TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

Each holiday season we dig deep into TheArchive  to provide something nostalgic that brings back that festive feeling. This year, for each day of Christmas, we're giving you another reason to watch.  So grab a comfy place to relax, curl up with some cocoa and popcorn (or just a splash of eggnog) because we've got 12 streaming stocking stuffers waiting to be unwrapped.  What better way to start than the antithesis of current release, Violent Night.  In  MY SANTA, MY DAD,  Gordon Covington's job keeps him from numerous family obligations. When he misses Christmas with his wife and kids, a grievous situation leads to his transformation into Santa Claus himself. You can see how one may confuse the two.... Next up is a "Soviet-based film" to celebrate the recent release of Brittney Griner. CANDLES IN THE DARK features Alyssa Milano, Chad Lowe, and Max Schell. Set in Soviet-occupied Estonia, a beautiful young American falls in love with a handsome rebel leader. She bec

This weekend Disney+ releases Pinocchio in what may be their worst reviewed film in years - at least for their animation to live action remakes. While this weeks' reviews of Robert Zemeckis' Pinocchio definitely set Guillermo Del Toro up for rousing success later this year with his highly stylized, no doubt brilliant "story of a wooden boy you've never heard before," we too have one you've never seen. In fact like this fall's dueling Pinocchios, we also have two. And that's the truth. Let's start with Welcome Back Pinocchio which is a charming Italian produced spectacl e boasting all the classic tropes yet it brings its own sense of wonder and departure from the original 1940 Disney classic. As the story goes, Pinocchio is now a young lad staying out of trouble for fear of being turned back into a piece of wood. But when he gets off track and manipulated into stealing, Pinocchio must learn the hard lessons that enable him to become a human once m

This post was originally published on (2/15/21) and updated on (2/21/22) . On the eve of some unpredictable tensions across the world, this President’s day TheArchive honors the Presidents who have led our country through conflict. Some have guided us past it while others caused it.   Either way, it’s challenging at the top, especially as we see President Biden navigate some very provocative leadership moments this week.  These stories of leadership have carved their way into our zeitgeist as they help to inform how our future can and may be shaped. In Ronald Reagan, The Hollywood Years, and Ronald Reagan, the Presidential Years , we track Reagan’s rise to power and his brush with the kind of conflict he could rise above. From that iconic moment on stage with Goldwater in 1964, to his governorship shortly thereafter, to his presidency, Reagan is celebrated as one of the most popular presidents of our time. But we also learn that the Iran-Contra affair certainly led to some unseen co

This Black History Month we are leaning in to the culture creators, barrier breakers, and milestone makers who have changed our world.  From Muhammad Ali to Natalie Cole, Dorothy Dandridge to Jimi Hendrix, MLK to Harriet Tubman, TheArchive  features some of the world's greatest and most inspiring luminaries and leaders of any time or place. Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty . A biography of the pioneering performer Dorothy Dandridge, featuring decades of archival footage. Jimi Hendrix: The Uncut Story . From his upbringing in Seattle to his final days in London, this series explores the complex life-story behind the legendary artist Jimi Hendrix.  Muhammad Ali: The Greatest . Spanning his early years to his triumph at the 1966 Olympics, take a rare look at one of the world's most endearing heroes. Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story .  Follow Natalie Cole and the legacy of her father the late great Nat King Cole whose absence fueled her triumph over drug addiction,

Christmas movies have that timeless nostalgia that keeps us coming back for more. It's hard to find ones you have not seen so  this holiday season we decided to curate a list of ten old school classics you can only stream on  TheArchive . Hopefully you will keep coming back for more! Let's start with our favorite.... CHARLES DICKENS A CHRISTMAS CAROL : How do we not start with the best? Does this one really need explaining? Grab a kid, hopefully your own, and enjoy a journey through time that will take you back. THE CHRISTMAS STALLION : Horses. Snow. Sad. It's the joys of the holidays. When Gwen’s grandfather dies, he leaves her the farm and horses that they’ve raised together, but places her under the legal care of her uncle. When a greedy land developer pesters the family, a decision regarding whether to sell the farm rests solely on her uncle’s shoulders. SPEND THE HOLIDAYS WITH LIBERACE : This one's a serious throw back and oozes nostalgia thicker than the Macassar

As we gear up for the holidays we wanted to share two family stories worth streaming. So grab some hot cocoa, curl up on the couch with your loved ones, and start with Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story . Follow Natalie Cole and the  legacy of her father the late great Nat King Cole whose absence fueled her triumph over drug addiction, paved a path to resilience, and the duet that reignited a remarkable comeback. The legendary Robert Townsend directed the true story. In Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge , Ashley Judd, narrates the true story of the illustrious Judd family. Starting with Naomi's struggles as a single mother in 1960s in Kentucky, we follow the trio of Judds as they fight to achieve their dreams. Along the path to musical stardom for Naomi and Wynona, they're faced with struggles and familial tensions all the while tracking Ashley's battles with isolation and loneliness, feeling like an outsider. The family drama stars Kathleen York, Viveka