TIFF: Musicals! The Movies That Moved Us – Singin’ In The Rain (1952)

When the musical made the leap from stage to screen, it opened everything up, not just in terms of accessibility for the viewing audience, but the scope of the storytelling canvas – things were no longer confined to a stage, the settings, the choreography, the characters could live in a whole new way. Cameras could…

Urban Cowboy (1980) 40th Anniversary Edition – Blu-Ray Review

John Travolta was a hot commodity in the late 70s, and early 80s. He had a hit sitcom in Welcome Back, Kotter, had starred in two box office hits, Grease, and Saturday Night Fever, and he and director James Bridges sought to personalise the story of the modern cowboy with Urban Cowboy which sees its…

Grease (1978) – Randal Kleiser

The joyous, infectious, and iconic screen adaptation of the classic stage musical is the next stop in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film as I return to the musical chapter of the book. Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Jaws, Star Wars, these and a few select other films were staples of the 1970s. You…

Got It, Need It, Got It…

I can remember the waxy feel of the paper as you opened up a fresh package of trading cards, and shoved the cardboard-like stick of gum in your mouth, it would be good for a couple of chews and then it would just lose all taste and just take up space, but I still love that smell….