S1E12 - Technological Disruption w/ Singin' in the Rain (1952) and Modern Times (36)

Technological disruption wasn’t just dreamed up by annoying tech bros in Silicon Valley. Fortunes have been made and lost over advances in technology ever since the stone age gave way to bronze. And Hollywood has definitely seen more than its share of it over the past 100 years or so with talking pictures, television, home video and streaming all bringing on one form of creative destruction or another to the movie industry. In this episode, we talk about a pair of classic films that tackle this topic. First up, Gene Kelly is back on OMFYS with Singing' in the Rain (1952), a musical spoof of Hollywood's transition to talkies in late 1920s that came out when the movie industry was facing a similar upheaval brought on by the proliferation of television. Co-starring Donald O’Connor as a wise-cracking songwriter, and introducing Princess Leia’s mom, Debbie Reynolds, as Kelly’s love interest. Also featuring Jean Hagen doing the comedic heavy-lifting in the thankless role of the villainous Lina Lamont, a diva with a voice for silent movies, plus an early appearance by EGOT winner–that’s Emmuy, Grammy, Oscar AND Tony– Rita Moreno, and CYD CHARISE putting a bit of sizzle in the sensual ballet sequence. Co-directed by Kelly and Stanley Donnen and produced by Arthur Freed, who also supplied the songs, this is widely considered the best movie musical. Singin' in the Rain is streaming on HBOMax. Next, Charlie Chaplin, arguably the biggest silent movie star of them all, keeps the silents alive well past their sell-by date, with this slapstick farce with his Little Tramp persona driven to madness by the drudgery of industrialization. Also starring Paulette Goddard, Chaplin’s wife at the time, as the gamine, and Al Ernest Garcia, cast as the control-freak factory owner because of his resemblance to Henry Ford. Featuring some amazing Metropolis-like sequences with the Little Tramp literally being caught in the gears of machinery and him roller skating on the edge of certain death or at grievous least injury. Directed, written, produced and starring Charlie Chaplin, who also composed the musical score that inspired a later hit by Nat King Cole. Modern Times is streaming on HBOMax, Criterion Channel, and Kanopy. Starting off the episode, Philena, Bob and Greg take apart the Letterboxd Top 100, and Philena schools the olds on the definition of vintage. It's a pretty rousing chat as Bob was, um, a little bit caffeinated, maybe? Cory Sklar is on assignment but he does make a special appearance via the magic of modern video editing technology. Weed is at your local dispensary. If you get it on the streets, we don't need to know. Hosts: Philena Franklin, Greg Franklin, Bob Calhoun Co-producers: Bob Calhoun & Cory Sklar Audio production: Cory Sklar Contact Email: oldmoviesforyoungstoners AT gmail dot com Twitter: OM4YStoners Instagram/Facebook (Meta): oldmoviesforyoungstoners Mastadon: [email protected]