My head wanted to explode yesterday as I watched the dictator of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speak in Columbia University. I am still aghast that this mad man was allowed to step on our soil and spurt out his religious and anti-American rhetoric in one of our country’s finest universities. As I watched this mad man speak I thought about Charlie Chaplin’s first talkie, “The Great Dictator.” How I wished Charlie was around today to...

A reel mix-up in Toronto International Film Festival frustrates classic film star Lauren Bacall. While the crowd was waiting for the tech to correct the problem, they asked, ah, begged Lauren to get on stage for a “dog & pony show.” She was asked to tell more of her relationship to Bogie, and she amply replies “that’s private.” Another fan yells out, “but it’s in your book,” and Lauren answers, as only Lauren can answer,...

Oscar Winner Jane Wyman dies at 93. Wyman won an Oscar for her role as the deaf girl which is raped in “Johnny Belinda,” (1948). I loved Jane in “The Yearling,” 1946 and in the “The Lost Weekend.” Wyman also earned best actress Oscar noms for “The Yearling” (1946), “The Blue Veil” (1951) and “Magnificent Obsession” (1954). She won three Golden Globes for best actress for her work in...

Ecstasy “The most whispered about picture in the world.” See how and why this blogger has picked nine “must see pre-code movies.” Gosh, I could think of at least 50 more, but this list is a good start. Here is their list: Little Caesar (1931) the movie that paved the way for future gangster movies. Edward G. Robinson was superb as Rico. This movie is loosely based on the life of Al Capone. The...

Take murder, adultery, incestuous love and what do you get? A Greek tragedy turned into a movie. Eugene O’neill’s play, turned movie, “Mourning Becomes Electra,” (1947) is a dark and haunting story of a family during the civil war. In the Greek myth the characters are Orestes and Electra the children of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Electra persuades her brother Orestes to avenge Agamemnon’s death by helping her to kill her...