Classic Movie Club

In This Episode

Episode Description:

Few places hold our collective memories quite like the cinema. In our frenetic digital world, it’s nice to know there’s a place where we can leave our worries behind and escape the algorithm. Where emotions are allowed to play out larger than life. Where laughter can ripple through a room of strangers and tension can keep us united on the edge of our seats. The book Silver Screens: Spectacular Cinemas from Hollywood to Hong Kong is a celebration of that shared magic, honouring the movie houses, drive-ins, and theatres around the world that continue to keep the communal experience of the cinema alive. 

Available now from HarperCollins Publishers’ Pavilion, Silver Screens journeys to the places and spaces where classic movies reigned and where repertory programming still illuminates beloved characters and classic images. From icons such as Hollywood’s Chinese Theatre and London’s Prince Charles Cinema to hidden gems from far-flung corners of the globe, author and journalist Jane Crowther guides readers through these living archives. Throughout her career, Jane has chronicled cinema culture from every angle. She is the editor-in-chief of the premium print magazine Hollywood Authentic and chair of the London Film Critics’ Circle. Highlighting one hundred venues from around the world, Silver Screens is a must-have travel guide for movie lovers and an invitation to rediscover the magic of going to the cinema.

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Music: Hollywood Hop, Earl Hines and His New Sound Orchestra (LA, Jul, 1954)
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In This Episode

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Following their hugely successful Masters of Make-Up Effects, Oscar-winning make-up effects artist Howard Berger and veteran film journalist Marshall Julius emerge from the shadows to continue their Hollywood Monsters odyssey with their next book, Making Monsters, an oral history of the monsters who made us and the magicians who made them.

In a spellbinding, devilishly detailed compendium of never-before-seen photographs and candid recollections from more than 80 film and television visionaries, Making Monsters pries open the crypt to expose the twisted geniuses that dreamed the nightmares, the hands that stitched the beasts, and the blood-bound Monster Kid community determined to keep the flame alive.

With a welcome from dream demon Robert Englund and a final word from Lost Boys Alex Winter, along with wicked original art by Jason Edmiston, Graham Humphreys, Mark Tavares and Terry Wolfinger, Hollywood’s most iconic creatures come to life as Berger and Julius forge craft with camaraderie, inviting readers onto the set and behind the scenes.

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Making Monsters Merch

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Music: Hollywood Hop, Earl Hines and His New Sound Orchestra (LA, Jul, 1954)
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In This Episode

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For more than two decades, Karie Bible has been the guiding voice and storyteller taking visitors from near and far through Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s legendary grounds. A historian, vintage devotee and lifelong lover of classic film, Karie shares stories of scandal, triumph and heartbreak that look beyond the myths and humanise stars. Her passion for honouring the pioneers of cinema has led to appearances on Turner Classic Movies, PBS, CNN, the History Channel, the Travel Channel and more. Karie also regularly invites viewers into Hollywood Kitchen, her blog and cooking show, where she makes vintage recipes from the stars of Hollywood's Golden Age while delving into film history. Along her journey, Karie also found an unlikely partner in Close Up, a black cat who first appeared on Cecil B. DeMille’s tombstone, hence the name. Together, the well-known Angelenos embody the charm, mystery and magic of Hollywood Forever.

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Walking Tours of Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Hollywood Kitchen

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Buy Algiers (1938) on Blu-ray

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Music: Hollywood Hop, Earl Hines and His New Sound Orchestra (LA, Jul, 1954)
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IN THIS EPISODE

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The Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design is one of the world’s largest and most meticulously curated private archives of film costumes, founded in 1989 by respected Hollywood costume historians, archivists, and consultants Larry McQueen and Bill Thomas. What began with a single shared acquisition of Greta Garbo’s gown from Queen Christina (1933) has, over thirty-five years, grown into a 650-something-piece collection spanning iconic titles from 1916’s Intolerance to 2015’s The Danish Girl. McQueen’s mission has always been about a reverence for that history and the often-unsung designers and craftspeople who brought cinema’s most memorable looks to the screen.

In The Costumes of Hollywood - Highlights from The Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design, a new book available now from Routledge, readers are invited into the history, artistry and preservation of screen-worn fashion that spans nearly a century. The text is a visual and narrative archive presenting full-page colour photos of the garments themselves — many of which have never been published — along with looks into interior construction, restoration, and their complex journey from screen to storage. Joining McQueen on the journey through his collection is co-author Coleen Scott, a costume designer, historian, and educator. The two connected during a virtual Costume Society of America event during the pandemic. A casual conversation about costumes quickly grew into a collaboration and commitment to preserving the story of the collection in print.

Resources

Read The Costumes of Hollywood: Highlighting The Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design

Listen to The Costumes of Hollywood Podcast

The Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design

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Music: Hollywood Hop, Earl Hines and His New Sound Orchestra (LA, Jul, 1954)
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IN THIS EPISODE

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Just when you thought it was safe...
Since its release in 1975, Steven Spielberg's Jaws has reshaped Hollywood filmmaking, defining the modern blockbuster era and igniting a cultural obsession with sharks. As the icon resurfaces in cinemas and continues to make waves, it’s time to get back in the water and take a closer look at the film that still terrifies and inspires half a century later. 

National Geographic’s SHARKFEST is spotlighting the ocean’s most infamous predator with more than 25 hours of content, including a look into the legacy of Jaws. From National Geographic, Amblin Entertainment and Nedland Media, Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story honors the cinematic landmark, but also delves into how Jaws reshaped the movie business and the public perception of sharks.

Renowned filmmaker and best-selling author Laurent Bouzereau has spent decades chronicling the untold stories behind cinema’s greatest moments, from documentary films about the life of Faye Dunaway to the legacy of Natalie Wood and the music of John Williams. He is the author behind books on cinema such as Spielberg: The First Ten Years and The De Palma Decade. His connection to Jaws goes back to 1995, when he documented the making of Jaws for its LaserDisc release, an experience that set the stage for his long-time collaboration with Steven Spielberg.

Bouzereau’s documentary Jaws @ 50 offers a true cinematic deep dive into the making of Spielberg’s iconic adventure, providing freshly caught insights from marine advocates and modern filmmakers, never-before-seen treasures from author Peter Benchley and Spielberg's personal archives, as well as in-depth interviews with those who lived the chaos behind the camera. As Jaws @ 50 premieres on National Geographic and launches of Disney+, Bouzereau joins Film Review to discuss the challenges of re-telling the story behind the legend and reflect on the enduring relevance of Jaws.

Resources

National Geographic SHARKFEST

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story

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Music: Hollywood Hop, Earl Hines and His New Sound Orchestra (LA, Jul, 1954)
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In This Episode

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Appearing for the first time in the Chicago area is a uniquely curated tribute to the timeless glamour of Hollywood’s golden age — and the wardrobes that defined it. With screen-worn costumes that span classic and contemporary film history from 1939 to 2005, Glitz, Glamour, Gorgeous: A Tribute to Hollywood Movie Costumes at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, Illinois, offers an up-close look at the fashion that helped shape some of cinema’s iconic moments.

From Elizabeth Taylor’s regal ensemble in Cleopatra to Bette Davis’ off-the-shoulder gown in All About Eve and pieces worn by former Film Review contributors Doris Day, Gregory Peck, Lana Turner, and Betty Grable, Glitz-Glamour-Gorgeous showcases 33 screen-worn costumes representing important designers like Adrian, Edith Head, Orry-Kelly, Walter Plunkett, Helen Rose, Irene Sharaff, and William Travilla.

The treasures come from the private collection of Greg Schreiner — a renowned pianist, producer, and lifelong collector of Hollywood memorabilia. Schreiner is the president and a founding member of Marilyn Remembered, the longest-running fan club devoted to continuing the legacy of Marilyn Monroe. Schreiner has spent decades preserving the garments that helped define the golden age of cinema. His passion evolved into Hollywood Revisited, a travelling stage production in which several of the costumes in his collection come to life through performance and music.

Resources

Glitz-Glamour-Gorgeous: A Tribute to Hollywood Movie Costumes

Hollywood Revisited

The Marilyn Remembered Fan Club

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Music: Hollywood Hop, Earl Hines and His New Sound Orchestra (LA, Jul, 1954)
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In This Episode

Welcome aboard Amity Boat Tours! What better way to talk about Jaws than a return trip to the shores of Amity, also known as Martha’s Vineyard, the picturesque island off the coast of Massachusetts where Steven Spielberg, the cast and crew filmed the classic adventure in the summer – and fall – of 1974. Following the world’s introduction to that clever shark, tourism on Martha’s Vineyard exploded, and it’s been ‘Jaws Island’ ever since, with visitors flocking to filming locations and ‘Amity’ landmarks annually.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Spielberg’s 1975 classic, Martha’s Vineyard Museum is rolling out the ‘blood’ red carpet welcoming Jaws finatics and islanders to explore a new landmark exhibit, Jaws at 50: A Deeper Dive. Through rare photographs, oral histories, original artwork, and authentic movie props, the museum’s galleries recount how Martha’s Vineyard played a starring role in cinema history. In addition to the summer-long exhibition, the museum proudly presents Amity Homecoming Weekend. The robust five-day event from the 19th to the 23rd of June will swallow fans in exclusive talks, with special guests sharing behind-the-scenes insights into the making of Jaws. During our tour of Amity, Film Review is joined by the staff of Martha’s Vineyard Museum – Cathy Mayone (Managing Director), Laurel Redington (Director of Programming and Audience Engagement), Bow Van Riper (Historian and Research Librarian) and Anna Barber (Curator of Exhibitions) – who share insights on the 50th anniversary and celebrate the legacy of Jaws where it all began.

Resources

Martha’s Vineyard Museum

Jaws at 50: A Deeper Dive

Jaws 50th Anniversary Martha’s Vineyard

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Music: Hollywood Hop, Earl Hines and His New Sound Orchestra (LA, Jul, 1954)
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In This Episode

In Falling in Love at the Movies: Rom-Coms from the Screwball Era to Today, a new volume from Turner Classic Movies (TCM), author and entertainment journalist Esther Zuckerman explores how the beloved genre has shaped cultural narratives and captured hearts at the box-office. Zuckerman highlights the enduring charm of iconic films like Roman Holiday, which features on the cover.

From the golden age of 1930s screwball comedies like It Happened One Night to the romcom boom of the 80s and 90s, Zuckerman explores how these films have not only provided us with comfort and joy but also shaped our understanding of love, relationships and even fashion. The book delves into the work of key auteurs, uncovering how filmmakers both upheld and challenged traditional romantic comedy tropes.

Resources:

Falling in Love at the Movies: Rom-Coms from the Screwball Era to Today By Esther Zuckerman

Triplex Cinema

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Music: Hollywood Hop, Earl Hines and His New Sound Orchestra (LA, Jul, 1954)
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In This Episode

Film Masters, a consortium of historians and enthusiasts focused on film preservation, celebrates the lost and orphaned films that once lined the public domain bargain bin by generating truly stunning restorations.

Launched in 2023 by industry veteran and film historian Phil Hopkins, Film Masters is a boutique home video label committed to reviving films that have been sitting dormant for decades. By scanning original elements – in some cases the original camera negative – in 2K and 4K, Film Masters presents Special Edition two-disc collections of cult classics, giving these oft-beloved, yet neglected, titles the full home video treatment with original and archival bonus materials, in-depth documentaries and audio commentaries on deluxe releases of definitive restorations.

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Film Masters

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Additional Notes
Music: Hollywood Hop, Earl Hines and His New Sound Orchestra (LA, Jul, 1954)
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In This Episode

Located at 106 Riverside Drive on the banks of the Ohio River in historical Augusta, Kentucky, the Rosemary Clooney House is a non-profit foundation focused on preserving the house that Rosemary called home for 20 years, as well as sharing Rosemary’s legacy with fans old and new through extensive memorabilia from her life and career. The home was a sanctuary and retreat between gigs for Rosemary, who was born in nearby Maysville, Kentucky. 

The museum's origins trace back to 1999 when today’s guest, Heather French Henry, was crowned Miss America 2000. She was the first Miss Kentucky to win the crown. Her second call that night was from another hometown Kentucky girl – Rosemary Clooney. Years later, following Clooney’s passing, Rosemary’s children approached Heather and her husband, former Kentucky Lt. Gov Dr. Steve Henry about purchasing the circa 1840 home.

The Rosemary Clooney House officially opened in 2005 and is now a museum showcasing Clooney's costumes, including pieces and memorabilia from all her major films – The Stars Are Singing, Here Come the Girls, and two of my personal favourites Red Garters, and White Christmas. It’s the home of the largest collection of White Christmas memorabilia in the world, with costumes worn by Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, Dean Jagger, Mary Wickes, and George Chakiris. In addition to the nearly 200 pieces in White Christmas collection, the museum houses collections dedicated to Rosemary’s film and music career.

Resources

The Rosemary Clooney House

Fathom Events

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Additional Notes
Music: Hollywood Hop, Earl Hines and His New Sound Orchestra (LA, Jul, 1954)
CC0 1.0 UniversalCreative Commons License