Larry McMurtry, the author of the novel that he and Peter Bogdanovich adapted into this smash success film, made it his life project to reconcile the popular image of the american west with the reality he grew up in post WWII. His novel “Horseman, Pass By” became the Paul Newman starring Hud, as defeatist as a film western can get, and The Last Picture Show is no sunnier. We explore how the film depicts sex and growing up in small town USA, and talk about the Gen Z aversion to sex in films today. We also detail how Bogdanovich became a respected name in hollywood while blowing up his marriage to creative partner Polly Platt, and discuss the strong ensemble cast, including new school actors Jeff Bridges and Cybill Sheperd.

Next week: Pink Flamingos (1972) by John Waters

UnauthorizedPod.com for more. Hosted by Zachary Domes and J Brooks Young. Music by hetchy

As fate would have it, young divorcée Elaine May would move across the country, leaving her baby daughter with her parents, to pursue higher education at one of the only colleges that admitted people without a high school diploma: the University of Chicago. Only there would she befriend Mike Nichols, with whom she would become a nationally known comedic performer, before they quit while they were ahead and forged separate careers. By ‘71, Nichols has already won the Best Director Oscar for The Graduate, and finally, May is here to prove her mettle as a filmmaker. We talk about our favorite moments in the film, and the state of comedy, then and now.

We open with some semi-spoilery reactions to the new film Sentimental Value before talking A New Leaf (5:30), and like we did on the first episodes covering ‘69 and ‘70, we close with Zach sharing his top 5 albums to check out from ‘71 (50:22).

Next week: The Last Picture Show (1971) by Peter Bogdanovich

UnauthorizedPod.com for more. Hosted by Zachary Domes and J Brooks Young. Music by hetchy

Bernardo Bertolucci has us thinking about World War 2 and the effects wrought by loser fascists like our protagonist Clerici, and the generation that came after, Bertolucci’s own baby boomers. We talk about his influences in hollywood and the french new wave, the legacy of this era of italian cinema, and queer readings of the film.

9:25 - The Conformist discussion begins

Next week: A New Leaf (1971) by Elaine May

UnauthorizedPod.com for more. Hosted by Zachary Domes and J Brooks Young. Music by hetchy