Splendor in the Grass

CHICAGO – When encountering film producer, director, writer and “movie star” Warren Beatty, I entered into an interview that would be truly one of a kind. The spontaneous Mr. Beatty works a talk in a give-and-take Socratic method, searching for the truth underneath the rhetoric, as he did with his new film “Rules Don’t Apply.”

LOS ANGELES – Phyllis Diller emerged as a comic force during the era of the beatniks and talk show hosts who smoked cigarettes on camera. Beginning her career as a pioneer female stand-up act at 37 years old, she went on to establish a memorable character and show business longevity, working virtually all the way to the end. Diller’s passing was announced yesterday by her manager. She was 95.

CHICAGO – Turner Classic Movies continues their collection of some of their greatest films in four-movie sets, three of which were recently released and distributed by Warner Brothers Home Video under the label “Turner Classic Movies: Greatest Classic Films Collection” with sub-labels of “Romance,” “Marx Brothers,” and “Sci-Fi Classics”.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – When I hear phrases like “screen icon” or “Hollywood legend,” one of the first people that I think of is Natalie Wood. Six of the famous star’s films have been compiled for the “Natalie Wood Collection,” a great starter set for classic movie buffs intrigued by this timeless star or collector’s looking to enhance their catalog.