Directors
Why Alfred Hitchcock’s First American Film, “Rebecca,” Is One of His Best
It is mystifying but true that when Alfred Hitchcock first visited Hollywood in the late thirties, none of the major studios was willing to offer him a contract — that is, until independent producer David O. Selznick stepped up.
Actors
Brute Force: What Made Lee J. Cobb Such a Powerful Actor
A close inspection of Lee J. Cobb’s film career, spanning nearly four decades, demonstrates what a versatile actor he was. Still, today he is best remembered for playing bitter, caustic, angry men.
Actors
How Actor Melvyn Douglas Aged Like a Fine Wine
Personally, I rate Melvyn Douglas as one of the finest stage and screen actors of the twentieth century. Not only was he awarded two Oscars over his career, but he is one of just nine individuals to attain the fabled Triple Crown of acting, winning an Oscar, an Emmy and a Tony.
Documentary
15 of the Most Outstanding Recent Documentaries on Netflix
Much as I tend to favor non-fiction in my nighttime reading, I have a particular fondness for a good, juicy documentary.
At a time when an endless series of comic book adaptations dominates the landscape of mainstream narrative film, there’s no denying that a smart and involving documentary provides a welcome alternative.
Actors
Why Bruce Willis Is More Than Your Average Action Hero
I remember my first sighting of Bruce Willis in a TV series called “Moonlighting” back in 1985. I liked him right away, and I knew a lot of other people did too. Part of what creates a star is the degree to which an audience identifies with his or her essential character. Watching Willis (with hair!) play the wisecracking private eye David Addison, I had a moment of recognition. I actually felt I’d met this guy. I even saw a bit of myself in him.
Actors
How Neil Simon Made Humor Out of Hardship
Marvin Neil Simon was born on Independence Day, 1927 in the Bronx. His father Irving was a garment salesman who struggled to make a living during the Depression. He also had a volcanic marriage to wife Mamie; young Neil would always remember putting his pillow over his ears during their many screaming matches.
Classics
Why “North by Northwest”, Hitchcock’s Most Entertaining Film, Deserves the Big Screen Treatment
In my childhood, one of the movies that made me fall in love with movies was “North by Northwest” (1959). To my young, dazzled eyes, this film had everything: color, sweep, excitement, suspense, romance, humor, handsome scenery and even handsomer stars. It grabbed me from the first moment and never let me go. It was the most thrilling movie I had seen up to that time.
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.