Book: The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy, published 1905. 11 sequels plus numerous short stories   Movie adaptations: Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), starring Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon- The BEST adaptation Pimpernel Smith (1941), Leslie Howard- Meh. The Elusive Pimpernel (1950), David Niven and Margaret Leighton- Rita hated, Xoe loved the surreal sets. The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982), Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour- Solid adaptation.   TV: Scarlet Pimpernel (1999)- Not very good.  

Foibles: A Mother-Daughter Podcast

Foibles Episode 29: ”That Demmed Elusive Pimpernel” The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

Experiences the child-like joy of gleaming muscles, flashing teeth, ill-timed explosions, and mayhem by the best of the worst.   Link to Ted's IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0697961/   Xoe and Rita's Top 7 Ted Prior Movies: Sledgehammer (1983) KILLZONE (1985) Born Killer (1989) Future Zone (1990) Raw Nerve (1991) Possessed by the Night (1994)** Day of the Warrior (1996)*   Honorable Mentions: Hardcase and Fist (1989) Raw Justice (1994) The Last House (2015)   *Xoe's unique pick **Rita's pick   Thanks as always to Powerbleeder for our theme song "Future Mind". Listen Here

Foibles Episode 28: The Prior Brothers, Genre Film‘s Born Killers

archy and mehitabel by don marquis is a collection of newspaper columns in verse without kapitalization or punctuation except occasionally  published between 1916 and 1936   filled with social and politikal commentary along with a very wry perspective on human foibles and the vagaries of life for all life forms   wonderful stylized illustrations by george herriman who wuz also the author of the krazy kat comics   first half of the full collection is highly recommended interest peters out in the second half   marquis's hit play old soak wuz definitely of it time its humor does not hold up at all   always speshial thanks to david plell and powerbleeder for our muzak

Foibles Episode 27: Archy and Mehitable- Toujours Gai

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells   All Systems Red - 2018 Nebula Award for Best Novella; 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novella; & 2018 American Library Association’s Alex Award; nominated for 2017 Philip K Dick Award   Artificial Condition - 2019 Hugo Award   Rogue Protocol   Exit Strategy   Network Effect   Fugitive Telemetry - Published in 2021. We have not read it yet   Read these in order! The 1st three following novellas had enough votes for the 2019 Hugo Award final ballot but Wells declined all nominations except for Artificial Condition, which won.   Thanks to David Plell with Powerbleeder for our theme Future Mind.

Foibles Episode 26: The Murderbot Diaries

Thanks for listening to the long saga of visionary film producer Val Lewton! This episode is a one-off, and the author only wrote two novels.   Mary Mapes Dodge (1831-1905)  Writer, editor, widow, single mother   She was instrumental in encouraging Rudyard Kipling to write The Jungle Book. She also published books of sketches and poems.   Novels: Donald and Dorothy (1883) Hans Brinker; or the Silver Skates (1865)   Special thanks to David Plell and Powerbleeder for the theme song "Future Mind"!

Foibles Episode 24: The Tinkling Prose of Mary Mapes Dodge

Special Thanks to Adam Roche for his excellently researched podcast The Secret History of Hollywood - Shadows. This is a multi-hour epic documentary about Val Lewton's life and work. https://www.attaboyclarence.com/the-secret-history-of-hollywood Val Lewton (1904-1951) (nee Vladimir Ivanovich Hofschneider in Imperial Russia; mother's maiden name was Leventon)   Top Four Must-See Val Lewton movies: 1) I Walked with Zombie 2) Cat People 3) Rita: The Ghost Ship; Xoe: The 7th Victim   Universal Studios horror classics: Frankenstein (1931) - starring Boris Karloff Dracula (1931) - starring Bela Lugosi The Black Cat (1941) - exemplar of Universal formula mixing equal parts of suspense/horror and comedy; directed by Albert Rogell, brother of Sid Rogell who was Val Lewton's boss for during his early career.   Lewton's filmography as producer: Cat People (1942) (Jacques Tourneur) I Walked with a Zombie (1943) (Tourneur) The Leopard Man (1943) (Tourneur)  7th Victim (1943) (Mark Robson)   The Ghost Ship (1943) (Robson) - Theme: Corruption caused by power/authority Curse of the Cat People (1944 (Gunther von Fritsch, Robert Wise) Mademoiselle Fifi (1944) (Wise)  Youth Runs Wild (1944) (Robson) The Body Snatcher (1945) (Wise)  Isle of the Dead (1945) (Wise)  Bedlam (1946) (Robson)  My Own True Love (1948) (Paramount) Please Believe Me (1950) (MGM) Apache Drums (1951) (Universal)   Intro and extro music: "Future mind" by Powerbleeder. Thanks David!

Foibles Episode 23 Pt. IV: Val Lewton- Fadeout

Special Thanks to Adam Roche for his excellently researched podcast The Secret History of Hollywood - Shadows. This is a multi-hour epic documentary about Val Lewton's life and work. https://www.attaboyclarence.com/the-secret-history-of-hollywood Val Lewton (1904-1951) (nee Vladimir Ivanovich Hofschneider in Imperial Russia; mother's maiden name was Leventon)   Top Four Must-See Val Lewton movies: 1) I Walked with Zombie 2) Cat People 3) Rita: The Ghost Ship; Xoe: The 7th Victim   Universal Studios horror classics: Frankenstein (1931) - starring Boris Karloff Dracula (1931) - starring Bela Lugosi The Black Cat (1941) - exemplar of Universal formula mixing equal parts of suspense/horror and comedy; directed by Albert Rogell, brother of Sid Rogell who was Val Lewton's boss for during his early career.   Lewton's filmography as producer: Cat People (1942) (Jacques Tourneur) I Walked with a Zombie (1943) (Tourneur) The Leopard Man (1943) (Tourneur)  7th Victim (1943) (Mark Robson)   The Ghost Ship (1943) (Robson) - Theme: Corruption caused by power/authority Curse of the Cat People (1944 (Gunther von Fritsch, Robert Wise) Mademoiselle Fifi (1944) (Wise)  Youth Runs Wild (1944) (Robson) The Body Snatcher (1945) (Wise)  Isle of the Dead (1945) (Wise)  Bedlam (1946) (Robson)  My Own True Love (1948) (Paramount) Please Believe Me (1950) (MGM) Apache Drums (1951) (Universal)   Intro and extro music: "Future mind" by Powerbleeder. Thanks David!    

Foibles Episode 23 Pt. III: Val Lewton- The End of the Golden Age

Link to "Shame & Scandal (In the Family):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJyVB_sqh3E   Val Lewton (1904-1951) (nee Vladimir Ivanovich Hofschneider in Imperial Russia; mother's maiden name was Leventon)   Top Four Must-See Val Lewton movies: 1) I Walked with Zombie 2) Cat People 3) Rita: The Ghost Ship; Xoe: The 7th Victim   Universal Studios horror classics: Frankenstein (1931) - starring Boris Karloff Dracula (1931) - starring Bela Lugosi The Black Cat (1941) - exemplar of Universal formula mixing equal parts of suspense/horror and comedy; directed by Albert Rogell, brother of Sid Rogell who was Val Lewton's boss for during his early career.   Lewton's filmography as producer: Cat People (1942) (Jacques Tourneur) I Walked with a Zombie (1943) (Tourneur) The Leopard Man (1943) (Tourneur)  7th Victim (1943) (Mark Robson)   The Ghost Ship (1943) (Robson) - Theme: Corruption caused by power/authority Curse of the Cat People (1944 (Gunther von Fritsch, Robert Wise) Mademoiselle Fifi (1944) (Wise)  Youth Runs Wild (1944) (Robson) The Body Snatcher (1945) (Wise)  Isle of the Dead (1945) (Wise)  Bedlam (1946) (Robson)  My Own True Love (1948) (Paramount) Please Believe Me (1950) (MGM) Apache Drums (1951) (Universal)   Intro and extro music: "Future mind" by Powerbleeder. Thanks David!

Foibles Episode 23 Pt. II: Val Lewton- Women in the Shadows

Notes Forthcoming:   Val Lewton joins RKO and produces his first masterpiece for the horror division with Jaques Tourneur (dir.) and Simone "The Tender Savage" Simone: Cat People (1942)   Intro and extro music: "Future mind" by Powerbleeder. Thanks David!  

Foibles Episode 23 Pt. I: Val Lewton and The Dark Subconcious

MILDRED PIERCENovel: Mildred Pierce by James M Cain, 1941. Still entertaining Film: Mildred Pierce (1947) - starring Joan Crawford, Ann Blythe, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden - The classic holds up Miniseries: Mildred Pierce (2011) 5 episodes - starring Kate Winslet, Evan Rachel Wood, Guy Pearce - Atmospheric, well-acted and directed, a little too slow because there is not enough material from the novel to fill 5 episodes. Reccomended movies mentioned:The Bad Seed (1956)The Babadook (2014)Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)Duel in the Sun (1946)

Foibles Episode 22: Mildred Pierce: Good Mother or Martyr?

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte   Stay tuned for the discussion on how much we hate St. John Rivers, the significance of Rochester's mad wife Bertha, Jane Eyre erotica, and more!   Books:Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855), 1847.The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, 2001. (Alternate universe in which the criminal enters great novels andchanges the plot. The protagonist, Thursday Next, is a detective in the literary police.) The Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys Adaptations:Jane Eyre (1934) - starring Virginia Bruce and Colin Clive.I Walked with a Zombie (1943, very loose adaptation) starring Frances Dee and Tom Conway.Jane Eyre (1944) - starring Joan Fontaine and Orson Wells.Jane Eyre (1970) - starring Susannah York and George C Scott.Jane Eyre (1983 - 5 1/2-hour BBC series) - starring Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton.Jane Eyre (1996) - starring Charlotte Gainsbourgh and William Hurt.Jane Eyre (1997) - starring Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds.Jane Eyre (2006 - 4-hour BBC series) - starring Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens.Jane Eyre (2011) - starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbinder.

Foibles Episode 21 Pt. III: Jane Eyre- Screen Rochesters Rated

We made a newsflash about COVID to tell you we will not be talking much about COVID, but we hope each and every one of you are as well as possible!  Take care everyone

Foibles PSA Regarding COVID-19

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte   Stay tuned for the discussion on how much we hate St. John Rivers, the significance of Rochester's mad wife Bertha, Jane Eyre erotica, and more!   Books:Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855), 1847.The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, 2001. (Alternate universe in which the criminal enters great novels andchanges the plot. The protagonist, Thursday Next, is a detective in the literary police.) Adaptations:Jane Eyre (1934) - starring Virginia Bruce and Colin Clive.I Walked with a Zombie (1943, very loose adaptation) starring Frances Dee and Tom Conway.Jane Eyre (1944) - starring Joan Fontaine and Orson Wells.Jane Eyre (1970) - starring Susannah York and George C Scott.Jane Eyre (1983 - 5 1/2-hour BBC series) - starring Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton.Jane Eyre (1996) - starring Charlotte Gainsbourgh and William Hurt.Jane Eyre (1997) - starring Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds.Jane Eyre (2006 - 4-hour BBC series) - starring Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens.Jane Eyre (2011) - starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbinder.

Foibles Episode 21 Pt. II: Jane Eyre- Jane's Men

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte   Stay tuned for the discussion on how much we hate St. John Rivers, the significance of Rochester's mad wife Bertha, Jane Eyre erotica, and more!

Foibles Episode 21: Jane Eyre "I am no bird; and no net ensnares me"

Xoe and Rita do a deep dive into the many iterations of the classic story of A Star is Born and the themes of true love, addiction, artistry, and feminism each explores in its own way. Stay tuned for part II to learn who is the handsomest Mr. Maine. What Price Hollywood? (1932)- dir. George Cuckor and starring Constance Bennett, Lowell Sherman, Neil Hamilton.A Star is Born (1937)- starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric MarchA Star is Born (1954)-starring Judy Garland and James MasonA Star is Born (1976)- starring Barbra Streisand and Kris KristoffersonA Star is Born (2018)- starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga   In order of rank, best to worst: 1954 1937 1976 & 2018 (tied)  

Foibles Episode 20: A Star Is Born pt. II

Xoe and Rita discuss film, literature, historical figures, interests, and obsessions.

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Foibles: A Mother-Daughter Podcast

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