Cinema Sounds & Secrets

Blazing Saddles (1974), Trading Places (1983), Stir Crazy (1980).This week, Janet, John, (and Pen) explore three laugh out loud comedies made in the 70s-80s, and yet one can still transport us back to the wild wild west!

Experience comedic genius as some windy cowboys and a Black sheriff kick the hides of some western thugs, or when the same leading man comes out to play in a new setting by pulling a con after con against some evil...

Encore! Encore! With Easter on the way, Janet, John (and Pen) thought why not revist the life of an absolutely astounding actor... Julian Sands! Breaking onto the film scene with his screen debut in an episode of BBC's anthology series Play for Today. A year later, he made his cinematic debut in the indie comedy Privates on Parade. In 1984, Sands landed his breakthrough role of Gerald in the television miniseries The Sun Also Rises...

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career of the amazing actor, producer, director, politcal activist and founder of the Sundance Film Festival... Robert Redford! Though born in Santa Monica, California on August 18th, 1936, this future star often spent his summers with his grandfather in Austin, Texas. Often contributing his time there to being the catalyst for his environmentalist activism and ge...

Encore! Encore! In celebration of the current award season, Janet, John, (and Pen) thought what better way to spread some much needed cheer than to hear Mike Newell discuss some of the BAFTA films from 2024!!

Live at the Twenty Two Club, Director Mike Newell does the BAFTAS! This week Janet and John are joined by special guest Mike Newell to compare six of this year's BAFTA-nominated movies with six of the greatest British films.

Encore! Encore! With the utter success of this stars show, Heathers, on Broadway. Janet, John (and Pen) thought what better way to celebrate than to revist the life of this absolute one of a kind creative...Bill Kenwright!  With a little light footwork, a bit of song and dance, quite a bit of "quiet on set", decades worth of films, and Premiere league football from a local boy who lived his dream and made life entertaining, come wi...

Encore! Encore! With Valentine's day right around the corner, we thought what better way to bring the love than to revist two films about the story of love, The Apartment (1960) and Terms of Endearment (1983). 

Join Janet, John (and Pen) as they dive into two films that defined the culture of their decades, garnered heaps of Oscar nominations, and showed a glimpse of normal people with imperfections and foibles in a humorous, touch...

Encore! Encore! This February Janet, John, (and Pen) wanted to revist the spectacular life and career of this absolute Queen of Rock and Roll... Tina Turner! Born on November 26. 1939 in Brownsville, Tennessee, this star was the youngest of three daughters. Her childhood characterized as frenetic and unstable due to her parents' work and personal lives. By the age of 16, Anna Mae (Tina Turner's birth name) was enamored with the nig...

Gazebo (1959), How to Murder Your Wife (1965), What A Way To Go (1964). This week, Janet, John, (and Pen) explore three wacky films that all live within the same thematic "neighborhood" in the world of 1960s suburbia. America's singing darling finds herself burying a body in her garden, a darling Broadway star unintentionally becomes a black widow and one of the greatest comic-dramatic actors ever uses an alter ego to "murder" his ...

Extra Extra! Listen hear all about it! This week Janet, John, (and Pen) dive into the life of the zeitgeist of zeitgeists, the legendary, revolutionary, groundbreaking, funny force of nature who sang like a blue angel, our logo….Marlene Dietrich! Born on December 27, 1901 at Leberstraße 65 in the neighborhood of Rote Insel in Schöneberg, now a district of Berlin, Dietrich became one of the most iconic figures in the entertainment i...

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career of an extremely talented musical genius who wrote some of the most iconic and enduring songs of the 20th century... Burt Baharach! Born in Kansas City, Missouri on May 12th, 1928, Burt seemed to be destined for greatness. Encouraged by his amateur painter and songwriting mother, Burt took up practicing piano, drums, and the cello during his childhood. Using...

Encore! Encore! This January Janet, John, (and Pen) wanted to revist the astounding life this actress with her 80-year long career in film, television, and the stage... Angela Lansbury. This English-born, though Irish-bred actress began her career, after escaping the Blitz by moving to United States, at the age of eighteen by playing a cheeky Cockeny servant to Charles Boyer in the thriller Gaslight (1944). This role brought her a ...

Encore! Encore! After spending a wonderful New Year's with our loved ones we thought what better way to start off this new year of Cinema Sounds and Secrets than revist two films with two takes on love!

We'll drop back in time 500 years to the time of Lords and Ladies and sword fights, then leap ahead in time to hot rods, Little Richard and poodle skirts! Uptown Girls, Downtown Boys…you get the drift – but as is the way with love –...

Encore! Encore! This December Janet, John, (and Pen) wanted to revist the astounding life of the director of A Warm December, an extremely talented actor, activist, and diplomat... Sidney Poitier! Born in Miami, Florida on February 20th in 1927, this Bahamian-American actor changed the game for black actors forever in the motion-picture industry by becoming the African American to win the Academy Award for best actor and the first ...

Encore! Encore! Some may not know her but that's why we're here to remind you of one of the most iconic, legendary goddesses of film, stage, and cabaret who has ever lived. The Blue Angel, The Scarlett Empress, Lola Lola, and The Blonde Venus - in other words…the woman who graces our logo! 

The legendary Marlena Deitrich.

Join us as we revist the tribute to this icon and delve into why she graces our and your screens!

To learn more...

Encore! Encore! - This winter we wanted to keep things cool and what better way then to revist the "King of Cool," himself, Steve McQueen! The iconic man's man from the 60's and 70's… broke into a bank while wooing the glam faye dunaway, got locked up with Dustin Hoffman and made the great escape on a classic Triumph motorcycle dressed up as a BMW… only in Hollywood. Join us for Episode 6: "The Manly McQueen."

To find out more ab...

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career extremely talented and iconic actor... Michael Madsen! Born in Chicago to a filmmaking and author mother and a veteran/firefighting father, this actor went against the grain during his rather chaotic upbringing and got his start in theater. Specifically with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company as John Malkovich's apprentice. His first noteworthy role being that...

Splash (1984), The Shape of Water (2017), Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948). This week, Janet, John, (and Pen) explore three amazing films all swimming in the same subject pool— can you fall in love with a sentient being in the water— better yet, can they fall in love with you? This under the sea romance film craze started with an actor who was the ...

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career of the wonderful singer, actor, television heartthrob, and queer icon because of his heart-touching memoir, Shattered Love... Richard Chamberlain! Born in Beverly Hills in 1934, this American heartthrob didn't start off with an amazing childhood. In fact, even though he was a track star, earning four letters in both high school and college, he recounts his ...