Written and reviewed by Larry Gleeson during the annual TCM 31 Days of Oscar Ninotchka, a black and white, 1939 American romantic comedy film made for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by producer and director Ernst Lubitsch  (The Shop Around the Corner) and starring Greta Garbo (Camille, Grand Hotel) and Melvyn Douglas. Billy Wilder was one of the writers along with Charles Brackett and Walter Reisch.

Written and reviewed by Larry Gleeson during the annual TCM 31 Days of Oscar (2025) Double Indemnity, possibly the definite film that firmly establishes the tenants of film noir with its dark visuals and dark narrative with an unflinching pitch-black worldview reminiscent of German Expressionism. Fred MacMurray (Walter Neff) a successful insurance salesman crosses path with femme fatale, Phyllis Didrikson (Barbara Stanwyck).

Posted by Larry Gleeson The 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival will open in Hollywood, California, from April 24–27. The festival's theme is: GRAND ILLUSIONS: FANTASTIC WORLDS ON FILM The festival will include films such as: GEORGE STEVENS: A FILMMAKER’S JOURNEY (1984) George Stevens, Jr., produced and narrates this look at his father's life and work. It includes interviews with Katharine Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Hermes Pan, Frank Capra, John Huston, Alan J.

Posted by Larry Gleeson As we inch closer to the 97th Academy Awards, one can only guess who will be taking Oscar home. Here are my top picks leading into Sunday evenings event. My best guess for Best Picture is Anora Best Actor Adrian Brody (The Brutalist) Best Actress Demi Moore (The Substance) (Mikey Madison is my personal favorite- she's just fun!)

Posted by Larry Gleeson The TCM Classic Film Festival, April 24-27, 2025, in Hollywood California,  has selected Michael Schultz as this year's honoree Michael Schultz's work has consistently drawn praise for its humane qualities, humor, warmth, and life-affirming optimism. Mr. Schultz achieved a distinguished career in the New York theater in the late 1960s early ‘70s. He began directing regional theater at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, with critically acclaimed productions of Waiting for Godot and The Emperor Jones.

Reviewed by Larry Gleeson during the annual TCM 31 Days of Oscar. The Maltese Falcon (1941), directed by John Houston, tells the story of hard-boiled detective, Sam Spade, hired for a missing person case. When his partner is murdered, the stakes are raised. What unfolds is a tale of Spade, his partner's wife (Gladys George), a stunningly beautiful liar (Mary Astor), two police detectives, and three eccentric criminals.

Posted by Larry Gleeson The Berlinale is a unique place of artistic exploration and entertainment. It is one of the largest public film festivals in the world, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from around the globe. The Berlinale brings the big stars of international cinema to Berlin and discovers new talents. It accompanies filmmakers of all disciplines on their paths into the spotlight and supports careers, projects, dreams and visions.

Reviewed by Larry Gleeson during the annual TCM 31 Days of Oscar Some Like it Hot (1959), directed, co-written, and produced by Billy Wilder, a seven-time Oscar winner (with 21 Oscar nominations). Wilder is considered one the most brilliant and versatile filmmakers of the Classical Hollywood Era. His classic film noir. Double Indemnity (1944), won Wilder his first Oscar for Best Director.

Written and reviewed by Larry Gleeson during the annual 31 Days of Oscar I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932), a Pre-code production from Warner Brothers' Vitaphone, is based on the true story of Robert Elliot Burns, wrongly convicted of robbery and sentenced to ten years on a brutal and inhumane chain gang. The film received three Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Sound.

Reviewed by Larry Gleeson during the annual TCM 31 Days of Oscar Bullitt (1968) directed by Peter Yates, is a star vehicle for Steve McQueen with production from McQueen’s Solar Productions, and distributed by Warner Bros. The film was shot on location in San Francisco and features the groundbreaking car chase that is considered one of the greatest in film history.

Written and reviewed by Larry Gleeson The Blackboard Jungle directed by Richard Brooks and based Evan Hunter's novel of the same title, is a cautionary tale of when conservatism runs amok - think "wildings" and the crack epidemic in New York City during the 1980's and early 1990's. Brooks uses a school for his setting. Brooks shows the audience an unruly, and undisciplined students, refusing to follow basic classroom and assembly procedures, assaulting teachers, and wielding switch blades.

Posted by Larry Gleeson Abe Lincoln in Illinois, is a period piece, directed by John Cromwell, and tells the story of Abraham Lincoln's early days, including the tragedy of his first love. This morning as I was watching the news, a film thought to be lost over 100 years ago was discovered cleaned, restored and digitized. The film was originally titled, …

Reviewed by Larry Gleeson during the annual TCM 31 Days of Oscar Alice Adams (1935), a dramatic romantic comedy, directed by George Stevens, was nominated for two Oscars, Best Picture, and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Katherine Hepburn's work as Alice Adams. The film helped establish Stevens as a formidable director and stabilized Hepburn career after several box office flops.

Posted by Larry Gleeson GRAND ILLUSIONS: FANTASTIC WORLDS ON FILM APRIL 24-27, 2025 Movie lovers will once again descend upon Hollywood Boulevard for one-of-a-kind programming event themed “Grand Illusions: Fantastic Worlds on Film” at the TCM Classic Film Festival on April 24 - April 27, 2025. Over four packed days and nights, attendees will be treated to an extensive lineup of great movies, appearances by legendary stars, panel discussions, special events, and more.

Written ans reviewed by Larry Gleeson during the annual TCM 31 Days of Oscar Giant (1956) received 10 Oscar nominations with George Stevens taking home the statuette for Best Director. The film, based on his adaptation of Edna Ferber's 1952 best-selling novel, is three hours and seventeen minutes long following the Benedict family across several generations. Along the way the audience is introduced to cattlemen, roughnecks, the underclass.

Written and reviewed by Larry Gleeson Somebody Up There Likes Me, based on the autobiography of Rocky Graziano, is the story of Rocky Barbella, a.k.a, Rocky Graziano, a world champion middleweight boxer. Paul Newman stars in the leading role of Rocky. Other cast members include Pier Angeli (Norma), Everett Sloan (Irving Cohen), Eileen Heckart (Ma Barbella), Sal Mineo (Romolo), Harold J.

Written and reviewed by Larry Gleeson during the annual TCM 31 Days of Oscar The first time I saw Black Narcissus was the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California, during the TCM Classic Film Festival. Martin Scorsese introduced the film. While introducing the film, Scorsese informed the audience the Egyptian had been recently retrofitted to allow for silver nitrate film stock to be safely screened and tonight's screening of…

Posted by Larry Gleeson AFI ANNOUNCES THE DIRECTORS SELECTED FOR THE AFI DWW+ CLASS OF 2026 Award-winning Filmmaker Marie Jamora Named Guest Artistic Director Alums Include Lesli Linka Glatter, Siân Heder, Dime Davis, Cicely Tyson, Lee Grant, Gandja Monteiro, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Maya Angelou and More FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Los Angeles, CA, February 13, 2025 – Today, the American Film Institute…

Reviewed by Larry Gleeson during the annual TCM 31 Days of Oscar. Summer of '42, directed by Robert Mulligan tells the story of three friends who vacation on an island in the Summer of ’42 and how certain events transform their lives. The film opens with montage of nostalgic photos set melancholic non-diegetic music. In turn, the beat increases in tempo becoming more upbeat and more pensive.

Posted by Larry Gleeson The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently announced the designated Oscar® nominees that were yet to be determined in the Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature Film and Best Picture categories at the time of the 97th Oscars® Nominations Announcement that took place on Thursday, January 23. Across 23 awards categories, there are a total of 220 individual nominees, not including the five countries nominated for International Feature Film.

Reviewed by Larry Gleeson during the annual TCM 31 Days of Oscar North by Northwest, is considered by many to be one of cinema's greatest films. Director Alfred Hitchcock, a master of suspense, is at the peak of his powers as a director, having been making films in the United States for two decades. In addition, the film's musical conductor, Bernard Hermann, is at the peak of his powers as a conductor.

Written and reviewed by Larry Gleeson Moulin Rouge (1952), directed by John Huston (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Chinatown), stars Jose Ferrer, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Colette Marchand, and Susan Flo, and is based on the novel, "Moulin Rouge," by Pierre La Mure. The film was nominated for six Oscars winning two, one for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color (Paul Sheriff, Marcel Vertes), and one for Best Costume Design, Color (Marcel Vertes).

Written and reviewed by Larry Gleeson Oscar-Worthy Lawyers. To Kill A Mockingbird, a black and white film, based on Harper Lee's novel of the same title, tells the story of a Deep South attorney, Atticus Finch, who defends a black man accused of rape while teaching his children about the world's racial prejudices. Gregory Peck embodies Atticus Finch in a credible way with mannerisms, costuming, voice, and intelligence.

Written and reviewed by Larry Gleeson Mildred Pierce, directed by Michael Curtiz, is part of this year's annual TCM 31 Days of Oscar under the theme, Oscar-worthy Moms. Mildred Pierce, the film's lead character, is portrayed by Joan Crawford. Crawford came from Broadway and first distinguished herself in film as a "flapper," with notoriety on par with Greta Garbo. Crawford usually portrayed hard-working women who achieved financial success.