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 …

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, …

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 …

Favorite films: Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)

Here's a movie I love even though it's somewhat boring, with its visuals far outweighing the story. This is MGM's lavish star powered biopic of composer Jerome Kern (Robert Walker), who penned some of the most famous musicals of all time - Show Boat being the most well known. If you consider yourself a fan …

June Allyson is Too Young to Kiss

The fact that not one, but two classic Hollywood films exist about grown women impersonating 12 year olds is weird? Amazing? Decide for yourself. The Major and the Minor (1942) starred Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland. Susan Applegate pretends to be a 12 year old so she can buy a discount train ticket. In the …

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. …