Tag Archives: Hollywood

Movie Still Du Jour

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Kay Francis and William Powell in Tay Garnett’s ONE WAY PASSAGE (1932). Not only was this Francis’s personal favorite of all her films, but Charles Willeford was a fan. Thirteen years old when he saw it, he later … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Hollywood, Kay Francis, Pre-Code, Tay Garnett, William Powell | Leave a comment

Quote Du Jour

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: “The best way to handle [filmmakers] was to hang medals all over them … If I got them cups and awards they’d kill themselves to produce what I wanted. That’s why the Academy Award was created.” — Louis … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Academy Awards, Hollywood, Louis B. Mayer, Oscars | Leave a comment

The Camera Loves…

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: …Lauren Bacall, 1924-2014. RIP.

Posted in Movies | Tagged Hollywood | 8 Comments

“Los Angeles Plays Itself” (2003)

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: It was recently announced that LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF, the previously difficult to find film essay written and directed by Thom Andersen, is finally being released on video. Although completed in 2003, the documentary about Los Angeles’ portrayal … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Movies | Tagged documentaries, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Thom Andersen, urbanism | 14 Comments

Nothin’ Beats a Noir Dame: Hazel Brooks in “Sleep, My Love”

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Considered a failure by director Douglas Sirk, SLEEP, MY LOVE is a decent enough noir for fans of the genre. The film concerns a brittle New York blueblood, played by Claudette Colbert, who is being gaslighted by her … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers, Sex | Tagged Alberto Vargas, Billy Gibbons, Cedric Gibbons, Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, Douglas Sirk, Film Noir, glamour, Hazel Brooks, Hollywood, Pin-Ups | 3 Comments

Quote Du Jour

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: If you can go past those awful idiot faces on the bleachers outside the theater without a sense of the collapse of the human intelligence; if you can stand the hailstorm of flash bulbs popping at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing, Movies | Tagged Academy Awards, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Oscars, Raymond Chandler | 2 Comments

Architecture Du Jour: Los Angeles’s Pantages Theatre

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: As I implied earlier, this past weekend I was at the Pantages Theatre to see the touring company production of Book of Mormon. As wonderful and hilarious as the show was, it was almost upstaged by the venue itself, an … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged art deco, B. Marcus Priteca, Book of Mormon, Hollywood, Hollywood & Vine, Los Angeles, Pantages Theatre, traditionalism | 6 Comments

Architecture Du Jour

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: The Vogue Theater in Hollywood, CA, 1935 Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Architecture, Movies | Tagged art deco, Hollywood, Los Angeles, neon | Leave a comment

I Can’t Even Remember What It Was I Came Here To Get Away From: An Interview With Lloyd Fonvielle

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: If you’re a regular visitor here, you’ve probably seen one of us mention friend-of-the-blog Lloyd Fonvielle before. I met Lloyd about a year and a half ago on Facebook where he’s a lively and generous presence. We struck … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books Publishing and Writing, Interviews, Movies, Photography | Tagged Ben Johnson, Disney, Elmore Leonard, Ernest Hemingway, George Balanchine, Hollywood, James Agee, Kevin Jarre, Las Vegas, Lincoln Kirstein, Lloyd Fonvielle, Los Angeles, Michael Chapman, New York, New York TImes, North Carolina, self-publishing, Shelby Foote, shithead Hollywood executives, The Mummy, The Odeon, Tommy Lee Jones, Toni Bentley, Virginia Madsen, Walker Evans, William Eggleston, Woody Allen | 8 Comments

De De Mollner’s Sunset Strip (With a Few Detours Along the Way)

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: After reading Paleo Retiree’s ultra-groovy interview with De De Mollner about her days as a go-go dancer in 60s L.A., I couldn’t help but wonder about some of the Sunset Strip locations she mentioned. A few of … Continue reading →