News

Many people rightly feel that the origins of Count Dracula — that mythic, blood-sucking vampire — have their roots in the mountains of Transylvania. However, if humans of the future were to unearth the graves of those buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California, they might believe differently. Because actor Bela Lugosi was laid to rest there donning one of the iconic capes he wore in his portrayals of the famous vampire on screen. To unearth him would be like unearthing The Count himself.

And maybe, in a way, that would be true. Even though Lugosi's body of work includes much more than just his performance as Dracula in the original 1931 Universal film of the same name (as well as a role reprisal in "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein"), when you mention him today, the first thing that comes to mind is that infamous bloodsucker. Lugosi has become synonymous with the character,...

Norma Shearer: The Boss' wife was cast in 'The Divorcee.' Norma Shearer movies on TCM: Early talkies and Best Actress Oscar Note: This Norma Shearer article is currently being revised and expanded. Please Check back later. Norma Shearer, one of the top stars in Hollywood history and known as the Queen of MGM back in the 1930s, is Turner Classic Movies' Star of the Month of Nov. 2015. That's the good news. The not-so-good news is that even though its parent company, Time Warner, owns most of Shearer's movies, TCM isn't airing any premieres. So, if you were expecting to check out a very young Norma Shearer in The Devil's Circus, Upstage, or After Midnight, you're out of luck. (I've seen all three; they're all worth a look.) It's a crime that, music score or no, restored print or no, TCM/Time Warner don't make available for viewing the...

Universal will mark its 100th anniversary in 2012, and will commemorate its centennial with a yearlong celebration honoring the studio's rich film history and cultural legacy. The campaign draws its inspiration from Universal's extraordinary and diverse library of films, many of which will be highlighted throughout the year, and is designed to engage fans of all ages in the art of moviemaking.

A significant element of the centennial includes the extensive restoration of 13 of the studio's most beloved titles such as To Kill a Mockingbird, All Quiet on the Western Front, Jaws, The Sting, Out of Africa, Frankenstein and Schindler's List.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment will kick off the celebration in January with a special 50th anniversary release of To Kill a Mockingbird, debuting on Blu-ray for the first time ever. Throughout the year, Universal will pay tribute to other influential films in the Universal library with special events and Blu-ray...