Two-time Oscar winner is miscast in this biopic of the early years of the great French actress, Sarah Bernhardt, poorly scripted by Ruth Wolff and impersonally directed by Richard Fleischer. Oscar Nominations: 2 Art Direction-Set Decoration: Elliot Scott and Norman Reynolds; Peter Howitt Costume Design: Anthony Mendleson   Oscar Awards: None Oscar Context: The Art […]

In this nicely shot musical biopic, directed by George Marshall, Betty Hutton plays queen of speakeasies, Texas Guinan. The supporting cast includes Charles Ruggles, Albert Dekker, and Barry Fitzgerald.   Oscar Nominations: 1 Scoring of Musical: Robert Emmett Dolan   Oscar Awards: None Oscar Context: The Scoring Oscar went to Georgie Stoll for Anchors Aweigh […]

Unlike most thriller-actioners, in which the villains are just stupid and nasty, it boasts a flamboyant villain, who is just as absorbing as the hero. The role is cast with John Malkovich, who has specialized in playing seedy creeps, who does his best work since Dangerous Liaisons.

Indie actor Todd Field makes an impressive feature directorial debut with In the Bedroom, a sharply observed portrait of how one upper-middle class family comes to terms with sudden tragedy. Set in New England, this meditative, multi-layered drama, is as much noteworthy for its accomplishments, providing a detailed chronicle of a whole community, as for the pitfalls it avoids, specifically its determination to steer clear of sentimentality and melodrama.

“In Old Oklahoma” (aka “War of the Wildcats”) reteamed John Wayne with Albert Dekker, with whom he had made “In Old California.”
Set during the era (circa 1906) in which black oils was discovered on the farmlands of Oklahoma, the tale centers on two friends who become rivals.