5 Reasons Jane Wyman was SO MUCH more than Mrs. Ronald Reagan

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“Ok, Future Boy. Who’s the president of the United States in 1985?”

“Ronald Reagan.”

“Ronald Reagan? The ACTOR? Then who’s Vice-President, Jerry Lewis? I suppose Jane Wyman is the First Lady!”

Audiences in 1985 rollicked with laughter at this irresistible jab at then-president Ronald Reagan in Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future. The Great Communicator himself was a huge fan of the film (in his 1986 State of the Union address, he stole the famous line “where we’re going we don’t need roads”) and by all accounts, laughed so hard at the Ronald Reagan joke during a White House screening that he asked the projectionist to back it up and play it again.

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My Somewhat Neurotic Relationship with Buster Keaton Movies and Why They Make Me OK with Being Me.

So here we are, day one of Project Keaton. Submissions are pouring in and The Pictorial is buzzing with excitement. The Project’s Tumblr and Facebook pages are up and running and … this is gonna be awesome, guys. So for the first official Project Keaton post, I’m going to be a total prima-donna and grab … Continue reading My Somewhat Neurotic Relationship with Buster Keaton Movies and Why They Make Me OK with Being Me.

Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last and the Triumph of Silent Film

Wow. So the best cinematic experiences I’ve had in recent memory tend to have the same thing in common: silence. First with the TCM Festival’s triumphant screening of Buster Keaton‘s The Cameraman in April. And now two months later, with the Los Angeles Conservancy’s closing night film of their 25th Annual “Last Remaining Seats” series, … Continue reading Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last and the Triumph of Silent Film

Harold Lloyd's Safety Last and the Triumph of Silent Film

Wow. So the best cinematic experiences I’ve had in recent memory tend to have the same thing in common: silence. First with the TCM Festival’s triumphant screening of Buster Keaton‘s The Cameraman in April. And now two months later, with the Los Angeles Conservancy’s closing night film of their 25th Annual “Last Remaining Seats” series, … Continue reading Harold Lloyd's Safety Last and the Triumph of Silent Film

In Memoriam: Van Johnson (1916-2008)

One of Golden Hollywood’s golden boys, Van Johnson passed away on Friday from natural causes. He was 92. Johnson—charming, good-natured and boyishly handsome—soared to fame during the War at MGM, where he became one of the studio’s most popular leading men. His roles placed him opposite the biggest names in the business: Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart, Gene … Continue reading In Memoriam: Van Johnson (1916-2008)