Videophiled: Criterion’s ‘La Chienne’ and ‘Wim Wenders: The Road Trilogy,’ plus ‘Star Trek II’ Director’s Cut and the ultimate ‘Blood Bath’ on Blu-ray

Videophiled: Criterion’s ‘La Chienne’ and ‘Wim Wenders: The Road Trilogy,’ plus ‘Star Trek II’ Director’s Cut and the ultimate ‘Blood Bath’ on Blu-ray

La Chienne (Criterion, Blu-ray, DVD), the second sound film by Jean Renoir, is arguably his first masterpiece and it shows Renoir already using sound both subtly and creatively back in 1931. Adapted from a novel by Georges de La Fouchardière, it stars Michel Simon as...
Revisiting Mommie Dearest at 112

Revisiting Mommie Dearest at 112

On this day in 1904, Lucille Fay LeSueur (later known as Joan Crawford) was born in San Antonio, Texas. Some sources list the year of her birth as 1904, 1905, or even 1908, but a quick search of the San Antonio census records reveals the truth. By any measure,...
Revisiting Joan Crawford at 111

Revisiting Joan Crawford at 111

On this day in 1904, Lucille Fay LeSueur (later known as Joan Crawford) was born in San Antonio, Texas. Some sources list the year of her birth as 1904, 1905, or even 1908, but a quick search of the San Antonio census records reveals the truth. By any measure,...