The Matt & Matt TCM Challenge

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Each month, we challenge each other to watch a classic film and then discuss if it stood the test of time and if it is worth a revisit with modern eyes. Please join us as two pals chat about our shared love of the golden age of Hollywood.

Matt & Matt


    • May 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 13m AVG DURATION
    • 49 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Matt & Matt TCM Challenge

    E48 - Paris, Texas (1984)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 79:04


    So, is this the best film we've covered?

    E47 - Some Like It Hot (1959)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 79:51


    Time for another biggie. Movies like this can be kind of risky. How well does this stand the test of time and with a modern lenses? Tune in and find out!

    E46 - Bullitt (1968)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 76:15


    It's like, how much more cool could this be? And the answer is none. None more cool.

    E45 - Born Yesterday (1950)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 63:26


    Spoiler alert... we were really happy we came upon this film. Loads of character, comedy and substantially more substance tot his than you might immediately assume. Give it a listen!

    E44 - Top Hat (1935)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 57:08


    We return this month to the timeless Astaire/Rogers filmography. This is certainly a massively popular classic, but is it actually timeless? Does the storyline stand the test of time? The chemistry? The outrageous gay coding?

    E43 - The Bishop's Wife (1947)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2024 67:32


    Be good for goodness sake... or else Angelic Cary Grant will come down and take your wife.

    E42 - Air Force (1943)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2024 59:24


    Is there much to talk about for a straight up propaganda film? Turns out... not so much...

    E41 - The Seventh Victim (1943)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 64:37


    Tis the season. Spooky season of course. Wow, is this movie rather shocking. I don't think we were prepared for what this 1943 flick had in store. Flawed? Heck yeah. But worth for few minutes to watch? Tune in and find out.

    E40 - The Parallax View (1974)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 71:05


    Once again, TCM is the greatest channel on television. The balls to play this flick in the politics themed evening, and after the recent news... Good for them.

    E39 - To Catch A Thief (1955)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 60:05


    There are three main characters here... Cary Grant, Grace Kelly and the South of France. Each more beautiful than the last.

    E38 - Murder Most Foul (1964)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 54:32


    Murder She Wrote. The Thin Man. Columbo. Monk. Where does this version of Miss Marple fit into the pantheon of quirky detectives? Tune in and find out.

    E37 - M (1931)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 66:57


    How can a 93 year old movie feel so modern?

    E36 - The Fisher King (1991)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 71:22


    A restrained Terry Gilliam, an unleashed Robin Williams, a magnetic Mercedes Ruehl, and a stunning Michael Jeter. What more could you want?

    E35 - Annie Hall (1977)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2024 60:33


    Good movie, but boy oh boy it is hard to talk about. There is no plot to speak of and just tons of fun individual things to cover... and the elephant in the room... A fun messy episode.

    E34 - Stakeout On Dope Street (1958)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2024 64:04


    Antifreeze; Arpon; Aunt Hazel; Avocado; Basketball; Beyonce; Big Bag;Big Harry; Bird; Black Bitch; Black Goat; Black Olives; Bombs Away; Bozo; Bubble Gum; Burrito; Butter; Caballo; Caballo Negro; Caca; Café; Cajeta; Capital H; Cardio (white heroin); Carga; Caro; Cement; Certificada (pure heroin); Chapopote; Charlie; Charlie Horse; Chavo; Cheese; Chicle; Chiclosa; China; China Blanca (white heroin); China Cat; China White; Chinese Buffet (white heroin); Chinese Food; Chinese Red; Chip; Chiva; Chiva Blanca; Chiva Loca (heroin mixed with fentanyl); Chiva Negra; Chivones; Chocolate; Chocolate Balls; Chocolate Shake; Choko; Chorizo; Churro Negro; Chutazo; Coco; Coffee; Cohete; Comida; Crown Crap; Curley Hair; Dark; Dark Girl; Dark Kind; Dead on Arrival (DOA); Diesel; Dirt; Dog Food; Doggie; Doojee; Dope; Dorado; Down; Downtown; Dragon; Dreck; Dynamite; Dyno; El Diablo; Engines; Enrique Grande; Esquina; Esquinilla; Fairy Dust; Flea Powder; Food (white heroin); Foolish Powder; Galloping Horse; Gamot; Gato; George Smack; Girl; Globo (balloon of heroin); Goat; Golden Girl; Good and Plenty; Good H; Goofball (heroin mixed with methamphetamine); Goma; Gorda; Gras; Grasin; Gravy; Gum; H; H-Caps; Hairy; Hard Candy; Hard One; Harry; Hats; Hazel; Heaven Dust; Heavy; Helen; Helicopter; Hell Dust; Henry; Hercules; Hero; Him; Hombre; Horse; Hot Dope; Huera; Hummers; Jojee; Joy Flakes; Joy Powder; Junk; Kabayo; Karachi; Karate; King's Tickets; La Tierra; Lemonade; Lenta; Lifesaver; Manteca; Marias; Marrion; Mayo; Mazpan; Meal; Menthol; Mexican Brown; Mexican Food (black tar heroin); Mexican Horse; Mexican Mud; Mexican Treat; Modelo Negra; Mojo; Mole; Mongega; Morena; Morenita; Mortal Combat; Motors; Mud; Mujer; Murcielago; Muzzle; Nanoo; Negra; Negra Tomasa; Negrita; Nice and Easy; Night; Noise; Obama; Old Steve; Pants; Patty; Peg; P-Funk; Piezas; Plata; Poison; Polvo; Polvo de Alegria; Polvo de Estrellas; Polvo Feliz; Poppy; Powder; Prostituta Negra; Puppy; Pure; Rambo; Raw (uncut heroin); Red Chicken; Red Eagle; Reindeer Dust; Roofing Tar; Ruby; Sack; Salt; Sand; Scag; Scat; Schmeck; Scramble (uncut heroin); Sheep; Shirts; Shoes; Skag; Skunk; Slime; Smack; Smeck; Snickers; Soda; Speedball (heroin mixed with cocaine); Spider Blue; Sticky Kind; Stufa; Sugar; Sweet Jesus; Tan; Tar; Tecata; Thunder; Tires; Tomasa; Tootsie Roll; Tragic Magic; Trees; Turtle; Vidrio; Weights; Whiskey; White; White Boy; White Girl; White Junk; White Lady; White Nurse; White Shirt; White Stuff; Wings; Witch; Witch Hazel; Zapapote

    E33 - The Lady Vanishes (1938)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 81:04


    It is so cool to watch a movie you know is good and not have a single spoiler with it. Always a good experience. Also, we're experimenting with awful AI thumb nails. Nailed it.

    E32 - Insomnia (1997)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2024 70:13


    Every so slightly late on this release but we're still here and kicking. This was another example of a solid moving being remade. It is a really cool compare and contrast exercise.

    E31 - Network (1976)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2023 79:45


    Monologue after monologue in this one. And that is by no means a complaint. Each one tops the last. This is one of the funnier (and scarier) films we covered on this show. No way we do it justice.

    E30 - Russian Roulette (1975)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 66:59


    Are we sure this wasn't a Canadian made for TV movie?

    E29 - Soylent Green (1973)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2023 88:56


    Is this spooky enough for the season? I don't know. Blame one of the Matts.

    E28 - The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck, or Dance of the Vampires (1967)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 67:33


    I used up all my characters on the title.

    E27 - The Maltese Falcon (1941)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 84:53


    We sure are hitting a lot of classics recently.

    E26 - Double Indemnity (1944)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2023 97:24


    Best. Movie. Ever.

    E25 - Sylvia Scarlett (1935)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 67:11


    We celebrate Pride Month with a rather progressive film for 1935. Ahead of its time? Yes! Actually a good movie? Well... tune in to find out.

    E24 - Stalker (1979)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2023 76:46


    This is certainly a heavy one! So much going on, but at the same time, not so much. I think we understand good chunks, but at the same time, not so much. Tough Russian science fiction does make for some fun chats. Sorry again for the audio being less than perfect.

    E23 - The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2023 80:22


    Stone cold classic. Need we say more?

    E22 - Forbidden Planet (1956)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2023 64:22


    It's Morbin time! *oopsie with the audio this week. It'll be fixed in the next release*

    E21 - 10 (1979)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 73:42


    It just doesn't feel like they make movies like this anymore. It is a chill fest movie made for adults. I have to be honest, it felt really weird reviewing a movie with so many boobies.

    E20 - The Kennel Murder Case (1933)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2023 56:39


    We can't be more excited to review our first Nick Charles.... err, no... correction... Philo Vance film. The Kennel Murder Case. We rather adore murder mysteries and this is one of the primordial offerings. There is so much to enjoy here, but falls just sort because right around the corner was the smash Thin Man films. The comparisons make for a fun discussion.

    E19 - Seven Days in May (1964)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2022 102:51


    Buckle up folks, you're in for a LOT of gushing here. This movie is a stone cold classic from an all too overlooked master... John Frankenheimer. There are some real titans involved with this movie including Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March, Ava Gardner, Rod Serling and throw Jerry Goldsmith in there for good measure. We touch on all that and more. This flick is tight and every bite as relevant now as it was in 1964. tcmchallenge@gmail.com

    E18 - The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 70:49


    This is another one of those episodes were we selected an iconic movie, but try to assess if it really deserves that status. Did it stand the test of time? I'm certainly willing to say it is one of the cooler and/or sexier movies we've taken on so far. Let us know what you think. As a bonus, we try to address who is the hidden patron saint(s) of the TCM Challenge. tcmchallenge@gmail.com

    E17 - Curse of the Demon (1957)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 67:18


    This could be another perfect example of the goal of this podcast. We were vaguely aware of this film existing, but we had completely incorrect assumptions about it. Diving in with this format showed how awesome and unexpected this experience ended up being. This was a fun one. Go team Karswell.

    E16 - Follow The Fleet (1936)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2022 58:59


    We were certainly overdue for a musical on the show. We finally broke that streak with a couple legends in Astaire and Rogers. I can say all the numbers were certainly memorable... for one reason or another. Be sure to stick around for the controversial movie selection for next month!

    E15 - Wait Until Dark (1967)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2022 83:22


    We keep checking off some biggies on this show. This is certainly up there. Wait Until Dark is heavily represented in best of lists out there. One of the scariest movies ever. One of the most suspenseful. And so on. Does it deserve it? Does it stand the test of time? Tune in and find out. Spoilers... it does.

    E14 - Lolita (1962)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2022 102:11


    While this might not be the highest profile movie we've covered, this might be the most important for us. We dive into the wonderful world of Kubrick. With a filmography that has a controversial title or two, where does this 60s movie stack up? You also get a bonus book podcast review as well. Yes, we did our homework and enjoyed this conversation. I hope you do too.

    E13 - Marooned (1969)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 59:45


    So, you think you're a fan of Apollo 13? The Martian? Gravity? Well, have you checked out the movie that predicted or inspired the others? That would be 1969's Marooned. Does the all star cast, a big of a legend director, and an thrilling premise stand the test of time???? Tune in to find out.

    E12 - The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2022 71:48


    Now this was a fun one. Young Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver star in this romantic slash war slash drama film that was kind of shot on location that adds such character and atmosphere. Presented more than capably by an under rated director, Peter Weir. Not to mention, all that is wildly overshadowed by a complex Linda Hunt character. And Vangelis! All that and it sure had some flaws that we dive into. Did we get this review right?

    E11 - As The Earth Turns (1937 or 1938 or 2019)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2022 55:34


    This one sure is unique. It could be a bit of a stretch to call this a feature film and it stretches the format of the show a little bit, but I think it was worth it. We visit one of the earliest independent movie out there, and one that happened to have been lost for ages. It sure was charming and damned impressive to see someone tackle such a ambitious movie. Just us in the fun.

    E10 - Tootsie (1982)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2022 97:47


    This month we review AFI's 69th greatest film of all time (nice), Tootsie! We discuss if it deserves that accolade, is it appropriate to even call it a comedy, and whether we think it is "problematic" given the 2022 lens or is still a harmless farce. We also had the great honor of being joined by some of our friends from the Plus Platoon Podcast, Derrick and Pete! Finally, be sure to check out Matt and Matt guesting on their show where we review an absolute classic. https://plusplatoon.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plus-platoon/id1583104072 https://www.facebook.com/PlusPlatoon/ https://www.instagram.com/plusplatoon/

    E09 - Blood Simple (1984)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2022 90:58


    This is certainly a big one. A personal favorite for one Matt, and an introduction to the other Matt. Does it live up to Matt's hype?

    E08 - Adam's Rib (1949)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2022 95:28


    This month we review the Adam's Rib steak house in Matt's Buffalo. No, no... it is 1949's Adam's Rib staring Spencer Tracey and Katharine Hepburn and their mind boggling chemistry. They are awesome, the comedy is great, but how does a progressive film from the late 40s hold up today? A lot better than that poster. Fighting over pants? Come on.

    E07 - The Great Rupert (1950)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2021 72:28


    We attempt to get into the Christmas spirit with this wild flick from the 1950s. I suppose there is some great lesson in this film. Anyone want to help us understand it???

    E06 - Trouble Along the Way (1953)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 85:45


    Yikes. Would you just look at that poster. Why is this totally wrong for the movie? Was this a cliched football underdog story? Was this a cliched romantic comedy? So many questions. We answer those and more this week.

    E05 - The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (1957)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 70:41


    What did we do? We sure picked an interesting one this month. I guess the question is there anything of merit to this flick? After we settle that, we get the most creative we've ever been on the TCM Challenge. Let us know your thoughts about the second half of this episode at tcmchallenge@gmail.com

    E04 - From Here to Eternity (1953)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 101:10


    Well, this is a big one. This is the first TCM selection that is widely regarded as a classic. We dive in and ask if it really deserves that, and is it really remembered in pop culture for the right reasons.

    E03 - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2021 75:08


    This month Matt & Matt celebrate a bit of Halloween in August with one of the earliest (and best?) screen adaptations of the classic tale of Jekyll and Hyde. It is also the oldest film we've covered yet, so does this version stand the test of time or does it age poorly? Would this still stagger the devil himself? Tune in and find out.

    E02 - They Won't Believe Me (1947)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 92:42


    This month we take our first trip to TCM's Noir Alley with 1947's They Won't Believe Me. This one stars Father Knows Best's Robert Young as a philandering playboy who gets mixed up with three women. Before long, bodies start piling up, but were any crimes actually committed? Should this crime drama find a place among the classics or does it deserve to be overlooked? Let's find out!

    E01 - Purple Noon (1960)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2021 87:41


    In our first full episode, we review the fascinating Purple Noon (1960). This is the original adaptation of the 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. It was adapted again in 1999 with Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow. We came prepared to talk about all three versions. How does the 1960 version stack up? Does it stand the test of time as a character study? How does it address the complex sexuality of Tom Ripley? Tune in and find out. What a great way to start out the new show!

    Kickoff Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2021 29:12


    Matt and Matt are getting back into the podcasting saddle for something a little different. We're going to be diving into the world of classic (and likely obscure) films. We can't be more excited. In this episode, we shake off some of the rust and explain the new format, plus we announce what we'll be reviewing first.

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