Melodrama, it’s much more than Douglas Sirk-directed mid-century dramas, I had a great talk with writer, film programmer, podcaster, and teacher Millie De Chirico about what melodrama really means, what we love about it, and the surprising places you can find melodrama, from horror to action flicks. Subscribe to Millie’s Substack, Professional Sweetheart Check out the fantastic book Millie wrote with Quatoyiah Murry TCM Underground: 50 Must-See Films from the World of Classic Cult and...

There are few stars who have reached the heights that Joan Crawford did. In his book Ferocious Ambition: Joan Crawford’s March to Stardom my guest Robert Dance explores how she rose from childhood poverty to the top of her industry where she maintained a successful career for over four decades. We talked about her drive and talent for business and how she was a surprising feminist presence in mid-century cinema.   You can purchase Ferocious Ambition: Joan Crawford’s March to Stardom...

The two cinematic versions of Scarface were influential films which reflected their times, the thirties and eighties respectively. The prolific Nat Segaloff explores their legacy in Say Hello to My Little Friend: A Century of Scarface, a fascinating book that draws on Nat’s industry experience and considerable research skills. We talked about the effect these movies had, the people who made them remarkable, and what it was like to meet Scarface director Brian De Palma. Learn more about Nat’s...

Film critic Odie Henderson has applied his vast film knowledge and solid storytelling skills to the writing of an excellent new book Buy Odie's Book Check out Odie's Blaxploitation Playlist Keep up with Odie on BlueSky Odie's film reviews: Boston Globe Roger Ebert Like the podcast? Want to hear more frequent episodes? Subscriptions are as low as 99 cents a month You can also support my work on ko-fi --- Support this podcast:...

Eleanor Powell was Hollywood’s best female tapper, but she isn’t nearly as well known as screen hoofers like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. With their book Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance my guests Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère are working to fix that cultural oversight. Having been dancers themselves, they offer a fascinating perspective on this one-of-a-kind star’s style. We talked about the uniquely skilled Powell, who was as engaging as a person as she was a performer, and Paula and Lisa’s...

While the actress Veronica Lake dealt with her share of trauma, her life was not quite the tragedy that it has long been rumored to be. Before she hit her mid-twenties she had appeared in six bonafide classic films, including Sullivan’s Travels, a series of noirs with Alan Ladd starting with This Gun for Hire, I Married a Witch and So Proudly We Hail. She left Hollywood behind, but never stopped working on the stage and in television, while pursuing the life she was unable to have as a young...

Toshiro Mifune was one of the first classic film stars I loved and yet I didn’t know much about him personally. I decided to remedy that by talking to writer and CineJourneys co-founder Jill Blake. Jill has researched and written about Mifune and had a lot to share about his life, career, and remarkable partnership with filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. Check out Jill's work CineJourneys Substack: https://cinejourneys346.substack.com CineJourneys website: www.cinejourneys.com Read Jill’s piece...

Biographer Eve Golden returns to the show to discuss her latest . This vivacious star deserves a reputation overall. Lies, rumors, and misperceptions have clouded Velez’ legacy. While she didn’t have the opportunities and regard that her talent and starpower should have brought her, she had a remarkable, decades-long career and was a beloved, fascinating woman.  Content warning: we discuss Lupe’s suicide from 21:04 to 24:58 if you would prefer to skip that part of the...

I love the movie suggestions Brian Sauer shares as co-host of the Pure Cinema Podcast and as host of Just the Discs podcast and YouTube show. He always comes up with intriguing films I haven’t seen for my ever expanding to-watch list. In this episode, Brian shares five classic film picks and two spares, that would be his selections if he were scheduling the TCM Classic Film Festival. I loved the element of surprise in our conversation, especially because some of his picks sounded great and I...

Fashion Instagrammer and actress Rachel Boyce lives her love of 60s and 1700s fashion. While we tend to refer to previous decades when talking about fashion trends, Rachel looks back centuries when sharing her extensive knowledge about how past looks influence the present. We talked about how many years of different styles found their way into the cultural explosion of the sixties, including the wide variety of films made in that decade.  Follow Rachel Boyce on Instagram Listen to our...

Millie de Chirico has long been a knowledgeable and accessible champion for classic film in her work programming for TCM and the TCM Classic Film Festival, as co-host of the essential I Saw What You Did podcast, and now as co-author with Quatoyiah Murry of the amazing book TCM Underground: 50 Must-See Films from the World of Classic Cult and Late-Night Cinema. I loved having her back on the show to talk about how changing access to films has widened the landscape for cult flicks and dig into...

The 1989 film Chameleon Street, written, directed by, and starring Wendell B. Harris Jr. won the grand jury prize for a dramatic film at Sundance Film Festival in 1990. But that honor didn’t lead to the accolades and long directing career that it should have. This quirky masterwork tells the true crime story of William Douglas Street, Jr., a con artist from Detroit who has successfully impersonated athletes, lawyers, reporters, and doctors over a long career of scamming. He is currently in...

I was happy to welcome back novelist Martin Turnbull, my most popular guest on the podcast to date. We talked about Bogart, Bacall, Hollywood and Warner Brothers Studios during World War II and how they are featured in his Hollywood Homefront Trilogy including the recently released finale to this fascinating blend of fact and fiction You Must Remember This. You can learn more about Martin Turnbull’s many books, including his Hollywood Home Front Trilogy, at his official website. I also...

My guest is Michelle Squiccimara, registrar and outreach coordinator of The Stoogeum in Ambler, Pennsylvania. This three-story museum dedicated to the 3 Stooges contains thousands of artifacts and works of art. It’s also the home of the 3 Stooges fan club, one of the largest and most enduring in the nation. We talked about the many surprises the Stoogeum holds, the supportive fan community that has helped it to thrive, and a new book that reveals the underseen history of the Stooges extensive...

My guest is Janie McKirgan, Executive Director of the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, Pennsylvania We talked about the long history of this museum that seems humble from the outside, but has an extensive collection within and a movie theater that shows Stewart films every day. It’s a beloved institution in a town that still shows a lot of love for its most famous native.   You can learn more about the Jimmy Stewart Museum at their official website.   Check out their Jimmy Stewart...

My guest is Nelson Page, Executive Director of the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, New Jersey, the birthplace of the United States film industry. The center is an evolving cultural institution, featuring a reparatory movie theater that brings back the comforts and style of classic cinema and a museum that is free to the public and has already been a source of great fascination to its visitors in the five months it has been open. We talked about what the center has to offer, the history of...

My guests are Lynell Seabold, Executive Director of the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, North Carolina and Lora Stocker a longtime volunteer for the museum who has served as a social media consultant and board member.  We talked about what the museum has to offer both as a physical and virtual experience, including the many ways the museum celebrates Ava Gardner and unites fans and collectors from around the world.  Explore the Museum's virtual offerings at the Official Ava Gardner...

My guest is Dorothy Schultz, curator of the James Dean Museum We had a great talk about this thriving tribute to an actor who burned bright in his short life and left an enduring legacy. The museum is home to the largest collection of Dean artifacts and attracts visitors from around the world. It is also deeply loved and supported by the surrounding community, which includes Dean’s family. Dorothy shared stories about the museum and the annual festival it hosts, tips about how to make...

Watching Classic Movies podcast returns on April 12 and this one’s going to be special.   I wrote a travel guide for classic movie fans, full of destinations sure to delight lovers of vintage Hollywood.   At the heart of The Classic Film Fan USA Travel Guide: Over 500 Attractions for Road Trips and Online Exploration are good people running fascinating places that bring the movies to life.   This season I’m going to talk to several of them and shine a light on some of the most...

When I saw that a social media filter featuring the dancing ghost of Koko the Clown had gone viral, I had to know the story behind it. What I found was a great team that is working to preserve the timeless ‘toons of Max Fleischer, which featured Betty Boop, Popeye, Koko the Clown, and consisted of hundreds of fascinating animated shorts. This is my first dual interview on the show. Ray Pointer has been a Fleischer scholar for decades. He is the author of the essential Fleischer Studios tome...

My guest, Lara Gabrielle is the author of Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies. We talked about Davies career, which was more successful than rumor would have it, her unique and mysterious long-term relationship with William Randolph Hearst, the enormous good she did for friends, family, and the community, and how unraveling the myths about her is a crucial part of telling her story.  You can learn more about Lara’s book and how to buy it at University of California Press.  Films...

My guest, Paula Yoo is a screenwriter, producer, violinist and author of several books for young readers including the gorgeous picture book Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story, with illustrations by Lin Wang. We talked about the significance of the new quarter featuring Wong, the first Asian American to be on US currency, her difficult, but fruitful career as a movie actress and how her story relates to the challenges we face as a society today.  Learn more about Paula Yoo’s books on...

My guest, Tom Zimmerman is the author of The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood.  Montez was a unique star, imperious, but warm, not known for her acting ability, but skilled in committing completely to a role, whether in a skimpy costume for the six legendary Neverland films she made for Universal, or in a grittier setting, such as for her more noirish European roles.  We talked about the magnetism, determination, and integrity of this remarkable woman.  The Queen of...

My guest, Luis Reyes, is the author of Viva Hollywood: The Legacy of Latin and Hispanic Artists in American Film. We talked about the changing representation of this varied and vibrant group in Hollywood, and artists from the popular to the underseen, while celebrating the fact that Latin and Hispanic people in film have long been an integral part of the industry with many towering accomplishments and innovations to offer.  Viva Hollywood: The Legacy of Latin and Hispanic Artists in American...