Movie Nights & Matinees
Discussions of movies remembered from the days when it was necessary to actually go to the movies. Most guests have written books on the subjects under discussion.
Episodes
Jim and I are joined by filmfest master Bill Shaffer to talk about Japan's biggest movie star and now Oscar-winner, Godzilla (or Gojira, depending on your preference). Listen in as we discuss the various eras, his many monstrous foes, and his appearances in Legendary's Monsterverse, as well as his recent prestige picture Godzilla Minus One, which brought the big guy his first Academy Award.
Film historian Dan Van Neste joins me to discuss one of Hollywood's unjustifiably forgotten leading men as chronicled in Dan's latest book, The Accidental Star: The Life and Films of Warner Baxter. Listen in as we chat about Baxter's life, personal struggles, and roles in such pictures as 42nd Street, the Crime Doctor series, and Baxter's first, Oscar-winning outing as the big screen's Cisco Kid in In Old ...
Jim and I chat with radio host and author Jennifer Churchill about her book Movies are Magic, as well as her other media appearances activities designed to foster of love of classic films across new generations.
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A Bill&Debi Production
Author Michael F. Blake returns to chat with me and Jim about his latest book, The Cavalry Trilogy: John Ford, John Wayne, and the Making of Three Classic Westerns. Ride along as we talk about the men and the movies; spotlighting Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande, with a few others getting mentions along the way.
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A Bill&Debi Production
I'm joined by author Cathy Whitlock to talk about the subject of production design as chronicled in her gorgeous book Designs on Film: A Century of Hollywood Art Direction. Among the films discussed are Citizen Kane, Top Hat, Things to Come, The Wizard of Oz, Cleopatra, Lawrence of Arabia and You Only Live Twice, to name a few.
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A Bill&Debi Production
Author Gary May joins me to talk about the career of M.K. Jerome, whose songs enhanced many a golden age Hollywood film, especially during his tenure at Warner Bros. Moe, as he was known to friends, family and colleagues, is the subject of Gary's book The Tunesmith, The Musical Journey of M.K. Jerome. Gary has significant insight into Moe's life and career, given that Moe was Gary's grandfather. Listen in as we d...
Agatha Christie scholar and author Mark Aldridge joins me to discuss movies adapted from the writings of the famed mystery writer, as chronicled in Mark's book Agatha Christie on Screen. Gather with us in the virtual parlor as we discuss, among other films, Love From a Stranger, And Then There Were None, Witness for the Prosecution and Murder on the Orient Express.
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A Bill&Debi...
Jim and I are joined by the multi-talented Nick Santa Maria, co-author of The Annotated Abbott and Costello and the alphabetically first half of the retro comedy team Biffle and Shooster. We chat about Bud and Lou, and what made them and their comedy formula so special, then segue into the creation and assemblage of the neo-vintage (seriously?) short comedies produced and compiled into The Misadventures of Biffle and Shooster.
As our first guest of 2024, Jim and I are thrilled to welcome the one and only Leonard Maltin, whose tenure as the movie critic for Entertainment Tonight spanned three decades, and whose books are a staple of any respectable movie reference library, in addition to his highly informative and entertaining autobiography. Join us as we discuss his career, his books, and here and there a specific movie.
With the first anniversary of the launch of Movie Nights & Matinees coming this week, co-host Jim Reid and I have a casual conversation that includes reflections on the first year of the podcast, as well as discussions of specific movies we've been watching or that are personal favorites. Popping up in the discussion are comedians Laurel & Hardy, Wheeler & Woolsey, Edgar Kennedy and Eddie Cantor, in addition to Fr...
Jim and I wind up the year by talking Christmas movies with TCM Library author Jeremy Arnold, whose 2018 book Christmas in the Movies has just been reissued in a revised, expanded edition. Join us as we talk about old favorites including It's a Wonderful Life, Meet Me in St. Louis and A Christmas Carol; as well as less well-known films such as The Cheaters, Blast of Silence and Cash On Demand. Then there's the matter o...
Join me and Jim for a fascinating discussion with documentary filmmaker Peter Flynn regarding the demise of film as a mainstream exhibition medium, as chronicled in his 2015 film The Dying of the Light, and the impact of that change on generations of projectionists. The conversation also includes his prior documentary Blazing the Trail (2011) and his forthcoming Film is Dead. Long Live Film!
After a hiatus, Jim Reid returns to join me in discussing silent comedy pioneer Max Linder with Lisa Stein Haven, the author of The Rise and Fall of Max Linder. Along the way, we chat about Linder's status as the first silent comedy superstar, his unique mashups of stage and film in his early career, touring appearances that he used as opportunities to create comedies in unique locations, his attempts to launch an American ca...
Joining me to talk about movie adaptations of works by Edgar Rice Burroughs are prior guests Scott Tracy Griffin and Will Murray. There's some additional discussion of a few Tarzan films, though that was mostly covered in Episode 2. This episode will focus more on the non-Tarzan films, from 1917's The Lad and the Lion to the 2012 big-budget adventure John Carter.
Let us know what you think about this episode!
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Brian Schell of The Horror Guys blog and podcast joins me to chat about movies spotlighted in his book The Horror Guys Guide to the Silent Age of Horror Films. Among the titles discussed are famous ones such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu, The Golem, and The Man Who Laughs, as well as some that are less familiar, such as The Phantom Carriage, Waxworks and The Hands of Orlac. Our conversation (and the book) also covers ...
Jim and I are joined by Paul Castiglia, blogger and author of the forthcoming book Scared Silly, to talk about classic horror comedies. Among the movies discussed are such obvious titles as Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Ghosts on the Loose and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, as well as lesser known films such as Zombies on Broadway and You'll Find Out.
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A Bill&Debi Product...
Jim Reid and I are joined by multi-talented musician, composer, songwriter and internet DJ Marty Ross to discuss rock & roll in the movies from its early days through the 60s. Whether your tastes run to Little Richard, Frankie and Annette or The Monkees, come along for a fun ride from bobby socks to psychedelia.
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A Bill&Debi Production
Jim Reid and I talk to author and publisher Ed Hulse about the history of cliffhanger serials, a subject about which Ed has written multiple outstanding books. We go back to the literary and theatrical origins of the serial format, and talk about silent and sound serials such as The Perils of Pauline, The Green Archer, Daredevils of the Red Circle and Spy Smasher, among others.
Let us know what you think about this episode!
A Bill&a...
Recent guest Jim Reid returns to co-host as we talk with author Craig Calman about legendary producer Hal Roach as documented in Craig's book 100 Years of Brodies With Hal Roach: The Jaunty Journeys of a Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Pioneer. Listen in as we discuss the likes of Harold Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy, Charley Chase and Our Gang, among others.
Let us know what you think about this episode!
A Bill&Debi ...
TCM's Scott McGee and I take a look at Hollywood's history of exciting stunts through the lens of his book Danger On the Silver Screen: 50 Films Celebrating Cinema's Greatest Stunts. Listen in as we talk about a diverse group of stunt performers that includes Tom Mix, Buster Keaton, Buddy Joe Hooker and Charlize Theron, among others, and such films as Raiders of the Lost Ark, How the West Was Won, Ronin, Casino Roy...
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