The Front Row Network

Welcome Middle-Earthers to the Ring of Power Hour! It's been a long journey to Season 2 but it is upon us and we can't wait to have you back! We're a little behind but time to catch up and get this fellowship going again! Here we're previewing Season 2 before we dive into our whole episode breakdowns! Let's do this!

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Please enjoy this episode of THE RING OF POWER HOUR and as always, we'll see you in the front row!

Front Row Classics is celebrating MGM's 100th anniversary with a movies that features a cast of some of it's greatest stars. Ziegfeld Follies is a musical revue with is essentially a series of musical numbers with no linear plot. Featuring the talents of luminaries such as Fred Astaire, Lena Horne, Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Esther Williams & Lucille Ball, Ziegfeld Follies is MGM's version of Fantasia. Brandon is joined by Benjamin Burke from the Hollywood Babylonians podcast to break down all of the stars and musical numbers.

We're thrilled to welcome Ben Mankiewicz back to Front Row Classics. Ben will be hosting Turner Classic Movies' newest limited series, "Making Change: The Most Significant Political Films of All Time". This series will feature films that were ranked by The New Republic Magazine. Throughout the nine-week series, Ben and a wide range of guests from the world of film and politics will showcase political-themed films from the silent era through through the 21st Century.

Beginning tonight, September 6th ,Making Change airs every Friday night for the next nine weeks at 8pm est/7pm cst.

Front Row Classics is spending Labor Day Weekend with Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and one of the most impressive all star casts in film history. The Towering Inferno was the apex of the disaster film genre in the 1970s thanks to producer Irwin Allen. Lou Hare returns to the show to help Brandon break down all the action and suspense. Brandon and Lou discuss how many of the stunts and practical effect still hold up in 2024. We also break down the fascinating supporting cast including William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire. Jennifer Jones, Robert Wager and yes, even O.J. Simpson.

Front Row Classics welcomes back author and historian Joseph McBride. Brandon and Joe are discussing the newly revised and expanded edition of his critical study, "John Ford". Co-authored by the late Michael Wilmington, the book takes a look at Ford's key films and recurring themes found throughout his filmography. Brandon and Joe discuss several of these films & themes as well as Ford's directorial style.

"John Ford" is available from University Press of Kentucky wherever books are sold.

Joseph McBride is the author of twenty-four books, including the biography Searchingfor John Ford (hailed as "definitive" by the New YorkTimes and the IrishTimes), biographies of Capra and Spielberg, three books on Welles, and critical studies of Ernst Lubitsch and Billy Wilder. A former film and television writer as well as a reporter, reviewer, and columnist for Daily Variety in Hollywood, McBride is a professor in the School of Cinema at San Francisco State University

Front Row Classics is shining the spotlight on the legendary Mae West. We're taking a look at 1935's She Done Him Wrong. Brandon is joined by Hollywood historian, April Clemmer. April is best known as the creator of the Old Hollywood Walking Tour. Brandon and April discuss West's pioneering presence during Hollywood's Golden Age and constant battles with the Hays Code. We also pay tribute to the strong supporting cast including a young Cary Grant who always credited West with jumpstarting his career.

Front Row Classics is paying tribute to the amazing Carole Lombard with one of her most hilarious comedies. Brandon is joined by film historian, Olympia Kiriakou to discuss 1937's Nothing Sacred. Olympia is the author of Becoming Carole Lombard: Stardom, Comedy, and Legacy , the only scholarly study about Lombard's evolving star persona and career. Brandon and Olympia discuss Lombard's effervescent performance and chemistry with co-star Fredric March. We also discuss how modern the film still feels almost 90 years later.

Front Row Classics is shining the spotlight on one of the underrated gems in Billy Wilder's body of work. Brandon is joined by Benjamin Meissner to discuss 1948's A Foreign Affair. Benjamin is a classic film enthusiast who also is the President of the Marilyn Monroe fan club in Germany. Brandon and Benjamin discuss the wit and poignancy of this post World War II look at Berlin. They praise the performances of Jean Arthur, John Lund and especially Marlene Dietrich in one of her finest screen roles. Benjamin also helps to shine a spotlight on how Wilder uses Berlin as a character unto itself in the film.

Front Row Classics welcomes historian and freelance writer, Holley Snaith to the podcast. Holley recently penned an article called "Let's Face the Music and Dance" for American Heritage magazine. The article provides an historical and cultural look at the partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Holley has placed them within their proper context in terms of American History. Brandon and Holley cover their partnership origins, impact on the Great Depression & working relationship among other topics.

The article can be found here: https://www.americanheritage.com/lets-face-music-and-dance