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8:00 PM
CMBA Blogger Profile: FilmFanatic
The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month, on the 1st and the 15th. Today we're toasting Silvia from FilmFanatic.
FilmFanatic has some of the most organized film reviews on the internet. This is because Sylvia's approach to film is orderly and methodical.
"I incorporate a bit of production history (citing sources so readers can go find out more)," she says, "and include relevant stills, link to my own review of an earlier version of the film (as well as other critics’ reviews), and comment on various aspects of what makes the film so great – including cinematography, script, performances, and more."
Sylvia has been reviewing film for ten (!) years, and she's reviewed a lot of terrific movies. One of her favorite posts, though, is her review of George Cukor's A Star is Born (1954).
"It’s not only a personal favorite, but is representative of how I write most of my reviews," she says. "I quote heavily from Peary’s Guide for the Film Fanatic – and other Peary books (like his Alternate Oscars and Cult Movies series) – but add my own commentary and thoughts throughout."
You can read Sylvia's post HERE.
"It’s not only a personal favorite, but is representative of how I write most of my reviews," she says. "I quote heavily from Peary’s Guide for the Film Fanatic – and other Peary books (like his Alternate Oscars and Cult Movies series) – but add my own commentary and thoughts throughout."
You can read Sylvia's post HERE.
8:00 PM
CMBA Blogger Profile: Backlots
If you like a researcher's perspective on classic Hollywood, Backlots is the blog for you.
As a classic film researcher, Lara's blog covers many aspects of film history, such as film and book reviews, coverage of film festivals, and profiles of people and places associated with the industry. In her own words, she offers "pieces on the history, theory and culture of film as it relates to the study of classic cinema."
One impressive article is the 2013 interview she conducted with actress Joan Fontaine in honour of her 96th birthday. "She is very objective in her answers," writes Lara in response to a comment on her site. "It was very nice of her to take the time to answer my questions, it is so incredibly rare that she grants interviews, I feel so honored."
You can read Lara's interview with Joan Fontaine HERE.
8:00 PM
CMBA Blogger Profile: Tales of the Easily Distracted
The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month, on the 1st and the 15th. Today we're featuring Dorian from Tales of the Easily Distracted.
If you like witty commentary with insightful reviews of classic film, Dorian from Tales of the Easily Distracted has created the perfect website. Dorian's playful enthusiasm is infectious; she has a way of "selling" a movie, whether it's a Marx Brothers comedy or an Alfred Hitchcock film.
"For me," writes Dorian, "my fascination with Alfred Hitchcock first started with my sister having the flu. My big brother let me stay up with him to watch Strangers on a Train—half of it anyway, once Mom put me back to bed. But it was like a 'gateway drug' for movie fans, and the biggest score of all was North by Northwest!"
You can read Dorian's post HERE.
You can read Dorian's post HERE.
8:47 PM
Coming Soon - The CMBA Spring 2016 Blogathon!
Good news, everyone! The subject has been selected for the 2015 CMBA Spring Blogathon, open to all members: Words! Words Words!. This blogathon covers movies about writers, books, librarians, publishers, and even screenwriters. Expect a lot of writing about writing!
The blogathon will run from April 11th through the 15th.
(If you're a member of CMBA and wish to participate, please email classic.movie.blog.assoc@gmail.com with your subject by March 31st. Any eBook entries should be turned in by that date as well.)
The blogathon will run from April 11th through the 15th.
(If you're a member of CMBA and wish to participate, please email classic.movie.blog.assoc@gmail.com with your subject by March 31st. Any eBook entries should be turned in by that date as well.)
8:00 PM
CMBA Blogger Profile: Twenty Four Frames
The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month, on the 1st and the 15th. Today we're toasting John from Twenty Four Frames.
Twenty Four Frames is the hipster of the classic movie blog crowd.
Because he's a photographer and a classic film blogger, John of Twenty Four Frames brings a unique perspective to his blog. He covers a wide variety of films, including foreign classics, short films, and a few current releases.
In his reviews, he often discusses what was significant about the film to audiences of the day, but in doing so, he shows us why they're pertinent today.
"I like to find films that may be 30 or 40 or more years old and yet they say something about our lives today," he explains. "An example, which I will use, is Wyler's The Best Years of Our Lives. As most know, it's about returning soldiers trying to readjust to civilian life after the horrors of war. The film addresses the situation after World War II, but with war sadly an ongoing part of our lives today, it's just as relevant today. I like to tie that kind of thread into what I write when I can. Does not happen always, but its a great discovery when it does happen."
You can find John's review HERE.
You can find John's review HERE.
8:00 PM
CMBA Blogger Profile: A Person in the Dark
The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month, on the 1st and the 15th. Today we're celebrating Marsha from A Person in the Dark, who is also our current CMBA Chairperson.
Classic movie bloggers have a great sense of humour, and no one demonstrates that more than Marsha of A Person in the Dark.
Marsha's blog will make you laugh out loud, but she also writes with great empathy about some of classic Hollywood's tragic figures. One example is this profile of actress Alma Rubens.
Marsha's twin passions for classic film and Cary Grant is evident in this post HERE. She's sharing it because, she jokes, "the restraining order has expired."
8:00 PM
CMBA Blogger Profile: Caftan Woman
The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month, on the 1st and the 15th. Today we're paying tribute to Patricia from Caftan Woman.
Patricia from Caftan Woman is just like that relative. Her blog covers many films that don't receive a lot of love these days, and her reviews make you want to watch these films and immediately show them to others. This is because her well-researched posts shine with a passion for classic film.
"John Ford is my religion," she writes in her profile, and says she has a "particular fondness" for westerns, screwball comedies, musicals, B mysteries and film noir.
An example of Patricia's fondness for film noir – that is also an example of her shrewd powers of observation – can be found in this post on Claire Trevor's fashion decline in Born to Kill (1947).
CMBA: What sparked your interest in classic film?
Caftan Woman: Bonding moments with my movie buff dad and three
younger sisters. TVOntario's (public television) Saturday Night at
the Movies hosted by Elwy Yost, produced by Rise Schuman. A double
bill each Saturday of uncut, commercial free classic films with interviews and
an educational component. It made reverence for the films acceptable. Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide and other books which inspired a personal
stewardship toward the movies I loved.
8:00 PM
CMBA Blogger Profile: The Lady Eve's Reel Life
The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month, on the 1st and the 15th. Today we're spotlighting Patty from The Lady Eve's Reel Life.
The Lady Eve’s Reel Life captures the zeitgeist of classic film, and shows us why these films are important. Patty's blog is like hanging out with the coolest prof in film school, the one who never talks down to you and is excited to share new discoveries.
"Since movies were a part of my life from the beginning, is it any mystery that I knew who Bette Davis, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo and Tyrone Power were before I knew the names of some of my relatives?" she writes. "I recall noting in my diary when I was about nine that I had watched The Great Lie, 'starring Bette Davis.'"
One film that impacted Patty's love for the classics is the Astaire & Rogers classic, The Gay Divorcee. You can read about her passion for this, and classic films in general, by clicking HERE.
8:00 PM
CMBA Blogger Profile: ClassicBecky's Brain Food
The CMBA profiles two classic movie blogs per month, on the 1st and the 15th. Today we're spotlighting ClassicBecky's Brain Food.
Reading ClassicBecky's Brain Food is like spending time with a smart and witty friend. You know such a friend will always give you good advice, and will usually make you laugh while doing so.
She recently celebrated her sixth blogaversary. "It's hard for me to believe I've been around that long," says ClassicBecky. "I started out with a small group of wonderful people, guided by our Fearless Leader of the Classic Movie Blog Association, Rick Armstrong, and eventually branched off to my own blog."
Her site is full of fascinating and amusing posts on films and classic movie stars, along with personal observations that will make you think.
One example of ClassicBecky's savoir faire is the well-researched and detailed Mobsters, Pals and Skirts – The Golden Age of Gangster Movies – The Complete Series – 1930 Through 1949. "I actually won a CMBA award, of which I was very proud," she says. "I love the old gangster movies...Cagney, Bogart, Robinson...they were the best! These movies are some of the greatest of the classic era. "
She recently celebrated her sixth blogaversary. "It's hard for me to believe I've been around that long," says ClassicBecky. "I started out with a small group of wonderful people, guided by our Fearless Leader of the Classic Movie Blog Association, Rick Armstrong, and eventually branched off to my own blog."
Her site is full of fascinating and amusing posts on films and classic movie stars, along with personal observations that will make you think.
One example of ClassicBecky's savoir faire is the well-researched and detailed Mobsters, Pals and Skirts – The Golden Age of Gangster Movies – The Complete Series – 1930 Through 1949. "I actually won a CMBA award, of which I was very proud," she says. "I love the old gangster movies...Cagney, Bogart, Robinson...they were the best! These movies are some of the greatest of the classic era. "
5:54 PM
Announcing the Oscars Snubs Blogathon!
Announcing The Oscars Snubs Blogathon! (Feb 26-28, 2016)
It happens every year. Until recently 5 nominees vied for such varied categories as Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Director, among others. We as fans are not part of the process of choosing, and sometimes we think our choice was better. This is a chance to make your case heard.
Think Double Indemnity should have beaten out Going My Way for Best Picture in 1944? Was Rex Harrison really the Best Actor of the bunch in 1964, or were either Richard Burton or Peter O'Toole more deserving? And, really, seriously? WasMarisa Tomei really the Best Supporting Actress of 1992?
The rules are simple here. You can pick any category. You can pick any year. The only stipulation is the picture (or person) must have been one of the other nominees in that category for that year, but didn't win. Otherwise I'd be getting some quack choices like "Plan 9 from Outer Space should have won Best Picture of 1959..."
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| Let's not fight over topics! |
I'd like to have variety so only one person can do a specific movie or an actor in a movie, but I will stretch a point. If someone wants to pick, say, The Hustler as Best Picture of 1961, someone else could still pick Paul Newman as Best Actor in The Hustler, and make an entirely different case.
Let's have some fun with it. The blogathon will be scheduled to go live on Oscar weekend 2016. (Feb. 26-28) You can pick any of those three days. Post your choice in the comments below or stop by either The Midnite Drive-In or Silver Scenes. Then grab one of the banners below to post to your blog. Simple? Then let's get the ball rolling!
Need some inspiration, first? Check out this list of Oscar nominees by year : http://www.filmaffinity.com/en/oscar_data.php
Note: This blogathon and the hosting blogs are in no way affiliated with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscars is a registered trademark of the Academy Awards.