Standing - Robert Mulligan, William Wyler, George Cukor, Robert Wise, Jean-Claude Carrière and Serge Silverman. Sitting – Billy Wilder, George Stevens, Luis Buñuel, Alfred Hitchcock and Rouben Mamoulian. (Photo from 1972, posted at John Greco’s blogsite Watching Shadows on the Wall.)
Note: This is the second entry in an ongoing series of bloggers who have really made a difference, raising the bar for quality and productivity on the cultural front.
by Sam Juliano
Everyone has their own special niche. Floridian John Greco, who lived most of his life in and around New York City has amassed an enviable collection of photographs of yesteryear, when movies premiered in red-carpeted palaces, and with it an incredible memory of the times he was an active participant during cultural upheaval. At his two blogsites, the widely popular Twenty Four Frames and the newer Watching Shadows on the Wall, Greco has made film history a central focus, unearthing rare photographs (like the priceless one that heads this piece) across the entire cultural spectrum, and covering films that were released in the 60′s and 70′s, but never caught on with the public. An avid movie goer since the late 60′s, Greco continues to this very day to maintain a torrid pace at theatres for the current fare, while negotiating the DVD front for a continuing examination of classic cinema.
While Greco makes no secret that his favorite genre is “film noir” and has reviewed virtually every major entry at Twenty Four Frames, he is still as diversified as any blogger-critic out there, and his background in film is extraordinarily comprehensive. A patron of the old Video Shack and RKO Video Store on 49th Street in Manhattan, where all the action was from the mid 7o’s well in the 80′s, Greco has admitted he dropped more money than he’d like to remember in those days when Betamax tapes had better quality than their VHS counterparts, while simultaneously collecting music CDs during the glory days of rock.
Relentless almost to a fault the married Greco’s area of specialty is unquestionably film history, and his exhaustive reviews contain a lead-in which frames the work’s conception, incubation and exhibition, while almost always including it’s critical reception. The author then discusses the film’s artistry, themes, story and performances, and either some interesting anecdote or trivia related to someone in the film or behind the camera. One reading a film review by John Greco is sure to get a crash course better than any informational site, as the personalized touch here has been informed by years of experience and research, exquisite taste and a very fair consistency in asserting value judgement. Greco is not quick to kill, yet he isn’t afraid to admit when he doesn’t always following prevailing opinion as in the case with Frank Capra’s beloved Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), which he derides as “corny” or Howard Hawks’s Sergeant York a film that Greco says is “artificial in story and performance.” Yet the recently-retired former New Yorker readily admits he loves most of Capra, Hawks, and especially Billy Wilder, a director that inspired Greco to pen two of his best Twenty Four Frames reviews on Ace in the Hole and Sunset Boulevard.
While Greco isn’t the only blogger that could be described as exceedingly prolific, his activity on several fronts all at the same time is what makes his performance miraculous. Watching DVDs at home, and reviewing a large percentage at his main site, and posting some contemporary reviews at Watching Shadows, Greco still finds time to gather poster art, old photographs and recent obits, and run holiday displays and press releases of what’s happening on the movie and music scene. Greco was the first for example, to showcase a full post on the popular “Newspaper film series” now running at Manhattan’s Film Forum, and on last summer’s ‘Brit Noir Festival’ at the same location, and in a recent engaging post asked readers to identify their own favorite newspaper-themed films. Greco is from the baby-boomer era, and he’s fiercely dedicated to 60′s rock, where John Lennon (who was recently displayed in another great photograph at Watching Shadows) holds a special place in his heart along with other icons Dylan and The Doors. Like his good friend Judy, the friendly British proprietor of Movie Classics, Greco has focused his attention in recent months on a number of films unavailable on DVD or video tape, and has motivated others to seek a number of these out with his descriptive writing. He has furthermore offered his services to help some locate the films as well.
Having a blogger with an impressive foundation in film noir, and a still excellent background in almost every other genre including foreign lanaguage cinema, who still visit others’ sites each and every day is quite a special accomplishment, and John Greco has combined this ‘gift’ with one of the most enthusiastic and personable approaches out there. It’s why places like Twenty Four Frames and Watching Shadows on the Wall are daily stops for so many.
They’ll be no real retirement for John for a quite a while yet, and his readers are the biggest winners.
Thanks so much, DeeDee, for the comprehensive introduction to John’s sites. I’m really slow at discovering blogs (It is only recently that I started following Doniphon and the Olsons – neat stuff both). And I’ll be catching up with John’s site soon.
Hi! Just Another Film Buff,
Oh! no, I didn’t post this post…Sam Juliano, posted this post in his ongoing look at…“bloggers who have really made a difference, raising the bar for quality and productivity on the cultural front.”
Sam Juliano,
Thanks, for posting this it seems like a very interesting blog.
DeeDee
My Bad, real bad. Apologies, Sam and DeeDee.
I’d confused this post with your interview with DeeDee and though this was the next in THAT series. Argh!
LOL!!!!! No problem at all JAFB, we are all on the same team here. Thanks so much for the kind words and appreciation.
It’s always amazing how we all have a certain something(s) that rocks our boat.
A very nice write up from an obvious film buff to another.
Nicely done and Thanks for sharing the information!
Thanks very much Michael. Yep, John really has studied and collected with the best of them!
Few are more deserving of such a highlight than is John! He is one of the regulars of my own blog and was one of the first (along with Sam) who began visiting and commenting regularly. I visit Twenty Four Frames daily and agree that the historical context that he uses to frame all of his reviews is outstanding. John and I are kindred spirits in terms of taste, so it’s always fun to stop by Twenty Four Frames and learn something new about many of my all time favorite films.
Aye Dave. He’s relentlessly loyal in addition to all his other remarkable talents.
Much as though I’m sure John deserves the praise on a personal level, calling him a FILM HISTORIAN EXTRAORDINAIRE is ridiculous. A film historian is a specific profession, not a mere hobby. Kevin Brownlow, that’s a FILM HISTORIAN EXTRAORDINAIRE, not John. John just is a collector and, from the sounds of it, a seriously committed one who is to be applauded, but let’s get a little perspective here. No-one in the blogosphere can be given titles they haven’t earned. Not me, not Sam, not John, not anyone.
Why not just call someone Pope, Emperor or Your Excellency while you’re at it. Jeze! It’s as bad as the Oscars.
Allan, it’s always nice to have your perspective here. My goal with this particular series is to examine the work of bloggers who have tirelessly expended their time for a worthwhile cause. In this instance, like with your own countdowns, I feel John has offered the film community some instructional context, which I feel enriches the movie watching experience.
I think you and I have different ways of using words. Within the blogging fraternity, I do feel that ‘extraordinaire’ fits the particular slant that John has excelled at, and I think you misread here the intent of the title of a post, favoring instead some non-existent literal meaning. Think of newspaper mast heads. Today I am a reporter covering a special blogger. ‘Extraordinaire’ is a term of respect and affection, as well as a pointed designation of some exceedingly authoritative work. In any case I think John’s work speaks for itself, and he is well-deserving of plaudits for his long film going hobby, which has been about as long-running as my own.
A far as John being referred to as a “film historian” I thought the connotation was obvious. He is the ‘film historian’ of the blogging community, not a professional historian on the level of Kevin Brownlow, and as such I proceeded within that parameter.
Something tells me you would have had an argument regardless of the adjective or title you used. Sam…
“Why not just call someone Pope, Emperor or Your Excellency while you’re at it. Jeze! It’s as bad as the Oscars.”
If we are throwing titles around please don’t call me ‘Pope’… he’s in quite a bit of heat, rightfully so.
John’s comments have always been among the most thoughtful entered at this site. He’s another bionic man, and I applaud his many successes. Also, he obviously has a wife who shares his enthusiasm. I’m all for the term ‘extraordinaire’ too, as his notes the level he excels on.
Yes, Frank I do believe John’s wife is also a big movie fan. Great observations here.
Sam, you are way too kind and generous in your assessment though it is most appreciated. The community here at WitD has expanded my horizons greatly, as the cliché goes. A cliché it may be but it is the truth. There are so many folks here with knowledge that every visit is enlightening, and a lot of fun too.
I have discovered so many films that I was unaware of and just plain ignorant about, and additionally that there is a whole community out there who love movies as both an art and as entertainment.
I have visited many of the folks who participate here and hope to visit those I have yet to indulge in.
Thanks again for a way too kind appraisal.
As I remember you saying you wanted to become a newspaper reporter in your younger days, I can see your approach. Still, I think ‘extraordinaire’ is a splendid designation, and one that apparently Mr. Greco richly deserves.
I don’t see how all you guys find the time. Amazing.
I gave up on that aspiration Joe, a long time ago! LOL!!!
wonderful post here Sam. I am regrettably not very familiar with John Greco’s work but glad to see this appraisal of him from yourself. And is always the case with your pieces this one too displays your own remarkable generosity..
Thanks so much Kaleem for your kindness and friendship!
Wow Sam, that’s a tremendous cover on Twenty Four Frames Per Second & Watching Shadows on the Wall – two of my favourite in the blogosphere, maintained by the eminently knowledgeable and cinephiliac John Greco – also one of the nicest & most courteous persons out there. Its really been a pleasure reading the wonderful pieces that John churn out – not just on movies, but also on movie posters, music, people, and of course, New York City – a city I hope to visit sooner or later. Thanks Sam for providing us with such a marvelous & intimate appraisal of John Greco, “film historian extraordinaire”.
Shubhajit, that is a classic response by a classy person! Thank You!
JOHN GRECO has consistantly been a source of knowledge and advice here at WITD. His expertise is always growing and he, himself, never turns his back on learning. He broadens his horizons everyday and is never selfish in lending his wisdom to others. Its always nice to see him here as he always adds to a debate or discussion.
Yep, Dennis, he’s one of the best, no doubt about that.
I personally love the “as it was” perspective of many of John’s posts. As a person too young to completely get the experience of going to a film in the 60′s/70′s, John often adds that necessary information to his reviews to get those feelings across. Those old shots of NYC are pretty cool too.
Well-said Troy and thank you. It is indeed the return to the past that makes so many of John’s posts so fascinating.
John’s blogs are always great to read and I’m another one who always enjoys the historical background information to his postings, as well as all the photographs he finds to illustrate them. The only problem is that visiting 24 Frames always means adding yet more films to the list of those I need to see!
Yes, Judy, I’m afraid that is the risk we run!!! LOL!!! Lovely response here.
I just want to thank everyone for the kind words. It is being part of such a knowledgeable community, sharing thoughts, exchanging ideas and information with fellow enthusiast that make this a joy.
My gateway drug as it were to John’s blog was his fantastic retrospective on Scorsese’s MEAN STREETS. I knew right from the opening paragraph that he had that something special not in just the way he writes (which is totally engaging) but in the knowledge he conveys on the production background and his keen analysis of what makes the film work so damn well. I’ve been hooked ever since and always look forward to what he has to offer next.
Been looking at Greco’s website and I’m impressed. It’s just so neatly polished, and everything. Nice vanilla color.
Listen to me, talking about Greco’s website font instead of his reviews. LOL
P.S. The above photo is cool as beans. I had never seen it before! I always half-expected to see Hitchcock in a photo with Wilder, Mamaoulian, Wyler and Cukor, but I never knew he was in a picture with Bunuel, too. That’s one for the ages.
Was pleasantly surprised to see Robert Mulligan in the mix as well. He’s most famous for To Kill A Mockingbird, I guess, although The Other is my personal favorite.