Above is a reel containing all the various iterations of the RKO Studios logo over the years, including not only the opening logo but the different styles of the words ‘The End’ which naturally appeared at the finish of the films. Of all the studios in the heyday of Hollywood,
Apropos of yesterday’s post featuring Tom and Jerry in ‘Mouse in Manhattan’, here’s a student orchestra in Moscow performing the ‘Manhattan Serenade’ soundtrack while a silent print of the cartoon is screened. The Chamber Orchestra is apparently called “Affrettando”. This was recorded at the Rachmaninov’s Hall of Moscow Conservatory on March
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp2J4YHuJ9Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujZP6UfkFe0 In 1928, composer Louis Alter created ‘Manhattan Serenade’, an art-deco orchestral piece designed to be recorded on what was then a long-playing Victor 78rpm disc (four minutes and forty-five seconds–almost two minutes longer than standard 78 RPM records). The piece is very much of its era–a 20s ode to
‘Dunked In The Deep’ was the 126th short comedy made by The Three Stooges for Columbia Pictures. It was photographed from Tuesday, March 29 through Friday, April 1 1949 and released on Thursday, November 3rd of that year. (Much of the footage was reused six and a half years later
Here’s a short and somewhat curious excerpt from what appears to be a television program about Marilyn Monroe made shortly after her death. It features interviews with two of her directors–Jean Negulesco (who directed her in ‘How To Marry A Millionaire’) and George Cukor (who directed her in ‘Lets Make
Early next month (exact date to be determined soon) a documentary I’ve been working on over a rather embarrassingly long time-span about the actor Burt Young will finally make its debut. Titled ‘A Film About The Actor Known As Burt Young’, the doc is an examination of–and tribute to–the marvelously
I could never remember the name of the ‘The Inn Of the Sixth Happiness’ when I was a kid. I liked the movie but referred to it by several different variations when noting to somebody that it was soon to be on TV. ‘The Sixth Inn of Happiness’, ‘The Happy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvCkk6iAZxIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEDTuampIMg Decades may pass, styles of filmmaking may change, but the architecture of the Hollywood premiere/awards show remains the same. The stars get out of cars, stand on ‘the carpet’ to be admired and photographed, then go inside. That’s about it. Yesterday I posted the 1953 version of a premiere.
This past Saturday we screened ‘House Of Wax’ (1953) at the Directors Guild theater on West 57th street. I did the historical context intro and briefly discussed (i.e. jammed through) a mini-history of 3-D filmmaking. Some often cite ‘House Of Wax’ as the first 3-D movie released at the dawn
‘Three Dumb Clucks’ (1937) is the 22nd short made by The Three Stooges for Columbia Pictures. It was photographed from Monday, February 1 through Friday, February 5, 1937 and released on Saturday, April 17th of that year. Directed by Del Lord, the film offers Curly a potentially good opportunity to