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Pictured Above: 1931 Academy Awards November 5th, 1930
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Top10 Film Lists is a collection of movies, personalities & lists from my viewing. Everything here is subjective, so I'm always open to suggestions, comments on omissions or just plain new ideas.
Click the boxes below or the drop downs above for more information, history and reviews....
Click the boxes below or the drop downs above for more information, history and reviews....
This Week's Top 10:
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New & Recent Reviews:
From This Week's Newsletter:
Alice Guy-Blache
Alice Guy-Blache
Founders Series Part 2:
Alice Guy-Blache was the first female movie director, starting in 1896 and lasting until 1920. She brought the close-up, synchronized sound, color tinting & many other creative devices to early filmmaking. She first worked for French film manufacturer Gaumont, then formed her own film studio in the US called Solax. In her career she was credited with creating or overseeing more than 1,000 films, yet she is largely ignored in film history, a tragic oversight. Her life was featured in the 2018 documentary, Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blache.
Alice Guy-Blache was the first female movie director, starting in 1896 and lasting until 1920. She brought the close-up, synchronized sound, color tinting & many other creative devices to early filmmaking. She first worked for French film manufacturer Gaumont, then formed her own film studio in the US called Solax. In her career she was credited with creating or overseeing more than 1,000 films, yet she is largely ignored in film history, a tragic oversight. Her life was featured in the 2018 documentary, Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blache.
YouTube Introductions:
As part of the ongoing Beyond the Bay Virtual Film Series, Top10FilmLists posts video introductions to The Bay Community Theatre's YouTube Channel in advance of our bi-monthly live Q&A discussions.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
Upcoming Films in the Beyond the Bay Virtual Film Series:
The Best of 2020 Part 1 March 9th 7:30 PM
The Best of 2020 Part 2 March 23rd 7:30 PM
The Best of 2020 Part 2 March 23rd 7:30 PM
Quick Hits: Short Bursts on Recently Viewed Movies
My Top 10 Favorite Films
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2018 Blogathons:
I wrote about a selection of Ernst Lubitsch silents, made in Germany in the late teens for The Unexpected Blogothan.
I wrote about Red Dust ('32), which starred Clark Gable, Jean Harlow & Mary Astor & compared it to the remake, Mogambo ('53) which also starred Gable, but with Ava Gardner & Grace Kelly. Link to blogathon: https://bit.ly/2PnKtwk
I will be wrote about My Gal Sal (1942), starring Rita Hayworth & Victor Mature for the 100 Years of Rita Hayworth Blogathon on October 17th. Here is the link to he event: https://bit.ly/2O0OX87
I will be writing about Billy Wilder's classic Some Like it Hot for the Gender Bending the Rules Blogathon on September 21st. Here is the link: https://bit.ly/2JyHOIy
I will be blogging about Preston Sturges' Remember the Night for the Fred MacMurray Blogathon on August 30th. Here is the link: https://bit.ly/2NXSrbo
I will be writing a piece about John Ford's The Searchers for the Natalie Wood Blogathon on July 17th. Link to hosting website here: https://bit.ly/2L6gX89
I will be Blogging about Jean Vigo's masterpiece L'Atalante ('34) for the Free For All Blogathon on 3/3.
I will be reviewing Mogambo ('53), starring Clark Gable, Ava Gardner & Grace Kelly for The Clark Gable Blogathon on Feb 1st.
I will be reviewing Criss Cross (1949, Robert Siodmak) for the It Takes a Thief Blogothon on 11/17/17
I will be blogging about Wild Orchids for the Greta Garbo Blogathon on 11/22
I'll be blogging about Blood Simple in the 'Till Death Us Do Part Blogathon on 7/24
I'll be blogging about The Red Shoes in the En Pointe: The Ballet Blogathon on 8/4 & 8/5.
Featured Actor/Actress
Grace Kelly
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In a short, but impactful career the beautiful & talented Grace Kelly left her mark on Hollywood for her elegance, charm & sophistication. Her roles in 3 Alfred Hitchcock movies, Dial M For Murder, To Catch a Thief & Rear Window have become iconic in the director's filmography.
Featured Director
Ernst Lubitsch
Top 10 Ernst Lubitsch Films
Unfortunately Ernst Lubistch is often forgotten about when the greatest directors from the classic era are mentioned. His combination of visual gags & verbal wit made his films, first made in Germany during the teens & then in the US for the next 20 years, unmistakably unique. "The Lubitsch Touch" had as much to do with the sexual innuendo sprinkled throughout his films as it did for the visual panache of his settings & characters. He was a maestro behind the camera, directing brilliant performances & capturing stunningly beautiful images in front of it. His best 10 films had far reaching influence on how musicals were shot and constructed & how comedy was presented in both the silent & the sound era. Ernst Lubitsch was a giant who should be celebrated for his greatness!
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About Me:
I've loved movies for as long as I can remember. For more than 20 years, I've worked for several of the major studios, including MGM, Warner Bros. & 20th Century Fox in their Home Entertainment divisions. I'm partial to the Pre-Code era & Film Noir.
I've loved movies for as long as I can remember. For more than 20 years, I've worked for several of the major studios, including MGM, Warner Bros. & 20th Century Fox in their Home Entertainment divisions. I'm partial to the Pre-Code era & Film Noir.
Top 10 Film Lists in Print
Politics on Film is an e-book that features my piece on A Face in the Crowd
Memberships:
2021 Blogathons:
I will be writing about Becky Sharp (1935), based on the character from William Thackeray's novel Vanity Fair.
2020 Blogathons:
I will be writing about Niagara, starring Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotton & Jean Peters, from 1953 for the Celluloid Roadtrip Blogathon sponsored by Hometowns to Hollywood.
I have written about The Invisible Man as part of the Claude Rains Blogathon for The Pure Entertainment Preservation Society on November 9th. Here's a directly link to the complete Blogathon: https://bit.ly/357cQp9
Read my Pice on A Face in the Crowd from the CMBA Fall Blogathon: Politics on Film
I will be writing about Billy Wilder's A Foreign Affair, starring Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich & John Lund as part of the 120th Birthday celebration of Jean Arthur. The piece will post on October 15th.
See my piece on the films of Stanwyck & Capra to the left & clip the link below for all the complete list of submission for The Queen of Sass: Barbara Stanwyck Blogathon, hosted by Pale writer (https://palewriter2.home.blog/). My piece focused on the films Stanwyck made with Frank Capra. http://www.top10filmlists.com/frank-capra--barbara-stanwyck-the-evolution-of-a-romance.html
2019 Blogathons:
I wrote about The Film Noir Villainy of Dan Duryea for The Great Villain Blogathon. http://www.top10filmlists.com/the-noir-villainy-of-dan-duryea.html
