As I’ve been reading more biographies as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate how not just the way that the writing style affects the portrayal of the subjects, but how the attitude that the author brings to the proceedings is paramount as well. For example, Christina Rice’s unbridled enthusiasm Read more…
Pre-Code.Com Site News for August 2015 Ah, August! It’s time for TCM’s annual ‘Summer Under the Stars’ programming block, where each day is dedicated to a different star of old Hollywood. It’s usually a mix between more enduring stars, and some slightly more obscure ones. This summer’s selection is certainly Read more…
Hey everyone! Every year I take the time around my birthday off, and I’m doing it again. No updates here on Friday or Monday (besides this), but, if you’re desperate to read something, I’ve been writing about some beach movies over at The Black Maria. There you can read my Read more…
Pre-Code.Com Site News for July 2015 Happy July! I hope you’re as excited about the summer as I am. I, for one, will get to the beach at some point. … and I’ll be reading. Okay, my summer plans aren’t that exciting. What is exciting is that I’m finally able Read more…
Pre-Code.Com Site News for June 2015 It’s Reader Request month, so look out all month long for reviews that you, the readers, requested. That’s about the most exciting thing happening around here for right now, and TCM’s schedule, as you’ll see below, isn’t the most exciting either. It’s okay. At Read more…
Hi, everyone. You’re probably getting sick of these sorts of announcements, so I’ll make this one brief: I have written a book. You’re probably shaking your heads at this point since I was talking about two different books just last week, so let me explain. Murder on Celluloid: A Companion Read more…
Harry Van Clark Gable Irene Norma Shearer Released by MGM | Directed By Clarence Brown Idiot’s Delight: The Gathering Storm “Evidentially, Mr. Van, that you are not fully aware of the present international situation!” “I’m aware the international situation is always regrettable. What’s wrong now?” A lot of other entries Read more…
Hi everyone! In case you weren’t paying attention, last week I announced a contest to win a copy of Taste the Blood of Monster Serial. I got a half dozen responses with some excellent choices. Check ’em out: From Tom: My favorite vampire movie is “Nosferatu”, because Max Schreck’s character Read more…
Doing something a little different around here today. Some of you may remember last year when I was published in The Bride of Monster Serial, a compilation of essays on horror movies. Recently the follow-up has come out, Taste the Blood of Monster Serial, and it’s all about vampire movies, Read more…
I treasure obscurity. You may have already guessed this since I run a site that tirelessly mines many of the dustiest corners of Hollywood’s history, but I love discovering odd gems, hidden disasters, and near misses. It’s of that last category that star Ann Dvorak falls into. Playing the leading Read more…