top of page
It's a Wonderful Classic
Watching It’s a Wonderful Life is a holiday tradition, like hearing Bing sing “White Christmas” or glugging down Grandma’s egg nog. What may shock you is that the beloved drama tanked upon arrival in 1946, ranking 26th in the year-end box-office recap. Why is it now considered a classic? Because in 1974, the film went into the public domain , meaning TV stations could air it for free – and hundreds did. But Life’s loss (of royalties) is our gain, as its popularity has explo
Dec 12 min read
Grand Hotel
In 1932, MGM invented a new concept in filmmaking. At the time, studios rarely assigned more than two big names to the same script. They...
Apr 152 min read
Classic Kids
Growing older is an occupational hazard in Hollywood -- and not just for sex symbols. Sadly, the career arc of some child actors goes...
May 15, 20233 min read
Films of 1933: Dinner at Eight
In 1933, Jean Harlow’s movie career was taking off, and Marie Dressler’s was winding down. Harlow was 22, a blonde bombshell with a body...
May 1, 20232 min read
bottom of page