A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities (1935). Starring Ronald Colman, Elizabeth Allan, Donald Woods, Edna May Oliver, Reginald Owen, Blanche Yurka, Basil Rathbone
Synopsis of A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities (1935) “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….” Charles Dickens‘ tale of love and tumult during the French Revolution comes to the screen in a sumptuous film version by the producer famed for nurturing sprawling literary works: David O. Selznick (David Copperfield, Anna Karenina, Gone with the Wind). Ronald Colman (The Prisoner of Zenda) stars as Sydney Carton. He’s sardonic, dissolute, a wastrel… And destined to redeem himself in an act of courageous sacrifice. “It’s a far, far better thing I do than I’ve ever done,” Carton muses at that defining moment.
The Mark of Zorro
The Mark of Zorro (1940), starring Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Basil Rathbone, J. Edward Bromberg, Gale Sondergaard, Eugene Pallette
Synopsis of The Mark of Zorro
Posing as a foppish coward, Diego, a Spanish nobleman, fights injustice in colonial California in The Mark of Zorro. Upon his return from Spain, Diego realizes that Captain Pasquale is terrorizing the district and levying unreasonable taxes. Disguised as Zorro – a masked Robin Hood-like swashbuckler – the young Spaniard menaces the local authorities to the delight of all the peasants. In the meantime, posing as the inept fop, he is able to move through society without being suspected.
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David Copperfield
David Copperfield (1935) starring Freddie Bartholomew, Frank Lawton, W.C. Fields, Basil Rathbone There’s a lot of good things to be said about David Copperfield —… Read More »David Copperfield
The Whispering Shadow
The Whispering Shadow, starring Bela Lugosi, Henry B. Walthall, Karl Dane, Roy D’Arcy, Viva Tattersall, Robert Warwick
A mysterious criminal known as The Whispering Shadow commits crimes by means of a gang he controls by television and radio rays. Jack Norton, whose brother was murdered by The Whispering Shadow, suspects that the eerie Professor Strang – whose ghostly wax museum contains figures far too lifelike – may be involved in the crimes.
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The Black Sleep [Basil Rathbone]
The Black Sleep (1956), starring Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, Jr., John Carradine, Akim Tamiroff, Tor Johnson
The Black Sleep – Many of Hollywood’s top horror stars appears in this story of a mad doctor. He’s performing brain surgery on unwilling victims attempting to save the life of his wife. The story begins in a dark cell of Newgate Prison in London of 1872. Sir Joel Cadman (Basil Rathbone) is an eminent surgeon who is visiting Dr. Gordon Ramsey (Herbert Rudley). He’s a former student who has been condemned to death by hanging for murder. A murder that he believes himself to be innocent of having committed.
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Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet (1936), starring Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard, Basil Rathbone, Edna May Oliver, John Barrymore, C. Aubrey Smith
Romeo and Juliet (1936), starring Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard, Basil Rathbone, Edna May Oliver, John Barrymore, C. Aubrey SmithSynopsis of Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare’s classic tale of love and youth ruined by a family feud. The Montagues and the Capulets, two powerful families of Verona, hate each other. Romeo, a Montague, crashes a Capulet party, and there meets Juliet. They fall in love and secretly marry. After killing a nephew of Lady Capulet in a fight, Romeo is banished from Verona. Capulet tries to marry Juliet to Paris, a prince. Juliet seeks the counsel of Friar Laurence, who married her and Romeo. He suggests a daring plan that ends tragically.
The Daydreamer
The Daydreamer (1966), starring Hayley Mills, Tallulah Bankhead, Burl Ives, Victor Borge, Terry-Thomas, Ed Wynn, Patty Duke, Ray Bolger, Boris Karloff, Margaret Hamilton, Cyril Ritchard, Jack Gilford
Product Description
The Daydreamer, experience one of Rankin-Bass’ best-loved theatrical movies, filmed in an enchanting combination of live-action and stop-motion animation, as young Hans Christian Andersen daydreams his way to adventure through his most famous fairy tales. In ‘The Little Mermaid’ everyone’s favorite girl of the sea (Hayley Mills) must triumph over the evil Sea Witch (Tallulah Bankhead) with a little help from Father Neptune (Burl Ives). In ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ a pair of villainous tailors (Victor Borge and Terry-Thomas) create a surprising new outfit for a gullible king (Ed Wynn). The fun continues with Patty Duke as Thumbelina, Ray Bolger as The Pieman, Boris Karloff as a sinister rat, Margaret Hamilton as the mean Mrs. Klopplebobbler, and much more in this timeless kids’ classic.
Editorial review of The Daydreamer courtesy of Amazon.com
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Leave Her to Heaven
Leave Her to Heaven (1945) starring Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jean Crain, Vincent Price
reviewed by The Masked Reviewer
Richard Harland (Cornel Wilde) elopes with a charming young socialite Ellen Berent (Gene Tierney). Only to find her family surprised by his appearance more than the sudden marriage. All seems to be going well for the happy couple until Richard decides to invite his little brother Danny (Darryl Hickman) to Ellen’s special summer home. Danny’s visit changes into Danny moving in permanently. All Ellen wants is to live a quiet happy life with Richard. Richard doesn’t understand that so he also invites her mother, and cousin to live with them for the summer. Ellen can’t stand this invasion of privacy anymore. You must watch Leave Her to Heaven for yourself. Because it has one of the finest portrayals of madness in film. This is an excellent film.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright, a film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick
Product Description of Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was the greatest of all American architects. He was an authentic American genius, a man who believed he was destined to redesign the world, creating everything anew. Over the course of his long career, Wright designed over eight hundred buildings, including such revolutionary structures as the Guggenheim Museum, the Johnson Wax Building, Fallingwater, Unity Temple and Taliesin. Wright’s buildings and his ideas changed the way we live, work and see the world around us. Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural achievements were often overshadowed by the turbulence of his melodramatic life. Read More »Frank Lloyd Wright