Actors
The Wittiest Quotes from Character Actress Thelma Ritter’s Most Memorable Roles
Given all she accomplished, it’s astonishing that Thelma Ritter only broke through on the big screen when she was pushing fifty. In this case, definitely better late than never.
Directors
Kurosawa and Mifune: The Director and Actor Who Were Meant for Each Other
Rarely if ever has a collaboration between artist and muse yielded such rich cinematic treasure. Master director Akira Kurosawa and his favorite actor Toshiro Mifune worked together on sixteen films in as many years. Most of these titles achieve a very high level of quality and hold up beautifully, while a few are truly brilliant.
Actors
Beautiful Survivor: The Stranger-than-Fiction Journey of Jennifer Jones
Today, the name Jennifer Jones is largely lost to history, but in her prime, this raven-haired beauty was one of Hollywood’s most bankable female stars. And her personal story may be more dramatic than any of her movies.
Directors
How French Director Jacques Tati’s Masterwork Almost Destroyed Him
There are just a few authentic geniuses in the history of cinema whose names and work must be remembered. High on that list is Jacques Tati.
Actors
Dan Duryea— How a Good Man Excelled at Playing the Bad Guy
Never a big star but a welcome fixture in westerns and film noirs over three decades, Dan Duryea specialized in playing the heel. In those kinds of parts, no one could touch him.
Directors
The 14 Most Legendary Film Composers and Their Most Unforgettable Scores
With the gradual passing of opening movie credits, we also lost a vital element that distinguishes many so-called “classic” movies: the original music score, including a heroic, memorable opening theme. What’s the last film you remember that had a score you could hum while walking home from the theater — a piece of music you knew you'd always remember and associate with the film?
Thrillers
The Making of “The Third Man” — A Masterpiece Thriller
In early 1949, Alexander Korda, the top movie producer in Britain, had cause for excitement. He was about to bring back a winning combination — director Carol Reed and writer Graham Greene — for a thriller that would make history.
Actors
All About Anne Baxter, The Actress Who Played “Eve”
Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s “All About Eve” is often cited as the best film ever made about the theater, and I believe it earns that distinction. It also stands one of the most literate dramas ever to come out of Hollywood, a caustic, cautionary tale about how the dark side of our natures can emerge in the pursuit of bright lights and fame.
Directors
Why Jean Gabin Is Still France’s Greatest Film Export
As most of you know, I spend my life being picky about movies. There are just a few actors I’ll watch in almost anything. Jean Gabin makes that very short list. Some reading this may have forgotten him, or never even heard of him. His heyday, after all, was nearly eighty years ago, and he’s been gone for over forty. Yet in his prime, no one could touch him.