Behind the Screen with The Movie Files

Alphabet Murders

Tue, 8 May 2012 17:13:11 -0700

Based on the novel, The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie, this 1965 British suspense film has as much humor as it does suspense. Not recognized as one of the more famous Christie classics to grace the big screen the film stars Tony Randall as Detective Hercule Poirot. We take a look back at the film this month.

Madigan

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:35:28 -0700

Richard Widmark and Henry Fonda star in the 1968 detective mystery Madigan. The story is based on a 1962 novel called The Commissioner and walks a fine line of offering a gritty realistic modern day film with the classic detective mystery Hollywood was so fond of. We take a look back at the film with this episode.

Pal Joey

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:46:42 -0700

Considered by many the quintessential Frank Sinatra vehicle, Pal Joey is a 1957 musical with Frank in the leading role as a wisecracking lounge singer Joey Evans who is caught between two women, Rita Hayworth and Kin Novak. While Sinatra shined vocally with some legendary songs by Rogers and Hart, his leading ladies were there for looks and acting, with their singing dubbed. Sinatra would win a Golden Globe for his performance.

Bedroom Window

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 16:21:48 -0700

When a woman having an illicit affair sees a brutal attack her lover offers to become the witness to the crime and putting everyone involved in danger. The 1987 mystery-suspense thriller The Bedroom Window stars Steve Guttenberg, Isabelle Hupert and Elizabeth McGovern. It’s the topic of this month’s episode.

Wizard of Oz

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:17:03 -0800

Now available on blu ray the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz is a timeless film that continues to offer generations old and new a world of fantasy and imagination unlike any other. With this episode we look at the restored blu ray version and how it holds up with the passage of time.

The VIPs

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 18:00:55 -0800

It was a 1963 film that some call Grand Hotel at an airport. Starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton at the height of their high profile romance, the pair lead an all star cast grounded at London’s Heathrow Airport by fog. We take a look back at the film, the stars and the era with this episode.

Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:38:26 -0800

Joan Crawford made some 80 feature films in some six decades, but one film, has stood by as the film she never finished. Starring opposite Bette Davis in what was hoped to be a blockbuster sequel to “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” the film we discuss in this episode was the film she walked away from and was finished without her.

Baby Jane

Sun, 8 Jan 2012 10:22:07 -0800

A new book on Joan Crawford gives us the opportunity to talk about the film that relaunched the latter part of her career. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? became a smash hit, earning Crawford both praise and financial freedom from a mountain of debt. But the film also opened up the genre of horror films that would make up the bulk of the work she would do for the next decade. Let’s take a look at the movie and the new book.

The Thin Man for Christmas

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:54:21 -0800

It’s great to find a hidden treasure with a holiday flair this time of year. The Thin Man is just such a movie. While the film is by no means a holiday classic, it is a classic that takes place during the holidays and makes for a fun film to revisit this holiday season. We take a look back at the film in this episode.

The Detective

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 14:28:12 -0800

Frank Sinatra tackled a gritty role in this detective drama from 1968. The Detective stars Sinatra as detective Frank Leland who is called in to investigate the murder of a gay man in New York City. His investigation leads him into unchartered waters and some political corruption. The film tackled a lot of serious and very modern issues. It’s the topic of this episode of our podcast.

The Blob

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 09:55:43 -0700

In 1958 Steve McQueen got his first major starring role in a small and cheaply made film called The Blob. As horror movies go, the film is an iconic classic. Even with the limited budget, the film has all the charm, fun and enough gore and scariness - along with a 50s youthful appear - that a movie can offer. The film has been remade and even had a sequel, but the original is a true gem. For Halloween this year, we take a look back at the one and only - The Blob.

Mrs. Bates on Blu-Ray

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 09:51:42 -0700

In this installment we look at the Blu-Ray version of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho to find out if the black and white classic is really all that and more on blu-ray. In addition we mention the recent award for a book on the master of suspense called Alfred Hitchcock: The Icon Years which was recently named best non-fiction biography. And with Halloween just around the corner it seemed timely to focus on a scary classic.

Dead Ringer

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:48:24 -0700

Bette Davis found herself immersed in the world of horror films in the 1960s after she and Joan Crawford struck gold with What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? in 1962. She did a series of similar films, including this 1964/65 feature with Bette as murderous twins. Bette wasn’t the intended original star, but made the most of the role. Let’s take a look back at the flick.

Wagons East

Tue, 6 Sep 2011 17:27:16 -0700

With this episode we highlight a new book based on the hit podcast. The Movie Files is now available as a print edition ebook that covers a handful of selected stories based on episodes from the podcast. With the release of the book we include a new episode that is chronicled in the book. It’s a look behind John Candy’s final film Wagons East. The book is available for Kindle at amazon.com and Nook at BN.com. Look for it today at a great low price of only $1.99.

Plaza Suite

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:21:54 -0700

Plaza Suite was aplay and then a 1971 film with three alternating skits from Neil Simon's about different couples staying at the New York hotel. Walter Matthau stars in all three vignettes including one where Matthau and Maureen Stapleton are a couple celebrating their 24th anniversary. A second has him putting the moves on Barbara Harris, and the third has him as father Matthau coaxing his daughter out of the bathroom on her wedding day.