The Smooth Thrills Radio Hour

The Smooth Thrills Radio Hour

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The Smooth Thrills Radio Hour: Each week our panelists discuss a movie or set of movies based around a theme. We look into the history, cultural significance, and what each movie meant then and means to us now.

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    • Apr 14, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 55m AVG DURATION
    • 40 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Smooth Thrills Radio Hour

    Episode 603: Exploitation!: Showgirls

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2024 76:47


    Welcome to the 1990s, the era of the NC-17 movie rating, and the mysterious world of Las Vegas “Showgirls.” In this episode, the panel examines mystique of the Vegas showgirl, the titillation of the NC-17 rating, the rise, fall and fall of Joe Eszterhas, the relative merits of receiving a movie with your pizza, and the strange happenings at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #JoeEszterhas #PaulVerhoeven #ElizabethBerkley #GinaGershon #AlanRachins #GlennPlummer #MichelleJohnson #KyleMaclachlan #RenaRiffel #RobertDavi #NC17 #Vegas #Showgirls #cultfilm #1990s #monkeyseatinggarlic

    Episode 602: Cyberpunkin: Hackers

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2023 54:02


    It's part 2 (sort of) of our examination of kids and technology! In this episode, the panel gets into the phenomena of life imitating art, the tricky business of computer visuals, the art of movie cameos, and the proper viewing angle of gift horses. #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #hackers #IainSoftley #JonnyLeeMiller #AngelinaJolie #JesseBradford #MatthewLillard #RenolySantiago #FisherStevens #LorraineBracco #WendellPierce #PennJillete #cyberpunk #1990s #counterculture

    Episode 601: Exploitation: The Manhattan Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2023 50:12


    Surprise episode drop! This is the first in a (very loose) two-parter centered around technology and those those darn kids who fiddle with it. In this episode the panel discusses “The Manhattan Project,” time travel, the upcoming Cancer Frog apocalypse, and the possibility of a “Sleepaway Camp/Manhattan Project” shared cinematic universe. Link in Bio! #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #manhattanproject #nuclear #sciencefair #johnlithgow #christophercollet #jilleikenberry #cynthianixon #johnmahoney #coldwar #secretlab #marshallbrickman #gladdenentertainment

    Episode 507: Special Presentation: Interview with Sean Clark

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2023 55:54


    In this special bonus episode, we talk to the great Sean Clark about his show "Horror's Hallowed Grounds," collecting movie props, his experiences with Wes Craven and John Carpenter, the sometimes chaotic process of making movie commentary, and the possibility of yet another "Caddyshack" movie. #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #seanclark #interview #horrorshallowedgrounds #wescraven #johncarpenter #rosiegrier #movielocations #movieprops #moviecommentary  

    Episode 506: Family Matters: The People Under the Stairs

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2023 58:43


    In this episode, the panel examines the work of Wes Craven, the ability of horror films to address social concerns, the wonders of the unexpected in cinema, and the joy of visiting your local Dollar Tree store. Link in Bio! #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #peopeunderthestairs #wescraven #alivefilms #brandonquininadams #everettmcgill #wendyrobie #ajlanger #vingrhames #seanwhalen #billcobbs #kellyjominter #jeremyroberts #landlords #trappedinahouse #cannibalism #villainess #crawlspace #cellar #basement #homeinvasion #boobytrap #dollartree

    Episode 505: Satanic Panic: The Gate

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2023 57:55


    In which the panel revisits the 1980s Satanic Panic phenomenon, investigates backward messages on records, discusses memorable moments in Canadian horror films, considers the work of Paul Naschy, and the possible influence of the music of Barnes and Barnes on the movie “Twister.” Link in Bio! #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #TheGate #NewCenturyEntertainment #TiborTakacs #RandallWilliamCook #StephenDorff #ChristaDenton #LouisTripp #KellyRowan #JenniferIrwin #backmasking #backwardmessages #summoningdemons #satanicpanic #canuckploitation #canadianhorror #theoldgods #modelrockets

    Episode 504: The Shadow People: I Walked with a Zombie

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2023 58:44


    Diving into the deep shadows, the panel examines the history of zombie movies, the career of Val Lewton, the demise of RKO Studios, the dangers of living in the tropics, and the sad fate of DJ Jazzy Jeff. Link in Bio! #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #iwalkedwithazombie #ValLewton #RKO #JacquesTourneur #FrancesDee #TomConway #JamesEllison #EdithBarrett #JamesBell #ChristineGordon #TheresaHarris #SirLancelot #DarbyJones #voodoo #zombies #tropical #ClassicHorror #cultfilm #calypso

    Episode 503: We Made a Monster: The Black Hole

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2023 72:08


    In which the brave crew of the good ship SmoothThrills discusses the major changes happening at Disney on the eve of the 1980s, the unstoppable force of Touchstone Pictures, an alternate universe with even more “Freaky Friday” movies, the joys of “Automan,” and our deep love of chicken-based movies. #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #MaximilianSchell #AnthonyPerkins #RobertForster #JosephBottoms #YvetteMimieux #ErnestBorgnine #TomMcLoughlin #RoddyMcDowall #SlimPickens #BlackHole #Disney #GaryNelson #BuenaVista #Palomino #Cygnus #antigravity #psychedelic #psychotronic #bigevilrobot #touchstone

    Episode 502: Exploitation!: Altered States

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2023 54:52


    In which the panel explores the works of Ken Russell, debates the value of movie novelizations, learns a thing or two about sensory deprivation, and ponders the possibilities of erotic fiction narration.   #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #AlteredStates #KenRussell #PaddyChayefsky #WilliamHurt #BlairBrown #BobBalaban #CharlesHaid #sensorydeprivation #isolationtank #deevolution #hallucination #science #braindrugs #evolution #1970s #anthropologist #magicmushrooms #metamorphosis #newage #ketamine #psychedelic #bodyhorror

    Episode 501 - Musicalish!: The Apple

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2023 46:22


    In which the panel examines disco-based movies, the oeuvre of Golan and Globus, the dubious nature of certain on-screen vampires, and the joys of expressing yourself through the majesty of song.   #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #theApple #Golan #Globus #CannonFilms #CatherineMaryStewart #JossAckland #VladekSheybal #RayShell #GraceKennedy #AllanLove #BIM #retrofuture #parable #hippies #discomovie

    Episode 407: Cyberpunk 102: Strange Days

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2021 48:57


    In which the team examines the wonders of technology, the risks of recorded memories, the weirdness of defunct video formats, the cinema treasure that is John Saxon, and whether or not rollerblades really are the future of transportation.   #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #cyberpunk #StrangeDays #RalphFiennes #AngelaBassett #JulietteLewis #TomSizemore #KathrynBigelow #SurveillanceState #MichaelWincott #VincentDOnofrio #GlennPlummer #solarbabies #lapd

    Episode 406: Original Thrills: The Thin Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2021 48:05


    In which the team discusses the legacy of Nick and Nora Charles, the joys and sorrows of detective film franchises, the missed opportunities of Andy Hardy movies, and whether or not a dog can win a Nobel Prize.   #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #thethinman #anotherthinman #songofthethinman #afterthethinman #thethinmangoeshome #asta #williampowell #myrnaloy #maureenosullivan #cesarromero #porterhall #franchise #detectives #DashellHammett #nickcharles #noracharles #nickandnora #mgm

    Episode 405: Hollyweird: Inside Daisy Clover

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2021 51:31


    In which the panel examines the careers of child actors, the ups and downs of fame, the strangeness of movie musicals, and the potentials of fishburger and beverage combo meals.   #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #insidedaisyclover #NatalieWood #RoddyMcDowell #ChristopherPlummer #RobertRedford #RuthGordon #KatharineBard #PeterHelm #HaroldGould #Showbusiness #hollywood #RobertMulligan #GavinLambert #Coogan #CaliforniaChildActorsBill #childactor #moviemusical #musicals

    Episode 404: Exploitation! : The Man with the Golden Arm

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2021 56:17


    In which the panel takes on the misery of addiction, the battle against the Production Code, the crooked ways of low-level gangsters, and the reasons behind poorly-dubbed Italian films.   #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #FrankSinatra #KimNovac #DarrenMcGavin #drummers #poker #addiction #OttoPreminger #MonkeyNeverDies #ProductionCode #HayesCode #Censorship

    Episode 403: Family Matters: It‘s Alive

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2021 41:55


    In which the panel takes a perilous, dark, and often confusing journey through the works of Larry Cohen, the world of killer babies and their cat companions, the dangers of being Joan Collins, and the delights of Commander USA.   #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #JohnPRyan #SharonFerrell #GuyStockwell #JamesDixon #MichaelAnsara #LarryCohen #KingCohen #ItsAlive #MutantBaby #FamilyMatters

    Episode 402: Lost in America : Aloha Bobby and Rose

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2021 48:26


    In this packed episode, the panel explores the lives of Bobby and Rose, the perils of life on the road, the risks of peeing in someone's car, and the remarkable acting of Dean Jones. #thesmooththrillsradiohour is on iTunes, Spotify & Google Podcasts www.smooththrillsradiohour.com #podcast #PaulLeMat #FloydMutrux #DianneHull #TimMcIntire #LeighFrench #NobleWillingham #RobertCarradine #RoadMovie #LostInAmerica #1970s #Camaro #TinyDancer #Volkswagen

    Episode 401: Oozes and Goo: The Blob

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2021 51:02


    In this episode, the team talks about Blobs, Gases, Mists, the sociopathic behaviors of semi-sentient goo, the wonderous world of Steve McQueen, and the dangers of working in certain French films.

    Episode 307: Game Night: Clue

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2021 64:32


    In this episode, the team talks about Clue, movie adaptations of games, the various adventures of the Guber-Peters Company, and the confusing nature of Beverly Hills Cop movies.

    Episode 306: 80s Comedy Part 2: Hollywood Shuffle

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2021 46:08


    In this episode, the panel discusses the works of the great Robert Townsend, the merits of various Wayans, the somewhat sad state of Spoof Movies, and the strange world of double-feature discs.

    Episode 305: Subculture: My Own Private Idaho

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2021 45:51


    In this episode, the panel talks about the beginnings of New Queer Cinema, the perils of life as a street hustler, the state of various movie bathrooms, and possible Miami connections to Samuel L. Bronkowitz.

    Episode 304: Adventureman:Commando

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2021 58:11


    In this episode, our panelists muse over an essential Reagan-Era action movie, debate the realism of action comedies in general, the ASMR possibilities of gunfights, and the moral relativism of Porky's.

    Episode 303: Musicalish!: The Fabulous Stains

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2021 46:30


    In this episode, our heroes behold the glory of the Stains, examine the Post Punk movement, watch some 80s television, and muse over the fate of Dan Haggerty.

    Episode 302: Dead End Drive In

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2021 50:03


    In this episode, the team looks at Dead End Drive In, Ozploitation, the works of Brian Trenchard-Smith, and the sad fate of the ABC Family Channel.

    Episode 301: Fritz the Cat

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2021 48:13


    The panel of experts examines the history and legacy of "Fritz the Cat," the troubled relations of its creators, the impact it had on animation overall, and the relative value of actors named "Broderick."

    Episode 208: Alternative Timeline: Dazzler

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2020 45:16


    In this episode the panel examines the un-produced treatment Jim Shooter created for Dazzler, what happened with Casablanca Records & Filmworks, the strange abilities of the Village People, and the relative value of Howard the Duck.

    Interview with John Putch

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2020 81:32


    In this special presentation episode, we talk with John Putch about his experience making Jaws 3D, his long and accomplished acting and directing career, the unique genius of Jim Wynorski, and the sad absence of movies about Jet Skis.

    Episode 207: Living in Stereo: Jaws 3D

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2020 64:30


    In this episode, we discuss the thrill of 3-D movies, the pain of 3-D movies, the dangers of living near water, and why dolphins can't ever shut up.

    Episode 206: Original Thrills: Manhunter

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2020 53:10


    In this episode, we look at the start of a cinematic and television empire, debate the pros and cons of various adaptations, examine the beginnings of the Hannibal Cinematic Universe, and muse over the merits of 2-ply toilet paper.

    Episode 205: Satanic Panic: Mazes and Monsters

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2020 63:17


    In this episode, the we deep dive into the Satanic Panic of the 1980's, the moral crisis at the center, the casualties on the edges, the dramatic stylings of early Tom Hanks, and the majesty of Englebert Humperdinck.

    Episode 204: Teenage Wasteland: Pump Up the Volume

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2020 49:45


    In this episode, the panel discusses the milestone 1990's movie "Pump Up the Volume", the perils of parasocial relationships, the merits of free speech, and the strangeness of an Italian Red Skull fighting Captain America.

    Episode #203 - Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins and Quickly Ends

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2020 51:21


    In this episode, the team examines the strange case of an attempted franchise, what may have gone wrong, what went right, and the perils of dealing with Morgue Farts in the wild.

    Episode 202: Musicalish!: Car Wash

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2020 54:32


    In this episode, the panel discusses the disco slacker, workplace comedy, cult-movie favorite Car Wash, the mercurial Joel Schumacher, the prolific Michael Schultz, and the perils of going to see Lost in Space.

    Episode #201 - Apocalypse Then: The Bees

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2020 47:52


    In this episode, the team looks back at the Great Killer Bee Scare of the late 1970s, one of the looniest movies to come out of it, whether or not you can really talk to the animals, and the pros and cons of melty cheese.

    Episode 107: Mondo Cane and the End of Movies

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2020 53:56


    In this episode, the team ruminates over the landmark exploitation film, what it might have meant then, what it for sure means to us now, and how it changed movies for better or worse. Also discussed, the difficult life of sharks, the perils of visual anthropology, and the possible whereabouts of Bob Keeshan's nose.

    movies mondo cane bob keeshan
    Episode 106: Apocalypse Then: The Day After

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2020 42:49


    In this episode, the team examines the substance and deep cultural significance of the classic TV movie. Jason Robards, John Lithgow, Steve Guttenberg, and a cast of dozens bring to life this vision of the end of the world, or least how we thought it would play out in 1983.

    Episode 105: 80's Comedy Part 1: Savage Steve Holland

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2020 70:20


    In this episode, the team looks back at the feature film career of the mighty Savage Steve Holland, with "Better Off Dead," "One Crazy Summer," and "How I Got Into College. Also up for debate, the strange trajectory of "Porky's" films, the relative merits of the "Police Academy" movies, and whether or not "Her Alibi" should get a blu-ray release.

    Episode 104: Looking Back at: Fandango

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2020 57:13


    The team looks back at one of the great movies to come out of Texas - Fandango.  We discuss why this epic road movie might have been overlooked over the years, the greatness of Judd Nelson, the importance of a good romp, and the majesty of Jaws 3D.

    Episode 103: Salem's Lot and the Death of Small Town America

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2020 54:25


    In this episode, the team examines the 1970s TV movie adaptation of Salem's Lot, how it compares to the novel, how it fits in with late 1970s television culture, and how David Soul and Fred Willard became a fashion icons (probably).

    Episode 102: Cyberpunk 101: Hardware

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2020 50:43


    In this episode, the team looks at what was once considered a "lost" gem of the cyberpunk movement, Richard Stanley's "Hardware."  We examine the movie in its cultural context, its use of cyberpunk tropes (that had only just been established), and debate whether robots can have "man butt."

    Episode 101: The Summer of Werewolves

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2020 91:49


    We look back at the extraordinary summer of 1981 and three important werewolf movies that shaped our culture for years to come - The Howling, Wolfen, and An American Werewolf in London.

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