Here's one of many memorable scenes in director Robert Rossen's 1961 classic "The Hustler" with Paul Newman as "Fast Eddie" and Jackie Gleason (a real life billiards pro) as Minnesota Fats. The film is a downbeat look at a gritty world most people never see and the sub-culture of those who inhabit it. The performances are brilliant, including those by Piper Laurie and George C. Scott.
In this interview, Steven Spielberg recalls meeting John Ford when he was a young, aspiring filmmaker and the advice Ford gave him that resonated throughout his career. He also extols Ford's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" for being the classic that it is, even if it was underappreciated back in the day. The fact that the film was shot mostly in a studio led some viewers to express disappointment that it lacked Ford's signature grandeur and magnificent vistas. But the story still resonates today, making poignant observations about courage, cruelty, love and cowardice society, as well as the value of a free press. Indeed, the lessons of "Liberty Valance" are as timely today as they ever were.
In this fascinating short, songwriter Carol Connors recalls the strange way that "Gonna Fly Now" became the signature song for the "Rocky" film series.
Here's some interesting insight into the filming of a scene from The Beatles' 1965 movie "Help!" in which they appeared with legendary British comedic actor Frankie Howerd. Actress Wendy Richard, who was also in the scene, explains how the experience went from being a joy to heartbreaking.
They couldn't sing or dance- which is why it was so amusing to see Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas engage in both activities on the 1958 Oscars broadcast!
Here are some uncredited home movies from the set of director Martin Ritt's "The Molly Maguires", filmed in eastern Pennsylvania in 1969. Whoever shot the silent footage did a good job of capturing some interesting visuals from behind the scenes, including candid shots of stars Sean Connery, Richard Harris and Samantha Eggar.
Female directors in the film industry are still very much a minority. However, in decades past, the situation was even more frustrating when studios imposed an unofficial "glass cieling" that precluded most women from advancing their careers unless it was in front of the cameras. There were some brave exceptions, however. One of those women to break barriers was actress Ida Lupino, who not only had a successful career as a leading lady but who also helped pioneer public acceptance of female directors. In this 2021 clip from Turner Classic Movies, she is paid tribute to by another acclaimed actress/director, Oscar winner Lee Grant.
