The Essential Films Podcast

Better late than never! On today's podcast adventure, our long-delayed Christmas episode is out, as we review THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER. We also spend some time discussing the careers of the late Peter Bogdonavich and Ivan Reitman.

Life finds a way...  On today's prehistoric adventure, join us as we discuss the 1993 blockbuster JURASSIC PARK!

Happy Halloween! On today's terrifying adventure, no one can hear us scream as we discuss the 1979 Ridley Scott classic ALIEN (1979)!Films Referenced:A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)TO CATCH A THIEF (1955)NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)BANANAS (1971)PHANTASM (1979)POSSESSION (1981)CANNIBAL FEROX (1981)POLTERGEIST (1982)FLASHDANCE (1983)GHOSTBUSTERS (1984)DUNE (1984)PRETTY IN PINK (1986)ALIENS (1986)HELLRAISER (1987)GHOST (1990)ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992)ALIEN3 (1992)PULP FICTION (1994)CLERKS (1994)ALIEN: RESURRECTION (1997)THE QUIET AMERICAN (2002)ALIEN VS PREDATOR (2004)ALIEN VS PREDATOR: REQUIEM (2007)MARTYRS (2008)I SAW THE DEVIL (2010)PROMETHEUS (2012)JODOROWSKI'S DUNE (2013)HAPPY DEATH DAY (2017)ALIEN: COVENANT (2017)HALLOWEEN KILLS (2021)DUNE (2021)

We're walkin' here!!! On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark examine the 1969 Academy Award Best Picture winner: MIDNIGHT COWBOY.

Happy Halloween! Midnight Cowboy has been delayed, so please enjoy this special episode: 31 Essential Films to watch this Halloween! From PSYCHO to THE WITCH and all monsters in between, this episode will give you a wicked watchlist for the spookiest time of year.YOUTUBE:youtube.com/adolfojacostaSOCIAL MEDIA TWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Sportsguy515 FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheEssentialFilmsINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/essentialfilmspodcastMusic Courtesy of Marc v/d MeulenOfficial Website: https://www.marcvdmeulen.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzzv...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QFHz...AudioJungle: http://audiojungle.net/user/marcvdmeulen

On today's adventure, we celebrate the life and career of Richard Donner.Films Discussed:X-15 (1961)THE TWILIGHT ZONE: “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” (TV Episode, 1963)THE OMEN (1976)SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978)SUPERMAN II (1981)THE GOONIES (1985)THE GOONIES ARE GOOD ENOUGH (Music Video, 1985)LADYHAWKE (1985)LETHAL WEAPON (1987)THE LOST BOYS (1987)SCROOGED (1988)LETHAL WEAPON 2 (1989)TALES FROM THE CRYPT: Dig That Cat... He's Real Gone (1989) (TV Episode) TALES FROM THE CRYPT: The Ventriloquist's Dummy (1990) (TV Episode)TALES FROM THE CRYPT: Showdown (1992) (TV Episode) LETHAL WEAPON 3 (1992)RADIO FLYER (1992)FREE WILLY (1993)MAVERICK (1994)ASSASSINS (1995)CONSPIRACY THEORY (1997)LETHAL WEAPON 4 (1998)X-MEN (2000)16 BLOCKS (2006)SUPERMAN II: THE RICHARD DONNER CUT (2006)

On today's adventure, Adolfo & Mark will take "No Prisoners!" as they discuss the David Lean Academy Award-winning LAWRENCE OF ARABIA!

Never you mind honey. On today's Podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark head to Anarene, Texas to look into the lives and loves of its local citizens in Peter Bogdonavich's coming of age classic, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW. Plus: Adolfo and Mark discuss the recent AMC stock bonanza.Films Referenced:RED RIVER (1948)THE SANDS OF IWO JIMA (1949)FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1950)WINCHESTER ‘73 (1950)KISS ME DEADLY (1955)HEAD (1968)TARGETS (1968)PLANET OF THE PREHISTORIC WOMEN (1968)BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)EASY RIDER (1969)THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (Series, 1970-77)DRIVE, HE SAID (1970)FIVE EASY PIECES (1970)THE KING OF MARVIN GARDENS (1972)THE GODFATHER (1972)YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974)WONDER WOMAN (Series, 1975-79)THE MUPPET MOVIE (1979)HISTORY OF THE WORLD, PART I (1981)TRADING PLACES (1983)THE SIMPSONS (Series, 1989-)TEXASVILLE (1990)THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (1993)BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD DO AMERICA (1996)FAMILY GUY (Series, 1999 -)BAD SANTA (2003)TWO AND A HALF MEN (Series, 2003-2015)THE OFFICE, Episode “Stress Relief” (2009)RAISING HOPE (Series, 2010-14)BOB'S BURGERS (Series, 2011- )THE CROODS (2013)WONDER WOMAN 1984 (2020)THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (2020)MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM (2020)LINKS:America Lost and Found: The BBS Story (https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/769-america-lost-and-found-the-bbs-story) SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheEssentialFilmsINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/essentialfilmspodcast

On this Bonus Features episode, we go further into Mark's adventures into exploitation films.NOTE: Bonus Features episodes are raw and unedited, with little production.Films Referenced:THE BIG GUNDOWN (1966)THE UNDERTAKER AND HIS PALS (1966)MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE (1966)NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)THE WIZARD OF GORE (1970)THE CAT O'NINE TAILS (1971)BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)DEEP RED (1975)TAXI DRIVER (1976)ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976)DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (1978)CALIGULA (1979)CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1980)CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980)NEW YEAR'S EVIL (1980)CANNIBAL FEROX (1981)THE BEYOND (1981)THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY (1981)PIECES (1982)TENEBRE (1982)SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984)DAY OF THE DEAD (1985)PHENOMENA (1985)SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT PART 2 (1987)THE DEUCE (Series, 2017-2019)ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (2019)

On this Bonus Features episode, we discuss how HBO MAX and Warner Media are radically changing the industry by releasing the entire 2021 slate on HBO MAX as well as theaters. Is this the future of movies? Plus Mark discusses his adventures into exploitation films in the month of December. And some Criterion and blu-ray talk to top it off.NOTE: Bonus Features episodes are raw and unedited, with little production.Films Referenced:AND GOD CREATED WOMAN (1956)DR. NO (1962)THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963)GOLDFINGER (1964)SHELAKO (1968)THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE (1970)THE WIZARD OF GORE (1970)DEEP RED (1975)SALÓ, OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM (1975)DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)ZOMBI 2 (1979)FRIDAY THE 13th (1980)DON'T GO IN THE WOODS (1981)COME AND SEE (1985)NO WAY BACK (1992)THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012)THE DEUCE (Series, 2017-2019)ROMA (2018)THE IRISHMAN (2019)MARRIAGE STORY (2019)WONDER WOMAN 1984 (2020)TENET (2020)MANK (2020)THE MANDALORIAN (Series, 2019-2020)MATRIX 4 (2021)THE SUICIDE SQUAD (2021)MORTAL KOMBAT (2021)THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK (2021)GODZILLA VS KONG (2021)LINKS:Grindhouse Movie DataBase (gcbd.com) Sleazoid Express Book https://www.amazon.com/Sleazoid-Express-Mind-Twisting-Through-Grindhouse/dp/0743215834Dawn Of The Dead 4K Set https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=26880 Ingmar Bergman's Cinema: https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/1427-ingmar-bergman-s-cinema SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms

MERRY CHRISTMAS! On today's adventure, we celebrate Christmas with Dudley, Henry and Julia as we discuss the 1947 holiday classic, THE BISHOP'S WIFE! We go into the original cast of the film, who was originally supposed to play the angel, the initial box office failure (and how the studios sought to fix that), guaranteed Christmas royalties, Hallmark Christmas movies, Christmas classics, the wacky trailer, and much more!Films Referenced:IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)THE EXORCIST (1973)SCARFACE (1983)MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993)MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1994)JINGLE ALL THE WAY (1996)DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2009)SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms

On today's adventure, Adolfo & Mark discuss the 1974 noir thriller, CHINATOWN.

On today's adventure, we celebrate the life and career of Sir Sean Connery.(There are some audio issues in this episode. We apologize)Films DiscussedThe JAMES BOND Films (1962-1971)INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989)THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987)THE ROCK (1996)THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990)HIGHLANDER (1986)MARNIE (1964)DRAGONHEART (1996)THE LONGEST DAY (1962)OUTLAND (1981)FIRST KNIGHT (1995)DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE (1959)And Many OthersLINKS:SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms

HEEEEERE'S ADOLFO AND MARK! Join Adolfo and Mark on today's spooky adventure: Stanley Kubrick's THE SHINING (1980)On this week's show:Trick or Treating in times COVIDMisguided contemporary reviewsHow Kubrick decided to do a horror movieOther actors considered for Jack TorranceThe constant script changesShelly Duval's tortureThe impossible windowDon't build things on burial groundsCharles Grady or Delbert Grady?“The Shinning” All the best people.Minotaurs?The importance of the stock roomWhen does Jack start going crazyWhich scene took 12 hours to film?Naked ladies with afrosCreepy red bathroomsYou've always been the caretakerIs the hotel haunted? Or is Jack crazy? Or both?Mini reviews of ROOM 237 and DOCTOR SLEEPConspiracy theoriesHow much does Stephen King hate The Shining?Fubo??FILMS REFERENCED:THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE (1921)FRANKENSTEIN (1931)KING KONG (1933)PSYCHO (1960)SPARTACUS (1960)LOLITA (1962)THE BIRDS (1963)THE TWILIGHT ZONE: “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” (Season 5, Episode 3, 1963)2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)THE EXORCIST (1973)BARRY LYNDON (1975)ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NESTROCKY (1976)HALLOWEEN (1978)THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)POLTERGEIST (1982)THE THING (1982)STEPHEN KING'S IT (1990)THE SIMPSONS: “Treehouse of Horror V” (Season 6, Episode 6, 1994)TWISTER (1996)THE SHINING (Mini-Series, 1997)EYES WIDE SHUT (1999)ROOM 237 (2012)READY PLAYER ONE (2018)DOCTOR SLEEP (2019)LINKS:SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms

Join Adolfo and Mark on today's adventure: Steven Spielberg's SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)On this week's show:Orange FantaCriterion Collection discussionsOrganizing physical mediaTCM Wine ClubColorized newsreelsThe true story that inspired Saving Private RyanThe actors boot campLate 90s young HollywoodThe epic Omaha Beach sequenceHelmets are uselessNazis are bad!Bryan Cranston!FUBARThe Statue of Liberty is kaputAre there “good” war movies?The biggest movie of 1998The Academy Awards snubSpielberg's populist moviesHow it should have ended?FILMS REFERENCED:PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1943)THE GUNFIGHTER (1950)DJANGO (1966)THE GREEN BERETS (1968)JAWS (1975)SHIVERS (1975)FRIDAY THE 13th (1980)THE ELEPHANT MAN (1980)PLATOON (1986)OPERA (1987)FULL METAL JACKET (1987)SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)BRAVEHEART (1995)CRASH (1996)GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997)SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (1998)ARMAGEDDON (1998)DEEP IMPACT (1998)GODZILLA (1998)SMALL SOLDIERS (1998)THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998)A BUG'S LIFE (1998)DOCTOR DOLITTLE (1998)THE WATERBOY (1998)RUSH HOUR (1998)PATCH ADAMS (1998)MULAN (1998)LETHAL WEAPON 4 (1998)GHOST DOG: THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI (1999)BAND OF BROTHERS (Mini-Series, 2001)THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (2002)CRASH (2005)BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2005)GREEN BOOK (2018)PARASITE (2019)MULAN (2020)LINKS:SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms

We ARE big! It's the podcasts that got small. Today we delve into the Hollywood nightmare of Billy Wilder's SUNSET BLVD. (1950)On this week's show:Our weird movie yearCOVID adventuresRIP Chadwick BosemanJoe the Gigolo Skirting the production codeHow Gloria Stuart built ParamountWhy Montgomery Clift turned down the filmRIP Olivia De HavilandIs Holden too old for Olsen?How Wilder filmed the pool shotThe original opening of the filmWhat is a “reader”“This year I'm trying to make money.”Monkey undertakersGreta Garbo & Steve GutenbergThe sad story of Yvette VickersNorma's great Chaplin impressionThe difference between Gloria and BettyThe often misquoted line“You've befowled you're own nest”Who WAS the better actresses? Bette Davis or Gloria StuartSunset Blvd the MusicalFILMS REFERENCED:QUEEN KELLY (1932)CAPTAIN BLOOD (1935)THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938)GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)THE SNAKE PIT (1948)THE HEIRESS (1949)SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949)ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)BORN YESTERDAY (1950)DRAGNET (1951 TV series)ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN (1958)THE APARTMENT (1960)THE GODFATHER (1972)THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)42 (2013)BLACK PANTHER (2018)UNCUT GEMS (2019)DA 5 BLOODS (2020)TENET (2020)LINKS:SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films

Fasten your seatbelts as Adolfo and Mark take you on a bumpy podcast! On today's adventure: ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)On this week's show:• Quarantine movie woes• Mark's sleazy movie tastes• How we first experienced the film• Unmatched dialogue• Adolfo owns the film in multiple formats• Barbara Stanwyck, Claudette Colbert and Joan Crawford were all considered for Margot Channing.• Bette Davis' “difficult” reputation.• Ronald Reagan was a ham• The on-set conflict with Davis and a young Marilyn Monroe• The entire opening sequence tells you everything you need to know by the character body language• Smoking looks so cool in black and white• Thelma Ritter should have been in more of the film• Adolfo's terrible frame of reference at the time he saw the film for the first time• Margot's drunken speeches• “A milkshake?”• A roller coaster of tension• People aged differently in the 50s• Bill is a good boyfriend• Classy restrooms• How Addison DeWitt is interpreted in 2020• Only film in Oscar history to have 4 female acting nomineesFILMS REFERENCED:• SUNSET BLVD. (1950)• BEN-HUR (1959)• APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)• ZOMBIE HOLOCAUST (1980)• HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980)• CANNIBAL FERROX (1981)• THE BEYOND (1981)• THE NEW YORK RIPPER (1982)• PLATOON (1986)• BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY (1989)• HAMBURGER HILL (1987)• SINGLE WHITE FEMALE (1991)• FORREST GUMP (1994)• PULP FICTION (1994)• THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)• TITANIC (1997)• TROPIC THUNDER (2008)• ZOMBIES VS STRIPPERS (2012)• LA LA LAND (2016)• MOONLIGHT (2016)• THE VIETNAM WAR (Mini-Series, 2017)• JOKER (2019)• BIRDS OF PREY: THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF HARLEY QUINN (2020)• THE INVISIBLE MAN (2020)• SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (2020)• CORONA ZOMBIES (2020)• TIGER KING (mini-series, 2020)LINKS:SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films

Yo, Adrian! Take your mind off what's going on in the world and join Adolfo and Mark on today's adventure: John G Avildsen's ROCKY (1976)On this week's show:How the current pandemic has affected the movie industry.How people's first impression of Rocky is often wrongThunderlips: The Ultimate MaleStallone is a carnyStallone's story of the making of Rocky is a little too HollywoodThe unlikely names suggested for the role of Rocky before Stallone insisted on playing the role himselfThe bluff that paid off for StalloneThe real story is better than the mythIs ROCKY a better Oscar movie than TAXI DRIVER?Casting choices for Adrian and why did Talia Shire have to audition?The Rocky stepsThe paradox of the opening theme and the first shotThe difference between the first and last fight in the filmLloyd Kauffman's cameoWillie Cici“That pet shop dame”The differences of Stallone and Burgess Meredith at 69.How the production used its limitations to its benefitRocky would have gotten #MeToo'dDO NOT DRINK RAW EGGS!Running in Converse All-Stars seems unwiseThe emergence of the steadicamChicken bonesGoing the distance“Cut me, Mick”The alternate ending for the filmFavorite sequels.FILMS REFERENCED:THE PARTY AT KITTY AND STUD'S (1970)BANANAS (1971)THE GODFATHER (1972)THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)THE LORDS OF FLATBUSH (1974)JAWS (1975)CAPONE (1975)DEATH RACE 2000 (1975)NETWORK (1976)TAXI DRIVER (1976)ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976)STAR WARS (1977)ROCKY II (1979)RAGING BULL (1980)ROCKY III (1982)THE KARATE KID (1984)ROCKY IV (1985)ROCKY V (1990)THE GODFATHER PART III (1990)STOP OR MY MOM WILL SHOOT (1992)INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996)ROCKY BALBOA (2006)CREED (2015)CREED II (2018)THE MANDALORIAN (TV Series, 2019)SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films

Merry Christmas! Happy Holiday! On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo goes solo as he dives into the 1942 Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire Christmas classic, HOLIDAY INN! We go deep into the origins of the film, what song was SUPPOSED to be the big single, the legacy of the "White Christmas" song and the controversy of the "Abraham" number. Just in time for Christmas Eve, enjoy this present from the Essential Films Podcast!

Happy Thanksgiving! Let's celebrate those rare movies that celebrate annual autumn holiday that gives us pause to say thanks. So, to thank YOU for listening to the Essential Films Podcast, here's a bonus episode.

It's Alive! On today's adventure, Adolfo and Mark know what it feels like to be God as they discuss James Whale's FRANKENSTEIN (1931)On this week's show:How we first discovered the classic monster filmFeaturing ? as the MonsterFeeling sympathy for the CreatureBook Fairs and Famous Movie MonstersMr. Willie's RepresentHow Universal came to be known as the monster studioBela Lugosi as the Monster??The Bela Lugosi/Boris Karloff “feud”The legend of how James Whale discovered KarloffHow the film was censored, despite being pre-codeFritz VS Karl VS IgorHow the film defined the monster for decadesThe cold open carny trickThe influence of German Expressionism Henry NOT VictorVictor's Friendzoned “Abby Normal”The greatness of the “It's Alive!” sceneKarloff's physical performanceThe infamous Maria sequenceHow the hell did Henry survive?Universal Cinematic UniverseThe cancelled Guillermo del Toro remakeThe fate of the Dark UniverseUniversal Monsters stage showFILMS REFERENCED:NOSFERATU (1922)THE GOLEM (1922)DRACULA (1931)THE MUMMY (1932)THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933)THE BLACK CAT (1934)BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939)THE WOLF MAN (1941)THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942)FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN (1943)HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944)HOUSE OF DRACULA (1945)ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948)THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957)THE MUNSTERS (TV Series, 1964)SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN (1970)YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974)ED WOOD (1994)MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN (1994)GODS AND MONSTERS (1998)HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (2012)THE MUMMY (2017)SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films

Magic Mirror, on the wall, what is the greatest movie podcast of them all?... On today's adventure, Adolfo and Mark sit down to discuss SNOW WHITE AND THE DWARFS (137)On this week's show:The voice casting processThe differences between the film and the Brothers Grimm storyDeafy, Jumpy, Baldy, Tubby, Hickey, Dizzy and Burpy?RotoscopingThe multiplane cameraThe storybook opening tropeMisquoted movie linesPrince Charming is not wokeThe Queen's awesome transformationSnow White is a dummyThe Prince has a weird fetish for dead ladiesThe live action remake in the worksAlternate theories on the endingDisney World adventuresFILMS REFERENCED:NOSFERATU (1922)DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE (1931)THE OLD MILL (1932)ROMEO & JULIET (1936)THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)FANTASIA (1940)PINOCCHIO (1940)DUMBO (1941)IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)SONG OF THE SOUTH (1946)CINDERELLA (1950)THE HOBBIT (1977)THE LITTLE MERMAID (1989)BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991)ALADDIN (1992)THE LION KING (1994)ANASTASIA (1997)RATATOUILLE (2007)500 DAYS OF SUMMER (2009)AVATAR (2009)THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012)SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN (2012)THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (2014)RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET (2018)LINKS:Walt Disney's MultiPlane Camera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdHTlUGN1zw SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films

Join Adolfo and Mark on this bonus episode as they discuss Mark's Alamo Adventures, CREEPSHOW (1982), MIDSOMMAR (2019), VERTIGO (1958), READY OR NOT (2019), THE GOONIES (1985), Cyndi Lauper, APOCALYPSE NOW: THE FINAL CUT, HOT SHOTS PART DEUX (1993), THE GODFATHER: THE COMPLETE EPIC, THE GODFATHER PART III (1990) and The GODZILLA Criterion Collection Set

Hello Darkness, my old friend... On today's adventure, Adolfo and Mark sit down to discuss THE GRADUATE (1967)On this week's show:Adolfo goes into detail as to why he doesn't like the film, but thinks everyone should watch itNetflix Disc RentalsCriterion Flash SalesTrying to impress girls with your wokenessInteresting names considered for Mrs Robinson and Benjamin Braddock rolesMrs Potts as Mrs Robinson?Redford as Benjamin BraddockThe (lack of) significant age difference between Ben and Mrs RobinsonPlasticsThe wonderful awkwardness of Dustin HoffmanScotch and BourbonIs this Ben's first time?Popularizing montages to pop musicBenjamin's depressionMrs. Robinson is the most interesting characterMrs. Robinson symbolizes what 60s youth was trying to avoidThe exact point where Adolfo starts to hate the movieBen is an insufferable creepTHIS IS NOT A LOVE STORYBenjamin Braddock: IncelThe sense of entitlement of Benjamin BraddockFILMS REFERENCED:THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)GILDA (1946)A STAR IS BORN (1954)THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955)JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG (1961)CAPE FEAR (1961)THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967)BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)BARBARELLA (1968)WAYNE'S WORLD 2 (1993)JACKIE BROWN (1997)500 DAYS OF SUMMER (2009)LINKS:SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films

On today's podcast odyssey, Adolfo and Mark journey into the unknown across time and space as they take a deep dive into Stanley Kubrick's enigmatic 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968). Listen as they discuss the origins of the film, how it was co-written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, the ahead-of-their time visual effects, the meaning of that head-scratching ending and the "soul" of HAL 9000. Plus: God, the creation of the universe and everything in between.

In this Bonus Features episode, recorded before our Silence of the Lambs episode, Adolfo and Mark discuss the glory that is Jeff Goldblum. From EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY to THE FLY to THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK to... VIBES?

On today's adventure, Adolfo and Mark sit down with some fava beans and a nice chianti as they discuss Jonathan Demme's horror classic THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991) On this week's show:  The Polar Vortex Mark's mother subjects him to the horrors of Hannibal Lecter Brian Cox: always a bad guy Gene Hackman… director? RIP Jonathan Demme Original casting choices including Michelle Pfeiffer and Sean Connery The “real life” Jack Crawford: John Douglas Buffalo Bill is Captain Stottlemeyer??? Demme puts us in Clarice's shoes with characters directly addressing camera How Lecter's plexiglass cage was conceived Lecter never says “HELLO CLARICE” Lecter has super powers The Courtship of Clarice and Hannibal The hidden joke of the “fava beans” quote Why does Bill even need night vision goggles? The 3 serial killers that inspired Buffalo Bill The unsung real life actress, Chris McGinn, who was the autopsy victim BOB THE GOON! Addressing the controversy over LGBT representation (or misrepresentation) in the film “Where will it tickle you?” “Get this THING out of here” The beauty of the cinematography and direction of the final meeting between Clarice and Lecter. The terrifying sequence of Hannibal Lecter's “face off” escape The masterful suspense of the climax Hopkins wins a Best Actor Oscar for only being on camera for 16 minutes  FILMS REFERENCED:  PSYCHO (1960) THE EXORCIST (1973) THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974) JAWS (1975) THE ELEPHANT MAN (1980) STOP MAKING SENSE (1984) CONAN THE DESTROYER (1984) MANHUNTER (1986) SOMETHING WILD (1986) MARRIED TO THE MOB (1988) THE ACCUSED (1988) BATMAN (1989) TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991) PHILADELPHIA (1993) MATILDA (1996) INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996) THE SIXTH SENSE (1999) HANNIBAL (2001) RED DRAGON (2002) MONK (TV Series, 2002-2009) HANNIBAL RISING (2007) BLACK SWAN (2010) HANNIBAL (TV Series, 2013-2015) GET OUT (2017) CONVERSATIONS WITH A KILLER: THE TED BUNDY TAPES (TV Series, 2019)  SOCIAL MEDIA TWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515 FACEBOOK: The Essential Films  

MERRY CHRISTMAS! On today's holiday podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss: 45 minutes all to myself Holiday shopping Holiday favorites Rosemary Clooney's phenomenal performance of “Love You Didn't Do Right By Me” Fred Astaire was the original choice to play Phil Davis. VistaVision and the beautiful colors that pop off the screen. George Chakiris cameo Vera-Ellen's tiny waist What happened to this business? Modern Musicals VS Classic Musicals Weirdsmobile! FILMS REFERENCED: HOLIDAY INN (1942) CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945) IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1947) AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951) WE'RE NO ANGELS (1955) SOUTH PACIFIC (1958) WEST SIDE STORY (1961) SCROOGED (1988) HOME ALONE (1990) THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992) HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK (1992) THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (2017) MARY POPPINS RETURNS (2018) BLOCKERS (2018) BUMBLEBEE (2018) SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms/

On today's adventure, Adolfo and Mark unsheath their swords and grab some sandals as they discuss William Wyler's 1959 cinematic epic, BEN-HUR! On this week's show:•Sauce or gravy?•Thanksgiving Movie Traditions•William Wyler's work on the original BEN-HUR•“It took a Jew to make a good movie about Jesus.”•The genre of Christian Epics•Not showing Jesus' face•No CGI, just a lot of money put into practical effects, props and sets•Charlton as a Jew or as a Mexican?•Homoerotic subtext?•Christian fan service•Jesus cameos•Heston is JACKED•BROWN FACE!!•Leprechaun Colonies•Ben-Her and Ben-HisFILMS REFERENCED:•THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)•BEN-HUR: A TALE OF THE CHRIST (1925)•ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)•GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)•MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1947)•QUO VADIS (1951)•THE ROBE (1953)•THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)•TOUCH OF EVIL (1958)•SPARTACUS (1960)•BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (1961)•THE KING OF KINGS (1961)•LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)•THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (1964)•THE GREATEST STORY OF EVER TOLD (1965)•THE BIBLE… IN THE BEGINNING (1966)•CALIGULA (1979)•REDS (1981)•PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES (1987)•THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST (1988)•FORREST GUMP (1994)•TITANIC (1997)•SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)•STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)•THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (2003)•THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST (2004)•THE HATEFUL EIGHT (2015)SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515

On today's adventure, Adolfo and Mark go a little mad for Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO (1960) On this week's show:• Discovering Hitchcock• One of the earliest “slasher” films• The Bernard Herrmann score and Mark's uh… impression(?) of it.• Hitchcock's A-list B-Movie• “No Bail for the Judge”• How Hitchcock convinced Paramount to distribute the film• The book by Robert Bloch• Ed Gein and the on-screen villains he “inspired”• The “Inside Psycho” podcast• Setting a new level of violence• The dissolving of the Production Code• A flushing toilet! • Hitchcock's marketing strategy• William Castle's carnie antics• Marion Crane has NO chill• The differences between the book and the film• Norman portrayed as a sympathetic character• The Shower Scene• How Bernard Herrmann earned double his salary• Chocolate Syrup for blood• Killing your main character halfway through the film.• Martin Balsam's underrated performance.• “What the hell did I just see?”• The psychiatrist sequence and why it's a flaw of the film• The Sequels and the horrible 1998 remake• The death of Filmstruck• Always buy physical media!FILMS REFERENCED:• REBECCA (1940)• SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1944)• SPELLBOUND (1945)• NOTORIOUS (1946)• REAR WINDOW (1954)• DIABOLIQUE (1955)• VERTIGO (1958)• THE TINGLER (1959)• NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)• HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959)• THE BIRDS (1963)• THE EXORCIST (1973)• THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)• HALLOWEEN (1978)• DRESSED TO KILL (1980)• ROCKY III (1982)• ROCKY IV (1985)• THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)• THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991)• ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (1993)• SCREAM (1996)• GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997)• ARMAGEDDON (1998)• PSYCHO (1998)• HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES (2003)• THE DEVIL'S REJECTS (2005)• HITCHCOCK (2012)• CREED II (2018)LINKS:• INSIDE PSYCHO PODCAST: https://wondery.com/shows/inside-psycho/• Alfred Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection: https://www.amazon.com/Alfred-Hitchcock-Masterpiece-Collection-Limited/dp/B008DCAG9M• YouTube Page: youtube.com/adolfojacostaSOCIAL MEDIA:• TWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms/

NOTE: Watch Adolfo Acosta on Turner Classic Movies, introducing CITY LIGHTS with Ben Manciewicz, this Sunday, October 14 at 11 AM CT/12 PM ETOn today's adventure, Adolfo and Mark go back to the silent era for Charles Chaplin's CITY LIGHTS (1931)! The film that got Adolfo a fan programmer spot on TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES(!) On this week's show:Discovering Charlie Chaplin movies.The best introduction to ChaplinSilent films in the “Talkie” eraCITY LIGHTS isn't really a “silent” filmChaplin's reluctance to transition to talking picturesHow the film was originally conceivedThe hate-hate relationship between Chaplin and Virginia CherrillThe butler is a jerkChaplin's favorite scene in the film“Can you see now?”FILMS REFERENCED:THE KID (1921)THE GOLD RUSH (1925)THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)MODERN TIMES (1936)GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)THE GREAT DICTATOR (1940)MONSIEUR VERDOUX (1947)BICYCLE THIEVES (1948)LIMELIGHT (1952)SALO OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM (1975)LINKS:SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films

BONUS FEATURES Warning: The following is unedited raw audio with NSFW language.In this episode:Mark's buried treasureVinegar SyndromeCult MoviesMark's film canister unboxingMark's penchant for trash cinemaDoes Cinemax exist?Boutique LabelsShedding some DVD weightFilms Referenced:ORGY OF THE DEAD (1965)THIS,THAT AND THE OTHER! (1970)I DRINK YOUR BLOOD (1970)SHAFT (1971)SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAADASSSSS SONG (1971)TROUBLE MAN (1972)SUPER FLY (1972)PETS (1973)THE MACK (1973)MASSAGE PARLOR MURDERS (1973)BLACKENSTEIN (1973)CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE PEANUT BUTTER FREAK (1975)HER NAME WAS LISA (1979)CANNIBAL FEROX (1981)DEADLY DAPHNE'S REVENGE (1987)ICE CREAM MAN (1995)THE RUNDOWN (2003)MR. & MRS. SMITH (2005)LINKS:Vinegar Syndrome - https://vinegarsyndrome.com/ “Million Dollar” Collection - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdjQ2lxHX6A ICE CREAM MAN trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DwC5wshQwk

What is thy bidding, our masters? On today's adventure, Adolfo and Mark learn about the ways of the force and resist the Dark Side as they discuss the 1980 STAR WARS epic: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK! On this week's show: The lack of hype for SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY How we first experienced EMPIRE The 1995 THX Remastered VHS tapes The film's most famous line is often misquoted George Lucas as an independent filmmaker Hiring Irvin Kershner as Director The early versions of the story The 1997 Special Editions The proper order to watch the Saga George Lucas is Kermit Who knew the twist ending ahead of filming? When did Lucas know Leia was Luke's sister? How do you pronounce “AT-AT”? Switching out Emperors Why is talking to a Muppet NOT goofy? “I know.” The reaction from fans in the 1980s The differences of the original cut VS the special editions “Despecialized” Editions FILMS REFERENCED: STAR WARS (1977) SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978) RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983) ROBOCOP 2 (1990) CLERKS (1994) STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999) STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002) EMPIRE OF DREAMS (2004) STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005) STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015) ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016) STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (2017) SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (2018) BONUS CONVERSATION: THE WARRIORS (1979) AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018) LINKS: The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Alamo Drafthouse Menu: https://drafthouse.com/nyc/news/eats-assemble-avengers-infinity-war-specials-are-here HOW FANS REACTED TO EMPIRE STRIKES BACK IN 1980: https://io9.gizmodo.com/heres-how-fans-reacted-to-the-empire-strikes-back-in-19-1821551259 ISLE OF DOGS Alamo Drafthouse Menu: https://drafthouse.com/nyc/news/japanese-inspired-canine-approved-isle-of-dogs-specials-are-here

BONUS EPISODE!Raw unproduced audio of Adolfo and Mark shooting the breeze. On today's adventure:Mark's Alamo Drafthouse AdventuresSEVEN (1995)70 MM of HOWARD THE DUCK (1986)BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986)THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)“This is what happens when you French a stranger in the Alps!”THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)VERTIGO (1958)GREASE (1976)THE LONG GOODBYE (1973)GEMINI (2018)Arnie's mustachePUMPING IRON (1977)SSSSSSS (1973)THE BIRDS II: LAND'S END (1994)PHASE IV (1974)OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN (1983)COBRA (1986)SHAKMA (1990)BASKET CASE (1982)FRANKEN HOOKER (1990)BRAIN DAMAGE (1988)80s trashTHE GARBAGE PAIL KIDS MOVIE (1987)SECRET AGENT DOUBLE-O SOUL (1990)BEST FRIENDS VOL. 1 (2018)SCARFACE (1983)

We're back from the Phantom Zone!On today's adventure, Adolfo and Mark fight for Truth, Justice and the American way when they discuss the 1978 superhero movie pioneer SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE! On this week's show:Clamshell VHS TapesOne of the first superhero filmsChristopher Reeves: Adolfo's childhood heroHenry Cavill's mustacheBrandon Routh's Christopher Reeves impressionA time when Superhero films were non-existentAll superhero movies trace their origin to SupermanAn important milestone for superhero filmsHow do you make someone fly?The cheesiness of Can You Read My MindHow long it takes to even see SupermanThe long process of casting SupermanMarlon Brando at his laziestBrando scored bigGreen bagelsChristopher Reeves doesn't get top billingThe wacky names considered to play the title partChristopher Reeves' amazing dual performance“You've got me? Who's got you?”The electric chemistry between Reeves and Margot KidderDual filming on Superman and Superman IIKrypton's blowing up? FAKE NEWSLax adoption paperwork lawsThe ludicrousness of Lex Luthor's planWhy Lex Luthor is awesome even though he differs from the comic bookHackensack, New JerseyDoes Superman REALLY spin the Earth backwards?“Head Canon”The iconic score streak of John WilliamsWhat's missing from modern superhero filmsEvil Superman flicking peanutsThe 3 Hour TV cutFILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:FLASH GORDON (1936)THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL (1941)BATMAN (1943)CAPTAIN AMERICA (1944)BATMAN AND ROBIN (1947)SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE-MEN (1951)ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (TV Series, 1952-1958)BATMAN (TV Series, 1966-1968)THE GODFATHER (1972)LAST TANGO IN PARIS (1972)STAR WARS (1977)SUPERMAN II (1980)SUPERMAN III (1983)SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE (1987)BATMAN (1989)DARKMAN (1990)THE SHADOW (1994)THE PHANTOM (1996)SPAWN (1997)STEEL (1997)STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)X-MEN (2000)SMALLVILLE (TV Series, 2001-2011)SPIDER-MAN (2002)STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002)STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005)SUPERMAN RETURNS (2006)IRON MAN (2008)TED (2012)THE AVENGERS (2012)MAN OF STEEL (2013)STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015)JUSTICE LEAGUE (2017)STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (2017)KRYPTON (TV Series, 2018)BLACK PANTHER (2018)AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)RED SPARROW (2018)LINKS:The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films

In today's Short Subjects episode, Adolfo goes down the entire list of Academy Award nominees, announced on January 24th. From Best Picture to Best Visual Effects; From Get Out to Dunkirk he covers his thoughts, his predictions and why he thinks Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri is overrated.

Join Adolfo on this solo adventure as he discusses some of the cherished Holiday Hollywood classics such as:A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938)HOLIDAY INN (1942)THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947)SCROOGE (1951)WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954)A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)and more!

It's cold outside. A man's gotta do something to keep warm. On today's podcast adventure: Adolfo and Mark deck the halls and jingle them bells as they celebrate the holidays with MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1947). The duo are plastered...err--- feeling gay as they discuss the charming wonderfulness of this holiday classic as well as: Kris does NOT take any crap; Fred Gailey is a pimp; you couldn't make this film in 2017; Is Gimbels still in business?; the legal accuracy of the courtroom scenes; Russian princes; and "Mr. Macy." All this plus a conversation on STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, Alamo Draughthouse adventures, holiday movie classics, The Rankin Bass Holiday specials, HOLIDAY INN (1942), The many adaptations of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, including SCROOGE (1951), SCROOGED (1988) and THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992), HOME ALONE (1990) and ELF (2003). Do a wonderful thing and download now!

There's no place like home. On today's Thanksgiving podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1939 MGM classic: THE WIZARD OF OZ! On this week's show:More Alamo Drafthouse!Watching CASABLANCA on the big screenIt's not an isosceles triangle!What human being on this planet hasn't seen Wizard of Oz?A Thanksgiving traditionThe troubled production and box office woes of OzDark Side of the MoonThe power of watching a movie on the big screenThe rotating door of directorsWizard of Oz on stageHigh school productionsThe JitterbugA Thanksgiving traditionEngrained in pop cultureRoseanne Barr as the Wicked Witch?The bankability of Fantasy films in the 30s.Why the film was a dream sequenceThe darkness of RETURN TO OZ“Over the Rainbow” was almost cut from the filmDorothy and Scarecrow love connection?The pros and cons of blu-rayThe amazing make-up artistryShirley Temple: The original Dorothy?Ray Bolger originally cast as ScarecrowBuddy Ebsen's allergic reaction to the silver Tin Man make up, causing him to be recast by Jack HaleyWho were WC Fields and Ed Wynn considered to play?Frank Morgan, the MGM character actorMargaret Hamilton severely burned on a stuntJuvenile OscarsThe television broadcast gave the film new lifeUrban legendsMidgets groping Judy GarlandThere is still one Munchkin left!Sequels & spinoffs!Wicked the Broadway MusicalThe debut of the Random CHRISTMAS Movie GeneratorFILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ (1910)THE WIZARD OF OZ (1925)SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938)GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)CASABLANCA (1942)IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947)ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951)SCROOGE (1951)REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (1959)MARY POPPINS (1965)BONNIE & CLYDE (1967)GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971)THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)STAR WARS TRILOGY (1977-1983)MOMENT BY MOMENT (1978)THE WIZ (1978)THE SHINING (1980)BLOW OUT (1981)THE THING (1982)E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)MICHAEL JACKSON'S THRILLER (1982)SCARFACE (1983)A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)GREMLINS (1984)RETURN TO OZ (1985)CAPTAIN EO (1986)THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987)THE LOST BOYS (1987)MOONWALKER (1988)DIE HARD (1988)GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH (1990)HOME ALONE (1990)MGM WHEN THE LION ROARS (1992)THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992)FALLING DOWN (1993)ED WOOD (1994)BATMAN & ROBIN (1997)STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)POKÉMON: THE MOVIE - I CHOOSE YOU! (2000)THE ROOM (2002)TIN MAN (2007)500 DAYS OF SUMMER (2009)THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY (2001-2003)ROOM 237 (2012)THE AVENGERS (2012)THE HOBBIT TRILOGY (2012-2014)OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (2013)SPOTLIGHT (2015)THOR: RAGNAROK (2017)MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (2017)JUSTICE LEAGUE (2017)AMERICAN ASSASSIN (2017)KINGSMAN THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (2017)THE DISASTER ARTIST (2017)IRVING BERLIN'S HOLIDAY INN: THE MUSICAL (2017)THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (2017) THE POST (2017)LINKS:The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.comKey & Peele: Gremlins 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x01l_jMhjVMMoment by Moment TV Spot - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYyjvyvx6c0 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpV29YZ7KswThe Wizard of Oz (1925) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CBmDZjvjGsReturn to Oz Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CklyKCKFtwEMaragaret Hamilton on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I89lklpp8cM Michael Jackson in The Wiz (1978) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r1ssg1LIt4Moonwalker Trailer (1988) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFoVHVeLk-MCaptain EO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONRTzWy26KoTin Man trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUWyDjuHEC0SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films: https://www.facebook.com/The-Essential-Films-130585803634489/?fref=ts

What an excellent day for an exorcism. On today's Halloween podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1973 William Friedkin classic: THE EXORCIST! On this week's show:Alamo Drafthouse adventuresHas Edgar Wright ever made a bad film?Halloween season moviesWhen did we first experience THE EXORCIST?Terrifying even for a lapsed CatholicThe exorcism of Roland DoeWilliam Friedkin sounds like a more educated Donald TrumpWilliam Peter Blatty's power as producerFriedkin making the cast and crew film in a freezerThe urban myths and legends of the film productionMercedes McCambridgeThe power of nitroglycerinThe prologue confuses first time viewersThe amazing make-up job on Max Von SydowThe secret behind Captain Howdy's subliminal messagesThe banned trailerWho owns a Ouija board?How the parallel stories of Regan and Damien Karras intersectThe GREAT Lee J. CobbThe “Exorcist” StepsThe Crucifix SceneAudience reactions: fainting, barf bags, etc.Friedkin, the sadistCampbell's Pea SoupHow Jason Miller got the roleThe original Damien Karras“Help Me”The iconic shot of Merrin arriving at the McNeil house“Why you do this to me, Dimi?”Angering the crew by slapping a priestDamien Karras' story arc and crisis of faithThe differences between the Theatrical and Extended cutsThe Spider WalkThe massive box office success of the filmThe disappointing sequelsREPOSSESSED does not hold upFILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)ALL THE KING'S MEN (1949)THE WAGES OF FEAR (1953)ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968)THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)THE STING (1973)THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC (1977)SORCERER (1977)ALIEN (1979)THE SHINING (1980)AIRPLANE (1980)THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)THE THING (1982)THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985)THE NAKED GUN: FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD (1988)REPOSSESSED (1990)THE EXORCIST III (1990)THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)FIGHT CLUB (1999)THE ROOM (2003)SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004)EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING (2004)DOMINION: A PREQUEL TO THE EXORCIST (2005)HOT FUZZ (2007)GRINDHOUSE (2007)THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD (2010)THE DARK KNIGHT (2012)THE WORLD'S END (2013)WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (2013)OUIJA (2014)BABY DRIVER (2017)LINKS:The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films: https://www.facebook.com/The-Essential-Films-130585803634489/?fref=ts

We'll...be….right….HERE. On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1982 Steven Spielberg classic: E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL! On this week's show:More Alamo Drafthouse adventures from MarkUnoriginal cosplayersOur thoughts on the passings of Jerry Lewis, Harry Dean Stanton and Tobe HooperThe infamous unreleased Jerry Lewis film THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIEDHarry Dean Stanton should get a posthumous Academy Award nomination for LUCKY“Avenge me!”The 35th Anniversary of E.T.When did we first experience E.T.Probably the greatest family film of all timeLast day of school moviesThe long stretches of time we went before rewatching the filmHow the film is entrenched in pop cultureExperiencing it again for the “first time”The movie still works on 2017 audiencesET and Elliot going across the moon is the most iconic image in cinemaKids smoking and swearing in family filmsWhy did you drop the pizza Elliot?!The origins of E.T. from the mind of a young Steven SpielbergHow 1941's production problems helped pave the way for E.T.1941: Spielberg's worst filmColumbia passed on E.T.The tragic mistake of M&Ms Reese's Pieces!Mark's INCORRECT opinion on Reese's Pieces VS M&MsE.T. taught kids how to play hooky from schoolThe cuteness of young Drew BarrymoreWhy don't we see the adult's faces for half the film?The trauma of frog dissectionHenry Thomas delivers one of the great child actor performancesHarrison Ford's deleted cameoTV versions of movies re-adding deleted scenesThe 20th Anniversary versionWalkie Talkies are not gunsPractical effects are always better than digitalWhy the film was shot in chronological orderE.T. 2: NOCTURNAL FEARSE.T.'s cameo in STAR WARSThe biggest movie of all time until 1993 when Spielberg beat the box office record again with JURASSIC PARKE.T. The Atari GameE.T. Adventure @ Universal Studios… kind of a lame ride.“Penis breath!”“Wolfman's got nards!”We're not ready for 4K yetFILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)CITIZEN KANE (1941)THE QUIET MAN (1952)ARTISTS AND MODELS (1955)CINDERFELLA (1960)PSYCHO (1960)THE LADIES MAN (1961)THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1963)THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)COOL HAND LUKE (1967)2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)THE GODFATHER (1972)THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)JAWS (1975)KING KONG (1976)CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)STAR WARS (1977)HALLOWEEN (1978)ALIEN (1979)1941 (1979)ALTERED STATES (1980)THE SHINING (1980)ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981)RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)THE KING OF COMEDY (1982)FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982)POLTERGEIST (1982)TRON (1982)CHRISTINE (1983)PARIS, TEXAS (1984)RED DAWN (1984)REPO MAN (1984)INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984)GREMLINS (1984)FIRESTARTER (1984)A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985)THE GOONIES (1985)PRETTY IN PINK (1986)FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (1986)STAND BY ME (1986)THE MONSTER SQUAD (1987)FULL METAL JACKET (1987)BIG (1988)STEPHEN KING'S IT (1990)JURASSIC PARK (1993)PULP FICTION (1994)JINGLE ALL THE WAY (1996)STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)THE LADIES MAN (2000)SUPER 8 (2011)THE AVENGERS (2012)MAX ROSE (2013)STRANGER THINGS (TV Series, 2016)IT (2017)LUCKY (2017)SPIDER-MAN HOMECOMING (2017)LINKS:The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films: https://www.facebook.com/The-Essential-Films-130585803634489/?fref=ts

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1977 George Lucas classic: STAR WARS! On this week's show:Growing up Catholic as a Star Wars fanMore Alamo Drafthouse discussionsChristopher Nolan's distaste for CGIWhat's the perfect date movie of 2017?The Star Wars/San Diego Comic-Con connectionAll the trailers coming out of Comic-Con 2017Disney hunting down trailer leaksJeff Goldblum makes everything betterA tribute to Martin Landau, George Romero and John HeardStar Wars' 40th AnniversaryThe many titles George Lucas went through before settling on “Star Wars”Why is A New Hope so good? Was it a fluke?George Lucas was not tested in a big budget environmentGeorge Lucas, the world's biggest independent filmmakerStar Wars changed the movie licensing gameThe complex ownership between 20th Century Fox and DisneyWhen did we first experience Star Wars?The Special Edition releases in 1997Star Wars action figures!Fast Food Star Wars tie-insThe multiple VHS releasesStar Wars as a holiday filmWhy did Adolfo get in trouble when he saw Star Wars in theaters in 1997?Who won that damn Star Wars Hummer?When did “Star Wars” become “Episode IV: A New Hope”?How the naming convention was inspired by the old chapter movies of the 30s and 40sSerials were not meant to be watched all at onceHow the film was plagued with multiple production problemsHammer Horror icons Peter Cushing and his on-screen rival Christopher Lee both appeared as Star Wars villainsThe use of CGI to bring back younger versions of older actors (or dead actors)Empire of Dreams: the best documentary on Star WarsHow Star Wars changed the sci-fi game in the 70sHow the crew completely disrespected George LucasGeorge Lucas: Control FreakThe New Hollywood directorsThe director has final say on a filmWhat Brian De Palma and Steven Spielberg thought of the film when they saw the rough cut“It rhymes.”Why Jabba the Hutt isn't needed in Star Wars Special EditionMarcia Lucas is the real MVPStar Wars: a space fairy taleDid Lucas rip-off The Dam Busters?David Prowse was not pleased he was dubbed overThe movie was really made in post-productionBen Burtt: Sound geniusInventing new technology just make the filmThe birth of Industrial Light & MagicHow the Death Star trench run was filmedThe Prequels and their loyal defendersThe joint casting sessions for Star Wars and CarrieWho was Mark Hammill's competition for Luke SkywalkerThe wacky names considered for Han SoloHarrison Ford and Alec Guinness grew to resent the films“I Was Going to Toshi Station to Pick Up Some Power Converters”Is Princess Leia English?Are you Luke Skywalker or Han Solo?The great chemistry between Fisher, Ford and HammilAnthony Daniels does not have a career outside of C-3POThe inspiration for C-3PO and R2D2The second act problems of Return of the JediBoba Fett: a great looking character without substanceWhat is the proper viewing order of the saga?What Adolfo considers to be the WORST Star Wars movieThe most recognizable movie theme of all timeStar Wars launched a merchandising empireAdolfo's vintage Burger King Star Wars glassesThe “Empty Box” campaignThe Star Wars Holiday SpecialPrequels, sequels, spin-offs and sequels“When will then be now?” “Soon”George Lucas can't leave well enough aloneHow can you watch the original theatrical versions (legally). Hint, it involves going on eBay and some outdated technologyThe “De-Specialized” EditionsHan shoots first!FILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:FLASH GORDON (1936)BATMAN (1943)CAPTAIN AMERICA (1944)BATMAN AND ROBIN (1949)THE DAM BUSTERS (1955)THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (1958)NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)PLANET OF THE APES (1968)THX 1138 (1971)A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)JAWS (1975)LOGAN'S RUN (1976)CARRIE (1976)DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978)THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL (1978)MAD MAX (1979)STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979)THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO (TV Series, 1981-1983)BLADE RUNNER (1982)RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983)THE A-TEAM (TV Series, 1983-1987)SCARFACE (1983)A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)MUPPET BABIES (TV Series, 1984-1991)BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985)DAY OF THE DEAD (1985)STAR WARS: DROIDS (TV Series, 1985-1986)BIG (1988)SPACEBALLS (1988)CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS (1989)HOME ALONE (1990)JURASSIC PARK (1993)ED WOOD (1994)PULP FICTION (1994)BATMAN FOREVER (1995)THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO (1996)BATMAN & ROBIN (1997)THE IRON GIANT (1999)THE SOPRANOS (TV Series, 1999-2007)STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (2001)STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002)PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (2003)EMPIRE OF DREAMS: THE STORY OF THE STAR WARS TRILOGY (2004)STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005)STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED (Video Game, 2008)THE WALKING DEAD (TV Series, 2010-Present)THOR (2011)THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2014)GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014)STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015)ANT-MAN (2015)ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016)CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016)DUNKIRK (2017)WAR OF THE PLANET FOR THE APES (2017)SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)THE BIG SICK (2017)GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017)READY PLAYER ONE (2018)AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)JUSTICE LEAGUE (2018)THOR: RAGNAROK (2018)LINKS:The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.comStar Wars glasses: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f3/4b/d1/f34bd1b1f58cbb9e586c826120a0c206.jpgHarmy's Despecialized Editions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmy%27s_Despecialized_EditionSOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films: https://www.facebook.com/The-Essential-Films-130585803634489/?fref=ts

On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1957 David Lean classic: THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI! On this week's show:Mark takes another EPIC trip to Alamo DrafthouseMark's retweet from an 80's iconJelly donutsToy gunsKorean exercise videos2017 Summer MoviesAdolfo is done with MinionsAdolfo butchers Japanese and FrenchThe benefits of Netflix Disc subscriptionThe slow start to BridgeThe David Lean TrilogyWhy William Holden was cast William Holden's record breaking salaryWhy Alec Guinness thought the film was Anti-BritishWhy Adolfo trusts Alec Guinness without questionThe anti-Japanese sentiment of the filmDoes the film romanticize the building of the bridge?The central conflict of Col. NicholsonMajor Shears' redemptionJack Hawkins: Bad AssBuilding an actual bridge for the filmMark makes a Simpsons reference (SHOCKING)Nicholson's ambiguous finaleWomen Bearers! The hokey final wordsThe Hollywood Blacklist rears its ugly headMasterful editing for the climax of the filmFILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:THE GENERAL (1926)BRIEF ENCOUNTER (1945)OLIVER TWIST (1948)WINCHESTER ‘73 (1950)SUNSET BLVD. (1950)STALAG 17 (1953)PATHS OF GLORY (1957)SLEEPING BEAUTY (1959)SPARTACUS (1960)WEST SIDE STORY (1961)LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963)THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (1964)THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY (1965)DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)BATMAN: THE MOVIE (1966)2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)THE WILD BUNCH (1969)THE LOSERS (1970)JAWS (1975)NETWORK (1976)ZOMBI (1979)APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)MANIAC (1980)AIRPLANE! (1980)AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1982)A PASSAGE TO INDIA (1984)BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985)FULL METAL JACKET (1987)TOP GUN (1987)BATMAN (1989)PACIFIC HEIGHTS (1990)HEARTS OF DARKNESS (1991)TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991)FORREST GUMP (1994)INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996)MEN IN BLACK (1997)ALI (2001)HITCH (2005)THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (2006)I AM LEGEND (2007)THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)THE AVENGERS (2012)INTERSTELLAR (2014)JUPITER ASCENDING (2015)MINIONS (2015)FURIOUS 7 (2015)STRANGER THINGS [Netflix Series] (2016)TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT (2017)PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES (2017)COLOSSAL (2017)LUCKY (2017)DUNKIRK (2017)ATOMIC BLONDE (2017)SPIDER-MAN HOMECOMING (2017)WAR OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2017)THE EMOJI MOVIE (2017)ANNABELLE CREATION (2017)THE DARK TOWER (2017)VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS (2017)BABY DRIVER (2017)LINKS:The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.comThe Losers (1970) - Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQU3cRBoWGoGI Joe Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLL67CN2hnwPaths of Glory (1957) - Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmDA60X-f_ANancy Sinatra “These Boots Are Made for Walking” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2fPkzJsMU8R. Lee Ermey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPlKXBnLbK0SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films: https://www.facebook.com/The-Essential-Films-130585803634489/?fref=ts

On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock classic: REAR WINDOW! On this week's show:An in-depth discussion of Disney World ParksJedis are gender neutralAdolfo's favorite Hitchcock filmThelma Ritter: The MVPThe inevitable “Simpsons” discussionHow sound plays such an important role in the filmHitchcock's growing pains in cinemaThe movie is completely set up in the first two minutesThe believable cast of characters in the courtyardHow the film turns the audience into voyeursGrace Kelly at the peak of her Grace KellyHow Hitchcock places doubt in the viewer's headLars Thorwald is more sinister being kind to a dog than being cruel to itHow long does it take to walk up a flight of stairs?How Hitchcock makes you feel bad for the killer Sacrificing realism for suspenseAn exercise in reaction editingDifferences to the original short storyHitchcock likes to get around the censorsThorwald and Jeff mirror each other“It's almost as if it's being written for us”The camera as a phallic symbolThe made for TV Movie remake starring Christopher ReevePLUS CONVERSATIONS ON:WINGS (1927)THE LODGER: A STORY OF THE LONDON FOG (1928)THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (1934)THE 39 STEPS (1935)SABOTAGE (1936)THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938)THE LADY VANISHES (1938)HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940)IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)IN A LONELY PLACE (1950)DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954)A MAN ESCAPED (1956)VERTIGO (1958)NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)PSYCHO (1960)“THE SIMPSONS” BART OF DARKNESS (TV Episode 1994)REAR WINDOW (1998)DISTURBIA (2007)AVATAR (2009)GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017)LINKS:The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.comRear Window 1998 TV Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bqrzWLRNEwSteamboat Bill Jr. (1928): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUNZPHbwA-USOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films: https://www.facebook.com/The-Essential-Films-130585803634489/?fref=ts

(NOTE: There are a few audio issues during this episode that unfortunately we could not fix. We apologize.)Well, nobody's perfect.On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1959 Billy Wilder classic: SOME LIKE IT HOT! On today's discussion:AMC Best Picture ShowcaseThe Best way to watch a movie is to know nothing about itWhy Mark can't drink Red BullDiscussing the 2016 Oscar contendersHow we didn't take notes for this screeningHow open-minded Some Like It Hot is about “Alternative lifestyles”How we first experienced Some Like It HotThe funniest movie ever madeJoe E Brown & Jack Lemmon: The MVPs of the movieBilly Wilder's epic careerThe unlikely origins of SOME LIKE IT HOTA remake of a remake of a remakeFrank Sinatra in drag?Marilyn Monroe's delays to the production schedule47 takes for 3 wordsWhy Tony Curtis had to be perfect on every takeWhy Marilyn Monroe was underrated as an actressThat weird Cary Grant accentHow the film addressed multiple issues that are prevalent today: homosexuality, transgender issues and the objectification of womenThe film is half a gangster movieGeorge Raft: Tango DancerOh boy, am I a boy.Our terrible Cary Grant impressionsGreat gangster castingWhy the film was shot in black and whiteAdolfo doesn't get Jerry Lewis' humorMore Simpsons references (of course)The final line was almost cutA discussion on Alamo Draught House and dine-in theaters.Coke is better than PepsiIs there a funnier comedy than Some Like It Hot?The Funniest movies of all time according to AFIPLUS REFERENCES TO:SAFETY LAST! (1923)SCARFACE (1932)DUCK SOUP (1933)IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES (1938)DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)MURDER MY SWEET (1944)THE LOST WEEKEND (1945)SUNSET BLVD. (1950)ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)THE ASPHALT JUNGLE (1950)ACE IN THE HOLE (1951)SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)STALAG 17 (1953)GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1953)HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE (1953)FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)DUCK AMUCK (1953)SABRINA (1954)THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH (1955)WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1957)RAINTREE COUNTY (1957)SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957)BEN-HUR (1959)THE APARTMENT (1960)THE MISFITS (1961)JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG (1961)THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1963)DR. STRANGELOVE: OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (1964)MARY POPPINS (1964)THE GRADUATE (1967)2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)M*A*S*H (1970)A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)THE GODFATHER (1972)BLAZING SADDLES (1974)ANNIE HALL (1977)CADDYSHACK (1980)MANIAC (1980)THE SHINING (1980)AIRPLANE! (1980)GANDHI (1982)TOOTSIE (1982)FULL METAL JACKET (1987)MAJOR LEAGUE (1989) MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (2011)AMOUR (2012)ZERO DARK THIRTY (2012)MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (2016)LA LA LAND (2016)LION (2016)MOONLIGHT (2016)HACKSAW RIDGE (2016)SILENCE (2016)LINKS:The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films: https://www.facebook.com/The-Essential-Films-130585803634489/?fref=ts

Hot dog! Merry Christmas!On today's special holiday podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1946 holiday classic: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE! On today's discussion:Mall shopping on the last weekend before ChristmasThe NES ClassicThe movie that defines all Christmas moviesHow the film touches even Adolfo's cold heartThe miracle that is Mr. PibbHow the sentimentality is earnedAt which point we get teary eyed“The Greatest Gift” Christmas cardHow Cary Grant was all wrong for the roleA mini history of Liberty FilmsCapra and Stewart's favorite filmThe secret origin of Jimmy StewartThe Christmas Tree capital of the worldWhy Lionel Barrymore was a perfect choice for Mr. PotterMr. Potter = Ebeneezer Scrooge without the redemptionThe framing device of the filmWhy does Mr. Gower even have a bottle of poison?Apparently adults are allowed to slap children around in 1946How many It's a Wonderful Life references are there in The Simpsons?A deleted scene where George meets Potter much earlier in lifeJimmy Stewart playing a teenagerDonna Reed's beautiful introductory shot“Aw pop, just a little.”George's constant sacrifices Thomas Mitchell's great adlib“We'll wait for ya, baby…”The one-shot take of Reed and Stewart's first kissBert and Ernie!Eyes swimming with tearsHow many kids does Martini have?How James Stewart didn't want to glorify war on screenWhen you finally see George breakA terrifying Santa maskThe innovative new “chemical snow” created for the filmThe bridge guy!The one flaw of the movie!Not finding your true love means your vision fails“Merry Christmas you old Building and Loan!”“To my big brother George, the richest man in town!” ONIONS.The film's failure at the box office, with awards and with criticsThe ridiculous copyright historyWhy Paramount owns the rights even though the film itself is technically in the public domainThe Colorized version The kick to the gut that was 2016PLUS REFERENCES TO:THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947)YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (1938)FORREST GUMP (1994)BRUCE ALMIGHTY (2003)HOME ALONE (1990)HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK (1992)BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II (1989)THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)JINGLE ALL THE WAY (1996)THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992)SCROOGED (1988)SCROOGE (1951)A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984)A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1999)DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2009)MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1947)SANTA CLAUS (1959)SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS (1964)A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954)DIE HARD (1988)BATMAN RETURNS (1992)GREMLINS (1984)LINKS:Can You Survive Home Alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NhijmGTwwoThe Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: The Essential Films: https://www.facebook.com/The-Essential-Films-130585803634489/?fref=ts

Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembered...On today's EPIC podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1939 Hollywood classic: GONE WITH THE WIND! On today's discussion:Hattie McDaniel becoming first African American to win an Academy AwardOne of the earliest films to sweep the OscarsThe ups and down of respect amongst film criticsHow much money has GONE WITH THE WIND made?The Billion Dollar ClubOur hesitation to watch the film our first timeHow Blockbuster didn't carry anything older than the year 2000How David O Selznick got the film made#NotMyRhettWhy Gary Cooper turned down the role of Rhett Butler“Selznick's Follie” The revolving door of directorsThe most unlikeable protagonist in historyMark can't keep his potty mouth clean!The search for Scarlett O'HaraLeslie Howard's least convincing southern accentAn appearance by SupermanThe themes of masculinity throughout the filmNo one ends up happyHow they faked Clark Gable dancingHow the film got around the Hayes CodeThe best shot in the filmHow the “burning of Atlanta” was filledUncle Billy!Scarlett as a feminist iconSurvival as themeThe rewriting of historyA thinly veiled Ku Klux Klan raidHow Rhett carrying Scarlett up the stairs is NOT the romantic scene many people think it isHow Scarlett matures yet remains selfish“Frankly, my dear…” has more impact in contextHow Hattie McDaniel was not allowed to attend the Atlanta premiereWhy it took so long for Gone with the Wind to air on televisionPLUS REFERENCES TO:ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)KING KONG (1933)THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)BEN-HUR (1959)GETTYSBURG (1993)SCARLETT (1994)TITANIC (1997)THE LORD OF THE RINGS (2001-2003)AVATAR (2009)WATCHMEN (2009)THE ARTIST (2011)FIFTY SHADES OF GREY (2015)SAN ANDREAS (2015)THE HATEFUL EIGHT (2015)STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015)

Happy Halloween!Just in time for Halloween, on today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1978 John Carpenter classic: HALLOWEEN! On today's discussion:How Rob Zombie put his own spin on the much maligned remakeWhen did Adolfo and Mark experience Halloween?How an iconic horror movie has little to no blood and goreElementary school book fairs!Local video stores! (Shout out to the late Mr. Willie's)John Carpenter's early film career before he got the HALLOWEEN jobWeird Al and Chris Hardwick in a HALLOWEEN movie?The William Shatner connectionThe film's connection to PSYCHOThe POV murder sequence that opens the filmSlasher movies as morality playsThe “Final Girl” tropeWhy we laugh at Tommy's painThe relatively low body countWhy you must always check the backseat of your car.Who cares about the the motivation of Michael Myers?Did the WWE rip off HALLOWEEN?You can't kill EvilCarpenter's excellent film score and how he can't even read music.The glory days of VHS tapes!Is the film Misogynist or Feminist?The nany sequels and remakeThe ATARI 2600 video game!This week in Film HistoryDavid Pumpkins (ANY QUESTIONS?)PLUS REFERENCES TO:• ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976)• BATMAN RETURNS (1992)• BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA (1992)• THE CABIN IN THE WOODS (2012)• DARK STAR (1974)• THE DEVIL'S REJECTS (2005)• THE FRIDAY THE 13th Series• HALLOWEEN (2007)• HALLOWEEN II (1981)• HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1983)• HALLOWEEN H20 (1998)• GRINDHOUSE (2007)• MANIAC (2012)• THE NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET Series• THE PAGEMASTER (1993)• PSYCHO (1960)• THE THING (1982)• THE THING (2011)• THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951)LINKS:• www.essentialfilmspodcast.com• https://www.facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms/• https://twitter.com/Adolfo_Acosta• https://twitter.com/EssentialFilms• https://twitter.com/FPMoviePodcast• https://twitter.com/SportsGuy515

On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark are going to need a bigger boat as they go back into the water for Steven Spielberg's classic blockbuster JAWS. On today's show they discuss: • How did they first experience Jaws• The perfect blockbuster film• The Universal Studios Jaws Ride• Richard D. Zanuck's sweet mustache• Steven Spielberg getting shut out for Best Director• The iconic John Williams score and how it trained the audience to expect the shark• The perfect use of jump scares• The difference between PG in 1975 and PG in 2016• How an unseen monster is more terrifying• The greatest movie poster ever created• How Peter Benchley didn't think anyone could make the film• The magic of movies in the 70s and 80s• The film's major production problems and why they were serendipitous• Why Spielberg always skips the last day of shooting on every movie he does• What parts were Lee Marvin, Robert Duvall and Sterling Hayden considered for?• The Jaws tourism industry• Bryan Singer's connection to Jaws• Perfect foreshadowing in the script• A discussion on Mondo Posters• Quint's iconic entrance into the film• “A Whaaaaat?”• The real life fisherman Quint was based on• Two different genre mash-ups: Horror and Adventure• Why did Mark watch BASIC INSTINCT 2?• How the most famous line in the film was improved• How a little person helped film the real shark footage• The story behind the Indianapolis speechQuint's manly death• Spielberg's brashness in thinking he could take this on as such an inexperienced director• The unprecedented marketing campaign• How Jaws started the summer blockbuster tradition• The difference between “So Bad it's Good” and just plain bad movies• JAWS: The Video Game!As always, we go off on tangents on:• VERTIGO (1958)• DUEL (1971)• THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS (1974)• STAR WARS (1977)• JAWS 2 (1978)• PIRANHA (1978)• 1941 (1979)• CADDYSHACK (1980)• JAWS 3D (1983)• A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)• JAWS THE REVENGE (1987)• LETHAL WEAPON (1987)• BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II (1989)• TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991)• BRAVEHEART (1995)• THE MAKING OF ‘JAWS' (1995)• INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996)• CHASING AMY (1997)• THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (1997)• STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)• THE FAST AND FURIOUS Franchise (2001-Present)• JOYRIDE (2001)• THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001)• SHARKNADO (2013)• MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (2015)LINKS:essentialfilmspodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms/https://mondotees.com/collections/archive/products/jaws-var-posterhttps://mondotees.com/collections/archive/products/jaws-pcc-var-posterhttp://www.slashfilm.com/ape-meets-girl-jaws-posters/TWITTER@EssentialFilms@Adolfo_Acosta@Sportsguy515

On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo Acosta and Mark Espinosa join Ethan Edwards and Martin Pawley on the trail of some Comanche when they discuss John Ford's essential classic THE SEARCHERS. On the show, Adolfo and Mark discuss: • The insane fact that the Academy Awards ignored the film • Patrick Wayne's terrible acting • How we first experienced THE SEARCHERS • The stunning cinematography • The John Wayne “charachter”• The “true story” that inspired the film • The magnificent opening and closing shots• Ethan and Martha's secret love• Ford's influence on the likes of Lucas, Scorsese, Bogdanovich, Tarantino, Milius• Ford's exploration of racism• Ethan and Scar as mirror images of each other• Is this John Wayne's greatest performance?• Ethan Edwards: the anti-heroPLUS: Mini Discussions on:• DUMBO (1941)• SONG OF THE SOUTH (1946)• BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE (2016)• SUICIDE SQUAD (2016)• BATMAN V SUPERMAN: ULTIMATE EDITION (2016)• SALO, OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM (1975)• CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1980)• THE FLY (1986)• TRUE GRIT (1969, 2010)• THE KING OF KINGS (1961)• STAR WARS (1977)• The book EASY RIDERS, RAGING BULLS by Peter Biskind• Michael Cimino• THE CONQUEROR (1956)• TOUCH OF EVIL (1958)• STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002)• HOW THE WEST WAS WON (1962)• BAMBI (1942)And More!

On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo Acosta and Mark Espinosa are a couple of bums, that were never contenders to begin with, and take a one-way trip to Palookaville in their discussion Elia Kazan's ON THE WATERFRONT. On this show, Adolfo & Mark discuss: • The beautiful Criterion Collection release of the film• Our first introduction to Marlon Brando in his prime• The masterful cinematography by Boris Kaufman• The history of the production • The 1999 Academy Awards where Elia Kazan was snubbed by his peers• Elia Kazan's ties to Communism, and his controversial testimony before HUAC• The parallels between Kazan and Terry Malloy• Our favorite moments• Karl Malden: The conscience of the film• A dissection at the “I coulda been a contender” scene• The differences in aspect ratios in different versions of the film• Brando and Lee J. Cobb's powerhouse performancesPLUS side discussions of upcoming Criterion Collection releases, DE PALMA, DRESSED TO KILL, A FACE IN THE CROWD and moreWEBSITE EssentialFilmsPodcast.com EMAIL EssentialFilmsPodcast@gmail.com FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/The-Essential-Films-130585803634489 TWITTER @EssentialFilms @FPMoviePodcast @Adolfo_Acosta @Sportsguy515Theme song by nemuel reikall