Notorious: An Alfred Hitchcock Classic

Alfred Hitchcock teams up with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in Notorious and the result is one of the greatest classics in his filmography. The film is one of four Hitchcock films starring Grant, joining Suspicion, To Catch A Thief, and my personal favorite, North by Northwest.  David O. Selznick tried for Joseph Cotten in the Grant role but it was to no avail.  The producer did, however, get his way with casting Claude Rains…

"Notorious: An Alfred Hitchcock Classic"

Sons of Liberty: An Oscar-Winning Short Film

Sons of Liberty is an Oscar-winning short film that tells the story of Haym Salomon, the Jewish financier of the American Revolution. It’s not often that Jewish synagogues were depicted on screen during Hollywood’s early years. The founding moguls didn’t push across their religion on screen. Even in The Life of Emile Zola, a film in which antisemitism plays a strong role, they didn’t even say Jew or Jewish at any point in the film.…

"Sons of Liberty: An Oscar-Winning Short Film"

The Sea Hawk is One of Errol Flynn’s Best Performances

The Sea Hawk reunites director Michael Curtiz and swashbuckling star Errol Flynn, resulting in one of their best collaborations together. This film might be a period adventure film but it was an allegorical film about Hitler and the need to fight back during WWII. King Philip II of Spain basically stands in for Hitler in the 1940 swashbuckler. While the film takes place in the late 1500s, one can definitely see how they use the…

"The Sea Hawk is One of Errol Flynn’s Best Performances"

Casablanca: The Greatest Film Ever Made on 4K Ultra HD

Casablanca, the greatest film ever made, finally makes its arrival on 4K Ultra HD in honor of the film’s 80th anniversary in November. The 4K UHD upgrade is thanks to a 2022 4K 16bit film scan of the best-surviving nitrate film elements. Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging meticulously handles the restoration and remastering process. Let me tell you right now that this film is certainly as beautiful as it has ever been. The film’s bonus…

"Casablanca: The Greatest Film Ever Made on 4K Ultra HD"

Lawrence of Arabia Gets 60th Anniversary 4K UHD

David Lean’s Oscar-winning epic, Lawrence of Arabia, gets a standalone 4K UHD release for the film’s 60th anniversary. Today’s release does not mark the first time that the classic arrived on 4K UHD. The initial 4K release came in 2020 with the release of the Columbia Classics 4K UHD Collection, Vol. 1. If you didn’t have the budget to bring home the 6-film box set, you’re in luck because you can bring home this epic…

"Lawrence of Arabia Gets 60th Anniversary 4K UHD"

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Remains A Classic

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington remains a classic over 80 years following its theatrical release and is a part of the Columbia Classics: 4K Ultra HD Collection. While the film has beautifully aged, the same couldn’t be said for its theatrical release in 1939.  It was slammed by many politicians.  Democratic Senate Majority Leader Alben W. Barkley wasn’t among the fans.  Nor was Joseph P. Kennedy, then the American Ambassador to Great Britain.  He was…

"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Remains A Classic"

Casablanca: One of the Greatest Films Ever Made

Almost 80 years after Warner Bros. released the film in theaters, Casablanca remains one of the greatest films of all time. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman put in performances that would also define both of their careers. It was a match made in heaven in casting the film. A love story that was also doomed from the very beginning. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), who remains neutral, runs Rick’s Café Americain. It’s December 1941 and this…

"Casablanca: One of the Greatest Films Ever Made"