Classic Films - Reviews and Reflections with Stuart Fernie
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in films and books that I have found particularly engaging, thought-provoking and inspiring.You may be interested in my YouTube channel (Fernie150) and my blog (stuartfernie.blogspot.com).Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/togetherLicense code: KVEVPPSTHACBJLGO
Episodes
136 episodes
Episode 136: Characters and themes in “The Professionals”
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “The Professionals”, starring Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, Woody Strode, Jack Palance and Claudia Cardinale.
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Season 1
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Episode 136
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6:22
Episode 135: Characters and themes in “Emperor of the North”
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “Emperor of the North”, starring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine and Keith Carradine.
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Season 1
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Episode 135
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5:10
Episode 134: Characters and themes in “Forrest Gump”
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Forrest Gump, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise.
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Season 1
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Episode 134
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5:57
Episode 133: Characters and themes in “Casablanca”
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “Casablanca”, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains.
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Season 1
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Episode 133
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5:20
Episode 132: Characters and themes in “The Big Red One”
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Sam Fuller’s “The Big Red One”, starring Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill and Robert Carradine.
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Season 1
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Episode 132
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10:34
Episode 131: The arts, their purpose and their effect
Brief discussion of the purpose of the various genres of the arts, their effect and how to judge their “success”.
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Season 1
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Episode 131
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3:22
Episode 130: The appeal of the James Bond films and thoughts on the portrayal of Bond
Personal thoughts on the appeal of the Bond films and discussion of how the portrayal of the main character has developed over the years.
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Season 1
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Episode 130
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6:30
Episode 129: Reflections on “Being There” (1979)
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Hal Ashby’s “Being There”, starring Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine and Melvyn Douglas.
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Season 1
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Episode 129
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6:24
Episode 128: Reflections on “The Sand Pebbles” (1966)
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “The Sand Pebbles” (1966), directed by Robert Wise and starring Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Richard Crenna and Candice Bergen.
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Season 1
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Episode 128
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11:42
Episode 127: Reflections on “Nuremberg” (2025) and lessons that can be learned from it.
Brief discussion of the relationship between Hermann Goring and psychiatrist Douglas Kelley during the Nuremberg Trials, how authoritarian figures can succeed in a democracy and lessons to be learned concerning the protection of democracy.
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Season 1
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Episode 127
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6:26
Episode 126: Reflections on characters and themes in “Prime Cut”
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Michael Ritchie’s “Prime Cut” starring Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman and Sissy Spacek.
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Season 1
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Episode 126
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6:41
Episode 125: Characters and themes in David Lean’s “Hobson’s Choice”
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in David Lean’s “Hobson’s Choice” starring Charles Laughton, John Mills and Brenda de Banzie.
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Season 1
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Episode 125
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7:01
Episode 124: Reflections on characters and themes in The Wages of Fear (1953) - amended and updated.
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Clouzot’s “The Wages of Fear”, with comparison of William Friedkin’s “Sorcerer” (1977) to the original, and mention of the 2024 version of “The Wages of Fear”
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Season 1
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Episode 124
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12:56
Episode 123: Reflections on characters and themes in “The Offence” (1973)
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Sidney Lumet’s “The Offence”, starring Sean Connery, Ian Bannen, Vivien Merchant and Trevor Howard.
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Season 1
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Episode 123
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7:52
Episode 122 Reflections on Danny Boyle’s “Trainspotting”.
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Danny Boyle’s film starring Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and Ewen Bremner.On a personal note, this episode marks 25 years of posting material online.
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Season 1
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Episode 122
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7:47
Episode 121: Brief reflections on Sidney Pollack’s “Three Days of the Condor”
Brief discussion and analysis of themes and characters in Pollack’s “Three Days of the Condor”, Starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson and Max von Sydow
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Season 1
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Episode 121
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5:31
Episode 120: Brief reflections on themes and characters in “Spotlight”
Brief discussion and analysis of themes and characters in Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight” starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liv Schreiber, Stanley Tucci et al.
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Season 1
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Episode 120
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5:00
Episode 119: Brief reflections on “Good Night and Good Luck”
Brief discussion and analysis of themes and characters in George Clooney’s “Good Night and Good Luck”, starring David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Frank Langella et al.
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Season 1
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Episode 119
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2:31
Episode 118: Reflections on the 2024 French film version of “The Count of Monte Cristo”
Discussion of characters and themes in the 2024 French film version of “The Count of Monte Cristo”, focusing on elements to do with the Enlightenment Movement and Existentialism.
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Season 1
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Episode 118
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8:14
Episode 117: Advice and questions to help in the analysis or discussion of films, and in producing an essay.
Episode aimed at young students or beginners with advice and suggestions for writing essays on films.A text version is available at stuartfernie.blogspot.com and a video is available at https://yout...
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Season 1
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Episode 117
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5:26
Episode 116: Reflections on characters and themes in “Midnight Express”
Discussion of characters and especially themes raised in Alan Parker’s “Midnight Express”, written by Oliver Stone.
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Season 1
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Episode 116
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5:47
Episode 115: Reflections on the Jason Bourne films and the nature of the conflict between Jason Bourne and the C.I.A.
Discussion and analysis of the nature of the antagonism between the C.I.A. and Jason Bourne, instigated by the consequences of Bourne’s amnesia.
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Season 1
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Episode 115
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5:34
Episode 114: Advocating arts and humanities
A defence and justification of arts and humanities in face of dismissive and condescending attitudes and outlooks.
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Season 1
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Episode 114
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4:55
Episode 113: Reflections on Michael Cimino’s “Heaven’s Gate”.
Discussion and analysis of characters, themes, strengths and weaknesses in “Heaven’s Gate”, written and directed by Michael Cimino and starring Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt and Isabelle Huppert.
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Season 1
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Episode 113
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9:37