Episode 569: The Awful Truth (1937)

Guest Co-Hosts: Aaron Peterson, Kat Ellinger

Screwball month continues with a look at Leo McCarey’s The Awful Truth (1937). Based on the play by Arthur Richman, the film stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunn as Jerry and Lucy Warriner, a couple who break up before the first act is even over. They would have a clean break apart from their both wanting custody of their dog, Mr. Smith, and that they both still may love one another.

Kat Ellinger and Aaron Peterson join Mike to discuss the film as well the 1953 interpretation of Richman's play, Let's Do It Again.

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Listen to "Episode 569: The Awful Truth (1937)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy The Awful Truth on Blu-Ray
Buy Let's Do It Again on DVD

Music:
"My Dreams Are Gone With the Wind" - Molly Ryan

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Episode 568: My Man Godfrey (1936)

Guest Co-Hosts: Kat Ellinger. Maurice Bursztynski

Screwball month continues with a look at Gregory La Cava’s My Man Godfrey (1936). Based on the novel and co-written by Eric Hatch, the film stars William Powell as the titular Godfrey. He’s a forgotten man, living in a Hooverville in New York City where he’s picked up by a bunch of swells out on a scavenger hunt. Bringing in a forgotten man will net a lot of points and help Irene Bullock (Carole Lombard) win the game. In return, she hires Godfrey as a butler to the wacky Bullock family. And, of course, hilarity ensues...

Kat Ellinger and Maurice Bursztynski join Mike to discuss the original adaptation as well as the 1957 version with David Niven and June Allyson.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 568: My Man Godfrey (1936)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy My Man Godfrey on Blu-Ray

Music:
"Garbage Isn’t What It Used To Be" - Alan Jay Lerner and Gerard Kenny

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Episode 567: Ball of Fire (1941)

Special Guest: Joseph McBride
Guest Co-Hosts: Kat Ellinger, Maitland McDonagh

We are kicking off a month of screwball comedy discussion with a look at Howard Hawks’s 1941 film Ball of Fire. Written by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett, the film stars Gary Cooper as one of an octet of professors who are writing an encyclopedia. Cooper is writing an article on slang only to find that he’s very deficient. In an effort to bolster his research he comes across Sugarpuss O’Shea (Barbara Stanwyck). The moll of a vicious gangster, she’s on the lamb and holes up with the professors. And, of course, hilarity ensues.

Kat Ellinger will be around all month. Maitland McDonagh guest hosts on this episode and Professor Joseph McBride dishes about his books on director Howard Hawks.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 567: Ball of Fire (1941)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Ball of Fire on DVD
Buy A Song is Born on DVD
Buy Hawks on Hawks by Joseph McBride
Buy Focus on Howard Hawks by Joseph McBride
Subscribe to Maitland McDonagh's substack

Music:
"Drum Boogie" - Gene Krupa

Watch:

Symphony in Slang from Lee Presson on Vimeo.