Recently, I read Robert Matzen’s latest book, Warrior|Audrey Hepburn. I have read three of Robert’s books including the first one he wrote on Hepburn’s early life, Dutch Girl.
Continue readingAuthor Archives: Caren's Classic Cinema
New Biography: Maria Montez
I have this childhood memory of my mother once telling me who she thought was the most beautiful actress ever to grace the silver screen. She told me that this actress died young while in a hot tub which led me to an image of a lovely woman wearing a toweled turban on her head, steam billowing up and around her in a darkened, shadowy room.
That was my introduction to Maria Montez.
Films I’ve Watched in 2021: Part 2
Covid isn’t over but at least our lockdown is. I’ve been busy like crazy at work. A good thing—now I can actually look forward to my time off.
Continue readingFilms I’ve Watched in 2021: Part 1
One of the people I’ve known for many years from Toronto Film Society (TFS) was Jaan Salk. He was a board member and at one time president back when I was in my late teens. Jaan was a huge Deanna Durbin fan and began corresponding with her in the mid-70s. You can read two of her letters to Jaan here and here. Jaan passed away Monday, July 12, 2021 but left a legacy of film notes which can be found on the TFS website. This post is for him.
FILMS I WATCHED IN 2020, THE YEAR OF OUR PANDEMIC: PART 10.2















I feel optimistic that things will open up in my part of the world–unless we are told that the Delta variant is now a looming threat–and I look forward to beginning work in just under two weeks’ time. I can now fully enjoy my last week of idleness by finishing up writing about films I watched in 2020.
Continue readingFILMS I WATCHED IN 2020, THE YEAR OF OUR PANDEMIC: PART 10.1












Here where I live, we are apparently coming out of the pandemic in three steps. Friday the 11th we began Step 1. I am still not allowed to work but the goal is to begin back doing partial work when Step 2 arrives, sometime around July 5th. I want to finish writing about the films I viewed in 2020 before this momentous occasion and have divided what was left roughly in half. Here’s “.1”.
Continue readingFILMS I WATCHED IN 2020, THE YEAR OF OUR PANDEMIC: PART 9
So, it’s been close to two months since I last felt like writing. This is completely apathetic on my part since here where I live, everything pretty much has continued to be in complete lockdown and I have been unable to work for the past six months. There’s nothing much to do since the big box stores are closed unless they happen to sell food with the rest of their products roped off. If you really desire something, you can turn to online shopping. There is certainly no outside entertainment and only until recently has the weather been warm enough to start exercising outdoors. The lockdown here was supposed to end on June 2nd but again they are now extending it to June 14th. We continue to live in purgatory, or for many of us, hell.
FILMS I WATCHED IN 2020, THE YEAR OF OUR PANDEMIC: PART 8





The lockdown continues and with all the time in the world, I just couldn’t write; as of tomorrow we’re going into what is called “Emergency Brake”. Whatever.
FILMS I WATCHED IN 2020, THE YEAR OF OUR PANDEMIC: PART 7
Two days ago it was announced that we will continue in lockdown mode until, at the very least, the second week of March. This morning a friend wrote me to say that today will be the “official” announcement. Does that mean that there’s a possibility that I could be heading back to work after the weekend?! Somehow I doubt it. I know I’m not the only one in this marooned boat; I just hope you are finding some interesting things to do to keep yourself busy and somewhat sane at home.
FILMS I WATCHED IN 2020, THE YEAR OF OUR PANDEMIC: PART 6
Supposedly, there are another eight days of lockdown before I and many of my friends and colleagues can go back to work. We shall see. In the meantime, watching and writing about film keeps me busy.