Contributions from Stephen Puddicombe | Little White Lies

Contributor Stephen Puddicombe

Two women with elaborately styled hair and dramatic make-up, standing behind teal and gold patterned curtains.
In Praise Of

The infamous, irresistible story of Hollywood’s most bitter feud

by Stephen Puddicombe

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford’s anti-chem­istry is pal­pa­ble in What Ever Hap­pened to Baby Jane? from 1962.
Portrait of a man with dark hair and a serious expression, wearing a checked jacket.
In Praise Of

How Howard Hawks’ Scarface inspired Martin Scorsese

by Stephen Puddicombe

This 1930s gang­ster clas­sic set the blue­print for films like Good­fel­las and The Departed.
Black and white image of a man and woman conversing in a festive setting, with decorative lights visible in the background.
In Praise Of

Why The Shop Around the Corner is a true Christmas miracle

by Stephen Puddicombe

Sick of rewatch­ing It’s a Won­der­ful Life? Seek out the oth­er hol­i­day-themed James Stew­art classic.
A black and white image of a shirtless, muscular man in boxing gloves, with a determined facial expression.
In Praise Of

Kirk Douglas at 100 – In praise of his knockout turn in Champion

by Stephen Puddicombe

As the act­ing icon cel­e­brates his cen­te­nary, we reflect on one of his great­est performances.
A black and white portrait of a young person with short, wavy hair wearing a furry coat and looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.
In Praise Of

50 years on, Ken Loach’s Cathy Come Home is as powerful as ever

by Stephen Puddicombe

This 1966 TV play on a young woman’s descent into home­less­ness has lost none of its impact.
Graphic image of a severely injured and bloodied person.
In Praise Of

Why Braindead remains the pinnacle of grisly practical effects

by Stephen Puddicombe

In 1992 a young Peter Jack­son cre­at­ed one of hor­ror cinema’s most grue­some and endur­ing splatterfests.
Individual looking through a camera against a mountainous landscape in black and white.
In Praise Of

In praise of Persona – Ingmar Bergman’s minimalist masterpiece

by Stephen Puddicombe

Fifty years on, this low-key dra­ma stands as a glo­ri­ous shrine to ana­logue film.
Close-up of a man's face with intense, focused expression, surrounded by futuristic technological elements.
In Praise Of

Why Westworld remains the ultimate genre mash-up

by Stephen Puddicombe

The Yul Bryn­ner-star­ring orig­i­nal from 1973 expert­ly fus­es futur­is­tic sci­ence fic­tion and clas­sic west­ern tropes.
A woman in a sparkling black outfit stands before a grand piano, with a man playing the piano behind her.
In Praise Of

The seductive, subversive sound of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet

by Stephen Puddicombe

Explor­ing the director’s use and manip­u­la­tion of music in his 30-year-old masterpiece.
A person in a red shirt lying on a patterned rug, looking pensive and smoking a cigarette.
If You Like...

Beyond Pedro – seven great Spanish films you need to see

by Stephen Puddicombe

Before you see Almodóvar’s lat­est seek out these less­er seen Span­ish gems.