ptklein
@ptklein.com
Film historian and cultural critic. Movie theaters, cinema spaces, and filmgoing cultures. Radically optimistic. Writing at www.howtoreadmovies.com, Metro Weekly, Film Atlas, and elsewhere. Cohost @ColdWarCinema.com. He/Him/His.
Good morning, quiet ones 🕉️
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“A Hard Day’s Night” (Richard Lester, 1964). Remembering George Harrison (2/25/43-11/29/01) today with one of my favorite films.
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“A Hard Day’s Night” (Richard Lester, 1964). Remembering George Harrison (2/25/43-11/29/01) today with one of my favorite films.
November 29, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Good morning, quiet ones 🕉️
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“A Hard Day’s Night” (Richard Lester, 1964). Remembering George Harrison (2/25/43-11/29/01) today with one of my favorite films.
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“A Hard Day’s Night” (Richard Lester, 1964). Remembering George Harrison (2/25/43-11/29/01) today with one of my favorite films.
Many Republican-held states, so incensed that a Democrat would move such a seemingly time-honored tradition, refused to recognize the new date for SIX YEARS.
Moments like these lampoon the ridiculousness of the situation. Note the turkey’s defeated shrug in this bit from 1942’s Holiday Inn.
Moments like these lampoon the ridiculousness of the situation. Note the turkey’s defeated shrug in this bit from 1942’s Holiday Inn.
November 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Many Republican-held states, so incensed that a Democrat would move such a seemingly time-honored tradition, refused to recognize the new date for SIX YEARS.
Moments like these lampoon the ridiculousness of the situation. Note the turkey’s defeated shrug in this bit from 1942’s Holiday Inn.
Moments like these lampoon the ridiculousness of the situation. Note the turkey’s defeated shrug in this bit from 1942’s Holiday Inn.
You’ve probably seen a joke like this one in an old movie about Democrats and Republicans having their own Thanksgiving days. But why do these gags exist in the first place?
It’s the Franksgiving controversy! In 1939, FDR moved Thanksgiving to accommodate an extra week of holiday shopping.
It’s the Franksgiving controversy! In 1939, FDR moved Thanksgiving to accommodate an extra week of holiday shopping.
November 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
You’ve probably seen a joke like this one in an old movie about Democrats and Republicans having their own Thanksgiving days. But why do these gags exist in the first place?
It’s the Franksgiving controversy! In 1939, FDR moved Thanksgiving to accommodate an extra week of holiday shopping.
It’s the Franksgiving controversy! In 1939, FDR moved Thanksgiving to accommodate an extra week of holiday shopping.
Calling all oomfs to say good morning
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Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987, John Hughes)
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Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987, John Hughes)
November 27, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Calling all oomfs to say good morning
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Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987, John Hughes)
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Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987, John Hughes)
No one will ever do Losing My Mind better than Barbara.
November 25, 2025 at 12:06 AM
No one will ever do Losing My Mind better than Barbara.
If you saw Wicked: For Good this weekend, did you catch its cheeky reference to Charlie Chaplin’s globe dance in 1940’s The Great Dictator?
November 23, 2025 at 4:07 PM
If you saw Wicked: For Good this weekend, did you catch its cheeky reference to Charlie Chaplin’s globe dance in 1940’s The Great Dictator?
Good morning 🧟♂️
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Frankenstein (James Whale, 1931).
One of cinema’s greatest entrances and most enduring images thanks to the man behind the monster, Boris Karloff, born William Henry Pratt on this day in 1887.
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Frankenstein (James Whale, 1931).
One of cinema’s greatest entrances and most enduring images thanks to the man behind the monster, Boris Karloff, born William Henry Pratt on this day in 1887.
November 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Good morning 🧟♂️
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Frankenstein (James Whale, 1931).
One of cinema’s greatest entrances and most enduring images thanks to the man behind the monster, Boris Karloff, born William Henry Pratt on this day in 1887.
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Frankenstein (James Whale, 1931).
One of cinema’s greatest entrances and most enduring images thanks to the man behind the monster, Boris Karloff, born William Henry Pratt on this day in 1887.
Good morning 🤪
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The King of Comedy (Martin Scorsese, 1983)
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The King of Comedy (Martin Scorsese, 1983)
November 20, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Good morning 🤪
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The King of Comedy (Martin Scorsese, 1983)
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The King of Comedy (Martin Scorsese, 1983)