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Melissa Kaercher
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Apr 21
Episode 57: The Set-Up
, with special guest: Barb Lind
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For this week’s episode, we watch a very early Robert Wise film, The Set-Up!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because the episode is full of spoilers. The film is available on streaming on iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, and YouTube.
If you want to read the poem that this movie was based on, you can enjoy “The Set-Up” by Joseph Moncure March right here.
Please also join us again on May 7th, when we take a brief detour into comedy with To Be or Not to Be!
| The Set-Up (1949) | |
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Rating: 7.8/10 (9,719 votes) Director: Robert Wise Writer: Art Cohn, Joseph Moncure March Stars: Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter, George Tobias Runtime: 73 min Rated: Approved Genre: Crime, Film-Noir, Sport Released: 02 Apr 1949 |
| Plot: Expecting the usual loss, a boxing manager takes bribes from a betting gangster without telling his fighter. | |
Apr 07
Episode 56: Berlin Express
, with special guest: Barb Lind
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS
For this week’s episode, we visit bombed-out postwar Germany with Berlin Express!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because the episode is full of spoilers. The film is readily available on streaming on iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, and YouTube.
Please also join us again on April 21st, when we follow Robert Ryan to The Set-Up!
| Berlin Express (1948) | |
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Rating: 6.8/10 (3,529 votes) Director: Jacques Tourneur Writer: Harold Medford, Curt Siodmak Stars: Merle Oberon, Robert Ryan, Charles Korvin Runtime: 87 min Rated: Approved Genre: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir Released: 01 May 1948 |
| Plot: A multinational group of train passengers become involved in a post-World War II Nazi assassination plot. | |
Feb 15
Reel Education: Noir will return March 21st!
We’ve had some challenges scheduling our next recording sessions, so we will not be able to post any new episodes until March 21st. Sorry for the delay!
Our parent podcast A Reel Education will continue uninterrupted over the next month, so while you’re waiting for our return, please check out their latest episode about High Noon, as well as their upcoming episodes about The Goonies and this year’s Best Picture Oscar winner!
Feb 07
Episode 55: The Third Man
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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For this week’s episode, we visit one of the great British noir films, The Third Man!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because we spoil the heck out if it. The film is readily available on streaming on Netflix, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, YouTube, and Amazon.
Please also join us again on February 21st, when we watch another WWII aftermath noir, Berlin Express!
| The Third Man (1949) | |
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Rating: 8.1/10 (177,579 votes) Director: Carol Reed Writer: Graham Greene, Orson Welles, Alexander Korda Stars: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli Runtime: 93 min Rated: Approved Genre: Film-Noir, Mystery, Thriller Released: 03 Sep 1949 |
| Plot: Pulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, postwar Vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, Harry Lime. | |
Jan 24
Episode 54: Rear Window
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For this week’s episode, we conclude our Jimmy Stewart series as we view Hitchcock’s delightful Rear Window!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because there be spoilers ahead. The film is readily available on streaming on Google Play, YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, and Amazon.
Please also join us again on February 7th, when we talk about the amazing British classic, The Third Man!
| Rear Window (1954) | |
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Rating: 8.5/10 (507,559 votes) Director: Alfred Hitchcock Writer: John Michael Hayes, Cornell Woolrich Stars: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey Runtime: 112 min Rated: PG Genre: Mystery, Thriller Released: 01 Sep 1954 |
| Plot: A photographer in a wheelchair spies on his neighbors from his Greenwich Village courtyard apartment window, and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder, despite the skepticism of his fashion-model girlfriend. | |
Jan 07
Episode 53: Winchester ’73
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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For this week’s episode, we continue with our Jimmy Stewart series as we visit Anthony Mann’s noir-western, Winchester ’73!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because there be spoilers ahead. The film is readily available on streaming on Google Play, YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, and Amazon.
Please also join us again on January 21st, when we return with an episode about Rear Window!
| Winchester '73 (1950) | |
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Rating: 7.6/10 (21,316 votes) Director: Anthony Mann Writer: Robert L. Richards, Borden Chase, Stuart N. Lake Stars: James Stewart, Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea Runtime: 92 min Rated: Passed Genre: Action, Drama, Western Released: 12 Jul 1950 |
| Plot: A cowboy's obsession with a stolen rifle leads to a bullet-ridden odyssey through the American West. | |
Dec 21
Episode 52: Call Northside 777
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS
For this week’s episode, we launch into a Jimmy Stewart series, starting with Call Northside 777!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because we spoil things. The film is readily available on streaming on Google Play, YouTube, iTunes, and Amazon.
Please also join us again on January 7th, when we return with an episode about Winchester 73!
| Call Northside 777 (1948) | |
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Rating: 7.3/10 (9,884 votes) Director: Henry Hathaway Writer: Jerome Cady, Jay Dratler, Leonard Hoffman Stars: James Stewart, Richard Conte, Lee J. Cobb Runtime: 112 min Rated: Approved Genre: Drama, Film-Noir Released: 01 Mar 1948 |
| Plot: Chicago reporter P.J. McNeal re-opens a decade-old murder case. | |
Nov 07
Episode 51: Body Heat
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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For this week’s episode, we delve into Lawrence Kasdan’s steamy 80’s thriller, Body Heat!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because don’t care about spoilers. The film is readily available on streaming on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu.
Please also join us again on November 21st, when return with an episode about Call Northside 777!
| Body Heat (1981) | |
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Rating: 7.4/10 (38,913 votes) Director: Lawrence Kasdan Writer: Lawrence Kasdan Stars: William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Richard Crenna Runtime: 113 min Rated: R Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance Released: 28 Aug 1981 |
| Plot: A beautiful Florida woman seduces a seedy lawyer, with the hidden agenda of having him kill her rich husband. | |
Oct 07
Episode 50: Double Indemnity
, with special guest: Windy Bowlsby
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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FINALLY, it’s here! For episode 50, former co-host Windy returns to the podcast for an episode about Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because we dive right into the plot. The film is readily available on streaming with a subscription to FilmStruck, and is available for rental on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu.
Please also join us again on October 21st, when return with an episode about Body Heat!
| Double Indemnity (1944) | |
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Rating: 8.3/10 (162,919 votes) Director: Billy Wilder Writer: Billy Wilder, Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain Stars: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson Runtime: 107 min Rated: Passed Genre: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir Released: 06 Jul 1944 |
| Plot: A Los Angeles insurance representative lets an alluring housewife seduce him into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, an insurance investigator. | |
May 21
Episode 49: Diabolique
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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In this week’s episode, we introduce Tonya to another Henri-Georges Clouzot masterpiece: the truly wicked Diabolique!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because of spoilers. No, really, we are truly, honestly serious this time… you don’t want this one spoiled if you’ve never seen it! The film is readily available on streaming with a subscription to FilmStruck. (They have a free trial deal, too.)
Please also join us again on June 7th, when we celebrate our 50th episode with Double Indemnity!
| Diabolique (1955) | |
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Rating: 8.1/10 (68,069 votes) Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot Writer: Pierre Boileau, Thomas Narcejac, Henri-Georges Clouzot Stars: Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse Runtime: 117 min Rated: Not Rated Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror Released: 21 Nov 1955 |
| Plot: The wife and mistress of a loathed school principal plan to murder him with what they believe is the perfect alibi. | |
