Category: Classic
-
THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI
‘The Lady from Shanghai’ is a 1947 noir thriller that weaves a tale of lust, betrayal, and murder set against the backdrop of exotic locales and shadowy moral ambiguity. The film is notable not just for its twisty plot but also for its stunning visual style, particularly the iconic hall-of-mirrors climax. Directed by and starring…
-
GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933
‘Gold Diggers of 1933’ is a 1933 dazzling, vibrant, witty backstage musical directed by Mervyn LeRoy with musical numbers and choreography directed by the legendary Busby Berkeley set against the harsh realities of the Great Depression. The film follows a group of struggling Broadway chorus girls who are trying to make ends meet while chasing…
-
MONTY PYTHON’S THE MEANING OF LIFE
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life is a 1983 sketch-based satirical comedy that attempts—with tongue firmly in cheek—to answer one of the most profound philosophical questions of all time: What is the meaning of life? Directed by Terry Jones with the animated sequences directed by Terry Gilliam, who also directed the opening short film “The…
-
RAGING BULL
‘Raging Bull’ is a 1980 searing, black-and-white biographical portrait of Jake LaMotta Directed by Martin Scorsese, the real-life middleweight boxing champion whose rise and fall in and out of the ring is marked by violence, jealousy, self-destruction, and emotional torment. Set primarily in the 1940s and 1950s, the film opens with Jake LaMotta (played by…
-
INVASION OF THE BODYSNATCHERS (56)
‘Invasion of the Bodysnatchers’ is a 1956 Science fiction horror film directed by Don Siegel Set in the small town of Santa Mira, California, the film follows Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy), a respected local physician, who returns from a medical conference to find that something is disturbingly wrong in his hometown. Several patients come…
-
LEGENDARY CAMERAS: THE ARRIFLEX 35IIC aka ARRI 2C
Being a bit of a camera buff, I thought I’d occasionally profile some of the cameras that have had a significant influence on the film industry. There is no arguing that the Arriflex 35IIC is one of them. I will eventually profile cameras before and after the 2C, which will provide context for why it…
-
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a 1946 classic holiday drama directed by Frank Capra. It stars James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, and Henry Travers. Based on Philip Van Doren Stern’s short story “The Greatest Gift,” the film has become one of the most beloved holiday movies ever. The story begins On Christmas Eve in the small…
-
JAWS
“Jaws” (1975), directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel, is a groundbreaking thriller that combines suspense, horror, and adventure with an iconic creature feature. The film is often credited with creating the summer blockbuster formula and remains one of the most influential films in cinematic history. It also casued an entire…
-
DRACULA (31)
“Dracula” (1931) is the seminal Universal horror film directed by Tod Browning, which set the stage for many of the iconic vampire films that followed. Adapted from the 1897 novel by Bram Stoker, the film tells the story of Count Dracula, a centuries-old vampire who seeks to move from Transylvania to London to spread the…
-
THE FRENCH CONNECTION
“The French Connection” is a crime thriller directed by William Friedkin and based on Robin Moore’s non-fiction book. Released in 1971, the film is renowned for its gritty realism, intense action sequences, and portrayal of a tense, hard-nosed police investigation. It is often regarded as one of the greatest American films of its era and…
The Other Cinema 