Workin’ for the (freeview) weekend

Good news, everyone!  DISH has bestowed upon us a "freeview" weekend of the Epix movie channel...and that's always most welcome here in the House of Yesteryear because while I'll admit their film offerings may suffer from a mild case of same-ol'-same-ol' (we're only getting the free weekend because Epix is promoting a new series entitled…

From the Warner Archive: The Last Tycoon (1976)

Author F. Scott Fitzgerald was working on a novel entitled The Last Tycoon (also referred to by some as The Love of the Last Tycoon) when he died at the age of 44.  The unfinished work was published in 1941; it’s a roman a clef inspired by Fitzgerald’s friend, motion picture studio producer Irving Thalberg, in which a movie…

I knew there was a reason why I haven’t stepped inside a multiplex for three years now…

Faithful TDOY readers are aware of this but for those of you just joining us…I am woefully behind in catching up with recently-released movies.  Granted, it’s not something that keeps me awake at night because I’ve rationalized that there are too many older and classic films still on my “Must-See” list but occasionally it does cause me…

I’m going to sit right down and write myself a letterbox

Those of you who read this blog on a regular basis (as opposed to those who just look at the pictures) are no doubt aware that last July some fast-talking CSR at CharredHer Cable convinced me I could save a little bit of money on my monthly cable bill by adding Showtime /The Movie Channel, etc. to…

“Free food for the poor!”

I’ll say this for CharredHer—they may be cut from the same bolt of cloth as their partners-in-weaseldom, Bombast Cable—but the On Demand service they offer (and naturally, I’m talking about the FREE movies section) showcases some interesting television fare from time to time. In addition to Part 3 of IFC’s Monty Python: Almost the Truth—The Lawyer’s Cut documentary,…

“Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing…” – Robert Benchley

Every Friday, the TCM on Demand service changes a bit of their programming—usually their shorts schedule, as whatever movies they happen to be currently showing demonstrate a longevity not unlike the Energizer Bunny. So they’ve finished with the last three Dogville shorts—Trader Hound (1931), The Two Barks Brothers (1931) and Love-Tails of Morocco (1931)—and have moved on to some one-reel comedies that are…

From the weekend

I gather that from glancing at my “keyword” stats there was some interruption in some places this weekend of RTN, the Retro Television Network; a blurb at Wikipedia says that the former company that owned the network—Equity Media Holdings—was in a contract dispute with RTN beginning January 4 and that was apparently the reason for the interruption.…

Saturday night is Flix night

Well, another Saturday night went by and there wasn’t much to stare at, TCM-wise, so I utilized Plan B and had a glance at Flix on Demand menu. The nice thing about Flix is that they stagger their schedule so as a rule you can find something on nearly every week… A Taste of Honey (1961)…

Don’t it seem like Flix just keep gettin’ harder to find…

CharredHer’s On Demand Free Movie service is a pretty nifty thing to have sometimes when—sure, it’s rare, but stay with me—you’re really not up to another showing of (insert TCM film that’s on way too much here). Last week, I found a way to occupy some free time with two offerings from Flix: Midnight Express (1978)…

“Oh, come on now, Doris…do I look like a maniac who goes around killing girls?”

As part of CharredHer’s On Demand service, I get the opportunity to see free movies from the likes of Flix (which is sort of the bastard child of Showtime and The Movie Channel), TCM, The Sundance Channel, occasionally IFC, something new called RHI Showcase (which seems to have a lot of Hallmark-type dramas) and a…