Classic Movie Recall

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Our Dancing Daughters (1928) Jul 19, 2016

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OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS is a silent MGM classic from 1928 that stars Joan Crawford as Diana, a party girl with a heart of gold. Diana’s in love with Ben (Johnny Mack Brown), who also loves her until her frenemy Ann (Anita Paige) drops hints that Diana is not “pure” and steals him away. Which is only the first half of the film… OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS has been called “the screen expression of The Jazz Age, and is a snapshot of what the youth and flapper culture was like between the end of World War I and the stock market crash that led to the Depression. The exuberant dancing and parties depicted in the film scandalized a lot of moviegoers in 1928, but it launched Joan Crawford’s fifty-year career and made her a superstar. Fashion expert Kimberly Truhler of Glamamor joins us to talk Art Deco style in clothing and buildings, how Joan danced her way through Hollywood to land the role of a lifetime, and how shortened hemlines in dresses symbolized a new era for women. We also discuss the MGM megastar the costume designer crossed and how that got him fired, and which OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS star ended up in movies because of an appearance on the Wheaties box. If you’ve never seen a silent film before, this is a great one to watch because it plays out like a soap opera, full of drama and beautiful people.

Singin' in the Rain (1952) Jul 11, 2016

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SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952) is the epitome of classic Hollywood MGM movie magic, and is a musical about the birth of the Hollywood musical. The film is set in the 1920s, when silent films were being pushed aside by “talkies.” Gene Kelly plays Don Lockwood, a popular silent film star who is famous for his on-screen romances with Lina Lamont, played by Jean Hagen. Behind the scenes, Lina is a total diva who happens to have a high-pitched, whiny voice that will never work for a film with sound. Enter Debbie Reynolds as Cathy, a young actress who falls for Don and has the perfect voice that can be dubbed in for Lina’s… SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN has a great plot, but the real appeal of this film, in our opinion, is the trio of Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor, plus the memorable songs. In this episode, we talk about how SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN was basically made as an excuse to recycle songs from the twenties and thirties, Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen as co-directors, and the superstar singer, dancer, and actor who was rumored to have helped Debbie Reynolds work on her dancing after he found her crying under a piano after leaving a rehearsal. Grab an umbrella and get ready to jump into what many people consider the greatest movie musical ever made!

Sweet Smell of Success (1957) Jul 04, 2016

Show notes

SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS is film noir at its finest, weaving together some very dark themes, stunning black-and-white photography, and a sultry score featuring a 1950s jazz quintet. Tony Curtis gives an astonishing performance as power-hungry press agent Sidney Falco, who is doing whatever he can to get back into the good graces of columnist and television host JJ Hunsecker, played by Burt Lancaster. JJ has asked Sidney to break up the relationship between JJ’s sister Susie and a young musician whom JJ feels is beneath her. Sidney has been unsuccessful, and in retaliation, JJ—who appears to be the most powerful person in the press—has refused to run any of Sidney’s items in his column until he succeeds. In this episode of Classic Movie Recall, we discuss how Burt and Tony were known as romantic leading men before this film, and how it must have been a shock to see them portraying such ruthless media hounds. We talk about the tension during production of the film and how much of the script was written on the set at the last minute -- yet the film ended up with oodles of brilliant dialogue: “I’d hate to take a bite outta you. You’re a cookie full of arsenic.”

The General (1926) Jun 26, 2016

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THE GENERAL (1926) is a silent film that is based on The Great Locomotive Chase, an actual event that happened in 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War. Buster Keaton plays train engineer Johnnie, who loves his fiancée, Annabelle, and his engine, The General. When the war breaks out, he goes to enlist, but is turned down because they need him to stay in his current job. They don't tell him this; they toss him out, and his fiancée is like, “I don't wanna see your face unless you're in uniform.” A year later, Annabelle gets word that her dad, who is in the army, is wounded and travels on The General to see him. When the train makes a stop everybody gets off for a meal and Union spies steal the train, making Annabelle a prisoner. Johnnie springs into action to rescue his two loves… James and Lara agree that THE GENERAL is a must-see for anyone for anyone who is interested in film. Buster was known as The Great Stone Face for his ability to never crack a smile, and it is a treat to see him in action; he was a writer, director, producer, and actor who also did his own stunts (!!!). THE GENERAL features the most expensive scene in silent film history and is regarded by many as a brilliant classic, but it was such a flop at the time it was released that it sent Buster’s career into a tailspin. We discuss all this and more, including Buster's real name.

The Thin Man (1934) Jun 19, 2016

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THE THIN MAN (1934) has been called the original comedy detective film, and is based on the book by Dashiell Hammett. William Powell and Myrna Loy star as husband and wife detective team Nick and Nora Charles. Nick has married Nora, an heiress from a wealthy Sam Francisco family, and retired from his days as a detective to enjoy the good life. When the two visit New York City, Nick is drawn back into service after an old friend of his, Clyde, disappears. After Clyde’s secretary/girlfriend Is murdered, all signs point to Clyde as the guy who did it. His daughter, played by Mia Farrow's mom, Maureen O'Sullivan, refuses to believe it and hires Nick to crack the case. Did you know that THE THIN MAN started out as a B picture, and then turned into a phenomenon? James and Lara talk about the popularity of the breakout star of the film, Nick and Nora's dog, Asta (played by canine actor Skippy), the Oscar nominations THE THIN MAN received, and who the title of the film refers to (NOT star William Powell...in this picture, at least).

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) Jun 12, 2016

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THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE (1962) is directed by John Ford, and stars John Wayne as a gunslingin’ cowboy good guy, who instead of being at odds with a typical Western outlaw, finds himself going up against do gooder Jimmy Stewart, not just in how to deal with evil thief Liberty Valance, but for the affections of the lovely Vera Miles. Since the title gives away that Valance DOES get shot, the mystery is who does it, and there is a cool twist surrounding that that you will have to watch the film to discover. Our Audience of One is writer, producer, and USC professor Trey Callaway, who helps us break down A FACE IN THE CROWD. In this episode, we discuss super bad bad guy Lee Marvin as Liberty Valance, and the joy of seeing John and Jimmy, two pillars of classic cinema, on screen together. We also acknowledge the undercurrent of pessimism running through the picture, as the man (John Ford) who created what we think of as the classic western movie is now tasked with tearing it down. You will also learn where on the Sunset Strip John Wayne once kept a cow on the terrace; it’s now a famous hotel

A Face in the Crowd (1957) Jun 06, 2016

Show notes

EPISODE # 25 • 06-05-16: Lonesome Rhodes, played by Andy Griffith as you have most likely NEVER seen him before, is a drifter and a raconteur. When we—and Patricia Neal—meet him, he’s in jail, but his storytelling and singing land him on her radio show, which is called A Face in the Crowd. The local housewives go crazy over this guy, and we follow his meteoric rise to fame and fortune on the radio and television, and his equally quick descent into troubles with booze, women, and even political corruption. James and Lara are joined by writer, producer, and USC School of Cinematic Arts professor Trey Callaway to discuss A FACE IN THE CROWD (1957). Originally the picture had mixed reviews, but opinions have warmed to it over the years. The film was directed by Elia Kazan, who also did A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, ON THE WATERFRONT, AND EAST OF EDEN, and predicted that with the advent of television…media, celebrity, commerce and politics would forever be merged. None of us could get over Andy Griffith’s astonishing performance, but be warned: you will most likely never view THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW the same after you hear his maniacal laugh and whistling in this. There are also terrific supporting performances from Patricia Neal, Lee Remick (in her film debut), and Water Matthau, who delivers one of the best lines in A FACE IN THE CROWD: “I’ll say one thing for him, he’s got the courage of his ignorance.”

Now, Voyager (1942) May 29, 2016

Show notes

NOW, VOYAGER (1942) is the movie that might dehydrate you and end the drought in California with your tears. Bette Davis is Charlotte, everyone's favorite spinster aunt in the Vale family. She was an unwanted child, and the cruel treatment her domineering mother has inflicted on her has left Charlotte on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Her sister-in-law introduces her to the kindly Dr. Jaquith, played by Claude Rains, who runs a "sanitorium"; Charlotte comes to stay, and away from her mother's harsh ways, blossoms into a lovely young woman. After an eyebrow wax, wardrobe makeover, and sassy new hairdo, Charlotte embarks on a "pleasure cruise," where she is introduced to handsome Jerry (Paul Henreid). They bond immediately, and he confides that he is unhappily married but cannot leave his wife, an ill woman who needs him, and his daughter, Tina, a sad and depressed girl who sounds much like Aunt Charlotte at the beginning of the film. And then, Charlotte and Jerry get stuck in the middle of nowhere overnight... James and Lara discuss Bette's astonishing transformation in her Oscar-nominated role, and the meaning of the film's random title (it's from a poem), along with its influence on the style of one of the biggest movies ever made. NOW, VOYAGER is a perfect movie to see if you're a fan of three-hanky weeper chick flicks, and it's also one to check out for the great story (including its take on complicated familial relationships) and a chance to see Miss Davis doing her thing in some very glamorous clothes. And there's also a very famous scene where Jerry lights two cigarettes and hands one to Charlotte that will leave 99.9% of viewers swooning, and one of the best ending lines in any movie, ever.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) May 23, 2016

Show notes

The film opens with a middle-aged couple drunkenly stumbling home from a neighbor’s party. We soon learn that they’re living at a New England university where the man (played by Richard Burton) is a history professor and his wife (played by Elizabeth Taylor) is the daughter of the university’s president. We also learn that these two really like to drink while they bicker. It’s 2am, but they help themselves to another splash or two of bourbon, when the wife suddenly remembers that she invited a handsome young biology professor and his “mousey wife” to stop by for a nightcap. Yes, at 2am. Once the young couple arrives, we stay up all night with the binge-drinking foursome as their conversations delve into deeply personal subjects to the point where emotions are raw, secrets are exposed, and they drunkenly descend into a rabbit hole of physiological mind games and emotional warfare. The film is based on a play by Edward Albee, and in fact the screenplay - credited to Ernest Lehman - remains very true to the play. With clever direction by Mike Nichols in his feature debut, this ‘play on film’ is likely to leave any viewer with a long lasting impression. In this episode, James and Lara are joined by voiceover artist Susan Eisenberg (THE JUSTICE LEAGUE'S Wonder Woman)to talk about the meaning of the title and living without illusions, La Liz's iconic cackle, and everything that is going on beneath the surface. When people's secrets come out, and the surface layers are peeled back...what are you left with? In the case of VIRGINIA WOOLF...a brilliant and disturbing film.

Double Indemnity (1944) May 15, 2016

Show notes

This is a classic film noir that begins with a murder confession. Fred MacMurray plays Walter Neff, and he’s come to his office to record what he’s done and how he’s done it. Even though we know up front what’s happened, we don’t know everything, and there are a lot of twists along the way. We learn in flashback and voiceover that Walter is an insurance salesman who helped Phyllis Dietrichson, brilliantly played by Barbara Stanwyck, knock off her wealthy husband, who had taken out—unbeknownst to him—a double indemnity insurance policy…meaning that an insurance company will pay double on some policies for certain accidents. Edward G. Robinson is Byron Keyes, an insurance claims manager that works with Walter and knows that something is not right with the "accident" the husband had, and begins an investigation. Will the lovers get away with the perfect crime? Will they live happily ever after? And will you ever look at the dad from MY THREE SONGS the same way ever again? Voiceover actor Susan Eisenberg is our Audience of One and talks with us about the brilliance of Stanny...and THAT ending. In fact, we come back after the ending of the show to talk about the ending and what the ending ALMOST was. DOUBLE INDEMNITY is one of those must-see movies that is one of our all-time favorites.

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