Classic Hollywood | classic movies

Jean Arthur

“Never have I seen a performer plagued with such a chronic case of stage jitters. I’m sure she vomited before and after every scene. When...

Stars

Mar 152 min read

24 views

2 comments

Hidden Gems (Drama)

Behold a trio of lesser-known titles that may have eluded your classic film radar, but they’re definitely worth a look: The Set-Up (1949)...

Drama

Mar 12 min read

33 views

0 comments

Hidden Gems (Comedy)

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Here are three lesser-known titles you may have missed, but I think they definitely deserve some love: Hands Across the Table (1935) Back...

Comedy

Feb 152 min read

43 views

6 comments

"Wild Bill" Wellman

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William Wellman’s life was as colorful as the movies he directed. Born on February 29, 1896, Bill grew up outside Boston. He was a...

Directors

Feb 13 min read

39 views

2 comments

Omaha Idols

When I was a kid, I assumed most great actors came from New York, as if proximity to Broadway bestowed talent by osmosis (see: Bogie,...

Stars

Jan 153 min read

34 views

0 comments

The Noir Boys

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In the 1940s and ‘50s, Hollywood had an unofficial “caste” system of casting, with the plum parts going to a select few, like Bogie, John...

Film Noir

Jan 13 min read

29 views

4 comments

I'm a classic film historian, host and writer who specializes in movies released between 1920 and 1960.

Having spent most of my career writing award-winning marketing copy for Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., I'm now pursuing my passion for the classics full-time.

I love the work of Billy Wilder, William Wyler, Wild Bill Wellman (what's with all the Bills?), Buster Keaton's silent comedies, Pre-Code Hollywood and Film Noir.

BIO

After producing TV and radio spots for two Boston television stations, I moved to L.A., where I worked as an advertising manager at Paramount Domestic Television. Returning to the East Coast, I launched a marketing copywriting business that promoted films and TV series for several entertainment clients.

I am a proud member of CMBA, the Classic Movie Blog Association, and I review books about classic films on GoodReads and Amazon.

I've also written humor essays for The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune.

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"Audiences don't know somebody sits down

and writes a picture; they think the actors make

it up as they go along."

From Sunset Blvd.

Written by Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder

and D.M. Marshman, Jr.

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