The Commentary Track

Frank Thompson and Rudy Behlmer swap tales from film history. Behlmer talks about his encounters with notables such as Clara Bow, David O. Selznick and Merian C. Cooper and his many books on film.

Frank Thompson remembers author Bob Wade who, in 1939 with his partner H. Billy Miller, co-wrote, co-directed, co-edited and co-starred in the parody of "Beau Geste" which serves as the subject of Thompson's documentary "The Lost Remake of Beau Geste."

On October 21, 2012, Jerry Beck and Robert Osborne host an evening of classic animation on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). In anticipation of that notable event, Jerry sits down with host Frank Thompson to talk about cartoon history and the great animation studios and directors -- Max and Dave Fleischer, Walt Disney, Bob Clampett, Chuck Jones, Tex Avery and many more. Go to The Commentary Track's "Links" page to connect with Jerry Beck's animation blog, Cartoon Brew, as well as for information about his other projects, including his monthly stage show with Frank Conniff, "Cartoon Dump."

Host Frank Thompson talks with Titanic historian Don Lynch about the many films based on the 1912 sinking of the Titanic. The topics include the earliest Titanic films, "Saved From the Titanic" and "In Nacht und Eis," both released in 1912; the Nazi-produced "Titanic" (1943); Hollywood's first Oscar-nominated version, "Titanic" (1953) starring Clifton Webb and Barbara Stanwyck; great Britain's acclaimed docu-drama "A Night to Remember" (1958) and James Cameron's record-breaking epic "Titanic" (1998) starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Host Frank Thompson talks with actor, author and film historian Jim Beaver about his biography of actor George Reeves, his work on hit television shows "Deadwood," "Supernatural" and "Justified" and the lessons he has learned from great actors such as John Wayne, James Cagney and Robert Mitchum.

Host Frank Thompson talks with Cinerama authority Dave Strohmaier about the 60th anniversary of the widescreen process and the upcoming Cinerama festival at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. Festival schedule: http://www.in70mm.com/news/2012/cinerama_dome/index.htm

Host Frank Thompson talks with Cinerama authority Dave Strohmaier about the 60th anniversary of the widescreen process and the upcoming Cinerama festival at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. Festival schedule: http://www.in70mm.com/news/2012/cinerama_dome/index.htm

Episode 12 - Jon Mirsalis

Host Frank Thompson talks with film scholar Patricia King Hanson about her work as editor of the American Film Institute Catalog and as a freelance writer. Together, Frank and Pat provided audio commentary to three DVDs of films based on Ernest Hemingway novels: "The Sun Also Rises," "Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man," " and "Snows of Kilimanjaro."

Host Frank Thompson talks with film and music historian Randy Skretvedt on a wide range of topics relating to film history, comedy and Old Time Radio (OTR). Skretvedt is an authority on Laurel and Hardy and the Three Stooges and, since an early age, sought out the comics' co-workers and families for interviews. He tells many stories about his encounters with these veterans of Hollywood's Golden Age.

Host Frank Thompson talks with film and music historian Randy Skretvedt on a wide range of topics relating to film history, comedy and Old Time Radio (OTR). Skretvedt is an authority on Laurel and Hardy and the Three Stooges and, since an early age, sought out the comics' co-workers and families for interviews. He tells many stories about his encounters with these veterans of Hollywood's Golden Age.

Film historian Frank Thompson talks with composer and conductor Carl Davis about writing scores for Kevin Brownlow's restoration of Abel Gance's "Napoleon" as well as for a host of silent films. Davis also talks about his collaboration with Paul McCartney and tenor Jerry Hadley on the ambitious orchestral and choral work "Liverpool Oratorio."

Host Frank Thompson talks with legendary Academy Award-winning film historian, author and filmmaker Kevin Brownlow, author of such influential cinema books as "The Parade's Gone By," "The War, the West and the Wilderness," "How It Happened Here" and many more. Also discussed are Brownlow's many great documentaries on silent film, including the 13-part "Hollywood" series, "Unknown Chaplin, "Buster Keaton: a Hard Act to Follow," "Cinema Europe," and others.   CLICK ON THE AMAZON LINKS TO ORDER KEVIN BROWNLOW'S BOOKS AND DVDS.

Host Frank Thompson talks with production artist and historian Joseph Musso about working with Alfred Hitchcock, Irwin Allen, Sidney Poitier, Clint Eastwood and more Hollywood greats. Musso discusses Hitchcock's working methods on "Torn Curtain," and his own eventful five decade-long career working with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Judd Apatow.

Host Frank Thompson talks with film historian John Bengtson, author of "Silent Visions: Discovering Early Hollywood and New York Through the Films of Harold Lloyd;" "Silent Traces: Discovering Early Hollywood Through the Films of Charlie Chaplin;" and "Silent Echoes: Discovering Early Hollywood through the Films of Buster Keaton." Bengtson discusses how he locates and identifies the locations used in these silent classics and how the films offer an informal pictorial history of Los Angeles of the Teens and Twenties.   Visit his website at: http://silentlocations.wordpress.com/