Lions, Towers & Shields

Is this the first LTS episode during which one panelist offered to smack another? Let me know in the comments. The 1940s were, among other things, the era of the composer biopic. Most were sanitized depictions of their subjects, but “Night and Day” works extra hard not to be truthful about its subject, Cole Porter. All this, while still doing him the enormous favor of casting Cary Grant to play him. Oh, did I mention that the film has been restored by Warner Archive, so we’ll have a pretty print to see? <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman, and Philip Michaels.</p>

In 1932, Joan Crawford made Letty Lynton, a film that represented a milestone in her career. But it’s barely been seen since the 1930s. That’s because of a thorny legal dispute over a story that the movie’s only partially based on. Thanks to one of her grandsons and the Warner Archive, Letty is now available to view on disc or steaming. We’ll tell you the story of its long journey back to the screen, and all about “that dress”. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman, and Randy Dotinga.</p>

Nicholas Ray makes his film debut directing “They Live By Night,” a noir love story. Not your usual, noir dude obsessed by a bad woman, but an actual relationship, conducted under trying circumstances. Kathy O’Donnell and Farley Granger made a couple of films together, but this is the best. Enjoy Howard de Silva as a mean gangster. He has no dance numbers. The film is based on the novel, “hieves Like Us”. It’s genuinely one of my favorites, and so it becomes my birthday pick. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman, Micheline Maynard, and Philip Michaels.</p>

Author (and friend of the show) Samuel Garza Bernstein is back with a story about a character who was central to Hollywood’s Golden Age and beyond. His new book, Roddy McDowall: An Actor’s Life - From “How Green Was My Valley” to “Lassie” to “Planet of the Apes” is the story of a child star who became a beloved friend to many in the Hollywood community. We last spoke with Sam in 2024 when his book about Joan Crawford book was published. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Samuel Garza Bernstein.</p>

Here is an early film by David Lean about a chance encounter at a train station that leads to complicated feelings for both parties. It’s “Brief Encounter.” Ceilia Johnson (ever heard of ‘er?) gives a nuanced, emotional performance. And the film is very real and down-to-earth, despite the intensity of the relationships depicted. It’s a love story, if you’re interested in genre things, but there’s plenty for cinephiles to appreciate as well. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard and Annette Wierstra.</p>

Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Alfred Hitchcock. OK, I’m pretty much done. What else shall I say? WWII intrigue, a love story, a well-played villain. These are also things I could say. Also, the length of the kiss between Grant and Bergman put the Production Code office all in a tizzy. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr, Annette Wierstra, Randy Dotinga, and Philip Mozolak.</p>

It’s the final edition of Lions, Towers & Trek, wherein we feature someone from Star Trek: The Original Series in a film they made before the show. Here’s DeForest Kelley’s film debut; a rare lead role for him. DK is a man suspected of a crime, who must rely on his disjointed memories and his cop brother-in-law to learn what happened. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman, Micheline Maynard, and David J. Loehr.</p>

If you’ve watched Star Trek, you’ve probably had your share of “I know that person” moments, when it comes to guest stars. So let us consider Ricardo Montalbån, long before he was Khan in Star Trek’s “Space Seed” episode, or the same character in the best of all Trek movies, “Star Trek II, The Wrath of Khan”. Ricardo had a career in MGM musicals, though not primarily as a singer. Here is one, about the meta of making a movie that’s not too dissimilar from the movie we’re watching. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman, and David J. Loehr.</p>

William Shatner made his film debut in this Richard Brooks adaptation of the Dostoevsky novel. Bill is the youngest of the brothers, and he’s fourth-billed, behind Yul Brynner and some other people we’ve seen before on LTS. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard.</p>

This summer we celebrate the intersection of classic film and Star Trek. And Lions, Towers & Trek begins with a big one. John Ford’s classic western is an uncomfortable masterpiece. There, that takes in those who admire the film, and those who don’t like what it seems to represent, or how women and natives fare in the hands of this director. Also, how do you feel about John Wayne, eh? We’re also here to speak about Jeffrey Hunter, Star Trek’s original Captain Pike. None of this was his fault! <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Jason Snell, Philip Michaels, and Randy Dotinga.</p>

By request, we take on this late-50s musical, directed by Stanley Donan. Our stars are Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn and Kay Thompson. (I’ll have lots to say about Kay.) Revolving, as it does around the fashion industry in Paris, Funny Face is pretty to look at, including many great costumes. It also features songs by the Gershwins and some better ones that are not by them. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with David Almeida, Lisa Schmeiser, Micheline Maynard, Erika Ensign, and David J. Loehr.</p>

Fritz Lang directed a pair of noirs in the mid-40s, starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett and Dan Duryea. The other is Woman in the Window. In Scarlet Street Eddie G. Is a mild-mannered cashier who meets Kitty, a beauty who might not mean him well. And then Dan Duryea gets involved. Like any self-respecting noir classic, this one is nice to look at, and even features twelve paintings created for the film. In real-life, Eddie collected art and Dan Duryea was a nice man. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Dr. Drang, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard.</p>

Someone suggested we honor the films of 1926 — 100 years ago — and so we shall. Beau Geste has been remade often, but here is the original, starring Ronald Colman in his matinee idol period. S recent massive restoration of the film has the film looking great, with lots of footage restored. It’s a silent film, if that affects your interest, but it’s quite compelling. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard.</p>

The LTS lineup drafts baseball movies for your enjoyment. At least one choice from every panelist must fall within our old-timey timeline, but newer films about bats and balls make it in, too. And don’t worry, bad baseball movies do not strike out here. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Micheline Maynard, Randy Dotinga, and David J. Loehr.</p>

Happy Opening Day! It’s Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig, in our first baseball episode. And yes, it’s all LTS inside baseball this week. We complain about the lack of actual baseball in this movie, suggest other movies with more baseball and go on a complete tangent halfway through, that no one would let me edit out. But first, listener mail! <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr, and Randy Dotinga.</p>

The son of a man convicted of murder faces bullying, then suspicion when he is accused of a crime, too. Directed by Frank Borzage, the film is moody, dark and a bit gothic. Dane Clark and Gail Russell are your leads, with a late-film appearance by Ethel Barrymore. And you’ll hate young Lloyd Bridges. Noir czar Eddie Muller calls Borzage ‘relentlessly romantic,” which is a huge contrast to this film, which Muller ranks it among his top 25 noir films. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard.</p>

Gene Tierney does comedy. John Lund is not bad. And THELMA RITTER IS THE BEST. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard and Nathan Alderman.</p>

Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly. Gotta be a musical, right? Actually, it’s a film noir, whose connection to Christmas is limited at best. So much misdirection, and I haven’t even told you the plot. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga and Micheline Maynard.</p>

Tracy and Hepburn do “battle of the sexes” and help Judy Holiday launch her film career. There’s a random Cole Porter song, and T & H are adorable. George Cukor directs a great script. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard.</p>

Billy Wilder tells the story of a man’s (Ray Milland) alcoholic weekend, and the lies he tells to family and friends about his drinking. Surprisingly gritty and emotional for the era, and photography that heightens the mood. Also, Jane Wyman, Philip Terry, and Frank Faylen again. <p>Host Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard.</p>