You're Missing Out: A National Film Registry Podcast

"Time...marches on..." Josh Shepperd, author of Shadow of the New Deal, joins the show to talk about the powerful propaganda piece Inside Nazi Germany, an installment of the influential newsreel series The March of Time. The first major Hollywood film to take an explicitly anti-Nazi stance, the short stands as a testament to the power of the visual medium during wartime, and its ability to both present, and manipulate, the truth.

"I know something about this dog. She's going somewhere - she's on her way." Hunter Robinson, the host of the Tumbleweeds and TV Cowboys podcast, joins the show to talk about one of the biggest movie stars in cinema history. No, not John Wayne, it's Lassie. We'll talk about the massive Lassie franchise, the dog star at the heart of the film, and even share a personal family connection to the four-legged hero of Hollywood.

“I like the dark. It's friendly.” – Cat People (1942) This week, we turn the lights low with special guest Rebecca Rozenberg, Publicity Manager at Simon & Schuster, who brings insight honed from working with bestselling authors and deep industry experience. Together, we dive into Jacques Tourneur and Val Lewton’s Cat People, a landmark psychological horror film that uses suggestion, shadow, and sound to terrify far more than it shows. Rebecca helps us unpack how this low-budget classic redefined horror through restraint, atmosphere, and subtext, and why its themes of transformation, identity, and repression still echo today. Cat People continues to loom large over genre filmmaking and remains revered for its chilling economy.

“If only the wind would stop!” – The Wind (1928) This week, we return to the silent era with a full-length commentary track for Victor Sjöström’s haunting 1928 drama The Wind. Starring Lillian Gish in one of her most intense and vulnerable performances, the film tells the story of a woman slowly unraveling on the harsh, wind-swept plains of the American frontier. As we watch along, we unpack the film’s eerie atmosphere, groundbreaking visual effects, and the psychological complexity that makes The Wind one of the final—and finest—masterpieces of the silent era. It’s a slow-burn descent into isolation, madness, and survival, and a striking example of how silent cinema could deliver deeply cinematic storytelling without a single spoken word.

“I just had the unpleasant sensation of hearing you referred to as my husband.” – It Happened One Night (1934) This week, returning guest Andrew Daniels joins us to break down the original screwball sensation: Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night. As the first film to ever sweep the “Big Five” Oscars, this charming romantic comedy set the template for the genre, with pitch-perfect performances from Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, and enough innuendo, wit, and roadside bickering to fuel decades of imitators. We explore how Capra’s Depression-era romance struck a chord with audiences, changed the course of Hollywood stardom, and remains as irresistibly funny and tender today as it was in 1934.

In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Congressman Robert Mrazek, the man whose legislation led to the creation of the National Film Preservation Board. Without his efforts, the National Film Registry as we know it wouldn’t exist. Mrazek shares the inside story of how film preservation became a congressional priority, the cultural battles that shaped the legislation, and why preserving America’s cinematic heritage is a matter of national importance. From the first films selected to the political resistance he faced, this conversation is an essential companion to everything we cover on You’re Missing Out. If you’ve ever wondered how movies like Do the Right Thing, The Godfather, or Meshes of the Afternoon ended up in the National Film Registry, this is where it all started.

“’S Wonderful! ’S Marvelous!” – An American in Paris (1951) This week, we step into the dreamlike Technicolor world of An American in Paris with special guest Arlene Hellerman. A Publications Associate for Broadway Licensing Global, Arlene brings a multifaceted perspective shaped by a career spanning theatre, film, television, broadcast news, and print journalism. Together, we explore how Vincente Minnelli’s 1951 musical turned Gershwin’s music and Gene Kelly’s choreography into a lavish cinematic spectacle—culminating in one of the most ambitious ballet sequences in film history.

“You are mine—body and soul!” – The Cheat (1915) This week, we’re traveling back to 1915 with returning guests Amanda Rush and Jae Kim for a deep dive into Cecil B. DeMille’s The Cheat. A landmark of early American cinema, The Cheat helped shape visual storytelling through its pioneering use of lighting, editing, and narrative tension. But alongside its technical innovation lies a deeply troubling legacy—particularly in its portrayal of race and power. Amanda and Jae help us unpack the film’s lasting influence, Sessue Hayakawa’s complex role in Hollywood history, and how The Cheat fits into the broader conversation about preserving films that reflect both the artistry and the prejudices of their time.