Ricardo Cortez biography The Magnificent Heel: The Life and Films of Ricardo Cortez. Dan Van Neste's book covers the life and career of Paramount's “Latin Lover” threat to a recalcitrant Rudolph Valentino; one who would later portray a sly, seductive Sam Spade in the original – and highly enjoyable – […]

Ernst Lubitsch movies: Subtle, sophisticated 'Touch' all but gone from contemporary filmmaking. Ernst Lubitsch movies: The forgotten, passé 'Touch' Ernst Lubitsch and William Cameron Menzies were Turner Classic Movies' “stars” on Jan. 28, '16. (This is a fully revised and expanded version of a post published that day.) Lubitsch had […]

Greta Garbo movies: The Kiss was her final silent film. Greta Garbo movies: Rare silent era star on TCM Greta Garbo, a rarity among silent era movie stars, is Turner Classic Movies' “Summer Under the Stars” performer today, Aug. 26. Now, why would Garbo be considered a silent era rarity? […]

Honorary Oscar recipient Angela Lansbury and Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award recipient Angelina Jolie at the 2013 Governors Awards. September 2014 Introduction: This three-part article on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Honorary Oscars and the dearth of female recipients was originally posted in February 2007 and updated in […]

Ramon Novarro. Ramon Novarro: Mexican-born actor was first Latin American Hollywood superstar Mexican-born actor Ramon Novarro, the original Ben-Hur and one of MGM's biggest stars of the late '20s and early '30s, has his Turner Classic Movies' “Summer Under the Stars” day on Thursday, Aug. 8. First, The Bad News: […]