The Front Row Network

Brandon is out in LA and ready to celebrate the 16th annual TCM Film Festival. Before he left Illinois, he was able to chat with Scott McGee. Scott is the Senior Director of Original Programming for Turner Classic Movies and is one of the original architects of the Festival. Brandon and Scott discuss many of the highlights that will be featured this year at the Fest.  

Front Row Classics is celebrating its 300th episode with one of the most celebrated film authors working today. Brandon is thrilled to welcome historian, author & publisher, Sam Wasson. We discuss Sam's origins as a film fan and what inspired him to write about film. We also discuss his two latest books, "The Big Goodbye" and "The Path to Paradise". This discussion also leads Brandon and Sam to ch...

Front Row Classics is thrilled to welcome back Czar of Noir himself Eddie Muller. Brandon and Eddie chat about the newly revised and expanded edition of "Dark City Dames: The Women Who Defined Film Noir". The book chronicles Eddie's interviews with 6 of noir's greatest 'dames': Audrey Totter, Marie Windsor, Evelyn Keyes, Jane Greer, Ann Savage and Coleen Gray. The revelations they shared with Eddi...

Front Row Classics welcomes Spring with one of the most charming romantic comedies of the 1950s. Brandon and Emmett Stanton are discussing George Cukor's It Should Happen to You from 1954. The film features one of the best film performances from the effervescent Judy Holliday. We also celebrate the 100th birthday of Jack Lemmon by commemorating his movie debut in this film. Brandon and Emmett disc...

Front Row Classics is celebrating the 100th birthday of Robert Altman by taking a look at one of his greatest works. Brandon is joined by Spencer Davis to discuss 1971's McCabe and Mrs, Miller. Brandon and Spencer discuss this classic anti-Western which features stellar performances from Warren Beatty and Julie Christie. The hosts also discuss the spectacular screenplay by Altman and Brian McKay a...

Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome actress & filmmaker Illeana Douglas to the show. Brandon and Illeana discuss her love of the movies which led to her becoming a professional in the business. Her love of the movies has led her to many exciting projects including her recent book, "Connecticut in the Movies". We talk about her love of the state of Connecticut and its complicated history. We a...

Front Row Classics welcomes author Mayukh Sen to celebrate the life of Merle Oberon. Mayukh recently penned "Love, Queenie: Merle Oberon, Hollywood's First South Asian Star". The book captures the complicated life of Oberon while also providing a picture of the political atmosphere of the first half of the 20th century. Brandon and Mayukhk discuss the origins and research process of the book as we...

Front Row Classics is taking a look at an unsung western classic from 1946. Brandon is joined by film historian & producer Daniel Marino to discuss Canyon Passage. The film, directed by Jacques Tourneur, embodies the post-war feelings of American in the forties. It features stunning Technicolor cinematography and an unlikely Oscar nominated song by Hoagy Carmichael. The film also benefits from a s...

Front Row Classics is excited to welcome back James Duke Mason this week. Brandon and Duke catch up on everything happening in the last year. They also touch on some of Duke's grandfather's (James Mason) best performances. The discussion turns to films like A Star is Born, The Last of Sheila, Lolita and Heaven Can Wait. We also preview Duke's participation in MTV's Family Legacy where he pays trib...

Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome author & entertainment journalist Maureen Lee Lenker. Brandon and Maureen discuss her origins as a classic film fan favorite film genres and most memorable writing assignments. The conversation, then, turns to her latest book, "His Girl Hollywood", an historical fiction romance set in Classic Hollywood. Maureen Lee Lenker is an award-winning journalist who...

"Garbo Talks!". Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of most promoted events in film history. Brandon is joined by Peter Martin to break down 1930's Anna Christie. The two discuss Clarence Brown's adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize winning play. This early talkie helped to cement Greta Garbo as a screen icon. Brandon and Peter also discuss the scene-stealing performance from Marie...

Front Row Classics is taking a look at an underrated comedy gem in the career of Lucille Ball. Brandon welcomes back Sarah Royal, author of "AKA Lucy", to take a look at Miss Grant Takes Richmond from 1949. This film came two years before Lucy reached superstardom on "I Love Lucy". Yet, the film shows seeds of the birth of Lucy Ricardo. The movie also features a wonderful performance from William...

Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome author, professor & historian Noah Isenberg. Noah penned one of Brandon's favorite film books, "We'll Always Have Casablanca: The Life, Legend, and Afterlife of Hollywood's Most Beloved Movie". Brandon and Noah discuss their initial discovery of the film as well as their favorite moments. The legacy, afterlife and themes are also explored.   Film historian...

Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of Alfred Hitchcock's most underrated classics. Brandon is joined by Emily Nesbitt to talk 1954's Dial M for Murder. The hosts discuss Hitchcock's unique storytelling and camera work. The performances of Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Bob Cummings & John Williams are also celebrated. 

That's a wrap on movie awards season 2025! The 97th Academy Awards have come and gone and we have a brand new reigning movie champion!  Anora joins the ranks of films to be crowned Best Picture and it brought alot of winners in its wake as it goes a 5 for 6 night. In many ways it was a night of expected outcomes but also some genuine surprises. On this recap we talk:  • Sean Baker making history w...

It's been an eventful awards season with many front-runners still up in the air as we approach the biggest night in the film industry; The Academy Awards. As is our tradition at the Front Row Network we are once again bringing you a comprehensive rundown of the 10 Best Picture nominees to give you our take on what will happen on the big night! We're kicking it off with the fist 5 films on our list...

It's been an eventful awards season with many front-runners still up in the air as we approach the biggest night in the film industry; The Academy Awards. As is our tradition at the Front Row Network we are once again bringing you a comprehensive rundown of the 10 Best Picture nominees to give you our take on what will happen on the big night! We're kicking it off with the fist 5 films on our list...

Front Row Classics is thrilled to welcome Turner Classic Movies host Jacqueline Stewart. Brandon and Jacqueline discuss her career in film scholarship and origins as a film fan. The two also discuss her passion for African American film history and silent film. The conversation, then, turns to TCM's 31 Days of Oscar. Brandon receives Jacqueline's thoughts on 4 of the films featured this month: In...

Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of Hollywood's most famous gangster films. 1931's The Public Enemy set the stage for so many films that followed. Brandon is joined by writer, Sophia D'Aurelio to break down the movie. Sophia is versed in many areas of classic film, especially topics involving pre-code films and Jean Harlow. Brandon and Sophia discuss Harlow's early performance alongside...

Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of the most cynically biting films ever made. Brandon is happy to welcome back  author/historian Chris Yogerst to take a look at Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole.  This 1951 film is one of the most audacious films in Wilder's canon. Brandon and Chris pay tribute to the amazing performance by Kirk Douglas in one of his signature roles. We also discuss the re...

Front Row Classics is celebrating the 90th birthday of Elvis Presley with one of his most popular movies. Brandon welcomes back Tristan Tapscott to chat about 1961's Blue Hawaii. Elvis was at the peak of popularity and magnetism when he made this escapist musical romp. Brandon and Tristan discuss the many colorful locations and musical numbers that populate the film. We also highlight the wonderfu...

Front Row Classics is celebrating an audacious and vastly underrated thriller from Warner Bros. Brandon is pleased to welcome back Holley Snaith to discuss Storm Warning from 1950. This noir thriller was an allegory for the politically charged era of the Red Scare in Hollywood. Brandon and Holley discuss Richard Brooks' and Daniel Fuchs' screenplay that was ahead of its time in its indictment of t...

The Front Row Network welcomes pro-wrestlers Richie Slade and McCallion to the podcast. Both are wrestlers in the southern California area and have experience as both a tag team and singles competitors. They discuss their backgrounds and how different movies and film genres inspired their different looks and techniques inside and outside of the ring. We also discuss Richie's work as a filmmaker th...

Front Row Classics welcomes content creator John Joseph to the show. John Joseph has a series of classic Hollywood related videos and posts through his various social media platforms. He and Brandon discuss the origins of their classic film fandom, favorite films and the studio system. The conversation, then, moves to the career of Debbie Reynolds and. specifically, The Tender Trap. You can find J...

Front Row Classics is celebrating the 100th anniversary of another landmark silent film. We're joined by our friend Emmett Stanton to look at 1925's The Big Parade. The movie marked one of Hollywood's initial statements about war. Brandon and Emmett celebrate the performances of John Gilbert and Renee Adoree as well as the timeless direction of King Vidor. Vidor's direction creates many moments ju...