News

News.

Above: Cinetract 2: Revolution Is in the Eye of the Beholder, a video essay by David Phelps. The video is part of a new issue of one of our very favorite—and one of the best—film magazines in the world, La Furia Umana, which is now out. Each issue is focused on dossiers on particular directors, and this issue includes essential articles on Leo McCarey, Paul Vecchiali, Jean-Claude Rousseau and José Luis Guerín. In the McCarey dossier are pieces by our very own Daniel Kasman—on the Cary Grant & Ginger Rogers vs. the Nazis film, Once Upon a Honeymoon—and Ted Fendt on McCarey's Charley Chase comedy shorts. But don't ignore the depth and variety of articles outside this center, which include searing video pieces by Notebook regulars David Phelps—on Lang, Vertov and protest—and Gina Telaroli on Joan Bennett, Max Ophüls, The Reckless Moment and the reflections of American presidents.

"Anne Francis, who costarred in the 1950s science-fiction classic Forbidden Planet and later played the title role in Honey West, the mid-1960s TV series about a sexy female private detective with a pet ocelot, died Sunday. She was 80." Dennis McLellan in the Los Angeles Times: "A shapely blond with a signature beauty mark next to her lower lip, Francis was a former child model and radio actress when she first came to notice on the big screen in the early 1950s. She had leading or supporting roles in more than 30 movies, including Bad Day at Black Rock, Battle Cry, Blackboard Jungle, The Hired Gun, Don't Go Near the Water, Brainstorm, Funny Girl and Hook, Line and Sinker."

She "was active until just a few years ago, still doing TV guest shots into her 70s," notes the Orlando Sentinel's Roger Moore.

The Guardian's Ronald Bergan calls her performance in Blackboard Jungle "strong,...

Anne Francis, a sweet-voiced honey blonde who starred as a sexy Jane Bond-type detective on TV's Honey West in the mid-'60s and was a CinemaScope eyeful in the '50s sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet, died Sunday of complications of pancreatic cancer at a retirement home in Santa Barbara, Calif., the Los Angeles Times reports. She was 80. With a distinctive beauty mark below her lower right lip, Francis, though never a top-ranking star, always had her devoted cult followers. Among her better-known movies were Bad Day at Black Rock, Blackboard Jungle, Don't Go Near the Water and Funny Girl,...

A wonderful guy who I had the honor of knowing and working with died suddenly yesterday at age 49. We never know how long we have on this planet. Here's an Earth Day playlist of songs about taking better care of Planet Earth, better care of one another and better care of ourselves. R.I.P. Ron Scalera, a great man who really loved his family, his work at CBS and his music. Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Marvin Gaye The Last Resort - The Eagles Hands All Over - Soundgarden Earth Song - Michael Jackson Monkey Gone To Heaven - The Pixies Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell Down To Earth - Peter Gabriel Nature's Way - Spirit (Nothing But) Flowers - Talking Heads Earth Anthem - The Turtles Don't Go Near The Water - The Beach Boys Don't Drink The Water - Dave Matthews Band Cuyahoga - R.E.M....