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

You can also catch this episode in full video on YouTube.

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

You can also find this episode in full video on YouTube.

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Dana and Tom discuss the silent classic, City Lights (1931) for its 95th anniversary: written and directed by Charlie Chaplin, cinematography by Roland Totheroh and Gordon Pollock, music by Arthur Johnston and Alfred Newman, editing Charlie Chaplin and Willard Nico, starring Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill, Florence Lee, Harry Myers, Al Ernest Garcia, and Hank Mann.

Plot Summary: City Lights, written, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin, is a silent romantic comedy about a kind-hearted Tramp who falls in love with a blind flower girl. When she mistakes him for a wealthy man, the Tramp goes to great lengths to help her, including befriending a troubled millionaire who only recognizes him when he is drunk.

As the Tramp struggles with poverty and bad luck, his love for the flower girl pushes him toward quiet acts of sacrifice. The film blends slapstick humor with deep emotion, building to a famous final scene that reveals the Tramp’s true identity and captures Chaplin’s belief in compassion, dignity, and human connection.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for City Lights

05:07 Our Relationship(s) with City Lights

10:30 Why Does Chaplin Resonate So Much with Critics?

14:51 Plot Summary for City Lights

15:43 What is City Lights About?

19:05 Did You Know?

23:13 First Break

34:43 Best Performance(s)

36:59 Best Scene(s)

39:25 Second Break

40:10 In Memoriam

41:48 Best/Funniest Lines

42:50 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

46:12 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

50:45 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

53:58 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

58:11 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

01:00:30 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total

01:02:50 Remaining Questions for City Lights

01:07:18 Remaining Thoughts

01:13:35 Credits

You can also find this episode in full video on YouTube.

You can now follow us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or TikTok (@gmoatpodcast).

For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/city-lights-1931

For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list

Keywords:

City Lights, Charlie Chaplin, silent film, romantic comedy, film analysis, movie review, cinematic legacy, film history, emotional storytelling, classic cinema

Ronny Duncan Studios

Dana and Tom with returning guests, Christine Duncan (Wife of Dana and Mother of Tom) and Heather Stewart (The Revisionist Almanac's Senior European Correspondent), to discuss the indie comedy Little Miss Sunshine (2006) for its 20th anniversary: directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Feris, written by Michael Arndt, cinematography by Tim Suhrstedt, music by Mychael Danna, edited by Pamela Martin, starring Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Alan Arkin, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, and Steve Carell.

Plot Summary: Little Miss Sunshine is a comedy-drama about the Hoover family, a group of very different people trying to support one another. When young Olive Hoover (Abigail Breslin) qualifies for the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant, her parents—motivational speaker Richard (Greg Kinnear) and stressed but caring Sheryl (Toni Collette)—decide the whole family will travel with her from New Mexico to California. They pile into a rundown yellow van that becomes the setting for both humor and tension.

Along the way, Olive’s foul-mouthed grandfather Edwin (Alan Arkin), her depressed uncle Frank (Steve Carell), and her silent, angry teenage brother Dwayne (Paul Dano) each face their own struggles. As the trip goes wrong in unexpected ways, the family learns that winning is not as important as sticking together. The film balances comedy and emotion to show how love and acceptance can come from even the most imperfect family.

Guests:

Christine Duncan

1. Wife of Dana and Mother of Tom
2. 19x guest

Heather Stewart

1. The Revisionist Almanac's Senior European Correspondent
2. @heatherjstewart on IG, X, Letterboxd
3. Previously on Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979), Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for Little Miss Sunshine

02:57 Welcome Back, Heather and Christine!

10:58 Why Are Comedies So Overlooked by Awards?

17:50 Personal Relationship(s) with Little Miss Sunshine

26:19 What is Little Miss Sunshine About?

29:43 Plot Summary for Little Miss Sunshine

31:00 Did You Know?

39:26 First Break

40:15 What's Happening with Heather and Christine

43:54 Best Performance(s)

01:03:46 Best Scene(s)

01:21:50 Second Break

01:22:40 Best/Funniest Lines

01:27:27 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

01:39:27 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

01:45:40 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty

01:52:08 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

02:00:59 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

02:06:22 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total

02:08:12 Remaining Questions for Little Miss Sunshine

02:14:48 Thank You to Heather and Christine / Remaining...

Dana and Tom with returning guest, Myke Emal (Host and Creator of the Cinemusts podcast), discuss Sabotage (1936) for its 89th anniversary: directed by Sir Alfred Hitchcock, written by Charles Bennett, cinematography by Bernard Knowles, music by Jack Beaver, editing by Charles Frend, starring Sylvia Sydney, Oskar Homolka, Desmond Tester, and John Loder.

Plot Summary: In 1930s London, a seemingly ordinary cinema owner, Karl Verloc, hides a dangerous secret: he is part of a shadowy network of foreign saboteurs plotting terrorist attacks across the city. His wife, Mrs. Verloc, and her younger brother, Stevie, help run the theater, unaware of his double life.

As London reels from a mysterious blackout caused by deliberate sabotage, Scotland Yard grows suspicious. They place an undercover detective in the shop next door to observe Verloc, hoping to uncover the group’s next move. Tension builds as Verloc is pressured by his handlers to carry out a bombing, setting off a chain of events that entangles his unsuspecting family and pushes Hitchcock’s suspense to a devastating climax.

Guest:

Myke Emal

1. Host and Creator of the Cinemusts podcast
2. @cinemusts on Twitter, Letterboxd, Facebook, and IG
3. Previously on Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for Sabotage

03:08 Welcome Back, Myke Emal!

05:09 The Eras of Alfred Hitchcock

17:02 Plot Summary for Sabotage

18:01 What is Sabotage About?

21:19 Did You Know?

24:11 First Break

24:57 What's Happening with Myke Emal?

25:50 GMOAT Hall of Fame

31:08 Best Performance(s)

36:38 Best Scene(s)

47:43 Second Break

48:39 In Memoriam

52:45 Best/Funniest Lines

54:39 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

59:16 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

01:04:18 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty

01:10:14 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

01:14:37 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

01:18:25 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total

01:20:05 Remaining Questions for Sabotage

01:24:24 Thank You to Myke and Remaining Thoughts

01:28:00 Credits

You can also find this episode in full video on YouTube.

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Dana and Tom with Betsy and Trent (co-hosts and creators of Never Seen It podcast) discuss Promising Young Woman (2020) for its 5th Anniversary: written and directed by Emerald Fennell, cinematography by Benjamin Kracun, music by Anthony Willis, editing by Frederick Thoraval, starring Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, and Jennifer Coolidge.

Plot Summary: Promising Young Woman is a darkly clever thriller written and directed by Emerald Fennell. The film stars Carey Mulligan as Cassie Thomas, a woman whose life was derailed after a tragedy involving her best friend, Nina. By day, Cassie works in a coffee shop and seems aimless. But at night, she secretly confronts men who try to take advantage of women who appear drunk—forcing them to face their actions.

When Cassie reconnects with an old classmate, Ryan (Bo Burnham), she begins to hope for a normal life again. However, as she seeks justice for Nina, Cassie’s plan takes a shocking and emotional turn.

Guest:

Betsy and Trent

1. Never Seen It podcast (@neverseenit_pod on Twitter and Letterboxd, @neverseenitpod1 on IG, @neverseenit on TikTok, patreon.com/neverseenitpod
2. Previously on the 2024 Post Oscars Reaction Show, All the President's Men (1976) Revisit

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for Promising Young Woman

02:38 Welcome Back Betsy and Trent

06:03 Initial Thoughts on Promising Young Woman

09:34 After 5 Years, Do We Still Feel the Same About PYW?

15:29 Picking Through the Ending

20:48 Top Revenge Fantasy Movies

25:40 What is the Legal Case at the End of the Film?

40:14 Plot Summary for Promising Young Woman

41:02 What is Promising Young Woman About?

51:56 Did You Know?

59:43 First Break

01:02:13 What's Happening with Betsy and Trent?

01:10:36 The Cinema Legacy Poll Rankings - #2-1

01:30:03 Thank You to Everyone

01:31:06 Best Performance(s)

01:43:35 Best Scene(s)

02:00:24 Second Break

02:01:04 In Memoriam

02:09:40 Best/Funniest Lines

02:12:48 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

02:22:00 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

02:28:03 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty

02:37:53 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

02:47:30 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

02:55:21 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total

02:56:55 Remaining Questions for Promising Young Woman

03:03:23 Thank You to Betsy and Trent, Remaining Thoughts

03:09:37 Credits

You can also find this episode in full video on YouTube.

You can now follow us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or

Dana and Tom with Jen Han and Sarah Callen (Hosts of Movies and Us podcast) discuss Raging Bull (1980) for its 45th anniversary: directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin, cinematography by Michael Chapman, editing by Thelma Schoonmaker, music by Jim Henrikson, starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, and Frank Vincent.

Plot Summary: Raging Bull is a biographical drama about boxer Jake LaMotta, played by Robert De Niro. The film follows Jake’s rise in the ring during the 1940s and 1950s, showing his intense drive to win and his struggle to control his anger. His brother and manager, Joey LaMotta, played by Joe Pesci, tries to keep Jake focused, but their relationship becomes strained as Jake’s temper grows.

Outside the ring, Jake’s jealousy and insecurity hurt the people closest to him, especially his wife Vickie, played by Cathy Moriarty. As Jake’s behavior pushes others away, he begins to lose everything he worked for. The movie shows how his personal battles become just as destructive as the fights in the boxing ring, leaving him to face the consequences of his actions.

Guests:

Jen Han and Sarah Callen

• Hosts of Movies and Us podcast
• @moviesanduspod on IG, TikTok, YouTube
• On Medium
• Previously on The Maltese Falcon

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for Raging Bull

03:13 Welcome Back, Jen and Sarah

04:40 Why Are We Discussing Raging Bull?

05:59 Why Is Raging Bull A Great Movie? (aka I Feel Like I'm Taking Crazy Pills)

20:14 Relationship(s) with Raging Bull

24:05 Plot Summary for Raging Bull

25:12 What is Raging Bull About?

28:34 Did You Know?

33:18 First Break

34:07 What's Happening with Jen and Sarah?

35:42 The Cinema Legacy Poll Rankings - #5-3

44:41 Best Performance(s)

58:11 Best Scene(s)

01:11:49 Second Break

01:13:05 In Memoriam

01:14:24 Best/Funniest Lines

01:16:37 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

01:21:06 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

01:26:18 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty

01:32:08 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

01:40:21 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

01:44:51 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total

01:46:55 Remaining Questions for Raging Bull

01:49:19 Thank You to Jen and Sarah - Final Thoughts

01:57:36 Credits

You can also find this episode in full video on YouTube.

You can now follow us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or TikTok (@gmoatpodcast).

For more on the episode, go to: