film history

Episode 231: Screwy Dames

The Dames have an in-depth discussion about screwball comedy, sexual politics, and if snakes are necessary, focusing on It Happened One Night, His Girl Friday, and The Lady Eve. Plus:
Phil Lord doesn't understand context: https://twitter.com/philiplord/status/1626391261749055490?t=OIu4aQ54pmZaoK7TWx1O0w&s=19
Andrea Riseborough has thoughts on her Oscar nod: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/andrea-riseborough-interview-oscars-nomination-to-leslie-1235325509/

Episode 228: The Movies that Made the Dames

This week we're sharing the movies that made us! Everyone has those particular movies that sparked something in them. Whether it was your love of movies, a new outlook on the world, or some other passion, movies can have a profound impact on the people we are. Here are (some of) the movies that made us.

Episode 227: And Then There Were Dame

Happy 2023! The Dames return this year to talk about whodunits, with spoilery analyses of And Then There Were None (1945), The Last of Sheila, and Clue! 

Episode 224: Damelins

This week, the Dames are discussing Joe Dante's holiday classics Gremlins and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Plus, we have some thoughts on Sight & Sound's Great Films of All Time list!
https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/revealed-results-2022-sight-sound-greatest-films-all-time-poll 

Episode 223: Dame Tierney

This week, the Dames close out Noirvember with Gene Tierney and her iconic film noir roles, including deep dives on the nature of perception and the femme fatale in Laura and Leave Her To Heaven. 
Plus, Karen talks Disney's Strange World and Lauren has feelings about Cate Blanchett in Tar. 

Episode 221: Sweet Dame of Success

The Dames plunge into Noirvember with discussions of Detour, The Blue Dahlia, and Sweet Smell of Success. Plus, what the hell is happening on Twitter?

Episode 218: The Invisible Dame

This episode is all about horror master James Whale. Even though he only directed four horror films, his influence is still felt in the genre today.
We're also talking a bit about the Brad Pitt drama and whatever was happening with the Great British Bake-Off and their "Mexican Week."

Episode 216: Earth Dames Are Easy

Welcome back! This week, the Dames are talking all about S-E-X. From pre-code depictions to post-code innuendo, how porn influenced aesthetic, and the positive and negative representation of both hetero and same-sex relationships on screen. 

Episode 215: Dames of Power

The Dames discuss issues of race, gender, and historical representation in The Little Mermaid and Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power. Plus! Karen reviews Pearl and Lauren talks Official Competition. 
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/09/lord-of-the-rings-rings-of-power-fantasy-sci-fi-racist-criticism/671421/
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/lord-of-the-rings-rings-of-power-racist-backlash-1235211341/

Episode 211: The Dame Phone

The Dames discuss the latest in the Ezra Miller saga, critics dismissing films that aren't "for them," why "problematic art" is still important art, and Scott Derrickson's latest horror film The Black Phone.
https://www.npr.org/2022/08/11/1116932907/ezra-miller-scandals
https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/best-90s-movies/

Episode 210: To Catch a Dame

This week the Dames are celebrating Alfred Hitchcock's birthday with some favorite films and recommendations. Plus a few added topics, including:
The tragic passing of Anne Heche and the need for compassion
Warner Bros just keeps doubling down on the Flash movie
The new Armie Hammer + family doc and just why?
And to keep up with the movies we're talking about each week, check out our ongoing Letterboxd list.

Episode 209: Return of the Dames

We're back! The Dames return to discuss all the important film news of the day, including
Johnny Depp is a POS and his fans gave us proof: 
https://jezebel.com/celebrities-are-unliking-johnny-depp-s-post-trial-insta-1849377565
https://twitter.com/cocainecross/status/1553506807766663169?t=-IAWSVCoexhNRuge-f9FmA&s=19
Just what is going on with HBOMax?
https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/4/23291037/hbo-max-warner-bros-discovery-merger-david-zaslav-chip-joanna-gaines
Why the studio system declined and fell
Plus: What We've Been Watching!

Episode 207: Dames Who Love Dames

The Dames close out Pride month discussing queer female representation in film and TV! Including
The history of lesbian/queer representation in film
Queerbaiting and fetishization
Positive representations in films from Bound to Booksmart to Hearts Beat Loud

Episode 205: Every Dame Everywhere All At Once

The Dames return to discuss queer-coded characters of Classical Hollywood, including:
Rock Hudson's camp aesthetic
All the gay villains
Limited queer female representation
And how Louis Renault is a bi icon
Plus! We discuss Ezra Miller's disappearance in the wake of grooming accusations, and review Lightyear, Hustle, and Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Episode 198: The Bat and the Dame

This week we are treading into the murky waters of Depp v. Heard, exploring the world of pre-1980s Romantic Comedies — ESPECIALLY the far more sophisticated and adventurous pre-code rom coms, and also taking a look at The Batman, which is now available to watch at home on HBO Max.

Episode 193: West Side Dame

This week the Dames discuss new information about changes to the Oscars telecast, why westerns are totally not homoerotic at all, and how Sam Elliott is from Sacramento. 
Plus, we go into our reactions to Steven Spielberg's West Side Story adaptation, and whether or not 5cream works as it should. 

Episode 191: Dameville

The Dames discuss films and TV new and old, including the awesomeness of melodrama, the earnestness of new rom-coms, and why we love Marshawn Lynch:
Marry Me and the new rise of rom-coms
Why Kimi is not Hitchcockian
Douglas Sirk's wild melodramas
And the new Netflix show Murderville!

Episode 189: Nightmare Dames

The Dames talk about Hulu's new limited series Pam & Tommy, and the issue of consent in celebrity biopics. We address the legal issues vs. the moral ones, how our culture takes control of celebrity narratives and images, and at what point biopics and other media crosses the line between truth-telling and exploitation. 
Privacy rights: https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=1772c864-ae5b-47f4-be51-fe2519ff2146
https://ew.com/tv/pam-and-tommy-made-without-pamela-anderson/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/tv/2022/02/02/pam-and-tommy-review/
Plus! The new version of Nightmare Alley and whether we prefer it to the original!
 
 

Episode 187: The Wicker Dame

The Dames go deep on folk horror, the new Shudder documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched, and why inclusivity and diverse perspectives are so important. Plus! We answer some overdue listener questions about villains, heroes, and Spencer. 

Episode 185: The Dames are Team Elmo

Happy 2022! The Dames return to celebrate the remarkable lives of Sidney Poitier, Betty White, and Peter Bogdanovich. We also discuss upcoming female-directed films, and weigh in on the greatest celebrity feud since Bette and Joan. 
A special shoutout to our lovely patrons, who are keeping us going! We hope to bring more bonus episodes and fun content to you all this year, so keep an eye on the page! 
Elmo v. Rocco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d26DWgx9Ly0 
Female filmmakers: https://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/films-directed-by-women-to-look-out-for-in-2022.php