Fetch the Smelling Salts

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Discussing period dramas from every time period and around the world. 

Alice Nagle and Kimberly Marsh


    • Apr 24, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 5m AVG DURATION
    • 53 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Fetch the Smelling Salts

    Wolf Hall (Series 1, 2015)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 73:44


    This week Kim and Alice have been locked in the cupboard with the Christmas decorations to bring you Tudor drama series, Wolf Hall. We're talking about Hans Holbein: portrait artist / historical catfisher and Henry VIII never getting to just enjoy a joust. Also kittens!Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Fainting Couch: Tudor Dramas ft. Kirsty Whyte

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 45:18


    Hide your necks, we're entering our Tudor Era! In this Fainting Couch episode Kim and Alice are joined by Kirsty Whyte for an overview of period drama dynastic darlings, the Tudors. We discuss what's been done, if there's anything left to be adapted, and why we can't get enough of these messy monarchs.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Law According to Lidia Poët (Series 1, 2023)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 57:38


    Ciao a tutti! This week Kim and Alice are discussing the fun, Italian crime drama series, The Law According to Lidia Poët. We're talking about the real-life multi-lingual lady lawyer, solving crimes with your sibling, and asking how much responsibility filmmakers have when depicting real historical figures?Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Fainting Couch: My Policeman (2022 Movie) ft. Christopher Clannachan from Equality Network

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 56:26


    We have a special episode this week for Podcasthon 2025; Alice speaks to Christopher Clannachan from Equality Network about their incredible work for LGBTI rights and equality in Scotland, and the emotionally devastating 2022 movie, My Policeman.Find out more about Equality Network and how you can help support them at https://www.equality-network.org/support-us/To find out more about Podcasthon, please visit our participant page at https://podcasthon.org/podcaster/fetch-the-smelling-saltsSound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 64:12


    Join Kim and Alice as we travel back to India circa 1857 courtesy of epic historical legend, Mangal Pandey: The Rising. Back when companies had armies, dogs ate gunpowder and real men sang plot points whilst sitting on elephants.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen HamiltonSourcesMangal Pandey: Film and History; Author(s): Rochona Majumdar and Dipesh Chakrabarty; Source: Economic and Political Weekly , May 12-18, 2007, Vol. 42, No. 19 (May 12-18,2007), pp. 1771-1778Mangal Pandey: Drug-crazed Fanatic Or Canny Revolutionary?; Author: Richard Forster; University of Hawai'i at MānoaMangal Pandey: Is 'History' Important?; Author(s): Sharmistha Gooptu; Source: Economic and Political Weekly , Aug. 27 - Sep. 2, 2005, Vol. 40, No. 35 (Aug. 27 -Sep. 2, 2005), pp. 3797+3799-3800; Published by: Economic and Political Weeklyhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jan/29/reel-historyhttps://www.thecollector.com/mangal-pandey-sepoy-mutiny/https://web.archive.org/web/20160829022829/http://thevoiceofnation.com/politics/chapati-movement-mysterious-chain-british-officials-1857-mutiny-rising/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Sound of Music (1965 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 46:53


    It's time to convene the ‘We Hate Rolf' club and sexily tear down some flags - this week Kim and Alice are yodelling their way through the Sound of Music. We learn that while Edelweiss might be fake, the Von Trapp family singers were very real.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Woman in White (2018 TV Series)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 64:52


    We're floating about in our nightgowns this week as Kim and Alice discuss the literature and lunacy behind The Woman in White. Everyone in the story might be deeply traumatised, but trust us, the dog is fiiiiine. Also - happy Galentine's Day; dump your toxic partner.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Fainting Couch: Small Things Like These (2024 Movie) - ft. Dr Hugh Turpin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 47:22


    Send us a textIn this Fainting Couch special, Alice is off to the cinema with friend of the podcast Hugh Turpin to experience 2024's saddest Christmas movie: Small Things Like These. We're discussing national trauma, Ireland's evolving relationship to the past, and why you should beware the Coal Hole.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Hercule Poirot's Christmas (1994 TV Episode)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 63:01


    Send us a textThis week Kim and Alice are (re)watching the ‘délicieux' Agatha Christie classic: Hercule Poirot's Christmas. We're talking about locked-room mysteries, glove snobbery and the haunting wail of a dying pig toy.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Handmaiden (2016 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 58:39


    Send us a textGet your special jingle bells ready because this week Kim and Alice are covering the Korean historical thriller, The Handmaiden. We're discussing colonial dynamics, erotic furniture and how too much real estate inevitably leads to murder basements.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Brooklyn (2015 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 58:19


    This week we're setting sail on a kinda slutty immigrant adventure, with the beautifully understated Brooklyn. Kim and Alice enjoy all the messy drama whilst also uncovering the history of Irish immigration and why you should always go drinking with your priest.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen HamiltonSourcesArticle: National Parks Service 'Post-peak Immigration Years'Article: Irish Times, 'Making Brooklyn in Enniscorthy: 'Saoirse Ronan was lovely. She had a cup of tea in my kitchen'.Article: Irish America Magazine, 'Shades of Brooklyn'Article: Brownstoner, '5 Gone-but-Not-Forgotten Brooklyn Shopping Emporium'sArticle: Baxter St. 'Day in Ellis Island, 1951: Erika Stone Portfolio'

    Crimson Peak (2015 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 71:23


    We're getting spooky this week as Kim and Alice get increasingly frustrated by gothic horror ‘Crimson Peak'. Whilst the characters are ignoring both the red flags and red ghosts, our hosts discuss gothic literature and Guillermo del Toro's hatred of faces.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Mummy (1999 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 96:14


    This week we're joined by Em, host of Verbal Diorama, to discuss quite possibly the perfect movie: the 90s adventure, horror fun-time classic, The Mummy. Em explains how the film came to be (thank-you Babe: Pig in the City) whilst Kim and Alice find out that love makes you do some crazy things, like unhinge your jaw and cover Egyptians in boils.For more fascinating film history, you can find Em at:Verbal Diorama PodcastSound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen HamiltonSourcesBlog post: Egypt at the Manchester Museum, “Representation and Reality in ‘The Mummy' (1999)” by Matt Szafran    AND “The Cult of Imhotep” Screenrant article: “How much of The Mummy 1999 is actually real?” Egypt Exploration Society websiteEgypt Exploration Society 1926 Annual ReportBBC podcast The Forum episode: “Imhotep, the man behind The Mummy” Blog post: Clare College, University of Cambridge, “Egyptomania” by Toby Wilkinson Article from Enterprise: The State of the Nation (Egypt): “A look back at Egypt's roaring ‘20s” Sky History article: “The curse of Tutankhamun and the mummy's tomb” 

    Belle (2013 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 67:43


    Come on law boys, grab your wigs and let's hang as we enjoy the beautiful historical drama, Belle. Alice and Kim discuss what they want from a period drama, and how a glossy romantic story can be the starting point for learning about the worst parts of human history.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen HamiltonSourcesWebsite: All Things GeorgianArticle: Kate Kellaway; 'Amma Asante: "I'm bi-cultural, I walk the division that Belle walked every day", The Observer, 18th May 2014 Article: English Heritage; 'The Somerset v Stewart Case', Accessed 25th Sept 2024Podcast: The English Heritage Podcast; 'Episode 168 - Somerset v Stewart: the landmark trial that helped to end slavery', 16th June 2022Article: Wikipedia; 'Zong Massacre', Accessed 25th Sept 2024

    El Cid (1961 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 80:23


    We're back! Season 2 of Fetch the Smelling Salts kicks off in style with historian Clara Chamberlain helping us make sense of dictator-funded epic dude-in-a-desert film, El Cid. We're talking about the creation of national myths, fist-fights at a funeral and the most insane final 15 minutes of any film, ever. Find more from Clara on:Instagram: @clarabchamberlain Substack: Once Upon a Time, Long AgoSound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Chariots of Fire (1981 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024 74:26


    We're throwing our heads back, flailing our arms and running off for a summer break, but there's still time for Kim and Alice to discuss the classic ‘Chariots of Fire'. We have Olympic trivia, separate the fact from fiction and discuss all manner of dongs.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen HamiltonSourcesDocumentary: Dir. Adrian Sibley; 'The Real Chariots of Fire'; ITV (2012)Article: Nathalie Morris; 'The book that inspired Chariots of Fire'; bfi.org; July 2012Article: Rose Staveley-Wadham; 'Exploring the Real 'Chariots of Fire' - As Reported in Our Newspapers'; britishnewspaperarchive.com; July 2021Article: Jeffrey Richards; 'Chariots of Fire'; historytoday.com; August 2012Article: Philip Barker; '40 Years of Chariots of Fire'; International Society of Olympic Historians (isoh,org); 2021

    Gladiator (2000 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 69:49


    Period dramas are for dudes too! And this week we have Tan and Keon from the awesome Pastmaster podcast to help us navigate the dudiest dudefest around: Gladiator. We're thinking about the Roman Empire an exactly normal amount and discussing tickle-snake surprises, extremely extra Emperors and historically-accurate product endorsement.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Fainting Couch: Queeriod Dramas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 42:08


    In this week's special Fainting Couch episode, Kim and Alice are smooching their undergardeners and celebrating queer representation in TV and cinema. We're looking at the history, the controversy and depiction of LGBTQ+ people on screen, and demanding more queer joy please!Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen HamiltonSourcesArticle: Jack King; '10 great films about queer history'; BFI.org.uk; February 2021Article: Isabelle Grimshaw; 'A Short History of LGBTQ+ Cinema'; freesat.co.uk; June 2023Documentary: 'Queerama' (2017); Dir. Daisy Asquith

    Dance of the 41 (2020 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 65:34


    It's Pride season, and Kim and Alice are celebrating by discussing the queeriest 2020 Mexican drama, ‘Dance of the 41'. There's cigar innuendo, bathtub math and honeymoon-related fainting, as well as the real history of the LGBTQ+ community in 1900s Mexico.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen HamiltonSourcesArticle: Brendan O'Boyle; '"Los 41": The Queer Dance Party That Changed Mexico'; Americas Quarterly, June 2020Article: Thaddeus Morgan; '41 Has a Secret Meaning in Mexico Thanks to a Queer Underground Ball'; History.com; June 2018Article: Kittredge Cherry; 'Dance of the 41 Queers: Police Raid Mexican Drag Ball in 1901'; qspirit.net; Jan 2024Article: Heib, L. (2023). El Baile de Los 41: Sexuality in 1900's Mexico. The Toro Historical Review, 14(2), 55-62. Article: Roger Moore; 'Netflixable? Gay Mexican history plays out in 'Dance of the 41''; rogersmovienation.com; 2021Article: Manuel Betancourt; ''Dance of the 41' Review: Netflix Drama Spotlights a 19th-Century Queer Scandal'; Variety.com; 2021Book: R. Irwin (Editor), E. McCaughan (Editor), M. Nasser (Editor)(2003) 'The Famous 41: sexuality and social control in Mexico, c.1901' ; Palgrave/MacMillanBiography: 'Amada Díaz Quiñones'; findagrave.comBiography: 'Ignacio de la Torre y Mier'; findagrave.com

    The Remains of the Day (1993 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 63:42


    This week we're having our hearts broken by a bad case of British butler-itis, as Kim and Alice sob through The Remains of the Day. We're learning about the politics of the aristocracy, strict servant etiquette and why you shouldn't learn the facts of life from Anthony Hopkins.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Favourite (2018 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024 60:23


    Move over Elizabeth and Victoria, there's a new Queen in town. This week Kim and Alice tackle ‘The Favourite', the darkly comic / just plain dark Queen Anne biopic. Why aren't more period dramas set in the Stuart period? Who won the duck race? And where can we hire a naked Tory for our next party?Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen HamiltonSourcesPodcast: Vulgar History; 'Anne, Queen of Great Britain'Article: Wilder Davies; 'The True Story Behind the Favourite'; Time Magazine, Dec 2018Article: James Anderson Wynn; 'Your Guide to Queen Anne, Last of the Stuart Monarchs'; History Extra, July 2020Article: Dr Hannah Grieg; 'Queen Anne's Feuding Favourites'; History Extra, Feb 2019Article: Alice Newbold; 'Sandy Powell On Taking a Rock and Roll Approach to Period Dress in The Favourite'; Vogue, Jan 2019

    Jodhaa Akbar (2008 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024 59:45


    You better get to shirtless sword practice because these elephants only respect hot people! This week Kim and Alice are covering Indian epic, Jodhaa Akbar.  It's a historical romance with all the jewellery and political intrigue you can handle, along with Kim's favourite kind of montage… a montage of LOVE.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 47:11


    Ain't no party like a cloud moon party; this week Kim and Alice are discussing the gorgeous Japanese animation, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. We reveal our preferred method of baby-making (it's Bamboo-based), discuss some fierce Heian period fashion and congratulate Mt Fuji on sticking to her New Year's resolutions.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith Nagle / Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen HamiltonSources'Sei Shonagon and the Heian Court'; Stuff You Missed in History Class 'Princess Kaguya'; Zusetsu.com'Slow on the draw: Takahata Isao's long road to the Tale of the Princess Kaguya'; Sight&Sound April 2015'Isao Takahata: Inspiring Visual Styles of Japanese Film & Anime Aesthetics'; Dahlan Bin Abdul Ghani, Nur Athirah Bt. Ahmad Azizi, Luqman Zulhilmi Bin Abdul 'Alim'; International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering, Volume 8, Issue 11S2'

    North & South (2004 Miniseries) - ft. Laurel from Hightailing Through History

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 80:56


    We're jumping on our 1850s waterbed with excitement, as this week Kim and Alice are joined by Laurel from Hightailing Through History to discuss the BBC miniseries, North & South. The industrial North is in her strike era and the men are blaming women for their feelings again, but exactly how many red flags will we ignore if someone's hot?Check out Hightailing Through History on Spotify,  Apple Podcasts and YouTube.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen HamiltonSources:Lancashire Textile Strikes; Encyclopedia.com"You Have Made Him What He Is": Irish Labourers and the Preston Strike in Elizabeth Gaskell's "North and South" by Susanne S. Cammack; New Hibernia Review Vol 20, No.4

    The Woman King (2022 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 67:59


    This week Kim and Alice cover their first African-set period drama - the historical action-adventure, ‘The Woman King'. We discuss the real Agojie tribe, the sheer joy of watching some badass women kick some butts and pledge our undying allegiance to Izogie.Sound Recordist: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Hysteria (2011 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 54:43


    There are rigid thrombi all round this week, as Kim and Alice discuss the massively unsubtle 2011 movie, Hysteria.  We're talking about the true history of the invention of the vibrator (spoiler: this isn't it), the ongoing misdiagnosis of women's health issues and keeping musk oil far away from our intimate areas.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith Nagle / Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Crucible (1996 Movie) - ft. Kirstyn and Ben from There's Not Always a Twist

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 76:47


    It's chicken-blood time girls! While Kim's off witching it up in another country, Alice is joined by Kirstyn and Ben from There's Not Always a Twist. In this episode, they're turning their attention to The Crucible; the witch-trial thriller based on Arthur Miller's play. We're talking about hysteria, how the play links to McCarthyism and comparing the film with the Inside No.9 episode, ‘The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge'. Plus Alice's horrifying theatre camp experience, and Daniel Day-Lewis' construction skills.Check out There's Not Always a Twist on Spotify.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Amadeus (1984 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2024 65:18


    Knock, knock, it's definitely not Salieri. This week Kim and Alice are taking a look at Pitch Perfect for the Classical era: Amadeus. Why did the film clean up at the Oscars that year? Where does the line between historical truth and allegory begin? And was Mozart the bad-boy version of Hans Zimmer or a divinely talented little nerd?Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith Nagle / Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Fainting Couch: Disney Movies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2024 40:51


    We're back lounging on the fainting couch and discussing Disney's contribution to the period drama world. Choose your fighter: Encanto, the well-researched and sensitive celebration of culture, or Mulan, a film with a dragon named after an American take-away dish.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith Nagle / Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Northanger Abbey (2007 TV Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 57:50


    Whew! Is it hot in here or are you a clergyman from Gloucester? This week Kim and Alice are barely keeping it together over the 2007 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel: Northanger Abbey. There's geeking out over the history of gothic literature and some sincere appreciation for wrist ruffs. What happens in Baaaaath, stays in Baaaaath, people!Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith Nagle / Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 54:11


    You already know it's the best Christmas Carol adaptation, but we're here with the facts to back it up. This week Kim and Alice cover The Muppet Christmas Carol; objectively Dickens' favourite version of his classic Victorian novel (probably). We learn about the real political and social forces behind the story, how the film triumphed despite a series of sad events during production and demand Ryan Gosling in a fat suit.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith Nagle / Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Fainting Couch: Lightning Mini - Getting to Know Kim and Alice

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023 6:52


    Who's seen a ghost? Who would kill a pheasant in self-defence? Plus smooch/marry/kill: the historical diseases edition. Get to know Kim and Alice in our lightning mini-episode.

    Anastasia (1997 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2023 74:00


    This week we're re-visiting Alice's youthful bat phase as we cover the animated classic, Anastasia. Russian history is a bummer, but this film is super fun; there's flirting on a boat, unhinged accent choices and we all find out that sorcerers don't react well to being fired.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith Nagle / Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Imitation Game (2014 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2023 66:19


    In this episode, Kim and Alice are discussing one of the least historically accurate, but most tear-inducing blockbusters: The Imitation Game. We're discussing dentures, Kim's love of montages and the real story of Alan Turing - a beautiful human being who sucked at crossword puzzles. This episode is brought to you by all-beef meatballs.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith Nagle / Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 66:53


    Kim and Alice interrupt their hamster funerals to bring you Bram Stoker's Dracula, the campy 90s classic with award-winning rat costumes. We're redefining ugly crying, discussing the frankly unreasonable number of nipples and Kim sounds off about Vlad the Impaler: the original Asian mum.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Kingdom (Series 1, 2019)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023 57:02


    It's Historical Horror Month at Fetch the Smelling Salts HQ and this week we're covering the first series of Joseon-era Korean zombie drama - Kingdom. Get ready our little blood ravioli as we eat the rich and explore some hat-based hierarchies.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Padmaavat (2018 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 77:12


    Indian history: it's full of stuff! And in the case of Padmaavat, it's full of incredible dance numbers, situationships and history's hottest battle. Kim and Alice try to sort the historical fact from the fiction, pay tribute to a bisexual icon and provide you with the world's worst fire-starting advice.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith Nagle / Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Gosford Park (2001 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2023 49:32


    Do you enjoy eating tiny spoonfuls of jam in the kitchen of a stately home? Are you unnerved by pheasants being murdered on a frankly alarming scale? Then allow us to introduce you to the under-appreciated, classic, murder-mystery; Gosford Park. Kim and Alice discuss the intricacies of 1930s upstairs / downstairs relationships and the layers of storylines in this precursor to Downtown Abbey.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith Nagle / Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Fainting Couch: What is a Period Drama?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 52:34


    Welcome, gentle listener, to The Fainting Couch. In this special episode, we take a break from covering a specific drama, and instead elegantly repose whilst we discuss a more general period drama talking point.In this episode, Kim and Alice take it back to basics and ask ‘What is a period drama?''Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Emily (2022 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2023 59:32


    Is it a mop? Is it a broom? No, it's Weightman in the corner of your room. This week Kim and Alice are continuing to share their love of all things Bronte with the historical fan service movie, Emily. Stop giving letters to your drunk brother and join us as we talk about historical maladies, the truly remarkable Bronte family and basic Branwell tattoos.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith Nagle / Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Wuthering Heights (1939 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2023 69:29


    It's an exciting one this week as Kim and Alice cover the drama, the passion, and of course, the harpsichord solos of Wuthering Heights. It might not be our ideal (all sheep) version but it's a classic for a reason, and that reason is: ruining your relationship expectations for at least a decade.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    A League of Their Own (1992 Movie)

    Play Episode Play 46 sec Highlight Listen Later Jul 20, 2023 57:24


    What up sportsball fans? This week Kim and Alice are covering alternative WW2 flick, A League of Their Own. We're off to Chicagoland to learn about wool costumes, real on-set injuries and do some light dunking on Tom Hanks.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Blackadder the Third (Series 3, 1987)

    Play Episode Play 60 sec Highlight Listen Later Jul 6, 2023 70:52


    In this episode, Kim and Alice take a look at everyone's favourite VHS in the family cabinet: Blackadder the Third. It's a delightful historical mishmash but one with some interesting tidbits for history nerds. And of course, we cover Hugh Laurie's controlled sexy flailing, turnip #lifegoals and whether Blackadder exists in the Bridgerton universe.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 112:16


    Join us as we re-write the 2022 film adaptation of Lady Chatterley's Lover (mostly adding biscuits and heat lamps) - a classic story of relationship miscommunication, miner strikes and mommy-girlfriends. Kim and Alice reconvene the Man-Butt Appreciation Society and discuss some bad women's anatomy in this infamous tale.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Ghost Bride (Season 1, 2020)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 132:07


    Grab your embroidery, it's time to party as we cover the 2020 mini-series ‘The Ghost Bride'. It's the Colonial Malacca drama that has it all; eyebrow wigs, ghosts on Segways and outfits to literally die for.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Catherine Called Birdy (2022 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2023 86:52


    Lock up your uncles, this week Kim and Alice are covering ‘Catherine Called Birdy'. Another example of a contemporary lens on a historical drama, we're covering what they got right (casting, historically accurate flatulence) and wrong (most other things) in Lena Dunham's adaptation of this medieval coming-of-age tale.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen HamiltonProducer: HelenHamilton

    Princess Mononoke (1997 Movie)

    Play Episode Play 40 sec Highlight Listen Later May 11, 2023 71:28


    It's all poppin' off (mostly heads) in our first animated period drama: Princess Mononoke. Kim and Alice discuss the darker output of studio Ghibli, how the production approached the depiction of an indigenous culture with scant historical references, and whether they'd spit tree bark into each others' mouths. This episode is brought to you by sake in a Friends mug and Ice Age 5.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Our Flag Means Death (Series 1, 2022)

    Play Episode Play 35 sec Highlight Listen Later Apr 26, 2023 76:45


    Arrrrrgh! It's a gear shift from the last episode, as Kim and Alice cover the sweet, funny and surprisingly historically accurate ‘Our Flag Means Death'. We're talking non-binary representation, the true history of the golden age of piracy, and bringing a grieving seagull to a cannonball fight.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    The Magdalene Sisters (2002 Movie) — ft. Dr Hugh Turpin

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2023 112:37


    Content Warning: In this episode we discuss 2002 movie The Magdalene Sisters, which features scenes of sexual violence, and physical / emotional abuse. We won't be going into the details, but we will be discussing historical instances of abuse in Irish institutions in general terms. On this episode, we're joined by our very first guest: the anthropologist, author and serial period drama extra, Dr Hugh Turpin. And he's joined us for a heavy one; 2002's The Magdalene Sisters. How did the release of the film fit in with the growing secularisation of Irish society? And what is the lingering influence of scandals such as Magdalene laundries on modern Irish Catholic identity?Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Raise the Red Lantern (1991 Movie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2023 91:49


    Bring out your flute, settle down for a foot massage and stay away from the rooftop murder hut; this week Alice and Kim are talking about Raise the Red Lantern. A perfect example of the tension between great storytelling and beautiful cinematography, and possibly the only film that is better watched with ad breaks.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen HamiltonProducer: Helen Hamilton

    Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2023 1:05


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