Category Archives: History

Notes on “Curtiz”

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: “Curtiz” is a moderately successful Hungarian production that uses the filming of “Casablanca” to examine conflicted reactions to the Second World War. As prolific filmmaker Michael Curtiz, Ferenc Lengyel gives a cagey, intelligent performance. Like Rick … Continue reading →

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In Vain Did the Opponents Urge That This Was Irregular

Posted on February 16, 2020 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: In Pennsylvania the proceedings connected with the ratification were precipitous and narrowly escaped being irregular. Before it was known that Congress would even transmit the Constitution to the states for their consideration, George Clymer, who had … Continue reading →

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S-t-e-a-m-boat A-Comin’!

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: When I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village on the west bank of the Mississippi River. That was, to be a steamboatman. We had transient ambitions of … Continue reading →

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The Ambersons Were Magnificent in Their Day and Place

Posted on November 9, 2019 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Major Amberson had “made a fortune” in 1873, when other people were losing fortunes, and the magnificence of the Ambersons began then. Magnificence, like the size of a fortune, is always comparative, as even Magnificent Lorenzo … Continue reading →

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Notes on “Joan the Maid”

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: I can’t think of a movie that feels more authentically Medieval than Jacques Rivette’s 1994 “Joan the Maid,” an interpretation of the Joan of Arc story in two very long parts. In it, Rivette, always attentive … Continue reading →

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Walls and Bridges, Bridges and Walls 3

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Fenster

Fenster writes: I have been writing about walls.  I first described my reaction to David Frye’s book Walls, then took a rough turn to the poetic and considered Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall”.  Here I will finish by discussing James … Continue reading →

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A Witness Like Homer

Posted on March 2, 2019 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes:   Then [Alexander] came to Phrygia. When he reached the river Scamander, into which Achilles had sprung, he leapt in also. And when he saw the seven-layered shield of Ajax, which was not as large or … Continue reading →

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Wilt and Wither

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: There are certain objects, to which politicians show a marked partiality, which can be classified as bad ones, to be avoided on all occasions. They include political actions such as freedom, justice and democracy; or, to … Continue reading →

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Its High Phrases Acted Like the Music of Armies

Posted on July 29, 2018 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Young Cromwell in early boyhood received this Calvinist or Puritan spirit, in part no doubt from his parents, in part from the group of townsmen in Huntingdon with whom they were connected; but especially from the … Continue reading →

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There Would Be No More Deserters from St. Elmo

Posted on May 20, 2018 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: “No war is more cruel and bloody than siege warfare. . . .” The truth of this statement was to be proved over and over again during the next few months. The Turks were now so … Continue reading →

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