Was this always a Christmas film (and book?), and how did it redefine the “action hero”? Die Hard with Bruce Willis was originally “Nothing Lasts Forever”, a novel by Roderick Thorp.

Extras:

die hard parody trailer // 2 min

the writer’s take on if it’s a christmas film // 4 min

review of the predecessor film “the detective” // article

the original posters without bruce willis on it // article

the history of the writing process // article

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Hallmark is not just cards. Learn about the twisty history the company has in TV, children’s toys, and even a famous invention!

Extras:

happiest season trailer // 3 min

interview with hallmark programming vp // 39 min

history of hallmark // article

classic hallmark card commercial // 2 min

every hallmark movie ever parody // 4 min

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Catch up to the present with the twists and turns of the biggest director of the past 40 years.

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Learn the twists and turns of the biggest director of the past 40 years.

HBO documentary “Spielberg” trailer // 2 min

Indiana Jones brainstorm notes // article

interview with Spielberg’s mom // article

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What’s the book about, and why does the film miss it? And what the heck’s an elegy?

Extras:

trailer for Hillbilly Elegy // 3 min

Appalachian Reckoning // book

the NYT book review // article

NPR on “culture of poverty” theory // article

interview with JD Vance // 60 min

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What’s the purpose of the Royal Family, the Queen, and why are people so obsessed with them all? The Crown is on Netflix, based on the play The Audience by Peter Morgan.

Extras:

The Crown trailer (2020) // 3 min

The Queen trailer (2006) // 3 min

The Audience (play) trailer (2013) // 1 min

what the Royal Family thinks of The Crown // article

why people are obsessed with the Royals // article

Celebrity Worship Syndrome // article

the Royal Family from The Crown’s historian // article

The Crown Dissected (historical accuracy) // book

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Is the life of Beth Harmon, chess prodigy from the 1960s, based in fact? Why did this take so long to make? And how many more people are buying chess sets now? The Queen’s Gambit is on Netflix, based on the book by Walter Tevis.

Extras:

trailer, “The Queen’s Gambit” (2020) // 3 min

trailer, “Searching for Bobby Fischer” (1993) // 3 min

trailer, “Pawn Sacrifice” (2015) // 3 min

Madwoman’s Book Club sign up // article

trailer, “Queen of Katwe” (2016) // 3 min

a chess expert’s take on the series // article

Judit Polgar’s take on women in chess // article

the life of Walter Tevis // article

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A MISSING EPISODE! We recorded this episode about elections in books and films through history, but unfortunately lost the audio. Please enjoy a few re-recorded moments, and check out the rest of the show notes for all the other resources and media.

Mentioned:

Democracy, An American Novel (1880) // book

Primary Colors (1998) // trailer

State of the Union (1948) // film clip

The Candidate (1972) // trailer

Tanner ’88 (1988) // article

The Frontrunner (2018) // trailer

Chappaquiddick (2017) // trailer

Other Media (not mentioned):

Betty Boop for President (1932)// short film

All the Kings Men (1946) // film clip

Election (1999) // trailer

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BOO! Learn the history of Halloween traditions, and origins of the monsters from literature and film.

Check out our other spooky episodes!

Extras:

the best Halloween movies streaming // article

traditional Halloween “souling songs” // 8 min

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How could the cosmic horror of HP Lovecraft meld with the Jim Crow laws of 1950’s America? Let’s find out! “Lovecraft Country” on HBO is by Misha Green, based on the book by Matt Ruff.

Extras:

Lovecraft Country trailer // 3 min

historical moments from LC // article

Matt Ruff’s research resources // list

history of the “Green Book” // article

Gordon Park’s Segregation photography // photos

Pam Noles’ essay, “Shame” // essay

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