American stage, television, and film actor
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This week's episode was recorded in front of a live audience on Feb. 7th, 2025, at Cinema 21 in Portland, Oregon. Beloved composer, musician, and iconic actor PAUL WILLIAMS joined us to discuss the film we screened that night, PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, as well as his impressive and long career in film and music. Paul talks about his experiences working with director Brian De Palma, juggling acting and composing songs for fellow actors William Finley, Gerrit Graham, and Jessica Harper, his stylistic influences for writing the soundtrack, the joy in playing a bastard like Swan and even how Phantom eventually found an audience with the help of some dedicated Winnipeggers. He also shares fascinating stories about his prolific work output, including composing for Jim Henson, how Burt Reynolds got the idea to put him in Smokey & The Bandit, writing songs for the Carpenters, Barbara Streisand & Ishtar, meeting songwriting deadlines while touring with Liza Minelli, how it felt when Phantom superfans Daft Punk reached out to him to collaborate on their music, and so much more.And as if that wasn't enough, there's also a live performance from Paul's latest collaborators, PORTUGAL. THE MAN, which includes a lovely Phantom Of The Paradise tip of the hat.Thanks again to all who donated their time and energy to make this beautiful event happen! Enjoy!PAUL WILLIAMS:https://www.paulwilliamsofficial.com/PORTUGAL. THE MAN:https://portugaltheman.com/FRANCES CHANGED MY LIFE:https://www.franceschangedmylife.com/REVOLUTIONS PER MOVIE:Host Chris Slusarenko (Eyelids, Guided By Voices, owner of Clinton Street Video rental store) is joined by actors, musicians, comedians, writers & directors who each week pick out their favorite music documentary, musical, music-themed fiction film or music videos to discuss. Fun, weird, and insightful, Revolutions Per Movie is your deep dive into our life-long obsessions where music and film collide.The show is also a completely independent affair, so the best way to support it is through our Patreon at patreon.com/revolutionspermovie. By joining, you can get weekly bonus episodes, physical goods such as Flexidiscs, and other exclusive goods.Revolutions Per Movies releases new episodes every Thursday on any podcast app, and additional, exclusive bonus episodes every Sunday on our Patreon. If you like the show, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing it on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!SOCIALS:@revolutionspermovieBlueSky: @revpermovieTHEME by Eyelids 'My Caved In Mind'www.musicofeyelids.bandcamp.com Click here to get EXCLUSIVE BONUS WEEKLY Revolutions Per Movie content on our Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's the long-awaited return of YOU DON'T KNOW DICK and we've got a barn burner of an episode featuring cinematic podcast royalty Mike White (from The Projection Booth) joining us to chat about the raucous 1980 comedy USED CARS /w Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, Deborah Harmon, Frank McRae and Gerrit Graham! But before that we go deep on what the heck happened to Robert Zemeckis, and how USED CARS came about - and how it was turned into a mid-80s TV show (briefly). All this and, of course, a close look at Dick Miller's (brief) appearance, and it's NON-STOP LAUGHS. Trust US! The post Episode 267 – You Don't Know Dick – Used Cars (/w Mike White) first appeared on Cinema Smorgasbord.
Kicking off our MASKED UP triple feature, we're seeking bloody revenge on creative exploitation and musical sanitation as we look to the neon theater rafters to meet the tragic antihero in Brian De Palma's PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, starring William Finley, Paul Williams, Jessica Harper, Gerrit Graham, and George Memmoli. Make sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts.Want to support the show and save 20% on Fangoria? Visit shop.fangoria.com/howimetyourmonster and enter PROMO CODE: HOWIMETYOURMONSTER at checkout!Looking for How I Met Your Monster merch? Check out TeePublic https://bit.ly/howimetyourmonstermerchQuestions and comments: howimetyourmonsterpodcast@gmail.com
Elon Thrust is back with his dumb pick! Content Warning: we discuss outdated themes in the film that would not be acceptable by today's standards. Click here to see Thor's Drum of Dumb randomly select the last topic of Septdumber. Check out the various projects of our pantheon members: Mr. Monopoly cohosts Bad For Me, Chibi hosts Unidentified Flying Obsession, and Ballarina Suzy is one of the panelists on Cinemondo.
Director Greg Mottola (Superbad, Paul, and Confess, Fletch) joins Wampler and Vespe to talk about a very early outing for Steven Spielberg as producer: Used Cars. Written by Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis, produced by Spielberg and John Milius, and directed by Zemeckis, this raunchy, cynical, absurd early '80s comedy starring Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, and Gerrit Graham seems made in a lab to be one of Scott Wampler's favorite movies. But... he didn't take to it. We dive into why that is as well as trade off Larry David impersonations, find out the status of Mottola's Fletch sequel, and dive into some of our favorite scenes from the movie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Neil Young's 2024 Tour with Crazy Horse: A Legendary Performance"Larry Mishkin discusses the creation of the song "The Music Never Stopped" by Bob Weir and John Perry Barlow. Weir explains his collaborative process with Barlow, where they developed lyrics together over the phone, inspired by Barlow's description of a scene from Wyoming. Weir also reflects on the importance of lyrical and musical cohesion, and the song's debut and history of performances, including at venues like the Great American Music Hall and the Palladium. The discussion transitions to Neil Young's recent tour with Crazy Horse, highlighting the band's performance and Young's energy despite his age. He also mentions upcoming events and concludes with a focus on the Grateful Dead's performance of "St. Stephen" and other songs from 47 years ago. Grateful DeadApril 30, 1977 (47 years ago, tomorrow)PalladiumNYCGrateful Dead Live at The Palladium on 1977-04-30 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet ArchiveAudience Tape This is another good show from 1977, but the recording quality is actually not bad considering this is an audience recording. Since then the show has been commercially released as the first volume of the Grateful Dead Download Series if you want to hear the crisper soundboard recording.Highlights from this show are the first set Mississippi Half Step and even Looks Like Rain is played with a passion that is moving even if the song always is not. In the second set, the Dead start off with a Scarlet Begonias>Fire on the Mountain (pretty good), swing into a fun mid-set Good Lovin (common for that time, but for the last 15 years, it was almost always a set closer as an alternative to Sugar Mag) or an encore tune (send everyone home with a smile), Friend of the Devil , Estimated Prophet. And then they blow the doors off the place with a St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>Stella Blue>St. Stephen sandwich that must be heard in full to be truly appreciated. It's pretty awesome to hear Stella Blue transition back into the St. Stephen, an unusual pairing to say the least. Close with a Saturday Night and then yet another 1977 Terrapin Stationencore. INTRO: Music Never Stopped Track #2 0:00 – 1:26 Hunter Weir tune, released on Blues For Allah (Sept. 1,1975). Bob: As a lyricist I'm glacially slow. I can generally get the job done, but it takes too damned long. So I like to work with people who have a little more facility with that—you know, John Barlow, Garrett Grant, Robert Hunter.Or I may have a general notion of the color of the rhythm and the harmonic or melodic development, and I'll sit with a guy and we just fire blank verse at each other until we start to corner that color—and then often the song will fall right out of the sky. Other times, I may have no notion of where the song wants to go, in which case I'll let whoever I'm working with surprise me. . . .“The Music Never Stopped” is a song that we wrote over the telephone. I had this business going [plays opening guitar riff, Example 13 below]. So I played this over the phone to John, and he just started spitting stuff at me. The first line came out, “There's mosquitoes on the river / Fish are rising up like birds.” He was living in Wyoming at the time on a ranch, and he started describing a situation that I'd seen with him, where it was late summer on a dry year and things were hot and kind of dull and dead.So where are we going to take this? Well, first I figured the verse is going to have to be twice as long as I originally figured, because if you're starting with an image that thick, you have to get into some detail about it. “It's been hot for seven weeks now / Too hot to even speak now / Did you hear what I just heard?” That last line came after some deliberation. It's a pregnant line, sort of like a leading tone in a harmonic development.The success of the endeavor, if you're working with a lyricist, depends on how closely the lyric marries the music. With Barlow or Gerrit Graham or whoever, there's a lot of back and forth. I guess I get to be the decider, because the words are going to have to come from my lips. And so I have to be able to tell the story.I have to be that character, because my job is to get the hell out of the way and let the character tell the story, musically and lyrically. When I'm standing in front of the microphone, I may look like me, but I'm not.If the character arrives with a really defined face and features, then it's easy for me to do my job.Fun version because almost always a first set closer and here it is opening the show. Love that. 236 times First: August 13, 1975 at Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA, USA Last: June 28, 1995 at The Palace of Auburn Hills The Palladium: The Palladium (originally called the Academy of Music) was a movie theatre, concert hall, and finally nightclub in New York City. It was located on the south side of East 14th Street, between Irving Place and Third Avenue.Designed by Thomas W. Lamb, it was built in 1927 across the street from the site of the original Academy of Music established by financier Moses H. Grinnell in 1852. Opened as a deluxe movie palace by movie mogul William Fox, the academy operated as a cinema through the early 1970s.Beginning in the 1960s, it was also utilized as a rock concert venue, particularly following the June 1971 closure of the Fillmore East. It was rechristened the Palladium on September 18, 1976, with the Band live radio broadcast,[1] and continued to serve as a concert hall into the following decade.In 1985, the Palladium was converted into a nightclub by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, after their success with Studio 54. Japanese architect Arata Isozaki redesigned the building's interior for the club.[2]Peter Gatien owned and operated the club from 1992 until 1997.The Palladium closed in August 1997 following its purchase by New York University.[3] In August 1998, the building was demolished in order to build a twelve-story residence hall that students affectionately referred to as Palladium HalThe Dead also played there when it was called the Academy of Music in a series of seven shows on their way to Europe for the '72 tour. One of the those shows, the entire March 28, 1972 performance plus selections from March 25, 1972 and March 27, 1972 were released as Dick's Picks Vol. 30This five night Palladium run, of which today's show was the second, is famous for a lot of reasons including the part of 1977 when the Dead put together a string of some of their best shows ever, peaking on May 8, 1977, just over one week later, at Barton Hall in Ithaca, NY. All five of these shows are well played, great tunes, and a very grooving feel that you can still pick up off of the CD or down load 47 years later. I had most of these shows on tape and wore them out from so much playing. Love that they previously released this show as Download Series Vol. 1 and the new Dave's Picks release, No. 50!!, is the May 3, 1977 show including some extra songs from the next night as well as the annual Dave's Picks Bonus Disc that is even more songs from the May 4th show). If you are not listening to Dave's Picks, you are missing out on quality recordings of some of the best shows ever.How hot was the band, check out this extended jam at the end of ½ Step, the second to last song of the first set (ending with a great Promised Land) and be sure to listen for Jerry and Keith going back and forth throughout this clip: SHOW No. 1: Mississippi ½ Step Track #11 7:06 – 9:29 Garcia/Huner tune released on Wake of the Flood in 1973. Also live versions included on Steal Your Face, Dick's Picks Vol. 1, Without a Net and who knows how many other Dick's/Dave's Picks releases, etc. If you want to hear it, you can find it, easily. First performed July 16, 1972 at Dillon Stadium in Hartford, Connecticut. Followed "Me and My Uncle" and led into "Sing Me Back Home," which closed out the first set. A staple of the repertoire ever since. 236 times (exact same as Music Never stopped!)First: July 16, 1972 at Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT, USALast: July 6, 1995 at Riverport Amphitheater Maryland Heights, MO Music News: Neil Young Tour SHOW No. 2: St. Stephen Track #1 0:00 – 1:49 Blah Blah Blah, everyone knows about St. Stephen. Dead's Fluffhead apparently. Because of its true melodic nature and strong lyrics, it existed long outside and after the end of Primal Dead. Still only played a total of 187 times: First: May 24, 1968 at National Guard Armory, St. Louis, MO, USA Last: October 31, 1983 at Marin Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, San RafaelBut post Dead hiatus year, they started making song sandwiches often based around this song. This four song sandwich at the end of the show is so good that I had to feature all of it at the expense of some other really great tunes like Bertha, Peggy O, Looks Like Rain, Promised Land, and any tune in the second set. This sandwich is just too cool to ignore or not give it proper due. Here is the first layer change: SHOW No. 3: St. Stephen>Not Fade Away St. Stephen Track #19 4:10 – end INTO Not Fade Away Track #20 0:00 – 1:15 Great switch out of St. Stephen and into an amazing opening jam of NFA. I wanted to try and catch the opening lyrics but the jam went on for almost 4 minutes which is too long even for these extended clips. MJ News Check out this next transition that they pull off seamlessly: SHOW No. 4: Not Fade Away>Stella Blue Not Fade Away Track #20 14:15 – end INTO Stella Blue Track #21 0:00 – 1:30 Beautiful how they downshift on cue from the raucous NFA into the gentle and beautiful ballad mode required for Stella Blue. Jerry's voice is so strong and clear. Really a treat. Not even getting to the last tune of the encore today. Not enough time but had to close out the episode with the final sandwich transition, from Stella back into an immediate upbeat St. Stephen that is so strong I told Dan we could not edit out any of it! What a great (almost ending) to such a great show. Deadheads walked out knowing there were still 3 more to go! Like going to bed and already being told the next day is a snow day! Thank you all for listening. Please be sure to join us next week when I am joined by Rob Bleetstein of Grateful Dead Radio (show host), Pearl Jam radio and he is also the Curator for the New Riders of the Purple Sage. He is joining us to discuss, among other things, the newly released NRPS live album “Hempsteader”. If you haven't heard it yet, check it out. I'm looking forward to hearing from Rob how this was all put together and what the NRSP are up to these days. Also, a Birthday shoutout to very good buddy, Sam who is turning old tomorrow. At his age, the actual number doesn't matter but we love him anyway. ENCORE: Stella Blue>St Stephen Stella Blue Track #21 7:50 – end INTO St. Stephen Track #22 Start - end .Produced by PodConx Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-showLarry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkinRob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-huntJay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesbergSound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/Recorded on Squadcast
The Grimoire of Familiar Killers is re-opened with Childs Play 2 (1990)! Please remember to like, comment, subscribe and click that notification bell for all our updates! It really helps us out! Watch live at: https://www.twitch.tv/heydidyouseethisone every Thursday at 8 PM EST Starring: Alex Vincent, Jenny Agutter, Gerrit Graham, Christine Elise, Grace Zabriskie & Brad Dourif Directed By: John Lafia Synopsis: Two years after serial killer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) inserted his soul into a Chucky doll, a toy company attempts to re-create the doll, bringing Ray back in the process. The possessed doll, intent on claiming a human body, kills his way toward former owner Andy (Alex Vincent), who now lives in a foster home. Andy's foster sister, Kyle (Christine Elise), tries to protect him, but his foster parents believe Andy is just a troubled kid -- and Chucky's murderous path continues. Audio version of the show: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/heydidyouseethisone #childsplay2 #horror #comedy #heydidyouseethisone #comedy #podcast #filmreview #movies #films #moviereviewpodcast #moviereview #filmreview #podcast #podcastersofinstagram #spotify #podcaster #podcasting #podcastlife #podcasts #youtube #youtuber #subscribe #youtubevideo #like #comment #entertainment #follow #media #live #funny #life #reality #podcasthost #podcastaddict #anchorfm #spotifypodcast #inspiration #podcastnetwork #podcastcommunity --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/heydidyouseethisone/message
Your JFS boys are back with another banger of an episode! First, we wonder what was on TV at the same time as Twin Peaks and watch a compilation of the intros from all the debuting TV shows of the 1990 season. How does Twin Peaks stack up? I accidentally edited out all the pauses so if you watch the video along with us as an audio commentary, then it won't match up completely. Whoops! Sorry! However, if you're not watching along, then this is preferable to you! You're welcome! After that, we get into a review of "Hi, Mom!" a 1970 black comedy by Brian De Palma, the GOAT. Robert De Niro plays an aspiring pornographer just home from Vietnam. He gets involved with some urban radicals and meets Paul Bartel, Jennifer Salt and Gerrit Graham along the way. All this plus Junk Mails and next week's movie is revealed! Also, join the Patreon if you want more Twin Peaks chat! Direct Donloyd.
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe tune their satellite dish to 1986 and discuss the outrageous sci-fi horror camp-fest that is Ted Nicolaou's “TerrorVision,” starring Gerrit Graham and Mary Woronov. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week Alex & Ryan conclude their talk with NYU film professor David Irving, in the second episode of a two-part series where they discuss Tod Browning's 1932 film "Freaks." David Irving is a director whose professional film credits include Night of the Cyclone (1990) with Kris Kristofferson and Marisa Berenson; C.H.U.D. II (1988) with Robert Vaughn and Gerrit Graham; The Emperor's New Clothes (1987) with Sid Caesar and Robert Morse; Sleeping Beauty (1987) with Morgan Fairchild, Tawnee Welch, and Sylvia Miles; Rumpelstiltskin (1987) with Amy Irving and Billy Barty; Goodbye, Cruel World (1983) with Dick Shawn and Cynthia Sikes. His documentary credits include Romare Bearden: Visual Jazz (1995); Jacob Lawrence: The Glory of Expression (1993); Dr. Lorraine Hale: Alive with Love (1992); and Faith Ringgold: The Last Story Quilt (1991). His theatre directing credits include The Man Who Killed the Buddha (1981) by Martin Epstein for the Los Angeles Odyssey Theater; and The Skin of Our Teeth (1981) by Thornton Wilder for the Beverly Hills Playhouse. His credits as producer in film include Home Free All (1982) with Alan Nicholls and The Great Texas Dynamite Chase (1975) with Claudia Jennings for New World Pictures. He has won numerous awards including the Bronze Chris Award for Jacob Lawrence; the Cine Golden Eagle for Faith Ringgold; the L.A. Weekly Award for Direction for The Man Who Killed the Buddha, and the Writers Guild of America Award for The Secret of the Lost Valley (1980). David has also written the award-winning textbook "Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video" and "Fundamentals of Film Directing." He is currently an associate professor at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. David Irving IMDB Alex Keledjian Alex Keledjian is the creator of Project Greenlight, a documentary television series where executive producers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck gave first-time filmmakers a chance to direct their first feature film. In 2018, Alex wrote and directed the film High Voltage starring David Arquette and Luke Wilson. Ryan Gibson Ryan Gibson is an Emmy-award winning producer of such films as the critically acclaimed Woe and the upcoming film Slotherhouse. He has worked for over twenty years in all aspects of film development and production. MAX launched the latest season of the Emmy-nominated TV series Project Greenlight from executive producer Issa Rae and Miramax Television in July 2023. How I Got Greenlit Instagram X Podlink Credits Alex Keledjian, Host Ryan Gibson, Host Pete Musto, Producer/Editor Jeremiah Tittle, Producer Experience more of How I Got Greenlit via ncpodcasts.com For guest inquiries, sponsorships, and all other magnificent concerns, please reach How I Got Greenlit via howIgotgreenlit@gmail.com For inquiries and more information on Next Chapter Podcasts info@ncpodcasts.com New episodes go live every Tuesday. Please subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week Alex & Ryan talk with NYU film professor and author David Irving, in the first episode of a two-part series. David Irving is a director whose professional film credits include Night of the Cyclone (1990) with Kris Kristofferson and Marisa Berenson; C.H.U.D. II (1988) with Robert Vaughn and Gerrit Graham; The Emperor's New Clothes (1987) with Sid Caesar and Robert Morse; Sleeping Beauty (1987) with Morgan Fairchild, Tawnee Welch, and Sylvia Miles; Rumpelstiltskin (1987) with Amy Irving and Billy Barty; Goodbye, Cruel World (1983) with Dick Shawn and Cynthia Sikes. His documentary credits include Romare Bearden: Visual Jazz (1995); Jacob Lawrence: The Glory of Expression (1993); Dr. Lorraine Hale: Alive with Love (1992); and Faith Ringgold: The Last Story Quilt (1991). His theatre directing credits include The Man Who Killed the Buddha (1981) by Martin Epstein for the Los Angeles Odyssey Theater; and The Skin of Our Teeth (1981) by Thornton Wilder for the Beverly Hills Playhouse. His credits as producer in film include Home Free All (1982) with Alan Nicholls and The Great Texas Dynamite Chase (1975) with Claudia Jennings for New World Pictures. He has won numerous awards including the Bronze Chris Award for Jacob Lawrence; the Cine Golden Eagle for Faith Ringgold; the L.A. Weekly Award for Direction for The Man Who Killed the Buddha, and the Writers Guild of America Award for The Secret of the Lost Valley (1980). David has also written the award-winning textbook "Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video" and "Fundamentals of Film Directing." He is currently an associate professor at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. David Irving IMDB Alex Keledjian Alex Keledjian is the creator of Project Greenlight, a documentary television series where executive producers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck gave first-time filmmakers a chance to direct their first feature film. In 2018, Alex wrote and directed the film High Voltage starring David Arquette and Luke Wilson. Ryan Gibson Ryan Gibson is an Emmy-award winning producer of such films as the critically acclaimed Woe and the upcoming film Slotherhouse. He has worked for over twenty years in all aspects of film development and production. MAX launched the latest season of the Emmy-nominated TV series Project Greenlight from executive producer Issa Rae and Miramax Television in July 2023. How I Got Greenlit Instagram X Podlink Credits Alex Keledjian, Host Ryan Gibson, Host Pete Musto, Producer/Editor Jeremiah Tittle, Producer Experience more of How I Got Greenlit via ncpodcasts.com For guest inquiries, sponsorships, and all other magnificent concerns, please reach How I Got Greenlit via howIgotgreenlit@gmail.com For inquiries and more information on Next Chapter Podcasts info@ncpodcasts.com New episodes go live every Tuesday. Please subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brian De Palma's 1974 Faustian rock opera satire, PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, is our feature presentation this week. We talk the breakneck style and pace of the film, De Palma's trademark style, Gerrit Graham's performance as "BEEF", the music of Paul Williams, production designer Jack Fisk, the makeup design controversy, and much much more. We also pick our TOP 7 FILM FROM 1974 in this week's SILVER SCREEN 7. Check out the fifth film in our BIG WEIRD SUMMER series. Subscribe, become a regular, and tell your friends about us!
This week, we finish our three part episode on the 1980s distribution company Vestron Pictures. ----more---- The movies discussed on this week's episode are: The Adventures of a Gnome Named Gnorm (1990, Stan Winston) Big Man on Campus (1989, Jeremy Paul Kagan) Dream a Little Dream (1989, Marc Rocco) Earth Girls Are Easy (1989, Julien Temple) Far From Home (1989, Meiert Avis) Paperhouse (1989, Bernard Rose) Parents (1989, Bob Balaban) The Rainbow (1989, Ken Russell) Wonderland (1989, Philip Saville) TRANSCRIPT From Los Angeles, California, the Entertainment Capital of the World, it's The 80s Movies Podcast. I am your host, Edward Havens. Thank you for listening today. At the end of the previous episode, Vestron Pictures was starting to experience the turbulence a number of independent distributors faced when they had a successful film too soon out of the gate, and the direction of the company seemingly changes to go chasing more waterfalls instead of sticking to the rivers and the lakes they were used to. Welcome to Part Three of our miniseries. As we enter 1989, Vestron is seriously in trouble. More money has gone out then has come back in. It seems that they needed one more hit to keep going for a while longer. But if you were to look at their release schedule for the year, which included a pickup from the recently bankrupt DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group, there wasn't really anything that felt like it could be a Dirty Dancing-like break out, except for maybe the pickup from the recently bankrupt DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group. But we'll get there in a moment. Their first film from 1989 is a certifiable cult film if there ever was one, but the problem with this label is that the film tagged as so was not a success upon its initial theatrical release. Bob Balaban, the beloved character actor who had been regularly seen on screen since his memorable debut in Midnight Cowboy twenty years earlier, would make his directorial debut with the black comedy horror film Parents. Bryan Madorsky stars as Michael Laemle, a ten year old boy living in the California suburbs in the 1950s, who starts to suspect mom and dad, played by Mary Beth Hurt and Randy Quaid, might be cannibals. It's a strange but fun little movie, and even Ken Russell would compare it favorably over David Lynch's Blue Velvet during one contemporary interview, but sadly, it would take far more time for the film to find its audience than Vestron could afford. Opening in 94 theatres on January 27th, the $3m Parents could not overcome a series of negative reviews from critics, and it would only gross $278k in its first three days. Vestron would not strike any additional prints of the film, and would cycle the ones they did have around the country for several months, but after four months, the film could only attract $870k in box office receipts. But it would become something of a cult hit on video later in the year. In 1992, British filmmaker Bernard Rose would make his American directing debut with an all-time banger, Candyman. But he wouldn't gotten Candyman if it wasn't for his 1989 film Paperhouse, an inventive story about a young girl whose drawings seem to manifest into reality. British actor Ben Cross from Chariots of Fire and American actress Glenne Headly from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels plays the young girl's parents. Outside of Gene Siskel, who would give the film a thumbs down on his movie review show with Roger Ebert despite acknowledging Rose's talent as a filmmaker and being fascinated by the first two-thirds of the movie, the critical consensus was extraordinary. But it appears Siskel may have never actually written a review of the film for the Chicago Tribune, as the film still has a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But the film would only earn $6,700 from its single screen playdate at the Carnegie Hall Cinemas when it opened on February 17th, and the film would get little support from Vestron after that. More single playdates in major cities that added up to a $241k box office tally after fourteen weeks in release. Marc Rocco's Dream a Little Dream would be the third film in The Two Coreys Cinematic Universe. Corey Feldman plays a high school student who, through one of the strangest plot twists in the whole body switching genre, finds himself switching places with two time Academy Award-winner Jason Robards, playing a professor who is looking for immortality through entering a meditative alpha state. Meredith Salinger and Piper Laurie also find themselves switching bodies as well, while Corey Haim plays the goofball best friend with not a whole lot to do. The supporting cast also includes veteran character actors Harry Dean Stanton and Alex Rocco, the latter who agreed to do the film because it was directed by his son. When the film opened on March 3rd, it would be Vestron's second widest release, opening on more than 1,000 theatres. But just like the previous year's License to Drive, the pairing of Corey Haim and Corey Feldman did not set the box office on fire, opening in fifth place with $2.57m in ticket sales, compared to the #1 film of the week, the Morgan Freeman drama Lean on Me, which would gross twice as much as Dream a Little Dream while playing in 125 fewer theatres. In its second week, the film would lose 56 theatres and 52% of its opening weekend audience, falling all the way to 13th place with a gross of only $1.25m. By week three, the movie would move to dollar houses, and trudge along for several more months, until it closed in the middle of summer with only $5.55m in the till. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, writer/director Jeremy Paul Kagan had directed and occasionally written several big ticket movies, including the 1977 Henry Winkler drama Heroes, which also starred Sally Field and, in his first post-Star Wars movie, Harrison Ford, and the 1985 Meredith Salinger/John Cusack adventure film The Journey of Natty Gann. Which makes his Natty Gann follow up, Big Man on Campus, such a head scratcher. A modern adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Big Man on Campus was written by Allan Katz, who had been working in television for nearly twenty years writing for and producing shows like All in the Family, Sanford and Son, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and MASH. Katz would also star in the movie as the titular hunchback, even though he had never once acted on any of his shows. But at least he had a good cast supporting him, including Gerrit Graham, Melora Hardin, Jessica Harper, Tom Skerritt, and Cindy Williams. I can only find one playdate for the film ever, in Los Angeles at the American Cinematheque in March 1989, so while this mostly qualifies as a direct to video release, I feel compelled to at least give it a token mention here. Have you ever heard of a movie called The Fruit Machine? Of course you haven't, because that's a horrible name for a movie, no matter what it's about. When Vestron acquired this British drama about young gay men who go on the run after they witness a murder, the first thing they did was change the title to Wonderland. Not that Wonderland gives you any more of an idea of what the movie is about than The Fruit Machine. But, whatever. Today, the movie has two things going for it. One, an early role for Robbie Coltrane, playing a transvestite who operates a nightclub for gay men and transvestites called, you guessed it, The Fruit Machine. Second, the musical score was written by Hans Zimmer, in one of his earliest film jobs. Ironically, Wonderland would be the the third movie scored by Hans Zimmer to be released by Vestron in a four month period, after Burning Secret and Paperhouse. Wonderland would open at the Quad Cinemas in New York City on April 28th, to poor reviews but a decent $11,500 opening weekend. But the film would not be able to maintain much of an audience, and after five weeks, Wonderland was out of the Quad Cinemas, never to play another theatre in America, with just $50k in the till. Ken Russell's third and final film in his contract with Vestron was The Rainbow, an adaptation of a 1915 novel by D.H. Lawrence, whose 1920 novel Women in Love had been adapted by Russell in 1969. Glenda Jackson, who had won the Academy Award for her role in Women in Love, here plays the mother of the character she played in the other film. Here, she co-stars with Sammi Davis as Ursala, the younger sister of Jackson's Women in Love character, who finds herself attracted to Anton, a young man in town, as well as her gym teacher Winifred. As one would expect from Ken Russell, the supporting cast is top notch, including future Eighth Doctor Paul McGann, regular Russell collaborator Christopher Gable, and Blowup star David Hemmings. The film would open at the Paris Theatre in New York City on May 5th, where it would gross a very good $22k, spurred on by great reviews from most of the city's major critics, several of which noted the film to be Russell's best in a number of years. So it would be sad that the film would end up being the lowest grossing of the three films he'd make with Vestron, only earning a total of $444k after three months in mostly single playdates in major markets. In 1985, Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum would work together on a forgettable horror comedy film called Transylvania 6-5000, whose name was a pun on a popular 1940 song recorded by Glenn Miller. In 1986, the pair would work together again in David Cronenberg's amazing remake of the cheesy 1950s horror film The Fly. In late 1987, shortly after the pair married, they would work together for a third time, on another comedy, and on a movie that was this time based on an actual song. Earth Girls Are Easy was the name of a song that appeared on comedian Julie Brown's 1984 EP Goddess in Progress, and was originally developed as a movie at Warner Brothers Studio. The studio would get cold feet when Absolute Beginners, the big British musical directed by music video director Julien Temple, failed big time everywhere in the world except for the UK. Temple was slated to direct Earth Girls Are Easy, and Brown, as the co-writer and co-star of the film, was committed to the filmmaker, even if it meant Warners putting the film into turnaround. Which they did, in 1986. It would take nearly a year to get the project back on track, after being rejected by every other major studio and production company in Hollywood, until the French banking giant Credit Lyonnais agree to finance the film, provided they could cut the budget from $14m to $10m, and if the filmmakers could make a distribution deal with the bank's preferred distributor, the then newly-formed DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group. The film, about a manicurist in Los Angeles who helps three aliens blend into human culture after they accidentally crash land their spaceship into her pool, would begin production in Los Angeles in October 1987. Davis played the manicurist, and Goldblum one of the aliens, alongside Damon Wayans and Jim Carrey, while the remaining cast would include a number of great comedic actors like MASH's Larry Linville, Michael McKean, Rick Overton, and Charles Rocket, as well as Los Angeles media personality Angelyne as basically herself. While the film was nearing completion in early 1988, the DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group would go out of business, leaving Credit Lyonnais in need of a new distributor for their investment. But after Temple turned in his first cut of the film, Credit Lyonnais would send Temple back into his editing bay, where he and his team would spend nearly another five months winnowing out various scenes and completely excising a big and expensive musical number based on one of the other songs on Brown's 1984 EP, I Like ‘Em Big and Stupid, because it just didn't work for the film. Additional scenes would be shot, and the budget would end up being $11m. The film would have its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September 1988, and attract attention from a number of distributors including MGM/UA, New World Pictures and Twentieth Century-Fox, but Vestron would end up putting in the winning bid. The film would originally be set for a February 1989 release, but would get delayed until May 12th. When it finally opened on 317 screens in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philly, San Francisco, Toronto and Washington DC, the film would gross $893k, putting in twelfth place for the weekend, but its per screen average would be the fourth best amongst the films in the top twenty. The film would fall one place in its second week, losing 35% of its opening weekend audience, grossing $577k. The film would slowly hemorrhage theatres and box office until the plug was pulled in mid-July with only $3.9m in tickets sold. The sole lasting legacy of the film is that Damon Wayans enjoyed working so much with Jim Carrey that when Damon's brother Kenan Ivory Wayans was putting together a new comedy television show together thanks to the success of his movie I'm Gonna Get You Sucka, Damon would get his brother to give Carrey a chance. In Living Color would make Carrey and the Wayans Brothers stars, and would change the course of comedy. So there's that… In late June, the Lightning Pictures imprint would release their first movie in nearly two years, Far From Home. The film starred the then-fourteen year old Drew Barrymore as a young girl traveling cross country with her father, who get stuck in a small desert town in Nevada on their way to back to Los Angeles, who must deal with some very strange characters in the trailer park they're staying in, as they slowly discover nothing is as it's supposed to be. Matt Frewer, Max Headroom himself, plays the dad, who must protect his daughter while he figures out how to get the hell out of town alive. Truth be told, the movie sucks, and it's really creepy in how it sexualizes Barrymore, but there's one hell of a great supporting cast doing their best to keep the joint from totally stinking the place up. Richard Masur, Academy Award nominee Susan Tyrell, Anthony Rapp from Adventures in Babysitting, Jennifer Tilly, and beloved character actor Dick Miller. When Vestron opened the film in four theatres in third-tier regions on June 30th, it was little surprise the film got some very bad notices, although one unnamed reviewer for Variety felt the need to note that Barrymore, who again was only fourteen at the time, had “a baby face, dreamy eyes and a playboy model's body.” The film would gross just $3,763 in its first and only weekend in theatres. But that wasn't even the worst news of the week for Vestron. On the same day as they opened Far From Home, Vestron had been informed by Security Pacific Bank in Los Angeles that the $100 million line of credit the company had with them was being terminated. 140 of the approximately 300 Vestron staff members, mostly from the Los Angeles office, were let go, including the President of Production, the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Distribution, and the Vice President of Publicity and Promotion. While Vestron Video would continue for a while, in large part thanks to a $15.7m payoff during a dispute over home video ownership rights to the 1986 Best Picture winner Platoon, the theatrical distribution unit was effectively dead. Some movies, including the Fred Savage/Howie Mandel comedy Little Monsters, the Harry Dean Stanton-led comedy Twister, and the Kathryn Bigelow-directed action thriller Blue Steel with Jamie Lee Curtis, would be sold off to other companies, but the titles left behind would see their planned theatrical releases cancelled and eventually be released direct to video. Thanks to some of the legacy titles in their video catalog, including Dirty Dancing, Vestron would be able to stave off the inevitable, but in January 1991, the company would file for bankruptcy, their final film being the Stan Winston-directed fantasy buddy comedy The Adventures of a Gnome named Gnorm. Filmed in 1988 as Upward, the film featured Anthony Michael Hall as an Los Angeles Police Detective who has to team up with a gnome, a puppet created by Winston, the effects wizard who also directed the film, to solve a murder. For Winston, it was deja vu all over again, as his previous directorial effort, Pumpkinhead, found itself in limbo for a while when its distributor, the DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group, filed for bankruptcy in 1987 before they could release that film. In bankruptcy court, Live Entertainment, partially owned by 1990s mega movie production company Carolco Pictures, would purchase all of Vestron's assets for $24m. Live used the assets as collateral to secure a line of credit from industry friendly banks, so they could start their own production and distribution company, of which their only moment of note was helping to finance Reservoir Dogs when no one else would. Eventually, Live Entertainment would be sold off to Bain Capital, a private investment firm co-founded by Mitt Romney, in 1997, and they would rebrand Live as Artisan Entertainment. Artisan today is best known as the little independent distributor of The Blair Witch Project, but they also would enter into an agreement with Marvel Comics to make movies for 15 of their characters, including Ant-Man, Black Panther, Deadpool, Iron Fist, Longshot, Morbius, Mort the Dead Teenager, and the Power Pack. Artisan would produce two movies based on Marvel characters, Man-Thing and The Punisher, although neither of those films would be released by Artisan. Artisan would declare bankruptcy in 2003, and Marvel would be one of the companies to place a bid for them. Lionsgate would end up becoming the winning bidder for Artisan's assets, which is how the vast majority of Vestron titles are now owned by a company that didn't even exist when Vestron closed shop. Today, Lionsgate is the owner of the assets of a number of the companies we've spoken about on this podcast in the past, and will be talking about in the future, including Crown International, the DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group, Embassy Pictures, and New World Pictures. And it's also a major reason why so many of the movies we discuss in these episodes looking back at past companies are completely unknown today. As big as Lionsgate is, with nearly $3.6 billion in revenue in 2022, they aren't going to be able to keep up with the chain of ownership for every movies from every company they've purchased, and they're not going to put the money in to the movies that are barely remembered today. The Film Foundation, the non-profit organization co-founded by Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, which is dedicated to film preservation, estimates the average cost to do a photochemical restoration of a color feature with sound to between $80,000 to $450,000 dollars, not including the cost of a 2k or 4k digital scan. I'm going to have a link in the show notes on our website at The80sMoviePodcast.com to a November 2018 article from the Science History Institute about the process of restoring films. It's not a long read, but it's a fascinating read. I hope you'll check it out. So there you have it, the end of the line for Vestron Pictures, and many of the movies they helped to make and distribute, most of which you cannot find today in any form. Thank you for listening. We'll talk again next week when Episode 105, on the 1985 teen comedy O.C. and Stiggs, directed by Robert Altman, will be discussed. Remember to visit this episode's page on our website, The80sMoviePodcast.com, for extra materials about the movies we covered this episode. The 80s Movies Podcast has been researched, written, narrated and edited by Edward Havens for Idiosyncratic Entertainment. Thank you again. Good night.
This week, we finish our three part episode on the 1980s distribution company Vestron Pictures. ----more---- The movies discussed on this week's episode are: The Adventures of a Gnome Named Gnorm (1990, Stan Winston) Big Man on Campus (1989, Jeremy Paul Kagan) Dream a Little Dream (1989, Marc Rocco) Earth Girls Are Easy (1989, Julien Temple) Far From Home (1989, Meiert Avis) Paperhouse (1989, Bernard Rose) Parents (1989, Bob Balaban) The Rainbow (1989, Ken Russell) Wonderland (1989, Philip Saville) TRANSCRIPT From Los Angeles, California, the Entertainment Capital of the World, it's The 80s Movies Podcast. I am your host, Edward Havens. Thank you for listening today. At the end of the previous episode, Vestron Pictures was starting to experience the turbulence a number of independent distributors faced when they had a successful film too soon out of the gate, and the direction of the company seemingly changes to go chasing more waterfalls instead of sticking to the rivers and the lakes they were used to. Welcome to Part Three of our miniseries. As we enter 1989, Vestron is seriously in trouble. More money has gone out then has come back in. It seems that they needed one more hit to keep going for a while longer. But if you were to look at their release schedule for the year, which included a pickup from the recently bankrupt DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group, there wasn't really anything that felt like it could be a Dirty Dancing-like break out, except for maybe the pickup from the recently bankrupt DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group. But we'll get there in a moment. Their first film from 1989 is a certifiable cult film if there ever was one, but the problem with this label is that the film tagged as so was not a success upon its initial theatrical release. Bob Balaban, the beloved character actor who had been regularly seen on screen since his memorable debut in Midnight Cowboy twenty years earlier, would make his directorial debut with the black comedy horror film Parents. Bryan Madorsky stars as Michael Laemle, a ten year old boy living in the California suburbs in the 1950s, who starts to suspect mom and dad, played by Mary Beth Hurt and Randy Quaid, might be cannibals. It's a strange but fun little movie, and even Ken Russell would compare it favorably over David Lynch's Blue Velvet during one contemporary interview, but sadly, it would take far more time for the film to find its audience than Vestron could afford. Opening in 94 theatres on January 27th, the $3m Parents could not overcome a series of negative reviews from critics, and it would only gross $278k in its first three days. Vestron would not strike any additional prints of the film, and would cycle the ones they did have around the country for several months, but after four months, the film could only attract $870k in box office receipts. But it would become something of a cult hit on video later in the year. In 1992, British filmmaker Bernard Rose would make his American directing debut with an all-time banger, Candyman. But he wouldn't gotten Candyman if it wasn't for his 1989 film Paperhouse, an inventive story about a young girl whose drawings seem to manifest into reality. British actor Ben Cross from Chariots of Fire and American actress Glenne Headly from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels plays the young girl's parents. Outside of Gene Siskel, who would give the film a thumbs down on his movie review show with Roger Ebert despite acknowledging Rose's talent as a filmmaker and being fascinated by the first two-thirds of the movie, the critical consensus was extraordinary. But it appears Siskel may have never actually written a review of the film for the Chicago Tribune, as the film still has a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But the film would only earn $6,700 from its single screen playdate at the Carnegie Hall Cinemas when it opened on February 17th, and the film would get little support from Vestron after that. More single playdates in major cities that added up to a $241k box office tally after fourteen weeks in release. Marc Rocco's Dream a Little Dream would be the third film in The Two Coreys Cinematic Universe. Corey Feldman plays a high school student who, through one of the strangest plot twists in the whole body switching genre, finds himself switching places with two time Academy Award-winner Jason Robards, playing a professor who is looking for immortality through entering a meditative alpha state. Meredith Salinger and Piper Laurie also find themselves switching bodies as well, while Corey Haim plays the goofball best friend with not a whole lot to do. The supporting cast also includes veteran character actors Harry Dean Stanton and Alex Rocco, the latter who agreed to do the film because it was directed by his son. When the film opened on March 3rd, it would be Vestron's second widest release, opening on more than 1,000 theatres. But just like the previous year's License to Drive, the pairing of Corey Haim and Corey Feldman did not set the box office on fire, opening in fifth place with $2.57m in ticket sales, compared to the #1 film of the week, the Morgan Freeman drama Lean on Me, which would gross twice as much as Dream a Little Dream while playing in 125 fewer theatres. In its second week, the film would lose 56 theatres and 52% of its opening weekend audience, falling all the way to 13th place with a gross of only $1.25m. By week three, the movie would move to dollar houses, and trudge along for several more months, until it closed in the middle of summer with only $5.55m in the till. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, writer/director Jeremy Paul Kagan had directed and occasionally written several big ticket movies, including the 1977 Henry Winkler drama Heroes, which also starred Sally Field and, in his first post-Star Wars movie, Harrison Ford, and the 1985 Meredith Salinger/John Cusack adventure film The Journey of Natty Gann. Which makes his Natty Gann follow up, Big Man on Campus, such a head scratcher. A modern adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Big Man on Campus was written by Allan Katz, who had been working in television for nearly twenty years writing for and producing shows like All in the Family, Sanford and Son, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and MASH. Katz would also star in the movie as the titular hunchback, even though he had never once acted on any of his shows. But at least he had a good cast supporting him, including Gerrit Graham, Melora Hardin, Jessica Harper, Tom Skerritt, and Cindy Williams. I can only find one playdate for the film ever, in Los Angeles at the American Cinematheque in March 1989, so while this mostly qualifies as a direct to video release, I feel compelled to at least give it a token mention here. Have you ever heard of a movie called The Fruit Machine? Of course you haven't, because that's a horrible name for a movie, no matter what it's about. When Vestron acquired this British drama about young gay men who go on the run after they witness a murder, the first thing they did was change the title to Wonderland. Not that Wonderland gives you any more of an idea of what the movie is about than The Fruit Machine. But, whatever. Today, the movie has two things going for it. One, an early role for Robbie Coltrane, playing a transvestite who operates a nightclub for gay men and transvestites called, you guessed it, The Fruit Machine. Second, the musical score was written by Hans Zimmer, in one of his earliest film jobs. Ironically, Wonderland would be the the third movie scored by Hans Zimmer to be released by Vestron in a four month period, after Burning Secret and Paperhouse. Wonderland would open at the Quad Cinemas in New York City on April 28th, to poor reviews but a decent $11,500 opening weekend. But the film would not be able to maintain much of an audience, and after five weeks, Wonderland was out of the Quad Cinemas, never to play another theatre in America, with just $50k in the till. Ken Russell's third and final film in his contract with Vestron was The Rainbow, an adaptation of a 1915 novel by D.H. Lawrence, whose 1920 novel Women in Love had been adapted by Russell in 1969. Glenda Jackson, who had won the Academy Award for her role in Women in Love, here plays the mother of the character she played in the other film. Here, she co-stars with Sammi Davis as Ursala, the younger sister of Jackson's Women in Love character, who finds herself attracted to Anton, a young man in town, as well as her gym teacher Winifred. As one would expect from Ken Russell, the supporting cast is top notch, including future Eighth Doctor Paul McGann, regular Russell collaborator Christopher Gable, and Blowup star David Hemmings. The film would open at the Paris Theatre in New York City on May 5th, where it would gross a very good $22k, spurred on by great reviews from most of the city's major critics, several of which noted the film to be Russell's best in a number of years. So it would be sad that the film would end up being the lowest grossing of the three films he'd make with Vestron, only earning a total of $444k after three months in mostly single playdates in major markets. In 1985, Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum would work together on a forgettable horror comedy film called Transylvania 6-5000, whose name was a pun on a popular 1940 song recorded by Glenn Miller. In 1986, the pair would work together again in David Cronenberg's amazing remake of the cheesy 1950s horror film The Fly. In late 1987, shortly after the pair married, they would work together for a third time, on another comedy, and on a movie that was this time based on an actual song. Earth Girls Are Easy was the name of a song that appeared on comedian Julie Brown's 1984 EP Goddess in Progress, and was originally developed as a movie at Warner Brothers Studio. The studio would get cold feet when Absolute Beginners, the big British musical directed by music video director Julien Temple, failed big time everywhere in the world except for the UK. Temple was slated to direct Earth Girls Are Easy, and Brown, as the co-writer and co-star of the film, was committed to the filmmaker, even if it meant Warners putting the film into turnaround. Which they did, in 1986. It would take nearly a year to get the project back on track, after being rejected by every other major studio and production company in Hollywood, until the French banking giant Credit Lyonnais agree to finance the film, provided they could cut the budget from $14m to $10m, and if the filmmakers could make a distribution deal with the bank's preferred distributor, the then newly-formed DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group. The film, about a manicurist in Los Angeles who helps three aliens blend into human culture after they accidentally crash land their spaceship into her pool, would begin production in Los Angeles in October 1987. Davis played the manicurist, and Goldblum one of the aliens, alongside Damon Wayans and Jim Carrey, while the remaining cast would include a number of great comedic actors like MASH's Larry Linville, Michael McKean, Rick Overton, and Charles Rocket, as well as Los Angeles media personality Angelyne as basically herself. While the film was nearing completion in early 1988, the DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group would go out of business, leaving Credit Lyonnais in need of a new distributor for their investment. But after Temple turned in his first cut of the film, Credit Lyonnais would send Temple back into his editing bay, where he and his team would spend nearly another five months winnowing out various scenes and completely excising a big and expensive musical number based on one of the other songs on Brown's 1984 EP, I Like ‘Em Big and Stupid, because it just didn't work for the film. Additional scenes would be shot, and the budget would end up being $11m. The film would have its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September 1988, and attract attention from a number of distributors including MGM/UA, New World Pictures and Twentieth Century-Fox, but Vestron would end up putting in the winning bid. The film would originally be set for a February 1989 release, but would get delayed until May 12th. When it finally opened on 317 screens in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philly, San Francisco, Toronto and Washington DC, the film would gross $893k, putting in twelfth place for the weekend, but its per screen average would be the fourth best amongst the films in the top twenty. The film would fall one place in its second week, losing 35% of its opening weekend audience, grossing $577k. The film would slowly hemorrhage theatres and box office until the plug was pulled in mid-July with only $3.9m in tickets sold. The sole lasting legacy of the film is that Damon Wayans enjoyed working so much with Jim Carrey that when Damon's brother Kenan Ivory Wayans was putting together a new comedy television show together thanks to the success of his movie I'm Gonna Get You Sucka, Damon would get his brother to give Carrey a chance. In Living Color would make Carrey and the Wayans Brothers stars, and would change the course of comedy. So there's that… In late June, the Lightning Pictures imprint would release their first movie in nearly two years, Far From Home. The film starred the then-fourteen year old Drew Barrymore as a young girl traveling cross country with her father, who get stuck in a small desert town in Nevada on their way to back to Los Angeles, who must deal with some very strange characters in the trailer park they're staying in, as they slowly discover nothing is as it's supposed to be. Matt Frewer, Max Headroom himself, plays the dad, who must protect his daughter while he figures out how to get the hell out of town alive. Truth be told, the movie sucks, and it's really creepy in how it sexualizes Barrymore, but there's one hell of a great supporting cast doing their best to keep the joint from totally stinking the place up. Richard Masur, Academy Award nominee Susan Tyrell, Anthony Rapp from Adventures in Babysitting, Jennifer Tilly, and beloved character actor Dick Miller. When Vestron opened the film in four theatres in third-tier regions on June 30th, it was little surprise the film got some very bad notices, although one unnamed reviewer for Variety felt the need to note that Barrymore, who again was only fourteen at the time, had “a baby face, dreamy eyes and a playboy model's body.” The film would gross just $3,763 in its first and only weekend in theatres. But that wasn't even the worst news of the week for Vestron. On the same day as they opened Far From Home, Vestron had been informed by Security Pacific Bank in Los Angeles that the $100 million line of credit the company had with them was being terminated. 140 of the approximately 300 Vestron staff members, mostly from the Los Angeles office, were let go, including the President of Production, the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Distribution, and the Vice President of Publicity and Promotion. While Vestron Video would continue for a while, in large part thanks to a $15.7m payoff during a dispute over home video ownership rights to the 1986 Best Picture winner Platoon, the theatrical distribution unit was effectively dead. Some movies, including the Fred Savage/Howie Mandel comedy Little Monsters, the Harry Dean Stanton-led comedy Twister, and the Kathryn Bigelow-directed action thriller Blue Steel with Jamie Lee Curtis, would be sold off to other companies, but the titles left behind would see their planned theatrical releases cancelled and eventually be released direct to video. Thanks to some of the legacy titles in their video catalog, including Dirty Dancing, Vestron would be able to stave off the inevitable, but in January 1991, the company would file for bankruptcy, their final film being the Stan Winston-directed fantasy buddy comedy The Adventures of a Gnome named Gnorm. Filmed in 1988 as Upward, the film featured Anthony Michael Hall as an Los Angeles Police Detective who has to team up with a gnome, a puppet created by Winston, the effects wizard who also directed the film, to solve a murder. For Winston, it was deja vu all over again, as his previous directorial effort, Pumpkinhead, found itself in limbo for a while when its distributor, the DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group, filed for bankruptcy in 1987 before they could release that film. In bankruptcy court, Live Entertainment, partially owned by 1990s mega movie production company Carolco Pictures, would purchase all of Vestron's assets for $24m. Live used the assets as collateral to secure a line of credit from industry friendly banks, so they could start their own production and distribution company, of which their only moment of note was helping to finance Reservoir Dogs when no one else would. Eventually, Live Entertainment would be sold off to Bain Capital, a private investment firm co-founded by Mitt Romney, in 1997, and they would rebrand Live as Artisan Entertainment. Artisan today is best known as the little independent distributor of The Blair Witch Project, but they also would enter into an agreement with Marvel Comics to make movies for 15 of their characters, including Ant-Man, Black Panther, Deadpool, Iron Fist, Longshot, Morbius, Mort the Dead Teenager, and the Power Pack. Artisan would produce two movies based on Marvel characters, Man-Thing and The Punisher, although neither of those films would be released by Artisan. Artisan would declare bankruptcy in 2003, and Marvel would be one of the companies to place a bid for them. Lionsgate would end up becoming the winning bidder for Artisan's assets, which is how the vast majority of Vestron titles are now owned by a company that didn't even exist when Vestron closed shop. Today, Lionsgate is the owner of the assets of a number of the companies we've spoken about on this podcast in the past, and will be talking about in the future, including Crown International, the DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group, Embassy Pictures, and New World Pictures. And it's also a major reason why so many of the movies we discuss in these episodes looking back at past companies are completely unknown today. As big as Lionsgate is, with nearly $3.6 billion in revenue in 2022, they aren't going to be able to keep up with the chain of ownership for every movies from every company they've purchased, and they're not going to put the money in to the movies that are barely remembered today. The Film Foundation, the non-profit organization co-founded by Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, which is dedicated to film preservation, estimates the average cost to do a photochemical restoration of a color feature with sound to between $80,000 to $450,000 dollars, not including the cost of a 2k or 4k digital scan. I'm going to have a link in the show notes on our website at The80sMoviePodcast.com to a November 2018 article from the Science History Institute about the process of restoring films. It's not a long read, but it's a fascinating read. I hope you'll check it out. So there you have it, the end of the line for Vestron Pictures, and many of the movies they helped to make and distribute, most of which you cannot find today in any form. Thank you for listening. We'll talk again next week when Episode 105, on the 1985 teen comedy O.C. and Stiggs, directed by Robert Altman, will be discussed. Remember to visit this episode's page on our website, The80sMoviePodcast.com, for extra materials about the movies we covered this episode. The 80s Movies Podcast has been researched, written, narrated and edited by Edward Havens for Idiosyncratic Entertainment. Thank you again. Good night.
David Carradine POPS THE CLUTCH again in Paul Bartel's follow-up to Death Race 2000, which features a cross-country race full of oddballs competing for a huge cash prize. Featuring an awesome cast of recognizable faces (Mary Woronov! Gerrit Graham! Robert Carradine! DICK MILLER! Joe Dante!) and even more awesome cameos (Martin Scorsese eating KFC with Bartel and Sylvester Stallone), it's a sometimes shaky, but always entertaining, collection of comedy, musical numbers (?) and car stunts. Find out how it all came together on this brand new episode of BARTEL ME SOMETHING GOOD.
This month the Johns get back to basics and watch an obscure film from Longino's childhood: Used Cars. Will this early Robert Zemeckis directed comedy starring Kurt Russell drive off the lot with zero issues? Or will it be a full blown lemon? Listen and find out!
Story: Außerirdische TV-Signale können richtig Ärger bedeuten. Das müssen auch die schrägen Puttermans erfahren, die mit der super Satellitenanlage „DIY 100“ ihren Fernsehkonsum veredeln wollen. Doch nicht nur irdische Programme erreichen ihr geschmackssicheres Heim – ein extraterrestrischer Koloss wird durch die Schüssel gebeamt und verspricht ordentlich Trouble für die schnöselige Familie Putterman!
Story: Außerirdische TV-Signale können richtig Ärger bedeuten. Das müssen auch die schrägen Puttermans erfahren, die mit der super Satellitenanlage „DIY 100“ ihren Fernsehkonsum veredeln wollen. Doch nicht nur irdische Programme erreichen ihr geschmackssicheres Heim – ein extraterrestrischer Koloss wird durch die Schüssel gebeamt und verspricht ordentlich Trouble für die schnöselige Familie Putterman!
Phantom Of The Paradise was a 1974 rock musical/horror comedy, one of the earliest cinematic works of Brian De Palma. It featured a story loosely adapted from European works of literature such as The Picture of Dorian Gray, Faust, and most notably The Phantom Of The Opera, more than a decade before Andrew Lloyd Webber would get his hands on the property. The story of music industry excess and revenge featured a cast of William Finley, Jessica Harper, Gerrit Graham, and Paul Williams, who also composed and performed the majority of the soundtrack. Though the film was considered a critical and commercial flop upon release, it would develop a strong cult following, and has been re-evaluated in the ensuing years as an underrated camp gem.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome back return guest Jenna Sokalski for a viewing of Phantom Of The Paradise, a film that Jenna considered to be formative to her cinematic tastes. Join the trio for a wild and confusing romp of a musical, dripping with sweat and cocaine, featuring himbo punk rockers, metal teeth, and the raw, unfettered, bestial sexual energy of Paul Williams....with Lilz & Scott!
Just before William Friedkin broke onto the Hollywood scene with his Oscar-winning films of the '70s, he directed The Boys in The Band in 1970, an adaptation of the acclaimed gay play of the same name by Mart Crowley. Kevin and Jake aren't entirely sure why Friedkin felt like he was the guy to direct this movie, but even more confusing to audiences was Friedkin's 1980 film, Cruising, starring Al Pacino as a cop investigating a serial killer plaguing the gay BDSM community of New York City. Join your hosts Kevin and Jake as we dive into the making of these two films and how they have stood the test of time. Our miniseries of our favorite cinematic sissies continues with the campy, sissy rock singer, Beef, played by Gerrit Graham in the 1973 film Phantom of the Paradise from Brian de Palma.
Voted on by our Twitter Followers, we tackle another movie that's got some Laverne & Shirley alums in it. The Zemeckis/Gale movie USED CARS is an R-rated early-80s dark comedy of its era. What do we silly millenials think of it? Take a listen and find out, as we get super film geeky, talk trivia, love on Toby the dog, and wonder why Gerrit Graham didn't have a bigger career. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
On this episode of the podcast we discuss 1980's Used Cars! This manic comedy is the second feature of director Robert Zemeckis from a script by him and Bob Gale. It stars Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, Gerrit Graham, Frank McRae, Deborah Harmon and Joe Flaherty Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus discussions, voting rights for our upcoming episodes, and early access to all of our content: www.patreon.com/AlmostCultClassics.
Andrew, Isaiah and Nick talk Muppet Men, record-related disfigurements, and the fact that none of them have ever seen Phantom of the Opera as they discuss Phantom of the Paradise starring William Finley, Paul Williams, Jessica Harper, and Gerrit Graham. Discussion Roulette is a full spoiler podcast, so make sure to watch the movie before you listen!
Joey Gabe and CJK talk... Child's Play 2 a 1990 American slasher film and the direct sequel to Child's Play, written by Don Mancini and directed by John Lafia, one of the co-writers of the first film. It is the second installment in the Child's Play franchise and set two years after the first film; the plot follows Charles Lee Ray (better known as Chucky) continuing his pursuit for Andy Barclay, who was placed in foster care, and transferring his soul into him after being resurrected. The film stars Alex Vincent, who returns as Andy Barclay; Gerrit Graham and Jenny Agutter as Andy's foster parents; Christine Elise as Kyle; and Brad Dourif as the voice of Chucky. It is the debut appearance of Adam Wylie. Child's Play 2 was released on November 9, 1990, exactly two years after the first film was released, and grossed over $35 million on a budget of $13 million. It was followed by a sequel, Child's Play 3, 9 months later.
A year of recording remotely prepared us for an epic battle of genre-bending proportions! Time to rediscover the creative genius behind the martial arts adventure, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA! **Discussions** Reinventing the story’s origin, inspiration, uniqueness, significant rewrites, & John Carpenter’s influence; atypical heroes, martial arts integration & cultural sensitivity; special effects, set production, pacing, atmosphere & multi-layered tones; character strengths & cast breakdown; audience, marketing, release & second life of; the synth-driven score & film’s theme song. BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) // Kurt Russell, Dennis Dun, Kim Cattrall, James Hong, Victor Wong // Directed by John Carpenter. ***Picks of the Week*** —Lindsay’s Pick, POLICE ACADEMY (1984) // Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, Michael Winslow, Bubba Smith // Directed by Hugh Wilson. —Justin’s Pick, USED CARS (1980) // Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, Gerrit Graham, Deborah Harmon // Directed by Robert Zemeckis. ***MurrayMoment*** Inspired by BIG TROUBLE’s constant dampness, we visit a rainy day save by Billy. ***Final Thoughts on BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA.*** Next Episode: DEAD PRESIDENTS (1995)! +Please rate, review & subscribe on your podcast platform of choice! (For real, it totally helps us!) Complete Episode Archive, Videos & Store: www.dontpushpausepodcast.com +Follow us on Facebook @dontpushpause +Follow us on Instagram @dontpushpausepodcast +Follow us on Twitter @dontpushpause +Subscribe on YouTube, Don’t Push Pause Podcast +Email us: dontpushpausepodcast@gmail.com Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber // Music: Matt Pace // Announcer: Mary Timmel // Logo: Beau Shoulders
Crackpot Cinema: Ep #28 — PATRICK (1978) and PATRICK STILL LIVES (1980) Give thanks! Actor, writer, director, funnyman, and comatose horror hero namesake PAT HEALY returns as the first-ever Crackpot Cinema Co-Guest-Host for a jarringly wide-eyed evaluation of the Ozploitation classic PATRICK (1978) and its utterly bughouse insane Italian rip-off/faux-sequel, PATRICK STILL LIVES (1980). Patrick-Is-Ready-for-His-Handjob highlights include: • The international plague of PSYCHOKINESIS! • Frog snuff! • Fireplace poker gynecology! • The power of a properly aimed bottle-to-the-face to unleash PYSCHOKINESIS! • Richard Franklin’s orangutan erotica opus starring Elisabeth Shue! • The many faces that make up the face of PATRICK star Robert Thompson! We see Roger Daltry, Malcolm McDowell, Marjoe Gortner, Gerrit Graham, Mark Blankfield, Joaquin Phoenix, David Patrick Kelly (“Luther” from THE WARRIORS), and, of course, Marty Feldman. Who else ya got? • PSYCHOKINESIS!!!
Episode 228: The Crew's stalking with Chucky while watching Child's Play 2 and Child's Play 3. After the success of the first film, Universal Studios bought the Child's Play franchise from MGM/UA. But both of these sequels saw diminishing returns at the box-office. Child's Play 3 was rushed into production and was released less than year after part 2. Chucky (Brad Dourif) is the star here and the filmmakers know it. The Crew discusses.... If you like our music intro, head over to Soundcloud and hear more amazing music from aquariusweapon. Aquariusweapon can also be found on YouTube. Contact: themoviecrewe@gmail.com
Larry Cohen's "Its Alive" trilogy discussed
70 Movies We Saw in the 70s: Ep2—“Beware! The Blob!” (1972) “It’s the movie that J.R. shot!” Ooze back to acid-blasted SoCal ’72 for Larry Hagman’s BEWARE! THE BLOB! A psychonaut revamp the 1958 original, BTB features “Charlie X” from STAR TREK battling the title slime as it threatens (among others) Godfrey Cambridge, Cindy Williams, Gerrit Graham, Burgess Meredith, Dick Van Patten, and Hagman himself amidst a trippy Mort Garson synth score and shockingly good visual effects. Come get Blobbed!
After last week's SHOP triple bill we decided to go with the 1986 Sci-Fi Horror, Chopping Mall. Directed by Jim Wynorski, produced by Julie Corman and starring Kelli Maroney, Tony O'Dell, Russell Todd, (the legendary) Barbara Crampton, Dick Miller, Gerrit Graham, Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov. Please review us over on Apple Podcasts. Got comments or suggestions for new episodes? Email: sddpod@gmail.com. Seek us out via Twitter and Instagram @ sddfilmpodcast Support our Patreon for $3 a month and get access to our exclusive show, Sudden Double Deep Cuts where we talk about our favourite movie soundtracks, scores and theme songs! "Thank you. Have a nice day"!
In the 1980s, teen comedies established character tropes and found their future superstars. BETTER OFF DEAD... (1985) catapulted John Cusack to leading man status, even if the film didn’t reach blockbuster heights. This satirical black comedy was an unapologetic, absurdist dive into the teen psyche, which has only gained popularity throughout the years. BETTER OFF DEAD... continues to stand out from other ‘80s movies and leaves us with endless memorable moments. ▶️Synopsis: Devastated after being dumped for the popular high school jock, Lane Meyer can’t find a reason to live. In between multiple suicide attempts, he begins a friendship with a French exchange student who reminds him there is more life to live. ⏩⏩Discussions include: The true story behind the unusually satirical, BETTER OFF DEAD; how a first-time, feature film director/writer got his break; expanding the teen comedy genre, including an atypical leading man and traversing the teen experience; the tone/black humor used within the film; cast discussion, including the well-developed relationships with supporting characters; critical reception, music, animation/claymation and, of course, throwing in our favorite scenes and classic lines from the film.**Starring John Cusack, Diane Franklin, Curtis Armstrong. Directed by Savage Steve Holland.** ▶️**PICKS OF THE WEEK** —Lindsay’s Pick, TERRORVISION (1986): In this oddball sci-fi/horror/comedy, a family’s new TV satellite installation becomes an invitation for a monstrous alien from another world. **Starring Diane Franklin, Mary Woronov, Gerrit Graham, Chad Allen. Directed by Ted Nicolaou.** —Justin’s Pick, ONE CRAZY SUMMER (1986): Bailing on post high school plans, two best friends decide to have a carefree summer, but end up helping a fledging musician’s family estate and, in turn, inspiring future life goals. **Starring John Cusack, Joel Murray, Bobcat Goldthwait, Demi Moore. Directed by Savage Steve Holland.** ▶️MURRAYMOMENT: Billy’s experience living through the 2016 Chicago Cubs’ World Series win, with a little tear-jerking memory thrown in. ▶️FINAL THOUGHTS: Cusack’s unexpected reaction at the premiere of BETTER OFF DEAD..., his most recent feelings on the film, effect on Holland’s career and long-lasting fandom for this inoffensively rare 80s film. ▶️NEXT UP: DPP TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY with GOODFELLAS (1990)!
In this episode of the science fiction podcast 'The ACE: Atomic Cinema Experiment,' we discuss 'Demon Seed.' The film is Directed by Donald Cammell and stars Julie Christie, Fritz Weaver & Gerrit Graham. patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mildfuzztv twitter: https://twitter.com/Mild_Fuzz facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mildfuzznetwork Email: mftvquestions@gmail.com Audio version: https://the-ace-atomic-cinema-experime.pinecast.co UK Merch store: https://shop.spreadshirt.co.uk/mild-fuzz-tv/ US Merch store: https://shop.spreadshirt.com/mild-fuzz-tv-us SciFiPodcast #SciFi #ScienceFiction
Kurt Russell's birthday is coming up and the Slickest Lads in Podcasting have a deal for you... it's a mint condition 1980-issued review of USED CARS! This baby comes jam-packed with features like director Robert Zemeckis's first spotlight on the podcast, an early celebration of Kurt Russell's birthday with his first big movie leading feature film, and tons of extras (and miles of cars)! Plus, the big script that could hardly contain Jack Warden, Gerrit Graham, Frank McRae, and Deborah Harmon, some of the film's truly gross and disappointing moments, and the early seeds of Zemeckis's future thrilling set pieces! Happy Birthday, Kurt! It's USED CARS! Twitter/IG: @reconcinemationfacebook.com/reconcinemationCover and Episode Art by Curtis Moore (IG: curt986)Theme by E.K. Wimmer (ekwimmer.com)
Who's signing where? Chuck Garfien, Vinnie Duber, Ryan McGuffey and Chris Kamka dig through the top free agents (and a couple of outliers) and predict where they will eventually end up. Everyone from Yasiel Puig (7:05), Dallas Keuchel (15:15) and Nicholas Castellanos (30:10) to Zack Wheeler (41:20), Anthony Rendon and Gerrit Cole (50:00) and more.
We started out planning to do Brian De Palma's 'The Fury' starring Kirk Douglas and Amy Irving, but...in the end...it was just not weird and Brian De Palma enough for us so we switched to 'Phantom Of The Paradise' and got everything we asked for and more. Chris sells his soul for podcasting (00:00), Brian De Palma's The Fury trailer (2:30), Amy Irving and Andrew Stevens in 'The Fury' (4:30), 'Phantom Of The Paradise' trailer (6:00), Phil Spector and James Bond (14:30), Led Zeppelin (15:30), 'Inserts' movie starring Richard Dreyfus and 'Phantom' star Jessica Harper and Bob Hoskins (17:30), AC/DC's 'It's A Long Way To The Top If You Wanna Rock 'n Roll' (21:00), Sing Sing Prison Dental Health Research Program (23:00), De Palma's 'Snake Eyes' and Nic Cage and Gary Sinise (29:30), 'The Bonfire Of The Vanities' and the great book that resulted: 'The Devil's Candy' with Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, and Tom Wolfe and an anatomy of a filmic disaster (30:30), 'The Mission To Mars' with Gary Sinise & 'Mars' with Val Kilmer (33:00), 'Love Boat' theme by Paul Williams, it floats back to you! (39:00), Paul Williams and his unique fame and talent and how great his 'Still Alive' documentary is (39:30), Paul Williams as Swan in 'Phantom Of The Paradise' (42:30), 'Rainbow Connection' as representative Paul Williams song, filled with hope, sadness, and a little loneliness (44:30), 'Hello Larry' tv series theme song (47:00), George Memmolli and his roles in Martin Scorcese's 'Mean Streets' and 'Hello Larry' and 'Phantom Of The Paradise' (48:00), Gerrit Graham from the great Kurt Russel and Jack Warden vehicle 'Used Cars' and his counter-culture credits including writing songs with Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead and his role as "Beef" in 'Phantom Of The Paradise" (49:00), CALL US TOLL FREE 855-755-5322 and leave us a message (51:30), Lee Wilkof, National Lampoon's 'Disco Beaver From Outer Space' and this movie's Lee Ebling (52:00), 'Old Souls' musical number written by Paul Williams performed by Jessica Harper (53:30), Paul Schrader's 'Blue Collar' stars Richard Pryor and this movie's George Memmoli (55:00), The Record Plant recording studio's cameo in 'Phantom' (56:00), Sha Na Na was reportedly 'too difficult to work with' to be in this movie (57:00), Alternative Casting: Sissy Spacek (1:00:00) Headlines and/or Rants N Raves, Francis Ford Coppola recuts The Cotton Club. starring Richard Gere, Diane Lane, Gregory Hines, Nic Cage, James Remar (1:03:00), 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' listener reactions and retractions regarding Manson Family, Squeaky Fromme, and violence pertaining to cult member individuality (1:05:00), Chris' Last Line (1:07:45)
As we're into the coolest month ever, we pontificate upon one of Brian's favourite movies of all time, the Brian Depalma classic " Phantom of the Paradise".Please note we thought of the topic exactly one minute before taping but that really wouldn't stop someone who's seen the movie50 times, there was no "boning up" required, we talk Paul Williams, where we first saw the movie, influences, Winnipeg, the merchandise, alternative casting, shared locations with Logan's Run, the amazing Gerrit Graham and somehow end up at Zardoz? How? Anyway, It's a jam-packed hour. Please Enjoy and we have a new PodStallions Facebook group, please join us. Download the Show HereListen hereGive us some love on the PodStallions Facebook page!PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNESPODSTALLIONS RSS FEED
After the conversation last week about a film breaking the Top 10 on the DBMDNRL, one film has come along to blow the minds of Nigel and Kaitlyn. TerrorVision is a film that comes once in a lifetime with equal parts of sci-fi B-movie and Weird Science knockoff. This week Nigel and Kaitlyn discuss the merits of growing up with swinging parents, kids with guns, and the nutritional survival benefits of lizard tails. All that and more on this week's episode of Bad Movie Date Night. TerrorVision Directed by: Ted Nicolaou Starring: Diane Franklin, Mary Woronov, Gerrit Graham, Chad Allen, Jon Gries Don't forget to subscribe. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @JourneyIntoFilm This has been a production of AJourneyIntoFilm.com
On this Deeper episode we're talking about the incredible, Brian DePalma Rock musical, Phantom of the Paradise, which was picked by one of our Patreon patrons! Phantom of the Paradise stars Jessica Harper, Paul Williams, William Finley, Gerrit Graham, Archie Hahn, George Memmoli and Rod Serling. Support our Patreon for $3 a month and get access to our exclusive show, Sudden Double Deep Cuts where we talk about our favourite movie soundtracks, scores and theme songs! Please review us over on Apple Podcasts. Got comments or suggestions for new episodes? Email: sddpod@gmail.com. Seek us out via Twitter and Instagram @ sddfilmpodcast
7-year-old Al and CadaverDad met actor Gerrit Graham last week and he urged CadaverDad to show Al the Brian De Palma musical PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (1974), in which Graham himself co-stars as the iconic Beef. So here we are with our review of the cult classic, Faustian monster-musical... a "monster-cal" as Al calls it! You can support CadaverCast with your ratings and positive reviews on iTunes, by donating to our network at patreon.com/wordsalad, and spreading the word about CadaverCast to your friends (or enemies). We sure do appreciate it! Email us at: CadaverCast@gmail.com Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/Cadaver_Cast On Instagram: instagram.com/cadavercast Check us out on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/CadaverCast CadaverCast theme by Aaron Ewalt Series cover art by Angel Onofre Episode edited by Jef Burnham © 2019 Jef Burnham & Alistair Burnham
In this episode, we discuss the 1986 schlock horror sci fi classic, "TerrorVision," starring Gerrit Graham, Mary Woronov and Diane Franklin, and the 2016 dystopian love story, "The Bad Batch," starring Suki Waterhouse and Jason Momoa.We got a lot to say about a couple of films that probably don't merit much discussion. Go figure.Next episode:Shoot 'Em Up and Friday the 13th: A New BeginningI warned you!TwitterFacebookYoutubeiTunesStitcherGoogle PlayVisit us at:https://www.stupendousaurusrex.comContact us at: stupendousaurusrex@gmail.comStock media provided by GojiProduction/Pond5
Another sequel has hit the show and this time it's hungry! It's the 80's horror-comedy sequel to the 1984 original, C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud (1989) Directed by David Irving and starring Brian Robbins, Bill Calvert, Tricia Leigh Fisher, and Gerrit Graham. Is this film just a comedic rip off of Day of the Dead? Why are these CHUDs nothing like the original CHUDs? How easy is it to break into the C.D.C.? All these questions and more are answered this week! Visit us online at www.facebook.com/bombsawayshow to discuss this episode, make a comment or correction on something we missed or messed or a movie suggestion. Or write us contact@bombsawayshow.com Find us on Instagram and Twitter @BombsAwayShow For all things, Bombs Away visit us at www.bombsawayshow.com
In this episode of the horror review/discussion show 'Screams After Midnight,' the guys look at the second Chucky movie 'Child's Play 2,' in anticipation for the new film coming this year 'Cult of Chucky,' The film is Directed by John Lafia & and stars Alex Vincent, Jenny Agutter, Gerrit Graham, Christine Elise and Brad Dourif. patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mildfuzztvtwitter: https://twitter.com/Mild_Fuzzfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mildfuzznetwork
Teen sex, malls, killer robots and the 80's! Just about everything you'd want in a film about such things. Cheesy and poorly acted at times but that won't stop you from liking the hell out of this movie.
On this week's episode, the gang finally gets around to talking about a Chuck Norris movie, and what better way to cut the red ribbon on this guy than ragging on the ridiculous Sidekicks?! What's with all these deranged fantasies Brandis's character keeps having? Why is Mako's character constantly pretending he's drunk? And did Ralph Macchio and the rest of the Karate Kid cast & crew have a case against this film? PLUS: Living gods, Dan Lauria and Brian Dennehy, fight to the death! Sidekicks stars Chuck Norris, Jonathan Brandis, Beau Bridges, Julia Nickson, Mako, Joe Piscopo, Danica McKellar, Gerrit Graham, and Richard Moll; directed by Aaron Norris, brother of Chuck Norris.
The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) PG | 1h 44min | Animation, Action, Adventure | 10 February 2017 (USA) Bruce Wayne must not only deal with the criminals of Gotham City, but also the responsibility of raising a boy he adopted. Director: Chris McKay Writers: Seth Grahame-Smith (screenplay), Chris McKenna (screenplay) Stars: Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson Santa Clarita Diet TV-MA | 30min | Comedy, Horror | TV Series (2017– ) Sheila and Joel, a married couple, are real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. When Sheila dies, their lives take a dark turn. Creator: Victor Fresco Stars: Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson Used Cars (1980) R | 1h 53min | Comedy | 11 July 1980 (USA) Used Cars Poster When the owner of a struggling used car lot is killed, it's up to the lot's hot-shot salesman to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner's ruthless brother and used-car rival. Director: Robert Zemeckis Writers: Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale Stars: Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, Gerrit Graham |
The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) PG | 1h 44min | Animation, Action, Adventure | 10 February 2017 (USA) Bruce Wayne must not only deal with the criminals of Gotham City, but also the responsibility of raising a boy he adopted. Director: Chris McKay Writers: Seth Grahame-Smith (screenplay), Chris McKenna (screenplay) Stars: Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson Santa Clarita Diet TV-MA | 30min | Comedy, Horror | TV Series (2017– ) Sheila and Joel, a married couple, are real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. When Sheila dies, their lives take a dark turn. Creator: Victor Fresco Stars: Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson Used Cars (1980) R | 1h 53min | Comedy | 11 July 1980 (USA) Used Cars Poster When the owner of a struggling used car lot is killed, it's up to the lot's hot-shot salesman to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner's ruthless brother and used-car rival. Director: Robert Zemeckis Writers: Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale Stars: Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, Gerrit Graham |
We finally found a zero percent movie that deserves a fresh rating with the semi-cult classic film TerrorVision from 1986. A monster from planet Pluton comes from the TV screen to terrorize a terrible family. Can they teach it about music before it eats all of them? We ask other hard hitting questions like: How do you satirize Reaganomics? How much KY is too much KY? Is this all in the head of an autistic Child? and finally Could a film be more 1980's? Final Average ratings: 60% IMDB synopsis: A family's new satellite TV system starts receiving signals from another planet, and soon it becomes the passageway to an alien world. The film was directed by Ted Nicolau and stars Diane Franklin, Gerrit Graham, Mary Woronoc, Chad Allen, Jon Gries and Bert Remsen.
Maitland McDonagh and Bill Ackerman join Mike in discussing Donald Cammell's Demon Seed. Adapted from a book by Dean Koontz, it's the story of technology run amok. We speak to actor Gerrit Graham and Cammell scholars Rebecca and Sam Umland.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Maitland McDonagh and Bill Ackerman join Mike in discussing Donald Cammell's Demon Seed. Adapted from a book by Dean Koontz, it's the story of technology run amok. We speak to actor Gerrit Graham and Cammell scholars Rebecca and Sam Umland.
As part of our coverage of Demon Seed, Mike spoke to actor, writer, songwriter Gerrit Graham about CHUD II, Star Trek: Voyager, Used Cars, Phantom of the Paradise, Class Reunion, Home Movies, Beware! The Blob, Seinfeld, and more.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As part of our coverage of Demon Seed, Mike spoke to actor, writer, songwriter Gerrit Graham about CHUD II, Star Trek: Voyager, Used Cars, Phantom of the Paradise, Class Reunion, Home Movies, Beware! The Blob, Seinfeld, and more.
On this episode we travel back to the lot of Used Cars (1980). The Robert Zemeckis directed and Bob Gale written film starring Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, Gerrit Graham, Frank McRae, Joe Flaherty, David L. Lander, Michael McKean, and Deborah Harmon comedy about competing used car lots posed a bit of a conundrum for the Invasion team who may have bit off more than they can chew with this one. Is it still road worthy or destined for the scrap heap? Find out on the best best deal on the internet, the Invasion of the Remake Podcast!
It’s the 80s and we love shopping because it’s totally rad! The only thing better than going to the mall is working there! Like wow! In this episode Steve returns to help the guys review the robot morality tale, The Chopping Mall. Tough one to find for streaming & the rights have passed back and forth between distributors. You can buy the DVD on Amazon if you wish. For no reason whatsoever two characters from the film Eating Raoul are in the opening? One of our party girls/heroines is Kelli Maroney who is also in the 80s classic, Night of the Comet. Hey! It’s the smart kid from Head of the Class & two of the Karate Kid films. Meanwhile, Steve is lost in the lingerie department. We are fascinated by the amount of skin flicks director Jim Wynorski has made. We learn that character actor Gerrit Graham made $600 as a player in this film. Steve is enjoying the 80s hair. “8 pounds of Aqua Net.” Chris wishes that actress doing a striptease was humming “O Fortuna”. Dick Miller from Gremlins is our grumpy janitor. Certainly the key to stopping the killer robots is, “Klaatu barada nikto!” What the hell is with these lasers? How do they work? This mall has gasoline, propane, M16 rifles, auto parts and a paint store. The film within the film is Attack of the Crab Monsters and it may actually be better than this one. 1986 was a monster year for film. Short Circuit, the non-slasher robot film finished 21st above Pretty in Pink. Steve recommends Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Thank you and have a nice day. Support Film Frown on Patreon
I Will Watch Anything Once - Conversations about Movies Missed or Avoided
Cameron Rice joins me to watch Phantom of the Paradise and discuss Brian De Palma's use of homage in filmmaking and Paul Williams music influences for the films sound. IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071994/?ref_=nv_sr_1 Written and Directed by Brian De Palma Starring: William Finley, Paul Williams, Jessica Harper, and Gerrit Graham Movie Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5qVJEg3qA If you are enjoying I Will Watch Anything Once, please subscribe, rate and review on iTunes, like it on Facebook and follow IWWAO on twitter and tumblr. Remember, if you haven't seen it once you can't complain. Cameron Rice - @jurassicalien, Cameron Watch Movies Podcast, Cryclips at The Pack Theater See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The gang welcomes back comedian and friend Justin J. Case to help kick off the sequel-centric #WHMSpooktacular2014 with the genre-flopping, C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D.! What would happen if E.T. went to high school? How did Brian Robbins keep that mullet in check? And do we compensate the widows of C.H.U.D. soldiers? PLUS: We don't give you the fake C.H.U.D. box set you deserve, but we give you the fake C.H.U.D. box set you need. C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D. stars Brian Robbins, Bill Calvert, Tricia Leigh Fisher, Gerrit Graham and Robert Vaughn; directed by David Irving. And be sure to catch us on Halloween, 10/31, at the Jacob Burns Film Center's After Dark Halloween Marathon doing a live commentary to a cult classic we're very familiar with! Get tickets here and bring your friends!
Attack of the Killer Soundtrack #7 - Halloween Edition The Halloween celebration continues, and this time we bust out some awesome music! In this, the first ever horror-themed version of “Attack of the Killer Soundtrack”, we choose some music that we feel is creepy. But of course, when you are dealing with the Meltdown Gang – nothing is ever run-of-the-mill. What results is a wide spectrum of eerie music, some of which we find eerie for our own personal reasons. This is NOT your standard Halloween party mix of music! And as we adjust our candy corn fangs, we also discuss… communing with the flowers, Schoolhouse Rock, not having cable, Gerrit Graham, Jonathan Harker, as a little kid who was scared of 7-foot monkey-men, the sexual part of it comes out, Sanford and Son from Outer Space, The Muppet Movie, the unity of the community, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, Robin Thicke, paddling out into the wilderness, Kiss, wistful eeriness, The Doors, dodging a yo yo, the next day at school, creepy long fingers, the naked girl next to you, puppets, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the monster is gonna get him, moving shadows and seeing the beavers sprout. Spoiler Alert: Again we ruin "The Wicker Man" with major spoilers! You really better just see that movie. “When I was a kid… that f-ing terrified me!”
Movie Meltdown - Episode 244 This week we bring you a wrap up of our last convention of the year... Scarefest. While there we talk to actor Bruce Davison. We catch up with one of our favorite guests... Miss Danielle Harris. And maybe... just maybe there's a special appearance by none other then cinematic legend - Malcolm McDowell! Plus we feature a special bonus interview with genre favorite... Gerrit Graham! And more stories of our run-ins with Dana Ashbrook, Barry Bostwick and Sherilyn Fenn. And while we cruise in comfort down those wide aisles, we also discuss... Casa de Lucy, Brian Singer, Used Cars, 99 cent burgers, wearing a safari suit at all times, he put a big rat on my shoulder, Roseanne, gold records, an open clown workshop, Shivers, Ewan McGregor, Judge Dredd, Holliston, the politics of film distribution, it's green o'clock, Chloe Sevigny, Bud T. Chud, The Little Mermaid, Brian De Palma, playing Beef, everything is foleyed, Zach Galligan, vampire Fabio, moving into directing, a clean port-o-potty, he looked at her... like he wanted to murder her, Paul Williams, stealing and doing drugs, can we just discuss Patti and how adorable she is?, If, Winnie the Pooh, I've been hit in the head a lot, Amber Heard, Hallows Eve, Greetings, BSA motorcycles, a virtual convention, easy peasy lemon squeezy - I'm gonna end up punching that guy, Adam Green, poor Hoyt, hanging out with Corey Feldman, sweet dreams with cancer and what-not, The Lucy Lair of Lusciousness, I thought he was gonna make this one girl cry, I was young and dumb, Yakima Canutt, Leland hair, clowns and child abuse, Victor Crowley, grav3yardgirl, a ghost-hunting Care Bear, Suck, a French Lit major, pimping out genre stars, improvised for three days, I used to be beautiful!, Brad Pitt, a big Gremlins geek, port-o-pussy, Mother, Jugs and Speed, lazy criticism, Ghost of Goodnight Lane, Bob Weir, the mom/clown subplot, the gift shop's in the garage, charming with his streak of cruelty, Robert De Niro, All the Real Girls, Hatchet 3 and being adorably attacked. "...but if your going to be told how wrong you are - who better to tell you then Malcolm McDowell." For more on ScareFest go to: http://thescarefest.com/
When garbage from the planet Pluton is sent off course to Earth an alien pet with an insatiable appetite comes along with it. It ends up coming through the Putterman's new satellite dish and hilarity (and death) ensues.
The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) PG | 1h 44min | Animation, Action, Adventure | 10 February 2017 (USA) Bruce Wayne must not only deal with the criminals of Gotham City, but also the responsibility of raising a boy he adopted. Director: Chris McKay Writers: Seth Grahame-Smith (screenplay), Chris McKenna (screenplay) Stars: Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson Santa Clarita Diet TV-MA | 30min | Comedy, Horror | TV Series (2017– ) Sheila and Joel, a married couple, are real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. When Sheila dies, their lives take a dark turn. Creator: Victor Fresco Stars: Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson Used Cars (1980) R | 1h 53min | Comedy | 11 July 1980 (USA) Used Cars Poster When the owner of a struggling used car lot is killed, it's up to the lot's hot-shot salesman to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner's ruthless brother and used-car rival. Director: Robert Zemeckis Writers: Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale Stars: Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, Gerrit Graham |