Vintage Pulp | Jul 31 2020 |
Humphrey is pitch perfect as always but it's Edward who makes this movie sing.
Above, one of many promo posters for the classic drama Key Largo. This movie, as you doubtless know, is great. It hinges on Edward G. Robinson's bravura performance as a washed up gangster trying to make a comeback, but he gets ample onscreen help from co-stars Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Gomez, Claire Trevor, Dan Seymour, and others. And John Huston in the director's chair is no slouch bringing the foreground drama and hurricane background to life. Key Largo is often called a film noir. Is it though? Hmm... Bogart certainly fits the bill in terms of characterization, but since the movie lacks most other noir elements we're inclined to call it a straight crime drama. But that's just our opinion. It was first seen by the public at a Hollywood preview in mid-July 1948, and went into full national release today.
Vintage Pulp | Mar 28 2011 |
Bela Lugosi’s dead, undead, undead, undead.
Above, a promo poster for the horror film Mark of Vampire. It was directed by Tod Browning of Freaks fame, was a remake of his earlier silent London After Midnight, and stars Bela Lugosi, Lionel Barrymore and Elizabeth Allan. It isn’t a flawless movie, but it does have some good moments, all the rubber bats notwithstanding. Mark of the Vampire premiered in the U.S. today in 1935.