Favorite films: Little Women (1949)

It is Christmas Eve once again, so I wanted to write about one of my favorite Christmas films. This adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel is my favorite, not least because June Allyson stars as the feisty and irrepressible Jo March. It's usually overlooked compared to the other four. I have not watched the latest …

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Love light gleaming In The Good Old Summertime (1949)

Miklos Laszlo's 1936 Hungarian play Parfumerie has achieved lasting cultural and artistic significance despite being a relatively unknown piece of work. You most likely know it by its other names: The Shop Around the Corner (1940) and You've Got Mail (1998). There's also a Broadway musical, She Loves Me, that premiered in 1963 and has …

Van Johnson’s remarkable ease in Easy to Wed (1946)

Van! Van! Van!: my constant refrain. Easy to Wed is a remake of the 1936 film, Libeled Lady, which starred such heavyweights as William Powell, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy, and Jean Harlow. I actually like this version better than the original, but I can only draw favorable comparisons between each cast. Van and Esther Williams …

High Barbaree (1947): No beginning and no end

June Allyson is TCM's star of the day, one of the last as August draws to a close. A perpetually sunny screen personality, most of the movies in today's lineup reflect that. The one exception is my recommendation, High Barbaree, her second film with best friend and frequent co-star Van Johnson. It is my favorite …

Egads! Van the Cad in The Bride Goes Wild (1948)

A misleading title, preposterous storyline, improbable romance, seriously questionable if not outright morally reprehensible behavior, and ants - The Bride Goes Wild has all that and more! While it’s probably my least favorite Van Johnson and June Allyson pairing, it’s still highly enjoyable to watch. This of course is due to Van and June’s chemistry, …

Lena Horne’s Summer Under the Stars debut

I used to wish for Lena Horne to get a day on TCM for Summer Under the Stars. But then I realized that she couldn't; she had only starred in five films after all. And five just isn't enough for a 24 hour marathon. But this year, TCM has granted my wish. I've seen 12 …

Marathon of Stars: Dolores del Rio

I cried watching my first Dolores del Rio movie. The movie itself, a lighthearted comedy called In Caliente (1935) costarring Pat O'Brien and one of the funniest character actors of all time, Edward Everett Horton, didn't involve any tragedy. So why was I overcome with emotion? Because I was seeing a beautiful Mexican actress onscreen …

Van’s two sides: Scene of the Crime (1949) and The Big Hangover (1950)

A very happy Van Johnson Day to you all! Today would've been the sunny hunk's 102nd birthday. Today I'm looking at two of his films which feature two versions of Van, one familiar and the other unfamiliar. Join me, and see them for yourself if you haven't. Scene of the Crime (1949) The boy next …

A tribute to Van Johnson’s most ardent fans

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. …