Tag: 1930’s

Jul 12 2019

Episode 133 – Bride of Frankenstein

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The Bride of FrankensteinOur latest episode continues our exploration of Frankenstein with Bride of Frankenstein. Alison Anderson joins us to watch the sequel to James Whale’s Frankenstein with this film, that may actually be better. James Whale directs the sequel to his classic monster movie and Boris Karloff returns as the monster. Elsa Lanchester plays one of the most recognized women in the history of film and she’s on screen for something like five minutes! Go Elsa!

Next up, we are going to finish our Frankenstein series with Gods and Monsters!

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Bride of Frankenstein poster Rating: 7.8/10 (56,692 votes)
Director: James Whale
Writer: Mary Shelley, William Hurlbut, John L. Balderston
Stars: Boris Karloff, Elsa Lanchester, Colin Clive
Runtime: 75 min
Rated: Approved
Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Released: 06 May 1935
Plot: Mary Shelley reveals the main characters of her novel survived: Baron Henry Frankenstein, goaded by an even madder scientist, builds his monster a mate.

May 21 2019

Episode 131 – Frankenstein

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FrankensteinWell after promising to get to this film for a few months, we finally managed to watch the 1931 Frankenstein! Adapted from Mary Shelly’s book, this movie basically defines what Frankenstein’s Monster will look like for the rest of film history. Boris Karloff has the star making role in this James Whale directed classic. Alison Anderson joins us after having watched Young Frankenstein so she can finally get where a whole bunch of the jokes came from!

Next up, we are going to follow Boris Karloff (sort of) to  Arsenic and Old Lace!

Frankenstein (1931)
Frankenstein poster Rating: 7.7/10 (84,925 votes)
Director: James Whale
Writer: John L. Balderston, Mary Shelley, Peggy Webling
Stars: Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, Boris Karloff
Runtime: 70 min
Rated: Approved
Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Released: 21 Nov 1931
Plot: Dr Henry Frankenstein is obsessed with assembling a living being from parts of several exhumed corpses.

Mar 01 2017

Episode 88 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

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Snow White and the Seven DwarfsThis week we have two special guests who join us for the Disney classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Lana Rosario and David Tyler McKay join us with little more than childhood memories of orange soda.  After a viewing of the film, we discuss all the ways it might not work for some modern audiences but also all the ways this film changed the movie industry forever.  It is also important to note that we are talking about dwarfs.  Not dwarves.

Next up, we will watch The Quiet Man!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs poster Rating: 7.6/10 (234,472 votes)
Director: William Cottrell, David Hand, Wilfred Jackson
Writer: Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm, Ted Sears
Stars: Adriana Caselotti, Harry Stockwell, Lucille La Verne
Runtime: 83 min
Rated: Approved
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family
Released: 04 Feb 1938
Plot: Exiled into the dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother, a princess is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make her part of their household.

Jun 16 2016

Episode 72 – King Kong

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King KongWe remain in the jungle for a third straight episode as we watch King Kong!  We begin in an actual jungle and then transition to a concrete one!  Given the time period, we are treated to more racism and sexism but also a monster movie that will, from that point on, be the movie against which all other giant monster movies will be measured.  Including the remakes of this film.  You owe it to yourself to start with the original.  We make sure to provide constant musical tribute to special effects wizard Willis O’Brien.

Next up, we are watching 8 1/2!

King Kong (1933)
King Kong poster Rating: 7.9/10 (94,493 votes)
Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
Writer: James Ashmore Creelman, Ruth Rose, Merian C. Cooper
Stars: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot
Runtime: 100 min
Rated: Approved
Genre: Adventure, Horror
Released: 07 Apr 1933
Plot: A film crew goes to a tropical island for a location shoot, where they capture a colossal ape who takes a shine to their blonde starlet, and bring him back to New York City.

Jun 02 2016

Episode 71 – Tarzan

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Tarzan the Ape ManThis episode, we return to the jungle with a look back at the quintessential Tarzan film – Tarzan the Ape Man! Featuring Johnny Weismuller and his abs (also Maureen O’Sullivan), the film is basically about Africa killing all sorts of African American extras while most of the white people survive.  There are lions and elephants and hippos and crocodiles (even though they are alligators) and more!  Enjoy this classic trip down movie racism lane!*

Next up, we’ll be watching the original King Kong!

Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
Tarzan the Ape Man poster Rating: 6.9/10 (8,766 votes)
Director: W.S. Van Dyke
Writer: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Cyril Hume, Ivor Novello
Stars: Johnny Weissmuller, Neil Hamilton, C. Aubrey Smith
Runtime: 100 min
Rated: Passed
Genre: Action, Adventure, Romance
Released: 02 Apr 1932
Plot: A trader and his daughter set off in search of the fabled graveyard of the elephants in deepest Africa, only to encounter a wild man raised by apes.

*Note: The book is EVEN MORE racist!

Mar 15 2016

Episode 66 – Stagecoach

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StagecoachWe take a trip down Western lane with the John Wayne/John Ford classic, Stagecoach!  This film basically made a superstar out of Wayne and defined the western genre for the next several decades.  It features Ford’s favorite location – monument valley – as well as his favorite actor.  In addition to Wayne, the movie also stars a lot of very well known character actors including Andy Devine and John Carradine.  Interesting trivia: Wayne was not the first billed actor in this film.  That was Claire Trevor!

Our next movie will be the 2016 Best Picture winner, Spotlight!

Stagecoach (1939)
Stagecoach poster Rating: 7.8/10 (57,154 votes)
Director: John Ford
Writer: Ernest Haycox, Dudley Nichols, Ben Hecht
Stars: John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Andy Devine
Runtime: 96 min
Rated: Approved
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Western
Released: 03 Mar 1939
Plot: A group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo and learn something about each other in the process.

Jan 16 2016

Episode 62 – Dracula

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DraculaWe’ve been circling this one for a while.  Having watched Ed Wood, Plan 9 From Outer Space, and Horror of Dracula, it is finally time to look at the role that both defined and trapped Bela Lugosi: Dracula.  Our first Universal horror film and one of the best known, we took a look at this classic retelling of Bram Stoker’s novel.  After watching the movie, we talked about the careers of many of the actors, the legacy of Universal horror films and – as always – a bunch of other stuff.

Up next, we stick with classic horror and watch The Phantom of the Opera!

Dracula (1931)
Dracula poster Rating: 7.3/10 (62,918 votes)
Director: Tod Browning, Karl Freund
Writer: Bram Stoker, Hamilton Deane, John L. Balderston
Stars: Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, David Manners
Runtime: 75 min
Rated: Passed
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Released: 14 Feb 1931
Plot: Transylvanian vampire Count Dracula bends a naive real estate agent to his will, then takes up residence at a London estate where he sleeps in his coffin by day and searches for potential victims by night.

Jan 15 2014

Episode 15 – Modern Times

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Modern TimesThis week’s episode dives headfirst into the world of Charles Chaplin as we enjoy one of his most iconic works – Modern Times.  We talk about making a “silent” film in sound era, Chaplin’s apparent death wish on roller skates and a great deal more!  Listen as we educate Jena on one of the three greatest comics of the silent film era!

Our next episode will be Double Indemnity, recorded live at Pepito’s Parkway Theatre on January 18th featuring Alex Wick as our stunt Jena!

Modern Times (1936)
Modern Times poster Rating: 8.5/10 (276,967 votes)
Director: Charles Chaplin
Writer: Charles Chaplin
Stars: Charles Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Henry Bergman
Runtime: 87 min
Rated: G
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Released: 25 Feb 1936
Plot: The Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman.

Oct 01 2013

Episode 8 – The Thin Man

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The Thin ManFor our newest episode, we enjoy the glorious duo of William Powell and Myrna Loy in The Thin Man. If you have never watched this booze soaked noir/comedy, you should definitely check it out and then listen to our podcast.  It is hard to deny this is one of the great treats of classic cinema.  And William Powell is an actor who definitely needs to be enjoyed as often as humanly possible.

And hey – on the podcast, Tim says that we’ll be doing our next recording live at the Parkway theatre on the 7th of October.  Then later, he says the 10th!  Which is it?????

It’s the 10th.  Thursday the 10th.  Mark your calendars!  We’ll be watching Rear Window!

The Thin Man (1934)
The Thin Man poster Rating: 7.9/10 (34,049 votes)
Director: W.S. Van Dyke
Writer: Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Dashiell Hammett
Stars: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan
Runtime: 91 min
Rated: TV-PG
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Released: 25 May 1934
Plot: Former detective Nick Charles and his wealthy wife Nora investigate a murder case, mostly for the fun of it.