Reacquainted with Myrna Loy and William Powell

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Bill Wren

Last week I went on a run of watching and writing about some Myrna Loy and William Powell movies I have in my collection. I went through four five of them, three four of which I’ve had here, unwatched, for … Read more →

Posted in Actors, Myrna Loy, William Powell | 4 Comments

Garbo’s Mata Hari just looks peculiar

Posted on June 19, 2011 by Bill Wren

It seems like it should be a great story. First World War. Female spy using sex to steal secrets. Executed in the end. Amidst all that? The devious user of love for espionage falls in love herself (as the movies … Read more →

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The great and debatable Red River

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Bill Wren

I really go on a ramble here about this movie, though it is more a ramble about John Wayne’s acting and speech pattern than the film. This is considered one of the great westerns by many and I would be … Read more →

Posted in Western, Westerns | Leave a comment

When style beats the pants off of story

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Bill Wren

Among the many fascinating and, in this case, amazing things about The Maltese Falcon is that it was the first film for Sydney Greenstreet who was 62 years old at the time. Can you imagine any actor today getting a … Read more →

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Just Visiting (2001)

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by Jean-Marie Poiré This is a good comedy when you want to just turn off your brain for a while. Just Visiting is kind of like a television sitcom that way. The idea has loads of comic possibilities — … Read more →

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The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Posted on May 22, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by John Huston Has any movie ever produced as many imitations, and such an array of imitations, as The Maltese Falcon? * The movie itself has been imitated both in live action and animation. The characters have been imitated … Read more →

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High Sierra (1941)

Posted on May 21, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by Raoul Walsh The movie High Sierra is notable and highly watchable for a number of things not the least of which is its status as Humphrey Bogart’s first starring role. It’s the one that placed him pretty firmly … Read more →

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