In the western genre, the relationship between director Anthony Mann and actor James Stewart is as. rewarding as the one between John Ford and John Wayne. And a new restoration of perhaps the best of the Mann-Stewart westerns, Bend of the River, has been released by Kino Lorber. Bend of the River features Stewart as a former outlaw guiding a wagon train of settlers to Oregon. Along the way there are Indian attacks, double-crosses, and other such conflicts in a screenplay b

This Universal pre-Code, newly released on blu ray by Kino Lorber, is based on a play that closed after only 23 performances. The play's star was Claude Rains, who believed in the project and asked the studio to buy the film rights. Rains was coming off the success of The Invisible Man, so he had some box office power. Sadly, the film was not a box office success. This is especially unfortunate because the film is an exceptional melodrama with an excellent cast and a magn

In 1963, Blake Edwards directed and co-wrote The Pink Panther, featuring Peter Sellers as bumbling Inspector Clouseau. It was such of a big hit, there was a sequel, A Shot in the Dark a year later with Edwards and Sellers teaming up again in a film that centered on Clouseau and introduced a couple of new characters. Fast forward a dozen years later. Both Sellers and Edwards needed a hit film, so they teamed up again for The Return of the Pink Panther, which has been rel

BearManor Media has released Danny Stewart’s latest book, this one concentrating on Abel Ferrara’s The Funeral. Stewart’s books take a deep dive into a film, figuring out exactly what makes it work successfully. He often chooses films that are great, but overlooked, bringing out various points that indicate its true significance as cinema and its place in history. This book might be his best yet. Stewart calls Ferrara “one of the most daring and provocative filmmakers of

Because of his massive success on radio and television, Jack Benny’s movie career is too often overlooked. Some of this is due to Benny himself, as making fun of his cinematic exploits was part of his humor. In fact, Jack Benny appeared in many delightful comedies, and a handful of genuine classics. A comic talent at his level could not be contained. Kino Lorber has released a great double feature that includes two of Jack’s best film appearances from the 1930s at Paramo

In this new book from McFarland, author David Meuel explores the importance of Wellman’s films of the early 1930s. Films like The Public Enemy, Night Nurse, Heroes For Sale, and Wild Boys of the Road are some of the most important cinematic releases of the pre-code era. In examining these and other such films, author Meuel makes a case of how Wellman defined Depression era cinema. Wellman had a long career, continuing to direct films till the end of the 1950s, but the aut

Richard Greene’s latest Promotional Pandemonium book of publicity and promotional material covers Laurel and Hardy’s short films and the later features they did after leaving the Hal Roach studios. It is yet another magnificent collection of images from BearManor Media. The book covers everything, from posters, to lobby cards, to newspaper ads (all shapes and sizes) for each film. Along with these graphics, the author gives a written overview of the period being covered, i

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