the few films from that era where a crime goes unpunished, and I love that!

Sunrise: A Tale of Two Humans (1927)

Sunrise is one of the only silent films that I've seen more than once. It's that good. 

Sunset Blvd. (1950)

Sunset Blvd. is the focus film for the Dark Pages newsletter's 'giant issue' for December 2023, and I've been immersed in it for the last several weeks, loving it more every time I see it. 

Bye Bye Birdie (1963)

I'm not a huge fan of musicals as a rule, but the ones that I love, I REALLY love. And I REALLY love Bye Bye Birdie. The songs, the dance numbers, the color, Ann Margret, Paul Lynde ... the list goes on and on. It's a real feel-good movie.

Queen Bee (1955)

It's not my favorite Joan Crawford movie, but I selected Queen Bee for my Crawford pick because I saw it a few years ago at the TCM film festival, and it was just so much fun. 

All This, and Heaven Too (1940)

This is my Bette Davis pick. There were so many good ones to choose from, but I wanted to select one that's not mentioned very often but deserves to be seen. 

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

Karen: That's easy - Young and Willing (1943), starring William Holden, Susan Hayward, and Eddie Bracken. It's a silly little comedy but I've always loved it. It cracks me up every time I watch it. For years, I never met anyone who'd even heard of it, but now it's on YouTube, so I hope more people will begin to check it out. 

CMBA: What is something that most people don't know about you? 

Karen: I have an Etsy store called Kim and Karen's Patio, where I sell all kinds of vintage items, including cookbooks, glassware, albums, salt and pepper shakers, classic movie magazines, sheet music, framed magazine ads, vases, serving dishes - I even have an antique ice cream scoop and a 1935 Shirley Temple Photo Flip Book. You never know what might turn up!

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We thank Karen for participating in our Q&A profile and encourage you to visit SHADOWS and SATIN. 

 

 

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The CMBA Presents the 2023 Fall Blogathon: Blogathon & the Beast

 

 The Classic Movie Blog Association is over the moon to present the 2023 CMBA Fall Blogathon: Blogathon & the Beast. The blogathon, for CMBA members only, runs Nov. 6-10th, 2023, and focuses on iconic characters who are caught in a struggle with their primal inclinations and those who challenge social norms.

The entries submitted by our CMBA members can be accessed below – please stop by their blogs to read and comment on these offerings. Enjoy!

Monday, November 6, 2023 

A Person in the Dark — Leave Her to Heaven: The Beast Inside the Beauty

Cary Grant Won't Eat You — Jimmy Stewart in Vertigo

Real Weegie Midget Reviews — Purple Noon (Plein Soleil) (1960)

Silver Screenings — The Bad Seed (1956)

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 

Poppity Talks Classic Film — Character analysis: Wally Fay in Mildred Pierce

Film Fanatic — Scarface (1983)

Cinematic Scribblings — The Bad Sleep Well

The Silver Screen Affair — Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity 

Filmland Follies — Airborne Adventuress: Katharine Hepburn in Christopher Strong

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Whimsically Classic — Queen Christina (1933)

Box Office Poisons - Queen Yllana of Queen of Outer Space

Outspoken & Freckled - Angel Face (1952)

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Another Old Movie Blog — Criss Cross (1949)

Crítica Retrô — The Divorcee (1930)

The Last Drive In — Dietrich and Anna May Wong in Shanghai Express (1932)

Classic Film And TV Corner - Elsa Bannister In The Lady From Shanghai (1948) 

Friday, November 10, 2023

Spellbound With Beth Ann — Valkoinen Peura / The White Reindeer (1952)

Once Upon a Screen — Robert Walker as Bruno Antony in Strangers on a Train

Silver Screen Classics — La Belle Et La Bete (1946)

A Vintage Nerd  — Kansas City Bomber (1972)

Speakeasy — Creature Feature "Beast" movies, Ranked

Shadows and Satin — The Beasts of Joan Crawford Noirs

Watching Forever --  Kay Francis in In Name Only (1939)

Second Sight Cinema — Joan Crawford in Humoresque (1946)

Silver Scenes - Irene from Cat People (1942)

The Everyday Cinephile -  The Beast Within: The Hands of Orlac (1924) & Mad Love (1935)

 

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CMBA Profile: THE LAST DRIVE IN

 

Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This month, we're featuring Jo Gabriel, who writes at THE LAST DRIVE IN. 

1. Why do you blog?

My mother, who was deeply involved in the theater, played a pivotal role in nurturing my passion for culture and classic film. She introduced me to the captivating allure of Bette Davis' expressive eyes and the undeniable sensuality of Ava Gardner. Our home was filled with the melodies of show tunes that she'd belt out without hesitation, and I can still vividly recall her unabashed admiration for John Garfield and Gene Kelly.

As I embarked on my personal journey to uncover the intricate details of specific actors, directors, cinematographers, genres, and more, I found myself tumbling down a rabbit hole much like Alice's descent into the well. I became fully immersed in the convergence of the subjects I was exploring, opening myself up to a world that I've come to regard as one of the most fulfilling aspects of being a classic film and television enthusiast. It delights me to offer my unique interpretations, and over time, I've evolved to approach things with a more discerning eye, moving away from my earlier cheeky perspective.

I like to think of my blog as a place where individuals can discover intriguing tidbits or revisit cherished clips related to their favorite topics or even stumble upon new ones that pique their interest. One of the most rewarding aspects of my deep-rooted passion for classic films and television is the desire to share my self-discoveries with like-minded enthusiasts. The blogging community has not only provided me with a platform for this purpose but has also led to the formation of some remarkable friendships along the way – truly exceptional individuals whom I may never have crossed paths with otherwise.

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

I am an internationally recognized singer/songwriter who although self taught on piano since I was 8 years old, is often assumed to be classically trained. 

Up until the time I became seriously ill there wasn’t a day that I wasn’t sitting at my piano writing music. For me composing, playing and singing my own work is akin to meditating. It was a great release for me. That is why my love of classic film has truly been a godsend, being taken out of my physical struggles with pain and delivering me to wonderful places that I used to go when I was either playing piano in my living room for my family of cats or out in New York City performing live for a dedicated fan base. 

Which leads me to my other passion. Cats… My life long partner Wendy and I have spent a good part of two decades rescuing cats - doing TNR, rehoming kittens and adult strays or just plain failed fostering them. Living among cats is perhaps one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life. They have taught me many sacred lessons - some so simple and some as complex as they tend to be and are consistently underestimated about. I’ll always be grateful for their love, loyalty and humor. 

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

A day of Val Lewton. I’m forever moved by the visual poetry of his work, with an internal human evil that plays on our collective psyches. The films are vaguely supernatural awakened by the ambiguity of each films shadow play. All 9 pictures could be considered horror/noir. The supernatural exigency is never confirmed but left suggestive in our minds. Three of the collective works feature Boris Karloff who had stated that after his immortal relationship with the Frankenstein’s monster, Lewton not only saved his life (career) but ‘restored his soul.’ 

1 Cat People

2 I walked with a zombie

3 The Seventh Victim

4 Bedlam

5 Isle of the Dead

6 The Ghost Ship

7 The Body Snatcher

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

The Queen of Spades 1949 directed by Thorold Dickinson, and based on Alexander Puschkin’s novella of the same name is a beautifully macabre and haunting film which stars Anton Walbrook, as the outsider Herman a duplicitous Russian captain who secretly resents yet yearns for the same wealth as his fellow officers. He sets up an elaborate plan to steal the secrets possessed by an unpleasant old Countess (Edith Evans) who has struck up a bargain with the devil so that she may never lose at cards in trade for her immortal soul. Under the guise of wooing her hand maid, Herman uses Yvonne Mitchell to gain access to the miserable old woman, then murders her only to be haunted by her spirit. Jack Clayton was the associate producer on the film and odd camera angles by cinematographer Otto Heller (The Ladykillers 1955, Peeping Tom 1960) create a striking sense of grandeur and unease reminiscent of silent German expressionist movement. Both Walbrook and Evans are equally chilling in their roles of two people - one diabolical and the other dour who have lost their souls to darkness.

https://thelastdrivein.com/2012/10/03/from-the-vault-the-queen-of-spades-1949/

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

I’m a solitary practitioner of Wicca and green magic - which translates to - I observe the natural world and its many glorious details and miracles that go unseen by a lot of people. Unlike many patriarchal based religions - the Earth is my deity… as fruity & hippy as that sounds!

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We thank Jo for participating in our Q&A profile and encourage you to visit THE LAST DRIVE IN! 

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The Fall 2023 CMBA Blogathon: Blogathon & the Beast

It’s almost here! Time for the CMBA Fall Blogathon! This year’s theme is “Blogathon & The Beast:’’ 

King Kong, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Cody Jarrett, Night of the Hunter’s Harry Powell, Shelley Winters as Bloody Mama, or Bonnie & Clyde. All iconic characters who are caught in a struggle with their primal inclinations.

The blogathon ‘beast' does not have to be a literal “beast,” or a menacing, or criminal character, although it can be! It also could be a complex protagonist who challenges social norms, such as the quintessential film noir anti-hero, the pre-Code heroine, Dietrich's enigmatic Shanghai Lily, Pacino's determined Serpico, the indomitable characters from Seven Samurai, or the outrageously zany Tasmanian devil from Warner Brothers' roster. 

If you haven’t signed up yet, there is still time! 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! 

Monday, November 6, 2023 

A Person in the Dark — Leave Her to Heaven: The Beast Inside the Beauty

Cary Grant Won't Eat You — Jimmy Stewart in Vertigo

Real Weegie Midget Reviews — Purple Noon (Plein Soleil) (1960)

Silver Screenings — The Bad Seed (1956)

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 

Poppity Talks Classic Film — Character analysis: Wally Fay in Mildred Pierce

Film Fanatic — Scarface (1983)

Cinematic Scribblings — The Bad Sleep Well

The Silver Screen Affair — Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity 

Filmland Follies — Airborne Adventuress: Katharine Hepburn in Christopher Strong

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Second Sight Cinema — Joan Crawford in Humoresque (1946)

Silent Cinema School — London After Midnight (1927)

Whimsically Classic — Queen Christina (1933)

Box Office Poisons - Queen Yllana of Queen of Outer Space

Outspoken & Freckled - Angel Face (1952)

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Another Old Movie Blog — Criss Cross (1949)

Crítica Retrô — The Divorcee (1930)

The Last Drive In — Dietrich and Anna May Wong in Shanghai Express (1932)

Classic Film And TV Corner - Elsa Bannister In The Lady From Shanghai (1948)

Friday, November 10, 2023

Spellbound With Beth Ann — Valkoinen Peura / The White Reindeer (1952)

Once Upon a Screen — Robert Walker as Bruno Antony in Strangers on a Train

Silver Screen Classics — La Belle Et La Bete (1946)

A Vintage Nerd  — Kansas City Bomber (1972)

Speakeasy — Creature Feature "Beast" movies, Ranked

Shadows and Satin — The Beasts of Joan Crawford Noirs 

Watching Forever - Kay Francis in In Name Only (1939)

 

 

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CMBA Profile: ONCE UPON A SCREEN

Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This month, we're featuring Aurora who is currently serving on the CMBA board and writes at Once Upon A Screen ( https://aurorasginjoint.com/ ).  

1. Why do you blog? 

I froze when I saw this question. It seems complicated. There are several reasons why I blog. For one, it is an escape. When I sit down to concentrate on the details of a movie, nothing else exists. Even a simple pictorial tribute to an actor or era takes me to another place and time. This is valuable to me. Blogging has also brought me to a great community I thoroughly enjoy, that I learn from and share with. Through the years I have also found the hunger to learn about all things classic Hollywood only increases. Blogging lends itself to terrific discoveries at every turn. The more I learn, the more I want to know. 

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

Well, I love to watch movies but that is the case with every CMBA member. It may be worth noting that aside from classic movies, I am a documentary nut. True crime documentaries are favorites, but I enjoy all topics if they are well done. Latin music would also be top of the list. I love dancing to Latin music with the music from the 1970s, the Fania days, being my favorite to dance to. American standards, many of which I was introduced to through movies, are also favorites. I recently discovered 1940s Junction on Sirius FM and it has become my favorite driving music. I should not mention that I daydream when I drive, but I do, and those daydreams are usually me on the arm of a handsome man dancing to one of the classic big bands in a legendary nightclub. 

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

Wow, this is not easy. To be honest, my list would change by the day depending on my mood. There are so many movies I can watch repeatedly. At this writing, the following would do quite nicely although it would be difficult to tie them all to one theme. 

ABBOTT and COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) 

OUT of the PAST (1947)

HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940)

THE AWFUL TRUTH (1937)

THE LADY EVE (1941)

THE HUNCHBACK of NOTRE DAME (1939)

THE LETTER (1940)

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

My immediate answer is all movies featuring or starring Betty Grable. I know she is not remembered with the respect she should be as a top box office star for a decade. However, since I have already blogged about how much I adore Grable, my chosen movie for this endeavor is Preston Sturges' HAIL the CONQUERING HERO (1944.) I can't say whether this has been widely seen, but it seems to be less popular, and less regarded, as other movies directed by Sturges. For me it is one of his best. I came to it at a Turner Classic Movies Film Festival and left the theatre on a high. Since then, I have watched it several times. 

HAIL the CONQUERING HERO has a supremely entertaining cast, including Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines, William Demarest, Raymond Walburn, Franklin Pangborn, and Elizabeth Patterson. The story is about a small-town young man, William Lafayette Pershing Truesmith (Bracken), who longs to be a military hero like his Marine father, Hinky Dinky Truesmith, who died in WW1. Unfortunately, Woodrow only lasted a month in the Marines because of his chronic hay fever so he sets forth pretending to be a Marine and the results are delightful. An emotional, brilliant satire, HAIL the CONQUERING HERO puts the genius of writer/director Sturges on display, and it charms and captivates on several levels. 

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

This could really be a number of things because I'm not a fan of talking about myself. After thinking about it for a bit, I decided to spice things up with an odd thing about me-- I have a fear of cotton. I mean, I do not run from a room if cotton finds itself there too, but I have an adverse reaction in certain cotton situations. 

The fear of cotton (primarily cotton balls) is known as sidonglobophobia, and it can be debilitating. Some people cannot even walk by cotton balls, or they avoid cotton swabs. My fear is not on the level. I use Q-tips every day after a shower. What I cannot do, however, is touch the cotton part of the tip. Opening medicine or vitamin bottles is extremely unpleasant because of the cotton often stuffed at the top. To deal with this challenging task, I have to remove the cotton with a scissor or tweezers to avoid getting close to it or the awful ripping apart of the cotton. I have goosebumps just thinking of it. It is also difficult when I have blood drawn and a cotton ball is applied to the needle puncture. Against my skin! Not fun. And when I remove nail polish, often removed using cotton, I use paper towels. While I do not suffer from severe symptoms many may suffer due to this or any other phobia, I know for sure cotton is not my friend. I will always avoid touching it. That is aside from my cotton towels, robes, and clothes. Those I enjoy. 

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We thank Aurora for participating in our Q&A profile and encourage you to visit Once Upon A Screen ( https://aurorasginjoint.com/ ).   

           

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Announcing the Fall 2023 CMBA Blogathon: Blogathon & the Beast

It's almost time for the CMBA Fall Blogathon!

King Kong, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Cody Jarrett, Night of the Hunter’s Harry Powell, Shelley Winters as Bloody Mama, or Bonnie & Clyde. All iconic characters who are caught in a struggle with their primal inclinations.

That is the topic of CMBA’s fall blogathon, Blogathon and the Beast!

 The blogathon ‘beast' does not have to be a literal “beast,” or a menacing, or criminal character, although it can be! It also could be a complex protagonist who challenges social norms, such as the quintessential film noir anti-hero, the pre-Code heroine, Dietrich's enigmatic Shanghai Lily, Pacino's determined Serpico, the indomitable characters from Seven Samurai, or the outrageously zany Tasmanian devil from Warner Brothers' roster. 

This subject delves into the complexity of free will and natural instincts inherent in a wide variety of characters, whether cast as malevolent antagonists or tough protagonists. 

“Blogathon and the Beast” embraces a broad spectrum of characters who defy societal constraints or the natural order of things. Let your imagination roam free and embrace the diversity of this intriguing theme!

The blogathon, for CMBA members only, will run November 6-10, 2023. 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 look forward to another great blogathon!

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CMBA Profile: FILMYCKS

 

Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This month, we're featuring Michael Roberts, who writes at FILMYCKS. 

1. Why do you blog?

Firstly, I like the challenge of distilling my thoughts on the films I love into an essay form, as it’s a great way to improve your writing. As a bonus if I can convey my interest to others to promote those films I write about, it might just light a spark for them. There’s such a world of pleasure and information to be found there and it’s a passion of mine to champion quality films from any era, but especially classic film.

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

I’m a musician, so music has always been a huge part of my world and who I am. I’m a Beatle tragic, so they got me interested in playing and I’ve played in bands and produced and written songs all my adult life. Currently playing and singing in a piano bar in Hobart and writing novels for eBooks. I’ve published 5 eBooks so far, 4 on songwriting and one on The Beatles on Film, but I’m expanding and updating that one currently.

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

I’d probably program something in sequence based on year of release.
I’d start with a Von Sternberg-Dietrich collab and go from there, but the seven would change based on the mood I’m in. Today’s mood?
Shanghai Express
Only Angels Have Wings
The Grapes of Wrath
Out Of The Past
The Furies
Some Like It Hot
The Sweet Smell of Success
- A hard-edged lot with a Wilder comedy for a little relief!

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

A Powell and Pressburger gem called Gone To Earth. It was made in 1950 and released in the US as The Wild Heart. It was a struggle due to David Selznick, who produced and demanded his new wife, Jennifer Jones star in it. Nonetheless, Jones is lovely, as is the rest of a great cast and the film is brilliant. It has the strangeness of Michael Powell’s askew Englishness and the unsettling darkness of a tragic folk tale that beautifully essays man’s struggle between the ethereal and the corporeal via the love triangle device of Mary Webb’s source novel.

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

Mmm... I’m an open book, so nothing interesting to speak of. Unless you count arriving at Roswell on a spaceship, being the shooter on the Grassy Knoll, filming the fake moon landing with Stanley Kubrick and inventing Crypto currency (because there’s a sucker born every minute) then I’m struggling to come up with anything!

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We thank Michael for participating in our Q&A profile and encourage you to visit FILMYCKS. 

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CMBA Profile: Those Wonderful People Out There In The Dark

 

Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This month, we're featuring David Jansen, who writes at Those Wonderful People.   

1. Why do you blog?

I've been interested in classic film since I was young --- as I approached retirement, I considered how I might spend my time to delve deeper into my interest in film as well as indulge myself in the fun of research and writing. Blogging about film (and an associated podcast) seemed like a great way to wrap it all up, and hopefully pass on a bit of my passion. I blog about films from (mostly) the 1920s into the 80s --- the films are those that I enjoyed when young, but also films that hit me hard emotionally, or gave me insight into the history and development of world cinema.

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

I've always been an aerobic athlete, so I still run every day, I hike and bike a great deal, I visit my children on a regular basis, and I love dogs, so I'm looking into volunteering at Best Friends Animal Society.

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

What a fun question! Not surprisingly, these seven films are all in my blog:

a. Ikiru --- Kurosawa's thoughtful examination of living consciously, rather than simply surviving, told through the story of a Japanese bureaucrat...

b. The Asphalt Jungle --- John Huston knew how to noir, and the combination of noir, a heist story, the wonderful presence of Sterling Hayden, and one of film's most heartbreaking finales, make this not to be missed...

c. A Night at the Opera --- For my money, the best Marx Brothers film ever, guided by producer Irving Thalberg and his simple proposal that the Brothers needed to have a story in which the audience would root for them...

d. Citizen Kane --- How would I not? It reminds me of what John Lennon said about Elvis; before him the world was black and white, after him it was in color. Kane created or combined all the elements that, once brought together, established the modern film classic. And what an incredible story by Welles and Mankiewicz...

e. The Third Man --- A very different Welles film, with his turn as mysterious (and bad!) Harry Lime in a wonderful and atmospheric Euronoir by Carol Reed. And what a final scene...

f. The Last Picture Show --- A must for me, as it hits every chord about living in a small town and the effect of someone as plain-spoken but supportive as Sam the Lion --- best Bogdanovich film ever...

g. The Irishman --- I admire Scorsese so much; he might simply have been satisfied with old-guy Goodfellas, but he put together an unforgettable elegy on aging and regret. Perhaps not his greatest film, but a film that shows how his thoughts and feelings have evolved as he aged...

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

The Leopard (Il Gattopardo) --- Luchino Visconti's 1963 comment on change in society and a quiet, contemplative view of how that affects various classes during Italian unification. It's not an obscure film, but the US version was badly edited and shortened, and it disappeared rapidly. The long, languid, beautiful European release is magnificent. Burt Lancaster is elegiac in his role as an aging nobleman, well supported by Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon and Terence Hill. The actors combine with the beautiful cinematography to produce a quiet but, to me, heartrending view of change slowly blowing through the lives of individuals. The novel by Giuseppe Lampedusa is a wonderful read, especially valuable prior to watching the film.

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

I'm a trained zoologist and chemist, but spent all my working life in medical products marketing --- never a day in academics!

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We thank David for participating in our Q&A profile and encourage you to visit  Those Wonderful People. 

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CMBA Profile: Classic Film & TV Cafe

 

Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This month, we’re featuring Rick Armstrong, the founder of the Classic Movie Blog Association and the reason why we’re here! Rick blogs at the Classic Film & TV Café.

CMBA: Why did you start your blog?

Rick: I’ve always enjoyed writing about films. I moonlighted as a newspaper film critic for several years and then my wife Mary and I wrote the Encyclopedia of Film Themes, Settings and Series (aka The Movie List Book). Around 2008, I discovered TCM’s Classic Film Union, which was sort of a “Facebook for classic movie fans.” I had a lot of fun writing about classic movies and interacting with other film buffs. Unfortunately, a couple of folks started flooding the site with their content or using it to discuss topics other than cinema. So, in September 2009, I decided to create my blog: the Classic Film & TV Café. Like many CMBA members, I knew nothing about blogging, so it was an adventure at first. Also, my original intent was to manage a collaborative blog and I invited a handful of other people to join me (including former CMBA head Patty Schneider). Over the years, the others dropped out for personal reasons or to start their own blogs. Since 2015, my wife and I have written all Café content except for occasional guest posts.

CMBA: In your 2015 profile on the CMBA website, you mentioned your interview with Piper Laurie. Who are some of your other favorite interviews?

Rick: I’ve been fortunate to interview some wonderful actors. Piper Laurie was indeed delightful and I was able to spend an afternoon sitting next to her at a nostalgia convention. Elke Sommer, Julie Adams, and Audrey Dalton were utterly charming. Barbara Bain, Ruta Lee, Jacqueline Scott, and Constance Towers shared some wonderful anecdotes, especially in regard to working in television in the 1960s. I was particularly impressed by the respect that Barbara Bain held for ex-husband Martin Landau as an actor and a drama teacher. Ron Harper was a friendly, frank, down-to-earth person (e.g., he didn’t like working with George Burns). We talked at length at another convention and watched one of his rarely shown movies, Savage Season (1971), together.

CMBA: Besides classic movie and TV blogging, what are some of your other passions?

Rick: Watching classic films and TV shows with my wife Mary is my #1 passion! We also enjoy watching British detective shows like Shetland, Foyle’s War, Poirot, and Endeavor. I also love to walk our two dogs, Tony (a long-haired Chihuahua) and Sienna (a Dachshund-Terrier mix), daily. We’ve been blessed to have loved several dogs over the years. Dogs are the most wonderful of all animals!

CMBA: What is a classic TV show that you love, but most people don’t know about -- and what do you love about it?

Rick: Two little-known shows that I always recommend are Man in a Suitcase (1967-68) and Coronet Blue (1967). The former is a sharply played, well-written British series starring American actor Richard Bradford as a disgraced former espionage agent known only as McGill. Branded a traitor by U.S. intelligence, he makes a living doing freelance work in Europe and Africa – dealing with blackmailers, protecting stool pigeons, finding kidnapped victims, recovering lost art treasures, etc. Coronet Blue stars Frank Converse as a man who is attacked aboard a luxury liner and tossed overboard. He is rescued, but with no memory of his past except for the words “coronet blue.” It’s also well-scripted with intriguing plots, and features great guest stars such as Juliet Mills, Susan Hampshire, and Denholm Elliott.

CMBA: What is something that most people don’t know about you?

Rick: I have a doctorate of education degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. My major was instructional systems technology.

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

Rick: Assuming TCM could get the broadcast rights to these films, I’d opt for a day of classic made-for-TV movies. The 1960s and the 1970s were a “Golden era” for television films and featured stellar writers (e.g., Rod Serling, Richard Matheson, Gene Roddenberry) and good actors (e.g., Angie Dickinson, Suzanne Pleshette, Ray Milland, Myrna Loy). I’d limit my seven picks to lesser-known films that appeared on the ABC Movie of the Week (1969-75):

 Seven in Darkness (1969) – A plane crashes in the wilderness and all its passengers are blind.

 Daughter of the Mind (1969) – A psychic researcher investigates when a famous scientist claims his dead daughter has been appearing to him. Stars Ray Milland and Gene Tierney.

 Along Came a Spider (1970) – A thriller with Suzanne Pleshette. It’s a wonderfully twisty plot, so no details.

 How Awful About Allan (1970) – A man (Anthony Perkins) suffering from psychosomatic blindness returns home to live with his sister (Julie Harris), but thinks someone is trying to kill him.

 Dr. Cook’s Garden (1971) – Is there a pattern to the deaths in a small rural town where a kindly physician (Bing Crosby) and his protégé (Frank Converse) practice?

 The Birdmen (1971) – During World War II, POW prisoners try to fly to freedom by building a glider. Incredibly, most of the film really happened! The unusual cast features Richard Basehart, Chuck Connors, Doug McClure, Tom Skerritt, and Max Baer, Jr.!

 Assault on the Wayne (1971) – Sabotage aboard a nuclear submarine with Leonard Nimoy, William Windom, Lloyd Haynes, and Sam Elliott.

CMBA: If you had a bucket list, what would be on it?

Rick: I’ve done most everything on my bucket list: wrote a book; got a doctorate degree; visited England, Scotland, and Prince Edward Island; and – of course – married a fabulous person who loves classic movies and TV, too. However, there are some DVD sets that I’d love to see produced: the complete ABC Movie of the Week (see above!) and seasons 2-4 of the brilliant 1961-65 legal TV series The Defenders. Those would be awesome.

I also want to reach 25,000 followers on Twitter. If all goes well, that may happen this year. I have a grand time with my Twitter followers. I host monthly “tournaments” on classic films and TV shows. The results are interesting, but the comments from my followers are the best part!

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We thank Rick for participating in our Q & A profile and encourage you to visit the Classic Film & TV Cafe!

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CMBA Profile: The Silver Screen Affair

 

Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This month, we’re featuring Emily Hernandez, who writes at The Silver Screen Affair .

CMBA: Why do you blog?

Emily: I started blogging back in 2011 as a way to connect with other old movie fans and to get my wiggles out. I have loved oldies since I was very young and found that I had no outlet to share my passion. After a few years I stopped and my blog was dormant until last year. I started up again because I still have that passion to share my knowledge and I enjoy writing about the stars, the sets, the studios, and all the fun facts I have acquired over the years.

CMBA: Besides classic movie blogging, what are some of your other passions?

Emily: My other hobby is sewing. I have an Etsy shop where I sell vintage inspired pieces. I also love the beach, road trips, old cars, and baking. 

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

Emily: My TCM line up would have no theme. I would just want to play some solid films I love that I think everyone should see. In no particular order I’d choose Now, Voyager, My Man Godfrey, It Should Happen To You, Thrill Of A Romance, Mildred Pierce, Double Indemnity, and The Women. 

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

Emily: I love the film Blonde Comet from 1941. It stars Virginia Vale and Robert Kent. It’s a small production film about a girl race car driver that stands up to all the boys. I love old cars and my husband drag races as a hobby, so this film checks off the boxes. It’s an action film but finds a way to have style. It also has a great meet cute between some of the characters.

CMBA: What is something that most people don't know about you? 

Emily: A silly story starts off with my grandparents who lived in Arizona. Their neighbor happend to be Don Ameche. My grandmother, being a big fan, would go over there to try to chat with him and ask him for a cup of sugar now and then, but I never got a sight of him when I visited as a kid. When he passed away his son asked my grandparents if they needed an extra refrigerator as they were going to just get rid of it. So my grandparents obtained the fridge and used it in their garage.  When my grandparents passed away the fridge was put in storage and later on when I needed one it came to me. I would tell people at parties that I had Don Ameche’s fridge and nobody cared. But I thought it was awesome! 

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We thank Emily for participating in our Q & A profile and encourage you to visit The Silver Screen Affair! 

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