On June 12, the Tribeca Film Festival will present the East Coast premiere of a new restoration of Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest,” screening in glorious 70mm thanks to Warner Bros. and Martin Scorsese‘s Film Foundation. It’s just the latest in an ongoing series of collaborations between the studio and the foundation, whose 70mm upgrade of John Ford’s “The Searchers” also premiered this year. Both films now look better than they have since their initial theatrical releases thanks to the studio going back to the original VistaVision negatives and taking full advantage of that format’s increased resolution to create the most detailed, vivid masters of Hitchcock and Ford’s classics possible.
When VistaVision was introduced in 1954 alongside other new formats like CinemaScope and Cinerama (all of which were intended to bring back the movie audience that had migrated to television), what made it special was that...
When VistaVision was introduced in 1954 alongside other new formats like CinemaScope and Cinerama (all of which were intended to bring back the movie audience that had migrated to television), what made it special was that...
- 6/11/2024
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
Mistaken identity has long been a captivating theme in entertainment, driving the plot in numerous films and TV shows. Let’s delve into some key examples and moments where characters have experienced unexpected identities and lived to tell the tale. A Classic Example from North by Northwest In Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘North by Northwest,’ mistaken identity takes center stage. Cary Grant’s portrayal of Roger Thornhill is a classic case study. As Roger is mistaken for a government agent, he embarks on a thrilling journey to clear his name. Grant’s performance is memorable; as one reviewer noted, Grant’s befuddled yet charismatic turn as...
- 6/10/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
A glimpse at upcoming UK Steelbook release dates until early 2024: here’s what’s getting the fancy treatment and when.
The incredibly fancy Steelbook format is the only choice for those needing a physical media release that doubles as a table tennis bat in a pinch. If that’s you, this list of all the upcoming UK Steelbook releases will be right up your alley.
Releases in this list cover Blu-ray and 4K, and are marked as such. Note that some Steelbooks sell out quickly, so just because they’re listed as upcoming here, there’s no guarantee of availability. Some store exclusives are also harder to track.
Also: We’ve started adding affiliate links. If you click on those, we benefit, and can spend more money paying more people to write more things for this website. No pressure, just hugely obliged.
Obviously in the current climate everything is subject to change,...
The incredibly fancy Steelbook format is the only choice for those needing a physical media release that doubles as a table tennis bat in a pinch. If that’s you, this list of all the upcoming UK Steelbook releases will be right up your alley.
Releases in this list cover Blu-ray and 4K, and are marked as such. Note that some Steelbooks sell out quickly, so just because they’re listed as upcoming here, there’s no guarantee of availability. Some store exclusives are also harder to track.
Also: We’ve started adding affiliate links. If you click on those, we benefit, and can spend more money paying more people to write more things for this website. No pressure, just hugely obliged.
Obviously in the current climate everything is subject to change,...
- 6/8/2024
- by James Harvey
- Film Stories
Mel Brooks’ classic western comedy Blazing Saddles is getting a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release to mark its 50th anniversary. More here.
Mel Brooks’ much-loved and groundbreaking comedy favourite Blazing Saddles is arriving at its 50th birthday this year. And just as with other anniversary films this year such as North By Northwest and A Nightmare On Elm Street, Warner Bros appears to be pulling out the stops for a posh-looking 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray collector’s set.
The film hasn’t been on the 4K disc format before, so it’s enjoying a 4K remaster for a start. The set will always include a Blu-ray disc too, to carry across previous additional features too.
Then, the 50th anniversary set will come in Steelbook casing, and include an envelope with 10 art cards inside. There’s also a double-sided bookmark, a double-sided retro art card, three double-sided behind the scenes cards,...
Mel Brooks’ much-loved and groundbreaking comedy favourite Blazing Saddles is arriving at its 50th birthday this year. And just as with other anniversary films this year such as North By Northwest and A Nightmare On Elm Street, Warner Bros appears to be pulling out the stops for a posh-looking 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray collector’s set.
The film hasn’t been on the 4K disc format before, so it’s enjoying a 4K remaster for a start. The set will always include a Blu-ray disc too, to carry across previous additional features too.
Then, the 50th anniversary set will come in Steelbook casing, and include an envelope with 10 art cards inside. There’s also a double-sided bookmark, a double-sided retro art card, three double-sided behind the scenes cards,...
- 6/3/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
The filmography of Alfred Hitchcock is obviously full of movies following the wrongly accused men on the run, including The Trouble with Harry (1955), North by Northwest (1959) and Frenzy (1972). The Master of Suspense plays with this motif artfully, creating a sense of unease and misunderstanding of whether his heroes are really so innocent.
However, one of Hitchcock’s movies exploring the same theme stands out among all of them, as it was drawn from the real-life story, described in the book The True Story of Christopher Emmanuel Balestrero by Maxwell Anderson. Apart from that, it’s worth a watch because it was picked by Steven Spielberg, the giant of the cinema industry.
The film’s plot centers on a musician finding himself in trouble of being unable to help his wife pay for her dental procedure. He tries to borrow money from their insurance firm, but gets mistakenly caught by the...
However, one of Hitchcock’s movies exploring the same theme stands out among all of them, as it was drawn from the real-life story, described in the book The True Story of Christopher Emmanuel Balestrero by Maxwell Anderson. Apart from that, it’s worth a watch because it was picked by Steven Spielberg, the giant of the cinema industry.
The film’s plot centers on a musician finding himself in trouble of being unable to help his wife pay for her dental procedure. He tries to borrow money from their insurance firm, but gets mistakenly caught by the...
- 5/20/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Ava Raxa)
- STartefacts.com
When you think of the very best Alfred Hitchcock movies, you might think of, say, "Psycho" or "Vertigo." You might consider "The Birds" — controversial though it may be — as the director's finest moment, or "Rear Window" might spring to mind. But while these are all excellent examples of Hitch's undeniable directing talent, there's an impressive array of underrated Hitchcock movies worth watching.
Take "Strangers on a Train" for example. This 1951 thriller stars Farley Granger as Guy Haines and Robert Walker as Bruno Antony, who are, believe it or not, two strangers who meet on a train. The thing about Bruno, however, is that he's also a psychopath, and suggests to Guy that they "swap murders" so as to do away with Guy's estranged wife and Bruno's overbearing father. From Bruno's perspective, because both men will essentially be killing strangers, no one will suspect either of them. When Guy laughs off this nefarious plot,...
Take "Strangers on a Train" for example. This 1951 thriller stars Farley Granger as Guy Haines and Robert Walker as Bruno Antony, who are, believe it or not, two strangers who meet on a train. The thing about Bruno, however, is that he's also a psychopath, and suggests to Guy that they "swap murders" so as to do away with Guy's estranged wife and Bruno's overbearing father. From Bruno's perspective, because both men will essentially be killing strangers, no one will suspect either of them. When Guy laughs off this nefarious plot,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
There’s a story Alfred Hitchcock always liked to tell about how, when he was five years old, his father dropped him off at the local police station near his home in East London. William Hitchcock left a note for the coppers explaining that his son had been misbehaving. A policeman locked young Alfred in a cell for a few minutes and explained, “This is what we do to naughty boys.”
When Hitchcock recounted that story to Dick Cavett he was in his 70s, but the incident continued to leave a profound mark on the director. He said he was still “terrified of the police” because of that and drew a connection from that to the feelings of guilt and wrong-men-on-the-run paranoia that seeps into so many of his films.
The funny thing is, though, father characters are almost entirely absent from Hitchcock’s work. There are a few: Cedric Hardwicke...
When Hitchcock recounted that story to Dick Cavett he was in his 70s, but the incident continued to leave a profound mark on the director. He said he was still “terrified of the police” because of that and drew a connection from that to the feelings of guilt and wrong-men-on-the-run paranoia that seeps into so many of his films.
The funny thing is, though, father characters are almost entirely absent from Hitchcock’s work. There are a few: Cedric Hardwicke...
- 5/12/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
The 2024 Tribeca Festival has revealed its lineup of talks and reunions with filmmakers including Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Judd Apatow, Kieran Culkin and more.
The premiere of HBO’s “Wise Guy David Chase and the Sopranos,” a documentary directed by Alex Gibney, will take place to celebrate the 25th anniversary of “The Sopranos.” There will also be a reunion with creator David Chase, executive producer Terence Winter and cast members Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro, Annabella Sciorra, Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Drea De Matteo, Steve Schirripa, Michele Chase, Kathrine Narducci, and Dominic Chianese.
In addition, “Mean Streets” celebrates its 50th anniversary and will include a conversation with Scorsese and De Niro. Steven Spielberg will recognize his theatrical debut, “The Sugarland Express,” and Kevin Bacon will honor “Footloose’s” 40th anniversary.
There will also be conversations with Apatow, Andy Cohen, Laverne Cox, Culkin, Michael Stipe, Kerry Washington, Gus Van Sant,...
The premiere of HBO’s “Wise Guy David Chase and the Sopranos,” a documentary directed by Alex Gibney, will take place to celebrate the 25th anniversary of “The Sopranos.” There will also be a reunion with creator David Chase, executive producer Terence Winter and cast members Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro, Annabella Sciorra, Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Drea De Matteo, Steve Schirripa, Michele Chase, Kathrine Narducci, and Dominic Chianese.
In addition, “Mean Streets” celebrates its 50th anniversary and will include a conversation with Scorsese and De Niro. Steven Spielberg will recognize his theatrical debut, “The Sugarland Express,” and Kevin Bacon will honor “Footloose’s” 40th anniversary.
There will also be conversations with Apatow, Andy Cohen, Laverne Cox, Culkin, Michael Stipe, Kerry Washington, Gus Van Sant,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety Film + TV
The Tribeca Festival is celebrating the monumental anniversaries of two Italian-American classics: series “The Sopranos” and Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets.”
The 2024 Tribeca Festival, presented by Okx, takes place June 5 through 16 and unveiled its lineup of talks with iconic artists, critically-acclaimed directors, and multi-hyphenate entertainers, as well as reunions and retrospectives of venerable and lauded films and TV series.
The 25th anniversary of “The Sopranos” will be celebrated at the Beacon Theatre with the world premiere of Alex Gibney’s documentary “Wise Guy: David Chase and ‘The Sopranos.'” This special event, presented by City National Bank, will feature a reunion with series creator David Chase, executive producer Terence Winter, and stars Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro, Annabella Sciorra,Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Drea De Matteo, Steve Schirripa, Michele Chase, Kathrine Narducci, and Dominic Chianese.
Auteurs Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are toasting both of their respective half-century anniversaries,...
The 2024 Tribeca Festival, presented by Okx, takes place June 5 through 16 and unveiled its lineup of talks with iconic artists, critically-acclaimed directors, and multi-hyphenate entertainers, as well as reunions and retrospectives of venerable and lauded films and TV series.
The 25th anniversary of “The Sopranos” will be celebrated at the Beacon Theatre with the world premiere of Alex Gibney’s documentary “Wise Guy: David Chase and ‘The Sopranos.'” This special event, presented by City National Bank, will feature a reunion with series creator David Chase, executive producer Terence Winter, and stars Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro, Annabella Sciorra,Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Drea De Matteo, Steve Schirripa, Michele Chase, Kathrine Narducci, and Dominic Chianese.
Auteurs Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are toasting both of their respective half-century anniversaries,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Martin Freeman-starring series “The Responder” has revealed first-look photos of its anticipated second season.
Produced by Fremantle’s Dancing Ledge Productions, it’s set to debut on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on May 5 and will be available on BritBox this summer. Fremantle is handling global distribution. It has also released a trailer.
Written by Tony Schumacher, it will see its conflicted protagonist, police officer Chris, “trying to find his way out of the woods.”
“I am abusing this metaphor, but it’s an evolution. He thinks his life is going to be O.K.,” Schumacher told Variety.
“He has decided to take matters into his own hands,” added Freeman, as Chris finally – and reluctantly – tries therapy.
“He goes: ‘I am going to give it a go, maybe I will learn something.’ It’s about putting yourself in a situation where you can actually get some help. He is...
Produced by Fremantle’s Dancing Ledge Productions, it’s set to debut on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on May 5 and will be available on BritBox this summer. Fremantle is handling global distribution. It has also released a trailer.
Written by Tony Schumacher, it will see its conflicted protagonist, police officer Chris, “trying to find his way out of the woods.”
“I am abusing this metaphor, but it’s an evolution. He thinks his life is going to be O.K.,” Schumacher told Variety.
“He has decided to take matters into his own hands,” added Freeman, as Chris finally – and reluctantly – tries therapy.
“He goes: ‘I am going to give it a go, maybe I will learn something.’ It’s about putting yourself in a situation where you can actually get some help. He is...
- 4/29/2024
- by Marta Balaga and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Watch just about any media from the mid-20th century and you'll quickly notice something: people smoked a lot more onscreen back then -- like, a lot more. Those born in the current century would no doubt be shocked to learn that even beloved cartoon icons like Donald Duck would light up a pipe or puff away on a stogie when the occasion merited (and that's to say nothing of commercials like the jaw-dropping marketing campaign where Fred Flinstone gets his buddy Barney and his wife Wilma hooked on Winston cigarettes).
Smoking was a useful visual shorthand for a variety of things. When Cruella De Vil spewed a wreath of putrid yellow smoke from her infamous cigarette holder in Disney's animated "101 Dalmatians," you just knew she was trouble, even before dog-napping entered the equation. Alternatively, when Cary Grant carefully lit Eva Marie Saint's cigarette in perhaps the ultimate Alfred Hitchcock picture,...
Smoking was a useful visual shorthand for a variety of things. When Cruella De Vil spewed a wreath of putrid yellow smoke from her infamous cigarette holder in Disney's animated "101 Dalmatians," you just knew she was trouble, even before dog-napping entered the equation. Alternatively, when Cary Grant carefully lit Eva Marie Saint's cigarette in perhaps the ultimate Alfred Hitchcock picture,...
- 4/28/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest arrives on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for its 65th birthday: more on the release here.
Something that’s occasionally forgotten when talking about the work of Alfred Hitchcock is just how big and mainstream his films were. Because he’s now such a revered movie director, he tends to get boxed in towards art house classics sections, when actually, so many of his films are very, very broad churches.
Which leads me to North By Northwest. It took me a while to get to the film for the first time, but this is in its own way a big, broad, blockbuster film. Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason star, in a film that’s got some ambitious set pieces in it. And, well, it’s just a hell of a rollercoaster, that really holds up. Not bad for a movie that’s celebrating its 65th birthday.
Something that’s occasionally forgotten when talking about the work of Alfred Hitchcock is just how big and mainstream his films were. Because he’s now such a revered movie director, he tends to get boxed in towards art house classics sections, when actually, so many of his films are very, very broad churches.
Which leads me to North By Northwest. It took me a while to get to the film for the first time, but this is in its own way a big, broad, blockbuster film. Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason star, in a film that’s got some ambitious set pieces in it. And, well, it’s just a hell of a rollercoaster, that really holds up. Not bad for a movie that’s celebrating its 65th birthday.
- 4/23/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Pulp Fiction stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman and Harvey Keitel reunited Thursday to celebrate the movie’s 30th Anniversary as part of this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival.
The theme of this year’s festival, which runs through April 21, Is Most Wanted: Crime and Justice in Film. Besides Pulp Fiction, other movies that are included this year are Chinatown, Dirty Harry, Dog Day Afternoon, In Cold Blood, North by Northwest, and On the Waterfront.
As is tradition with the festival, all screenings include special introductions to provide context about the films. Thursday’s screening of Pulp Fiction at the Tcl Chinese Theater included a conversation with Travolta, Thurman, Jackson and Keitel. Other film stars in attendance included Rosanna Arquette, Phil Lamarr, Burr Steers, Eric Stoltz, Julia Sweeney, and Frank Whaley.
Pulp Fiction was released in 1994 and directed by Quentin Tarantino. He and Roger Avary won an Oscar for writing the screenplay.
The theme of this year’s festival, which runs through April 21, Is Most Wanted: Crime and Justice in Film. Besides Pulp Fiction, other movies that are included this year are Chinatown, Dirty Harry, Dog Day Afternoon, In Cold Blood, North by Northwest, and On the Waterfront.
As is tradition with the festival, all screenings include special introductions to provide context about the films. Thursday’s screening of Pulp Fiction at the Tcl Chinese Theater included a conversation with Travolta, Thurman, Jackson and Keitel. Other film stars in attendance included Rosanna Arquette, Phil Lamarr, Burr Steers, Eric Stoltz, Julia Sweeney, and Frank Whaley.
Pulp Fiction was released in 1994 and directed by Quentin Tarantino. He and Roger Avary won an Oscar for writing the screenplay.
- 4/19/2024
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Returning for its 15th annual edition this weekend, the TCM Classic Film Festival will turn Hollywood Blvd. into the center of the movie universe again for four days, for that very obsessive and loving subset of film fans that has the network’s vintage fare as part of their weekly and daily lives. And just what time span “classics” falls into is exemplified by the big opening and closing night films.
The gala opening night picture is 1994’s “Pulp Fiction,” which festival director Genevieve McGillicuddy says “is one of the most contemporary films that we are showing this year, along with ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘Little Women,’ the 1994 version. ‘Seven,’ I think, is the most recent film we’re screening; that’s 1995. Just like with the network, we don’t have any official cutoff in terms of the years of films that we’re showing. But, interestingly — it’s the opposite of a cutoff,...
The gala opening night picture is 1994’s “Pulp Fiction,” which festival director Genevieve McGillicuddy says “is one of the most contemporary films that we are showing this year, along with ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘Little Women,’ the 1994 version. ‘Seven,’ I think, is the most recent film we’re screening; that’s 1995. Just like with the network, we don’t have any official cutoff in terms of the years of films that we’re showing. But, interestingly — it’s the opposite of a cutoff,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
Alfred Hitchcock is undoubtedly one of the most influential filmmakers that has ever lived and his films have made a mark on filmmakers today. He has an unusual yet affecting way of inducing suspense and intensity in his films and his works like Psycho, Rebecca, To Catch a Thief, Vertigo, North by Northwest, and The Birds are proof of that.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo is one of his most acclaimed films
The latter is one of Hitchcock’ most audacious films and actress Tippi Hedren was the lead of the film. The director is known for his rigorous process of bringing his vision to life and this proved to be an excruciating experience for Hedren as she got pecked at by real birds following a last-minute switch-up made by Hitchcock.
Tippi Hedren Was Horrified At Alfred Hitchcock’s Approach While Filming The Birds
Tippi Hedren as Melanie Daniels in Alfred Hitchcock...
Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo is one of his most acclaimed films
The latter is one of Hitchcock’ most audacious films and actress Tippi Hedren was the lead of the film. The director is known for his rigorous process of bringing his vision to life and this proved to be an excruciating experience for Hedren as she got pecked at by real birds following a last-minute switch-up made by Hitchcock.
Tippi Hedren Was Horrified At Alfred Hitchcock’s Approach While Filming The Birds
Tippi Hedren as Melanie Daniels in Alfred Hitchcock...
- 4/15/2024
- by Rahul Thokchom
- FandomWire
For movie fans young and old, Turner Classic Movies, its hosts, and its expansive archive of iconic films are a beacon for the days of thoughtful well-made movies before everything became content and IP. To celebrate the channel’s 30th anniversary, TCM will host a 24-hour movie marathon featuring some of the greatest films of all time, including “North by Northwest,” “Gone with the Wind,” “An American in Paris,” and more. The festivities kick off at 12:15 a.m. Et on Sunday, April 14, and will feature insights and introductions from TCM’s late, great host Robert Osborne. You can watch TCM with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. You can also watch with Sling TV, Hulu Live TV, or YouTube TV.
How to Watch Turner Classic Movies 24-Hour 30th Anniversary Special When: Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 12:15 Am Edt TV: TCM Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream.
How to Watch Turner Classic Movies 24-Hour 30th Anniversary Special When: Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 12:15 Am Edt TV: TCM Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream.
- 4/13/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Possibly the greatest collection of films for a modern classic showcase is about to take place at the TCM Classic Film Festival. The Wrap has revealed that the channel Turner Classic Movies, which is dedicated to unaltered, unedited film broadcasts of renowned movies in the history of cinema, has revealed the list of titles and guest appearances that will be featured at this year’s festival. The festival this year will be commemorating the 30th anniversary of the network. The TCM Classic Festival will be taking place in Los Angeles on April 18-21.
The event will screen the world premiere of a brand-new restoration of the 1995 film Se7en, the dark crime thriller starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. Director David Fincher will be there personally to unveil the film in IMAX. Another big screening will be the director’s cut of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which will play...
The event will screen the world premiere of a brand-new restoration of the 1995 film Se7en, the dark crime thriller starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. Director David Fincher will be there personally to unveil the film in IMAX. Another big screening will be the director’s cut of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which will play...
- 3/22/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
For those of us who remember going to the movies in 1977, we were treated to Star Wars, Smokey And The Bandit, The Spy Who Loved Me, Airport 77, The Car, Orca and Capricorn One. There was a rich wealth of movies to choose from and a time when audiences in their local cinemas would cheer and clap for the heroes. Then on December 14, 1977, coming off the success of Jaws, that director Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi masterpiece graced the screens. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind was the filmmaker’s next movie and, along with star Richard Dreyfuss and the magnificent score from composer John Williams, took audiences on a journey of mankind’s first meeting with aliens and let us know we are not alone in the universe.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning for Best Cinematography by Director of Photography Vilmos Zsigmond (The Sugarland Express...
Close Encounters of the Third Kind was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning for Best Cinematography by Director of Photography Vilmos Zsigmond (The Sugarland Express...
- 3/21/2024
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Those attending the 15th annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood next month will have an opportunity to engage with Mel Brooks and Vitaphone, both born in 1926. One’s extinct, the other’s still going strong.
While Brooks, 97, will be on hand for a closing-night screening of his 1987 comedy Spaceballs, six Vitaphone vaudeville shorts from the 1920s will be projected in 35mm, with sound played back from their original 16-inch discs on a turntable designed and engineered by Warner Bros.’ postproduction engineering department.
Also announced Thursday:
• Steven Spielberg will participate in a Q&a with Howard Suber — the UCLA faculty member at the center of the recent six-part TCM documentary The Power of Film — ahead of a director’s cut of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977);
• Nancy Meyers and Alexander Payne, respectively, will introduce world premiere restorations of Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959) and John Ford’s The Searchers...
While Brooks, 97, will be on hand for a closing-night screening of his 1987 comedy Spaceballs, six Vitaphone vaudeville shorts from the 1920s will be projected in 35mm, with sound played back from their original 16-inch discs on a turntable designed and engineered by Warner Bros.’ postproduction engineering department.
Also announced Thursday:
• Steven Spielberg will participate in a Q&a with Howard Suber — the UCLA faculty member at the center of the recent six-part TCM documentary The Power of Film — ahead of a director’s cut of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977);
• Nancy Meyers and Alexander Payne, respectively, will introduce world premiere restorations of Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959) and John Ford’s The Searchers...
- 3/21/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Batman: The Animated Series" has many artistic fathers. Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman" film, of course, but also the Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons of the 1940s, the Art Deco movement (which the skyscrapers of Gotham City are made in the visage of), and film noir.
Noir is a film genre characterized by dark high-contrast shadows ("noir" means "black" in French) shot in black-and-white, featuring urban settings, crime (whether the lead is on the wrong or right side of the law), beautiful but duplicitous women, and nefarious schemes gone awry. Noir sprouted up in the 1930s-40s, when most films were black-and-white and pulp novels, from thrillers and to detective stories, were easy fodder for Hollywood adaptations. The storytelling motifs of those books were thus intertwined with Hollywood's biting black-and-white style.
"Batman: The Animated Series" was made in color (the villains have costumes running the whole rainbow spectrum), but it was drawn...
Noir is a film genre characterized by dark high-contrast shadows ("noir" means "black" in French) shot in black-and-white, featuring urban settings, crime (whether the lead is on the wrong or right side of the law), beautiful but duplicitous women, and nefarious schemes gone awry. Noir sprouted up in the 1930s-40s, when most films were black-and-white and pulp novels, from thrillers and to detective stories, were easy fodder for Hollywood adaptations. The storytelling motifs of those books were thus intertwined with Hollywood's biting black-and-white style.
"Batman: The Animated Series" was made in color (the villains have costumes running the whole rainbow spectrum), but it was drawn...
- 3/18/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Turner Classic Movies, the leading authority and definitive home of classic film, will celebrate its 30th anniversary on April 14, 2024. To honor the milestone, TCM will present on-air programming salutes featuring TCM staff who were there from the very beginning, as well as a 24-hour marathon of films with historical introductions from TCM’s first host and champion, Robert Osborne.
“How many other channels on television celebrate their anniversary? How many other channels’ fans know where they were the day a network launched?” says TCM Primetime Host Ben Mankiewicz. “I’m not sure either of those things are true without Robert Osborne. He’s the Walter Cronkite of TCM. The Johnny Carson. The Alex Trebek. With these intros of Robert’s, we’re celebrating his impact and his continued influence. Plus, as we do with the movies we show, we’ll put Robert into context. Additionally, we’ll also look back...
“How many other channels on television celebrate their anniversary? How many other channels’ fans know where they were the day a network launched?” says TCM Primetime Host Ben Mankiewicz. “I’m not sure either of those things are true without Robert Osborne. He’s the Walter Cronkite of TCM. The Johnny Carson. The Alex Trebek. With these intros of Robert’s, we’re celebrating his impact and his continued influence. Plus, as we do with the movies we show, we’ll put Robert into context. Additionally, we’ll also look back...
- 3/14/2024
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Turner Classic Movies will turn 30 on April 14, 2024. That’s right: It’ll be 30 years since Ted Turner flipped the switch — flanked by Old Hollywood legends Arthur Hiller, Arlene Dahl, Jane Powell, Celeste Holm, and Van Johnson — right in the middle of Times Square to turn the network “on.”
Also with Turner that day was the man who’d become TCM’s longtime host, Robert Osborne, then just 61. A veteran columnist for The Hollywood Reporter, Osborne had become known as a close friend to many of the surviving stars of yesteryear ever since he was photographed kissing Bette Davis’s hand during a Golden Globes broadcast in the late ’70s. He’d go on to host the intros and outros for most of TCM’s primetime lineup for close to 23 years after that launch date, until he died in March 2017 at 84.
For so many TCM fans, Robert Osborne was the network.
Also with Turner that day was the man who’d become TCM’s longtime host, Robert Osborne, then just 61. A veteran columnist for The Hollywood Reporter, Osborne had become known as a close friend to many of the surviving stars of yesteryear ever since he was photographed kissing Bette Davis’s hand during a Golden Globes broadcast in the late ’70s. He’d go on to host the intros and outros for most of TCM’s primetime lineup for close to 23 years after that launch date, until he died in March 2017 at 84.
For so many TCM fans, Robert Osborne was the network.
- 3/14/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Chicago – A reimagining of the 1980s cult classic “Road House,” featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, is the Opening Night Film for the 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival on March 8th, 2024. Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com will be covering the festival through March 13th.
In this adrenaline-fueled reimagining, ex-UFC fighter Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal) takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems. The film also features Conor McGregor, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen and Post Malone.
’Opening Night Film is ‘Road House’
Photo credit: SXSW.com
The SXSW fest had origins in New York City in 1986, as it was suggested to a rock journalist in Austin, Texas, to extend a New Music Seminar that took place in NYC and make it “New Music Seminar Southwest.” That fell through, so the journalist (Roland Swanson of The Austin Chronicle) organized a local music...
In this adrenaline-fueled reimagining, ex-UFC fighter Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal) takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems. The film also features Conor McGregor, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen and Post Malone.
’Opening Night Film is ‘Road House’
Photo credit: SXSW.com
The SXSW fest had origins in New York City in 1986, as it was suggested to a rock journalist in Austin, Texas, to extend a New Music Seminar that took place in NYC and make it “New Music Seminar Southwest.” That fell through, so the journalist (Roland Swanson of The Austin Chronicle) organized a local music...
- 3/3/2024
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Alfred Hitchcock’s films have been some of the iconic films that have shaped the genre of suspense thrillers. He is known as the Master of Suspense, and his filmography as a director has been an inspirational one. Films such as To Catch a Thief, Vertigo, North by Northwest, and Psycho have been considered his best films.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho is potentially the best suspense horror/thriller film
The latter is his most popular film featuring one of cinema’s most feared antagonists, Norman Bates, played by Anthony Perkins. The actor also managed to earn an Oscar nomination for the 1956 film Friendly Persuasion. However, he held one secret about his sexuality due to the regressive ideologies of the 50s.
Anthony Perkins Hid the Fact That He Was Gay Throughout His Life Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho
Anthony Perkins rose to fame when he starred...
Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho is potentially the best suspense horror/thriller film
The latter is his most popular film featuring one of cinema’s most feared antagonists, Norman Bates, played by Anthony Perkins. The actor also managed to earn an Oscar nomination for the 1956 film Friendly Persuasion. However, he held one secret about his sexuality due to the regressive ideologies of the 50s.
Anthony Perkins Hid the Fact That He Was Gay Throughout His Life Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho
Anthony Perkins rose to fame when he starred...
- 2/15/2024
- by Rahul Thokchom
- FandomWire
Mike Nichols Made His Movie Directorial Debut with ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ — and Got Fired
Everyone involved with the film adaptation of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” had a lot riding on its success. For star Elizabeth Taylor, this was perhaps her first chance to prove that she could act (certainly the middle-aged Martha was the most demanding role she had ever had). For first-time producer Ernest Lehman, the movie could make or break him as he moved away from writing classics like “North by Northwest” and “Sweet Smell of Success.” And for director Mike Nichols, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” his feature film directorial debut, would either burnish his growing reputation as a boy genius after several smash Broadway hits or prove that he was out of his depth.
The impetus to play things safe must have been strong, and yet none of the film’s major players shied away from choosing the riskier paths. Filming in black-and-white in 1966 was not the indicator of...
The impetus to play things safe must have been strong, and yet none of the film’s major players shied away from choosing the riskier paths. Filming in black-and-white in 1966 was not the indicator of...
- 2/13/2024
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
Born 125 years ago, Alfred Hitchcock’s unparalleled body of work is a towering influence on virtually every corner of filmmaking. But what new insights can we gain into his process? Alfred Hitchcock’s Storyboards, a new book arriving next week by novelist and Hitchcock scholar Tony Lee Moral, contains a wealth of knowledge as it pertains to the Master of Suspense’s thought process. Ahead of its release from Titan Books, we’re delighted to share exclusive storyboards and more from the book, as well as a chat with the author.
Focusing on the storyboards for nine of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic movies––Vertigo, The Birds, Psycho, North by Northwest, The 39 Steps, Torn Curtain, Marnie, Shadow of a Doubt, and Spellbound––the coffee-table book includes never-before-published images and incisive text putting the material in context and examining the role the pieces played in some of the most unforgettable scenes in cinema.
Focusing on the storyboards for nine of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic movies––Vertigo, The Birds, Psycho, North by Northwest, The 39 Steps, Torn Curtain, Marnie, Shadow of a Doubt, and Spellbound––the coffee-table book includes never-before-published images and incisive text putting the material in context and examining the role the pieces played in some of the most unforgettable scenes in cinema.
- 2/1/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
He was born Archibald Alec Leach in South West England on January 18, 1904. As a teen, he became attracted to show biz at an early age, becoming friends with a troupe of acrobats and doing odd jobs while hanging out backstage at theaters. At 16, he would travel by ship to the United States, where he would eventually change his name to Cary Grant after signing his first movie contract in 1931. He became one of the most admired and beloved leading men that Hollywood would ever produce.
Grant’s suave looks and elegant voice served him well when he started acting in films, but his artistry and nuance on screen matured considerably over the years. He would work with the master Alfred Hitchcock several times, including “North by Northwest,” “Notorious” and “To Catch a Thief.” Grant was also quite deft with comedy roles, including “His Girl Friday,” “The Awful Truth,” “Arsenic and Old Lace...
Grant’s suave looks and elegant voice served him well when he started acting in films, but his artistry and nuance on screen matured considerably over the years. He would work with the master Alfred Hitchcock several times, including “North by Northwest,” “Notorious” and “To Catch a Thief.” Grant was also quite deft with comedy roles, including “His Girl Friday,” “The Awful Truth,” “Arsenic and Old Lace...
- 1/12/2024
- by Susan Wloszczyna, Misty Holland and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has a full slate of programming set for this year, as the classic movie home celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The 15th annual TCM Classic Film Festival in April will honor film historian Jeanine Basinger with the Robert Osborne Award, and pay tribute to actor Billy Dee Williams and makeup artist Lois Burwell.
Additionally, The Plot Thickens, TCM’s official podcast about movies and the people who make them will debut later in the year following the release of Talking Pictures: A Movie Memories Podcast, TCM’s latest podcast in tandem with Max.
Extending beyond the screen, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood will introduce a WB/TCM Classic Movie Tour in April.
“With the 30th year of TCM upon us, we both look back at all that’s been built over the last several decades and look ahead at what is undoubtedly one of the most exciting times in TCM’s history,...
The 15th annual TCM Classic Film Festival in April will honor film historian Jeanine Basinger with the Robert Osborne Award, and pay tribute to actor Billy Dee Williams and makeup artist Lois Burwell.
Additionally, The Plot Thickens, TCM’s official podcast about movies and the people who make them will debut later in the year following the release of Talking Pictures: A Movie Memories Podcast, TCM’s latest podcast in tandem with Max.
Extending beyond the screen, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood will introduce a WB/TCM Classic Movie Tour in April.
“With the 30th year of TCM upon us, we both look back at all that’s been built over the last several decades and look ahead at what is undoubtedly one of the most exciting times in TCM’s history,...
- 1/12/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Turner Classic Movies has a lot going on as it celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
On Friday, execs from the beloved cable channel unveiled a new podcast, 2024 programming initiatives, a new branded studio tour of the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank and details about the 15th annual TCM Classic Film Festival in April.
On Jan. 16, TCM and sister streamer Max will debut Talking Pictures: A Movie Memories Podcast. TCM host Ben Mankiewicz will join filmmakers and actors as they discuss “their earliest film memories, favorite movies, creative influences and guilty pleasures,” with guests including Mel Brooks, Nancy Meyers and Patty Jenkins.
The TCM podcast The Plot Thickens is returning this year for a fifth season, with the subject yet to be disclosed.
In April, TCM will introduce a new franchise, Two for One, with prominent filmmakers co-hosting a double feature of their choice on Saturday nights. Guests will include Jenkins,...
On Friday, execs from the beloved cable channel unveiled a new podcast, 2024 programming initiatives, a new branded studio tour of the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank and details about the 15th annual TCM Classic Film Festival in April.
On Jan. 16, TCM and sister streamer Max will debut Talking Pictures: A Movie Memories Podcast. TCM host Ben Mankiewicz will join filmmakers and actors as they discuss “their earliest film memories, favorite movies, creative influences and guilty pleasures,” with guests including Mel Brooks, Nancy Meyers and Patty Jenkins.
The TCM podcast The Plot Thickens is returning this year for a fifth season, with the subject yet to be disclosed.
In April, TCM will introduce a new franchise, Two for One, with prominent filmmakers co-hosting a double feature of their choice on Saturday nights. Guests will include Jenkins,...
- 1/12/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
You probably know the premise of "Bones." Set in Washington DC, forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and FBI agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) solve murders by studying the mortal remains of the victims. Or do they?
For the show's 200th episode, "The 200th in the 10th", the team decided to do something totally different (and non-canon). In this episode, the show moves to 1950s Los Angeles, where Brennan is an LAPD detective pursuing Booth, a jewel thief. At his latest robbery, Booth finds a burnt skeleton while safecracking and is immediately labeled as suspect No. 1 of the murder. Brennan, knowing it's not Booth's Mo, recruits her quarry to solve this new case together. Hey, after 10 seasons, a show has earned the right to swing for the fences!
"The 200th in the 10th" is made in the style of Old Hollywood thrillers, especially Alfred Hitchcock's 1950s technicolor noir films.
For the show's 200th episode, "The 200th in the 10th", the team decided to do something totally different (and non-canon). In this episode, the show moves to 1950s Los Angeles, where Brennan is an LAPD detective pursuing Booth, a jewel thief. At his latest robbery, Booth finds a burnt skeleton while safecracking and is immediately labeled as suspect No. 1 of the murder. Brennan, knowing it's not Booth's Mo, recruits her quarry to solve this new case together. Hey, after 10 seasons, a show has earned the right to swing for the fences!
"The 200th in the 10th" is made in the style of Old Hollywood thrillers, especially Alfred Hitchcock's 1950s technicolor noir films.
- 1/6/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Nancy Meyers has written a love letter to Cary Grant by recommending his screwball comedies and classics like North by Northwest and The Philadelphia Story as part of the December 2023 Turner Classic Movies lineup in her own TCM Picks video.
“He’s a brilliant prototype for a leading man in a romantic comedy certainly. And I would be lying if I said I didn’t think of him sometimes as I’m writing. You can picture him doing it and it makes you better,” Meyers, whose rom-com canon includes box office performers like Something’s Gotta Give, The Holiday and What Women Want, tells The Hollywood Reporter.
Her TCM movie picks follow Meyers insisting she has viewed most Cary Grant movies dozens of times, not least to study the iconic star’s slapstick humor and verbal sparring with leading ladies to see beneath his debonair looks and onscreen charisma, to the...
“He’s a brilliant prototype for a leading man in a romantic comedy certainly. And I would be lying if I said I didn’t think of him sometimes as I’m writing. You can picture him doing it and it makes you better,” Meyers, whose rom-com canon includes box office performers like Something’s Gotta Give, The Holiday and What Women Want, tells The Hollywood Reporter.
Her TCM movie picks follow Meyers insisting she has viewed most Cary Grant movies dozens of times, not least to study the iconic star’s slapstick humor and verbal sparring with leading ladies to see beneath his debonair looks and onscreen charisma, to the...
- 12/1/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“You can’t create a character like Cary Grant,” says Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jeff Pope (Philomena) of the Hollywood legend, the subject of BritBox’s four-part biodrama Archie. The debonair actor’s ascension from an impoverished English lad, born Archibald Leach in 1904, to movie stardom in films like The Philadelphia Story, His Girl Friday, and North by Northwest is dramatic enough. Add to that Grant’s startling discovery when he was a rising star in the 1930s that the mother he thought had died when he was a boy was actually living in a mental institution and you have, according to Pope, “some story that Dickens might have created.” Starring Jason Isaacs — who donned prosthetics to give him Grant’s dimpled chin — the series jumps between three timelines: the ’60s, when Grant wed the much-younger Dyan Cannon and gave up acting to raise his only child, Jennifer; the ’80s, when he...
- 12/1/2023
- TV Insider
What makes a good villain? That's a question that storytellers have been asking themselves for centuries, and the answer is etheric, intangible, because there isn't a one-size-fits-all bad guy for every story. Sometimes you need a villain that is cold, and calculating, and sometimes you need one that is unpredictable in their moves and will fly off the handle if looked at wrong. The point is that a villain has to fit the story they're in, and more importantly, they have to pair well with the heroes.
The saying goes that a hero is only as strong as their villain, which means when Tom Hiddleston took the role of Loki, one of the most interesting big bads ever created in the Marvel comics, he had a lot on his shoulders. He not only had to craft a villain that would work outside of the printed page, he had to create...
The saying goes that a hero is only as strong as their villain, which means when Tom Hiddleston took the role of Loki, one of the most interesting big bads ever created in the Marvel comics, he had a lot on his shoulders. He not only had to craft a villain that would work outside of the printed page, he had to create...
- 9/23/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
[Editor’s note: This article was first published in August 2022 and has been updated multiple times since.]
Movies might seem like magic, but Hollywood’s favorite actors, directors, producers, stunt performers, props masters, costumers, script coordinators, and cinematographers are still only human. Since before that child extra prematurely covered his ears for Eva Marie Saint shooting Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest,” audiences have delighted in finding the little moments that make their favorite films imperfect.
Like freckles on a human face, mistakes can make movies infinitely more special to the audiences that love them. Consider the clumsy stormtrooper of “A New Hope,” whose hilariously audible collision with an Imperial spaceship doorframe turned the extra’s true identity into an ongoing mystery for the Star Wars ages. Or, for “The Lord of the Rings” fans among us, there’s the anachronistic automobile appearing in “Fellowship of the Ring” right alongside Sam and Frodo. As for the Wizarding World, how about that bike seat on Harry’s broomstick?...
Movies might seem like magic, but Hollywood’s favorite actors, directors, producers, stunt performers, props masters, costumers, script coordinators, and cinematographers are still only human. Since before that child extra prematurely covered his ears for Eva Marie Saint shooting Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest,” audiences have delighted in finding the little moments that make their favorite films imperfect.
Like freckles on a human face, mistakes can make movies infinitely more special to the audiences that love them. Consider the clumsy stormtrooper of “A New Hope,” whose hilariously audible collision with an Imperial spaceship doorframe turned the extra’s true identity into an ongoing mystery for the Star Wars ages. Or, for “The Lord of the Rings” fans among us, there’s the anachronistic automobile appearing in “Fellowship of the Ring” right alongside Sam and Frodo. As for the Wizarding World, how about that bike seat on Harry’s broomstick?...
- 9/22/2023
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Studiocanal presents two brand-new restorations of two superb thrillers from legendary director Alberto De Martino – the 1974 Italian exorcist film The Antichrist, a superbly sleazy and unsettling shocker, featuring an amazing score by Ennio Morricone, starring Carla Gravina (Madame Bovary), Mel Ferrer (Nightmare City) and Oscar nominee Arthur Kennedy (Champion); and the 1976 cop thriller Blazing Magnum (aka Shadows in an Empty Room), an outrageous action-packed B-movie riff on Dirty Harry, starring Oscar nominee Stuart Whitman (The Mark), John Saxon (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Tisa Farrow (The Last Hunter) and Oscar winner Martin Landau (North by Northwest), with, according to film historian Kim Newman, epic car chases that rival Steve McQueen’s Bullitt.
Both titles include brand-new audio interviews with Alberto De Martino on the films, as well as commentaries, interviews, trailers and art cards. These immaculate restorations, making their UK Blu-ray debuts, are a must-own for fans of Italian action and horror cinema,...
Both titles include brand-new audio interviews with Alberto De Martino on the films, as well as commentaries, interviews, trailers and art cards. These immaculate restorations, making their UK Blu-ray debuts, are a must-own for fans of Italian action and horror cinema,...
- 9/14/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
To celebrate the release of Blazing Magnum available now on Blu-Ray, DVD & Digital, we have 2 Blu-Rays to give away!
Studiocanal presents A brand-new restoration of The superb thriller from legendary director Alberto De Martino – the 1976 cop thriller Blazing Magnum (aka Shadows in an Empty Room), an outrageous action-packed B-movie riff on Dirty Harry, starring Oscar® nominee Stuart Whitman (The Mark), John Saxon John Saxon (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Tisa Farrow (The Last Hunter) and Oscar® winner Martin Landau (North by Northwest), with, according to film historian Kim Newman, epic car chases that rival Steve McQueen’s Bullitt.
After his sister was poisoned, tough cop Tony Saitta embarks on a violent journey to find her killer which turns into a whirlpool of revenge and betrayal.
including brand new audio interviews with Alberto De Martino on the film, as well as commentaries, interviews and trailers and art cards.
Please note: This...
Studiocanal presents A brand-new restoration of The superb thriller from legendary director Alberto De Martino – the 1976 cop thriller Blazing Magnum (aka Shadows in an Empty Room), an outrageous action-packed B-movie riff on Dirty Harry, starring Oscar® nominee Stuart Whitman (The Mark), John Saxon John Saxon (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Tisa Farrow (The Last Hunter) and Oscar® winner Martin Landau (North by Northwest), with, according to film historian Kim Newman, epic car chases that rival Steve McQueen’s Bullitt.
After his sister was poisoned, tough cop Tony Saitta embarks on a violent journey to find her killer which turns into a whirlpool of revenge and betrayal.
including brand new audio interviews with Alberto De Martino on the film, as well as commentaries, interviews and trailers and art cards.
Please note: This...
- 9/11/2023
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The James Bond saga is about as well-established a film franchise as you can get. But somewhere, there's an alternate timeline in which the first ever Bond movie was directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Today, there's a lot of discussion surrounding whether or not Christopher Nolan will finally be given a crack the secret agent. Nolan certainly seems up for directing a 007 entry, and has been for quite some time. With the Daniel Craig era drawing to a divisive close in "No Time To Die," there's every chance the revered British filmmaker could bring his cerebral approach to the next Bond outing. Of course, that would require producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson allowing him the complete creative control he demands.
But this isn't the first time a highly-regarded British director with a penchant for meticulous oversight has been touted as the ideal filmmaker to take on England's greatest spy.
Today, there's a lot of discussion surrounding whether or not Christopher Nolan will finally be given a crack the secret agent. Nolan certainly seems up for directing a 007 entry, and has been for quite some time. With the Daniel Craig era drawing to a divisive close in "No Time To Die," there's every chance the revered British filmmaker could bring his cerebral approach to the next Bond outing. Of course, that would require producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson allowing him the complete creative control he demands.
But this isn't the first time a highly-regarded British director with a penchant for meticulous oversight has been touted as the ideal filmmaker to take on England's greatest spy.
- 9/3/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
In a world where feature film adaptations of hit TV shows are extremely common, a film like Andrew Davis' "The Fugitive" might not look all that unusual, at least at a glance. The 30-year-old film, based on one of the highest-rated television series in history, was a "wrong man" thriller in the classic Hitchcockian mold, starring one of the industry's most successful action heroes, Harrison Ford. It's got a series of thrilling set pieces with epic stunts and derring-do. The director also wasn't a festival darling — he was a genre guy whose biggest claim to fame before "The Fugitive" was two Steven Seagal movies.
"The Fugitive" was financially successful, and even the contemporary reviews were good. But if you haven't seen it — or if you haven't seen it lately — you could be forgiven for wondering why "The Fugitive" wasn't just a hit, but was also nominated for the Academy Award...
"The Fugitive" was financially successful, and even the contemporary reviews were good. But if you haven't seen it — or if you haven't seen it lately — you could be forgiven for wondering why "The Fugitive" wasn't just a hit, but was also nominated for the Academy Award...
- 8/8/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
Lawrence Turman, producer of films including Oscar winner “The Graduate,” and longtime chair of the Peter Stark Producing program at USC, died Saturday at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills. He was 96.
Turman’s producing career spanned 50 years, and he served as director of USC’s Peter Stark Producing program from 1991 until he retired in 2021 at age 94.
Born in Los Angeles in 1926, Turman graduated from UCLA and broke into the industry after answering an ad in Variety to work at the Kurt Frings agency. He represented actors, and after getting a meeting with Alfred Hitchcock through their friend Ernest Lehman, he was able to book four of his agency’s clients in “North By Northwest.”
Turman moved into producing, working on films including Judy Garland’s last film “I Could Go On Singing,” “The Best Man,” “The Great White Hope” and “Pretty Poison.”
After finding Charles Webb’s book “The Graduate,...
Turman’s producing career spanned 50 years, and he served as director of USC’s Peter Stark Producing program from 1991 until he retired in 2021 at age 94.
Born in Los Angeles in 1926, Turman graduated from UCLA and broke into the industry after answering an ad in Variety to work at the Kurt Frings agency. He represented actors, and after getting a meeting with Alfred Hitchcock through their friend Ernest Lehman, he was able to book four of his agency’s clients in “North By Northwest.”
Turman moved into producing, working on films including Judy Garland’s last film “I Could Go On Singing,” “The Best Man,” “The Great White Hope” and “Pretty Poison.”
After finding Charles Webb’s book “The Graduate,...
- 7/3/2023
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
In the vibrant panorama of Hollywood’s Golden Age, few stars shone as brightly as Cary Grant. He is a titan — born January 18, 1904, in Archibald Alec Leach in Bristol, England. His journey from humble beginnings to the glittering corridors of Hollywood fame is a captivating tale of grit, talent, and charisma. Grant’s meteoric rise in the film industry was not a stroke of luck but the result of his transformative acting style. Altogether, this brought a sophisticated charm to the silver screen. From screwball comedies like Bringing Up Baby to thrillers like North by Northwest, his filmography represents...
- 6/24/2023
- by Safwan Azeem
- TVovermind.com
Martin Landau is the Oscar-winning thespian who enjoyed one of the greatest late career renaissances in cinema history, hitting his stride in his 60’s and remaining active until his death in 2017. Let’s take a look back at 12 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1928 in Brooklyn, New York, Landau first came to the attention of movie audiences with a villainous role in Alfred Hitchcock‘s “North by Northwest” (1959). He became a television star playing Rollin Hand on “Mission: Impossible,” for which he received three consecutive Emmy nominations as Best Drama Actor (1967-1968) and a Golden Globe victory in 1968.
After decades of bit roles in B-movies and guest spots on TV (including playing a bad guy on “Columbo”), Landau enjoyed a major career comeback thanks to Francis Ford Coppola‘s “Tucker: The Man and His Dream” (1988), for which he won the Golden Globe and earned his first...
Born in 1928 in Brooklyn, New York, Landau first came to the attention of movie audiences with a villainous role in Alfred Hitchcock‘s “North by Northwest” (1959). He became a television star playing Rollin Hand on “Mission: Impossible,” for which he received three consecutive Emmy nominations as Best Drama Actor (1967-1968) and a Golden Globe victory in 1968.
After decades of bit roles in B-movies and guest spots on TV (including playing a bad guy on “Columbo”), Landau enjoyed a major career comeback thanks to Francis Ford Coppola‘s “Tucker: The Man and His Dream” (1988), for which he won the Golden Globe and earned his first...
- 6/17/2023
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
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Nearly three years after it was first announced, HBO Max — the streaming service from HBO and WarnerMedia — has officially become “Max“, merging their content library with Discovery+. They’re still the home of hit shows like Succession and Mare of Easttown, and films from Warner Bros. slate of premieres (think Dune and Zack Snyder’s Justice League).
But is Max still worth the price of admission? This streaming...
Nearly three years after it was first announced, HBO Max — the streaming service from HBO and WarnerMedia — has officially become “Max“, merging their content library with Discovery+. They’re still the home of hit shows like Succession and Mare of Easttown, and films from Warner Bros. slate of premieres (think Dune and Zack Snyder’s Justice League).
But is Max still worth the price of admission? This streaming...
- 5/23/2023
- by Brandt Ranj and Sage Anderson
- Rollingstone.com
In case there’s any doubt, Ed Sheeran is well aware of the fact that he’s … Ed Sheeran.
“I’m not an idiot,” he says, early in our acquaintance. “When you say in your office, ‘I’m gonna go and interview Ed Sheeran,’ you must get sneers. I’ve always been that guy.”
The state of being that guy, at the least the public version of him, is a paradoxical one. Sheeran is, on the one hand, unquestionably among the 21st century’s very biggest global pop superstars. That...
“I’m not an idiot,” he says, early in our acquaintance. “When you say in your office, ‘I’m gonna go and interview Ed Sheeran,’ you must get sneers. I’ve always been that guy.”
The state of being that guy, at the least the public version of him, is a paradoxical one. Sheeran is, on the one hand, unquestionably among the 21st century’s very biggest global pop superstars. That...
- 3/21/2023
- by Brian Hiatt
- Rollingstone.com
Warner Bros. got its due at the Academy Awards on Sunday night, consolidation be damned.
The studio behind the “Harry Potter” franchise, Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy and vintage classics like “Rebel Without a Cause” was recognized on stage at Sunday’s Oscars in observance of its 100th birthday. “Barbie” star Margot Robbie and “The Shawshank Redemption” star Morgan Freeman hit the Dolby Theatre stage to cue up a sizzle reel highlighting Warner Bros.’ legacy.
It was a heartening gesture from Oscar producers to give Warners its due despite the show’s broadcast partner, the Disney-owned ABC.
“I think we’re the greatest storytelling company in the world, and the Oscars is a night to celebrate the greatest stories,” Warner Bros. Discovery Chief David Zaslav told Variety on site at the awards. “Disney is also turning 100, so that’s two great storytelling companies. We root for each other.”
Robbie...
The studio behind the “Harry Potter” franchise, Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy and vintage classics like “Rebel Without a Cause” was recognized on stage at Sunday’s Oscars in observance of its 100th birthday. “Barbie” star Margot Robbie and “The Shawshank Redemption” star Morgan Freeman hit the Dolby Theatre stage to cue up a sizzle reel highlighting Warner Bros.’ legacy.
It was a heartening gesture from Oscar producers to give Warners its due despite the show’s broadcast partner, the Disney-owned ABC.
“I think we’re the greatest storytelling company in the world, and the Oscars is a night to celebrate the greatest stories,” Warner Bros. Discovery Chief David Zaslav told Variety on site at the awards. “Disney is also turning 100, so that’s two great storytelling companies. We root for each other.”
Robbie...
- 3/13/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Chicago – The in-person SXSW Conference and Festivals opens tonight with “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” as part of the Film and TV Fest. SXSW 2023 runs March 10th-19th in Austin, Texas.
Deep in the heart of Austin, SXSW is the premier destination for a diverse group of creatives across the tech, film, and music industries converge for 10 days of collaboration. From March 11th-15th, HollywoodChicago.com will be on the ground at the fest, so check back for updates throughout the next week.
HollywoodChicago.com will be at SXSW 2023
Photo credit: SXSW.com
The Opening Night film is “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” co-written and co-directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, and featuring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith and Hugh Grant. The film kicks off the Film and TV Festival portion of SXSW, with many independent and mainstream movie/streaming programs and events. For more information,...
Deep in the heart of Austin, SXSW is the premier destination for a diverse group of creatives across the tech, film, and music industries converge for 10 days of collaboration. From March 11th-15th, HollywoodChicago.com will be on the ground at the fest, so check back for updates throughout the next week.
HollywoodChicago.com will be at SXSW 2023
Photo credit: SXSW.com
The Opening Night film is “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” co-written and co-directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, and featuring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith and Hugh Grant. The film kicks off the Film and TV Festival portion of SXSW, with many independent and mainstream movie/streaming programs and events. For more information,...
- 3/10/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most important and influential directors in cinema history, and anyone aspiring to become a filmmaker should do themselves a favor and study his body of work. This one man pioneered numerous filmmaking techniques still used today, shot some of the industry's most famous scenes, elevated the thriller genre to new heights, and achieved so much more than can be crammed into this paragraph. In fact, there's an argument to be made that Hitchcock's genius is so great that simply watching his movies is a fine substitute for enrolling in an expensive film school.
With a career dating all the way back to 1925's "The Pleasure Garden", it's no wonder why Hitchcock has so many classic films to his credit. "Psycho," "Vertigo," "North by Northwest," "The Birds," "Rear Window" –- it's hard to believe that all of these iconic, diverse films and others came from the same mind.
With a career dating all the way back to 1925's "The Pleasure Garden", it's no wonder why Hitchcock has so many classic films to his credit. "Psycho," "Vertigo," "North by Northwest," "The Birds," "Rear Window" –- it's hard to believe that all of these iconic, diverse films and others came from the same mind.
- 3/4/2023
- by Joe Garza
- Slash Film
An actor doesn't have to like a script to perform it. As detailed by Turner Classic Movies, while shooting "North by Northwest," Alfred Hitchcock used this to the picture's advantage. Both he and screenwriter Ernest Lehman had Cary Grant as their first choice for the film's lead Roger Thornhill, a Madison Avenue ad man mistaken for the spy George Kaplan. Roger stumbles his way into heroism, ultimately thwarting a Soviet spy ring run by Phillip Vandamm (James Mason). Only someone as simultaneously dashing and comic as Grant could correctly pull off the part.
Hitchcock and Lehman obviously got their wish, but Grant didn't have confidence in the project they did. During production, Grant vented to Hitchcock, "It's a terrible script. We've already done a third of the picture and I still can't make head or tail of it." Per TCM, Hitchcock was "amused" by this comment; Grant was confused by...
Hitchcock and Lehman obviously got their wish, but Grant didn't have confidence in the project they did. During production, Grant vented to Hitchcock, "It's a terrible script. We've already done a third of the picture and I still can't make head or tail of it." Per TCM, Hitchcock was "amused" by this comment; Grant was confused by...
- 2/26/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Cohen Media Group has acquired all North American distribution rights to filmmaker Mark Cousins’ Alfred Hitchcock doc My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock.
The film premiered at Telluride and examines the Psycho and Vertigo director’s vast body of work, exploring his techniques, themes and obsessions. The plan is for a theatrical release later this year.
Cousins, who utilizes actor and impressionist Alistair McGowan to portray Hitch in voiceover, connects the stylistic dots running through the director’s 50-plus films, from revered classics like North by Northwest, Psycho and Rear Window to less frequently discussed but intriguing works such as The Paradine Case, Sabotage and more, stretching all the way back to his silent films.
The deal, announced by Cohen Media Group Chairman and CEO Charles S. Cohen, was negotiated by Cmg Senior Vice President Robert Aaronson and Cleo Veger, Head Sales at London-based film sales company Dogwoof.
Among positive reviews,...
The film premiered at Telluride and examines the Psycho and Vertigo director’s vast body of work, exploring his techniques, themes and obsessions. The plan is for a theatrical release later this year.
Cousins, who utilizes actor and impressionist Alistair McGowan to portray Hitch in voiceover, connects the stylistic dots running through the director’s 50-plus films, from revered classics like North by Northwest, Psycho and Rear Window to less frequently discussed but intriguing works such as The Paradine Case, Sabotage and more, stretching all the way back to his silent films.
The deal, announced by Cohen Media Group Chairman and CEO Charles S. Cohen, was negotiated by Cmg Senior Vice President Robert Aaronson and Cleo Veger, Head Sales at London-based film sales company Dogwoof.
Among positive reviews,...
- 2/8/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The movie: "Bringing Up Baby"
Where you can watch it: HBO Max
The pitch: David Huxley is a fussy paleontologist doing his best to handle increasingly strange situations, all caused by a beautiful and eccentric young heiress named Susan Vance. Starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn as the ridiculous romantic pair, it was sadly a commercial flop, in large part due to Hepburn being declared "box office poison" by the Independent Theater Owners of America only a short time before its release. The movie has thankfully earned a reappraisal in the years since, as Howard Hawks' madcap direction and Grant and Hepburn's incredible onscreen chemistry makes this one of the funniest romantic comedies ever made. It's also absolutely filthy, with more sneaky dirty jokes packed in than anyone can really catch on a single viewing.
"Bringing Up Baby" is a mile-a-minute screwball romance where all of the characters are totally...
Where you can watch it: HBO Max
The pitch: David Huxley is a fussy paleontologist doing his best to handle increasingly strange situations, all caused by a beautiful and eccentric young heiress named Susan Vance. Starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn as the ridiculous romantic pair, it was sadly a commercial flop, in large part due to Hepburn being declared "box office poison" by the Independent Theater Owners of America only a short time before its release. The movie has thankfully earned a reappraisal in the years since, as Howard Hawks' madcap direction and Grant and Hepburn's incredible onscreen chemistry makes this one of the funniest romantic comedies ever made. It's also absolutely filthy, with more sneaky dirty jokes packed in than anyone can really catch on a single viewing.
"Bringing Up Baby" is a mile-a-minute screwball romance where all of the characters are totally...
- 1/18/2023
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Working With Alfred Hitchcock On The Wrong Man Wasn't The Surefire Win Henry Fonda Hoped It Might Be
You know the basics of an Alfred Hitchcock film. Long suspense scenes, twisty murder plots, and blondes. Hitchcock's films were so stylized that his 1956 picture "The Wrong Man" feels anomalous because it's comparitively down to earth. Why the break from convention? It was based on the true story of Manny Balestrero, a New York musician who in 1953 was wrongly accused of armed robbery.
Balestrero, unfortunately, resembled the true culprit, who had previously held up an insurance company's front desk. When Balestrero went to borrow money from said company, clerks mistook him for the robber and he was arrested. Balestrero endured a trial before the right man was caught and the stress threw his wife Rose into a depression. These events are depicted with journalistic detail in "The Wrong Man."
It makes sense that Hitchcock was drawn to the story. Many of his films, including "The Man Who Knew Too Much,...
Balestrero, unfortunately, resembled the true culprit, who had previously held up an insurance company's front desk. When Balestrero went to borrow money from said company, clerks mistook him for the robber and he was arrested. Balestrero endured a trial before the right man was caught and the stress threw his wife Rose into a depression. These events are depicted with journalistic detail in "The Wrong Man."
It makes sense that Hitchcock was drawn to the story. Many of his films, including "The Man Who Knew Too Much,...
- 1/16/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
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