No Miller Auditorium for "Casablanca"

Sorry.

THE GRAPES OF WRATH - (1940) John Ford

One of the outstanding features of this film is the cinematography of Gregg Toland.  A year later he would be the Director of Photography on "Citizen Kane."  Orson Welles shared his director's card with him during the credits.  I believe that hasn't happened before or since.  I have included a couple more pictures of interest.

Here is an original American half sheet poster (22x28).  Like all such items from classic films of this era, it is quite valuable today.

This is  the full dust jacket spread from the original 1939 printing of the novel by John Steinbeck.

Easy Rider - Questions...

8/29/2013

I agree with most of the bloggers! This movie is not one I would want to see over and over again. I have never seen or experienced the lifestyle depicted in it, even though I am a baby boomer. I grew up in Argentina, and our reality was different then. Is that the earliest work of Jack Nicholson?  Someone told me the movie is in the Library of Congress is that right?

8/30/2013

Answers here ...  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easy_Rider

African Queen, a technicolor's war account and love story!

African Queen, a great post war movie which I have watched several times now. Each time I re-discover my love for the movies of the 50s! Shot in Technicolor, the sets, location and details were enhanced and vivid to many who had never traveled. A timeless work, shows the determination of a woman, her patriotism and love for her country, and finally her ability of find love when less expected.  Although by today’s standards, a film with limited special effects, it offers magnificent actors, and a great score. The sounds of an orchestra enhance the experience of each action and lines delivered frame by frame. It reminds us of an old era that was enchanted and golden!   

CLASSIC UNIVERSAL HORROR

Here are some trailers and scenes from the first classic era of Universal horror films.  My personal favorite is "The Black Cat."  It combined the talents of Karloff and Lugosi for the first of six films they did together.

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath really surprised me.  It was dark and depressing. I felt very sorry for all of those people and how they were treated.  They lived a very hard life and struggled to survive.  I felt particularly sorry for the children.  The scene where they stopped to buy bread at the diner and are  told they don't have enough money.  The owner tells the woman waiting on them to just sell it to them.  The kids are looking at the candy and she also sells them the candy at a reduced price.   She starts to feel sorry for them too.  It was a totally opposite feeling watching the African Queen and then watching The Grapes if Wrath.

Blackfish: Tampa Theatre

Hi Class,

I recently went to Tampa Theatre to see the documentary, Blackfish. The film is about orca whales in captivity. More specifically, Tilikum, the whale who has killed three people including Dawn Brancheau at Seaworld in 2010. There are interviews with several former trainers, former whale trappers, and others highlighting why the practice of using killer whales for entertainment should not continue. 

I love these types of documentaries. The Cove and An Apology to Elephants are a few other good ones. Blackfish is playing at Tampa Theatre through Thursday. Check out the trailer below and also an article I recently wrote about the film http://eckerd.uloop.com/news/view.php/96533/documentaries-shed-light-on-disturbing-animal-entertainment-industry. 

NOTORIOUS - Alfred Hitchcock - 1946

Hitchcock made cameo appearances in all of his movies.  Here he is in "Notorious" having some Champagne at the party.

Here he is directing the famous crane shot that opens the party.  This apparatus was specially constructed for "Notorious.

Eroticism triumphs over the Production Code thanks to Hitchcock.

This cup was actually about 8 inches across with a huge saucer, made for this one shot.

This is the original release American one sheet poster (27x41), worth many thousands of dollars today.