Have You Ever Seen
Ryan Ellis reviews classic movies (sometimes humorously) every Monday morning...and occasionally on random days of the week.
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Trouble In Paradise
04/03/2026
Trouble In Paradise
Easter probably called for a chat about the silent version of either The Ten Commandments or Ben-Hur, but no. I'm talking about a 1932 Ernst Lubitsch rom-com that's excellent with the rom, yet only smile-inducing with the com. Covering Trouble In Paradise also gets Miriam Hopkins, Kay Francis and Herbert Marshall on Have you Ever Seen for the first time. They're all well-served by the infamous Lubitsch Touch. Here a rich, pampered, unworthy fail-daughter (Francis) is set up to be ripped off by clever thieves (Hopkins and Marshall). But they're all likable, the romance(s) work great and you even end up rooting for all the characters, even though each of them could easily seem despicable. Lubitsch: one of the greats in this genre. So cue up Trouble In Paradise in this 730th edition of HYES, where I give you the info about some pre-Code lovin' and stealin' European shennanigans. Jot down some thoughts about classic movies and tell me about them. My email is "haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com", my Twitter is "@moviefiend51" and my Bluesky is "ryan-ellis." Also, tickle that subscribe button and then take some time to write a review and rate the podcast as well. Last thing? Follow me on Letterboxd: RyanHYES.
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Sergeant York
03/30/2026
Sergeant York
While America is yet again fighting a war in the Middle East, I end Oscar Month by getting into the doin's of a legit WWI hero in Howard Hawks' Sergeant York. Gary Cooper plays the real-life hero, a dirt-poor man from the Tennessee mountains who's forced the join the army (mother), even though he's ag'in killin'. But when the chips are down, he's courageous and talented enough to kill a lot of Germans! America’s entry into WWII helped make this the #1 hit of 1941. It also led to an Oscar for Super Duper Cooper, even though he often comes across as fake when talking like the real Alvin no doubt talked. But Mr. Stiff’s conversion from no-goodnik to Bible lover to German killer (and his romance with a very young Joan Leslie) IS heartfelt. Plus, the great Hawks was almost incapable of making an unwatchable movie. So whet your sights when they force you to be a doughboy while you also cue up the 729th episode of Have You Ever Seen. Subscribe to this channel in your podcast app. Review it, rate it...and hunt me down on Letterboxd too (RyanHYES). Contact options are: haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com via email, ryan-ellis on Bluesky and @moviefiend51 on the tweet machine.
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Dodsworth & Disraeli
03/27/2026
Dodsworth & Disraeli
Dodsworth is the feature attraction in this 728th talk on Have You Ever Seen, but then there was an unexpected 2nd review in this episode. I spent 10 or 12 minutes on the George Arliss 1929 Oscar-winner, Disraeli…the one about the late-1800s British Prime Minister’s quest to buy the Suez Canel. As for Dodsworth, we've got another winner from William Wyler, who directs Walter Huston & Ruth Chatterton as a middle-aged couple who just aren't clicking anymore. He retires and they vacation in Europe, but that love just might be gone. So ditch Zenith for exotic European locales (or maybe even for Egypt) as I present monologues about Dodsworth and Disraeli. Well, Actually: just to be clear, an actor CAN get nominated for Oscars in the leading AND supporting categories in the modern era (as Al Pacino, Julianne Moore and Jamie Foxx have), but can't get 2 noms in the same category the way Arliss did back when Disraeli was made. Subscribe to the channel in your app. Rate the show and write a review as well. And search me out on Letterboxd for the occasional written review (RyanHYES). Feedback is appreciated. Hit me with a tweet (@moviefiend51), a comment on Bluesky (ryan-ellis) or an email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com).
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In The Line Of Fire & Cimarron
03/23/2026
In The Line Of Fire & Cimarron
In what will become a trend for at least the next little while, I've got 2 reviews in one episode here in podcast #727. First, I detail my favourite moments, lines and scenes in Wolfgang Petersen's In The Line Of Fire. John Malkovich has rarely been in better form as the villain and Clint Eastwood has never been funnier or more charming as the hero. Malkovich wants to assassinate the president and Secret Service man Clint is determined to stop him. Then Best Picture winner of 1931, Wesley Ruggles' Cimarron, gets more of my usual beat-by-beat analysis. It's a western about a successful newspaperman and lawyer (Richard Dix) who has wanderlust...and his racist wife (Irene Dunne) who evolves on that issue and becomes a leader in the town. So rendezvous with my, uh, show about both In The Line Of Fire and Cimarron. Subscribe to Have You Ever Seen, but how about also jotting down a review? You can rate the show too (5 stars!). And click over to Letterboxd to look at my written reviews: RyanHYES. Email me your OWN thoughts about various great movies (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com). That or follow me on Twi-X (@moviefiend51) and/or Bluesky (ryan-ellis).
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Oscars Post-View 2026
03/16/2026
Oscars Post-View 2026
Sinners and One Battle After Another finally got to lock up on the biggest awards stage there is...and they both got plenty of gold. PTA won 3 trophies and his One Battle got the top Oscars (Picture and Director, plus 4 others), but the record-breaking Sinners (nominees-wise, at least) saw Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan honoured for writing and acting. This 726th edition of Have You Ever Seen breaks down every single winner of every single award, has a few thoughts about the night's politics (it was a LITTLE more finger-pointing than it has been in other recent years) and we had that long, but necessary tribute to the many people who died. Conan hosted the show again (pretty fun times again) and Ryan is your host of the 2026 Oscars Post-View. Subscribe, rate and review this podcast. Hunt me down on Letterboxd too: RyanHYES. Social media: "@moviefiend51" and Twi-X and "ryan-ellis" on Bluesky. The email is "haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com".
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A Beautiful Mind
03/16/2026
A Beautiful Mind
One day after the 2026 Academy Awards and right smack in the middle of Oscar Month is the one that won its own 4 trophies 25 years ago. A Beautiful Mind is a touching love story about a real-life paranoid schizophrenic: Nobel-Prize winner John Nash (and his put-upon wife Alicia). Ron Howard & his team play fast and very loose with the facts, including how Nash’s condition manifested AND casting Jennifer Connelly as Nash’s Hispanic wife. Still, though, Russell Crowe is dynamite as our main man and the supporting performances by Ed Harris, Paul Bettany & Christopher Plummer are terrific. And Howard does well to make a movie about math, but doesn’t overload us with it. So laugh at yourself and also about the need for fluid exchange while trying to tune out the voices in your head as this 725th edition of Have You Ever Seen jabbers about A Beautiful Mind. Note: the second movie in the episode on March 23rd will actually be Cimarron, not Dodsworth (which I'll cover on March 27th instead). Don't worry about the Red Scare or those sneaky Communists. Just calmly share your opinion about this movie (and others) with an email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com) or a tweet (@moviefiend51) or a Sky (ryan-ellis). Subscribe to this channel and you won't miss one of those patented extra Friday shows (or the Oscars Post-View probably coming later today), then dash off a review and a rating in your app.
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Oscars Preview 2026
03/09/2026
Oscars Preview 2026
The 98th Academy Awards are finally less than a week away, so I've got an in-depth analysis of the major nominees. It's more wide open than it's been in a very long time, with seemingly only PTA (Best Director), Jessie Buckley (Best Actress) and a few of the technical awards feeling like they're locks. And maybe THEY aren't either! It wasn't an incredible year at the movies, yet these are mostly good candidates. Although much like last year, the Academy seemed to nominate just 6 or 8 movies in nearly every category! In any case, the race between One Battle After Another and Sinners (with its record-breaking number of nominations) will be settled on the 15th, so find out where I stand before we get there this 724th edition of Have you Ever Seen. Well, Actually: oops, it's pronounced "Yo-kim" Trier and "Vog-nuhr" Moura...and Moura plays THREE roles in The Secret Agent, not just two. Also, this was recorded before the WGA awards (Sinners and One Battle After Another both won) and, yes, the SAG wins for Michael B. Jordan and Amy Madigan DO feel like potential up-enders in the Oscar races. Subscribe to Have You Ever Seen in your app. Rate and review the podcast as well. And if you like what I do here, look for my written reviews and ratings and such on Letterboxd: RyanHYES. Deal out some feedback on social media ("@moviefiend51" on Twi-X or "ryan-ellis" on Bluesky) and emails are always nice (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com).
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Here Comes Mr. Jordan
03/06/2026
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
Here Comes Mr. Jordan is Movie #2 in this 11th Annual Oscar Month. It's the rare film that won awards for the screenplay AND the story. Alexander Hall does a pretty good job directing his cast through a creative, body-jumping fantasy about the afterlife, angels and soul reincarnation. This is the first time Robert Montgomery has been featured on Have You Ever Seen...and him playing a goofy palooka was not his usual assignment. He's effective though. Claude Rains gets to play ethereal...which is appropriate for a "seen it all" angel. Evelyn Keyes is Montgomery's love interest and James Gleason is his put-upon boxing manager, whose protege keeps turning up in new bodies. The concept is clever...and it's even a little touching. It's just not very funny. Anyway, launch into this 723rd podcast as I run my mouth about Here Comes. Mr. Jordan. Take a second to subscribe to the channel and never miss one of these Friday episodes. Rate and review the show in your app as well. Seek me out on Letterboxd: RyanHYES. Say your piece with an email: haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com. Hit me with some tweets (@moviefiend51) or some Skys (ryan-ellis).
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Around The World In Eighty Days
03/02/2026
Around The World In Eighty Days
Betting on everything is common these days, yet somehow Around The World In Eighty Days isn't on everyone's lips in 2026. And...it shouldn't be. You really feel that 3 hours. Michael Anderson's adventure comedy has posh David Niven circumnavigating the globe with his man-of-action valet, Cantinflas, and they have to do it in the title deadline...while being pursued by a man from Scotland Yard, who thinks he robbed a bank to fund this trip. Producer Mike Todd seemed to will this film into being finished...and then turned it into an award-winning blockbuster, helped immensely by a staggering amount of star cameos. Well, "famous" at the time. And there's young Shirley MacLaine too! So plop this 722nd edition of Have You Ever Seen right onto your device as I analyze Around The World In Eighty Days. Well, Actually: I said it all sorts of ways in this episode, but the editor, Gene Ruggiero's name should be pronounced "rouge-ee-air-oh". Subscribe to Have You Ever Seen in your app. Rate and review the show too. And look for my scribblings on Letterboxd: RyanHYES. Get in touch! Try email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com), Twi-X (@moviefiend51) and Bluesky (ryan-ellis).
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Porgy And Bess
02/27/2026
Porgy And Bess
The final podcast on Have You Ever Seen in Black History Month talks for the 4th time about a movie with a primarily black cast. Otto Preminger often directed Issues Movies and here he's dealing with the Gershwin opera that’s all about murder, rape, drug addiction, fishing and poverty…with some racism thrown in there too. Porgy And Bess is set-bound and melodramatic though. Bad print aside, the story and the execution often feel phony. The actors DO sell the passion better than the script or maybe even the original opera does. Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Brock Peters, Diahann Carroll and Sammy Davis Jr. actually do a terrific job with this not-always-effective material. So tune in for this 721st episode as I tackle yet another musical here in 2026: Porgy And Bess. Well, Actually: George Gershwin DID write the song "Summertime" for the 1935 opera, but DuBose Heyward came up with the lyrics. Also, for those interested in my quest to see absolutely, positively everything AFI-related, there are developments on that front (other nominated films on various lists) that will be discussed in future shows. Subscribe to the channel in your podcasting app. Rate the show with a delightful 5 stars, but also write a little complimentary review. And on the note of reviews, I talk about various flicks on Letterboxd: RyanHYES. Contacting suggestions: email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com), Twi-X (@moviefiend51) and Bluesky (ryan-ellis).
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Camille (1937) & Camille (1921)
02/23/2026
Camille (1937) & Camille (1921)
As February winds down, I spend a lot of time in this 'un talking about 2 versions of Camille where a courtesan's life is ending because of tuberculosis. The main thrust of this 720th episode is George Cukor's take with Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor, then I zipped through a review of the 1921 Camille with Alla Nazimova and Rudolph Valentino. They're both weeper love stories where the men won't take "no" for an answer from the "lady of the Camellias". One of these is better than the other, but..which one?! So grip the love of your life hard by the shoulders and continue to be handsomely poor as my latest dose of Have You Ever Seen has plenty to say about Garbo et al in Camille(s). Well, Actually: Luise Rainer won Best Actress for The Great Ziegfeld the year before, while the Oscar win in 1937 was for The Good Earth. Also, Garbo was 5th (not 4th) on the ladies' side of the Top 100 Stars list. Also also, Garbo's co-star in Ninotchka was Melvyn Douglas, not William Powell. Subscribe to this channel in your app, but also look for my written reviews and ratings on Letterboxd (RyanHYES). Speaking of ratings and review-writing, I'd love it if you would do that for me. Contacting me can be done in 3 easy ways...email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com), Twi-X (@moviefiend51) and Bluesky (ryan-ellis).
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Pinky
02/20/2026
Pinky
Black History Month has inspired me to cover 3 (of what will be 4) race-related movies in February, but Pinky is the most overt about that charged topic. Ethel Waters has a key role as Jeanne Crain's granny in Elia Kazan's complicated movie...while Crain plays a mixed-race woman who passes for white, dealing with mean-spirited racism in the south while her boyfriend just wants her to go back up north and be white. Pinky turns into a courtroom movie after the dying Ethel Barrymore's racist rich neighbour decides to leave her house to her nurse (Crain)...and the will ends up being contested. I also spent some time talking earnestly about the evolution of race and racism...and about my own history with it. So don't let me guilt you into doing something you don't want to do. Except I'll collapse and probably DIE if you don't put your ears to the 719th ep on Have You Ever Seen. (now THAT's guilt!) Well, Actually: the line about "sometimes when you win, you actually lose" is of course not from When Harry Met Sally...it's from White Men Can't Jump. Also, Kazan was nominated 5 times for Best Director, not 6. Become a subscriber to the channel and help the podcast grow. Rate and review the show as well. And hunt me down on Letterboxd: RyanHYES. The email address is "haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com". The Twitter handle is "@moviefiend51". And the Bluesky nickname is "ryan-ellis".
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Stormy Weather
02/16/2026
Stormy Weather
Presidents' Day? Bah! Let’s talk about a movie a certain POTUS would NEVER watch. Stormy Weather is a somewhat biographical musical about the life of dancing legend Bill Robinson...with Lena Horne, Dooley Wilson, Fats Waller & Cab Calloway sharing the screen with Bojangles. Black people dominate director Andrew Stone's canvas, even though race isn't really the point here. Stormy Weather is just about talented people (including The Nicholas Brothers) singing, dancing and being talented. Fun times, good movie. So download the 718th episode of Have You Ever Seen to get the lowdown from this white Canadian. Subscribe to the show in your app. Rate it. Review it too. And look up my written reviews on Letterboxd: RyanHYES. Contact options are "@moviefiend51" and "ryan-ellis" on Twi-X and Bluesky, while my email address is "haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com".
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Hell Or High Water
02/14/2026
Hell Or High Water
There’s no better way to celebrate both Valentine’s Day AND also my birthday than by talking about Hell Or High Water! David Mackenzie's layered Robin Hood-esque modern western was my #1 movie of 2016, partly because entire cast is fantastic. Jeff Bridges was nominated for his supporting work, but Ben Foster is even better. And Taylor Sheridan’s Texas-set story they’re all in is complex because we’re rooting for guys who rob banks…and yet everyone other than the retiring Texas Ranger throw their chips in with the thieves Foster and Chris Pine. I also spent a lot of time in this rehashing the infamous 2016 Oscars, but for GOOD reasons. So what DON'T you want, little brother, as I foot my hat to present the 717th edition of Have You Ever Seen. Make this podcast a weekly goal by subscribing…and you’ll even get 2 shows more often than not in a given week. Rate and review the show in your app as well. And look for me on Letterboxd: RyanHYES. Contact options: “@moviefiend51” on Twi-X, “ryan-ellis” on Bluesky and as an email.
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The Palm Beach Story
02/09/2026
The Palm Beach Story
I'd like to know what's buzzin', cousins, as I bring you the 716th podcast on Have You Ever Seen. Preston Sturges was making a lot of hay in the early '40s, releasing The Lady Eve AND Sullivan's Travels the year before The Palm Beach Story came out. Palm Beach isn't as classic or as funny as THOSE two are, but it's an effectively zany, fast-talkin' rom-com. Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea make for a compelling married NYC couple. She tries to divorce him (you'll never guess where), so she can marry a rich man like Rudy Vallee...and then help her ex out by getting him some money out of the deal. If you think THAT'S whacky, wait until the out-of-deep-left-field ending! But The Palm Beach Story IS a fun time and I've got all kinds of stories to tell about it. Subscribe to this channel and you'll never miss an episode. I'm doing more shows lately...and posting on various days of the week. Rate and review the podcast in your app too. Letterboxd: RyanHYES. Email: haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com. Twi-X: @moviefiend51. And Bluesky: ryan-ellis.
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Kid Millions & Soup To Nuts
02/06/2026
Kid Millions & Soup To Nuts
After yesterday's episode about the unchosen 450 actors & actresses who were in fact nominated for the AFI's Top 100 Stars list, now it's time to begin a quest. I will review the films of MANY of the 180-ish folks who this podcast has never discussed. And since Eddie Cantor, Ann Sothern, George Murphy & the Nicholas Brothers are in Kid Millions and the Three Stooges are in Soup To Nuts, I'm knocking 5 names off the "must-cover" list in 1 double episode! This 715th show on Have You Ever Seen digs into the musical-comedy adventure about Cantor inheriting a lot of money (Kid), then it's time for a zany goof about romance & chowderhead firefighters (Nuts). So strap in to hear about these two B&W romps from the '30s as my quest to talk about the previously-unreviewed AFI acting nominees takes flight. Well, Actually: at around the 16-minute mark, the line should have been "these are white actors playing Muslim Africans", not "Muslim Americans". Subscribe! Then you can't miss out when I post shows like this on days other than Monday. Rate and review Have You Ever Seen as well. And I finally posted some new reviews on Letterboxd not long ago! Look for "RyanHYES". Contact me with your OWN thoughts about the films I discuss: "ryan-ellis" on Bluesky, "@moviefiend51" on Twi-x and you can email me at "haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com".
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AFI's Old-Timey Actors Listicle
02/05/2026
AFI's Old-Timey Actors Listicle
Surprise! I didn't say during Monday's episode that I'd be posting 2 podcasts later in the same week, but here's the first one. Here I’m talking about the American Film Institute's Top 100 Stars list, which was really 50 stars (25 men, 25 women). Although their odd numbering method isn't really the point…and neither is their dumb criteria. No, this 714th Have You Ever Seen podcast is REALLY about the 450 people who were nominated, but didn't make the cut. My plan is to review as many of the 180-ish up-until-now-omitted actors & actresses as I possibly can in the months and years ahead. So if you ever wanted to hear a guy rattling off about 500 names, then this monologue about the AFI's Old-Timey Actors is your dream episode! Oh, and tune in again tomorrow when I begin this quest by talking about 2 B&W ‘30s comedies: Kid Millions and Soup To Nuts. Subscribe to Have You Ever Seen in your app, but also rate and review the show. To hear more of my rambunctiousness, you can search for me on Letterboxd as well: RyanHYES. Feedback: email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com), Twi-X (@moviefiend51) and Bluesky (ryan-ellis).
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Show Boat
02/02/2026
Show Boat
It may be Groundhog Day, but I'm talking about Show Boat, the Hammerstein & Kern Broadway musical that was turned into a big-budget movie. Any film with singing that also has subplots about deadbeat husbands, alcoholism and racism (and a scene with blackface) risks failing to pull off such a tricky balance, but Frankenstein director James Whale DOES make it work. He's got Irene Dunne, Allan Jones and Paul Robeson in key roles in the one where performers on a touring boat in the Deep South…eventually end up in Chicago for about half of the often erroneously-titled movie. So let this ol' man podcaster talk to you about "Ol' Man River" (and so much more) in this 713th dash of Have You Ever Seen podcasting. Well, Actually: around the 39:00 mark, the line SHOULD have been that Hammerstein and RODGERS (not Kern) were especially big in the '50s. Subscribe to the podcast in your app. Rate the show and write a review too. Also, hunt down my link on Letterboxd: RyanHYES. To offer your feedback, email me (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com), tweet me (@moviefiend51) or try Bluesky (ryan-ellis).
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The Killers
01/26/2026
The Killers
Character actor extraordinaire Edmond O'Brien's insurance investigator is actually the focus in Robert Siodmak's The Killers, but Burt Lancaster is quite powerful in his big-screen debut. And then there's the stunning Ava Gardner as the devious femme fatale. The entire cast is solid, the story is layered in its flashback structure (which is similar to Citizen Kane), plus, the main insurance-claim storyline is similar to what happens in Double Indemnity. And it all works really well. So steal money from your fellow thieves as the 712th podcast on Have You Ever Seen looks at the sinister intrigue and sudden violence in The Killers. Well, Actually: at the 41:00 minute mark, the line should have been "co-starring a WOMAN who doesn't love the main character." Be a bright boy and smart off to me with an email: haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com. Or try social media with Twi-X (@moviefiend51) or Bluesky (ryan-ellis). Review this show and rate it on your app. Subscribe as well. And look me up on Letterboxd: RyanHYES.
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Fargo Redux
01/23/2026
Fargo Redux
The fabulous Fargo was reviewed on this channel over 10 years ago, but you betcha believe that seeing it again a few weeks ago prompted some note-taking. So while the bright light in Joel & Ethan Coen’s very violent comedy, the Oscar-winning France McDormand, is wonderful as the pregnant hero cop--and Macy, Buscemi, Stormare and Presnell are horrible, stupid or both--the point of this fresh Fargo look is to ask Reasonably Good Questions and make some “oh yeah” type points about the plot. So, geez, you're not sellin' me a car here, Jerry! Just lock and load episode #711 of Have You Ever Seen as I dig into Fargo for the second time in about 10 years. Rate the podcast, review it and subscribe. Also, look for my page on Letterboxd: RyanHYES. Contact options: "haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com" via email, "@moviefiend51" on Twi-X and "ryan-ellis" on Bluesky.
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A Raisin In The Sun
01/19/2026
A Raisin In The Sun
Reviews about black movies on Martin Luther King Day haven't been a tradition on this channel, but episode #710 is all about Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia McNeil and a cast that (mostly) looks just like them. In A Raisin In The Sun, they're a tumultuous family who come into a windfall of insurance money…and how to spend it is the thrust of the drama. Put it all into…a house? An education? A bar? Through all that, director Daniel Petrie's finest film gets into issues of alcoholism, financial difficulty, family squabbles, family love and racism. So come hear about the Youngers go through it all in this monologue about A Raisin In The Sun. Subscribe to the 'cast in your app while also giving some thought to rating the show (*****) and also jotting down a review. Find me on Letterboxd (RyanHYES) and also find me on social media. It's "@moviefiend51" on Twi-X and "ryan-ellis" on Bluesky. Another option is email: haveyoueverseendpodcast@gmail.com
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Michael Clayton
01/12/2026
Michael Clayton
Michael Clayton was released right in the middle of George Clooney's 15-year run of remarkably successful filmmaking. From 1998 to 2013, the charismatic star--who so often played it best when he played it weary--acted in, directed, wrote and/or produced some of the best projects around. He got money, awards...or both. And in Tony Gilroy's directorial debut, Clooney is intense and he's just terrific as a law firm's "fixer". He's assigned to try to talk down mentally-ill super-lawyer Tom Wilkinson, who's tanking a lawsuit because he discovered wrong-doing by the company he represents. Tilda Swinton won an Oscar for her oddball, yet still restrained performance (restrained for her, at least) as a fixer for that evil-doing company. Gilroy's complex throwback to '70s legal thrillers is one of the very best dramas of the Aughts. So admire some horses and scarf a dozen or more loaves of fresh bread while you fire up the 709th episode of Have You Ever Seen. Be a subscriber of this podcast, but also review the show and assign a tidy 5-star rating. Also, look for me to sometimes write reviews on Letterboxd: RyanHYES. Contact options: email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com), Twitter (@moviefiend51) and Bluesky (ryan-ellis).
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The Lavender Hill Mob
01/09/2026
The Lavender Hill Mob
Ealing Studios has an incredible legacy in England's film history, so they were overdue to get a talking-about on Have You Ever Seen. In The Lavender Hill Mob, Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway and a slew of character actors have plenty of fun being gold thieves trying to pull off the perfect crime. A Fish Called Wanda was another classic comedy directed by Charles Crichton, but he was just as sly at directing all these guys back in the '50s too, not going for big and obvious laughs. Soft smiles, not LOLs. His romp is certainly enjoyable though, travelling from England to France to Brazil. So wield an expensive model of the Eiffel Tower as the 708th edition of this podcast that chatters about The Lavender Hill Mob. Offer up some feedback with an email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com) or a tweet (@moviefiend51) or even a Sky (ryan-ellis on Bluesky). You can also catch up on my written reviews on Letterboxd too: RyanHYES. Rate and review this podcast in your app, but subscribe as well. Then you can't miss non-Monday episodes like this one.
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Mr. Deeds Goes To Town
01/05/2026
Mr. Deeds Goes To Town
An uplifting and inspirational dramedy seems like a pretty good way to start 2026 on Have You Ever Seen...although emphasize the drama in that portmanteau because this one isn't big on comedy. Frank Capra made a lot of films about social justice, although this has an unfortunately still-relevant message. Gary Cooper plays the title character, a hair-trigger small-towner who goes to New York and is deemed insane for wanting to give the massive fortune he inherited to those who need it more. Cooper isn’t stiff here, for once, and it’s actually one of the best things he did, playing a volatile lug-nut who falls hard for liar-liar-pants-on-fire Jean Arthur. So don't go silent when the world turns on you. Just check out my 707th podcast which is, one hopes, anything but silent. Well, Actually: Mayo Methot wasn't married to Humphrey Bogart until 2 years after this movie came out. Also, Hart To Hart DID air in 1979, but the show ran most of its episodes in the early '80s. Subscribe to this show about classic movies and also rate & review it. Also, find my page on Letterboxd (RyanHYES). Contact options: Twi-X (@moviefiend51), Bluesky (ryan-ellis) and email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com).
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Crimson Tide
12/31/2025
Crimson Tide
To wrap up 2025 with the 70th episode of the year (and the 706th show in the history of Have You Ever Seen), it was high time to yap about Tony Scott. Crimson Tide is one of the underrated director's best flicks. His mutiny-on-a-submarine movie stars Gene Hackman as a crass, demanding captain battling his thoughtful, by-the-book executive officer played by Denzel Washington. The often-glaring Denzel and the often-speechifying Hackman are both fantastic...and they're helped by a strong supporting cast that includes a pre-Aragorn Viggo & a pre-Soprano Gandolfini. The tension in this one is as high as it gets, since nuclear war with Russia is at stake. It's just a terrific boat movie. I wish you a hunky dory NYE and I hope you'll spend close to an hour in the last few hours of '25 or in the early days of '26 hearing me rave about Crimson Tide. Subscribe to this show in your podcast app. Review it too. Post a 5-star rating. Also, hunt me down on Letterboxd: RyanHYES. Although act like the characters in the first 20 minutes of this movie and don't rush. We'll get there. Share your own thoughts about my monologues on social media. I'm "@moviefiend51" on Twi-X and "ryan-ellis" on Bluesky.
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Killer's Kiss
12/29/2025
Killer's Kiss
Killer's Kiss was the maestro Stanley Kubrick's second film and it IS amateurish, especially by his incredibly high standards. The technical genius' cast is just okay in this...and they aren't as big and memorable as most of his casts would be in later works. Where's the lowered-brow glare?! Still, Jamie Smith, Irene Kane and Frank Silvera are rock-solid in this thriller about a boxer, a dancer and a gangster. There's ballet and thuggery and mannequins and a few killings in this one too. So with just a few days left in 2025, tune in to check out a fairly brief episode #705 of Have You Ever Seen. If you'd like to drop a line to complain about my continuing audio adventures (although they WILL get better soon!), email me at "haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com". On social media, I'm "ryan-ellis" on Bluesky and "@moviefiend51" on Twi-X. Oh, and my page on Letterboxd is "RyanHYES". Subscribe to Have You Ever Seen in your podcasting application, especially now that I'm posting extra content on days OTHER THAN just Mondays. Rate and review the show too.
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And Then There Were None
12/24/2025
And Then There Were None
I can pick ‘em because what better way to celebrate Christmas Eve than to talk about an island-bound whodunnit based on an Agatha Christie book?! Director Rene Clair gathered an ensemble cast of acclaimed character actors (including Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston and Judith Anderson) as a stealthy killer exacts sick justice on people accused of murder, using a nursery rhyme as the theme o’ death. The book is outstanding and this adaptation is about as good as any of them have been, but there's some misplaced humour and the ending bails on a great premise. Plus, Christie's great story always had some gaps in logic. The film is so good though that it still works. So as you pour some nog and wrap some gifts, tune into my 704th podcast here on Have You Ever Seen to hear about And Then There Were None. Feedback: email is "haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com", Twi-X is "@moviefiend51" and Bluesky is "ryan-ellis". Rate and review this show, but also subscribe. Then extra episodes on non-Mondays like this one will just appear in your feed. Look up Letterboxd for some written reviews. I'm under "RyanHYES".
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The Family Man
12/22/2025
The Family Man
With just a few days to go until Christmas, it’s time for another movie set on the big day. Not-so-jolly ol' (not a saint) Nic Cage plays an ordinary and restrained regular guy in The Family Man while Tea Leoni is at her most likable and charming as his wife. After splitting up in college, Mister Successful gets a glimpse of what their life COULD have been. The controversial frat-boy Brett Ratner directed a dramedy that's going for a vibe similar to It's A Wonderful Life, including the main character's distaste for his lot in life (in the “Glimpse-verse”, at least)…but also giving us a touching ending. So choose us by choosing to listen to the 703rd episode of Have You Ever Seen. And Merry Holidays-mas, one and all! Extra episodes will show up on this channel a few more times this month, so subscribe and you won't miss a thing. Rate the show and review it too. Contact me with an email: haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com. If you’re a socialite, I'm ryan-ellis on Bluesky and @moviefiend51 on Twi-X. Letterboxd features my written reviews. I'm RyanHYES on there.
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Lady And The Tramp
12/19/2025
Lady And The Tramp
Animated dogs share a plate of spaghetti, furry love is in the air and a classic romance was born 70 years ago in Disney's Lady And The Tramp. The Cocker Spaniel with the great floppy ears charmed her rascally Tramp so much that he even settled down with his "pidge". And while this isn't at the level of Snow White or Pinocchio, it's a lighthearted, enjoyable dog romp that became a blockbuster. On a personal note, all the pooch talk in this 702nd episode had me often reminiscing about my own 3 dear departed four-leggers. So kiss over your pasta as some Italians sing Bella Notte and I spend a half-hour talking about the somewhat-Christmas movie, Lady And The Tramp. Subscribe to Have You Ever Seen in your glorious podcasting application. Rate the show as well and spend a few minutes writing a review. Contact points are: email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com), Twi-X (@moviefiend51) and Bluesky (ryan-ellis). Oh, and check out Letterboxd (RyanHYES).
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How The Grinch Stole Christmas
12/15/2025
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
We're halfway through the month and only 10 days away from Christmas, so it was time to start featuring red, white and green movies on Have You Ever Seen. And for the 701st episode, I'm prattling on about Jim Carrey playing The Grinch. And does he! The rubber-faced Canadian was about as perfect as anybody could have been playing Dr. Seuss' iconic mean one...and he also brought dozens of over-the-top ad libs and wisecracks to the dance. His schtick doesn't always land though and more than a few things in this film just don't make sense in a kids' picture. Also, Chuck Jones' 1966 animated TV special is classic partly for how sweet it is, including the Whos...who are such jerks here. Ron Howard's impersonal (and inferior) take on the big, green grump & his neighbours is just garish, loud and only occasionally funny. Yet this is one of the great change-of-heart stories ever, so there ARE things to like. So load up with a heaping helping of Who Hash and some roast beast as I talk about How The Grinch Stole Christmas. To let me know that you didn't love the audio distortion in this episode, write me an email to complain: haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com. I'm working on improving that. Stay tuned. You can also tweet me (@moviefiend51 on Twi-X) or Sky me (ryan-ellis on Bluesky). Subscribe to Have You Ever Seen, especially since extra content is soon coming your way on days other than just Mondays. The show will just pop up in your feed. Rate the show, write a review, tell your friends. I also jot down thoughts about movies old AND new on Letterboxd. I'm "RyanHYES" on that venture.
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