The Next Reel Film Podcast

“Yes, Christopher lived for all women, but he died for one." Prince has always been a flamboyant and eclectic musician, and with the album and film “Purple Rain,” he found a new art form he enjoyed. And one he won an Oscar for — Best Original Song Score. With his next film, he had conflicts with the director so took over and directed it himself. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we wrap up this year’s short guilty pleasure with Pete’s pick — Prince’s 1986 film “Under the Cherry Moon.” We talk about what’s in the film and why, despite its flaws, Pete still gets so much pleasure from this film. And we talk about its flaws and everything that doesn’t work in the film. We chat about the actors — Prince, Jerome Benton, Kristin Scott Thomas, Steven Berkoff, Francesca Annis and more — and look at what each of them brings to the table. We discuss the black-and-white look of the film and ponder the reasoning for it, wondering if perhaps cinematographer Michael Ballhaus may know why Prince opted to show it this way despite having filmed it in color. And we touch on the original director and what the circumstances were under which she left the film. It’s the guiltiest of guilty pleasures and Pete still loves it despite all its flaws. Regardless of what either of us thinks, we have a great conversation about it. Tune in! Film Sundries Original theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkFlickchart Trailers of the WeekAndy’s Trailer: People Places Things — “Jemaine Clement. Who needs another reason to watch this movie? Not me. This looks really sweet and touching, and of course he’s hilarious."Pete’s Trailer: Mississippi Grind — “This is just the kind of road movie that lights me up: poker, bad luck, and the open road, baby. Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelssohn look great together — this is one I’m going to catch." Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! The Next Reel on iTunesThe Next Reel on FacebookThe Next Reel on TwitterThe Next Reel on FlickchartThe Next Reel on LetterboxdGuess the Movie with The Next Reel on InstagramCheck out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: Follow Andy Nelson on TwitterFollow Pete Wright on TwitterFollow Steve Sarmento on TwitterCheck out Tom Metz on IMDBJustin "JJ" JaegerChadd StoopsFollow Steven Smart on LetterboxdSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

“It’s not that I can’t help these people, it’s just that I don’t want to."It’s time for some guilty pleasures! Yes, the two of us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — dig up some films that we love but are generally not considered the greatest of movies. This week, it’s Andy’s turn with his guilty pleasure — Nicholas Meyer’s 1985 Peace Corps comedy “Volunteers.” That’s right, more Tom Hanks action from Andy, proving he’s just about ready to go Annie Wilkes on ol’ Tom. In this week’s episode, we talk about what Andy loves in this movie while also looking at it through serious eyes, analyzing what in the film really is causing it to be generally considered a bad film. In this particular case, most of the burden falls on Hanks in his performance of the pompous rich boy Lawrence Bourne III. We compare that with what works well in the film, most notably John Candy in yet another hilarious turn from the 80s. We also look at the other actors in the film — Rita Wilson, Tim Thomerson, Gedde Watanabe, George Plimpton and more — and talk about what they bring to the table. We touch on comments Ken Levine, one of the writers, wrote on his 2009 blog about the scene that ruined the movie, and Andy takes the writer to task for possibly thinking too highly of his own script. And we chat about a few people behind the camera — Meyer at the helm and James Horner composing a wonderful score. It’s a fun romp, albeit problem laden, that is high on Andy’s list of fun movies to watch but not likely one Pete will be returning to, even if he did find a few things to enjoy in the movie. So check it out then tune in!And if you'd like to hear us defend ourselves with screenwriter Ken Levine, tune in right here!Film SundriesOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkFlickchartTrailers of the WeekAndy’s Trailer: Goosebumps — “I love that they’re stepping out of the world of R.L. Stine’s books for this and instead are making R.L. Stine a character who has to battle his ‘demons’ with a group of kids. What a fun concept! This is definitely one I’ll be seeing with my daughter come October."Pete’s Trailer: Spectre Trailer 2 — “I’m frustrated by this trailer. It makes me think they’re slipping into Roger Moore territory and as I think you all know, Daniel Craig is no Roger Moore. Wait… switch that. There you go."Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!!The Next Reel on iTunesThe Next Reel on FacebookThe Next Reel on TwitterThe Next Reel on FlickchartThe Next Reel on LetterboxdGuess the Movie with The Next Reel on InstagramCheck out the Posters with The Next Reel on PinterestAnd for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts:Follow Andy Nelson on TwitterFollow Pete Wright on TwitterFollow Steve Sarmento on TwitterCheck out Tom Metz on IMDBJustin "JJ" JaegerChadd StoopsFollow Steven Smart on LetterboxdSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

“I thought you had enough of flyers?" Howard Hawks and Cary Grant had already given the world the hilarious “Bringing Up Baby” in 1938, and lucky for us, they liked working together. They’d work on four more films together, including their very next one — “Only Angels Have Wings.” Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish our series on films from 1939 with Hawks’ and Grant’s second collaboration. We talk about how this film fared for us upon initial viewing, and how it sat with us. We chat about our love for Jean Arthur and how wonderful she is here. We talk about the rest of the cast — Grant, Richard Barthelmess, Rita Hayworth, Thomas Mitchell, Sig Ruman and more — and what they each bring to the table. We discuss the flying effects in the film and how well they work for us, paired especially with Joseph Walker’s great black-and-white cinematography. And we chat about Hawks and why we like him so much. It’s a film that ranks good, not great, on our lists, but still a film that really got us talking and thinking. It’s well worth checking out, so do so then come back here and tune in to the show! Film SundriesScript TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerFlickchart Trailers of the WeekAndy’s Trailer: Secret in their Eyes — “As a parent, this looks like a brutal film to watch. But it looks damn good to. Julie Roberts looks like she’s found a strong project, which she’s needed, and Nicole Kidman and Chiwetel Ejiofor both look awesome. I can’t wait for this one.”Pete’s Trailer: Joy — “Love the tone of this trailer from David O. Russell. Looks to be a great follow-up to American Hustle and as always, great to see J-Law in something that isn’t Hunger Games.”Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

“He used to be a big shot." James Cagney was getting tired of making gangster films for Warner Bros. by the time he starred in Raoul Walsh’s 1939 film “The Roaring Twenties. After all, he really loved comedy and the song-and-dance too. But he clearly was great as a gangster. Look at him in “The Public Enemy” or “White Heat.” He carried a dark energy that really came across in those films as well as this one. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our series on films from 1939 with Walsh’s “The Roaring Twenties.” We talk about our general impressions of this film, one which we both watched for the first time, and how it was enjoyable but fairly middle-of-the-road. We chat about the talent involved on screen — Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Gladys George, Priscilla Lane, Frank McHugh, Jeffrey Lynn, and Paul Kelly, to name a few — and how we felt about each of them. We get into the gangster genre and what really made these gangster films from the 30s work, comparing this one with “Little Caesar” and more to figure out if this one is better or worse than some of those that are considered more classic. And we talk about how well this film and its news reel-esque approach to the decade really give us a great perspective on what was going on then and how it created this environment for criminal behavior. It’s a good film, maybe not something we’d rewatch day in and day out but one worth watching at least once, and we have a great time talking about it on this week’s show. Tune in! Film Sundries Script TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerFlickchart Trailers of the WeekAndy’s Trailer: Into the Badlands — “Okay, so it’s a trailer for a TV show, but DAMN. Looks like a pretty kick-ass TV show to me. Post apocalyptic. Martial arts. A new feudal society. A mysterious kid in a box. I don’t really know what the show’s about, but damn if I don’t want to start watching it right now.”Pete’s Trailer: Suicide Squad — “I like David Ayer. I think he’s a pretty darned good action director and now that I’ve seen the trailer for this film and the characters they’re introducing, I think they might just be onto something. This might just turn into a cool DC Universe after all." Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! The Next Reel on iTunesThe Next Reel on FacebookThe Next Reel on TwitterThe Next Reel on FlickchartThe Next Reel on LetterboxdGuess the Movie with The Next Reel on InstagramCheck out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: Follow Andy Nelson on TwitterFollow Pete Wright on TwitterFollow Steve Sarmento on TwitterCheck out Tom Metz on IMDBJustin "JJ" JaegerChadd StoopsFollow Steven Smart on LetterboxdSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

“You’re not a Senator, you’re an honorary stooge." It’s rare to find a film from 75 years ago that feels relevant still in today’s world, but Frank Capra’s 1939 “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” is one of those films. Corruption in the Senate? Check. Corporate interests secretly working their own machinations behind the scenes to get their political puppets to do their bidding? Check. Cynical office staff who are only interested in making a buck? Check. Sad to say that the only thing that doesn’t feel modern is that a politician like James Stewart’s titular character could actually exist. Or at least survive in today’s political world. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue with our great films from 1939 series with Capra’s fantastic film “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” We talk about how much we love this film and why, highlighting everything aforementioned. We chat about Stewart and Jean Arthur as the perfect leads for this film, aided by the wonderful supporting cast including Edward Arnold, Harry Carey, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell and more. We discuss how the Washington, D.C. press and the real Senators received the film compared with the general public. And we discuss the people behind the cameras with Capra and what they bring to the table — Joseph Walker, Lionel Banks, Dimitri Tiomkin, Sidney Buchman, Lewis R. Foster and more. It’s a top notch film that still speaks to its audiences, all while avoiding being cheesy while full of honesty. We love it. Make sure you watch this one and then tune in! Film Sundries Script TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkFlickchart Trailers of the WeekAndy’s Trailer: The Finest Hours — “It looks like thrilling but safe true story Disney fare, but everything about it draws me in. The disaster at sea. Chris Pine. Casey Affleck. Even Abraham Benrubi. Even though it’s a January release, count me in!"Pete’s Trailer: Creed — “This may just be the sequel to Rocky that we need. I’m a fan of Ryan Cooler. I’m a fan of Michael B. Jordan. I’m a fan of Rocky. In the words of General George Armstrong Custer, what could possibly go wrong?" Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! The Next Reel on iTunesThe Next Reel on FacebookThe Next Reel on TwitterThe Next Reel on FlickchartThe Next Reel on LetterboxdGuess the Movie with The Next Reel on InstagramCheck out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: Follow Andy Nelson on TwitterFollow Pete Wright on TwitterFollow Steve Sarmento on TwitterCheck out Tom Metz on IMDBJustin "JJ" JaegerChadd StoopsFollow Steven Smart on LetterboxdSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

"I should hate to see our country endangered by my underwear." Taking a completely different turn from last week's Civil War epic, "Ninotchka" is a very light comedy by Ernst Lubitch dealing with Russians in their post-Revolution society. Join us - Pete Wright and Andy Nelson - as we continue our film about the great films of 1939 with Lubitch's "Ninotchka." We talk about the wonderfully funny script by Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder and Walter Reisch based on the original story by Melchior Lengyel, and look at why the comedy works so well in a film like this. We chat about Greta Garbo as the titular character and how wonderful she is, and we look at the rest of the brilliant cast - Melvyn Douglas, Ina Claire, Bela Lugosi, Sig Ruman, Felis Bressart, Alexander Granach and others - as we discuss what they bring to the table. We also touch on Garbo and her retirement from the business. And we chat about Lubitsch and his "Lubitsch Touch" and what that means in context of this film. It's a fun film that's very easy to watch. Check it out then tune in! Film SundriesScriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkFlickchartThe WETA EffectSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn." Considering the racially-charged climate of the US right now, it’s oddly perfect timing that we’re starting our 1939 series with “Gone With The Wind,” a film as technically brilliant to look at as it is hard to watch because of it’s portrayal of slavery and the ‘lost cause’ Southern view of the Civil War. It certainly gives us a lot to talk about in this episode! Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we dive into Victor Fleming’s “Gone With The Wind.” We talk at length about the position of the film in cinematic history and how that contrasts with what it’s portraying and how we feel about that, noting that perhaps this film is one that should be considered in the same camp as ‘Song of the South.’ And we look at what problems we have with the story and why it makes us feel uncomfortable, even if the story itself can be enjoyed when taken out of historical context. Focusing more on the film itself, we look at the actors — Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard, Thomas Mitchell, Hattie McDaniel and more — how they got their parts and how well they work for us. We look at lots of bit players and talk about where they’ve since popped up. We talk about the context of 1939 and how the studio system worked. We talk about the three directors who contributed to this film — George Cukor, Victor Fleming and Sam Wood — as well as the producing kingpin who really is the one responsible for getting this film made the way he wanted: David O. Selznick. We chat about other key crew who helped bring this film to life, including Max Steiner, Yakima Canutt, William Cameron Menzies and Walter Plunkett. And we marvel at how much money this film has taken in over its lifetime and deliberate over whether it should still be able to make money or if it should be locked away now due to its painful portrayal of the period. It’s a long film but a film well worth discussing because of these factors. Tune in! Film Sundries ScreenplayOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkGone With The Wind by Margaret MitchellFlickchartHuffPost Politics Blog: Yes, You’re a Racist — and a Traitor Trailers of the WeekAndy’s Trailer: Sicario — “Denis Villeneuve wowed me with ‘Prisoners’ and ‘Incendies.’ This story along the US/Mexico border looks like he’s back with another strong film and I’m quite excited to see it. Plus Emily Blunt kicking butt again."Pete’s Trailer: Dragon Blade — “This is a mystery to me: Jackie Chan with Adrien Brody and John Cusack? Apparently it’s doing well in China, so I’ll probably give it a shot, but it’s tonally confusing to my eye and Brody as the Big Bad? I don’t buy it." Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! The Next Reel on iTunesThe Next Reel on FacebookThe Next Reel on TwitterThe Next Reel on FlickchartThe Next Reel on LetterboxdGuess the Movie with The Next Reel on InstagramCheck out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: Follow Andy Nelson on TwitterFollow Pete Wright on TwitterFollow Steve Sarmento on TwitterCheck out Tom Metz on IMDBJustin "JJ" JaegerChadd StoopsFollow Steven Smart on LetterboxdSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

“Time for a change." James Wong Howe shot color films very well, but it was his black-and-white cinematography that he was really known for. He won two Oscars for his B&W cinematography and played with many techniques that influenced filmmakers and cinematographers long after he was gone. The camera work on John Frankenheimer’s 1966 film “Seconds” is no exception. It fits the tone of the film perfectly, creating a sense of unease and discomfort quite often. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we finish our B&W cinematography of James Wong Howe with Frankenheimer’s “Seconds.” We talk about the camerawork (paired with the editing) and how it works — or doesn’t work — for us in this thriller. We chat about the talent, notably Rock Hudson, John Randolph, Salome Jens, Will Geer, Murray Hamilton and Jeff Corey, and what they bring to the table. We discuss what works and what doesn’t work for us in this unique sci-fi story. And we touch on Jerry Goldsmith’s music and how much we love — or hate — it in this film. It’s a bit of a divisive conversation this week, but a very fun one. Tune in! Film Sundries Dialog TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkArt of the TitleSeconds — by David ElyFlickchart Trailers of the WeekAndy’s Trailer: The Stanford Prison Experiment — “Having discussed Zimbardo’s experiment in our documentary ’The Joe Show,’ I was super excited to see the trailer for this film. The experiment is a frightening piece of American history and of the history of the psychology field, and it looks like they captured this very well. I can’t wait."Pete’s Trailer: Extinction — “Well, it’s a zombie flick so I pretty much have to pick it. But Matthew Fox I like, and Jeffrey Donovan we know from Burn Notice. I’ll give those guys a shot in an arctic apocalypse, sure." Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! The Next Reel on iTunesThe Next Reel on FacebookThe Next Reel on TwitterThe Next Reel on FlickchartThe Next Reel on LetterboxdGuess the Movie with The Next Reel on InstagramCheck out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: Follow Andy Nelson on TwitterFollow Pete Wright on TwitterFollow Steve Sarmento on TwitterCheck out Tom Metz on IMDBJustin "JJ" JaegerChadd StoopsFollow Steven Smart on LetterboxdSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

“Match me, Sidney." James Wong Howe had just won his Oscar for his black-and-white cinematography for “The Rose Tattoo” when the star of the film, Burt Lancaster, hired him to shoot his next picture, “Sweet Smell of Success.” Howe and director Alexander Mackendrick knew right away that to tell this story properly, they really needed to film on the streets of New York City at night. So they did, and in the process created a stunningly gorgeous and dark film noir that feels like it truly lives in the city, not on some Hollywood soundstage. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Black-and-White Cinematography of James Wong Howe series with Mackendrick’s wonderful 1956 film, “Sweet Smell of Success.” We talk about the chiaroscuro look that Howe captured in this film, and also look at the deep focus and camera movement and how it all helps tell the story. We chat about Ernest Lehman and Clifford Odets, the writers, looking at what they each contributed to the wickedly brilliant dialogue. We discuss the cast — notably Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, Marty Milner, Barbara Nichols and Emile Meyer — and what they bring to the table. We touch on Walter Winchell, the figure on whom Lancaster’s character was based. And we talk about how the film was received at the time — poorly — as well as how opinion of it changed over time. It’s a film that feels biting and dangerous, and it’s one we enjoy quite a bit. Tune in! Film Sundries Script TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkSweet Smell of Success & Other Stories — Ernest LehmanFlickchart Trailers of the WeekAndy’s Trailer: Bridge of Spies — “Okay, so it’s Tom Hanks. And Spielberg. It should be obvious why I picked this one. But it’s also about a piece of history I didn’t know about, so I find myself quite intrigued."Pete’s Trailer: The Martian — “DAMON IN SPAAAAACE! I’m right in the middle of the book that spawned this movie and the trailer so far is doing great justice to the tone and spirit of the material. Very much looking forward to it!" Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! The Next Reel on iTunesThe Next Reel on FacebookThe Next Reel on TwitterThe Next Reel on FlickchartThe Next Reel on LetterboxdGuess the Movie with The Next Reel on InstagramCheck out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: Follow Andy Nelson on TwitterFollow Pete Wright on TwitterFollow Steve Sarmento on TwitterCheck out Tom Metz on IMDBJustin "JJ" JaegerChadd StoopsFollow Steven Smart on LetterboxdSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

“Where’s the REST of me?!?!" “Kings Row” was adapted from a much racier novel from 1940 and had to be sanitized quite a bit because of the Hays Code. They had to leave some pretty big elements out — homosexuality, mercy killings, incest, nymphomania — but even with that, the film still is very dark because of the issues it does deal with. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our Black and White Cinematography of James Wong Howe series with Sam Wood’s 1942 film “Kings Row.” We talk about the adaptation and what had to change in order for the producers to be given the green light, but what those changes meant for the film and how the added subtext really aids the film through today’s eyes. We chat about the cast — Robert Cummings, Ann Sheridan, Claude Rains and Ronald Reagan in particular — and what each of them bring to the table (notably Reagan in what many call his best performance). We talk about Howe’s great cinematography and what he adds to this dark story with a midwestern gothic style of shooting, giving this seemingly idyllic town at the turn of the last century a touch of noir. And we talk about Wood and his body of work, noting what we’d seen of his without realizing they were his films. It’s a film that really took us both by surprise but one that worked well for us, particularly as a film from the 40s. Tune in! Film Sundries Original theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkKing’s Row — Henry BellamannFlickchartStar Wars & Kings Row Score Thematic Comparison Trailers of the WeekAndy’s Trailer: Everest — “Not an IMAX documentary but it sure feels like one. I’m quite impressed by everything about this trailer — the cast in particular."Pete’s Trailer: American Ultra — “This may not be the follow up to the Bourne films that we wanted, but it’s the follow up to the Bourne films that we needed… that we deserve." Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! The Next Reel on iTunesThe Next Reel on FacebookThe Next Reel on TwitterThe Next Reel on FlickchartThe Next Reel on LetterboxdGuess the Movie with The Next Reel on InstagramCheck out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: Follow Andy Nelson on TwitterFollow Pete Wright on TwitterFollow Steve Sarmento on TwitterCheck out Tom Metz on IMDBFollow Mike Evans on TwitterFollow Chadd Stoops on TwitterFollow Steven Smart on LetterboxdSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible