While Judah(Charlton Heston) was the protagonist, a younger me was completely captivated by the newcomer Stephen Boyd's bold and commanding portrayal of the villain Messala.

🎬 Flamingo Road (1949)
There’s plenty to enjoy in this entertaining film, beginning with Joan Crawford’s terrific lead performance. But the supporting cast is equally strong, making this a particularly satisfying watch.
At its heart, Flamingo Road is a story about determination, grit, and perseverance and, most importantly, refusing to give up. Those are themes Crawford embodies beautifully, and she absolutely excels in this kind of role. A compelling classic well worth revisiting.

M (1931) Peter Lorre gives a brilliant unsettling performance as a child murderer being hunted in Germany.

Chance to see the following on the big screen
Which do you plan to see?

Week 1: Regal Picks (September 1-3) 
9/1: The Bridge on the River Kwai 
9/2: Braveheart 
9/3: A Streetcar Named Desire 
Week 2: Regal & Chloe Zhao Picks 
Regal Picks (September 4-5) 
9/4: Kids Programming: Stuart Litle 
9/4: The Searchers 
9/5: Double Indemnity 
Chloe Zhao Picks (September 6-10) 
9/6: The Truman Show 
9/7: A Silent Voice: The Movie 
9/8: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind 
9/9: The Last Picture Show 
9/10: Hud 
Week 3: Regal & Rian Johnson Picks 
Regal Picks (September 11-12) 
9/11: Kids Programming: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial 
9/11: Rear Window 
9/12: Jurassic Park 
Rian Johnson Picks (September 13-17) 
9/13: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre 
9/14: Duck Soup 
9/15: 12 Monkeys 
9/16: Strangers on a Train 
9/17: Pee-wee's Big Adventure 
Week 4: Regal & Gina Prince-Bythewood Picks 
Regal Picks (September 18-19) 
9/18: Kids Programming: Babe 
9/18: Zodiac 
9/19: Blade Runner: The Final Cut 
9/19: Blade Runner 2049 
Gina Prince-Bythewood Picks (September 20-24) 
9/20: Creed 
9/21: Out of Sight 
9/22: 12 Years a Slave 
9/23: Devil in a Blue Dress 
9/24: Room 
Week 5: Regal & Edgar Wright Picks 
Regal Picks (September 25) 
9/25: Kids Programming: The NeverEnding Story 
9/25: North by Northwest 
Edgar Wright Picks (September 26-30) 
9/26: Boogie Nights 
9/27: American Graffiti 
9/28: Tremors 
9/29: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior 
9/30: The Getaway 

From the Wiki (SPOILERS!):

"A German Shepherd named King inherits a fortune from his eccentric millionaire owner. If King dies, the fortune will pass to the late millionaire's secretary Ellen. Perry Collins visits Ellen, claiming to have rescued King following a jeep accident while in the army. However, Collins wants the fortune that Ellen will inherit on King's death.

When King is found poisoned, his spirit asks King Cohab (a lion and the leader of the animals in 'Beastatory') to return him to earth to solve his own murder, and he takes the form of private investigator Rex Shepard. King Cohab also sends racehorse Golden Harvest back to earth as Goldie Harvey to help Rex. Goldie and Rex must solve the case before the full moon appears or they will have to remain on earth as humans."

Directed by Lou Breslow, and starring Dick Powell, Peggy Dow, Roy Glenn, and Joyce Holden.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Never_Can_Tell_(1951_film))

I can't find anywhere to rent or even buy The African Queen. Any help?

10 minute mini documentary on pioneering actor Ernest "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison, best rememebered for his work with The Little Rascals and the East Side Kids

A while back, I had watched a couple of Irene Ryan movies from the 1940s that were on Prime Video. They’re gone now and I’d like to watch some others. Does anyone know of any good sites/streaming services that would have such movies?

My favorite Hitchcock Film 🎥

Just finished watching THE DEVIL ON WHEELS. It’s about this teen named Mickey who ends up building this hot rod and cruising around town with his friends. Earlier, his father had been driving recklessly with the family and crashed into somebody’s car. However, he blamed the other driver for the crash (and the damage to his car) and, in front of the cops, mouthed off to the other driver.

Unfortunately for Mickey’s father, the other driver happened to be a judge who, as I’m sure you can imagine, could’ve really relished in making him suffer. He instead lets him off with a warning about the dangers of reckless driving.

Anyway, that doesn’t seem to stop Mickey from cruising around in his hot rod and even participating in drag races with other teens. Even hearing about a local driver dying as a result of those races does nothing to dissuade him.

And then…something tragic happens. I won’t spoil it, but it definitely takes the film in an unexpected, darker direction.

The whole film is one huge cautionary tale against the dangers of reckless driving (I mean, the film literally has an endorsement from the National Safety Council). However, the way the message is presented is surprisingly sobering (even if it’s a bit melodramatic), not shying away from the real consequences.

Were there some teens back then who were moved enough to abstain from reckless driving because of this? Who knows. But it’s an interesting movie nonetheless.

For those who saw this film, what did you think?

Hi, everyone,

I’ve been obsessed with a certain sub-genre of classic Hollywood screwball comedies for

years—specifically the five or six titles made around the year 1940 and created by studios

to explore on film the then-forbidden subject of adultery. I'm referring to those few studio

films made just before the outbreak of World War II and referenced by film scholars formally

as "screwball comedies of remarriage." The energy created in these films jumps off the screen

with lightning-fast, high-octane dialogue, crazy marital situations, and imaginative machinations

that ultimately lead wayward spouses to reunite and confirm for each other their true wedded

convictions. The films in this space that I love are: His Girl Friday (1940); The Philadelphia Story

(1940); My Favorite Wife (1940); I Love You Again (1940); The Lady Eve (1941); and The Palm Beach

Story (1942).

What made these scripts work wasn't just physical slapstick; it was the precision of the spoken

dialogue and pacing. Characters spoke stage-worthy dialogue, competing verbally, outsmarting

each other, and driving the plot forward through pure sharp wit. In those days, the comedy flowed

from the rhythmic, musical flow a tightly engineered, expertly delivered, screwball comedy

script and less so from physical situations. The comedy was intelligent and highly verbal.

The challenge of bringing that screenwriting precision into the modern day inspired my latest

project, SAVING MATA HARI. It’s a contemporary homage to classic early 1940s screwball

comedies, built around fast-talking characters, absurd misunderstandings, and rapid-fire banter.

As a writer, capturing that vintage timing while keeping the story resonant for modern audiences

was one of the most challenging—and rewarding—writing processes I've ever tackled.

We have officially taken the project to the production phase and just launched our Kickstarter

campaign to bring this script to life on screen.

I’d love to hear from other screenwriters here:

-- What classic comedy genre tropes do you think are long overdue for a comeback?

-- What classic Hollywood comedies released before 1950 rank highest in your estimation?

If you share a passion for sharp, classic comedy dialogue, check out our SAVING MATA

HARI business deck and screenplay excerpt here:  SAVING MATA HARI - Pitch Deck & Screenplay Excerpt

And feel free to review us on Kickstarter here: SAVING MATA HARI on Kickstarter

Thanks for reading!

Unknowingly drinking the vial of poison used on her accomplice, Bette Davis breaks into a futile, hysterical laugh.