âYou are mineâbody and soul!â â The Cheat (1915)This week, weâre traveling back to 1915 with returning guests Amanda Rush and Jae Kim for a deep dive into Cecil B. DeMilleâs 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 legacyâparticularly in its portrayal of race and power.Amanda and Jae help us unpack the filmâs lasting influence, Sessue Hayakawaâs 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.âą The Cheat (1915) was directed by Cecil B. DeMille and stars Fannie Ward and Sessue Hayakawaâą Selected to the National Film Registry in 1993âą Celebrated for its dramatic lighting, narrative structure, and early use of cross-cuttingâą Discussion topics include:âą The visual legacy of The Cheatâą Sessue Hayakawaâs breakthrough role and its cultural implicationsâą Representations of race and gender in early Hollywoodâą The importance of preserving films that capture both cinematic milestones and historical biases
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1:54:42
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) w/ Ben Hosley
âWhich one of you nuts has got any guts?â â One Flew Over the Cuckooâs 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 MiloĆĄ Formanâs One Flew Over the Cuckooâs Nest. One of only three films to sweep the âBig Fiveâ Oscars, this anti-establishment classic remains a cultural touchstone. We dive into Jack Nicholsonâs electric performance, Louise Fletcherâs 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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2:05:33
Where Are My Children? (1916) commentary track
âWe must be brave enough to look truth in the face.â â Where Are My Children? (1916)This week, we return to the public domain vault for a full-length commentary track on Where Are My Children?, the provocative 1916 silent drama from Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley. As one of the earliest American films to tackle topics like birth control, abortion, and eugenics, it remains a landmark of progressive intent and moral complexityâalbeit through a lens thatâs deeply of its time.Watch along with us as we break down the filmâs bold messaging, cultural context, and the pioneering role of Lois Weber in early Hollywood.
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1:14:56
Magical Maestro (1952) w/ Jordan Beck
âAnd now, I shall entertain you!â â Magical Maestro (1952) Animation aficionado and producer Jordan Beck returns to the show to tackle Tex Averyâs Magical Maestro, one of the most frenetic and technically dazzling cartoons of the Golden Age. With its relentless visual gags and groundbreaking use of the âwipeâ technique, this controversial short is both a masterclass in animation and a challenging relic of its time. Join us as Jordan helps us unpack the artistry and the baggage of this chaotic classic.
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1:39:12
A Night at the Opera (1935) w/ David Bluvband
"You can't fool me! There ain't no Sanity Claus!" David Bluvband (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) returns to the show to discuss the Marx Brothers' first film for MGM, A Night at the Opera. We talk Otis B. Driftwood, Riccardo Barone, and the eternal Paramount vs. MGM debate.
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Om You're Missing Out: A National Film Registry Podcast
Since 1989, the National Film Registry has selected 25 films each year that are deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant". In each episode, Mike Natale (Yahoo!) and Tom Lorenzo (Men's Journal) bring on a special guest to take a look at one of the films from the registry, to get to the heart of why these films matter.