Dana and Tom with 5x Club Member, Sarah Duncan (Sister of Tom, Daughter of Dana), discuss the silent action comedy, The General (1926) for its 99th anniversary: written and directed by Buster Keaton with Clyde Bruckman, Al Boasberg, and Charles Smith, cinematography by Devereaux Jennings and Bert Haines, music by William P. Perry, editing by Buster Keaton and Sherman Kell, starring Buster Keaton and Marion Mack.

Plot Summary: The General is a silent comedy set during the American Civil War, starring Buster Keaton as Johnnie Gray, a devoted railroad engineer who cares more about his locomotive, called The General, than anything else. When Union spies steal his train, Johnnie sets off on a daring chase through enemy territory, using quick thinking, physical comedy, and sheer determination to get it back. Along the way, Johnnie also tries to prove his courage to his sweetheart Annabelle Lee, played by Marion Mack, after being rejected by the Confederate Army.

Guest:

Sarah Duncan - Sister of Tom, Daughter of Dana

1. @thenomadicarchaeologist on IG
2. Previous Episodes: Zodiac, My Fair Lady, The Artist, Inglourious Basterds, The Great Dictator, Forrest Gump, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Knives Out, All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for The General

05:16 Welcome Back, Sarah Duncan

06:35 Relationship(s) with The General

13:08 Buster Keaton - Best Silent Era Action Star?

17:30 Plot Summary for The General

18:14 What is The General About?

21:27 Did You Know?

25:44 First Break

26:35 What's Happening with Sarah Duncan

27:21 Best Performance(s)

33:27 Best Scene(s)

38:34 Second Break

39:13 In Memoriam

41:29 Best/Funniest Lines

42:40 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

47:47 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

52:05 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty

57:50 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

01:03:59 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

01:07:01 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total

01:08:50 Remaining Questions for The General

01:11:51 Thank You to Sarah and Remaining Thoughts

01:16:18 Credits

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You can now...

Dana and Tom with 5x Club Member, Sara Shea (Host and Creator of Shea Cinema; @sheacinema on X, IG), discuss the monster horror classic, Dracula (1931), for its 95th Anniversary: directed by Tod Browning, written by Garrett Fort, cinematography by Karl Freund, music by Phillip Glass, editing by Milton Carruth and Maurice Pivar, starring Bela Lugosi, Helen Chambers, David Manners, Dwight Frye, and Edward Van Sloan.

Plot Summary: Dracula (1931) is a classic horror film about the mysterious Count Dracula, (Bela Lugosi), a vampire from Transylvania who travels to England in search of new victims. After a young man named Renfield (Dwight Frye) falls under Dracula’s control, the Count sets his sights on Mina Seward (Helen Chandler), slowly draining her life while charming everyone around her.

As Mina grows weaker, her fiancé John Harker (David Manners) teams up with the wise and determined Professor Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan), who realizes Dracula’s true nature. The film builds tension as Van Helsing uses knowledge and courage to confront the vampire and stop his reign of terror.

Guest:

Sara Shea

1. Host and Creator of Shea Cinema; @sheacinema on X, IG
2. Previously on 12 Angry Men (1957) Revisit, Barry Lyndon (1975), Shampoo (1975), 2025 Post Oscars Reaction Show, Patton (1970), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for Dracula

03:27 Welcome Back, Sara Shea

05:12 A Bygone Era of Film

09:38 Relationships with Dracula

13:53 Why Do We Celebrate the Original Monster Movies?

22:59 Plot Summary for Dracula

24:02 What is Dracula About?

28:48 Did You Know?

32:08 First Break

32:57 What's Up with Sara Shea?

35:52 Xmas Movie Exchange

42:53 Congratulations to the Newest Class of the National Film Registry

43:56 Best Performance(s)

55:05 Best Scene(s)

01:04:15 Second Break

01:04:55 In Memoriam

01:12:49 Best/Funniest Lines

01:14:10 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

01:19:20 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

01:26:15 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty

01:30:03 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

01:35:06 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

01:40:02 The Stanley Rubric - Audience...

Dana and Tom with new guest, Adam St. John (Host and Creator of 1001 by 1) discuss the sci-fi horror classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) for its 70th anniversary: directed by Don Siegel, written by Daniel Mainwaring, cinematography by Ellsworth Fredericks, music by Carmen Dragon, editing by Robert S. Eisen, starring Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, King Donovan, and Carolyn Jones.

Plot Summary: In a quiet California town, a local doctor discovers that residents are being replaced by alien duplicates—emotionless impostors grown from mysterious seed pods. As paranoia spreads and trust collapses, he races to warn the world before humanity itself is erased.

Guest:

Adam St. John

1. Host and Creator of 1001 by 1
2. Co-Host of Below Freezing
3. Frequest Contributor to Best Picture Cast
4. Professor of Theatre and Film at LSSU
5. Host of the The Long Take: A Gathering of Cinephiles in Conversation
6. Signup Here
7. A Cinema Legacy Poll contributor

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for Invasion of the Body Snatchers

04:17 Welcome Adam St. John

05:11 Being Introduced to a Classic

13:58 What's Most Terrifying in the Film?

17:02 Plot Summary for Invasion of the Body Snatchers

17:35 What is This Film About?

24:43 Did You Know?

35:17 First Break

36:07 What's Happening with Adam?

40:35 Best Performance(s)

47:28 Best Scene(s)

57:43 Second Break

58:30 Best/Funniest Lines

01:01:46 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

01:08:34 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

01:14:15 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty

01:17:54 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

01:22:57 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

01:29:34 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total

01:31:05 Remaining Questions for Invasion of the Body Snatchers

01:36:25 Thank You to Adam / Remaining Thoughts

01:44:25 Credits

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