classic movies Articles

Greta Garbo, Queen Christina One of the most ambitious productions of the early 1930s, the Greta Garbo star vehicle Queen Christina remains surprisingly modern in its execution thanks in large part to director Rouben Mamoulian’s classy, assured touch. Those looking for historical accuracy in the film, however, will be greatly disappointed, for credited screenwriters* H.M. Harwood and S.N. Behrman kept themselves busy concocting a highly [...]

Actress Joyce Redman, Oscar nominated for both Tom Jones and Othello, died in Kent, England, earlier today. The Newcastle-born Redman, who was either 93 or 96, had been suffering from pneumonia. Film lovers will remember her as Tom Jones‘ Mrs. Waters, stealing the movie while “sexting” — as in, sex while eating — Albert Finney. Mostly a stage and television performer, the Royal Academy of [...]

Danielle Darrieux, La Ronde Screen legend Danielle Darrieux turned 95 yesterday, May 1. The Bordeaux-born (1917) Darrieux probably has had the longest "film-star" career ever: eight decades, from Wilhelm Thiele’s Le Bal (1931) to Denys Granier-Deferre’s Pièce montée / The Wedding Cake (2010). Absurdly, despite a prestigious career consisting of more than 100 films, Darrieux has never won an Honorary Oscar — but then again, [...]

Charles Boyer, Hedy Lamarr, Algiers Hedy Lamarr can be seen later this month on Turner Classic Movies: I Take This Woman (1940) will be shown on Saturday, April 28, and The Conspirators (1944) on Monday, April 30. I Take This Woman was a troubled production that took so long to make — W.S. Van Dyke replaced Frank Borzage who had replaced original director Josef von [...]