Book Vs Movie
Urban Cowboy
The 1978 Esquire article from Aaron Latham Vs the 1980 John Travolta Film
The Margos are ready to rock out in cowboy boots after reading the Aaron Latham Esquire magazine article “The Ballad of the Urban Cowboy: America’s Search for True Grit” from 1978. He also wrote the “Perfect” article from Rolling Stone which became another John Travolta film. (Travolta is our movie lead here.)
In 1977 Lathan married CBS News anchor Lesley Stahl and they have one daughter together, Taylor. Check out this article from People magazine which features quite a bit of shade being thrown at Latham’s former friend and Washington Post co-worker Sally Quinn!)
Back to the article---it follows the story of Dew & Betty who are married, in their late teens and spend most of their free time at Gilley’s bar in Houston. They fight quite a bit and the women at Gilley’s use the mechanical bull to establish their dominance over sensitive/abusive men who are not sure where they fit in the world.
The movie stars John Travolta and Debra Winger (known as Bud and Sissy here) and features amazing music and some pretty ridiculous dialog. (God bless the 80s!) Seriously, this film started a whole wave of country/pop music fans as well as the rise of mechanical bulls in bars around the country. It’s a paper-thin plot somehow stretched to over two hours.
Between the article and film--which did the Margos like better?
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The story behind the Esquire article
- Aaron Latham’s notes from writing the screenplay
- Behind the scenes gossip
- The cast which includes: John Travolta (Bud,) Debra Winger (Sissy,) Scott Glenn (Wes,) Madolyn Smith Osbourne (Pam,) Barry Corbin (Uncle Bob,) Brooke Alderson (Aunt Corene,) Cooper Huckabee (Marshall,) James Gammon (Steve Strange,) and Mickey Gilley.
Clips Featured:
- Urban Cowboy Trailer
- Forget it--let’s get married!
- Bud & Wes fight
- Sissy rides the bull
- Music by Johnny Lee “Lookin for Love”
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Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/
Book Vs Movie
Like Water for Chocolate
The Margos are ready to talk about “magical realism” in Laura Esquivel’s 1989 novel (that later became the 1992 movie of the same name) Like Water for Chocolate. This may sound familiar to long time fans but we originally recorded this topic five years ago and the quality of that show--left much to be desired.
This is a story filled with interesting characters and set in Mexico in the early 1900s. We meet Tita, a 15-year-old girl who was basically born into family servitude by being the youngest daughter. Being the youngest daughter in her family means she is expected to never marry and support her overpowering widowed mother Elena.
Esquivel’s husband, director Alfonso Arau, filmed the movie in Mexico with a small, independent film budget. It went on to make over $20 million, one of the most successful foreign-language films of the 90s.
Between the novel and film--which did the Margos like better?
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The story behind the novel
- The setting of Mexico in the early 1900s
- Changes between the novel and the film
- The cast which includes: Lumi Cavazos (Tita,) Marco Leonardi (Pedro,) Regina Torne (Mama Elena,) Mario Ivan Martinez (Dr. John Brown,) Yareli Arizmendi (Rosaura,) Pilar Aranda (Chencha,) and Claudette Maille (Gertrudis.)
Clips Featured:
- A clip from the audiobook narrated by Kate Reading
- Like Water for Chocolate trailer
- “Quail in Rose Petal Sauce”
Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie
Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/
Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.com
Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com
Brought to you by Audible.com You can sign up for a FREE 30-day trial here http://www.audible.com/?source_code=PDTGBPD060314004R
Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/
Book Vs Movie
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
The Anita Loos 1925 novel Vs the 1953 Howard Hawkes classic film
The Margos are heading back to the 50s (well, really the 20s if you want to be technical about it!) Gentleman Prefer Blondes was first published in 1925 by Anita Loos in Harper’s Bazaar magazine as a serial. The book itself was so popular at the time that Edith Wharton dubbed it “the Great American Novel” considering it came out the same year as Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby--that is incredible praise.
The story itself is a simple tale about a “professional lady” making her way in the world trying to nab a wealthy suitor. Lorelei Lee is a blonde flapper from Little Rock, Arkansas and men can’t help but so attracted to her she winds up getting whatever she wished for in life.
Dorothy Shaw is Lorelei’s best friend and has her own romantic struggles (one of them being a brunette which makes her work harder to get men to pay attention to her.)
The movie was directed by Howard Hawkes and stars Jane Russell as Dorothy and Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei. It was a huge hit in 1953 and the stars got along famously. It’s considered a classic musical and pre-feminist statement.
Between the novella and Howard Hawkes film--which did the Margos like better? (Is it even going to be close?)
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The life of Anita Loos
- The setting of the book and why the 1920s was known as the flapper era
- Major changes between the novel and the 1953 film
- The cast which includes: Marilyn Monroe (Lorelei Lee,) Jane Russell (Dorothy Shaw,) Charles Coburn (Sir Francis “Piggy” Beekman,) Elliott Reid (Ernie Malone,) Tommy Noonan (Gus Esmond Jr,) and George Winslow (Henry Spofford)
Clips Featured:
- Lorelei is accused of stealing in Paris
- Gentleman Prefer Blondes trailer
- Lorelei and Dorothy meet Henry Spofford
- Lady Beekman (Norma Varden) shows Lorelei her tiara
- Outro music: “Is There Anyone Here for Love” Jane Russell
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Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.com
Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com
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Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/
Book Vs Movie
Saturday Night Fever
Based on a short story in New York magazine, the 1977 movie is dissected in this special episode
The Margos are suffering from a case of “Night Fever” and the only sure is taking a deep dive into one of the most successful films of the 1970s--Saturday Night Fever. The film was directed by John Badham and stars John Travolta in his first Academy-Award nominated performance as an actor.
The idea for the film comes from an article from New York magazine in 1976 “Tribal Rights of the New Saturday Night” by reporter Nik Cohn. At the time, Cohn said it was based on a real group of people from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. In fact, it turns out he pretty much made up the whole thing. The story of “Vincent” a teenage dance phenom who is just trying to earn and living and forget about living in a working-class neighborhood caught the eyes of Hollywood and a screenplay was created as a starring vehicle for Travolta who was seen by millions every week on the ABC-TV hit sitcom Welcome Back Kotter.
Badham inherited the movie two weeks filming was supposed to start without film locations set and without the role of Stephanie filled. We have so much behind the scenes gossip and trivia here to talk about in addition to the fabulous soundtrack! (The Bee Gees at their finest!)
Between the article and film--which did the Margos like better? (Is it even going to be close?)
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- How Nik Cohn came to writing the article for New York magazine
- How the film overcame so many obstacles to become a classic
- How the dancing was received
- The incredible music!
- The cast which includes: John Travolta (Tony Monero,) Karen Lynn Gorney (Stephanie,) Barry Miller (Bobby C.,) Joseph Cali (Joey,) Paul Pape (Double J,) Donna Pescow (Annette,) Martin Skakar (Frank Jr.,) and Fran Drescher (Connie.)
Clips Featured:
- Saturday Night Fever trailer
- Tony and his family “You Hit My Hair’
- Tony’s brother leaves the priesthood
- Fran Drescher’s film debut
- Tony and Connie on the dance floor
- Outro music: “You Should Be Dancing” The Bee Gees (from the movie scene)
Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie
Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/
Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.com
Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com
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Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/
Book Vs Movie
Double Indemnity
The Novella by James M. Cain & Film Noir Classic from Billy Wilder
We are heading back to the Film Noir well with writer James M. Cain and the classic novella & later movie Double Indemnity. The Margos talk about the life of Mr. Cain (who also wrote Mildred Pierce) and find out the true story behind his fictional account of two lovers trying to get away with the perfect murder.
The novella originally was published in 1936 in serial form with Liberty magazine in 1936 and is based on the real-life crime duo Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray. Snyder wanted her husband dead and asked her lover, Gray, to help her and then split the insurance money. After several attempts, they finally succeeded in killing Albert Snyder. Alas, they were caught right away and both went to the electric chair.
The movie, directed by one of the most revered filmmakers of the 20th Century--Billy Wilder, was released in 1944 and is considered a classic. (You will usually find on the TMC Network!) There are quite a few changes between the novella and film and the author preferred their storyline to his own!
Between the novella and film--which did the Margos like better?
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The background of James M. Cain
- The true story behind Ruth Synder and Judd Gray
- Behind-the-scenes gossip from the film making
- The much-hated wig worn by Barbara Stanwyck
- The cast which includes: Fred MacMurray (Walter Neff,) Barbara Stanwyk (Phyllis Dietrichson,) Edward G. Robinson (Barton Keyes,) Porter Hall (Mr. Jackson,) Jean Heather (Lola Dietrichson,) Tom Powers (Mr. Dietrichson,) and Byron Barr (Nino Zachetti.)
Clips Featured:
- Double Indemnity trailer
- Neff meets Phyllis
- Neff tries to escape Keyes
- Outro music: “Tangerine” by Les Brown & His Band of Renown (Johnny Mercer & Vincent Schertzinger)
Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie
Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/
Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.com
Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com
Brought to you by Audible.com You can sign up for a FREE 30-day trial here http://www.audible.com/?source_code=PDTGBPD060314004R
Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/