Episodes
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Zach welcomes back Sterling Cook (Filmmaker & Ballyhoo Corespondent, 'Tour de Tati') for part 1 of a journey through the same old story played again and again as they unpack films trying to capture the essence of Casablanca with a closer look at TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (1944) & MACAO (1952) Tune in to learn about the making of these films, the similar ingridients to Casablanca they hold, and whether or not they can capture that same serendipitous magic from Rick's Cafe. To Hear Sterling and Zach extrapolate Jacques Tati on the 'Tour de Tati'series , please visit YBR PRESENTS at https://anchor.fm/
Rashmi & Zach take a trip to Germany on their Noir odyssey where the Cain ‘Postman’ story of doomed love reaches the new millennium as the duo unpack Christian Petzoldt’s 2008 noir-ish thriller, JERICHOW Tune in to learn how Petzold’s grasp on the film carries flourish of Noir learned while weaving together a version that finds a new path on an old story
This week Zach welcomes back filmmaker and pod-pal Brad Haag (Reel Nerds Podcast) for a trip through many locations over three years with the legendary Orson Welles’ and his 1951 independent film epic, OTHELLO. Join the duo as they unpack the production of Othello and it’s many ups and downs all while bringing into conversation the many ways Welles’ methodology or production inspire the modern trends of DIY filmmaking, what lessons can be learned from his triumphs and failings, and how the film stands as a piece of entertainment in spite of the uphill battle to get it made. Be sure to listen t
This week Zach is joined by author & screenwriter Samuel Garza Bernstein to chat about the subject of LGBTQIA+ creatives in the Golden Age of Hollywood and the impact of two of his subject, Roddy McDowell & Cesar Romero. Join them as the two talk at length about the importance of these stories being brought to the front, how actors and directors navigated their sexual preference in in thee Old Hollywood system, how the content of film managed queer coded material before the production code, and finally shoot the breeze with candid chat about film from the credits of Romero and Roddy. Be sure t
Rashmi and Zach continue with the ‘Doomed Lovers’ theme of Noir with a trip to Italy for a look at another adaptation of ‘Postman Always Rings Twice’ as they unpack Luchino Visconti’s 1943 film, OSSESSIONE! Tune in today to learn more about this Visconti debut, what it does from a Noir & Melodrama angle to stand out, and how the film was almost lost entirely!
The Grant-A-Thon Has Arrived! Join Ryan Frost (Reel Nerds Podcast) & I as we get CARY-d away in unveiling our Top Ten Cary Grant Performances in Grant-A- Thon! Will someone like Only Angels Have Wings more than Bringing Up Baby? Will Mr. Lucky make the cut? And who lives the Hitchcock collabs more? Tune in to find out all that and more! Plus: A Sneak Peak At Our Next Top Ten Special! Listen to Ryan each and every week on REEL NERDS PODCAST Website: https://reelnerdspodcast.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reel-nerds-podcast/id442184939 Spotify: https://open.spotify.co
Rashmi & Zach begin their next Noir Unit, Doomed Lovers, with a journey back to 1946 for the all-time Noir classic, THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE! Tune in today to learn more about the stories long journey to the screen, how its rich characterizations sets the tone for Noir romance to come, and how it affected the film world at large!
Zach welcomes back Lara Gabrielle (Author/Historian, ‘Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies) for a chat surrounding a Pre-Code Marion Davies film buried for decades until recently as they unpack the laughs & heart in the 1931 film IT’S A WISE CHILD. Hop into one of Mr. Cohen’s cars and live the screwball life at a mile a second as the duo catch up with Marions life following her sound debut, walk through the plot and the ways it showcases Davies’ range as an actor, fawn over the supporting players from Marie Prevost to James Gleason, unravel the story of why the film remained unseen f
Zach welcomes back Paul Kovit (Director/Editor, ‘No Soap Radio’ ) on a marathon in Metropolis as they dive into the classic Superhero TV series, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN! Get ready to take flight with the guys as they unpack the origins of the show, demystify the casting of its cast & how they felt being part of the show, marvel at special effect & stunt snafus & successes, break down 5 episodes of the show that stand out in the first two seasons, & then finally mull over the many ways Reeves’ outing as Superman stands tall in the legacy of Superman & Superhero television at large. PLUS: Find ou
This week Zach is joined by author & film journalist Kristen Lopez to dive into a subject matter oft neglected in film discourse as they chat about her new book ‘Popcorn Disabilities: The Highs and Lows of Disabled Representation in the Movies’ Join them as they discuss how the book came to be, examine a slate of Golden Age Hollywood films and how they handle dramatizing disabled stories & finding space for disabled creatives, analyze the pitfalls that can befall films and filmmakers with lack of disabled participation, and settle upon how these stories and images are vital talking points to b
Zach welcomes back Robert Stroude (Ballyhoo Correspondent/ Blogger, ‘My Year With Mickey) to review the parole request of Laurel & Hardy as they break in and break down their very first feature film, the 1931 comedy PARDON US. Join the duo as they examine the odd route the Boys & Hal roach took to expand the group from shorts to feature films, unpack the way the film both has feature strength & where the film feels needlessly stretched out, wrestle with the films far too long (like way too f***ing long) sequence involving blackface, and finally settle upon the way the film influenced both the
The police unit of Noir Mondial reaches its conclusion with a trip to China where Moonlight Sonata is set to the atmosphere of crime in the 90's with the 2023 Wei Shujun crime film, ONLY THE RIVER FLOWS. Tune in tomorrow as Rashmi & I dive deep into this compelling & trippy tale of murder against the backdrop of a changing landscape in China, and how it uses Noir elements & principles to drive that home.
A discussion surrounding the International Versions of Laurel & Hardy Shorts where Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy performed in different languages before the process of dubbing became a more used technique of film export
The Police Unit on Noir Mondial finds itself sifting through the history and pain therein of a notorious killer through the eyes acclaimed director Bong Joon-Ho as Rashmi & Zach unpack his 2003 crime masterpiece, MEMORIES OF MURDER. Tune in tomorrow to hear us examine the ways Director Bong manages to utilize Film Noir tropes and expand upon them to create this true crime classic.
Zach welcomes back historian and writer Craig Shemin (Sam & Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show) for a trip to post-war Germany where neither East or West Berlin can contain the Madness and Mayhem of Billy Wilder's 1961 Comedy Classic, 'ONE TWO THREE' Join the duo as the unpack the history surrounding the films production, take a stab at deconstructing Wilders approaches on everything from humanism to capitalism to communism, ponder over this being James Cagney's penultimate motion picture, and settle upon the ways the film has influenced the cinema of today. If You are in
Zach welcomes back podcaster, historian, & film lover Jack Hanley (Blindspotting: A Film Discovery Podcast) to the show where the two will journey to South America in search of the many truths captured by Orson Welles & his camera in 1942 as they unpack his incompleted 1942 film IT'S ALL TRUE and the 1993 documentary/re-assembly of the found footage... named... IT'S ALL TRUE. Settle in for a unique chat as the duo unpack the context surrounding Welles' reasons for being in South America, learn more about the Brazillian government during the 40's and how it's filmic desires were subverted by We
Rashmi and Zach are returning to Hong Kong to figure out who the informants are as they unpack the 2002 crime classic from Andrew Lau Wai-keung & Alan Mak, INFERNAL AFFAIRS. Tune into today to hear how the tropes of noir & Hong Kong cinema are utilized and in many cases evolved from as they dive deep into this astounding title of International Cinema
Zach welcomes back podcast pal and comedian Hope Sears (All The Classics) get lost in the sound of Edward R. Murrow's responsible voice to tune into his innovative news program See It Now & learn more about how the program took on Senator Joseph McCarthy Follow along as they sift through the learning and assembly of filmmaking tactics and expertise that changed the game for newscasting, dig further into the controversy Murrow & Co. faced in tackling McCarthy, and listen as they try to learn what Murrow taught us and still can teach us as consumers of news and what the business itself has becom
Zach ventures to the Dark Carnival of cinema that was the collaboration of Tod Browning & Lon Chaney as he and guests Sterling Cook (Tour de Tati) and filmmaker Jake Algier (Writer/Actor/Performer, Doctor Tenn) unpack THE UNHOLY THREE (1925) and THE UNKNOWN (1927) Join the trio as they learn a bit more about the formation of the collaboration, unpack production stories that range from the heartfelt to the absolute craziest, and settle upon how this combo managed to create films that not only work today but also influenced the works of others as the history of cinema has progressed. Be sure to
Zach welcomes back actor & artist Erin Mullane (Velvet Void Creations) on a Trolley trip to 5135 Kensington Avenue, where they'll deep dive into Vincent Minelli's 1944 classic, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS. Follow the duo along as they sift through the long journey of Sally Benson's book to the silver screen, marvel at the several drafts from book to script & the changes that ensued, wrestle with both the tragedy and triumph of Judy Garland, relive the hert and humor of the films plot and music, try to figure out how closely Tootie Smith is related to other horror film villains, and then finally settl
Rashmi & Zach return after a long absence to continue their Noir Journey alongside special guest Stephen Palmer (Podcaster, ‘Asian Cinema Film Club’). The trio take the Police Noir unit all the way to Norway as they unpack the nihilist daytime noir from Erik Skjoldbjærg, INSOMNIA Tune in today to hear them analyze and assess the many ways the film has not only utilized noir influences, but also manages to achieve the original intent of Film Noir’s from the golden age of Hollywood. — Be Sure to check out Stephen on his show, Asian Cinema Film Club Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/as
Zach is joined by pod pal Rob Stroude ( Ballyhoo Correspondent & Blogger, ‘My Year With Micky’) to witness the Greatest Trial in Holiday History as they dive deep into the 1947 George Seaton Masterpiece, MIRACLE ON 34th STREET! Follow this intriguing case with fervency as the duo sift through the origins of the story, unpack the ambitious and audacious production stories, marvel at the delicate genre balance the film performs, gush about Edmund Gwenn, and finally settle upon the many ways Miracle on 34th Street has stood the test of time as a Christmas movie and as just an all around good movi
Zach welcomes back Ken Sowder (Ballyhoo Contributor, 'The History of High Adventure) on an expedition through the jungle where upon they will encounter its mighty monarch as they dive deep into the 1932 Pre-Code adventure classic, TARZAN THE APE MAN ! Join the duo as they unpack the history of the Tarzan character in literature & film, sift through the travails of production, explore and comb through the plot in meticulous detail, reckon with the unseemly treatment of people & animals both on and off screen, become impressed where the film manages to subvert expectation to its benefit, and the
The BallyBOO concludes as Zach welcomes actor & musician Spencer Kane (X-Presidents) on the show to unpack the crates at McDougal’s House of Horrors and get caught up in the chaos that ensues as they chat about the 1948 comedy chiller, ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN! Get ready to laugh & scream as the duo sift through the production stories, become aghast at the original treatment for the film, laugh along through a detailed plot breakdown, and finally discuss the many ways the film has influenced the world of Horror and Comedy to this day! PLUS: Seriously guys, the original treatment is
The BallyBOO continues as Zach welcomes back podcaster & Peanuts fan Ryan Frost (Reel Nerds Podcast) abord the show for the greatest animated Halloween special that's also a harrowing WWI drama, 'It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' Huddle together in the pumpkin patch as the duo sift through the making of the special, shudder in fright over the short sightedness of TV executives, thrill in the exciting origins of Peanuts staples from the Great Pumpkin to the WWI Flying Ace, excevate the many layers of comedy and warmth in a mere 30 minute span, and then finally settle upon the many ways the
