The Screwball Story

On the season two finale, I discuss The Thin Man , William Powell, and Myrna Loy with Rob Kozlowski, author of Becoming Nick and Nora: The Thin Man and the Films of William Powell and Myrna Loy (New York: Applause Books, 2023). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode I discuss the sleuth comedy, There's Always a Woman (Alexander Hall, 1938) co-starring Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell. Resources : James Bawden and Ron Miller, Conversations With Classic Film Stars: Interviews from Hollywood's Golden Age (Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2016). Bernard F. Dick, The Merchant Prince of Poverty Row: Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures (Lexin...

On this episode I discuss Fred MacMurray's life and career with film historian, Charles Tranberg, author of Fred MacMurray: A Biography (Albany, GA: BearManor Media, 2007). Charles's book is available for purchase from all major book retailers and also directly from BearManor Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode I discuss the romantic comedy, The Egg and I (Erskine, 1947), based on the book of the same name by Betty MacDonald. Resources : Christopher Beach, Class, Language, and American Film Comedy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002). Paula Becker, Looking For Betty MacDonald (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2019). Boze Hadleigh, Hollywood Lesbians: From Garbo to Foster...

On this episode I'm joined by Cait Liberati to discuss the Barbara Stanwyck-Henry Fonda comedy, The Mad Miss Manton (1938). You can follow Cait on Twitter @caitmarielle or on Bluesky @caitl.bsky.social For more on the resources mentioned in this episode, please check out: Thomas Renzi, Screwball Comedy and Film Noir: Unexpected Connections (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2012). Hosted on Acas...

On this episode I discuss the 1970s screwball classic, What's Up, Doc? Resources : Roger Ebert, " What's Up, Doc? Review," RogerEbert.com, originally published January 1, 1972. Available at: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/whats-up-doc-1972 Brian Kellow, Can I Go Now? The Life of Sue Mengers, Hollywood's First Superagent (New York: Penguin Books, 2015). Gregg Kilday, “Peter Bogdanovich on Barbr...

On this episode I discuss my favorite Carole Lombard screwball comedy, Nothing Sacred (1937). Resources : Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, I am joined by film programmer Chris Cassingham to discuss screwball women in Howard Hawks films. You can find Chris on Twitter @CCassingham. Resources: Joseph McBride, Hawks on Hawks (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1982). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode I am joined by film historian and critic Raquel Stecher to discuss Bachelor Mother (1939). You can read more of Raquel's work here: https://www.outofthepastblog.com/ and https://quellemovies.com/, and follower her on Twitter @RaquelStecher Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, I discuss Easy Living (1937). Resources : Stanley Cavell, Pursuits of Happiness (Boston: Harvard University Press, 1981) David Chierichetti, Mitchell Leisen: Hollywood Director (New York: Photoventure Press, 1995) Ida Jeter, “The Collapse of the Federated Motion Picture Crafts: A Case Study of Collaboration in the Motion Picture Industry,” in Journal of the University Film Associa...

In the season one finale, I discuss the "Queen" of screwball comedy, Carole Lombard, with This Was Hollywood author, Carla Valderrama. You can follow Carla on Instagram and Tiktok @thiswashollywood To purchase Carla's book, please follow the links on her website: https://thiswashollywood.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode I discuss Hands Across the Table (Mitchell Leisen, 1935) starring Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, and Ralph Bellamy. Works Cited : David Chierichetti, Mitchell Leisen: Hollywood Director (Los Angeles: Photoventures Press, 1995). John A. Gallagher, "Ralph Bellamy Interview" (1983). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkKvMGHDM1A Charles Tranberg, Fred MacMurray: A Biograph...

On this episode I discuss Barbara Stanwyck's performances in The Lady Eve (Sturges, 1941) and Ball of Fire (Hawks, 1941) with Cait Liberati. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode I discuss The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (Preston Sturges, 1944) starring Betty Hutton, Eddie Bracken, William Demarest, and Diana Lynn. Works Cited : Matthew Bernstein, "'The Edge of Unacceptability': Preston Sturges and the PCA," in ReFocus: The Films of Preston Sturges , ed. Jeff Jaeckle (Edinburgh, UK: Edinburgh University Press, 2015), pp. 83-106. Diane Jacobs, Christmas in Jul...

On this episode I chat with film programmer Chris Cassingham about the comedy genius, Ernst Lubitsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode I discuss the quintessential Depression-era screwball comedy, My Man Godfrey (Gregory La Cava, 1936), starring Carole Lombard, William Powell, Gail Patrick, Alice Brady, Mischa Auer, and Eugene Pallette. Works Cited : Christopher Beach, Class, Language, and American Film Comedy (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2002). Roger Bryant, William Powell: The Life and Films (New...

On this episode I discuss Theodora Goes Wild (Richard Boleslawski, 1936) starring Irene Dunne and Melvyn Douglas. Works Cited : James Bawden and Ron Miller, Conversations with Classic Film Stars: Interviews from Hollywood's Golden Era (Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 2017). Emily Carman, Independent Stardom: Freelance Women in the Hollywood Studio System (Austin: University of Texas P...

On this episode I discuss Libeled Lady (Jack Conway, 1936) starring Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy, William Powell, and Spencer Tracy. Works Cited : Vincent Canby, "How a 1936 Screwball Comedy Illuminates Movie History," The New York Times (February 1, 1981), section 2, pg. 15. The Dick Cavett Show , "Myrna Loy," (1980), season 12, episode 36. Kathrina Glitre, Hollywood Romantic Comedy: States of the Unio...

On this episode I discuss all things Jean Harlow with historian, Sophia D'Aurelio. You can find Sophia at: Website: https://harlowheaven.wordpress.com/ Instagram: @harlowheaven Twitter: @harlowheaven and @vitaphonezone Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, I discuss Twentieth Century (Howard Hawks, 1934) starring John Barrymore and Carole Lombard. Works Cited : Elizabeth Kendall, Runaway Bride: Hollywood Romantic Comedy of the 1930s (New York: Cooper Square Press, 2002). Olympia Kiriakou, Becoming Carole Lombard: Stardom, Comedy, and Legacy (New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2020). Howard Hawks: A Hell of a Good Life , dir. Hans-Christ...

For the inaugural episode, I dive into Frank Capra's populist classic, It Happened One Night (1934), starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. Works Cited : Elizabeth Kendall, The Runaway Bride: Hollywood Romantic Comedy of the 1930s (New York: Cooper Square Press, 2002). Richard Maltby, " It Happened One Night: The Recreation of the Patriarch," in Frank Capra: Authorship and the Studio System ,...