Larry & Hardy

When reviewing great comedy duos, sooner or later, you're bound to think of Laurel & Hardy. Yet, the partnership could have been very different. In 1918, Stan Laurel began working with comedy star Larry Semon. Don't remember him ? I'm not surprised. At the time, he was Vitagraph studio's star and was producing, writing directing and starring in his films.Larry SemonHis success grew throughout the following years, but the partnership with...

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Song Of The South

Disney has always had a policy of putting their films back into the vault to create demand and make sure that they meet with renewed interest when re-released theatrically or on home video once every ten years or so.Yet, some films never get out of the vault.Song of the South is probably the only Disney classic which seems to be shelved for an indefinite period of time. The film was made in 1946 and the story takes place during the "reconstruction...

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The Mysterious Cities of Gold

One of the best animated TV series was born from the collaboration of a French idea and amazing Japanese artistry. Director Bernard Deyriès and producer Jean Chalopin had already collaborated with TMS for their previous production Ulysses 31 which met with great success. Now, the series was to be co-produced by Studio Pierrot (Creamy Mami, Naruto, Bleach, etc.).Although both series were released around the world, the basis for the international...

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Vertigo

Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo has recently been voted best film ever by Sight and Sound. In my book, it’s been competing for the title with Disney's Snow White for years (granted, in a very different style). For legal reasons, that film has been lost for decades after its initial release during which its moderate success disappointed the director. After the long hiatus, Universal (new owner of the rights after Paramount and Hitchcock himself) re-released...

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