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PODCAST

Morally Offensive

Morally Offensive

What Makes a Film “Morally Offensive”?Ex-Catholics Bill, Cisco, Jess, Kevin (and Reform Jewish co-host Stephanie) ask this question every other week as they tackle the list of films “Condemned” or considered “Morally Offensive” by the Catholic Legion of Decency (RIP) and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Each week, they explore the production history of these movies while also exploring topics relevant to their ex-Catholic backgrounds and relevant, contemporary social issues. Not just for

tv & film film history

All Episodes

01:16:27

Condemned by Catholic Censors: How ‘Design for...

Morally Offensive ·

2025/02/07

"Immorality may be fun, but it isn't fun enough to take the place of one hundred percent virtue and three square meals a day."What was it about Design for Living—the film by Ernst Lubitsch, Ben Hecht, and Noël Coward—that sent critics and the Catholic Legion of Decency into an uproar? This pre-Code classic tackled themes of polyamory, infidelity, and sexuality with a wit and sophistication that became known as The Lubitsch Touch. But its bold approach was too much for Catholic censors, who saw it

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01:27:05

BONUS: Conclave: "Is It Anti-Catholic?"...plus we pay...

Morally Offensive ·

2025/01/31

Habemus Papam!We weren’t initially planning to cover Conclave, but since launching our podcast in late October, the film has sparked intense debate. Despite not receiving a "Morally Offensive" rating, Conclave has faced significant criticism from Catholic Bishops and prominent right-wing figures including Ben Shapiro and Megyn Kelly, who claim the movie is anti-Catholic. On the other hand, Conclave has earned multiple Oscar nominations and won a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, making it a major

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02:08:55

Atomic Blonde (2017): The Coldest City

Morally Offensive ·

2025/01/23

Charlize Theron's action-packed cold war passion project, Atomic Blonde, was not well received by audiences when it dropped in late Summer of 2017. Some dismissed the film as a "female John Wick" knockoff, or criticized it for it's confusing, labyrinthine plot. 8 years later, the guys re-examine this singular, unique entry into the Action genre, and look at how it's reputation has grown since it's release. The film takes place in the late 80s, and centers around a British Spy, tasked with a

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01:36:59

Baby Face (1933) - The Original "Good For Her" Movie

Morally Offensive ·

2025/01/10

What do MaXXXine, Pearl, Promising Young Woman, and Midsommar have in common with a 1933 pre-code melodrama starring Barbara Stanwyck? They all fall under the banner of the "Good for Her" film. Barbara Stanwyck stars in this pre-code film that sent the Catholic "Legion of Decency" into a rage, and which gave them the firepower they needed, to force the hand of the studio moguls to self-censor their films. Bill and Cisco are joined by Milwaukee Professor, Dr. Jess Sellin-Blanc (and Bill's wife Kelly)

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01:59:18

My Dinner with Nosferatu (1922)

Morally Offensive ·

2024/12/26

"The death ship has a new captain!"To celebrate the release of Robert Eggers' remake of Nosferatu, the guys decided to cover the original classic, in a slight deviation from the Catholic Legion of Decency "condemned" list. The film was released in the US in 1929, seven years after it's Berlin premiere, but it was still too early to be OFFICIALLY condemned by the American Catholic ratings system. However, being that Nosferatu is both the FIRST occult film AND one of the rare films to grace the

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01:13:01

04 - The Night Before (Holiday Special!)

Morally Offensive ·

2024/12/13

It's Christmas time in NYC, and three friends are about to embark on their very last annual Christmas rager together. Joseph Gordon Levitt is an orphan, stuck in a dead-end job with no real career prospects and no romantic partner. Seth Rogan is coming to terms with his fears over being a father, and Anthony Mackie is a pro athlete, so obsessed with fame, that he's willing to risk his family, friendships, and integrity for his career.That's where the 2015 Holiday and Christmas future classic, The

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01:36:46

03 - Hot Tub Time Machine

Morally Offensive ·

2024/11/28

"Why Are Men?" It's the question Bill and Cisco find themselves asking, after viewing 2010's comedy about time travel and friendship, Hot Tub Time Machine, starring John Cusack, Craig Robinson, and Daily Show alum Rob Corddry. The guys talk male friendship, the 2024 election, toxic masculinity, the butterfly effect, and the difficulties of maintaining solid friendships, as one enters middle-age. Diversions include the manosphere, Cardinal Burke's dislike of girl altar servers, Matt Walsh's fear of

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01:34:35

02 - The Exorcist

Morally Offensive ·

2024/11/16

It shouldn't be surprising that an episode about William Friedkin's The Exorcist would be plagued with technical problems (if you believe in that kind of thing) but the episode is finally live! Cisco makes Bill watch a film that he has put off seeing for years, due to a deep-seated fear of the devil and the demonic. Bill gives his first reactions, and the guys get into the post-Exorcist panic over demons (and consequent spike in exorcisms in the US), the increase in the number of Exorcists in the

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01:19:31

01 - The Omen

Morally Offensive ·

2024/11/01

For the pilot episode, Bill and Cisco discuss their respective Catholic upbringings, discuss censorship and the Hayes Code, and introduce the Legion of Decency and USCCB film ratings systems, before doing a deep dive into Richard Donner's The Omen.

en

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