Down in the depths of precode cinema, where Shelly likes to spend torrid nights, there’s a depiction of how a department store can be a little Peyton Place, and how Warren William is never to be trusted. The great precode lothario stars with very young Loretta Young and Wallace Ford (who we just saw as a middle-aged creep in The Breaking Point) as …

David J Loehr, writer and podcaster, joins Scott to discuss “Things Past” (DS9 S5E8). Topics include the lack of Neelix, Odo’s tortured soul, and the creepy uncanny vibe that allows for effective, and cheap, Star Trek episodes. Next on Random Trek: “Genesis” (TNG S7E19) with James Thomson. Scott McNulty with David J. Loehr Show Notes & Links Watch …

Here are Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift at their hottest, with an adaptation of Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy. Just as in Night of the Hunter, Shelley Winters maybe ought to watch her back. George Stevens directs, and here, he’s beginning his epic period. In the 50s, he’ll direct Giant and Shane, among others. This one is full of me…

Johnny Guitar (1954): It’s unusual, it’s weird, and it’s unlike any other film made by these stars. And it’s our first LTS western. Because maybe your show runner has a slightly twisted appreciation for the genre. Nicholas Ray, whose directorial chops we last experienced with In A Lonely Place, directs Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden and Mercedes Mc…

Every once in awhile, your host takes a flier, choosing a film for us to watch that I’ve seen once or twice, if at all. Also arising from the 2022 draft episode is this English romance from 1945. It’s from the filmmaking team of Powell and Pressburger, and stars Wendy Hiller, so on credentials alone, it’s worth your attention. A young woman travels…

John Siracusa, developer, writer, and podcaster, joins Scott to discuss “Daedalus” (ENT S4E10). Topics include being a professional podcaster, the emotions of Vulcans, and Captain Archer’s judgment (or lack thereof). Next on Random Trek: “Things Past” (DS9 S5E8) with David J Loehr. Scott McNulty with John Siracusa Show Notes & Links Watch Daedalus …

Gene Kelly was at the height of his powers in 1951, starring in musicals for MGM, and choreographing some of them. Here, Vincent Minelli directs, but the dancing is by Kelly. Leslie Caron makes her film debut, and the rest of the cast has a decidedly continental vibe. The film is “inspired” by George Gershwin’s 1928 musical of the same name, but th…

Zach Knox bought a Vision Pro when they first became available, anticipating that Apple's headset would provide accessibility features. How those features might work with Zach's low vision? That was a big unknown. Guest Starring: Zach Knox Links and Show Notes: Support Parallel with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Vision Accessibility on Appl…

Unlike the mid-40s film that first brought us Bogie and Bacall, The Breaking Point is a relatively faithful adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s story, To Have and Have Not. This one stars John Garfield (in one of his final films) and Patricia Neal. Michael Curtiz directs, but if that suggests a routine Warner Bothers potboiler (I love those) it is not…

Grant Jun Otsuki, a cultural anthropologist, joins Scott to discuss "The Siege of AR-558" (DS9 S7E8). We attempt to have a lighthearted conversation about a very heavy episode of Deep Space Nine. Topics include which Captain you'd want to work for, how great Avery Brooks' performance is in this episode, and why the heck was Quark allowed to hang ar…

This 1936 film is based on the well-known novel of the same name, by Sinclair Lewis. It’s the story of a successful middle-aged man (Walter Huston) who wants something new from his life. That’s what his wife (Ruth Chatterton) wants, too, but their ideas are very different, and not compatible. And there’s Mary Astor, living her best life in an Itali…

Subtitle: Hands-On with Apple Vision Pro Accessibility Apple's Vision Pro headset offers a number of accessibility features. But how well do they serve those with disabilities, and what should we expect from future versions of the product? Now we have some answers. Guest Starring: Robin Christopherson Links and Show Notes: Support Parallel with a R…

I spoke with Steven Scott and Shaun Preece for their show, Double Tap. They wanted my thoughts on how Apple's Vision Pro might land with users who have low vision. Steven kindly gave me permission to republish that conversation here. Guest Starring: Steven Scott and Shaun Preece Links and Show Notes: Support Parallel with a Relay FM Membership Subm…

If the Jeopardy answer is “A Christmas-themed film of the mid-1940s”, you might expect the question to be “What is ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’” or “What is ‘Miracle on 34th Street.’” But on this year’s LTS holiday episode, those questions would be wrong! Our movie this year comes with stars like Victor Moore and Don DeFore, not Jimmy Stewart or Donna R…

I hear that Alec Guinness made a couple of movies in the 1970s or 80s that you may know. This is not that. This is a classic Ealing Studios comedy in which Alec plays eight characters. Because it’s a British comedy, I was not surprised to find that it dealt with social class. Robert Hamer directs, and Dennis Price is the actual star. This episode i…

This is a disturbing film: also a good one. Charles Laughton’s only directorial outing focuses on a con man (and worse) terrorizing a pair of children as they run from him. He’s attempting to secure some money he covets, and to shut up those meddling kids. Robert Mitchum is our charismatic villain and star, along with Shelley Winters and silent lum…

How a young entrepreneur turned her own technology need into an app designed for other people with low-vision. Guest Starring: Rebeccah Rosenberg Links and Show Notes: Support Parallel with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback ReBokeh app LowVisionBy Shelly Brisbin

For me, this movie answers some important LTS questions: what did that Ernst Lubitsch guy direct besides To Be Or Not To Be? How was Herbert Marshall ever a romantic lead? And finally, where are the precodes? It’s been forever! TIP also give me the chance to introduce Kay Francis and Miriam Hopkins, the fashion-forward queen of Warner Brothers befo…

For this episode, we’re breaking format a bit. Instead of focusing on one film, we’ll talk about several: all from the silent film era. It’s not a draft, but each panelist has picked a movie, and we’ve all watched them! Our guide is guest host, Micki Maynard! Silent Sampler Micheline Maynard with Shelly Brisbin, Nathan Alderman, Dr. Drang, Annette …

Jason Snell, Random Trek’s most frequent guest, joins Scott to discuss “Day of the Dove” (TOS S3E11). Topics include our favorite Klingons, whatever the deal is with these energy aliens, and the “hidden” message of this episode. Watch “Day of the Dove” for yourself: Amazon Instant Video Paramount+ Blu-Rays Scott McNulty with Jason Snell Support thi…

Nicholas Ray directs Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Graham. Bogie is Dix Steele, who should not be confused for Captain Picard’s hollowdeck alter ego, Dixon Hill. (Am I the only one who does that?) Bogie is not a detective, but a screenwriter suspected of murder. In A Lonely Place is considered one of the best film noir made, and Bogart and Graham give…

It’s the age-old story: Boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl get married, girl’s psychosexual hangups put strain on their marriage, girl may or may not begin turning into a large murderous panther because of an ancient family curse … you know, the usual. Horror auteur Val Lewton and ace director Jacques Tourneur spin a low budget…

Claire L. Evans, writer and musician, joins Scott to discuss “Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night” (DS9 S6E17). Topics include how great Dax is, war crimes, and the ease of time travel when you’re a Bajoran. Just a warning -given the content of this episode, we talk about some mature topics. On a lighter note, read Claire’s history of the corporate p…

What's the significance of Apple's iPhone 15 lineup, from an accessibility point of view? Guest Starring: Steven Scott Links and Show Notes: Support Parallel with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Access Tech Live - YouTube Introducing: Be My AI Apple’s new FineWoven iPhone cases are very bad - The Verge FineWoven hot take: It’s fine? – Six Col…

Erika Ensign, podcaster and trivia enthusiast, joins Scott to discuss “The Voyager Conspiracy” (S6E9). Topics include conspiracy theories, the many possible loves of Capt. Janeway, and the complete lack of Reginald Barclay in this episode. Watch “The Voyager Conspiracy” for yourself: Amazon Instant Video Paramount Plus DVDs Scott McNulty with Erika…

Andrew Leland's memoir "The Country of the Blind" tells a story about his ongoing journey into vision loss. It's also a kind of history of blindness, and blindness technology, with stops along the way to unpack the literary deployments of vision loss by other writers. He talked with me about the book, about the technology he uses, and some of his e…

Jean MacDonald, Micro.blog community manager and podcaster, joins Scott to discuss “Our Man Bashir” (DS9 S4E10). Topics include Jean’s conversion to a DS9 fan, whether or not Bashir is the Tom Paris of DS9, and just how much fun all the actors seem to be having in this episode. Watch Our Man Bashir for yourself: Amazon Instant Video Paramount Plus …

We watch Billy Wilder’s story of a silent film queen’s life in middle age and the screenwriter who stumbles into her world. Noir, melodrama, dark humor, horror. It’s all here in this classic, staring Gloria Swanson. She’s all of 46 when she made this movie, but a has-been like her character. This episode is full of excellent trivia and unexpected c…

Antony Johnston, writer, podcaster, and snappy dresser, joins Scott to discuss “A Matter of Perspective)” (TNG S3/E14). Topics include Law and Order, who volunteers to be a nude model on the Enterprise, and how clever (or not) the mystery in this episode is. Get yourself a copy of Antony’s The Dog Sitter Detective, you won’t regret it! Watch “A Mat…

Probably the best of the Sturges comedies, The Palm Beach Story is part romance, part screwball comedy, part drawing room comedy. The performances sparkle, the movie looks great, and the plot is inventive. Joel McCrea and Claudette Colbert are our delightful stars. And I get to talk about Mary Astor some more. Don’t miss this one, kids. The Palm Be…

Fair warning: this recap of a Preston Sturges film from 1937 also features Barbie content. Easy Living Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr, Randy Dotinga and Nathan Alderman Referenced Works Easy Living (1937) Show Notes & Links Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com or on the socials. The Movie: review/commentary o…

Shelly talks with the “czar of noir” about his new book, his favorite films noir and what’s happening at Turner Classic Movies. An Interview with Eddie Muller Shelly Brisbin with Eddie Muller Show Notes & Links Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com or on the socials. Eddie Muller Interview Links The Self-Referential LTS The Incompar…

Dan Moren, writer and podcaster, joins Scott to discuss "The Savage Curtain" (TOS S3E22). Topics include Dan's Gene Roddenberry impersonation, Kirk's quick acceptance of space Lincoln, and the perplexing moral of this episode (is there one?!). Want more details about TOS Season 3? Check out Marc Cushman's "These Are the Voyages - TOS: Season Three"…

Who would dare comment on the inherently propagandistic aspects of the war effort, right in the middle of World War II? That would be Preston Sturges. A soldier is discharged from the Army because he has hay fever, but is declared a war hero when he returns to his hometown. Eddie Bracken and Ella Raines (last seen on LTS in Phantom Lady) are your s…

The Summer of Sturges continues with a movie that’s not in a class with The Lady Eve. But we still need to talk about it. World-renown conductor Rex Harrison suspects his much younger wife (Linda Darnell) of cheating on him, and he dreams up three different ways to punish her for it. Unfaithfully Yours (1948) Shelly Brisbin with Erika Ensign, David…

Shelly Brisbin, host of Lions, Towers & Shields and Parallel and author of iOS Access for All, joins Scott to discuss “In the Hands of the Prophets” (DS9 S1E20). Topics include TCM movies, faith vs. science, and the wonder that is Louise Fletcher. Watch In the Hands of the Prophets for yourself: Amazon Instant Video Paramount Plus DVDs Scott McNult…

We begin the summer of (Preston) Sturgess celebration with a true classic. Director and stars were at their best here, and it’s a treat to watch LTS’ favorite dame work her magic on Henry Fonda. I have four more Sturgess offerings coming up, but this one is hard to beat.By The Incomparable

Even before ChatGPT brought AI into the mainstream of collective consciousness, companies touted artificial intelligence as a way to make your web site accessible – a magic bullet that meant web devs could skip the accessibility checks normally done by humans. And technologies like computer vision had brought AI into devices and image software. Tod…

Audrey Hepburn is iconic as Holly Gollighty. Is there more to say? Of course. That’s why we have a podcast.By The Incomparable

Joe Rosensteel, VFX artist and podcaster, joins Scott to discuss “Phantasms” (TNG S7E6). Topics include why Joe watches Star Trek, where the crow is, and stalking people in the bright corridors of the Enterprise D. Watch Phantasms for yourself: Amazon Instant Video Paramount Plus Bluray Scott McNulty with Joe Rosensteel Support this show and other …

Katie Mack, astrophysicist and author, joins Scott to discuss “A Simple Investigation)” (DS9 S5E17). Topics include the evolving nature of DS9 characters, Odo’s furniture, and the problems with the Idanian spying system. Watch A Simple Investigation for yourself: Amazon Instant Video Paramount Plus DVDs Scott McNulty with Katie Mack Support this sh…

My colleagues from the Maccessibility Roundtable join me for a conversation about Apple's Vision Pro and accessibility. We still don't know a lot, but be know more than we did an hour after the WWDC keynote. Guest Starring: Darcy Burnard, Robert Carter, and Robin Christopherson Links and Show Notes: Support Parallel with a Relay FM Membership Submi…

Tony Sindelar, your internet DM and Lego enthusiast, joins Scott to discuss “Revulsion)” (VOY S4E5). Topics include Tony’s Voyager epiphany, the poor treatment of Tuvok, and why anyone would design a tool that never leaves a room to have feelings. Watch Revulsion for yourself: Amazon Instant Video Paramount Plus DVDs Scott McNulty with Tony Sindela…

Cicero Holmes, frequent Incomparable panelist, Discovery Debrief co-host, and What The Fun, joins Scott to discuss “Vanishing Point” (ENT S2E10). Topics include video games, how awesome Hoshi is, and poor old Cyrus Ramsey. Watch Vanishing Point for yourself: Amazon Instant Video Paramount Plus Blurays Scott McNulty with Cicero Holmes Support this s…

Taking a look back at this year's Google I/O events, with an eye toward accessibility. Our favorite followers of the Goog are back! We talk AI, Android, Pixel phones and tablets, and how Google does its spectacle. Guest Starring: Florence Ion and J.J. Meddaugh Links and Show Notes: Support Parallel with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Everyth…

Subtitle: Apple's Accessibility Preview This week, Apple previewed accessibility features coming to the Mac and iOS. It's an annual event, which even sat briefly atop TechMeme. Want to know more about what Apple discussed and how these new features fit in with the existing accessibility suite? We've got you! Guest Starring: Steven Scott Links and S…

John Siracusa, podcaster and developer, joins Scott to discuss “The Immunity Syndrome” (TOS S2E19). Topics include the joys of the colonoscopy (seriously, if you’re avoiding getting one…just get it done!), the effectiveness of 50 year old special effects, and space racism. Scott McNulty with John Siracusa Show Notes & Links Watch The Immunity Syndr…

David J. Loehr, your favorite artist in residence and one of the people behind Where or When, joins Scott to discuss “Macrocosm” (VOY S3E13). Topics include why there was no sense of peril in this episode, the lack of complete silence, and action hero Janeway. Watch “Macrocosm” for yourself: Amazon Paramount Plus DVDs On the next Random Trek - The …

iOS developer Rob Whitaker returns to Parallel for a chat about APIs and tools developers can use to make their mobile apps more accessible. Guest Starring: Rob Whitaker Links and Show Notes: Support Parallel with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Get your Accessibility Sprinkles shirt! Rob's book: Developing Inclusive Mobile Apps: Building Acc…

Marisa McClellan, canning expert, joins Scott to discuss "Damage" (ENT S3E19). Topics include why Scott took such a long “break” from Random Trek, exactly how many seasons Enterprise had, doctor/patient confidentiality, and the ethics of just taking whatever you want. Watch “Damage” for yourself: Amazon Paramount Plus DVDs Scott McNulty with Marisa…