Front Row Classics: A Hollywood Golden Age Podcast

50 Oscar Nights Front Row Classics welcome Turner Classic Movies host, Dave Karger, this week. Brandon and Dave are discussing his newest book “50 Oscar Nights: Iconic Stars & Filmmakers on Their Career-Defining Wins”. Dave sat down with 50 past Oscar winners to recount the details of their respective victorious evenings. Some stories are triumphant … Continue reading Ep. 199...

Moon River Front Row Classics is celebrating Valentine’s Day with one of the most popular romantic films to ever come out of Hollywood. Breakfast at Tiffany’s remains one of Audrey Hepburn’s most iconic works. Beyond the Mouse’s Vanessa Ferguson and NPR Illinois’ Bea Bonner join Brandon to discuss all aspects of the movie. The hosts … Continue reading Ep. 198-Br...

Ringo Kid. 2024 marks the 85th anniversary of the landmark year of 1939. Often considered the “greatest year in film history”, countless classic films were released within that calendar year. Brandon and Emmett Stanton pay tribute the film that set the standard for the American western film, Stagecoach. John Ford’s masterpiece created many of the … Continue reading Ep. 197-...

Put On a Happy Face. Front Row Classics has “got a lot of livin’ to do” this week. Brandon is joined by Larry Aubrey to pay tribute to 1963’s Bye Bye Birdie. Brandon and Larry discuss this fun and vibrant adaptation of the classis Broadway musical. The two talk the differences between the film and … Continue reading Ep. 196- Bye Bye Birdie →

Power of Film. Brandon welcome filmmaker/producer Doug Pray to Front Row Classics. Doug, along with Laura Gabbert, has helmed the six-episode docuseries “The Power of Film”. The series stars UCLA Film Professor, Howard Suber, and shines a spotlight on film’s impact on the human experience. Suber tells us why certain films remain forever ingrained in … Continue reading Ep. 1...

All That Heaven Allows. .Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of the most poignant melodramas of the 1950s. Brandon is joined by Jackson Cooper to discuss 1955’s All That Heaven Allows. The two pay tribute to the work of director, Douglas Sirk, and his immaculate visual storytelling. We’re also celebrating the performances … Continue reading Ep. 194- All That Heaven Al...

Hollywood Heyday. Front Row Classics is thrilled to welcome back authors/journalists, David Fantle and Tom Johnson.  David & Tom regale Brandon with incredible stories from their forty plus years of interviewing Hollywood legends. These stories can be found in their 2018 book, “Hollywood Heyday: 75 Candid Interviews with Golden Age Legends”. We discuss their initial … Co...

How to Marry a Millionaire. Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of the most popular comedies of the 1950s. How to Marry a Millionaire brought together three of Hollywood’s most charismatic leading ladies: Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable. Brandon is happy to welcome Marina Tucker to discuss the movie. Marina … Continue reading Ep. 192- How to Marry a Millionai...

We’re In the Money. Happy New Year from Front Row Classics! We’re kicking off the new year in style with something fun and frothy. Our friend Emmett Stanton joins us to celebrate the work of choreographer/director, Busby Berkeley. Brandon and Emmett are taking a look at three films with the Berkeley touch. All three films … Continue reading Ep. 191- Ringing in 2024 with Busby&#16...

Classic Film Fandom. Front Row Classics welcomes content creator and independent filmmaker, Hey Marianne to the podcast. Brandon is always excited to speak with someone who is engaging young people in watching classic film. The two discuss several topics including introducing classic film to millennials, holiday movies and movie musicals. Much of the discussion is … Continue reading Ep. 190-...

Shut Your Nasty Little Face. Merry Christmas from Front Row Classics! We’re celebrating the season with a classic holiday farce from Warner Bros. The Man Who Came to Dinner remains one of the greatest adaptations from stage to screen. Ben Burke, from the Hollywood Babylonians, podcast joins Brandon to discuss all of the wacky fun … Continue reading Ep. 189- The Man Who Came to Din...

Archie. Front Row Classics is thrilled to welcome actress/producer, Jennifer Grant this week. Jennifer, the daughter of Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon, has co-produced the series Archie for BritBox. The series, starring Jason Isaacs, gives viewers a personal look at the man named Archie Leach. Leach would overcome childhood poverty and abandonment and create the persona of … Continue r...

Swinging on a Star. Front Row Classics is taking a look at the Best Picture winner of 1944. Leo McCarey’s Going My Way is a charming film that lifted the spirits of war weary audiences in 1944. IndieWire’s Christian Blauvelt returns to pay tribute to this uplifting film that is perfect holiday viewing. Brandon and … Continue reading Ep. 187- Going My Way →

Stormy Weather. Front Row Classics welcomes celebrated author & film historian Donald Bogle. Bea Bonner ,with NPR Illinois’ Community Voices, joins Brandon to discuss Bogle’s new book, “Lena Horne Goddess Reclaimed”. The book tracks Horne’s trailblazing life & career which spanned remarkable triumphs and heartbreaking disappointments. Bogle discusses Horne&#82...

Happy Holidays!. Front Row Classics is taking another look at a holiday staple 1942’s Holiday Inn. This joyous musical is perfect for any time of year. But. it’s especially fitting to view during the Christmas season. Brandon is joined by Kevin Hart and Jacqueline Keysear. Kevin is currently directing a production of Holiday Inn at … Continue reading Ep. 185- Holiday Inn (Re...

Kitty Feral’s In a Lonely Place. Happy Thanksgiving from Front Row Classics. We’re celebrating Noirvember with the Czar of Noir himself, Eddie Muller. Eddie has penned a new children’s book, “Kid Noir: Kitty Feral and the Case of the Marshmallow Monkey”. The book is a charming introduction to the world of classics film for younger … Continue reading Ep. 184- Noi...

Money Isn’t Everything. Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of the great film epics, George Stevens’ Giant. This 1956 film still resonates with its themes of family, changing times and race relations. Tristan Tapscott joins Brandon to discuss the legendary production. The two take a look at the fine performances from Elizabeth … Continue reading Ep. 183- Giant →

Keep The Home Fires Burning. Front Row Classics is celebrating Veterans Day with one of the greatest home front dramas of Word War II. We’re taking a look at Since You Went Away from 1944. This stellar production from David O. Selznick is a warm and sentimental story of a family’s struggle to keep the … Continue reading Ep. 182- Since You Went Away →

Happy Holidays!. We’re closing in on the holiday season, which means it will soon be time to enjoy our favorite Christmas movies once again. Brandon is thrilled to welcome back, author/film historian, Jeremy Arnold. Jeremy recently penned “Christmas in the Movies (Revised & Expanded Edition) : 35 Classics to Celebrate the Season”. The book offers … Continue reading Ep....

Cat’s Dont Like Me. We’ve got the second film in our Halloween double-feature this week. Brandon and Emmett Stanton discuss one of the most influential films on the horror genre, Cat People. We discuss how this unlikely B movie from producer Val Lewton, set trends that have resonated for years with horror filmmakers. While both … Continue reading Ep. 180- Cat People (1942) &...

Invisible Man. Happy Halloween from Front Row Classics! We’re celebrating the 90th anniversary of James Whale’s The Invisible Man. Brandon is joined by Dominic Cellini this week to pay tribute to this landmark entry in the Universal Monster Movie canon. Alongside the groundbreaking special effects, The Invisible Man marked the American film debut of the … Continue reading Ep. 179...

We Love Lucy. Front Row Classics welcomes author Sarah Royal this week. Brandon and Sarah discuss her new book, “A.K.A. Lucy: The Dynamic and Determined Life of Lucille Ball”. This charming and beautiful looking book presents a fresh, modern take on Lucille Ball by focusing on both her place in pop culture and American history. … Continue reading Ep. 178- AKA Lucy-Interview with...

C’Mon Get Happy. Front Row Classics is thrilled to welcome authors & film historians, David Fantle and Tom Johnson this week. Our two guests have penned a delightful and well-researched study of an underrated Hollywood musical gem.  “C’mon Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock” is a must-read for any classic film fan. The book … Continue reading Ep. 177- C&#8...

So Many Noble Rulers. Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of the most talked about films of the 20th century. We’re celebrating the 60th anniversary of Cleopatra from 1963. Ryan Lootens and Erin McCabe from Front Row Flashbacks are joining Brandon to take a look as this gargantuan epic directed by Joseph … Continue reading Ep. 176- Cleopatra →

Criss Cross. We’re taking a look at one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most popular thrillers, Strangers on a Train. Brandon is joined by Emmett Stanton to discuss this heart-pounding and fun movie based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith. This 1951 film has a wonderful cast including a powerhouse performance from Robert Walker as Bruno Anthony, … Continue reading Ep. 175-Strangers on a&#...