In this special Halloween episode, I am joined by author Jessica Raney to discuss the quality and long-lasting influence of two of Universal Studio’s classic monster movies - The Invisible Man from 1933 and The Wolf Man from 1941.
Emmanuelle Perryman (that’s me) is the host and producer of The Reel Woman: A podcast about all things cinematic. I earned a degree in Cinema Studies from The City College of New York and have spent the last 20 years working in a variety of film-related jobs in New York, Los Angeles, and Detroit. I’ve taught film to both adults and school-age children, interned at the Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals as well as in the Film Department of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Over the years I have gained many friends and acquaintances who are involved, in various ways, in film, music, fashion, academia, and politics. I’am thrilled now to have them join me as guests on my podcast to discuss our shared love of movies and talk about the ones that have inspired and influenced them.
A conversation with writer and photographer Mark Vieira about Hollywood’s Pre-Code era films of 1930-1934. Why did the era begin? and what brought it to such an abrupt end? We look at some of the stars of the period such as Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, Norma Shearer, Jean Harlow, and Mae West. As well as some of the movies that defined the period, including but not limited to, The Divorcee, Red-Headed Woman, She Done Him Wrong, and Baby Face. Click on the title Forbidden Hollywood: The Pre-Code Years 1930-1934 to purchase on Amazon or visit his website: markavieira.com
A discussion with Dr. Christopher Ames, the president of Russell Sage College, about his book “Movies About The Movies: Hollywood Reflected”. We focus on two movies from his book - Preston Sturges’ Sullivan’s Travels (1942), and Gene Kelly, and Stanley Donen’s Singin’ In The Rain (1952). We also look at two movies not in his book - Michel Hazanavicius’ black and white, mostly silent Best Picture winner The Artist (2011), and the Coen Bros.’ Hail, Caesar! (2016). What do these movies say about Hollywood? What do these movies say about America? And why are movies about Hollywood and the moviemaking process so popular?
Intimacy coordinator Ann James joins me to discuss the burgeoning field of intimacy coordination. What is it? What’s the history? The training, and what she’s doing to diversify the field.
Michael Niederman and Daniel McCoy, the hosts of Whiskey Flicks Live, join me to talk about three cult films that have a basis in Greek Mythology. Films discussed are The Warriors (1979), Xanadu (1980), and Clash of the Titans (1981). We get into the hair, the outfits, and the music. We try to figure out what subway The Warriors use to get back to Coney Island and of course the magic and charm of Gene Kelly.
In this episode, I talk with author Jessica Raney about John Fowles’ book The Collector and Thomas Harris’ book The Silence of the Lambs. We also get into both of their film adaptations - William Wyler’s The Collector and Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs. We discuss the serial killers at the center of each story, their victims…and what the deal is with all those butterflies.
In this episode, I talk with author John Oller about his biography of Jean Arthur entitled Jean Arthur: The Actress Nobody Knew. Mr. Oller’s biography was hailed by Leonard Maltin as “An exceptional piece of work.” We discuss Jean Arthur’s rise to fame and her career in Hollywood. The focus is on her work with directors Howard Hawks, Frank Capra, and George Stevens. Click on the title above to purchase from Amazon.
From 1970 to 1972, Anne Perryman, my mother, traveled through Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. She was a freelance journalist and she joins me — to discuss the 1984 film The Killing Fields — about real-life journalists and photographers (some of whom she knew) in Cambodia from 1973 to 1979. Anne shares stories and a unique insight into the film.
Former high-school film teacher (and my cousin) Nate Duell and I discuss the 1937 Fritz Lang film You Only Live Once starring Henry Fonda and Sylvia Sydney. We explore its place in film history as an influential forerunner to the Film Noir genre and style.
After a longer than expected hiatus, The Reel Woman is back with the always lovely Dr. Victoria Amador. Victoria has returned to talk about the biography she has written about the great Classic Hollywood actress Dame Olivia de Havilland. Click the title to purchase Victoria’s book Olivia de Haviland: Lady Triumphant from Amazon.
In this episode, I talk with Casey Herd, former principal dancer, with the Dutch National Ballet. Casey is currently working on a YouTube docuseries called Ballet Rising. With the series, Casey and his crew are focusing on the emergence of classical ballet in the most unique places.
Filmmaker Tinisha Brugnone talks about how a spontaneous tour of Idlewild, Michigan, not only led to her documentary film With Love From Idlewild but to the creation of the Idlewild International Film Festival.
In this episode, I talk with performance artist Satori Circus, a native Detroiter who has been attracting audiences since 1988. He is now the topic of a new documentary Being Satori Circus. We talk about his over 30-year career as an avant-garde entertainer and what it’s like to be the center of a documentary.
In August of 2019 I met and talked with documentary filmmakers Rick Minnich and Matt Sweetwood in Potsdam, Germany about their current film The Strait Guys, about a plan to build a tunnel under the Bering Strait.
In this episode, I talk with dancer, choreographer, and arts educator Haleem ‘Stringz’ Rasul about his documentary The Jitterbugs: Pioneers of Jit about the creators of a unique Detroit dance style called Jit. The documentary is available on Amazon.
My, now annual, Halloween episode of season two looks at the connection between comedy and horror. My guest Jason Zumwalt and I talk about both classic and contemporary comedy/horror films such as Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Cabin in the Woods (2012) and Get Out (2017). Jason is a screenwriter who works in both the comedy and horror genres.
In this episode I talk with vintage clothing aficionado Ramona Dandridge about some of Hollywood’s most iconic looks. Ramona Dandridge owns an online vintage clothing store called Flossy’s Suitcase and her vintage clothing expertise is in high demand. She consults for private clients and has recently joined forces with AirBnB to lead a vintage clothing store tour of Detroit. We will be discussing three of her favorite high fashion films and their relevance in 2019. Movies discussed: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Mahogany, and Harlem Nights.
In this episode, I speak with documentary filmmaker James Spooner on his groundbreaking film afro-punk (2003). We cover his experience in the punk scene, the genesis of the movie, the production, reception, and the movement it has spawned. The movie is available to watch on YouTube.
In this episode I speak with my cousin Nate Duell, a former high school film teacher and all-around film buff. We talk about our favorite movies from directors Billy Wilder and Ernst Lubitsch. Focus is on Some Like it Hot, The Apartment, The Shop Around the Corner and Ninotchka.
Maggie Mackay is the Executive Director of the legendary film archive Vidiots. She’s also been my friend since middle school. In this episode we discuss two iconic films from the 1990s - Point Break and Thelma & Louise.