Screwball Comedy's Battle of the Sexes: Wes Gehring on Love, Class & Chaos

01/08/25 • 158 min

Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, & Movements

Join distinguished professor, film expert, and author Wes Gehring along with host Andy Nelson for a special extended episode exploring the delightful world of screwball comedy. In this unique presentation, listeners get access to the complete conversation typically split between public and member segments, covering ten essential films from this beloved subgenre that emerged during Hollywood's Golden Age.

The Essential Elements of Screwball Comedy

The discussion explores what defines screwball comedy, from rapid-fire dialogue and class conflicts to eccentric heiresses and befuddled leading men. Gehring explains how the Hays Code shaped the genre's signature wit and innuendo, while Depression-era audiences' desire for escapism led to lavish settings and wealthy characters.

Ten Classic and Modern Screwball Comedies

Andy and Wes analyze ten films spanning several decades: It Happened One Night (1934), My Man Godfrey (1936), Bringing Up Baby (1938), My Favorite Wife (1940), The Lady Eve (1941), I Married a Witch (1942), What's Up, Doc? (1972), Arthur (1981), All of Me (1984), and A Fish Called Wanda (1988). They explore how directors like Howard Hawks, Preston Sturges, and Peter Bogdanovich each brought their unique vision to the genre while maintaining its core elements.

The Legacy Lives On

Though screwball comedy peaked in the 1930s and early 1940s, its influence extends far beyond that era. The episode concludes by examining how modern filmmakers continue to draw from the genre's playbook, while acknowledging both its progressive elements and dated aspects.

Want to hear complete conversations like this every month? Join Cinema Scope at trustory.fm/join for just $5/month or $55/year. Members get early, ad-free access to all podcasts in The Next Reel family, plus exclusive bonus content and extended episodes.

Film Sundries

Find Wes Gehring on his website
Recommended and Discussed Movies
- It Happened One Night on Apple and JustWatch
- My Man Godfrey on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
- Bringing Up Baby on Apple and JustWatch
- My Favorite Wife on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
- The Lady Eve on Apple and JustWatch
- I Married a Witch on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
- What’s Up, Doc? on Apple and

The Essential Elements of Screwball Comedy

Ten Classic and Modern Screwball Comedies

The Legacy Lives On

Film Sundries

Find Wes Gehring on his website
Recommended and Discussed Movies
- It Happened One Night on Apple and JustWatch
- My Man Godfrey on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
- Bringing Up Baby on Apple and JustWatch
- My Favorite Wife on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
- The Lady Eve on Apple and JustWatch
- I Married a Witch on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
- What’s Up, Doc? on Apple and

Previous Episode

Remakesploitation's Unauthorized World: Dr. Iain Robert Smith Maps Cinema's Wild Frontier

Discover the wild world of remakesploitation, where filmmakers boldly reimagined Hollywood hits with local flair and creative liberties. In this episode of Cinema Scope, host Andy Nelson welcomes Dr. Iain Robert Smith, author of The Hollywood Meme, to explore this fascinating film movement that flourished from the 1950s through the 1980s.

Turkish Cinema's Creative Adaptations

The episode focuses on five remarkable Turkish remakes: Fistik Gibi (based on Some Like It Hot), Tourist Omer in Star Trek, Three Giant Men (featuring Spider-Man as a villain fighting Captain America and Santo), Seytan (their version of The Exorcist), and the infamous The Man Who Saves the World (better known as Turkish Star Wars). Each film demonstrates how Turkish filmmakers balanced faithful adaptation with local cultural elements, often on limited budgets but with boundless creativity.

Global Remakesploitation Phenomenon

Members get exclusive access to discussions of five additional films from around the world: James Batman (Philippines), La Mujer Murcielago (Bat-Woman, Mexico), Lady Terminator (Indonesia), Shocking Dark (Italy), and Mahakaal (India's take on A Nightmare on Elm Street). Dr. Smith explains how these unauthorized adaptations reflect each country's unique approach to Hollywood properties.

Though remakesploitation's heyday has passed due to strengthening global copyright laws, these films offer fascinating insights into cultural exchange and creative adaptation. Many survive only through restoration efforts by scholars like Dr. Smith, who continues working to preserve and share these unique pieces of cinema history. Whether you're a film buff or simply curious about this unauthorized corner of movie history, this episode provides an entertaining deep dive into a truly original film movement.

Film Sundries

Find Dr. Iain Robert Smith on his website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and on his university page
Recommended and Discussed Movies
- Fıstık Gibi (Turkish Some Like It Hot) on YouTube
- Turist Ömer Uzay Yolunda (Turkish Star Trek) on YouTube
- 3 Dev Adam (Turkish Captain America and Spider-Man) on YouTube
- Şeytan (Turkish The Exorcist) on Amazon and JustWatch
- Dünyayı Kurtaran Adam (Turkish Star Wars) on Amazon and YouTube
- James Batman (James Bond meets Batman and Robin in the Philippines) on YouTube
- The Bat Woman (Mexican Batwoman) on Amazon and JustWatch and YouTube
- Lady Terminator (Indonesian Terminator) on Amazon
- Shocking Dark (Italian Aliens and Terminator) on Amazon and JustWatch and YouTube
- Mahakaal (Bollywood A Nightmare on Elm Street) on Amazon and YouTube
Check out the Italian Spider-Man remakesploitation spoof
Our Letterboxd List
(00:00) - Welcome to Cinema Scope • Remakesploitation
(04:19) - Meet Dr. Iain Robert Smith
(04:51) - Our Guests’ Background in Remakesploitation
(07:35) - What Is Remakesploitation?
(11:38) - The Term
(12:55) - Origins
(18:26) - Film vs. ...

Next Episode

Screwball Comedy's Hidden Treasures: A Bonus Chat with Grégoire Halbout on Marriage & Mayhem

In this special bonus episode of CinemaScope, host Andy Nelson continues his exploration of screwball comedies with film scholar Grégoire Halbout, author of Hollywood Screwball Comedy, 1934-1945: Sex, Love, and Democratic Ideals. Together, they dive deep into seven lesser-known gems of the genre that showcase the evolution and versatility of screwball comedy during its golden age.

Essential Screwball Comedies You Might Have Missed

The episode spotlights seven delightful films that deserve more attention: Elliott Nugent's Three-Cornered Moon (1933), Tay Garnett's Love is News (1937), George Stevens' Vivacious Lady (1938), Mitchell Leisen's Midnight (1939), Wesley Ruggles' Too Many Husbands (1940), Jack Conway's Love Crazy (1941), and Alfred Hitchcock's rare foray into the genre, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941).

The Evolution of Screwball Comedy Through Seven Films

From the proto-screwball elements of Three-Cornered Moon to the genre-defining characteristics of Midnight, these films demonstrate how screwball comedy challenged social norms and redefined marriage on screen. The conversation explores how each film contributes uniquely to the genre, whether through its treatment of class differences, gender roles, or marital relationships. Additionally, Halbout provides fascinating insights into how these comedies navigated the strict Production Code while pushing boundaries with clever innuendo and subversive themes.

Through their discussion, Nelson and Halbout reveal how these seven films, though less celebrated than classics like It Happened One Night or Bringing Up Baby, exemplify the wit, charm, and social commentary that made screwball comedy such an influential genre. The episode offers both newcomers and fans of classic Hollywood a deeper appreciation for these overlooked treasures.

Film Sundries