“Lucy Harbin was declared legally insane today.” William Castle Brings Joan Crawford Back to HorrorIn the early 1960s, William Castle was known for his theatrical gimmicks and B-movie horror films. After the success of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Castle saw an opportunity to work with Hollywood legend Joan Crawford. He enlisted acclaimed writer Robert Bloch, fresh off his success with Psycho, to craft a psychological thriller that would showcase Crawford's talents while delivering the shock...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr•Season 14Ep. 35
“You know what I like about amnesia?” A Psychological Thriller with Twisting MemoriesIn 1991, psychological thrillers were hitting their stride, delivering increasingly complex narratives filled with shocking twists. Wolfgang Petersen's Shattered emerged during this period as a stylish entry in the genre, starring Tom Berenger and Greta Scacchi. The film would mark another step in Petersen's Hollywood journey following his success with German cinema. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 14Ep. 33
“To be absolutely blunt about it, Nicholas believes that Elizabeth may have been interred... prematurely.” Roger Corman's Poe Adaptations Take FlightFollowing the success of House of Usher in 1960, American International Pictures eagerly greenlit another Edgar Allan Poe adaptation with Roger Corman at the helm. Richard Matheson returned to pen the screenplay, significantly expanding Poe's short story about torture during the Spanish Inquisition into a gothic tale of madness and revenge. With Vin...
Jan 31, 2025•12 min•Season 14Ep. 34
“You haven't got an ounce of understanding or emotion in your body. You died the moment you were born. And when your heart finally stops beating, it'll be a mere formality.” From Novel to Cold War Spy ThrillerDerek Marlowe's first novel caught the attention of producers looking to capitalize on the success of spy thrillers in the 1960s. With Anthony Mann set to direct and Lawrence Harvey to star, they began production in 1967. However, Mann's unexpected death during filming led to Harvey taking ...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 14Ep. 32
“You're walking out on 85 grand?” MGM's Bold Step into R-Rated TerritoryIn 1968, MGM was looking to break away from their family-friendly reputation and venture into more adult-oriented content. Based on Donald E. Westlake's Parker novel "The Seventh," they brought in Scottish director Gordon Flemyng fresh off his success with Great Catherine. With a stellar ensemble cast led by Jim Brown and a groundbreaking approach to racial representation in crime films, MGM was ready to push boundaries. Joi...
Jan 23, 2025•58 min•Season 14Ep. 31
“It’s bad enough if he’s guilty, but what if he’s innocent and you push him over the edge?” Setting the Stage for a Controversial True Crime AdaptationIn 1966, writer Gerald Frank published his bestselling book about the Boston Strangler case, catching the attention of 20th Century Fox and producer Richard D. Zanuck. Director Richard Fleischer, known for his genre work, was brought on to helm the project. Against initial studio resistance, Tony Curtis lobbied hard for the lead role of Albert DeS...
Jan 16, 2025•56 min•Season 14Ep. 30
“All four with clean records. No police force in the world knows them or their work. In their fields, the very best.” Unveiling a Hidden Heist Film Gem from 1967In 1967, Italian director Giuliano Montaldo brought together an international cast for an ambitious heist film co-production between Italy, Spain, and West Germany. Coming off his success with The Reckless, which was nominated for the Golden Bear prize at the Berlin International Film Festival, Montaldo secured Edward G. Robinson and Jan...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 14Ep. 29
“In films, either you’ve got a face or you don’t got a face. You've got a face. Can I have it, please?” A Comedic Heist Caper from an Unlikely CollaborationIn 1966, Peter Sellers sought to work with renowned Italian neorealist director Vittorio De Sica, bringing aboard playwright Neil Simon to pen his first screenplay. Despite De Sica's reported gambling debts motivating his involvement, the collaboration proved challenging. De Sica struggled with Simon's script and Sellers' performance style, w...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr•Season 14Ep. 27
“A perfect hit! And no pain for the target. Too bad the guy was only 38; just two years older, he'd have been worth three times the points.” Roger Corman's Vision of a Dystopian FutureIn 1974, Roger Corman learned about Norman Jewison's upcoming film Rollerball and decided to capitalize on its publicity by producing his own futuristic sports film. Based on a short story by Ib Melchior inspired by his experiences at the Indianapolis 500, Corman brought on Paul Bartel to direct what would become a...
Dec 31, 2024•14 min•Season 14Ep. 28
“This was not intended to be a book-of-the-month club lunch.” A British Heist Film That Set Early Genre StandardsIn 1958, John Boland published his novel The League of Gentlemen, which quickly caught the attention of British filmmakers. Director Basil Dearden, known for his work with Ealing Studios, saw potential in this story of ex-military men planning an elaborate bank robbery. Working with screenwriter Bryan Forbes, who also took a role in the film, Dearden assembled an impressive cast inclu...
Dec 26, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 14Ep. 26
“When I asked for your advice, I didn't mean that you should actually speak.” Rebooting the Jack Ryan FranchiseAfter the success of Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger, Paramount Pictures aimed to continue the Jack Ryan franchise with an adaptation of The Sum of All Fears. Initially, Harrison Ford was set to reprise his role as Jack Ryan, but he and director Phillip Noyce dropped out due to script issues. Paramount then decided to reboot the franchise with a younger actor, offering the ro...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 14Ep. 25
“The course of action I’d suggest is a course of action I can’t suggest.” The Road to Clear and Present DangerAfter the success of Patriot Games, Paramount Pictures was eager to continue the Jack Ryan series with another adaptation of a Tom Clancy novel. With Harrison Ford set to return as the intrepid CIA analyst and Phillip Noyce back in the director's chair, the stage was set for Clear and Present Danger. The film, released in 1994, brought a new level of complexity to the series, delving int...
Dec 12, 2024•59 min•Season 14Ep. 24
“You walk into a bar, half of whose customers want you dead. You walk up to the IRA's bagman, and in front of his guys, you threaten him? You're not a field man, Jack. You never were. You are an analyst. Analyze that.” The Second Chapter in Jack Ryan's JourneyAfter the success of The Hunt for Red October, Paramount Pictures faced challenges bringing the next Jack Ryan story to the screen. The situation with Alec Baldwin's departure proved contentious, with Baldwin claiming Paramount "cut his thr...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 14Ep. 22
“You’re in a house of desperate women here, and a long, long way from home.” Roger Corman's Exploitation Cinema: The Story Behind Caged HeatIn the early 1970s, Roger Corman was producing a slew of women-in-prison films, capitalizing on the exploitation genre that had been popular then. When wannabe director Jonathan Demme approached Corman with the idea for Caged Heat, Corman initially declined, believing the subgenre had run its course. Undeterred, Demme raised the funds independently and event...
Nov 30, 2024•12 min•Season 14Ep. 23
“Andrei, you've lost another submarine?” From Novel to Box Office SuccessIn 1984, Tom Clancy published his first novel The Hunt for Red October, which garnered attention from military officials for its technical accuracy. Despite the book's success, Hollywood struggled to adapt it. Producer Mace Neufeld optioned the rights but faced resistance from studios who considered the story too complicated. It wasn't until 1990, after six years of development, that the film finally made it to theaters. Jo...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 14Ep. 21
“The heavens have never seen such an ignominious Patsak as you, Violinist. It grieves me deeply.” A Satirical Take on Soviet SocietyKin-Dza-Dza!, a 1986 Soviet science fiction comedy film directed by Georgiy Daneliya, was initially met with skepticism by Soviet authorities due to its satirical nature. However, Daneliya persevered and managed to get the film made, despite the challenges of filming in the hot Turkmenistan desert and dealing with bureaucratic red tape that delayed production. Join ...
Nov 21, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 14Ep. 20
“I don’t want to live among the fishes anymore. I’ll die of loneliness.” A Soviet Sci-Fi Fairy Tale of Love and ScienceIn the 1960s, during the Khrushchev Thaw, Soviet filmmakers were given more creative freedom to explore stories beyond the typical Stalinist propaganda. This period saw a surge in sci-fi films, including the 1961 classic Amphibian Man, directed by Vladimir Chebotaryov and Gennadiy Kazanskiy. Based on the novel by Alexander Beliaev, the film tells the story of a man with surgical...
Nov 14, 2024•54 min•Season 14Ep. 19
“I’ve got a weird sense of humor, man.” Pushing Boundaries in Found Footage HorrorMark Duplass, known for his contributions to the mumblecore movement, teamed up with newcomer Patrick Brice to create a low-budget indie horror film that would challenge conventions and explore the unsettling nature of human interactions. With Duplass's experience in crafting authentic, character-driven stories and Brice's fresh perspective, they set out to push the boundaries of the found footage genre. Armed with...
Nov 07, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 14Ep. 17
“It’s called ‘Murdered Man’.” Roger Corman's Comical Foray into Beatnik HorrorIn the late 1950s, American International Pictures approached Roger Corman to create a low-budget horror film in just five days, using sets from another project. Corman, along with screenwriter Charles B. Griffith, decided to take a satirical approach, crafting a black comedy that poked fun at the beatnik culture of the era. The result was A Bucket of Blood, a quirky and entertaining film that showcases Corman's abilit...
Oct 31, 2024•13 min•Season 14Ep. 18
“Did someone hear a woman cry?” A Haunting Guatemalan Ghost StoryIn 2019, Guatemalan filmmaker Jayro Bustamante released his third feature film, La Llorona, a haunting ghost story that explores the aftermath of the Guatemalan genocide. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and was selected as the Guatemalan entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue the Ghost Stories series with a conversation about La...
Oct 31, 2024•58 min•Season 14Ep. 16
“You know, if they take a personal belonging, something that you treasure, then there’s no escape from them. You’ll be marked and they’ll always know how to find you.” Uncovering the Horrors of War and Gender InequalityIranian filmmaker Babak Anvari's directorial debut, Under the Shadow, hit the festival circuit in 2016, garnering critical acclaim and numerous awards. Set in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, this Persian-language horror film delves into the personal and societal stru...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr•Season 14Ep. 15
“Maybe, he suddenly just wanted to die. I get that way sometimes.” The Rise of J-Horror in the International SpotlightJapanese horror, or J-Horror, has a rich history dating back decades, with influential works like Masaki Kobayashi's Kwaidan (1964) and Nobuhiko Obayashi's House (1977) paving the way for the genre. However, it was in the late 1990s and early 2000s that J-Horror truly gained international recognition, thanks to a wave of innovative and terrifying films that captivated audiences w...
Oct 17, 2024•57 min•Season 14Ep. 14
“You’re mine now. From now on, you must devote your whole life to me.” A Ghost Story as a Statement on Pride and GreedKenji Mizoguchi's 1953 film Ugetsu, based on stories by Akinari Ueda and Guy de Maupassant, is a haunting tale set in war-torn 16th century Japan. The film follows two peasant couples whose lives are upended by the devastation of war and the allure of ambition. Ugetsu masterfully blends the supernatural with the harsh realities of the human condition, creating a timeless masterpi...
Oct 10, 2024•57 min•Season 14Ep. 13
“Anyone trying to leave the train by force will be stopped by force.” An All-Star 70s Disaster Film Mash-UpThe 1970s saw a surge in the popularity of disaster films, with movies like The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno, and Earthquake captivating audiences. In 1976, director George P. Cosmatos and producer Carlo Ponti joined forces to create their own entry in the genre: The Cassandra Crossing. With an all-star ensemble cast including Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Burt Lancaster, Martin...
Oct 03, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 14Ep. 11
“The reason, Mr. Gashade, for the hunt is the kill.” A Low-Budget Western from the Corman-Hellman-Nicholson TrioAfter impressing producer Roger Corman with their previous work, director Monte Hellman and actor Jack Nicholson presented him with a spec script, but Corman had a different idea. He proposed that they make two Westerns instead, giving them three weeks to shoot each film. Hellman and Nicholson agreed, and the result was a pair of existential Westerns – The Shooting and Ride in the Whir...
Sep 30, 2024•10 min•Season 14Ep. 12
“She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s hunting us.” How a Virus Spreads Through LanguageThe 2008 Canadian horror film Pontypool, directed by Bruce McDonald and written by Tony Burgess, was inspired by Orson Welles' famous radio broadcast of War of the Worlds. Originally, Burgess envisioned the entire film as a radio play, with the main character Grant Mazzy reading the script accompanied only by a visual of the blue waveform. While this concept wasn't fully realized, it heavily influenced the confi...
Sep 26, 2024•57 min•Season 14Ep. 10
“I think, therefore I scam.” The Sundance Struggle of Wendell B. Harris Jr.'s Sensational Con Artist StoryIn 1989, writer-director-actor Wendell B. Harris Jr. crafted a stunning debut feature, Chameleon Street, based on the incredible true story of con artist William Douglas Street Jr. Despite winning the Grand Jury Prize at the 1990 Sundance Film Festival, Harris faced immense difficulties securing distribution for his groundbreaking film. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue ...
Sep 19, 2024•52 min•Season 14Ep. 9
“Well I’ll be greased and fried! What’s the circus doing up in these parts?” The Chiodo Brothers and Their Creature Feature LegacyBefore Killer Klowns from Outer Space, the Chiodo Brothers – Charles, Edward, and Stephen – had already made a name for themselves in the special effects world of the 1980s. With credits on films like Critters and sequences in RoboCop, they were well-versed in creating practical effects and creature designs. Killer Klowns from Outer Space represented an opportunity fo...
Sep 12, 2024•59 min•Season 14Ep. 8
“In this world of guns and knives, wherever Tang Lung may go to, he will always travel on his own.” Bruce Lee's One-and-Done Showcase of Martial Arts MasteryIn 1972, Bruce Lee was already a rising star in the martial arts film world, having starred in a handful of successful films. However, he had yet to have the opportunity to fully showcase his unparalleled fighting skills on his own terms. That all changed with The Way of the Dragon, a film that allowed Lee to demonstrate his incredible marti...
Sep 05, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 14Ep. 6
“You didn't mean it. You never mean it. You didn't mean it the time when you put up the bouquet with the 'get well' card in the funeral parlor, and sent the black lilies to the old lady in the hospital, you didn't mean it.” Roger Corman's 38th Film in 5 YearsThe year was 1960. The American movie landscape was dominated by Westerns, sword-and-sandal epics, and Rock and Roll musicals. But in the underbelly of Hollywood, a different kind of movie was brewing. This was the era of exploitation cinema...
Aug 31, 2024•12 min•Season 14Ep. 7
