On a Smith's Wall

Thanks, Smith, for fanning Can't Live Without 'Em. It certainly shows that at this time in my life, I have totally abandoned any attempt at objectivity where art is concerned. You're absolutely right about DeLillo. Though he and his generation of writers grew up worshipping Hemingway and Faulkner, they have all been influenced in different ways by the movies. Ii's been a long time since I have seen any Mamoulian, including City Streets, and it may be time for me to take another look at his work. This would not be too difficult, since he made so few films. My general impression of his films has been that they tend to be somewhat self-conscious, thus my favorites have always been Blpod and Sand and The Mark of Zorro, though he also brought out more in Miriam Hopkins than any other director, except Lubitsch who realized how funny she could be. Have you seen other Mamoulians?