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.

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 – Comedy or Musical 

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 

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 Entry (aka 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 by Outspoken & Freckled 

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

Best Film Review - Comedy or Musical

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

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

Best Profile

An Interview with Sunset Blvd.'s Nancy Olson Livingston by 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 by 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 by 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 by 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) by 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 by 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 by Lady Eve's Reel Life

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

 

Best Film Review - Comedy or Musical (three-way tie)

Sun, Sand & Screen Teams: Flying Down to Rio (1933) by  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) by Lady Eve's Reel Life

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

 

Hold That Ghost! (1941) by Silver Scenes

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

 

Best Profile

Beyond Tara: Hattie McDaniel by 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. by 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 by Silent-ology

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

 

Best Classic Movie Blog Event

The Caftan Woman Blogathon - Honoring Patricia Nolan-Hall by 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 Classic Film Review/Drama

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

Best Classic Film Review/Comedy or Musical 

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

Best Profile 

Lucille Ball: Fashion Icon by Hometowns to Hollywood

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

 

Best Classic Film Article 

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

Best Classic Film Series 

Old Hollywood Haunts by Lady Eve’s Reel Life
 

Best Classic Film Event 

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

2020 CMBA Award Winners

Best Classic Film Review/Drama

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

Best Classic Film Review/Comedy or Musical 

Favourite Movies: Call Me Madam, 1953 by Caftan Woman
 

Best Profile 

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

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

Best Classic Film Article 

Rochester and Jack: Breaking Racial Barriers by Hometowns to Hollywood
 

Best Classic Film Series 

TCM 2020 Summer Under the Stars by Shadows and Satin
 

Best Classic Film Event 

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

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

2019 CMBA Award Winners

Best Classic Film Review/Drama

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

Best Classic Film Review/Comedy or Musical 

His Girl Friday (1940) by Cinema Essentials
 

Best Profile 

The Activism of Myrna Loy by Backlots
 

Best Classic Film Article 

Irving Berlin at the Oscars by Caftan Woman
 

Best Classic Film Series 

Sheik Month by Silent-ology
 

Best Classic Film Event 

Vive la France! Blogathon hosted by 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 Performer - A Mesmerizing Talent: The Life and Career of Conrad Veidt - Silent-ology

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

Best Classic Movie Blog Event -The Food in Film Blogathon - Silver Screenings and Speakeasy

Best Blog Design - Silver Scenes 

Best Classic Movie 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

Best Film Review ( Musical/Comedy )
Me and My Pal (1933) - Caftan Woman

Best Classic Movie Article
A Government by Classic Movie Characters - Once Upon a Screen

Best Classic Movie Series
Crime Does Not Pay - Thrilling Days of Yesteryear

Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer
Louise Fazenda, Comic Venus -Silentology

Best Classic Movie Event
What a Character! Blogathon - Once Upon a Screen

Best Blog Design
The Blonde at the Film

2016 CMBA AWARD WINNERS

Best Film Review (Drama) 
Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936) - Caftan Woman

  Best Film Review ( Musical )
The Gang's All Here (1943) - Second Sight Cinema

Best Classic Movie Article
Hal Roach and the "Lot" of Fun - Caftan Woman

Best Classic Movie Series
History Through Hollywood - The Blonde at the Film

Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker
Harry Carey and Harry Carey, Jr. - Caftan Woman

Best 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

BEST FILM REVIEW: MUSICAL/COMEDY

In Defense of Lina Lamont - The Vintage Cameo

BEST CLASSIC MOVIE ARTICLE

Real Life Society Honor Slaying Inspires Two 1932 Films - Immortal Ephemera

MOVIE SERIES 

History Through Hollywood - The Blonde at the Film

BEST PROFILE 

Eddie Cantor - Once Upon a Screen

MOVIE EVENT 

The Great Villain Blogathon - Speakeasy

BLOG DESIGN 

Silver Scenes

2014 CiMBA AWARD Winners

BEST FILM REVIEW: DRAMA

Roman à Clef: All About Eve (1950) - LADY EVE'S REEL LIFE

BEST FILM REVIEW: MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Meet Me in St. Louis - ONCE UPON A SCREEN 

BEST CLASSIC MOVIE ARTICLE

ClassicMovie History Project blogathon: 1945: CAFTAN WOMAN
  

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 

BEST CLASSIC MOVIE BLOG EVENT

The Classic Movie History Project Blogathon: co-hosted by MOVIES SILENTLY 

BEST BLOG DESIGN

The Blonde at the Film 


2013 CiMBA Awards

BEST CLASSIC MOVIE REVIEW: DRAMA
Scarface: The Shame of a Nation - Once Upon a Screen

BEST CLASSIC MOVIE REVIEW: MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Search for Beauty (1934) -  Pre-Code.Com

BEST CLASSIC MOVIE ARTICLE
Top 10 Oscar-Less Dames and Their Oscar-Worthy Roles - Shadows and Satin

BEST PROFILE OF A CLASSIC MOVIE PERFORMER OR FILMMAKER
Cagney - Lady Eve’s Reel Life

BEST 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, 

BEST CLASSIC MOVIE ARTICLE

Minority Opinion: The Magnificent Ambersons - Jim Lane’s Cinedrome 

BEST BLOG EVENT

A Month of Vertigo - Lady Eve’s Reel Life

BEST FILM REVIEW, MUSICAL OR COMEDY

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,

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

Best Classic Movie Article 
Mobsters, Pals and Skirts - ClassicBecky’s Brain Food

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 Film: The Silent Directors - True Classics

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

Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)
Love Me Tonight (1932) -  R.D. Finch, The Movie Projector

Best Classic Movie Article
The Best Fred Astaire Musicals Without Ginger Rogers - R.D. Finch, The Movie Projector

Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker
About John Gilbert: An Interview with Leatrice Gilbert Fountain - by The Lady Eve, Classic Film & TV Cafe

Best Classic Movie Blog Event
Trivia Time - by 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

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