-
Archives
- October 2018
- January 2017
- June 2016
- October 2015
- September 2015
- October 2014
- July 2014
- May 2014
- March 2014
- January 2014
- November 2013
- October 2013
- July 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
-
Meta
Category Archives: History
Jake Wells: ‘Father of Richmond Movie Houses’
There are records of an exhibition of “moving pictures” having been presented at The Academy (the Mozart Academy of Music) at 103-05 N. Eighth Street in 1897. Built in 1886, that venue was generally considered to be Richmond’s most important … Continue reading
Posted in History, Local
Tagged Atlantic League, Bijou, Broad Street, Byrd Park, George W. Rogers, Idlewood Amusement Park, Jake Wells, major league baseball, movie houses, Mozart Academy of Music, New Reservoir Park, Richmond, Richmond movie houses, Richmond News Leader, Swan Tavern, Virginia
Leave a comment
Last Month’s Birthday: Strother Martin
Strother Martin. You may not know the name, but you certainly know the line: What we have here is… failure to communicate. Now think about the fact that Strother–cool name, that–made a very memorable name for himself in the tiniest … Continue reading
Five Film Favorites: Shakespeare adaptations
During the James River Film Festival, author and film reviewer Peter Schilling Jr. introduced the wonderful The Night of the Hunter. Schilling discussed not only Charles Laughton’s brilliant film, but the same titled Davis Grubb novel on which it was … Continue reading
Spanish Language Dracula at the Byrd
The James River Film Festival’s world of wonders continues this afternoon, as guitarist Gary Lucas provides live accompaniment to George Melford’s Dracula, aka “The Spanish Language Dracula“. (Today at 4:00 at the Byrd Theater in Richmond.) What does that mean, … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Events, Film, History, James River Film Festival
Tagged Dracula, Gary Lucas
Leave a comment
Five Film Favorites: The Sweet Science of Bruising
Has there ever been a sport better examined by cinema than boxing? The “sweet science of bruising” (as A. J. Liebling put it) pits man against man (or woman against woman, but I’ll be damned if I’m putting that lousy … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, History, Lists
Tagged Battling Butler, Boxing, Buster Keaton, Fat City, Five Film Favorites, The Fighter, Unforgivable Blackness, When We Were Kings
1 Comment
The Performance of History: Demain des l’aube
History, as defined by its own disciplinary parameters, would seemingly always exist separate from the acts of performance, production, creation, and invention. After all, the “looking back” that is required from history’s intellectual demands emphasizes understanding how and why performance, production, creation, and invention … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, film studies, History, Reviews
Tagged Demain des l'aube, Denis Dercourt, French cinema, French Film Festival, History, Jeremie Renier, Vincent Perez
Leave a comment
This Week’s Birthday: Joan Crawford
Ah, Joan Crawford. What does the name mean to you? For a lot of us–too many of us, I think–the name “Joan Crawford” immediately conjures up that hideous mask, the black gown, the screeching “No more wire hangars EVER!” And … Continue reading
Five Film Favorites: Desert Island Movies
I think it’s safe to assume that cinephiles – and that includes you, Journal reader – have a list of movies they’d take with them to a desert island, if their life ever warranted such an isolating and liberating change. … Continue reading
Shades Of Grey: The Prowler
You will bow to The Prowler. Written by blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo and directed by Joseph Losey, The Prowler is a dark, subversive look at the desire for status and success. Van Heflin’s shady patrolman responds to Evelyn Keyes’ housewife’s … Continue reading
Posted in Film, film studies, History
Tagged Dalton Trumbo, Evelyn Keyes, Joseph Losey, Van Heflin
Leave a comment
This Week’s Birthday: Hal Needham
No, Hal Needham was not the best director in the world. In fact, his resume in that field reflects some of the worst garbage imaginable, from the Smokey and the Bandit series to the execrable Cannonball Run movies , the … Continue reading
Posted in Birthdays, Essays, Film, History
Tagged Burt Reynolds, Hal Needham, Smokey and the Bandit, stunt men
Leave a comment
James River Film Journal 