Tag Archives: Films

Arts & Humanities, Current Affairs, Film & Movies, Libraries, Memories & History

From the National Film Registry: “Easy Rider” (1969)

Posted by: Cary O’Dell, May 17, 2023

“Easy Rider” (1969)

Jack Nicholson, Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, drugs, hippies, the open road, protests, long–hair, nonconformity, backlash.

“Easy Rider” picked up the beat of the 1960s at the end of that turbulent decade. It also fueled a developing urge to make personal films that could be done on budgets low enough to deal with subjects of little or no interest to conventional Hollywood.

The French New Wave already had its influence, and now it was the turn of American filmmakers. True, a major Hollywood company, Columbia, released “Easy Rider,” but the deal was struck only after the independent venture had been completed.

Independent filmmakers in succeeding decades owe a debt to “Easy Rider” as one of several 1960s films that inspired others to work outside the mainstream.

Source: From the National Film Registry: “Easy Rider” (1969) | Now See Hear!

Current Affairs, Film & Movies, Television

The Best Christmas Movies in 2022 and Where to Watch Them – TV Guide

Where to stream 8-Bit Christmas, A Christmas Carol, and more

By Allison Picurro, Nov. 24, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. PT

June Diane Raphael, Neil Patrick Harris, and Sophia Reid-Gantzert, 8-Bit Christmas HBO Max

Remember the rule about no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving? Yeah, that rule is a thing of the past. “Jingle Bell Rock” is all over your local Starbucks, so you may as well watch a Christmas movie too.

At this rate, we’ll be watching Christmas movies in before we go trick-or-treating, and you know what? I’m fine with it! Especially with all the great Christmas movies out there, both old and new.

Our list of the best Christmas movies to watch in 2022 is updated with all the latest streaming destinations, and features childhood favorites like Elf and A Christmas Story, all-time classics like A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life, and new movies like 8-Bit Christmas and Happiest Season, whether they’re on HBO Max, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or anywhere else. If you’re looking for more Christmas cheer, check out our guide to every Christmas movie and special airing on TV or streaming on your favorite streaming service, or check out our list of the best new Christmas movies on Hallmark, Parmount+, Hulu, and everywhere else.

Editor’s Note: Read more, see link below for original item…

Source: The Best Christmas Movies in 2022 and Where to Watch Them – TV Guide

Arts & Humanities, Film & Movies, Libraries, Memories & History, Pleasures, Weblogs (Blogs)

Asking Your Opinion: National Film Registry | Now See Hear!

August 3, 2022 by Stacie Seifrit-Griffin

I am happy to say that I work with some of the most fascinating, brilliant and passionate people that I’ve ever known. The halls here at the Library of Congress National Audio-Video Conservation Center are abuzz every day with discussions about movies, directors, cinematography, casting decisions, and opinions about what is the greatest film of all time. (You can add your thoughts in the comments).

from article…

The most-lively debates revolve around the National Film Registry.

Second to Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden, I think I have one of the greatest jobs at the Library. An important part of my role is working with the National Film Preservation Board to research and recommend works to the Librarian for induction into the National Film Registry.

Source: https://blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2022/08/need-your-opinion-national-film-registry/?loclr=eanshb

Current Affairs, Film & Movies, Memories & History, Pleasures, Television

Downton Abbey Ushers in a New Era in Britain – DailyNewsGems

By Bill Lucey, 06/18/2022

via YouTube…

A hearty round of applause goes to Julian Fellowes who knocked one out of the park, yet again.

The second movie spinoff of Downton Abbey hit the theaters a few weeks ago and is being met with mostly favorable reviews.

As of June 17, 2022, “Downton Abbey: A New Era” has grossed $41.6 million in the United States and Canada and $45.5 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $87.1 million.

Many passionate Downton followers, including myself, think “Downton Abbey: A New Era” was a better written, more entertaining, offering than the last motion picture.

Lady Mary’s (Michelle Dockery) voice is used in order for the production company to transition from a silent film to a talkie.
Photo Credit: BEN BLACKALL/FOCUS FEATURES

And as an added bonus, in this second Downton Abbey movie, viewers feast their eyes on a French villa in the south of France. It was Villa Roccabella located about an hour from Saint-Tropez, which features extensive gardens, a heated outdoor pool, yoga deck and a private beach (used in the swimming scene with Tom and Lucy Branson). It was designed in the late 19th century by Hans-Georg Tersling, a Danish architect.

Source: Downton Abbey Ushers in a New Era in Britain – DailyNewsGems

Film & Movies, Love & Relationships, Pleasures

The 33 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time | Vanity Fair

We take stock of the best rom-coms ever—from Coming to America to Groundhog Day to three Nora Ephron classics.

By Vanity Fair, May 11, 2022

Photo Illustration by Lauren Margit Jones; Photos, from left, by Sophie Giraud/Ifc/Kobal, from Castle Rock/Nelson/Columbia/Kobal, both from REX/Shutterstock; From Paramount/Everett Collection.

As this list of the best romantic comedies ever proves, the death of the genre has been greatly exaggerated. Yes, rom-coms have faltered in popularity since their 1990s heyday—but even as time passes, audiences are hungry as ever for banter, meet-cutes, and happy endings. That’s been clear for years now, since Netflix hit pay dirt by releasing scores of rom-coms, Crazy Rich Asians made bank at the box office, and Licorice Pizza became a critical darling.

Which got us thinking: what are the best romantic comedies of all time, the films that most perfectly exemplify this beloved but under-appreciated genre? Vanity Fair’s Hollywood team decided to find out by making individual top 10 lists, then crunching the numbers, noting which films appeared most frequently, and—after a few brief arguments about what constitutes a romantic comedy, and what does not—came up with the final tally.

Though 31 rom-coms ultimately made the list, 20 more were left off because they received only a single vote—films that ran the gamut from Obvious Child to White Christmas to Strictly Ballroom to Wall-E. The takeaway, perhaps, is that “romantic comedy” is an elastic designation, one that lies at least partly in the eye of the beholder—appropriate enough for a genre all about falling in love.

Source: The 33 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time | Vanity Fair

Arts & Humanities, Books & Reading, Current Affairs, Film & Movies, Games, Libraries, Memories & History, Pleasures, Television

Find Star Wars in Copyright | Copyright: Creativity at Work | Library of Congress

May 4, 2022 by Alison Hall

One of many Star Wars registration cards.

If you’ve ever watched The Big Bang Theory, you know that the guys are obsessed with Star Wars.

In one episode, Leonard suggests a Star Wars marathon weekend to Sheldon, who replies with “Movies or video games? Or board games? Or trading card games? Or Legos? Or dress up? Or comic books? Or dramatic readings of novelizations? Yes to all!”

They settle on the online game. The scene just scratches the surface of all the Star Wars derivative works, many of which I owned “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away . . . ” (or, more accurately, forty-some years ago in Pittsburgh).

So, just how many hits do you think searching “Star Wars” gets in the Copyright Public Records System? On this Star Wars Day, I got more than 8,400.

Searching “Star Wars” in the Copyright Public Records System found more than 8,400 results.

Now, not all of them are related to the first Star Wars movie, registered by Twentieth Century-Fox in 1977—for example, some are about the star wars defense system from the 1980s.

But most are on topic, and several can be seen in the Find Yourself in Copyright exhibit.

How do I find myself in Star Wars? I’m an old-school fan—the original trilogy was a huge part of my childhood. I know I’m not alone, given that all three original movies have been added to the National Film Registry. I remember seeing the films in the theater, and I remember how big of a deal it was when Star Wars was on TV for the first time. But even greater are my memories of the creative works that came from the movies.

Source: Find Star Wars in Copyright | Copyright: Creativity at Work