Worthy

The Lost Weekend and the 18th Academy Awards

The Best Picture breakdown by Worthy hosts, Ben Smith and Jon Roberts, explores Billy Wilder’s drama “The Lost Weekend”. The film centered on an alcoholic's weekend binge took home the Oscar for Best Picture at the 18th Academy Awards. Ray Milland’s performance in the lead role garnered him the Best Actor award from that same year.
This episode on “The Lost Weekend” covers the dark themes and tones of the film that reflects aspects of society that were almost never talked about in 1940s America. From all the storytelling aspects such as script, music and cinematography shine in the 18th 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!

2021 Summer Recap

The Worthy Boys are back for a special bonus episode about the 2021 summer box office joined by Sean from Math Teacher Movies on Instagram! We dive deep into our favorite films, biggest surprise, and biggest disappointments of the summer. We explore the Rock's sexuality in film and even Scarlett Johansson's lawsuit against the media behemoth Walt Disney Studios!  
Follow Sean on Instagram @mathteachermovies 
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!

Going My Way and the 17th Academy Awards

In episode 17, we go the way of Catholicism, highlighting Bing Crosby as a priest from East St. Louis transferred to St. Dominic's Church run by Barry Fitzgerald. The warmth in the performances and the pictures' soulful songs garnered Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and even Best Song. 
We even discuss whether Best Score is Worthy of being a category in the Academy Awards! Going My Way sings it’s way through any real drama but still retains it’s charm and spontaneity. World War II still rages as Hollywood has it’s lowest grossing year during war time. 
Is a film with this many major awards Worthy of Best Picture as well? 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!

Casablanca and the 16th Academy Awards

In episode 16, we fly to Casablanca to hang with Rick Blaine in his nightclub the "Rick's Café Américain". We discuss what a “Classic Hollywood” film means to us and how that occasionally overlaps with some Best Picture Winners. From the dynamic contrast lighting to the constantly engaging cinematography we gush over the film's technical elements. We even debate whether the script changes forced by the MPAA could have helped make Casablanca a classic film. 
Our discussion dives deep into the themes of Casablanca and how they not only relate to America during the Second World War but even still today! We praise the script for it’s witty dialog and iconic lines that are still quoted today. Tune in to see if this is our highest rated Best Picture yet! 
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!

Mrs. Miniver and the 15th Academy Awards

The Best Picture breakdown by Worthy hosts, Ben Smith and Jon Roberts, focuses on propaganda films in this episode. The 1942 film and 15th Best Picture winner “Mrs. Miniver” became a rallying cry for American and British audiences during World War Two. The reflection on the importance of that moment in time led to the film’s box office success.
This episode on “Mrs. Miniver” also focuses on the performances of the main cast, which includes five total nominations in the Best Acting & Supporting Acting categories combined. Is Greer Garson’s acceptance speech really the longest in Oscar history? Check out this week's episode!
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!

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!