Thank you, Turner Classic Movies, for “Choreography by Jack Cole” 1
May I express my gratitude to the wonderful classic-movie channel for “Choreography by Jack Cole” broadcast Monday night? I co-hosted the program with TCM’s great veteran host, Robert Osborne. Together, we screened four movies studded with dance sequences that were created by the massively talented American choreographer. And a huge ‘thank you’ to Mr. Osborne, ...
Happy birthday to a champion of a dancer named Marge
Hello New Yorkers! Looking for a way to turn a difficult anniversary into a positive occasion? A beautiful and worthy event will honor one of the Silver Screen’s great dancers and it also supports the Dance Films Association. It’s the DFA’s celebration of Marge Champion’s 93rd birthday with a Show Boat Cruise September 13, from ...
Robert Osborne asks: “Why did Jack Cole fade away?” 2
A sample from “Choreography by Jack Cole” to be broadcast Monday September 10 (8 pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific) on Turner Classic Movies.
Preview! Jack Cole honored on Turner Classic Movies September 10 4
Read the story on the Turner Classic Movies website.
Heart of pulp: Sam Fuller centenary retrospective @ the Aero
Aug
22
2012
A nice note from our friends at Larry Edmunds Bookshop: August 12 marked what would have been the 100th birthday for one of the most influential and interesting filmmakers out there, Mr. Sam Fuller. His life , so full of adventures before he ever thought of directing, makes his autobiography, “A Third Face” a fantastic, ...
An actress & her dance coach
Two utterly amazing human beings, beautiful people, professional collaborators, and personal friends. He wielded enormous influence on her screen persona and on her career. This photo represents, for me, a most delirious encounter between dance and film worlds; nothing from Astaire or Kelly however great, speaks [to me] as powerfully. Here we have Jack Cole, ...
“Yidishe Glik” at the Arbeter Ring/Worksmen’s Circle
Aug
11
2012
In “Yidishe Glik”, Shloyme Mikhoels (1890 – 1948), the great Yiddish actor/orator and head of the Moscow Jewish State Theater, is a master of pantomime and “attains the summit of ethnic Jewish dandyism.” (Osip Mandelstam writing in a Leningrad newspaper, 1925 – as quoted in Bridge of Light by J. Hoberman)
The great Mitzi Gaynor recalls Jack Cole, courtesy of UCLA Film & Television Archive
After a screening on Saturday August 4, 2012, of THE I DON’T CARE GIRL (Twentieth Century Fox, 1953), we enjoyed a fun panel discussion of the film. It all happened at the Billy Wilder Theater of the Hammer Museum under the auspices of UCLA Film & Television Archives, which had a rare print of the ...
Jack Cole’s 3 dance masterpieces from “The I Don’t Care Girl”
We’re watching a rare 35mm print of the film tonight, courtesy of UCLA Film & Television Archive. Here’s what all the fuss is about, in order of appearance in the film: The Johnson Rag I Don’t Care Beale Street Blues
Bob Fosse’s “From This Moment On” from Kiss Me, Kate 1
Thirty years as a dance critic focused on classical ballet and modern dance has led me to a new fascination: high-impact commercial dance of stage and screen. It fits my mood to see dancers hustle with high energy — and entertain. This number features Carol Haney, a Jack Cole dancer and rehearsal assistant to Gene ...