Episode 201 is the 2nd in our pairing of Best Picture Academy Award-winning films that seriously underperformed at the box office when they first came out. This time, we move ahead to 1954 and a film that's considered one of the classic films to be made in the 50s, a film that was mired in controversy (and still is for some), but cemented Marlon Brando's place as Hollywood royalty: "On The Waterfront." Directed by Elia Kazan (a hero to some, villain to others, for "naming names" during the House Un-American Activities Committee pursuit of Communists in Hollywood), the film stars Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, and introduced the world to Eva Marie Saint. Perhaps an attempt to get back at Arthur Miller, perhaps an attempt to make up for his HUAC testimony, one thing is for certain: This is an American classic for all times, and netted eight Oscars in 1955! Plus, the trio reveal which two "Movies about making movies" they'll be reviewing for the next pairing!
It's our 200th episode and the first in our pairing of Best Picture Academy Award-winning films that seriously underperformed at the box office when they first came out! Our first film is also director Alfred Hitchcock's first American film, 1940's "Rebecca." Starring Laurence Olivier (pre "Sir"), Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Judith Anderson, Reginald Denny, C. Aubrey Smith, Gladys Cooper, and Edward Fielding. The story follows Maxim de Winter, a lonely widower who falls in love with a young woman, marries her, and takes her home to his mansion known as Manderley. There, the new Mrs. de Winter meets friend and foe amongst the people who work for Maxim, although she doesn't know why she is despised by some and befriended by others. In true Hitchcockian fashion, the story twists and turns until you're not sure who to believe, but you know you're enjoying a cinematic ride like no other!
Episode 199 finishes up our "second century of reviews," so-to-speak, with another classic 1960's musical. From the last episode, we move ahead two years to 1964 for another film based on a hit Broadway musical, "My Fair Lady!" Expertly directed by veteran director George Cukor, this story follows a poor street girl who sells flowers to get by, being taken in by two linguistics professors as the object of a bet: That one of them can, in six months, turn her into a young woman presentable enough to attend court with royalty and not give away her lower-class origin! Audrey Hepburn plays Eliza Doolittle, with Rex Harrison playing Professor Henry Higgins and Wilfrid Hyde-White as Colonel Hugh Pickering, the former accepting the wager from the latter. Add to that Stanley Holloway as Alfred P. Doolittle (Eliza's father), Gladys Cooper as Henry's mother, and Mona Washbourne as Mrs. Pierce (Henry's housekeeper) and you have a group of excellent performers who, in turn, present a film that took home eight Academy awards, including Best Picture! Plus, the trio reveal which two listener-suggested films will make up the pairing for the 200th episode!
Episode 198 begins our 1960s classic musical pairing with, arguably, one of the best musicals ever made, in or out of the 1960s! We head back to 1962 for the cinematic version of Meredith Wilson's smash Broadway musical "The Music Man!" Directed for the silver screen by Morton DaCosta, this is the story of a traveling salesman/con artist who tries to bamboozle a small town in Iowa, and ends up falling for the maiden piano teacher he's supposed to be sweeping off her feet! Starring Robert Preston as Professor Harold Hill, Shirley Jones as Marian Paroo, Buddy hackett as Hill's old friend and confidant Marcellus Washburn, Paul Ford and the inestimable Hermione Gingold as Mayor and Mrs. Shinn, the Buffalo Bills as the town council-turned-barbershop quartet, and one of the first appearances of a very young Ron (billed as "Ronny") Howard, this film is a lively trip through the antics of a small Iowa town in the year 1912! Great songs, excellent performances, and dance numbers that will make your eyes wide and your toes tap!
Episode 197.5: We thought that, with everything going on in the world, it might be worthwhile to examine how cinema has dealt with various types of plagues and pandemics. The thought was: It's got to be worse than what we're currently experiencing with the COVID-19 outbreak... and we were right! Buddy, Chad, and Jeff each review two pandemic films: "Carriers" (2009) directed by David and Alex Pastor, "Blindness" (2008) directed by Fernando Meirelles, "28 Days Later" (2002) directed by Danny Boyle, "The Omega Man" (1971) directed by Boris Sagal, "Contagion" (2011) directed by Steven Soderbergh, and the remake of the George Romero film "The Crazies" (2010) directed by Breck Eisner. For each film, we've got a breakdown of the cast and plot, the trailer, and then a bit about how much the reviewing individual can recommend the film. Remember: These films are supposed to make you feel better, because what's going on in the world today isn't as bad as what's depicted herein. If you're someone who's already anxious, or a major germaphobe, please use your own discretion when viewing these movies!
Episode 201 is the 2nd in our pairing of Best Picture Academy Award-winning films that seriously underperformed at the box office when they first came out. This time, we move ahead to 1954 and a film that's considered one of the classic films to be made in the 50s, a film that was mired in controversy (and still is for some), but cemented Marlon Brando's place as Hollywood royalty: "On The Waterfront." Directed by Elia Kazan (a hero to some, villain to others, for "naming names" during the House Un-American Activities Committee pursuit of Communists in Hollywood), the film stars Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, and introduced the world to Eva Marie Saint. Perhaps an attempt to get back at Arthur Miller, perhaps an attempt to make up for his HUAC testimony, one thing is for certain: This is an American classic for all times, and netted eight Oscars in 1955! Plus, the trio reveal which two "Movies about making movies" they'll be reviewing for the next pairing! 
Find us on Facebook!
Follow us on Twitter!
Website and all episodes Creative Commons