Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the internet...

...Coming this month from the Warner Archive: a remastered DVD of Nicholas Ray's THE LUSTY MEN (1952), starring Robert Mitchum, Susan Hayward, and Arthur Kennedy. The initial copies will be pressed, rather than burned, "in anticipation of high consumer demand." (2020 Update: THE LUSTY MEN is one of the rare films which later became unavailable from the Warner Archive, and the dead link has been removed.)

...Yesterday was the anniversary of Mel Torme's birth on September 13, 1925. Scott Johnson has a great tribute at Power Line. As I've mentioned before, Mel was a great classic film fan and was in the audience a couple times when I saw movies as a kid, including at the Filmex Film Festival in Century City.

...For anyone who may have missed the news in my preview of December on Turner Classic Movies, there's a new book out in late December, CHARLES WALTERS: THE DIRECTOR WHO MADE HOLLYWOOD DANCE by Brent Phillips. Can hardly wait to get my hands on this one!

...Next month's Jack Webb Blogathon hosted by Toby at The Hannibal 8 is taking shape! Click on over and sign up. :)

...Nora shares 26 favorites in Pre-Code A to Z. A terrific pre-Code primer.

...Requiem for the iPod.

...Royalty Watch: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their second child. Prince George turned one in July.

...Every single episode of GILMORE GIRLS will be available for streaming on Netflix beginning October 1st. Here's a list of 18 key episodes. This eminently quotable GILMORE GIRLS is one of our most-used DVD sets.

...Reese Witherspoon has a Peggy Lee bio in the works.

...Leonard Maltin's daughter Jessie offers video thanks for everyone who has shared what her dad's MOVIE GUIDE has meant as it ceases publication after 45 years. The Classic Movie Guide continues with an edition next year!

...This book has an interesting topic, as my parents and grandparents all lived in Long Beach in the '40s: FIGHTING FEAR: LONG BEACH, CA, IN THE 1940S. It's by Claudine Burnett, via the self-publisher AuthorHouse. Visit the author's website for more information.

...The USC School of Cinematic Arts is hosting an exhibition of photos taken by actor Dennis Hopper from September 2nd through November 26th.

...Vanessa Hudgens (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL) is due to star in a new Broadway production of GIGI, which will play the Kennedy Center next January and February before moving on to New York.

...At the Classic Film & TV Cafe Rick writes on "7 Obscure Movies That I Curiously Remember," including Jock Mahoney in JOE DAKOTA (1957), which has been recommended to me by others.

...A home once owned by Ginger Rogers and Lew Ayres is for sale. It's fun to see the photos, although the current "mod" decor in that setting is, shall we say, very unfortunate.

...The Ohio State Marching Band has a fun field show devoted to TV themes. I was clueless on the newer TV shows but loved the clever tributes to old favorites.

...The Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas starts this year on November 1st, plus there's a preview on Halloween. The dozen new Christmas movies airing on the channel this year include stars such as Jane Seymour, Robert Wagner, Jill St. John, Teri Polo, and Candace Cameron Bure.

...Glenn Erickson reviews the new Warner Archive Blu-ray of THE GREAT RACE (1965) starring Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, and Jack Lemmon.

...Alicia Mayer, a friend to all in the online classic film community, will be hosting a new online radio show, Hollywood Time Machine, which debuted yesterday. It can be heard live on Saturdays or later via streaming. Alicia is the great-niece of Louis B. Mayer. The first show has a guest co-host, our friend Will McKinley. Guests include Victoria Wilson, author of the recent biography of Barbara Stanwyck, and Susan King of the L.A. Times.

Have a great week!