Alex Summers articles

1994 was an excellent year for film. A range of outstanding theatrical creations, varying genres, splendid characters, interesting plotlines; it had it all. So, which movies made it great? Let's see.

For a brutally brief period, Olive Thomas was the sweetheart of the silver screen. Yet behind her pert image lay a wild, uncontrollable past—from the lows of her humble beginnings to the highs of her scandalous stardom. Throughout it all, the actress’s life careened toward a death that would shock the nation. When Olive Thomas met her tragic end, Old Hollywood lost its innocence.

Ray Walston had one of the most eclectic—and accomplished—acting careers in Hollywood.

Wham!’s historic 1985 China tour made pop culture history, but strict policing, tense crowds, a terrifying flight, and documentary turmoil nearly turned their groundbreaking triumph into a major publicity disaster.

While his name may conjure up visions of a favorite family meal, the reality of being Meat Loaf was not always so easy to swallow. He was an incredibly troubled star who lived with a moniker that was a constant reminder of cruel taunts from school chums and from a dad who tragically tried to end his son’s life. But Meat Loaf poured all his childhood trauma into explosive tunes that were as operatic as they were Rock & Roll. But then one day he faced a challenge he could not have seen coming.

Most of us think of 50s sitcoms as hopelessly old-fashioned—but some were surprisingly ahead of their time.

When Hollywood finally discovered Slim Pickens, he didn't have to learn how to play a cowboy. He already was one.

The 2000s gave us some enormous albums, but that also meant plenty of great records got pushed to the sidelines. From forgotten pop experiments to ambitious rock records, these albums deserve another listen.

Anne Rice’s novels have inspired a surprisingly varied screen history, including gothic vampire blockbusters, historical drama, racy comedy, biblical filmmaking, and a growing television universe. Her most famous creations are Louis and Lestat from The Vampire Chronicles, but Hollywood has also adapted books such as The Feast of All Saints, Exit to Eden, and Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt.