The Front Row Network

Front Row Classics is thrilled to welcome film historian/preservationist Alan K. Rode to the podcast. Alan has been at the forefront of classic film community for many years. He has produced and hosted annual film festivals, produced documentaries & audio commentaries and authored two notable cinema biographies. Brandon and Alan discuss one of those titles at length; "Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film". Brandon and Alan discuss Curtiz's directing style, personality and the many beloved films he brought to the screen. The two also spend time discussing the evergreen appeal of film noir for classic film fans.

Front Row Classics welcomes back author, John DiLeo, to discuss his latest book : "Not Even Nominated: 40 Overlooked Costars of Oscar-Winning Performances". The book takes a look at forty overlooked performances by actors whose co-stars took home the gold on Oscar night. The book celebrates performances ranging from the silent era through modern day. Brandon and John discuss several of the performances highlighted from films such as Captains Courageous, Paper Moon, Mary Poppins, Key Largo and Ordinary People.

John DiLeo is the author of seven other books about classic movies: And You Thought You Knew Classic Movies, 100 Great Film Performances You Should Remember—But Probably Don't, Screen Savers: 40 Remarkable Movies Awaiting Rediscovery, Tennessee Williams and Company: His Essential Screen Actors, Screen Savers II: My Grab Bag of Classic Movies, Ten Movies at a Time: A 350-Film Journey Through Hollywood and America 1930-1970, and There Are No Small Parts: 100 Outstanding Film Performances with Screen Time of 10 Minutes or Less.

He has been an annual participant in the Black Bear Film Festival (Milford, PA), conducting onstage interviews with such notables as Farley Granger, Arlene Dahl, Marge Champion, Keir Dullea, Jane Powell, Rex Reed, Tab Hunter, Lorna Luft, and Jane Alexander. Born in Brooklyn, he currently resides in Milford, PA, where he can be found most Sunday afternoons introducing classic movies on the big screen at the historic Milford Theater. DiLeo is present on social media in the usual places, including Facebook and Instagram.

Front Row Classics is once again celebrating MGM's 100th anniversary with a look at a timeless family classics. Brandon welcome back friend of the podcast, Matt Duffy, to talk about 1944's National Velvet. Brandon and Matt celebrate the remarkable performances of Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney at the height of their adolescent stardom. The hosts also explore World War II's impact on the film as well as the talents of director Clarence Brown.

Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of the most daring, satirical films to ever come out of Hollywood. Brandon is joined, once again, by author & film historian Chris Yogerst. Chris recently penned "The Warner Brothers" for the University Press of Kentucky. A Face in the Crowd is a signature Warner film directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg. The movie features topics relating to politics & media that are still scarily relevant today. Brandon and Chris discuss those topics as well as the powerhouse performance of Andy Griffith as Lonesome Rhodes. The hosts also praise the performances of Patricia Neal, Walter Matthau, Anthony Franciosa and Lee Remick.

Happy Halloween from Front Row Classics. Brandon welcomes back Emmett Stanton to take a look at Brian DePalma's Carrie. Based on Stephen King's novel, Carrie remains as effective as it was in 1976. It not only remains a horror classic but also an indictment of bullying. Brandon and Emmett praise the Oscar nominated performances of Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie. We also highlight the performances of Betty Buckley, Nancy Allen, Amy Irving and John Travolta.

#MonsterCast concludes with our 3rd and final spotlight for 2024: 2004's horror-comedy masterpiece Shaun of the Dead.

Shaun is a 30-something loser with a dull, easy existence. When he's not working at the electronics store, he lives with his slovenly best friend, Ed, in a small flat on the outskirts of London. The only unpredictable element in his life is his girlfriend, Liz, who wishes desperately for Shaun to grow up and be a man. When the town is inexplicably overrun with zombies, Shaun must rise to the occasion and protect both Liz and his mother.

Jeremy and Sara talk about the dual nature of how well this film parodies and shows love for the zombie genre and just what makes Edgar Wright such a special director.

SHAUN OF THE DEAD is available NOW on Peacock.

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Front Row Classics is celebrating the late Roger Corman with a double dose of films from his lauded Poe Cycle in the 1960s. Brandon is joined by Jackson Cooper, Executive Director of the American Genre Film Archive, to break down House of Usher (1960) and Tomb of Ligeia (1964). Brandon and Jackson celebrate the gothic and macabre tone in which Corman approached these films. We also pay tribute the star of both films, the one and only Vincent Price.

#MonsterCast brings us so many awesome things at the Network but this one is high up on the list as we welcome back the crew of #Flashback to the fold! Man did we miss you guys! Ryan, Jay and Erin are back to break down the 40th Anniversary of Wes Craven's beyond iconic monster thriller A Nightmare On Elm Street.

In this classic slasher film, several Midwestern teenagers fall prey to Freddy Krueger, a disfigured midnight mangler who preys on the teenagers in their dreams -- which, in turn, kills them in reality. After investigating the phenomenon, Nancy begins to suspect that a dark secret kept by her and her friends' parents may be the key to unraveling the mystery, but can Nancy and her boyfriend Glen solve the puzzle before it's too late?

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET is available NOW on Max.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW/REACH US AT:Website: ⁠⁠www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network⁠⁠ Twitter: @frontrowreviewzEmail: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrown...⁠⁠ Instagram: frontrownetworkYouTube: ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/2NyawO0

#MonsterCast nears it's end but we have MANY more to go! Today we're bringing you a quick #FullDisclosure on the remake of the 2022 Danish horror-thriller Speak No Evil.

When an American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare. As the weekend progresses, they realize that a strange side lies within the family who invited them: the untrammeled hospitality of the charismatic, alpha-male estate owner masks an unspeakable darkness.

Jeremy and Sara talk about the closed structure of this story, the deeper meanings behind the family drama and just how amazingly underrated James McAvoy continues to be as a talent.

SPEAK NO EVIL is available NOW on Digital Release.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW/REACH US AT:Website: ⁠⁠www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network⁠⁠ Twitter: @frontrowreviewzEmail: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrown...⁠⁠ Instagram: frontrownetworkYouTube: ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/2NyawO0

Front Row Classics welcomes back Larry Aubrey to discuss a spine-chilling favorite just in time for Halloween. Robert Wise's The Haunting is one of the greatest ghost stories ever put on film. Brandon and Larry celebrate the performances of Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Russ Tamblyn & Richard Johnson who truly make you believe unexplained occurrences are happening around them. The film remains as elegant and terrifying as it was in 1963.