Worthy

How Green Was My Valley and the 14th Academy Awards

The Best Picture breakdown by Worthy hosts, Ben Smith and Jon Roberts, ventures into the mind of one of the most prolific director of Old Hollywood, John Ford. His black and white 1941 epic “How Green Was My Valley” garnered Ford his 3rd Best Director award and only Best Picture win. The film revolves around a Welsh coal mining family through the eyes of the youngest son Huw (Roddy McDowall). 
The discussion on “How Green Was My Valley” centers on the film’s well structured narrative, the grand scale of the film’s set design and the strong performances from the ensemble cast. The film also holds the notorious distinction of beating out “Citizen Kane” for the Best Picture award at the 14th Academy Awards. Do Ben and Jon agree with the Academy’s decision? Listen to find out!
If you like this episode and the show, please leave a review! It really does help us. Give us a follow on Instagram at WorthyPodcast and on Twitter @WorthyPod. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you may get your podcasts!

Rebecca and the 13th Academy Awards

The Best Picture breakdown by Worthy hosts, Ben Smith and Jon Roberts, takes a twisted turn into the world of Alfred Hitchcock and his 1940 classic “Rebecca”. One of the few Hitchcock films to take home an Academy Award, this Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier starring film will certainly leave you in suspense. In this episode of Worthy, Ben and Jon discuss the technical achievements of Hitchcock in “Rebecca” that became part of his signature style.
The discussion around “Rebecca” also focuses on the narrative tricks in the film, the chilling performance of Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers and the subtext of the screenplay that reveals much more about the characters than what is said on screen. Ben and Jon also discuss the 13th Academy Awards and the history of Hitchcock at the Oscars.
If you like this episode and the show, please leave a review! It really does help us. Give us a follow on Instagram at WorthyPodcast and on Twitter @WorthyPod. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you may get your podcasts!

Gone With The Wind Pt. 2 and 12th Academy Awards

The Best Picture breakdown by Worthy hosts, Ben Smith and Jon Roberts, dive into the second half of the 1939 classic, “Gone With The Wind''. The fallout of events from the first half of the film and how the main characters adapt to their changing landscape is the focus of this episode. The behind the scenes aspect of the film’s director carousel is important to understand the differences between each half of “Gone With The Wind”.
In Part 2, Ben and Jon cover Scarlett O’Hara’s perseverance through life, the dramatic moments throughout the second half and how the 12th Academy Awards played out that year. Worthy’s hosts also discuss the changes of the Academy Awards and the adoption of the popular nickname “The Oscars”. Splitting our conversation into two parts was a difficult decision but it felt appropriate due to the popularity and public knowledge of the 1939 Best Picture Winner.
If you like this episode and the show, please leave a review! It really does help us. Give us a follow on Instagram at WorthyPodcast and on Twitter @WorthyPod. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you may get your podcasts!

Gone With The Wind Pt. 1 and 12th Academy Awards

The Best Picture breakdown by Worthy hosts, Ben Smith and Jon Roberts, dive into part one of the classic, “Gone With The Wind”. One of Classic Hollywood’s Crown Jewels is an epic tale starring Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Hattie McDaniel and Olivia de Havilland. In this episode of Worthy, Ben and Jon thoroughly discuss the glorified racism of the Antebellum South and how crucial it is to view this film through many lenses.
This conversation on the first part of “Gone With The Wind” covers the advancement of Technicolor film, the journey to find Scarlett O’Hara and how the film’s producer David O. Selznick was the true creative force behind the film. Splitting our conversation into two parts was a difficult decision but it felt appropriate due to the popularity and public knowledge of the 1939 Best Picture Winner.
If you like this episode and the show, please leave a review! It really does help us. Give us a follow on Instagram at WorthyPodcast and on Twitter @WorthyPod. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you may get your podcasts!

You Can’t Take It With You and the 11th Academy Awards

The Best Picture breakdown by Worthy hosts, Ben Smith and Jon Roberts, dive into Frank Capra’s 2nd Best Picture winner and 3rd Best Director led film “You Can’t Take It With You”. Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning play of the same name, starred icons like James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore and Edward Arnold. In this episode, Ben and Jon discuss the importance of Capra to the cinematic landscape and how his themes idealize the American Dream.
The discussion on “You Can’t Take It With You” reveals the importance of screwball comedies, the budding career of James Stewart as well as tackling the idea of adaptation and originality in filmmaking. Ben and Jon look back on 11th Academy Awards and how the field of Oscar contenders continued to grow in 1938.
If you like this episode and the show, please leave a review! It really does help us. Give us a follow on Instagram at WorthyPodcast and on Twitter @WorthyPod. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you may get your podcasts!

The Life of Emile Zola and the 10th Academy Awards

The Best Picture breakdown by Worthy hosts, Ben Smith and Jon Roberts, are faced with another “biopic” as this episode explores the 10th Academy Awards and 10th Best Picture winner ‘The Life of Emile Zola’. This picture is based on the famous French muckraking writer, Emile Zola and his quest to free a falsely imprisoned Captain in the French Army. With ten nominations, ‘The Life of Emile Zola’ received the highest number of nominations to date. 
We also discuss why the Academy Awards were delayed for the first time in their entire history as well as Joseph Schildkraut’s Oscar winning performance as Alfred Dreyfus. Is Paul Muni’s performance and makeup as Emile Zola truly transformative? Are these true events accurately depicted and should that even matter? Tune in to find out! 
If you like this episode and the show, please leave a review! It really does help us. Give us a follow on Instagram at WorthyPodcast and on Twitter @WorthyPod. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you may get your podcasts!

The Great Ziegfeld and the 9th Academy Awards

The Best Picture breakdown by Worthy hosts, Ben Smith and Jon Roberts, head back to the bright lights of Broadway this episode to explore the 9th Academy Awards and 9th Best Picture winner “The Great Ziegfeld”. This Robert Z. Leonard film tells the true life story of the ups and downs of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., famed producer of extravagant broadway shows. This biopic would also go on to win the Best Dance Direction award most notably for it’s iconic wedding cake set piece.
The film’s exuberant production design is surrounded by dancing and singing from a huge cast. William Powell defines this legendary womanizer and producer while Luise Rainer would go on to win Best actress for her role as Anna Held. This episode explores biopics and their history in cinema as well as what makes a great biopic. We also discuss the addition of the Best Supporting Actor & Actress category as the Osars continue to grow in popularity. 
If you like this episode and the show, please leave a review! It really does help us. Give us a follow on Instagram at WorthyPodcast and on Twitter @WorthyPod. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you may get your podcasts!

Bonus: 93rd Oscar Reactions

Ben and Jon react to the results of the 93rd Academy Awards! The Worthy hosts go through the highlights, snubs, and surprises that unfolded at Hollywood's biggest night. 
 
If you like this episode and the show, please leave a review! It really does help us. Give us a follow on Instagram at WorthyPodcast and on Twitter @WorthyPod. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you may get your podcasts!

Mutiny on the Bounty and the 8th Academy Awards

The Best Picture breakdown by Worthy hosts, Ben Smith and Jon Roberts, take the high seas in this episode to explore the 8th Academy Awards and 8th Best Picture winner “Mutiny On The Bounty”. This Frank Lloyd directed epic tells the notorious tale of Captain Bligh (Charles Laughton) and the crew that abandoned him. The film also starred Clark Gable as the leader of the mutinous crew, Fletcher Christian. It also stars Franchot Tone, Herbert Mundin, Eddie Quillan, Dudley Diggs and Donald Crisp.
 
The film’s impressive production and design was led by legendary MGM producer, Irving Thalberg. This week’s episode dives into the appeal of villains like Captain Bligh, the expanding nature of big Hollywood productions and how the Academy Awards continues to change through the early stages.
 
If you like this episode and the show, please leave a review! It really does help us. Give us a follow on Instagram at WorthyPodcast and on Twitter @WorthyPod. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you may get your podcasts!

It Happened One Night and the 7th Academy Awards

The Best Picture breakdown by Worthy hosts, Ben Smith and Jon Roberts, explores the 7th Academy Awards and 7th Best Picture winner “It Happened One Night”. One of the last examples of pre-code Hollywood, this film focuses on the budding love story between Ellie (Claudette Colbert) and Peter (Clark Gable). Led by the direction of Frank Capra, this screwball comedy pulled off one of the rarest feats at the Academy Awards by winning the “Big 5”.
The film’s quick dialogue and top notch acting became its most successful aspects. This week’s episode dives into these performances as well as the abundant themes of sexualization and gender roles from the 1930s. Listen to hear a breakdown of one of the most unique Best Picture winners of all-time.
If you like this episode and the show, please leave a review! It really does help us. Give us a follow on Instagram at WorthyPodcast and on Twitter @WorthyPod. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you may get your podcasts!