New Year, New Movie: Smart Woman (1931)

It's about time for a light and fluffy pre-code this evening. I will watch any movie with Edward Everett Horton. For my fellow Generation Xers, you will remember him as the narrator of Fractured Fairy Tales on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, and just the sound of his voice elicits fond memories, though he really is quite funny and always entertaining to see. He is here to support in this movie, with Mary Astor doing most of the heavy lifting.

"A wife should stick to her husband. If she doesn't, another woman will."

New Year, New Movie: La maldición de la Llorona (1963)

Saturday nights were made for horror, and The Curse of the Crying Woman is just the sort of movie to watch on a foggy winter night. 

"You're entering the Kingdom of the Supernatural...the origin of Evil!"

New Year, New Movie: The Damned Don't Cry (1950)

I am back in the saddle tonight with a gripping film noir with a great title. 

"I know how you feel. You're a nice guy. But the world isn't for nice guys. You gotta kick and punch and belt your way up cause nobody's gonna give you a lift. You gotta do it yourself cause nobody cares about us but ourselves."

New Year, New Movie: Invasion U.S.A. (1952)

Well. I'm getting a late start tonight because I've been watching real life drama. I wasn't entirely sure what movie would fit the bill for this evening, but I've decided to go with Invasion U.S.A. 

"The enemy is attempting to seize the seat of government! We are surrounded!"

New Year, New Movie: The Monster (1925)

Tonight is a foggy night that is ideal for watching an old dark house mystery that features Lon Chaney as a mad doctor, which is what inspired me to pick up The Monster. 

"A human monster watched with cat-like eyes for a victim."

New Year, New Movie: The Seventh Victim (1943)

I'm turning to the Criterion Channel for tonight's movie. I am learning to check the films that are leaving the Channel at the end of the month much earlier in the month so I can prioritize my viewing. Since quite a few of the movies on my watchlist will be gone in February, I thought I'd better start working on some of them. Tonight's film choice is a noiror from Val Lewton studios that features satan worshippers. 

"Your sister had a feeling about life. That it wasn't worth living unless one could end it."

New Year, New Movie: Secret Beyond the Door (1947)

I am enjoying my New Year's resolution to discover a new movie every day. I realize now how my past attempts at resolutions were all wrong. Each new year, you should always resolve to do something nice for yourself every day. 

I was considering two different movies by Fritz Lang starring Joan Bennett to watch tonight, Man Hunt and Secret Beyond the Door. I finally settled on Man Hunt, but the disc wouldn't play for me, so the choice was made for me.

"Mark, my sweet lamb, you're tetched in the head."

New Year, New Movie: Unfaithfully Yours (1948)

*This is what I love about movies.*

That is what I was thinking when I came to the end of this film.

My resolution this year is to watch a new (to me) movie every day in 2021. Here are the films I had considered watching today that I've never seen before:

The General

Pandora's box

City Lights

Moonrise

The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry

Razzia sur la Chnouf

It's quite a mixed bag, though, isn't it? Sometimes it's hard to choose when one is fortunate enough to have such a range of movies available. Today, I finally settled on Unfaithfully Yours, a Preston Sturges film. I recently watched another film he wrote and directed, Christmas in July, with Dick Powell. Other films of his that I have enjoyed are A Palm Beach Story and Sullivan's Travels. The Lady Eve will be up next for consideration in what I am going to watch. If you need a good laugh that is deeply satisfying, then Preston Sturges is your man!

"There's nothing the matter with me that a couple of magnums of champagne won't cure."

New Year, New Movie: The Phantom Carriage (1921)

It's another new year! Time to make some resolutions you have every intention of keeping, but know you probably will not. I generally don't make them, but this year shall be different! I resolve to watch a new (to me) movie every day this year! How's that for an ambitious resolution that's probably not going to happen. Let's see how I do.

Ordinarily at this time of year, I like to delve into silent film. Silent films can be enjoyed at any time of year, but they just seem to call to me during the cold, dreary days of winter. On the other hand, I received several film noir collection sets for Christmas, in addition to an already large collection I own and have not yet explored, which is also calling to me. I have the will and the desire to keep this resolution. The question is whether or not I can make the time. 

I decided to start off with a New Year's film from 100 years ago. I picked up The Phantom Carriage in 2018 during one of those Criterion Flash Sales I love so much, so it was about time I got around to watching it, and today was the perfect day for it. 

"You know, David, if I could send a message to mankind, I would like to send them a New Year's greeting. I would like them to dwell on a single New Year's prayer:  'Lord, please let my soul come to maturity before it is reaped.'"

Happy Halloween!

Halloween greetings to all! It's been a busy season and I've had to take a break from the 1970s horror, much to my chagrin, but I intend to get back to it soon. It is a pretty disturbing era for horror, so it was good to take a break the other night with some pre-code horror with The Vampire Bat. 

I am celebrating Halloween with a double feature of two of my favorite scary movies playing on the Criterion Channel, Nosferatu, and the 1979 remake, Nosferatu the Vampyre. I may follow both up with Shadow of a Vampire, if I have the stamina for it. If you haven't seen that film, it's a fun fictional telling of the making of Nosferatu. I will be taking a break to check in on the Dark Shadows live reunion broadcast at 6 pm PT/9 pm ET with Lara Parker, David Selby, Nancy Barrett, Marie Wallace, James Storm, Roger Davis, Sharon Smyth, Christopher Pennock and Kathryn Leigh Scott. It's being hosted by The Quarantine Theatre Company at their YouTube channel, if you are interested in checking it out. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNXgS0lMRsCdWbvNtUKHgww