Drama

Phone Call From A Stranger (1952)

By Alexander Inglis
Gary Merrill, Shelley Winters, Michael Rennie

In a town full of starlets, Bette Davis was always an actress. Her most memorable work spans a very few years, just before and just after the beginning of WWII. Davis Davis lobbied for the role of Marie Hoke in Phone Call From A Stranger (1952) believing it was a juicy plumb with opportunities for… »

American Madness (1932)

By Alexander Inglis
Walter Huston, star of American Madness

On the audio commentary track, it is stated that “a run on a bank couldn’t happen today because our money is protected”. That was recorded in 2005; how times change — and how things remain the same! In the midst of our own century’s most traumatic financial crisis, where not just 25% of banks but… »

Dead End (1937)

By Alexander Inglis
Waterfront, from Dead End

Dead End (1937), although nominated for four Oscars including Best Picture, won nothing. Although it’s a fine picutre, and stands up remarkably well for its time, this was hardly an example of “Oscar getting it wrong”; it’s memorable as a break-through role for Humphrey Bogart, third in billing, as the gangster… »

Morning Glory (1933)

By Alexander Inglis
Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Katharine Hepburn

Morning Glory (1933) is a touching, well paced story of a young woman vying for success in the glamourous world of New York’s theatre. Premiered a year before the enforcement of the notorious production code, it was only Hepburn’s third film, but it won her her first of 12 Oscar nominations, and her first win…. »