Watching Classic Movies Podcast--Authors of Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère

 

Eleanor Powell was Hollywood’s best female tapper, but she isn’t nearly as well known as screen hoofers like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. With their book Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance my guests Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère are working to fix that cultural oversight. Having been dancers themselves, they offer a fascinating perspective on this one-of-a-kind star’s style. We talked about the uniquely skilled Powell, who was as engaging as a person as she was a performer, and Paula and Lisa’s own relationship with her in her later years.

 

Connect with Paula and Lisa: 

Facebook page 

Facebook group 

Instagram  

Website 

Paula’s Twitter/X: @PMBroussard 

Lisa’s Twitter/X: @pamelisa 

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On YouTube: Christmas in Classic Movies

 

There are many common themes and characteristics when it comes to Christmas in classic movies (Santa, gifts, trees with SO much tinsel), but there are also several ways vintage Hollywood films play with the idea of what the holiday should look like and how people feel about it. This compilation shows both those familiar patterns and the more rebellious points of view. 

Watching Classic Movies Podcast: The Turbulent, Remarkable Life of Veronica Lake with Brian Brown

While the actress Veronica Lake dealt with her share of trauma, her life was not quite the tragedy that it has long been rumored to be. Before she hit her mid-twenties she had appeared in six bonafide classic films, including Sullivan’s Travels, three noirs with Alan Ladd starting with This Gun for Hire, I Married a Witch and So Proudly We Hail. She left Hollywood behind, but never stopped working on the stage and in television, while pursuing the life she was unable to have as a young star. I spoke with UCLA Cinema and Media Studies Program Manager and Lake enthusiast and researcher Brian Brown about the highs and lows of this remarkable actress. 

For more great Veronica Lake content, follow Brian on Twitter 

Titles discussed: 

Sullivan’s Travels (1941) 

This Gun for Hire (1942) 

The Glass Key (1942) 

I Married a Witch (1942) 

So Proudly We Hail (1943) 

The Blue Dahlia (1946) 

Ramrod (1947) 

The Sainted Sisters (1948)

Slattery’s Hurricane (1949) 

The show is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, PocketCasts, Google, and Radio Public

Like the podcast? Want to hear more frequent episodes? Subscriptions are as low as 99 cents a month

You can also support my work on ko-fi