Tag Archives: William Holden

“I don’t really know why, but danger has always been an important thing in my life – to see how far I could lean without falling, how fast I could go without cracking up.” — William Holden

Posted on April 17, 2025 by sheila

It’s his birthday today. Years ago, I wrote a long essay about William Holden for Slant, which focused a lot on his physicality (he was so athletic and he had great control). I really like that piece. I reiterated my … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!

Posted on April 8, 2025 by sheila

I’ll be at the Jacob Burns Film Center tomorrow night for the 7 pm screening of Network, to host a little discussion and audience QA afterwards. It’s been a regular thing now, these Jacob Burns events – their programming there … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

June 2024 Viewing Diary

Posted on July 4, 2024 by sheila

Sunset Boulevard (1950; d. Billy Wilder) I had so much fun discussing Sunset Boulevard with the audience after the screening at Jacob Burns Film Center. I’ll be doing another one in August, after Billy Wilder’s The Apartment. The audience was … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Talking 1953 movies with Jason Bailey and Mike Hull: A Very Good Year podcast

Posted on August 13, 2023 by sheila

My pal Jason Bailey and his pal Mike Hull host a fascinating podcast called A Very Good Year, which they describe as: “Each week we invite a guest (filmmakers and actors, critics and historians, comedians and musicians) who loves movies, … Continue reading →

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

June 2023 Viewing Diary

Posted on July 2, 2023 by sheila

Succession (2018-2023) I finally watched, having somehow resisted the DEAFENING buzz over the last couple of years. I like Jeremy Strong, liked his small moment in Zero Dark Thirty, he totally stood out in The Big Short (directed by one … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Sidney Lumet: Excerpts from Making Movies

Posted on June 25, 2022 by sheila

It’s Sidney Lumet’s birthday. Here are many excerpts from his classic and invaluable film-making handbook Making Movies: In Murder on the Orient Express, I wanted Ingrid Bergman to play the Russian Princess Dragomiroff. She wanted to play the retarded Swedish … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Books, Directors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Podcast: The Last Thing I Saw: Focus on Billy Wilder

Posted on August 18, 2021 by sheila

It was so much fun appearing on Nicolas Rapold’s “The Last Thing I Saw” to discuss Billy Wilder. The other guests were Farran Smith Nehme (a good friend of mine), and Steven Mears. The inspiration to discuss Billy Wilder was … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Directors, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

April 2021 Viewing Diary

Posted on May 2, 2021 by sheila

Jewel Robbery (1932; d. William Dieterle) This glittering pre-Code, starring William Powell as a jewel thief, and Kay Francis as a married woman in love with her jewels, is such a subversive delight. Powell is devastatingly charming and Francis is … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Present Tense: Death Scenes

Posted on September 26, 2019 by sheila

William Holden, “Sunset Boulevard” For my next “Present Tense” column at Film Comment, I wrote about a long-time obsession – which I have covered from time to time here on my site: Actors performing death scenes. And a tribute to … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Francois Truffaut on Sgt. J.J. Sefton in Stalag 17

Posted on July 21, 2009 by sheila

This is, perhaps, the best analysis of that character, played by William Holden, that I have ever read. Sefton is intelligent; that’s why he acts as he does. For the first time in films the philosophy of the solitary man … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Movies | Tagged , , , , | 21 Comments