It Happened One Night is one of three films to win the Big Five at the Academy Awards and put Columbia Pictures on the map. Originally titled Night Bus, the film is based on the short story, “Night Bus,” by Samuel Hopkins Adams in Hearst’s International-Cosmopolitan (August 1933). Until the film swept every nominated category at the Oscars, Columbia Pictures had been a Poverty Row studio. Everything would change in light of the Oscar wins. The…
"It Happened One Night Put Columbia on the Map"Tag: Frank Capra
Arsenic and Old Lace is the latest Cary Grant film to join The Criterion Collection with a restored 4K digital transfer arriving on Blu-ray. My original review from this past January: Arsenic and Old Lace, a black comedy directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant, is just as funny now as it was in 1944. Shot over the course of eight weeks in late 1941, the film wouldn’t see the light of day until…
"Arsenic and Old Lace Gets Criterion Blu-ray"
You Can’t Take It With You, an adaptation of the George S. Kauffman and Moss Hart play, is one of Frank Capra’s best films. The gist of the film is that Tony Kirby (James Stewart) works at his family’s bank. His father, Anthony P. Kirby (Edward Arnold), is returning from Washington, DC with plans for a government-sanctioned munitions monopoly. Grandpa Martin Vanderhof (Lionel Barrymore) is the only person standing in the way of building his…
"You Can’t Take It With You"
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town is an Oscar-winning screwball comedy and satire about a humble man who inherits millions of dollars. “But, in the opinion of the court, you are not only sane but you’re the sanest man that ever walked into this courtroom.” – Judge May Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper) is a humble man living in Mandrake Falls, Vermont during the Great Depression. You would think that his life would change drastically upon inheriting…
"Mr. Deeds Goes to Town: A Social Satire"
One cannot write a list of the best rom-coms of all time if the list of movies does not include any films released prior to 1970. The amount of times I hear that someone refuses to watch movies from before a certain year is just mindboggling. Like why? How can anyone write about film without at least making an effort?!? If you’re especially writing about film history, you MUST make an effort to study film…
"The Best Rom-Coms Ever: Watch Movies Before 1970" Arsenic and Old Lace, a black comedy directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant, is just as funny now as it was in 1944. Shot over the course of eight weeks in late 1941, the film wouldn’t see the light of day until 1944. Broadway plays are always a great source material for films. However, Broadway producers were always worried that movies would impact their attendance. At least, this was the case during the…
"Arsenic and Old Lace: A Hysterical Classic"
One year shy of its 75th anniversary, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life arrives on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with a beautiful steelbook cover. To be fair, this is not the first 4K UHD release for the classic film. It was previously released last year on 4K UHD. The difference between the two versions is that this one includes a mini-poster and a steelbook cover. The remastered and restored Black & White version is on…
"It’s a Wonderful Life Arrives Gets 4K Ultra HD Steelbook"
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"
Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War tells the stories of five film directors who enlisted to serve in the military during World War 2. John Ford, George Stevens, John Huston, William Wyler, and Frank Capra may be known best for their Oscar-winning films. What you might not know about the five directors are that they did their part during WW2. Thanks to Mark Harris’ brilliant book, we get insight…
"Five Came Back by Mark Harris"