Shea Cinema: The Best Picture Project

TLDR; Father/Daughter team watch and review all movies nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, starting back in 1927. Welcome to Shea Cinema, The Best Picture Project! Join host Sara Shea and her father, William Shea, as they watch and explore every film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Sara and Dad are recreating a project Sara assigned to her high school Film Studies students, which includes contextual historical research, discussing their personal responses to each film, what makes these films important, why these films need to be understood in context, and, finally, did the winner deserve the Oscar? So grab your popcorn, pull up a chair, sit back and relax, and let's begin Shea Cinema.

Shea Cinema: The Best Picture Project is a tv podcast hosted by Shea Cinema, with 61 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Shea Cinema hosts Shea Cinema: The Best Picture Project, a tv show with 61 episodes published.

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  Episode #13

  S6E13: Gold Diggers of 1933 BONUS EPISODE!

  Jul 10, 20262h 17mS6

  (Episode recorded November 15, 2025) Review #12 of the season, and another bonus episode! Plus, it's our second musical in a row! Come listen to Sara and Dad literally giggle about this ridiculous, lovely film. Gold Diggers of 1933 - A Classic Musical with a Bold Social Message Join us as we explore Gold Diggers of 1933 , a dazzling pre-Code musical that captures the spirit and struggles of the Great Depression era. We dive into its production, cultural impact, and the remarkable sequences that made it a cinematic milestone. Plus, our history timeline includes the first (?) sighting of the Loch Ness Monster! In this episode: The historical context of Gold Diggers of 1933 and its relation to 42nd Street and other musicals The influence of the 1919 stage play The Gold Diggers and its evolution into a film franchise Insights into the star-studded cast, including Ruby Keeler, Ginger Rogers, Dick Powell, and Warren William The film’s notable musical numbers, especially "We’re in the Money" and "The Forgotten Man" Behind-the-scenes production stories, including the earthquake during filming and censorship challenges The film’s social commentary on the depression and the Bonus Army Critical reception then and now, and its lasting legacy Please leave us a review wherever you are listening! Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.com You can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

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  Episode #12

  S6E12: 42nd Street, 1933

  Apr 1, 20262h 14mS6

  <p>(Episode recorded May 7, 2025)</p><p>Review #11 of the season, and our 7th nominee for Outstanding Production at the Sixth Academy Awards. 42nd Steet is a full-blown musical, and we have a full-blown stupendous guest in Klarissa Beckstead from I've Seen That One!  </p><p>The film's musical numbers are staged and choreographed by Busby Berkeley. It stars an ensemble cast of Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers. It was one of the most successful motion pictures of the year, and is often regarded as one of the greatest musicals ever made. And w...

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  Episode #11

  S6E11: King Kong, 1933 BONUS EPISODE!

  Nov 3, 20253h 4mS6

  <p>(Episode recorded November 2, 2024)</p><p>00:00 Introduction to Shea Cinema and King Kong<br/>01:54 Guest Intro: Andrew Corns<br/>05:31 The Academy Awards and Cultural Context<br/>10:52 Production Insights and Screenplay Details<br/>14:29 King Kong Musical<br/>18:00 King Kong's Legacy and Influence on Cinema<br/>28:17 Connections to Literature and Personal History<br/>36:33 Character Development and Themes in King Kong<br/>45:06 Censorship and the Evolution of King Kong<br/>51:54 History Timeline, Feb/Mar 1933<br/>52:08 Historical Context and Cultural Impact<br/>01:09:25 Box Office Success and Challenges<br/>01:10:33 Top Song of the Day<br/>01:16:53 "Day Of" Headlines, March 2, 1933<br/>01:28:50 Plot Summary and Character Analysis<...

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  Shea Cinema: The Best Picture Project

  King Kong Pre-Show Ramble (Behind the Scenes)

  Nov 3, 20258 minS0

  <p>(Episode recorded November 2, 2024)</p><p>While the official episode on King Kong is just over three hours, Sara, Dad, and guest Andrew Corns recorded for nearly four hours! Not everything deserves to wind up on the cutting room floor, however. Case in point, this little snippet was too fun to discard entirely, but didn't fit into the larger discussion of the film (plus it was before we started the show--which you can hear at the very end). It's a little look behind the curtain, or behind the microphone, if you will. </p><p>We discuss prepping for podcasting (read: w...

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  Episode #10

  S6E10: State Fair, 1933

  Jul 5, 20251h 52mS6

  <p>(Episode recorded October 26, 2024)</p><p>It's our ninth review of the season, and our sixth nominee for Outstanding Production at the Sixth Academy Awards. State Fair is based on the bestselling 1932 novel by Phil Stong, and was the first of three film adaptations of the novel; the others were both musical adaptations made in 1945 and 1962. This family adventure at the local fair boasts the return of Janet Gaynor (our first time seeing her in a talkie since our first season where she starred in two incredible silent films) as well as our much anticipated first encounter with Will Rogers. </p...

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