TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

Labor Day, a national holiday celebrated on the first Monday of September, honors the contributions of American workers and their relentless fight for fair labor practices. While it's a day often associated with barbecues, parades, and the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day's roots are steeped in the labor movement's history—a history marked by both progress and setbacks. One film in our library that captures the harsh realities workers have faced is the 1993 made-for-TV movie For Their Own Good , directed by Ed Kaplan. For Their Own Good tells the harrowing story of Sally Wheeler, a factory worker at the crossroads of personal freedom and economic survival. Set in a small-town factory, Sally and her fellow female workers are given an unimaginable ultimatum: agree to be sterilized or lose their jobs. The film is based on true events , reflecting a dark chapter in labor history where workers, particularly women, were subjected to coercive practices under the guise of ...

As the summer box office season of 2024 comes to a close, the film industry is emerging stronger and more resilient than it was just a few months ago. Alien: Romulus , directed by Fede Álvarez, is leading this comeback , a film that has not only breathed new life into a classic franchise but also brings some hope to an industry that’s been through the wringer . After a period of uncertainty and a string of lackluster releases, Alien: Romulus has electrified the box office, proving that the allure of the big screen is far from fading. Alien: Romulus has done more than just revive the iconic sci-fi horror series—it has blown expectations out of the water. With a domestic opening weekend haul of $45.1 million, the film didn’t just meet its projected debut numbers in the high $20 million range; it nearly doubled them . This stellar performance marks the second-best opening for the Alien franchise, only surpassed by the inflation-adjusted numbers of James Cameron’s Aliens . The film'...

(Photo: Ezra Shaw - Getty Images) Dance is a universal human activity that crosses cultures, periods, and societies. Humans dance for many reasons, such as social bonding, a form of expression, and innate human instinct . Scientists believe the urge to move to a rhythm is as essential to human biology as breathing.  Now, just because everyone can dance doesn’t mean everyone is *good* at it. Some people take their dance skills to the next level, turning it into a full-blown art form or sport. Think ballet, figure skating, gymnastics, and, of course, breakdancing. These aren’t your average wedding reception moves—these disciplines take years of training, a ton of discipline, and a little magic to master. Take ballet, for example. You don’t just wake up one day and decide to be a prima ballerina. It takes years of training to get those elegant moves just right. Then there’s figure skating and gymnastics, where athletes turn jumps, spins, and flips into smooth, dance-like routines. And...