20: A Day in the Life (with Henry Giardina)

SUDDENLY: a Frank Sinatra podcast

It's our final episode of 2022 and we're joined by Henry Giardina, Los Angeles-based film critic and co-host of Totally Trans Podcast, who discovered our show by chance while fending off an airport anxiety attack. This week the 1940s draw to a close with ON THE TOWN (1949), the most iconic and memorable of the three Gene Kelly/Frank Sinatra musicals. We're in more than capable hands as Henry takes us on a three-and-a-half hour deep dive into the film, the original stage musical, his childhood affinity with "the other guy" Jules Munshin and the gender politics and social climate of the postwar era. Henry also teaches us about PTSD among returned WWII servicemen and introduces us to two underrated and rarely-seen Gene Kelly films on the topic, COMBAT FATIGUE IRRITABILITY (1945) and IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER (1955). Then, things come full circle and become surprisingly psychedelic. Strap in for this one; with the help of an incredible guest, we're finishing Season 1 and saying goodbye to the 1940s in a big way.

It was an absolute pleasure to have Henry on the show. We highly recommend listening to his podcast, Totally Trans: Searching for the Trans Canon, and subscribing to his Substack.

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