Tag Archives: melodrama

The accidental film noir: I Wake Up Screaming

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Bill Wren

It’s Day 2 of For the Love of Film (Noir) — don’t forget to donate here (or use the button on the right). Today I have a quickly scribbled, un-proofed, un-thought through look at the movie I watched last night. … Continue reading →

Barbara Stanwyck must have liked working

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Bill Wren

Without intending to, I’ve found myself watching a lot of Barbara Stanwyck movies lately, including Double Indemnity (of which I’d like to scribble something one of these days). I believe IMDb shows she appeared in 101 movies and TV shows … Continue reading →

Titanic (1953)

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by Jean Negulesco Since the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, the great ship’s disaster has inspired a seemingly endless number of books and movies. (‘Inspired’ is probably not the best word, though it’s accurate to some degree.) While … Continue reading →

Executive Suite (1954)

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by Robert Wise “Behind the lighted tower windows the conflict of love and power is reckless and daring!” I love some of those lines that explode onto the screen in trailers. Lines like, “The greatest movie ever made! Explodes … Continue reading →

My Reputation (1946)

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by Curtis Bernhardt It seems a strange thing to say but My Reputation suffers from an actor’s performance that is too good. Barbara Stanwyck portrays Jessica Drummond so well, you almost fume with frustration with her in the movie’s … Continue reading →

Rebecca (1940)

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock In Rebecca we have the least Hitchcock-like of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies and also the only one to win an Oscar. It was his first Hollywood film, made with producer David O. Selznick, with what for Hitchcock … Continue reading →

Road House (1948)

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by Jean Negulesco Road House (1948) is a good Hollywood melodrama that is also a curious noir piece – noir, due to the nature of what happens and curious because it isn’t in the usual urban setting but a … Continue reading →