You're Missing Out: A National Film Registry Podcast

“I just had the unpleasant sensation of hearing you referred to as my husband.” – It Happened One Night (1934)

This week, returning guest Andrew Daniels joins us to break down the original screwball sensation: Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night. As the first film to ever sweep the “Big Five” Oscars, this charming romantic comedy set the template for the genre, with pitch-perfect performances from Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, ...

“The film you have just seen was an improvisation.” – Shadows (1959)

This week, returning guest Robert Bellissimo joins us for a conversation on John Cassavetes’ Shadows,, a landmark of American independent cinema. Shot on the streets of New York with a semi-improvised style and a raw, jazz-infused energy, Shadows broke all the rules and opened new possibilities for personal filmmaking in the U.S.

We explore how Cassavetes challenged...

In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Congressman Robert Mrazek, the man whose legislation led to the creation of the National Film Preservation Board. Without his efforts, the National Film Registry as we know it wouldn’t exist.

Mrazek shares the inside story of how film preservation became a congressional priority, the cultural battles that shaped the legislation, and why preserving America’s cinematic heritage is a matt...

“He was some kind of a man. What does it matter what you say about people?” – Touch of Evil (1958)

This week, we’re crossing into the shadowy borderlands of noir with special guest Ryan Luis Rodriguez to unpack Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil. From its legendary opening tracking shot to Welles’ haunting turn as the corrupt Hank Quinlan, the film stands as a dark, complex swan song to the classic noir era.

Together, we explore the film’s ...

“’S Wonderful! ’S Marvelous!” – An American in Paris (1951)

This week, we step into the dreamlike Technicolor world of An American in Paris with special guest Arlene Hellerman. A Publications Associate for Broadway Licensing Global, Arlene brings a multifaceted perspective shaped by a career spanning theatre, film, television, broadcast news, and print journalism.

Together, we explore how Vincente Minnelli’s 1951 musical turned Gersh...

Boop-Oop-a-Doop! In this special bonus episode, we present A Brief History of Betty Boop: From the Inkwell to the Musical. We begin with the story of Fleischer Studios—the groundbreaking animation house behind Betty Boop, Popeye, and Koko the Clown—and trace how their surreal, adult-oriented cartoons challenged the norms of early animation and stood in stark contrast to Disney’s wholesome image.

In the second half, we turn our atten...

“You are mine—body and soul!” – The Cheat (1915)

This week, we’re traveling back to 1915 with returning guests Amanda Rush and Jae Kim for a deep dive into Cecil B. DeMille’s The Cheat. A landmark of early American cinema, The Cheat helped shape visual storytelling through its pioneering use of lighting, editing, and narrative tension. But alongside its technical innovation lies a deeply troubling legacy—particularly in its portraya...

“Which one of you nuts has got any guts?” – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

This week, we check into the ward with special guest Ben Hosley, producer of Blank Check with Griffin and David, to take on Miloš Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. One of only three films to sweep the “Big Five” Oscars, this anti-establishment classic remains a cultural touchstone. We dive into Jack Nicholson’s electric performance, Louise Fle...

“We must be brave enough to look truth in the face.” – Where Are My Children? (1916)

This week, we return to the public domain vault for a full-length commentary track on Where Are My Children?, the provocative 1916 silent drama from Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley. As one of the earliest American films to tackle topics like birth control, abortion, and eugenics, it remains a landmark of progressive intent and moral complexity—albei...

“And now, I shall entertain you!” – Magical Maestro (1952) Animation aficionado and producer Jordan Beck returns to the show to tackle Tex Avery’s Magical Maestro, one of the most frenetic and technically dazzling cartoons of the Golden Age. With its relentless visual gags and groundbreaking use of the “wipe” technique, this controversial short is both a masterclass in animation and a challenging relic of its time. Join us as Jorda...

"The star of "RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK" and the director of "ALIEN" take you on a spectacular journey to the savage world of the year 2019!!"

Phil Iscove (Sleepy Hollow, Podcast Like It's...) returns to the show for the fifth time to kick off Season 5 with a seismic sci-fi story whose history is as complex as the future it depicts: 1982's Blade Runner. We'll talk Ridley, Harrison, replicants, and all those different cuts.

Follow the...

In this fifth edition of You're Missing Out's annual Oscar special, we're doing a two-parter, just like Wicked and Dune.

Last episode, we talked through each of the 10 Best Picture nominees (Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Done Part 2, Emilia Perez, I'm Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, Wicked).

Now, in Part 2, we'll rank not just the Best Picture nominees, but every film in every category.

Season 5 of You...

In this fifth edition of You're Missing Out's annual Oscar special, we're doing a two-parter, just like Wicked and Dune!

On this episode, we'll talk through each of the 10 Best Picture nominees (Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune Part 2, Emilia Perez, I'm Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, Wicked). In Part 2, we rank not just the Best Picture nominees, but every film in every category.

Season 5 of You're ...

Another year, another batch of 25 (give or take) titles added to the National Film Registry, and another live reaction episode from You're Missing Out. As is tradition, hosts Mike Natale and Tom Lorenzo jumped on mic mere hours after the list was made public. Neither host knew what titles were inducted until producer Kyle kicked off a YouTube livestream at noon on 12/17 and read the list off one by one. There was excitement, confus...

"It Will Make You a Better Southerner"- tagline from the Birmingham Age-Herald in 1916

We've now hit 100 National Film Registry titles covered on this podcast, and for this milestone episode, we decided to tackle the National Film Registry inductee that has most ominously loomed above this show since we began: D.W. Griffith's vile, hateful, and unfortunately influential 1915 blockbuster The Birth of a Nation.

Longtime friend of the...

"WHO WEARS THE PANTS?"

Tired of episodes where Mike and Tom bicker like a couple? Great news, for Adam's Rib, Mike's real-life significant other, editor Bella Zaydenberg, returns to the show to discuss Adam's Rib. Which of course means, she'll try and inject some well-researched facts into the mix, while Mike and Tom continue to bicker like a couple. This time, they'll talk Tracy, Hepburn, who was right in the courtroom, and whethe...