Introducing the Smackdown Panel for '57
Monday, June 22, 2020 at 1:00PM 
Are you enjoying our super-sized Supporting Actress Smackdown season? We've already discussed 1947, 1981, and 2002. We normally only do 4 episodes but we're super-sizing things this summer so there's lots more to come. It's our own niche movie-loving way of trying to alleviate your (and our) anxiety, depression, exhaustion, during this tumultous time of righteous protests, pandemic sheltering, and treasonous manchild in the White House. Up next 1957
THE NOMINEES
- Hope Lange (Peyton Place)
- Carolyn Jones (The Bachelor Party)
- Miyoshi Umeki (Sayonara)
- Elsa Lanchester (Witness for the Prosecution)
- Diane Varsi (Peyton Place)
Get to watching those four films when you need a break from the real world! Send in your ballots once you've screened 'em with "1957" in the subject line. But please only vote on the movies you've seen.
PLEASE WELCOME OUR NEXT PANEL ...
Q ALLAN BROCKA
Q Allan Brocka is a writer and director and the creator of the animated series Rick & Steve, the Eating Out films. He also co-wrote and directed Boy Culture, based on the book by Matthew Rettemund. [Twitter | IMDb]
KENJI FUJISHIMA
Kenji Fujishima is a writer and editor based in New York City. He has previously written about film for publications including Village Voice, Slant Magazine, and Paste, and about theater for TheaterMania. He is also a general arts & culture enthusiast. [Twitter | Instagram]
IZZY
Izzy is the writer, editor, and narrator of "Be Kind Rewind," a YouTube channel that takes a look at Hollywood history and the extraordinary women who have lived through it. She loves musicals, and urges you to try a black and white movie every once in a while. [YouTube]
KIMBERLY PIERCE
Kimberly is a film critic and historian specializing in issues of gender and sexuality in the middle of the twentieth century. Her criticism looking at contemporary cinema can be found on Geek Girl Authority. Meanwhile, she runs a YouTube channel, Female Gaze Productions where she examines the popular culture of the twentieth century though a historical and feminist lens. She also recently started "Hollywood and Wine" which is available everywhere you listen to podcasts. [Twitter | Instagram]
BRET WOOD
Bret Wood is Producer of Archival Restorations for Kino Lorber, Inc., whose award-winning projects include Pioneers of African-American Cinema and Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers. He also writes and directs films (The Unwanted) and podcasts (The Control Group, The Seventh Daughter) which he hopes that, fifty years from now, someone will find worthy of restoration. [Kino Lorber Twitter]
HOSTED BY...
NATHANIEL ROGERS
Nathaniel is the creator and owner of The Film Experience. He is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association ("Critics Choice") and The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics ("GALECA") and a longtime Oscar pundit here at TFE. His writing has also appeared at other publications including Vanity Fair, Vulture, Slate, Towleroad, and Winq.
If you are a working actor, a renowned critic, film historian, a novelist, or an arts professional of some kind, chances are good that he has meant to invite you to a Smackdown panel, or would have if he happened to know you were obsessed with supporting actresses. [Twitter | Contact | Instagram]
Reader Comments (24)
I love Be Kind Rewind. Nice to meet you Izzy! Thanks Nathaniel :)
I concur with J: Be Kind Rewind is the best film-focused channel on Youtube and could not be a better fit for TFE's actressexuality!
Yea!! No "comedians" (I'm talking to 2002 & 1985)
Where to watch Sayonara and The Bachelor Party:
Sayonara: https://ok.ru/video/1306946374342
The Bachelor Party: https://ok.ru/video/1301747927577
Enjoy!
LOVE Be Kind Rewind!
I'm insecure so I wouldn't allow one, less three hotter guys than me on the panel, so kudos to you Nathaniel!
RIP Joel Schumacher.
@Marcos: bless you for the link to that site! Omg, they have so many old B&W classics on there, I'm in heaven!
Also a huge Be Kind Rewind fan. This looks like a great panel and I'm really looking forward to it!
Great line up!
With vey little screen time, Carolyn Jones is definitely striking in "The Bachelor Party". But my five nominees for '57 would have been completely different:
JOAN BLONDELL "Desk Set"
DOROTHY DANDRIDGE "Island in the Sun"
MYLENE DEMONGEOT "The Crucible"
BARBARA NICHOLS "Sweet Smell of Success"
UNA O'CONNOR "Witness for the Prosecution"
Be Kind Rewind is the best thing ever
BE KIND REWIND!!! I can't wait for part 2 of the 1963 Best Actress Oscar race.
NATHANIEL, ENTER MY HOUSE AND EAT THE ASS OF ALL MY FAMILY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FILM EXPERIENCE
Excited for Izzy’s inclusion, I like many love her channel and everything on it. I’ll be interested in this panels reactions to this lineup because I believe it to be one of the worst overall list of nominees in the history of the category.
I did a binge of ‘57 films last year when the smackdown was originally supposed to happen and from what I’ve seen I’d highly recommend Paths of War, Face in the Crowd, 12 Angry Men, Smiles of a Summer Night & Funny Face. The later two feature performances that should’ve made a dent in the supporting actress category. Harriet Andersson & Kay Thompson are the women you should watch for.
Final words Think Pink.
Count me in with the Be Kind Rewind love!
I found Be Kind Rewind by accident a couple months ago in Youtube and I crave every episode. Wish she’d throw in and analyze some Best Supporting Actress winners every now & then to mix it up. But, beggars can’t be choosers.
This is a great lineup! It's so interesting that, of the people who have been panelists, the performers (actors, comedians, etc) are usually my least favorite in terms of feedback. I'm much more interested in what the writers, critics, and general film enthusiasts have to say. Looking forward to the write-up and podcast!
Like many, I am ALL about Be Kind Rewind, one of the best YouTube channels out there that deal with the movies. Can't wait for this Smackdown!
Nathaniel,
After seeing the picture of Q ALLAN BROCKA, can I request this episode be made into a VODcast please!
Ditto the support for Be Kind, Rewind !!
Had to geek out over Be Kind Rewind like everyone else. LOVE that channel and am looking forward to this episode.
Joining the chorus of OH WOW BE KIND REWIND! :)
@Marcos, thank you for the links to the movies. Watching "Sayonara" right now!
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4i4ae6 part 1 of 3 parts of "Peyton Place" on Daily Motion. I found it on my XBOX app too.
So excited that Izzy is on this panel. Be Kind Rewind is my favourite YouTube channel I get so excited every time she posts a new video.