Cold War Cinema

The Manchurian Candidate (1962, John Frankenheimer)

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

I Am Cuba (1964, Mikhail Kalatozov)

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 collabor

Bonus: Getting to Know Your Hosts

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

Bonus: Robert Kramer's Radical Cinema w/ guest Whitney Strub

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

Fail Safe (1964, Sidney Lumet)

The Cold War Cinema team returns to discuss Sidney Lumet's 1964 film Fail Safe, a powerful (and bold) independent Hollywood production that paints a horrific picture of a

Ivan's Childhood (1962, Andrei Tarkovsky) w/ guest Taylor R. Genovese

"I want to underline my own belief that art must carry man's craving for the ideal, must be an expression of his reaching out towards it; that art must give man hope and

Bonus: New German Cinema and the Red Army Faction w/ guest Ryan Ruby

In this bonus episode, cohosts Jason Christian and Anthony Ballas speak with the literary critic Ryan Ruby about New German Cinema, particularly the directors Rainer Wern

Bonus: Interview w/ Dr. Alice Lovejoy

In this bonus episode, cohosts Jason Christian and Paul T. Klein interview the film historian Dr. Alice Lovejoy about her scholarship and her new book,  Tales of Militant

Seconds (1966, John Frankenheimer) w/ guest Adam McKay

On this episode, the Cold War Cinema crew is joined by director, writer, and producer Adam McKay to discuss John Frankenheimer's paranoid, psychological thriller Seconds

Letter Never Sent (1959, Mikhail Kalatozov)

The Cold War Cinema team, Jason Christian, Anthony Ballas, and Paul T. Klein, return to discuss Mikhail Kalatozov's 1959 drama Letter Never Sent.  Synopsis of the film:

The Searchers (1956, John Ford) w/ guest Aspen Ballas

The Cold War Cinema team returns with special guest Aspen Ballas to discuss John Ford's 1956 western The Searchers. Aspen is a PhD student of English at the University of

Ballad of a Soldier (1959, Grigory Chukhray)

The Cold War Cinema team returns to discuss Grigory Chukhray's 1959 war drama Ballad of a Soldier.  Alyhosha is 19-years-old private on the Eastern Front during the Gre

BONUS: Tribute to Peter Watkins (1935–2025)

In this bonus episode of Cold War Cinema, Jason Christian is joined by the independent filmmakers Eric Marsh and Christopher Jason Bell, to discuss the films and legacy o

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956, Don Siegel)

"They're here already! You're next! You're next! You're next!" The Cold War Cinema team returns to discuss the 1956 sci-fi classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Somet

Poet (1956, Boris Barnet)

This week on Cold War Cinema, we look at Boris Barnet's Poet (sometimes refered to as The Poet), a 1956 feature about the role of art and literature in war and revolution

Pickup on South Street (1953, Samuel Fuller) w/ guest Stephen Gillespie

"Are you waving the flag at me?" The Cold War Cinema team returns to look at Samuel Fuller's 1954 noir masterpiece, Pickup on South Street, with special guest Stephen G

BONUS: Interview w/ Christopher Jason Bell

In this bonus episode, cohost Jason Christian interviews the independent filmmaker Christopher Jason Bell. Besides being a filmmaker, Bell is a board of director of the s

Silvery Dust (1953, Abram Room & Pavel Armand)

This week on Cold War Cinema, we discuss the 1953 Soviet science-fiction drama, Silvery Dust, directed by Abram Room and Pavel Armand, a film once again set in the United

BONUS: The Phoenician Scheme (w/ guest Matthew Ellis)

"Normal people want the basic human rights that accompany citizenship in any sovereign nation. I don't… I don't live anywhere; I'm not a citizen at all. I don't need my h

I Married a Communist A.K.A. The Woman on Pier 13 (1949, Robert Stevenson)

This week on Cold War Cinema, we discuss Robert Stevenson's 1949 drama, I Married a Communist, also known as Woman on Pier 13. This Hollywood production is one of the mos