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Melissa Kaercher
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May 07
Episode 48: Gilda
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This week, we watch the amazing Rita Hayworth in Gilda!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because Rita Hayworth truly must be witnessed. The film is readily available for rental on streaming services such as Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, and YouTube. It is also available with subscription to FilmStruck.
Note: as you will soon be able to tell while listening to the episode, our recording session was interrupted by everything. Dogs! Phones! Husbands! Pizza guy! We apologize. In spite of all that, please join us again on May 21st, when we go back to Clouzot with a viewing of Diabolique!
| Gilda (1946) | |
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Rating: 7.6/10 (34,837 votes) Director: Charles Vidor Writer: E.A. Ellington, Jo Eisinger, Marion Parsonnet Stars: Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, George Macready Runtime: 110 min Rated: Approved Genre: Drama, Film-Noir, Romance Released: 25 Apr 1946 |
| Plot: A small-time gambler hired to work in a Buenos Aires casino discovers his employer's new wife is his former lover. | |
Apr 24
Episode 47: Vertigo
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This week, we go see Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo in 70mm, and then we have a whole lot to say about it!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because oh boy do we spoil all the details. The film is readily available for rental on streaming services such as Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, and YouTube.
Note: Melissa only introduces Alee during the first segment, because they weren’t sure Tonya wasn’t at the theater yet, and she wasn’t sure she was going to make it in time for the start. She did get to the theater, though, so she hopped in for the after-film discussion… but Melissa totally forgot to introduce her after the music break. Sorry for any confusion!
Please join us again on May 7th, when we watch Rita Hayworth play Gilda!
| Vertigo (1958) | |
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Rating: 8.3/10 (424,475 votes) Director: Alfred Hitchcock Writer: Alec Coppel, Samuel A. Taylor, Pierre Boileau Stars: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes Runtime: 128 min Rated: PG Genre: Mystery, Romance, Thriller Released: 09 May 1963 |
| Plot: A former San Francisco police detective juggles wrestling with his personal demons and becoming obsessed with the hauntingly beautiful woman he has been hired to trail, who may be deeply disturbed. | |
Apr 07
Episode 46: Chinatown
, with special guest: David Tyler McKay
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This week, we are joined by geography professor David Tyler McKay for a discussion about Chinatown!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because we spoil the hell out of it. The film is readily available on streaming services such as Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, and YouTube.
Please join us again on April 21st, when we launch back into the world of Hitchcock with Vertigo!
| Chinatown (1974) | |
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Rating: 8.1/10 (348,060 votes) Director: Roman Polanski Writer: Robert Towne, Roman Polanski Stars: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston Runtime: 130 min Rated: R Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller Released: 20 Jun 1974 |
| Plot: A private detective hired to expose an adulterer in 1930s Los Angeles finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder. | |
Mar 22
Episode 45: Desert Fury
, with special guest: Matthew Kessen
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This week, we are joined by Matthew Kessen for a very rare screening of Desert Fury!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode… if you can. This is sadly a very difficult movie to track down right now. We were lucky enough to see an actual film print at The Heights Theater. If you are truly determined, the movie has been released on DVD overseas and copies can often be found on Amazon. You can also probably find downloadable copies online, if you know where to look.
Please join us again on April 7th, when we continue with another color noir with Chinatown!
| Desert Fury (1947) | |
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Rating: 6.5/10 (1,936 votes) Director: Lewis Allen Writer: Robert Rossen, Ramona Stewart, A.I. Bezzerides Stars: John Hodiak, Lizabeth Scott, Burt Lancaster Runtime: 96 min Rated: Approved Genre: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir Released: 15 Aug 1947 |
| Plot: The daughter of a Nevada casino owner gets involved with a racketeer, despite everyone's efforts to separate them. | |
Mar 07
Episode 44: The Long Goodbye
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This week, we close our Marlowe trilogy with Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because it’s fascinating. This film can be found for streaming rental from Amazon and Vudu.
Please join us again on March 21st, when we continue with another color noir with Desert Fury!
| The Long Goodbye (1973) | |
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Rating: 7.5/10 (36,792 votes) Director: Robert Altman Writer: Leigh Brackett, Raymond Chandler Stars: Elliott Gould, Nina van Pallandt, Sterling Hayden Runtime: 112 min Rated: R Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama Released: 08 Mar 1973 |
| Plot: Private investigator Philip Marlowe helps a friend out of a jam, but in doing so gets implicated in his wife's murder. | |
Feb 21
Episode 43: The Big Sleep
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This week, we watch Bogey and Bacall in The Big Sleep!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because it should truly be experienced. This film can be found for streaming rental from iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, and several other services.
Please join us again on March 3rd, when we finish our Marlowe Marathon with The Long Goodbye!
| The Big Sleep (1946) | |
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Rating: 7.9/10 (90,378 votes) Director: Howard Hawks Writer: William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett, Jules Furthman Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, John Ridgely Runtime: 114 min Rated: Passed Genre: Crime, Film-Noir, Mystery Released: 31 Aug 1946 |
| Plot: Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a wealthy family. Before the complex case is over, he's seen murder, blackmail and what might be love. | |
Feb 07
Episode 42: Murder, My Sweet
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This week, we watch Dick Powell (!) play Philip Marlowe (!!!) in Murder, My Sweet!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because Dick Powell is a delight to behold. This film can be found for streaming rental from iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, and several other services.
Please join us again on February 21st, when we continue our Marlowe Marathon with The Big Sleep!
| Murder, My Sweet (1944) | |
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Rating: 7.5/10 (14,620 votes) Director: Edward Dmytryk Writer: John Paxton, Raymond Chandler Stars: Dick Powell, Claire Trevor, Anne Shirley Runtime: 95 min Rated: Approved Genre: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir Released: 22 Feb 1945 |
| Plot: After being hired to find an ex-con's former girlfriend, Philip Marlowe is drawn into a deeply complex web of mystery and deceit. | |
Jan 20
Episode 41: The Manchurian Candidate
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In this week’s episode, we felt like talking about politics for some reason, so we watched The Manchurian Candidate!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because if you haven’t seen the movie by now, you owe yourself a treat. This film can is a little hard to find on streaming right now, but it is available on Amazon Streaming if you have a Starz account (…or if you sign up for their 7-day free trial, hint hint).
Please join us again on February 7th, when we launch into the world of Philip Marlowe with Murder, My Sweet!
| The Manchurian Candidate (1962) | |
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Rating: 7.9/10 (79,449 votes) Director: John Frankenheimer Writer: Richard Condon, George Axelrod, John Frankenheimer Stars: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh Runtime: 126 min Rated: PG-13 Genre: Drama, Thriller Released: 24 Oct 1962 |
| Plot: An American POW in the Korean War is brainwashed as an unwitting assassin for an international Communist conspiracy. | |
Jan 07
Episode 40: Sweet Smell of Success
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In this week’s episode, we have MANY THINGS TO SAY about Sweet Smell of Success!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because it has one of the sharpest, most cynical scripts in all cinema history. This film can currently be seen streaming on FilmStruck, iTunes, and DirecTV.
Please join us again on January 21st, when we take on The Manchurian Candidate!
| Sweet Smell of Success (1957) | |
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Rating: 8.0/10 (35,611 votes) Director: Alexander Mackendrick Writer: Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman, Alexander Mackendrick Stars: Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison Runtime: 96 min Rated: Approved Genre: Drama, Film-Noir Released: 04 Jul 1957 |
| Plot: Powerful but unethical Broadway columnist J.J. Hunsecker coerces unscrupulous press agent Sidney Falco into breaking up his sister's romance with a jazz musician. | |
Dec 21
Episode 39: The Thin Man
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In this week’s episode, we lighten up a bit (and drunken up a bit) for the holidays, with The Thin Man!
We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because it is oh so delightful. This film can currently be seen streaming on iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Video, YouTube, and Google Play.
Please join us again on January 7th, when we dive back into the darkness with Sweet Smell of Success!
| The Thin Man (1934) | |
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Rating: 7.9/10 (32,296 votes) Director: W.S. Van Dyke Writer: Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Dashiell Hammett Stars: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan Runtime: 91 min Rated: TV-PG Genre: Comedy, Crime, Mystery Released: 25 May 1934 |
| Plot: Former detective Nick Charles and his wealthy wife Nora investigate a murder case, mostly for the fun of it. | |
