Screening Room with Chet and Dee

We're back just in time for our favorite season: spooky movie month! This year's Halloween special offers the perfect mix of fright and fun in one of the first movies to take the haunted house genre seriously. The script, cinematography and music are top notch, and the cast keeps it classy. In addition to some decent scares, this movie has an interesting subtext, and its youngest star was destined for real life tragedy.

Among the many things that Chet, Dee and Martin Scorsese have in common is their opinion that this is one of the scariest and most artfully crafted horror movies ever made. We try not to spoil too much of the creepy plot as we gush about all the little things that made this film a spine-tingling masterpiece. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094165091173 Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/chetanddee/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@screeningroomwithchetanddee X: @screeningroomCD

Technically, this is a sequel to 1973's The Three Musketeers, but it's really just the second half of Richard Lester's epic adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' famous novel, shot at the same time as the original. In keeping with the spirit of the film, we recorded our two podcasts in one setting, and this one picks up without introduction where the previous episode left off.

Action, adventure, comedy, romance, intrigue—what more could you want out of a movie? Director Richard Lester packs it all into his adaptation of the Alexandre Dumas classic. This story has been given the silver screen treatment numerous times, but this version is by far the best. Like Lester, we broke our podcast into two episodes, covering both the Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers, which was released two years later but shot at the same time (which came as a surprise to the cast). Unlike the original producers, we do not charge a second admission fee to hear the second podcast.

Instead of reviewing a movie, we’re reviewing a TV network this time. Turner Classic Movies has just undergone a major upheaval, resulting in the firing of most of its staff. Although the new bosses say they have no plans to close up shop, we’re concerned that our favorite network (and the primary source for all the movies we review) could jettison some of the features that make it great. Here’s what we think TCM should and should not do moving forward.

Chet and Dee marvel at the screwiest of screwball comedies, directed by an all-time great and starring two of Hollywood's biggest stars--all before they had won over audiences and critics. Real life didn't offer much to laugh at in 1938. The country was mired in the Great Depression and fascism was on the rise in Europe. Hollywood, long under fire from the Catholic Church and Congress, had submitted to self-censorship. The movies made lemonade from lemons in the form of madcap comedies depicting the idle rich ensnared in ridiculous situations brimming with sexual tension. "Bringing Up Baby," a wild story that tosses an awkward professor, a ditzy but determined society girl and an assortment of oddballs together, along with a pair of leopards and a wire haired terrier, offers a perfect rendering of the formula. The movie didn't do all that well in its initial release but has since earned wide acclaim. Chet and Dee will tell you why you need to do yourself a favor and check out this classic. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram:  @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

This gem serves as the prototype for countless romantic comedies in which unlikely couples are thrown together in the warm glow of the holiday season. Superstars Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray worked together for the first time, along with a standout cast. Preston Sturges’ script is both funny and touching, offering just the right dose of nostalgia without spinning into sentimental fantasies about romantic and familial love. Chet and Dee will try to convince you that this film has more to offer than the typical holiday fare—and it’s available on TCM this December.

Jose Ferrer won an Academy Award for his performance in the lead role. Cyrano is a poet, a soldier, a scientist, a playwright and the most feared swordsman in Paris, but his ugliness prevents him from pursuing the woman he loves. Instead, he lends his words to a handsome but tongue-tied friend who also has his eye on the beautiful Roxanne. Edmond Rostand’s famous story is more than a romantic comedy; it’s a celebration of courage, nonconformity and idealism. We think Cyrano will inspire you as much as he does us. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

Your Halloween experience won’t be complete unless you take in the 1957 horror classic, “Night of the Demon” (aka “Curse of the Demon”). Dana Andrews plays a psychology professor out to expose the leader of a satanic cult as a fraud, but viewers quickly learn the danger is all too real. Will the professor shake his skepticism in time to undo the curse that’s been placed on him? Chet and Dee talk about why they love this film and what goes into making horror work on the screen. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

I’ve you’ve ever heard the term “Film Noir” and wondered what it was all about, we’ve got the perfect movie for you. “Double Indemnity” delivers brilliant writing, directing, acting, cinematography and music as it tells the tale of a lusty couple who try to pull off a murder. It’s got the gritty, poetic narration, the snappy, cynical dialogue, the shadowy scenes and characters making decisions we all know they’ll regret. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

Why is this Alfred Hitchcock thriller widely considered one of the greatest films of all time? Listen to Chet and Dee walk you through this tale of possession, obsession, the terrible things they make us do and the guilt we feel as a result, and then maybe you’ll get an idea why critics and audiences gush. Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak star in this tale that Dee thinks is “so twisted that even my generation will be down with it.” Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

We discuss one of the most famous—and stylish—film noirs of all time. We love the mystery, the plot twists, the gorgeous sets and award-winning cinematography, but mostly we can’t get enough of Clifton Webb, who creates the unforgettable character of Waldo Lydecker. Just what is Waldo’s relationship with Laura? Why does Laura put up with him, or with her philandering fiancée? Which of these confusing characters is a murderer? Is the detective too hung up on Laura to solve the case? In addition to these questions, Chet and Dee will talk about the ways a movie from 1944 handles sexuality, career women and the line between love and obsession. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link You can send us a message here: https://anchor.fm/screeningroomwchetanddee

Guilt, faith, justice and redemption are all on display in this 1982 courtroom drama directed by Sidney Lumet. Paul Newman gives perhaps his greatest performance as boozing, ambulance-chasing attorney Frank Galvin, who tries to reclaim his soul by winning a malpractice case against a huge Catholic hospital, represented by a prestigious law firm. James Mason is deliciously evil as the rival attorney; Jack Ward is Frank's faithful pal and Charlotte Rampling is the mysterious woman who witnesses Frank's crisis. Chet and Dee talk about why Newman chose this role and Lumet chose this script after others decided it was too dark. It's easy to talk about the things we believe in, but it's much harder to put those beliefs into action. We can all learn a lesson from this deeply flawed hero. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

Start with a story from a great American novelist, give it to one of the best directors of Hollywood's Golden Age, sign the top movie star of the era and introduce a starlet who's going to make a sizzling debut. That's the formula for the 1944 Romance/action classic, "To Have and Have Not." Humphrey Bogart is the cool-headed American who reluctantly lends a helping hand to the French Resistance, and Lauren Bacall shows she's tough enough to hang with him. Chet and Dee talk about what makes Bogey so cool and how Bacall, a star-struck teenager, managed to collect her wits and light up the screen. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

We got in the spirit for New Year's Eve by re-watching one of our all-time favorites, Billy Wilder's 1960 classic, "The Apartment," starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. C.C. Baxter is working his way up the ladder by loaning out his apartment to adulterous executives, but circumstances cause him to question whether he's giving up more than he bargained for. Join us in discussing how C.C. learns to become a mensch. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

During the holiday season, you can't swing a yule log without hitting a TV playing some version of Charles Dickens' classic novel, but we're here to tell you which TWO versions you should be sure to see before the clock strikes one on Dec. 25. Alastair Sim gave perhaps the greatest film performance of the old miser in 1951, and Albert Finny appeared 19 years later in a colorful musical version that received four Oscar nominations. We'll tell you why we love these two versions most of all. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

If you're looking for a little romance in your Christmas movie, you've come to the right place. Cary Grant is a suave angel who's sent to Earth to help a bishop (David Niven) who's trying to raise money for a new cathedral. But maybe the real problem lies in the the bishop's marriage, and Cary Grant is hardly the kind of guy you want to help with that. Chet and Dee talk about this unusual love triangle, as well as the struggle to balance money and ministry within the church. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

We're making an exception to our rule about not discussing any movie that's younger than a Millennial. Too many people have told us that they don't like Will Ferrell movies, which means they've never taken in this contemporary classic. This has to change. We'll talk about how Ferrell's unique talents bring both hilarity and warmth to this tale about a young man who was raised by Santa and the toy-building elves of the North Pole and eventually makes his way to the New York City to find his biological father. This is a story about rediscovering our innocence and joy and sharing it with the people around us--which is just the sort of thing we all should be doing during the holiday season. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

As the 2020 holiday season dawns, Chet and Dee begin their discussion of classic Christmas movies with "It's a Wonderful Life." While every Christmas film tries to convince us to not be jerks, Frank Capra's 1946 masterpiece offers us one of the least jerky characters ever in George Bailey, a guy who's postponed most of his personal dreams for the sake of his family, neighbors and hometown. Unfortunately, a crisis has left George wondering if any of it mattered, and he's going to need an angel to help him regain his faith. Chet and Dee talk about Capra saw the world and why they love his film, even if they read it a little differently than he did. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

Sometimes rich and famous people have a hard time coming to grips with the fact that they're no longer sitting on top of the world. Take, for instance, Norma Desmond, forgotten silent film idol who hides out in her creepy mansion, convinced she's still famous and about to get a call to resume her career. Sometimes people who've yet to make it big have a hard time deciding whether they should keep pursuing their dreams or quit kidding themselves. Take, for instance, aspiring screenwriter Joe Gillis. What happens when these two characters cross paths? It's not pretty, but it makes for a truly classic film. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

Just in time for Veterans Day, we're discussing the film that asked Americans to consider what war veterans go through—after their service ends. William Wyler's masterpiece tells the stories of three men who struggle to resume relationships and careers while coping with physical disabilities, memories of trauma and new perspectives. More than 70 years later, the film is as touching and thought-provoking as ever. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

By the way, it's "Lockwood and LaMont." That's right. It took us more than 39 steps, but somehow we got from Alfred Hitchcock to "Singin' in the Rain." Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

If you find an alien monster frozen in a block of ice, don't let him thaw! These and other important life lessons await you in this science fiction classic. Chet and Dee explain how master filmmaker Howard Hawks used an ensemble of character actors to create a frightening realistic story and a movie so fun you'll want to watch it over and over, even if you're not stranded at an Arctic research station. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

Chet and Dee talk about some of the artistic and technical marvels that James Whale and company pull off to create this iconic work, and they also dive deeply into questions about what it means to be created and then rejected by both your creator and by the society into which you're born. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

A small-town doctor confronts an apparent case of mass hysteria: People think their neighbors and family members have been replaced by imposters. Chet and Dee talk about why this low-budget Sci-Fi film deserves to be ranked among the all-time greats. They discuss why this film was considered an allegory about communism or McCarthyism in the 1950s and what it might tell us today about humanity, conformity and polarization. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

Look, "The Shape of Water" is a wonderful film, but to more fully appreciate that story, you need to learn about the inspiration for Guillermo Del Toro's gill man. This SciFi/Horror classic from Universal Studios is still worth a look today, and we're here to help you enjoy it. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

For Dee's birthday, we take on the formidable task of commenting on her favorite movie and her favorite star of all time, Barbra Streisand. We discuss the fact and fiction in this biopic about the legendary Fanny Brice, and why both Fanny and Barbra serve as heroes to so many of us who don't quite look the part and don't want to follow the herd. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

With COVID-19 forcing  us all to practice social distancing, we're in the mood to watch films about other people who are even more miserable than we are. Chet and Dee start with a list of recommendations before getting to the main feature: the story of the only man to survive a global plague that turns its victims into zombie vampires. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

The Younger family members work low-wage jobs and are stuck in a tiny apartment, but they all dream of a better life. A life insurance settlement offers them a chance to improve their standing, but they can’t agree on the wisest way to use the money. The Civil Rights Act of 1968 is still several years in the future, which means they face all sorts of barriers that white Americans wouldn’t have to consider. Chet talks about how his family was staking its claim to the American Dream just as this movie was being made. Dee tells us why she’s now a Lorraine Hansberry stan. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

For Presidents Day, Chet and Dee make the executive decision to take on “All the President’s Men,” the 1976 thriller about how Washington Post reporters cracked open the criminal conspiracy behind the Watergate break-in. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman star in the film, directed by Alan Pakula and based on the book by reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

For Valentine’s Day, Chet and Dee take a deep look at a classic romance. They discuss what makes this film about memory so memorable, most notably Garson’s virtuous performance and Joseph Ruttenberg’s exquisite black and white cinematography. They also talk about wartime sacrifices, PTSD, the nature of identity and the tension between faith and fear among lovers. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

In the first of their two Valentine's Day-inspired shows, Chet and Dee discuss how love works—and sometimes doesn't—in the 1973 hit, "The Way We Were." Barbra Streisand was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of a political activist who... Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link

Chet Dee celebrate Super Bowl Sunday by looking back at their favorite football film—"Brian's Song" from 1971. Follow us and contact us on Twitter: @screeningroomCD Instagram: @screeningroomwithchetanddee Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210852346666226/?ref=share_group_link