Film Friday | Weekly Roundup

It’s been a busy week at Pretty Clever Films Headquarters thanks to TCM’s Summer Under the Stars. First we’re treated with Lon Chaney day and then Humphrey Bogart day. At night, I hear TIVO softly crying to himself in the other room. Even though I have roughly a gagillion movies to watch, I still took the time to scour the interwebs for the best goings on so you don’t have to. There seems to be an explosion of silent movie writings this week and here are a few of the best. Have a read, pop a bottle of bubbly to celebrate silent movie love, and happy viewing!

Film Friday | Weekly Roundup

You know guys… I can’t think of anything witty or pithy to say today. It’s been a long week and I really just want to go and boot around on my sweet new ride. Any suggestions on sweet biking spots in Toronto?  Before I tear out, ringing my bell all the way, I put together some recommendations of the latest and greatest from the dear interwebs. Check ‘em out and happy viewing!

Film Friday | Weekly Roundup

Summer makes me nostalgic for the drive-in movie theater. Fortunately for me, Toronto’s got one. Unfortunately for me, I don’t have a Pretty Clever Car. If you’re lucky enough to have both a set of wheels and enough hipsters in your area to qualify for a retro-fun drive-in, then get in your pjs and get out there! Otherwise, turn off the a/c, open the windows, and route your tv’s sound through some tinny speakers! May I suggest a monster flick? Happy Friday and happy viewing!

• Don’t forget to vote for your favorite entries in the Monster Mash Blogathon at Forgotten Classics of Yesteryear. I’m casting my lot for She Blogged by Night’s excellent parsing of Plan 9 From Outer Space.
• They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To reviews The Setup, one of the greatest (and most brutal) boxing movies ever made. Seriously, you’ll walk away from this flick feeling like you’ve been punched in the face for 90 minutes.
• Occasionally, Pretty Clever Film Gal likes to indulge in some classic Hollywood scandal reading… but who knew Ingrid Bergman was an “instrument of evil”?
• Paul Castigliga is digging deep into the horror-comedy genre over at Scared Silly. Don’t miss his review of Buster Keaton’s The Haunted House, and stick around for his other great reviews.
• Mythical Monkey thinks about the lost Cleopatra (1917), the appeal of Theda Bera, and the dangers of reviewing non-existent movies.
• 11 East 14th Street serves up thoughtful and fascinating “Illustrated Essays on Motion Pictures.” I’m not recommending a specific post, but all of the posts. Make a pot of tea and settle in for a great read.
• Check out the film evolution timeline at Early Cinema. Then check out the A-Z glossary. Do it!
• Then indulge in some early movie history with “The Great Train Robbery”

Related Posts:

• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – July 29, 2011
• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – July 22, 2011
• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – July 15, 2011
• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – July 8, 2011
• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – July 1, 2011

Film Friday | Weekly Roundup

It’s Friday and it’s a long weekend (at least in Canada). Woo hoo! As the summer clock ticks down, I hope everyone is enjoying outdoor summer movie screenings and backyard BBQs. It was an exciting week in internet land and I’ve rounded up the best I found. So follow the links and enjoy! Happy viewing!

• Design Taxi offers up as good an explanation as any for the super-creep factor in The Shining.
• Richard Brody blogs at The New Yorker about Geraldine Chaplin’s new German interview. Are we ready for Chaplin’s diary? You bet we are!
• Noir and Chick Flicks reviews the silent Garden of Eden (1928). This one’s definitely going on my to-watch list.
• Out of The Past reviews the biography of silent star Nell Shipman. I love silent movies, books, and books about silent movies, so win-win-win.
• Unexplained Cinema brings us “Music to be Murdered By” the LP. I don’t have to say this involves Alfred Hitchcock, right?
• Who can resist reading a post titled “God Bless the Orgiast Who’s Brought His Own”? And I don’t to say this post from Acidemic is about Cecil B. DeMille, right?
• Fashion to Film delivers a nice overview of the role of costume for Charlie Chaplin’s Tramp character.
• And last but not least, the incomparable Mr. Hitchcock on puns:

Related Posts:

• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – July 22, 2011
• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – July 15, 2011
• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – July 8, 2011
• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – July 1, 2011
• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – June 24, 2011

Film Friday | Weekly Roundup

People, it is hot! When it’s too hot to even go to the pool, you know it’s hot. There’s not room left in the condo building pool anyway… they’re crammed shoulder to shoulder in there, hovering with the water up to their necks like crocodiles. But a sizzling summer heat wave is perfect movie watching time. Limp out to the cineplex for some super ac and frothy summer fun or stay on the couch with a classic, either way it’s prime movie time. It’s also prime web surfing time. Check out these links, crank up the ac, and get to watching!

• Hollywood Dreamland examines the liberally applied criticism “over-rated.”
• This week we saw a rebirth of the lost art of pie-throwing when a prankster tried to pie evil media overlord Rupert Murdoch. The Washington Post recaps the rich history of pie-flinging.
• Check out Stone Age Cinema’s review of The Lost World. He did a much, much more thorough job than I did.
• The Killers is such an awesome film noir, and Faded Video Labels reminded me that I should watch it again. (Check out all of the other reviews when you’re done… this site if full of gems.)
• A few weeks ago, I procured my very own copy of American Movie Critics: An Anthology From the Silents Until Now edited by Phillip Lopate. Readers, I can’t recommend this compendium of film writing enough. It’s a pure delight to read this collection.
• Witness Alfred J. Hitchcock make what might possibly be the first “That’s what she said” joke in human history:

Related Posts:

• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – July 15, 2011
• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – July 8, 2011
• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – July 1, 2011
• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – June 24, 2011
• Pretty Clever Films- Film Friday | Weekly Round Up – June 17, 2011