There’s a Korean term for obsessive fans, the ones who stalk kpop idols and violate their privacy; saesang. The stories that come out about saesangs are truly alarming. Know who they remind me of? Bobby soxers. Now you might be thinking that bobby soxers were just harmless Frank Sinatra obsessed teen girls, but you’d be wrong.…… Continue reading A tribute to Van Johnson’s most ardent fans
Peter Lawford and John Hodiak were both charming and handsome. They were not, however, Van Johnson. But why make this distinction? I love all three men. Peter Lawford was a better actor than most people remember and John Hodiak simply isn’t remembered enough. To be honest though, Van was special. He just had that certain…… Continue reading Van Johnson’s big break: A Guy Named Joe (1943)
It’s Eleanor Parker day on TCM today, and my recommendation is The Woman in White (1948). My love for this film simply can’t be overestimated. It airs at 2 am, which is the perfect time for a film as eerie as this one. Based on the 1859 novel by Wilkie Collins, this mystery film also…… Continue reading Summer Under the Stars: Eleanor Parker in The Woman in White (1948)
George Sidney’s The Harvey Girls combines my most beloved film genre – the musical – with my most dreaded – the western. What results is a splendid woman centered story about dreams, romance, civilizing the west (ah), and finding your place in the great big world. The Santa Fe California Limited of the Atchinson, Topeka…… Continue reading I’ve done a lot of dreaming with The Harvey Girls (1946)
The medical profession is one of the most exciting to explore on screens big and small. Hollywood has a tendency to glamorize doctors and emergency rooms. This is not the case with Three Men in White, but it does take a somewhat lighthearted approach to the field of medicine and the lives of doctors. Dr.…… Continue reading Someone call the doctor!: Three Men in White (1944)
Frank’s Capra’s Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) is one of those movies that never gets old. I dissolve into uncontrollable laughter each time I watch it, and it actually gets funnier the more I see it. While I don’t have the film memorized, I can quote much of it. And it has one of the…… Continue reading The Brewster Family Curse
Although I’m traveling this weekend, I couldn’t pass up the chance to write a special post in honor of today’s birthday girl, June Allyson. Born Eleanor Geisman on October 7, 1917 in the Bronx, Junie willed herself into stardom. She became the quintessential wholesome girl next door. While I’ve heard that she’s unpopular among classic film fans (most people…… Continue reading June Allyson in The Secret Heart (1946)
