In 1975 Monty Python tried to make a proper movie (unlike their first film in 1971 which was just a loosely coupled revamp of some of their TV sketches). Everyone said they were daft to make a feature film, but they made it all the same, just to show them. It sank without trace. So … Read more
On this day in 1927, Fritz Lang’s extraordinary film “Metropolis” was first shown in the US. “Metropolis” can claim to be the first feature length science fiction film. Set in 2026 (so we still have 9 years to get it right!) the film’s actress Brigitte Helm plays the heroine Maria as well as her robot … Read more
A Marathon Investigation. While there are predictable social media conspiracy theories that the “whole thing was a hoax”, the two bombs that went off near the finish line of the Boston marathon on April 15th 2013 killed three members of the public and injured more than 250 others. It was a life-changing event for those … Read more
Eels well that ends well. “A Cure for Wellness” is the latest film from Gore Verbinski, who has delivered an entertainingly mixed bag of movie goodies over the years from the original (western) version of “The Ring”through three of the first five “Pirates of the Caribbean” films (for the love of God, please STOP!) to … Read more
Jean Harlow (b. 1911) was born. An early sex-symbol, “The Blonde Bombshell” was ‘found’ by Howard Hughes and launched into stardom through her appearance in 1930’s “Hell’s Angels”. She later starred in MGM films of the 1930’s including “Dinner at Eight” (1933) and “Reckless” (1935) before tragically dying of kidney failure at the age of … Read more