Journal

Juicy AFI Photos!

Meryl Streep poses with her Silkwood costar Cher

Hobnobbing With The Stars

Mike Nichols being honored by the American Film Institute

A Lost Charlie Chaplin Film—Found!

I sacrificed a “scoop” on today’s exciting news about the cache of rare American films discovered in (and now being repatriated from) New Zealand, because I’m part of the National Film Preservation Board and didn’t think it was right to undermine The New York Times, NPR, et al.

Farewell To A Member Of Our Gang

Dorothy poses with "Uncle Bob" McGowan, the co-creator and primary director of Our Gang.

On The Obit Watch

Last week my wife and I took a road trip to the Grand Canyon, which I would recommend to anyone who hasn’t done it. I had one experience, however, that set me apart from most other tourists: during a stop in the midst of a river rafting trip down the Colorado River my wife’s cell phone rang. It was ...

A Disney Artist Comes Into Her Own

Orson Welles—At Ease

I’m hesitant to publish links to YouTube on a regular basis for two reasons: the dubious legality of some posts, and the guilt I feel by encouraging you to idle away untold hours of time on this hypnotic site. But I can’t resist calling your attention to a series of short pieces that Orson Welles fi...

Animation Rarities Online

Cartoonist J. Stuart Blackton in front of the 1900 drawing that magically comes to life.

Catching Up

This is a momentous week for me: we’ve just finished the new edition of my annual paperback Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide—the 2011 Edition, to be specific. In this era of instant communication the process of writing, editing, and preparing a book seems quaint at best, and cumbers...