Lions, Towers & Shields

4.8 (15)
FILM REVIEWS
UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

A celebration of films from the classic Hollywood era. Shelly Brisbin leads a merry band through recaps and reviews of great old movies from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.

12/11/2025

Clown Car Full of Raincoats

Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly. Gotta be a musical, right? Actually, it’s a film noir, whose connection to Christmas is limited at best. So much misdirection, and I haven’t even told you the plot. Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga and Micheline Maynard.

1h 9m
12/04/2025

Clothes, Cars and Acreage

Tracy and Hepburn do “battle of the sexes” and help Judy Holiday launch her film career. There’s a random Cole Porter song, and T & H are adorable. George Cukor directs a great script. Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard.

1h 3m
11/13/2025

Temu Cary Grant

Billy Wilder tells the story of a man’s (Ray Milland) alcoholic weekend, and the lies he tells to family and friends about his drinking. Surprisingly gritty and emotional for the era, and photography that heightens the mood. Also, Jane Wyman, Philip Terry, and Frank Faylen again. Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard.

59 min
11/08/2025

Big Teeth, Bad Hair

Another tale of evangelicals who use their charisma to con the faithful. Burt Lancaster, Jean Simmons, Shirley Jones and a cast of 50s heavies are all on hand. Based on Sinclair Lewis’ (Dodsworth) story. Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard and Nathan Alderman.

1h 2m
10/30/2025

There Are No Cars

he team behind our previous Spooky Season entry CAT PEOPLE — producer Val Lewton and director Jacques Tourneur — return with the Jane Eyre-inspired tale of a naive nurse summoned to a tropical island to care for a rich nepo baby’s ailing wife. But the patient’s malady may have a sinister, supernatural source. Get ready for an atmospheric, antiracist spookshow that’s a lot smarter than you’d think, subverting cheap voodoo-movie stereotypes in cool and surprising ways. Ah woe! Ah me! Shame and sorrow for the family! With guest host, Nathan Alderman. Nathan Alderman with Shelly Brisbin, Randy Dotinga and Micheline Maynard.

56 min
10/23/2025

Annette Bening Energy

Each season has its quota of film noir. So here we go. “A former boxer turned taxi driver earns the scorn of his nagging wife and gets mixed up with jewel thieves.” It’s a B picture with fun performances, one of my favorite things. Meet John Payne, Evelyn Keyes and Brad Dexter, a non-superstar lineup that nonetheless pops off the screen. Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Randy Dotinga and Nathan Alderman.

36 min
10/16/2025

Kind Of A Nice Snack

Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy podcast. Bette Davis in her most iconic role, attempts to fend off the usurping Anne Baxter. The drama plays out in the New York theatre. There’s a witty script and a delightful supporting cast, along with many legends about how this film came together. Come and feast with us around the camp fire. Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman and Randy Dotinga.

1h 13m
07/31/2025

The Women, with a Cat

Here is one of the greatest ensembles of the classic era - or any era, for that matter. Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Lucile Ball, Ann Miller, Eve Arden (and cat), Gail Patrick, Andrea Leads. Constance Collier, all sharing a theatrical boarding house in New York, and struggling to become big stars. Kate says something about calla lilies, and also snipes with Ginger. It’s so much fun! Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr, Nathan Alderman and Randy Dotinga.

1h 4m

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4.8

out of 5

15 Ratings

Lose Nathan Alderman

08/19/2025

Serena Fox

This podcast is very enjoyable with great insights, commentary and banter between the panelists. But any episode in which Nathan Alderman is a panelist is ruined for me. His “holier than thou” and “we have it all figured out now-they were idiots back then” attitude is nauseating!

A celebration of films from the classic Hollywood era. Shelly Brisbin leads a merry band through recaps and reviews of great old movies from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.