Tag Archives: Charles Laughton

April 2024 Viewing Diary

To Be or Not to Be (1942; d. Ernst Lubitsch) It’s 82 years later. 82 years. And it’s still a little bit shocking this film even exists. The film lampoons Nazis, and Hitler, and tyranny, which – in 1942 – … Continue reading

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June 2021 Viewing Diary

La Notte (1961; d. Michelangelo Antonioni) Pauline Kael included La Notte in her infamous essay titled “The Come-Dressed-As-the-Sick-Soul-of-Europe Parties”. Now you can debate her on this opinion – and I think she’s off (although I think it’s a hilarious title). … Continue reading

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“Masters of the Acting Art”: An Interview with Author Dan Callahan

Dan Callahan is one of our best writers on the craft of acting. Not only does he describe why a performance is good, he digs into the much thornier issue of how it is good. This is where most critics … Continue reading

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Yet another reason to love Robert Mitchum

“During filming [The Night of the Hunter], as they drove along a freeway, [Charles] Laughton told [Robert] Mitchum, ‘I don’t know if you know, and I don’t know if you care, and I don’t care if you know, but there … Continue reading

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For Film Comment: On The Canterville Ghost (1944)

This marks my third piece this month having to do with Oscar Wilde. My latest for Film Comment is a review of the film adaptation (one of many) of Wilde’s ghost story The Canterville Ghost. This one stars Charles Laughton. … Continue reading

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September 2018 Viewing Diary

Slacker (1990; d. Richard Linklater) Did a little walk down Richard Linklater lane, starting at the top, and then going all the over the place chronologically. If you think about Linklater, and his extraordinary body of work – and you … Continue reading

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August 2017 Viewing Diary

Columbus (2017; d. Kogonada) I loved this movie so much. One of the best of the year so far. My review. Dunkirk (2017; d. Christopher Nolan) Overwhelming. Saw it in IMAX 70 mm so I can’t compare to others’ experiences … Continue reading

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July 2016 Viewing Diary

The Great Gatsby (2013; d. Baz Luhrmann) Watched 3 times. Never written about it before. I think there’s a genius in it. The Great Gatsby (1974; d. Jack Clayton) Never written about it before. I DON’T think there’s a genius … Continue reading

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Happy Birthday, Lillian Gish

While re-arranging my library, which meant removing many many books, I turned around and saw this tableau. Not only did Lillian Gish get her start in the earliest days of cinema, helping to basically “invent” the closeup, under the direction … Continue reading

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Happy Birthday, Maureen O’Hara

Maureen O’Hara was one of those “old” movie stars whom I grew up knowing about because of the yearly showing of Miracle on 34th Street on television, as well as my absolute obsession with Parent Trap. I wanted to be … Continue reading

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