Tag Archives: Thomas Mitchell

Happy Birthday, Thomas Mitchell

Interesting that Thomas Mitchell and Bruce McGill were born on the same day (scroll down). I said in the piece about Bruce McGill that McGill is in “the Thomas Mitchell tradition” and the “Thomas Mitchell tradition” is quickly vanishing from … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged | 6 Comments

September 2022 Viewing Diary

The Deep End (2022; d. Jon Kasbe) I’m into cults but I actively avoid woo-woo, so somehow Teal Swan escaped my radar. Well, she’s on my radar NOW. This Netflix doc is extraordinary because Teal Swan participated in it, she … Continue reading

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

March 2020 Viewing Diary: A Before and After List

I began this viewing diary in a time of innocence (and naivete) before social distancing became compulsory (or at least strongly suggested). We here were months behind schedule, due to the disgraceful anti-science buffoonery of the current administration, who do … Continue reading

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

On Thomas Mitchell in Film Comment

My essay on Thomas Mitchell in the current issue of Film Comment (print only). It looks so good! I love how huge the image of him is, with that big wide striped tie. Such a superb actor. Pick up a … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Movies | Tagged | 1 Comment

For Film Comment: On Thomas Mitchell in Moontide

I had been wanting to write about Thomas Mitchell for a long time. He’s one of my favorite actors and there really isn’t all that much out there about him. Everyone knows how great he is, and he shows up … Continue reading

Posted in Actors | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 44 Comments

October 2015 Viewing Diary

Moontide (1942; d. Archie Mayo – and an uncredited Fritz Lang) And John O’Hara wrote the screenplay. How I love this film. Ida Lupino plays a suicidal girl, rescued from the waves by Bobo (a to-die-for Jean Gabin). Bobo is … Continue reading

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 70 Comments

Make Way for Tomorrow (1937); Director: Leo McCarey

Peter Bogdanovich, during one of his many conversations with Orson Welles, asked Welles if he had ever seen a little-known film that was a flop in its original release, Make Way For Tomorrow, directed by Leo McCarey. And Welles exploded, … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | 18 Comments

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), dir. Frank Capra

Frank Capra on Jean Arthur (quoted in Richard Schickel’s The Men Who Made the Movies): Jean Arthur was an enigmatic figure because she doesn’t do very well in crowds, and she doesn’t do very well with people, and she doesn’t … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

20 Favorite Actors

Joining the fun that’s been going on, and to quote Nathaniel who started this whole thing: “In no particular order and extremely subject to change.” For example: where the hell is Robert Mitchum? And William H. Macy? And Sean Penn … Continue reading

Posted in Actors | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 32 Comments