Felicia is joined by Jane Waldner to discuss the underlying feminist and queer themes in Douglas Sirk’s All That Heaven Allows (1955).

We chat about the tropes in so-called women’s pictures and how Sirk takes those concepts and elevates them into high art.

Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: [email protected]

Listen to our previous episodes:
Faces Place (Agnès Varda & J.R. 2017)
Funny Games (Michael Haneke 1997 & 2007)

Sources:
Sirk, D., & Halliday, J. (2018). Sirk on sirk: Conversations with Jon Halliday. Bloomsbury Publishing.

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/96-all-that-heaven-allows-an-articulate-screen

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/3200-jane-wyman-and-all-that-heaven-allows

https://hollywoodsuite.ca/all-that-heaven-allows-1955-melodrama-as-cultural-critique/

https://medium.com/feverdreams/beneath-the-surface-all-that-heaven-allows-1955-7ef8a3f0f0a7

https://cinema-cities.com/2016/06/17/falling-for-rock-hudson-in-all-that-heaven-allows-1955/

https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2005/feature-articles/sirk-2/


Outro Song:
Main Theme in All That Heaven Allows by Frank Skinner

Films Mentioned:

Faces Places (Agnès Varda & J.R. 2017)

Funny Games (Michael Haneke 1997 & 2007)

Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk 1959)

One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson 2025)

10 Things I Hate About You (Gil Junger 1999)

Blue Velvet (David Lynch 1986)

Polyester (John Waters 1981)

The Graduate (Mike Nichols 1967)

Sorry, Baby (Eva Victor 2025)

The Tarnished Angels (Douglas Sirk 1957)

Licorice Pizza (Paul Thomas Anderson 2021)

Ali: Fear Eats The Soul (Rainer Werner Fassbinder 1974)

Edward Scissorhands (Tim Burton 1990)

Listen to full episode :

 

Felicia is joined by Darragh McGrath to discuss why The Tarnished Angels (1957) may be the most Sirkian at its core.

We chat about the beauty of the black and white photography, and why Sirk was so good at portraying the lives of broken people.

Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: [email protected]

Listen to our previous episodes:
Ace in the Hole (Billy Wilder 1951)
Straight Time (Ulu Grosbard 1978)
Minnie and Moskowitz (John Cassavetes 1971)

Sources:
Sirk, D., & Halliday, J. (2018). Sirk on sirk: Conversations with Jon Halliday. Bloomsbury Publishing.

https://criterioncast.com/reviews/blu-ray-reviews/scott-reviews-douglas-sirks-the-tarnished-angels-masters-of-cinema-blu-ray-review

https://www.popmatters.com/tarnished-angels-douglas-sirks-2630900330.html

https://www.cineaste.com/fall2019/the-tarnished-angels

https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-tarnished-angels

http://www.storyenthusiast.com/rock-hudson-blogathon-tarnished-angels-1957/

https://filmnoirfoundation.org/noircitymag/Tarnished-Angels.pdf


Outro Song:
Main Title from The Tarnished Angels by Frank Skinner

Films Mentioned:

Ace in the Hole (Billy Wilder 1951)

Straight Time (Ulu Grosbard 1978)

Minnie and Moskowitz (John Cassavetes 1971)

Far From Heaven (Todd Haynes 2002)

All That Heaven Allows (Douglas Sirk 1955)

Magnificent Obsession (Douglas Sirk 1954)

Written on the Wind (Douglas Sirk 1956)

Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk 1959)

Giant (George Stevens 1956)

The Big Country (William Wyler 1958)

Jubal (Delmer Daves 1956)

Interlude (Douglas Sirk 1957)

Summertime (David Lean 1955)

A Time to Love and a Time to Die (Douglas Sirk 1958)

Blue Velvet (David Lynch 1986)

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (David Lynch 1992)

Has Anybody Seen My Gal (Douglas Sirk 1952)

Seconds (John Frakenheimer 1966)

Ali: Fear Eats The Soul (Rainer Werner Fassbinder 1974)

Lonelyhearts (Vincent J. Donehue 1958)

The Gypsy Moths (John Frankenheimer 1969)

Dodsworth (William Wyler 1936)

Listen to full episode :

 

Felicia is joined by Josh Cooley to discuss why it’s important to consider melodrama in a positive light through Douglas Sirk’s Magnificent Obsession (1954).

We chat about why Sirk was considered a ‘woman’s picture’ director, and why that work lead to some of the most beautiful imagery put on screen.

This is the first installment in the Sirk series and an important one to listen to as we give a lot of background into his life in Germany, and how he ended up in Hollywood.

Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: [email protected]

Listen to our previous episode:
Naked Lunch (David Cronenberg 1991)

Sources:
Sirk, D., & Halliday, J. (2018). Sirk on sirk: Conversations with Jon Halliday. Bloomsbury Publishing.

https://calgarycinema.org/blog/2021/8/magnificent-obsession-1954-douglas-sirk

https://inreviewonline.com/2024/08/19/magnificent-obsession/

https://scenebygreen.com/2022/04/20/magnificent-obsession-1954/

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1006-magnificent-obsessions

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6549-sirk-in-the-sun

https://criterionreflections.blogspot.com/2010/04/magnificent-obsession-1954-457.html

https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2014/feature-articles/obsessions-imitations-subversions-on-magnificent-obsession-part-one/

https://thatshelf.com/guy-maddin-talks-magnificent-obsession-at-tiff/


Outro Song:
Theme from Magnificent Obsession by Frank Skinner

Films Mentioned:

Naked Lunch (David Cronenberg 1991)

Written on the Wind (Douglas Sirk 1956)

Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk 1959)

All That  Heaven Allows (Douglas Sirk 1955)

The Tarnished Angels (Douglas Sirk 1957)

Far From Heaven (Todd Haynes 2002)

Magnificent Obsession (John M. Stahl 1935)

Dead Ringers (David Cronenberg 1988)

Her (Spike Jonze 2013)

The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming 1939)

Lola Montès (Max Ophüls 1955)

Meet Joe Black (Martin Brest 1998)

Taza, Son of Cochise (Douglas Sirk 1954)

Giant (George Stevens 1956)

Sign of the Pagan (Douglas Sirk 1954)

The Client (Joel Schumacher 1994)

Flatliners (Joel Schumacher 1990)

A Time to Kill (Joel Schumacher 1996)

Falling Down (Joel Schumacher 1993)

St. Elmo’s Fire (Joel Schumacher 1985)

The Incredible Shrinking Woman (Joel Schumacher 1981)

Ocean’s Eleven (Steven Soderbergh 2001)

Amélie (Jean-Pierre Jeunet 2001)

Pay It Forward (Mimi Leder 2000)

Pollyanna (David Swift 1960)

Citizen Kane (Orson Welles 1941)

Peter Ibbetson (Henry Hathaway 1935)

Eyes Wide Shut (Stanley Kubrick 1999)

Listen to full episode :

 

Felicia is joined by Ben Vargas to discuss the weight of parental guilt as it is manifested through Lars von Trier’s Antichrist (2009).

We discuss the ways in which Lars von Trier portrays raw emotions on film, and why filmmakers aren’t often as brave when it comes to showing their audience the ugly side of grief.

This is the last installment in the Lars von Trier series, thanks for following along. It was a heavy one but sometimes it’s good to let your emotions free flow.

Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: [email protected]

Listen to our previous episodes:
Winter Light (Ingmar Bergman 1963)
Woman in the Dunes (Hiroshi Teshigahara 1964)

Follow Ben here:
IG: @macefffron
Twitter: @bensower
Twitter: @cinemashitshow
Spotify: @cinemashitshow
Apple Podcasts: @cinemashitshow

Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jul/16/antichrist-lars-von-trier-feminism

https://charlieceratops.medium.com/lets-talk-about-lars-von-trier-s-antichrist-2009-b6f6586a2c97

https://www.criterion.com/current/top-10-lists/247-ana-lily-amirpour-s-top-10

Outro Song:
The Witch by The Gruesomes

Films Mentioned:

Woman in the Dunes (Hiroshi Teshigahara 1964)

Winter Light (Ingmar Bergman 1963) 

The Celebration (Thomas Vinterberg 1998)

Melancholia (Lars von Trier 2011)

Nymphomaniac (Lars von Trier 2013)

To Each His Own (Various 2007)

Dimension (Lars von Trier 2010)

Melancholia (Lars von Trier 2011)

Slumdog Millionaire (Danny Boyle 2008)

127 Hours (Danny Boyle 2010)

Europa (Lars von Trier 1991)

The House That Jack Built (Lars von Trier 2018)

Rabbit Hole (John Cameron Mitchell 2010)

Manchester by the Sea (Kenneth Lonergan 2016)

Shortbus (John Cameron Mitchell 2006)

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (John Cameron Mitchell 2001)

The Devils (Ken Russell 1971)

Listen to full episode :

 

Felicia is joined by Jeanmarie Vargas to discuss the concept of inherent depression through Lars von Trier’s Melancholia (2011).

We chat about Lars von Trier’s desire to break down his own battles with depression through these characters, along with the importance of Wagner in his work.

Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: [email protected]

Listen to our previous episode:
The Piano Teacher (Michael Haneke 2001)

Follow Jeanmarie here:
Movie Friends Podcast - That’s Messed Up Series on Patreon: https://www.moviefriendspodcast.com/
Spotify:@MovieFriendsPodcast
Apple Podcasts: @MovieFriendsPodcast
Twitter: @jeanmarievargas

Sources:
https://thereveal.substack.com/p/melancholia-at-10-a-decade-of-waiting

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210512-is-melancholia-the-greatest-film-about-depression-ever-made

https://flipscreened.com/2021/05/04/melancholia-2011-and-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-planet/

https://charlieceratops.medium.com/the-devastating-beauty-of-melancholia-2011-fb898b41ec85

http://www.cinemablography.org/the-existential-philosophy-of-melancholia.html

https://disobedientsounds.com/2021/04/29/melancholia-and-the-infinite-sadness/

https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2024/film-and-the-nonhuman/is-the-earth-fucked-lars-von-triers-melancholia-2011-albrecht-durers-melencolia-1-1514/

https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2011/feature-articles/the-lonely-planet-lars-von-triers-melancholia/

Outro Song:
Credits (Tristan and Isolde) by Richard Wagner and City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

Films Mentioned:

The Piano Teacher (Michael Haneke 2001)

Antichrist (Lars von Trier 2009)

Nymphomaniac (Lars von Trier 2013)

Dimension (Lars von Trier 2010)

The Mirror (Andrei Tarkovsky 1975)

Cries and Whispers (Ingmar Bergman 1972)

Listen to full episode :

 

Felicia is joined by The Davids Podcast to discuss Lars von Trier’s take on male aggression, in The House That Jack Built (2018).

We chat about the nuisance of supporting the work of an artist whose personal ideals we may not agree with. Along with the way Trier is reflecting on his life through the character of Jack.

Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: [email protected]

Follow The Davids Podcast here:
IG: @thedavidspod
Soundcloud: @thedavidspodcast
YouTube: @thedavids6703

Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/dec/14/the-house-that-jack-built-review-lars-von-trier-matt-dillon-uma-thurman-bruno-ganz

https://www.theringer.com/movies/2018/12/14/18139814/the-house-that-jack-built-lars-von-trier-review-dogville-nymphomaniac-antichrist-dance-in-the-dark

https://www.back-row.com/home/2020/9/23/i-watched-it-so-you-dont-have-to-the-house-that-jack-built-explained

https://rue-morgue.com/the-house-that-jack-built-is-an-act-of-self-flagellation/

https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2019/feature-articles/the-art-of-murder-what-we-have-to-learn-from-the-house-that-jack-built/

https://www.truemythmedia.com/true-myth-media/reviews/thehousethatjackbuilt

https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/viewfinder/articles/the-house-that-jack-built/

https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/matt-dillon-interview-lars-von-trier-the-house-that-jack-built-1202028057/

FILMS MENTIONED:

The Killer (David Fincher 2023)

Bastards (Claire Denis 2013)

Dancer in the Dark (Lars von Trier 2000)

Antichrist (Lars von Trier 2009)

The Kingdom (Lars von Trier 1994-2022)

Madea (Lars von Trier 1988)

Scenes From a Marriage (Ingmar Bergman 1974)

Fanny and Alexander (Ingmar Bergman 1982)

Funny Games (Michael Haneke 1997)

The Room (Tommy Wiseau 2003)

Breaking the Waves (Lars von Trier 1996)

Possibly in Michigan (Cecelia Condit 1983)

Arrebato (Iván Zulueta 1980)

Targets (Peter Bogdanovich 1968)

Listen to full episode :

 

Felicia is joined by Scott Cole to discuss Lars von Trier’s take on an American musical in, Dancer in the Dark (2000).

We chat about the way von Trier crafts and treats his women characters, along with his criticism of American culture.

This is the first installment in the Lars von Trier series, and a great introduction to his sensibilities as an artist.

Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: [email protected]

Check out our previous episode with Scott:
In The Cut (Jane Campion 2003)

Follow Scott here:
Twitter: @ColeCommaScott
IG: @ColeCommaScott

Sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/sep/15/1

https://www.bjork.fr/article1140

https://piadiamandis.medium.com/a-review-of-lars-von-triers-dancer-in-the-dark-db28ecf654e9

https://www.filmstowatchbeforeyoudie.com/blog/dancer-in-the-dark-2000-film-review-an-analysis-of-von-triers-tour-de-force

https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2000/current-releases-11/dancer/

https://www.artforum.com/columns/lars-von-triers-dancer-in-the-dark-201040/

https://corsepresentblog.wordpress.com/2021/03/07/dancer-in-the-dark/


OUTRO SONG:
Cvalda by Björk

FILMS MENTIONED:

In The Cut (Jane Campion 2003)

Breaking The Waves (Lars von Trier 1996)

Melancholia (Lars von Trier 2011)

Dogville (Lars von Trier 2003)

Nymphomaniac (Lars von Trier

The Idiots (Lars von Trier 1998)

The House That Jack Built (Lars von Trier 2018)

Antichrist (Lars von Trier 2009)

Joker: Folie à Deux (Todd Phillips 2024)

Julien Donkey-Boy (Harmony Korine 1999)

Gummo (Harmony Korine 1997)

Kids (Larry Clark 1995)

Wicked (Jon M. Chu 2024)

The Northman (Robert Eggers 2022)

West Side Story (Steven Spielberg 2021)

In The Heights (Jon M. Chu 2021)

Mean Girls (Samantha Jayne, Arturo Perez Jr. 2024)

The Machinist (Brad Anderson 2004)

Dead Man Walking (Tim Robbins 1995)

Mouth to Mouth (Alison Murray 2005)

Pennies From Heaven (Herbert Ross 1981)

Listen to full episode :

 

Felicia is joined by Ryan Ritter to discuss the film that cemented the genre of Italian neo-realism in history; Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves (1948).

We chat about De Sica’s ability to discover raw talent from non-actors and guide them to deliver unforgettable performances. Along with how relatable this story has been to audiences over the years.

This is the final installment in the De Sica series and it brought great warmth to my heart to revisit and discuss these films. I hope my guests and I have inspired you to seek out his later work as well.

Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: [email protected]

Check out our previous episode with Ryan:
Klute (Alan J. Pakula - Gordon Willis D.O.P. 1971)

Follow Ryan here:
IG: @crittical_analysisblog
IG: @popculturehistorianspodcast
Twitter: @PCHistorians
Letterboxd: @ryanritter
Website: Crittical Analysis (crittical-analysis.com)
Spotify: @popculturehistorians
Apple Podcasts: @popculturehistorians

Sources:

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6246-the-joy-and-pain-of-one-good-meal-in-bicycle-thieves

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/3754-hou-hsiao-hsien-on-the-films-that-changed-his-life

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1538-remembering-suso-cecchi-d-amico

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1090-bicycle-thieves-ode-to-the-common-man

https://retrospectjournal.com/2024/03/24/bicycle-thieves/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/13/movies/bicycle-thieves-italian-neorealism.html

https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2020/cteq/bicycle-thieves-vittorio-de-sica-1948/

https://fourthwallwriting.com/2019/04/01/the-perfect-illusion-bicycle-thieves-as-pure-cinema/

https://www.criterion.com/current/top-10-lists/201-roger-corman-s-top-10

OUTRO SONG:
Bicycle Thieves by Alessandro Cicognini

FILMS MENTIONED:
Klute (Alan J. Pakula 1971)

Ghostbusters (Ivan Reitman 1984)

Beetlejuice (Tim Burton 1988)

Shoeshine (Vittorio De Sica 1946)

The Children Are Watching Us (Vittorio De Sica 1944)

Umberto D. (Vittorio De Sica 1952)

Miracle in Milan (Vittorio De Sica 1951)

Heart and Soul (Vittorio De Sica 1948)

Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese 1990)

Casino (Martin Scorsese 1995)

Marriage Italian Style (Vittorio De Sica 1964)

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Vittorio De Sica 1963)

Il boom (Vittorio De Sica 1963)

Come and See (Elem Klimov 1985)

Nights of Cabiria (Federico Fellini 1957)

Mildred Pierce (Michael Curtiz 1945)

Listen to full episode :

 

Felicia is joined by Geoff Thomas to discuss the effects of capitalism on an old man and his dog in Vittorio De Sica’s Umberto D. (1952).

We chat about this film as a bridge between De Sica’s as a neo-realist filmmaker and his move towards comedies. Along with the themes of questioning the moral compass of authority figures present in this film.

Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: [email protected]

Check out our previous episodes with Geoff:
Diary of a Chambermaid (Luis Buñuel 1964)
The Silence (Ingmar Bergman 1963)

Follow Geoff here:
IG: @cinema_gnt
Letterboxd: @gnthomas
Website: https://cinemamemry.wordpress.com/
Spotify: @cinematicmeoriespodcast
Spotify: @dontdespisemepodcast
Apple Podcasts: @cinematicmemoriespodcast
Apple Podcasts: @dontdespisemepodcast

Sources:
https://web.archive.org/web/20110721100149/

http://www.ingmarbergman.se/universe.asp?guid=66DA7015-8017-4303-9A31-658D02296D45

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/292-seeing-clearly-through-tears-on-the-smart-sentiment-of-umberto-d

https://www.nytimes.com/1955/11/08/archives/screen-honest-realism-de-sicas-umberto-d-is-story-of-old-man.html

https://www.deepfocusreview.com/definitives/umberto-d/

https://cinemafromthespectrum.com/2017/02/24/umberto-d-review/

OUTRO SONG:
Umberto D. by Alessandro Cicognini

FILMS MENTIONED:
The Silence (Ingmar Bergman 1963)

Diary of a Chambermaid (Luis Buñuel 1964)

Bicycle Thieves (Vittorio De Sica 1948)

The Leopard (Luchino Visconti 1963)

Ikiru (Akira Kurosawa 1952)

Shoeshine (Vittorio De Sica 1946)

The Third Man (Carol Reed 1949)

Miracle in Milan (Vittorio De Sica 1951)

Terminal Station (Vittorio De Sica 1953)

After the Fox (Vittorio De Sica 1966)

The Voyage (Vittorio De Sica 1974)

Sunflower (Vittorio De Sica 1970)

Two Women (Vittorio De Sica 1960)

Marriage Italian Style (Vittorio De Sica 1964)

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Vittorio De Sica 1963)

Boccaccio ‘70 (Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Mario Monicelli, Luchino Visconti 1962)

Rebecca (Alfred Hithcock 1940)

Il boom (Vittorio De Sica 1963)

Anora (Sean Baker 2024)

Wild Strawberries (Ingmar Bergman 1957)

Tokyo Story (Yasujirō Ozu 1953)

Listen to full episode :

 

Felicia is joined by Jason Christian to discuss the story of two young boys who just want to buy a horse but get sent to a juvenile prison instead, in Vittorio De Sica’s Shoeshine (1946).

We chat about De Sica’s ability to get natural performances out of children, and how important it was to explore the lives of orphaned children after the war.

Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: [email protected]

Follow Jason here:
Website: https://jasonchristianwrites.com/
Letterboxd: @exilemagic
Twitter: @jasonachristian
Cold War Cinema Podcast on Spotify: @coldwarcinema
Cold War Cinema Podcast on Apple: @coldwarcinema

Sources:
https://www.film-foundation.org/rsr-november-2023

https://www.asharperfocus.com/shoeshine.html

https://postmodernpelican.com/2022/12/16/shoeshine-1946/

OUTRO SONG:
Shoeshine by Alessandro Cicognini

FILMS MENTIONED:
The Lawless (Joseph Losey 1950)

Night and the City (Jules Dassin 1950)

Body and Soul (Robert Rossen 1947)

Quicksand (Irving Pichel 1950)

Rosetta (Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne 1999)

Miracle in Milan (Vittorio De Sica 1951)

The Young and the Damned (Luis Buñuel 1950)

The Gate of Heaven (Vittorio De Sica 1945)

The Children Are Watching (Vittorio De Sica 1944)

Heart and Soul (Vittorio De Sica 1948)

Bicycle Thieves (Vittorio De Sica 1948)

Umberto D. (Vittorio De Sica 1952)

Sunflower (Vittorio De Sica 1970)

The Witches (Franco Rossi, Mauro Bolognini, Luchino Visconti, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Vittorio De Sica 1967)

After the Fox (Vittorio De Sica 1966)

Marriage Italian Style (Vittorio De Sica 1964)

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Vittorio De Sica 1963)

Il boom (Vittorio De Sica 1963)

Two Women (Vittorio De Sica 1960)

The 400 Blows (François Truffaut 1959)

The Kid with the Bike (Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne 2011)

Boot Polish (Prakash Arora 1954)

Where’s The Friend’s House (Abbas Kiarostami 1987)

I Was Born, But… (Yasujirō Ozu 1932)

Welcome to the Dollhouse (Todd Solondz 1995)

Good Morning (Yasujirō Ozu 1959)

Listen to full episode :