Lions, Towers & Shields

By Shelly BrisbinTV & Film Film Reviews

Lions, Towers & Shields episodes

March 16, 202370: Things Just Keep Happening and Nothing Makes Sense
Suggested by Lisa Schmeiser: If you liked “The Apartment” or “Mad Men,” welcome back to mid-century NYC office culture. We’re on Madison Avenue, inside the cutthroat world of publishing. Our guides are Hope Lange, Stephen Boyd, Suzy Parker, Martha Hyer, Diane Baker, Brian Ahenre and Miss Joan Crawford. Jean Negulesco handles direction.
The Best of Everything
Host Shelly Brisbin with Lisa Schmeiser, Nathan Alderman, and Randy Dotinga.
Referenced Works
The Best of Everything
Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at [email protected].
The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film
The Best of Everything trailer
Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
On disc: Blu-ray
The Self-Referential LTS
LTS #33: Nice Guy or Good Man
Next time, we’ll watch
Gun Crazy trailer
"Suzy Parker," The Beattles
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.
1 hr 1 min
March 10, 202369: The Billionaire's Vaudeville
Ethel Merman in her heyday. What more do you need to know? Merman didn’t make a lot of movies, so here’s a glimpse at what theatre audiences saw during her long Broadway career. Also along for the Irving Berlin musical are Donald O’Connor, Dan Dailey, Johnnie Ray and Mitzi Gaynor. And, um, who’s that other blonde person? Marilyn Monroe is here, too. Thanks to my panelists, Matthew and David for suggesting it.
There's No Business Like Show Business
Host Shelly Brisbin with David Almeida and Matthew Arter.
Referenced Works
There's No Business Like Show Business
Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at [email protected] or on the socials.
The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film
There’s No Business Like Show Business trailer
Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
On disc: Blu-ray
Links
Shelly guests on Let’s Face the Facts #206
Next time, we’ll watch
The Best of Everything trailer
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.
1 hr 18 min
March 02, 202368: Laird Cregar Hulks Out
It’s a dark, moody thriller set in a London square. See Linda Darnell change her image, at the tender age of 22; see Laird Cregar take his shot at being a leading man.
Hangover Square
Host Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman and Randy Dotinga.
Referenced Works
Hangover Square
Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at [email protected] or on Mastodon.
The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film
Hangover Square trailer
Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
On disc: Blu-ray
The Self-Referential LTS
LTS #59 That’s So Raven
LTS #52 If Douglas Sirk Made Friday the 13th
LTS #50 What is She Talking About? Stop That!
Next time, we’ll watch
There’s No Business Like Show Business trailer
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.
48 min
December 29, 202267: Gene Kelly's Butt
Another year draws to a close, and so many classic movies remain undiscussed on Lions, Towers & Shields. But many of your regular panelists have feelings, as well as recommendations for the future. So I invited them to share them in a themed draft episode.
NOTE: LTS will return in March 2023. We'll cover at least 21 films next year, but the episodes will be spaced out over three, seven-episode seasons to give our panelists (and your host) time to rest and reflect on all the classic film goodness that awaits.
An LTS Draft-a-palooza
Host Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga, Nathan Alderman, Micheline Maynard, Annette Wierstra, and David J. Loehr.
Show Notes & Links

Classic you would show to someone who says they don't like old movies
Randy Crime Wave
Nathan It Happened One Night
Micki Dodsworth
Annette Singin' in the Rain
David Dr. Strangelove
Shelly Mildred Pierce
I know it's kind of weird, but....
Randy Desert Fury
Nathan Sanjuro
Micki The Man who Played God
Annette The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
David Once Upon A Honeymoon
Shelly The Big Street
Thirst trap/I have a little crush
Randy Gene Kelly's butt Tumbler
Nathan Shirley MacLaine
Micki Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday, To Kill a Mockingbird
Annette Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story, the Christopher Strong moth costume
David Myrna Loy in The Thin Man
Shelly Paul Henreid in Hollow Triumph
Why hasn't this one been on LTS yet? Seriously!
Randy To Be Or Not To Be, The Asphalt Jungle, The Misfits, Touch of Evil
Nathan The Razor's Edge
Micki I Know Where I'm Going, Tokyo Story, Grand Illusion, Wings Of Desire
Annette Psycho, The Birds, Nasferatu, Island Of Lost Souls, The Thing
David Nonotchka, Trouble In Paradise, A Matter Of Life and Death, The Red Shoes, Having Wonderful Crime, Becket, Night of the Iguana, Unfaithfully Yours, Lady From Shanghai, The Stranger, High And Low, High and Low trailer
Shelly They Live By Night, Sunset Boulevard, Fury
Bring out Your Dead
Randy The Long Goodbye
Nathan Five Graves To Cairo, I Walked with a Zombie, Green for Danger, Them, Kind Hearts and Coronets
Micki Anastasia, Indiscreet, Goodbye Again
Annette White Christmas
David The Court Jester, Knock on Wood, The Apartment, 1-2-3, Lady in the Lake, Murder My Sweet, The Ladykillers, I'm All Right Jack, Charade, Top Copy, The Pink Panther Where Eagles Dare, Zero Hour
Shelly Night of the Hunter, Night Must Fall, Moonrise, American Madness, Wild Boys of the Road, Christopher Strong
We'll be back on March 2 with the 1945 thriller, Hangover Square, starring Linda Darnell and Laird Krieger.
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.
1 hr 24 min
December 14, 202266: I'm Not Just Your Preston Sturges, I'm Your Indiana
Barbara Stanwyck and Fred McMurray team up, not to kill for insurance money, but to share a sweet but unlikely holiday road trip. It’s the last movie Preston Sturges wrote before he turned fully to directing. Happy holidays from your friends at Lions, Towers & Shields.
Remember the Night
Host Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Micheline Maynard, Erika Ensign, and Nathan Alderman.
Referenced Works
Remember the Night
Barbara Stanwyck
Show Notes & Links

Something Ridiculous for Christmas
I’m Not Just Your Preston Sturgess, I’m Your Indiana
Get in touch with the show at [email protected] or on Mastodon.
The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film
Remember the Night trailer
Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
On disc: Blu-ray
The Self-Referential LTS
LTS #42 A Hot Chocolate of a Movie
LTS #20 Merry Christmas. Don’t Mention It!
Incomparable Mothership #382 She’s a Librarian
Incomparable Mothership #278 Comprehensive Tapestry Policy
LTS #60 Celebrate the Teresa Wright-aissance
LTS #33 Nice Guy, or Good Man?
Incomparable Mothership #533 Confiscate the Trumpeter’s Mute
Next time, we’ll talk about some favorite classic moves. It’s a draft!
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.
45 min
December 01, 202265: This Is Not Jessica Fletcher
The John Frankenheimer classic tells you all you need to know about Angela Lansbury’s talent. And it’s a crackerjack political thriller, too.
The Manchurian Candidate
Host Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr.
Referenced Works
The Manchurian Candidate
Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at [email protected] or on Twitter.
The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film
The Manchurian Candidate (1962) trailer
Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
On disc: Criterion Blu-ray
The Self-Referential LTS
The Incomparable Old Movie Club: Seven Days in May
LTS #5: Lured
Stan Freberg “History of the United States of America, Part One”
Next time, we’ll watch
Remember the Night trailer
Stan Freberg "History of the United States of America, Part One"
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.
1 hr 18 min
November 17, 202264: Justice for Bill
The Clock is Judy Garland’s first dramatic role. She’s teamed with Robert Walker, who’s a soldier on leave when they meet in New York City. It’s a little bit Affair to Remember, and a little bit On the Town. Really sweet, well-acted romantic film. Directed by Garland’s soon-to-be husband Vincente Minnelli.
The Clock
Host Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard.
Referenced Works
The Clock
Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at [email protected].
The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film
The Clock trailer
Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
On disc: Blu-ray
The Self-Referential LTS
LTS #14 No One Told Me It’s Three Hours Long
LTS #61 Celebrate The Teresa Wright-Aissance
Next time, we’ll watch
The Manchurian Candidate 1962 trailer
Richard Brody's New Yorker review of The Clock
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.
55 min
November 03, 202263: It's All About The Last 12 Minutes
Keeper of the Flame is a drama about the dangers of fascism, set early in WWII and directed by George Cukor, the man who made Gaslight, but was better known for comedies and “women’s” films. Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn star in the far better of their two dramatic pairings. Be warned, we talk about politics, both old and new. And, um, Texas history?
Keeper of the Flame
Host Shelly Brisbin with Brandon Rottinghaus and Judy Samelson.
Referenced Works
Keeper of the Flame
Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at [email protected] or on Twitter.
The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film
Keeper of the Flame trailer
Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
On disc: blu-ray
The Self-Referential LTS
LTS #32 Filmed on Satin
LTS #2 Ride Her Down Like a Rabbit
LTS #47 Angela Lansbury Comin in Hot
Next time, we’ll watch
The Clock trailer
History of the America First Committee
Anne Morrow Lindbergh: A Biography
Allan Shivers campaign film about Port Arthur, Texas labor action
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.
58 min
October 20, 202262: Shelly's Own String of Murders
Britain’s Ealing Studios is best known for its comedies, including The Ladykillers, The Lavender Hill Mob, and Kind Hearts And Coronets. But this 1945 precursor to those famously funny films deals more with chills than chuckles. Four directors tag-team to adapt a mix of original and classic tales, including one based on a story by H.G. Wells. It’s the rare horror anthology whose framing story is as creepily compelling as its individual tales of terror, building to a memorably hair-raising climax that’ll stick with you through the closing credits and beyond. Come for the golf-induced suicide, stay for the ventriloquist’s dummy.
Dead of Night
Host Nathan Alderman with Shelly Brisbin and Randy Dotinga.
Referenced Works
Dead of Night
Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at [email protected].
The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film
Dead of Night (1945) trailer
Available to stream, rent or buy digitally, or free, if you have access to Kanopy
On disc: Blu-ray
The Self-Referential LTS
LTS #38 At Least the Cat Survives
LTS #3: More Permy Over Time
Next time, we’ll watch
Keeper of the Flame, trailer
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.
57 min
October 06, 202261: Big Theremin Energy and an Implied Train
We celebrate the life of Marsha Hunt, who passed away at age 104, last month. She appeared in “Raw Deal” with Dennis O’Keefe and Claire Trevor. It’s a late 40s film noir with wonderful cinematography by John Alton.
Raw Deal
Host Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga and Nathan Alderman.
Referenced Works
Raw Deal (1948)
Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at [email protected] or [on Twitter](https://twitter.com/liontowershield].
The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film
Raw Deal (1948). trailer
Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
On disc: Blu-ray
The Self-Referential LTS
LTS #47: Angela Lansbury, Comin’ In Hot
LTS #7: Enjoy Your Cucumber, America!
LTS #56: John Lund Is Also Present
Next time, we’ll watch
Dead of Night (1945) trailer
"Marsha Hunt's Sweet Adversity"

Watch free
"Hollywood Fights Back"

A pair of radio broadcasts by members of the Committee for the First Amendment. This link includes a clip of Marsha Hunt reading a portion of the committee’s statement.
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.
38 min

About Lions, Towers & Shields

From the publisher's feed

A celebration of films from the classic Hollywood era. Shelly Brisbin leads a merry band through recaps and reviews of great old movies from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.