High Steaks in Confidentially Connie (1953)

"Holy mackerel." "No, dear. Holy cow." The first time I watched Confidentially Connie in 2016, I couldn't believe that a movie with such a dumb premise could also be endearing. After watching it twice this year, I wouldn't say it's endearing anymore. Entertaining, yes. Much of it is so dated, frozen in the 1950s. The …

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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 …

First time at the rodeo: The Lusty Men (1952)

Nicholas Ray's The Lusty Men shares traits with some of his finest films; it's tough, bleak, tender, and unexpectedly poetic. The devastation of this one film is swift and total. It's one of the films being shown as part of Susan Hayward's 24 hour marathon for Summer Under the Stars. Indisputably one of the greatest …

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 …

Audrey Hepburn’s Habits

  Audrey Hepburn. The name conjures up so much. Elegance, glamour, grace. She's become a symbol of all that is refined and stylish. But to watch her onscreen is to watch a real woman, glittering magic, all warmth and brightness. It's easy to forget that, among the little black dresses, sunglasses, and diamonds dripping from …

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 …