The Second Van Johnson Blogathon is here!

It's that time again! For the next three days, I'll be hosting the Second Van Johnson Blogathon, which is my minor way of saying thanks to Van for being such a delightful part of my life as a classic film fan. I can say without hesitation that Van is one of my very favorite actors, and I'm thrilled that so many bloggers have decided to join this event to help celebrate the man and his 102nd birthday.

To the entries!

I start things off with Van Johnson: A Tribute.

The Midnite Drive-In reviews one of Van's most critically-lauded films, Battleground (1949).

Realweegiemidget Reviews finds Van wonderful in Divorce American Style (1967).

Caftan Woman discusses one of Van's early TV roles with the Zane Grey Theater episode "Deadfall."

Dubsism stops by with his feature Sports Analogies Hidden in Classic Movies: The Caine Mutiny.

Champagne for Lunch gives us a double dose of Van with his work in Scene of the Crime (1949) and The Big Hangover (1950).

MovieRob's first entry looks at Van as President Garfield in The Price of Power (1969).

Old Hollywood Films discusses Van's hilarious, villainous turn as the Minstrel on Batman.

Back to Golden Days explores the magnificent teaming of Van and June Allyson.

MovieRob returns with a review of the western The Siege at Red River (1954).

Critica Retro writes about one of Van's lesser-known films, Wives and Lovers (1963).

Musings of a Classic Film Addict brings to the party one of the most important films in Van's career, A Guy Named Joe (1943).

For his last entry, MovieRob writes about Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944), another war film Van made with Spencer Tracy.

Retro Movie Buff brings the romance with Miracle in the Rain (1956).

Movies Meet Their Match delivers the blogathon's grand finale with Brigadoon (1954).


Thank you to all of the participants and readers!

P.S. Shameless self-promotion: in case you hadn't heard, I'll be hosting another birthday blogathon in October for the fabulous Ms. Rita Hayworth, who would have been 100! You can click here for the details.

P.S.S. Check back here on the 28th... there might be a fun new event that I just might be co-hosting with In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood...

Comments

  1. Realweegiemidget ReviewsAugust 24, 2018 at 1:50 PM

    Hi Michaela! I loved this film and loved Van as Big Al - as a Van film fan what do you recommend next... btw talking Johnson not Van Dyke! https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/2018/08/24/film-divorce-american-style-1967/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MichaelaAugust 24, 2018 at 2:43 PM

      Ooooh, there are so many goodies! I personally adore his films with Esther Williams -- they're a lot of silly fun. In the Good Old Summertime with Judy Garland is great, too. If you want something more serious, his work in A Guy Named Joe and The Caine Mutiny is quite popular. I'm also partial to the Civil War drama The Romance of Rosy Ridge, which was Janet Leigh's film debut.

      Delete
    2. Realweegiemidget ReviewsAugust 24, 2018 at 3:55 PM

      Thanks! And thanks for such a fun blogathon wouldn't have discovered this film otherwise!

      Delete
    3. MichaelaAugust 25, 2018 at 1:44 PM

      You're very welcome!

      By the way, I'll be announcing another blogathon on the 28th that I think you'd enjoy... :)

      Delete
    4. Realweegiemidget ReviewsAugust 27, 2018 at 9:07 AM

      OOH! Sounds intriguing.... expect lots of hits from Finland til you publish it!!! (I will try to stick to my original choice this time round... but how hard will that be??)

      Delete
  2. Caftan WomanAugust 24, 2018 at 2:07 PM

    Here's an early TV role: http://www.caftanwoman.com/2018/08/the-second-van-johnson-blogathon-zane.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. J-DubAugust 25, 2018 at 7:02 AM

    ...And the sports guy weighs in...
    https://dubsism.com/2018/06/27/sports-analogies-hidden-in-classic-movies-episode-17-the-caine-mutiny/

    ReplyDelete
  4. SimoaAugust 25, 2018 at 10:56 AM

    Happy Van day! Here's my post: https://champagneforlunch.wordpress.com/2018/08/25/vans-two-sides-scene-of-the-crime-1949-and-the-big-hangover-1950/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MichaelaAugust 25, 2018 at 11:25 AM

      Happy Van day, indeed! Looking forward to reading your post!

      Delete
  5. Amanda GarrettAugust 25, 2018 at 3:16 PM

    Here's my article about Van's Batman appearance for Old Hollywood Films

    http://www.oldhollywoodfilms.com/2018/08/batman-villains-van-johnson-as-minstrel.html

    Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  6. CátiaAugust 25, 2018 at 4:48 PM

    Hi, Michaela! My entry is now up: http://back-to-golden-days.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-second-van-johnson-blogathon.html

    Thanks for hosting. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. LêAugust 25, 2018 at 8:21 PM

    Here it is, Wives and Lovers:
    http://criticaretro.blogspot.com/2018/08/esposas-e-amantes-1963-wives-and-lovers.html
    Kisses!
    Le

    ReplyDelete
  8. Samantha EllisAugust 26, 2018 at 3:30 PM

    Here's my post on A Guy Named Joe! Thank you so much for hosting, and I hope we can celebrate Van's birthday again next year!

    https://musingsofaclassicfilmaddict.wordpress.com/2018/08/26/the-second-annual-van-johnson-blogathon-a-guy-named-joe-1943/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MichaelaAugust 26, 2018 at 4:11 PM

      Thanks! And you can definitely count on Van being celebrated again next year! :)

      Delete
  9. retromoviebuffAugust 27, 2018 at 1:12 AM

    Hello Michaela, my post is up at last: http://www.retromoviebuff.com/everyday-wonders-miracle-rain-1956/ Sorry it's late and thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Chloe the MovieCriticSeptember 1, 2018 at 6:37 PM

    I am so, so, sorry this is late! I don't know what is wrong with me.
    http://moviesmeetmatch.blogspot.com/2018/08/movie-review-brigadoon-1954.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MichaelaSeptember 1, 2018 at 7:19 PM

      Oh, wonderful! Glad you were still able to participate!

      Delete

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