Monthly Archives: February 2015

Is It Time to Bring Back the Guilty or Shameful Pleasure?

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Over at BoingBoing Mark Dery suggests that it’s time to get back in touch with our guilt and shame when it comes to certain things: Guilty pleasures are all about cognitive dissonance. When I say Thomas Harris novels … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing, Movies | Tagged arts criticism, bell curve, mixed reviews | 2 Comments

Art Deco Du Jour

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: The NYC Mercury in Chicago, 1936. Via the Facebook group Atomic Samba. Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Art | Tagged art deco, industrial design, NYC Mercury, trains | 4 Comments

The Camera Loves…

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: …Miriam Hopkins. Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Movies | Tagged Hollywood, Miriam Hopkins, Pre-Code | 1 Comment

Two Movie Posters for “Voyage in Italy”

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Belgium France Boris Grinsson’s portrait for the French poster anticipates his iconic design for “The 400 Blows.”

Posted in Commercial art, Movies | Tagged Belgium, Boris Grinsson, Film, France, George Sanders, Ingrid Bergman, Movie Posters, movies, Roberto Rossellini, Voyage in Italy | Leave a comment

Earworm Du Jour

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Sometimes a song runs through your head all day and it drives you crazy. Other times you don’t mind at all.

Posted in Music | Tagged chanson, Françoise Hardy, French music | 1 Comment

Lobby Card Du Jour

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Ray Enright’s and Busby Berkeley’s DAMES (1934), from a screenplay by Delmar Daves. Here’s the second number from the film, “I Only Have Eyes for You”: Related Fabrizio on a Berkeley sequence from GOLD DIGGERS OF 1935.

Posted in Movies, Sex | Tagged Busby Berkeley, Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler | 1 Comment

On Architectural Contrast

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: I spend more time than is probably healthy trolling providing constructive comments in various reddit architectural forums. There are lots of contemporary architecture fans around there and one thing I see constantly is their enthusiasm for contrast of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged architectural contrast, architectural harmony, modernism, postmodernism, traditionalism | 10 Comments

A Literary Immortal

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: English novelist John Banville writes in The Guardian about how he’s been commissioned by Raymond Chandler’s estate to write a new Philip Marlowe novel. Banville — called “the heir to Proust, via Nabokov,” a Nobel Prize contender, winner … Continue reading →