Episode 228 - Bicycle Thieves
“Bicycle Thieves” also known as “Bicycle Thief” 1948 is an Italian drama that presents a Rome family struggling with unemployment, poverty, and the aftermath of World War II. This film is unforgettable.
Read MoreEpisode 227 - Double Feature: Time After Time & Somewhere In Time
Our podcast covers two excellent time travel movies. “Time After Time” 1979 from Director Nicholas Meyer transports us to H.G. Wells and his search for Doctor John Leslie Stevenson known as Jack-the-Ripper. “Somewhere in Time” 1980 by Director Jeannot Szwarc is the timeless love story between Elise Mckenna and Richard Collier.
Read MoreEpisode 221 - Cry, the Beloved Country
“Cry, the Beloved Country” 1951 is based on Alan Paton’s 1948 novel depicting several aspects of Apartheid in South Africa.
Read MoreEpisode 220 - King Solomon's Mines
“King Solomon’s Mines” 1951 is the second film version depicting the danger and romance facing a group as they search for a missing husband and lost treasure in Africa in 1897.
Read MoreEpisode 212 - Paint Your Wagon
“Paint Your Wagon” 1969 is a western – musical film. Director Joshua Logan faced multiple challenges including remote locations, cast members with differing ideas and styles, a ballooning budget, and studio anxieties.
Read MoreEpisode 211 - Calamity Jane
“Calamity Jane” 1953 is a fanciful western, musical, and comedy involving the lives of Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok and many others in and around Deadwood, Dakota Territory. Director David Butler corrals together quite a group of characters for this light-hearted romp through the make-believe west with many fun songs.
Read MoreEpisode 210 - Hondo
"Hondo" 1953 is a 3D western directed by John Farrow with John Ford directing the final scenes because Mr. Farrow had to leave to complete another film.
Read MoreEpisode 208 - Paths Of Glory
"Paths of Glory" 1957 is a World War I drama that somewhat reflects the Souain Corporals affair a true story of four French soldiers executed in 1915 for failure to follow orders.
Read MoreEpisode 201 - Jules and Jim
"Jules and Jim" 1962 is the French film of a romantic love triangle set before, during and after World War I. Director Francois Truffaut also co-wrote and produced the film. The basis for the movie is Henri-Pierre Roché's 1953 book about his and another man's love and involvement with a free-spirited woman.
Read MoreEpisode 198 - The Mark Of Zorro
"The Mark of Zorro" is a 1940 film based on The Curse of Capistrano written in 1919 by Johnston McCulley. This film is the wrap-up in our tribute to Basil Rathbone. The film follows on the success of the 1920 silent movie "The Mark of Zorro" starring Douglas Fairbanks.
Read MoreEpisode 193 - Shanghai Express
"Shanghai Express" 1932 brings us the drama and danger facing several travelers on the train from Peking to Shanghai during the civil war in China. Director Josef von Sternberg builds an engaging film that has solid production values and the look of a more recent adventure movie. Our featured actor Anna May Wong is Hui Fei who plays a pivotal role that involves rebel leader Henry Chang played by Warner Oland.
Read MoreEpisode 192 - Toll Of The Sea
"The Toll of the Sea" from 1922 is the first lead role for Anna May Wong who was 17 and the second feature movie to use Technicolor film. Director Chester M. Franklin presents the tragic love of Lotus Flower played by Ms. Wong for Allen Carver an American played by Kenneth Harlan.
Read MoreEpisode 191 - To Be Or Not To Be
Masterfully directed by Ernst Lubitsch, "To Be Or Not To Be" successfully rides a fine line between satire, comedy, drama, romance and action.
Read MoreEpisode 149 - Farewell to Manzanar - Part 2
“Farewell to Manzanar” is an excellent NBC television movie from 1976. The film is based on an autobiography written by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston.
Read MoreEpisode 147 - Farewell to Manzanar - Part 1
”Farewell to Manzanar” from 1976 is our upcoming podcast Episode 150. Prior to that podcast we provide some background on the internment of people during World War II.
Read MoreEpisode 145 - Astoria Oregon
We take a virtual tour of Astoria and discuss some of the 400 films made in Oregon.
Read MoreEpisode 143 - Race and Nationalism in Film
This is a bit different than our regular show and we go into quite a bit of depth on our feelings about race and nationalism in film.
The episode consists of an opening by Matt followed by an excerpt from our "Yankee Doodle Dandy" episode and the closes out with some comments by Matt.
Read MoreEpisode 141 - Sounder
“Sounder” the 1972 film is set in 1933 during the Great Depression. The Morgan’s are a family of sharecroppers in Louisiana who face the devastating effects of a scarcity of food. Director Martin Ritt is masterful in telling this story and it is one of his many excellent films.
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