Beyond the Classics

Beyond the Classics is a recurring column in which Emily Kubincanek highlights lesser-known old movies and examines what makes them memorable.

Browse the full archive for Beyond the Classics below

The Great Italian Film That Followed the WWII Ban on Horror

'Black Sunday' is seen as the first great Italian horror film thanks to Mario Bava's innovation and additions to the… Read More

The Movie that Almost Ruined Hollywood’s Most Romanticized Marriage

Paul Newman directed his wife Joanne Woodward in her most difficult role for 'The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon… Read More

‘Mary Stevens, M.D.’ and the Approachable Modern Woman Kay Francis

Even as a professional working woman in a man's world, Kay Francis was able to be the feminine, approachable gateway… Read More

‘Targets’ Made Modern Horror More Real and More Terrifying

Peter Bogdanovich's first film (and Boris Karloff's final film) should be looked at as more than a stepping stone to… Read More

Two Silent Stars Collide in ‘Beyond the Rocks’

100 years has passed since Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino worked together, but the story of their production is still… Read More

‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ and How Rewarding Sad Christmas Movies Can Be

The best holiday movies take on the realistic struggles of our lives and turn them into heartwarming stories, including 'I'll… Read More

Once Untimely, ‘The Mortal Storm’ Proves Timeless Years Later

While critics and audiences thought it was untimely in 1940, the themes it explores have proved to be timeless as… Read More

The Suspense of Domesticity in Max Ophüls’ ‘The Reckless Moment’

This lesser-known film noir starring Joan Bennett depicts how overwhelming being a woman and a mother was during the mid-20th… Read More

‘No Way Out’ and the Best of “Social Message” Film Noir

Sidney Poitier's first big role was also the film that finally showed America just how ugly their racist ideals really… Read More