Forgotten Hollywood JLJ Media

In this episode, I spoke with Matthew Kennedy about his book "On Elizabeth Taylor: An Opinionated Guide".  A sweeping look at the career of a truly singular Hollywood star.

In the oceans of ink devoted to the monumental movie star/businesswoman/political activist Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (1932-2011), her beauty and not-so-private life frequently overshadowed her movies. While she knew how to generate publicity like no other, her personal life is set aside in this volume in favor of her professional oeuvre and unique screen dynamism.

In this episode, I spoke with Josh Young and Manfred Westphal about their book The Fixer: Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars, and Marilyn. A riveting tell-all biography that delves into the extraordinary life of Hollywood’s most infamous private detective and “fixer” to the stars, revealing newly discovered shocking revelations from his never-before-seen investigative files. 

In this episode I spoke with Michael F. Blake on his latest book "The Cavalry Trilogy: John Ford, John Wayne, And The Making Od Three Classic Westerns". Like other filmmakers in post-WWII Hollywood, John Ford (already a three-time Best Directing Oscar winner), longed for the freedom and independence to make his own films, away from the dictates of studio executives. Then, in 1946, Ford and producer Merian C. Cooper (King Kong) decided to form their own production company, Argosy Productions. But their first venture was a financial flop, burdening the new company with heavy debt.

In this episode, I spoke with author M.J. Trow about his book "History vs Hollywood: How the Past is Filmed". Film studios have been making historical movies now for over a century. In that time, thousands of films have been made covering not just centuries but millennia.

In this episode, I discuss with author Dwayne Epstein and his book "Killin' Generals: The Making of The Dirty Dozen, the Most Iconic WW II Movie of All Time". It has been a year since we spoke with Dwayne, and he has come back to discuss the past year regarding his book.  An explosive inside look at The Dirty Dozen, the star-studded war film that broke the rules, shocked the critics, thrilled audiences, and became an all-time classic . . 

In this episode, I spoke with author Daniel De Vise' regarding his latest book "The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise Of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic".  The story of the epic friendship between John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, the golden era of improv, and the making of a comedic film classic that helped shape our popular culture.