Seldon's Blog

THE COMPARISONS BETWEEN "MAYTIME" (1937) and "TITANIC" (1997)

While watching the 1937 operetta that starred Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy - "MAYTIME", I noticed that the story and main characters bore a strong resemblance in story structure to a movie that was released sixty years later . . . namely the 1997 Oscar winning movie, "TITANIC", which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Note the following: ( Read more... )

Below are images from "THE FLAME TREES OF THIKA", the 1981 adaptation of Elspeth Huxley's 1959 memoirs. Directed by Roy Ward Baker, the series starred Hayley Mills, Holly Aird and David Robb: ( Read more... )

"A NIGHT TO REMEMBER" (1958) Review

There have been many versions about the April 1912 sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic. Many versions. And I have personally seen at least five of them. One of them happened to be the 1958 movie, "A NIGHT TO REMEMBER". ( Read more... )

"MR. HOLMES" (2015) Review

Arthur Conan Doyle created a force of nature when he set out to write a series of mystery novels featuring the fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. His novels have not only provided a series of movie and television adaptations for the past century, but also the Holmes character has led to a great number of movies, novels and television series that featured original stories not written by Doyle. Among them is Mitch Cullin’s 2005 novel, "A Slight Trick of the Mind". ( Read more... )

Below are images from "MR. HOLMES", the 2015 adaptation of Mitch Cullin's 2005 novel, "A Slight Trick of the Mind". Directed by Bill Condon, the movie stars Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes: ( Read more... )

Below are images from "BEAU GESTE", the 1939 adaptation of P.C. Wren's 1924 novel. Directed by William Wellman, the movie starred Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston and Brian Donlevy: ( Read more... )

"THE GOLDEN BOWL" (2000) Review

I have never read any of Henry James' literary works. Never. However, I have seen a few adaptations of his works. Some of them had been adapted by the production team of Ishmail Merchant and James Ivory. Aside from E.M. Forster, they must have been diehard fans of James. They had produced three adaptations of James' novels, including the 2000 film, "THE GOLDEN BOWL". ( Read more... )

Below is a list of my favorite movies (so far) that are set in the 1960s: ( Read more... )

Below are images from the 1965 comedy, "THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES". Directed by Ken Annakin, the movie starred Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, James Fox and Terry-Thomas: ( Read more... )

PEACH MELBA

Below is a small article about a famous dessert created around the end of the 19th century at a restaurant in London. It is called Peach Melba. I first learned about this dish from the BBC's "EDWARDIAN SUPERSIZE ME" episode.( Read more... )