Blu-ray review – Stream On Demand

Seret Scott and Bill Gunn in the landmark feature film debut by Kathleen Collins

‘Losing Ground’ – The landmark American indie on Criterion Channel

!Featured, African-American filmmakers, Blu-ray, Criterion Channel, Directed by Women, drama, DVD, Have You Seen...?, Milestone Video, socially aware cinema, SVOD 05/08/2022 Sean Axmaker

The sole feature directed by Kathleen Collins is a film of conversation and argument, of relationships and self-knowledge, and its sexual politics are as sophisticated as its personal odysseys.

‘Merrily We Go to Hell’ – Sylvia Sidney and Fredric March spiral on Criterion Channel

!Featured, based on a short story, Blu-ray, Classic Movie, Criterion, Criterion Channel, Criterion Collecton, Directed by Women, drama, DVD, Hollywood Classic, pre-code, socially aware cinema, SVOD 04/26/2022 Sean Axmaker

Dorothy Arzner’s daring pre-code romantic drama delves into open marriage and alcoholism during Prohibition.

‘Long Way North’ – An animated odyssey on Peacock and Criterion Channel

!Featured, Animation, Blu-ray, Criterion Channel, DVD, family friendly, historical, International Cinema, Kid Stuff, Peacock, Shout! Factory, Streaming Movies, SVOD 12/23/2021 Sean Axmaker

This gorgeous French-Danish animated feature is a coming of age story, age of adventure odyssey, and finally survival tale in the icy North.

‘Try and Get Me!’ – lynch mob noir on Criterion Channel

!Featured, Blu-ray, Classic Movie, Crime, Criterion Channel, DVD, film noir, Have You Seen...?, Hollywood Classic, Olive, SVOD 11/27/2021 Sean Axmaker

Frank Lovejoy and Lloyd Bridges star in Cy Enfield’s incendiary film noir, which turns into one of the most caustic cinematic social commentaries of anxiety and fear.

‘Woman on the Run’ with Ann Sheridan on Paramount+ and more

!Featured, American Independent Cinema, Blu-ray, Classic Movie, Cohen Media Channel, DVD, Fandor, Flicker Alley, Free, Have You Seen...?, Hollywood Classic, Hoopla, Kanopy, Mystery, Paramount+, SVOD, thriller 11/25/2021 Sean Axmaker

Sheridan developed and produced this independent film noir, which was shot on location in San Francisco and makes great use of the city.

It’s ‘Too Late for Tears’ for Lizabeth Scott on Paramount+ and Criterion Channel

!Featured, American Independent Cinema, Blu-ray, Classic Movie, Cohen Media Channel, Crime, Criterion Channel, DVD, film noir, Flicker Alley, Free, Hollywood Classic, Kanopy, SVOD 11/24/2021 Sean Axmaker

Scott plays one of the most ruthless heroines in film noir in this minor classic costarring Arthur Kennedy and Dan Duryea.

Dana Andrews and Arthur Kennedy in Elia Kazan's realist noir

‘Boomerang’ – small town noir on Criterion Channel

!Featured, Academy Award nominee, based on a true story, Blu-ray, Criterion Channel, drama, DVD, film noir, Hollywood Classic, Kino Lorber, SVOD 11/22/2021 Sean Axmaker

Elia Kazan directs this semi-documentary film noir based on the true story of a small town murder and the rush to find the killer.

Victor Mature stars in the classic film noir

‘I Wake Up Screaming’ on Criterion Channel

!Featured, based on a novel, Blu-ray, Classic Movie, Criterion Channel, DVD, film noir, Hollywood Classic, Kino Lorber, suspense, SVOD, thriller 11/21/2021 Sean Axmaker

Victor Mature and Betty Grable star in one of the films that established the distinctive style and attitude of film noir, and one of the greatest movie titles of classic cinema.

Last chance: ‘The Bird with the Crystal Plumage’ – Dario Argento begins on Criterion Channel

!Featured, Arrow, Blu-ray, Criterion Channel, Cult Movies, DVD, giallo, horror, International Cinema, Last chance 09/21/2021 Sean Axmaker

The directorial debut of Dario Argento sets the tone and style for his baroque horror films and the genre he helped define: giallo.

Anna Pavlova stars in the 1916 silent movie epic directed by Lois Weber

‘The Dumb Girl of Portici’ – Lois Weber’s silent blockbuster on Criterion Channel

!Featured, Blu-ray, Classic Movie, Criterion Channel, Directed by Women, DVD, historical, Milestone, Milestone Video, silent film 06/29/2021 Sean Axmaker

The first blockbuster helmed by a woman director in Hollywood, The Dumb Girl of Portici (1916), based on the opera by Daniel Auber, presents the legendary ballerina Anna Pavlova in her only feature film performance. It was not uncommon to cast luminaries of stage, opera, and other performing arts in movies as they evolved from […]