Rephonic
Artwork for Cold War Cinema
Cold War
Capitalism
Mccarthyism
Cinema
Soviet Cinema
Film Noir
Silvery Dust
Force Of Evil
Racism
Propaganda
Cry, the Beloved Country
Radical Cinema
Invasion Of the Body Snatchers
Hollywood
Hollywood Blacklist
Quicksand
John Garfield
Spartacus
Censorship
Tuskegee Experiments

Cold War Cinema is a podcast about movies made during the first few decades of the Cold War (1947–1991). Each episode primarily focuses on one film, and the hosts, Jason Christian and Anthony Ballas, discuss the director's life and work, the historical context of the film, and examine its themes that relate to the turbulent politics of the era. Theme music and editing on the first 14 episodes by T... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes41Founded3 years ago
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Film HistoryFilm InterviewsTV & Film

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Artwork for Cold War Cinema

Latest Episodes

In this episode, our season finale, Jason Christian, Anthony Ballas and Paul T. Klein are joined by guest Andrew Scahill to discuss John Frankenheimer's 1962 thriller The Manchurian Candidate. Andrew Scahill is a film professor at the University of C... more

In this episode, Jason Christian and Anthony Ballas are joined by guest Silas Nathan to discuss Mikhail Kalatozov's iconic film, I Am Cuba (1964), a Soviet-Cuban collaboration about the years just before and during the revolution.

Silas Nathan is ... more

In this bonus episode we thought we'd do something different and chat about our personal backgrounds, our early cinema memories, and our scholarly interests today. We had fun with this conversation and we hope you enjoy it!

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more

In this bonus episode, Jason interviews the historian Whitney Strub about his scholarship and his new book Films That Explode Like Grenades: Robert Kramer and the Search for a Radical Cinema, just published by University of Chicago Press. The book ex... more

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Recent Guests

Andrew Scahill
Film professor specializing in horror, gender, and sexuality, and author of The Revolting Child in Horror Cinema.
University of Colorado Denver
Episode: The Manchurian Candidate (1962, John Frankenheimer) w/ guest Andrew Scahill
Silas Nathan
Latin Americanist, translator and photographer; specialist in US-Latin American relations
Independent researcher
Episode: I Am Cuba (1964, Mikhail Kalatozov) w/ guest Silas Nathan
Whitney Strub
Associate professor of history at Rutgers University–Newark; author of Films That Explode Like Grenades, Robert Kramer and the Search for a Radical Cinema
Rutgers University–Newark
Episode: Bonus: Robert Kramer's Radical Cinema w/ guest Whitney Strub
Taylor R. Genovese
Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Dutchess Community College; editor and board member of Iskra Books
Iskra Books; Dutchess Community College
Episode: Ivan's Childhood (1962, Andrei Tarkovsky) w/ guest Taylor R. Genovese
Ryan Ruby
Author and critic
Author, Context Collapse; Berlin-based writer
Episode: Bonus: New German Cinema and the Red Army Faction w/ guest Ryan Ruby
Alice Lovejoy
Media and cultural historian and comparatist
University of California Press (author)
Episode: Bonus: Interview w/ Dr. Alice Lovejoy
Adam McKay
Writer, director, and producer known for political films
Episode: Seconds (1966, John Frankenheimer) w/ guest Adam McKay
Paul Klein
Guest commentator and film enthusiast
Episode: Letter Never Sent (1959, Mikhail Kalatozov)
Aspen Ballas
PhD student of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, focusing on aesthetics of race and class.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Episode: The Searchers (1956, John Ford) w/ guest Aspen Ballas

Hosts

Jason Christian
Host of Cold War Cinema; focuses on director histories, historical context, and political themes in cinema.
Anthony Ballas
Co-host with a focus on historical context, cultural analysis, and critical interpretation of films.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 30 ratings
  • Smart, Insightful, and Accessible

    CWC is a great listen for anyone interested in the cultural and production history of film, particularly during the Cold War. Zooming in on the stories behind films in both the US and the USSR, Jason, Anthony, and Paul provide the context in which these films were made, the objectives behind their respective propaganda approaches, and how the themes and struggles of the post-war era extend into our modern day. If you’re a history buff this is for you—and if you have a lot to learn about this per... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jthom80
    United States10 months ago
  • Pretty good but very Left leaning

    Learned discussion about some great movies.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mark Eggins
    Australiaa year ago
  • Banger!

    Excellent first episode! The balance of historical background, connections to other films, banter, close analysis is perfect! Ending needs to be smoother.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Romacinephile
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Smart, insightful and accessible; deep dive into cinema history with clear context.
Left-leaning critique comes through, but discussions remain thoughtful and well-argued.
Engaging debates with strong host banter and solid guests; first-rate analyses.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962, John Frankenheimer) w/ guest Andrew Scahill
Q: How contained is the threat at the ending of this film?
The group considers whether the characters' deaths actually remove the political threat. They argue that the ending is cynical, resolving the conflict on an individual level while leaving the larger political status quo largely untouched.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962, John Frankenheimer) w/ guest Andrew Scahill
Q: What does the term paranoid style mean, and how does it apply to this film?
Scahill describes paranoid thinking as involving vast conspiracies, fears of hidden infiltration, apocalyptic stakes, and a self-appointed figure who claims to reveal the threat. The film expresses these ideas through its brainwashing plot, visual style, and uncertain perspectives.
Bonus: Robert Kramer's Radical Cinema w/ guest Whitney Strub
Q: What did you find most surprising in the archival material you uncovered about Kramer?
The depth and breadth of his diaries and production papers revealed a constant oscillation between idealistic aims and practical compromises, illustrating how deeply personal history and political theory intersect in his filmmaking process.
Bonus: Robert Kramer's Radical Cinema w/ guest Whitney Strub
Q: Kramer's political worldview is often described as ambivalent. How did you balance critique with appreciation in portraying him?
I aimed for a rigorous, honest portrayal that neither demonizes nor whitewashes him. The book acknowledges his significant contributions to left cinema while candidly addressing his flaws and the problematic dimensions of his personality and politics.
Bonus: Robert Kramer's Radical Cinema w/ guest Whitney Strub
Q: You mentioned origin stories in the introduction of your book. How did the origins of the project shape the way you organized the material?
The origins were incremental and intimate with primary sources; starting with a broad curiosity, I gradually built a scaffold from interviews, archives, and diaries, which allowed the biography to unfold in a way that honors complexity rather than delivering a tidy narrative.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cold War Cinema

What is Cold War Cinema about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on films from the early Cold War era, with in-depth analysis of each director's body of work, historical context, and the political subtext embedded in the era's cinema. The hosts bring a scholarly yet accessible approach, weaving historical events, cultural debates, and film form into thoughtful conversations. Across episodes they explore topics from propaganda, censorship, and ideological clashes to stylistic innovations and genre conventions, often connecting films to broader social and political themes. A notable strength is the blend of rigorous analysis with personal reflections and a willingness to tackle controversial or provocative material, making it a compelling listen for listeners who enjoy cinema history, Mar... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Cold War Cinema:

1. Left of the Projector
2. Guerrilla History
3. Front Row Classics: A Hollywood Golden Age Podcast
4. Red Menace
5. Going Hollywood - Movies and Television from the Golden Age to Today

How many episodes of Cold War Cinema are there?

Cold War Cinema launched 3 years ago and published 41 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Cold War Cinema?

Recent guests on Cold War Cinema include:

1. Andrew Scahill
2. Silas Nathan
3. Whitney Strub
4. Taylor R. Genovese
5. Ryan Ruby
6. Alice Lovejoy
7. Adam McKay
8. Paul Klein

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