Front Row Classics: A Hollywood Golden Age Podcast

Front Row Classics is bringing you a late Halloween treat. Brandon is joined once again by Tony Maietta and Ben Burke. After the fun of their discussion of The Opposite Sex, the three have now dubbed themselves the "Camp Counselors". This fall, they're bringing you one of the most macabre delights from the 1960s. They're discussing 1964's "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" starring Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland. Also including Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead and Mary Astor, this film is both creepy and fun way to spend an autumn evening

Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome author and dance historian, Debra Levine. Debra recently penned "Jazzed: Jack Cole and Twentieth-Century American Dance". This book chronicles the life and career of Cole while also providing a well-researched context of the times in which he lived. Brandon and Debra discuss some of his most memorable collaborations on film along with his legacy as a choreographer.

"Jazzed: Jack Cole and Twentieth-Century American Dance" is available from the University Press of Kentucky wherever books are sold.

Debra Levine is a Hollywood-fascinated dance critic whose discovery of Jack Cole turned her aesthetic world on its head. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Dance Magazine, HuffingtonPost, and more. She is the founder of artsmeme, a fine arts blog.

Happy Halloween from Front Row Classics! We're thrilled to welcome actress Erin Murphy. Erin became known to America as Tabitha on Bewitched. She and Brandon discuss her memories of growing up on the set among its legendary cast. The two also discuss some of her favorite episodes and the timeless quality of the show. Brandon and Erin finish out discussing her latest projects and why she still loves the business.

Front Row Classics is beginning two days of Halloween with two of our favorite families of fright. Brandon is joined by actress and classic film fan Lauren Foulk. The two are celebrating the legacies of The Addams Family and The Munsters. The discussion includes highlighting favorite moments and the backstories behind each legendary series.

Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of the most haunting and romantic films of the last 50 years. Brandon is joined of Mike of MADHATTED CURIOSITIES (@madhatterd83 on IG) to chat 1980's Somewhere in Time. Brandon and Mike discuss this timeless tale along with the talents of Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, Christopher Plummer and Teresa Wright. Directed by Jeannot Szwarc and written by Richard Matheson, this film continues to fascinate and entrance audiences with its mix of romance, history, sci-fi and fantasy.

Front Row Classics is thrilled to welcome back Illeana Douglas to chat about one of the most anticipated film books of 2026. She recently penned "Jungle Red: The Making of MGM's The Women". The book is as dishy and fun as the 1939 film itself. Brandon and Illeana chat about the film's origins and the antics that occurred off-screen between its legendary cast. They also celebrate the phenomenal talents of director George Cukor.

"Jungle Red: The Making of MGM's The Women" is available from Lyons Press wherever books are sold.

An Actress, writer, producer, and director Douglas is known for playing fearless outspoken characters. She is the grand daughter of two-time Academy Award winner Melvyn Douglas. Illeana began her career working for a prominent New York film publicist in The Brill Building. After appearing in New York Stories, and Goodfellas Douglas came to prominence, as Matt Dillon's suspicious sister in Gus Van Sant's To Die For, for which she was a New York Film Critics award nominee. Other film roles include Cape Fear, Grace of My Heart, Message in a Bottle, Picture Perfect, Stir of Echoes, Rough Riders, Happy Texas, Ghost World. A classic film lover she's part of the Turner Classic Movies family where she has interviewed the pantheon of film greats, and hosted Trailblazing Women, Second Looks, and Funny Ladies. Illeana received an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Angela on Six Feet Under and has guest starred on The Larry Sanders Show, Seinfeld, The Drew Carey Show, Ugly Betty, Entourage, Welcome to Sweden, Shrill, Search Party, and Goliath. Illeana wrote, directed, and starred in the short film The Perfect Woman which premiered at the New York Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, and around the world. She wrote, directed, and starred in Boy Crazy Girl Crazier, and Everybody Just Stay Calm which premiered on the IFC Channel. She wrote and directed and starred in Devil Talk, and Supermarket which premiered at Sundance, and were shown on The Sundance Channel. She wrote, and starred in Soulmates. Illeana developed television pilots Confessions of a Movie Lover for the IFC Network, Illeanarama for the Oxygen Network and New Line, Celebrity Garage Sale for the A&E Network, and The Living Room Show for Sony. She wrote, produced, starred and frequently directed the multi-award winning web series Easy to Assemble for IKEA. Easy to Assemble was the first-ever branded web series. She executive produced the films Life Without Dick, Kingdom Come, Chez Upshaw(also starred), Search and Destroy(uncredited),Grace of My Heart(uncredited), She executive produced and costarred in the web-series The Skinny (2015) Illeana hosted The Film Scene Podcast, and is a film "Guru" for Joe Dante's Trailers From Hell. She has participated in scores of film documentaries including CNN: The Movies, Kino Lorber's Pioneers: First Female Filmmaker

Front Row Classics is happy to welcome back Turner Classics Movies' Alicia Malone. Alicia just penned her first fiction story that is perfect for classic film lovers. "Murder at the Movies: A Movie Palace Mystery" is a cozy mystery set in the world of movie theaters. Alicia has created a page turner that will please mystery lovers and classic film fans alike.

"Murder at the Movies: A Movie Palace Mystery" is available from TCM and Running Press wherever books are sold.
Alicia Malone is a host on Turner Classic Movies and an authority on classic, independent, and foreign films. She is particularly passionate about supporting women in film and has given two TEDx talks on the accomplishments and obstacles women have faced throughout cinema’s history. Malone began her television career in her native Australia, working behind the scenes. Her expertise in film led to her transition as a host, interviewer, and film critic for television, radio, print, and online. She has appeared as a film expert on a variety of TV networks and programs, including CNN’s The Movies documentary series, MSNBC, Access Hollywood, E!, Entertainment Tonight, MTV, and ABC.

Front Row Classics is taking a look at 1963's Charade. Brandon is joined by Matt Duffy to take a look at the most-Hitchcock like film that wasn't directed by Hitch himself. Directed by Stanley Donen, the movie is a suspenseful comedic mystery and still feels fresh in 2026. Brandon and Matt discuss the charm of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn and how the constant plot twists keep the momentum and fun at a high pace.

Front Row Classics is taking a look at the Best Actress winning performance of 1948. Brandon is joined by, friend of the podcast, Holley Snaith. They two are discussing Johnny Belinda starring Jane Wyman. Directed by Jean Negulesco, this drama tells the story of Wyman as a young woman who is "deaf-mute" and lives with her father and aunt in Canada. The movie explores the themes and consequences of spreading lies & rumors. Brandon and Holley also celebrate the performances of Lew Ayres, Charles Bickford and Agnes Moorehead.

Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome podcaster and host, Tommy Kovac. Brandon and Tommy discuss his love of film and how it inspired him to host his own show. The conversation then turns to Batman (1966). The two hosts discuss the highlights and fun that continues to permeate these decades later.

You can listen to Tommy's podcast, "Splat from the Past" here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTGvmvEi8cgiJoVEv7C5Hcw

Front Row Classics welcomes back our friend, Jessica Pickens. Brandon and Jessica pick up where they left off with their "trashy movie" discussion from earlier in the year. They're taking a look at 1957's Peyton Place. The two not only re-visited the movie, they also took a look at the original book by Grace Metalious. The conversation includes the highlights of the film and why it might be better than the book itself.

Front Row Classics welcomes actress & performer, Alisha Soper. Alisha is one of the world's premier Marilyn Monroe impressionists. She and Brandon discuss her background and love of film/show business. The conversation, then, turns to Marilyn and 1952's Don't Bother to Knock. The two discuss this eccentric and stellar early performance in Monroe's career.

Front Row Classics welcomes actor, performer and classic film fan, Josh Sanders. Josh, also known as Ziegfeld Boy, discusses growing up in Australia as a classic film fan. He also mentions what pushed him to be fascinated by the technologies during the Golden Age. He and Brandon discuss the various uses of color and widescreen from the silent era through the 50s.

Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome back our friend John Malahy. Brandon and John are taking a look at the year 1951. It was a banner year of films that reflected both the Hollywood studio era and the new Actors Studio style of acting that have migrated over from the New York stage. The two discuss the five best picture nominees from that year as well as other popular films ranging from musicals to film noir to animation.

Front Row Classics is celebrating the 55th anniversary of one of the most beloved family films ever made. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory remains an genuine work of "pure imagination". Brandon and Emmett Stanton chat about all of the most memorable moments that have pushed Wonka into the zeitgeist for the last half century. They also pay tribute to the performance of the incomparable Gene Wilder.

Front Row Classics welcomes back author Kristen Lopez to chat about her newest volume of "But Have You Read the Book?". Kristen recently penned "But Have You Read the Book? Romance Edition: 40 Love Stories That Inspired Our Favorite Films". The book chronicles forty great romantic literary works and how they adapted to the big screen. From the Golden Age through Modern Day, Brandon and Kristen celebrate how romance has defined the movie going experience

But Have You Read the Book? Romance Edition: 40 Love Stories That Inspired Our Favorite Films is available from TCM and Running Press wherever books are sold.

Kristen Lopez is a pop culture essayist, critic, and editor whose articles have appeared at Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, MTV, TCM, and Roger Ebert. She was previously the Film Editor for TheWrap and the TV Editor for IndieWire. She is a two-time National Arts and Entertainment winner and was nominated for a SoCal Journalism Award by the LA Press Club.

Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of the most popular films in the catalog of Rita Hayworth. Brandon is, once again, joined by author John Di Leo to discuss 1944's Cover Girl. The film showcases Hayworth at the height of her star power. The film also mark the first important display of the talents of Gene Kelly. Brandon and John discuss the highlights of this escapist musical fantasy.

Front Row Classics is taking a look at Ingrid Bergman's dramatic return to Hollywood after a seven -ear exile. Brandon is joined by film historian Sloan De Forest to chat about Anastasia from 1956. With a screenplay by Arthur Laurents, the film is a romantic look at the mystery surrounding Anna Anderson (the best known of the Grand Duchess Anastasia impersonators). The sparking cast also includes Yul Brynner and Helen Hayes.

Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome back Entertainment Weekly Editor, Rance Collins. Brandon and Rance are celebrating the wonderful Deborah Kerr. The two are taking a look at Kerr's 6 Oscar nominations spanning the years from 1949-1960. They examine her competition and what potentially kept her from ever winning that elusive Academy Award.

Front Row Classics is taking a look at a classic example of a Broadway play turned into a movie. Brandon and Peter Martin are discussing 1952's The Member of the Wedding. Based on the novel and play by Carson McCullers, the film maintains the themes of the play which include isolation, loss of innocence and race. The stage performances of Ethel Waters, Julie Harris and Brandon deWilde are also preserved for posterity in the film.