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PODCAST

Lions, Towers & Shields

A celebration of films from the classic Hollywood era. Shelly Brisbin leads a merry band through recaps and reviews of great old movies from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

64:12

126: The Women, with a Cat

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2025/07/31

ere is one of the greatest ensembles of the classic era - or any era, for that matter. Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Lucile Ball, Ann Miller, Eve Arden (and cat), Gail Patrick, Andrea Leads. Constance Collier, all sharing a theatrical boarding house in New York, and struggling to become big stars. Kate says something about calla lilies, and also snipes with Ginger. It’s so much fun!, Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr, Nathan Alderman and Randy Dotinga.

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75:20

125: Ugly Bette

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2025/07/25

If you can quote from “Casablanca” or “Gone with the Wind,” you can probably quote from “Now Voyager.” Or you could, with a little reminder. “Don’t let’s ask for the moon, when we have the stars.” And the Paul Henreid/Bette Davis cigarette-lighting move is here, too. Tis a stone cold classic of the romantic, weepy canon. Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, Randy Dotinga and Nathan Alderman.

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49:52

122: The Only Way To Win Is Not To Play

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2025/07/04

Stanwyck Summer continues with a “noir tragedy.” She finds herself involved with Kirk Douglas (his film debut), Van Heflin and Lizbeth Scott. Did Missy kill her very mean aunt, many years ago? Let’s find out, shall we? Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman, Micheline Maynard and Randy Dotinga.

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55:58

121: Chekhov's Unbroken Hand

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2025/06/27

Barbara Stanwyck (Lorna) in a boxing movie? OK, sure. But you’ll also see the film that began her lifelong friendship with William Holden. Bill (Joe) is a violinist who wants to try his hand at boxing. Because there’s money in that. Stanwyck’s Lorna is the girl who loves him. What price must Joe pay to become a success? Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman, Micheline Maynard and Randy Dotinga.

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70:49

120: Stella Dallas versus Veda Pierce

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2025/06/19

We begin Stanwyck Summer with one of her most iconic films, and greatest performances. Stella Dallas is pure melodrama, so sudsy that the name was taken by a radio soap opera. Stella is a working-class woman with a daughter she wants to give all the things she never had. Will she succeed? Will her daughter be grateful? Tune in tomorrow! Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman, Randy Dotinga and Micheline Maynard.

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60:20

117: Alligator Pears

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2025/03/22

The first film Fritz Lang made in the US after he fled the Nazis, Fury is the story of a man who is lynched by the residents of a small town. The film is not a groundbreaking 1950s independent production, but an MGM star vehicle from 1936, featuring one of the studio’s then newest stars, Spencer Tracy. It’s not even Fritz Lang’s best film, but you’ll see some groundbreaking technique here. Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman, Randy Dotinga and Micheline Maynard.

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59:55

115: Gene Kelly's Guns

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2025/03/09

Greatest musical of all time, you say? Plenty of people would agree. Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly co-direct Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds through a delightful Comden and Gteen score, not to mention dance numbers that have achieved legendary status. For anyone who admires clever, energetic film choreography, it’s a joy to watch. For a fan of classic film, there’s an homage to the transition between silent and talking movie. That happened barely 20 years before this film was made, which

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59:36

107: Gayer Than The Cast of Bewitched

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2024/11/01

Previously, on Lions, Towers & Shields, we’ve talked about one western. It was an unusual one, and included themes a modern audience tends to read as gay. Well guess what? We’re doing it again. Desert Fury puts Lizbeth Scott, Bert Lancaster and John Hodiak into a love triangle. Film noir expert Eddie Muller says this is the gayest movie ever produced in classic Hollywood. But is it? Please enjoy the lush color, and the Miklos Rosza score. And look, there’s Mary Astor and Kristine Miller, too. So we

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53:40

103: Very Much About The Vibes

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2024/08/16

We return to France for King of Hearts, directed by Philippe de Broca and starring Alan Bates and Geneviève Bujold. The suggestion to see this film comes from our own Erika Ensign, who praises its anti-war message, among other attributes. The film is set in a small French town during World War I, after the locals have fled the battle. Residents of a nearby asylum escape and take over the town. The film was made in 1966, in the shadow of French involvement in the Vietnam War. Shelly Brisbin with

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49:58

93: Situational Gales

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2024/03/28

Every once in awhile, your host takes a flier, choosing a film for us to watch that I’ve seen once or twice, if at all. Also arising from the 2022 draft episode is this English romance from 1945. It’s from the filmmaking team of Powell and Pressburger, and stars Wendy Hiller, so on credentials alone, it’s worth your attention. A young woman travels to the Hebrides to marry an older, wealthy man. But circumstances change her thinking Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga, Micheline Maynard and

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1:05:27

92: We've Got All the French You Need

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2024/03/21

Gene Kelly was at the height of his powers in 1951, starring in musicals for MGM, and choreographing some of them. Here, Vincent Minelli directs, but the dancing is by Kelly. Leslie Caron makes her film debut, and the rest of the cast has a decidedly continental vibe. The film is “inspired” by George Gershwin’s 1928 musical of the same name, but the writing credit here goes to Alan Jay Lerner, aka half of the celebrated Lerner and Lowe musical composing team. An American in Paris won a boatload of

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1:05:14

89: You Can't Be Evil in a Cardigan

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2023/12/07

If the Jeopardy answer is “A Christmas-themed film of the mid-1940s”, you might expect the question to be “What is ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’” or “What is ‘Miracle on 34th Street.’” But on this year’s LTS holiday episode, those questions would be wrong! Our movie this year comes with stars like Victor Moore and Don DeFore, not Jimmy Stewart or Donna Reed. But our little holiday movie has a lot to recommend it. There’s found family, a budding love story, a challenge to capitalism and entrepreneurship

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55:59

88: Plausibly Evil

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2023/12/01

I hear that Alec Guinness made a couple of movies in the 1970s or 80s that you may know. This is not that. This is a classic Ealing Studios comedy in which Alec plays eight characters. Because it’s a British comedy, I was not surprised to find that it dealt with social class. Robert Hamer directs, and Dennis Price is the actual star. This episode is full of connections to other things we like. Everyone brought the trivia. Shelly Brisbin with Erika Ensign, Randy Dotinga, Micheline Maynard and

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1:10:37

87: The Barbara Stanwyck of Five-Year-Olds

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2023/11/23

This is a disturbing film: also a good one. Charles Laughton’s only directorial outing focuses on a con man (and worse) terrorizing a pair of children as they run from him. He’s attempting to secure some money he covets, and to shut up those meddling kids. Robert Mitchum is our charismatic villain and star, along with Shelley Winters and silent luminary Lillian Gish, also turning in worthy performances. Buckle up, friends. You’ve been warned. Ish. Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Randy Dotinga

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49:21

86: Bring a Fan and a Bucket

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2023/11/17

For me, this movie answers some important LTS questions: what did that Ernst Lubitsch guy direct besides To Be Or Not To Be? How was Herbert Marshall ever a romantic lead? And finally, where are the precodes? It’s been forever! TIP also give me the chance to introduce Kay Francis and Miriam Hopkins, the fashion-forward queen of Warner Brothers before Bette Davis, and Miss Davis’ later southern belle nemesis in several films - respectively. Trouble in Paradise is a romantic triangle comedy

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1:35:52

85: No Talking!

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2023/11/09

For this episode, we’re breaking format a bit. Instead of focusing on one film, we’ll talk about several: all from the silent film era. It’s not a draft, but each panelist has picked a movie, and we’ve all watched them! Our guide is guest host, Micki Maynard! Micheline Maynard with Shelly Brisbin, Nathan Alderman, Dr. Drang, Annette Wierstra and Randy Dotinga.

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56:17

84: The Healthy Habits of Hat Check Girls

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2023/11/02

Nicholas Ray directs Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Graham. Bogie is Dix Steele, who should not be confused for Captain Picard’s hollowdeck alter ego, Dixon Hill. (Am I the only one who does that?) Bogie is not a detective, but a screenwriter suspected of murder. In A Lonely Place is considered one of the best film noir made, and Bogart and Graham give excellent performances. Shelly Brisbin with Judy Samelson, Randy Dotinga, Micheline Maynard and Nathan Alderman.

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50:58

83: The Original Sin is Littering

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2023/10/26

It’s the age-old story: Boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl get married, girl’s psychosexual hangups put strain on their marriage, girl may or may not begin turning into a large murderous panther because of an ancient family curse … you know, the usual. Horror auteur Val Lewton and ace director Jacques Tourneur spin a low budget into shadow-drenched, spine-tingling gold in a creepy classic that takes the time to care about its characters, and brilliantly lets sound, suggestion,

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1:07:36

82: Diva with a Monkey

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2023/08/31

We watch Billy Wilder’s story of a silent film queen’s life in middle age and the screenwriter who stumbles into her world. Noir, melodrama, dark humor, horror. It’s all here in this classic, staring Gloria Swanson. She’s all of 46 when she made this movie, but a has-been like her character. This episode is full of excellent trivia and unexpected connections made by our super-smart panel. Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Randy Dotinga and Micheline Maynard.

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54:09

81: I Will Defend the Weenie King

Lions, Towers & Shields ·

2023/08/24

Probably the best of the Sturges comedies, The Palm Beach Story is part romance, part screwball comedy, part drawing room comedy. The performances sparkle, the movie looks great, and the plot is inventive. Joel McCrea and Claudette Colbert are our delightful stars. And I get to talk about Mary Astor some more. Don’t miss this one, kids. Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr, Dr. Drang, Annette Wierstra and Nathan Alderman.

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100 results

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