Anne Billson
@annebillson.bsky.social
Auteur en filmcriticus, screenwriter, vertaler, fotograaf, evil feminist, wicked spinster, international cat-sitter. Likes frites, beer & chocolade. The Low Countries.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Michael Curtiz's "Captain Blood" 4K UHD - Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Lionel Atwill, Basil Rathbone @Criterion
4K UHD US: amzn.to/4alfPKZ
4K UHD UK: amzn.to/47zaMGy
US Blu-ray: amzn.to/4aDJWym
BONUS CAPTURES:
www.patreon.com/posts/michae...
OUR COMPARISON:
www.dvdbeaver.com/subsite/film...
4K UHD US: amzn.to/4alfPKZ
4K UHD UK: amzn.to/47zaMGy
US Blu-ray: amzn.to/4aDJWym
BONUS CAPTURES:
www.patreon.com/posts/michae...
OUR COMPARISON:
www.dvdbeaver.com/subsite/film...
February 9, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Michael Curtiz's "Captain Blood" 4K UHD - Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Lionel Atwill, Basil Rathbone @Criterion
4K UHD US: amzn.to/4alfPKZ
4K UHD UK: amzn.to/47zaMGy
US Blu-ray: amzn.to/4aDJWym
BONUS CAPTURES:
www.patreon.com/posts/michae...
OUR COMPARISON:
www.dvdbeaver.com/subsite/film...
4K UHD US: amzn.to/4alfPKZ
4K UHD UK: amzn.to/47zaMGy
US Blu-ray: amzn.to/4aDJWym
BONUS CAPTURES:
www.patreon.com/posts/michae...
OUR COMPARISON:
www.dvdbeaver.com/subsite/film...
Reposted by Anne Billson
Watching My Cousin Vinny, for reasons. Oh my god…Marisa Tomei. Joe Pesci and Fred Gwynne knocking it out of the park and she steals every scene she’s in.
February 9, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Watching My Cousin Vinny, for reasons. Oh my god…Marisa Tomei. Joe Pesci and Fred Gwynne knocking it out of the park and she steals every scene she’s in.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Props to Laura Dern, who I think took more movies from the closet than pretty much everyone who has visited.
February 9, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Props to Laura Dern, who I think took more movies from the closet than pretty much everyone who has visited.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Amazing!
The Academy Theater
Inglewood, California
1939
The theater was designed by architect S. Charles Lee in the Streamline Moderne style.
It opened November 7, 1939, and was intended to house the Academy Awards, though it never did.
#academytheater #streamlinemoderne #inglewood #california #artdeco
Inglewood, California
1939
The theater was designed by architect S. Charles Lee in the Streamline Moderne style.
It opened November 7, 1939, and was intended to house the Academy Awards, though it never did.
#academytheater #streamlinemoderne #inglewood #california #artdeco
February 9, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Amazing!
Reposted by Anne Billson
If they can do this to find a dog, they can do this to find anyone. That’s terrifying.
February 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
If they can do this to find a dog, they can do this to find anyone. That’s terrifying.
Reposted by Anne Billson
"Better [this] than another politely reverent variation on Sunday-evening telly."
I got on all right with "WUTHERING HEIGHTS".
‘Wuthering Heights’ review: Less 120 Days of Sodom, more Carry on Heathcliff
www.irishtimes.com/culture/film...
I got on all right with "WUTHERING HEIGHTS".
‘Wuthering Heights’ review: Less 120 Days of Sodom, more Carry on Heathcliff
www.irishtimes.com/culture/film...
‘Wuthering Heights’ review: Less 120 Days of Sodom, more Carry on Heathcliff
The Irish actor Alison Oliver shines in a film that can’t shake off the problem with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as Cathy and Heathcliff
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:15 PM
"Better [this] than another politely reverent variation on Sunday-evening telly."
I got on all right with "WUTHERING HEIGHTS".
‘Wuthering Heights’ review: Less 120 Days of Sodom, more Carry on Heathcliff
www.irishtimes.com/culture/film...
I got on all right with "WUTHERING HEIGHTS".
‘Wuthering Heights’ review: Less 120 Days of Sodom, more Carry on Heathcliff
www.irishtimes.com/culture/film...
Reposted by Anne Billson
I will go to my GRAVE cackling over this Marlon Brando anecdote
Please engrave it on my tombstone
Please engrave it on my tombstone
February 9, 2026 at 2:07 PM
I will go to my GRAVE cackling over this Marlon Brando anecdote
Please engrave it on my tombstone
Please engrave it on my tombstone
Reposted by Anne Billson
I began to write LOSS PROTOCOL in 2023, and here at last is a box of copies of the finished book. Published, in the UK, on February 12th.
February 9, 2026 at 4:29 PM
I began to write LOSS PROTOCOL in 2023, and here at last is a box of copies of the finished book. Published, in the UK, on February 12th.
Reposted by Anne Billson
New blog post: Maurice Leloir's Three Musketeers
Maurice Leloir’s Three Musketeers
Just after Christmas I watched the recent French film adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo, after which I resolved to finally read The Three Musketeers, something I'd been intending to do since reading The Count of Monte Cristo four years ago. I'm currently two thirds of the way through The Three Musketeers and enjoying it very much despite the familiarity of the story.
www.johncoulthart.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:30 PM
New blog post: Maurice Leloir's Three Musketeers
Reposted by Anne Billson
I'm a sucker for a low key, down-to-earth crime movie, so I really liked Kelly Reichardt's THE MASTERMIND, about a not particularly impressive art heist.
The Mastermind | VERN'S REVIEWS on the FILMS of CINEMA
Kelly Reichardt’s THE MASTERMIND is in a niche that really appeals to me: the unglamorous crime tale. It’s about an art heist, but there are zero
outlawvern.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:16 PM
I'm a sucker for a low key, down-to-earth crime movie, so I really liked Kelly Reichardt's THE MASTERMIND, about a not particularly impressive art heist.
It's black!
The black one is the blue one www.bbc.co.uk/news/educati...
Is the new passport really blue or black?
The new UK blue passport is as
www.bbc.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
It's black!
Also, my news UK passport is black. I thought the whole point of Brexit* was a return to navy blue passports. But now I have one maroon passport and one black one, which I guess makes it less likely I'll get them confused (always a concern at my age) */s
Just received my new UK passport. I often wonder what the point is of signing for a package when you have to scrawl on their app with your finger so your signature ends up looking as though a cat walked across the screen. I mean, your CAT could sign for it and no one would ever know the difference.
February 9, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Also, my news UK passport is black. I thought the whole point of Brexit* was a return to navy blue passports. But now I have one maroon passport and one black one, which I guess makes it less likely I'll get them confused (always a concern at my age) */s
Reposted by Anne Billson
Me, trying to work.
Daphne: No.
Daphne: No.
February 9, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Me, trying to work.
Daphne: No.
Daphne: No.
Reposted by Anne Billson
The amazing & slightly manic Wollaton Hall in Nottinghamshire. Built for Sir Francis Willoughby in the 1580s, painted in 1697 by Jan Siberechts of Antwerp. Today is his day.
February 9, 2026 at 1:45 PM
The amazing & slightly manic Wollaton Hall in Nottinghamshire. Built for Sir Francis Willoughby in the 1580s, painted in 1697 by Jan Siberechts of Antwerp. Today is his day.
Fucking accounting software supposed to save me work? In practice just means I have to write out THREE invoices: once in software for records, but b/c that's in Dutch I can't send it to UK-based companies so have to do it again in docx before converting THAT to PDF because I can't edit in adobe FFS.
February 9, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Fucking accounting software supposed to save me work? In practice just means I have to write out THREE invoices: once in software for records, but b/c that's in Dutch I can't send it to UK-based companies so have to do it again in docx before converting THAT to PDF because I can't edit in adobe FFS.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Its reputation as a Big Fat Book you read to show off, or as an endurance test, does it no favours. It is, as Helen suggests, wonderful.
I'm up to page 252 of WAR AND PEACE (I'm supposed to be doing a chapter a day throughout the year but I'm a bit ahead because I can't always take it away with me when I go). I suppose trillions of readers have expressed this before me, but it's brilliant, isn't it?
February 8, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Its reputation as a Big Fat Book you read to show off, or as an endurance test, does it no favours. It is, as Helen suggests, wonderful.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Son of Mik was temporarily VERY excited about the idea of going to see the new family movie Kangaroo but only because he thought it was going to be an animal attack movie following the same naming convention as Alligator and Grizzly.
There is clearly a gap in the market for a Murder Roo movie.
There is clearly a gap in the market for a Murder Roo movie.
February 9, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Son of Mik was temporarily VERY excited about the idea of going to see the new family movie Kangaroo but only because he thought it was going to be an animal attack movie following the same naming convention as Alligator and Grizzly.
There is clearly a gap in the market for a Murder Roo movie.
There is clearly a gap in the market for a Murder Roo movie.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Today's artist without a known birthday: Jan Siberechts of Antwerp, who moved to England & painted its houses & landscapes. Here, rainbow at Henley-on-Thames, 1690.
February 9, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Today's artist without a known birthday: Jan Siberechts of Antwerp, who moved to England & painted its houses & landscapes. Here, rainbow at Henley-on-Thames, 1690.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Reposted by Anne Billson
Reposted by Anne Billson
A bit of colour for Monday morning, at least it’s stopped raining for all of five minutes. Carnelian bead found on the Thames Foreshore while mudlarking last week, probably lost from a necklace. Looks like it has a bit of age to it, carnelian is associated with motivation, courage and creativity.
February 9, 2026 at 8:48 AM
A bit of colour for Monday morning, at least it’s stopped raining for all of five minutes. Carnelian bead found on the Thames Foreshore while mudlarking last week, probably lost from a necklace. Looks like it has a bit of age to it, carnelian is associated with motivation, courage and creativity.
Reposted by Anne Billson
In a moment of whimsy I drew a cock & balls on the data pad of the friendly FexEx guy who delivers to us most days - he didn't even blink.
He did tap my surname in though.
He did tap my surname in though.
February 9, 2026 at 9:37 AM
In a moment of whimsy I drew a cock & balls on the data pad of the friendly FexEx guy who delivers to us most days - he didn't even blink.
He did tap my surname in though.
He did tap my surname in though.
Just received my new UK passport. I often wonder what the point is of signing for a package when you have to scrawl on their app with your finger so your signature ends up looking as though a cat walked across the screen. I mean, your CAT could sign for it and no one would ever know the difference.
February 9, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Just received my new UK passport. I often wonder what the point is of signing for a package when you have to scrawl on their app with your finger so your signature ends up looking as though a cat walked across the screen. I mean, your CAT could sign for it and no one would ever know the difference.
Reposted by Anne Billson
THE HALF MAN (kindle or paperback)
"a gloriously OTT occult comedy-thriller that has echoes of films like 'The Old Dark House'. Bloody entertaining fun."
"Great fun - a mix of Dennis Wheatley and Sam Raimi"
"it’s an absolute ‘blast’!"
"a gloriously OTT occult comedy-thriller that has echoes of films like 'The Old Dark House'. Bloody entertaining fun."
"Great fun - a mix of Dennis Wheatley and Sam Raimi"
"it’s an absolute ‘blast’!"
The Half Man
Buy The Half Man by Billson, Anne (ISBN: 9781718632936) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 12:43 PM
THE HALF MAN (kindle or paperback)
"a gloriously OTT occult comedy-thriller that has echoes of films like 'The Old Dark House'. Bloody entertaining fun."
"Great fun - a mix of Dennis Wheatley and Sam Raimi"
"it’s an absolute ‘blast’!"
"a gloriously OTT occult comedy-thriller that has echoes of films like 'The Old Dark House'. Bloody entertaining fun."
"Great fun - a mix of Dennis Wheatley and Sam Raimi"
"it’s an absolute ‘blast’!"
Reposted by Anne Billson
CATS ON FILM (kindle or paperback)
"the perfect book for cat lovers"
"Bonus: includes My Day by Jones, AKA Alien from the cat's PoV"
"one of the finest pieces of specialist film scholarship published in recent years”
"possibly the greatest book ever"
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1978038747
"the perfect book for cat lovers"
"Bonus: includes My Day by Jones, AKA Alien from the cat's PoV"
"one of the finest pieces of specialist film scholarship published in recent years”
"possibly the greatest book ever"
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1978038747
February 6, 2026 at 10:57 AM
CATS ON FILM (kindle or paperback)
"the perfect book for cat lovers"
"Bonus: includes My Day by Jones, AKA Alien from the cat's PoV"
"one of the finest pieces of specialist film scholarship published in recent years”
"possibly the greatest book ever"
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1978038747
"the perfect book for cat lovers"
"Bonus: includes My Day by Jones, AKA Alien from the cat's PoV"
"one of the finest pieces of specialist film scholarship published in recent years”
"possibly the greatest book ever"
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1978038747