Every once in a while a movie studio would ruin what might have been a masterpiece — and Preston Sturges’ last-released Paramount comedy suffered exactly that. “Triumph Over Pain” was supposed to be something new, a daring blend of comedy and tragedy. Studio politics intervened and tried to turn it into a straight comedy. Disc producer Constantine Nasr oversees two extras that explain what happened in full detail; it’s a fascinating story of a brillant and successful writer-director at odds with his studio bosses. Joel McCrea, Betty Field and William Demarest star — and the show is still entertaining despite its problems.
The Great Moment
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1944 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 83 min. / Great without Glory, Immortal Secret, Morton the Magnificent, Triumph over Pain / Street Date February 1, 2022 / available through Kino Lorber / 24.95
Starring: Joel McCrea, Betty Field, Harry Carey, William Demarest, Louis Jean Heydt, Julius Tannen, Edwin Maxwell, Porter Hall, Franklin Pangborn,...
The Great Moment
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1944 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 83 min. / Great without Glory, Immortal Secret, Morton the Magnificent, Triumph over Pain / Street Date February 1, 2022 / available through Kino Lorber / 24.95
Starring: Joel McCrea, Betty Field, Harry Carey, William Demarest, Louis Jean Heydt, Julius Tannen, Edwin Maxwell, Porter Hall, Franklin Pangborn,...
- 1/18/2022
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Marriage, social pressure, professional disappointment — and if you want to be really unhappy, add alcohol to that mix. Fredric March and Sylvia Sidney are convincing sophisticates but also vulnerable people negotiating fragile lives. What can be done when one’s mate is dissolving in booze and drawn to the arms of another? Dorothy Arzner’s best picture shows us a woman who won’t give up on her marriage, for the right reasons. It’s a serious and adult pre-Code drama, the kind that sounds more salacious than it is. Sylvia Sydney crafts a portrait of a fine woman under pressure, who maintains her dignity even in an attempt at an ‘open marriage.’ The unusual title is a light-hearted toast reflecting inner despair. The disc comes with excellent extras on director Dorothy Arzner.
Merrily We Go to Hell
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 1076
1932 / B&w / 1:37 flat Academy / 83 min. / available through...
Merrily We Go to Hell
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 1076
1932 / B&w / 1:37 flat Academy / 83 min. / available through...
- 6/15/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
This is a big one, the restoration we long thought would never come. CineSavant tries to explain what makes Edgar G. Ulmer’s masterpiece uniquely memorable, how it works its Loser Noir magic, and why this particular restoration bodes well for a certain class of picture mired in murky rights issues. Meet Al Roberts, a hard luck case happy to bend your ear for an hour, explaining how Fate has Done Him Wrong. This Prc gem transcends Noir pessimism, because a sensible read forces us to conclude that Al is his own worst enemy, a self-made misery man. This hitch-hiking epic carries an extra added jolt: Ann Savage delivers what has to be the boldest, most caustic hell-to-pay performance of ‘forties Hollywood.
Detour
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 966
1945 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 69 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date March 19, 2019 / 39.95
Starring: Tom Neal, Ann Savage, Claudia Drake, Edmund MacDonald,...
Detour
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 966
1945 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 69 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date March 19, 2019 / 39.95
Starring: Tom Neal, Ann Savage, Claudia Drake, Edmund MacDonald,...
- 3/12/2019
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Because of a "pre-existing licensing deal" with Tribune Co. "Archie" Comics had to kill their comic book reboot of plainclothes officer, private detective "Dick Tracy", with actor Warren Beatty ("McCabe & Mrs. Miller") continuing to hold onto the character's rights, despite a 'use it' or 'lose it' clause in a long-standing agreement with Tribune to produce a "Dick Tracy" movie or TV series:
The monthly comic book series was illustrated in a more realistic style, than that of "Dick Tracy" creator Chester Gould...
Created by Gould as a newspaper comic strip, 'Dick Tracy' has appeared in five movie serials from 1937 through 1941...
...six movies, including Beatty's 1990 feature, plus three TV series including animated cartoons.
In a previous announcement of the new comic book series, Tribune Co. was "...very excited to work with Archie Comics. 'Dick Tracy' is an iconic character, who still resonates with his fan base.
"The reboot of the franchise...
The monthly comic book series was illustrated in a more realistic style, than that of "Dick Tracy" creator Chester Gould...
Created by Gould as a newspaper comic strip, 'Dick Tracy' has appeared in five movie serials from 1937 through 1941...
...six movies, including Beatty's 1990 feature, plus three TV series including animated cartoons.
In a previous announcement of the new comic book series, Tribune Co. was "...very excited to work with Archie Comics. 'Dick Tracy' is an iconic character, who still resonates with his fan base.
"The reboot of the franchise...
- 11/5/2018
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Vintage ’30s comedy returns, with a beautiful blonde, a sassy brunette and elaborate location filming in a bygone Los Angeles. Hal Roach found a good match for his ‘female Laurel & Hardy’ comedy team in gorgeous Thelma Todd and the smart-mouthed Patsy Kelly.
The Complete Hal Roach Thelma Todd Patsy Kelly Comedy Collection
DVD
1933-1936 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 445 min. / Silver Series / Street Date June 26 2018, 2018 / available through Classic Flix / 39.99
Starring: Thelma Todd & Patsy Kelly.
Produced by Hal Roach
Directed by Gus Meins, William Terhune, James Parrott, Nick Grinde, others
Hal Roach made the movie game pay big even back in the ‘teens, when Los Angeles used zoning laws to force moviemakers away from downtown, into the remote ‘suburbs’ of Hollywood and Culver City. Taking a choice piece of Culver City real estate, Hal built a veritable empire of comedy, mostly with short subjects. He helped launch the great Harold Lloyd, invented and...
The Complete Hal Roach Thelma Todd Patsy Kelly Comedy Collection
DVD
1933-1936 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 445 min. / Silver Series / Street Date June 26 2018, 2018 / available through Classic Flix / 39.99
Starring: Thelma Todd & Patsy Kelly.
Produced by Hal Roach
Directed by Gus Meins, William Terhune, James Parrott, Nick Grinde, others
Hal Roach made the movie game pay big even back in the ‘teens, when Los Angeles used zoning laws to force moviemakers away from downtown, into the remote ‘suburbs’ of Hollywood and Culver City. Taking a choice piece of Culver City real estate, Hal built a veritable empire of comedy, mostly with short subjects. He helped launch the great Harold Lloyd, invented and...
- 7/28/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
According to new reports, because of a "pre-existing licensing deal" with Tribune Co. "Archie" Comics cancelled their comic book reboot of "Dick Tracy", as actor Warren Beatty continues to hold onto the character's rights, despite a 'use it' or 'lose it' clause in a long-standing agreement with Tribune to produce a "Dick Tracy" movie or TV show:
The monthly comic book series was illustrated by Thomas Pitilli...
...with the first cover by Francesco Francavilla.
Created by Chester Gould as a newspaper comic strip, 'Dick Tracy' has so far appeared in five movie serials from 1937 through 1941, six movies, including Beatty's 1990 feature, plus three TV series including animated cartoons.
In a previous announcement of the new comic book series, Tribune Co. was "...very excited to work with Archie Comics. 'Dick Tracy' is an iconic character, who still resonates with his fan base.
"The reboot of the franchise will keep 'Dick Tracy' and...
The monthly comic book series was illustrated by Thomas Pitilli...
...with the first cover by Francesco Francavilla.
Created by Chester Gould as a newspaper comic strip, 'Dick Tracy' has so far appeared in five movie serials from 1937 through 1941, six movies, including Beatty's 1990 feature, plus three TV series including animated cartoons.
In a previous announcement of the new comic book series, Tribune Co. was "...very excited to work with Archie Comics. 'Dick Tracy' is an iconic character, who still resonates with his fan base.
"The reboot of the franchise will keep 'Dick Tracy' and...
- 1/17/2018
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Archie Comics has confirmed a comic book reboot of "Dick Tracy", available April 11, 2018, as actor Warren Beatty continues to hold onto the character's screen rights, despite a 'use it' or 'lose it' clause in a long-standing agreement with Tribune Co. to produce a "Dick Tracy" movie or TV show:
The monthly comic book series will be illustrated by Thomas Pitilli...
...with the first cover by Francesco Francavilla.
Created by Chester Gould as a newspaper comic strip, the character has so far appeared in five movie serials from 1937 through 1941, six movies, including Beatty's 1990 feature, plus three TV series including animated cartoons.
Tribune Co. is "...very excited to work with Archie Comics. 'Dick Tracy' is an iconic character, who still resonates with his fan base.
"The reboot of the franchise will keep 'Dick Tracy' and his cast of rogue villains at the forefront of heroic characters in the battle of good and evil.
The monthly comic book series will be illustrated by Thomas Pitilli...
...with the first cover by Francesco Francavilla.
Created by Chester Gould as a newspaper comic strip, the character has so far appeared in five movie serials from 1937 through 1941, six movies, including Beatty's 1990 feature, plus three TV series including animated cartoons.
Tribune Co. is "...very excited to work with Archie Comics. 'Dick Tracy' is an iconic character, who still resonates with his fan base.
"The reboot of the franchise will keep 'Dick Tracy' and his cast of rogue villains at the forefront of heroic characters in the battle of good and evil.
- 12/13/2017
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Norma Shearer films Note: This article is being revised and expanded. Please check back later. Turner Classic Movies' Norma Shearer month comes to a close this evening, Nov. 24, '15, with the presentation of the last six films of Shearer's two-decade-plus career. Two of these are remarkably good; one is schizophrenic, a confused mix of high comedy and low drama; while the other three aren't the greatest. Yet all six are worth a look even if only because of Norma Shearer herself – though, really, they all have more to offer than just their top star. Directed by W.S. Van Dyke, the no-expense-spared Marie Antoinette (1938) – $2.9 million, making it one of the most expensive movies ever made up to that time – stars the Canadian-born Queen of MGM as the Austrian-born Queen of France. This was Shearer's first film in two years (following Romeo and Juliet) and her first release following husband Irving G.
- 11/25/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Norma Shearer films Note: This article is being revised and expanded. Please check back later. Turner Classic Movies' Norma Shearer month comes to a close this evening, Nov. 24, '15, with the presentation of the last six films of Shearer's two-decade-plus career. Two of these are remarkably good; one is schizophrenic, a confused mix of high comedy and low drama; while the other three aren't the greatest. Yet all six are worth a look even if only because of Norma Shearer herself – though, really, they all have more to offer than just their top star. Directed by W.S. Van Dyke, the no-expense-spared Marie Antoinette (1938) – $2.9 million, making it one of the most expensive movies ever made up to that time – stars the Canadian-born Queen of MGM as the Austrian-born Queen of France. This was Shearer's first film in two years (following Romeo and Juliet) and her first release following husband Irving G.
- 11/25/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Born to Kill
Written by Eve Greene and Richard Macaulay
Directed by Robert Wise
U.S.A., 1947
Helen Brent (Claire Trevor) is in Reno, Nevada for a few days to settle a divorce. She stays at a nearby ‘bed and breakfast’ type establishment where the fun natured caretaker Mrs. Kraft (Esther Howard) and neighbor Laurey Palmer (Isabel Jewell) seem to spend more time drinking and laughing than anything else. Upon visiting a casino one evening, Helen makes eye contact with a tall, square-jawed handsome man named Sam Wilde (Lawrence Tierney), whose family name suites him perfectly. Sam, prone to violent outbursts driven by jealousy and lust, knows Laurey too, even having dated her. When discovering she has a new boyfriend, Sam murders them both in cold blood in a manner that would make Jason Voorhees proud. Sam them follows Helen to San Francisco, hoping to cozy up with the her as well.
Written by Eve Greene and Richard Macaulay
Directed by Robert Wise
U.S.A., 1947
Helen Brent (Claire Trevor) is in Reno, Nevada for a few days to settle a divorce. She stays at a nearby ‘bed and breakfast’ type establishment where the fun natured caretaker Mrs. Kraft (Esther Howard) and neighbor Laurey Palmer (Isabel Jewell) seem to spend more time drinking and laughing than anything else. Upon visiting a casino one evening, Helen makes eye contact with a tall, square-jawed handsome man named Sam Wilde (Lawrence Tierney), whose family name suites him perfectly. Sam, prone to violent outbursts driven by jealousy and lust, knows Laurey too, even having dated her. When discovering she has a new boyfriend, Sam murders them both in cold blood in a manner that would make Jason Voorhees proud. Sam them follows Helen to San Francisco, hoping to cozy up with the her as well.
- 12/13/2013
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
After 21 years of inactivity, following his 1990 starring and directing turn adapting creator Chester Gould's newspaper comic strip detective character "Dick Tracy", actor/producer Warren Beatty has won his lawsuit against a unit of Tribune Co, to prevent Tribune from taking back film/TV rights to creator Chester Gould's newspaper comic strip detective character.
Budgeted at $47 million, Beatty's "Dick Tracy" earned $103,738,726 domestic and $59,000,000 foreign for a worldwide box office of $162,738,726.
According to court documents, rights to the character would have reverted back to Tribune if "a certain period of time" lapsed without Beatty having produced another "Dick Tracy" movie, TV series or TV special.
Tribune sent Beatty a letter November 17, 2006, giving him two years to begin production on new "Dick Tracy" programing.
"Tribune asserted it still wanted to terminate Beatty's 'Dick Tracy" rights and effect a reversion, and purported to do so," the lawsuit said, with Beatty seeking...
Budgeted at $47 million, Beatty's "Dick Tracy" earned $103,738,726 domestic and $59,000,000 foreign for a worldwide box office of $162,738,726.
According to court documents, rights to the character would have reverted back to Tribune if "a certain period of time" lapsed without Beatty having produced another "Dick Tracy" movie, TV series or TV special.
Tribune sent Beatty a letter November 17, 2006, giving him two years to begin production on new "Dick Tracy" programing.
"Tribune asserted it still wanted to terminate Beatty's 'Dick Tracy" rights and effect a reversion, and purported to do so," the lawsuit said, with Beatty seeking...
- 3/27/2011
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
After years of inactivity, following his starring/directing turn in the 1990 Disney feature "Dick Tracy", actor/producer Warren 'Clyde Barrow' Beatty recently sued a unit of Tribune Co, to prevent Tribune from taking back film/TV rights to creator Chester Gould's newspaper comic strip detective character.
Budgeted at $47 million, "Dick Tracy" earned $103,738,726 domestic and $59,000,000 foreign for a worldwide box office of $162,738,726.
According to court documents, rights would revert to Tribune if "a certain period of time" lapsed without Beatty having produced another Dick Tracy movie, TV series or TV special.
Tribune sent Beatty a letter November 17, 2006, giving him two years to begin production on new "Dick Tracy" programing.
"Tribune asserted it still wanted to terminate Beatty's 'Tracy' Rights and effect a reversion, and purported to do so," the lawsuit said, with Beatty seeking a declaration that his work on a developing Dick Tracy documentary TV special precludes Tribune from...
Budgeted at $47 million, "Dick Tracy" earned $103,738,726 domestic and $59,000,000 foreign for a worldwide box office of $162,738,726.
According to court documents, rights would revert to Tribune if "a certain period of time" lapsed without Beatty having produced another Dick Tracy movie, TV series or TV special.
Tribune sent Beatty a letter November 17, 2006, giving him two years to begin production on new "Dick Tracy" programing.
"Tribune asserted it still wanted to terminate Beatty's 'Tracy' Rights and effect a reversion, and purported to do so," the lawsuit said, with Beatty seeking a declaration that his work on a developing Dick Tracy documentary TV special precludes Tribune from...
- 12/4/2009
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
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