The Joe Louis Story, released in 1953 and directed by Robert Gordon, is a biographical drama that recounts the life and career of legendary American boxer Joe Louis, affectionately known as the “Brown Bomber”. As one of the most celebrated athletes in boxing history, Louis’s rise from poverty to global fame is presented as a…
Set in 15th-century Paris, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) is a monumental silent-era adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel, brought to life with grand spectacle and emotional depth. At its heart lies a tale of unrequited love, social injustice, and the clashing forces of beauty and grotesquery, framed by the looming presence of the…
The Jackie Robinson Story, released in 1950, is a biographical sports drama that chronicles the groundbreaking journey of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to break Major League Baseball’s colour barrier in the modern era. Directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Jackie Robinson as himself, the film presents an inspirational and restrained portrait of courage,…
The Yesterday Machine, directed by Russ Marker, is a low-budget American science fiction film from 1963, blending elements of time travel, war time intrigue, and horror. Though little-known today, it stands as an intriguing artefact of early independent sci-fi cinema, marked by its earnest performances, inventive premise, and a distinctly eerie atmosphere, despite technical and…
The 1935 film Scrooge, directed by Henry Edwards and starring Seymour Hicks in the title role, is one of the earliest sound adaptations of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It remains a significant portrayal, not only for its atmospheric use of early cinematic techniques but also for the gravitas brought by Hicks, who had long…
The 1910 silent film adaptation of A Christmas Carol, produced by the Thomas Edison Company, is among the earliest cinematic interpretations of Charles Dickens’ beloved novella. Though the film’s duration is a mere twelve minutes, it captures the spirit of Dickens’ story with remarkable economy, relying on expressive performances and simple visual effects to convey…
A Bucket of Blood is a darkly comedic horror film directed by Roger Corman that satirises both the Beatnik culture of the 1950s and the pretensions of the art world. Set almost entirely in a small bohemian café, the film follows the tragicomic rise and fall of a hapless busboy who accidentally becomes an avant-garde…
‘Meet John Doe’ is a 1941 American drama directed by Frank Capra, starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. It is a stirring commentary on media manipulation, political ambition, and the yearning for community and justice during turbulent times. It blends romance, satire, and social critique, embodying Capra’s signature populist vision. Set against the backdrop of…
William Castle’s House on Haunted Hill (1959) is a deliciously eerie blend of camp, mystery, and old-school haunted house thrills. With Vincent Price delivering one of his most iconic performances as the suave and sardonic millionaire Frederick Loren, the film plays like a gothic stage production crossed with a psychological thriller, set in a house…
Released in 1951 and directed by Vincente Minnelli, Father’s Little Dividend picks up where Father of the Bride left off. Once again led by the incomparable Spencer Tracy as the flustered but lovable Stanley Banks, and Elizabeth Taylor as his newlywed daughter Kay, the film dives into the chaos, comedy, and tender confusion that follows…
