Episodes

  • 133: Clown Car Full of Raincoats

    133: Clown Car Full of Raincoats
    Dec 11 2025
    Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly. Gotta be a musical, right? Actually, it’s a film noir, whose connection to Christmas is limited at best. So much misdirection, and I haven’t even told you the plot.

    Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga and Micheline Maynard.
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • 132: Clothes, Cars and Acreage

    132: Clothes, Cars and Acreage
    Dec 4 2025
    Tracy and Hepburn do “battle of the sexes” and help Judy Holiday launch her film career. There’s a random Cole Porter song, and T & H are adorable. George Cukor directs a great script.

    Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • 131: Temu Cary Grant

    131: Temu Cary Grant
    Nov 13 2025
    Billy Wilder tells the story of a man’s (Ray Milland) alcoholic weekend, and the lies he tells to family and friends about his drinking. Surprisingly gritty and emotional for the era, and photography that heightens the mood. Also, Jane Wyman, Philip Terry, and Frank Faylen again.

    Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard.
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    59 mins
  • 130: Big Teeth, Bad Hair

    130: Big Teeth, Bad Hair
    Nov 8 2025
    Another tale of evangelicals who use their charisma to con the faithful. Burt Lancaster, Jean Simmons, Shirley Jones and a cast of 50s heavies are all on hand. Based on Sinclair Lewis’ (Dodsworth) story.

    Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard and Nathan Alderman.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • 129: There Are No Cars

    129: There Are No Cars
    Oct 30 2025
    he team behind our previous Spooky Season entry CAT PEOPLE — producer Val Lewton and director Jacques Tourneur — return with the Jane Eyre-inspired tale of a naive nurse summoned to a tropical island to care for a rich nepo baby’s ailing wife. But the patient’s malady may have a sinister, supernatural source. Get ready for an atmospheric, antiracist spookshow that’s a lot smarter than you’d think, subverting cheap voodoo-movie stereotypes in cool and surprising ways. Ah woe! Ah me! Shame and sorrow for the family! With guest host, Nathan Alderman.

    Nathan Alderman with Shelly Brisbin, Randy Dotinga and Micheline Maynard.
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    56 mins
  • 128: Annette Bening Energy

    128: Annette Bening Energy
    Oct 23 2025
    Each season has its quota of film noir. So here we go. “A former boxer turned taxi driver earns the scorn of his nagging wife and gets mixed up with jewel thieves.” It’s a B picture with fun performances, one of my favorite things. Meet John Payne, Evelyn Keyes and Brad Dexter, a non-superstar lineup that nonetheless pops off the screen.

    Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Randy Dotinga and Nathan Alderman.
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    36 mins
  • 127: Kind Of A Nice Snack

    127: Kind Of A Nice Snack
    Oct 16 2025
    Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy podcast. Bette Davis in her most iconic role, attempts to fend off the usurping Anne Baxter. The drama plays out in the New York theatre. There’s a witty script and a delightful supporting cast, along with many legends about how this film came together. Come and feast with us around the camp fire.

    Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman and Randy Dotinga.
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • 126: The Women, with a Cat

    126: The Women, with a Cat
    Jul 31 2025
    ere is one of the greatest ensembles of the classic era - or any era, for that matter. Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Lucile Ball, Ann Miller, Eve Arden (and cat), Gail Patrick, Andrea Leads. Constance Collier, all sharing a theatrical boarding house in New York, and struggling to become big stars. Kate says something about calla lilies, and also snipes with Ginger. It’s so much fun!,

    Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr, Nathan Alderman and Randy Dotinga.
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    1 hr and 4 mins