Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the internet...

...My latest column for ClassicFlix is on underrated musicals available on DVD. Please check it out! The 10 titles include Deanna Durbin's CAN'T HELP SINGING (1944), seen in this photo.

...I've mentioned the Republic Pictures Blogathon a couple of times in recent days. Do be sure to click over to 50 Westerns From the 50s and read some really wonderful posts and discussions on a number of interesting films.

...Because of my prior commitment to the Republic Blogathon, along with plans to see a couple films in theaters last weekend, I didn't have time to also participate in the TCM Discoveries blogathon hosted by the Nitrate Diva. (That's also why this roundup is later than usual!) I'm still reading my way through a bunch of terrific posts on movies which bloggers saw for the very first time on TCM. What a wonderful idea for a blogathon!

...Alan K. Rode will be hosting the first Palm Springs Classic Science Fiction and Horror Festival this October 23-25th. It's sponsored by the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Titles include THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951), IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953), CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954), THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN (1957), and more. Further details and links as they become available! (Update: Here is the ticket page, and here is the festival home page!)

...More good news from Alan, via Twitter: Both TOO LATE FOR TEARS (1949) and WOMAN ON THE RUN (1950) are due out on Blu-ray in 2016! Hopefully they'll also have releases on DVD.

...Coming to Blu-ray and DVD from Criterion Collection on December 8th: SPEEDY (1928) starring Harold Lloyd. It was previously released on DVD by New Line.

...Doris Day is quashing rumors that she plans to make a movie with Clint Eastwood.

...Here's a piece by Leonard Maltin, "35mm Isn't Dead Yet."

...My review copy of Maltin's third and final edition of his CLASSIC MOVIE GUIDE has just arrived. More on it after I've had time to look it over and also do a little comparing to the previous edition.

...Out this month from the University Press of Mississippi: A REAL AMERICAN CHARACTER: THE LIFE OF WALTER BRENNAN. It was written by Carl Rollyson, author of the fine 2012 biography of Dana Andrews.

...Turner Classic Movies and Amazon have announced that TCM will be available for streaming via the Amazon Fire Stick. Will McKinley has full details at Cinematically Insane.

...Hallmark Channel has announced 17 new TV-movies for the Christmas season. The annual "Countdown to Christmas" begins this year on..Halloween?!

...This Movies Silently piece by Fritzi Kramer on Kino's release of THE EPIC OF EVEREST (1924) has me interested, as I've done a lot of reading on Everest. Speaking of which, my oldest daughter saw the new EVEREST (2015) in IMAX at the Chinese Theatre last weekend and recommended I go see it. The trailer is at IMDb. The movie has an official website.

...I'm two-thirds of the way into Season One of Marvel's AGENTS OF SHIELD and loving it, especially the episode I just saw, "Yes Men," which featured a tremendously fun visit from Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander) of THOR (2011). I really appreciate the strong women's roles in the Marvel films and TV shows, starting, of course, with Hayley Atwell's AGENT CARTER. On AGENTS OF SHIELD Ming-Na Wen's amazingly physical, tough and calculating Agent Melinda May has to be one of the most remarkable female characters in television history, especially given that the actress is in her early 50s. "You took my plane. I want it back!"

...And by the way, AGENT CARTER was released on DVD and Blu-ray a few days ago, sold exclusively by Amazon.

...One more bit of Marvel news: The Netflix original series JESSICA JONES becomes available on November 20, 2015. A teaser trailer is here. Yes, I'm totally hooked on Marvel at this point!

...Attention Southern Californians: Coming to the Carpenter Center in Long Beach on Sunday afternoon, November 22nd: GENE KELLY: THE LEGACY hosted by his widow, Patricia Ward Kelly.

...Notable Passing: May Boss, a stuntwoman on FORT DOBBS (1958), MARY POPPINS (1964), and many more films, has passed away at the age of 90.

...TCM will be honoring the late Dickie Moore with a nine-film tribute on Thursday, September 24th.

...If you missed last week's classic film news roundup, it's right here!

Have a great week!