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70MMThirty visually stunning films that illustrate the grandeur of large-format filmmaking.

MOVIE MOMENTS THAT MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVINGOur collection of ten little moments of breathtaking beauty, expert craftsmanship and happy accidents that rank as our favorites.

25 GREAT SILENT MOVIE POSTERSOur selection of artwork from the early days of motion pictures that expertly illustrate the tone and tale of the films they represent.

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RAVES AND RASPBERRIES We select some choice bits from reviews by the late Roger Ebert.

THE GIRL HUNT BALLETWe revisit the stylish Fred Astaire dream ballet from The Band Wagon (1953).

KUNG FU POSTERS AT AMPASIf you’re in Beverly Hills anytime between April 18 and August 25, check out Kick Ass! Kung Fu Posters from the Stephen Chin Collection exhibited in The Academy Grand Lobby Gallery and featuring more than 800 posters and related materials.

STANLEY KUBRICKLACMA’s exhibition of the legendary director’s work features scripts, set models, costumes and props and is open from November 1 through June 30, 2013.

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MUST READMGM: Hollywood's Greatest Backlot provides a fascinating look at a lost treasure.

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GEORGE GERSHWINTen classic songs as seen on the silver screen.

DESERT NOIROur report from this year’s Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival in Palm Springs.

DIAMOND SETTINGSWe take a look at five of our favorite baseball movies of the ‘40s and ‘50s.

FRED ASTAIREFive lively numbers from the peerless hoofer.

PLUNDER ROADFilm noir at its best—and most economical. No backstory, a lean look and just 72 minutes long.

RED DREAM FACTORYWe profile eight films from a unique Russian-German film studio of the twenties and thirties.

W.C. FIELDSTen of his most memorable character names.

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Tuesday
May152012

May 15

DateTuesday, May 15, 2012 at 09:01AM | CommentPost a Comment

Invitation to the Dance is released nationwide, 1956. It was star Gene Kelly’s idea to bring the greatest dancers in Europe and the various types of dance from all over the planet to mainstream movie audiences. MGM objected to Kelly’s plan to appear in just one of the film’s segments—thus he appeared in all three of them, playing a clown, a Marine and Sinbad the Sailor. Shooting began in England in August 1952 and finished in Culver City in October 1953, with the animation forces of William Hanna, Joseph Barbera and Fred Quimby taking over through June 1954 to complete the Sinbad the Sailor section. MGM, skittish over the box office potential of Kelly’s wordless dance tribute, held the film from release until May of 1956, whereupon the studios fears were realized—audiences stayed away.

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