DETOUR (1945)

'No one who has seen it has easily forgotten it.' So says ROGER EBERT of the film noir classic, DETOUR, a gem from the Poverty Row era, filmed on a miniscule budget in a matter of days, but aging better than many big budget epi...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Remembering Private Snafu

A true historical obscurity, PRIVATE SNAFU was the title character in a series of animated instructional shorts filmed for and shown only to WWII soldiers to instruct them in security, personal hygiene and other issues.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Dragstrip Riot (1958)

Teenagers gone wild! From 1958, Deep Roots Theater presents DRAGSTRIP RIOT. Featuring generational clashes, mayhem and a kind of rock 'n' roll, with FAY WRAY as the mother, CONNIE STEVENS in her third movie.
by David McGee
 

 
 

All That Heaven Allows (1955)

No one made movies quite like DOUGLAS SIRK, and ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS is one of his landmarks. Also featured: the first MIGHTY MOUSE cartoons.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Salt of the Earth (1954)

In 1954 a group of blacklisted filmmakers made the first blacklisted film in American history, SALT OF THE EARTH. Centered on a strike by Mexican-American workers in New Mexico, it is ever more timely now.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Fiend Who Walked the West (1958)

ROBERT EVANS bid farewell to his acting career in THE FIEND WHO WALKED THE WEST in grand, over-the-top style. Also featured: the surviving footage from GOLD DIGGERS OF BROADWAY 1929.
by David McGee
 

 

 

ECSTASY (1933)

ECSTASY, the film that made teen Hedy Kiesler notorious before she was HEDY LAMARR and inventing cell phone technology, plus an essential 1933 cartoon, MICKEY'S GALA PREMIER
by David McGee
 

 
 

LURED (1947)

LUCILLE BALL, GEORGE SANDERS, BORIS KARLOFF, GEORGE ZUCCO and CEDRIC HARDWICKE head a stellar ensemble cast in DOUGLAS SIRK's semi-comedic film noir gem from 1947.
by David McGee
 

 

 

THE TURNING POINT (1952)

WILLIAM DIETERLE directs this fine early '50s film noir starring WILLIAM HOLDEN, EDMOND O'BRIEN, ED BEGLEY and ALEXIS SMITH and L.A.'s Bunker Hill section. SHORT SUBJECT: DISNEY's 'TRICK OR TREAT.'
by David McGee
 

 
 

ROCK, ROCK, ROCK! (1956)

ROCK, ROCK, ROCK! Yes, it has Cirino & the Bowties but it also has CHUCK BERRY, LAVERN BAKER, THE FLAMINGOS and other '50s greats, plus TEDDY RANDAZZO and, in her first film, 13-year-old TUESDAY WELD
by David McGee
 

 

 

THE DARK CORNER

First-class film noir here starring LUCILLE BALLS, CLIFTON WEBB, MARK STEVENS and WILLIAM BENDIX, directed by HENRY HATHAWAY. Also: the debut of HECKLE AND JECKLE in THE TALKING MAGPIES.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Leave Her To Heaven (1945)

Directed by John M. Stahl with vivid cinematography by Leon Shamroy, LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN, a 1945 film noir entry, features beautiful GENE TIERNEY at her most captivating.
by David McGee