Podcasts for Classic Film Fans: January Round-up

This month I got spent some time getting caught up with episodes that had been on my list for a while. It was a great reminder that a lot of the content on these shows is evergreen and worthy of picking up long after they first post and even occasionally being revisited. Episode titles link to the shows:

For Colored Nerds 

Black Film Archive 

December 13, 2021 

Maya Cade of the Criterion Collection talks about her amazing side project: The Black Film Archive. It’s a free online directory of black films from 1915-1979 with notes about the films and information where to stream them (all titles can be streamed). It’s a gorgeous site with an overwhelming number of treasures and it was fun to learn more about how it came together.

Cinema Junkie 

Talking Noir Dames with the Nitrate Diva

December 17, 2021 

This is a great talk with noir expert Nora Fiores about the different kinds of women in film noir. They aren’t all femme fatales. It’s a good place for those new to noir to find viewing suggestions, but as one who has seen dozens of flicks in the genre, I found a few new-to-me titles to try.

The Video Essay Podcast 

On Your Screen: The Rise of Film TikTok 

June 19, 2021 

I’m more into making Reels on Instagram myself, but I loved learning about Film TikTok and how new film fans are using it to share their cinematic passions.

Unspooled 

In the Heat of the Night 

December 26, 2018 

I enjoyed this episode from a few years back that was reposted upon the passing of Sidney Poitier. The first half focuses on the film, including the many ways Poitier’s performance was groundbreaking and of his own making. Activist DeRay Mckesson joins in the second half for a discussion about the way social issues can be folded into films which are both effective and entertaining. There's also a great interview with Lee Grant.