Forgotten Hollywood

In this episode, I spoke with author Todd James Pierce about his book "Making Mary Poppins: The Sherman Brothers, Walt Disney, and the Creation of a Classic Film".  Making Mary Poppins reveals the extraordinary true story behind the creation of one of the most beloved films of all time―and the two little-known songwriters who helped make it possible.

Guest Host James Lott Jr talks about Butterfly McQueen! 
Butterfly McQueen was an African American actress and dancer, best remembered for her role as Prissy in the classic 1939 film Gone With the Wind. Her distinctive, high-pitched voice and expressive personality made her unforgettable to audiences — but her legacy extends far beyond that one film.
Forgotten Hollywood is on Facebook.
The books are on Amazon.

Guest Host James Lott Jr  talks On Dangerous Ground (1951), directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Robert Ryan and Ida Lupino:

• Release year: 1951. 
• Runtime: 82 minutes. 
• Genre: Film noir / crime drama. 

✅ Critical & Audience Reception

• On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a Tomatometer rating of 89% (based on 19 Critics).
• On Metacritic, its score is listed as “Generally Favorable” with a score of 78. 
• The film is appreciated for its striking visuals, contrasting urban and snowy rural settings, and its score by Bernard Herrmann. 

📌 Notable Production & Artistic Details

• Produced by John Houseman for RKO Radio Pictures. 
• Screenplay by A. I. Bezzerides (based on the novel Mad with Much Heart by Gerald Butler). 
• Music composition by Bernard Herrmann, known for his evocative style that enhances the film’s emotional tone. 
• Cinematography by George E. Diskant.

🧮 Additional Notes

• The film’s structure: It begins in a gritty urban setting and transitions into a snowy countryside — a rare shift in classic noir for that era. 
• Though well-regarded now, contemporary reception was mixed; for example, critic Bosley Crowther of the New York Times gave it a less favorable review upon release.

In this episode I spoke with author Chris Yogerst about his latest book "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". Few lines of movie dialogue have had greater impact than the most famous line from John Ford’s 1962 masterpiece The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: “This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” Although critics of the day did not realize its magnitude, with time The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance has become cemented in our popular culture. This film connects to nearly every Western before or after, from Ford’s own Stagecoach (1939) to Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven (1992).

In this episode I spoke with author Steve Basford about his book "Breaking Away: The Quintessential Underdog Movie". Breaking Away, released in 1979, is the quintessential underdog movie, earning numerous award nominations and ranking in multiple Top Ten lists. Why is it so popular, to this day?
What is Breaking Away about, a bike race? The race is the climactic ending of the movie, but a small portion. It's a story about class differences, honesty, pride, family, relationships, romance, and changing attitudes. In other words, it's about life.

Larry Namer is an American entertainment entrepreneur, television visionary, and media innovator best known as the co-founder of E! Entertainment Television. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Namer began his career as a cable TV engineer before moving into programming and business leadership roles across the industry. In 1990, he and his partner developed the idea for what became E!—a 24-hour network focused on Hollywood, pop culture, and entertainment news. The network grew into a global brand that forever changed how audiences consume celebrity and entertainment coverage. Following E!, Namer continued launching and consulting for media ventures worldwide. He co-founded Metan Global Entertainment Group, which specializes in developing Western-style content for Asian markets, including China. Throughout his career, he has remained a key figure in shaping entertainment media around the world. Namer is widely regarded for his pioneering vision, strategic media insights, and for helping bridge international entertainment markets in today’s global content economy. Doug Hess talks to him about all of that! Forgotten Hollywood is on Facebook and the books are on Amazon.com

In this episode I spoke with Barry M. Putt, Jr about his book "Alice: Life Behind the Counter in Mel's Greasy Spoon". Alice: Life Behind the Counter in Mel’s Greasy Spoon (A Guide to the Feature Film, the TV Series, and More) takes you behind the scenes of one of television’s most beloved sitcoms. It all started with Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award–winning film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Learn how the movie and series were developed, peruse the fact-filled episode log, and test your Alice trivia knowledge with a fan quiz featuring over 120 questions.
Doug Hess is the Producer/Host. Forgotten Hollywood is on Facebook and the books are on Amazon!

In this episode, I spoke with Danny Reid about his latest book "Pre-Code Essentials: Must-See Cinema from Hollywood's Untamed Era, 1930-1934".  With unparalleled freedom in the Golden Age of Hollywood, movies produced during the “pre-Code” era between 1930 and 1934 boldly confronted a wide range of provocative subjects, including sexual freedom, the glorification of outlaws, racial taboos, and class consciousness. Films of the period include beloved classics likeGrand Hotel(1932) and King Kong(1933) but also lesser-known gems like I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang(1932) and Ann Vickers (1933). These films, produced at the height of the Great Depression, pushed the limits of contemporary social norms at a time when Hollywood studios were desperate to attract audiences—by any means necessary. 
Doug Hess is the Producer/Host. Forgotten Hollywood is on Facebook and the books are on Amazon

In this episode, I spoke with author Thomas Hischak about his book "Bringing Song and Dance to the Screen! Directors of Golden Age Hollywood Musicals". The role directors have played in American cinema cannot be overstated, particularly how they shaped and developed the medium during Hollywood's golden age. Little appreciation has been paid though to the individual directors' accomplishments with regards to the musical film, a genre that remains popular today. When the first film musicals were made, there were no experienced movie directors for the new genre. Instead of recruiting stage directors, Hollywood turned to the seasoned directors currently under contract and assigned them to make talkies with song and dance.

In this epiosde, I spoke with one of the co-authors, Wheeler Winston Dixon about his book "A Short History of Film, 4th Edition". This updated and expanded edition of A Short History of Film provides an accessible overview of the major movements, directors, studios, and genres from the 1880s to the present. Succinct yet comprehensive, with more than 250 rare stills and illustrations, this edition provides new information on contemporary horror, comic book, and franchise films; issues surrounding women and minority filmmakers; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on movies worldwide; the shift from film to digital production; the rising use of artificial intelligence in cinema; and the impact of streaming on the industry.