Ticklish Business

Summer comes to a close and we're saying farewell to the beach with Esther Williams and the 1953 movie Dangerous When Wet. It's been a minute since we've disagreed on a movie and we look at Williams as a swimming star, her relationship with Fernando Lamas, and Kristen does dramatic readings from Williams's autobiography.  This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Reyna Moya-James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Dana Raines Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Patrick Seals Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Malahy, author of the literal book on Summer Movies, joins us on the beach with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello for a discussion on 1965's Beach Blanket Bingo. John, Emily and Kristen talk about what makes a summer movie, the power of Frankie and Annette, and why Harvey Lembeck is the world's oldest teenager. Buy John's book wherever you get books. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, Popcorn Disabilities, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? The merch shop is live!     •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to become a Patron.     •    Follow Emily's Instagram    •    Follow Kristen's Instagram This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Reyna-Moya James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Ba

You're gonna need a bigger boat to listen to this episode! We're hitting the water and trying to avoid becoming a hot lunch with a look at the 50th anniversary of Jaws. Christopher Shaw Myers, author and nephew to star Robert Shaw, joins us to break down the movie's significance, Shaw's performance, and why Peter Benchley's book sucks. Buy Christopher's book Robert Shaw: An Actor's Life on the Set of Jaws and Beyond by clicking the link. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Reyna-Moya James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

International Month comes to a close with a look at Akira Kurosawa's contemporary noir feature High and Low! And who better to join us than TCM producer and author Scott McGee. Scott joins Kristen and Emily to talk about this morality tale, its connections to today's society, and what the "right type" of wealthy man can look like. Buy Scott's book Danger on the Silver Screen here. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Reyna-Moya James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're going on vacation through the world of classic film! Yes, International Month is back. But unless the previous two years, where we did two movies from different countries, we're spending June in one country with a single director: Akira Kurosawa. TCM host and author of the new book TCM Imports: Timeless Favorites and Hidden Gems of World Cinema, Alicia Malone, joins us to kick things off with a look at one of several Kurosawa movies dubbed the best movie of all time. It's 1954's Seven Samurai. Kristen, Emily and Alicia explore the samurai genre, discuss this movie's influence on our conception of the American West, and thirst over Toshiro Mifune. Buy Alicia's book here. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Reyna-Moya James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carte

You Must Remember This host Karina Longworth sits down with us to talk about the new season of her show, "The Old Man Is Still Alive." We discuss which directors weathered the collapse of the studio system best, why Stanley Donen's Blame It On Rio gets so much guff, and John Huston's third act celebration. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Reyna-Moya James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another TCM Classic Film Festival has come and gone, but whether you were on the ground in LA or you couldn't make it, Ticklish Biz has you covered with some great audio from the festival. We start off with Ben Mankiewicz, and Elle and Dakota Fanning introducing Michelle Pfeiffer at her hand and footprint ceremony. Then it's Alicia Malone and actor Barry Bostwick discussing The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). Next Eddie Muller and Dana Gould improvise an intro for a chilly evening screening of I Love You Again (1940). And, finally, Michael Mann, Al Pacino and Ben Mankiewicz talk all about 1995's Heat! You can listen to even more TCM Classic Film Festival audio, including Michele Pfeiffer's speech during her hand and footprint ceremony and Eddie Muller and Ernest Dickerson talking about 1955's The Big Combo exclusively on Patreon! This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Pete

Flower Drum Song star Nancy Kwan sits down with Ticklish Business in anticipation of her new autobiography! Nancy talks about being discovered young, what her costars were like, and more. We also talk about the joys of actor James Shigeta. Buy The World of Nancy Kwan now. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Reyna-Moya James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TCM's "Czar of Noir" Eddie Muller joins us once again to discuss the women of his latest book Dark City Dames: The Women Who Defined Film Noir. Eddie chats about interviewing some of the most iconic film noir women and how his new book seeks to tell their stories more fully. You can pre-order Dark City Dames: The Women Who Defined Film Noir before it's April 8th publication by clicking the link. And if you're in Los Angeles you can purchase tickets to Noir City Hollywood now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your eyes don't deceive you! Ticklish Business is back, kinda. Kristen sits down with author Mayukh Sen to talk all about Merle Oberon, the subject of Sen's latest book, Love, Queenie: Merle Oberon, Hollywood's First South Asian Star. Sen breaks down the stereotypes about Oberon he wanted to dispel and how she was able to rise above Hollywood racism. We appreciate everyone continuing to support us, as either a Patron or listener. Emily and I are working on doing the show monthly for now as we finish up our books. So definitely be on the lookout for some TCMFF goodness come April. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristen and Emily return with Front Row Classics podcast host Brandon Davis to celebrate the release of Wicked by looking at the film that started it all: 1939's The Wizard of Oz. The trio discuss Judy Garland's casting, the economics of Oz, and various rumors. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Amy Hart Danny David Floyd Donna Hill Gates Jacob Haller McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls BadGuyRants Chris McKay Debbi Lynne Jeffrey Joseph Kayla Ewing Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Susannah Burger Brittany Brock Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Emily Edwards Emily Frederichs Harry Holland Helena Pickup Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Paul Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's All Hallows Eve and we're closing out spooky season with a legendary Halloween treat. Director and Shining historian Lee Unkrich joins Kristen to discuss Stanley Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of The Shining. The pair discuss the nature of adaptation, Shelley Duvall's performance (RIP), and why it still holds up today. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Amy Hart Danny David Floyd Donna Hill Gates Jacob Haller McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls BadGuyRants Chris McKay Debbi Lynne Jeffrey Joseph Kayla Ewing Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Susannah Burger Brittany Brock Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Emily Edwards Emily Frederichs Harry Holland Helena Pickup Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Paul Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Halloween inches ever closer much like the centipede? earwig? that dominates William Castle's 1959 horror film The Tingler. Emily and Kristen discuss Bill Castle and his gimmicks, Vincent Price, and why Warren Chapin might be the worst doctor character ever. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Amy Hart Danny David Floyd Donna Hill Gates Jacob Haller McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls BadGuyRants Chris McKay Debbi Lynne Jeffrey Joseph Kayla Ewing Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Susannah Burger Brittany Brock Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Emily Edwards Emily Frederichs Harry Holland Helena Pickup Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Paul Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily and Kristen may be a week later than usual but spooky season kicks off with a bang as the duo talk George Romero's 1968 feature Night of the Living Dead! And along for the ride is acclaimed cinematographer Levie Isaaks. Levie, watching this for the first time (!), discusses the film's impact, what Tobe Hooper took for Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and more. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Amy Hart Danny David Floyd Donna Hill Gates Jacob Haller McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls BadGuyRants Chris McKay Debbi Lynne Jeffrey Joseph Kayla Ewing Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Susannah Burger Brittany Brock Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Emily Edwards Emily Frederichs Harry Holland Helena Pickup Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Paul Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a new episode! Kristen and Emily are back celebrating the release of the Christopher Reeve doc Super/Man with a discussion of the 1978 film that made Reeve a star. And joining us is legendary comic artist Jon Bogdanove. We talk about why this superhero movie is different than others, Valerie Perrine stealing the show, and more. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Amy Hart Danny David Floyd Donna Hill Gates Jacob Haller McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls BadGuyRants Chris McKay Debbi Lynne Jeffrey Joseph Kayla Ewing Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Susannah Burger Brittany Brock Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Emily Edwards Emily Frederichs Harry Holland Helena Pickup Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Paul Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Kristen's birthday which means she's picking the movie! Things take a turn for the historical with special guest Ann Foster of the Vulgar History podcast to discuss 1969's Anne of the Thousand Days. We discuss Hollywood's love of historical episodes in the late-1960s, Richard Burton bringing the cringe, and why Anne Boleyn is still a woman we love no matter how many Tudor adaptations there are. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Amy Hart Danny David Floyd Donna Hill Gates Jacob Haller Jonathan Watkins McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls BadGuyRants Chris McKay Debbi Lynne Jeffrey Joseph Kayla Ewing Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Susannah Burger Brittany Brock Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Emily Edwards Emily Frederichs Harry Holland Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Paul Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Director Laurent Bouzereau accepted the challenge telling Faye Dunaway's story to the world. Faye is the result and it is such an insightful exploration into an actress who remains misunderstood (and iconic) to this day! Ticklish Business was fortunate to interview Bouzereau and discuss working with Dunaway, comparisons between this doc and Bouzereau's one on Natalie Wood, and more. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Amy Hart Danny David Floyd Donna Hill Gates Jacob Haller Jonathan Watkins McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls BadGuyRants Chris McKay Debbi Lynne Jeffrey Joseph Kayla Ewing Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Susannah Burger Brittany Brock Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Emily Edwards Emily Frederichs Harry Holland Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Paul Rosa Tammy Sara Folger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This was initially intended to be a bonus episode but with Emily and I navigating various personal things we've decided to make this an official episode and it's a good one! Director Nanette Burstein joins us to discuss her new feature, Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes. We discuss Elizabeth Taylor's fame, the rumors that continue to swirl about her, and what she might hold in common with Robert Evans! This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Amy Hart Danny David Floyd Donna Hill Gates Jacob Haller Jonathan Watkins McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls BadGuyRants Chris McKay Debbi Lynne Jeffrey Joseph Kayla Ewing Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Susannah Burger Brittany Brock Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Emily Edwards Emily Frederichs Harry Holland Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Paul Rosa Tammy Sara Folger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our vacation around the world of classic film comes to a close, but what an episode to celebrate with. Kristen is out this week but Emily and Samantha are back in the saddle to talk about Jacques Demy's fabulous French musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The pair discuss Catherine Deneuve, French fashion and that bittersweet ending. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Amy Hart Danny David Floyd Donna Hill Gates Jacob Haller Jonathan Watkins McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Debbi Lynne J Jeffrey Kayla Ewing Nicholas Montano Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Susannah Burger Brittany Brock Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Emily Edwards Harry Holland Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Paul Rosa Tammy Sara Folger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's not every day you talk to Martin Scorsese's editor AND the wife of Michael Powell, Thelma Schoonmaker. But Emily and I did as part of the release of the new documentary Made in England: The Movies of Powell and Pressburger. Schoonmaker and director David Hinton sat down with us to discuss what makes Powell and Pressburger iconic directors, Thelma's work with Scorsese, and more! (This might be the highlight of our year.) Made in England is in theaters now! This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Amy Hart Danny David Floyd Donna Hill Gates Jacob Haller Jonathan Watkins McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Debbi Lynne J Jeffrey Kayla Ewing Nicholas Montano Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Susannah Burger Brittany Brock Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Emily Edwards Harry Holland Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Paul Rosa Tammy Sara Folger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices