Blood on the Moon by Alan K. Rode

Blood on the Moon by Alan K. Rode

On sale now! Of the movies categorized as “noir westerns” by writers and historians, none is more celebrated than 1948’s Blood on the Moon. The commingling of the Western genre and the noir style crystalized in this extraordinary film, which in turn influenced the...
Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film

Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film

“In a superbly researched, highly compelling account of one of cinema’s most gifted and underrated directors, Rode provides a vivid description of Curtiz’s personality and work- ing methods. It is di cult if not impossible to imagine a more complete account of his life.” —Steven C. Smith, author of A Heart at Fire’s Center: The Life and Music of Bernard Herrmann

Charles McGraw: Biography of a Film Noir Tough Guy

Charles McGraw: Biography of a Film Noir Tough Guy

Books Blu-ray Discs Alan contributed numerous commentaries and special feature appearances for a variety of Blu-ray© and DVD classic film releases. Several recent releases include documentary featurettes produced by TVP Enterprises, Alan’s production company that...
Being the Ricardos

Being the Ricardos

A review of “Being the Ricardos” (Amazon Studios, 10dec2021) by Alan K. Rode.

THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (1936): Separating Fact from Fiction

THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (1936): Separating Fact from Fiction

Over the years, there have been numerous stories published or otherwise repeated about the production of Warner Bros, action film THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (1936).

These anecdotal accounts received additional heft in 1975 with the publication of David Niven’s memoir BRING ON THE EMPTY HORSES.

Among other recollections, Niven wrote about director Michael Curtiz’s “carnage” of injured and dead horses caused by his ordering the use of a “Running W” or trip wire during action scenes that were supposedly filmed in Mexico.

Other versions included a fight between Errol Flynn and Curtiz that never occurred (There was a physical confrontation between both men that occurred six years later during DIVE BOMBER) reportedly caused by Flynn’s rage over the director’s alleged indifference to the welfare of animals with the number of horses crippled or killed during the making of the picture ranging from 20 to 100 or many more.

My research, based on studio production records, correspondence and legal files( including sworn affidavits and photographs) and other sources, revealed an accurate and less fabulist account of what occurred during production of the film.

Hollywood’s Great Deluge

Hollywood’s Great Deluge

TCM will be broadcasting NOAH’S ARK on April 4, 2018 that will commence a month long spotlight on the films of director Michael Curtiz. Here is some background on the making of the film adapted from MICHAEL CURTIZ A LIFE in FILM   Michael Curtiz signed a contract with...
Michael Curtiz: He’s No Angel

Michael Curtiz: He’s No Angel

Beverly in Movieland Book Review by Beverly Gray March 23, 2018 To those of us who are fascinated by early Hollywood, director Michael Curtiz has always been a puzzlement. He was born Manó Kaminer, began his professional life as Mihály Kertész, and (once he moved from...