The Plot Thickens

4,523

Our fifth season is Decoding John Ford, a seven-episode series about cinema's most mysterious auteur. Using scores of never-before-heard archival interviews, host Ben Mankiewicz strips back John Ford's self-spun mythology to reveal his brilliance behind the camera – alongside the often ugly, uncomfortable truths about his life and movies, asking whether we can ever truly separate art from the artist. Decoding John Ford starts June 6.

Recent Episodes
Episodes loading...
Recent Reviews
  • Very satified user
    Season 1 Bugs
    Absolutely riveting. Ben did a fantastic job interviewing Peter. And the clips from interviews Peter did with Hitchcock, Howard Hawks, Fonda, Wayne and Stewart were so interesting. And Peter’s knowledge of Hollywood is amazing.
  • Bullwoofer
    Mr. Ben
    The latest season of John Ford has been great! I hope another season is in the works. Wish you continued success!
  • Neutral Source
    Waiting!
    …for more seasons. High quality production, top host, and interesting stories! Please keep it up.
  • Htrostle
    Excellent host, excellent show
    Ben Mankiewicz is a fantastic podcast host, both for this and for Talking Pictures. The research for this show is fantastic, and the framework of investigation also engaging. Just finished the latest series on John Ford and loved it. Looking forward to what the next season will be!
  • Dig Dawes!
    Master Class
    If you care about filmmaking and it’s history this is absolutely the best show. Thanks Ben and TCM. All 5 seasons have been an absolute joy!
  • Arik1309
    A pod cast about film
    This pod cast does a great job and is wonderfully entertaining. What it needs is visuals. Because it’s … about a visual medium. I’d love to see a documentary done like this.
  • snooks the schnauzer
    Loving This!
    My new favorite podcast!!!!
  • msbesq
    John Ford
    I have listened to every season of The Plot Thickens and this season was the absolute best. The stories and biography of the greatest director in film history were fantastic, interesting and entertaining. Thanks and keep up the great work.
  • LauriePR2016
    A beautiful storytelling style
    Thank you so much! I re-listened to every episode at least three times. Only because I want to hear it again! I love the detail, the interviews, the audio, snippets, and clips. Simply amazing!
  • maryfromMilwaukee
    Inside a Legend
    So many unknowns about John Ford told in this podcast. I grew up watching his westerns & loved them. Thank you for presenting this Ben.
  • HRC1968
    Best One Yet!
    I have listened to “The Plot Thickens” since season one, and every season has been informative and a delight for lovers of cinema history. I think the latest installment has been the best yet. I will listen to it again and eagerly await what comes next.
  • Tenn Movie Fan
    Great Show
    I have been listening to this series since it premiered. Loved them all. But the John Ford series was just exceptional. The interviews from people who knew and worked with him, the personal information , the background of both the man and the movies. From his childhood, through his introduction to movies to military experience to his classic movies and the details of their productions and to his end. Sad but expected. I knew most of this history and still loved getting new details. Would have loved to heard new details about him standing up to Cecil B. Demille. (Look up that story) But there is only so much time. This podcast is great and looking forward to season 6.
  • Mr. Michael
    The best TCM podcast so far…
    And that says a lot. A great portrait of the greatest American director and a very complicated man. Great work by the TCM team to assemble this amazing audio collage.
  • Novachica
    Another fascinating season
    I’m not a film buff, but have so enjoyed all seasons of this podcast. Keep up the great work!
  • Johnny Fuerte
    Keeps getting better!
    Decoding John Ford was the most moving series I’ve heard. It may as well be titled ‘Decoding Humanity’
  • 80'sVillager
    Hawks Red River
    To previous reviewer I am unsure of your context but although Red River is John Wayne’s best performance it is a Howard Hawks film, not Ford.
  • Foggy N. Ocean
    Red River
    Love the podcast, but it’s a bit mystifying that Red River is never mentioned when discussing John Wayne’s performance in The Searchers.
  • Winnifred165
    D Day
    It’s 4:00 am in SC and I’m in tears listening to this episode on D day.
  • rossrobb
    Incomparable!
    There is simply no other podcast that compares to The Plot Thickens. The content, writing and production are next level superb and Ben Mankiewicz has no equal as host/narrator. As cinematic as any motion picture, TPT is surely Oscar worthy.
  • Ruralife
    Love, love LOVE this podcast!
    TCM is my favorite channel; I adore movies from the 40’s and 50’s. Even though this podcast is not about a director from that era Ben Mankiewicz presents a compelling narrative of Bogdanovich’s life and, BONUS! he is still with us to be interviewed, as is Cybill Shepard. I should have waited for them all to drop because now I have to wait for another week to hear the next episode. Ben, keep up the great work. I love this. I can’t wait to see who you choose for your next podcast series.
  • Tess McK
    Fascinating and Infuriating
    Yet another wonderful installment in this ongoing series, but I have to object to the script in episode one when referring to Ford’s actions kidnapping a crew member’s baby and risking that child’s life as “reckless and irresponsible,” a description that could equally apply to a teenager speeding. Ford’s actions were morally reprehensible folks, regardless of his legendary status. Let’s not whitewash the man’s risking an innocent child’s life just to get a cool movie shot.
  • Magalla704
    This is awesome…..
    But please pronounce the dad’s county of origin as GALL-way….We’re Irish….We often don’t make sense!
  • Pattihm
    The Plot Thickens is back and it is great: John Ford
    Earlier this year I saw that Ben was doing another foray into talking about films, though I don’t recall where. Due to some of the obstacles TCM has had to navigate the last few years I worried The Plot Thickens was no more. Between Lucille Ball, Peter Bogdanovich, Pam Grier, and the story behind Bonfire of the Vanities, the quality, depth and wonderfully produced podcasts have illuminated and inspired me. I am so thrilled to see it and tackling another director: John Ford - one if the all time greats. With lots of appearances by John Wayne (love him or hate him he was bigger than life and interesting), Katherine Hepburn, James Stewart, Henry Fonda and I am sure more. Simply Thank You for this!
  • wodfan
    SUPERB
    Excellent job.
  • Dellums
    Great podcast
    Thoroughly enjoying the podcast. Listening to the interviews from the original recording. Superb.
  • MaryE Z
    One of the best
    Well-researched, produced, and edited. I’m hoping for another season. The material is exceptional, and Ben Mankeniewicz is the most professional host.
  • KarlNapa
    Waiting for the 5th Season!
    Love the podcast but when does the 5th season debut?
  • eatsleepswim
    FAVORITE PODCAST
    But I’m not getting any younger. Please bring new seasons out quicker.
  • kelbel90505!
    I Need More!!
    The Plot Thickens is my favorite podcast. I’m having withdrawals. The way you lay out each person and the pacing makes for a fascinating storytelling journey. I hope season 5 will come out soon!
  • Mackypooh
    Pam Grier season: Beautiful
    Thank you for giving this amazing actor and inspiring woman this season!! Loved Pam forever but hearing her insights is a true gift. I hope her days are lovely—-she put a lot of beauty and brilliance in the world.
  • emaildaniels
    enjoying the Peter Obragdonovich season, but pacing is too slow.
    great pod, love film and these interviews but the pacing is awfully slow. too many breaks and they are not for ads but to remind us to goto the website for this podcast?!? it would be like a telephone operator interrupting the call to point you to a yellow-pages phone book. maybe tcm isn't aware but in this digital medium you can place a show url link in the podcast and it gets published in the creative with audio. too slow, stick to the interesting interviews.
  • Telorth
    Entertaining and Informative
    I have listened to all the seasons and loved them all. I have had different levels of knowledge regarding the subjects of the four different seasons. I have learned something from each season.
  • Monrad Touhy
    Bonfire of the Vanities
    This podcast was informative and entertaining. I enjoyed it so much that I bought Julie Salamon’s book The Devil’s Candy. Julie did a great job hosting the podcast. Well done!
  • kyrxvydgj
    Updates
    On my other regular podcasts when a new episode is loaded the new entry is clearly marked “Today”. When the Plot Thickens drops into my library with a new episode and I click on it I can never tell where the new entry is. Can this be fixed? Thx
  • Dnussbaum
    Pam Grier: Icon
    Pam Grier did it all back in the late 60’s and early 70’s. A terrific actress - reference “Jackie Brown”, among others. But man those Coffi and Foxy Brown are incredibly dated and basically pretty much terrible films. Sorry Ben, but what were thinking..
  • Mikeypoppins
    Wonderful
    I never really dug Lucille Ball (I’m aware of the amazingthings she has done) but these podcasts really made me appreciate her much more. Really interesting.
  • Fabian's Wife
    Best Season!
    I have listened to all of the seasons since the beginning and I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. The Pam Grier season has been my favorite so far. I love the interviews and the background information given in all of the seasons. Keep up the good work and I am looking forward to the next season.
  • goldie1041
    Love love love everything about the podcast
    What’s next?
  • Big Vic 1969
    My favorite podcast ever!
    While I’ve listened to all seasons of The Plot Thickens, I didn’t have as much initial interest in the Pam Grier story. So it took me a few months to get to this one. My apologies. Not only is this the best of The Plot Thickens but it’s by far my favorite podcast of all time. 1. Her journey is incredible. She’s the real life Zelig or Forest Gump in the way that she was part of and present at seminal times in popular culture. Fellini, John Lennon, Freddie Prinze, Gloria Steinem, Richard Pryor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,Jimi Hendrix, and Sly Stallone to name but a few. 2. The story is told beautifully. Ben Mankiewicz who has the DNA to understand all things Movies, has been a great host from the start but he’s grown into a pro at the top of his games. His gentle yet probing questions and his ability to put different eras into their proper context is extraordinary. 3. The production team has outdone themselves and are now the benchmark by which I will measure all others. The sounds, the placement of the interview inserts and the pacing are unparalleled. 4. The discussion of blaxploitation movies and it’s resonance in the black and white communities is thoughtful, honest and as complicated as indeed it is. The bonus episode with Jacqueline Stewart is absolutely as good as taking film classes at UCLA which I actually did. 5. Quentin Tarantino’s interview is the frosting on an already delicious cake. His joyful fanboy admiration of Pam is balanced by his nuanced evaluation of her as an actor and a figure of popular imagination. 6. But in the end it’s Pam herself who is the biggest revelation. After 7+ hours , I just wanted more. So I watched Jackie Brown last night and will watch Coffey before the week is out. Kudos to all! Bravo!! Encore!!! Thank you Victor L
  • MzK Hair
    Great show!
    Thank you for airing this icon, Pam Greer. I always wanted to know what happened to her. Interesting life.
  • %}*%*+
    Pam Grier
    I’ve always liked Pam Grier…..now I love Pam Grier! I pray my 2 teenage daughters end up as courageous and genuine as Pam. Well done Ben…
  • Kikibeat
    Pam Grier’s Season
    Heard about the podcast on TikTok like some of the other comments I’ve read, and boy was it worth the listen!! You guys gained a new listener with this one. Just finished this season and think I’ll head on over to the previous ones. Keep up the good work!!
  • Pooch1979!
    PamGrier
    Heard about this podcast on tik tok -and the young lady said -you guys have to listen to Pam Grier -season 4….she was not wrong -was a great listen.
  • cocolinden
    PAM
    Fabulous interview with a fabulous actress. What an interesting life & career. More people need to know Pam Grier and her work. Hopefully this podcast does just that!
  • ajcuckie19
    Inspired and in awe
    Her strength shines through in every episode , that narrates an interesting life and interactions with celebrities , who at the time were just hanging around. Love her humility and steadfastness in narrating often painful memories .
  • kentablos
    Love these shows! Top notch!
    Love these shows! Top notch!
  • DJ Santa Claus
    Anthological Artist Portrait Podcasting Perfection
    This show is a podcasting gold standard on every level: fascinating subject, prestige media-level production, digestibly-sized episodes, a host who understands the job, and shockingly few/brief advertisements. Pam Grier‘s has lived an extraordinary life and has extraordinary stories to share across her career and her general perspective on the human experience. Thank you to all involved in this program.
  • chazm3
    best podcast about movies
    This is the best podcast about movies (and TV in the case of Lucy). Main reason is that there are many episodes on the same topic, which results in fewer podcasts overall, but increases the quality tremendously.
  • tanyamara
    You don’t know Pam!
    This is an amazing, surprising wonder of storytelling about an inspiring, talented woman.
  • dbev79
    Big fan
    I love the movies, and am old enough to be in TCM’s wheelhouse. I wish I didn’t like this so much, but they have done a great job with Lucy, and particularly with the under-appreciated Pam Grier. Can’t wait for the next one.
Similar Podcasts
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.