Our second film in our "In Memorium" pairing honors the 1972 winner of the Best Supporting Actress award for her portrayal of Ruth Popper in "The Last Picture Show." We lost film and television legend Cloris Leachman on January 27th, 2021. Although well-known for her comedic roles and her collaborations with Mel Brooks, Ms. Leachman won the Academy Award for her role in Peter Bogdanovich's magnum opus as the neglected wife of the high school athletics coach. Co-written by original novel author Larry McMurtry and Bogdanovich, the film co-starred Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Ben Johnson, Ellen Burstyn, Eileen Brennan, and Clu Gulager. It also gave newcomers Cybill Shepherd and Randy Quaid their start in motion pictures! The film tells the story of the slow death of Anarene, Texas in the early 1950s, by telling the interwoven and tragic stories of its residents. The film gave Leachman her only Oscar, and also awarded Ben Johnson a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance as Sam the Lion. Plus, the trio discuss why they're afraid Chad won't be able to get through the next horror pairing!
We're dedicating this pairing to honoring two incredible actors who passed away quite recently. Our first film is from 1965, that year's winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, the Robert Wise-directed "The Sound of Music." It's the film Christopher Plummer is likely best known for, and the reason we chose it to honor him. Co-starring Julie Andrews, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood, Charmian Carr, Heather Menzies-Urich, Nicholas Hammond, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner, and Kym Karath, this film tells (very loosely), the story of the Von Trapp family and their attempt to flee the Nazis annexation of Austria pre-World War II. Oh, and did we mention that it's a musical as well, written by famous duo Rogers and Hammerstein? Likely one of the most famous musicals of all time, and a film whose draw endures even to this day.
Our second musical from the 1980s comes only two years after "Fame," and set the box office record for highest grossing musicla of the 80s! Directed by Colin Higgins and based on the Tony-nominated Broadway show, it's 1982's film version of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas!" Based on actual history out of the great state of Texas, the film tells the story of the Chicken Ranch, a brothel that had been in business for close to a century. The current madam is Miss Mona (Dolly Parton), who is in a love affair with Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd (Burt Reynolds). Ed Earl is ably assisted by Deputy Fred (Jim Nabors) and everything is peaceful and quiet. That is, until TV huckster and rabble-rouser Melvin P. Thorpe (Dom DeLuise) decides to make closing down the Chicken Ranch his next big crusade! Sparks fly, dance numbers are performed, and it ends just like it does in the history books, albeit with a log more singing. And finally, the trio discuss why they decided to more their schedule back a pairing and do an "In Memorium" pairing for their next two episodes!
This episode begins our pairing of 80s musicals with the one that affected SO many kids in junior high or high school! If you were in performing arts, this movie spoke to you and your dream of attending a school like this! We are, of course, talking about the 1980 blockbuster "Fame!" Directed masterfully by Alan Parker, the film follows seven students from freshman through senior year at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts: Coco (Irena Cara), Leroy (Gene Anthony Ray), Bruno (Lee Curreri), Lisa (Laura Dean), Montgomery (Paul McCrane), Ralph (Barry Miller), and Doris (Maureen Teefy). Their trials, tribulations, and successes are all chronicled, including the lesson that fame is elusive and fleeting. The film spawned a TV series in the 80s, and was remade in 2009!
For the 2nd film in our pairing focusing on films by director John Ford, we move ahead to 1946, and the second western he directed! It's off to Tombstone with the Earp brothers, driving cattle across the country to California. After a chance run-in with local cattlemen the Clantons, their cattle is stolen, and one of the Earp brothers killed. Wyatt (Henry Fonda) decides to accept the position of Marshall of Tombstone as a means of seeking justice for his brother James' death. Virgil (Tim Holt) and Morgan (Ward Bond) are at his back, while patriarch Old Man Clanton (Walter Brennan) and his sons Ike (Grant Withers) and Billy (John Ireland) circle. Add to the mix the town's resident gambler Doc John Holiday (Victor Mature) and the two women vying for his attention, Chihuahua (Linda Darnell) and Clementine Carter (Cathy Downs), and you have the full cast. It's an absolutely beautifully-shot film, and features (according to Ford, anyway) the most authentic version of the shoot-out at the OK Corral that's ever been put on film! Plus, the trio announce what two early-80s musicals will be the focus of their next pairing!
Our second film in our "In Memorium" pairing honors the 1972 winner of the Best Supporting Actress award for her portrayal of Ruth Popper in "The Last Picture Show." We lost film and television legend Cloris Leachman on January 27th, 2021. Although well-known for her comedic roles and her collaborations with Mel Brooks, Ms. Leachman won the Academy Award for her role in Peter Bogdanovich's magnum opus as the neglected wife of the high school athletics coach. Co-written by original novel author Larry McMurtry and Bogdanovich, the film co-starred Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Ben Johnson, Ellen Burstyn, Eileen Brennan, and Clu Gulager. It also gave newcomers Cybill Shepherd and Randy Quaid their start in motion pictures! The film tells the story of the slow death of Anarene, Texas in the early 1950s, by telling the interwoven and tragic stories of its residents. The film gave Leachman her only Oscar, and also awarded Ben Johnson a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance as Sam the Lion. Plus, the trio discuss why they're afraid Chad won't be able to get through the next horror pairing!
Find us on Facebook! 
Follow us on Twitter!
Website and all episodes Creative Commons