Tag: African American film

Migrating to the Movies: Cinema and Black Urban Modernity—Book Review

July 13, 2020September 13, 2020Shawn2 Comments

This book review is a part of the 2020 Summer Reading Classic Film Book Challenge hosted by Raquel Stecher’s Out of the Past blog. Click here for a list of the classic film books I am reading this summer.

Jacqueline Najuma Stewart’s Migrating to the Movies: Cinema and Black Urban Modernity is a great starting place for anyone interested in learning about African American experiences with and in silent film.…

The Letter, 1940 - ★★★½
Watched on Monday May 2, 2022.
They Drive by Night, 1940 - ★★★½
The first half on the road with Raft and Bogart is great, fast paced fun. The second half slows a bit without Bogart in it as much but Ida Lupino carries and Alan Hale is fun in the obnoxious husband part.
The Battle of the Century, 1927 - ★★★★
Proof that pie fighting isn’t just low brow comedy but really needs a good story to back it up.
Don't Park There, 1924 - ★★★
Will Rogers really isn’t as fun without his voice but it’s always entertaining to watch gags centered around Model T’s that feel more like go karts than cars.
Behind the Screen, 1916 - ★★★★
It’s always fun rewatching Chaplins films. Knowing the jokes already always you to appreciate the precise timing and balletic movements Chaplin undertakes to deliver his jokes. The reason he’s still funny all these years later.