Blu-ray Review: The Heiress (1949) (Criterion Collection)
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. […]
Blu-ray Review: Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)
Tennessee Williams was no stranger to tackling controversial themes in his plays–madness, sexuality, and domineering Southern matriarchs were frequent targets. Suddenly, Last Summer adapted for the screen by Williams with an assist from Gore Vidal from his 1958 play, is perhaps one of his darkest. In 1937 New Orleans, rich widow Violet Venable (Katharine Hepburn, […]
The Young Lions (Blu-ray)
Based on the 1948 novel by Irwin Shaw, Edward Dmytryk’s The Young Lions was forced to make several concessions to the censors before its release in 1958. Even so, the film was, and still is, a fairly effective story about ordinary men and their reluctance over joining the fight during World War II. The story […]
Judgment at Nuremberg (Blu-ray)
Known for his so-called “message movies,” independent producer/director Stanley Kramer made a career of bringing attention to social issues that most major studios looked to avoid. Whether he was exploring racism, nuclear war, or politics, Kramer always tried to approach his subject matter with humility, humanity, and when appropriate, humor, always within the framework of […]
Blu-ray Review: The Misfits
Written by the playwright Arthur Miller for his wife Marilyn Monroe—whom he would divorce before the film was released, The Misfits has perhaps become more famous for what went on behind the scenes than what happened on it. Monroe delivers one of the best performances of her career, though she was reportedly battling drug addiction.