By request, we take on this late-50s musical, directed by Stanley Donan. Our stars are Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn and Kay Thompson. (I’ll have lots to say about Kay.) Revolving, as it does around the fashion industry in Paris, Funny Face is pretty to look at, including many great costumes. It also features songs by the Gershwins and some better ones that are not by them.

Funny Face

Shelly Brisbin with David Almeida, Lisa Schmeiser, Micheline Maynard, Erika Ensign and David J. Loehr

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The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

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Fritz Lang directed a pair of noirs in the mid-40s, starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett and Dan Duryea. The other is Woman in the Window. In Scarlet Street Eddie G. Is a mild-mannered cashier who meets Kitty, a beauty who might not mean him well. And then Dan Duryea gets involved. Like any self-respecting noir classic, this one is nice to look at, and even features twelve paintings created for the film. In real-life, Eddie collected art and Dan Duryea was a nice man.

Scarlet Street

Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Dr. Drang, Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard

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The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Next time, we’ll watch

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Someone suggested we honor the films of 1926 — 100 years ago — and so we shall. Beau Geste has been remade often, but here is the original, starring Ronald Colman in his matinee idol period. S recent massive restoration of the film has the film looking great, with lots of footage restored. It’s a silent film, if that affects your interest, but it’s quite compelling.

Beau Geste

Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard

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Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Next time, we’ll watch

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The LTS lineup drafts baseball movies for your enjoyment. At least one choice from every panelist must fall within our old-timey timeline, but newer films about bats and balls make it in, too. And don’t worry, bad baseball movies do not strike out here.

Baseball Movie Draft

Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Micheline Maynard, Randy Dotinga and David J. Loehr

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The Movies: _we draft baseball films

Next time, we’ll watch

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Happy Opening Day!

It’s Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig, in our first baseball episode. And yes, it’s all LTS inside baseball this week. We complain about the lack of actual baseball in this movie, suggest other movies with more baseball and go on a complete tangent halfway through, that no one would let me edit out.

But first, listener mail!

Pride of the Yankees

Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr and Randy Dotinga

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The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Next time, we’ll:

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The son of a man convicted of murder faces bullying, then suspicion when he is accused of a crime, too. Directed by Frank Borzage, the film is moody, dark and a bit gothic. Dane Clark and Gail Russell are your leads, with a late-film appearance by Ethel Barrymore. And you’ll hate young Lloyd Bridges. Noir czar Eddie Muller calls Borzage ‘relentlessly romantic,” which is a huge contrast to this film, which Muller ranks it among his top 25 noir films.

Moonrise

Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga, Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard

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Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Next time, we’ll watch

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Gene Tierney does comedy. John Lund is not bad. And THELMA RITTER IS THE BEST.

The Mating Season

Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard and Nathan Alderman

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Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Next time, we’ll watch

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Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly. Gotta be a musical, right? Actually, it’s a film noir, whose connection to Christmas is limited at best. So much misdirection, and I haven’t even told you the plot.

Christmas Holiday

Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga and Micheline Maynard

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Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

We’ll return in Spring 2026

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Tracy and Hepburn do “battle of the sexes” and help Judy Holiday launch her film career. There’s a random Cole Porter song, and T & H are adorable. George Cukor directs a great script.

Adam's Rib

Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard

Get in touch with the show at [email protected], Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Next time, we’ll watch

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Billy Wilder tells the story of a man’s (Ray Milland) alcoholic weekend, and the lies he tells to family and friends about his drinking. Surprisingly gritty and emotional for the era, and photography that heightens the mood. Also, Jane Wyman, Philip Terry, and Frank Faylen again.

The Lost Weekend

Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard

Get in touch with the show at [email protected], Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.