Piper Laurie, who blossomed as an actress only after extricating herself from the studio system and went on to rack up three Oscar nominations, has died. She was 91.
Laurie’s manager Marion Rosenberg confirmed the news to Variety, writing, “A beautiful human being and one of the great talents of our time.”
Laurie scored her first Oscar nomination for her work opposite Paul Newman in 1961’s classic poolhall drama “The Hustler,” in which she played an alcoholic who memorably tells Newman’s character, “Look, I’ve got troubles and I think maybe you’ve got troubles. Maybe it’d be better if we just leave each other alone.”
Though she informally retired to raise a family for more than a decade, she returned to film and television in the mid-’70s and racked up an impressive roster of characterizations, including Oscar-nominated turns in “Carrie” and in “Children of a Lesser God,...
Laurie’s manager Marion Rosenberg confirmed the news to Variety, writing, “A beautiful human being and one of the great talents of our time.”
Laurie scored her first Oscar nomination for her work opposite Paul Newman in 1961’s classic poolhall drama “The Hustler,” in which she played an alcoholic who memorably tells Newman’s character, “Look, I’ve got troubles and I think maybe you’ve got troubles. Maybe it’d be better if we just leave each other alone.”
Though she informally retired to raise a family for more than a decade, she returned to film and television in the mid-’70s and racked up an impressive roster of characterizations, including Oscar-nominated turns in “Carrie” and in “Children of a Lesser God,...
- 10/14/2023
- by Carmel Dagan
- Variety Film + TV
Cleopatra is one of the most iconic and famous people in the world. There is no doubt that the former female ruler of Ancient Egypt was one of the most influential in history, and that influence is something that is still recognized in the modern era.
There have been a number of films to have been made about her, with many of them having gone on to achieve plenty of success. When it comes down to trying to work out the best 10 films to have featured her, it can become rather tricky. While the sheer number of them makes it difficult, it is also important to recognize that there are many that are simply brilliantly put together, and the actresses that portrayed the former empress did a stellar job.
What are the 10 best Cleopatra films?
When trying to think of the 10 best Cleopatra films to have ever been released, it...
There have been a number of films to have been made about her, with many of them having gone on to achieve plenty of success. When it comes down to trying to work out the best 10 films to have featured her, it can become rather tricky. While the sheer number of them makes it difficult, it is also important to recognize that there are many that are simply brilliantly put together, and the actresses that portrayed the former empress did a stellar job.
What are the 10 best Cleopatra films?
When trying to think of the 10 best Cleopatra films to have ever been released, it...
- 4/25/2023
- by Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
This article contains mild Hollywood spoilers.
On Netflix’s new series Hollywood, the Stallions of the Gas Station, circa 1947, fill up a dinner party being thrown by legendary filmmaker George Cukor. In between bites, and biting remarks by the ever-incisive Tallulah Bankhead, we are treated to Vivien Leigh, played by Katie McGuinness, giving an impromptu reading of her captivating and iconic Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939). At the after party, all of the celebrities entertain illicit passion for a predetermined price. Like his character on American Horror Story, Dylan McDermott’s fictional Ernie is renowned for a certain largesse, and he bestows his beneficence on Leigh, who also carries a secret.
Up until quite recently, Vivien Leigh, the legendary star of stage and screen, was branded with the label nymphomaniac, a derogatory-sounding term which makes it sound like she was a sex addict. In reality, she fought a...
On Netflix’s new series Hollywood, the Stallions of the Gas Station, circa 1947, fill up a dinner party being thrown by legendary filmmaker George Cukor. In between bites, and biting remarks by the ever-incisive Tallulah Bankhead, we are treated to Vivien Leigh, played by Katie McGuinness, giving an impromptu reading of her captivating and iconic Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939). At the after party, all of the celebrities entertain illicit passion for a predetermined price. Like his character on American Horror Story, Dylan McDermott’s fictional Ernie is renowned for a certain largesse, and he bestows his beneficence on Leigh, who also carries a secret.
Up until quite recently, Vivien Leigh, the legendary star of stage and screen, was branded with the label nymphomaniac, a derogatory-sounding term which makes it sound like she was a sex addict. In reality, she fought a...
- 5/2/2020
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Vivien Leigh would’ve celebrated her 105th birthday on November 5, 2018. The two-time Oscar inner made only a handful of films before her untimely death in 1967 at the age of 53. Yet several of those titles remain classics. In honor of her birthday, let’s take a look back at 10 of her greatest films, ranked worst to best.
Born in British India, Leigh appeared in a number of roles on both the stage and screen in England, including a production of “Hamlet” opposite her husband, Laurence Olivier.
She came to international attention after landing the coveted role of Scarlet O’Hara in David O. Selznick’s massive adaptation of Margaret Mitchell‘s bestseller “Gone with the Wind” (1939). Leigh was far from the first choice to embody the headstrong Southern belle who pines after a married man (Leslie Howard) while wedding another (Clark Gable) against the backdrop of the Civil War. Yet the...
Born in British India, Leigh appeared in a number of roles on both the stage and screen in England, including a production of “Hamlet” opposite her husband, Laurence Olivier.
She came to international attention after landing the coveted role of Scarlet O’Hara in David O. Selznick’s massive adaptation of Margaret Mitchell‘s bestseller “Gone with the Wind” (1939). Leigh was far from the first choice to embody the headstrong Southern belle who pines after a married man (Leslie Howard) while wedding another (Clark Gable) against the backdrop of the Civil War. Yet the...
- 11/5/2018
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
This podcast focuses on Criterion’s Eclipse Series of DVDs. Hosts David Blakeslee and Trevor Berrett give an overview of each box and offer their perspectives on the unique treasures they find inside. In this episode, David and Trevor discuss Eclipse Series 20: George Bernard Shaw on Film.
About the films:
The hugely influential, Nobel Prize–winning critic and playwright George Bernard Shaw was notoriously reluctant to allow his writing to be adapted for the cinema. Yet thanks to the persistence of Hungarian producer Gabriel Pascal, Shaw finally agreed to collaborate on a series of screen versions of his witty, socially minded plays, starting with the Oscar-winning Pygmalion. The three other films that resulted from this famed alliance, Major Barbara, Caesar and Cleopatra, and Androcles and the Lion, long overshadowed by the sensation of Pygmalion, are gathered here for the first time on DVD. These clever, handsomely mounted entertainments star...
About the films:
The hugely influential, Nobel Prize–winning critic and playwright George Bernard Shaw was notoriously reluctant to allow his writing to be adapted for the cinema. Yet thanks to the persistence of Hungarian producer Gabriel Pascal, Shaw finally agreed to collaborate on a series of screen versions of his witty, socially minded plays, starting with the Oscar-winning Pygmalion. The three other films that resulted from this famed alliance, Major Barbara, Caesar and Cleopatra, and Androcles and the Lion, long overshadowed by the sensation of Pygmalion, are gathered here for the first time on DVD. These clever, handsomely mounted entertainments star...
- 8/30/2016
- by David Blakeslee
- CriterionCast
Well, this is lousy timing. Several horror movies, including "The Exorcist," "Night of the Living Dead," and "Interview with the Vampire" are leaving Netflix on October 1, right before Halloween.
Also leaving October 1, some spooky TV titles, including "The Dead Files."
More than 150 titles are leaving Netflix in October; here's the entire list of movies and TV shows that will disappear from Netflix streaming in October.
Leaving Oct. 1, 2015
"Aces High" (1976)
"A Fond Kiss" (2004)
"Agata And The Storm" (2004)
"A Good Day to Die" (2013)
"Alakazam The Great" (1960)
"All Is Lost" (2013)
"An Affair to Remember" (1957)
"Agora" (2009)
"A Liar's Autobiography" (2012)
"America Declassified" (2013)
"Analyze This" (1999)
"Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues " (2013)
"Angela's Ashes" (1999)
"Annie Hall" (1977)
"Another Woman" (1988)
"Apocalypse Now" (1979)
"Apocalypse Now Redux" (2001)
"Axed" (2012)
"Baby's Day Out" (1994)
"Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession" (1980)
"Baron Blood" (1972)
"Beaufort" (2007)
"Belle of the Yukon" (1944)
"Big Night" (1996)
"Blue Velvet" (1986)
"Brewster's Millions" (1945)
"Buying & Selling" (2013)
"Caesar and Cleopatra" (1945)
"Caprica" (2009)
"Carve Her Name With Pride" (1958)
"Casanova...
Also leaving October 1, some spooky TV titles, including "The Dead Files."
More than 150 titles are leaving Netflix in October; here's the entire list of movies and TV shows that will disappear from Netflix streaming in October.
Leaving Oct. 1, 2015
"Aces High" (1976)
"A Fond Kiss" (2004)
"Agata And The Storm" (2004)
"A Good Day to Die" (2013)
"Alakazam The Great" (1960)
"All Is Lost" (2013)
"An Affair to Remember" (1957)
"Agora" (2009)
"A Liar's Autobiography" (2012)
"America Declassified" (2013)
"Analyze This" (1999)
"Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues " (2013)
"Angela's Ashes" (1999)
"Annie Hall" (1977)
"Another Woman" (1988)
"Apocalypse Now" (1979)
"Apocalypse Now Redux" (2001)
"Axed" (2012)
"Baby's Day Out" (1994)
"Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession" (1980)
"Baron Blood" (1972)
"Beaufort" (2007)
"Belle of the Yukon" (1944)
"Big Night" (1996)
"Blue Velvet" (1986)
"Brewster's Millions" (1945)
"Buying & Selling" (2013)
"Caesar and Cleopatra" (1945)
"Caprica" (2009)
"Carve Her Name With Pride" (1958)
"Casanova...
- 9/28/2015
- by Sharon Knolle
- Moviefone
'Henry V' Movie Actress Renée Asherson dead at 99: Laurence Olivier leading lady in acclaimed 1944 film (image: Renée Asherson and Laurence Olivier in 'Henry V') Renée Asherson, a British stage actress featured in London productions of A Streetcar Named Desire and Three Sisters, but best known internationally as Laurence Olivier's leading lady in the 1944 film version of Henry V, died on October 30, 2014. Asherson was 99 years old. The exact cause of death hasn't been specified. She was born Dorothy Renée Ascherson (she would drop the "c" some time after becoming an actress) on May 19, 1915, in Kensington, London, to Jewish parents: businessman Charles Ascherson and his second wife, Dorothy Wiseman -- both of whom narrowly escaped spending their honeymoon aboard the Titanic. (Ascherson cancelled the voyage after suffering an attack of appendicitis.) According to Michael Coveney's The Guardian obit for the actress, Renée Asherson was "scantly...
- 11/5/2014
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Vivien Leigh biography, movies, and photo exhibit among centenary celebrations (photo: Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier as Emma Hamilton and Lord Nelson in ‘That Hamilton Woman’) [See previous post: "Vivien Leigh Turns 100: Centenary of One of the Greatest Movie Stars."] From November 30, 2013, to July 20, 2014, London’s National Portrait Gallery will be hosting a Vivien Leigh photo exhibit, tracing her life and career. The exhibit will be a joint celebration of both Leigh’s centenary and the 75th anniversary of Gone with the Wind. (Scroll down to check out a classy Vivien Leigh video homage. See also: “‘Gone with the Wind’ article.”) Additionally, the British Film Institute is hosting a lengthy Vivien Leigh and Gone with the Wind celebration, screening all of Leigh’s post-1936 movies, from Fire Over England to Ship of Fools — and including The Deep Blue Sea ("a digital copy of the only surviving 35mm print we were able to locate; the condition is variable"). I should add that Terence Davies recently...
- 11/7/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Vivien Leigh: Legendary ‘Gone with the Wind’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ star would have turned 100 today Vivien Leigh was perhaps the greatest film star that hardly ever was. What I mean is that following her starring role in the 1939 Civil War blockbuster Gone with the Wind, Leigh was featured in a mere eight* movies over the course of the next 25 years. The theater world’s gain — she was kept busy on the London stage — was the film world’s loss. But even if Leigh had starred in only two movies — Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire — that would have been enough to make her a screen legend; one who would have turned 100 years old today, November 5, 2013. (Photo: Vivien Leigh ca. 1940.) Vivien Leigh (born Vivian Mary Hartley to British parents in Darjeeling, India) began her film career in the mid-’30s, playing bit roles in British...
- 11/6/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Alexa here, weighing in with some curios for Tfe's Vivien Leigh Centennial Celebration. It seems unbelievable that Vivien made only 19 films, with her face leaving such an indelible mark on the cinema landscape. And, oh (as Kendra's book celebrates), that face! I think only Cate Blanchett can today approximate the expressive prisms that were Vivien's eyes. With that in mind, here are some lovelies that celebrate her cinema career.
Three costumes from Caesar and Cleopatra, painted by C. David Claudon, available in print form here.
Three costumes from Caesar and Cleopatra, painted by C. David Claudon, available in print form here.
- 11/5/2013
- by Alexa
- FilmExperience
All hail the Queen of Egypt a.k.a. the classic epic "Cleopatra," which was released 50 years ago today (on June 12, 1963). The controversial film is known not only for setting fire to the scandalous affair between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, but also for its monstrous budget, initial box office flop, and unending conflicts.
Last month the film's 50th anniversary was celebrated at the Cannes Film Festival with a special screening of the recently released Blu-ray restoration. To honor the classic, we're opening up the tomb of facts to reveal the juicy bits you may not have known about the film. From budget nightmares to comas and contracts, read on to find out why the Academy Award-winning "Cleopatra" was an epic of truly epic proportions.
1. "Cleopatra" is infamous for marking the beginning of the heated love affair between Burton and Taylor, which lasted until his death in 1984. However, Liz and Dick...
Last month the film's 50th anniversary was celebrated at the Cannes Film Festival with a special screening of the recently released Blu-ray restoration. To honor the classic, we're opening up the tomb of facts to reveal the juicy bits you may not have known about the film. From budget nightmares to comas and contracts, read on to find out why the Academy Award-winning "Cleopatra" was an epic of truly epic proportions.
1. "Cleopatra" is infamous for marking the beginning of the heated love affair between Burton and Taylor, which lasted until his death in 1984. However, Liz and Dick...
- 6/12/2013
- by Erin Whitney
- Moviefone
There is a sumptuousness and exotic look and feel to the Ancient Egyptian culture that I have always been drawn to. The clothing, décor, architecture – it has always been utterly fascinating and their monarchies and dynasties are as rich as any in Europe. One of the best biographies I read in the last few years was Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra, which mined all known existing records about the Queen and attempts to weave together the most likely version of her storied life and death.
On the other hand, the 1963 spectacle of the same name merely adapted Plutarch’s version of events. Today, Cleopatra has become shorthand for a bloated misfire of a film and is always cited as the one that nearly caused 20th Century-Fox to crumble. The studio survived and has had the last laugh, making a fortune off the film ever since. Out now is the overdue Blu-ray...
On the other hand, the 1963 spectacle of the same name merely adapted Plutarch’s version of events. Today, Cleopatra has become shorthand for a bloated misfire of a film and is always cited as the one that nearly caused 20th Century-Fox to crumble. The studio survived and has had the last laugh, making a fortune off the film ever since. Out now is the overdue Blu-ray...
- 6/4/2013
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Irish stage and screen character actor who appeared in Barbarella, The Verdict and the BBC's 1969 sitcom Me Mammy
For a performer of such fame and versatility, the distinguished Irish character actor Milo O'Shea, who has died aged 86, is not associated with any role in particular, or indeed any clutch of them. He was chiefly associated with his own expressive dark eyes, bushy eyebrows, outstanding mimetic talents and distinctive Dublin brogue.
His impish presence irradiated countless fine movies – including Joseph Strick's Ulysses (1967), Roger Vadim's Barbarella (1968) and Sidney Lumet's The Verdict (1982) – and many top-drawer American television series, from Cheers, The Golden Girls and Frasier, right through to The West Wing (2003-04), in which he played the chief justice Roy Ashland.
He had settled in New York in 1976 with his second wife, Kitty Sullivan, in order to be equidistant from his own main bases of operation, Hollywood and London. The...
For a performer of such fame and versatility, the distinguished Irish character actor Milo O'Shea, who has died aged 86, is not associated with any role in particular, or indeed any clutch of them. He was chiefly associated with his own expressive dark eyes, bushy eyebrows, outstanding mimetic talents and distinctive Dublin brogue.
His impish presence irradiated countless fine movies – including Joseph Strick's Ulysses (1967), Roger Vadim's Barbarella (1968) and Sidney Lumet's The Verdict (1982) – and many top-drawer American television series, from Cheers, The Golden Girls and Frasier, right through to The West Wing (2003-04), in which he played the chief justice Roy Ashland.
He had settled in New York in 1976 with his second wife, Kitty Sullivan, in order to be equidistant from his own main bases of operation, Hollywood and London. The...
- 4/3/2013
- by Michael Coveney
- The Guardian - Film News
Actor known for his roles as clergymen, favourite uncles and tragic-comic characters
There is a great tradition in the rotundity of actors, and Roger Hammond, who has died aged 76 of cancer, stands proudly in a line stretching from Francis L Sullivan and Willoughby Goddard through to Roy Kinnear, Desmond Barrit and Richard Griffiths, though he was probably more malleably benevolent on stage than any of them.
He reeked of kindness, consideration and imperturbability, with a pleasant countenance and a beautiful, soft voice, qualities ideal for unimpeachable clergymen, favourite uncles and tragic-comic characters such as Waffles in Chekhov's Uncle Vanya (whom he played in a 1991 BBC TV film, with David Warner and Ian Holm), a man whose wife left him for another man on his wedding day but who has remained faithful to her and forgiving ever since.
Hammond grew up in Stockport, Lancashire. His chartered accountant father was managing director of his own family firm,...
There is a great tradition in the rotundity of actors, and Roger Hammond, who has died aged 76 of cancer, stands proudly in a line stretching from Francis L Sullivan and Willoughby Goddard through to Roy Kinnear, Desmond Barrit and Richard Griffiths, though he was probably more malleably benevolent on stage than any of them.
He reeked of kindness, consideration and imperturbability, with a pleasant countenance and a beautiful, soft voice, qualities ideal for unimpeachable clergymen, favourite uncles and tragic-comic characters such as Waffles in Chekhov's Uncle Vanya (whom he played in a 1991 BBC TV film, with David Warner and Ian Holm), a man whose wife left him for another man on his wedding day but who has remained faithful to her and forgiving ever since.
Hammond grew up in Stockport, Lancashire. His chartered accountant father was managing director of his own family firm,...
- 11/14/2012
- by Michael Coveney
- The Guardian - Film News
Many have been waiting for Total War: Rome II, long before the naming convention changed for the franchise, and this rumoured then officially announced return to Rome is already setting a new standard. The announcement trailer may have revolved around political power plays, but The Creative Assembly‘s Rezzed developer session (attended by Eurogamer) brought the focus back to the battlefield – in a darker, more detailed way than ever before.
This new approach to war was revealed by Jamie Russell, the lead designer of Total War: Rome II, who said that “close up [they] want the men to feel more human.” He then elaborated on how the team were going to do this:
“We’ve got facial animations, emotional interactions between men, so that if the guy next to me gets hit by an arrow, I’ll react to that. It’s all about a darker vision of war. We want...
This new approach to war was revealed by Jamie Russell, the lead designer of Total War: Rome II, who said that “close up [they] want the men to feel more human.” He then elaborated on how the team were going to do this:
“We’ve got facial animations, emotional interactions between men, so that if the guy next to me gets hit by an arrow, I’ll react to that. It’s all about a darker vision of war. We want...
- 7/7/2012
- by Ian Findlay
- We Got This Covered
The alternate ending of Babe was not well received.
This week's episode of Gcb would've been one of the strongest yet ... if it wasn't for one increasingly frustrating plot point.
We start off with Ripp announcing the "Annual Dallas Interfaith Barbeque Invitational," with teams from each church competing for the best brisket. Hillside Park Church is proud to announce their team, "Braise The Lord," which unfortunately is all-male, which upsets Amanda, who is afraid of the kind of message it sends to someone named Laura, who apparently is her daughter (who knew?).
Ripp and Burl make the fatal mistake of calling all of the women "little ladies" and "girls," which sets Amanda's feminist blood boiling, and soon she's announcing the formation of the first all-female barbeque team. Carlene tries to rally the other Gcb's around the men, but Sharon is too invested in "Losing It With Jesus," and Cricket...
This week's episode of Gcb would've been one of the strongest yet ... if it wasn't for one increasingly frustrating plot point.
We start off with Ripp announcing the "Annual Dallas Interfaith Barbeque Invitational," with teams from each church competing for the best brisket. Hillside Park Church is proud to announce their team, "Braise The Lord," which unfortunately is all-male, which upsets Amanda, who is afraid of the kind of message it sends to someone named Laura, who apparently is her daughter (who knew?).
Ripp and Burl make the fatal mistake of calling all of the women "little ladies" and "girls," which sets Amanda's feminist blood boiling, and soon she's announcing the formation of the first all-female barbeque team. Carlene tries to rally the other Gcb's around the men, but Sharon is too invested in "Losing It With Jesus," and Cricket...
- 4/30/2012
- by snicks
- The Backlot
'One review I had for Bond said I looked like a floor-walker who had had three facelifts. You've got to laugh'
What got you started?
A toga. I'd lost regular employment as a cartoon animator, so some friends who were doing crowd work on films told me to come and join them on a film called Caesar and Cleopatra. I was dressed up in a toga, given a spear and gold sandals, and stood with 2,000 others. Later, the director approached me, and asked whether I would consider training to be an actor.
Who or what have you sacrificed for your art?
Sometimes I've had to put myself on a diet. For Bond, I had to lose at least a stone or two. It was quite painful.
Since playing James Bond, has it been difficult to avoid being typecast?
When I was doing Bond, I was always being sent scripts to play the derring-do hero,...
What got you started?
A toga. I'd lost regular employment as a cartoon animator, so some friends who were doing crowd work on films told me to come and join them on a film called Caesar and Cleopatra. I was dressed up in a toga, given a spear and gold sandals, and stood with 2,000 others. Later, the director approached me, and asked whether I would consider training to be an actor.
Who or what have you sacrificed for your art?
Sometimes I've had to put myself on a diet. For Bond, I had to lose at least a stone or two. It was quite painful.
Since playing James Bond, has it been difficult to avoid being typecast?
When I was doing Bond, I was always being sent scripts to play the derring-do hero,...
- 11/29/2011
- by Laura Barnett
- The Guardian - Film News
Turner Classic Movies' look at Arabs in Hollywood movies continues this evening with six movies. Why exactly Gabriel Pascal's film adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) is one of the six, I don't know. Caesar was a Roman-born emperor; Cleopatra, a descendant of Greek royalty, was an Egyptian queen long before the Arab conquest of Egypt. Now, I may be puzzled about its inclusion, but Caesar and Cleopatra is very much worth watching chiefly thanks to Claude Rains' brilliant performance as the first half of the title role and Vivien Leigh's highly theatrical but enjoyable star turn as the second half of the title role. Kismet (1944) would have been more enjoyable had it been directed by Henry Hathaway, Michael Curtiz, Frank Lloyd, or even Lloyd Bacon. William Dieterle, best known for several ponderous Warner Bros. biopics of the '30s, had a heavy hand...
- 7/20/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Hamlet Star of the Month Jean Simmons is back on Turner Classic Movies this Tuesday evening, with five more films. Like last week, these are all from Simmons' British period: Trio, featuring three stories by W. Somerset Maugham; the thriller So Long at the Fair; Adam and Evelyne, which paired Simmons with future husband Stewart Granger; Laurence Olivier's Best Picture Oscar winner Hamlet; and Gabriel Pascal's film version of George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra. In Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) Simmons has what amounts to a bit part as a harp player. Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh are the capable [...]...
- 6/15/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Another Elizabeth Taylor film, another Elizabeth Taylor performance as a powerful woman. Through three of these columns so far, I've been struck repeatedly by Taylor's fierce, feminist independence onscreen, first as a teenage girl who enters the greatest horserace in the country, and then later as a jilted wife who fights to reclaim her distracted husband. Now we come to 1963's "Cleopatra" where she plays the famous Egyptian pharaoh who delights in making powerful men like Julius Caesar and Mark Antony kneel before her as a display of her superiority. As Taylor's star grew, so did the stature of the women she played, until here she plays one of the most powerful people, man or woman, in world history.
Today the film is more infamous than famous. With a final budget of over $40 million -- $300 million 2011 dollars -- it was the most expensive film made to that date. And while...
Today the film is more infamous than famous. With a final budget of over $40 million -- $300 million 2011 dollars -- it was the most expensive film made to that date. And while...
- 3/30/2011
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
Everett Collection Elizabeth Taylor in “Cleopatra.”
It was the most spectacular procession the world had ever seen: trumpeters on horseback and squadrons of chariots; troops of archers and scantily-clad dancing girls; acrobats and fanbearers – all paving the way for an immense float, pulled by hundreds of servants, bearing a woman of legendary beauty. Her name – Cleopatra. Or should that be Elizabeth Taylor?
The most famous scene from the 1963 movie Cleopatra, which depicts in glorious Technicolor the eponymous queen’s triumphal entry into Rome,...
It was the most spectacular procession the world had ever seen: trumpeters on horseback and squadrons of chariots; troops of archers and scantily-clad dancing girls; acrobats and fanbearers – all paving the way for an immense float, pulled by hundreds of servants, bearing a woman of legendary beauty. Her name – Cleopatra. Or should that be Elizabeth Taylor?
The most famous scene from the 1963 movie Cleopatra, which depicts in glorious Technicolor the eponymous queen’s triumphal entry into Rome,...
- 3/24/2011
- by Toby Wilkinson
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Innovative costume designer for stage and screen, she won an Oscar and three Tonys
Theoni V Aldredge, who has died aged 88, could and did do anything with clothes, on Broadway stage or film; outfit Joe Papp's earliest Romeo and Juliet for $120 or promise embarrassed guys cast as showgirls in La Cage Aux Folles that they would never have to shave their chests or legs. More than 1,000 performers wore Aldredge clothes nightly on Broadway in 1984, in five different productions, and she raided each show impromptu, "policing", she called it, "to make sure the kids are all Ok". Broadway dimmed its lights on Tuesday to mark her death.
She was born Theoni Vachliotis, the daughter of the Greek army surgeon-general in Salonika, but emigrated to the Us, wanting to be "where there hadn't been a war". She had begun her lifelong doll collection, and maintenance of its wardrobe, as a child.
Theoni V Aldredge, who has died aged 88, could and did do anything with clothes, on Broadway stage or film; outfit Joe Papp's earliest Romeo and Juliet for $120 or promise embarrassed guys cast as showgirls in La Cage Aux Folles that they would never have to shave their chests or legs. More than 1,000 performers wore Aldredge clothes nightly on Broadway in 1984, in five different productions, and she raided each show impromptu, "policing", she called it, "to make sure the kids are all Ok". Broadway dimmed its lights on Tuesday to mark her death.
She was born Theoni Vachliotis, the daughter of the Greek army surgeon-general in Salonika, but emigrated to the Us, wanting to be "where there hadn't been a war". She had begun her lifelong doll collection, and maintenance of its wardrobe, as a child.
- 1/28/2011
- by Veronica Horwell
- The Guardian - Film News
She was born on Aug. 22, 1932, as Theoni Athanasiou Vachlioti, in Salonika, Greece. Her father, Athanasios, was an army general and politician. Her mother, Meropi, died when she was 5 years old. Upon seeing the 1946 film version of "Caesar and Cleopatra," Aldredge was inspired to become a costume designer, and she subsequently studied at the American School in Athens. Her father encouraged her to travel, and she immigrated to the United States in 1949 to attend Chicago's Goodman Theatre on a design scholarship.She married actor Tom Aldredge in 1953, and the two moved to New York City. Her first Broadway job came in 1959, creating costumes for Tennessee Williams' "Sweet Birth of Youth," starring Geraldine Page. In 1961 Aldredge worked on a New York Shakespeare Festival production of "Much Ado About Nothing," which began her long partnership with producer Joseph Papp. For 20 years she was the festival's principal designer.In 1974 producer David Merrick hired...
- 1/21/2011
- backstage.com
Vivien Leigh, Anna Karenina Turner Classic Movies' Vivien Leigh series comes to a close on Tuesday, Sept. 28, with four movies from Leigh's post-Gone with the Wind period, in addition to a rerun of Gene Feldman's 1990 documentary Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond, narrated by Jessica Lange. TCM's four last Leigh movies are José Quintero's The Roman Springs of Mrs. Stone (1961), Julien Duvivier's Anna Karenina (1948), Gabriel Pascal's Caesar and Cleopatra (1945), and Stanley Kramer's Ship of Fools (1965). All are worth watching for various reasons, Vivien Leigh's presence chief among them, but I'd say that only Duvivier's Anna Karenina is a truly good film (though it sure has its detractors). Based on a work by Tennessee Williams, The Roman Springs of Mrs. Stone deals with a theme much beloved by the playwright: an aging woman whose sexual urges drive her to do something not exactly bright.
- 9/28/2010
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Criterion's December release announcement is brief, but sweet. David Cronenberg's Videodrome is coming to Blu-Ray while Guillermo Del Toro's Cronos will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray.
The Videodrome Blu-Ray seems to be sourced from same master as the 2004 Criterion DVD. Extras are largely same. Cronos is newly restored and packed with extras, including a previously unreleased short film called Geometria. Check the links in the calendar for full specifications.
Finally, as mentioned in the last Criterion Column, the DVD release of the America Lost and Found: The Bbs Story comes out on December 14th. The Blu-Ray will be released on November 23rd.
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (January through December 2010, up-to-date as of September 16, 2010)
December 2010
David Cronenberg, Videodrome, Bd, 12/7/2010, Us & Canada
Guillermo del Toro, Cronos, 2-disc DVD & Bd, 12/7/2010, Us & Canada
November 2010
Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times, 2-dsc DVD & Bd, 11/16/10, Us & Canada
Charles Laughton, Night Of The Hunter, 2-disc DVD & 2-disc Bd,...
The Videodrome Blu-Ray seems to be sourced from same master as the 2004 Criterion DVD. Extras are largely same. Cronos is newly restored and packed with extras, including a previously unreleased short film called Geometria. Check the links in the calendar for full specifications.
Finally, as mentioned in the last Criterion Column, the DVD release of the America Lost and Found: The Bbs Story comes out on December 14th. The Blu-Ray will be released on November 23rd.
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (January through December 2010, up-to-date as of September 16, 2010)
December 2010
David Cronenberg, Videodrome, Bd, 12/7/2010, Us & Canada
Guillermo del Toro, Cronos, 2-disc DVD & Bd, 12/7/2010, Us & Canada
November 2010
Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times, 2-dsc DVD & Bd, 11/16/10, Us & Canada
Charles Laughton, Night Of The Hunter, 2-disc DVD & 2-disc Bd,...
- 9/16/2010
- Screen Anarchy
In November, The Criterion Collection is set to release an eclectic mix of American classics with a bit of European transgression thrown in. A newly restored version of Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times is planned for DVD and Blu-Ray. Charles Laughton's stunning black-and-white noir/horror tale Night of the Hunter (1955) is also on the schedule for DVD and Blu-Ray. Lars Von Trier's Antichrist will invade home video players everywhere.
Those are great releases, but highlight of the November list is the America Lost and Found: The Bbs Story box set, which features 6 films from Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider's production company Bbs during the 60s-70s. Titles include: Head, Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Drive He Said, The Last Picture Show, and The King Of Marvin Gardens. Think about the scope of this release for a second. This is six films by Dennis Hopper, Henry Jaglom, Jack Nicholson Bob Rafelson,...
Those are great releases, but highlight of the November list is the America Lost and Found: The Bbs Story box set, which features 6 films from Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider's production company Bbs during the 60s-70s. Titles include: Head, Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Drive He Said, The Last Picture Show, and The King Of Marvin Gardens. Think about the scope of this release for a second. This is six films by Dennis Hopper, Henry Jaglom, Jack Nicholson Bob Rafelson,...
- 8/21/2010
- Screen Anarchy
While I was in Philadelphia, there was a presentation in the Constitution Museum on Ancient Rome and the comparisons to America (some of these similarities were a result of the fact that the Founding Fathers were using the Roman Republic as both an example and a warning), and the Franklin was having a special exhibition on Cleopatra. As a result, I really felt the urge to watch "Rome" again and reread Margaret George's The Memoirs of Cleopatra, which is one of my favorite novels, but instead opted to read an actual history.
Overall, this book does a good job of explaining the historical context and politics of the time. She spends a few chapters breaking down the situation in Egypt during the reign of the Ptolemies, and then uses several chapters to discuss the way the Roman Republic had been changing in the past few decades, and how great...
Overall, this book does a good job of explaining the historical context and politics of the time. She spends a few chapters breaking down the situation in Egypt during the reign of the Ptolemies, and then uses several chapters to discuss the way the Roman Republic had been changing in the past few decades, and how great...
- 8/16/2010
- by Dustin Rowles
The October 2010 batch of Criterion titles brings a few surprises. Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory is hitting DVD and Blu-Ray as is Ingmar Bergman's film The Magician. Criterion continues its relationship with Wes Anderson by releasing The Darjeeling Limited on Blu-Ray and DVD. Ok.
Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai is headed for Blu-Ray with a new restored high-def transfer. If the quality of Criterion's other Kurosawa Blu-Ray discs (e.g. Kagemusha, Sanjuro and Yojimbo) are any indication, it is time to ditch the DVDs. This one should look spectacular.
Finally, Nobuhiko Obayashi's House is making its way to Blu-Ray and DVD just in time for Halloween. There are a few things to note here. First, the fact that Criterion is releasing this on Blu-Ray with a restored transfer and uncompressed mono sound is kind of a surprise. This is a very good thing. The other curious thing is the extras.
Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai is headed for Blu-Ray with a new restored high-def transfer. If the quality of Criterion's other Kurosawa Blu-Ray discs (e.g. Kagemusha, Sanjuro and Yojimbo) are any indication, it is time to ditch the DVDs. This one should look spectacular.
Finally, Nobuhiko Obayashi's House is making its way to Blu-Ray and DVD just in time for Halloween. There are a few things to note here. First, the fact that Criterion is releasing this on Blu-Ray with a restored transfer and uncompressed mono sound is kind of a surprise. This is a very good thing. The other curious thing is the extras.
- 7/17/2010
- Screen Anarchy
The September releases of Breathless on Blu-Ray and The Thin Red Line on Blu-Ray and DVD aren't so much of a surprise. A high-def Breathless release was inevitable and the Malick title leaked out a while ago. Also, Charade is the sort of classic Hollywood auterist fare that Criterion often deals in. No, the big surprise here is Oshima's Happy Birthday Mr. Lawrence. Both this release and the recent Oshima DVD box indicate that Criterion is seriously intent to digging deeper into the director's filmography. Finally, it would be a mistake not to mention the Eclipse box set of Allan King films. The Canadian director's documentaries have never been readily available in the U.S. so this box should expose his work to an entirely new audience (including this writer).
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (Covers January through September 2010, up-to-date as of July 7, 2010)
September 2010
Jean-Luc Godard, Breathless, DVD & Bd, 9/14/10, Us...
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (Covers January through September 2010, up-to-date as of July 7, 2010)
September 2010
Jean-Luc Godard, Breathless, DVD & Bd, 9/14/10, Us...
- 7/8/2010
- Screen Anarchy
I shall have many young kings with round, strong arms.
And when I am tired of them, I shall whip them to death.
Last week, controversy developed over reports that Angelina Jolie has been cast to take the lead role in a biopic about Cleopatra, the historical Queen of Egypt whose reputation over the centuries has developed to nearly legendary proportions. While I think Ms. Jolie has the perfect blend of beauty, attitude and screen presence to pull off a job that’s served as a platform for silver screen goddesses of decades past, critics take issue with the fact that a Caucasian woman is once again being awarded the opportunity to play one of history’s most noteworthy African female characters. Despite the legitimate argument that Cleopatra’s lineage included European ancestors, I understand the sensitivity of their concern. Similar objections have been voiced about the upcoming The Last Airbender,...
And when I am tired of them, I shall whip them to death.
Last week, controversy developed over reports that Angelina Jolie has been cast to take the lead role in a biopic about Cleopatra, the historical Queen of Egypt whose reputation over the centuries has developed to nearly legendary proportions. While I think Ms. Jolie has the perfect blend of beauty, attitude and screen presence to pull off a job that’s served as a platform for silver screen goddesses of decades past, critics take issue with the fact that a Caucasian woman is once again being awarded the opportunity to play one of history’s most noteworthy African female characters. Despite the legitimate argument that Cleopatra’s lineage included European ancestors, I understand the sensitivity of their concern. Similar objections have been voiced about the upcoming The Last Airbender,...
- 6/22/2010
- by David Blakeslee
- CriterionCast
She’s a leading lady amongst Hollywood royalty, but Angelina Jolie may be adding another crown to her head. Stacy Schiff’s book “Cleopatra: A Life” has been optioned for a film adaptation, with Jolie in talks for the title role.
USA Today reports that Schiff and Little Brown publisher Michael Pietsch revealed earlier this week that producer Scott Rudin had purchased the rights to the biography, with Jolie in mind for the starring role. Rudin’s office has confirmed that the project is in development and “is being developed for and with Jolie.”
Although there is little else is known about the film the author has already given her preferences as to who should play Jolie’s on-screen lover:
Schiff says Jolie fills the bill. “Physically, she’s the perfect look,” she says. Brad Pitt is a no-brainer for Mark Antony. Juilus Caesar? That one had Schiff temporarily stumped.
USA Today reports that Schiff and Little Brown publisher Michael Pietsch revealed earlier this week that producer Scott Rudin had purchased the rights to the biography, with Jolie in mind for the starring role. Rudin’s office has confirmed that the project is in development and “is being developed for and with Jolie.”
Although there is little else is known about the film the author has already given her preferences as to who should play Jolie’s on-screen lover:
Schiff says Jolie fills the bill. “Physically, she’s the perfect look,” she says. Brad Pitt is a no-brainer for Mark Antony. Juilus Caesar? That one had Schiff temporarily stumped.
- 6/13/2010
- by Josephine Mangani
- The Film Stage
Fall 2010 brings very interesting news and rumors about releases from The Criterion Collection. First, the label has issued the official list of films for August release. These include two essential documentaries by Terry Zwigoff, Black Orpheus, a box of Josef von Sternberg silent films, and 4 early Akira Kurosawa films that originally appeared in the Ak 100 25 disc box set.
Lots of unofficial information has also begun to surface about future releases. In late April, The New York Times confirmed rumors that Criterion will release Nobuhiko Obayashi's Hausu will in September. Additionally, pre-order pages for Criterion Blu-Rays of Antichrist, The Darjeeling Limited, The Seven Samurai, The Thin Red Line, and Videodrome have popped up on Amazon. Look for official updates in the next Criterion Column.
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (Covers January through August 2010, up-to-date as of May 23, 2010)
August 2010
Akira Kurosawa, Eclipse Series 23: The First Films Of Akira Kurosawa
(Sanshiro Sugata...
Lots of unofficial information has also begun to surface about future releases. In late April, The New York Times confirmed rumors that Criterion will release Nobuhiko Obayashi's Hausu will in September. Additionally, pre-order pages for Criterion Blu-Rays of Antichrist, The Darjeeling Limited, The Seven Samurai, The Thin Red Line, and Videodrome have popped up on Amazon. Look for official updates in the next Criterion Column.
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (Covers January through August 2010, up-to-date as of May 23, 2010)
August 2010
Akira Kurosawa, Eclipse Series 23: The First Films Of Akira Kurosawa
(Sanshiro Sugata...
- 5/22/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Another month brings another set of titles from The Criterion Collection. July 2010 releases include two early films by Yasujrio Ozu, Secrets of the Grain, a Sacha Guitry box set, and long awaited digitally-restored versions of The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus from Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.
An earlier column mentioned the availability of 6 Zaitoichi films for free streaming on Hulu. Within the past few days, Criterion added 12 more Zaitoichi titles as well Roman Polanski's Knife in the Water to Hulu. The link to all of the free Criterion Hulu titles is featured in the "Related Links" section of this post.
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (Covers January through July 2010, up-to-date as of 4/19/2010)
July 2010
Yasujiro Ozu, The Only Son/There Was A Father: Two Films By Yasujiro Ozu, 2 DVD Box, 7/13/2010, Us & English speaking Canada
Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, Black Narcissus, DVD & Bd, 7/20/10, Us & Canada
Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, The Red Shoes,...
An earlier column mentioned the availability of 6 Zaitoichi films for free streaming on Hulu. Within the past few days, Criterion added 12 more Zaitoichi titles as well Roman Polanski's Knife in the Water to Hulu. The link to all of the free Criterion Hulu titles is featured in the "Related Links" section of this post.
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (Covers January through July 2010, up-to-date as of 4/19/2010)
July 2010
Yasujiro Ozu, The Only Son/There Was A Father: Two Films By Yasujiro Ozu, 2 DVD Box, 7/13/2010, Us & English speaking Canada
Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, Black Narcissus, DVD & Bd, 7/20/10, Us & Canada
Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, The Red Shoes,...
- 4/20/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Leslie Howard, Wendy Hiller Pygmalion George Bernard Shaw is tonight’s star on Turner Classic Movies. Major Barbara (1941), directed by Gabriel Pascal, and starring Rex Harrison and Wendy Hiller, is on right now. I’ve watched it a couple of times, but I haven’t been able to really get into it. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed both Robert Morley and Marie Lohr in supporting roles. Also of note, Deborah Kerr has what amounts to a bit part. The highly theatrical Caesar And Cleopatra (1945) offers two solid performances — Claude Rains as Caesar; Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra (right) — while Pygmalion (1938), co-directed by Anthony Asquith and Leslie Howard, is considered the best film adaptation of a Shaw play. Wendy Hiller, for her [...]...
- 4/16/2010
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Leslie Howard, Wendy Hiller in Howard and Anthony Asquith’s filmization of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion George Bernard Shaw is tonight’s star on Turner Classic Movies. Major Barbara (1941) is on right now. I’ve watched it a couple of times, but I haven’t been able to really get into it. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed both Robert Morley and Marie Lohr in supporting roles. Also of note, Deborah Kerr has what amounts to a bit part. The highly theatrical Caesar And Cleopatra (1945) offers two solid performances — Claude Rains as Caesar; Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra (right) — while Pygmalion (1938), co-directed by Anthony Asquith and Leslie Howard, is considered the best film adaptation of a Shaw play. Wendy Hiller, for her part, [...]...
- 4/16/2010
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Five titles from The Criterion Collection has been announced for release in June 2010. The list includes: Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train, Michelangelo Antonioni's Red Desert, Abbas Kiarostami's Close-Up, Luchino Visconti's The Leopard, Carol Reed's Night Train to Munich, and Jan Troell's Everlasting Moments. All of these titles except for Night Train to Munich will be released on both DVD and Blu-Ray. Specific details have been added to the bottom of the release calendar.
In other news, Criterion continues to make moves in to video on demand. As previously reported, dozens of Criterion titles are now available for streaming on Netflix. Now, Criterion has established a channel on Hulu through which six films in the classic Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman series can be accessed. Check the "Related Links" for more info.
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (Covers January through June, up-to-date as of 3/20/2010)
January 2010
Federico Fellini,...
In other news, Criterion continues to make moves in to video on demand. As previously reported, dozens of Criterion titles are now available for streaming on Netflix. Now, Criterion has established a channel on Hulu through which six films in the classic Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman series can be accessed. Check the "Related Links" for more info.
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (Covers January through June, up-to-date as of 3/20/2010)
January 2010
Federico Fellini,...
- 3/21/2010
- Screen Anarchy
No 83 Vivien Leigh 1913-67
She was an army officer's daughter, born Vivian Hartley in Darjeeling, one of several daughters of the Raj to become actresses (others were Googie Withers, Merle Oberon, Julie Christie), and educated at convents in England and on the continent. At the age of six she confided to her school friend Maureen O'Sullivan (later her co-star in the 1938 movie A Yank at Oxford) that she was going to be a great actress, and entered Rada aged 18. Her dramatic education, however, was interrupted by marriage and motherhood. She was green-eyed, dark-haired, 5ft 3in, one of the most beautiful women in the world, and it was not long before she made an impression in minor plays and films and attracted the attention of Laurence Olivier, with whom she appeared in the costume movie Fire Over England (1937). Vivien accompanied him to Hollywood the following year, embarking on a love affair,...
She was an army officer's daughter, born Vivian Hartley in Darjeeling, one of several daughters of the Raj to become actresses (others were Googie Withers, Merle Oberon, Julie Christie), and educated at convents in England and on the continent. At the age of six she confided to her school friend Maureen O'Sullivan (later her co-star in the 1938 movie A Yank at Oxford) that she was going to be a great actress, and entered Rada aged 18. Her dramatic education, however, was interrupted by marriage and motherhood. She was green-eyed, dark-haired, 5ft 3in, one of the most beautiful women in the world, and it was not long before she made an impression in minor plays and films and attracted the attention of Laurence Olivier, with whom she appeared in the costume movie Fire Over England (1937). Vivien accompanied him to Hollywood the following year, embarking on a love affair,...
- 2/14/2010
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
The Criterion Collection is bringing out the big guns in May 2010. No, Hausu has not been announced yet, but another big Japanese release is forthcoming. Specifically, Criterion is releasing a 5 DVD box set of Nagisa Oshima films from the 1960s. Oshima's earlier works are very difficult to find in legitimate form so this announcement is very exciting.
The good news doesn't stop with Oshima. The second volume in the Stan Brakhage anthology will finally see the light of day, and both volumes will be collected on a 3 disc Blu-Ray set. Nicolas Roeg's Walkabout makes an appearance for the first time on DVD and Blu-Ray. Fritz Lang's M will receive the Blu-Ray treatment. Finally, John Ford fans (there are a few) can look forward to Stagecoach on DVD and Blu-Ray. As usual, full details on the new titles have been added to the 2010 release calendar at the bottom of this post.
The good news doesn't stop with Oshima. The second volume in the Stan Brakhage anthology will finally see the light of day, and both volumes will be collected on a 3 disc Blu-Ray set. Nicolas Roeg's Walkabout makes an appearance for the first time on DVD and Blu-Ray. Fritz Lang's M will receive the Blu-Ray treatment. Finally, John Ford fans (there are a few) can look forward to Stagecoach on DVD and Blu-Ray. As usual, full details on the new titles have been added to the 2010 release calendar at the bottom of this post.
- 2/13/2010
- Screen Anarchy
British-born film star known for her roles in Great Expectations and Spartacus
Jean Simmons, who has died aged 80, had a bounteous moment, early in her career, when she seemed the likely casting for every exotic or magical female role. It passed, as she got out of her teens, but then for the best part of 15 years, in Britain and America, she was a valued actress whose generally proper, if not patrician, manner had an intriguing way of conflicting with her large, saucy eyes and a mouth that began to turn up at the corners as she imagined mischief – or more than her movies had in their scripts. Even in the age of Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor, she was an authentic beauty. And there were always hints that the lady might be very sexy. But nothing worked out smoothly, and it is somehow typical of Simmons that her most astonishing...
Jean Simmons, who has died aged 80, had a bounteous moment, early in her career, when she seemed the likely casting for every exotic or magical female role. It passed, as she got out of her teens, but then for the best part of 15 years, in Britain and America, she was a valued actress whose generally proper, if not patrician, manner had an intriguing way of conflicting with her large, saucy eyes and a mouth that began to turn up at the corners as she imagined mischief – or more than her movies had in their scripts. Even in the age of Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor, she was an authentic beauty. And there were always hints that the lady might be very sexy. But nothing worked out smoothly, and it is somehow typical of Simmons that her most astonishing...
- 1/24/2010
- by David Thomson
- The Guardian - Film News
British-born film star known for her roles in Great Expectations and Spartacus
Jean Simmons, who has died aged 80, had a bounteous moment, early in her career, when she seemed the likely casting for every exotic or magical female role. It passed, as she got out of her teens, but then for the best part of 15 years, in Britain and America, she was a valued actress whose generally proper, if not patrician, manner had an intriguing way of conflicting with her large, saucy eyes and a mouth that began to turn up at the corners as she imagined mischief – or more than her movies had in their scripts. Even in the age of Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor, she was an authentic beauty. And there were always hints that the lady might be very sexy. But nothing worked out smoothly, and it is somehow typical of Simmons that her most astonishing...
Jean Simmons, who has died aged 80, had a bounteous moment, early in her career, when she seemed the likely casting for every exotic or magical female role. It passed, as she got out of her teens, but then for the best part of 15 years, in Britain and America, she was a valued actress whose generally proper, if not patrician, manner had an intriguing way of conflicting with her large, saucy eyes and a mouth that began to turn up at the corners as she imagined mischief – or more than her movies had in their scripts. Even in the age of Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor, she was an authentic beauty. And there were always hints that the lady might be very sexy. But nothing worked out smoothly, and it is somehow typical of Simmons that her most astonishing...
- 1/24/2010
- by David Thomson
- The Guardian - Film News
The Criterion Collection has announced five new titles for April 2010. The list is the usual mix of vintage and recent films, including Jean-Luc Godard's Vivre Sa Vie, Ang Lee's Ride with the Devil, Sidney Lumet's The Fugitive Kind, and Olivier Assayas' Summer Hours. The full list has been added to the 2010 release calendar, which is featured at the bottom of this post.
In other news, Netflix has added dozens of Criterion titles to their "Watch Instantly" streaming service (United States only). The Criterion Cast site has compiled a list of over 35 titles currently available for streaming on Netflix. In some instances, the streaming titles track or even precede the home video release (Che was streaming before the DVD or Blu-Ray was available) On the downside, these releases don't include the extras that come with the DVDs and Blu-Rays. Also, the highest available resolution for streaming is 720p...
In other news, Netflix has added dozens of Criterion titles to their "Watch Instantly" streaming service (United States only). The Criterion Cast site has compiled a list of over 35 titles currently available for streaming on Netflix. In some instances, the streaming titles track or even precede the home video release (Che was streaming before the DVD or Blu-Ray was available) On the downside, these releases don't include the extras that come with the DVDs and Blu-Rays. Also, the highest available resolution for streaming is 720p...
- 1/22/2010
- Screen Anarchy
2010 is quickly approaching, and the timing seems right to begin a new endeavor: The Criterion Column. At least once a month, this column will provide information about upcoming releases from The Criterion Collection and highlight titles that may be of interest to Twitch readers. This column will also be complimented by timely reviews of upcoming Criterion and Eclipse releases as well as discussions of gems in the company's back catalog.
This first volume of this column is dedicated to a list of all announced releases for January, February and March of 2010. The data fields are in the following order: Director, Title, Format(s), Street Date, and Regional Availability. Each title is linked to the relevant entry at The Criterion Collection website. This list will be updated as new titles are announced.
January 2010
Federico Fellini, 8 ½, Bd, 1/12/10, Us & Canada
Steven Soderbergh, Che, DVD & Bd, 1/19/10, Us only
Wim Wenders, Paris, Texas, DVD & Bd,...
This first volume of this column is dedicated to a list of all announced releases for January, February and March of 2010. The data fields are in the following order: Director, Title, Format(s), Street Date, and Regional Availability. Each title is linked to the relevant entry at The Criterion Collection website. This list will be updated as new titles are announced.
January 2010
Federico Fellini, 8 ½, Bd, 1/12/10, Us & Canada
Steven Soderbergh, Che, DVD & Bd, 1/19/10, Us only
Wim Wenders, Paris, Texas, DVD & Bd,...
- 12/21/2009
- Screen Anarchy
No. 75: Shirley Temple 1928-
The daughter of a bank clerk, she was born in Santa Monica, a bus ride from Hollywood, and thrust into the movies at the age of three by a fanatically ambitious mother. In her sixth year, she went from supporting to starring roles, had two hit songs ("Baby Take a Bow", "The Good Ship Lollipop"), and was the eighth biggest box-office attraction in America. For the next five years, her confidence as a performer and brilliance as a mimic (in Stowaway she impersonated Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, Bing Crosby, Ginger Rogers and Alice Faye in one virtuoso sequence, as well as conversing in Chinese) made her the biggest child phenomenon ever known. She was 20th Century Fox's greatest asset, the centre of a little industry of commercial spin-offs, the sweet, curly-haired, dimpled kid that every mother wanted her daughter to look like and the top-ranking Hollywood star,...
The daughter of a bank clerk, she was born in Santa Monica, a bus ride from Hollywood, and thrust into the movies at the age of three by a fanatically ambitious mother. In her sixth year, she went from supporting to starring roles, had two hit songs ("Baby Take a Bow", "The Good Ship Lollipop"), and was the eighth biggest box-office attraction in America. For the next five years, her confidence as a performer and brilliance as a mimic (in Stowaway she impersonated Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, Bing Crosby, Ginger Rogers and Alice Faye in one virtuoso sequence, as well as conversing in Chinese) made her the biggest child phenomenon ever known. She was 20th Century Fox's greatest asset, the centre of a little industry of commercial spin-offs, the sweet, curly-haired, dimpled kid that every mother wanted her daughter to look like and the top-ranking Hollywood star,...
- 11/22/2009
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
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