Happy Andrzej Wajda centennial! I still haven’t recovered from watching Katyn some years ago. While honoring his father, killed in Katyn, and his mother, who searched for the truth for years, he left us an overwhelming depiction of the atrocities of war.
Happy Cesare Danova centennial! His playboy looks and manners were tailor made for the decadent sophistication of films like Tender is the night. It was great to see him at the top of his game in Mean streets.
From the inmortal consiglieri Tom Hagen in The Godfather saga, to mysterious conspirator in The conversation, to villainous TV executive in Network, Robert Duvall graced the screen in several era-defining films. An acting titan has left us.
RIP Robert Duvall. From innocent Boo Radley in To kill a mockingbird, to loathsome cuckold husband in The chase, to sanctimonious Army Major in M.A.S.H., he was one of the game-changing actors in the transition from classic to new Hollywood.
Happy John Schlesinger centennial!!! From swingin’ 60s London in Darling to late 60s sleazy NY in Midnight cowboy to America’s 70s conspiracy atmosphere in Marathon man, he was an era-defining director.
The actress poses, head to one side, smoking a cigarette.
Danielle Darrieux by Boris Lipnitzki, 1935
Darrieux is only 18 here. Her 80+ year career is the longest in film history. She died at 100 in 2017.
Absolutely classic.
RIP Bud Cort. From M*A*S*H, to Pollock, to The life aquatic with Steve Zissou, he created distinctive characters (besides Harold) throughout his interesting career.
Happy Leslie Nielsen centennial! From disaster films like The Poseidon adventure to king of parody and slapstick in films like The naked gun: from the files of police squad!, his deadpan delivery was his trademark in several box-office hits.
RIP Catherine O’Hara. This hurts bad. Thinking about her performances in films like Home alone, humanity is the quality that first comes to mind. No matter how nutty, her comic characters were relatable human beings. It might had to do with her warm gaze… She will be missed.
Happy Ingrid Thulin centennial!!! She was one of the breed of mid-century international stars who alternated Bergman’s masterpieces as Wild strawberries, Hollywood superproductions as The 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse and auteur film maudits as The damned. Fascinating career.
Happy Dolores Moran centennial! Her claim to inmortality has to be her role as the sultry, adventurous woman in trouble helped by Bogart and Bacall in To have and have not.
From Broadway to Hollywood, Simone Signoret’s memories of her visits to the US are captivating. From meeting Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn or Vivien Leigh, to befriending Marilyn and Arthur Miller, to irking Hedda Hopper, to winning the Oscar… Just enthralling.
Happy Georges Lautner centennial! Mort d’un pourri is 70s French polar/political thriller at its best. Love the intrigue, the dream cast, the atmosphere… A gripping film that should be better regarded.
Happy Patricia Neal centennial!!! From the pragmatic journalist in Three secrets, to the ambitious producer in A face in the crowd, to the ranch woman in Hud, she brought nerve, sensuality and truth to her roles. A brave actress who didn’t fear playing everyday characters.
RIP Valentino. From his designs for films like La notte, to his cameo in The devil wears Prada, his love for movies was always evident. His heartfelt goodbye to the fashion industry was movingly captured in Valentino: The last emperor.
Anita Ekberg com o fotógrafo Pierluigi Praturlon, set de La Dolce Vita, 1960.
Happy birthday dear @selfstyledsiren.bsky.social !!! Here’s to a year filled with love, laughs and great movies!!!
New cover for Criterion's 4K edition of TROUBLE IN PARADISE features a charming new cover by Simone Massoni
I've been dying to tell people I wrote the essay for TROUBLE IN PARADISE, a true Lubitsch masterpiece, and now I can. It's hilarious, it's gorgeous, there's nothing like it, and spending time with Trouble last year soothed my soul. www.criterion.com/films/723-tr....
Happy Maria Schell centennial! Be it in European auteur films as Le notti bianche, Hollywood genre films as The hanging tree or all-star international productions as Voyage of the damned, she was great at portraying suffering, anxious women. Love her piercingly expressive gaze.
Happy Tom Tyron centennial! His claim to immortality has to be his role as the sensitive, conflicted priest in the sumptuous The Cardinal.
Lionel, Ethel, and John Barrymore with Walt Disney 🎭
I’ve read the original Broadway show’s title was “The gay divorce” and that they changed it to “The gay divorcee” for the Astaire & Rogers film.
I’m hooked reading about Signoret & Montand’s political commitment. Their signing of the Stockholm Appeal against nuclear weapons, and their fascinating tour to Eastern Europe -where they had the chance to discuss communism with Khrushchev and Tito- are fascinating stories.
I had a great time reading about the village of Saint-Paul de Vence, which I visited in 2014, and the restaurant La Colombe d’Or, Signoret and Montand’s favorite (also Jacques Prévert’s and Picasso’s), and where I had a lovely lunch.
Beginning 2026 reading Simone Signoret’s memories and loving them from their very title: “Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be”. So far, I’ve read about Paris occupation, 40s Café de Flore, Yves Allégret, Yves Montand, the filming of Casque d’or & Les diaboliques, the staging of The crucible…
❤️❤️❤️
Happy New Year Film Bluesky!
Share a great female villain 🎬
Such an impressive resume! Even more considering he began with Renoir and Clair and ended with critics’ darling Carax and a personal favorite, Moretti. You know I love Sautet, so Piccoli is very close to my heart!
Happy Hildegard Knef centennial! Her physical expressiveness and emotional depth suited her roles in films like The man between, where she was great as an anxious post-war Berliner.
Le mépris was the cenit of Brigitte Bardot’s beauty and talent IMHO. Her effortless naturality and striking screen presence were at their height. Her consecration as a screen goddess.
