Category: Film

Robert Siodmak born August 8, 1900

Film director Robert Siodmak was born on August 8, 1900.  Among his films are the great film noirs Criss Cross and The Killers.

‘Freaks’ (the film)

A really amazing and bizarre film.  I also recommend Lon Chaney’s films discussed in the article.

Director Tod Browning was born on July 12, 1880.

Blobfest

Blobfest photos from 2013 and 2015

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Have you seen the 1958 science fiction film The Blob?  It was filmed near Philadelphia.  The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville is in the film during a scene in which the blob invades the theater and patrons rush out onto the street.

Now, the theater sponsors an annual Blobfest which will be held on July 13-15.  I have been to three of them.  It is great to be in the theater and watch the same place on the screen as the blob oozes out of the projection booth.  They show The Blob as part of a double feature with a similar film.

They always have guests.  This year, they will have Keith Almoney who plays the young brother of Steve McQueen’s girl friend in the film.  He is now old and large and looked like a late-model Jerry Garcia when I saw him a few years ago.

They will also have Ricou Browning who played the creature when it was underwater in Creature from the Black Lagoon which will be shown on July 14th.

The re-creation of the runout always sells out.  Here’s what an last year’s looked like.

Blobfest schedule

Self-Guided tour to Blob locations

 

Rudy Ray Moore movie: ‘Dolemite Is My Name!’

I was happy to read there will be a movie about Rudy Ray Moore. 

It will star Eddie Murphy and will be written by the guys who wrote films about Ed Wood and Larry Flynt.

For more information about Moore, click here.

Four of Moore’s best films have recently been released on Blu-ray discs by Vinegar Syndrome.  They did a great job.

YouTube has clips.  Here is the outrageous beginning of ‘Petey Wheatstraw’

 

Buster Keaton studio

I strongly recommend the great Keaton Blu-rays issued by Kino Lorber.  Start with The General or Steamboat Bill, Jr.

The films are silent but the comedy is timeless.

This links to a great stunt from Steamboat Bill, Jr.  It was real, not CGI.

There’s a fine collection of his short films.  I recommend ‘One Week’ about building a house from a kit and ‘Cops’ which is shows Buster being chased by cops.