Film – Tim Covell

England 5: Searching for Robin Hood

Robin Hood plays a small role in Nottingham, a vibrant city with other claims to fame.

42nd Street Special Train

Warner Bros. stars traveled to Roosevelt’s inauguration in a train that promoted the recent hit film 42nd Street.

Flippant and Saucy

The magazines Escapade and Dude were found not obscene by the Supreme Court in 1962, in a significant ruling affecting censorship in Canada.

Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Tech 7.1

The ongoing saga of searching for new laserdisc player.

A Few Thoughts on Wonder Woman 1984

I never read the comic, but occasionally watched the 1970’s TV show. Silly at times, but enjoyable. My recollection of the 2017 movie was that it started strong, but had a tiresome battle with lots of things blowing up at the end. Spoilers ahead. Wonder Woman 1984, directed by Patty Jenkins, is not without problems.… Continue reading A Few Thoughts on Wonder Woman 1984

As Expected, Ontario Gives Film Classification to Industry

I’ve been studying film classification systems, or movie age ratings, for years. I wrote undergrad essays on the subject, an MA thesis on it, and have published journal articles. You can find some here. There are also many blog posts. I’ve concluded that, for all their flaws, film classification systems are necessary, desirable, and best… Continue reading As Expected, Ontario Gives Film Classification to Industry

Ontario Film Authority Gone – Now What?

The Ontario government announced last Friday that it is shutting down the Ontario Film Authority. This is the provincial government agency that classifies films and home video distributed in Ontario. The plan is to create “a modern framework for film classification.” Meanwhile, films still require classifications. Ontario will temporarily use the classifications from British Columbia.… Continue reading Ontario Film Authority Gone – Now What?

Fear of Female Sexuality – Eighth Grade

I saw the trailer for Eighth Grade a few months ago, in the company of some teens, including a girl a year younger than the character in this film. I asked her if she’d be interested in seeing the film, and her response was “no,” because, being made by adults, it would not be a… Continue reading Fear of Female Sexuality – Eighth Grade

Baby Doll (1956)

Baby Doll is a 1956 American film based on a pair of one-act Tennessee Williams plays. It’s a steamy love triangle between a young virginal wife, her husband, and his rival. Although passed by the Production Code, it was condemned as immoral by the US Roman Catholic Legion of Decency, and banned in several areas.… Continue reading Baby Doll (1956)

Defending the Courts against Self-Defense

Self-Defense is a 1932 western/melodrama from Monogram. Katy owns and runs a gambling bar in a small town in northern British Columbia, but has sent her teenage daughter, Nona, to a boarding school in California. Nona believes her mother runs a high-end hotel, and Katy doesn’t want Nona to learn the truth. A local trouble… Continue reading Defending the Courts against Self-Defense