Big White Elephants

bigwhiteelephants
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Director and Choreographer Rob Marshall once said, ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” On this podcast, Grace and Scott discuss a range of Movie Musicals, from classics to DCOMs and everything in between to analyze what makes them work or why they’re Big White Elephants!

  1. 48. Ricki and the Flash (2015) with Clarence

    1d ago

    48. Ricki and the Flash (2015) with Clarence

    While Scott is out on vacation, Grace's co-host from the Sounds Of Silvestri podcast Clarence fills in to talk about Jonathan Demme's final film, Ricki And The Flash (2015). We get into bald eagle back tattoos, Lady Gaga bar rock covers, and Boomer politics while trying to figure out if Meryl Streep can convincingly play a conservative struggling rock star and how a Midwesterner would really respond to a rude conversation in a doughnut shop.  Ricki And The Flash was written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jonathan Demme, starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Rick Springfield, Mamie Gummer, Audra McDonald, Sebastian Stan, and producer Marc Platt's son Ben Platt. Featuring songs by Tom Petty, Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen and more. Connect with us on Instagram @bigwhiteelephantspod and send emails or voicemails to bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com so we can share them on future episodes! Big White Elephants is a podcast where two friends, Grace and Scott, dissect movie musicals: Everything from DCOMs to MGM Classics, Japanese Punk Rock films to modern Jukebox Musicals, and all kinds of things in between! We talk about what works and what doesn't, and whether a film is a 'Big White Elephant', based on director Rob Marshall's quote ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” Join us every Thursday to discuss a new musical film wherever you get your podcasts

    1h 18m
  2. 47. Kiss Me Kate (1953)

    Jun 4

    47. Kiss Me Kate (1953)

    For episode 47, Grace and Scott discuss the 1953 film adaptation of Cole Porter's musical Kiss Me Kate, starring Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ann Miller, and Tommy Rall with an early appearance from Bob Fosse. Is Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew too misogynistic? Is Ann Miller's dancing too darn hot? Should musicals be in 3-D? We attempt to answer all these questions and more! Connect with us on Instagram @bigwhiteelephantspod and send emails or voicemails to bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com so we can share them on future episodes! Big White Elephants is a podcast where two friends, Grace and Scott, dissect movie musicals: Everything from DCOMs to MGM Classics, Japanese Punk Rock films to modern Jukebox Musicals, and all kinds of things in between! We talk about what works and what doesn't, and whether a film is a 'Big White Elephant', based on director Rob Marshall's quote ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” Join us every Thursday to discuss a new musical film wherever you get your podcasts

    1h 8m
  3. 46. Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002)

    May 28

    46. Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002)

    We've made it to the final week of Big Bad Elephants month, and it's a big one: Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie. For each week of Big Bad Elephants Month, we let the Omni-Wheel randomly select which film to cover from a list of movies suggested to us by our audience that they think will be Big White Elephants, aka bad movie musicals. This week, Grace and Scott wade into Christian children's programming with the first feature film from the VeggieTales, a musical retelling of the story of Jonah with talking vegetables! Is it insidious indoctrination or just some good Christian fun? We'll decide! Connect with us on Instagram @bigwhiteelephantspod and send emails or voicemails to bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com so we can share them on future episodes! Big White Elephants is a podcast where two friends, Grace and Scott, dissect movie musicals: Everything from DCOMs to MGM Classics, Japanese Punk Rock films to modern Jukebox Musicals, and all kinds of things in between! We talk about what works and what doesn't, and whether a film is a 'Big White Elephant', based on director Rob Marshall's quote ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” Join us every Thursday to discuss a new musical film wherever you get your podcasts

    1h 9m
  4. 45. Into The Woods (2014)

    May 21

    45. Into The Woods (2014)

    Big Bad Elephants Month continues with Rob Marshall's Into The Woods (2014). For each week of Big Bad Elephants Month, we let the Omni-Wheel randomly select which film to cover from a list of movies suggested to us by our audience that they think will be Big White Elephants, aka bad movie musicals. This week, Grace and Scott journey Into The Woods to discuss Disney's adaptation of the classic Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical of the same name. Directed by the coiner of our Big White Elephants phrase himself, Rob Marshall, we decide if he pulled off another incredible movie musical like Chicago, or if he made a Big White Elephants. Meryl Streep rapping, James Corden singing, Chris Pine tearing his shirt open. This movie's got everything! (except competent pacing or direction or humor?) Connect with us on Instagram @bigwhiteelephantspod and send emails or voicemails to bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com so we can share them on future episodes! Big White Elephants is a podcast where two friends, Grace and Scott, dissect movie musicals: Everything from DCOMs to MGM Classics, Japanese Punk Rock films to modern Jukebox Musicals, and all kinds of things in between! We talk about what works and what doesn't, and whether a film is a 'Big White Elephant', based on director Rob Marshall's quote ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” Join us every Thursday to discuss a new musical film wherever you get your podcasts

    1h 27m
  5. 44. Top Secret! (1984)

    May 14

    44. Top Secret! (1984)

    Big Bad Elephants Month continues with Top Secret! (1984). For each week of Big Bad Elephants Month, we let the Omni-Wheel randomly select which film to cover from a list of movies suggested to us by our audience that they think will be Big White Elephants, aka bad movie musicals. This week, we tackle SoRef's suggestion of the Zucker, Abrahms, Zucker comedy Top Secret! Val Kilmer's first movie role, pastiche and parody songs of The Beach Boys and Elvis, a cow wearing boots! We get into all of it Connect with us on Instagram @bigwhiteelephantspod and send emails or voicemails to bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com so we can share them on future episodes! Big White Elephants is a podcast where two friends, Grace and Scott, dissect movie musicals: Everything from DCOMs to MGM Classics, Japanese Punk Rock films to modern Jukebox Musicals, and all kinds of things in between! We talk about what works and what doesn't, and whether a film is a 'Big White Elephant', based on director Rob Marshall's quote ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” Join us every Thursday to discuss a new musical film wherever you get your podcasts

    57 min
  6. 43. The Little Mermaid (1989) with Jamie Roderick

    May 7

    43. The Little Mermaid (1989) with Jamie Roderick

    Welcome to Big Bad Elephants Month, where we cover movie musicals our listeners suggested would be Big White Elephants, aka bad movie musicals! Randomly selected by the Omni-Wheel, we're kicking off the month with The Little Mermaid! No, not the live action one...the original! It was suggest by our friend and theatrical lighting designer Jamie Roderick! And it was such a bold suggestion that we had to get him on the podcast to defend his rationale! We talk a lot about what makes a musical work, what the function of a song should be, how best to cater to children's sensibility, and more while going deep on the movie that kickstarted the Disney Renaissance, The Little Mermaid (1989). Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, starring Jodi Benson, Pat Caroll, and Buddy Hacket. Connect with us on Instagram @bigwhiteelephantspod and send emails or voicemails to bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com so we can share them on future episodes!   Big White Elephants is a podcast where two friends, Grace and Scott, dissect movie musicals: Everything from DCOMs to MGM Classics, Japanese Punk Rock films to modern Jukebox Musicals, and all kinds of things in between! We talk about what works and what doesn't, and whether a film is a 'Big White Elephant', based on director Rob Marshall's quote ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” Join us every Thursday to discuss a new musical film wherever you get your podcasts

    1h 26m
  7. 42. Enchanted (2007)

    Apr 30

    42. Enchanted (2007)

    On episode 42, Grace and Scott travel from the magical land of Andalasia, do some chores with cockroaches, and dream of true love's kiss while discussing Disney's Enchanted (2007) Plus, we get visited by The Omni-wheel to decide what movie to cover for the first week of Big Bad Elephants Month! Connect with us on Instagram @bigwhiteelephantspod and send emails or voicemails to bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com so we can share them on future episodes!

    1h 13m
  8. 41. The Last Five Years (2014)

    Apr 23

    41. The Last Five Years (2014)

    To mark the 25th anniversary of Jason Robert Brown's musical The Last Five Years, Grace and Scott cover the 2014 movie adaptation. Except Scott talks about it going forward and Grace talks about it going backwards. Just kidding, that would be silly! Either way, Jeremy Jordan is involved. Connect with us on Instagram @bigwhiteelephantspod and send emails or voicemails to bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com so we can share them on future episodes!

    1h 25m
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About

Director and Choreographer Rob Marshall once said, ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” On this podcast, Grace and Scott discuss a range of Movie Musicals, from classics to DCOMs and everything in between to analyze what makes them work or why they’re Big White Elephants!

Information

  • Creator
    bigwhiteelephants
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Big White Elephants

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