Thursday, June 14, 2012

They Shot Pictures: Josef von Sternberg


I was honored to be invited to talk about Josef von Sternberg this week on the They Shot Pictures podcast.  I was also nervous, terrified and highly caffeinated.  We talk about two of my favorite films, The Docks of New York and Morocco, along with von Sternberg's final film, The Saga of Anatahan.  Give it a listen here at Reel Time or download it through iTunes.

One thing I forgot to mention is this quote from the end of a great essay on von Sternberg by Tag Gallagher at Senses of Cinema:

"Of one thing there is no doubt: Morocco reaffirms the magic of the movies, makes everything else look worn and faded, like a hot summer sunrise in the middle of a cold winter night."


Tuesday, June 12, 2012

This Week in Rankings



The Docks of New York - 1, 1928
Morocco - 1, 1930
Blonde Venus - 11, 1932
The Devil is a Woman - 2, 1935
Crime & Punishment - 15, 1935
A Day in the Country - 7, 1936
The King Steps Out - 27, 1936


The Saga of Anatahan - 12, 1953
12 Angry Men - 63, 1957
Golden Swallow - 12, 1968
5 Shaolin Masters - 12, 1974

Irving Thalberg: Prince of Hollywood - 46, 2005