Strangers On A Train Of Thought: A Film Noir Podcast: Recent Episodes
Paul Sterling/Steve Furness
A labor of love. Unpretentious discussions of forgotten films noir by two life-long film fans and friends. Paul and Steve lead you through the dark and dangerous underbelly of cinema, discussing the stories and characters, adding insight into the talent in front of and behind the camera.
This week, Paul and Steve chat about the science fiction noir classic, "Blade Runner." They discuss its themes, the questions the film poses, and what makes it a film noir.
Though many refer to "Chinatown" as a neo-noir, Paul and Steve think it's classic noir with a dark, mean twist. They chat about the film, it's characters, their motivations, and why they think of it as one of the greatest pieces of cinema to emerge from Hollywood.
The screen sizzles with lust and tension as Lana Turner and John Garfield hatch a murder plot. There's no redemption down this dark alley. Paul and Steve discuss what makes "The Postman Always Rings Twice" such an enduring film noir.
Apologies for the tardiness of this week's episode. Paul and Steve saddle up and take on the western/noir classic, "Pursused," masterfully directed by Raoul Walsh. Starring: Robert Mitchum, Teresa Wright, Judith Anderson, Dean Jagger, Alan Hale, Harry Carey Jr.
In this episode, Paul and Steve talk about a youthful filmmaking genius cutting his teeth on rock solid noir. The genius was Stanley Kubrick and the film is "Killer's Kiss."
In this episode, Paul and Steve take another excursion down the side streets to discuss the silent film classic "Blood and Sand," starring Rudolph Valentino. Is it a proto film noir, or a melodrama with a few noirish elements? They discuss this and the life of Valentino.
This week, Paul and Steve discuss a film that some have argued is the very first noir, "I Wake Up Screaming" from 1941. Starring: Victor Mature, Betty Grable, Laird Cregar, and Carole Landis.
In their first (and possibly last) double feature, Paul and Steve once again walk down the wet cobblestone streets of Victorian London for two glorified "gaslight noirs."
In this episode, Paul and Steve face a bit of a conundrum: while it may be said that "Hangover Square" is firmly rooted in film noir, there's exists also a pervading sense of cosmic dread and horror lurking within its runtime. Could this be, perhaps Lovecraftian? They discuss this and much more. Starring: Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, George Sanders, Faye Marlowe.
A deadly hitman with nothing to lose.... A beautiful nightclub entertainer who's on a secret mission... such is the plot of This Gun for Hire. Paul and Steve plumb the depths of this noir feast. Starring: Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, and Laird Cregar.
Can film noir and the western genres co-exist? It's a debated topic within the community of cinephiles, but Paul and Steve believe that both genres, under the right conditions, can thrive together. "Station West" is a perfect example of the noir western. Starring Dick Powell and Jane Greer.
In this episode of Side Streets, Paul and Steve discuss Bob Hope's noir parody My Favorite Brunette. Starring: Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Peter Lorre, Lon Chaney Jr.
Paul and Steve go behind bars with some of noir's most malicious mugs in this surprisingly shocking prison break picture. Starring: Broderick Crawford, William Talman, Reed Hadley, Lon Chaney Jr., Charles Bronson.
This week, Paul and Steve investigate the nearly perfect Otto Preminger picture, Laura. They discuss what they believe it's really about, as well as their mutual love of all things Vincent Price. Starring: Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price, Judith Anderson.
Side Streets is a supplemental episode of Strangers on a Train of Thought. On this first episode, Paul and Steve talk about the 1957 Mike Hammer film, My Gun is Quick. Paul and Steve think that Robert Bray could be the best screen version of Hammer.
This week, Paul and Steve talk about the 1952 film Sudden Fear, as well as what it was that made Joan Crawford the ultimate movie star. Starring: Joan Crawford, Jack Palance, Gloria Graham, and Mike Connors.
Paul and Steve investigate the horrors of atomic paranoia in the 1955 classic, Kiss Me Deadly. Starring: Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Cloris Leachman, and Gaby Rodgers.
Paul and Steve walk down the dark streets of 1931 San Francisco, discussing the very first adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's iconic novel, The Maltese Falcon. Starring: Ricardo Cortez, Bebe Daniel, Dudley Digges, Una Merkel, and Thelma Todd.
In episode three, Paul and Steve take a look at the much overlooked film adaptation of Dragnet from 1954. Starring: Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Richard Boone, and Ann Robinson.
Episode 2 sees Paul and Steve discuss in detail the 1959 crime caper noir "Guns Girls and Gangsters." Starring: Mamie Van Doren, Gerald Mohr, and Lee Van Cleef.
In this first episode, Paul and Steve discuss the underseen 1951 noir, Cry Danger. Starring: Dick Powell, Rhonda Fleming, Richard Erdman, Regis Toomey.