The Old Soul Movie Podcast

We are joined by Vincent Casaregola, Ph.D. of St. Louis University to discuss one of the most groundbreaking movements in cinematic history: The New Hollywood. We've all heard of Old Hollywood, but what is THIS time period about? In the mid 1960s through early 1980s, a new generation of filmmakers emerged, challenging the old studio system and pushing the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. This era captured great creativity and innovation, producing some of the most iconic and influential films ever made. Between new business models, auteur directors, and parameters of freedom, moviegoers were able to experience a different kind of storytelling that hadn't quite been seen like this before. Dr. Casaregola walks us through the landscape of movies and competing television programming, changes in the business world and social movements, key figures making their way to the silver screen, prominent content of these films, and SO MUCH MORE! Tune in to understand the legacy of this historical period.

Boo! We have a special Halloween bonus treat for you, Old Soul family! 🎃 Join in our midnight jamboree and prepare to be spooked as we revisit Disney's animated classic "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" from the feature The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949). We curl up to the chilling tale of Ichabod Crane (who isn't the poor, nice guy everyone thinks he is...) as he woos heiress Katrina Van Tassel, competes for her affections with the brawny Brom Bones, and tries to elude the cursed Headless Horseman- a malevolent spirit seeking out a top to chop 👀 With the autumnal atmosphere and Bing Crosby's silky storytelling, we think this is the perfect October 31st watch. We uncover hidden details and discuss the enduring legacy of this spooky underrated masterpiece. So when you're riding home tonight Make for the bridge with all your might He'll be down in the hollow there He needs your head, look out, beware With a hip-hip and a clippity-clop He's out looking for a head to swap So don't try to figure out a plan You can't reason with a headless man...

Happy Autumn! We are ready for all things creepy, kooky, thrilling, and chilling this season...and what better way to kick it off than covering a horror story classic: Dr, Jekyll and Mr. Hyde! For this special episode, we are joined by Westmore family historian and great granddaughter of Ern Westmore: Christiana Benson. Christiana walks us through the techniques Wally Westmore used in special effects makeup to transform goodhearted doctor Dr. Jekyll into his evil persona Mr. Hyde. Once a heavily guarded cinema secret, we uncover all innovative artistry that made this look one of the most referenced of all time for this iconic character. We dissect our favorite scenes, brilliant acting by Fredric March and fellow cast members, and deeper meanings of this allegorical tale. What's your favorite interpretation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Do you have any must-watches this fall? Reach out and let us know at @oldsoulmoviepodcast on Instagram! To learn more about Christiana's family, please visit www.westmoresofhollywood.com or follow Christiana on Instagram @cbenson015

It’s the mother of all screwball comedies…that’s right, we’re covering Bringing Up Baby (1938)! In celebration of Katharine Hepburn’s 117th birthday, we cover this classic romantic funny flick starring fabulous leading lady Katharine and one-of-a-kind leading man Cary Grant. With our guest host Colin Campbell, we break down the art of the screwball comedy and walk through our favorite laugh-out-loud scenes of this tale about a flighty heiress roping in a high-strung paleontologist to care for her pet leopard, Baby, while he attempts to secure a $1 million donation for his museum from her rich aunt. This beloved Howard Hawks film has inspired endless films through today and we are thrilled to finally give it its chance to shine! Huge special thank you again to Colin for sharing your wonderful insights! Can’t wait to have you on again :)

Happy Spring! What better way to kick off a new season of Old Soul than by covering one of the most beloved children's movies of all time? That's right, we're hopping aboard our fine, four-fendered friend to a magical world of zany inventions, storytelling, and Vulgarian oddities. Caractacus Potts (although we do get wild with variations of his name pronunciation lol) is a down-on-his-luck single father of two little ones who become enamored with a retired (and quite broken down) champion race car. With the help of candy heiress Truly Scrumptious, this family finds fun and adventure in hopping between reality and dreams. We loved getting into the background of this wondrous tale (did you know it has ties to James Bond??) and what the landscape of movie musicals looked like in this era of Old Hollywood. Tune in to join us for the ride of a lifetime!

Before the holidays fully set in, we need to say farewell for now to our horror movie kick with special guest Lex Stewart! Lex walks us through their takes on famous horror tropes, plots, and iconography. Find out more about the meaning of final girls to zombies to possession flicks and more! And don't forget to reach out to us and let us know what your favorite horror movie is!

Join us for a cruise down the Nile as we explore another Agatha Christie classic adapted to the screen! We put on our detective hats and cross examine all the suspects of this murderous river boat cruise. Death on the Nile (1978) captures a fascinating time of a pop culture resurgence of Egypt and Egyptology interest, all while bringing to life one of the greatest literary detectives of all time: Hercule Poirot! Who killed the the dazzlingly beautiful and fabulously wealthy socialite Linnet Ridgeway? Tune in to find out!

Hello Old Soul Family! Long time no see... we have been SO busy in the exciting world of movie lovers, so our March Madness Tournament Winner episode is coming in a bit later than expected. But better late than never for this international adventure!! Spring is here and love is in the air. In this special, we cover Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn's one and only rom-com/mystery- Charade (1963)! In this French-set tale of thievery, spies, and love, a widow is pursued by several men who want the money her dead husband stole years ago! In what's dubbed "the greatest Hitchcock film Hitchcock never made" we explore the wonderful mastery of suspenses all while laughing along the way. Thank you for your patience! We can't wait to cover more audience-picked movies soon!

In this very special Old Soul episode we discuss the amazing worlds of Sci-Fi and Horror with Dr. Roger Solberg! Dr. Solberg is a Professor Emeritus of English at Pennsylvania Western University-Edinboro. Before retiring in June 2022 he taught at Edinboro since 1989. In addition to teaching Literature and Film courses, he is also a three-time Jeopardy! champion (aka he knows A LOT!). Dr. Solberg walks us through the earliest creations of Horror and Sci-Fi novels/novellas and the transition to adapting these works into early films. We overview some of his favorite features and how the genres have evolved throughout the years. We are so grateful to learn more from him on the highlights (and lowlights) of some of Hollywood's most creative, inventive films! *Films and novels discussed are listed in episode notes

Happy Ja-noir-y Old Soul Family! We are kicking off the New Year by visiting an Old Hollywood favorite...Double Indemnity (1944)! This sordid tale was unlike any other in its day. Between themes of murderous schemes (from the murderer's perspective), sexual temptation, and manipulation, this film set the gold standard of noir entertainment...all while pushing the production code guidelines. We revisit an old favorite topic of the PCA and how Double Indemnity (1944) marked a turning point in classic movies. The prolific Billy Wilder's first thriller is one you can never forget. So create an alibi and come conspire with us as we spy into the lives of Walter Neff, Keyes, and the Dietrichsons...

Obsession, mystery, and MURDER - all of these themes and more are covered in our latest episode: Laura (1944)! In Otto Preminger's classic noir, we uncover the drama behind-the-scenes and analyze how the story's onscreen tangled webs of truths and mistruths unfold. We are so excited to celebrate this Noirvember winner with you before the holidays!

This week, we are joined by Dr. Vincent Casaregola of Saint Louis University to discuss the iconic film From Here to Eternity (1953). While everyone is familiar with Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster's famous kiss on the beach, what you might not know is how the film explores masculinity, femininity, and military culture from James Jones's novel of the same name. Dr. Casaregola also walks us through various post-war written materials how they have been adapted to the screen from 1946 through today. We also break down the incredibly talented cast involved in our featured film and the dynamic work Burt Lancaster helped create during this era. *Note this episode discusses film content related to sexual violence which may be uncomfortable or triggering to audiences. Listener discretion is advised *Films, television features, and novels are listed in the episode notes