This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss the delightful Pre-Code romantic comedy Design for Living, directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Miriam Hopkins, Fredric March, and the incomparable Gary Cooper in a hopeless love triangle. Topics include the film's startling candid approach to sex, the contrasting star personas of its actors, and director Lubitsch's famous je-ne-sais-quoi.
Read MoreThis week, Morgan and Gavia discuss Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 mystery Rear Window, starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly. They break down Stewart and Kelly's star power, dig into some classic feminist film theory, praise the film's iconic costumes, and more.
Read MoreThis week, Morgan and Gavia revisit Hollywood classic The Sting. They consider its influence on modern-day heist movies, contextualize it in the history of con men and heists in America, and sing the praises of the ever-dreamy Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
Read MoreThis week, Morgan and Gavia revisit an old favorite: Howard Hawks' iconic romantic comedy His Girl Friday. They discuss how it fits into the screwball genre, its radical gender politics, the transcendent appeal of Cary Grant, rom-com tropes, and more.
This week, Morgan and Gavia watch a classic: Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). Topics discussed include Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh's iconic performances, the film's influence on the slasher genre, its famous plot twists, and how it fits into Hitchcock's wider filmography.
Read MoreThis week, Morgan and Gavia discuss Frank Capra's 1939 classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Topics include, but are not limited to, how the film's message reads today, that filibuster sequence, The Power of Jimmy Stewart, and why Jean Arthur can't catch a break.
Read MoreThis week, Gavia and Morgan look back at Casablanca. They discuss why the love story is so satisfying, how the studio system has changed, and how the film functions as a piece of propaganda and relates to our current political moment.
Read MoreThis week, Morgan and Gavia revel in the Gene Kelly classic Singin' in the Rain. Topics discussed include the film's relationship to Hollywood, its treatment of women, its influence on contemporary film, and why it's just so damn fun to watch.
Read More