It’s been widely reported that Bette Davis (All About Eve) wanted to play Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind. When the role went to Vivian Leigh, she was very disappointed. Sometimes described as a consolation prize, Davis played Julie Marsden in Jezebel, winning an Academy Award for Best Actress. Directed by William Wyler (Mrs. …
Nearing the end of a career that included such films as Walkabout, Don’t Look Now and The Man Who Fell to Earth, English director Nicholas Roeg teamed with Jim Henson Productions for The Witches. The 1990 film is based on the eponymous 1983 children’s novel by Roald Dahl. Wickedly fun, the unabashedly dark tale, may …
For Alice Spages (Paula Sheppard), being the the older sister is awful. She can’t do anything right and her single mother Catherine (Linda Miller), pays little attention to her. Instead, Catherine showers her younger sister Karen (Brooke Shields, Wanda Nevada), with praise and attention. Alice, a decidedly odd girl, stalks the neighborhood in a strange …
One of America’s most beloved comedians, Danny Thomas’ success on television was surpassed only by his well-known philanthropy. Most know him best as the creator and star of Make Room for Daddy (also known as The Danny Thomas Show) which ran from 1953-1964. The series garnered 26 Emmy nominations over the course of its run, …
Directed by Michael Crichton, Pursuit, a 1972 made-for-TV thriller, was based on his novel Binary. A highly atmospheric story, it’s just a few days before the President of the United States is set to address the Republican national convention in San Diego. Federal agent Steven Graves (Ben Gazzara, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie) must …
Released in 1977, Star Wars turned Mark Hamill into one of the biggest movie stars in the world. His character Luke Skywalker, graced lunch boxes, trading cards, t-shirts and more. Anxious to avoid typecasting, in 1978 Hamill appeared in Corvette Summer, co-starring Annie Potts (Toy Story) in her first film role. Not a box office …
The Thin Man is based on mystery writer Dashiell Hammett’s celebrated novel, but the mystery isn’t all that important, nor is it the reason for the film’s enduring appeal. Instead, it’s the relationship between Nick (William Powell, To Be Or Not to Be) and Nora Charles (Myrna Loy, Midnight Lace) which depicted a new kind …
“It’s easy to manipulate men,” Bree Daniels (Jane Fonda, On Golden Pond) tells her psychiatrist. A high class call girl and an aspiring actress, she feels a sense of pride in satisfying a client–whether it’s a man in the city on business, or a widowed garment industry executive who just wants her to act out …
A former New Jersey shoe salesman-turned sharpshooter, Bronco Billy (Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby) is the leader of a scarcely attended traveling Wild West Show. Under the tent, nothing goes smoothly: snake dancers are bitten, and the latest Lovely Assistant misses her cues. Ever the dreamer, Billy pushes on, acting as cheerleader and den mother …
Director William Wyler’s keen adaptation of both Henry James’ 1880 novel Washington Square and the subsequent 1947 stage version The Heiress stars Olivia de Havilland (Gone With the Wind) as Catherine Sloper. An intensity shy young woman, she is the only daughter of Dr. Austin Sloper (Ralph Richardson), a widowed, wealthy and highly respected surgeon. …
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