Foibles: A Mother-daughter Podcast

Barbara Stanwyck nee Ruby Stephens (1907 - 1990) She had a 64 year show business career!    Must-see Stanwyck in chronological order: Night Nurse (1931) - Starred with newcomer Clark Gable who became a lifelong friend   The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1932) - There are some elements that did not age well but it is still a touching romance that defied the laws of anti-miscegenation.   Baby Face (1933) - Pre-code, gritty depiction of a woman who claws her way to the top using the only asset that the Patriarchy values. Theresa Harris has a prominent role, and unusually for a black actor, gets significant screen time and her character is as fleshed out as Stanwyck’s is.   The Lady Eve (1941) - Transcendent Preston Sturges comedy. Stanwyck’s comedic timing and her sensuality had never been given full rein. Henry Fonda who stars with her never stood a chance.   Ball of Fire (1941) - Her character’s name is Sugarpuss O’Shea. Need I say more?   Double Indemnity (1944) - The ultimate femme fatale.    Tha

Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977)   Recommended: Pale Fire (1962) - Parallel stories told through an epic poem and the annotation to the poem. Brilliant layering of clues, leaving the reader to decide how unreliable the narrator is - and who he is   Pnin (1957) - Pnin is a professor at the same college where John Shade and Charles Kinbote for Pale Fire teach. Pnin is mentioned in Pale Fire.    Lolita (1958) - The novel that made Nabokov wealthy and famous. The Stanley Kubrick movie adaptation is marvelous - Lolita (1962). The 1998 film version lacks the spark of Kubrick’s vision.    Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi (2003) - compelling memoir of stolen pleasure in literature   Thank you to Powerbleeder for the theme song "Future Mind" listen here!

Douglas Sirk (1897 - 1987) - All That Heaven Allows (1955) Sirk was a Dane born in Germany and became very successful in Germany as a theater director. His 1st wife joined the Nazi Party. He left Germany primarily because of the danger the rise of the Nazi Party created for his 2nd wife who was a Jew.  The core and substance of Sirk’s oeuvre was created in Hollywood in the 1950’s in so-called women’s films. Sirk’s greatest works depicted social constraints from the woman’s point of view and offered full-bodied characters to his female stars. Sirk uses sweeping music, vivid technicolor, and lush scenery in opposition to emotional suppression and the heavy hand of systemic oppression. He hides his true anti-fascist message behind the tissue-thin glamor of Hollywood.    At the time of their release, Sirk’s movies were critically sneered at for their swollen emotions and woman-centric themes. It was, per usual, the French New Wave directors and Cahiers du Cinema who embraced, lauded, and raised to the pantheo

Book: The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy, published 1905. 11 sequels plus numerous short stories   Movie adaptations: Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), starring Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon- The BEST adaptation Pimpernel Smith (1941), Leslie Howard- Meh. The Elusive Pimpernel (1950), David Niven and Margaret Leighton- Rita hated, Xoe loved the surreal sets. The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982), Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour- Solid adaptation.   TV: Scarlet Pimpernel (1999)- Not very good.  

Experiences the child-like joy of gleaming muscles, flashing teeth, ill-timed explosions, and mayhem by the best of the worst.   Link to Ted's IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0697961/   Xoe and Rita's Top 7 Ted Prior Movies: Sledgehammer (1983) KILLZONE (1985) Born Killer (1989) Future Zone (1990) Raw Nerve (1991) Possessed by the Night (1994)** Day of the Warrior (1996)*   Honorable Mentions: Hardcase and Fist (1989) Raw Justice (1994) The Last House (2015)   *Xoe's unique pick **Rita's pick   Thanks as always to Powerbleeder for our theme song "Future Mind". Listen Here

archy and mehitabel by don marquis is a collection of newspaper columns in verse without kapitalization or punctuation except occasionally  published between 1916 and 1936   filled with social and politikal commentary along with a very wry perspective on human foibles and the vagaries of life for all life forms   wonderful stylized illustrations by george herriman who wuz also the author of the krazy kat comics   first half of the full collection is highly recommended interest peters out in the second half   marquis's hit play old soak wuz definitely of it time its humor does not hold up at all   always speshial thanks to david plell and powerbleeder for our muzak

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells   All Systems Red - 2018 Nebula Award for Best Novella; 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novella; & 2018 American Library Association’s Alex Award; nominated for 2017 Philip K Dick Award   Artificial Condition - 2019 Hugo Award   Rogue Protocol   Exit Strategy   Network Effect   Fugitive Telemetry - Published in 2021. We have not read it yet   Read these in order! The 1st three following novellas had enough votes for the 2019 Hugo Award final ballot but Wells declined all nominations except for Artificial Condition, which won.   Thanks to David Plell with Powerbleeder for our theme Future Mind.

Thanks for listening to the long saga of visionary film producer Val Lewton! This episode is a one-off, and the author only wrote two novels.   Mary Mapes Dodge (1831-1905)  Writer, editor, widow, single mother   She was instrumental in encouraging Rudyard Kipling to write The Jungle Book. She also published books of sketches and poems.   Novels: Donald and Dorothy (1883) Hans Brinker; or the Silver Skates (1865)   Special thanks to David Plell and Powerbleeder for the theme song "Future Mind"!

Special Thanks to Adam Roche for his excellently researched podcast The Secret History of Hollywood - Shadows. This is a multi-hour epic documentary about Val Lewton's life and work. https://www.attaboyclarence.com/the-secret-history-of-hollywood Val Lewton (1904-1951) (nee Vladimir Ivanovich Hofschneider in Imperial Russia; mother's maiden name was Leventon)   Top Four Must-See Val Lewton movies: 1) I Walked with Zombie 2) Cat People 3) Rita: The Ghost Ship; Xoe: The 7th Victim   Universal Studios horror classics: Frankenstein (1931) - starring Boris Karloff Dracula (1931) - starring Bela Lugosi The Black Cat (1941) - exemplar of Universal formula mixing equal parts of suspense/horror and comedy; directed by Albert Rogell, brother of Sid Rogell who was Val Lewton's boss for during his early career.   Lewton's filmography as producer: Cat People (1942) (Jacques Tourneur) I Walked with a Zombie (1943) (Tourneur) The Leopard Man (1943) (Tourneur)  7th Victim (1943) (Mark Robson)   The Ghost Sh

Special Thanks to Adam Roche for his excellently researched podcast The Secret History of Hollywood - Shadows. This is a multi-hour epic documentary about Val Lewton's life and work. https://www.attaboyclarence.com/the-secret-history-of-hollywood Val Lewton (1904-1951) (nee Vladimir Ivanovich Hofschneider in Imperial Russia; mother's maiden name was Leventon)   Top Four Must-See Val Lewton movies: 1) I Walked with Zombie 2) Cat People 3) Rita: The Ghost Ship; Xoe: The 7th Victim   Universal Studios horror classics: Frankenstein (1931) - starring Boris Karloff Dracula (1931) - starring Bela Lugosi The Black Cat (1941) - exemplar of Universal formula mixing equal parts of suspense/horror and comedy; directed by Albert Rogell, brother of Sid Rogell who was Val Lewton's boss for during his early career.   Lewton's filmography as producer: Cat People (1942) (Jacques Tourneur) I Walked with a Zombie (1943) (Tourneur) The Leopard Man (1943) (Tourneur)  7th Victim (1943) (Mark Robson)   The Ghost Sh

Link to "Shame & Scandal (In the Family):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJyVB_sqh3E Special Thanks to Adam Roche for his excellently researched podcast The Secret History of Hollywood - Shadows. This is a multi-hour epic documentary about Val Lewton's life and work. https://www.attaboyclarence.com/the-secret-history-of-hollywood Val Lewton (1904-1951) (nee Vladimir Ivanovich Hofschneider in Imperial Russia; mother's maiden name was Leventon)   Top Four Must-See Val Lewton movies: 1) I Walked with Zombie 2) Cat People 3) Rita: The Ghost Ship; Xoe: The 7th Victim   Universal Studios horror classics: Frankenstein (1931) - starring Boris Karloff Dracula (1931) - starring Bela Lugosi The Black Cat (1941) - exemplar of Universal formula mixing equal parts of suspense/horror and comedy; directed by Albert Rogell, brother of Sid Rogell who was Val Lewton's boss for during his early career.   Lewton's filmography as producer: Cat People (1942) (Jacques Tourneur) I Walked with a Zombie (1943) (T

Val Lewton (1904-1951) (nee Vladimir Ivanovich Hofschneider in Imperial Russia; mother's maiden name was Leventon)   Top Four Must-See Val Lewton movies: 1) I Walked with Zombie 2) Cat People 3) Rita: The Ghost Ship; Xoe: The 7th Victim   Universal Studios horror classics: Frankenstein (1931) - starring Boris Karloff Dracula (1931) - starring Bela Lugosi The Black Cat (1941) - exemplar of Universal formula mixing equal parts of suspense/horror and comedy; directed by Albert Rogell, brother of Sid Rogell who was Val Lewton's boss for during his early career.   Lewton's filmography as producer: Cat People (1942) (Jacques Tourneur) I Walked with a Zombie (1943) (Tourneur) The Leopard Man (1943) (Tourneur)  7th Victim (1943) (Mark Robson)   The Ghost Ship (1943) (Robson) - Theme: Corruption caused by power/authority Curse of the Cat People (1944 (Gunther von Fritsch, Robert Wise) Mademoiselle Fifi (1944) (Wise)  Youth Runs Wild (1944) (Robson) The Body Snatcher (1945) (Wise)  Isle of the Dea

MILDRED PIERCE Novel: Mildred Pierce by James M Cain, 1941. Still entertaining Film: Mildred Pierce (1947) - starring Joan Crawford, Ann Blythe, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden - The classic holds up Miniseries: Mildred Pierce (2011) 5 episodes - starring Kate Winslet, Evan Rachel Wood, Guy Pearce - Atmospheric, well-acted and directed, a little too slow because there is not enough material from the novel to fill 5 episodes. Reccomended movies mentioned: The Bad Seed (1956) The Babadook (2014) Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) Duel in the Sun (1946)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte   Stay tuned for the discussion on how much we hate St. John Rivers, the significance of Rochester's mad wife Bertha, Jane Eyre erotica, and more!   Books: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855), 1847. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, 2001. (Alternate universe in which the criminal enters great novels and changes the plot. The protagonist, Thursday Next, is a detective in the literary police.) The Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys Adaptations: Jane Eyre (1934) - starring Virginia Bruce and Colin Clive. I Walked with a Zombie (1943, very loose adaptation) starring Frances Dee and Tom Conway. Jane Eyre (1944) - starring Joan Fontaine and Orson Wells. Jane Eyre (1970) - starring Susannah York and George C Scott. Jane Eyre (1983 - 5 1/2-hour BBC series) - starring Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton. Jane Eyre (1996) - starring Charlotte Gainsbourgh and William Hurt. Jane Eyre (1997) - starring Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds. Jane Eyre (2006 - 4-hour BBC series) - starring Ruth

We made a newsflash about COVID to tell you we will not be talking much about COVID, but we hope each and every one of you are as well as possible!  Take care everyone

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte   Stay tuned for the discussion on how much we hate St. John Rivers, the significance of Rochester's mad wife Bertha, Jane Eyre erotica, and more!   Books: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855), 1847. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, 2001. (Alternate universe in which the criminal enters great novels and changes the plot. The protagonist, Thursday Next, is a detective in the literary police.) Adaptations: Jane Eyre (1934) - starring Virginia Bruce and Colin Clive. I Walked with a Zombie (1943, very loose adaptation) starring Frances Dee and Tom Conway. Jane Eyre (1944) - starring Joan Fontaine and Orson Wells. Jane Eyre (1970) - starring Susannah York and George C Scott. Jane Eyre (1983 - 5 1/2-hour BBC series) - starring Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton. Jane Eyre (1996) - starring Charlotte Gainsbourgh and William Hurt. Jane Eyre (1997) - starring Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds. Jane Eyre (2006 - 4-hour BBC series) - starring Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte   Stay tuned for the discussion on how much we hate St. John Rivers, the significance of Rochester's mad wife Bertha, Jane Eyre erotica, and more! Books: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855), 1847. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, 2001. (Alternate universe in which the criminal enters great novels and changes the plot. The protagonist, Thursday Next, is a detective in the literary police.) Adaptations: Jane Eyre (1934) - starring Virginia Bruce and Colin Clive. I Walked with a Zombie (1943, very loose adaptation) starring Frances Dee and Tom Conway. Jane Eyre (1944) - starring Joan Fontaine and Orson Wells. Jane Eyre (1970) - starring Susannah York and George C Scott. Jane Eyre (1983 - 5 1/2-hour BBC series) - starring Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton. Jane Eyre (1996) - starring Charlotte Gainsbourgh and William Hurt. Jane Eyre (1997) - starring Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds. Jane Eyre (2006 - 4-hour BBC series) - starring Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. Jane Eyre (20

Xoe and Rita do a deep dive into the many iterations of the classic story of A Star is Born and the themes of true love, addiction, artistry, and feminism each explores in its own way. Stay tuned for part II to learn who is the handsomest Mr. Maine. What Price Hollywood? (1932)- dir. George Cuckor and starring Constance Bennett, Lowell Sherman, Neil Hamilton. A Star is Born (1937)- starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March A Star is Born (1954)-starring Judy Garland and James Mason A Star is Born (1976)- starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson A Star is Born (2018)- starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga   In order of rank, best to worst: 1954 1937 1976 & 2018 (tied)  

A Star is Born(s) - 4 films and a prototype   Xoe and Rita do a deep dive into the many iterations of the classic story of A Star is Born and the themes of true love, addiction, artistry, and feminism each explores in its own way. Stay tuned for part II to learn who is the handsomest Mr. Maine. What Price Hollywood? (1932)- dir. George Cuckor and starring Constance Bennett, Lowell Sherman, Neil Hamilton. A Star is Born (1937)- starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March A Star is Born (1954)-starring Judy Garland and James Mason A Star is Born (1976)- starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson A Star is Born (2018)- starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga

We discuss the iterations of Babe, pig extraordinaire, and the deep themes that can be found in the excellent film adaptation of the book, Babe (1995).   We also discuss: Babe: The Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith (book) Babe: Pig in the city (1998) Wallace and Gromit in The Wrong Trousers (1993) Charlotte's Web by E. B. White (book)   Theme music is "Future Mind" by David Plell of Powerbleeder https://powerbleeder.bandcamp.com/album/l-i-m-b-o