エピソード

  • Barbara Loden, Wanda, and Frankenstein

    Barbara Loden, Wanda, and Frankenstein
    2025/06/14
    As the BFI mounts a season celebrating the quiet brilliance of Barbara Loden, we revisit Wanda (1970), her singular and haunting feature that slipped between the cracks of American film history. Elena Gorfinkel, curator and author of the new BFI Film Classic on Wanda, joins us to consider Loden’s legacy — and why it’s taken so long for the world to catch up. Plus: as Guillermo del Toro readies his own retelling of Frankenstein, hosts Benjamin Wilson and Dash Silva return to James Whale’s 1931 version — a lean, expressionistic masterpiece that departed sharply from Mary Shelley’s original vision. What was lost in the translation? And what did Whale, a master of stagecraft and shadows, bring to the myth?

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    27 分
  • Wicked, Downton Abbey, and the case for comfort viewing

    Wicked, Downton Abbey, and the case for comfort viewing
    2025/06/07
    The broomsticks are back. The trailer for "Wicked: For Good" has landed, reuniting Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the second act of Broadway’s glittering megahit. While some critics remain unconvinced, our hosts Benjamin Wilson and Dash Silva beg to differ. Yes, it’s glossy, yes, it’s mainstream, but is that really such a sin? Also: the Earl of Grantham returns. "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" readies its final curtain call with a new film on the way, promising more upstairs-downstairs intrigue and silver tray sophistication. It’s not cinema at its most daring, but is it the televisual equivalent of a roast dinner on a rainy Sunday afternoon? We say: yes, and more please. From emerald cities to English manors, this episode asks whether there’s still a place for the sweeping, the sentimental, and the unapologetically comfortable on screen.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    28 分
  • Romantic comedies, Fantômas, and The Manchurian Candidate

    Romantic comedies, Fantômas, and The Manchurian Candidate
    2025/05/24
    Are romantic comedies finding their home on the small screen? As Meg Ryan signs on to Too Much, Lena Dunham’s upcoming Netflix series, Benjamin Wilson and Dashiel Silva explore whether the genre is undergoing a long-form revival — and what that shift means for cinema as we know it. Plus: the newly restored 1913 serial Fantômas — all inky shadows and theatrical intrigue — reminds us how early cinema shaped everything from film noir to comic book heroes. And a cold and calculating turn from Angela Lansbury in The Manchurian Candidate. We consider why her performance remains one of the most haunting — and subversive — in film history.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    30 分
  • Introducing: Dorothyland

    Introducing: Dorothyland
    2025/05/01

    This week on At the Pictures, we’re taking a short break for the Bank Holiday — time to enjoy a little sunshine here in Soho. But before we disappear into the weekend, we’re sharing a special preview of a new series: Dorothyland.


    Marking 100 years since the release of the original Ben-Hur, the series begins with the story of Ramon Novarro — one of Hollywood’s first great leading men, and a quietly radical figure whose identity defied the norms of his era.


    While conversations about diversity in cinema often feel distinctly modern, Dorothyland reveals a forgotten history of queer creatives who helped shape popular culture from the very beginning.


    Dorothyland is coming soon. Tune in now for a sneak peek, and we’ll return next week with a fresh edition of At the Pictures.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    4 分
  • Fleischer cartoons back on the big screen and Oscar voting changes

    Fleischer cartoons back on the big screen and Oscar voting changes
    2025/04/25
    Long before the rise of digital effects and billion-dollar franchises, the surreal cartoon shorts of Fleischer Studios brought Popeye, Betty Boop, and Superman to life with inky charm and urban wit. As the BFI prepares to screen a beautifully restored series, we explore the enduring legacy of Max Fleischer with his granddaughter, Jane Fleischer Reid. Plus: the Oscars is finally requiring voters to watch the films they’re voting on. Artist, illustrator, and resident Oscars obsessive Dash Silva joins a lively conversation about awards-season absurdities and the curious culture of the Academy.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    30 分
  • Mr Bingo and Godzilla

    Mr Bingo and Godzilla
    2025/04/10
    Where do good ideas really come from—and must they always be new? As Hollywood faces renewed accusations of creative fatigue, we investigate the origins of originality with special guest Mr Bingo, the celebrated artist and provocateur known for turning irreverence into an art form. And while the industry hunts for the next big thing, one icon refuses to go quietly. With nearly forty films under his belt, Godzilla is returning once again. But why does the monster still resonate—and what does his enduring appeal tell us about the power of reinvention?

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    22 分
  • Sebastian director Mikko Mäkelä, Four Mothers star James McArdle and director Darren Thornton

    Sebastian director Mikko Mäkelä, Four Mothers star James McArdle and director Darren Thornton
    2025/04/03
    What happens when sex becomes just another side hustle? We speak with writer-director Mikko Mäkelä about Sebastian, a provocative new film exploring the blurred lines of intimacy, desire, and transaction in the digital age. Plus, the director and star of Four Mothers join us to discuss their sharp yet tender comedy about family, obligation, and the unique — sometimes fraught — relationships gay men share with their mothers. All that, and a little cinematic elegance.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    29 分
  • Black Bag, Snow White, and I Know Where I'm Going

    Black Bag, Snow White, and I Know Where I'm Going
    2025/03/27
    Disney’s "Snow White" was a $250 million gamble and it's off to a shaky start. Benjamin and Karen ask whether the controversy could signal a turning point in the studio’s live-action strategy. Plus: Steven Soderbergh’s "Black Bag" has all the hallmarks of a sleek spy thriller, so why is it struggling to find its audience? And revisiting "I Know Where I’m Going", a British classic that sweeps you away to the windswept Scottish isles—whether you’re ready or not.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    27 分