Dec 24, 2021
For our Xmas 2021 episode, two bittersweet intellectual soap operas about forbidden love and sexual non-conformity in mid-20th century America, Douglas Sirk's All That Heaven Allows (1955), starring Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson, and Todd Haynes' Carol (2015), starring Rooney Mara and Cate Blachett. We talk about the interplay of satire and sincerity in Sirk, romance as a vehicle for self-actualization, coming-of-age story tropes, and how these movies use the expectations set by the holiday season. And in our Fear and Moviegoing in Toronto segment, it's the last of the 20th Century Fox Noirs at the TIFF Bell Lightbox Cinematheque, two great Richard Widmark films: Jean Negulesco's Road House (1948), an Ode to Losers in Love, and Sam Fuller's brutal and lurid Ode to Losers in Life, Pickup on South Street (1953). Happy Holidays and see you in 2022!
Time Codes:
0h 01m 00s: ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS (1955) [dir. Douglas Sirk]
0h 38m 35s: CAROL (2015) [dir. Todd Haynes]
01h 02m 57s: Fear and Moviegoing in Toronto – ROAD HOUSE (1948) & PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET (1953)
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* Marvel at our meticulously ridiculous Complete Viewing Schedule for the 2020s
* Intro Song: “Sunday” by Jean Goldkette Orchestra with the Keller Sisters (courtesy of The Internet Archive)
* Read Elise’s latest film piece on Preston Sturges, Unfaithfully Yours, and the Narrative role of comedic scapegoating.
* Check out Dave’s new Robert Benchley blog – an attempt to annotate and reflect upon as many of the master humorist’s 2000+ pieces as he can locate – Benchley Data: A Wayward Annotation Project!
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