News

Director Ridley Scott's historical action feature “Napoleon" stars Joaquin Phoenix as the 'Emperor' of the French as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), with the ‘Director's Cut’ featuring 48 minutes of new, never-before-seen footage, now streaming on AppleTV+:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major...

With Gladiator II thrusting into cinematic arenas next month, we hand out laurels to the greatest sword-and-sandal movies of them all

In this heavy-going British Technicolor adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s play, Claude Rains’s oddly relaxed Julius Caesar plays father figure to Vivien Leigh’s implausibly girlish Cleopatra, schooling her in the art of power with just a hint of May to December flirtation. The two leads are just about charismatic enough to compel interest despite Shaw’s ponderous dialogue.

Some of the best movies to watch during the Halloween season (and some of the coolest movies in the horror genre) are the classic Universal Monsters movies. Those awesome black and white movies that were built around characters like Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, The Mummy, the Wolf Man, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, among others. So now that Halloween weekend is upon us, we here at Arrow in the Head have put together a list: Universal Monsters Franchises Ranked! Below you’ll find our rankings of the classic franchises, from least to favorite. Check it out, and let us know how you would rank these franchises by leaving a comment!

Honorable Mention: Abbott And Costello

The comedy duo of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello certainly weren’t Universal monsters (or any other kind of monsters), but they earn an honorable mention on this list because they played an...

Director Ridley Scott's live-action Oscar-nominated "Napoleon" feature, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as 'Emperor' of the French as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), has been repackaged as "Napoleon: The Director's Cut," featuring 48 minutes of new, never-before-seen footage, now streaming on AppleTV+:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code',...

War movies are usually retrospective by nature. Even "Casablanca," the most famous World War 2 movie made during World War 2, was set in the recent past. The movie was released in November 1942, after the U.S. had joined the Allies, but it is set in December 1941, just before America entered the war.

As documented by author Richard Osborne in "Casablanca Companion: The Movie Classic and Its Place in History," the filming of "Casablanca" took place on a Warner Bros. lot across 59 days, from May 25 to August 3, 1942. The cast and crew didn't think they were making anything remarkable, but the hand of fate intervened.

In "Casablanca," the titular city is shown as a waystation for refugees, albeit a dangerous one because it is controlled by the Vichy French government. France had ruled portions of Morocco as a colony since 1912, so when France fell to the Nazis in June 1940, they got Morocco in the package.

Carla Balenda, who starred alongside Dana Andrews and Claude Rains in the Rko Pictures thriller Sealed Cargo and portrayed Mickey Rooney’s girlfriend on the NBC sitcom Hey Mulligan, has died. She was 98.

Balenda, billed at times as Sally Bliss, her birth name, died April 9 of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, her grandson Jim Martin told The Hollywood Reporter.

She also played a nurse on the 1955-56 syndicated series The Adventures of Dr. Fu Manchu, starring Glen Gordon, and recurred as Miss Hazlitt, Timmy’s (Jon Provost) teacher, on CBS’ Lassie from 1958-63.

In Sealed Cargo (1951), Balenda portrayed a woman who is aboard a fishing trawler bound for Newfoundland when she and the skipper (Andrews) wind up tangling in the North Atlantic with Nazis led by Rains’ character. She often said it was her favorite role.

When Rooney took his first crack at television,...

[Editor’s note: this list was originally published in May 2023. It has since been updated with new entries in honor of the release of “Longlegs.”]

Movies offer an excellent excuse to ruminate on your deepest fears, and they’re certainly cheaper than therapy. So if you’re struggling with some deep mommy issues, why not cue up a matriarchal tale of terror and sort through some of that trauma in style?

Auteurs have been hashing out their issues with their mothers on the big screen for decades, to varying degrees of success. Consider mother-centric horror as its own subgenre, and you’ll notice there’s a tendency among filmmakers to take more than one stab at the thorny subject matter. Alfred Hitchcock used the real crimes of serial killer Ed Gein and added a profoundly morbid murder of a mother at a motel to brilliantly realize Norma and Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) for his exquisite “Psycho” in 1960, of course. But he’d whipped up something just as insidiously spectacular with Leopoldine Konstantin for his...

Over the 96 years of Academy Awards history, over 900 men and women have been honored with acting nominations. On July 4, 2024, the oldest surviving acting winner (or nominee) has turned 100 years old. Our research shows that Eva Marie Saint joins a very short list of centenarians who received Oscar acting nominations, with four winning the award.

A star of stage, radio, TV and film, Saint won the Best Supporting Actress statue in 1955 for her debut movie performance in “On the Waterfront;” she is also the earliest surviving acting winner, and one of the last stars of the Golden Era. She later starred alongside Cary Grant in one of Alfred Hitchcock‘s most acclaimed films, “North by Northwest” (1959), and became known to a younger generation as Clark Kent’s adoptive mother in “Superman Returns” (2006). Although she’s never received another Oscar nomination, she’s earned five Emmy nominations, winning Best Miniseries Supporting Actress...

By the 1950s, the Universal Monsters had become a punchline with most of them ending their onscreen careers meeting Abbott and Costello. Many of them had become victims of their own success, becoming so iconic that they had lost any ability to frighten anybody. Creatures from outer space, radioactive monsters, and giant bugs had taken over the throne as horror’s reigning attractions and anything that deviated from these felt passé and played out. Universal itself supplied plenty of its own creations into this theatrical landscape and relegated its classic monsters to the small screen. Into this environment came something new from the studio that all but created the modern horror film when Universal unleashed Creature from the Black Lagoon into the world.

There is much about the Creature that is similar to the Universal monsters that have come before. Like Lon Chaney’s Phantom, Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein Monster,...

The highest-paid actors in Hollywood — Tom Cruise, Robert Downey Jr., Keanu Reeves, and others — could easily command millions of dollars in upfront salary. For Avengers: Endgame, Downey Jr. earned a $20 million upfront salary and a $75 million total income. The precedent for these humongous salaries was Elizabeth Taylor’s upfront salary of $1 million for Cleopatra.

Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame | Marvel Studios

The British-American actress worked in the industry for nearly seven decades. She was cast in Cleopatra after she completed her contract at MGM Studios. 20th Century Fox, who produced the film, recognized her incredible talent and offered her a massive guaranteed salary along with a percentage of the gross profits.

Elizabeth Taylor Became The First Movie Star To Be Paid $1 Million Salary Elizabeth Taylor in a still from Cleopatra | 20th Century Fox

20th Century Fox set aside a sum of $2 million for the production of their project Cleopatra.

Released theatrically November 22, 2023, director Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" feature, starring Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”) and Vanessa Kirby (“The Fantastic Four”) earned Oscar nominations for ‘Best Costume Design’, ‘Best Production Design’ and ‘Best Visual Effects’, with Scott now readying his director’s cut, with a streaming runtime of more than four hours:

"...the film is a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film also captures Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as a military leader, war visionary and war criminal.”

Historically Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has...

George Waggner's 1941 horror film "The Wolf Man" introduced audiences to, essentially, the "second officer" of the Universal Monsters canon. Everyone knows that Dracula is the captain of the monster ship, and that Frankenstein is his first officer (a position he often shares with the Bride). The Wolf Man is always third in command, perhaps serving as a security officer or an enforcer. Mummies, gillmen, invisible men, Dr. Hydes, and other ancillary ghouls serve lower down in the crew. 

Watching the original "Wolf Man" film, however, reveals a dark and sad tale about Larry Talbot who is attacked by a wolf on a misty night in Wales, afflicting him with the curse of the werewolf. Throughout the year, Larry will transform into an animalistic wolf/human creature and stalk and kill random victims. The tale is terrifying and tragic and inspired many pop culture tales to follow -- as well as many nightmares.

Gay Flowers.

March featured a variety of conversations, including the Kristen Stewart vehicle Personal Shopper (listen), Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train (listen), and Raja Gosnell‘s live-action cartoon sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (listen here).

After previously covering The Old Dark House and Bride of Frankenstein, we wrapped the month up with another James Whale classic, The Invisible Man (1933).

In the film, Jack Griffin (Claude Rains) is an egomaniac with plans to sell his invisibility formula for a fortune, but first he has to “find a way back” from invisibility with the help of scientist/love interest, Dr. Kemp (William Harrigan). Alas, Griffin’s serum has also turned him insane and murderous, and he embarks on a killing spree that will claim the highest body count of any Universal Monster title.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts,...

Released theatrically November 22, 2023, director Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" feature, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the 'Emperor' of the French as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), streams March 1, 2024 on AppleTV+:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide,...

From the era of silent movies through present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection showcases eight of the most iconic monsters in motion picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Starring Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, and Elsa Lanchester in the roles that they made famous, these original films set the standard for a new horror genre with revolutionary makeup, mood-altering cinematography, and groundbreaking special effects. Featuring over 12 hours of revealing bonus features plus an exclusive collectible book, each film has been digitally restored from high resolution film elements for the ultimate classic monster experience.

Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection is available on 4K Uhd Blu-ray on February 13.

Enter for your chance to...

Following the nominations for the 2024 Academy Awards on Tuesday, Lily Gladstone, Martin Scorsese and Emma Stone were among the stars and films setting new records or carving out their own unique place in Oscar history.

Gladstone achieved a historic nomination, with the Killers of the Flower Moon star paving a new path for Native American women in the lead actress category. Meanwhile adding to his list of accolades, Scorsese has surpassed Steven Spielberg with having the most best direction nominations and, at 81, is also recognized as the oldest directing nominee. Then, Emma Stone is going into the race eyeing two possible Oscar wins for Poor Things, with both nominations making history as she follows in the footsteps of Frances McDormand’s Nomadland Oscars wins.

Famed musicians like John Williams and Diane Warren continue making their mark on the Academy — adding to their existing achievements while continuing their reigns as being...

After strategically withholding Napoleon from the festival circuit, Ridley Scott went guerilla instead, launching his controversial military epic into cinemas like a carefully-thrown hand grenade. The tactic worked, overriding critical reviews that tore apart its history, its script and even its star, Joaquin Phoenix, to give Scott a $200 million worldwide gross. Overlooked in the fallout was a terrific performance by Rupert Everett as the Duke of Wellington, the stiff-upper-lip Brit who proves to be Napoleon’s nemesis at the Battle of Waterloo. Here, the laconic British actor reflects on the influences that fed into his portrayal of the Iron Duke.

Deadline: How did you get involved with the Napoleon project?

Rupert Everett: It just came up out of the blue. I love Ridley Scott, so I was thrilled to take part, really. I’m a fan of the Duke of Wellington too, so it was exciting.

Deadline: What was your take on Wellington?...

Released theatrically November 22, 2023, director Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" feature, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the 'Emperor' of the French as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), has so far earned $59,600,000 (Domestic) and $141,100,000 (International) for a worldwide box office gross of $200,700,000 :

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has...

Like most movies, The Invisible Man travelled a long and winding road to the silver screen, and perhaps longer and more winding than most. As biographer James Curtis put it in his book James Whale: A New World of Gods and Monsters, “The gestation of The Invisible Man was the lengthiest and most convoluted of all of James Whale’s films. It involved four directors, nine writers, six treatments, and ten separate screenplays—all for a film that emerged very much in harmony with the book on which it was based.” It was first suggested as a possible follow-up to Dracula (1931), perhaps as a vehicle for new star Bela Lugosi, but was dropped in favor of Frankenstein (1931) due to the complicated special effects it would require. After Frankenstein was an even bigger success, both director James Whale and star Boris Karloff were immediately attached to The Invisible Man and several...

Phantom of the Auditorium was originally published in October 1994 (Spine #24) and the series adaptation aired on Friday, December 1, 1995 (runtime: 22 minutes).

For over a century, the world’s stage has been haunted by a mysterious, masked phantom. From the pages of Gaston Leroux’s 1909 novel to Lon Chaney’s unnerving performance that would inspire countless screen versions over the coming decades, The Phantom of the Opera has emerged from the depths of the theater to shock, awe and embody the depressing, torturous truths of show business’ fickle refrain.

While big, bold, romantic tragedy starring the likes of Herbert Lom or Claude Rains seems far flung from the Goosebumps milieu, R.L. Stine carried the well-worn tale of the scarred phantom and his jilted passion to the pages of his paperbacks with aplomb. Trading the opera house stage for the middle school auditorium, Stine’s phantom forgoes the disfigured musical genius and embraces...

There are many films that have quotable last lines such as “After all, tomorrow is another day” from “Gone with the Wind.” And who can forget Humphrey Bogart telling Claude Rains: “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship” But the beloved 1953 George Stevens’ Western “Shane” perhaps has one of the most endearing and emotional final lines. Young Joey (Brandon De Wilde) wants his idol, the former gunslinger Shane (Alan Ladd), to stay with his family. But the wounded hero continues to ride off.

“Shane………come back,” Joey cries out.

Be prepared to bring you handkerchiefs to the Academy Museum’s 70th anniversary screening Dec 10 at the David Geffen Theatre. Ladd, in his strongest performance, plays a world-weary gunslinger who wants to hang up his six-shooter. He ends up working for an honest, struggling rancher Joe, (Van Heflin), his wife Marian (Jean Arthur) and young son...

Take a look at director Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" feature, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), releasing November 22, 2023 in theaters:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind...

"...as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe.

As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide.

Take a look at more footage from director Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" feature, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), releasing November 22, 2023 in theaters:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide,...

Take a look at more footage from director Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" feature, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), releasing November 22, 2023 in theaters:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide,...

Take a look at more footage from director Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" feature, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), releasing November 22, 2023 in theaters:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide,...

Take a look at more footage from director Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" feature, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), releasing November 22, 2023 in theaters:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide,...

Take a look at more footage from director Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" feature, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), releasing November 22, 2023 in theaters:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide,...

Director Ridley Scott ("Gladiator") says his latest film "Napoleon" starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), will be streamed as a 4-hour 'Director's Cut' on AppleTV+, following the movie's November 22, 2023 theatrical release:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code',...

How do you like to celebrate the arrival of October and true autumn? Perhaps you have a favorite sweater you like to pull out of the drawer; or maybe you’re a fiend for consuming pumpkin-spiced… everything! For ourselves, it’s always been about putting on that first horror movie (or three). While the whole year is a fine time to watch scary movies, there’s something especially crisp about a favorite chiller to match the cool evenings outside.

Spooky season has to start somewhere, and for us it might as well be with a film that either makes us shriek or smile. So if you’re looking for suggestions on how to best ease yourself into the reason for the season, these are the movies that we think make Halloween a wickedly fine time.

It’s not Halloween until I watch… The Shining (1980)

There aren’t many of the...

Director Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), releasing November 22, 2023 in theaters:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide, but he...

Tyrannical and brilliant, director Michael Curtiz created film legends out of mere stars, and turned movies into myth. Here are some of his greatest films.

When movie enthusiasts think of legendary director Michael Curtiz, the first thing that pops into their mind is Casablanca (1942), consistently named to, and occasionally topping, lists of the greatest films of all time. Although if we’re being honest, most people think of it as a Humphrey Bogart movie. The same could be said of Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). These are known for their stars, James Cagney, and Errol Flynn, the latter of whom Curtiz put on the map with Captain Blood (1935). In the director’s hands, actors and characters merged into a mythology which exceeded mere signature roles, becoming universal symbols.

Curtiz worked in the motion picture business from its infancy, but began in the theater, graduating Budapest’s...

Director Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), releasing November 22, 2023 in theaters:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide, but he...

“Poor Things” looks set to be a major Oscar contender this year. It just won the Golden Lion at Venice and Emma Stone just took over the top spot on our Best Actress Oscar odds chart. Supporting players Willem Dafoe and Mark Ruffalo look set to match an Academy Award record.

“Poor Things” tell the tale of Stone as a young woman brought back to life by a scientist in the Victorian era. Dafoe plays the eccentric scientist, complete with a peculiar Scottish accent and killer prosthetic makeup design, while Ruffalo hams it up as the scientist’s lawyer, donning a hilarious English accent and turning up the camp to 10. Both performances are now being touted as strong Oscar contenders in the Best Supporting Actor category, which could see Dafoe and Ruffalo earn their fifth and fourth nominations respectively.

Dafoe was first nominated in 1987 for Best Supporting Actor for “Platoon.

You’ll hardly believe what your eyes won’t see as we turn another corner in the Graveyard Smash podcast series and begin our examination of The Invisible Man (1933). Join us as we discuss the special effects spectacle that’s still blowing audiences away nearly 100 years later, and a give a standing ovation for the hardest working madman in the biz.

The Invisible Man is a unique villain in the Universal Classic Monster roster and in just his introductory film alone, this transparent baddy amassed a body count greater than Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Mummy combined. All while being butt naked too! On top of that, he’s dapper, dastardly, eloquent, and maybe the most dangerous weapon the world has ever know. Join us as we unfurl the bandages and gasp in wide-eyed terror at Claude Rains in The Invisible Man (1933).

Listen Now At The Nofs Fiend Club On Patreon...

Director Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), releasing November 22, 2023 in theaters:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide, but he...

Director Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), releasing November 22, 2023 in theaters:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor...

"...viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide, but he...

The Tom Savini episode of the Wtf Happened to This Horror Celebrity? video series (formerly known as Where in the Horror Are They Now) was Written and Narrated by Jessica Dwyer and Edited by Juan Jimenez. It was Produced by John Fallon and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

Gore. The gore the merrier or so it seemed during the 70s and 80s. And throughout many a decade gorehounds love all the red splatter a screen can handle. And one of the best to give the gore all the more is Tom Savini. A master of splatter, an icon of special effects, and a director and actor too, Savini has been the inspiration for more filmmakers and effects artists than I can count and continues to do so. He’s also never stopped making monsters and mayhem either. Tom Savini is one of modern horrors legends and I think it’s...

Director Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), releasing November 22, 2023 in theaters:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor...

"...viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide, but he...

Take a look at new footage from director Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), releasing November 22, 2023 in theaters:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor...

"...viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence...

The following piece contains spoilers about the “Succession” series finale.

The 90-minute series finale of “Succession” could’ve been just a bit longer and included a final moment with Waystar general counsel Gerri Kellerman. Speaking to Time in a new interview, Gerri actress J. Smith-Cameron confirmed she shot at least one additional scene for the finale but it was left on the cutting room floor.

“I had shot a little short scene with Tom at the end where he asks me to come on board. And I say, ‘I’m interested, but be prepared to pay extravagantly.’ And he’s like, ‘Of course,’” Smith-Cameron told the publication in an interview published Tuesday. “And then we had one take where [director] Mark Mylod had us walk down the hall from the others like Claude Rains and Humphrey Bogart at the end of ‘Casablanca.’ Like, ‘This is the start of a beautiful friendship.

Director Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' feature "Napoleon", starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), will stream on AppleTV in 2023:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor...

"...viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide,...

Director Ridley Scott's new 'Napoleon' feature starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), will stream on AppleTV+ in 2023:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815. His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide,...

Turner Classic Movies has some of the best film programming when it comes to delivering both famous and lesser-known titles. April 7 until 9 has a diverse group of movies playing over the weekend that provides a little bit of something for all audiences who enjoy the channel. Here’s a look at the five best movies airing on TCM.

‘I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang’ (1932) L-r: Paul Muni as James Allen and Noel Francis as Linda | FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images

James Allen (Paul Muni) reenters civilian life after serving in World War I, finding his calling as a construction engineer. He attends a dinner with an acquaintance, only to be forced to commit a robbery at gunpoint. James serves in a Southern chain gang, with inhumane conditions haunting him in the time to follow.

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang earned three Oscar nominations for Best Picture,...

Boris Karloff: The Man Behind The Monster director Thomas Hamilton on his upcoming series Horror Icons on interviewing Roger Corman: “He not only worked with Vincent Price, he worked with Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone, Lon Chaney.” Photo: Thomas Hamilton

Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone, Conrad Veidt, Maria Ouspenskaya, George Zukor, Paul Wegener, Emil Jannings, Brigitte Helm, Gale Sondergaard, Gloria Holden, Claude Rains, Fay Wray, Duane Jones, Max Schreck, Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Lon Chaney Sr., Lon Chaney Jr, Fw Murnau’s Faust and Nosferatu, Arthur Lubin’s Phantom of the Opera, Rowland V. Lee’s Son of Frankenstein, George Waggner’s The Wolf Man, James Whale’s The Invisible Man, Lambert Hillyer’s Dracula’s Daughter, Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Paul Wegener and Henrik Galeen’s The Golem, Hanns Heinz Ewers and Stellan Rye’s The Student Of Prague, and George Romero’s Night Of The Living Dead...

Director Ridley Scott's new 'Napoleon' feature starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), will stream on AppleTV+ in 2023:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815. His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide,...

I never understood why Jurassic Park was the only dinosaur-related franchise to outlive the dino hysteria of the 90s. Don’t get me wrong, Spielberg’s classic is clearly the best movie to come out of that trend, but that doesn’t change the fact that dinosaurs as a concept are in the public domain and should have been featured in countless other films.

Fortunately for fans of all things prehistoric, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’s upcoming 65 (March 10th) promises a return to the Jurassic-Park-less thrills of completely original dinosaur movies. And with that in mind, we’ve come up with this list highlighting six of the best non-jp dinosaur thrillers for all your prehistoric media needs!

As usual, this list is purely based on personal opinion, but since this is Bloody Disgusting, we’ll be limiting entries to monster movies and thrillers. That means no Super Mario Bros...

Look over the list of Best Picture winners over the years and you realise that almost every film selected is still in circulation.

William Wellman’s Wings, the very first winner in 1927, is readily available on DVD and Blu-Ray, as are such other early winners as Cimarron and Broadway Melody.

Most of the other Best Picture winners are titles that any film lover will recognise instantly. The blind spots are obvious. The Academy never chooses foreign language titles. In recent years, it has shunned comedies.

The Shape of Water may have won in 2018, but voters are generally wary about genre pictures. You don’t see many sci-fi or martial arts titles on the list.

There is a growing divide between what wins at the Oscars and what makes the money at the box office. Even so, the est Picture Oscar remains one of the most reliable bellwethers for films that will have an afterlife.

Look over the list of Best Picture winners over the years and you realise that almost every film selected is still in circulation.

William Wellman’s Wings, the very first winner in 1927, is readily available on DVD and Blu-Ray, as are such other early winners as Cimarron and Broadway Melody.

Most of the other Best Picture winners are titles that any film lover will recognise instantly. The blind spots are obvious. The Academy never chooses foreign language titles. In recent years, it has shunned comedies.

The Shape of Water may have won in 2018, but voters are generally wary about genre pictures. You don’t see many sci-fi or martial arts titles on the list.

There is a growing divide between what wins at the Oscars and what makes the money at the box office. Even so, the est Picture Oscar remains one of the most reliable bellwethers for films that will have an afterlife.

Director Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' feature "Napoleon", starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") as the 'Emperor' of the French 1804-1815, as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Jodie Comer), will stream on AppleTV in 2023:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815. His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide,...

Frank Capra made James Stewart into the heart of Hollywood. In their second movie together, "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington," Stewart played Jefferson Smith, a "Boy Ranger" leader in an unnamed Western state. Smith is appointed to fill one of the state's Senate seats after its holder dies. When he arrives in DC, his naïveté and kindness turn him into a reformer. After he's framed for corruption, he embarks on a 24-hour filibuster (a speech on the Senate Floor that cannot be interrupted so long as a Senator has something to say), attempting to rally the people's attention and sway the Senate's conscience.

Smith grows more and more exhausted as the scene goes on, so Stewart's performance had to reflect this. In particular, Capra wanted Stewart's voice to be as hoarse as Smith's should be after speaking for 24 hours straight. To make the voice right, Stewart recruited a doctor -- not to safeguard his health,...