Poster for The Thin Man Jesse Pasternack explains how The Thin Man‘s mixture of genres turns the 1934 classic into something truly special. If I had to compare The Thin Man (1934) to one drink, it would be a martini. It’s elegant, cool, and delightful to enjoy. More importantly, it resembles a martini because it’s… Read more »
Tag: William Powell
The Countercultural Spirit of Jewel Robbery (1932)
William Powell and Kay Francis in a publicity photo for Jewel Robbery (William Dieterle, 1932) Jack Miller extols the virtues of Jewel Robbery, a slightly weird and completely wonderful pre-Code romantic comedy starring the wildly charming team of Kay Francis and William Powell. The luminous pre-Code star Kay Francis appeared in seven movies in the… Read more »
Sirens, Spitfires, and the Sinful Delights of Pre-Code Cinema
In this primer for this fall’s Sirens and Spitfires: Liberated Ladies of Pre-Code Cinema series, co-curator Michaela Owens explains why you shouldn’t sleep on this fierce line-up. What does pre-Code mean? To keep it brief, in the 1920s, Hollywood had so many scandals that, to avoid repercussions from political and religious groups, the major movie… Read more »
Libeled Lady and the Sophisticated Silliness of William Powell
When the New York Evening Star carelessly prints a false story about society dame Connie Allenbury (Myrna Loy) that results in a $5 million libel suit, editor Warren Haggerty (Spencer Tracy) decides to resolve the situation by hiring the sneakiest, smoothest operator he knows: ex-Evening Star reporter Bill Chandler (William Powell). The men don’t share… Read more »
Monthly Movie Round-Up: July
Every month A Place for Film will bring you a selection of films from our group of regular bloggers. Even though these films aren’t currently being screened at the IU Cinema, this series will reflect the varied programming that can be found at the Cinema, as well as demonstrate the eclectic tastes of the bloggers…. Read more »
Myrna Loy: More Than Just “The Perfect Wife”
If you were to ask the average person to name an actress from old Hollywood, you’re likely to hear the same handful of names: Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, maybe even Ginger Rogers. If you’re a classic film fan, you know that while these ladies are incredible representations of… Read more »