Con woman Jean meets ale heir Charles and sparks, uh, fly. Get the podcast: Listen here at PopD | Go to iTunes

Story Analysis & Ratings:

Lucy says: 2 Pops ~ Even the best structure in the world can’t save a bad melon, and kids, this is a bad melon. Lucy’s rating breakdown: Structure: 5, Comedy: 2, Romance: 1

Jenny says: 3 Pops ~ Beautifully structured but schizophrenic comedy/farce with a truly terrible romance at its center because of Charles, the human potato. Graphic example of how not to write a romance. Rating Breakdown:  Structure: 5, Comedy: 3.5, Romance: 1

Blog Poll Rating: TBD

Movie Info:

Story: Ale heir Charles gets ensnared by conwoman Jean who accidentally falls in love with him. Bad choice. Trouble ensues. Release Date: Feb. 25, 1941 Director: Preston Sturges Writer:  Preston Sturges. More info at IMDb.

Get the podcast: Listen here at PopD | Go to iTunes

Story Analysis & Ratings:

Lucy says: 4 Pops ~ Okay, here’s the thing; in many ways, this movie is indefensible. But I love it anyway, because it’s fun, it’s funny, and if you can just not allow the bad stuff to tweak you, it’s a really good ride. One of my all-time favorites, and it remains one of my all-time favorites, I don’t care how flawed it is. So there. 😉 Lucy’s rating breakdown: Structure 5, Comedy: 4, Romance: 3

Jenny says: 3 pops ~ This movie just does not work for me. I know, I know, millions love it including Lucy. That’s why the podcast ran ten minutes over. We can’t figure it out, either. Jenny’s rating breakdown: Structure: 5, Comedy: 4, Romance: 2

Blog Poll Rating:

Movie Info:

Story: A goddess-like socialite has a fiance, an ex-husband, and a newpaper reporter panting after her, but until she recognizes her own humanity, she is not worthy of love. Release Date: Dec. 26, 1940 Director: George Cukor Writers:  Donald Ogden Stewart from a play by Philip Barry. More info at IMDb.

Get the podcast: Listen here at PopD | Go to iTunes

Story Analysis & Ratings:

Lucy says: 5 Pops ~ I think this movie proves that solid romantic comedies have to be, at their core, about heart. Where the characters’ passions lie, what matters to them more than anything else, what they love, and how well they get each other. A story that can make you laugh while making you feel something real is the gold standard for romcoms; this hits the bullseye perfectly. Lucy’s rating breakdown: Structure: 5, Comedy: 5, Romance: 5

Jenny says: 5 pops ~ I liked this movie even more after we analyzed it–and I loved it before we analyzed it. Such a great film on so many levels. Jenny’s rating breakdown: Structure: 5, Comedy: 5, Romance: 5

Blog Poll Rating: 4.5 Pops

Movie Info:

Story: Hildy wants to get married and live a normal life. Walter wants Hildy back. The mayor wants to execute somebody to get re-elected. Trouble ensues. Release Date: Jan. 18, 1940 Director: Howard Hawks Writers: Charles Lederer, Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur. More info at IMDb.

Get the podcast: Listen here at PopD | Go to iTunes

Story Analysis & Ratings:

Lucy says: 2 Pops ~ Painful in how good the good parts were, only to be so bad in the bad parts. A classic example of wonderful short game (scenes) and terrible long game (story structure).
Lucy’s rating breakdown: Structure: 1, Comedy: 3, Romance: 2

Jenny says: 2 Pops ~ So many good moments, such a great heroine, such a waste of great scenes than made so little sense together. Jenny’s rating breakdown: Structure: 1, Comedy: 2,  Romance: 2

Blog Poll Rating: 3 Pops

Movie Info

Story: No-nonsense Russian bureaucrat Nina is sent to Paris to shape up some comrades who are selling some jewelry. French playboy count Leon is sent to the comrades to stop the jewelry sale. Opposites attract and Garbo giggles. Release Date: Oct. 6, 1939 Director: Ernst Lubitsch Writers:  Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, and Walter Reisch. More info at IMDb.

Get the podcast: Listen here at PopD | Go to iTunes

Story Analysis & Ratings:

Lucy says: 4 Pops ~ I have always loved this movie, and I always will. But I could not wrench it into the box of true romantic comedy, because really… not romantic. Funny as hell, yeah. Great chemistry, absolutely. Charm your socks off, you bet. But romantic? Not so much.

And it’s that argument which we circle… and circle… and circle… for an hour. Apologies, Poppers. That’s what happens when you love something dearly, but can’t make it fit. You obsess. Lucy’s rating breakdown: Romance: 1, Comedy: 5, Structure: 5

Jenny says: 4 Pops ~ This is beautifully structured, beautifully paced farce. Truly a great movie. Not a great romantic comedy because they failed to build the romance. Yes, farce is not an easy place to make a romance work, but they didn’t even try. Great comedy. Lousy rom com. Jenny’s rating breakdown: Romance: 1, Comedy: 5, Structure: 5

Blog Poll Rating: 3.5 Pops

Movie Info:

Story: Paleontologist David wants a brontosaurus bone. Socialite Susan wants David. There’s a leopard. Trouble ensues. Release Date: February 18, 1938 Director: Howard Hawks Writer: Dudley Nichols and Hagar Wilde. More info at IMDb.