Angela Lansbury – We Are Movie Geeks

Angela Lansbury in the Forgotten Film Noir A LIFE AT STAKE Special-Edition Blu-ray & DVD September 7th

Angela Lansbury in the Forgotten Film Noir A LIFE AT STAKE will be available as a Special-Edition Blu-ray & DVD, September 7th With Striking 4K Restoration & Brand New, Exclusive Special Features

Cinedigm, the leading independent streaming entertainment company super-serving enthusiast fan bases, announced today that The Film Detective (TFD), the classic media streaming network and film archive that restores and distributes classic films, is releasing a special- edition version of the forgotten film noir, A Life at Stake(1955), on Blu-ray and DVD, Sept. 7.

From director Paul Guilfoyle comes this highly charged mystery starring Angela Lansbury and Keith Andes. At the time, Lansbury—starring in an unlikely role as charming femme fatale—was already a double Oscar nominee for Gaslight (1944) and The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945).

In this independent production from the waning golden years of film noir, spoiled, young Doris Hillman (Lansbury) invites struggling architect Edward Shaw (Andes) to be her husband’s partner in a lucrative real estate deal. However, when Edward becomes romantically involved with Doris, he learns that something deadly is going on. There’s a life at stake … and it could be his own.

SPECIAL FEATURES: In addition to a newly restored presentation, with a striking 4K transfer from archival film elements, exclusive bonus materials include audio commentary and the full-color booklet, A Career at Stake: Angela Lansbury and the Last Days of the B Noir, by professor and film scholar, Jason A. Ney; and Hollywood Hitch-hikers: Inside the Filmakers, an original production from Ballyhoo Motion Pictures. English and Spanish subtitles are available.

A Life at Stake will be available on Blu-ray ($24.95) and DVD ($19.95) and can be pre-ordered now via Amazon and MVD. For more information or to pre-order, visit https://www.thefilmdetective.com/lifeatstake

About The Film Detective:

The Film Detective (TFD) is a leading distributor of restored classic programming, including feature films, television, foreign imports, and documentaries and is a division of Cinedigm. Launched in 2014, TFD has distributed its extensive library of 3,000+ hours of film on DVD and Blu-ray and through leading broadcast and streaming platforms such as Turner Classic Movies, NBC, EPIX, Pluto TV, Amazon, MeTV, PBS and more. With a strong focus on increasing the digital reach of its content, TFD has released its classic movie app on web, Android, iOS, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV. TFD is also available live with a 24/7 linear channel available on Sling TV, STIRR, Plex, Local Now, Rakuten TV and DistroTV. For more information, visit www.thefilmdetective.com

GASLIGHT – 1940 and 1944 Versions Available on Blu-ray From Warner Archives

” I am mad. I’m always losing things and hiding things and I can never find them, I don’t know where I’ve put them. “

Great news for classic movie fans! GASLIGHT. Both the Oscar-winning 1944 version and the original 1940 versions are both available on the same Blu-ray From Warner Archives.

Lights flicker and dim. Footsteps sound from a sealed-off attic. Mysterious events only vulnerable young Paula sees and hears make her fear she’s losing her mind – exactly what treacherous spouse Gregory hopes. Directed by George Cukor, Gaslight shines as a superb exercise in suspense. Ingrid Bergman won her first Academy Award®* as Paula, doubting her sanity while clinging to it. Fellow Oscar® nominee Charles Boyer skillfully plays against type as smoothly evil Gregory. Joseph Cotten, Dame May Whitty and an 18-year-old Angela Lansbury in her movie debut (also capturing an Oscar® nomination) help make the Victorian era vividly realized through production design that earned an Academy Award®*.

he seminal classic of cinema suspense that birthed a new verb arrives in crystal clear High Definition, ready to correct a nation of meme-sharing youth that don’t understand it’s meaning – in gorgeous, luscious, glorious Black and White. Beautiful and trusting, Paula Anton (Ingrid Bergman) is slowly losing her mind, tormented by mysterious happenings in her luxurious Victorian home. What could be the cause? Her fragile psyche? Her devoted husband (Charles Boyer)? The concerned detective (Joseph Cotten)? Or even the insouciant servant (Angela Lansbury)? Viewing the world through the dim glow of the gaslight, it is difficult to tell what is real and what is imagined. Special Features: Original 1940 British Version (SD) and 1946 Lux Radio Theatre Broadcast starring Bergman and Boyer ; Reflections on Gaslight (featuring Angela Lansbury)-a Reminiscence by Pia Lindstrom About Her Mother, Ingrid Bergman; 1944 Academy Award® Ceremonies Newsreel; Theatrical Trailer (HD)

Oscar Winner Angela Lansbury Added To MARY POPPINS RETURNS Cast

Angela Lansbury has joined the cast of MARY POPPINS RETURNS, the all-new sequel to Disney’s 1964 film “Mary Poppins” currently filming at Shepperton Studios. She will feature as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from PL Travers’ series of Mary Poppins children’s books. The film is scheduled for release December 25, 2018.

A five-time Tony Award winner and the recipient of an honorary Academy Award, three Academy Award nominations and bestowed with numerous other accolades, Angela Lansbury’s career encompasses more than 70 years. She is a beloved member of the Disney family and starred in “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” and voiced Mrs. Potts in the animated classic “Beauty and the Beast.”

Her roles in film, television and theater range from “Gaslight,” “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” “The Manchurian Candidate” and “Death on the Nile” to “Murder, She Wrote,” “Mame,” “Blithe Spirit,” “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and “Gypsy.”

Directed and produced by Rob Marshall (“Into the Woods,” “Chicago”), “Mary Poppins Returns” stars Emily Blunt (“The Girl on the Train,” “Into the Woods”), Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “Moana”), Ben Whishaw (“Spectre”), Emily Mortimer (“Hugo”) and Julie Walters (“Harry Potter” films) with Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”) and Meryl Streep (“Florence Foster Jenkins”). The film, which introduces three new Banks children, played by Pixie Davies (“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”), Nathanael Saleh (“Game of Thrones”) and newcomer Joel Dawson, also features Dick Van Dyke.

The film is set in 1930s depression-era London (the time period of the original novels) and is drawn from the wealth of material in PL Travers’ additional seven books. In the story, Michael (Whishaw) and Jane (Mortimer) are now grown up, with Michael, his three children and their housekeeper, Ellen (Walters), living on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic nanny Mary Poppins (Blunt) re-enters the lives of the Banks family, and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Mary Poppins also introduces the children to a new assortment of colorful and whimsical characters, including her eccentric cousin, Topsy (Streep).

The film is produced by Marshall, John DeLuca (“Chicago”) and Marc Platt (“La La Land”). The screenplay is by David Magee (“Life of Pi”) based on The Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers with Marc Shaiman (“Hairspray”) and Scott Wittman (“Hairspray”) writing all new songs and Shaiman composing an original score.

Tracy and Hepburn STATE OF THE UNION Saturday Morning at The Hi-Pointe

“Oh, that’s silly. No woman could ever run for President. She’d have to admit she’s over 35!”

STATE OF THE UNION plays on the big screen at St. Louis’ fabulous Hi-Pointe Theater this weekend as part of their Classic Film Series. It’s Saturday, November 12th at 10:30am at the Hi-Pointe located at 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63117. Admission is only $5.

It’s election week so the Hi-Pointe is rolling out a vintage political film to screen for this month’s Classic Film Series. STATE OF THE UNION is a 1941 Frank Capra film that comes off fresh and timely. A plain speaking, likable man, Grant Matthews (Spencer Tracy) is convinced to run for President by the publisher of a newspaper, Kay Thorndyke (Angela Lansbury) who is also his mistress, and before he knows it, his words and intentions are no longer his own. Because he wants to win, he compromises and lies down with the dogs. When he stands up, he’s got fleas.

Katharine Hepburn costars as Grant’s wife Mary in a role intended for Claudette Colbert, and she’s excellent. All the performances in this film are marvelous. Van Johnson is very funny and charming as a newspaperman who becomes Grant’s campaign manager. Adolphe Menjou is perfect as Kaye’s mouthpiece who wants to go after the money people and court big business and the union heads. Lansbury is fantastic as the ambitious, cutthroat Kaye, who took over the paper from her father and knows how to use and abuse power. By today’s standards, STATE OF THE UNION is probably too naïve and talky – Capra often has big monologues in his films, but they’re always delivered powerfully. Here is no exception. A rousing film about the breakdown of idealism before political realities. Go see it on the big screen Saturday morning!

The Hi-Pointe’s site can be found HERE

http://hi-pointetheatre.com/

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY This Weekend at Webster University

“If only it was the picture who was to grow old, and I remain young. There’s nothing in the world I wouldn’t give for that. Yes, I would give even my soul for it.”

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (1945) screen this Friday through Sunday (June 10th-12th) at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 E. Lockwood, Webster Groves, MO 63119). The film begins each evening at 8:00.

Hurd Hatfield plays the title character in THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, an extremely handsome man of inherited wealth in Victorian England, who at age 22 has his portrait painted by his friend Basil Harwood. After the painting is finished Dorian wishes that he could remain forever young and the painting grow old. He does this in the presence of a replica of an Egyptian idol (a cat) that by legend has the ability to grant such wishes. Dorian gets his wish, although he doesn’t realize it at first. The point is, the painting takes on the “life force” of Dorian. That is why the shots of it are the only ones taken in Technicolor in this black and white film. Dorian, in turn, “becomes” the painting. His expression is dull, lifeless, yet he is forever young. Likewise, the painting does more than age. The painting reflects the sins of Dorian to the point that, by the end of the film, the portrait looks like that of a demonic debauched horrible creature with smaller demons surrounding him.

Hatfield plays it bland but that’s the way the character is supposed to be. As for the other players, kudos to a 19-year old Angela Lansbury as Sybil Vane, the tavern singer who captures Dorian’s heart after he has already become his portrait. Also, George Sanders, who convinces Dorian that only a life dedicated to pleasure is worth living, is always convincing and even witty as a devil in human form. THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY is very much worth your time and you’ll have the rare chance to see it on the big screen when it plays at Webster University’s this weekend.

Admission is:

$6 for the general public
$5 for seniors, Webster alumni and students from other schools
$4 for Webster University staff and faculty

Free for Webster students with proper I.D.

Advance tickets are available from the cashier before each screening or contact the Film Series office (314-246-7525) for more options. The Film Series can only accept cash or check.

The Webster University Film Series site can be found HERE

http://www.webster.edu/film-series/

Angelina Jolie, Steve Martin, Angela Lansbury Honored at 2013 Governor Awards – Videos & Photos

The first big show of the Awards Season happened Saturday night as Hollywood’s A-listers turned out to celebrate 2013 Governors Award honorees Angelina Jolie, Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin, and Piero Tosi. The Governors Awards, along with the Academy Awards, bookends the entire award season annually.

The Academy blogged the event LIVE for fans during the arrivals and ceremony. You can read it here: http://www.oscars.org/awards/governors/index.html.

Produced by Paula Wagner, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and three Honorary Awards were presented to Angelina Jolie, Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin and Piero Tosi at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center. Italian costume designer Piero Tosi was also honored, but did not attend the ceremony.

On hand were Mark Wahlberg, Tom Hanks, Idris Elba, Geoffrey Rush, Jim Rash & Nate Faxon, Jonah Hill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lee Daniels & Ruth E. Carter, Matthew McConaughey, Pharrell Williams, Lupita Nyong’o, Judd Apatow & Bill Hader, Steve McQueen, Harrison Ford and Emma Thompson.

You can watch all of the speeches from Saturday night’s ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/user/Oscars/videos

Honorary Award recipient Angela Lansbury.

Lansbury has received three Academy Award® nominations for her supporting performances on film – the first in her 1944 feature debut in “Gaslight,” followed by “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (1945) and “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962). Her numerous other credits include “The Long, Hot Summer,” “Blue Hawaii,” “The World of Henry Orient,” “Bedknobs and Broomsticks,” “Death on the Nile” and “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” as well as voice work for the first animated feature to receive a Best Picture nomination, “Beauty and the Beast.”

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award recipient Angelina Jolie.

Jolie, who won an Oscar for her supporting performance in “Girl, Interrupted,” has been an impassioned advocate for humanitarian causes, traveling widely to promote organizations and social justice efforts such as the Prevent Sexual Violence Initiative. Staking out a career at the nexus of entertainment and philanthropy, Jolie has worked for a number of global advocacy groups including the Council on Foreign Relations and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), for which she was appointed Special Envoy of High Commissioner António Guterres in 2012 after twelve years of service. Her dedication to these causes has also shaped her work in films that tackle global humanitarian issues including “A Mighty Heart” and her feature film directorial debut “In the Land of Blood and Honey.”

Honorary Award recipient Steve Martin.

Martin, who got his start in television, is a versatile actor, writer, comedian and musician who began to display the breadth of his big-screen talent as the screenwriter and star of the 1977 Oscar-nominated short film “The Absent-Minded Waiter.” He wrote and starred in “The Jerk,” “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid,” “Three Amigos,” “Roxanne,” “L.A. Story,” “The Pink Panther” series and “Shopgirl,” which he adapted from his critically acclaimed book of the same name. His other acting credits include “All of Me,” “Parenthood,” “Father of the Bride” and “It’s Complicated.” He also is a three-time host of the Oscars, most recently in 2010 with Alec Baldwin.

Actress Claudia Cardinale speaks as part of the award presentation to Honorary Award recipient Piero Tosi during the 2013 Governors Awards.

Tosi rose to prominence through his collaborations with Italian director Luchino Visconti on such films as “White Nights” and “Rocco and His Brothers,” and continued to work with him on several other features, including the Costume Design nominees “The Leopard,” “Death in Venice” and “Ludwig.” Tosi received two more nominations for his designs for “La Cage aux Folles” and “La Traviata.” His other notable credits include “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” a Foreign Language Film winner, and “Marriage Italian Style,” a Foreign Language Film nominee, both directed by Vittorio De Sica.

The Honorary Award, an Oscar statuette, is given “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”

The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, also an Oscar statuette, is given “to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.”

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs kicked off the evening by introducing the 2013 Governors Awards. Check out some photos below.

Portions of the ceremony will be shown at the 86th Academy Awards on March 2, 2014.

Oscars for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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Angelina Jolie, Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin and Piero Tosi to Receive The Academy’s Governors Awards

The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present Honorary Awards to Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin and Piero Tosi, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Angelina Jolie. All four awards will be presented at the Academy’s 5th Annual Governors Awards on Saturday, November 16, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

“The Governors Awards pay tribute to individuals who’ve made indelible contributions in their respective fields,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “We couldn’t be more excited for this year’s honorees and look forward to bringing their peers and colleagues together to celebrate their extraordinary achievements.”

Martin, who got his start in television, is a versatile actor, writer, comedian and musician who began to display the breadth of his big-screen talent as the screenwriter and star of the 1977 Oscar®-nominated short film “The Absent-Minded Waiter.” He wrote and starred in “The Jerk,” “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid,” “Three Amigos,” “Roxanne,” “L.A. Story,” “The Pink Panther” series and “Shopgirl,” which he adapted from his critically acclaimed book of the same name. His other acting credits include “All of Me,” “Parenthood,” “Father of the Bride” and “It’s Complicated.” He also is a three-time host of the Oscars®, most recently in 2010 with Alec Baldwin.

The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, also an Oscar statuette, is given “to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.”

http://www.oscars.org/awards/governors/about.html

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MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS Stars Jim Carrey & Friends

Check out this first trailer for Jim Carrey’s family comedy MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS.

Awww…that looks so cute, doesn’t it?

Synopsis:

In this family comedy, Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) is Mr. Popper, a driven businessman who is clueless when it comes to the important things in life – until he inherits six penguins. Popper’s penguins turn his swank New York apartment into a snowy winter wonderland – and the rest of his life upside-down. Filmed on a refrigerated soundstage with real Emperor Penguins, MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS is a contemporary adaptation of the classic book.

From 20th Century Fox, MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS will be in theaters this summer on June 17. Visit the film’s official site HERE, “like” it on Facebook HERE, and follow it on Twitter HERE. (@Popperspenguins)

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