Episode 2: The Making of “It’s A Wonderful Life”

Once deemed “impossible for films”, Robert Bloch’s novel of a hotel proprietor with serious mommy issues was turned into one of the greatest horror movies of all time by Alfred Hitchcock — a feat he accomplished without the help of a major studio. From this unlikely success story came a film that both terrified audiences and elevated the horror genre, but the road to “Psycho” was fraught with obstacles. In this episode, we will cross over into the world of true crime as we explore everything from the terrifying killer who served as the inspiration for Norman Bates to all of the roadblocks Hitchcock came up against as he set out to make a film so scary that it would forever become a part of our collective consciousness...especially when we’re in the shower. "Welcome to Horrorland" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

“The Wizard of Oz” is considered today to be the most watched movie of all time, but this glamorous, fantastical, universally beloved film was the product of a shoot that was anything but. In this episode, we will examine the story behind the making of this Old Hollywood staple that, for the last eight decades, has managed to speak to the inner child in all of us.

It all started when the skirt of a famous white dress was blown up by the breeze of a subway grate. This classic movie scene would kickstart a chain of events that drove a jealous ex-husband to commit an accidental home invasion which inadvertently led to the government crackdown of a tabloid magazine. Yes, you read that correctly. In the first ever TPGS minisode, we will take a look at the case of The Wrong Door Raid, the 1954 blunder made by pals Joe DiMaggio and Frank Sinatra as they attempted to catch DiMaggio’s ex-wife, Marilyn Monroe, with another man.

“Casablanca” is regarded today as one of the most beloved movies of all time, but no one involved in the making of the film thought they had a classic on their hands. A production marred by chaos, the film was shot amid the very conflict depicted in the script. In this episode, we will take a look at how the plot of a play that was never produced combined with an unlikely leading man, a Swedish actress who wasn’t impressed with the screenplay, a director with poor command of the English language and real refugees from Hitler’s Europe came together to make the most enduring of all classic Hollywood films!

“West Side Story” was a reimagining of Romeo and Juliet told through the racially-charged strife of 50’s street gangs. Regarded today as a classic that “grows younger”, “West Side Story” was a grueling shoot that turned into one of the most expensive musicals ever made at the time. In this episode, we will take a look at the making of the film, as well as discuss its scandals, legacy, and place in movie history!

“East of Eden” was the 1955 retelling of the story of Cain and Abel that flipped the world’s pop cultural axis by giving us James Dean. For Dean, the role of Cal Trask was more than just his first major part in a movie: it was a case of art imitating life. In this episode, we will unpack the making of “East of Eden” as well as the tragic life of it’s brightest star. Joining us is Savannah from the Hidden Hollywood YouTube channel to discuss the cultural significance of the film and James Dean’s impact!

Did you know that “It’s A Wonderful Life” was considered a box office flop when it was first released? Or that it almost starred Cary Grant? Find out more about the history of this beloved Christmas classic in Episode 2 of The Pictures Got Small!

A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the beloved comedy classic from 1959, “Some Like It Hot”.