Out of the Past - Film Noir

I'm going to try something a bit new here on my blog. As I come across new websites that catch my attention while surfing the World Wide Web, I'll be sure to share the ones I really like with you as I discover them.

Today, I was in a busy production mode working on some graphic design projects at Springfield College. I enjoy listening to music while I work, but today, I wanted to listen to something a bit different.

I was in the mood for some old time radio programs. Specifically, I was interested in finding out if I could listen to any old time radio dramas that had Humphrey Bogart.

Most of my Google searches came across websites that offered them for sale via a $3 or $4 purchase here or there for a CD-R with MP3s that they would snail mail to you. Not what I wanted.

I finally came across a few websites that had downloadable shows on MP3s. I even found one Bogart and Becall radio drama. Jim Widner's podcast that presented BOLD VENTURE with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall setting sail to Havana. It was a short 30 minute program. An interesting radio drama.

http://www.podcast.net/show/43239

Maybe I will go back and buy one of those CD-Rs with a few dozen radio programs.

Anyway, *that* really isn't the website I'm here to primarily write about. While searching for a few other websites that might have old time radio dramas as downloadable podcasts, I came across a website that I spent the entire afternoon at:

OUT OF THE PAST: INVESTIGATING FILM NOIR by Shannon Clute and Richard Edwards
http://outofthepast.libsyn.com/

This is an excellent website that offers bi-weekly podcasts investigating the great films of film noir. Each episode is a downloadable MP3 that comes right in under 30 minutes or so. These two faculty members from Saint Mary's College of California discuss movies that fall under the film noir classification. Including neo-film noir like BATMAN BEGINS or BLADE RUNNER.

I highly recommend checking out this website and listening to a few of their programs. To bring this back around to Bogart, I really enjoyed the broadcast and discussion of the hard-boiled classic, THE MALTESE FALCON.



I'll definitely be back to listen to more of their archived podcasts and I'll be sure to check out their upcoming podcast featuring the comparative analysis of two of my favorite films, THE BIG SLEEP and THE BIG LEBOWSKI.

This Dude Abides...