Going Hollywood - Movies and Television from the Golden Age to Today

The news hit like a gut punch: Dolly is gone, and somehow the whole world is mourning at once. We needed to talk it out, but since laughter through tears is our favorite emotion, not with a stats-heavy deep dive, but with the stories, songs, laughs, and screen moments that made her feel bigger than celebrity and closer than a neighbor. We look back at the Dolly we met through film and television, from "9 to 5" (1980) to "Steel Magnolias" (1989) to the pure guilty-pleasure fun of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982), plus a real soft spot for "Straight Talk" (1992). Along the way we dig into what made her performances work and that made even the lightest scenes feel true. And of course we talk music, including why “I Will Always Love You” lands differently in Dolly’s intimate original and why “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning” has carried so many of us through hard nights. Plus "Jolene", "Here You Come Again", "Coat of Many Colors" and all the songs that make up the fabric of our lives. We’re joined by two friends of the pod who bring Dolly into sharper focus. Playwright Del Shores shares personal meetings that capture her kindness and her lack of judgment. Author and documentarian Randy Schmidt talks about growing up with Dolly on TV, her master plan to become a “universal star,” and gives us a sneak peak at his upcoming documentary, "Dolly Uncovered" . We also honor the heart behind the legend, from quiet generosity to the Imagination Library’s massive impact on kids and families. So don't feel like a bastard at a family reunion! Join us as we discuss this universally beloved star. Listen, share it with a fellow fan, and subscribe for more. Then leave a review and tell us your favorite Dolly song or movie, what is yours? Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

The line hits like a slap- literally: “Let me tell you the truth for once in my life...I was the slut of all time!” From that notorious confession, we jump into one of the most infamous Hollywood melodramas of all time, MGM’s "Butterfield 8". Today on "Going Hollywood" we're unpacking this notorious guilty pleasure from 1960, and why this film is widely called trash while still being weirdly hard to look away from. We dig into the behind-the-scenes story that makes "Butterfield 8" essential Hollywood gossip history: Elizabeth Taylor reportedly despised the script, rushed to finish her final MGM contract, and pushed for demands that shaped the production, including New York locations and a role for Eddie Fisher. Then we get into the on-screen chaos: Gloria Wandrous as “call girl” versus “model,” the Production Code-era dance around sex, and the film’s relentless need to shame and punish its heroine. Along the way, we talk about Lawrence Harvey’s chilly performance, the mink coat plot trigger, and that marathon car crash finale. The most revealing part might be the meta-layer. "Butterfield 8" plays as a commentary on Taylor’s real-life scandal with Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, right down to casting and styling choices that feel pointed. We also explain the title itself as a phone exchange tied to Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and we trace how Taylor’s near-death illness and tracheotomy helped shape her first Best Actress Oscar narrative, even as many argue Shirley MacLaine deserved the win for "The Apartment". Subscribe, share the episode with a classic film friend, and leave us a review, then tell us: is "Butterfield 8" glorious trash or just trash? Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

It's our first crossover episode! Taking a page from 1990s "Must See TV", today we have a special treat. Join us for a "Going Hollywood/Front Row Classics" crossover event as Tony welcomes FRC's Brandon Davis and guest Ben Burke to the show to discuss the (questionable) guilty classic, MGM's musical remake of "The Women", 1956's "The Opposite Sex" . We talk about the remake’s biggest swings: adding eye-popping Metro-color, wedging in yawn-inducing production numbers, and most criminal of all: introducing men into the cast! Add into the mix a murderous row of gifted actresses whose lifeless performances and lack of on-screen chemistry leave this legendary story of real housewife bitchery strangely lifeless, and you're left with the one big question: WHY? From June Allyson’s lackluster “society wife” energy to Joan Collins as a Crystal who never quite gets her claws, we compare performance, pace, and the intangible spark the original captures so effortlessly. If you love classic Hollywood history, MGM musicals," The Women", 1950s fashion, or remake autopsies, you’ll have a lot to argue with us about. If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe, share this with a fellow old-movie obsessive, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

A gangster’s superstition turns into a citywide con, and somehow it becomes one of the most humane stories of the 1930s. We’re talking about Frank Capra’s "Lady For A Day" (1933), where Apple Annie sells apples in Times Square and Dave the Dude buys one before every deal like it’s a talisman. When Annie’s daughter returns from Spain expecting a wealthy society mother, Dave and his crew scramble to build a high-society illusion overnight, complete with manners, clothes, and a borrowed life. What surprised us most is how well the film balances fantasy with real Depression-era texture. Mae Robson makes Annie feel fully lived-in, and we dig into why her performance carries the movie even when she isn’t getting the punchlines. We also get honest about what works less, what characters we wish had more time, and the scene we think could have been milked for even better comedy during Annie’s rapid makeover. After the film talk, we share listener survey results that overwhelmingly favor the 1930s and 1940s, plus the series and stars you want us to cover next. If you enjoy classic Hollywood podcasts, film history, and thoughtful movie reviews, hit play, subscribe, and share the show. Then leave us a rating and review, and send a text or voicemail so we can feature your thoughts on an upcoming episode. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

One performer. No guest stars. No dancing chorus to hide behind. Just one unbelievably talented and chutzpah-filled 22-year-old staring down the biggest network in America—and winning all the marbles. It’s Barbra Streisand in the 1960s. Today, we revisit her first two iconic CBS television specials, My Name Is Barbra (1965) and Color Me Barbra (1966), and explore how a girl barely out of her teens could make an hour of pure singing feel like must-see television. These weren’t conventional variety shows. They were something closer to the prototype for the modern music video—built around persona, irony, theatrical movement, visual storytelling, and, above all, Streisand’s ability to inhabit a song rather than merely sing it. We dig into the creative gamble behind Streisand’s five-million-dollar contract, the three-act structure that makes each special play like a miniature stage production, and the extraordinary way she turns every song into a character piece. Along the way, we get into all the backstage happenings: the elusive studio audience, the tale of five ill-fated penguins, an overly amorous llama, and all the fascinating production choices that helped make these specials feel so different from anything else on television at the time. So join us as we take a trip into "Streisandland" circa the 1960s. It’s a journey you won’t soon forget. If you love classic Hollywood, TV history, or the craft of performance, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a rating and review so more listeners can find Going Hollywood. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

We take a listener recommendation and give Brad one more chance to become a George Stevens fan. Will he? Won't he? You'll have to listen to find out, as we tackle what is, arguably, Steven's masterwork and certainly one of the greatest films of the 1950s: "A Place in the Sun". One bad decision is a plot. A thousand tiny compromises is a life, and "A Place in the Sun" (1951) stares straight at that truth until it becomes unbearable. We follow Montgomery Clift’s George Eastman as he reaches for the "American Dream", only to find it quickly morph into the American nightmare. Is he a character who truly meant to do harm, or was he simply a victim of the illusion and promise of the "American Dream"? This one will give you plenty to think about. We talk about Theodore Dreiser, the real-life murder case that inspired the original novel, and why Stevens’ adaptation chooses implication over explanation in key moments. Then we get nerdy about craft. Stevens’ extreme close-ups, long static shots, and eerie dissolves don’t just look beautiful; they tell us the story in ways that mere dialogue cannot. We also touch on Edith Head’s iconic costumes, Franz Waxman’s sweeping score, the film’s Academy Awards run, Charlie Chaplin’s legendary praise, and the ugly art-versus-commerce fight over TV broadcasts chopped up by commercials. Finally, there's the cast. The 17 year-old Elizabeth Taylor, at the peak of her youthful bloom, beauty and possibility; her polar opposite, Shelly Winters, in a career-defining performance as the young woman who blocks Clift from obtaining his place in the sun and pays the ultimate price for it. There is Clift himself, an American Icarus, whose ambition to attain the American Dream at any cost sends him plummeting to his ultimate destruction. Listen, then share your take with us: is George Eastman a villain, a casualty, or both? If you like what you hear, subscribe, rate and review, share the show with a friend, and please fill out the survey linked in the show notes. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

“She croaked the blues right out of the horn.” So went a famous movie review by-line, and it kills us to admit it, but it’s true. It’s also true that it is by popular demand that we’re tackling it all…the good, the bad, and the filters, because, it’s today ladies and gentlemen! From Warner Bros. in 1974, we’re talking about “Mame”. But we’re going to try to look past the punch lines, and dive into the notorious bomb with a little tenderness and understanding, because the story of how it misfires is more complicated than just “Lucy can’t sing.” We break down the core mismatch of persona that shapes everything, then we widen the lens to the choices around the film. From the direction, to the screenplay, to the editing, to why a cast this loaded ends up feeling oddly muted (with one magnificent exception). We also get into the juicy behind-the-scenes turns that fans love: Bette Davis lobbying for Vera, Madeline Kahn originally cast as Agnes Gooch before being fired, and the way musical “surgery” can strip story motivation and emotional payoff. Along the way we still call out what works, including the opening sequence, the sets, and those moments when the movie accidentally becomes mesmerizing as a guilty pleasure. If you’ve ever argued about a notorious adaptation, or wondered how ambition and timing can derail great material, you’ll have opinions by the end. Subscribe, share the episode with a fellow classic film fan, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

"So gentlemen prefer blondes do they?" This famous opening line is delivered with more than a little irony by our leading lady, the lethally funny Lil Andrews, in today’s film: MGM’s 1932 pre-Code classic “ Red Headed Woman” . After all, the woman saying it is cinema’s most celebrated platinum blonde—Jean Harlow—who trades peroxide for provocation and proceeds to set the screen ablaze as a redhead whose morals are negotiable but whose style is impeccable. Marriages go smash, reputations take a nosedive, and even murder gets a crack at the spotlight—all served up with a wink and a wicked little laugh by Harlow in her star-making turn as the gold digger to end all gold diggers. Even in glorious black and white, “ Red Headed Woman” c rackles with the fiery havoc Jean Harlow unleashes—and it is easy to see why the film caused such a stir in 1932. We look at what makes this MGM pre-Code lightning strike so distinctive: its glossy style, wicked humor, and gleeful refusal to punish bad behavior on cue. Along the way, we explore the film’s ties to F. Scott Fitzgerald and Anita Loos, Lil Andrews’ ruthless ambition, its blunt view of sex and power, and the Paris ending that pointedly dodges a tidy moral lesson. We also explore the popularity and prevalence of these morally questionable characters during the depths of the Great Depression, examining why audiences embraced their defiant, anti-establishment attitudes and how the enforcement of the Production Code in 1934 brought their era to an abrupt end. If you love classic film history, pre-Code cinema, and Hollywood’s Golden Age deep dives, hit play, then subscribe, share the episode with a fellow movie lover, and leave us a rating and review so more listeners can find the show. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

It’s our very own “bottle” episode. Sort of… Your movie picks are taking over the show today. A listener voicemail, classic Hollywood wish lists, and a friendly debate over a famous ending all in one relaxed “bottle” hang. Hit play, then tell us what we should cover next? Along the way, we shout out the people who keep “Going Hollywood” lively with smart opinions, strong taste, and the kind of detailed requests that make our watch list impossible to ignore. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

Could we be more excited about this week's episode? We know!! This week, we are hanging out with six of our favorite Gen Xers whose relationship dramas, career travails, sexual exploits and over-caffeinated adventures kept us captivated for a decade. Yes, today we're taking on "Friends". "Friends" is one of those shows everyone “knows” until you actually sit down and rewatch it and realize how much is going on under the laugh track. It's more than comfort TV; it's a sitcom that not only became a defining piece of television history but also a time capsule of pre-internet social life, coffee shop culture, and a very specific kind of aspirational Manhattan normalcy. We talk honestly about the complicated parts, too: the show’s lack of diversity, homophobic punchlines that were common at the time, and recurring body jokes that can make modern viewers wince. Then we zoom in on what still works brilliantly, including multi-camera sitcom timing, live studio audience energy, and how the writing and performances turn simple premises into unforgettable comedy. Along the way, we share development and casting stories, from early working titles to near misses that could’ve changed the entire series. Finally, we break down four standout episodes that show "Friends" at peak form. If you’ve rewatched a dozen times or you’re coming back with fresh eyes, this is a smart, funny, clear-eyed look at why "Friends" still sticks. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a rating and review. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

It seemed like a good idea at the time, but we were wrong. It was a GREAT idea to ask the one and only Bruce Vilanch to help us kick off our new “Can’t Stop the Movie!” summer series with the granddaddies of guilty pleasures, 1980’s disco fiasco “Can’t Stop the Music” and 1977’s “The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.” Bruce discussed his hysterically funny memoir “It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time” and why “disastrous” TV specials and misguided variety experiments have a longer afterlife now than they did when they first aired. We unpack how "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour" even happened, what the cast thought they were signing up for, and why the show’s awkwardness is inseparable from the real pressures of 1970s television and celebrity branding. Along the way, Bruce shares surprising context on Robert Reed and the uncomfortable reality of trying to stay employable and private in that era. Then we dive into the ultimate guilty pleasure musical, "Can’t Stop the Music" (1980), the Village People movie produced by Alan Carr. Bruce breaks down the rewrite chaos, the casting carousel that started with Olivia Newton-John, the wild logistics of putting “wholesome” and “macho” in the same frame, and the truly mind-boggling choice of Nancy Walker as director. We also talk disco backlash, box office damage, and why the soundtrack went on to become global party folklore even when the movie cratered. If you love classic TV, Hollywood history, camp musicals, and behind-the-scenes storytelling, hit play, subscribe, and share this with a friend who loves a glorious flop. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave a rating and review. To get a copy of Bruce’s memoir, "It Seemed Like a Bad Idea At the Time" go to: https://www.amazon.com/Seemed-Like-Bad-Idea-Time/dp/0914091921 To watch “Get Bruce!”(1999) got to https://youtu.be/6ZnU_ZVDmQM?is=bkHdaS6l1tIYcX7d Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

A priceless object. A room full of liars. One detective trying to stay loyal to his own dubious moral code. We’re diving into "The Maltese Falcon" (1941), the Warner Bros classic that turns a hardboiled mystery into the blueprint for film noir, and we’re doing it the way we love best: with story, history, and a few sharp opinions. We talk about why this is one of the rare movie adaptations that barely flinches from its source, and how John Huston’s “shoot the book” approach creates a fast, propulsive thriller that still feels modern. Along the way, we dig into why Humphrey Bogart becomes the definitive Sam Spade, how noir dialogue works like music, why the film’s moral ambiguity is the whole point, and how "the stuff that dreams are made of" is the stuff of nightmares, too. If you love classic Hollywood, detective fiction, or film noir history, this one is a feast. Subscribe, share the show with a fellow movie nerd, and leave us a rating and review so more listeners can find Going Hollywood. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

We ain't too dadgum ignorant to recognize that Sissy Spacek's Oscar-winning performance as the "Coal Miner’s Daughter," Loretta Lynn, is one of the most startlingly real transformations any actor has made in film history. Spacek doesn't "act" Loretta Lynn...she becomes the country superstar--from her humbler than humble beginnings as a backwoods mountain girl to the heights of wealth and fame as the big-hearted and big-haired "First Lady of Country Music". It is not only the performance of the year; its a performance for the ages. And lending her support is an equally stellar supporting cast, that sadly, went unrecognized by the Academy when the nominations were announced. Tommy Lee Jones equally transformative turn as Doolittle Lynn, Beverly D’Angelo’s knockout portrayal of Patsy Cline that somehow feels unforgettable even with limited screen time, and a coterie of other players, both actors and non, who help lend the film its aching authenticity. Along the way, we talk about director Michael Apted’s outsider perspective, on-location authenticity, and the little details that make the early Kentucky chapters feel like you’ve stepped into another era. Then we get into the messy stuff that great biopics can’t avoid: myth versus fact, what gets softened or sharpened for Hollywood, and the big structural question of how you end a “still-going” life story without a neat tragedy. We also revisit the stacked 1980 Oscars context and why Spacek managed to dominate such a competitive year. If you love classic Hollywood, music movies, or performance deep-dives, hit play, subscribe, and share the show. After you listen, leave us a review and tell us what scene or song stays with you most. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

Start spreading the news! I'm flying solo without Brad this week, so I called in film historian Brandon Davis to help me unpack Martin Scorsese’s flawed but brilliant masterpiece from 1977, "New York, New York" starring the one and only Liza Minnelli and Robert DeNiro. We get into why the movie shocks people on first watch: lavish MGM-style sets, painted-backdrop “Technicolor” vibes, and then suddenly two people fighting like it’s a bruising 1970s relationship drama. We talk about Scorsese’s improvisation-heavy process, how that creates both magic and mess, and why Minnelli’s performance is so unexpected when she starts as a tightly controlled big-band singer instead of the full-throttle star persona most people expect. Along the way, we break down the numbers that matter, especially “But The World Goes Round,” the restored “Happy Endings” sequence, and the blockbuster “New York, New York” concert moment that turns the whole film into a showbiz fever dream. Finally, we address the elephant in the room; the odd but undeniable inspiration director Damien Chazelle took from Scorsese's brilliant film failure to create his mega-hit from 2016, "La La Land". If you love classic Hollywood, Scorsese deep cuts, movie musical history, or character-driven storytelling, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share the episode with a film friend, and leave a review, then tell us your verdict: is “New York, New York” a mess, a masterpiece, or both? Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

We are celebrating someone's birthday today on "Going Hollywood" and it is an occasion truly worth marking: Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday on June 1, 2026. And though it may be odd to think of the ultimate movie sex siren as a centenarian, her image as an ever youthful romantic symbol is forever burnished in celluloid. So we feel it's fitting, as we celebrate the life of this screen legend, to take a look at her final, unfinished film; "Something's Got to Give", the 1962 romantic comedy that shut down after a chaotic production and survived only as reconstructed footage. Long maligned as substandard due to Marilyn's alleged anesthetized and pathetic mental state during filming, we discover the exact opposite to be true: she’s funny, focused, playful, and totally winning as a sophisticated light comedienne. It should have been the birth of a "New Marilyn", instead it became the farewell performance of a movie icon. Along the way, we confront the harder context: old Hollywood’s treatment of mental health, the way “difficult” often meant “undiagnosed,” and how Marilyn’s intelligence and business instincts (including her own production company) get erased by the dumb-blonde myth. We end with what happened to the production, the attempted replacement, the lawsuits, the plan to rehire her, and the haunting question of what really happened on the evening of August 4, 1962. If you enjoy classic Hollywood history, Marilyn Monroe, behind-the-scenes filmmaking, or the real story of "Something’s Got to Give", subscribe, share this episode with a movie-loving friend, and leave us a rating and review. What do you think the finished film would have meant for her legacy? To watch the remaining footage of “Something’s Got to Give” on YouTube go to https://youtube.com/watch?v=1-WCdD8uJyg&si=m9wOY6-BuEKHZCH_ Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

People love to dismiss “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” as “dated,” but that word can hide a much harsher truth: much of the discomfort it dramatizes never fully went away. Stanley Kramer’s 1967 classic is still a relevant thesis that dares to ask the question: "But would you want your daughter to marry one?" If that sounds blunt, it is— and that’s why the movie still sparks arguments decades later. In this episode we tackle the social politics behind Kramer's provocative comedy, and the Hollywood history that shaped it. 1967 is a hinge year, with “Old Hollywood” going head-to-head with “New Hollywood”, the Production Code Administration losing its grip, and civil and political unrest shaping what studios would risk. And then, of course, there's the film's emotional center: the final screen outing of Hollywood's most celebrated romantic pair: Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. We dive into Tracy’s emotional final monologue, filmed under the shadow of his illness, and the meta weight it carries opposite Katharine Hepburn. We also dig into the Oscars context, including Hepburn’s Best Actress win, the competition that year, and how the ceremony was reshaped by the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. If you love classic films, Oscars history, Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, or movies that test our self-image, hit play, then subscribe, share the show, and leave a review so more people can find us. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

"Oh, Donald!" One gurgling little declaration, and a television icon is born. Is it Mary Richards? Is it Maude Findlay? Nope. It's "That Girl"! A sitcom can look light as air and still change what viewers believe is possible. "That Girl", which aired from 1966 to 1971, does exactly that, and rewatching it now makes the impact even clearer. We talk through why Marlo Thomas’s Anne Marie feels so lovable and so important, even if the show doesn’t get name-checked as often as other classics. The big idea is simple: a young woman moves to New York to chase her dream, pays her own bills (at least in an aspirational TV way), dates on her terms, and keeps her identity bigger than her relationship. We dig into the behind-the-scenes story that shaped the tone, from ABC’s early concerns to the surprising pilot changes, plus the push and pull over TV standards around sex, innuendo, and marriage. Marlo’s perspective on “aspiration” becomes the key that unlocks everything, and it also explains why the show’s fashion, apartment, and energy still feel like a blueprint for later hits. If you love classic television, 1960s sitcom history, or feminist pop culture, this is a deep and very fun rabbit hole. If That Girl has been sitting in your memory as a faint rerun, this is your nudge to rediscover it. Subscribe, share this with a fellow classic TV fan, and leave us a rating and review so more people can find the show. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

Long before she became notorious for her real life mothering skills, Joan Crawford was famous for her portrayal of a reel life mother; one who had an alarming (one may say unnatural) obsession with her oldest child, and one who would go to any lengths...perhaps even murder...to make her child's dreams come true. Yes, today we're taking on the Big C in her Oscar-winning performance in the noir-tinged soap opera, "Mildred Pierce". We’re diving into the 1945 Warner Bros classic that not only returned Joan Crawford to the top of the A-list, but helped redefine what film noir could look like when the protagonist isn’t a doomed tough guy, the object of desire isn't a curvy blonde, and the lurking menace isn't a gun but a sociopathic daughter. Along the way, we break down what “noir” really means, from the shadows and camera angles to the fatalistic mood that makes kitchens, staircases, and beach houses feel dangerous. We also get into the film’s delicious genre mash-up: part melodrama, part mystery, all emotional warfare. Then we go behind the curtain. We compare the movie to James M. Cain’s novel and the HBO miniseries, and we explain how the Production Code reshaped the plot by demanding punishment and a cleaner moral ledger. We also tell the comeback story that makes this film pure Hollywood mythology, including Michael Curtiz’s initial hesitation and Crawford’s legendary Oscar moment. Plus: Eve Arden, because there is never enough Eve Arden. Listen, share it with a fellow classic film obsessive, and then leave us a rating and review or send a text or voicemail with your take. Are you on Team Mildred, or do you think she creates the monster she can’t stop loving? Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

"I consider this woman to be the greatest actress in the English language." Thus spoke F. Murray Abraham at the OSCAR podium as he was announcing the winner of the 1985 Best Actress Award. For nearly everyone in the Shrine Auditorium that night, that platitude could only refer to one woman amongst the nominees of Meryl Streep, Ann Bancroft, Whoopi Goldberg and Jessica Lange. It was the final nominee... Geraldine Page. In this very special episode of "Going Hollywood" we are joined by writer- director-producer Del Shores to talk about the singular Miss Page and her Oscar winning performance in the beautiful 1985 film version of Horton Foote's legendary play, "The Trip to Bountiful". We discuss the art of Southern storytelling, the “magic” and subtext Foote packs into every line of dialogue, and the way the film treats family conflict with compassion instead of easy villains. We break down Carrie Watts’ escape from Houston, the small acts of kindness she finds on the road, and the brutal truth waiting at the end of the line: time passes, towns fade, and you still need to see the place that made you. If you’re searching for character driven cinema, classic film analysis, or the best movies about aging and memory, this conversation goes deep. Then we zero in on Geraldine Page, whose performance won the Oscar after a long road of nominations. We talk about what makes her acting so rare: specificity, willpower, humor, and the feeling that she’s living each moment. We even get into the film’s craft, from long unbroken shots to the little continuity glitches that reveal how fully this one in a generation artist disappeared into the character of Carrie Watts in her quest to return home to "Bountiful" . Listen, then subscribe for more Hollywood golden age and classic movie conversations, share the episode with a friend who loves great performances, and leave us a review. What scene from The Trip to Bountiful stays with you the longest? Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

It's that Poppins woman! We kick off our "Best Actress" month by celebrating one of the most magical Oscar winners of all time: Dame Julie Andrews as the practically perfect nanny herself, "Mary Poppins" (1964)! She blows in on the east wind like a well-dressed surprise and promptly takes charge of the Banks household with one raised eyebrow, a carpetbag that definitely did not come from any normal shop and a knack for turning chores into sing-along that makes everyday life sparkle—one spoonful of sugar at a time. But there's more to the classic Disney film than just its sparkling lead actress; we come away stunned by how much craft is packed into every frame: the Sherman Brothers’ songs, the choreography, the matte-painted London skies, the practical effects, the way live action plays convincingly with animation, and of course the one-of-a-kind supporting cast featuring Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Ed Wynn, Rita Shaw, Hermione Baddeley, and friend of the pod (and Brad) the incomparable Glynnis Johns. We also zoom out to the behind-the-scenes power struggle that shaped the final cut, that battles between Walt Disney and author P.L. Travers, and the tension still hangs around the film’s legacy. Finally, we break down the awards context: Julie Andrews’ performance, the "My Fair Lady" rivalry, and the dubbing controversy that helped shift Hollywood’s expectations for movie musicals. It’s comfort viewing, sure, but it’s also a blueprint for how to build “movie magic” with discipline and taste. What more is there to say? Supercalifragilisticexpalidocious! That's what. Text us or Leave a Voice Mail Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpod@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.