by Shane Collis
This February 4th marked the centenary of a unique talent in the history of motion pictures. Born in London to a theatrical family, Ida Lupino never wished to be an actress. However, her father insisted upon it and the 14-year-old Ida embarked on a career that would take her across oceans and gender barriers.
Read MoreDirected by Billy Wilder (1945)
by Shane Collis
"At night this stuff's a drink, in the morning it's medicine." - Don Birnam
From the first strains of Miklós Rózsa's score, it is obvious that the film we are about to see is no comedy. Directed by the great Billy Wilder, following his archetypal film noir masterpiece Double Indemnity. Based on the novel by Charles Jackson, The Lost Weekend offers little in the way of comic relief as it charts a debauched four days in the life of aspiring New York writer Don Birnam (a superb Ray Milland).
Read MoreDirected by Paul Newman (1972)
by Shane Collis
"I'm the original half-life, I got one daughter with half a mind, the other whose half a test tube, a house half-full of rabbit crap and half a corpse! That's a half-life alright." - Beatrice Hunsdorfer
Paul Newman is arguably the most famous actor of his generation, with celebrated roles in such films as The Hustler, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Cool Hand Luke, and The Sting among many others. But sadly his work as a director is seldom discussed outside the most ardent cineaste circles.
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