Shea Cinema: The Best Picture Project

In our first official episode, Sara and Dad go over the creation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, details of the first awards ceremony in 1929 (honoring the best in films from 1927 and 1928), and give an overview of the six films nominated for the top honor.  Subsequent episodes of Season One will cover each of these films in detail.The Movies:Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness, 19277th Heaven, 1927Wings, 1927Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, 1927The Crowd, 1928The Racket, 1928Books mentioned by Dad:Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears by Michael SchulmanThe Day the Laughter Stopped: The True Story of Fatty Arbuckle by David YallupWhere to find and watch Chang: https://milestonefilms.com/products/changFind us on Instagram! @sheacinema

This is our first official movie review episode! Sara and Dad conquer their chang-st and chang-xiety and get down to discussing the oldest of the movies on the list this season, Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness. Chang  was released on April 29, 1927, and rather defies definition. To be sure, a movie like this will never show up again on this podcast, no matter how many films we cover.Additional insights include a brief look at King Kong and Jurassic Park, talking animals, and an unexpected split thumb vote at the end.Where to find and watch Chang: https://milestonefilms.com/products/changFind us on Instagram! @sheacinema

This is our second official movie review episode! Sara and Dad watch and discuss the classic silent film, 7th Heaven. 7th Heaven was released on May 6, 1927, and was nominated (and won) for the most awards at the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929.Additional insights include a brief look at the Bing Crosby/Bob Hope Road Pictures, Sara getting emotional over the language "heard" in silent films, and our first effusive final review.This film is a MUST SEE!Find us on Instagram! @sheacinema

In our third official movie review episode Sara and Dad watch and analyze the winner of the first Academy Award for Outstanding Production, Wings. Released on August 12, 1927 (just a few months after7th Heaven), Wings astounded audiences with its stunning engineering effects and matter-of-fact look at the tragedies of war.All of the flying in the film is REAL (the actors are flying the planes--just like Tom Cruise!), and what quietly happens while the characters face death is quite real too. CONTENT WARNING: Sara and Dad talk about their own personal experiences of losing a loved one in combat. Find us on Instagram! @sheacinema

In our fourth review this season, Sara and Dad watch and analyze the winner of the first (and only) Academy Award for Best Unique and Artistic Picture,  Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans. Released on September 23, 1927, Sunrise divided critics and wooed audiences with its inventive camerawork and allegorical love story.What seems to be a standard "murder your wife in order to run away with your mistress" opening morphs into a feast for the eyes, and then holds you captive with an examination into the depths of the human soul.Extra components include some fascinating historical events that eventually relate to Dad personally (and Sara by two or three degrees of Kevin Bacon, hold the bacon).Find us on Instagram! @sheacinemaEmail us rants, raves, reviews: sheacinema@gmail.com

In our fifth review this season, Sara and Dad watch and analyze the last of the three nominees for the Academy Award for Best Unique and Artistic Picture, The Crowd. Released on February 28, 1928, The Crowd blends the emotional ups and downs of married life with interesting and artistic camera work that pulls even further at the heartstrings.For the first time ever, this episode features a VERY SPECIAL GUEST who weighs in on the film. Let us know what you think about this added feature. Should we have this guest back? Should we have more guests in the future?Find us on Instagram! @sheacinemaEmail us rants, raves, reviews: sheacinema@gmail.com

In our sixth and final review this season, Sara and Dad watch and analyze the "newest" of the nominees, The Racket. Released on November 1, 1928, The Racket was thought lost forever, and it's still not readily available online.This is a curious "gangster" romp based on a Broadway play. Dad and Sara speculate on its influence on the many famous gangster movies that follow over the decades.Find us on Instagram! @sheacinemaEmail us rants, raves, reviews: sheacinema@gmail.com

Join Sara and Dad as they recap Season One! Enjoy bonus footage, musical interludes, and, of course, personal rankings of the six films from the 1st Academy Awards  nominated for Best Picture (or, Outstanding Picture and Best Unique and Artistic Picture). Rankings may even reveal a shock or two!

In our Season 2 Premiere episode Sara and Dad cover the 2nd Academy Awards ceremony (honoring the best in films between August 1, 1928 and July 31, 1929), and give an overview of the five films nominated for the top honor.  We also discuss the (somewhat painful) transition from silent film to this newfangled sound business, and perhaps reveal a little award chaos behind the scenes.The Movies:The Patriot, 1928In Old Arizona,  1928The Broadway Melody, 1929Alibi, 1929The Hollywood Revue of 1929, 1929Books mentioned by Dad:Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears (2023) by Michael SchulmanThe Shattered Silents: How the Talkies Came to Stay (1978) by Alexander WalkerHollywood Anecdotes (1987) by Paul F. Boller, Jr. and Ronald L. DavisFind us on Instagram! @sheacinemaEmail us rants, raves, reviews: sheacinema@gmail.com

In our first review in this, our second season, Sara and Dad find themselves in quite a conundrum, because...well...We attempt to discuss The Patriot, which was released on August 17, 1928. The problem? This movie is unwatchable...because it doesn't exist. It is a lost film.  A historical drama (and the last silent film to be nominated for Best Picture until The Artist), The Patriot documents the final days of the "Mad Tsar" Paul I.We rely on some other examinations of the film by other podcasts, and also spend some time exploring Prohibition, Schrodinger's cat, and Batman Returns.Find us on Instagram! @sheacinemaEmail us rants, raves, reviews: sheacinema@gmail.com

In our second review this season, we cover In Old Arizona, which was released on Christmas Day in 1928.The first talkie filmed out doors, this Western was considered for 5 out of 7 possible Academy Awards.We have some fun sports history coverage as well!Find us on Instagram! @sheacinemaEmail us rants, raves, reviews: sheacinema@gmail.com

It's our highly anticipated coverage of the allegedly most hated Best Picture Oscar winner...The Broadway Melody, which was released on February 1, 1929.This all talking, all singing, all dancing production was so successful in its day that it inspired studios to scramble to cash on its fame by producing 75 musicals within the following  year. Yes, SEVENTY-FIVE. How can something so controversial with modern audiences have pulled that off? Listen in to find out! We have some fun sports history coverage as well!Email us rants, raves, reviews: sheacinema@gmail.com

We looked for every excuse in the book while watching this fourth movie nominated for the 2nd Academy Award for Best Picture...This week we are covering Roland West's Alibi, which was released on April 20, 1929.This gangster/crime drama has something of an identity crisis as it features three musical numbers! We also discuss ASMR, science galore, mining and minerals, some Frankenstein-like electricity, and, as always, sports history trivia! Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram: @sheacinema

This is it, our last review of Season Two! While reviewing a (Hollywood) revue, Sara and Dad realized they don't agree on what's good and what's bad, but they also admit how astounded they are that this movie is absolutely NOT the worst choice this season. The Hollywood Revue stars (nearly) everyone under contract to MGM, including appearances by fabled stars Joan Crawford and Jack Benny. And what's that? Our first film with intact (two-tone) color sequences, AND the birth of the song "Singing in the Rain?! This is a must-listen, folks! This is our last stop before our Season Two Finale.Plus, as always, sports history trivia (maybe some regular history, too) and release date headlines.Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram: @sheacinema

This is our Season Two finale, closing out our examination of the films nominated for Outstanding Picture at the Second Academy Awards.Join us as we do a deep dive into the transition to sound in the film industry – there are lots of challenges and successes during this tumultuous time! Plus, our personal rankings, and Oscar Bridesmaids.Link to beginning of LA Times Annual Preview (requires subscription to access):https://latimes.newspapers.com/image/385536795/?clipping_id=135350896Books mentioned by Dad:Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears by Michael SchulmanBringing Up Oscar: The History of the Men and Women Who Founded the Academy by Debra Ann PawlakCaptain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies by Lara GabriellePlease leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram: @sheacinema

Welcome to our Season 3 Premiere! Sara and Dad cover the 3rd Academy Awards ceremony (honoring the best in films between August 1, 1929 and July 31, 30). This awards was held only seven months after the 2nd awards. Movies during this era are considered “Pre-Code,” so we delve a bit into the Hays Production Code and the upcoming censorship challenges faced by filmmakers. Somehow we manage to discuss whether or not kissing on screen is indecent, and the guidelines of ancient Greek theater. Of course, we give an overview of the five films nominated for the top honor, and speculate on some of the controversial subjects covered in the upcoming films.The Movies:Disraeli (1929)The Love Parade (1929)All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)The Divorcee (1929)The Big HousePlease leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

This is our first film review for Season 3, covering Disraeli, which was released on November 1, 1929. The movie follows English Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli as he navigates the world of espionage (yes, spies!), manipulates information, and races against time to secure the purchase of the Suez Canal. George Arliss stars as Disraeli, and went on to earn the Academy Award for Best Actor. We attempt to look into Billboard charts and bestseller lists...but much to our chagrin, those stats aren't quite ready for primetime...they don't fully exist in our current timeline in November, 1929. We also cover SIX MONTHS of world history, including the Stock Market Crash, and more accolades for Babe Ruth. Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

In our second film review for Season 3, we cover The Love Parade, which was released on November 19, 1929. The light-hearted musical received six nominations, and perfectly engenders all of the quips and titillations of a pre-code film, while exposing some of the pratfalls of traditional gender roles. Do you like racy innuendo and lacy, low-cut gowns? Then this film is for you! Our history lesson this week includes a deep dive into a defunct NFL team, as well as breakthroughs in TV technology.Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

This is a tough one. We cover Lewis Milestone's All Quiet on the Western Front, released on April 21, 1930. This is an adaptation of the critically acclaimed (and highly controversial) WWI novel. This is our first film that we are intimately familiar with: Sara has seen it dozens of times. That being said, because Sara lost her brother (and, therefore, Dad his son) in the Iraq war, this review will sound a little different. Fair warning: the subject matter and film are very intense, and we do get personal. Other excellent podcasts that cover All Quiet on the Western Front are History in Film, Best Picture Cast and The Best Pictures Podcast. Check them out, too!On the lighter side, we do cover five months of history, with several stop-offs with the births of some of our favorite actors. Books mentioned by Dad:The New Biographical Dictionary of Film by David ThomsonCinema: The First Hundred Years by David ShipmanHistory Goes to the Movies: A Viewer's Guide to the Best (and Some of the Worst) Historical Films Ever Made by Joseph RoquemorePlease leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinemaPoem Sara reads: Dulce et Decorum est                     by Wilfred OwenBent double, like old beggars under sacksKnock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,And towards our distant rest began to trudge.Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame, all blind;Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hootsOf gas-shells dropping softly behind.Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumblingFitting the clumsy helmets just in time,But someone still was yelling out and stumblingAnd flound'ring like a man in fire or limeDim through the misty panes and thick green light,As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.In all my dreams before my helpless sightHe plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.If in some smothering dreams, you too could paceBehind the wagon that we flung him in,And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin,If you could hear, at every jolt, the bloodCome gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,Obscene as cancer,Bitter as the cudOf vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,–My friend, you would not tell with such high zestTo children ardent for some desperate glory,The old Lie: Dulce et decorum estPro patria mori.

In our fifth film review for Season 3, we cover The Divorcee, which was released on April 30, 1930. Based on the shocking novel Ex-Wife, this film is the epitome of pre-code indulgence. Infidelity, sexual escapades, double-standards, and (perhaps?) sexual liberation.  Norma Shearer won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Jerry.After a brief rundown of sexual politics and divorce law of the 1920s and 30s, we also have some fun baseball history trivia to indulge in!Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

In our final film review for Season 3, we  explore The Big House, a stark look inside an overcrowded prison. With an Oscar-nominated performance by Wallace Beery as Butch, this movie explores friendship, betrayal, and what happens when thousands of men are pushed to the breaking point while serving their sentences for various crimes.Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

In this episode we wrap up the 3rd Academy Awards, giving a quick rundown of all 5 films nominated for the top award, Outstanding Production.In addition to revisiting some of the historical context of the time, Sara provides insight into the novel Ex-Wife, on which nominee The Divorcee was based. We give our personal favorites and personal worsts, which might surprise you considering our effusive praise of Oscar winner All Quiet on the Western Front. And finally, we view the nominees as Oscar Bridesmaids, and bestow runner-up awards. You don't want to miss it!Book mentioned by Dad:Past Imperfect: History According to the Movies, editor Mark Carnes (a Society of American Historians book)Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

Welcome to our Season 4 Premiere! Sara and Dad cover the 4th Academy Awards ceremony (honoring the best in films between August 1, 1930 and July 31, 1931).  Although the eligibility timeline covers 12 months, all five nominees are from the first half of 1931, and we speculate on some iconic films that were skipped over. Indeed, we discuss the possibility of doing some bonus episodes this season in order to acknowledge these movies that we wouldn't otherwise have an opportunity to discuss. What do you think? Is this a good idea?Our day-of-(awards show)-history gives an interesting insight into global politics and mounting tensions in the Pacific (a full decade before the US is pulled into WWII). Of course, we give an overview of the five films nominated for the top honor, and accessibility issues (some severe) for several of them.The Movies:Cimarron (1931)East Lynne (1931)The Front Page (1931)Skippy (1931)Trader Horn (1931)Books mentioned by Dad:Seventy Years of the Oscars by Robert OsborneJames Cagney: A Celebration by Richard SchickelPlease leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

In our first film review for Season 4, we take a look at Outstanding Production winner Cimarron, based on Edna Ferber's best-selling novel. For modern audiences, this polarizing film often jockeys for position with other notorious Best Oscar winner The Broadway Melody as potentially the worst awarded movie. What do Sara and Dad think? You'll have to listen to find out!Our history timeline introduces a new episode feature: Top Song on the day of the film's release. We also have a special announcement at the end of the episode about what is coming next week: a special surprise!Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

That's right! Today we have a special BONUS episode, covering Tod Browning's Dracula. This horror classic actually had its general release on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1931…93 years ago today! It fits right in with our regular Oscar timeline, but this movie is different…it wasn't nominated for Outstanding Production, and, in fact, wasn't nominated for any Academy Awards at all. So why are we discussing it? Because Dracula, made at the same time as our nominees this season, has managed to outshine all of them in the annals of history, and has a staying power in our cultural consciousness that defies subjective awards shows.We had intended this to be a “mini-episode”--but the movie is so good it blossomed into a regular “full-length” episode. We have all of our usuals: history timeline, top song of the day, day-of headlines, plot examination, personal reactions, and contemporary and modern reviews (shout out to Roger Ebert). We also have a special guest star: Sara's daughter Keely is back to offer her thoughts–who knew you wanted to know what an 11-year-old thinks about a super old movie? (And you do, her insights might be rather unexpected.)Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

In our second film review for Season 4, we take a look at Outstanding Production nominee East Lynne, based on Ellen Wood's best-selling 1861 novel. This is nearly a lost film, since the single copy in existence is only available for viewing via appointment at UCLA. We had to resort to watching a low-quality pirated version on YouTube. You're going to have to listen to find out what we think!Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

It's another (Lewis) Milestone milestone film! In this episode we take a look at Outstanding Production nominee The Front Page, which was famously adapted into the screwball comedy classic His Girl Friday. Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

Today we are covering Skippy, which was adapted from a hugely popular comic strip. This is our first "kids' movie," and features Jackie Cooper in the title role. His performance in this film (at nine years old) garnered him a nomination for Best Actor. What might seem like a frivolous premise actually carries some significant emotional weight. Unexpected connections we make during our examination of this Outstanding Production nominee:Sir Lawrence OlivierTreasure IslandSupermanBatmanStar Trekwomen in baseballsongs referencing drug use/addictionBut the most important question we explore is...Does Skippy deserve to be on THE LIST?Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

That's right! Today we have ANOTHER special BONUS episode, covering William Wellman's The Public Enemy. This "gangster" classic was released on April 23, 1931, so  it fits right in with our regular Oscar timeline, but this movie wasn't nominated for Outstanding Production (but it was nominated for Best Original Story--although it didn't win).  So why are we discussing it? Because, once again, a film made at the same time as our nominees this season has managed to grapple its way into our collective consciousness, especially regarding criminals.This is a “full-length” episode. We still have: history timeline, top song of the day, day-of headlines, plot examination, personal reactions, and contemporary and modern reviews. Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

After a quick one week hiatus, we are back with our final review of the season, covering the controversial film Trader Horn.The first non-documentary movie filmed on location in Africa, Trader Horn is based on the memoirs of Aloysius Horn. While there are many amazing real sequences featuring the diverse wildlife to be found in Africa, most of the plot is contrived and over-the-top (read: absolutely fictional). As always, we follow our history context timeline, including top song of the day, and day-of headlines. Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

In this episode we wrap up the 4th Academy Awards, giving a quick rundown of all 5 films nominated for the top award, Outstanding Production. Including our two bonus films, we give our personal favorites and personal worsts. And finally, we view the nominees as Oscar Bridesmaids, and bestow runner-up awards. You don't want to miss it!Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

Welcome to our Season 5 Premiere! Sara and Dad cover the 5th Academy Awards ceremony (honoring the best in films - screened in Los Angeles -  between August 1, 1931 and July 31, 1932).  We discuss (again) the context of these films being made during the pre-code era, and what the implications are for filmmaking moving forward. This season ups the ante with eight nominees instead of five, and we consider the possibilities of doing some more bonus episodes (movies that were not nominated for Outstanding Production but still fall on our historical timeline). Oddly enough, this season has some funky components to the competition--including a tie for Best Actor, and a director with two Best Picture nominees.Of course, we give an overview of the eight films nominated for the top honor, and speculate on our interests.The Movies:The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)Bad Girl (1931)Five Star Final (1931)The Champ (1931)Arrowsmith (1931)Shanghai Express (1932)One Hour With You (1932)Grand Hotel (1932)Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

In our first film review for the season, we cover The Smiling Lieutenant, another Ernst Lubitsch musical comedy. Starring Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert, and newcomer Miriam Hopkins, this jaunty, suggestive film focuses on a love triangle between a lieutenant, his violin virtuoso girlfriend, and a naïve princess. There is lots of innuendo, lots of sexual banter, and ridiculous songs comparing sex to jazz and, yes, breakfast foods.We cover several months on our history timeline, top song of the day, and, as much baseball as we can manage.Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

Here is our second film review for the season! Frank Borzage, who won Best Director at the first Academy Awards for Seventh Heaven, is back, with ANOTHER win for Best Director of this film, Bad Girl. Newcomer James Dunn dominates the screen in this Academy Award-winning adaptation of the novel of the same name. That's right, this pre-code gem won two out of three nominations, losing out only on Outstanding Production. We try to figure out why. Give a listen as we dive into sexual harassment, walks of shame, marriage, and tenement living during the Great Depression.Of course we have our history timeline, top song of the day, and, as always, baseball!Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

THIS IS OUR FORTIETH EPISODE!!This third film review of the season covers Five Star Final, starring Edward G. Robinson in a non-gangster role. This tale of yellow journalism gone horribly wrong showcases the horrifying consequences when a newspaper decides  to resurrect a long-forgotten murder case, and then does the unthinkable in order to make it happen. This screenplay has several literary allusions, and a stellar cast. Of course we have our history timeline, top song of the day, and, as always, baseball!Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

That's right! It's a BONUS EPISODE, and today we are covering 1931's Frankenstein.  Everyone thinks they know this classic monster movie whether they've seen it or not, and we take a deep dive as it falls right on our regular timeline. We covered Dracula last season, and we thought it would be unforgivable if we didn't cover this Universal Pictures horror film too.  Joining us again for our final thoughts is Kid Keely, weighing in with her own fantastic insights. Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

Today we go over director Josef von Sternberg's Shanghai Express, starring Marlene Dietrich, Clive Brook, Anna May Wong, and Werner Oland. Based on a real-life incident of train passengers taken hostage in China, the story vacillates between a dramatic action film and a  searing love story. Rife with plenty of intrigue (prostitution, drug smuggling, civil war, rape, murder), Shanghai Express is a feast for the eyes. It also grapples with racial tension/prejudice, some of it unintentional, as Werner Oland, a Swedish actor, plays a half-Chinese villain.Our history timeline features a bizarre and unsettling platonic love triangle between the Pope, Gandhi, and Mussolini, but top song of the day is an absolute bop!Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

Welcome to our episode on One Hour With You,  our fourth Ernst Lubitsch film for the project, and our THIRD Lubitsch musical...which also means our third Maurice Chevalier vehicle. Chevalier is joined once again by Jeanette MacDonald. How is this film any different from the others we have reviewed? Well, this one doesn't feature fantasy royalty, and is grounded quite firmly in hoity-toity French upper-crust 1930s society.  It's a frivolous little romp through the ups and downs of one happily married couple as they grapple with infidelity. As always we have our history timeline and top song of the day!Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

This is our last film review of the season, and we cover Outstanding Production winner, Grand Hotel. This movie is unique in that, while it did win the top prize at the 5th Academy Awards, it did not receive a nomination in any other category, a feat that has never been repeated. This is our most star-studded cast to date,  featuring Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, John AND Lionel Barrymore, Wallace Beery, and Lewis Stone. Oh, and it also  features an adorable dog named Adolphus. Tune in to find out how Grand Hotel might have a connection to outer space, a deep dive into the Lindbergh kidnapping, and top song of the day.Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

In this episode we wrap up the 5th Academy Awards, giving a quick rundown of all 8 films nominated for the top award, Outstanding Production.Walt Disney's Parade of the Award Nominees short:https://youtu.be/6PoSjUf1j7k?si=cWueX5ngKIiGbW58Including our bonus film, we give our personal favorites and personal worsts. We also view the nominees as Oscar Bridesmaids, and bestow runner-up awards. Alternate Ending review of Grand Hotel:https://www.alternateending.com/2015/05/people-come-people-go-nothing-ever-happens.htmlAdditional insights:Patterns we noticed this seasonFavorite Top Song of the DayMovie Event Statistics over 5 Academy Awards (weddings, deaths, etc.)Bimbo AwardSara asks Dad questions to reflect on relating to doing this projectYou don't want to miss it!Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

In our fifth regular film review of the season, we cover director John Ford's Arrowsmith, adapted from Sinclair Lewis's Pulitzer Prize winning novel. No, this is not the origin story of a 20th Century rock band, but it is the story of a young doctor who is determined to follow the scientific method no matter the cost. The story also has some unsettling implications for us now in the 21st century, as it grapples with an outbreak of plague and the uncertainty of using an untested vaccine. The film stars Ronald Colman and Helen Hayes.Of course we have our history timeline (it takes a dark turn in this episode), and top song of the day!Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

Welcome to our Season 6 Premiere! We took a two-month break, and we never want to be away for that long again! (Please scroll to the bottom for chapter timestamps.)Sara and Dad cover the 6th Academy Awards ceremony. This is the longest eligibility period to date: honoring the best in films released in the United States between August 1, 1932 and December 31, 1933. We discuss the context of these films being made during the pre-code era, and what the implications are for filmmaking moving forward. (Frank Capra has a very interesting influence on the structure of the Academy and voting moving forward.)Last season we had eight nominees for Outstanding Production. This season we have even MORE with ten nominees. In addition, we are also going to be covering a record number of bonus episodes (movies that were not nominated for Outstanding Production but still fall on our historical timeline). Of course, we give an overview of the ten films nominated for the top honor, and speculate on our interests.The Movies:Smilin' Through  (1932) I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)A Farewell to Arms (1932)Cavalcade* (1933)She Done Him Wrong (1933)State Fair (1933)42nd Street (1933)Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)Lady for a Day (1933)The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)Little Women (1933)Books mentioned by Dad:Capra, Frank. The Name Above the Title: An Autobiography. MacMillan, 1971.Schulman, Michael. Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears. HarperCollins, 2023Chapters00:00 Introduction to Shea Cinema and the Oscars02:23 The Sixth Academy Awards Overview08:02 Will Rogers, Frank Capra, and the Ceremony18:34 Category Capers and Changes in the Academy28:21 Exploring the Nominees: Smilin' Through to Little Women1:15:24 Dreading/Looking Forward To1:18:16 Historical Context, the Pre-Code Era, the Impact of the Hays Code, and Labor Strikes1:29:27 Looking Ahead: Bonus Episodes and Future DiscussionsAdditionally, Sara created Top-Song-of-the-Day Playlists for each season on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@SheaCinema/playlistsPlease leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

Welcome to our first film review of the season! We are kicking off with a special BONUS EPISODE! And what better super surprise than the very first zombie story ever told on celluloid! This obscure movie stars Bela Lugosi fresh off his success as Dracula, and offers up a zombie origin unfamiliar to the average movie-lover (we've got Haitian voodoo and mind-control to contend with).We explore its historical context, cultural significance, and the evolution of zombie films. Of course, we discuss the film's plot, character dynamics, and critical reception, while also reflecting on its impact on modern horror cinema. The conversation highlights the film's shortcomings and its role as a cultural touchstone, ultimately leading to a nuanced discussion about gender representation and the legacy of horror films. We also welcome Andrew Corns from The Revisionist's Almanac to our final insights, who offers an additional critique of this bizarre tale.Our history timeline is full of our usual touchstones: headlines, top song of the day, and a deeper than usual examination at an often-overlooked tragedy in Washington D.C.  Article Link: The Tragic, Forgotten History of ZombiesPlease leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

This is our 50th episode!For our second review of the season, we have another bonus episode! We are covering The Most Dangerous Game, based on a 1924 short story by Richard Connell. This film was made by the same crew who made King Kong, even filming on the same sets, and using several of the same actors. We also welcome guest (and family member) Jerry Shea, a retired English teacher who used the short story and movie in his classroom.Our history timeline includes some fun baseball stats, as well as a look at the very first Venice International Film Festival.Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

For our second regular nomination review of the season, we are excited to welcome Kieran B. from Best Picture Cast as our first official guest host! Kieran, Dad and Sara take a deep dive into this classic Warner Brothers prison flick, making connections to Les Misérables, Ben Hur, The Shawshank Redemption (of course), and even Stranger Things.As a special treat, our history timeline includes a game-by-game look at the 1932 World Series, which features some surprises of its own.Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

This is our third bonus episode and our fifth review of the season! We are covering one of Dad's childhood favorites: Cecil B. DeMille's notorious tale of forbidden love and Roman Empire decadence, The Sign of the Cross. With scandalous scenes such as the Dance of the Naked Moon and an over-the-top extravaganza in the Roman Colosseum (naked women! elephants trampling gladiators! lions mauling Christian traitors!), Sara and Dad discuss whether this movie is a hidden treasure or a guilty pleasure.PLUS, our history timeline includes a perplexing moment where Albert Einstein is...a villain? Books mentioned by Dad:Louvish,  Simon. Cecil B. DeMille and the Golden Calf. Faber & Faber, 2007.Quirk, Lawrence. The Films of Fredric March. Citadel Press, 1971.Boller, Paul. Hollywood Anecdotes. William Morrow & Company, 1987.Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

WE ARE BACK!In our sixth review of the season, we are back on track with an actual Outstanding Production nomination. We dive into A Farewell to Arms, based on Ernest Hemingway's 1929 novel (which supposedly had 47 different endings!)We discuss the film's historical context, character dynamics, the challenges of censorship and adaptation, and the themes of love and war. Did you know Hemingway had a tiny feud with Mussolini? We also speculate that this might be the most sexually explicit film we've watched so far...As always, we have our history timeline, top song of the day, and perhaps a few disagreements along the way.Books mentioned by Dad:Boller, Paul. Hollywood Anecdotes. William Morrow & Company, 1987.McKuen, Rod. Stanyan Street & Other Sorrows. Random House, 1966.Thomson, David. The New Biographical Dictionary of Film. Penguin Random House, 2004.Wilson, Edmund. “Ernest Hemingway: Bourdon Gauge of Morale.” Edmund Wilson: Literary Essays and Reviews of the 1920s & 30s, edited by Lewis M. Dabney, Library of America, 2007.Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

(Episode recorded October 19, 2024)It's been three months since our last episode, but it's been even longer since we recorded this one!In our seventh review of the season, we are exploring the actual winner of the Oscar for Outstanding Production at the Sixth Academy Awards, Frank Lloyd's Cavalcade, based on Noel Coward's play.This smash hit was nominated for four Oscars, and won three. The film covers 30 years, following two British families starting from the Boer War, through several other massive historical events, all the way into the current era of the 1930s. We discuss the film's historical context, character dynamics (or lack thereof), the challenges of censorship and adaptation (the Hays office took special exception to the language in the film), and the themes of love, war, and loss. Oh yeah, and Sara keeps referencing Forrest Gump.As always, we have our history timeline, top song of the day, and an interesting legal follow-up to I am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang.Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

(Episode recorded October 25, 2024)It's our eighth review of the season, but only our fifth nominee for Outstanding Production at the Sixth Academy Awards. In fact, She Done Him Wrong is the shortest film nominated for the top prize...and the top prize was it's only nomination. The film was adapted from the successful 1928 Broadway play Diamond Lil, penned by and starring Mae West. Despite it's success on the stage, the play was actually banned, which led to multiple issues once production on the film began. Fun fact: this is our first official encounter with Cary Grant for this project!Our song of the day is a surprise treat, and our history timeline includes veering off into a 1933 true crime segment...related to the death of Knute Rockne?Books mentioned by Dad:Boller, Paul. Hollywood Anecdotes. William Morrow & Company, 1987.Thomson, David. The New Biographical Dictionary of Film. Penguin Random House, 2004.Please leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema