Ticklish Business

Kristen and Emily celebrate the late great Piper Laurie with a discussion of the 1961 pool movie The Hustler. The pair look at why Laurie said this was her breakout role and Kristen quotes liberally (and hilariously) from Laurie's autobiography.   Listen to Ticklish Business on the new Tod Browning set newly released by Criterion! You can order it here.   This episode created thanks to our Patrons...

Barbra Streisand's memoirs may be 962 pages long but Kristen and Emily keep things brisk talking about Barbra's big debut in 1968's Funny Girl. Author Talia Lavin joins the pair to discuss Barbra's career, the movie's look at femininity, and why we all love Omar Sharif. Also, Kristen breaks down why Funny Lady sucks.   You can buy Talia's book Culture Warlords here.   Listen to Ticklish Business o...

The Ticklish trio is reunited for this year's Halloween episode and you picked the movie! We go to the Universal monster movie that started it all: 1931's Dracula. And we have Dracula historian David J. Skal joining us! David and the trio discuss the divisive Tod Browning movie, whether Bela Lugosi is hot and what Dracula movie was our first entry into the franchise.   You can buy David's book on...

Author Sloan De Forest and Patron Ali Moore join Samantha and Emily this week to celebrate Bette Davis, Anne Baxter and 1950's All About Eve. The group talks about the film's depictions of women and who from the movie deserved an Oscar.   Check out Sloan's latest book here.   Kristen and Emily have books out! You can buy them wherever you buy books. Reviews matter and you can help us out by giving...

It's Warner Bros. centennial and we're doing not only their most famous film but probably one of the most famous classic films ever: 1942's Casablanca. The Warner Bros. author Chris Yogerst joins us, alongside Patron Andrew Hoppe, to discuss the film's legacy alongside Warner Bros. and whether it's a noir film.   Buy Chris' book The Warner Bros.   Kristen and Emily have books out! You can buy them...

It's Samantha's birthday and we're celebrating it in High Society! Yes, we discuss this 1956 remake of The Philadelphia Story and it's not as straightforward as you think. The trio break down the age differences, whether Bing and Frank work, and whether Grace Kelly should have an Oscar nomination.   Kristen and Emily have books out! You can buy them wherever you buy books. Reviews matter and you c...

It's Kristen choice for her birthday and she's settled on the underseen 1947 Peter Lawford musical, Good News. And like all things Lawford-related things get a little weird. Thankfully, Kristen and Emily are joined by a musical expert, showrunner Cinco Paul. He breaks down why the movie isn't better known and why it's musical numbers work in spite of the plot.   Kristen and Emily have books out! Y...

Mike White of The Projection Booth Podcast joins Emily and Kristen as they dive into the shadowy world of Richard Nixon and 1976's All the President's Men. The group dives into the dynamic between Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, the movie's relevance to today, and why corduroy might not be the best thing to wear while tracking the story of the century.   Kristen and Emily have books out! You ca...

We're celebrating Sidney Poitier in a performance that should have garnered him an Oscar (but didn't even get a nomination), 1967's In the Heat of the Night. Guest Carla Renata joins Kristen and Emily as they discuss Poitier's performance, the lack of any real interest in this as a mystery, and who should have been kicked out of the nominations to make room for Poitier.   Kristen's written a book...

International Month comes to a close with TCM's Czar of Noir joining us once again to talk about his favorite foreign noir: 1958's Elevator to the Gallows. Along the way he touches on the challenges of being a noir in a different language, Jeanne Moreau's performance, and why it's too good a movie to spoil.   You can buy Eddie's new book Noir Bar by clicking on the link.   Kristen's written a book...

We're going on a vacation this month through the power of cinema. We start in Italy with a look at Federico Fellini's 8 1/2. Samantha, Emily and Kristen discuss whether Guido Anselmi is a terrible human, post-WWII Italy, and why they need to hold a séance.   Kristen's written a book for TCM and Running Press called But Have You Read the Book? all about film adaptations! You can buy it wherever you...

We're going to the Old West this episode with Dana Andrews biographer Carl Rollyson to talk Dana Andrews (should have been Oscar-nominated) performance in 1943's The Ox-Bow Incident. We'll also talk about the film's timeliness and why the Western genre gets a bum rep.   Purchase Hollywood Enigma: Dana Andrews here.   Kristen's written a book for TCM and Running Press called But Have You Read the B...

Kristen is out this week but Samantha and Emily hold down the fort with Miriam Hopkins biographer Allan R. Ellenberger. The trio celebrate the 90th anniversary of the still controversial Story of Temple Drake. Hear about Miriam Hopkins' revolutionary role, the men she almost worked opposite, and why she didn't get an Oscar for this.   Kristen's written a book for TCM and Running Press called But H...

Samantha and Kristen are celebrating Doris Day in May not only with a talk on 1955's Love Me or Leave Me, but with a big announcement: a new member of the Ticklish team! We also discuss Doris Day serious actress, ponder why Cameron Mitchell is so non-descript, and recommend you all watch Storm Warning.   Kristen's written a book for TCM and Running Press called But Have You Read the Book? all abou...

Samantha and Kristen braved the wilds of the 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival again and are back with a king-sized slate of audio introductions and panels from your favorite stars. Whether you want to relive the festival or had to miss out, we hope you enjoy!   Lineup: Opening Night with Steven Spielberg and Paul Thomas Anderson Mario Cantone and The Old Maid (1939) Cari Beachamp and No Man of Her O...

Samantha and Kristen relax after TCMFF with a look at a small picture that packed a big punch for Hollywood. The 1953 romantic comedy The Moon is Blue is progressive in its look at gender and sex. It also thumbed its nose at the Motion Picture Production Code. So then why is not currently available on home video?   Kristen's written a book for TCM and Running Press called But Have You Read the Boo...

Lena Horne biographer James Gavin joins the show this week to celebrate actress and singer Lena Horne. We discuss the difficulties of being one of the few Black actresses in Old Hollywood, Horne's magnificent musical career, and her performances in 1943's Cabin in the Sky and Stormy Weather.   Kristen's written a book for TCM and Running Press called But Have You Read the Book? all about film adap...

Kristen is prepping to return to the wilds of the TCM Classic Film Festival, so she has Marion Davies biographer Lara Gabrielle and Ava Gardner Museum member Lora Stocker join her to discuss the festival, their event picks, and why Yentl should play at TCMFF.   Kristen's written a book for TCM and Running Press called But Have You Read the Book? all about film adaptations! You can buy it wherever...

Izzy of Be Kind Rewind is with us to celebrate Ann Miller's centennial and the arrival of Easter. We may be talking about Easter Parade (1948) but there's also time for us to discuss Ann Miller's career, Judy and Fred's lack of chemistry, and why there should be a Peter Lawford biopic.   Kristen's written a book for TCM and Running Press called But Have You Read the Book? all about film adaptation...

We're looking at one of the most contentious Best Picture winners in Oscar history with this week's episode! Michael Schulman, author of Oscar Wars, joins us to discuss the 1952 Oscars and Best Picture Winner The Greatest Show on Earth. We also talk about the circus, sponsored content, and why Buttons the Clown is the best on-screen credit ever.   You can buy Michael's book, Oscar Wars, by clickin...

That's right, our host Kristen Lopez is the guest as we celebrate the upcoming release of her first book, But Have You Read the Book: 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Films. We're talking about 1939's adaptation of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Along for the ride is Patron Jacob Haller, helping Samantha and Kristen deconstruct the messy world of Catherine and Heathcliff.   Kristen's...

Samantha and Kristen celebrate Valentine's Day honoring the couples that we're sad didn't make it. We spill the tea on the tumultuous relationships of Liz and Dick, Audrey and Bill Holden, and more.   Kristen's written a new book for TCM and Running Press called But Have You Read the Book? all about film adaptations! You can pre-order it now before its March 7th release date.   Reviews matter and...

We have a KING-sized episode for you in honor of the 90th anniversary of the movie that kickstarted our love for on-screen spectacle: 1933's King Kong. We're joined by a trio of Merian C. Cooper experts to discuss the many firsts this movie claimed, Cooper's love of the unknown, and Fay Wray's ability to make you love her alongside a giant ape.   Kristen's written a new book for TCM and Running Pr...

We couldn't let the month of January pass without bringing on friend of Ticklish Biz, author Lara Gabrielle, to discuss her new biography on silent film actress Marion Davies. Lara, Samantha and Kristen talked about Davies' last legacy, the films you should see, and whether Marion is an LGBTQ icon.   You can purchase Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies by clicking the link.   Kristen's...

Ticklish Business is back and we're kicking off the new year by celebrating the old. Samantha and Kristen discuss five of the classic films they watched for the first time last year, including discussions of Sidney Poitier, stuff Samantha should have seen, and the sexiness that is Burton and Taylor.   Kristen's written a new book for TCM and Running Press called But Have You Read the Book? all abo...