You asked, we answered. In this episode, we all learn a little bit more about the origins of film, the structure of the Academy, what the Hays Code was, and some (fun?) trivia about Hollywood's most and least expensive films up to 1930. We also get to share what each of our favorite eras of film is-- and it turns out there might be a right answer to that question. This will be a recurring bonus segment, so if you have any questions about film history or movies or Hollywood drama-- reach us on any of our socials or email lightscameraaccolade@gmail.com If you don't want to wait a year before listening to our full bonus episodes, consider supporting us on Patreon

This episode spoils 1931’s Dracula and Frankenstein. It's alive! Or, technically, undead. This episode we're spoiling the movies that launched Universal's cinematic Monsters universe which defined what cinematic horror could be. Find the full episode at patreon.com/lightscameraaccolade

This episode spoils 1937’s nominees The Awful Truth, Captains Courageous, Dead End, The Good Earth, In Old Chicago, Lost Horizon, One Hundred Men and a Girl, Stage Door, A Star is Born and winner The Life of Emile Zola. We’ve finally made it to the double digits! We’re still in the 30s, but we’re already starting to see big changes in Hollywood this year— primarily the swan song of Big Opera’s chokehold on nominees (possibly in favor of a larger, more formidable foe?? (Big Tobacco)). Despite this year hitting some new lows, the highs were significant enough to give us the first year in which we all had different opinions on which movie should have taken home the top prize. For contacting us about our totally correct takes, you can email us at lightscameraaccolade@gmail.com And for full bonus content, find us on Patreon

Join us for the full re-release of our very first October bonus episode where we shared our unique relationships with scary movies and discussed three of 1920s' finest horror films: Haxan (1922), The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), and Nosferatu (1922). The scariest thing about this episode was probably Jake's mic quality. Additionally, if you want the full experience of new bonus episodes without having to wait an entire year-- visit us and subscribe to our Patreon

This episode spoils 1933’s La mujer del puerto (The Woman of the Port). The Hays Code would never have approved of the film picked for our first foray into the beginning of Mexico’s Golden Age of Cinema. The main character of this movie truly cannot catch a break, and this movie certainly doesn't shy away from taboo subjects and shock value. Find the full episode at patreon.com/lightscameraaccolade

This episode spoils Slow West (2015). For Abby’s (not) birthday month, she decides to abuse her power and force us all to make an impossible choice: a choice between two westerns. Some would potentially consider a contemporary western as taking the easy way out-- but the consequences of that decision would weigh heavily on Jake for at least 24 hours after credits rolled. Find the full episode at patreon.com/lightscameraaccolade

This episode spoils 1936's nominees Anthony Adverse, Dodsworth, Libeled Lady, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Romeo and Juliet, San Francisco, The Story of Louis Pasteur, A Tale of Two Cities, Three Smart Girls, and winner The Great Ziegfeld. This year gave us some of the best comedies so far (intentionally and unintentionally). Despite the Hays Code seemingly influencing movies to include more tidy, happy(ish) endings-- there are still some standouts this year. Or, at least one. Additionally, a couple of conspiracy theories crop up in this episode, and since no one is alive anymore to tell us whether or not we're wrong-- we can safely call them facts now.

This episode spoils Paul Schrader’s First Reformed (2017). Join us for Jake’s birthday celebration (preview) as we watch a surprisingly bleak film for the only optimist in our group. We got layers, folks Find the full episode at patreon.com/lightscameraaccolade

This episode spoils 1935's nominees Alice Adams, Broadway Melody of 1936, Captain Blood, David Copperfield, The Informer, Les Miserables, The Lives of a Bengal Lancer, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Naughty Marietta, Ruggles of Red Gap, Top Hat, and winner Mutiny on the Bounty. 1935 was a year of dueling themes: loyalty vs. betrayal, old vs. new, dark vs. light, pirates vs. pirates-- and we were treated to a collection of films with as much range as Charles Laughton's acting ability.

This episode spoils 1919's German film Anders als die Andern ("Different from the Others"), a film that challenged Germany’s anti-gay laws and feels as relevant as ever as it explores our understanding of sexuality, gender, and the harm that legal and social oppression inflicts on queer lives. Find the full episode at patreon.com/lightscameraaccolade

This episode spoils the 1930 Japanese film What Made Her Do It? -- a movie that takes the concept: “life is suffering and then you die” to the next level. Find the full episode at patreon.com/lightscameraaccolade

This episode spoils 1934's nominees The Barretts of Wimpole Street, Cleopatra, Flirtation Walk, The Gay Divorcee, Here Comes the Navy, The House of Rothschild, Imitation of Life, One Night of Love, The Thin Man, Viva Villa!, and winner It Happened One Night. The White Parade gets an honorable mention by thankfully deciding to (mostly) be a lost film and saving us the watch time. 1934 delivered epic spectacle unlike anything we've seen so far. This year had everything from painful portrayals of conflicts over identity and family dysfunction to extremely questionable portrayals of historical figures. But the humblest and most human entries won us over this year (and the Academy too apparently) in the first Oscars sweep in history.

This episode spoils Stephen King's Misery (1990) For our April bonus, we let Chrysantha pick a birthday movie. What better than a feel good movie about a writer connecting with his number one fan? Listen to the full episode at patreon.com/lightscameraaccolade

Did you know women were directing Hollywood films years before they gained the right to vote? Neither did most of us, until we were introduced to Lois Weber. Listen to this preview of our bonus episode where we take a look at two of this trailblazer's most famous films: 1919's Suspense and 1921's The Blot.   Find the full episode at patreon.com/lightscameraaccolade

This episode spoils 1932/33's 42nd Street, A Farewell to Arms, Cavalcade, I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, Lady for a Day, Little Women, The Private Life of Henry VIII, She Done Him Wrong, and State Fair Prohibition ended and the Academy decided to celebrate by nominating basically every movie that came out. Join us as we discuss some good movies and some terrible movies-- with almost no consensus on which are which. Unless it's a Paul Muni or Mae West movie.

We honor Black History Month by viewing the oldest existing feature film from a black American director; Oscar Micheaux's 1920 classic: Within Our Gates. To hear our full, in-depth discussion and opinions on whether or not Frosty was truly hot or not-- you can find the full version at patreon.com/lightscameraaccolade Spoiler: it's MUCH better than Birth of a Nation.    

This episode spoils 1931/32's Arrowsmith, Bad Girl, The Champ, Five Star Final, Grand Hotel, One Hour With You, Shanghai Express, and The Smiling Lieutenant Battlelines are drawn as the gang is split by differences of opinion over taste and content. What makes a film truly great -- fashion, cinematography, story, vibes? We get closer to the answer as we discuss the largest pool of Best Picture nominees (so far). 

The otherwise cinematically dismal year (1931) is salvaged by the 11th hour intervention of a groundbreaking German thriller: M. Listen to this preview segment from our bonus episode where we discuss the morality of capital punishment and the origins of true crime. To hear the full version, find us at patreon.com/lightscameraaccolade

This episode spoils 1930/31's Cimarron, East Lynne, The Front Page, Skippy, and Trader Horn. Jake struggles to pronounce names while the Academy struggles to nominate a good movie. 1931 was a terrible year for the economy, and an even worse one for the movies. Problematic doesn’t begin to describe some of these films.

Join us as we discuss our most technologically advanced movie yet: Hot Frosty (2024). To hear our full, in-depth discussion and opinions on whether or not Frosty was truly hot or not-- you can find the full version at patreon.com/lightscameraaccolade