Each month, the CMBA profiles a classic movie blog written by one of our members. This month, we are featuring Toni Ruberto who writes at Watching Forever.
1. Why do you blog?
I love writing and I love classic movies, so it was natural to combine them. Blogging allows me to share my passion with others who are equally enthusiastic about classic movies and that, in turn, makes us part of a community. I also love blogging because of how much I learn doing it. When I write, I can’t help but get lost in researching my topics and that's fun. There’s always more to learn so the films feel new again, no matter when they were made.
2. Besides classic movie blogging, what are some of your other passions?
Hanging out with my extended family - especially my nieces and nephews - is at the top of my list. It’s fun to go to movies and the occasional pop-culture convention with them and see things through their eyes. I love reading and watching classic films - especially horror, B-movies of the 1950s and romantic melodramas(!). For years, I’ve collected movie stills and books and those have become very helpful in my blogging. I volunteer with an animal rescue group called ABC Basset Rescue and also with the local SPCA.
3. If you could program a perfect day of classic movies for TCM, what would be the seven films on your schedule?
I know most of us have a hard time answering this question because we have so many films we would like to suggest. I cut my very long initial list down to my favorite genre: horror. The is a motley list of films that doesn't include the big horror movies you might expect like our beloved Universal monsters. But I wanted to show some love to films that don’t get much attention when it comes to programming. And remember, horror films can be watched all year, not just in October.
Black Sunday (1960)
Be warned: Once you watch, you won’t forget the mask of Satan (the film’s original title). The image of that spiked mask being hammered into the face of a young witch (Barbara Steele) remains seared in my brain. She may have to wait two centuries for revenge, but she’ll be back (and good for her). This is Italian horror master Mario Bava’s directorial debut.
Ghost of Sierra de Cobre (1964)
The call is coming from inside the mausoleum! A woman terrified of being buried alive has a phone installed by her casket; a year later, her blind son receives calls from her. (Who doesn’t want to see how this plays out!) Diane Baker is fantastic as his wife who hires an architect/paranormal investigator (played by Martin Landau) to figure out what's going on. Oh look, it's creepy Dame Judith Anderson coming out from the shadows. It's a great idea told with a hip flair.
The Giant Claw (1957)
I can’t get enough of big-bug/creature films, even when the monster is as goofy looking as the title creature here. This oversized bird can take down planes, yet looks like it could be sold as a cuddly plush animal, too. This is one of Mara Corday’s three horror films where she plays a very smart researcher-type who helps save the world.
The Hands of Orlock (1924)
I knew the title, but only saw this silent film recently and am mesmerized by star Conrad Veidt’s performance. He puts his entire body – expressive face, those long hands and fingers – into his role as a pianist going mad thinking that a killer’s hands have been grafted on him after an accident. This is a horror movie, yes, but it’s full of anguish, tragedy and love wrapped around a really good mystery. Veidt is reunited with his Cabinet of Dr. Caligari director Robert Wiene.
The Mole People (1956)
I know, I know. It has a bad reputation and has been skewered by MST3K. But it’s a bit better than its publicity photos would lead you to believe and how can you resist a film about a lost civilization? Three scientists find one such society of albinos living in the “hollow earth.” Their pitiful slaves have become mole people due to the lack of sunlight. Don’t be surprised to be troubled by the treatment of the slaves - this is a B-movie with a message. John Agar and Hugh Beaumont star.
Tarantula (1955)
One of the best classic horror films, Tarantula is special to me because it was part of my monster movie education from my dad. We watched it over and over again and never grew tired of it. Mara Corday is here again, this time helping a well-meaning scientist who wants to stop world hunger but instead creates a killer tarantula that grows to the size of a house. John Agar co-stars in Jack Arnold’s film.
The Undying Monster (1942)
This film has everything I need: A family curse, an old house on a seaside cliff, a hidden room, a deadly creature and a bunch of characters who could be the next victim – or the killer. (Wait ‘till you meet spunky Helga). Gorgeous cinematography by Lucien Ballard greatly expands the film’s otherwise obvious low budget. A fun monster yarn.
4. What is a classic movie that you love, but most people don't know about -- and what do you love about it?
I adore The Best of Everything, a 1959 Cinemascope melodrama about three young secretaries in a New York publishing firm (Diane Baker, Hope Lange and Suzy Parker), their bitter boss (Joan Crawford) and the men in their lives (Stephen Boyd, Louis Jourdan, Robert Evans) who may not have the best of intentions. It’s a glossy, soap opera world of pretty people, youthful dreams and broken hearts - and I can’t stop watching!
5. What is something that most people don't know about you?
I was the inaugural winner of the TCM Backlot contest, “TCM in Your Hometown” in October of 2017. Entrants wrote a 1,000-word essay on why TCM should visit our hometown. My story focused on the six grand old movie houses built in the 1920s and still operating in the Buffalo area, plus some of the movies that were made here. No one was more surprised than I was that I won. TCM chose the Buffalo-made Robert Redford film “The Natural” to screen here in one of the movie palaces I wrote about. There wasn’t a seat available when director Barry Levinson and TCM host Ben Mankiewicz introduced the film. Nearly the entire TCM staff was here for the weekend and I met TCM fans from around the country who came to the event. The city still talks about.
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We thank Toni for participating in our Q&A profile and encourage you to visit Watching Forever.
