"The Great Citizen Kane Debate" Hosted by True Classics

Greetings, fellow CMBA members!

November marks the two-year anniversary of blogging efforts for the crew at True Classics, and to celebrate, we're hosting "The Great Citizen Kane Debate." The question at hand ... does venerable critical darling Kane deserve its vaunted reputation as "THE" best American film ever made? Or is its value overstated/inflated by modern critics? And if Kane is not "THE" best film, which one is?

We're offering some amazing prizes for the three best entries into the debate, so we hope you'll join in what promises to be a spirited (and respectful!) discussion!

You can find the rules and sign up to participate here: http://trueclassics.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/were-in-anniversary-mode/.

Thanks!

Brandie, Carrie, and Nikki
True Classics

And the 2011 CiMBAs go to...

After two rounds of voting--and reading lots of terrific classic movie posts--the Classic Movie Blog Association is pleased to announce the winners in this year's CiMBA Awards. All the nominees should be proud of what they accomplished. The competition was fierce and it will be hard for next year to top 2011. Congratulations to all the winners!

Best Film Review (Drama)

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, The Lady Eve's Reel Life, http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/05/cmba-movies-of-1939-blogathon-private.html

Best Classic Movie Article

Mobsters, Pals and Skirts -- The Golden Age Of Gangster Movies -- 1930-1949 (The Complete Series), ClassicBecky’s Brain Food, http://www.classicbeckybrainfood.blogspot.com/2011/04/mobsters-pals-and-skirts-golden-age-of.html

Best Classic Movie Blog Event

The Loving Lucy Blogathon, True Classics, http://trueclassics.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/the-loving-lucy-blogathon-entries

Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

The Women (1939), My Love of Old Hollywood, http://myloveofoldhollywood.blogspot.com/2011/05/cmba-presents-films-of-1939-blogathon.html

Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

Celebrating Women in Film: The Silent Directors, True Classics, http://trueclassics.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/celebrating-women-female-directors/

Best Classic Movie Discussion (Tie)

The Final Scene of "The Heiress", Backlots,  http://backlots.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/the-final-scene-of-the-heiress-1949/

3 on 3 Panel Discussions: Disney's Animated Films, Gangster Films, Film Noir, and Hammer Films, Classic Film & TV Café, http://classic-film-tv.blogspot.com/search/label/three%20on%20three%20panels

Best Classic Movie Blog Design

Via Margutta 51, www.via-51.blogspot.com/

The 2011 CiMBA Nominations Have Been Announced!

The Classic Movie Blog Association (CMBA) is proud to announce its 2011 CiMBA nominations. The CiMBA is the CMBA's award for excellence in classic movie blogging. It's a prestigious award because it's given by one's peers in the CMBA.

Online ballots will be mailed to CMBA members this week. The CiMBA winners will be announced on October 17th. Without further ado, here are the nominations for the seven CiMBA categories:

Best Film Review (Drama)

Double Indemnity: The Secret Life of Walter Neff, Tales of the Easily Distracted, http://doriantb.blogspot.com/2011/07/double-indemnity-secret-life-of-walter.html

The Heiress (1949): Her Mother's Presence, Java's Journey, http://javabeanrush.blogspot.com/2011/04/heiress-1949-her-mothers-presence.html

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Via Margutta 51, http://via-51.blogspot.com/2011/05/cmba-movies-of-1939-blogathon-hunchback.html

"I'm an advertising man, not a red herring." True Classics, http://trueclassics.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/im-an-advertising-man-not-a-red-herring

John Huston, Montgomery Clift and "Freud", ClassicBecky’s Brain Food, http://www.classicbeckybrainfood.blogspot.com/2011/08/john-huston-montgomery-clift-and-freud.html

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, The Lady Eve's Reel Life, http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/05/cmba-movies-of-1939-blogathon-private.html

Stagecoach (1939), The Movie Projector, http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2011/05/cmba-classic-movies-of-1939-blogathon.html

Best Film Review (Musical or Comedy)

Father of the Bride, The Lady Eve's Reel Life, http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/04/father-of-bride-1950and-reflection-on.html

The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950), Caftan Woman, http://caftanwoman.blogspot.com/2011/06/favourite-movies-happiest-days-of-your.html

The Penultimate French Tearjerker: Les Parapluies De Cherbourg, Classic Film & TV Café, http://classic-film-tv.blogspot.com/2010/11/penultimate-french-tearjerker-les.html 

Return of the Firebird -- Blazing with Beauty, ClassicBecky’s Brain Food, http://www.classicbeckybrainfood.blogspot.com/2011/02/return-of-firebird-blazing-with-beauty.html

The Women (1939), My Love of Old Hollywood, http://myloveofoldhollywood.blogspot.com/2011/05/cmba-presents-films-of-1939-blogathon.html

Top Hat, Classicfilmboy, http://www.classicfilmboy.com/2011/08/fred-and-ginger-top-hat.html

Best Classic Movie Article

Bing Sings the Oscar Songs, Caftan Woman, http://caftanwoman.blogspot.com/2011/05/bing-sings-oscar-songs.html

Censorship and a Streetcar, Part 1 (http://trueclassics.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/censorship-and-a-streetcar-part-one/ ) and Part 2 is http://trueclassics.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/censorship-and-a-streetcar-part-two/ ), True Classics

Free, Female and 21, A Person in the Dark, http://flickchick1953.blogspot.com/2011/03/flappers-free-female-21.html

Mobsters, Pals and Skirts -- The Golden Age Of Gangster Movies -- 1930-1949 (The Complete Series), ClassicBecky’s Brain Food, http://www.classicbeckybrainfood.blogspot.com/2011/04/mobsters-pals-and-skirts-golden-age-of.html

Three Classic Hitchcock Killers, The Lady Eve's Reel Life, http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/01/cmba-hitchcock-blogathon-three-classic.html

Warren William Magnificent Scoundrel of Pre-Code Hollywood by John Stangeland, Warren-William.com, http://warren-william.com/2010/11/09/review-warren-william-magnificent-scoundrel-of-pre-code-hollywood-by-john-stangeland/

Best Profile of a Classic Movie Performer or Filmmaker

Celebrating Women in Film: The Silent Directors, True Classics, http://trueclassics.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/celebrating-women-female-directors/

Father and Mother Were Movie Stars, The Lady Eve's Reel Life, http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/08/father-and-mother-were-movie-stars.html

Joan Crawford: I Will Prevail, A Person in the Dark, http://flickchick1953.blogspot.com/2011/02/joan-crawford-i-will-prevail.html

John Dall is the Café’s Underrated Performer of the Month, Classic Film & TV Café, http://classic-film-tv.blogspot.com/2011/02/john-dall-is-cafes-underrated-performer.html

Judy Garland vs. Deanna Durbin, Java's Journey, http://javabeanrush.blogspot.com/2010/11/judy-garland-without-oz-vs-deanna.html

Lou Costello and His Tragedy, The Great Entertainers Archive, http://greatentertainersarchives.blogspot.com/2011/05/lou-costello-and-his-tragedy.html

Best Classic Movie Blog Event

Bond Is Forever (Sept 2010 – Aug 2011), Classic Film & TV Café, http://classic-film-tv.blogspot.com/search/label/bond%20is%20forever

The Loving Lucy Blogathon, True Classics, http://trueclassics.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/the-loving-lucy-blogathon-entries

Blogathon: The Oscars -- Best Actress 1963, Classicfilmboy, http://www.classicfilmboy.com/2011/02/blogathon-oscars-best-actress-1963.html

If I Had to Keep 4, Via Margutta 51, http://via-51.blogspot.com/search/label/If%20I%20had%20to%20keep%204

Queer Film Blogathon, Garbo Laughs, http://garbolaughs.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/queer-blogathon/

A Weekend with the Oliviers (Days 1 through 4), Vivien Leigh & Laurence Olivier, http://www.vivandlarry.com/tag/a-weekend-with-the-oliviers/

 Best Classic Movie Discussion

The Final Scene of "The Heiress", Backlots, http://backlots.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/the-final-scene-of-the-heiress-1949/

Have You Ever Slept With the Lights On, My Love Of Old Hollywood, http://myloveofoldhollywood.blogspot.com/2011/06/have-you-ever-slept-with-lights-on.html

She Wasn't Wearing That A Minute Ago, Was She? ClassicBecky’s Brain Food, http://www.classicbeckybrainfood.blogspot.com/2011/07/she-wasnt-wearing-that-minute-ago-was.html

3 on 3 Panel Discussions: Disney's Animated Films, Gangster Films, Film Noir, and Hammer Films, Classic Film & TV Café, http://classic-film-tv.blogspot.com/search/label/three%20on%20three%20panels

We're Diggin' Disney, True Classics, http://trueclassics.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/intro-disney-series/

Best Classic Movie Blog Design

ClassicBecky's Brain Food, http://www.classicbeckybrainfood.blogspot.com

A Person in the Dark, http://flickchick1953.blogspot.com/

The Scarlett Olive, http://www.thescarlettolive.com/

Via Margutta 51, www.via-51.blogspot.com/

Vivien Leigh & Laurence Olivier, http://www.vivandlarry.com

CMBA Gulity Pleasures Movie Blogathon - September 2011

You watched a movie. You knew it wasn't very good. But you loved it anyway!

From September 18-20, the Classic Movie Blog Association paid tribute those guilty pleasures with a movie blogathon.

The lineup is (click on blog title to to visit the blog site):

September 18

Can’t Stop the Music and The Apple – Tales of the Easily Distracted

Cinderella Jones – True Classics: The ABCs of Classic Film

Jailhouse Rock – Twenty Four Frames

Mame – Backlots

Three on a Match – A Person in the Dark

The Devil Bat – Kevin’s Movie Corner

How to Murder Your Wife – Java’s Journey

Xanadu – The Great Entertainers Archive

The Shanghai Gesture – Noir and Chick Flicks

September 19

An Ache in Every Stake – Another Old Movie Blog

Count Your Blessings – Waitin' on a Sunny Day

Flight to Mars – The Movie Projector

Gone With the Wind - The Scarlett Olive

The Greatest Show on Earth - Caftan Woman

King Kong(colorized) – My Love of Old Hollywood

Lover Come Back – Bette’s Classic Movie Blog

What’s Up, Doc? – Classicfilmboy’s Movie Paradise

No Down Payment – The Lady Eve’s Reel Life

September 20

Lifeforce – Classic Film & TV Cafe

Voodoo Man – Grand Old Movies

The Most Dangerous Game – Dave’s Classic Films

The Oscar – Silver Screen Modiste

Paris When It Sizzles - Via Margutta 51

Brenda Starr, Reporter – Thrilling Days of Yesteryear

A Summer Place – Comet Over Hollywood

The Wizard of Oz – 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

"Loving Lucy" Blogathon Coming this August!

August 6, 2011 marks legendary comedienne Lucille Ball's 100th birthday, and the bloggin' crew at True Classics: The ABCs of Classic Film is celebrating by hosting a "Loving Lucy" Blogathon!

Some wonderful bloggers have already signed up to participate, and we welcome you to join us that day as we commemorate Lucy's memorable life and career. The rules are simple: sometime prior to or on August 6th, post an entry on your blog discussing something Lucy-related. That’s it! Obviously, as we're all a bunch of classic movie-loving nuts here in the CMBA, we would love to see a lot of entries discussing Lucy's many wide-ranging film roles (she wasn't called "the queen of the Bs" for nothing!). But you can write about anything in the "Lucy" category that piques your interest—her television shows, her radio career, fashion, aspects of her personal life, her behind-the-scenes role as the first woman to head a major production studio … anything about Lucy that you find particularly fascinating. You can do a photo post, a podcast, an interview—let your imagination (and your ambition!) run wild.

You can find more information and promotional banners here: http://trueclassics.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/blogging-for-lucy/. And if you're interested in participating, leave a comment or shoot us an email and we'll add your blog to our growing list of contributors!

(Please note that although True Classics is a CMBA member, this is not a CMBA-sponsored blogathon.)

Vivien Leigh & Laurence Olivier Appreciation Blog-a-thon

Announcing the Vivien Leigh & Laurence Olivier Appreciation Blog-a-thon! The goal is to celebrate Vivien Leigh’s and Laurence Olivier’s films and their lasting impact on popular culture. The chosen dates correspond with the anniversaries of both their deaths (July 7 and July 11th, respectively). This will be a great way to show some love for the Oliviers, as well as to become more familiar with the film blogging community at large.

When: July 9-10, 2011

Where: The internet! Hosted by vivadlarry.com

Rules: This blog-a-thon is open to all film bloggers (and readers) around the internet. You can write about their films, theatrical contributions, your love of their beauty, fashion, etc., any aspect of Vivien Leigh’s and/or Laurence Olivier’s careers or lives. As per the usual blog-a-thon protocol, posts should be made to your own blog on the dates listed above, and a running list of links will be posted here at vivandlarry.com. Note: You do not have to write about a film that starred both Larry and Vivien. If you just want to write about Vivien, or just Larry, that’s totally fine.

One other thing: Although participants are welcome to write about any film or aspect of Vivien and Larry’s lives, it would be great if we can get posts about a variety of films rather than just the ones that are the most popular today such as Gone with the Wind.

Also find it on: Facebook

Not sure which films Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier starred in? Check out their imdb profiles below:
Vivien Leigh
Laurence Olivier

More info can be found at: http://www.vivandlarry.com/events/announcing-the-vivien-leigh-laurence-olivier-appreciation-blog-a-thon/

(Please note that although vivandlarry.com is a CMBA member, this is not a CMBA-sponsored blogathon.)

Queer Film Blogathon Hosted by Garbo Laughs

The CMBA blog Garbo Laughs will host the Queer Film Blogathon on June 27, 2011. The focus is on lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or otherwise non-heterosexual, non-gender-binary depictions or personages in film. Garbo Laughs would love it if fellow classic film bloggers participated, but the blogathon is open to all film bloggers regardless of area of focus. The blogathon will include not only reviews of films, but also biographies of queer performers and filmmakers, reviews of nonfiction books on the subject of LGBTs in Hollywood, or even photo pictorials! Anything that you can imagine and interpret as applicable to this topic is welcome – and if you’re not sure if what you want to do will fit, just ask Garbo Talks.

More info: http://garbolaughs.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/queer-film-blogathon
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122255794520510

(Please note that although Garbo Talks is a CMBA member, this is not a CMBA-sponsored blogathon.)