Author: Karen Hannsberry

  • Dark Cinema: More Pre-Codes You Should Know

    Even if you're not a pre-Code aficionado, it's likely that you've seen -- or at least heard of -- such popular features as The Public Enemy (1931),

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  • Dark Cinema: Safe in Hell with Dorothy Mackaill

    The opening of Safe in Hell is a bit deceptive. The film's title appears on-screen, with its block-style, capital letters filled in with a silent roar of angry flames. Meanwhile, the music we hear conjures a scene from the late 1800s, perhaps a pair of ladies strolling through the park with ankle-length dresses and lace-trimmed parasols. But once the credits fade the ...

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  • Dark Cinema: Noirs of '48

    In the world of film noir, 1947 is commonly touted as a banner year -- it's the year that saw the release of such classics as Out of the Past, Kiss of Death, Nightmare Alley, and Dead Reckoning. For my money, though, there's another year that deserves just as much acclaim, 1948. Today's post shines the spotlight on five first-rate features from this stellar year of noir.Act of ViolenceVan Heflin stars as Frank Enley,...

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  • Dark Cinema: 'Danger'-ous Noirs

    Creating an absolute definition of film noir is an elusive task; I've found over the years that a simplistic but revealing description of the era can be found in some of the frequently repeated words in the titles of the films themselves, some of which include 'fear,' 'night,' 'kill,' 'street,' 'big,' and 'danger.'Today, I'm taking a look at three 'danger' noir films from the classic era. Each one is worth checking out (or checking out again)!Appointment with D...

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  • Dark Cinema: Flawed Gents of Pre-Code, Vol. 2

    In my ongoing look at the less-than-stellar fellas populating the pre-Code world, I'm shining the spotlight today on Warner's 1931 film Night Nurse. The film stars the always-fabulous Barbara Stanwyck as the title caregiver, Laura Hart, who finds herself battling a variety of contemptible characters in her quest to save the lives of two young girls in her charge. There are a number of do-gooders in this, including Laura's pal and fellow nurse Maloney (Joan Blondell) and Dr. Bell (Cha...

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  • Dark Cinema: Noirs Your Should Know, Vol. 2

    I'm continuing my quest to shine the spotlight on those films noirs that are not necessarily well-known, but are certainly worthy of your time. This installment focuses on three Columbia Pictures features from the 1950s that will put you on the edge of your seat and keep you there for a while.Pushover (1954)Some may call Pushover a 'poor man's Double Indemnity' -- and the label is understandable. Like Double Indemnity, Pu...

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  • Dark Cinema: The Flawed Gents of Pre-Code, Vol. 1

    The films released during Hollywood's pre-Code era undeniably have their fair share of admirable, upstanding fellas. You have Warren William's long-suffering hubby in Three on a Match (1932); Leslie Howard as the sensitive and understanding fiance of Norma Shearer in A Free Soul (1931); and the good-hearted soldier, brought to life by Douglass Montgomery, who falls in love with a woman of ill repute in Waterloo Bridge (1932).More often than not, though (...

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  • Dark Cinema: 'Big' Noir

    Creating an absolute definition of film noir is sometimes an elusive task; I've found over the years that a simplistic but revealing description of the era can be found in some of the frequently repeated words in the titles of the films themselves, some of which include 'fear,' 'night,' 'kill,' 'street,' 'kiss,' and 'big.'Today, I'm taking a look at three 'big' noir films from the classic era: The Big Combo, The Big Heat, and The Big Knife. Each one is a...

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  • Dark Cinema: Introducing Phillips Holmes

    Phillips Holmes is a name seldom mentioned today in classic film circles, and if you're not a pre-Code fan, you may have never heard of him at all. He led a fascinatingly tragic life and during the pre-Code era of 1930 to 1934, he was seen in no fewer than 30 features on the big screen.An appealing performer with a slight build and handsome, classical features, Holmes was nothing if not versatile -- his pre-Code films offer up a wide variety of roles, from sweethearts to scoundrel...

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  • Dark Cinema: The Lure of Luther Adler

    Film noir is practically overflowing with famous actors who made the era's anti-heroes come to life. Who can forget Dick Powell in Murder, My Sweet (1944)? Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep (1946)? Robert Mitchum in Out of the Past (1947)?But these big name performers are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the talent pool represented by the films of the noir era. Sadly, many of the lesser-known actors are seldom mentioned today -- even by classi...

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