Lions, Towers & Shields
Film, TV & Pop Culture
About
A celebration of films from the classic Hollywood era. Shelly Brisbin leads a merry band through recaps and reviews of great old movies from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.
Episodes
- 140: Say More. Say It Now. Tell Us Everything!
This episode of Lions, Towers & Shields reviews the musical film Funny Face, directed by Stanley Donen and starring Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn, and Kay Thompson. The discussion covers the film's setting in the Paris fashion industry, its…
- 139: Femme Fatales Are Usually Smarter
This episode of Lions, Towers & Shields discusses "Scarlet Street," a noir film by Fritz Lang. The episode covers the movie's plot, its stars, and artistic elements, with additional commentary on related topics.
- 138: The Hot Ronald Colman
This episode of Lions, Towers & Shields reviews the 1926 film Beau Geste, featuring Ronald Colman. The discussion includes the film's recent restoration and its compelling nature as a silent movie.
- 137: 714 Home Runs And At Least Two Murders
In this episode of Lions, Towers & Shields, the panel drafts baseball movies. Each panelist selects films, ensuring a mix of old-timey and newer baseball-themed productions. The discussion covers a range of baseball films.
- 136: The Tiffany of John Lunds
This episode of Lions, Towers & Shields reviews "The Pride of the Yankees," starring Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig. The discussion includes the film's baseball content, listener mail, and other baseball movie recommendations.
- 135: Call It A Noirlodrama
This episode of "Lions, Towers & Shields" reviews "Moonrise," a 1948 film directed by Frank Borzage. The discussion highlights the movie's moody, dark, and gothic atmosphere, featuring lead actors Dane Clark and Gail Russell.
- 134: Hotness Is A Reason
This episode of Lions, Towers & Shields reviews the film "The Mating Season," featuring Gene Tierney and John Lund. The hosts discuss the movie and highlight Thelma Ritter's performance.
- 133: Clown Car Full of Raincoats
This episode of Lions, Towers & Shields discusses the film noir "Christmas Holiday" featuring Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly. The hosts delve into the movie's plot and its minimal ties to the Christmas theme.
- 132: Clothes, Cars and Acreage
This episode of Lions, Towers & Shields discusses the film "Adam's Rib" starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. It covers their performances, Judy Holiday's film debut, a Cole Porter song, and George Cukor's direction of the script.…
- 131: Temu Cary Grant
Lions, Towers & Shields analyzes "The Lost Weekend," a film featuring Ray Milland as a man battling alcoholism and the deceptions he employs. The episode explores the movie's emotional depth and cinematography.
- 130: Big Teeth, Bad Hair
This episode of Lions, Towers & Shields reviews and comments on the classic film Elmer Gantry. The discussion covers the film's themes and its cast, featuring Burt Lancaster and Jean Simmons.
- 129: There Are No Cars
This episode of Lions, Towers & Shields explores the film "I Walked with a Zombie." The discussion highlights its atmospheric and antiracist themes, noting how it subverts traditional voodoo-movie stereotypes.
- 128: Annette Bening Energy
In this episode, the hosts discuss the film noir 99 River Street, starring John Payne, Evelyn Keyes, and Brad Dexter. The conversation explores the performances and appeal of this classic B picture.
- 127: Kind Of A Nice Snack
This episode of Lions, Towers & Shields, "Kind Of A Nice Snack", focuses on the classic film All About Eve. The discussion includes the performances of Bette Davis and Anne Baxter, the film's script, and production stories. The hosts also…
- 126: The Women, with a Cat
The panel discusses the classic film Stage Door, featuring an ensemble cast including Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, and Lucille Ball. The episode explores the lives of aspiring actresses in a New York boarding house.
- 125: Ugly Bette
Shelly Brisbin, Micheline Maynard, Randy Dotinga, and Nathan Alderman discuss the classic film Now, Voyager. The panel examines the movie's romantic elements and iconic scenes.
- 124: The First Feline Reference
In this episode of Lions, Towers & Shields, panelists Shelly Brisbin, Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman, and Randy Dotinga conclude their Barbara Stanwyck film retrospective with a draft of previously unmentioned titles, featuring Walk on…
- 123: Sorry, Long Movie
Shelly Brisbin, David J. Loehr, Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman, and Randy Dotinga discuss the classic film Sorry, Wrong Number, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster. The panel examines the character dynamics and the film's prem…
- 122: The Only Way To Win Is Not To Play
The hosts discuss the film noir The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, starring Barbara Stanwyck, Kirk Douglas, Van Heflin, and Lizbeth Scott. The panel examines the film's plot, including the mystery surrounding the death of Martha Ivers' aunt.
- 121: Chekhov's Unbroken Hand
The hosts discuss the 1939 film Golden Boy, starring Barbara Stanwyck and William Holden, covering the story of a violinist who turns to boxing. This episode explores the film's significance in the actors' careers and their enduring profes…
- 120: Stella Dallas versus Veda Pierce
In this episode, the hosts discuss the classic film Stella Dallas, starring Barbara Stanwyck. They explore the melodrama’s themes as part of their Stanwyck Summer series.
- 119: I'm Still Watching...
The hosts discuss the 1950s epic film Giant, directed by George Stevens and starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean. They explore the production's impact on Texas filming locations and its cultural legacy.
- 118: Planting Bulbs in the Spring
Shelly Brisbin, Annette Wierstra, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard discuss the 1939 film Dark Victory, starring Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, George Brent, and Geraldine Fitzgerald. The hosts provide their review and analysis of the…
- 117: Alligator Pears
The hosts discuss the 1936 MGM film Fury, directed by Fritz Lang and starring Spencer Tracy, exploring its cinematic techniques and historical context.
- 116: His Personal Murder Concierge
Shelly Brisbin, Randy Dotinga, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard discuss the film noir Born to Kill, featuring Lawrence Tierney and Claire Trevor. The panel analyzes the film's tone, Elisha Cook Jr.'s performance, and the depiction of…
- 115: Gene Kelly's Guns
Shelly Brisbin, Nathan Alderman, David Almeida, David J. Loehr, and Micheline Maynard discuss the classic film Singin' in the Rain, covering its choreography, direction, and homage to the transition from silent to talking movies.
- 114: There's Lots of Nice Coats...
The hosts discuss Sylvia Scarlett, a 1935 film directed by George Cukor starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. They review the movie's history, its initial commercial failure, and its eventual cult following.
- 113: Untapped Reservoir of Cool
In this episode, the host discusses the film Paris Blues, featuring Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, Joanne Woodward, Diahann Carroll, and Louis Armstrong. The discussion explores the cast and the film's premise as the show begins its fifth ye…
- 112: The Holiday Show
In this holiday-themed episode of Lions, Towers & Shields, host Shelly Brisbin is joined by Randy Dotinga, Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr, and Nathan Alderman.
- 111: Go Out In Flames and Drama
The hosts discuss the 1940 Alfred Hitchcock film Rebecca, a gothic romantic mystery starring Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier, and Judith Anderson. This episode explores the film's plot and themes as part of the Lions, Towers & Shields podc…
- 110: Bogart: Life Comes In Flashes
Shelly Brisbin speaks with Stephen Humphrey Bogart about the film Bogart: Life Comes in Flashes, which explores Humphrey Bogart's life through his relationships with his mother and four wives.
- 109: More Beer!
In this episode, the hosts discuss the 1950s MGM musical The Band Wagon. They examine the performances of Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, and Oscar Levant, as well as Vincente Minnelli’s direction, while sharing their thoughts on the plot and…
- 108: Let Me Tell You A Story About Heroin
Hosts Shelly Brisbin and Micheline Maynard review the classic film I Want to Live, an Oscar-winning drama directed by Robert Wise starring Susan Hayward. They discuss the film's unique take on the 'women in prison' genre and its jazz score.
- 107: Gayer Than The Cast of Bewitched
In this episode, the hosts discuss the 1947 film noir Desert Fury, examining its themes and reputation as a film with gay undertones. They analyze the movie's love triangle, cast, color cinematography, and musical score by Miklós Rózsa.
- 106: I Can Be Demagogued, Apparently
In this episode, the hosts discuss the 1957 Elia Kazan film A Face in the Crowd, starring Andy Griffith and Patricia Neal. They explore the story of a rural entertainer who becomes a political demagogue and discuss the film's continued rel…
- 105: We're Gonna Digress
In this episode of Lions, Towers & Shields, Shelly Brisbin, Micheline Maynard, and David J. Loehr discuss the 1974 disaster film Airport 1975, which celebrates its 50th anniversary. They examine its place within the Airport film series and…
- 104: Also, Don't Go Through That Gate
The hosts discuss the film Never Open That Door, an Argentine production directed by Carlos Hugo Christensen and based on a story by Cornell Woolrich. They explore the film's cinematography and its recent restoration by the Film Noir Found…
- 103: Very Much About The Vibes
In this episode of Lions, Towers & Shields, the hosts discuss the 1966 Philippe de Broca film King of Hearts. They explore the movie's anti-war themes, its setting in a World War I French town, and its connection to the era of the Vietnam…
- 102: Am I A Bad Cinephile?
In this episode of Lions, Towers & Shields, the hosts discuss Yasujiro Ozu's film Tokyo Story. They explore the movie's portrayal of post-WWII Japan and familial dynamics, comparing its style to the work of Akira Kurosawa.
- 101: From It Girl to Queen of the Movies, and Beyond
Host Shelly Brisbin interviews author Samuel Garza Bernstein about his new book, Starring Joan Crawford, which offers an appreciation of the iconic screen actress. The conversation explores the writing of the book and the author's lifelong…
- 100: The Smell of Murder
In the 100th episode of Lions, Towers & Shields, the hosts discuss the film noir classic Double Indemnity, directed by Billy Wilder and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Fred McMurray, and Edward G. Robinson.
- 99: Jesus versus the Bikini Girls
In this episode of Lions, Towers & Shields, the hosts discuss Federico Fellini's classic film La Dolce Vita, exploring its themes and depiction of post-World War II Italy. They analyze the movie's seven stories following a tabloid journali…
- 98: Toshirô Mifune Can Get It!
In this episode of Lions, Towers & Shields, the hosts discuss Akira Kurosawa’s 1949 film, Stray Dog, a postwar buddy-cop thriller starring Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura. They explore the movie's depiction of a sweltering, recovering T…
- 97: Come On, Someone Shoot Him!
This episode of Lions, Towers & Shields features a discussion of the French New Wave film Breathless, directed by Jean-Luc Godard and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg. The hosts examine the film's visual style, plot, and influen…
- 96: I Think He *Might* Be A Sociopath
Shelly Brisbin, Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman, and Randy Dotinga discuss the 1933 pre-code film Employees' Entrance, starring Warren William, Loretta Young, and Wallace Ford. The discussion covers the film's depiction of a 1930s depar…
- 95: My Film Erogenous Zones
Shelly Brisbin, Randy Dotinga, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard discuss the 1951 film A Place in the Sun, directed by George Stevens and starring Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. The panel covers the film's production, its awar…
- 94: Mourning Culottes
Shelly Brisbin, Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman, and Randy Dotinga discuss the 1954 western film Johnny Guitar, directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden, and Mercedes McCambridge.
- 93: Situational Gales
In this episode, hosts and guests discuss the 1945 English romantic film "I Know Where I'm Going!" by Powell and Pressburger. They explore the story of a young woman traveling to the Hebrides and review the classic production.
- 92: We've Got All the French You Need
The hosts discuss the 1951 film An American in Paris, directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. They explore the movie's production, its relationship to the George Gershwin musical, and its success at the Acad…
- 91: I Wouldn't Go to Salinas Either
Hosts Shelly Brisbin, Randy Dotinga, and Nathan Alderman review the 1951 film The Breaking Point. They discuss the direction of Michael Curtiz and stars John Garfield and Patricia Neal in this adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s To Have and H…