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"If you've seen one, you've seen them all." It's a phrase we may each have used before, or at least something of the spirit behind it, when talking about films of a certain genre. You may think, if you're not a fan of horror movies, that if you've seen just one slasher, you know how they all work. And if you see just one feel-good romantic comedy, you might think you don't need to watch any more because of how familiar the tropes may be. But arguably, few genres get treated like this, and so unfairly, as the movie musical. Where so many audiences can suspend their disbelief to watch a superhero film or the like, they struggle to get over the image of people bursting into song to express their emotions. But the truth is, each genre has its standout entries and its misses. Not every musical is perfect,...

Most Disney villains are afflicted by some kind of comeuppance at the end of the story, yet a rare few mysteriously escape all punishment. I grew up watching a lot of Disney movies, and the standard formula is that the universe will conspire to strike down a villain if the heroes are too pure to kill them. In softer circumstances, they will go to prison for their crimes. The best Disney villains are remembered for their dramatic, unapologetic villainy, which would make it almost satisfying to see them go free.

However, these fan-favorite Disney villains also tend to be the ones killed in a dramatic final battle, while more understated characters get away with it. The most evil Disney villain plans are essential parts of their stories, but the implication is that people will be punished for truly evil acts. The best endings of Disney and Pixar movies understand what...

On July 23, 1937, MGM unveiled in theaters Saratoga, a star vehicle for Jean Harlow, who had died suddenly weeks earlier. Additional shooting was needed to complete the film, which featured the actress alongside Clark Gable. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review, headlined “‘Saratoga’ Warmly Greeted … Jean Harlow’s Last Earns High Praise,” is below:

Jean Harlow’s last picture, Saratoga, cannot be reviewed unemotionally. It can only be reported.

Audience reception at a preview last evening in Glendale was unmistakably enthusiastic. Possibly surprised, but never shocked by the fact that the story is a riotous comedy, each time Miss Harlow’s name appeared on the screen and upon the occasion of her first entrance the house rocked with applause. It was more than cursory hand-clapping. The final hand was in honest appreciation of an honestly entertaining offering, splendidly performed, written and directed.

The production by Bernard H. Hyman, with John Emerson as associate producer,...

On Jan. 11, 1940, Columbia bowed director-producer Howard Hawks’ newspaper comedy His Girl Friday, starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below:

With the original Hildy Johnson of the Hecht-MacArthur newspaper yarn, Front Page, metamorphized into Hildegarde Johnson and played by Rosalind Russell, Columbia has made a fast-moving, always interesting picture out of the story. There may, and probably will be those who will say it is not up to the former version, but it nevertheless furnishes good entertainment.

In the present version, Hildegarde is the former wife of the editor, played by Cary Grant, and instead of wishing to retire, as did Hildy, she wants to marry an insurance salesman (Ralph Bellamy). It is to prevent this marriage that the complications, instigated by Grant, ensue. Also, the twist of making the star reporter a woman gives opportunity for some new situations,...

Ariana DeBose voices Asha and Chris Pine voices Magnifico in ‘Wish’ (Photo © 2023 Disney)

Who could ever forget Disney’s classic animated film Pinocchio and the song that opened the fairy tale, “When You Wish Upon a Star,” sung by Cliff Edwards, the voice of Jiminy Cricket? The 1940 animated film is true Disney cinematic magic. That is not the case, however, with Disney’s latest animated film Wish which pays tribute to classic Disney films, including Peter Pan, Bambi, and of course the aforementioned Pinocchio, but pales in comparison.

Wish is a fairy tale lacking engaging characters, memorable songs, and any sense of true magic.

The soulless film opens with a voice-over by Asha (voiced by Ariana DeBose), a 17-year-old native who belts out the song “Welcome to Rosas” which serves to explain the legend of the island (called Rosas). After the loud, energetic number, Asha is off to interview for...

This article contains spoilers for "Wish."

"When You Wish Upon a Star" is considered by many to be the signature song of The Walt Disney Company. Written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for 1940's "Pinocchio," the song originally performed by Cliff Edwards as Jiminy Cricket has accompanied the production logos before most Disney films since the 1980s. The roaring sound of "When Dreams Come True" sets the stage to help transition audiences out of the real world, and into the land of Disney magic.

It's a tune synonymous not just with its source movie, but Disney as a brand, company, and cultural touchstone. So much so that when Disney put out "Once Upon a Studio" to honor 100 years of Disney Animation, the short ends with a century's worth of characters joined together in a singalong led by Jiminy Cricket. There's almost a Pavlovian response at this point to hearing the tune,...

Plot: When a young woman discovers that the wishes of her community are being destroyed by an egomaniac ruler, she must try and create a little magic herself to bring joy to everyone.

Review: “When You Wish Upon A Star” is a song that has become a staple for even the slightest inclusion of Disney in their lives. It’s impossible not to be able to recognize the iconic tune featured in the animated classic Pinocchio. Initially performed by Cliff Edwards, the music has become a signature for everything Disney. And with the current 100-year celebration, Walt Disney Animation is bringing audiences their latest big-screen musical adventure, the appropriately titled Wish. The Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn-directed feature is a joyful, sweet, and engaging tale; although wishes may not come true for all audiences, it sure did for the audience I saw it with.

Wish tells the story of the magical town of Ramas.

Once Upon A Studio is a celebration of Walt Disney Animation Studios' 100-year anniversary, bringing together over 500 Disney Animation characters. Directors Trent Correy and Dan Abraham discuss the technical challenges of blending different animation styles and choosing character pairings. The short also pays homage to Disney legends, with Richard Sherman recording music and portraits honoring key figures from the studio's history.

Once Upon A Studio is the culmination of 100 years of magic and animation, celebrating Walt Disney Animation Studios' milestone anniversary. In the short, Mickey and Minnie Mouse free themselves from pictures on the wall after the studio clears out for the day. The pair gathers over 500 other Disney Animation characters from all around the studio for a group photo.

Once Upon A Studio is written and directed by Dan Abraham and Trent Correy. The short features the voices of countless Disney cast members, including Kristen Bell, Jodie Benson, Auli’i Cravalho,...

Last Thursday morning, I and several other journalists attended a very special event. It’s been 100 years since the founding of the Disney Corporation, and they have something to celebrate with. That morning, Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck, and many more offered insight into a couple of treats the animation studio has in store. First, we witnessed something even my occasionally cold heart couldn’t resist. And that is the inventive and entertaining short, Once Upon a Studio, written and directed by the talented Dan Abraham and Trent Correy.

Once Upon a Studio uniquely celebrates 100 years of animation. It brings to life 543 characters from the past. Whether it’s Cinderella, Mickey Mouse, Belle, Elsa, and her sister, they are all here. It takes place as the employees at the Walt Disney Animation Studio in Burbank all leave for the evening. Once the last two employees say their goodbyes, the studio magically...

Disney's animated movies have a rich history dating back to 1937, with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs being their first fully animated film. Disney's films cover a wide range of genres and storytelling styles, from musical masterpieces like Fantasia to heartwarming tales like Bambi. Many of Disney's classic animated films are available to watch on platforms like Disney+, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video.

Watching Disney's animated movies in order reveals the studio's incredible track of animated features. Established in 1923, The Walt Disney Studios has produced a huge library of films that have become an established part of many people's lives. Their animated movies can serve as a comfort, with their memorable storylines and lovable characters.

From musical masterpieces to sweet animal stories to brave princess tales and everything in between, Disney has some of the most iconic stories ever told in animation form. This includes...

As Disney Animation celebrates its centennial, the studio released the trailer for its nostalgic Once Upon a Studio, an animated short that the filmmakers describe as a love letter to the studio, its artists and fans.

During a press preview Thursday, Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee remembered the Zoom meeting during which writers-directors Dan Abraham and Trent Correy pitched the story. “I couldn’t talk. I was so emotional,” she said, as Abraham added, “I will never forget that pitch. She made us cry, right from the start.”

It begins with a live-action shot in the lobby of Disney’s animation building, as a young employee chats with Disney legend Burny Mattinson, who joined the studio as a teenager in 1953 and stayed until his death this year.

Next, a picture hanging on the wall and featuring Mickey Mouse comes to life. The studio’s famous mouse is then joined by...

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is an Oscar frontrunner for best animated feature, and if it wins, it won’t be the first time the Academy has honored the wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy. In 1941, Walt Disney’s Pinocchio became the first animated feature to win Oscars for best original score and song, for “When You Wish Upon a Star.” The 1940 film, based on children’s novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, was the second animated feature released by Disney, after 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (which, incidentally, also earned an Oscar nomination for original score). Composers Leigh Harline and Paul J. Smith, who had written the music for Snow White with Frank Churchill, were enlisted to craft Pinocchio‘s score. Harline and lyricist Ned Washington wrote the tune “When You Wish Upon a Star,” which was immediately recognized by Disney as...

Now that‘s a duet. Cynthia Erivo joined Kelly Clarkson for her beloved Kellyoke segment. The two harmonized and showcased their out-of-this-world vocals during a cover of Pinnochio‘s “When You Wish Upon a Star.”

After performing the beloved track, originally sung by Cliff Edwards as Jiminy Cricket in the 1940 film, much of the crowd stood up for a standing ovation for the two superstars.

“Give it up for my band, y’all,” Clarkson said, introducing her show. “As well as the extremely talented Cynthia Erivo, who I will be talking to in a minute.

When you wish upon a star, it doesn’t matter how original you are. That’s certainly Disney’s hope at the beginning of the new, Robert Zemeckis-directed Pinocchio. The film marks the latest “live-action” remake of a classic from the Walt Disney Animation Studios catalog. And in this case, it’s pulling from one of the oldest.

Walt Disney’s original Pinocchio was only the second feature-length film made by his animation house after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from three years earlier. Pinocchio is also where the Walt Disney Company got its unofficial theme song, “When You Wish Upon a Star.” To this day, you usually hear an orchestral version of the tune every time you see a new Disney movie that gets the banner logo title card at the beginning. But in the case of Zemeckis’ Pinocchio, the traditional fanfare is interrupted when a digitally...

(from left) Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), Tom Hanks as Geppetto, and Figaro in Disney’s live-action Pinocchio. Photo: Disney Enterprises Contrary to the beliefs of social media lurkers unhappy with equivocating reviews of their favorite intellectual property, Disney does not pay critics, but the studio does frequently—and...

At this point, complaining about Disney’s deathless drive to cannibalize its entire library of animated classics into live-action remakes can feel as futile as complaining about capitalism itself. The studio has immense IP resources to exploit, a hungry well of content to fill, and a commercial imperative to introduce new generations of kids to the characters they’ll soon be expected to recognize on merch and in theme parks. And in truth, the studio could be doing a lot worse with these trawls through the archives. Once in a while genuine inspiration strikes, and even the least-fortunate of these remakes have mostly just been forgettable.

And yet something feels particularly unnecessary about the Robert Zemeckis-directed “Pinocchio,” which revisits nearly every beat of the 1940 animated classic just months before Guillermo del Toro is set to unveil what appears to be a wildly different interpretation of Carlo Collodi’s nineteenth century source material,...

When most of us hear the word “animation,” we think of cuddly imagery from Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse cartoons. We generally don’t think about sexual assault, racism and violence.

But the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ core exhibition, “Stories of Cinema,” showcases a more problematic side of animation history. A three-gallery experience titled “Inventing Worlds and Characters” looks back at questionable imagery and tropes. Through these galleries, they are exploring animation, effects and encounters. It both exists as its own genre and encompasses every other genre such as westerns, noir, documentaries, and more. It’s also a craft that encompasses all the other crafts such as production and costume design, editing, etc.

“When you have a completely unlimited craft by the laws of physics, you can have wondrous examples of pure imagination,” says assistant curator Dara Jaffe. “Still, you also get these extremely grotesque depictions that reflect the racism of the current time.

In an interview with Ace Universe, actor Ewan McGregor revealed that he’ll be voicing Jiminy Cricket in Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming adaptation of Pinocchio.

Based on a collection of Italian bedtime stories about a wooden marionette wanting to become a real child, the Pinocchio character was first made famous by Disney, who produced an animated feature on the subject in the 1940s. Apparently, del Toro has been wanting to tackle the intellectual property himself for quite some time.

At first glance, you may wonder why the director of thrillers like Pan’s Labyrinth and the Academy Award-winning adult drama The Shape of Water wants to adapt such childish source material. However, the story of Pinocchio is actually surprisingly dark. From escaping child slavery to battling a monstrous, carnivorous whale, the character has traversed more dangers than some of Disney’s most seasoned knights.

Then there’s McGregor himself who,...

Disney movies have produced some classic songs over the years — and just over a dozen have won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

“When You Wish Upon a Star” — “Pinocchio” (1940)

The first song from a Disney movie to win Oscar glory is Jiminy Cricket’s ballad from “Pinocchio,” sung by Cliff Edwards.

“Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” — “Song of the South” (1947)

Allie Wrubel and lyricist Ray Gilbert’s song, based on a pre-Civil War folk song, is a catchy ditty in a film that has not been screened in decades due to its depiction of African American characters like Uncle Remus.

“Chim Chim Cher-ee” — “Mary Poppins” (1964)

Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews’ duet, written by the brotherly duo of Richard and Robert Sherman, continues to charm.

“Under the Sea” — “The Little Mermaid” (1987)

Alan Mencken and lyricist Howard Ashman snapped Disney’s two-decade drought with the standout tune from an animated musical that re-established...

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall unite for a classy, revamped version of George and Ira Gershwin’s 1924 song “Fascinating Rhythm.” The track previews their upcoming collaborative LP of Gershwin reworks, Love Is Here to Stay, out September 14th via Verve Records/Columbia Records.

On the single, the singers exchange vocals over snappy piano, brushed drums and walking double-bass. “Fascinating rhythm, you’ve got me on the go/ Fascinating rhythm, I’m all a-quiver,” Krall sings. The track ends with a slowed-down, swaggering blues progression.

Dozens of artists have covered “Fascinating...

The restoration of a newly rediscovered director’s cut of the 1931 The Front Page prompts this two-feature comedy disc — Lewis Milestone’s early talkie plus the sublime Howard Hawks remake, which plays a major gender switch on the main characters of Hecht & MacArthur’s original play.

His Girl Friday / The Front Page

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 849

Available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date January 10, 2017 / 39.96

His Girl Friday:

1940 / B&W /1:37 flat Academy / 92 min.

Starring Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy, Gene Lockhart, Porter Hall, Ernest Truex, Cliff Edwards, Clarence Kolb, Roscoe Karns, Frank Jenks, Regis Toomey, Abner Biberman, Frank Orth, John Qualen, Helen Mack, Alma Kruger, Billy Gilbert, Marion Martin.

Cinematography Joseph Walker

Film Editor Gene Havelick

Original Music Sidney Cutner, Felix Mills

Written by Charles Lederer from the play The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur

Produced and Directed by Howard Hawks

The Front Page:...

By John M. Whalen

It’s 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor. The nation is nervous about the possibility of another bombing raid by the Japanese, and nobody is more nervous about that possibility than Champ Larkin (James Craig) and his pal Jimbo (Frank Jenks), two convicts doing time on Alcatraz. Champ’s a pretty self-centered guy. He isn’t at all concerned about the war. It’s none of his business. “If they want to fight, let ‘em fight.” he says. “Theres a law says they can’t draft convicts. We’ll sit this one out.” (Jimbo’s a little more thoughtful. “I don’t know, Champ,” he says. “Anybody pulls a sneak trick like that is a rat and a rat means trouble here and there.”)

When they see some Zeros coming in over the Pacific to do a flyover of San Francisco, Champ decides it’s time to evacuate.

Vivien Leigh ca. late 1940s. Vivien Leigh movies: now controversial 'Gone with the Wind,' little-seen '21 Days Together' on TCM Vivien Leigh is Turner Classic Movies' star today, Aug. 18, '15, as TCM's “Summer Under the Stars” series continues. Mostly a stage actress, Leigh was seen in only 19 films – in about 15 of which as a leading lady or star – in a movie career spanning three decades. Good for the relatively few who saw her on stage; bad for all those who have access to only a few performances of one of the most remarkable acting talents of the 20th century. This evening, TCM is showing three Vivien Leigh movies: Gone with the Wind (1939), 21 Days Together (1940), and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951). Leigh won Best Actress Academy Awards for the first and the third title. The little-remembered film in-between is a TCM premiere. 'Gone with the Wind' Seemingly all...

Cliff Edwards formed Canada's first pop sensation, The Bells, in 1965 with his future wife, Ann Ralph, and her sister Jacki Ralph-Jamieson. Together, with Doug Gravelle and Gordie McLeod, The Bells quickly took our country by storm.

The Montreal-based group had a handful of wistful, dreamy hits – “Moody Manitoba Morning,” “Fly Little White Dove Fly,” “Music Box Dancer” – in Canada before making it big stateside with 1971’s single “Stay Awhile.” They became the first Canadian act to play New York City’s Copacabana Club.

The documentary Stay Awhile, which premiered at the Whistler Film Festival last December, outlines the eight years The Bells were together, their eventual split, and the creation of the television variety program, The Cliff Edwards Show. It’s told from the perspective of Cliff and Ann’s youngest daughter, Jessica, who also directed the film.

Stay Awhile plays select Cineplex theatres as of April 27.

We got the...

The Bells was a band known for signature vocal harmonies and the hit songs “White Dove” and “Stay Awhile”. In 1965 South African sisters Jackie and Anne Ralph were performing with their trio in small town Quebec when they first laid eyes on Cliff Edwards and his band. The electricity was palpable. The girl’s manager thought pairing Cliff’s band with the sisters would be a good idea. It was, The Bells was born and tasted spectacular success in the States. They performed on The Tonight Show, The Merv Griffin Show and American Bandstand and some of the most prestigious rooms […]...

Hello, good evening and welcome to our first Voice UK live blog of 2015. In a neat twist of fate, we're going live at the same time as this year's hopefuls. How about that?

Based on previous series of the spinning-chair spectacular, don't expect any overly harsh judicial criticism from the coaching panel - but do expect the Top 12 contestants to take to the stage, plus performances from reigning Voice UK champion Jermain Jackman and the omnipresent Olly Murs.

Join us from 7.15pm tonight to find out how it all pans out. Maybe, if we're all really good, we'll even get a 'Yeah!' from the one and only Sir Tom Jones.

22:09Howard and Lara from Team Tom, Autumn from Team Ricky and Clark from Team Rita are going home. Ricky comes up to the stage to give Autumn a hug.

Sir Tom is "lost for words" that both his...

Hello, good evening and welcome to our first Voice UK live blog of 2015. In a neat twist of fate, we're going live at the same time as this year's hopefuls. How about that?

Based on previous series of the spinning-chair spectacular, don't expect any overly harsh judicial criticism from the coaching panel - but do expect the Top 12 contestants to take to the stage, plus performances from reigning Voice UK champion Jermain Jackman and the omnipresent Olly Murs.

Join us from 7.15pm tonight to find out how it all pans out. Maybe, if we're all really good, we'll even get a 'Yeah!' from the one and only Sir Tom Jones.

21:54Smooth-voiced series 3 champ Jermain Jackman is back in the house, sharply attired in Voice UK red. 'How Will I Know' is a solid enough first single - but I think it undersells his talent, which is a bit of a shame.

Given how revered Disney's "Pinocchio" is today, it's hard to believe it was a flop when it was first released exactly three quarters of a century ago. Upon its New York City premiere, on February 7, 1940, critics hailed the film as a masterpiece, and even to this day, many prefer it to Disney's pioneering first animated feature, 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Yet it took the film many years and multiple re-releases to make a profit.

Today, of course, the legacy of "Pinocchio" is inescapable. Everyone's image of the puppet-boy with the nose that grows when he lies comes not from Carlo Collodi's original novel but from the kid with the Tyrolean hat and the Mickey Mouse gloves, as drawn by Disney animators. And the opening tune, Jiminy Cricket's "When You Wish Upon a Star," is ubiquitous as the theme music played before every Walt Disney movie and home video release.

Robert Redford movies: TCM shows 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' 'The Sting' They don't make movie stars like they used to, back in the days of Louis B. Mayer, Jack Warner, and Harry Cohn. That's what nostalgists have been bitching about for the last four or five decades; never mind the fact that movie stars have remained as big as ever despite the demise of the old studio system and the spectacular rise of television more than sixty years ago. This month of January 2015, Turner Classic Movies will be honoring one such post-studio era superstar: Robert Redford. Beginning this Monday evening, January 6, TCM will be presenting 15 Robert Redford movies. Tonight's entries include Redford's two biggest blockbusters, both directed by George Roy Hill and co-starring Paul Newman: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which turned Redford, already in his early 30s, into a major film star to rival Rudolph Valentino,...

-As the 2015 International CES trade show gets underway in Las Vegas this week, Netflix unveiled its plan to start anointing TVs with its seal of approval, designating certain sets as "Netflix recommended" in the Spring. Though the company has yet to clearly define its standards of approval, one sure-bet certification looks to be faster loading and more accessible user experience. It seems that in the new year the company wants to see more users powering directly on Netflix on their TVs rather than jumping into the service via Roku or other set-tops or game consoles. Simply put, as Netflix director of corporate communications and technology Cliff Edwards said, "It's about putting internet television on the same footing as regular TV." Which means Netflix wants to outpace cable television, or at the very least get on its level importance, just as much as it wants to outbid Hollywood (and judging by...

A slew of classic Disney movies are hitting for the first time on Blu-Ray, including one double-pack release, and you’re going to want to make sure to pick these up. You haven’t paid attention to some of these titles for a while, and it’s about time you got the chance to catch them on Blu-Ray. The best part is that there’s a great mix of releases hitting. Bedknobs and Broomsticks is all but lost in the cultural consciousness, and it deserves a return. The Academy Award-winning movie from the year I was born is filled with a lot of fun and adventure, and like most Disney films, holds up well for a whole new generation.

The rest of the group covers a great spectrum, including two animated “big” titles, and a 10th Anniversary release. There’s a lot to expose your family to here, so check out all the info below,...

There are people out there who have never seen The Princess Bride. They walk among us, holding down jobs, contributing to society, and generally living happy, semi-fulfilled lives. But whisper a perfectly-timed “mawage” in their direction during a wedding, and the resulting blank stare or awkward chuckle will expose an inconceivable pop-cultural blind spot. Someone failed them when they were growing up.

In many ways it’s too late for them, but we can still save the next generation. The 55 Essential Movies Kids Must Experience (Before They Turn 13) is a starting point. This isn’t a list of the 55 “best” kids movies,...

The concept of the work of art that is unappreciated by the masses immediately, but gains a passionate and overwhelming following decades later is almost as old as time itself. A book, or piece of music, or painting, or sculpture, or film is unveiled to an indifferent public, save a few devout fans, and is only revived once newer generations approach it with fresh eyes. So many films we now consider to be the greatest of all time were not as warmly received (if they were received warmly at all) upon their initial release. Some classics, such as Citizen Kane and Vertigo, benefit now primarily from home media releases, repeated airings on Turner Classic Movies, and the impassioned voices of critics and historians to emphasize to general audiences how important and daring and dramatically satisfying these films truly are. Then there are the films that received a second wind of...

Hattie McDaniel as Mammy in ‘Gone with the Wind’: TCM schedule on August 20, 2013 (photo: Vivien Leigh and Hattie McDaniel in ‘Gone with the Wind’) See previous post: “Hattie McDaniel: Oscar Winner Makes History.” 3:00 Am Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943). Director: David Butler. Cast: Joan Leslie, Dennis Morgan, Eddie Cantor, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Errol Flynn, John Garfield, Ida Lupino, Ann Sheridan, Dinah Shore, Alexis Smith, Jack Carson, Alan Hale, George Tobias, Edward Everett Horton, S.Z. Sakall, Hattie McDaniel, Ruth Donnelly, Don Wilson, Spike Jones, Henry Armetta, Leah Baird, Willie Best, Monte Blue, James Burke, David Butler, Stanley Clements, William Desmond, Ralph Dunn, Frank Faylen, James Flavin, Creighton Hale, Sam Harris, Paul Harvey, Mark Hellinger, Brandon Hurst, Charles Irwin, Noble Johnson, Mike Mazurki, Fred Kelsey, Frank Mayo, Joyce Reynolds, Mary Treen, Doodles Weaver. Bw-127 mins. 5:15 Am Janie (1944). Director: Michael Curtiz. Cast: Joyce Reynolds, Robert Hutton,...

Bloomberg's longtime Los Angeles-based entertainment reporter, Michael White, has left the company. "He's no longer with us," said Cliff Edwards, a member of Bloomberg's entertainment team. He declined to elaborate on the circumstances of White's departure. According to his LinkedIn profile, White had been at Bloomberg since 2000, specializing in film finance. He left in July, and his last byline appears to be July 22. Bloomberg began advertising for to fill the vacant position last Friday. Also read: Bloomberg Businessweek Apologizes for 'Racist' Cover Before Bloomberg, White worked various beats for the Associated Press...

Netflix resurrected the defunct Fox television show Arrested Development for an all new 15-episode, fourth season, which debuted all at once on the pay platform on May 26, 2013. The show’s cult status among its devotees coupled with an incredibly clever series of publicity stunts helped build a significant amount of buzz in anticipation of the program’s return from its seven-year hiatus. Despite all the hype, critics were divided over the quality of Arrested Development’s new installments. Fatiguing lulls in the comedic action and a general sense of “underwhelmingness” cited by some entertainment professionals pulled down the program’s score on Metacritic to a lackluster 71. But despite the critical reception of the new season of the series, Netflix just may order another. Arrested Development’s fourth season was originally intended as a one-time ramp up to an Arrested Development theatrical release. But according to Cliff Edwards at Bloomberg, the...

We love a chamelonic director here at The Playlist, and Howard Hawks was one of the first, and one of the best. Across a 55-year career that spanned silents and talkies, black-and-white and color, Hawks tackled virtually every genre under the sun, often turning out films that still stand as among the best in that style. Romantic comedy? Two of the finest ever. War? "To Have And Have Not" and "Sergeant York," the latter of which won him his only Best Director Academy Award nomination (though he did win an Honorary Award in 1975, two years before his death). Science-fiction? The much ripped-off "The Thing From Another World." Gangster movies? "Scarface," which practically invented a whole genre. From film noir and melodrama to Westerns and musicals, Hawks took them all in his stride.

The filmmaker famously said that the secret to a good movie was "three great scenes and no bad ones,...

In a year when the Best Picture Oscar went to a comedy about Hollywood's turbulent transition from silence to sound, "Singin' in the Rain" suddenly seems timely again. The beloved musical, which marks the 60th anniversary of its release in U.S. theaters in April, is not only fondly remembered for its exuberantly athletic song-and-dance numbers, but also for its witty dramatization of the birth of Hollywood's sound era. If you haven't seen it, imagine 2011's "The Artist" with spoken dialogue and without the heroic dog. But of course, you have seen it, even if you don't realize it. The title number, featuring a soaked but joyful Gene Kelly, is one of the most iconic (and most frequently parodied) sequences in film history. The film's impact on popular culture is enormous, from making stars out of Debbie Reynolds and Cyd Charisse to influencing directors as far-flung as Jacques Demy and Stanley Kubrick.

We all assume that money can cure all our ills, from pretty much the day that we understand what money is. If we have money, we can buy anything we want, we can live in luxury, and we can make what we like, too. For the animators at Walt Disney Feature Animation, money is rarely an object that they even think about. Though they’re not always living high on the hog, they probably never need to worry too much about getting a budget increase on their latest project, as long as the Disney executives see potential merchandising moolah in the long run. We can bulge our eyes in surprise to see how much some recent Disney movies’ budgets were—Tangled had a $200 million budget, as an example—but that’s just the way things are these days.

But I wonder if sometimes, we need to learn a lesson from...

Part of a series by David Cairns on forgotten pre-Code films.

Trawling through Hollywood musicals before Gold Diggers of 1933 is a fascinating job. Asides from Lubitsch and the operetta-film, the most salient feature of films like Sunnyside Up (1929) and Follow Thru (1930) is the slenderness of their plots, which are willowy and attenuated in the extreme. Of course one expects musicals to have rather lightweight, simplistic storylines, but these movies extend rudimentary narrative conceits farther than one would think possible, coasting on pure charm.

In today's cinematic world, the art of the musical looks hopelessly difficult: how do you maintain enough story tension to keep the audience hooked, while suspending plot for minutes at a time to indulge in musical numbers which tend to capture the mood of a moment, extending it well past any narrative requirement? In the 30s, they not only did it regularly and effortlessly, they didn't...

Mouse House proudly presents a special three-part edition that wil focus on overlooked Disney songs. With over 70 years of animated films to choose from, this did not prove to be a simple undertaking. Even more difficult was determining what symbolized as overlooked. My main guideline to abide by was that these selected songs are not necessarily the most recognizable. That means no “Circle of Life” or “When You Wish Upon a Star” on this list. Memorable, classic songs, for sure, but these do not fit the criteria as “overlooked.” On this list you’ll find a mixture of tunes that are from films you may never have even heard of, as well as “smaller songs” within the great masterpieces of the 90s. Only three out of these 25 were even nominated for an Academy Award. By no means are my choices “lesser than” the most famous from the Disney library. They merely received much less attention.

On top of getting full lists of "Just Dance 2" tracks and "Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock" songs this week, we've also received a complete soundtrack listing for a game you may not have been looking forward to for its tunes — "Mafia 2." 2K Games released the rundown ahead of a live one-hour playthrough they're hosting today at 2Pm Pst via Ustream.

Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Louis Prima and Little Richard all appear on the game's soundtrack, which has been posted on the "Mafia 2" website. If "GTA Godfather" has always been something you thought you might like to play with some bona fide Ratpack music in the background, you should find the entries here to your liking:

• Gatemouth Moore - "Did You Ever Love A Woman"

• Al Hibbler - "After the Lights Go Down Low"

• Al Hibbler - "Count Every Star"

• The Ames Brothers - "My Bonnie Lassie"

• The Andrews Sisters -...

Glen highlights some of the finest tunes ever to emerge from films aimed at much younger viewers than he...

My home movie watching has involved a lot of animated and other films primarily aimed at children over the past month or so. This proved to be quite useful, given the wealth of great music included in these films, so I thought it was time I compiled a list of my favourite songs that feature in kids movies.

‘Kids movies' is not a term that I'm particularly fond of, especially as many of these films appeal to adults as much as younger audiences, but it's less of a mouthful than ‘films primarily aimed at children' or something similar.

There were plenty of songs considered for this and, in fairness, it could have quite easily been double the length. But restraint was needed and after a lot of editing and re-ordering, what's...

Actor Eddie Carroll, who voiced beloved Disney character Jiminy Cricket, has lost his battle with brain cancer. He was 76.

Carroll died at a Los Angeles hospital on 6 April after a long struggle with a brain tumour.

In 1973, he became the second actor to voice the lovable cricket, first featured as Pinocchio's conscience in the animated 1940 film of the same name. The original voice of Jiminy Cricket, Cliff Edwards, died in 1971.

Carroll later gained notoriety for his impersonations of comedian Jack Benny, after being cast in one-man show A Small Eternity With Jack Benny. He continued appearing as the icon until last year.

Carroll is survived by a wife, Carolyn and two children.

Sad news hit a few days apart last week as Deadline reports actors Eddie Carroll and Meinhardt Raabe have passed away. Though you may not know them by name, you certainly know them by their most iconic characters. Raabe played the Munchkin coroner in the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz who so succinctly proclaimed The Wicked Witch of the West was "really most sincerely dead." Meanwhile, Carroll voiced quite possibly the most famous insect of all-time: the lovable Jiminy Cricket. Carroll inherited decades of work as the longest recurring Disney character after the original voice actor, Cliff Edwards, passed away in 1973. Yahoo says Raabe was 94-years-old and one of the last few surviving little people out of the 124 actors who appeared on-screen as the Munchkins in the original movie. On Friday, April 9th, the actor suddenly went into cardiac arrest at his retirement community before passing away ...

His family tells me that Eddie Carroll, who touched countless people's lives as the voice of Jiminy Cricket for almost 40 years, died of a brain tumor on April 6th. He was 66. Jiminy Cricket is the longest recurring character voice actor in the Disney stable of characters, and Carroll took over from the late Cliff Edwards, the original voice, in 1973. "He absolutely loved performing the voice," Rick Dempsey, Svp of Disney Character Voices told the studio in-house newsletter. "He was so into the character and truly took to heart what Jiminy was all about." Also, Meinhardt Raabe, who played the Munchkin official [...]...