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Did Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca alter its unexpected ending?(Photo Credit –20th Century Fox)

Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca dazzled audiences in 1940, sweeping up the Best Picture Oscar and earning a place among the cinematic greats. But if you’re a fan of Daphne du Maurier’s original novel, there’s a good chance you noticed something missing.

A crucial twine that would have landed like a thunderclap was stripped from the screen adaptation, not because Hitchcock didn’t want it, but because the times simply wouldn’t allow it.

The Murder That Never Made It to Screen

In du Maurier’s 1938 novel, Maxim de Winter isn’t just a haunted widower wrapped in brooding silence; he’s a killer. Rebecca, the first Mrs. de Winter, meets her end not through a convenient accident, but by Maxim’s hand. Her manipulations and cruelty, and her final attempt to destroy, succeeded in...

Alfred Hitchcock Suspicion Ending ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Alfred Hitchcock has stood tall as one of cinema’s most revered creative forces for decades. The legendary director, who had mastered suspense like few ever could, crafted stories that sank into the audience’s bones and Suspicion was no exception.

However, not many know that Hitchcock has a bitter memory tangled within its legacy and it includes a last-minute change he despised and a lead actor he ultimately wished he had never chosen.

The Cary Grant Conundrum

The year was 1941 when Hitchcock first joined forces with Cary Grant, a collaboration that would later bloom into one of Hollywood’s most iconic partnerships. At the time, Grant was the darling of the silver screen, the epitome of charm and effortless wit, who dazzled audiences in films like Bringing Up Baby and The Philadelphia Story.

Trending Liam Neeson Still Grieving Natasha Richardson’s Death:...

"Blink Twice," the directorial debut of Zoë Kravitz, is a 2024' psychological thriller involving a group of people invited to a remote island as the unwitting participants of something sinister. The movie plays on class division, notably with the rich and powerful preying on the less financially privileged for their own twisted amusement. "Blink Twice" also features commentary on racial and sexual power dynamics, as sharply written as it is brutally suspenseful. This movie comes from a longer tradition of intrigue and deceit, often revolving around enigmatic male figures keeping dark secrets from their romantic partners.

Whether it's the French fairy tale Bluebeard or contemporary thrillers, "Blink Twice" follows an enduring narrative archetype while making it its own. With that in mind, there are countless movies to check out if you're looking for more thrillers after "Blink Twice" kept you at the edge of your seat.

Here are the 15 best...

Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most prolific directors of all time. He made a name for himself with such suspenseful thrill rides as Rear Window, The Birds, North by Northwest, and Vertigo. While these movies are gripping, there's no doubt that The Master of Suspense is best known for being behind the camera for Psycho. He was briefly in front of the camera as well when his recognizable profile can be seen right outside of the window.

Psycho, released in 1960, follows a man named Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) who goes on a murder spree at the Bates Motel. He's been driven to insanity by killing his mother and lover and, as a result, creates an alter ego he refers to as "Mother." The iconic shower kill in Psycho is now in the pantheon of most famous scenes in cinematic history. Because this scene is so impactful, viewers may have...

The Academy Awards have celebrated the talents of the film industry for over 96 years, honoring outstanding performances and achievements. Many celebrities dream of winning an Oscar once they come into the Hollywood scene, and a lot of them do achieve it.

Some secure it at a very young age while others get the chance to hold the coveted trophy much later in their careers.

So, let’s look at some child prodigies and veterans who have achieved this incredible feat at an age that will leave you in shock.

1. Timothy Hutton Timothy Hutton wins an Oscar | Credits: YouTube

Winning an Oscar is the pinnacle of success for any actor, and many put in a lot of work to achieve this no matter the age and the time it takes to get to the lectern and hold the golden statue. But for some, they just got a knack for acting and...

Every talented artist needs to look at their work from time to time and say, “Damn! I’m good.” Well, Alfred Hitchcock did that. The legendary British director — known as the “Master of Suspense” — made over 50 films in his career and loved most of them. Why wouldn’t he adore them? His movies garnered a whopping 46 Oscar nominations, making him the true symbol of excellence. And at the box office, they brought in more hundreds of millions. On top of that, Hitchcock invented (or popularized) many filmmaking techniques, including the “Dolly Zoom,” and the “MacGuffin,” leaving a true mark on cinema.

In a 1969 interview with the BBC, the Master of Suspense named Rear Window and Shadow of a Doubt as two of his cherished works from his catalog. He also had good things to say about many of his other films. However, he hated Suspicion, a lavishly photographed, first-rate romantic...

Mikey Madison Creates A Record With Her Oscars Win (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Mikey Madison bagged the Best Actress Award for Anora at the 2025 Oscars. While congratulations have been pouring in for the young actress, she has also achieved a unique record for her kitty at the age of 25. Yes, you heard that right! She becomes the 9th youngest actress to win an Oscar.

Other Actresses In This List

The other actresses who have found a place on this list include:

Marlee Matlin who won an Oscar at 21 for the 1986 film Children Of The Lesser God in the year 1987.

Jennifer Lawrence who won an Oscar at 22 for the 2012 film Silver Linings Playbook in the year 2013.

Trending Oscars 2025: Adrien Brody Lifts His 2nd Academy Award, Anora Leads With Most Wins – See Full List Of Winners Here! Oscars 2025: ‘Best Actor’ Adrien Brody Recreates History After 22 Years Of His First Award!

Janet Gaynor...

The 2025 Best Actress Oscar race was one for the ages. Mikey Madison won the award Sunday night for Anora to enter the Oscar annals as one of the youngest champs in the category ever.

At 25 years and 342 days old, Madison is the ninth youngest Best Actress winner. She displaces Vivien Leigh from the top 10 youngest list. Leigh was 26 years and 116 days old when she won her first Oscar for 1939's Gone with the Wind. Here is the new youngest top 10 (their ages calculated at the time of the award):

1. Marlee Matlin, Children of a Lesser God (1986): 21 years, 218 days

2. Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook (2012): 22 years, 193 days

3. Janet Gaynor, 7th Heaven, Street Angel, and Sunrise (1927/28): 22 years, 222 days

4. Joan Fontaine, Suspicion (1941): 24 years, 127 days

5. Audrey Hepburn, Roman Holiday (1953): 24 years, 325 days

6. Jennifer Jones, The Song of Bernadette (1943): 25 years, 0 days

7. Grace Kelly, The Country Girl (1954): 25 years, 138 days

8. Hilary Swank,...

Alfred Hitchcock was one of the most prolific filmmakers during Hollywood's Golden Age who worked on numerous occasions with an array of iconic stars of the silver screen, such as Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, and Joan Fontaine. Out of all the notable names that the Master of Suspense collaborated with, James Stewart is one Hollywood legend who ranks as one of the director's best leading men.

Quick Links Joan Crawford Played a Witty Mistress in 1939’s The Women The Women Was Remade as a Musical in the 1950s The Last Adaptation of the Women Starred Meg Ryan in 2008

1939's The Women might not be a movie as well-remembered as other classic films, but it's managed to be re-introduced into the cultural zeitgeist time and time again. Its most recent iteration was produced in 2008, but it began as a stage play. Featuring an all-female cast, The Women was first presented in 1936 and was written by Clare Booth as a comedy of manners. It follows a Manhattan socialite who discovers her husband is having an affair and the way her inner circle of friends and acquaintances reacts to the situation. The original production ran for 657 performances from December 26, 1936, to July 9, 1938, before closing.

In 1937, Max Gordon and Harry M. Goetz of Max Gordon Plays and Pictures Corporation planned a...

For the first time in 47 years, all five Best Actress Oscar nominees hail from Best Picture nominees.

The Best Actress lineup was the top five in the odds: Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here). Four of those films were widely predicted to score Best Picture nominations except for I’m Still Here, which was in 13th place in the odds; but in the biggest surprise of the day, the Brazilian feature made the cut on Thursday. The other Best Picture nominees are The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, and Nickel Boys.

The last time the Best Actress and Best Picture lineups aligned was during the 1977-78 season when Diane Keaton (Annie Hall) won Best Actress over Jane Fonda (Julia), Marsha Mason (The Goodbye Girl), and The Turning Point stars Anne Bancroft and Shirley MacLaine.

When 29-year-old Timothée Chalamet earned his second Oscar nomination for playing a young Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown,” he stepped into one of the most rarefied clubs in Academy Award history: Men who’ve received two leading actor nominations before they’ve turned 30.

As first noted by film journalist and historian Mark Harris on Bluesky, the last actor to achieve this feat was James Dean, who was posthumously nominated in back-to-back years for 1955’s period family drama “East of Eden” and 1956’s Western drama “Giant” after he died in a car accident at 24. Prior to Dean, the only other man to earn two nominations in the leading category in their 20s was Mickey Rooney, who was nominated for best actor at 19 for the 1939 Busby Berkeley musical “Babes in Arms,” and then again four years later at 23 for “The Human Comedy”.

When Chalamet earned his first best actor nomination for...

Quick Links Alfred Hitchcock Produced the First Film Adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s Novel Rebecca A 1997 TV Adaptation of Rebecca Presented an Exaggerated Age Gap Between the Two Romantic Leads Netflix’s 2020 Adaptation of Rebecca Fell Short Despite Its Star Power

Alfred Hitchcock was a filmmaker known as a master of suspense and a pioneer of the horror genre. He has over 50 feature films to his name and has influenced many Hollywood directors since his heyday in the 1950s and 1960s. He survived the transition from the silent era to talkies and was active up until his death at the age of 80 in 1980. And while he's largely known for making the hair stand up on the back of audiences' necks, other projects he worked on had less to do with the scare-factor and more to do with intrigue and mystery. Such was the case with 1940's Rebecca, starring Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier.

Bette Davis, one of the best actresses of all time, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress 11 times in her career. Some persnickety Oscar historians might say that she was nominated only 10 times, though, as her nomination for 1934's "Of Human Bondage" was one of the very few write-in votes ever permitted by the Academy. Records show that Davis, although not officially nominated by the Academy, still came in third that year.

Davis only won two Oscars, however. The first was for her performance in "Dangerous" in 1935 and the second was for playing a Scartett O'Hara-like role in "Jezebel" in 1938. Her performance in "Jezebel," Hollywood would eventually learn, was the first in a streak of nominations that would last for five straight years. In 1939, Davis was nominated for her performance in "Dark Victory." 1940 would see her nominated for "The Letter." In 1941, it was for "The Little Foxes," and...

Meryl Streep is the best of the best.

Her performance in Sophie’s Choice (1982) has been voted the greatest Oscar Best Actress winner ever, according to a Gold Derby ballot cast by 21 of our film experts, critics, and editors, who ranked all 97 movie champs.

Diane Keaton ranked second for Annie Hall (1977), with Jodie Foster following in third for The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Liza Minnelli for Cabaret (1972) and Vivien Leigh for A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) rounded out the top five.

At the bottom of the list of the Best Actress winners is Mary Pickford for Coquette (1929). Just above that film in the rankings are Luise Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Helen Hayes for The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1932), Loretta Young for The Farmer’s Daughter (1947), and Marie Dressler for Min and Bill (1931).

Another recent Gold Derby poll of cinema experts declared The Godfather (1972) as the greatest Best Picture Oscar winner of all...

The performance by Meryl Streep in Sophie’s Choice (1982) has been voted the greatest Oscar Best Actress winner ever. The results are from a recent Gold Derby ballot cast by 21 of our film experts and editors, who ranked all 97 movie champs.

Ranking in second place is Diane Keaton for Annie Hall (1977). Following in third place is Jodie Foster for The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Rounding out the top five are Liza Minnelli for Cabaret (1972), and Vivien Leigh for A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).

At the bottom of the list of the Best Actress winners is Mary Pickford for Coquette (1929). Just above that film in the rankings are Luise Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Helen Hayes for The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1932), Loretta Young for The Farmer’s Daughter (1947), and Marie Dressler for Min and Bill (1931).

Another recent poll had The Godfather (1972) declared as the greatest Best Picture Oscar winner of all time (view...

One of the many attributes that made Alfred Hitchcock one of the best filmmakers to ever do it was his ability to make actors of all calibers fit into the shiveringly ironic mold that he often wanted. From heavy-hitter legends to dutiful character actors to total no-names, he was usually able to get everyone on the same macabre page, often leading to numerous iconic performances. That makes it so strange that, on the whole, actors in his films didn't get much love from the Academy, with only a small handful of acting nominations in his filmography and a sole acting win. That win went to Joan Fontaine, who won Best Actress for her starring role in Suspicion, a chilling film that saw its heroine thrown into existential turmoil over a very untrustworthy partner.

From Agatha to Elphaba, it’s been a season of witches on film and television. But whatever charms witches conjure in the narratives that entertain us, the Mubi documentary “Witches” shows how ideas about too powerful, too magical women have variously defined and reinforced the contradictions of femininity; and yet also helped women make sense of themselves.

Director Elizabeth Sankey does this using the medium of film itself, telling her own story of a post-partum depression severe enough to require psychiatric treatment through speaking directly to camera, through talking-head interviews with friends and experts alike, and through an archive’s worth of relevant film clips. The more montages Sankey weaves together of girls, mothers, psychiatric patients, and, of course, witches, the easier it is for us to see how our media archetypes cast a spell that can settle deep into our bones.

The process of pulling footage and organizing the...

On Friday 15 November 2024, Talking Pictures TV broadcasts Cellar Club with Caroline Munro!

Intro – World of Hammer Ep5 Season 1 Episode 386 Episode Summary

In the upcoming episode of *Cellar Club with Caroline Munro* on Talking Pictures TV, Caroline Munro returns for another insightful exploration into the World of Hammer. This episode, titled “Intro – World of Hammer Ep5,” takes a closer look at the fascinating theme of Wicked Women. Caroline delves into the careers of some of cinema’s most legendary actresses, including Bette Davis, Joan Fontaine, and Martine Beswick.

The episode highlights these iconic stars and their roles in films that left a lasting impression on the industry, particularly within the Hammer Horror world. Caroline offers a unique perspective on how these actresses brought complex and powerful female characters to life. Fans of classic films and Hammer Horror will find this episode a compelling watch, filled with interesting facts and memorable performances from these screen legends.

This Friday at 10:00 Pm, Cellar Club with Caroline Munro returns with a captivating episode titled Intro – World of Hammer Ep5 on Talking Pictures TV. Horror and cult film fans are in for a treat as Caroline Munro dives into the thrilling and iconic World of Hammer series, this time with a special focus on some of cinema’s “Wicked Women.” Known for bringing audiences deep into Hammer Films’ unique universe, Caroline highlights the fascinating roles that screen legends like Bette Davis, Joan Fontaine, and Martine Beswick played within the studio’s horror genre.

In this episode, Caroline celebrates these actresses who brought complex, often darkly powerful characters to life. Each actress contributed to Hammer’s legacy with unforgettable performances that still captivate audiences today. Fans of classic horror and vintage film history won’t want to miss this exploration of Hammer’s portrayal of fierce and formidable female characters.

Mikey Madison has the potential to make history at the 2025 Oscars in Best Actress with Neon’s “Anora.” At the age of 25, she is receiving universal praise for her portrayal of the title character, a Brooklyn stripper who gets into a whirlwind, impetuous marriage. Sean Baker‘s wild romantic dramedy is continuing to gain massive buzz since winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and Madison is currently headlined at the top of the combined odds at Gold Derby to win Best Actress. Should it occur, she would be the ninth youngest Best Actress Oscar winner and the first since over a decade ago.

Let’s take a look at each of the first eight ingenues ahead who achieved this milestone:

Marlee Matlin

Won at age 21 years and 218 days for “Children of a Lesser God” (1986) on March 30, 1987.

Jennifer Lawrence

Won at age 22 years and 193 days for “Silver Linings Playbook...

Mark Cousins has long established himself as one of film’s most thoughtful commentators, crafting illuminating documentaries that uncover new layers of understanding. In his latest, My Name is Alfred Hitchcock, the director works his analytical magic on one of cinema’s true legends. What makes this film especially fascinating is the innovative format—it plays like an evening spent chatting with Hitchcock himself.

Through the skilled vocal impersonation of Alistair McGowan, the droll yet perceptive Master of Suspense acts as our guide. He walks us through his own vast body of work, bringing a personal touch lacking in other analytical profiles.

Cousins has divided the film into thematic chapters, with Hitchcock pointing out recurring motifs and ingenious techniques. We cover topics like escape, desire, loneliness, and the tantalizing effects of suspended time.

By imagining this lively dialogue with Hitchcock across the ages, Cousins keeps the late director’s mystique alive while offering fresh insights.

Alfred Hitchcock has long been revered as one of the most influential filmmakers of all time. He also holds the unfortunate distinction of being one of Oscar’s biggest losers, with five Best Director nominations and no wins. Still, who needs an Oscar when you’ve impacted world cinema as significantly as “Hitch” has? Let’s take a look back at 25 of his greatest films, ranked from worst to best.

Known as “the Master of Suspense,” Hitchcock cut his teeth directing silent movies in his native England. With films like “The Lodger” (1927), he gained a reputation for helming tense and stylish psychological thrillers. With the invention of sound came an added element to Hitchcock’s work: a sly sense of humor.

He moved to America in 1940 to direct two films that earned Best Picture nominations: “Foreign Correspondent” and “Rebecca,” which took home the top prize. Hitchcock competed for directing “Rebecca,...

Alfred Hitchcock was known as the Master and Suspense for the brilliant way he weaved insightful mysteries. The greatest Hitchcock mysteries included movies he made in Britian and America. Hitchcock's best mysteries included his acclaimed collaborations with actors like Cary Grant, James Stewart, and Grace Kelly.

Director Alfred Hitchcock was responsible for some of the greatest mystery movies ever made, as his skill for creating tension, portraying intricate plots, and developing complex characters made him the undisputed Master of Suspense. From slow-moving stories of lies and deceit to over-the-top action adventures categorized by mistaken identity and espionage, Hitchcock laid the groundwork for much of the modern movie landscape concerning mysteries and thrillers. With a filmmaking career that spanned over 50 years, Hitchcock kept audiences on the edge of their seats as he delivered one iconic mystery after another.

From acclaimed collaborations with actors like James Stewart and Carry Grant, Hitchcocks greatest...

She received five Academy Award nominations in ten years, winning for Best Actress twice. She was the spunky heroine to Errol Flynn’s dashing adventurer. She was Melanie, the sweet, compassionate counterpart to the spoiled, passionate Scarlett. And she became one of the oldest-living survivors of the Golden Age of Hollywood until her death at age 104 in 2020.

Olivia de Havilland was born July 1, 1916, in Tokyo, Japan, to British parents. Her sister, actress Joan Fontaine, was born 15 months later. Her parents divorced when the girls were young, and her mother eventually settled in California with her two daughters. Growing up, de Havilland enjoyed performing in amateur stage productions. Although she originally planned to become a teacher, a role in one of those amateur productions, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, changed her fate. She was discovered, eventually cast in the Hollywood Bowl production of that play, and then in the 1935 film adaptation.

Although...

Alfred Hitchcock's murder mysteries challenge traditional norms, with complex characters and unexpected twists. Hitchcock's films explore themes of voyeurism and subconscious desires, creating thrilling and captivating narratives. From the classic to the avant-garde, Hitchcock's murder mysteries continue to captivate audiences with their depth and intrigue.

Alfred Hitchcock was known as the "Master of Suspense," and his best murder mystery movies make it clear why he earned this title. The British director was an accomplished horror and thriller director, but many of his most memorable films focus on murderers and detectives. He influenced the genre in countless ways, and he was constantly crafting boundary-pushing murder mysteries.

Alfred Hitchcock changed the landscape of cinema, particularly the genres that he loved most. He questioned the rules of traditional murder mysteries repeatedly, and he often told stories from unusual angles. Owing to his fascination with the subject of voyeurism, many of his...

Since the inception of the Academy Awards, the U.S.-based organization behind them has always strived to honor worldwide film achievements. Their extensive roster of competitive acting winners alone consists of artists from 30 unique countries, three of which first gained representation during the 2020s. The last full decade’s worth of triumphant performers hail from eight countries, while 42.1% of the individual actors nominated during that time originate from outside of America.

The academy’s history of recognizing acting talent on a global scale dates all the way back to the inaugural Oscars ceremony in 1929, when Swiss-born Emil Jannings (who was of German and American parentage) won Best Actor for his work in both “The Last Command” and “The Way of All Flesh.” Over the next three years, the Best Actress prize was exclusively awarded to Canadians: Mary Pickford (“Coquette”), Norma Shearer (“The Divorcee”), and Marie Dressler (“Min and Bill...

When "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" first premiered on CBS in October 1955, the episodic half-hour anthology series immediately gained immense popularity. Hosted by Hitchcock himself, every episode opened with the director's silhouette and Charles Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette" playing in the background, which became a cultural landmark in itself. As Hitchcock believed that the show's half-hour format did not do justice to the intricate anthology tales of suspense and terror, the episodic duration was subsequently extended when the show was revamped and retitled to "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," which ran from 1962 to 1965.

Per John McCarty and Brian Kelleher's "Alfred Hitchcock Presents: An Illustrated Guide to the Ten-year Television Career of the Master of Suspense," NBC (where the show ended up airing alternatively), after witnessing the success of Hitchcock's show, started planning a brand new mystery/suspense anthology that was set to run from 1957 through 1958. This unofficial spin-off was titled "Suspicion,...

Feud could explore the controversial friendship-turned-rivalry between Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, offering an inside look at their lavish lifestyles and on-again-off-again dynamic. The behind-the-scenes feud between talk show hosts David Letterman and Jay Leno would provide an intriguing glimpse into the world of late-night television and the tensions surrounding the competition for The Tonight Show. The bitter rivalry between Elton John and Madonna, filled with snarky comments and public insults, would make for a thrilling season of Feud, showcasing the clash between two iconic pop legends.

There have been several highly-publicized Hollywood controversies that would act as the perfect candidate for upcoming seasons of the anthology series Feud. With the latest season of the Ryan Murphy, Jaffe Cohen, and Michael Zam-created series Feud, focusing on Capote vs. the Swans, and an excellent first season about Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, it begs the question of what other notable...

Hitchcock and Grant's collaboration elevated each other's work and created classic cinema with complex themes and high star power. Suspicion, their first film together, showcased Grant's ability to play a morally ambiguous character while maintaining his signature charm. Notorious was the pinnacle of their collaboration, featuring a powerful love triangle and representing Hitchcock's evolution as a director.

Legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock and iconic actor Cary Grant had a long-running collaboration and made four movies together between 1941 and 1955. A match made in heaven, Grant pushed himself to the limit in Hitchcock’s films and played characters that were much more layered and nuanced than many of the charming leading man roles he had become known for in Hollywood. At the same time, Hitchcock was provided with an expert performer who helped elevate his suspenseful thrillers with a high level of star power that ensured audiences would follow him as he explored increasingly complex themes.

For the second time in six years, the Best Actress category looked to be on track to feature nominees from films nominated for Best Picture. But just like six years ago, it came up short — and it once again involved Margot Robbie.

Annette Bening (“Nyad”), Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”) and Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) made the Best Actress cut on Tuesday. Every film but “Nyad” is nominated for Best Picture. Gladstone, Hüller, Mulligan and Stone were all expected to get in, but Bening was in seventh place in the odds. Now a five-time nominee, she made it in over Robbie, who was in fifth place in the odds and headlines Best Picture nominee “Barbie” (Robbie is nominated as producer).

Six years ago, it was the reverse situation with Robbie. She earned her first career Oscar nomination for her...

The best medieval knight movies often revolve around a heroic protagonist, providing romantic tales of valor and courage that make for highly entertaining flicks. These movies typically follow a classic hero's journey, although some boldly subvert those themes, resulting in unique works from some of the best directors of all time. The best medieval knight movies feature all-time great performances, timeless cinematography, and impressive spectacles, offering audiences an escape to a period of history that is fascinatingly different from the present, even if some movies overly romanticize it.

The medieval knight movie niche is one of the most consistent subgenres in Hollywood, making it fun to take a look at the best films it has to offer. The movie industry has been fascinated by this period of history for decades, probably because it is so much different from life in the 20th and 21st centuries. The Middle Ages also offer...

Piper Laurie, the three-time Academy Award-nominated actress whose seven-decade career including starring roles in the classic films “Carrie” and “The Hustler, has died. She was 91.

Laurie’s death was confirmed by her manager, Marion Rosenberg, in a statement to Variety.

“A beautiful human being and one of the great talents of our time,” Rosenberg said.

Laurie also starred in 1986’s “Children of a Lesser God,” for which she received an Oscar nomination for her supporting role, one of three Academy Award nominations she received in her career. Her first acting credits were for the 1950 films “The Milkman” and “Louisa.”

Her first Oscar nod came for 1961’s “The Hustler,” an iconic poolhall tale in which she starred opposite Paul Newman, playing his love interest. She also received an Oscar nomination for Brian De Palma’s 1976 Stephen King adaptation “Carrie,” in which she played the overbearing mother of Sissy Spacek’s telekinetic protagonist.

Piper Laurie, who blossomed as an actress only after extricating herself from the studio system and went on to rack up three Oscar nominations, has died. She was 91.

Laurie’s manager Marion Rosenberg confirmed the news to Variety, writing, “A beautiful human being and one of the great talents of our time.”

Laurie scored her first Oscar nomination for her work opposite Paul Newman in 1961’s classic poolhall drama “The Hustler,” in which she played an alcoholic who memorably tells Newman’s character, “Look, I’ve got troubles and I think maybe you’ve got troubles. Maybe it’d be better if we just leave each other alone.”

Though she informally retired to raise a family for more than a decade, she returned to film and television in the mid-’70s and racked up an impressive roster of characterizations, including Oscar-nominated turns in “Carrie” and in “Children of a Lesser God,...

Classic Hollywood stars, known for their work in other genres, also took on roles in horror movies, delivering iconic performances. Famous actresses like Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford showcased their talent in psychological horror films, proving their versatility. Notable actors such as Charlton Heston and Gregory Peck dipped their toes into the horror genre, adding depth to their filmography.

Many actors choose to stay away from horror movies for different reasons, so it might come as a surprise that some classic Hollywood actors, known for their works in other genres, appeared in at least one horror movie. The horror genre has seen a variety of actors, many of them known for their performances in other genres, while others dedicate most of their careers to appearing in scary movies. However, what might seem surprising to many, is to know that some classic Hollywood stars also gave the horror genre a chance at some point.

Just in time for the spookiest month of the year, Guillermo del Toro shares some of his favorite films from Turner Classic Movies.

The Oscar-winning director discussed his watchlist on the TCM YouTube page, starting with 1941's Suspicion. "One of the main resources of suspense is not knowing," he explained. "And the other one, by the way, is hope. They go hand in hand. And not knowing is the moral of this tale." He lauded Cary Grant's casting as a suspected killer, the way the film explores Joan Fontaine's paranoid psyche and the film's ambiguous ending, which was reshot by director Alfred Hitchcock himself. Fontaine's work would earn her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1941, marking the only Oscar-winning performance in a Hitchcock film.

Related: Guillermo Del Toro Celebrates Over the Garden Wall’s Fall Dominance

Del Toro's next pick was 1931's Freaks, which he called...

Guillermo del Toro doesn’t hold back about his love for his favorite movies. If you’ve spent any time on his Twitter feed over the years, you’ve likely seen him praise Stanley Donen’s use of the color red throughout the late director’s body of work, and hail everything from William Wellman’s 1931 film “Other Men’s Women” to David Cronenberg’s “Crimes of the Future” from 2022. The man has wide-ranging taste, and a deep awareness of cinematic history that’s informed his own films.

Now he follows Turner Classic Movies advisors Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson in giving his own picks from TCM’s lineup, all titles that will be airing in October. Watch the video, exclusive to IndieWire, above.

First up, he picks one of the most sorely underrated titles from Alfred Hitchcock’s filmography, 1941’s “Suspicion,” airing on TCM at 2:00am...

Betta St. John, who portrayed the lovely island girl Liat in the original Broadway production of South Pacific and starred as a princess alongside Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in the MGM romantic comedy Dream Wife, has died. She was 93.

St. John died June 23 of natural causes at an assisted living facility in Brighton, England, her son, TV producer Roger Grant, told The Hollywood Reporter.

The California native played one of the survivors of an airline crash, who is chased by a crocodile in Tarzan and the Lost Safari (1957) — the first Tarzan film in 15 years and the first one in color — and then returned for Tarzan the Magnificent (1960). Both films starred Gordon Scott as the King of the Jungle.

St. John also starred with Stewart Granger, Ann Blyth and Robert Taylor in All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953); with Victor Mature, Piper Laurie and Vincent Price in the 3-D adventure Dangerous...

Oscar-nominated producer Lawrence Turman died Saturday at the Motion Picture and Television Country Home and Hospital. He was 96. He had a stellar career not only as a producer of such seminal films as The Graduate (1967), The Great White Hope (1970), American History X (1998) and many more in a producing career that lasted six decades, but he also took a significant turn when he left his partnership with producer David Foster to head the prestigious Peter Stark Producing Program at USC in 1991, an association that continued until his retirement just two years ago.

His son, John Turman, confirmed the death to Deadline. “Our father Lawrence Turman passed away late yesterday,” he said. “It’s sad, but he had a long and storied life, and it’s the passing of an era.” He added that the MPTF is planning a memorial service as well as USC at a later date.

Related: Hollywood & Media...

Casting is one of the hidden arts of Hollywood, and starting June 15, the second season of The Academy Museum Podcast, “Close Up on Casting,” hosted by the Museum’s Director and President Jacqueline Stewart, delves into often misunderstood art and influence of Hollywood casting.

The audio series draws inspiration from the museum’s galleries, Stewart said during a recent small press gathering and podcast preview for the episode centered on the Hitchcock film “Rebecca.” She saw that her curators had more research and intel to share than was possible to display in the audience-favorite Performance Gallery, packed with early Polaroids of actors, audition tapes, and casting directors’ notes, which deserves to be expanded. The typewritten list of actresses considered for producer David O. Selznick’s production of “Rebecca” (1940), for example, is priceless, with often snarky and misogynist descriptions by each name.

“It was really interesting to watch visitors imagine different...

Olivia de Havilland was an iconic figure in the history of film. Her performances spanned over an incredible four decades, and she consistently displayed a timeless elegance and grace on-screen. A four-time Academy Award winner as well as recipient of numerous other awards and accolades, her acting remains some of the most iconic of all time.

In this post, we will explore the life and career of this legendary actress. We will take a look at some of her most memorable performances, as well as discuss how she influenced the course of film history. We will also discuss why de Havilland’s legacy endures to this day, and why her work continues to inspire actors and filmmakers around the world.

So join us as we honor Olivia de Havilland’s incredible career, her timeless style and grace, and her immense contributions to the movie industry.

A Star Is Born: Olivia...

The star with the gorgeous calypso voice was also a naturally passionate actor who appeared in heists, colonial confrontations – and even the last love triangle on Earth

In the middle of the 20th century, Harry Belafonte was at the dizzying high point of his stunning multi-hyphenate celebrity: this handsome, athletic, Caribbean-American star with a gorgeous calypso singing voice was at the top of his game in music, movies and politics. He was the million-selling artist whose easy and sensuous musical stylings and lighter-skinned image made him acceptable to white audiences. But this didn’t stop him having a fierce screen presence and an even fiercer commitment to civil rights. He was the friend and comrade of Paul Robeson and Martin Luther King Jr – and his crossover success, incidentally, never stopped him being subject to the ugliest kind of bigotry from racists who saw his fame as a kind of infiltration.

The ‘King of Calypso’ starred in ‘Kansas City’ and ‘BlacKkKlansman’.

US actor, singer, and activist Harry Belafonte, known for his role in Island In The Sun, has died at the age of 96.

Known as the ‘King of Calypso’, Belafonte made history with his third studio album Calypso (1956) which was said to be the first album by a solo artist to sell more than a million copies in the US and featured the beloved song ‘Day-o’ (The Banana Boat Song).

He earned his acclaim on the screen after he starred alongside James Mason, Joan Fontaine and Joan Collins in Robert Rossen...

Harry Belafonte, the civil rights and entertainment giant who began as a groundbreaking actor and singer and became an activist, humanitarian and conscience of the world, has passed away. He was 96.

Belafonte passed away Tuesday due to congestive heart failure at his New York home, his wife Pamela by his side, said Paula M. Witt, of public relations firm Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis.

With his glowing, handsome face and silky-husky voice, Belafonte was one of the first Black performers to gain a wide following on film and to sell a million records as a singer; many still know him for his signature hit “Banana Boat Song (Day-o),” and its call of “Day-o! Daaaaay-o.” But he forged a greater legacy once he scaled back his performing career in the 1960s and lived out his hero Paul Robeson’s decree that artists are “gatekeepers of truth.”

He stands as the model and...

Harry Belafonte, the actor, producer, singer and activist who made calypso music a national phenomenon with “Day-o” (The Banana Boat Song) and used his considerable stardom to draw attention to Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights issues and injustices around the world, has died. He was 96.

Belafonte, recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2014, died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his Manhattan home on the Upper West Side with his wife, Pamela, by his side, longtime spokesman Ken Sunshine told The Hollywood Reporter.

A master at blending pop, jazz and traditional West Indian rhythms, the Caribbean-American Belafonte released more than 30 albums during his career and received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy from the Recording Academy in 2000.

Calypso, which featured “Day-o” and another hit, “Jamaica Farewell,” topped the Billboard pop album list for an incredible 31 weeks in 1956 and is credited as...

Harry Belafonte, the pioneering Calypso singer, actor, and civil rights leader, has died at the age of 96.

According to The New York Times, Belafonte passed away on Tuesday from congestive heart failure.

Born on March 1st, 1927 in Harlem, New York to Jamaican-American parents, Harold Bellanfanti, Jr. served in the Navy in World War II before becoming enamored with the stage while attending shows at the American Negro Theater with close friend Sidney Poitier. Eventually, he began performing at the venue after taking acting classes at The New School and won a Tony Award for the 1953 musical revue John Murray Anderson’s Almanac.

Belafonte began his musical career performing in nightclubs as a way to afford his acting classes. In 1953, he signed a recording contract with RCA Victor and released his debut single, “Matilda,” ahead of his breakthrough album Calypso. The 1956 LP topped the Billboard album chart for 31 weeks and spawned...

Hollywood’s postwar shift to social consciousness addressed familiar issues like bigotry and discrimination. On his way to making his gargantuan, serious epics, famed director George Stevens paused for this almost entirely forgotten contemplation of American anxiety in the business rat race, with a side order of alcoholism and potential adultery. Ray Milland is the troubled ad man who tries to help the drink-impaired actress, Joan Fontaine. Wife Teresa Wright waits patiently back home, but for how long? Is Stevens just dabbling in neorealistic doldrums, or did he feel the wave of dull existential despair as well? It’s one of his least-known films.

Something to Live For

All Region Blu-ray

Viavision [Imprint] #199

952 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 89 min. / Street Date February 22, 2023 / Available from [Imprint] / au 34.95

Starring: Joan Fontaine, Ray Milland, Teresa Wright, Richard Derr, Douglas Dick, Harry Bellaver, Paul Valentine, King Donovan, Kasey Rogers, Douglas Spencer, Mari Blanchard.

Cinematography: George Barnes

Production Designer: Hal Pereira,...

The Oscars have always been a battleground of sorts. In recent years, the ceremony has become a public event arbitrating issues of race, gender, and privilege in cinema and society. But throughout its 94-year history, the Academy Awards mediated some very different battles. There have been attempts to square petty power plays, wars with the Academy itself, and even attempts to take down a gay Oscars producer.

“The red carpet runs through contested turf,” Michael Schulman opens his new tome on the awards, Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold,...

The United States had been at war a little over a year when the 15th Academy Awards were presented on March 4, 1943. It was the last year that the awards were celebrated at a lavish banquet; they would be moved to a theater setting in the ensuing years. The impact of World War II can be seen in the films honored, as well as the ceremony itself.

Popular musical star Jeannette MacDonald sang the National Anthem, and newly enlisted military privates Tyrone Power and Alan Ladd unfurled a flag that listed over 25,000 film industry members who had joined the armed forces. Bob Hope hosted the event, which saw one big winner, numerous patriotic choices and the first win for one of the industry’s biggest record-makers. Let’s flashback 80 years to the Oscars ceremony of 1943.

SEEOscar hosts: Performers who have hosted the Academy Awards

Ten movies made the cut for a Best Picture nomination.

Powerhouse Indicator’s first foray into the Universal library yields six noir thrillers, all crime-related and all different: the list introduces us to scheming businessmen, venal confidence crooks, black-market racketeers, a femme fatale, a gangster deportee and baby stealers. The B&w features are enriched with some of the best actors of the postwar years, and the titles themselves are a litany of vice and sin: The Web, Larceny, Kiss the Blood Off My Hands, Abandoned, Deported and Naked Alibi.

Universal Noir #1

Region B Blu-ray

The Web, Larceny, Kiss the Blood Off My Hands, Abandoned, Deported, Naked Alibi

Powerhouse Indicator

1948-1954 / B&w / Street Date November 14, 2022 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £49.99

Starring: Ella Raines, Edmond O’Brien, Vincent Price, William Bendix; John Payne, Joan Caulfield, Dan Duryea, Shelly Winters, Dorothy Hart; Joan Fontaine, Burt Lancaster, Robert Newton; Dennis O’Keefe, Gale Storm, Jeff Chandler, Raymond Burr; Marta Toren, Jeff Chandler, Marina Berti, Richard Rober; Sterling Hayden,...