Elia Kazan's 1947 Best Picture winner doesn't have the best hook for a movie, but we both found things to like. We solve prejudice in this episode.
THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES was the highest grossing movie of the 1940s.
Stick around after the credits on this one.
Billy Wilder's THE LOST WEEKEND represented a darker tone for a Best Picture winner than what had traditionally been recognized by the Oscars in the past. Released in 1945, the film chronicles Ray Milland's Don, an alcoholic writer who abandons plans to spend a weekend with his concerned brother and girlfriend in order to embark on a 3-day bender.
We return from the longer-than-planned hiatus with Leo McCarey's unusual franchise starter, GOING MY WAY. The 17th Academy Awards, held in 1945, is actually the first ceremony that is still able to be heard, in its entirety, via audio recording. The link to the Bob Hope-hosted event is in the show notes.
-1945 Academy Awards Radio Broadcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MBiGDFppYw
Well, that was something. We jump right into the the 93rd Oscars, the highs, the lows, and the moments that had us scratching our heads.
Mad reactions in this ep. So many. So mad.
It's the Casablanca episode! Noah Harald joins us to talk about 1943's Best Picture, which is often listed as one of the greatest movies of all time.
War! Though a war film in the traditional sense, Mrs. Miniver captures the cost of World War II on a middle class British Family. This film netted William Wyler his first Best Directing Oscar, and Greer Garson's acceptance speech for Best Actress went on for so long that the Academy instituted limits.
This is the movie that beat Citizen Kane for Best Picture. That's it. That's the description.
Last night we dreamed we went to Manderley again. Today, we talk devious maids, murderous husbands, and unnecessary remakes as we discuss 1940's Best Picture REBECCA with guest Dana Schwartz!
We weigh in with only bad takes on the Golden Globe nominations.
We take a stroll down memory lane and discuss an unproblematic little flick called GONE WITH THE WIND. Released in 1939, it became the highest grossing film in history and held the title until 1965, before reclaiming it in 1970. Adjusted for inflation, Gone With The Wind remains the highest grossing film in the history of American cinema.
Frank Capra's run as the dominant filmmaker of the Oscars in the 1930s comes to a conclusion with 1938's incredible "You Can't Take It With You". Money! Hardly good for anything, isn't it?
Andy's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/ayfilm/
The Life of Emile Zola tries to function as part biopic, part true-story dramatization of The Dreyfus affair. It also features a pretty cool poster that seemingly has nothing to do with anything actually in the movie.
One of the longest movies ever made at the time, The Great Ziegfeld strove to be equal parts epic biopic and musical review. We discuss whether it succeeds at being either.
Best Picture Twitter: https://twitter.com/BestPicPod
Andy's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/ayfilm/
Adventures on the high seas! We watched more than one version of the story of The Mutiny on the Bounty in preparation for our discussion of the 8th Academy Awards.
Best Picture Twitter: https://twitter.com/BestPicPod
Andy's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/ayfilm/
One of only three movies in history to sweep "The Big 5" (Picture/Director/Actor/Actress/Screenplay), It Happened One Night is a landmark romantic comedy. Spoiler alert: we liked it!
Best Picture Twitter: https://twitter.com/BestPicPod
Andy's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/ayfilm/
The reign of Frank Lloyd begins with CAVALCADE, an epic that spans 30 years in the lives of some British people. A martini in hand is recommended for this one, folks.
Best Picture Twitter: https://twitter.com/BestPicPod
Andy's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/ayfilm/
"I've got two Barrymores here. One for each of 'ya". Edmund Goulding's Grand Hotel was the first straight-up drama to win Best Picture. With five mega-stars featured above the title, this is the movie that creates the concept of the star-studded ensemble. It's also got some pretty swell set design!
Best Picture Twitter: https://twitter.com/BestPicPod
Andy's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/ayfilm/
Andy & Colin discuss Cimarron and the 4th annual Academy Awards.
Best Picture Twitter: https://twitter.com/BestPicPod
Andy's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/ayfilm/
Colin's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/colinmclaughlin/