Episode 24: ‘The Big Sleep’ with Martha Coolidge

Episode 24

19th April 2018

In a spectacular new episode, director Martha Coolidge (Real Genius, Valley Girl, Rambling Rose) joins April to discuss Howard Hawks’ The Big Sleep. The two of them dissect the film: the amazing script by Leigh Brackett and William Faulkner, the electric chemistry between Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, and the masterful directing of Howard Hawks. Plus Martha relays some truly remarkable stories from her celebrated career, including the time the producers on one of her movies secretly cast a prostitute in her film. She also talks about discovering Nicolas Cage for Valley Girl, her work as the DGA president, and screening a film for Princess Diana. This episode is a wild one.

Episode notes

The Big Sleep

In a spectacular new episode, director Martha Coolidge (Real Genius, Valley Girl, Rambling Rose) joins April to discuss Howard Hawks’ The Big Sleep. The two of them dissect the film: the amazing script by Leigh Brackett and William Faulkner, the electric chemistry between Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, and the masterful directing of Howard Hawks. Plus Martha relays some truly remarkable stories from her celebrated career, including the time the producers on one of her movies secretly cast a prostitute in her film. She also talks about discovering Nicolas Cage for Valley Girl, her work as the DGA president, and screening a film for Princess Diana. This episode is a wild one.

If you haven’t seen it yet, go watch The Big Sleep

With April Wolfe and Martha Coolidge

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Produced by Casey O’Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

In this episode...

Guests

  • April Wolfe
  • Martha Coolidge

About the show

Switchblade Sisters is a podcast providing deep cuts on genre flicks from a female perspective. Every week, screenwriter and former film critic April Wolfe sits down with a phenomenal female film-maker to slice-and-dice a classic genre movie – horror, exploitation, sci-fi and many others! Along the way, they cover craft, the state of the industry, how films get made, and more. Mothers, lock up your sons, the Switchblade Sisters are coming!

Follow @SwitchbladePod on Twitter and join the Switchblade Sisters Facebook group. Email them at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

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