TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

The day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of Christmas and Holiday movie marathons . Holiday films are an integral part of Christmas; they help set the tone for the holidays, foster community, and provide humor, warmth, and comfort during these cold winter months. Over the years, we have seen quite a transformation in holiday films, from the first-holiday film, a silent British film titled Santa Claus (1898) , directed by George Albert Smith, to the action-packed Violent Night (2022) that reimagines Santa Claus as a gritty, action-hero protector, holiday films are ever-evolving. Over the years, Christmas movies have seen significant changes , so let’s take a moment to explore how the genre has evolved. The wholesome, timeless classics like the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol , known as Scrooge , and 1994’s Miracle on 34th Street , reinforced belief in the spirit of Christmas, Santa, and magic, the importance of kindness and community. These films have become cherished traditi...

The shortest day of the year is just around the corner—Thursday, December 21st! That's right, it's the winter solstice ! As the world braces itself for the longest night, why not make it extra special by cozying up with films that capture the essence of Christmas and Winter? And we've got just the movie to kick off your solstice movie marathon: Unlikely Angel , a 1996 film directed by Michael Switzer, featuring none other than the legendary Dolly Parton as well as Roddy McDowal l.  In the heartwarming world of Unlikely Angel , lounge singer Ruby Diamond, played by Parton, meets her untimely death due to being killed in a car crash, only to discover that her entry into heaven relies on her doing one selfless act on back on Earth. She is denied entrance into Heaven by St. Peter because of the selfish way in which she had lived her life. For penance, she must reunite a family by finding a mother for two children and their widowed father. This leads to hilarious misunderst...

TheArchive wishes some of our favorites a big happy birthday today, January 20th! Musician Paul Stanley turns 70 and we have a couple flicks to make you "shout it out loud."   Turn It Up! A Celebration of the Electric Guitar  features interviews and performances by B.B. King, Slash, Les Paul, Robby Krieger, birthday boy Paul Stanley, Nancy Wilson, and many more. Hosted by Kevin Bacon. In 1999, Kiss participated in one of the earliest concerts to be streamed on the Internet. Unfortunately, as Kiss was about to perform, the servers crashed and over a billion people missed out! So if you missed it, we got it right here ! Also celebrating today is Lorenzo Lamas. Check him out in these two: In  American Beach House , six lucky strangers receive an all-expense paid trip to an amazing beach house. But once they arrive, the winners soon discover they must share it with each other. Hilarity ensues in this Mischa Barton and Lorenzo Lamas two-hander.  In  Bounty Trac...