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"Mary Poppins" has been a beloved children's film since its release in 1964. The musical comedy was a veritable hit among British and American audiences alike and launched the career of the incomparable Julie Andrews, who became one of the brightest stars of the late 20th century.

The Disney classic swept the 1965 Oscars, earning Andrews an Academy Award for her performance and snagging additional awards for visual effects, editing, and music. The film was a great triumph for the studio as well as the stars. It was immediately recognized as the masterpiece that it is and has only retained and strengthened its legendary status with age.

Sadly, as the picture ages, so too do the actors that made it such an unforgettable romp. Very few members of the main cast are still alive today and the ones that haven't made it might surprise you. Glynis Johns, who played suffragette and mother...

Partway through John Carpenter's original "Halloween," Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasance) is looking for Judith Myers' grave when a Graveyard Keeper (Arthur Malet) relays to the doctor the story of one Charlie Bowles, a man who used to live in a nearby town with a wife and two children until one day when old Charlie "went out to the garage and got himself a hacksaw" before going back into his house and greeting his family. Neither Dr. Loomis nor we the audience get to hear exactly what Charlie did next, but we can infer quite a bit.

Especially as "Halloween" is the story of one Michael Myers, a Haddonfield resident who, as a young boy of six, brutally murdered his sister on October 31st of 1963. Like Charlie, Michael's actions were similarly unexpected and unprovoked, leading Loomis to conclude that Myers was "purely and simply ... evil." Carpenter insisted that the...

“I didn’t shower today,” singer-guitarist Chlo White announces on “Marbles,” the new single from Columbus, Ohio, band Snarls. “But always put on my gold chain.” The lines capture the melodrama of many millennials: Heartbroken, they put on their favorite T-shirt and head to Walgreens for a chilled beverage. “Sugar messes with me/But not as bad as when you leave.”

Glitter-pop hooks and a crunching guitar riff serve as the backbone of the track, while White takes a dose of malaise on the chorus: “I think I lost my...

What can one say about a comedy that just limps along, even when an attractive cast does fine work every step of the way? Even the bit parts are creatively cast in this odd romp infected with a really bad case of The Cutes. Natalie Wood is at her best, but in service of dumb gags: let’s blow bubble gum bubbles! The result so upset Natalie that she ditched her studio contract. The roster of engaging talent includes Peter Falk (in suave leading man mode!), Dick Shawn (less grating than usual), Lila Kedrova & Lou Jacobi (showing real style), Jonathan Winters (wasted) and, of all people, Ian Bannen as Natalie Wood’s uncomprehending husband. Bannen is so good, he drags a real laugh or two from the material. The show has been beautifully remastered.

Penelope

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1966 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 97 min. / Street Date January 26, 2020 / available through the WBshop / 21.99

Starring: Natalie Wood,...

Mary Poppins Returns is one reboot we're actually looking forward to this year. The upcoming Disney film will tell a brand new story, but rest assured that it's still paying tribute to the original. While Julie Andrews (aka the Og Mary Poppins) has already confirmed that she won't be appearing in the film, her former costar, Dick Van Dyke, will be making a sweet cameo.

The 92-year-old, who previously played Bert in the 1964 film, will be playing Mr. Dawes Jr. in the remake. And if his appearance in Mary Poppins Returns trailer looked familiar, there's a reason why. Mr. Dawes Jr. is the son of bank director Mr. Dawes from the original film, who was also played by Van Dyke. Sadly, the original actor who played Mr. Dawes Jr., Arthur Malet, passed away in 2013, so having Van Dyke take on the role seems like the perfect tribute to fans.

Related:...

In Mary Poppins, Dick Van Dyke espouses the virtues of the Fidelity Fiduciary Bank in song as the grizzled Mr. Dawes Sr. Well, Disney confirmed in a press release today that he’ll appear in the sequel, which is currently in production, as that character’s offspring Mr. Dawes Jr. Van Dyke—who, of course, also played the cheery chimney sweep Bert in the film—teased this back in December, joking to Entertainment Tonight: “This time there’s no four hours in the makeup chair, I grew into the part!” Another person, Arthur Malet, actually portrayed Dawes Jr. in the original, so Van Dyke is assuming his role—unless there are two men named Dawes Jr. in the extended Poppins universe.

Emily Blunt stars in the follow-up as the titular nanny, while Lin-Manuel Miranda is an “optimistic street lamplighter” named Jack. The film catches up with the Banks family...

'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' poster. With Daniel Radcliffe. Rupert Grint. Emma Watson. 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' quiz question: Does state-of-the-art CGI equal movie magic? (Oscar Movie Series) Alfonso Cuarón seems like an odd choice for director of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third installment in the Harry Potter movie series. That is, if one thinks only of Cuarón's pre-Harry Potter sleeper hit, the François Truffaut-esque Y tu mamá también, while ignoring two of his earlier efforts, the critically acclaimed A Little Princess and the moderately respected Great Expectations. This time around, working with a reported $130 million budget (approx. $163 million in 2015), state-of-the-art special effects, and the Harry Potter franchise, Cuarón surely could do no wrong. At the box office, that is. For although Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is stylistically superior to Chris Columbus' previous work in the series,...

Hook

Written by James V. Hart, Nick Castle, Malia Scotch Marmo, and J. M. Barrie

Directed by Steven Spielberg

USA, 1991

Steven Spielberg is known the world over for creating genuine movie magic. From his blockbuster splash Jaws in 1975 up until his 2012 biopic Lincoln, Spielberg is certainly a gifted filmmaker. Very few auteurs are still work today but Spielberg keeps banging out films that dazzle the senses and leave an everlasting impression on the viewer. However, some of Spielberg’s films haven’t achieved the recognition and respect they deserve. There are certain films that this movie master made that didn’t quite achieve a high status. One such film is 1991’s Hook, a fantasy adventure which didn’t really score well with critics but filled children of the 90s with joy, innocence, and wonder.

The film follows middle-aged lawyer Peter Banning (Robin Williams), a bitter individual who has forgotten who he is.