CelluloidKid

*What is the Most Disturbing Film You've Ever Seen?* *_THE FOLLOWING REMAKES;_* Halloween (2007) The Invasion (2007) The Haunting (1999) The Fog (2005) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) Prom Night (2008) The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) ...didn't see it..wldn't waste time or monehy!!!

*Films for Passover and Easter* Happy Easter and Chag Pesach Sameach (or Happy Passover). As most everyone knows, this week is holy week. Thursday, April 6, marks Passover, April 7 is Good Friday and April 9 is Easter. The history of these two holidays are very special to both religions and have been used as the themes or subjects of many films as a way of showing this. Many Easter comedies focus on the more secular aspects of the holiday, such as bunnies and candy eggs. The adaptation of the Irving Berlin play Easter Parade, starring Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford, and Ann Miller, which is about a pair of dancers trying to attain success against the odds, with the famous Easter song in the mix. From the mind of cartoonist Charles Schulz comes the film It's the Easter Beagle Charlie Brown about the Peanuts gang and Snoopy celebrating the holiday. Though it isn't really about Easter, the film Harvey is about Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) and his best imaginary friend, who happens to be a six-foot tall rabbit. There are other films that offer parodies, comedic slants, and alternate perspectives on the holiday that you will need a real sense of humor for. Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Jesus Christ Superstar depicts the last week of Christ's (Ted Neeley) life as a rock musical with Christ as the ultimate rock star. The film is seen through the perspective of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot (Carl Anderson). The Monty Python film Life of Brian is the life of Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman) a young man born in a manager a few blocks from Jesus (Kenneth Colley) in Bethlehem and spends his entire life being annoyingly confused with Christ. The film isn't really about Jesus at all and more about political and social commentary with the subplot of Brian being misidentified as Christ upon occasion. For those who celebrate Passover, there are plenty of films that can be enjoyed while also celebrating the holiday. Films specifically about Passover are big around this time of year. The animated film Prince of Egypt tells the story of Moses (Val Kilmer) from his childhood through his marriage to his wife Tzipporah (Michelle Pfeiffer) to his return to Egypt to face his adopted brother who is now the hard-hearted Pharaoh (Ralph Fiennes) in order to lead the Jewish people to freedom. The film also stars the voice work of such notable actors as Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, Danny Glover, Patrick Stewart, Steve Martin, Helen Mirren, and Martin Short. Another film that tells the story of Passover is the classic film is the Cecil B. DeMille directed film shown every Easter, The Ten Commandments.With the acting work of Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Edward G. Robinson, and Vincent Price, it is no surprise that this film remains a hit. There are other films with Passover or Judaism as a theme that are very popular around this time of year. The film Exodus, based on the book by Leon Uris, is the tale of Ari Ben Canaan (Paul Newman) and Kitty Fremont (Eva Marie Saint) as they struggle during the founding of the nation of Israel after World War II. This striking film brings a unique perspective to the history of the region. The classic film Fiddler on the Roof, is the tale of Tevye (Topol) and his family's struggle with their faith and most of all tradition during the Russian Revolution when an attempt was made to cleanse Russia of Jews. The Diary of Anne Frank shows those hidding with the diarist in the secret annex as they celebrate their faith through the tribulations and dangers of Nazi occupation. Films that are more focused on the Easter aspect of the season tend to be more epic and biblically focused, such as The Ten Commandments. The Greatest Story Ever Told has an all star cast and portrays the life of Jesus Christ from birth to death. The film The Robe is the fictionalized story of Marcellus Gallio ( Richard Burton ), a Roman centurion who is among the group of soldiers who kills Jesus. He keeps Jesus's robe afterwards and then is plagued by nightmares, that lead him to find out everything he can about the man he helped to crucify. The film King of Kings is another biography of the life of Christ, starring Jeffrey Hunter in the lead role. This film is based off of a silent film, The King of Kings, made by Cecil B. Demille in 1927 and stared H.B. Warner as Jesus. Warner's last film was that of Amminadab in The Ten Commandments . Perhaps the most epic of biblical films with Christ as the focus in the 1959 film Ben Hur, which is based off of a shorter film also named Ben Hur released in 1907 (complete with chariot race scene). Charlton Heston appears again as Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish man betrayed by his best friend and who's life takes an intersting turn in the Roman world after he is given water by a mysterious robed figure. Judah's life has many twists that lead him back home to take revenge on his old friend. So, have a happy holiday and here, for your viewing pleasure, is the ten minute long original silent version of Ben Hur! Thanks, Examiner.com - ‎Apr 10, 2009‎

*AMC Unveils 'BMC', A New Online Destination Streaming Classic B-Movies* April 8th, 2009 Star Pulse AMC brings film fans a new online destination for B-Movie classics with the launch of BMC (for "B Movie Classics"), a go-to website for films from the "Golden Age of Hollywood." BMC's online movie collection - part of the network's extensive library of iconic films - is unprecedented in size and scope for the website and features a diverse selection of genres from action/adventure and comedy, to sci-fi/fantasy and horror. Now live at www.amctv.com/b-movies, fans can stream all 27 B-Movies in full-screen, with more titles to be added in the coming months. *The complete BMC film line-up includes the following 27 titles:* Assassination In Rome (1965) Asylum (1972) Carnival Of Souls (1962) College Girl Murders (1968) Corridors Of Blood (1959) Creation Of The Humanoids (1962) Dark Star (1974) Dragstrip Girl (1957) Dynamite Joe (1968) The Hellfire Club (1960) Hercules Unchained (1959) The Horror Of Party Beach (1965) How To Make A Monster (1958) Invasion Of The Neptune Men (1961) Motorcycle Gang (1957) Planet On The Prowl (1966) Reform School Girl (1957) Rock All Night (1957) The Ruthless Four (1968) Saga Of The Viking Women (1957) Shake Rattle & Rock (1956) A Swingin' Summer (1965) Teenage Caveman (1958) Terror Beneath The Sea (1966) War Of The Colossal Beast (1958) What A Carve Up (1962) Suicide Battalion (1958)

*British New Wave OR New Wave (French: La Nouvelle Vague)!? Which do u prefer!??* *If I had to pick 1 film genere ....I would go with with: British New Wave!!!! I love the struggles of the Middle class.* *_British New Wave_* The British New Wave is the name given to a trend in filmmaking among directors in Britain in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The label is a translation of Nouvelle Vague, the French term first applied to the films of Fran?ois Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard and others. There is considerable overlap with the so-called "Angry Young Men", those artistes in British theatre and film such as playwright John Osborne and director Tony Richardson, who challenged the social status quo. Their work drew attention to the reality of life for the working classes, especially in the North of England, often characteriszed as "It's grim up north". This particular type of drama, centred around class and the nitty-gritty of day-to-day life, was also known as the kitchen sink drama. *_Notable films_* Tiger Bay (1959) Room at the Top (1959) Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960) Hell is a City (1960) A Taste of Honey (1961) A Kind of Loving (1962) *_New Wave (French: La Nouvelle Vague)_* _The New Wave (French: La Nouvelle Vague)_ was a blanket term coined by critics for a group of French filmmakers of the late 1950s and 1960s, influenced (in part) by Italian Neorealism and classical Hollywood cinema.. Although never a formally organized movement, the New Wave filmmakers were linked by their self-conscious rejection of classical cinematic form and their spirit of youthful iconoclasm. Many also engaged in their work with the social and political upheavals of the era, making their radical experiments with editing, visual style, and narrative part of a general break with the conservative paradigm.

*This is dated: Friday, April 10, 2009 ....WOW our country is in trouble!!!* *Fitch: Blockbuster?s rating is stable* Wichita Business Journal - by the Dallas Business Journal Credit rating agency Fitch confirmed Friday it has rated movie rental company Blockbuster Inc.?s long-term issuer default rating at ?CCC?. Fitch said it anticipates it will rate Blockbuster?s amended $250 million bank credit facility at ?B/RR2? and called the rating outlook stable. Fitch said the stable outlook is backed by Blockbuster?s ?leading market position? when considering Blockbuster holds 37 percent of the market share in the home video rental market. Fitch also noted that Blockbuster management has implemented a three-step approach to transform the entertainment company. That approach includes restoring its rental business, transitioning from renting movies and videos to selling and transforming the DVD focus to digital offerings. While the rating remained solid, Fitch noted that Blockbuster as of Jan. 4, 2009, had $818 million of debt outstanding, adding that ?liquidity remains a concern as the amended facility expires in September 2010, and required amortization and pre-payments over the next 18 months total approximately $311 million.? Fitch also identified ?constrains on capital investments? in the latest bank facility amendment as a possible barrier to the implementation of the company?s operating strategy. However, overall, Fitch said: ?The upgrades of the bank credit facility, term A loan and term B loan as well as the downgrade of the senior subordinated notes reflect a revised recovery analysis described below and Fitch?s revised rating definitions as of March 2009.?

*The British New Wave is the name given to a trend in filmmaking among directors in Britain in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The label is a translation of Nouvelle Vague, the French term first applied to the films of Fran?ois Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard and others.* There is considerable overlap with the so-called "Angry Young Men", those artistes in British theatre and film such as playwright John Osborne and director Tony Richardson, who challenged the social status quo. Their work drew attention to the reality of life for the working classes, especially in the North of England, often characteriszed as "It's grim up north". This particular type of drama, centred around class and the nitty-gritty of day-to-day life, was also known as the kitchen sink drama.

Nice comment!!!

*TCM PRIME TIME FEATURE: STARRING HERBIE* *All Times Arizona (PT) Check local Listings!!!!* *5:00pm - Love Bug, The (1968)* _The Love Bug_ was the first in a series of movies made by Walt Disney Productions that starred a white Volkswagen racing Beetle named Herbie, a car with a mind of its own. It was based on a 1961 book Car, Boy, Girl by Gordon Buford. The movie follows the adventures of Herbie, his driver Jim Douglas (Dean Jones), and Jim's love interest, Carole Bennett (Michele Lee). It also featured Buddy Hackett as Jim's enlightened friend, Tennessee Steinmetz, who created 'art' from used car parts. English actor David Tomlinson portrayed the devilishly evil Peter Thorndyke, the owner of the auto showroom and multitime SCCA national champion who sells Herbie to Jim and eventually becomes his racing rival. *7:00pm - Herbie Rides Again (1974)* *8:45pm - Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo (1977)*

Charles Vidor's _Gilda_ is a voyeuristic film noir treat that engages the viewer in a complex web of sado-masochistic triangles. When, for example, Gilda performs her signature number, "Put the Blame on Mame," she is not simply enraging both Mundson and Farrell with her open sexuality, she is also crying out in pain for the love she is being denied

I never cared for Blockbuster Video ...Hollywood Video is no better ....maybe the Mom and Pop stores will thrive again!!!??!

*Joan Crawford - April 2009 - All Times Are Eastern.* *Wed, Apr 15, 6:00 AM _Lady of the Night_ (1925)* - Norma Shearer vehicle, with Joan making her very first film appearance (uncredited) as Shearer's double. *Tue, Apr 21, 8:00 PM _The Women_ (1939)* - Joan plays husband-stealer "Crystal Allen" in an all-star, all-female cast. *Thurs, Apr 30, 12:30pm _Mildred Pierce_ (1945)* - Joan's starring debut at Warners after leaving longtime studio MGM, in a role as a long-suffering mother/businesswoman that won her the Oscar for Best Actress.

*All Times are Eastern Check Local Schedule Times.* 8:00pm - _Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, The_ (1966) 11:00pm - _How the West Was Won_ (1962) 2:00am - _Lord Jim_ (1965) 4:45am - _Tiger Makes Out, The_ (1967)

*Gene Kelly - April 2009 - All Times Eastern - Check Local Schedules.* Thu, Apr 9, 11:00 AM _Take Me Out to the Ball Game_ (1949) *_Awards_* Harry Tugend and George Wells were nominated for the 1950 Writers Guild of America Award in the category of "Best Written American Musical". They lost to Betty Comden and Adolph Green, for On the Town, another MGM musical comedy, also produced by Arthur Freed, and also starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett and Jules Munshin, which was released four months after Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Wed, Apr 15, 12:00 AM _Singin' in the Rain_ (1952)

This book is certainly more of a social history than a cinematic one. Fans of the film and novel, will be hard pressed to find a better book on their cultural allure. Frankly, My Dear is about our obsession with the story of Gone with the Wind -- in particular women?s empathy and association with the character of Scarlett, who stands the test of time as a multifaceted, imperfect, genuine human being, where many of her contemporaries and inheritors have fallen flat as two-dimensional victims. The enduring power of Scarlett?s character, fueled by the passion of Vivien Leigh, is Haskell?s answer as to why the book and film have remained relevant when so many other films and novels were damned because of their political incorrectness. A lively read for any film buff, Frankly, My Dear has managed to capture a cultural giant whose relevance continues to mutate as we change. While it might be unnerving to think of Margaret Mitchell?s response to Barack Obama?s presidency, what would really be intriguing would be her response to Michelle, who morphed from terrorist fist-bumper to formidable first lady in Scarlett-like fashion.

*I really enjoyed the film _Tiger Bay_ (1959)! Enjoy the article I found about the film's 50th Anniversary!* *The basic plot _Tiger Bay_ (1959) tells the story of Gillie, a young girl in Cardiff who is something of a tearaway, happens to witness Korchinsky, a Polish seaman, murder his girlfriend. In spite of this the two become friends.* *A very unusuall film.* *The movie marks a vital transitional moment in the move towards the British New Wave cinema exemplified a few years later by _A Taste of Honey_ (1961).* *The unsung stars of Tiger Bay* Mar 31 2009 by Andrew Dagnell, South Wales Echo *WHEN Tiger Bay was released 50 years ago, it propelled actress Hayley Mills to superstar status. Today ANDREW DAGNELL meets the lesser known, but equally important, stars of the classic film ? the people of Butetown.* WHEN Tiger Bay was given its world premiere in Cardiff in 1959, few people knew who Hayley Mills was. The little-known actress was just 12 years old when she was picked for one of the lead roles in the thriller, but her performance propelled her into the Hollywood A-list. But while Mills got her big break, the real stars of the show were the people of Butetown. For director J Lee Thompson, it was important to capture the spirit of the tight-knit community. While Loudoun Square and the St Mary the Virgin church became two of the film?s main locations, locals were drafted in and paid as much as ?10 a day to be extras. Some of them still live in the area today and remember vividly what it was like being part of Cardiff?s biggest blockbuster. Local historian Neil Sinclair was just 14 years old when he auditioned for the role of a young boy who fights Hayley Mills? character. He told the Echo: ?At the time I was attending the Royal School of Music and Drama, in Cardiff Castle, and I was asked to audition. ?I was told to go to a large room on St Mary Street. The director and a few other people were one end of the room, and I was the other. ?They just asked me to walk up and down. I didn?t know what I was auditioning for, but apparently I was the one. ?Although my segment was only five minutes it took two weeks to film. But I loved it ? I got out of school and we had a tutor brought in to teach us.? Cardiff?s docks in recent years have been transformed beyond recognition by private and public investment totalling well over ?1bn. But Mr Sinclair, who has since written a history book on the area called The Tiger Bay Story, said he watches the film regularly to remind himself of Butetown?s former glory. ?The film is loved by locals ? not so much for the story ? but for its scenery and the memories,? he said. ?Watching the film is virtually the only way those of us who remember can see the actual street we used to walk on. ?Loudoun Square is permanently and absolutely captured in this black- and-white film.? Mr Sinclair, however, says he was cruelly banned from taking part in the famous church wedding scene ? because the priest was annoyed that he was skipping church on a Sunday. But the rest of the choir are seen performing The Lord Is My Shepherd alongside the film?s cast. Head chorister David Pine, just 12 at the time, said: ?They didn?t want me to begin with, but then the head choirmaster told the filmmakers if they didn?t have the head choir boy they weren?t getting any of us.? The grandad-of-three, who now lives in Tremorfa, added: ?My father and younger brother were both in the choir and we actually recorded the vocal in a hall in Broadway. It was lovely.? June Wagstaff also remembers making a star turn in the film. At the time she was 20 years old and is seen in the film calypsoing down the street after the wedding to the tune of Never Make A Pretty Woman Your Wife. She also filmed a scene singing in a night club ? but it hit the cutting room floor. Mrs Wagstaff, now a grandmother living in Windsor Esplanade, said: ?I was out of work at the time, so I was flexible. ?I was being paid more than my wage would have been for two weeks? work. ?I had been doing a bit of singing, and they asked me to perform in the club that was on West Bute Street. ?We didn?t get to meet the stars very much, but the crew were lovely. It was a great experience because a lot of the community were in it. ?We had a wonderful community with 30 different nationalities living together. Tiger Bay could have been a lesson to the world.? Peggy Farrugia, 77, was paid ?2.50 so the crew could use her room at the Bridge Hotel Pub for the scene in which Horst Buchholz jumps into the river. She said: ?I was also filmed in Loudoun Square, just walking into the view of the camera. My son Stephen was only a few months old at the time and I was carrying him wrapped in a shawl.? But Mrs Farrugia, who now lives in Waverley Square, said she didn?t think the film?s dark storyline ? which involves prostitution and murder ? painted Butetown in a good light. ?I don?t think it did the area any good,? she said. ?We thought it would portray what a nice place it was to live. But at least it made some people a couple of bob.? The Wales Millennium Centre is celebrating Tiger Bay?s 50th anniversary with a jazz festival and photo exhibition. Bet Davies, head of communications, said: ?We?d really like to invite Hayley Mills along to visit Wales Millennium Centre during the film?s 50th anniversary. ?Tiger Bay may look a lot different to the way it did in 1959, but it has a thriving arts venue at its heart. ?We are a real furnace for the arts in Wales, with everything from opera and ballet to hip-hop and jazz.? Have you got special memories of Tiger Bay? We want to hear from you. Call 029 2024 3627 or e-mail andrew.dagnell@waleslonline.co.uk. ;

*_From Publishers Weekly_* Embracing the life of another Hollywood diva is Caren Robert-Frenzel's Rita Hayworth: A Photographic Retrospective. This film memorabilia collector presents Hayworth's life beginning with her early years and thoroughly chronicles it until its sad ending. The book showcases nearly 300 images, revealing how Hayworth gained her fame as a pin-up portrait for soldiers and as a big screen star. Many of the photographs are rare, even showing her original Spanish-style hair and dress. 297 illus., 10 full-color. *_Product Description_* Fifty years after her reign as "The Love Goddess" of the movies, the world is still captivated by Rita Hayworth. In this elegant volume, the glamorous star of Hollywood's Golden Age is revealed as never before-in nearly 300 stunning, rare photographs. Remarkable publicity photos, film stills, rehearsal shots, candids taken with family and friends, and of course that famous World War II **** trace Rita Hayworth's entire life. Spanning her rise from starlet to star, her marriages to famous men such as Orson Welles, Prince Aly Khan, and Dick Haymes, and her tragic death from Alzheimer's disease, here is an insightful and dazzling tribute-in words and pictures-to one of the great screen icons. 297 illustrations, 10 in full color, 240 pages, 9 x 113/4"

*Twisted Nerve builds a lot of suspense on its foundations of truths concealed and trouble brewing. And I mean a lot.* *Worth seeing.* *Final Rating: B+*

*I just found out about this book and I thought I would pass it along!!!!* Rita Hayworth A Photographic Retrospective *Rita Hayworth A Photographic Retrospective* *Author: Caren Roberts-Frenzel* Fifty years after the peak of her popularity, the world is still captivated by Rita Hayworth. This book provides an insightful look at one of the century's most beloved glamour girls, chronicling her life in more than 300 photographs, many of which have never been seen or have not been published in more than 50 years. The photos run the gamut from publicity shots, film stills, rehearsal photos, candids, news photographs, and, of course, that famous WWII pin-up. The photographs span Rita Hayworth's life her rise from starlet to star, her marriages to such famous men as Orson Welles, Prince Aly Khan, and Dick Haymes, and ending with her death from Alzheimer's disease. Caren Roberts-Frenzel is the author of the fabulous new book, Rita Hayworth: A Photographic Retrospective. It is the first book about Rita to be published in thirteen years, and the first ever "life in pictures" type book about her. It offers a behind the scenes look at the life of the legendary actress through photographs (some famous, but most rarely seen) and text that give us a glimpse of Rita's whirlwind life in and out of the spotlight. The book illustrates Rita's entire life: from dancing days in Mexico, to her time as a real life princess, through to her difficult later years and battle with Alzheimer's Disease. This film memorabilia collector presents Hayworth's life beginning with her early years and thoroughly chronicles it until its sad ending. The book showcases nearly 300 images, revealing how Hayworth gained her fame as a pin-up portrait for soldiers and as a big screen star. Many of the photographs are rare, even showing her original Spanish-style hair and dress. 297 illus., 10 full-color.

Hayley Mills gives an astonishing performance here in her film debut, playing a young girl who befriends murderous sailor Horst Buchholz and hinders detective John Mills's investigation at every turn. The ?kid and the killer? plot had cropped up regularly during the 1950s and this variation has nothing new to say on the subject. But J Lee Thompson (always a fine director of children) surrounds 12-year-old Hayley with credible characters and faithfully captures the sights and sounds of Cardiff's docklands

I enjoyed the story and the Hitchcock-like suspense in this film. Haley Mills channeling Nancy Drew was excellent and very beautiful, and she still is! Eli Wallach's acting was also very good, although he was better in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Too bad there was never a Moon Spinners sequel.

WOW! A new book on _Gone with the Wind_! . By Ben Steelman Staff Writer Published: Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 9:44 p.m. *The thing about Southern gals, they always come home again.* Rita Mae Brown, who grew up in Florida, went off to rebel, wrote that ur-text of ?70s sexual liberation ?RubyFruit Jungle? and found herself immortalized by the play and movie ?Educating Rita.? Now she?s back in Old Virginia, master of hounds for the Oak Ridge Hunt Club and author of a string of fox-hunting murder mysteries. *Then there?s Molly Haskell. Most people recognize her, these days, for her film chats with Robert Osborne on Turner Classic Movies, with that elegant Southern accent of hers.* In her day, though, Haskell was a bit of a rabble-rouser. A feminist film critic, she earned her spurs with her book ?From Reverence to Rape? (1974), which defended the ?woman?s film? and argued that Hollywood?s image of women had regressed, from the strong, take-charge characters of the ?30s and ?40s ? the ones played by Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck and Jean Arthur ? to the Doris Days and Bond girls. You can?t escape your raisin?s, though, and Haskell, born in Morehead City, was raised proper in old-time Richmond, in a style befitting the great-great-granddaughter of a Confederate general (Wade Hampton). Thus, she can?t escape the Mount Everest of Neo-Confederate nostalgia, the 1936 Margaret Mitchell best-seller that became the Top-Grossing Film (in inflation-adjusted dollars) of All Time. *The result: Her new book, ?Frankly, My Dear,? released as part of Yale University Press?s ?Icons of America? series.* It may seem improbable, after 70 years, that anyone has anything new to say about ?Gone With the Wind.? At a minimum, though, Haskell reminds us of things we might not have noticed (?Gone With the Wind,? for instance, beat out Faulkner?s ?Absalom, Absalom!? for the Pulitzer Prize). Just as often, though, she makes us look at old celluloid through new eyes. Haskell discusses both the novel and the movie, which aren?t exactly alike. (Mitchell allowed Scarlett and Rhett to voice a lot of skepticism about the ?moonlight-and-magnolia? aspect of the Old South myth; the film version is far less critical.) While most accounts focus on ?GWTW? in its context as a Depression movie on the eve of World War II, Haskell reminds us that the story emerged from the 1920s. Margaret Mitchell had been a genuine ?flapper? ? blackballed from the Junior League for a ?daring? French apache dance she performed at an Atlanta ball. Divorced from the dashing but abusive ?Red? Upshaw (a possible model for Rhett), she supported herself as a magazine writer, digging up the story of plantation belles who?d turned into tough-minded managers in the Civil War. Haskell also identified a few moments in Atlanta history ? the great fire of 1917, for instance, or the race riot of 1906, a larger, worse version of what happened in Wilmington in 1898 ? that might have ricocheted through Mitchell?s mind as she wrote her book. As expected, Haskell finds little sympathy for the movie?s glossy view of the antebellum South or its neocon perspective on Reconstruction. She?s more intrigued by Scarlett as a feminist hero ? a rebel against ?what?s fittin? ?, who holds the plantation together, cannily runs her own business and becomes more of a Yankee (ruthless, greedy and unsentimental) than those awful carpetbaggers. What strikes Haskell, though, is how ?GWTW? speaks to new audiences over and over, even people one wouldn?t suspect. A group of political prisoners in Marxist Ethiopia, for example, read and translated a bootleg copy of the novel, finding hope that ?The people who have brains and courage come through? and that tomorrow could be another day. (?GWTW? was the first novel my stepdaughter-in-law, a Polish refugee, read in English; she chose to be married in a replica of Scarlett?s Twelve Oaks barbecue gown.) For the film fan, ?Frankly, My Dear? holds plenty of trinkets: Hattie McDaniel, who grew up in Oklahoma, needed tutoring on her accent in order to play Mammy. Haskell sheds light on the contributions of the brilliant production designer William Cameron Menzies, who ? decades ahead of Steven Spielberg ? used the relatively new technique of ?storyboarding? to plot out key sequences such as the burning of Atlanta. Moreover, Haskell, a luminous stylist, makes a lot of post-modern critical terminology clear as a bell. Most of us, for example, would have a hard time defining ?intervention,? but Haskell provides us an ideal example in the form of a middle-aged female fan who insisted, against all logic that Melanie?s second baby (the one that caused her death) was fathered by Rhett. The lady took over the text and made it her own, and so do the rest of us. *Frankly, My Dear: Gone with the Wind Revisited* *by Molly Haskell* Publisher: Yale University Press Pub. Date: February 2009 ISBN-13: 9780300117523 Sales Rank: 4,421 272pp