The Cinema Cafe

Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Tomorrow on TCM:

Hayden does not portray the criminal mastermind (that honour goes to actor Sam Jaffe) in this first TCM recommendation: The Asphalt Jungle, previously recommended here.

Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Tomorrow on TCM:

1983’s Academy Award winner for Best Motion Picture went to Terms of Endearment, reviewed briefly here, and showing on TCM Wednesday, August 13 at 5 pm PDT.

Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Monday, August 11, 2025

Currently available at Watch TCM (until August 16th):

James Garner, Rod Taylor and Eva Marie Saint star in the intriguing “Mission Impossible” prototype espionage thriller 36 Hours (1964), previously reviewed here.

Just some thoughts on current happenings:

Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Friday, August 8, 2025

Currently available at Watch TCM (until September 4th):

Some cinephiles take aim at those films identified as film noir if their stories’ setting occur during an earlier time than the classic period (1940 - 1959) in which they were made. They insist that this alone would disqualify a film from being categorised as such, even though the dark criminal surroundings and emphasis on character motive are present and accounted for. The Tall Target is such an example and for myself, joins other so called “period noirs” that are rightfully embraced in the film noir canon.

Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Currently available at Watch TCM (until September 4th):

In my review of 1942’s Casablanca, I made some criticism regarding its emotionally underwhelming Parisian flashback. Prior to this film Casablanca's producer Hal Wallis and one of its contributing writers, Casey Robinson, made Now, Voyager (1942), previously reviewed here, where the romance witnessed from start to finish comes alive with fervour, maturity and elegance.

Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Currently available at Watch TCM (until August 9th):

MGM contract player Robert Taylor appeared in a startling number of excellent films. Johnny Eager (1941), a previous recommendation here, is one of them.

Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Today on TCM:

From 1947, director Michael Curtiz brings inspirationally to life the unsuspectedly stylish film noir The Unsuspected, previously reviewed here, Tuesday, August 5th at 8:30 am PDT.

Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Monday, August 4, 2025

Today on TCM:

Make way for the rapturous Stanley Donen directed musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), reviewed here, Monday, August 4th at 5 pm PDT.