Tag Archives: George Stevens

Giant (1956): 60th Anniversary Screening at Film Forum

September 30, 2016: QA with George Stevens Jr. – the son of the director – and Carroll Baker before the film, moderated by historian and writer Foster Hirsch Foster Hirsch: We are very lucky to have with us the son … Continue reading

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September 2016 Viewing Diary

Kicks (2016; d. Justin Tipping) Absolutely loved it. There have been so many excellent first-time directors making features this year. My review for Rogerebert.com. Kiss Me Deadly (1955; d. Robert Aldrich) I love this bizarre paranoid insanely phantasmagorical … film … Continue reading

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February 2016 Viewing Diary

X Files, Season 10, Episode 2 “Founder’s Mutation” (2016; d. James Wong) Mythology! Now listen: I haven’t seen the finale yet. I will this Saturday with my partner-in-crime Keith. So no spoilers – it has taken superhuman strength to stay … Continue reading

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Norman Mailer as Shelley Winters’ Audition Coach

Taken from an interview with Mailer for The Paris Review included in The Paris Review Interviews, III (I am now devouring all 4 volumes, thanks to cousin Mike). The interview was done by Andrew O’Hagan and took place in 2007, … Continue reading

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“This time give us a little awe.”

Excerpt from Bradford Dillman’s book Are you Somebody? An Actor’s Life: In The Greatest Story Ever Told [John] Wayne was cast as a Roman captain who visits the scene of the Crucifixion and says, standing at the feet of Christ, … Continue reading

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Snapshots

— I got sucked into The Adventures of Mark Twain almost against my will. It has a ham-hocked script that rushes through the events of Twain’s life (his wife, “You are an eternal boy … why don’t you write about … Continue reading

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The Books: “Montgomery Clift: A Biography” (Patricia Bosworth)

Daily Book Excerpt: Entertainment Biography/Memoir: Montgomery Clift: A biography, by Patricia Bosworth I consider this book to be a high watermark in entertainment biography. I find myself comparing all other biographies to this one. In a similar way that Ron … Continue reading

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Trains In Cinema

Another breathtaking montage (it’s part of a series). I get really excited when he posts a new installment. Just beautifully put together, I think. I love the train sequence in Penny Serenade – right after Cary Grant and Irene Dunne … Continue reading

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Penny Serenade (1941): An Appreciation

A sweet (sometimes saccharine) and wonderfully acted movie, directed by George Stevens, starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. It was the first time Cary Grant was nominated for an Oscar, mainly because of the one scene where he goes before … Continue reading

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Billy Wilder on Symbolism

Excerpt from Conversations with Wilder: If you do a picture like George Stevens — he did that very famous picture A Place in the Sun. Now, there is a district attorney in that picture who limps. I talked to somebody … Continue reading

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