Lee and Daniel return to cover one of the films that put Alfred Hitchcock on the map, that being "The 39 Steps" (1935). Some of the conversation revolves around early examples of Hitchcock's visual style and techniques, and tropes. Other things covered: Hitchcock abusing his actors (especially the women); differences between the film and its source material; Hitchcock getting away with sexy situations in the post-code era; and how the hosts could turn this into a Bikini Carwash film (because of ...
Oct 19, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 229
Lee and Paul got back together to record some bonus horror content for October. This time out they review the two slasher films "Blood Song" (1982) & "Mortuary" (1983). This one is off the cuff, mostly unedited, and a bit dog-eared, but the conversation is a fun one. Due to some recording issues the mic levels were not able to be properly balanced, so it's best to use ear buds. Sorry about that. "Blood Song" IMDB "Mortuary" IMDB Featured Music: "Blood Song (Main Theme)" & "Blood Song (En...
Oct 16, 2020•55 min•Ep. 228
Lee and Daniel cover some more James Whale this week as they look at "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935). The conversation centers around Whale's very measured changes to tone compared to the first film, and how he still managed to be subversive under the the Hays Code. Other topics: performances; being threatened by a goose; the Monster smoking up and getting drunk; and some background on Homunculi, and just who Doctor Pretorius would need to jerk off in order to make them. Listener comments are als...
Oct 05, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 227
This month Lee is back with the second half of his look at the scores and soundtracks of the AIP Beach Party films, this time covering the spin-offs and unofficial sequels in the series. Selections from Les Baxter's Score for "Beach Blanket Bingo" (1965): --Bonehead's New Love --Fly Boy --Beach Blanket Bingo "Ski Party" (1965): --The Gasser & Ski Party --The Hondells --We'll Never Change Them --Deborah Walley --Paintin' the Town --Frankie Avalon and Deborah Walley --I Feel Good --James Brown...
Oct 02, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 226
The debut episode of Howling from the Cave, with your hairy host Lee Van Teeth. Playlist: "The Interpreter" - Rocky Erickson (1986) "Thinking Things Over" - Wolfgang (1970) "Can't Tame Me" - The Benders (1966) "Topless" & "Spaghetti Strap" - The Telstars (1964) "I Talk to the Trees" & "Raunchy Twist" - The G-Men (1962) "Tokoloshe Man" - John Kongos (1971) "Batman" & "You're Gonna Be Mine" - The 4 Of Us (1965) "Sucker Punch" - Sonia Rutstein (1985)
Sep 29, 2020•57 min•Ep. 225
Lee & Daniel are back this week to solve some cases while hammered. This time out it's the comedy detective film "The Thin Man" (1934), directed by W.S. Van Dyke, based on a book by Dashiell Hammett. Much is made of the greatness of William Powell & Myrna Loy's on-screen chemistry, and just how well this film still plays in 2020. Things talked about: drinking all the time; what this series feels like it has influenced; what a new Thin Man series could be like, including casting thoughts;...
Sep 28, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 224
Lee and Daniel are pleased to welcome their friend James Murphy back to the podcast to talk about a classic of both written and filmed sci-fi/horror, with the James Whale-directed "The Invisible Man" (1933), based on the story by H.G. Wells. Things talked about include wacky magical science in the story and real life; how the invisible man spends a long time just running around hanging invisible dong; Whale trying to move away from "Frankenstein"; the use of comedy in the film; Claude Rains grea...
Sep 14, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 223
This week Lee and Daniel are still in 1933, and they decided to sleep their way to the top with bad girl Barbara Stanwyck, in the Alfred E. Green-directed "Baby Face" (1933). Does this pre-code bad-girl-having-sex-picture actually push any boundaries even for its time? Is that John Wayne in a bit part? How is this film comparable with sex comedies and softcore films from the last thirty years? How would the hosts have made this film? Lee also talks briefly about what he's watched as of late. "Ba...
Sep 07, 2020•56 min•Ep. 222
In part one of a two-part series, Lee is going to surf through the music of the AIP Beach Party films. In this installment he's picking the soundtrack stuff he liked the most from the seven "official" films that make up the series. In part two he'll cover the spin-off films and some of the Les Baxter score work. "Beach Party" (1963): --Beach Party & Don't Stop Now --Frankie Avalon --Swingin' and a-Surfin' & Secret Surfin' Spot --Dick Dale & the Del-Tones --Promise Me Anything (Give M...
Sep 02, 2020•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 221
This week Lee is joined by two of the hosts of the fantastic Grindbin Podcast, Mike Wood & Bobby Trippett, to talk about what many consider to be Fritz Lang's last masterpiece, "The Testament of Dr. Mabuse" (1933). The hosts dive into the thinly veiled central themes of the film, where Lang throws a harsh critical eye on the corruption of the police and government in his day, and how that can (and did) lead to the rise of fascism, not only back then, but in the present day. Also talked about...
Aug 31, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 220
Lee and Daniel arrive in 1933 to witness the end of civilization as we know it, when the world is destroyed by the forces of nature in the Felix E. Feist-directed disaster movie "Deluge". Much of the conversation revolves around the tense opening of the film and the fantastic special effects the film pulls off on a very modest budget for the time. Then, as the film takes a turn from out in left field, so does the conversation, as we substitute mass destruction for a tale of rampant misogyny in a...
Aug 24, 2020•50 min•Ep. 219
Lee, Daniel, Kerry and Greg return to give their opinions on the 11th film in the MCU, and the second installment of the Avengers series. In this fast and loose episode, pretty much the full range of opinions are given up in this conversation, as the hosts ponder Hulk and Black Widow almost fucking; Tony Stark yet again creating the main villain; Hawkeye having a family; and just how many people would have really died in the various over-the-top CGI action scenes. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" IMDB...
Aug 24, 2020•43 min•Ep. 218
Lee and Daniel are still locked up in 1932, but after watching "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang", they are planning their daring escape to 1933. Much of the conversation revolves around the true events that led to the book that this film is based upon, and how a post WW1 America has helped shape the oppressive and inhumane conditions in Southern chain gangs and prison in general. Further conversation touches on pre-code fun; proto-noir; and Lee talks about what he's watched as of late. Come br...
Aug 17, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 217
Although a week late, and slightly foggy in remembering some specific details about the films, Lee and Daniel return to check out some Universal horror from 1932. First up it's the Victor Halperin-directed "White Zombie", starring Bela Lugosi, and then they move on to "The Old Dark House", directed by James Whale and starring Boris Karloff. Slavery and the true horror of traditional zombies; voodoo drugs; strange facial hair; fancy cinematography out of nowhere; early parody of Gothic horror tra...
Aug 10, 2020•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 216
Rest in peace, Mr. Morricone. Check out Duncan McLeish's tribute to Morricone here . --Titles from "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964) --Watch Chimes from "For a Few Dollars More" (1965) --The Good, the Bad and the Ugly from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (1966) --Farewell To Cheyenne from "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968) --A Fistful of Dynamite from "A Fistful of Dynamite" (1971) --The Cruel from "The Hellbenders" (1967) --An Indian Story (Healing The Wound) from "Navajo Joe" (1966) --Guitar N...
Jul 28, 2020•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 215
Lee and Daniel let their freaks off the leash this week as they cover Tod Browning's "Freaks" from 1932. Some of the topics brought up: is the film a horror film?; does it exploit the actual freaks who performed in the film?; who are the real freaks?; the background of some of the performers; early anti-eugenic stances just before the Nazis came to power in Germany; how this film ruined Tod Browning's career; and if a remake would be possible. Also, Lee uses the soundboard software he bought and...
Jul 19, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 214
Lee and Daniel have made their way back to the 1930s this week. This time out they look at two films from 1931; one of which holds up really well and another that doesn't at all. Between the witty and energetic script and camera moves of "The Front Page" and the slow, plodding mystery of "The Black Camel", they'll let you guess which is which. Things talked about: RIP Ennio Morricone; how Charlie Chan was considered progressive on Asian stereotypes in its day; yellow face; the real man behind Ch...
Jul 13, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 213
Lee and Daniel are back this week to walk the path to enlightenment and talk about Jim Jarmusch's "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai" (1999). Much talk of bullshit codes of honour is had. Also covered: communication without having a common language; sad gangsters watching cartoons; Lee's theory about a slightly hidden subplot in the film; and why are so many homeless people living on the top of buildings in this film? Listener comments are also read. Now, sit back, un-screw that drain-pipe, and ...
Jul 06, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 212
Lee is back with some lesser known misfits, outright strangers - and, of course, a few well-known - selections from Cowboy Pasta scores that are not from Ennio Morricone. Lee also reads some comments from someone whose work has been featured on a past episode of BotT! There's probably too much talking on this one. Sorry about that. --Djurado Seq. 9 from "Djurado" (1966) --Gianni Ferrio --Seq. 2 from "Colt in the Hand of the Devil" (1967) --Gian Piero Reverberi --Sandstorm from "Requiem for a Gri...
Jul 02, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 211
Lee and Daniel continue to insist that their picks for 1990s movies were not intentionally made in relation to current events. That being said, this week it's John Sayles "Lone Star" (1996), which is a tale of race relations, bad cops, and hidden secrets in a small border town between Mexico and the USA. Fathers and sons; racism even within cultures; police corruption; and the bullshit of the Cold Winter Theory are just a few of the thing talked about, along with the brilliant performances and S...
Jun 29, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 210
Daniel, Lee, Kerry and Greg have a fun chat about a really fun MCU film, "Guardians of the Galaxy" from 2014. The hosts spend a lot of time just talking about their favourite moments in this first real look into the outer space side of the MCU, and discuss how this snarky action-comedy manages to softball pitch the viewer a shit ton of world building and main plot threads for future films in the series. "Guardians of the Galaxy" IMDB Featured Music: "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone....
Jun 24, 2020•58 min•Ep. 209
Lee (who is half in the bag as this starts) and Daniel are back to look at a 1990s favourite of theirs, that being Kathryn Bigelow's "Strange Days" (1995). The hosts talk a lot about how well the sci-fi and noir elements are melded here, and the various plot threads, and if this film holds up over-all, or if it's firmly dated at this point. Other topics include Juliette Lewis being sexy; how the film does or does not confront police corruption and racism head-on; the way rape is presented in the...
Jun 22, 2020•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 208
Lee and Daniel intended to record a regular episode on "Strange Days" (1995), but technology conspired against them long enough that they decided to give up and just record an intermission, where you'll get to hear a bit of their fumbling with tech live, and then they move into a very casual chat about some tv and movies they've been watching, among other things. It's essentially just what happens off-air when they record every week, so don't expect too much. Featured Music: Excerpt from the sco...
Jun 15, 2020•44 min•Ep. 207
This week Lee and Daniel look at Sidney Lumet's "Q & A" (1990). Does this lengthy film manage to properly explore the issues of systematic racism and corruption within police forces, or does it badly drop the ball? Does Nick Nolte's fantastic performance elevate or overshadow the material. And yes, a bit of discussion about the current 2020 riots and clashes with police is had. It was kind of unavoidable. Also: listener comments and what Daniel has been watching lately. "Q & A" IMDB Feat...
Jun 09, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 206
Even if someone has never watched an Italian Western, there's at least a good chance they've heard the soundtrack or score from one. While Lee has featured some tracks from Italian Westerns before on the show, he's never done a dedicated look at the genre. This will be part one of three shows attempting to cover the scope of music that came from the Italian Westerns. Episode one is focused on selections that have vocalists on the tracks singing a song of some sort (note: the typical chorus of un...
May 31, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 205
Lee and Daniel steal an old piece of shit boat and go on a mission around India this week, covering "The Sea Wolves" (1980). What does this WWII men-on-a-mission film, full of over-the-hill actors, have to offer to the genre if anything? How closely does it stick to the real-life events it's based upon? Is Roger Moore a better Bond here then in the official Bond series? Or is he just a horny serial killer? All of this and more, including what the hosts have watched recently is covered. "The Sea ...
May 25, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 204
Lee is joined this week by two of his regular co-hosts on the Cape Sh!t podcast to talk about John Hughes' "Weird Science" (1985). Is it a classic of the 1980s? Does the film hold up at all, or is it just one big, dated misfire, full of rape, racism, and bad jokes? Somewhere in-between? The hosts ponder this and also tackle listener comments and talk about what they've watched as of late. "Weird Science" IMDB Kerry on YouTube Greg on YouTube Where all we often review beer together on YouTube... ...
May 18, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 203
Lee, Greg and Kerry try and stay warm and one step ahead of their enemies, while touching upon what makes "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014) one of the better entries in the MCU. The more low-key, yet deeper plot, the character work, and the action scenes are talked about, as well as if the Winter Soldier is worth a damn as a character. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" IMDB
May 18, 2020•33 min•Ep. 202
It's time for another intermission episode, as Lee is joined by Paul to talk about two somewhat obscure slasher films that spent a lot of time on the shelf before getting anything approaching a proper release. First up it's the killer-in-the-woods slasher "The Final Terror" (1983), featuring a lot of future stars, and then they check out the supernatural slasher "Superstition" (1982), featuring a bunch of people who went nowhere after their work on the film. "The Final Terror" IMDB "Superstition...
May 10, 2020•50 min•Ep. 201
Lee and Daniel try not to be responsible for any war crimes this week as they dig into Oliver Stone's semi-autobiographical anti-war film, about his experiences in Vietnam, "Platoon" (1986). How well does the film hold-up? Does it suffer from being a 1980s Oscar-bait film? Or is it possibly the best film about the Vietnam war, even if it's flawed? Is Charlie Sheen any good in it? All of this and more is covered. "Platoon" IMDB Featured Music: "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag" by Country Joe an...
May 04, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 200