Movie Nights & Matinees

Jul 14 2024 35 ep. 59 mins 9

Movie Nights & Matinees Podcast artwork

Discussions of movies remembered from the days when it was necessary to actually go to the movies. Most guests have written books on the subjects under discussion.

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Episode 33 - Godzilla vs Gojira

Jul 14 2024 56 mins

Jim and I are joined by filmfest master Bill Shaffer to talk about Japan's biggest movie star and now Oscar-winner, Godzilla (or Gojira, depending on your preference). Listen in as we discuss the various eras, his many monstrous foes, and his appearances in Legendary's Monsterverse, as well as his recent prestige picture Godzilla Minus One, which brought the big guy his first Acade

Episode 32 - All About WB (No, the Other One)

Jun 09 2024 57 mins

Film historian Dan Van Neste joins me to discuss one of Hollywood's unjustifiably forgotten leading men as chronicled in Dan's latest book, The Accidental Star: The Life and Films of Warner Baxter. Listen in as we chat about Baxter's life, personal struggles, and roles in such pictures as 42nd Street, the Crime Doctor series, and Baxter's first, Oscar-winning outing as the big scre

Episode 31 - Kids and Classics

May 12 2024 50 mins

Jim and I chat with radio host and author Jennifer Churchill about her book Movies are Magic, as well as her other media appearances activities designed to foster of love of classic films across new generations.Let us know what you think about this episode!A Bill&Debi Production

Episode 30 - Here Comes the Cavalry

Apr 28 2024 58 mins

Author Michael F. Blake returns to chat with me and Jim about his latest book, The Cavalry Trilogy: John Ford, John Wayne, and the Making of Three Classic Westerns. Ride along as we talk about the men and the movies; spotlighting Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande, with a few others getting mentions along the way.Let us know what you think about this episode!A Bil

Episode 29 - Weaving Worlds

Apr 14 2024 52 mins

I'm joined by author Cathy Whitlock to talk about the subject of production design as chronicled in her gorgeous book Designs on Film: A Century of Hollywood Art Direction. Among the films discussed are Citizen Kane, Top Hat, Things to Come, The Wizard of Oz, Cleopatra, Lawrence of Arabia and You Only Live Twice, to name a few. Let us know what you think about this episode!A Bill&a

Episode 28 - Scene Me a Song

Mar 30 2024 48 mins

Author Gary May joins me to talk about the career of M.K. Jerome, whose songs enhanced many a golden age Hollywood film, especially during his tenure at Warner Bros. Moe, as he was known to friends, family and colleagues, is the subject of Gary's book The Tunesmith, The Musical Journey of M.K. Jerome. Gary has significant insight into Moe's life and career, given that Moe was Gary'

Episode 27 - Writ Large Screen: Agatha Christie

Mar 03 2024 72 mins

Agatha Christie scholar and author Mark Aldridge joins me to discuss movies adapted from the writings of the famed mystery writer, as chronicled in Mark's book Agatha Christie on Screen. Gather with us in the virtual parlor as we discuss, among other films, Love From a Stranger, And Then There Were None, Witness for the Prosecution and Murder on the Orient Express. Let us know what

Episode 26 - Abbott & Costello Meet Biffle & Shooster

Feb 18 2024 60 mins

Jim and I are joined by the multi-talented Nick Santa Maria, co-author of The Annotated Abbott and Costello and the alphabetically first half of the retro comedy team Biffle and Shooster. We chat about Bud and Lou, and what made them and their comedy formula so special, then segue into the creation and assemblage of the neo-vintage (seriously?) short comedies produced and compiled

Episode 25 - Maltin on Maltin

Feb 04 2024 52 mins

As our first guest of 2024, Jim and I are thrilled to welcome the one and only Leonard Maltin, whose tenure as the movie critic for Entertainment Tonight spanned three decades, and whose books are a staple of any respectable movie reference library, in addition to his highly informative and entertaining autobiography. Join us as we discuss his career, his books, and here and there

Episode 24 - Mixed Bag Musings

Jan 21 2024 50 mins

With the first anniversary of the launch of Movie Nights & Matinees coming this week, co-host Jim Reid and I have a casual conversation that includes reflections on the first year of the podcast, as well as discussions of specific movies we've been watching or that are personal favorites. Popping up in the discussion are comedians Laurel & Hardy, Wheeler & Woolsey, Edga