Looking at the 1934 Academy Award winning Best Picture, Hollywood-made Cavalcade (1933) based on Noel Coward’s hit London play. Fans of Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey will find themselves in a familiar place. Piece also includes brief biographies of Cavalcade stars Diana Wynyard, Herbert Mundin and Ursula Jeans.
Odds and Ends – New 1931 BAT Gallery; The $50 Million Fountain Pen
Introducing a new Gallery on the site featuring 1931 BAT Cinema Artistes tobacco cards plus a 1929 Academy Awards story focusing on a stolen fountain pen.
TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar – 3 Lists, 18 Picks for February 2013 on TCM
It’s largely same old, same old for TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar throughout February 2013. But here are three lists pointing to a total of 18 titles I either recommend or am curious about for myself.
The Farmer’s Daughter (1947) Starring Loretta Young and Joseph Cotten
A look at romance set in the world of politics in RKO’s The Farmer’s Daughter (1947) featuring Loretta Young in her Oscar winning performance. Also starring Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymore and Charles Bickford, directed by H.C. Potter.
The Razor’s Edge (1946) Starring Tyrone Power, A Success Story
A long article about a personal favorite attempts to tell the story of The Razor’s Edge from Somerset Maugham’s novel to Darryl F. Zanuck’s on-screen vision with a focus on both the adaptation and Tyrone Power as Larry Darrell.
Nicholas Volpe and the 1962 Volpe Collection of Academy Awards Portraits
A brief biography of the portrait artist Nicholas Volpe (1911-1992), who was commissioned to illustrate the Academy Award Winners for Best Actor and Actress each year. Those portraits were collected and mass produced for resale in 1962 and are collectible today.
The Criminal Code (1931) Starring Walter Huston with Boris Karloff
A spoiler-free look at Howard Hawks’ The Criminal Code starring Walter Huston and providing Boris Karloff with his most important role to date. With a special focus on Phillips Holmes.
Watching Wings (1927) for the First Time
A look at William Wellman’s Wings (1927) after watching it for the first time. Air battles and It Girl Clara Bow highlight this first Best Picture Oscar winner.
The Story of Louis Pasteur (1935) starring Paul Muni with Josephine Hutchinson
No, it’s not about Pasteurization! Paul Muni turns in another grand performance as Louis Pasteur in the 1935 Warner Bros biopic. William Dieterle directs.
Remembering Anita Page Despite Oscar Forgetting Her
Looking back on the Academy Awards snubbing of Anita Page as it remembered the stars who passed away since the last show. Illustrated with movie cards and collectibles.
