Lions, Towers & Shields

Is this the first LTS episode during which one panelist offered to smack another? Let me know in the comments.

The 1940s were, among other things, the era of the composer biopic. Most were sanitized depictions of their subjects, but “Night and Day” works extra hard not to be truthful about its subject, Cole Porter. All this, while still doing him the enormous favor of casting Cary Grant to play him. Oh, did I mention that the film has been restored by Warner Archive, so we’ll have a pretty print to see?

Night and Day

Host Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman, and Philip Michaels.

Referenced Works

Night and Day

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

Night and Day trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• 58 HE’S CULTURING ME
• 109 MORE BEER!
• 51 THE NINOTCHKA CINEMATIC UNIVERSE
• 69 THE BILLIONAIRE’S VAUDEVILLE
• 72 HE’S GOT ACREAGE
• 126 THE WOMEN, WITH A CAT

Next time, we’ll watch

• Colorado Territory trailer

"Anything Goes" Tony Awards

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In 1932, Joan Crawford made Letty Lynton, a film that represented a milestone in her career. But it’s barely been seen since the 1930s. That’s because of a thorny legal dispute over a story that the movie’s only partially based on. Thanks to one of her grandsons and the Warner Archive, Letty is now available to view on disc or steaming. We’ll tell you the story of its long journey back to the screen, and all about “that dress”.

Letty Lynton

Host Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman, and Randy Dotinga.

Referenced Works

Letty Lynton

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

Letty Lynton

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• 140 Say More. Say It Now. Tell Us Everything!
• 3 More Permy Over Time
• 118 Planting Bulbs In The Spring
• 47 Angela Lansbury, Comin’ In Hot
• 95 My Film Erogenous Zones
• 145 Hungry Like The Wolf
• 31 The Patriarchy: You’re Swimming In It
•

82 Diva With A Monkey

Next time, we’ll watch

•

Night and Day trailer

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Nicholas Ray makes his film debut directing “They Live By Night,” a noir love story. Not your usual, noir dude obsessed by a bad woman, but an actual relationship, conducted under trying circumstances. Kathy O’Donnell and Farley Granger made a couple of films together, but this is the best. Enjoy Howard de Silva as a mean gangster. He has no dance numbers. The film is based on the novel, “hieves Like Us”. It’s genuinely one of my favorites, and so it becomes my birthday pick.

They Live By Night

Host Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman, Micheline Maynard, and Philip Michaels.

Referenced Works

They Live By Night

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

They Live By Night trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• 60 CELEBRATE THE TERESA WRIGHT-AISSANCE
• 93 SITUATIONAL GALES
• 71 SHE KILLED A MAN IN RENO
• 7 ENJOY YOUR CUCUMBER, AMERICA!
• 48 HE SOUNDS LIKE AN ANGRY GARBAGE TRUCK
• 84 THE HEALTHY HABITS OF HAT CHECK GIRLS

We’ll be back in October with more classic movie takes.

Adrian Martin on "They Know Where I'm Going"

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Author (and friend of the show) Samuel Garza Bernstein is back with a story about a character who was central to Hollywood’s Golden Age and beyond. His new book, Roddy McDowall: An Actor’s Life - From “How Green Was My Valley” to “Lassie” to “Planet of the Apes” is the story of a child star who became a beloved friend to many in the Hollywood community. We last spoke with Sam in 2024 when his book about Joan Crawford book was published.

Roddy McDowall

Host Shelly Brisbin with Samuel Garza Bernstein.

Referenced Works

Roddy McDowall: An Actor's Life

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

Next time, we’ll watch

• They Live By Night trailer

Roddy McDowall: An Actor's Life

After Forever

Samuel Garza Bernstein

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Here is an early film by David Lean about a chance encounter at a train station that leads to complicated feelings for both parties. It’s “Brief Encounter.” Ceilia Johnson (ever heard of ‘er?) gives a nuanced, emotional performance. And the film is very real and down-to-earth, despite the intensity of the relationships depicted. It’s a love story, if you’re interested in genre things, but there’s plenty for cinephiles to appreciate as well.

Brief Encounter

Host Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard and Annette Wierstra.

Referenced Works

Brief Encounter

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

Brief Encounter trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• 111 GO OUT IN FLAMES AND DRAMA
• 24 MISTIMED SOBS
• 33 NICE GUY, OR GOOD MAN?

Next time, we’ll watch

• They Live By Night trailer

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Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Alfred Hitchcock. OK, I’m pretty much done. What else shall I say? WWII intrigue, a love story, a well-played villain. These are also things I could say. Also, the length of the kiss between Grant and Bergman put the Production Code office all in a tizzy.

Notorious

Host Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr, Annette Wierstra, Randy Dotinga, and Philip Mozolak.

Referenced Works

Notorious

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

Notorious trailer

•

Available to stream, rent or buy digitally

•

On disc: Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• 55 Intense Chemistry With A Block Of Wood
• 47 Angela Lansbury, Comin’ In Hot
• 111 Go Out In Flames And Drama
• 28 Hitchcock Tilts At Windmills
• 26 You Were Made To Be Murdered
• 60 Celebrate The Teresa Wright-Aissance
• 125 Ugly Bette

Next time, we’ll watch

• Brief Encounter trailer

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It’s the final edition of Lions, Towers & Trek, wherein we feature someone from Star Trek: The Original Series in a film they made before the show. Here’s DeForest Kelley’s film debut; a rare lead role for him. DK is a man suspected of a crime, who must rely on his disjointed memories and his cop brother-in-law to learn what happened.

Fear in the Night

Host Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman, Micheline Maynard, and David J. Loehr.

Referenced Works

Fear in the Night

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

Fear In The Night

• Available to stream for free
• On disc: DVD

Next time, we’ll watch

• Notorious trailer

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If you’ve watched Star Trek, you’ve probably had your share of “I know that person” moments, when it comes to guest stars. So let us consider Ricardo Montalbån, long before he was Khan in Star Trek’s “Space Seed” episode, or the same character in the best of all Trek movies, “Star Trek II, The Wrath of Khan”. Ricardo had a career in MGM musicals, though not primarily as a singer. Here is one, about the meta of making a movie that’s not too dissimilar from the movie we’re watching.

On An Island With You

Host Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman, and David J. Loehr.

Referenced Works

On An Island With You

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

On An Island With You trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: Blu-ray

Next time, we’ll watch

• Fear in the Night

Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

William Shatner made his film debut in this Richard Brooks adaptation of the Dostoevsky novel. Bill is the youngest of the brothers, and he’s fourth-billed, behind Yul Brynner and some other people we’ve seen before on LTS.

The Brothers Karamazov

Host Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard.

Referenced Works

The Brothers Karamazov

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

The Brothers Karamazov trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: DVD

Next time, we’ll watch

• On An Island with You trailer

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This summer we celebrate the intersection of classic film and Star Trek. And Lions, Towers & Trek begins with a big one. John Ford’s classic western is an uncomfortable masterpiece. There, that takes in those who admire the film, and those who don’t like what it seems to represent, or how women and natives fare in the hands of this director. Also, how do you feel about John Wayne, eh? We’re also here to speak about Jeffrey Hunter, Star Trek’s original Captain Pike. None of this was his fault!

The Searchers

Host Shelly Brisbin with Jason Snell, Philip Michaels, and Randy Dotinga.

Referenced Works

The Searchers

Show Notes & Links

Check out our LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

The Searchers trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: Blu-ray

Next time, we’ll watch

• The Brother’s Karamozov trailer

The Incomparable Drafts Star Trek Actors' Previous Film Roles

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By request, we take on this late-50s musical, directed by Stanley Donan. Our stars are Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn and Kay Thompson. (I’ll have lots to say about Kay.) Revolving, as it does around the fashion industry in Paris, Funny Face is pretty to look at, including many great costumes. It also features songs by the Gershwins and some better ones that are not by them.

Funny Face

Host Shelly Brisbin with David Almeida, Lisa Schmeiser, Micheline Maynard, Erika Ensign, and David J. Loehr.

Referenced Works

Funny Face

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

Funny Face trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• 51 The Ninotchka Cinematic Universe
• 115 Gene Kelly’s Guns
• 92 We’ve Got All The French You Need
• 31 The Patriarchy: You’re Swimming In It
• 11 Princess Anna’s Day Off

S'Wonderful: Tommy Tune & Twiggy (1983)

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Fritz Lang directed a pair of noirs in the mid-40s, starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett and Dan Duryea. The other is Woman in the Window. In Scarlet Street Eddie G. Is a mild-mannered cashier who meets Kitty, a beauty who might not mean him well. And then Dan Duryea gets involved. Like any self-respecting noir classic, this one is nice to look at, and even features twelve paintings created for the film. In real-life, Eddie collected art and Dan Duryea was a nice man.

Scarlet Street

Host Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Dr. Drang, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard.

Referenced Works

Scarlet Street

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

Scarlet Street trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• 73 Manly Seamanship
• 15 I Know You’re A Sexist Creep, But Run!
• 100 The Smell Of Murder
• 109 More Beer!
• 92 We’ve Got All The French You Need
• 50 What Is She Talking About? Stop That!

• 1 Paradise City

• 127 Kind Of A Nice Snack

Next time, we’ll watch

• Funny Face trailer

Suspense: The Man Who Was Edward G. Robinson

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Someone suggested we honor the films of 1926 — 100 years ago — and so we shall. Beau Geste has been remade often, but here is the original, starring Ronald Colman in his matinee idol period. S recent massive restoration of the film has the film looking great, with lots of footage restored. It’s a silent film, if that affects your interest, but it’s quite compelling.

Beau Geste

Host Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard.

Referenced Works

Beau Geste (1926)

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts at theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

Beau Geste trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• 90 Ruth Chatterton Is Jacked
• 20 Stella Dallas Versus Veda Pierce
• 14 No One Told Me It’s Three Hours Long
• 58 He’s Culturing Me
• 119 I’m Still Watching…
• 136 The Tiffany Of John Lunds

Next time, we’ll watch

• Scarlet Street trailer

Beau Geste, the novel

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The LTS lineup drafts baseball movies for your enjoyment. At least one choice from every panelist must fall within our old-timey timeline, but newer films about bats and balls make it in, too. And don’t worry, bad baseball movies do not strike out here.

Baseball Movie Draft

Host Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Micheline Maynard, Randy Dotinga, and David J. Loehr.

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movies: _we draft baseball films

• David

• A League of Their Own
• The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg
• The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson
• It Happens Every Spring

• Phil

• Angels in the Outfield (1951)
• Eight Men Out
• Moneyball
• Bang the Drum Slowly

• Micki

• The Jackie Robinson Story
• I Will Buy You
• The Natural
• Bull Durham / For Love of the Game

• Randy

• The Babe Ruth Story
• Fear Strikes Out
• The Bad News Bears
• Experiment in Terror / Armored Car Robbery

• Shelly

• Rhubarb
• The Stratton Story
• Woman of the Year
• It Happened in Flatbush

Next time, we’ll watch * Beau Geste trailer

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Happy Opening Day!

It’s Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig, in our first baseball episode. And yes, it’s all LTS inside baseball this week. We complain about the lack of actual baseball in this movie, suggest other movies with more baseball and go on a complete tangent halfway through, that no one would let me edit out.

But first, listener mail!

Pride of the Yankees

Host Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr, and Randy Dotinga.

Referenced Works

Pride of the Yankees

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

Pride of the Yankees trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: DVD

The Self-Referential LTS

• 23 A Perfect Spherical Cow
• 60 Celebrate The Teresa Wright-Aissance
• 21 Yum Yum And The Nerd
• 100 The Smell Of Murder

Next time, we’ll:

• draft some baseball movies!

Lou Gehrig's Farewell Speech

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The son of a man convicted of murder faces bullying, then suspicion when he is accused of a crime, too. Directed by Frank Borzage, the film is moody, dark and a bit gothic. Dane Clark and Gail Russell are your leads, with a late-film appearance by Ethel Barrymore. And you’ll hate young Lloyd Bridges. Noir czar Eddie Muller calls Borzage ‘relentlessly romantic,” which is a huge contrast to this film, which Muller ranks it among his top 25 noir films.

Moonrise

Host Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard.

Referenced Works

Moonrise (1948)

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

• Moonrise

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• 5 I Love Dead Lucy
• 98 Toshirô Mifune Can Get It!
• 129 There Are No Cars
• 96 I Think He Might Be A Sociopath
• 70 Things Just Keep Happening And Nothing Makes Sense

Next time, we’ll watch

• Pride of the Yankees trailer

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Gene Tierney does comedy. John Lund is not bad. And THELMA RITTER IS THE BEST.

The Mating Season

Host Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard and Nathan Alderman.

Referenced Works

The Mating Season

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

The Mating Season trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• Full movie on YouTube
• On disc: DVD

The Self-Referential LTS

• 127 Kind Of A Nice Snack\
• 46 A Rough 35
• 132 Clothes, Cars And Acreage
• 52 If Douglas Sirk Made Friday The 13th
• 86 Bring A Fan And A Bucket
• 70 Things Just Keep Happening And Nothing Makes Sense
• 21 Yum Yum And The Nerd

Next time, we’ll watch

• Moonrise

The Internet Movie Cars Database

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Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly. Gotta be a musical, right? Actually, it’s a film noir, whose connection to Christmas is limited at best. So much misdirection, and I haven’t even told you the plot.

Christmas Holiday

Host Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga and Micheline Maynard.

Referenced Works

Christmas Holiday

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

Christmas Holiday trailer

• Available to [stream free on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MohRnxRWuGc&t=161s]

The Self-Referential LTS

• 60 Celebrate The Teresa Wright-Aissance
• 131 Temu Cary Grant
• 109 More Beer!
• 67 Gene Kelly’s Butt
• 64 Justice For Bill
• 10 The Nicest Gangster Ever
• 114 There’s Lots Of Nice Coats…
• 126 The Women, With A Cat
• 70 Things Just Keep Happening And Nothing Makes Sense

We’ll return in Spring 2026

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Tracy and Hepburn do “battle of the sexes” and help Judy Holiday launch her film career. There’s a random Cole Porter song, and T & H are adorable. George Cukor directs a great script.

Adam's Rib

Host Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard.

Referenced Works

Adam's Rib

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

Adam’s Rib trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• 92 We’ve Got All The French You Need
• 115 Gene Kelly’s Guns
• 26 You Were Made To Be Murdered
• 131 Temu Cary Grant
• 127 Kind Of A Nice Snack
• 2 Diva With A Monkey

Next time, we’ll watch

• Christmas Holiday trailer

Escerpt from Mr. Broadway

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Billy Wilder tells the story of a man’s (Ray Milland) alcoholic weekend, and the lies he tells to family and friends about his drinking. Surprisingly gritty and emotional for the era, and photography that heightens the mood. Also, Jane Wyman, Philip Terry, and Frank Faylen again.

The Lost Weekend

Host Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard.

Referenced Works

The Lost Weekend

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com, Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

•

The Lost Weekend trailer

• Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
• On disc: Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• 100 The Smell Of Murder
• 72 He’s Got Acreage
• 128 Annette Bening Energy
• 33 Nice Guy, Or Good Man?
• 60 Celebrate The Teresa Wright-Aissance

Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.