Cinema Sounds & Secrets

Encore! Encore! Some may not know her but that's why we're here to remind you of one of the most iconic, legendary goddesses of film, stage, and cabaret who has ever lived. The Blue Angel, The Scarlett Empress, Lola Lola, and The Blonde Venus - in other words…the woman who graces our logo!  The legendary Marlena Deitrich. Join us as we revist the tribute to this icon and delve into why she graces our and your screens! To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!  

Encore! Encore! - This winter we wanted to keep things cool and what better way then to revist the "King of Cool," himself, Steve McQueen! The iconic man's man from the 60's and 70's… broke into a bank while wooing the glam faye dunaway, got locked up with Dustin Hoffman and made the great escape on a classic Triumph motorcycle dressed up as a BMW… only in Hollywood. Join us for Episode 6: "The Manly McQueen."   To find out more about this and past episodes' movies, including trivia and other fun facts, visit our official Cinema Sounds and Secrets website.

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career extremely talented and iconic actor... Michael Madsen! Born in Chicago to a filmmaking and author mother and a veteran/firefighting father, this actor went against the grain during his rather chaotic upbringing and got his start in theater. Specifically with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company as John Malkovich's apprentice. His first noteworthy role being that of a small role in the science fiction film, WarGames. After that he continued acting in small roles for films and television shows until he eventually launched his career by playing Bump Bailey in The Natural (1984). He then went onto to starring in Quentin Taratino's directoral debut film, Reservoir Dogs, as Mr. Blonde. A role that quickly changed his status from actor to cultural icon. He later starred and worked in many films such as, Species (1995), The Getaway (1994), and Donnie Brasco (1997), Kill Bill Vol. 1  (2003) and 2 (2004), Sin City (2005), and many more. He also went onto winning a couple of awards, one being the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival for Best Actor for his role in Strength and Honor (2007) in 2008.    To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!  

Splash (1984), The Shape of Water (2017), Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948). This week, Janet, John, (and Pen) explore three amazing films all swimming in the same subject pool— can you fall in love with a sentient being in the water— better yet, can they fall in love with you? This under the sea romance film craze started with an actor who was the most beloved 1930's & 40's movie detective ever, soon Tom Hanks would pick up the gauntlet 40 years later and be equally inspired to give deep sea loving a go before the gender flip gets switched, in the 2017 multiple-Oscar winning film where love is still as equally fishy and mute as the films before it!  To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!  

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career of the wonderful singer, actor, television heartthrob, and queer icon because of his heart-touching memoir, Shattered Love... Richard Chamberlain! Born in Beverly Hills in 1934, this American heartthrob didn't start off with an amazing childhood. In fact, even though he was a track star, earning four letters in both high school and college, he recounts his childhood as an unhappy one. Citing that he often struggled in school. Additionally, even with a 60-year-long future career in Hollywood, this actor did not orginally have acting on the brain. It wasn't until he started studying at Pumona College did he discover acting and his deep love for the craft. He, however, wasn't able to pursue this love until after his 16 month stay in Korea after he was drafted into the Army in 1956. After some minor stage experiences, he became a teen idol on the show Dr. Kildare (1961-66), playing the titular character of the same name. He went on to earn the name, "King of the Mini-Series," with his work in Centennial (1978), Shōgun (1980), and The Thorn Birds (1983). He also starred and worked in many films such as, The Three Musketeers (1973), The Four Musketeers (1974), and The Return of the Musketeers (1989),  King Solomon's Mines (1985) and Lost City of Gold (1986), The Bourne Identity (1988), and The Last Wave (1977), some of these he would earn an award nomination for. He also go onto win a Golden Apple Award for Best Male Star in 1980.  To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career of the actress, director, producer, and fashion icon whose began to rise to stardom during the New Hollywood movement... Diane Keaton! With a 60-year long career in Hollywood, this actress was always destined to one day be under the limelight, but after seeing her mother win Mrs. Los Angeles her resolve to become a part of the dramatics of performing at a young age only strengthened. She participated in singing and acting club during high school and continued to perform anywhere she could until she was cast as an understudy in the production of Hair (1968). From there she began to rise in the broadway eye, soon being nominated for a Tony as the Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in Play it Again, Sam (1969). She truly couldn't be stopped as she moved from the stage to the screen with her debut film, Lovers and Other Strangers (1970). Soon after she was being cast in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972) as Kay Adams-Corleone and Woody Allen's Annie Hall (1977), which combined together launched her into stardom and earned her the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Some of her other fantastic films are Looking for Mr.Goodbar (1977), Reds (1981), Manhattan (1979) , The First Wives Club (1996), Finding Dory (2016), Book Club (2018), and many more.  To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!

The Sure Thing (1985), Something Wild (1986), Lars and the Real Girl (2007). This week, Janet, John, (and Pen) explore three amazing films starring young actors who all got their big break and became movie stars who are to this day still giving astounding  performances. Their break through movies in the 80's look at love with a slightly wacky angle; one man wants to just find a girl to end his virginity, another takes off with a total stranger to his near demise while our final tale of love has a young man dealing with grief in a very "plastic" way.  To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career of the actor who played one of the most iconic villians in horror film history... Tony Todd! Desperately desiring to be an actor since he was a little boy, this New England native went from working at the Artisits Collective as a teen to joining the Eugene O'Neill Actors Institute to hone his acting skills. At 28, this brilliant character actor landed in New York City and in two weeks was working on stage in equity shows: playing in Shakespeare's greats or the latest new plays. He was later discovered by Oliver Stone and switched to a life of film, soon becoming a beloved member of Star-Trek and a big star from one of the scariest horror remakes ever. His amazing skills and complex character work in Candyman (1992) would take him on 30-year-old journey with 4 spectacular sequels. He is also well know for his roles in other fantastic films, video games, and shows such as Night of the Living Dead (1990), the Final Destination series (2000-2025), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Star-Trek: The Next Generation (1990-1991), The Flash (2014-2023), and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2024).  To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!

Janet, John, and Pen wish everyone a Happy Halloween! In this special episode, lets look at some spooky reccomendations to celebrate this wonderful holiday! 

Encore! Encore! - This fall we needed a laugh, so we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes. What better way to laugh than bask in the hilarity of 3 great 1970's comedies with some of the funniest film moments in film brought to us by; Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein (1974), Arthur Hiller's Silver Streak (1976) and Animal House (1978) produced by Ivan Reitman! Join us for Episode 14: "We Might Never Stop Laughing." Where else can you have a Mary Shelley classic and mash it up with Irving Berlin to make monsters loveable, or twist up a take on a Hitchcock thriller by pairing two comic geniuses and taking a real look at what the social life off a gentlemanly college fraternity  was like in 1962?   To find out more about this and past episodes' movies, including trivia and other fun facts, visit our official Cinema Sounds and Secrets website.  

Encore! Encore! - This fall we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes. This time its a minisode! Lets take another look at one of the most famous sound effects in fim history.  The scream originated in 1951 and is often used for scenarios in which someone is shot, falls from a great height or is thrown from an explosion, adding comedy to situations often thought to be to serious.  To find out more about this and past episodes' movies, including trivia and other fun facts, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website. 

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career of a very culturally edgy producer, screenwriter, and director of film, television, and opera who was closely identified with the "New Hollywood" movement of the 1970s... William Friedkin! Inspired by Citizen Cane as a child, he threw away his "bad boy" ways from high school and began his career in media by working for his local news station at 16, moving onto directing a live television series and docuseries, The People versus Paul Crump (1962). From there he went on to direct an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and then his first feature, Good Times (1967) staring Sonny Bono and Cher. Friedkin would go on to make a fantastic crime thriller, The French Connection (1971), which would then win him five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. He is also well known for his Academy Award nominated film The Exorcist (1973) and other films spanning multiple other genres like The Boys in the Band (1970), Sorcerer (1977), The Brink's Job (1978), Cruising (1980), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985).  To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!

Love Story (1970), Roman Holiday (1953), and Holiday (1938). This week, Janet, John, (and Pen) explore three love stories ranging across the eras of the 70s, the 50s, and depression era New York. One became a surprise hit because of it's "soon-to-be" leading lady's love for the book, another discovers that the only thing love between a princess and newspaperman may need is a single holiday, while the other finds out that love doesn't matter what class you are, it will always try to find a way! To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career of a revered Greek musician and composure who found success  across many different genres... Vangelis! His career began in rock bands,  where with Aphrodite's Child he helped create the album 666, which would become a progressive-pyschadelic rock classic. He continued to find success in the music industry before transitioning to scoring films with Charitos of Fire in 1981, for which he would win Best Original Score at the Academy Awards. His career was launched to new heights and would continue making music for classic moves movies such as Blade Runner (1982), Missing (1983), Antarctica (1983), The Bounty (1984), 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992), and Alexander (2004). His career in music spanned over 50 years, making him one of the most important figures in modern film music.  To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career of a revered American actor who found fame in a leading role across many different genres... Val Kilmer! His career page on the stage, beocming the youngest person at the time to be accepted into Juilliard, and get his start in an off-Broadway musical The Slab Boys (1983) with Kevin Bacon and Sean Penn. His overnight breakthrouhg came with the 1984 comedy Top Secret!, marking his first major motion picture role, launching him into mainstream Hollywood almost instantly. A couple years later, Kilmer was fimly planted in the Hollywood A-list with his role as Iceman in Top Gun (1986). Kilmer became the go to leading man for every genre throughout the 1990s, raning from the likes of Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993) to Batman in Batman Forever (1995). The films he starred in would grossed more than a whopping $3.8 billion worldwide, which include but not limited to Top Gun (1986), The Doors (1991), Tombstone (1993), and Batman Forever (1995), Heat (1995), The Prince of Egypt (1998). His final role came in the form of a reprisal of Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick (2022).   To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career of a ledgendary American screenwriter and director whose career spanned over four decades... Robert Town! After graduating college he worked many odd jobs, including being a tuna fisherman, until he started taking acting classes and became friends and roommates with none other than Jack Nicholson. His breakthrough came in the form of his assistance in the script for Bonnie and Clyde (1967), and Hollywood began to notice him as a top script doctor. Towne would go on to make award-winning screenplays throuhgout the 1970s, before trying his hand at directing in the 80s. He become one of the great screenwriters of the 20th century and his work spand many films and genres including but not limited to, The Last Detail (1973), Chinatown (1974), Shampoo (1975), Personal Best (1982), Mission: Impossible (1996, 2000), and Ask the Dusk (2006). Towne made a return to television in the 2010s, working as a consulting producer and prequel miniseries based on a character in Chinatown (1974).  To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!  

Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). This week, Janet, John, (and Pen) explore something we all share and go through, the growing pains, teen angst, and tween heartache, memorably explored in these two award winning films. One examines what it's like moving to a new town finding it impossible to fit in, while the other explores the complexities of good and cruelty through the eyes of a young girl. Join us in celebrating these two amazing coming of age stories! To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!

Encore! Encore! - This summer break, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes from the last year. This time its a very special Minisode: Why Marlene?

Encore! Encore! - This summer we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes. Welcome to another minisode! Inspiration for today's minisode comes from... Jack Lemmon! He starred in over sixty films and was nominated for an Academy Award eight times, winning twice, and received many other accolades. Check out our website at cinemasoundsandsecrets.com!