Jul 29

Roaring Twenties Sex Symbol Clara Bow: My Lady of Whims (1925)

Clara Bow ruled the box-office in the 1920s, with 1925 the year she appeared in the most films—15 in all. Almost half of her 1925 films are lost, but My Lady of Whims survives. Originally seven reels, the surviving shortened version offers a powerful glimpse of Bow’s star power at the age of 20. My […]

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Jul 28

Backlot Chapter TCM Trivia Gathering

On Saturday, July 27 the Raleigh/Cary TCM Backlot Chapter hosted a Chapter social gathering at Vic’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria. Eighteen Chapter members and significant others enjoyed delicious food along with some friendly competition in a TCM trivia contest. Two copies of the book TCM Classic Movie Trivia: Featuring More Than 4,000 Questions to Test […]

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Jul 26

TCM Big Screen Classics Screening Meet Me in St. Louis in December

Recently announced, TCM has added a new Big Screen Classic title to its 2019 lineup. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) is returning to select theaters for a special 75th anniversary event. Showings on Sunday, December 8 and Wednesday, December 11. Meet you there! “Meet me in St. Louis, Louis, Meet me at the fair, […]

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Jul 21

Backlot Chapter Outing: Glory

The Raleigh/Cary TCM Backlot Chapter gathered today to see the TCM Big Screen Classics 30th Anniversary screening of Glory. For some it was their first time seeing the film. For all it was impactful to see such a remarkable movie on the big screen. Before leaving the theater, the Chapter saluted TCM for providing the […]

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Jul 20

Bad Blonde: Seductress You Love to Hate

Bad Blonde (1953), released as The Flanagan Boy in the UK, lives up to the promise of its US title. Bad Blonde delivers the key elements of a classic film noir—a seedy underworld, a blonde seductress, a gullible lover, a scorned husband, and two ruthless murders. Note before reading on—contains plot spoilers. The film opens […]

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Jul 18

Tidbits: Glory

In preparation for the TCM Big Screen Classics 30th Anniversary screening of Glory, here are some historical tidbits about the film, courtesy of IMDB. Several of the extracts from Colonel Shaw’s supposed letters to his mother, as heard in voice-over narration throughout the film, were actually taken from “Army Life in a Black Regiment,” an […]

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Jul 14

Marty (1955) in Two Phone Calls

Ernest Borgnine deservedly won the 1956 Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar for his portrayal of lovelorn butcher Marty Piletti. The film focuses on Marty’s struggles as his customers, family and friends all question when the 34-year-old will marry as the last unmarried son in his family. Two scenes showcase Borgnine’s brilliant performance and […]

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Jul 01

Indelible Impressions: A Bronx Tale

There is a scene in the 1993 movie, A Bronx Tale, where Calogero, a.k.a. C, is on the street chasing down a guy who owes him money. Sonny, the local crime boss, witnesses the scene and calls C over to speak with him. C explains to Sonny that the guy he was chasing, Louie Dumps, […]

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