Here are Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift at their hottest, with an adaptation of Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy. Just as in Night of the Hunter, Shelley Winters maybe ought to watch her back. George Stevens directs, and here, he’s beginning his epic period. In the 50s, he’ll direct Giant and Shane, among others. This one is full of melodrama and social aspiration and also has a bunch of Oscars, including Stevens’ first for directing. It’s nice to look at.

A Place in the Sun

Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga, Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard

Get in touch with the show at [email protected] or on the socials.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Next time, we’ll watch

Random Pursuit returns! With a first time contestant (we think), three regular contestants who have never won before (but who we still love), and one contestant who has won several times (but doesn’t remember any of those victories). Who will win this time? And will they remember it?

Random Pursuit XXXIV

Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Deborah Stanish, Glenn Fleishman, Jean MacDonald, Lex Friedman and Shelly Brisbin

Deb Stanish -

Glenn Fleishman -

Jean MacDonald -

Lex Friedman -

Shelly Brisbin -

Jasper meets a kobold, Lonewalker befriends a gorgon, and they may unlock the secret of the spa…but at what cost?

Candlekeep - The Price of Beauty, Part 4

Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Annette Wierstra, James Thomson, Mikah Sargent and Monty Ashley

Edited by Warren Frey.

It’s a one-two punch in the gut this week, as your Star Wars pals Dan, Tony, and Kat convene to talk the latest Bad Batch double feature. We discuss how we know the Empire are the bad guys, starship parking caves, and real downers. Plus a quick discussion of the recently announced Tales of the Empire mini-series.

Dan Moren, Tony Sindelar and K Benesh

Oh no! Studio 60 stole a joke, and now they have to break in LIVE to the west coast’s rebroadcast to cut that joke. Because that makes sense. Okay, okay, it doesn’t make sense. Meanwhile, Harriet gives Matt a gift that drives him batty, and we meat a new character — a reporter played by Christine Lahti, who knows how to push Matt and Danny’s buttons. (It involves buttons.)

Lex Friedman and Brian Warren

Lions and tigers and bea— you know what, just lions. Jordan Morris is here to discuss Ray Bradbury’s story “the Veldt” (1950).

John McCoy with Jordan Morris

From the 1983 NPR Playhouse series Bradbury 13.

Track by Combustible Edison from the album I, Swinger (1994).

Just when we thought we were out, they pulled us back in! Long after we recorded our first episodes about “The Godfather,” our panelists get back together to talk about the late-sequel “The Godfather Part III,” or is it “The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone” now? Only Francis knows for sure.

"The Godfather III/Coda"

Jason Snell with John Siracusa, John Gruber, Chip Sudderth and Moisés Chiullán

Live Star Trek is back in season! “Star Trek Discovery” has returned with a two-episode premiere, and we’re here to break it down. Once again, we profess our love for Jerks Who Are Right. We discover what form a Vulcan Proposal takes. Our new villains look like they’re space Bonnie and Clyde, but maybe they’re just misunderstood. And we enter Conspiracy Corner in order to ponder secret clues for what might be coming next—but not before a moment’s silence for Fred.

Scott McNulty and Jason Snell

Johnny Guitar (1954): It’s unusual, it’s weird, and it’s unlike any other film made by these stars. And it’s our first LTS western. Because maybe your show runner has a slightly twisted appreciation for the genre. Nicholas Ray, whose directorial chops we last experienced with In A Lonely Place, directs Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden and Mercedes McCambridge. It’s a story that centers female characters, and gives Joan a chance to stomp around in great western wardrobe. Poor Sterling Hayden is just along for the ride. I picked this because I wanted a Joan Crawford vehicle, and because at least two LTS regulars were excited when I mentioned it.

Johnny Guitar

Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman and Randy Dotinga

Get in touch with the show at [email protected] or on the socials.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Next time, we’ll watch

Relaxation turns into suspicion as the party learns more about a spa whose main product is secrecy.

Candlekeep - The Price of Beauty, Part 3

Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Annette Wierstra, James Thomson, Mikah Sargent and Monty Ashley

Edited by Warren Frey.