TELL THE DAMN STORY, ep 422: Why Great Movies Never Get Old (And What Writers Can Learn From Them)
Some movies entertain us for hours.
Others continue teaching writers for generations.
In this episode of Tell The Damn Story, Alex and Chris revisit a handful of timeless classics, including In the Heat of the Night ('66), Jaws ('75), The Fly ('58), and Charlie Chaplin's The Kid ('21), to uncover why they still work decades after they were made.
Along the way, they explore:
• Why rewriting is where great storytelling really happens.
• How memorable characters empower unforgettable plots.
• Why a solid theme is the fertile soil for a story's growth.
• The surprising storytelling power of simplicity.
• What today's writers can still learn from films made over 100 years ago.
Whether you're writing novels, screenplays, comics, or short stories, this episode reminds us that technology changes...but great storytelling never does.
If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment telling us which classic film has taught you the most about storytelling.
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00:00 Discussing classic film relevance
04:26 Basics of storytelling introduction
09:38 Bruce the shark problems
10:54 Spielberg's reaction to Jaws theme
15:58 Quoting Jaws for film analysis
19:01 Sci-fi horror plot twist
20:14 Why B movies are worth watching
25:29 Setting the Scene and Characters
29:25 Exploring themes of love and responsibility
30:45 Learning from Charlie Chaplin's limitations
34:03 Summer film recommendations
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