Dec 6, 2022
You folks have no idea what you are in for. Over the next couple weeks, as a holiday treat, Justin is joined by Felix and Rabia of Suddenly: A Frank Sinatra Podcast for perhaps the most in-depth exploration of the 1967 cinematic classic "Clambake" that maybe anyone has ever undertaken in the last 55 years. Including Song of the Week, our holiday special "A Very Clambake Christmas" (further split into Sides A and B for each episode) total 6 hours. The journey will be long, and perhaps initially confounding, but ultimately deeply rewarding when you finally understand what it's building to.
Side A of TCBCast 246 sees Justin and Rabia giving Felix, who has a near-zero level of knowledge of Elvis Presley (but an open mind!), coming straight off watching his first Elvis movie ever, all the historical and cultural context needed to answer his questions about where Elvis was at this point in his life, how movies starring Elvis were made, and finally getting underway with unpacking "Clambake." By the time the first two hours wrap, we've only made it to the 20 minute mark of the film, taking sidebars to appreciate the cameo appearance of Hal Peary, The Great Gildersleeve, figure out where and what the Heywood gas station is today, and ponder the film's themes about money and capitalism.
"Clambake" is available to purchase or rent from most digital platforms and at least in North America is available for free on several ad-supported movie services like Tubi and Pluto. We cannot possibly recommend highly enough the Kino Lorber Blu-Ray release of "Clambake" if you can track a copy down, it's worth every cent if you're into campy 60s films and especially collecting Elvis's movies.
Suddenly: A Frank Sinatra Podcast is available on all major platforms you'll find TCBCast on.
If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Side B will release Friday, December 9, followed by 247-A next Tuesday and the conclusion (featuring two Sinatra-themed Elvis Songs of the Week) on Friday, December 16. Patreon backers have immediate access to all four parts of "A Very Clambake Christmas."