Ep. 208 – TCM Classic Film Fest with Charlie Tabesh

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. 197- Stagecoach (1939)

Ringo Kid.

2024 marks the 85th anniversary of the landmark year of 1939. Often considered the “greatest year in film history”, countless classic films were released within that calendar year. Brandon and Emmett Stanton pay tribute the film that set the standard for the American western film, Stagecoach. John Ford’s masterpiece created many of the known tropes we associate with the western genre. The film features a stellar ensemble cast of the finest character actors at the time. Yet, its most known for it’s star making turn for John Wayne as the Ringo Kid. The film would mark a fruitful partnership between Wayne and Ford for the next 3 decades.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis and Emmett Stanton

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Ep. 194- All That Heaven Allows

All That Heaven Allows.

.Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of the most poignant melodramas of the 1950s. Brandon is joined by Jackson Cooper to discuss 1955’s All That Heaven Allows. The two pay tribute to the work of director, Douglas Sirk, and his immaculate visual storytelling. We’re also celebrating the performances of Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson as two people who buck the trends of the social mores and class system in the fifties.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis and Jackson Cooper

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Ep. 177- C’mon Get Happy-with David Fantle and Tom Johnson

C’Mon Get Happy.

Front Row Classics is thrilled to welcome authors & film historians, David Fantle and Tom Johnson this week. Our two guests have penned a delightful and well-researched study of an underrated Hollywood musical gem. “C’mon Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock” is a must-read for any classic film fan. The book chronicles the production history of this joyful film’s troubled production history, charismatic stars and classic musical moments. The film marked the last time Judy Garland would set foot in front of the cameras at MGM. It would also display Gene Kelly’s talents in fresh and fun ways. Fantle and Johnson have provided us with an invaluable resource that will inspire to re-discover this feel-good musical classic.

“C’mon Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock” is available from University Press of Mississippi wherever books are sold.

David Fantle, in collaboration with Tom Johnson, has been interviewing, writing, and speaking about Hollywood’s Golden Age stars for forty-five years. Fantle is adjunct professor of film at Marquette University.

Tom Johnson is former senior editor at Netflix and has written movie reviews and features for E! Online, Moviefone, and People magazine, among other publications. His entertainment writing has been recognized with a Minnesota Newspaper Association achievement award and a National Hearst Foundation award for news writing.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis

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Ep. 171- Interview with Brandon Johnston

Hollywood History.

Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome actor and social media personality, Brandon Johnston this week. We discuss his early love of classic film and how it had influenced his life and career. We also take a little time to discuss the current actor & writer’s strike.

The advent of social media has been able to expose younger people to classic movies like never before. But, it has also paved the way for many myths and untruths about the era to spring forward. The two Brandons later discuss the film that probably has created the most myths over the years: The Wizard of Oz.

You can find Brandon Johnston at Hollywood History on Tik Tok. https://linktr.ee/brandonjohnston

FEATURING: Brandon Davis

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Ep. 157- Gilda

Put the Blame on Mame, boys!

“Put the blame on Mame, boys”. Front Row Classics welcomes Ben Burke of The Hollywood Babylonians podcast. Brandon and Ben discuss Gilda from 1946. This film noir classic cemented Rita Hayworth as one of the true icons of the 1940s. The movie, directed by Charles Vidor, was a rarity that gave depth to the femme fatale leading lady. We discuss the incredible love/hate chemistry between Hayworth and Glenn Ford. The hosts also dissect the insane plot and naughty subtext that somehow got past Hollywood censors.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis and Ben Burke

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Bonus Interview: TCM Film Fest with Ben Mankiewicz

Let’s chat with Ben!

Brandon is heading to the TCM Classic Film Festival! Earlier this week, he sat down with TCM Host Ben Mankiewicz for a preview of what is to come.Topics include the opening night presentation of Rio Bravo, Warner Brothers’ 100th anniversary celebration and some of Ben’s favorite aspects of the festival.

Ben Mankiewicz is the primetime host of Turner Classic Movies. When he made his TCM debut in September 2003, he became only the second host hired in the network’s history.

During his career at TCM, he has introduced thousands of movies on the air. Additionally, he’s become one of the best interviewers in the business, leading thoughtful and entertaining long-form conversations with more than two hundred of the industry’s top talents, including Mel Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, Sophia Loren, Martin Scorsese, Warren Beatty, Ava DuVernay, Annette Bening, Robert Redford, Quentin Tarantino, Jodie Foster, Brad Bird, Faye Dunaway, Lou Gossett, Jr., and Michael Douglas.

Mankiewicz is the host of TCM’s first podcast, The Plot Thickens. Each of the four seasons, I’m Still Peter Bogdanovich, The Devil’s Candy, Lucy and Here Comes Pam were met with outstanding reviews and industry awards.

Since 2019, Mankiewicz has served as a contributor to the Peabody and Emmy-winning news magazine, CBS News Sunday Morning, and has hosted the American Society of Cinematographers Awards since 2018.

Prior to TCM, Mankiewicz worked as a reporter and anchor in Charleston, SC, and Miami, FL, twice being named Best Anchor in South Florida by The New Times. Additionally, he contributes to The Young Turks, an online political show he co-founded with Cenk Uygur in 2002.

Mankiewicz moved to Los Angeles nearly 75 years after his grandfather, screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz (“Mank” to his all his friends), headed west to work in the movie business. Soon after arriving, Herman cabled his friend Ben Hecht in New York, “There are millions to be grabbed out here and your only competition is idiots. Don’t let this get around.” His grandson is now proudly one of those idiots.

He’s a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Tufts University, and Georgetown Day High School in Washington, DC, the school with the worst mascot in recorded history: the Grasshoppers.

Mankiewicz lives in Santa Monica with his beautiful wife, their beautiful daughter, one perfect dog, and one other dog, who’s available for adoption at any time. Seriously, please take him

FEATURING: Brandon Davis

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Ep. 139- Singin’ in the Rain 70th Anniversary with Patricia Ward Kelly

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Front Row Classics rings in the holiday season with a celebration of one of the most joyous films ever made, Singin’ in the Rain. Brandon and Eric are thrilled to welcome back our friend, Patricia Ward Kelly, to discuss the backstory & legacy of what many consider to be the greatest movie musical of all time. Patricia is the widow and biographer of the late, great Gene Kelly. She provides valuable context and perspective on Gene’s contributions to the film and even busts a few popular myths for us. We’re also lucky to hear about Patricia’s recent travels along with some touching holiday traditions she shared with Gene.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis and Eric Flick

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Ep. 135- A Front Row Seat-Interview with Nancy Olson Livingston

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Front Row Classics is proud to welcome Nancy Olson Livingston this week. Ms. Livingston sits down with Brandon to discuss her remarkable life as told in her upcoming memoir, “A Front Row Seat: An Intimate Look at Broadway, Hollywood, and the Age of Glamour”. The book chronicles her life, career and marriages to Alan Jay Lerner and Alan Livingston. Her life reads like a road map to the arts and politics of the 20th Century. Ms. Livingston tells Brandon many amazing stories regarding encounters with such figures as William Holden, John Wayne, JFK, Walt Disney and The Beatles.

“A Front Row Seat: An Intimate Look at Broadway, Hollywood, and the Age of Glamour” will be available later this month wherever books are sold from University Press of Kentucky.

Nancy Olson Livingston was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Sunset Boulevard (1950). She has appeared in several films, including Union Station (1950), Battle Cry (1955), Pollyanna (1960), The Absent-Minded Professor (1961), and Airport 1975 (1974). She has also starred in three plays on Broadway: Tunnel of Love, Send Me No Flowers, and Mary, Mary, and guest-starred in a number of television shows. She lives in Beverly Hills, California.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis

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Ep. 134- The Night of the Hunter

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We conclude this year’s MonsterCast with one of the most unique thrillers to ever come out of Hollywood. 1955’s “The Night of the Hunter” remains as frightening and dream-like as it was upon release. Brandon & Eric welcome back Jay Hoffman to discuss Charles Laughton’s only outing as director. The hosts praise the sinister performance of Robert Mitchum as Reverend Harry Powell. They also highlight the wonderful contributions of Lillian Gish and Shelley Winters. The central themes of good vs evil, men & women and religion are also touched upon in the episode.

FEATURING: Brandon Davis, Eric Flick and Jay Hoffman

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