Pre-Code April | 5 classics to put on your radar
by Sarah Cook | Apr 30, 2024 | Feature
The 1934 implementation of the Hays Code changed the face of Hollywood. Luckily, Sarah Cook is on hand with some scandalous pre-Code treats to enjoy...
Posts by: Sarah Cook
The incredible story of the first female director, Alice Guy-Blaché
by Sarah Cook | Apr 09, 2024 | Feature
For this week’s column, Sarah Cook dives into the story of Alice Guy-Blaché, one of the first woman directors of cinema.
Cavalcade, a Best Picture Oscar winner that hasn't aged too well
by Sarah Cook | Mar 12, 2024 | Feature
Despite winning Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director, time hasn't been too kind to the 1933 epic drama, Cavalcade. Sarah Cook looks back....
Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein | Two of the horror genre’s most durable, iconic stories
by Sarah Cook | Mar 05, 2024 | Feature
Sarah Cook looks back at two of the most celebrated horror films from the 1930s, Frankenstein and The Bride Of Frankenstein.
Romantic comedies of the 1920s | five must-see films
by Sarah Cook | Feb 20, 2024 | Feature
The 1920s wasn't short of romantic cinema - and here are five vintage films well worth seeking out from the era....
Dance, Girl, Dance | Another film classic from director Dorothy Arzner
by Sarah Cook | Feb 06, 2024 | Feature
In 1940, Dorothy Arzner directed Lucille Ball and Maureen O'Hara in the classic Dance, Girl, Dance. Sarah Cook looks back....
A League Of Her Own | A closer look at the films of Dorothy Arzner
by Sarah Cook | Jan 30, 2024 | Feature
This week, Sarah Cook takes a deeper look at the films of Dorothy Arzner - which happen to the playing at the BFI soon!
Death Takes A Holiday | A Fredric March classic
by Sarah Cook | Jan 16, 2024 | Feature
Join Sarah Cook as she takes a closer look at one of 1934’s best films, Death Takes A Holiday, starring Fredric March.
Romance, historical epics, musicals: meet the finest films of 1934
by Sarah Cook | Jan 09, 2024 | Feature
Sarah Cook returns for another look back at Hayes Code-era Hollywood. Here's a pick of some truly cracking 1934 movies....
The best Christmas films of the silent era
by Sarah Cook | Dec 19, 2023 | Feature
Christmas movies didn't start with It's A Wonderful Life - here's a smattering of silent seasonal treats you can roast a chestnut to....
Early animation didn't start with the Victorians - it's even older
by Sarah Cook | Nov 29, 2023 | Feature
As 100 years of Disney animation comes to a close, we're looking back at the origins of the medium - and they're older than you might expect......
The Crucified | why you should watch the powerful classic film
by Sarah Cook | Nov 16, 2023 | Feature
Boris Orlicky's 1921 movie The Crucified has been restored, and will be shown at this year's UK Jewish Film Festival....
The underappreciated horror films of the silent era
by Sarah Cook | Nov 07, 2023 | Feature
You might have heard of Nosferatu and The Cabinet Of Dr Caligari - but here are some silent horror films for you to discover......
Exploring Powell and Pressburger's I Know Where I'm Going!
by Sarah Cook | Oct 24, 2023 | Feature
As the BFI's Cinema Unbound season continues to shed light on the films of Powell and Pressburger, we take a closer look at I Know Where I'm Going!...
Exploring the lesser known films of Powell and Pressburger
by Sarah Cook | Oct 17, 2023 | Feature
Ahead of a BFI season dedicated to their work, we explore some of the lesser known films of directors Powell and Pressburger....
Classic movies to watch at the BFI London Film Festival
by Sarah Cook | Oct 03, 2023 | Feature
At the annual London Film Festival, the BFI screens some exciting upcoming films - but there are also some treasures from the past being shown, too....
Celebrating The House Of The Devil - the world's first horror film
by Sarah Cook | Sep 26, 2023 | Feature
In this week's old movies column, we take a look at George Méliès' The House Of The Devil - the first ever horror film. ...
The Victorian short films that were a little bit racy
by Sarah Cook | Sep 12, 2023 | Feature
The Victorians may have a reputation for being prudish, but some of their short films prove otherwise - here's a look at some saucy old shorts....
Old Movies: Dinner At Eight turns 90
by Sarah Cook | Sep 05, 2023 | Feature
George Cukor's comedy drama Dinner At Eight is 90 years old - we've been taking a look at the Pre-Code classic......
The films that inspired murder mystery novel Diary Of Murders
by Sarah Cook | Aug 22, 2023 | Feature
From the 1890s to the 2000s, Sarah Cook explores the films that inspired her new book, Diary Of Murders. T...
Celebrating the work of classical Hollywood actor Miriam Hopkins
by Sarah Cook | Aug 15, 2023 | Feature
In this week's old movies column, we take a look at the memorable on-screen roles of actor Miriam Hopkins....
Old movies: Sergei Eisenstein's Strike
by Sarah Cook | Aug 08, 2023 | Feature
As the writers and actors of Hollywood are on strike, we take a look at Sergei Eisenstein's Strike, a movie that's pro-worker and anti-capitalist. I...
The classic films that inspired Greta Gerwig's Barbie
by Sarah Cook | Jul 25, 2023 | Feature
Greta Gerwig's Barbie is taking the world by storm, so let's take a look at the classical films that inspired the summer blockbuster. T...
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and celebrating female friendship
by Sarah Cook | Jul 18, 2023 | Feature
In our old movies column, we take a look back at an iconic musical from the Golden Age of Hollywood - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes....
A celebration of classic folk horror
by Sarah Cook | Jun 27, 2023 | Feature
If the 50th anniversary of The Wicker Man has opened your eyes to folk horror, then there's a lot more out there waiting for you....
Celebrating Howard Hawks' Twentieth Century
by Sarah Cook | Jun 13, 2023 | Feature
Howard Hawks was an astoundingly talented director who worked across various genres - we celebrate one of his early films, Twentieth Century....
The classic films you should watch at the BFI Film On Film Festival
by Sarah Cook | Jun 06, 2023 | Feature
This week, the BFI is showing a selection of films on celluloid - here are the classical movies we recommend you see, and when they're screening....
Old Movies: Gold Diggers Of 1933
by Sarah Cook | May 23, 2023 | Feature
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Old Movies: 1972's pitch black comedy, The Ruling Class
by Sarah Cook | May 09, 2023 | Feature
Peter Medak's 1972 black comedy The Ruling Class isn't the most subtle film, but it's an excellent one - with Peter O'Toole on fine form....
Old movies: celebrating the work of King Vidor
by Sarah Cook | May 02, 2023 | Feature
A massively important name in early Hollywood, we take a look at some of the finest films of director King Vidor....
Old movies: The Vampire Bat - an hour of devilish mystery
by Sarah Cook | Apr 24, 2023 | Feature
In this week's old movies column, we take a look at another great Dwight Frye film - The Vampire Bat......
Old movies: how Dwight Frye gave us cinema's finest Renfield
by Sarah Cook | Apr 18, 2023 | Feature
The new Renfield field isn't short of fun, but the definitive screen portrayal of the title character dates all the way back to 1930s cinema......
