The TCM Ten 10/6-10/12

Not a lot to be excited about on TCM this week. I briefly considered going with the TCM Five, but I instead decided to include a few things of interest already on DVD. In lieu of time for further research, I’ve basically just written out my reasons for the picks. As always, [...]

The TCM Ten 9/8-9/14

So far, so good. Here’s this week’s installment of ten things to watch on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. All times are EST and program days begin at 6:00 AM.
Saturday September 8
11:30 PM The Picture of Dorian Gray (Lewin, 1945) - BW & C-111 mins. - Probably one of the more [...]

The TCM Ten 9/1-9/7

I’m starting a new weekly heads-up of ten interesting films or specials on my favorite channel, Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. This should remind me what to watch for and hopefully help someone else every now and then as well. I’m neither endorsing nor claiming I’ve seen every selection here, only that [...]

Happiness Is a Cool Heart

Increasingly, I’m finding myself drawn to films that seem to lack “happy” elements, characters or endings. I’ve always realized that my sense of humor is dark and my worldview is cynical, but it’s actually writing about the things I watch that’s made me see the distinct pattern here. While it’s comforting to know I’m not [...]

Collection as Non-essential Uselessness

So why do DVD collectors repeatedly buy shiny discs when they already own hundreds of other shiny discs, many of which they still haven’t christened in their shiny disc player? This is the very question I’m trying to come to terms with, and one which I’ve noticed I’m not alone in being perplexed about. [...]

The Western

I’ve been thinking about the Western genre quite a bit these last few days.  Watching The Professionals last week in a beautiful widescreen print probably set my mind in motion.  I had never seen the film before, a wonderful late era Western directed and written for the screen by Richard Brooks.  The film literally looked [...]