Ep 117: Trouble in Paradise with Professor Joseph McBride

Lady P is, once again, joined by film historian Professor Joseph McBride to talk about about his latest release, How Did Lubitsch Do It?. The book is a comprehensive critical study on the film works of famed German-American filmmaker, Ernst Lubitsch. McBride steps listeners through Lubitsch's early years, and discusses how his technique and style evolved through the various phases of his career. They also talk about career highlights, with special attention paid to what many consider to be his masterpiece, Trouble in Paradise (1932). As the 117th film on the critic's poll, Trouble in Paradise is the highest ranking Lubitsch film on the Sight and Sound list. McBride and Lady P discuss why it's considered such a seminal work, and talk about its legacy as formative film in the romantic comedy genre.

Plus, McBride and Lady P make a slight digression to talk about Joe's interesting take on the on the current state of the romantic comedy, and why he believes it has had a precipitous fall from the Lubitsch era.