Ep. 209- From the Moment They Met It Was Murder-Interview with Alain Silver and James Ursini

Front Row Classics welcomes historians/writers Alain Silver and James Ursini this week. The two have penned a book celebrating the quintessential film noir, Double Indemnity. “From the Moment they Met it Was Murder: Double Indemnity and Rise of Film Noir” is a valuable resource for fans of this legendary movie. Brandon and the two authors discuss the origin and impact of the film on the noir genre. They also celebrate the performances of Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray and Edward G Robinson.

“From the Moment they Met it Was Murder: Double Indemnity and Rise of Film Noir” is available wherever books are sold from Running Press and Turner Classic Movies.

Screenwriter/producer and film historian Alain Silver is the author/editor of more than thirty books on cinema, including The Noir Style, The Samurai Film, and Film Noir The Encyclopedia. He has also produced more than thirty independent motion pictures; provided commentary for many noir DVD/Blu-ray releases; and lectured on film history and production at numerous colleges, festivals, and conferences in the US and abroad.

James Ursini has cowritten or edited more than a score of books with Alain Silver, including their Film Noir Reader series and director studies of David Lean and Robert Aldrich. He has also supplied commentary for numerous film noir DVDs, including Double Indemnity. He has worked in both fiction and non-fiction feature production and has taught filmmaking at UCLA and other schools in the Los Angeles area.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis

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Ep. 208 – TCM Classic Film Fest with Charlie Tabesh

TCM Film Festival Time!

Brandon is currently attending the 15th Annual Turner Classic Movies Film Festival. He recently spoke with TCM’s SVP of Programming, Charlie Tabesh. Brandon and Charlie preview the various aspects of this year’s festival and what passholders can look forward to. Be sure to check out Brandon’s daily coverage on the festival on Front Row Classics’ Facebook and Instagram pages this weekend.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis

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Ep. 207- The Hustler

Fast Eddie Felson

Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of great films of the 1960s. Brandon and Emmett Stanton are discussing The Hustler. Robert Rossen’s character study features one of Paul Newman’s signature performances as Fast Eddie Felson. Brandon and Emmett praise the sharp camera work, screenplay and performances by a great cast including Piper Laurie, George C. Scott and Jackie Gleason.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis and Emmett Stanton

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Ep. 206- A Hard Day’s Night

A Hard Day’s Night

Front Row Classics is “working like a dog” this week. We’re celebrating the 60th anniversary of A Hard Day’s Night as well as the Beatle’ arrival in America. Brandon is joined by author & film historian, Sloan De Forest. Sloan is a self-proclaimed “Beatle Maniac” and helps to provide great insight into this musical comedy directed by Richard Lester. Brandon and Sloan marvel at the natural acting & comedic abilities from John, Paul, George & Ringo. We also discuss how modern the film still feels after sixty years.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis and Sloan De Forest

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Ep. 205-Sleeping Beauty-65th Anniversay with Michael Giaimo

Once Upon a Dream

Front Row Classics is joining forces with Beyond the Mouse this week. We’re celebrating the 65th Anniversary of Walt Disney’s masterpiece, Sleeping Beauty. Brandon. Craig and Vanessa are proud to welcome Disney artist and animator, Michael Giaimo.

The hosts discuss the elegance and pageantry that covers every frame of Sleeping Beauty. We spend time discussing their favorite scenes and characters. Michael also helps put the film into proper context within the history of the Disney Studios.

Michael Giaimo’s many credits includes Art Direction for Pocahontas (1995) as well as Production Design & Art Direction for Frozen (2013) and Frozen 2 (2019)

FEATURING: Brandon Davis, Craig McFarland and Vanessa Ferguson

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Ep. 204-Not Your China Doll-Interview with Katie Gee Salisbury

Anna May Wong

Front Row Classics welcomes author Katie Gee Salisbury this week. Katie has just penned a wonderful book on one of the 20th century’s greatest pioneers of film, Anna May Wong. “Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong” is a page turning exploration of Wong’s life set against the Jazz Age and early days of Hollywood. Salisbury shines a spotlight on Anna May’s glamourous life along with her rebellious personal life & fight for less stereotypical roles.

“Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong” is available from Dutton Publishing wherever books are sold.

Katie Gee Salisbury is the author of Not Your China Doll, a new biography of Anna May Wong, the first Asian American movie star. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Ringer, the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, and elsewhere. She was a finalist for the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship in 2021 and gave the TED Talk “As American as Chop Suey.” She also writes the newsletter Half-Caste Woman. A fifth-generation Chinese American who hails from Southern California, she now lives in Brooklyn.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis

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Ep. 203- The Awful Truth

The Awful Truth

Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of the greatest romantic screwball comedies of the 1930s. Brandon is joined by Mia Tiffany from Movies with Mia to discuss 1937’s The Awful Truth. Leo McCarey’s film about marriage and infidelity still packs a hilarious and poignant journey for movie goers. Brandon and Mia discuss the fantastic chemistry between Cary Grant and Irene Dunne as well as the witty script by Vina Delmar. This film is often credited with creating the “Cary Grant persona” we all know and love.

You can see all of Mia’s classic film reactions at https://www.youtube.com/@MoviesWithMia/featured

FEATURING: Brandon Davis and Mia Tiffany

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Ep. 202- Some Like it Hot-65th Anniversary

I Wanna Be Loved By You

We’re taking another look at one of the greatest comedies in movie history. Billy Wilder’s Some Like it Hot is celebrating its 65th anniversary and remains a fresh and funny as it was in 1959. Jackson Cooper joins Brandon this week to discuss every memorable moment. We also pay tribute to the incomparable performances of Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis and Jackson Cooper

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Ep. 201- Interview with Oz & Judy Garland Expert John Fricke

Welcome John Fricke

Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome renowned Wizard of Oz expert & Judy Garland historian, John Fricke. John has contributed his knowledge and expertise to countless books, documentaries, and home video releases over the decades. He provides insight into why Garland remains a powerful pop culture figure more than fifty years after her death. Brandon and John discuss his earliest experiences as a Garland fan, including an unforgettable story of seeing Judy in concert. They also commemorate the 85th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz and 80th anniversary of Meet Me in St Louis.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis

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Ep. 200- 200th Episode with Stefanie Powers

Happy 200th!

Front Row Classics is celebrating its 200th episode! I’m so very grateful for to you ,the listeners, for continuing to support this labor of love.

For our 200th episode, we’re welcoming a very special guest : legendary actress and wildlife activist, Stefanie Powers. Powers grew up in the heyday of Los Angeles and even attended Hollywood High School. Brandon and Stefanie discuss her decades-long career in film, television and theater. Having worked with luminaries like John Wayne, Tallulah Bankhead, Bing Crosby & Maureen O’Hara, Stefanie has a wealth of perspective on the golden age of show business.

We discuss her starring role in The Girl from U.N.C.L.E in the 60s which made her the first woman to star in an hour long series. We ,of course, also spend time discussing the beloved series, Hart to Hart and her co-star, Robert Wagner.

Stefanie has also dedicated her life to wildlife conservation. She founded the William Holden Wildlife Foundation following the death of her lifelong love, William Holden.

You can find out more about the foundation along with ways to give at whwf.org.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis

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