The Screwball Story

Latest Episodes:

The Thin Man, William Powell & Myrna Loy: an interview with Rob Kozlowski Nov 04, 2023

Show notes

On the season two finale, I discuss The Thin Man, William Powell, and Myrna Loy with Rob Kozlowski, author of Becoming Nick and Nora: The Thin Man and the Films of William Powell and Myrna Loy (New York: Applause Books, 2023).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's Always a Woman (Alexander Hall, 1938) Oct 28, 2023

Show notes

On this episode I discuss the sleuth comedy, There's Always a Woman (Alexander Hall, 1938) co-starring Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell.

Resources:

James Bawden and Ron Miller, Conversations With Classic Film Stars: Interviews from Hollywood's Golden Age (Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2016).

Bernard F. Dick, The Merchant Prince of Poverty Row: Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures (Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2009).

Kathrine Glitre, Hollywood Romantic Comedy: States of the Union, 1934-1965 (Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 2006).

Matthew Kennedy, Joan Blondell: A Life Between Takes (Jackson, MS: University of Mississippi, 2014).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred MacMurray: an interview with Charles Tranberg Oct 21, 2023

Show notes

On this episode I discuss Fred MacMurray's life and career with film historian, Charles Tranberg, author of Fred MacMurray: A Biography (Albany, GA: BearManor Media, 2007).

Charles's book is available for purchase from all major book retailers and also directly from BearManor Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Egg and I (Chester Erskine, 1947) Oct 14, 2023

Show notes

On this episode I discuss the romantic comedy, The Egg and I (Erskine, 1947), based on the book of the same name by Betty MacDonald.

Resources:

Christopher Beach, Class, Language, and American Film Comedy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002).

Paula Becker, Looking For Betty MacDonald (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2019).

Boze Hadleigh, Hollywood Lesbians: From Garbo to Foster (Riverdale, NY: Riverdale Avenue Books, 2016).

Jennifer Reese, "The Plucky Author Behind The Classic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books.” The Washington Post. October 17, 2016. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/behind-her-classic-mrs-piggle-wiggle-books-the-dark-life-of-betty-macdonald/2016/10/14/23005c46-9071-11e6-9c85-ac42097b8cc0_story.html

Charles Tranberg, Fred MacMurray: A Biography (Albany, GA: BearManor Media, 2007).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Mad Miss Manton (Leigh Jason, 1938): an interview with Cait Liberati Oct 07, 2023

Show notes

On this episode I'm joined by Cait Liberati to discuss the Barbara Stanwyck-Henry Fonda comedy, The Mad Miss Manton (1938).

You can follow Cait on Twitter @caitmarielle or on Bluesky @caitl.bsky.social

For more on the resources mentioned in this episode, please check out: Thomas Renzi, Screwball Comedy and Film Noir: Unexpected Connections (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2012).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's Up, Doc? (Peter Bogdanovich, 1972) Sep 30, 2023

Show notes

On this episode I discuss the 1970s screwball classic, What's Up, Doc?

Resources:

Roger Ebert, "What's Up, Doc? Review," RogerEbert.com, originally published January 1, 1972. Available at: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/whats-up-doc-1972

Brian Kellow, Can I Go Now? The Life of Sue Mengers, Hollywood's First Superagent (New York: Penguin Books, 2015).

Gregg Kilday, “Peter Bogdanovich on Barbra Streisand: ‘Funny, Cute and Kind of a Wiseass’ The Hollywood Reporter, April 19, 2023. Available at:https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/peter-bogdanovich-barbra-streisand-funny-434860/

Karina Longworth, "Polly Platt: The Invisible Woman." You Must Remember This (2020). Available at: http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/episodes/2020/7/pollyplattarchive28

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Nothing Sacred (William Wellman, 1937) Sep 23, 2023

Show notes

On this episode I discuss my favorite Carole Lombard screwball comedy, Nothing Sacred (1937).

Resources:

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Fast-talking Dames & Hawks Women: an interview with Chris Cassingham Sep 16, 2023

Show notes

On this episode, I am joined by film programmer Chris Cassingham to discuss screwball women in Howard Hawks films. You can find Chris on Twitter @CCassingham.

Resources:

Joseph McBride, Hawks on Hawks (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1982).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bachelor Mother (Garson Kanin, 1939): an interview with Raquel Stecher Sep 09, 2023

Show notes

On this episode I am joined by film historian and critic Raquel Stecher to discuss Bachelor Mother (1939).

You can read more of Raquel's work here: https://www.outofthepastblog.com/ and https://quellemovies.com/, and follower her on Twitter @RaquelStecher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Easy Living (Mitchell Leisen, 1937) Sep 02, 2023

Show notes

On this episode, I discuss Easy Living (1937).

Resources:

Stanley Cavell, Pursuits of Happiness (Boston: Harvard University Press, 1981)

David Chierichetti, Mitchell Leisen: Hollywood Director (New York: Photoventure Press, 1995)

Ida Jeter, “The Collapse of the Federated Motion Picture Crafts: A Case Study of Collaboration in the Motion Picture Industry,” in Journal of the University Film Association, Vol. 31, No. 2 (Spring 1979): 37-45.

James McKay, The Films of Ray Milland, 1929-1984 (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. Inc., 2020)

ReFocus: The Films of Preston Sturges, eds. Jeff Jaeckle and Sarah Kozloff (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2015)

Preston Sturges, Preston Sturges by Preston Sturges: His Life in His Own Words (Chicago: Touchstone, 1991)

Jerry Vermilye, Jean Arthur: A Biofilmography (Bloomington, ID: Authorhouse, 2012

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