Hollywood

  • Vidal Sassoon is a name synonymous with revolutionary hairstyling, but his lesser-known past as an anti-fascist activist with the 43 Group reveals another dimension of his life. Born in 1928 in Hammersmith, London, to Jewish parents of Greek and Ukrainian descent, Sassoon grew up in the impoverished East End. His early life was marked by

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  • Some men leave behind legacies so profound that you can only say, “They just don’t make them like that anymore.” Christopher Lee and Sir Alec Guinness were two such men—formidable actors with unforgettable performances and distinguished service in World War II. Christopher Lee Famous for his commanding presence and iconic roles, Christopher Lee enthralled audiences

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  • Bonanza -The Mothers

    The final episode of Bonanza aired on January 16, 1973, marking the end of a remarkable 14-season run. This blog delves into the unseen yet pivotal characters of the show—the mothers—whose presence shaped the story but who never appeared on screen. The Mothers of the Cartwright Boys in Bonanza The classic Western television series Bonanza

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  • Ninety-eight years ago today, the classic science fiction movie Metropolis was released. Watching it again recently, I was struck by how fresh and visually striking the film still feels, even after nearly a century. However, Metropolis is more than just a sci-fi masterpiece; it also serves as a fascinating snapshot of the political and social

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  • Snow White and the 3rd Reich

    I recently finished am reading Animation under the Swastika: A History of Trickfilm in Nazi Germany, 1933–1945. This compelling book delves into the history of how Hitler and Joseph Goebbels sought to rival Hollywood, particularly the works of Walt Disney. It provides a fascinating and often chilling account of how animation was weaponized as a

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  • High Noon is my favourite Western and one of my favourite movies overall. The Western genre has long held a special place in American cinema, representing ideals of heroism, rugged individualism, and the triumph of good over evil. However, not all Westerns adhere to a singular vision of these ideals, and one film that provoked

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  • RIP Darth Vader

    A tribute to James Earl Jones, who died yesterday, aged 93. His most iconic role, though, without a shadow of a doubt, is that of Darth Vader, although it was only his voice that was used for it. “Darth Vader: If you only knew the power of the Dark Side. Obi-Wan never told you what

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  • This is my interview with Andrew Laszlo, Jr. I spoke to Andrew Laszlo about his father, Andrew Laszlo Sr., about his career as a cinematographer of such movies as First Blood, Star Trek V, The Last Frontier, Streets of Fire, Southern Comfort, The Owl and the Pussy Cat and The Warriors and also the original

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  • “Duck Soup” at 90

    It is hard to believe that Duck Soup was released 90 years ago today. It is an American pre-code musical black comedy film written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, with additional dialogue by Arthur Sheekman and Nat Perrin, and directed by Leo McCarey. Released by Paramount Pictures on November 17, 1933, it stars the Marx Brothers

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  • On November 27 1936, the movie ‘Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor’ was released. The movie has brought me quite a bit of childhood trauma. It was used to facilitate a lie. I was told that if I would follow the diet of Popeye I too would get his superhuman powers. But I never

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