Yesteryear Ballyhoo Revue

Ep. 159: China (1943) or ‘The History of High Adventure Part II’

Zach welcomes back Ballyhoo contributors Matt Willocks (Pulp Cinematic Universe) & Ken Sowder for another thrilling chapter in the journey through the history of the high adventure genre as they unpack the gripping 1943 John Farrow wartime film, CHINA. Grab your adventure hat and join the trio as they unpack the historical context surrounding China’s history during WWII, dive deep into the films plot and how it balances thrilling action with gripping drama, marvel at production stories surrounding the film and the talents that brought it to screen, reckon with the films forward thought & simultaneous backward thinking in portrayal of Asian characters, and finally settle upon the many ways the film has influenced the world of film today and its impact on the eventual creation of Indiana Jones. PLUS: We adore Sen Yung as 3rd Brother and we dare you to find a better character in the film than him To access Production & Historic Contextual notes from this discussion, visit the Ballyhoo’s research page at the link here: https://ballyhoorevuepodcast.com/research-page/

Noir Mondia- Ch. XI: Diva (1981)

Rashmi & Zach continue their Police Noir unit with a stop in France and a time jump to 1981 where they unpack the grittiest crime story involving media piracy and bread buttering, Jean-Jacques Beineix’s DIVA Tune into to hear the duo unpack how Beineix weaves old trick of noir under a color fueled new spirit that pushes the limits of noir even further than the golden age!

Ep. 158: Laurel & Hardy Vol. 2- Another Fine Fest

Zach welcomes back Pod Pal Robert Stroude for another round of Laurel & Hardy shorts with their on going film festival, ANOTHER FINE FEST. Tune in for more production stories surrounding the making of these comedy classics, exploration into the sub-topic of Laurel & Hardy remaking silent efforts for the dawn of sound, and where all of these films rank for ourselves and the fandom at large. PLUS: Does Robert Bloch owe Stan Laurel royalties? Shorts in Order of Discussion: The Battle of the Century (1927): https://youtu.be/LpYw8h1Y0TU?si=iahjsPHg_rINx1Yo Big Business (1929): https://youtu.be/TtMP9377Ku4?si=fGtOr2o4CH7n0T2L Double Whoopee (1929):https://youtu.be/1JDwYVwyv0g?si=1RuhJx2fBwuurBVt Duck Soup (1927): https://youtu.be/rw9uXurEX9M?si=qVJAYG31tuYwLAbk Another Fine Mess (1930):https://youtu.be/rnXXM5WsKDg?si=NvyJMp5dFEttEkHq Love ‘Em and Weep (1927): https://youtu.be/vMh_U3FH96E?si=YAFECt_ic98qplvj Chickens Come Home (1931): https://youtu.be/IP–S4g3-WY?si=xyHw4B6luVwmRAcv The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case (1930): https://youtu.be/4NCfkR1EtQA?si=56qQ3l9dpwpMsvXb Night Owls (1930): https://youtu.be/CnTP3j01K_E?si=FMQvVjpIwyje7WMh Thicker Than Water (1935): https://youtu.be/SYa6Ne_vPd0?si=umVBMTAZ3ifiymn_ The Fixer-Uppers (1935): https://youtu.be/VRi4L1QF_gA?si=otoh4BhycbzVSm5_ Be sure to follow Rob’s adventure covering all the Mickey Mouse theatrical shorts with his brand new Substack, ‘My Year With Mickey’ : https://myyearwithmickey.substack.com/p/my-year-with-mickey

Ep. 157: Top Hat (1935) or ‘Feathers… I Hate Feathers’

Zach welcomes film blogger Zoë Kaperonis (The Film Around the Corner) aboard a gondola that takes them straight to art deco Italy in their top hats and white ties as they unpack the 1935  Astaire & Rogers classic, TOP HAT! Settle in as the two delve into the origins of the Astaire & Rogers partnership, marvel at the preparation and choreography courtesy of Hermes Pan, giggle along to plot that thankfully doesn’t make sense, worship at the altars of Edward Everett Horton & Eric Blore, and then finally settle upon the many ways films like Top Hat have shaped the film landscape we see today. —— Be sure to follow Zoë’s Golden Age Hollywood journey through her fabulous blog, THE FILM AROUND THE CORNER: https://thefilmaroundthecorner.substack.com Her latest entry, as it happens, covers one of Jack Benny’s craziest films and her thoughts on it are well worth the read here: https://thefilmaroundthecorner.substack.com/p/college-holiday-1936 And give her a follow on Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefilmaroundthecorner?igsh=MWFjcXZvMDVyZDVsZw== Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/zgkap.bsky.social

Noir Mondial- Ch. X: Stray Dog (1949)

Rashmi & Zach continue their Police Noir unit by traveling back to Japan and the world of Kurosawa as they unpack his phenomenal 1949 noir, STRAY DOG Tune in to learn more about the production of the film and to follow our hosts as they unpack how Kurosawa takes contemporary Noir influence to create his own influential classic. Plus: We talk about how sexy Toshiro Mifune is. Like a lot. You have been warned.