Lions, Towers & Shields

Who would dare comment on the inherently propagandistic aspects of the war effort, right in the middle of World War II? That would be Preston Sturges. A soldier is discharged from the Army because he has hay fever, but is declared a war hero when he returns to his hometown. Eddie Bracken and Ella Raines (last seen on LTS in Phantom Lady) are your stars.

Hail the Conquoring Hero

Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Nathan Alderman and Randy Dotinga

Referenced Works

Show Notes & Links

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The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

• Hail the Conquoring Hero trailer
  • Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
  • On disc: Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• LTS #44 It’s All About the Hat
• LTS #66 I’m Not Just Your Preston Sturges, I’m Your Indiana
• LTS #76 A Trunk Full of Dinner Jackets

Next time, we’ll watch

• Easy Living trailer

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The Summer of Sturges continues with a movie that’s not in a class with The Lady Eve. But we still need to talk about it. World-renown conductor Rex Harrison suspects his much younger wife (Linda Darnell) of cheating on him, and he dreams up three different ways to punish her for it.

Unfaithfully Yours (1948)

Shelly Brisbin with Erika Ensign, David J. Loehr and Randy Dotinga

Referenced Works

Show Notes & Links

Get in touch with the show at [email protected] or on the socials.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

• Unfaithfully Yours trailer
  • Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
  • On disc: Criterion DVD

Next time, we’ll watch

• Hail the Conquering Hero trailer

Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Ride with Barbara Stanwyck in an ambulance that’s on a collision course with decadent mayhem. Stanwyck gets a job as a nurse, eventually assigned to care for the children of a neglectful mom. She’s neglectful because she’s drunk and under the influence of a sadistic Clark Gable. And oh look, Joan Blondell is in this one, too. Directed by “Wild” Bill Wellman. The film is among the first rank of early 30s precodes.

"Night Nurse"

Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman

Referenced Works

Show Notes & Links

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

• Night Nurse (1931), trailer
  • Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
  • On disc: DVD as part of the Forbidden Hollywood #2 Collection. Highly recommended.

Next time, we’ll watch The Body Snatcher (1945)

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It’s the best-loved of the four movies Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant made together, and the one that also stars Jimmy Steward. Another George Cukor production, this was Hepburn’s triumphant entry into MGM, and her middle finger to the “box office poison” label of the late 1930s. “Hullo, George!”

The Philadelphia Story

Shelly Brisbin with Annette Wierstra, Paul Sabourin, Micheline Maynard and Judy Samelson

Referenced Works

Show Notes & Links

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film * The Philadelphia Story (1940), trailer * Available to stream, rent or buy digitally * On disc: Criterion Blu-ray or DVD

Next time, we’ll watch The Apartment (1960)

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Another year draws to a close, and so many classic movies remain undiscussed on Lions, Towers & Shields. But many of your regular panelists have feelings, as well as recommendations for the future. So I invited them to share them in a themed draft episode.

NOTE: LTS will return in March 2023. We'll cover at least 21 films next year, but the episodes will be spaced out over three, seven-episode seasons to give our panelists (and your host) time to rest and reflect on all the classic film goodness that awaits.

An LTS Draft-a-palooza

Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga, Nathan Alderman, Micheline Maynard, Annette Wierstra and David J. Loehr

Show Notes & Links

Classic you would show to someone who says they don't like old movies

• Randy Crime Wave
• Nathan It Happened One Night
• Micki Dodsworth
• Annette Singin' in the Rain
• David Dr. Strangelove
• Shelly Mildred Pierce

I know it's kind of weird, but....

• Randy Desert Fury
• Nathan Sanjuro
• Micki The Man who Played God
• Annette The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
• David Once Upon A Honeymoon
• Shelly The Big Street

Thirst trap/I have a little crush

• Randy Gene Kelly's butt Tumbler
• Nathan Shirley MacLaine
• Micki Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday, To Kill a Mockingbird
• Annette Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story, the Christopher Strong moth costume
• David Myrna Loy in The Thin Man
• Shelly Paul Henreid in Hollow Triumph

Why hasn't this one been on LTS yet? Seriously!

• Randy To Be Or Not To Be, The Asphalt Jungle, The Misfits, Touch of Evil
• Nathan The Razor's Edge
• Micki I Know Where I'm Going, Tokyo Story, Grand Illusion, Wings Of Desire
• Annette Psycho, The Birds, Nasferatu, Island Of Lost Souls, The Thing
• David Nonotchka, Trouble In Paradise, A Matter Of Life and Death, The Red Shoes, Having Wonderful Crime, Becket, Night of the Iguana, Unfaithfully Yours, Lady From Shanghai, The Stranger, High And Low, High and Low trailer
• Shelly They Live By Night,