Kit Parker Films has released a very special western, the 1955 Jacques Tournier feature Stranger on Horseback, in a restored special edition.   Stranger on Horseback is significant as having been shot in the short lived Anso color (aka Ansochrome) process.  Other notable American films shot this way include The Man on the Eifel Tower (1949) and Arch Oboler’s 3D classic Bwana Devil (1952). Stranger on Horseback has often been shown only in black and white.  Through careful res

In the 1960s, Blake Edwards introduced Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau in the film The Pink Panther.  It was a big hit and spawned an even more amusing sequel, A Shot in the Dark.  Eleven years later, both Edwards’ and Sellers’ careers were at low ebb so they teamed up to make Return of the Pink Panther.  When that became an even bigger hit than the 60s films, two more Panther films were made with Sellers as Clouseau. The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) is generally con

Gracie Allen is one of the true comic icons during the first half of the 20 th  century.  With husband-partner George Burns, she became a kooky, delightful presence on radio, in films, and finally on television. Episodes of The Burns and Allen Show continue to be run on the classic movie stations and on streaming platforms.   “Gracie: A Biography of Gracie Allen, a new book from BearManor by author Ange Clancy-Sukala,  is a very concise look at Gracie’s life and career from t

In this fascinating study, editor Sue Matheson has gathered fifteen scholars to do as the book's title suggests -- take Mel Brooks' comedy seriously. Subtitled Essays on the Films, Television Shows, and Standup, this book from McFarland publishers takes a deep dive into the humor of Brooks. Many comedians, including that master of cinema's form and function Buster Keaton, would dismiss analyses of his screen work, stating that he just wanted to be funny. Of course that is t

If one owns a complete set of Laurel and Hardy films on DVD and is satisfied with having collected a comprehensive overview of their work, one might casually overlook releases like these Definitive Restorations.  This is not a good idea.  Each of these releases are important additions to any collection that purports to be comprehensive. This latest release from Kit Parker Films is filled with these important additions.   On the first disc of this two disc set, the immediate r

The 50 th  anniversary of the first Rocky movie will be coming up in 2026.  This new book of essays from McFarland publishers examines the Rocky franchise.  Subtitled “Essays on the Rocky franchises and Its Enduring Cultural Impact,” the book is edited by Phillip L. Simpson and Kathy Merlock Jackson.   Sylvester Stallone was a struggling actor getting small roles when he approached producers with a script he had written.  The producers liked his screenplay, but balked at the

Nosferatu (1922) is one of the most significant films in the history of horror cinema. A quintessential example of German Expressionism, Nosferatu is the basis for virtually any horror film that came after it. In Rolf Giesen's new book from McFarland publishers, the film's entire history is told. This book does more than merely assess the film's aesthetic quality. It provides a substantial context for its place in horror cinema, examining its influences and origins as well

In a very interesting idea for a book length study, veteran author Karen A. Romanko covers how historical women are portrayed on television.  Her book description offers such examples as Queen Victoria on Bewitched and Amelia Earhart on Star Trek: Voyager.  Ms. Earhart also graces the book’s cover alongside actress Susan Clark who portrayed her in a 1976 TV movie. The structure of the book is brilliant, with 120 women listed alphabetically with brief bio info, and all of the

During the fifties, the television sitcom was at its most creative.  This was the first full decade of broadcast television for the masses, as families started buying TVs to have free entertainment in their home.  McFarland publishers has released a great new book which chronicles and examines this period in TV history. Noted media critic and historian Jackson Upperco presents his understanding of history by writing his book in somewhat chronological order. His first chapter

Author Chris Fellner has released two volumes compiling horror films from Hollywood's Golden Age. The books are published by McFarland and Co. Promising to be Films of the Goden Age of Hollywood Horror, the first volume, covers 1931-1939, and the second from 1940-1946. The author features every horror movie to come out during these years, with 74 listings in the first book and another 113 in the second. This is not merely a thumbnail reference with titles and credits. Each en