You're Missing Out: A National Film Registry Podcast

“If only the wind would stop!” – The Wind (1928)

This week, we return to the silent era with a full-length commentary track for Victor Sjöström’s haunting 1928 drama The Wind. Starring Lillian Gish in one of her most intense and vulnerable performances, the film tells the story of a woman slowly unraveling on the harsh, wind-swept plains of the American frontier.

As we watch along, we unpack the film’s eerie atmosphere, groundbreaking visual effects, and the psychological complexity that makes The Wind one of the final—and finest—masterpieces of the silent era. It’s a slow-burn descent into isolation, madness, and survival, and a striking example of how silent cinema could deliver deeply cinematic storytelling without a single spoken word.

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Music by Mike Natale

This week, we saddle up for a conversation about Shane (1953) with screenwriter, producer, and podcast host Kenny Neibart. A formative Western and a film that helped define American masculinity on screen, Shane gives us plenty to dig into, from its mythic final shot to the complex tension between pacifism and violence. Kenny joins us to unpack the genre tropes, cultural context, and emotional resonance that make Shane a cornerstone of classic cinema, and why its legacy still rides on today.

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“I just had the unpleasant sensation of hearing you referred to as my husband.” – It Happened One Night (1934)

This week, returning guest Andrew Daniels joins us to break down the original screwball sensation: Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night. As the first film to ever sweep the “Big Five” Oscars, this charming romantic comedy set the template for the genre, with pitch-perfect performances from Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, and enough innuendo, wit, and roadside bickering to fuel decades of imitators.

We explore how Capra’s Depression-era romance struck a chord with audiences, changed the course of Hollywood stardom, and remains as irresistibly funny and tender today as it was in 1934.

• It Happened One Night (1934) was directed by Frank Capra and stars Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert
• Selected to the National Film Registry in 1993
• First film to win all five major Academy Awards: Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay

Notable for:

• Launching the screwball comedy genre
• Iconic scenes like the hitchhiking lesson and the “walls of Jericho”
• Bridging escapism and social commentary during the Great Depression

Discussion topics include:

• The film’s influence on romantic comedies for generations
• How it reshaped the public personas of Gable and Colbert
• Capra’s blend of populist ideals and sharp dialogue
• Why the film continues to resonate with modern audiences

Featuring returning guest:

• Andrew Daniels, author of The Barstool Book of Sports: Stats, Stories, and Other Stuff for Drunken Debate

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Music by Mike Natale

“The film you have just seen was an improvisation.” – Shadows (1959)

This week, returning guest Robert Bellissimo joins us for a conversation on John Cassavetes’ Shadows,, a landmark of American independent cinema. Shot on the streets of New York with a semi-improvised style and a raw, jazz-infused energy, Shadows broke all the rules and opened new possibilities for personal filmmaking in the U.S.

We explore how Cassavetes challenged Hollywood norms, foregrounded race and identity in ways ahead of its time, and crafted a film that still feels immediate and alive decades later. Shadows isn’t just a turning point in film history, it’s the spark that lit the indie movement.

Episode Notes

• Shadows (1959) was written and directed by John Cassavetes
• Selected to the National Film Registry in 1993

Known for:

• Pioneering an improvisational, vérité-inspired approach to filmmaking
• Depicting interracial relationships in a candid and progressive light
• Launching the American independent film movement

Discussion topics include:

• Cassavetes’ creative process and legacy
• The tension between scripted and unscripted storytelling
• New York City as a character in the film
• How Shadows opened doors for generations of indie filmmakers

Featuring returning guest:

• Robert Bellissimo, actor, filmmaker, and host of Robert Bellissimo at the Movies

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Music by Mike Natale

In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Congressman Robert Mrazek, the man whose legislation led to the creation of the National Film Preservation Board. Without his efforts, the National Film Registry as we know it wouldn’t exist.

Mrazek shares the inside story of how film preservation became a congressional priority, the cultural battles that shaped the legislation, and why preserving America’s cinematic heritage is a matter of national importance. From the first films selected to the political resistance he faced, this conversation is an essential companion to everything we cover on You’re Missing Out.

If you’ve ever wondered how movies like Do the Right Thing, The Godfather, or Meshes of the Afternoon ended up in the National Film Registry, this is where it all started.

• A conversation with Congressman Robert Mrazek, sponsor of the National Film Preservation Act of 1988
• Mrazek’s legislation created the National Film Preservation Board and the National Film Registry

Discussion topics include:

• The political and cultural climate that made film preservation urgent
• The origins and goals of the National Film Registry
• Early champions of the legislation in Congress and the film industry
• The ongoing importance of preserving culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant films

Reflections on:

• The evolving definition of American cinematic heritage
• How preservation efforts safeguard not just movies, but national memory

This episode offers essential historical context for our entire podcast

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“He was some kind of a man. What does it matter what you say about people?” – Touch of Evil (1958)

This week, we’re crossing into the shadowy borderlands of noir with special guest Ryan Luis Rodriguez to unpack Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil. From its legendary opening tracking shot to Welles’ haunting turn as the corrupt Hank Quinlan, the film stands as a dark, complex swan song to the classic noir era.

Together, we explore the film’s bold visual language, its controversial casting choices, and the fascinating story behind the restored cut that finally honored Welles’ original vision. Touch of Evil isn’t just a masterwork of style—it’s a film that continues to challenge how we think about authority, morality, and the boundaries we draw.

Touch of Evil (1958) was directed by Orson Welles and stars Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, and Welles himself

Selected to the National Film Registry in 1993

Famous for:

• A 3+ minute opening tracking shot widely regarded as one of the best in cinema
• Welles’ portrayal of the morally bankrupt Captain Hank Quinlan
• A studio-meddled post-production process that was later corrected by a 1998 restoration using Welles’ notes

Discussion topics include:

• The film’s place at the end of the classic noir era
• Innovations in camera movement, sound design, and lighting
• How Touch of Evil navigates race, identity, and law enforcement on the U.S.–Mexico border
• The legacy of the restored version and its impact on Welles’ reputation

Featuring special guest:

• Ryan Luis Rodriguez, film podcaster and host of The Coolness Chronicles and Reels of Justice

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Music by Mike Natale

“’S Wonderful! ’S Marvelous!” – An American in Paris (1951)

This week, we step into the dreamlike Technicolor world of An American in Paris with special guest Arlene Hellerman. A Publications Associate for Broadway Licensing Global, Arlene brings a multifaceted perspective shaped by a career spanning theatre, film, television, broadcast news, and print journalism.

Together, we explore how Vincente Minnelli’s 1951 musical turned Gershwin’s music and Gene Kelly’s choreography into a lavish cinematic spectacle—culminating in one of the most ambitious ballet sequences in film history.

An American in Paris (1951) was directed by Vincente Minnelli and stars Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron

Selected to the National Film Registry in 1993

Known for:

• Its 17-minute ballet finale inspired by French impressionist art
• A seamless blend of Gershwin’s music with vivid choreography and design
• Winning six Academy Awards, including Best Picture

Discussion topics include:

• The film’s legacy in shaping the movie musical
• Its stylized depiction of postwar Paris
• The interplay between fine art and popular culture in Minnelli’s vision

Featuring special guest:

• Arlene Hellerman, Publications Associate for Broadway Licensing Global, whose career spans theatre, film, TV, broadcast news, and print journalism

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Boop-Oop-a-Doop! In this special bonus episode, we present A Brief History of Betty Boop: From the Inkwell to the Musical. We begin with the story of Fleischer Studios—the groundbreaking animation house behind Betty Boop, Popeye, and Koko the Clown—and trace how their surreal, adult-oriented cartoons challenged the norms of early animation and stood in stark contrast to Disney’s wholesome image.

In the second half, we turn our attention to Boop: The Musical, the new Broadway-bound show reimagining Betty for a modern audience. From pre-Code symbol to pop culture icon, we explore how Betty’s spirit survives onstage and what it means to bring her back in 2025.

A bonus episode tracing Betty Boop’s evolution from 1930s animation to the Broadway stage

First Half

• The founding and influence of Fleischer Studios
• Betty Boop’s origins and status as a pre-Code symbol
• Use of rotoscoping, music, and surrealism in Fleischer cartoons
• The studio’s decline and its cultural afterlife

Second Half

• Overview of Boop: The Musical and its creative team
• How the stage production updates Betty for new generations
• The challenges of adapting vintage animation for live theater
• Reflections on the enduring appeal of Betty Boop

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Music by Mike Natale

“You are mine—body and soul!” – The Cheat (1915)

This week, we’re traveling back to 1915 with returning guests Amanda Rush and Jae Kim for a deep dive into Cecil B. DeMille’s The Cheat. A landmark of early American cinema, The Cheat helped shape visual storytelling through its pioneering use of lighting, editing, and narrative tension. But alongside its technical innovation lies a deeply troubling legacy—particularly in its portrayal of race and power.

Amanda and Jae help us unpack the film’s lasting influence, Sessue Hayakawa’s complex role in Hollywood history, and how The Cheat fits into the broader conversation about preserving films that reflect both the artistry and the prejudices of their time.

• The Cheat (1915) was directed by Cecil B. DeMille and stars Fannie Ward and Sessue Hayakawa

• Selected to the National Film Registry in 1993

• Celebrated for its dramatic lighting, narrative structure, and early use of cross-cutting

• Discussion topics include:

• The visual legacy of The Cheat

• Sessue Hayakawa’s breakthrough role and its cultural implications

• Representations of race and gender in early Hollywood

• The importance of preserving films that capture both cinematic milestones and historical biases

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“Which one of you nuts has got any guts?” – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

This week, we check into the ward with special guest Ben Hosley, producer of Blank Check with Griffin and David, to take on Miloš Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. One of only three films to sweep the “Big Five” Oscars, this anti-establishment classic remains a cultural touchstone. We dive into Jack Nicholson’s electric performance, Louise Fletcher’s chilling turn as Nurse Ratched, and how the film captures the shifting American psyche of the 1970s.

New audio episodes drop every Monday at 12am EST, with video premieres on YouTube the same day at 12pm EST.

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Music by Mike Natale