film history

Episode 301: The Night of the Hunter (1955)

We kick off Noirvember 2024 in style with Charles Laughton's exceptional directorial effort: The Night of the Hunter, starring Robert Mitchum as a fire and brimstone "preacher" who preys on widows in Depression-era West Virginia, but meets his match in two small children hiding an expensive secret. The Night of the Hunter was Laughton's only film as a director, in which he employed a blend of silent film and stage techniques that make it one of the most unique and effective noirs in cinematic history.

Episode 297: Deep Red (Profondo Rosso)

Spooky season is upon us, which means SPOOKY MOVIES! We kick off this season with a legendary giallo: Dario Argento's 1975 film Deep Red, starring David Hemmings and the remarkable Daria Nicolodi. Murder has never been so weird.

Episode 295: The Shape of Water

The Dames go deep (hehe) on Guillermo del Toro's glorious magical realist fable (and Best Picture winner) The Shape of Water, and its deceptively simple narrative that combines fairy tale, biblical allegory, and transcendental love into something that is truly unique. Is this just the "fish-fucking movie" or is it so much more?
Next week, we'll be discussing Taika Waititi's Jojo Rabbit, so get ready for that!

Episode 293: Brokeback Mountain

We kick off fall festival season with a lineup of major films that had their premieres at festivals past. This week we begin with Ang Lee's seminal queer western Brokeback Mountain (2005). How far we've come (and how far we still have to go).
Next week will be David Fincher's Gone Girl!

292 — Rope (1948)

This week, the Dames discuss another Hitchcock masterpiece, the 1948 thriller Rope. Starring Farley Granger and John Dall, this single-location technical experiment also marks the first time Alfred Hitchcock worked with star James Stewart.

Episode 291: Vertigo

We continue with our Hitchcock month with one of the more controversial movies in his oeuvre: Vertigo, widely considered to be Hitchcock's masterpiece. But is there really a reason for that? What makes this film stand out? Why does everyone love Vertigo so much—and the most important question...do we?

290: Shadow of a Doubt

Welcome back, friends! After a very short break, the Dames return to celebrate the Master, Alfred Hitchcock's 125th birthday with his 1943 film, Shadow of a Doubt. Theresa Wright and Joseph Cotten star in this twisty, suspenseful tale set in California's wine country.

Episode 289: Shelley Duvall - 3 Dames

In honor of the great Shelley Duvall, the Dames discuss three films she made with Robert Altman: Nashville (1975), 3 Women (1977), and Popeye (1980). We maybe didn't know exactly what some of these meant, but man were they fascinating!
Our Criterion giveaway is still running, so let us know what one Criterion disc you would love to own! We'll pick a winner on July 25!

288: Criterion Blindspots - Dames of a Summer Night

Hello, again! This week the Dames are celebrating Criterion with something extra fun: cinematic blindspots. Our chat includes a look at Targets (1968), Thelma and Louise (1991), and Smiles of a Summer Night (1955).

Episode 287: Tom Cruise Part Deux - A Few Good Dames

We're back with a second part of our ongoing series "Karen Loves Tom Cruise (and Lauren Thinks He's Neat)"! This time, we're chatting about three very different thrillers from three very different directors, all starring Mr. Cruise: A Few Good Men (1992), Minority Report (2002), and Collateral (2004). How many of these should Tom have won an Oscar for? The answer may surprise you.
Next week, we'll be chatting about some Criterion Channel films that one or both of us have overlooked: Smiles of a Summer Night (1955), Targets (1968), and Thelma and Louise (1991).

282: A Tribute to Roger Corman

This week, the Dames pay tribute to Roger Corman, who passed away May 9, 2024 at the age of 98. We share our thoughts about the prolific director and producer, and then dive into three of his films: A Bucket of Blood (1959), Premature Burial (1962), and The Masque of the Red Death (1964).

Episode 281: Harrison Ford - Air Force Dame

The Dames are back this week to talk more about summer blockbusters and super American films from a super American actor: Harrison Ford. Topics include the grumpy-man love story of The Fugitive (1993), presidents punching terrorists in Air Force One (1997), and haunted happenings in What Lies Beneath (2000).

280: Steven Spielberg - Jurassic Dame

It's summer blockbuster season and what better way to kick things off than with an episode all about Steven Spielberg! This week, we're talking Jaws (1975), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Jurassic Park (1993).
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Episode 276: Women on the Job - Working Dame

This week, the Dames are going to work with three great comedies about women in the workplace. Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy star in Desk Set (1957); Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton team up against their terrible boss in 9 to 5 (1980); and Melanie Griffith squares off against Sigourney Weaver in Working Girl (1988).

Episode 275: Kinuyo Tanaka - The Dame Has Risen

The Dames welcome guest Nannina Gilder to talk about the films of Kinuyo Tanaka, a director who carved out a space for herself in Japan's male-dominated film industry with feminist masterworks such as Love Letter, The Moon Has Risen, and Girls of the Night.

Episode 274: Thelma Ritter - All About Dame

This week, the Dames talk about the career of six-time Academy Award nominee Thelma Ritter. And we dive into three of her great performances: All About Eve (1950), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), and Rear Window (1954).

Episode 272 - Historical Films and Biopics by Women

This week the Dames look at historical films and biopics directed by women. Strangely rare and often underpraised, we sit down to talk about three great examples: Julie Taymor's Frida (2002), Ana DuVernay's Selma (2014), and Regina King's One Night in Miami (2020).

Episode 271: Female-Directed Best Picture Nominees - Past Dames

We get a little excited this week talking about current (and past) Best Picture nominees directed by women. While we're focusing on three films this year (Barbie, Anatomy of a Fall, and Past Lives), we also remind everyone that female directors have been around since the creation of cinema. Come for the trenchant critical commentary, stay for the statistics! 
Some of our past Oscars episodes, with bonus statistics!, can be found here: Oscar and the Dame 
Best Supporting Dame  

Episode 268: Interdimensional Romance - A Matter of Dame and Death

This week the Dames dive into Criterion's Interdimensional Romance collection with a look at A Matter of Life and Death (1946), Starman (1984), and we break some hearts with our thoughts about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004).

Episode 265: Happy Dame Year!

We're back to discuss some of our favorite films (new and old) of 2023, including Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon, and, uh, Love Birds? 
Happy New Year! We're looking forward to bringing you a lot more fun stuff in 2024!