"I grew up in the middle of the film industry in West Los Angeles. I would go to the doctor and there would be Natalie Wood in the waiting room, or Norma Shearer leaving the office after a facelift. Buddy Ebsen and Gene Barry lived on either side of us. Ricky Nelson would be at Hamburger Hamlet, Danny Kaye at Madame Wu's, and Roz Russell at Scandia."
"For an optimistic person, this is a pessimistic answer. I'm afraid movie theaters will be a thing of the past. Movies will be directed at kids and teens, and we will have to fight very hard for smart, fun, powerful films. I don't like multi-narratives that don't have a throughline to the plot. I also dislike fast editing and the refusal to let a scene breathe."
Jan Wahl grew up in West Los Angeles surrounded by film industry figures and absorbed classic Hollywood through family viewing. Classic stars inspired aspirations toward strength, sensuality, and dance. Wahl built a career engaging with many actors and industry professionals, encountering both admired talents and difficult personalities. Wahl expresses concern about the future of movie theaters and the direction of modern cinema, criticizing multi-narratives without throughlines, rapid editing, and the refusal to let scenes breathe. Wahl found little of value in 2025 releases but recommends Song Sung Blue.
Read at San Francisco Bay Times
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