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4 episodes with Jerry Zucker
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2 episodes with Jerry Zucker
2 episodes with Jerry Zucker
3 episodes with Jerry Zucker
2 episodes with Jerry Zucker
2 episodes with Jerry Zucker
2 episodes with Jerry Zucker
Let's Talk - MoviesEpisode 80: Tribute - Val Kilmer - Top Secret! (1984)Jason Connell and Sal Rodriguez pay tribute to the late iconic actor Val Kilmer in his first film role as Nick Rivers in the slapstick comedy classic, Top Secret! (1984).Val KilmerBorn: December 31, 1959Died: April 1, 2025 (65)Disclaimer: The first 15 people that listened to this episode also heard E81, which was but mistakenly attached to the file. It has since been corrected so it was an early preview for those lucky fans!Top Secret! (1984)Synopsis: An American rock and roll singer is invited to a cultural festival in East Germany in order to distract from a plot to destroy NATO submarines, but he accidentally becomes involved in a resistance plot to rescue an imprisoned scientist.Director: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry ZuckerWriter: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Martyn BurkeCinematographer: Christopher ChallisComposer: Maurice JarreCast: Val Kilmer, Omar Shariff, Jeremy Kemp, Warren Clarke, Lucy Gutteridge, Peter Cushing, Jim CarterRecorded: 04-17-24Studio: Just Curious MediaListen:BuzzsproutApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusiciHeartRadioTuneInWatch:YouTubeFollow:FacebookInstagramHosts:Jason ConnellGuest:Sal Rodriguez#justcuriousmedia #letstalkmovies #mrjasonconnell #salvadorlosangeles #cinema #classicmovies #movies #moviereviews #film #filmreviews #studios #producers #directors #writers #actors #moviestars #boxoffice #topsecretSend us a textSupport the show
Denzel Belin joins us for the end of Police Squad! and maybe also his mind.
An American rock star gets caught up in intrigue in Cold War East Germany. Or is it World War II? Nazis, Communists, whatever, right guys? Anyway, from the guys who made Airplane, it's "what if Elvis made a spy movie", and it's pretty good. Starring Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge, Omar Sharif, Michael Gough, Jeremy Kemp, and one very odd cameo from Peter Cushing. Written by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, and Martyn Burke. Directed by Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker.
This episode is so Nate! As evidenced by the appearance of Yo! That's My Jawn's Nate Runkel, sure, but also other things, like chimps (but not zebras.)
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! This is the podcast where we explore some of cinema's biggest box failures and decide if they deserve a second chance.In this week's episode, Troy and Brad take a moment to honor one of the greatest actors of all time—Val Kilmer. His passing gives the guys a chance to reflect on his remarkable career and discuss his very first film, Top Secret! Created by the brilliant minds behind classics like Airplane, Naked Gun, and the short-lived TV show Police Squad!, Top Secret! is a unique blend of an Elvis comedy, a World War II spy film, and a parody of The Blue Lagoon. Somehow, it all comes together to showcase Kilmer's incredible talent. Join the guys as they celebrate the one and only Val Kilmer.Top Secret! is directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker and stars Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge, Christopher Villiers, Billy J. Mitchell, Jeremy Kemp, Omar Sharif, and Peter Cushing.Not A Bomb has has plenty of spooky designs in our Merch store! Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check them out. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.Cast: Brad, Troy
Först ut i temat om SIR Leslie Nielsen, så har vi filmen "Airplane!" (känd som "Titta vi flyger" i Sverige) från 1980. En kultfilm som ofta benämns som en av de roligaste filmerna genom tiderna. Fylld med klassiska repliker som "I am serious... and don't call me Shirley" tillsammans med Leslie Nielsen's fantastiska deadpan-leverans så kan vi garantera att det är en film som få kommer ha tråkigt när de ser. Låt oss få veta era favoritscener och repliker från filmen! Airplane! (1980): "Ted blir den ende tillgänglige som kan flyga ett plan när besättningen drabbas av matförgiftning. Fördelen är att han är pilot. Nackdelen är att han är flygrädd sedan "Kriget". Hans ex-flickvän, flygvärdinnan Elaine, är också ombord." Superlänk med alla våra plattformar: http://linktr.ee/filmsmakarna #Airplane! #Tittaviflyger #LeslieNielsen #JimAbrahams #DavidZucker #JerryZucker
Is Hilary Woodward trying to stop Hilary Woodward from enjoying Police Squad!? This episode would be a great way to find out.
New season? Yes, it is. Well. M Squad / Police Squad! Side-By-Side Red Rock Cider
The twelfth episode of our special retrospective 20th season looks back to the awesome movie year of 1980 with our audience choice winner, the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker production Airplane!. Written and directed by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack and Lloyd Bridges, Airplane! was producer David Rosen's pick for our audience choice poll of 1980 films.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/airplane-1980), Janet Maslin in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1980/07/02/arts/screenairplanedisasterfilm-spoof.html), and Ron Pennington in The Hollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/airplane-review-1980-movie-1018276/).Visit https://www.awesomemovieyear.com for more info about the show.Make sure to like Awesome Movie Year on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear and follow us on Twitter @AwesomemoviepodYou can find Jason online at http://goforjason.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Twitter @JHarrisComedyYou can find Josh online at http://joshbellhateseverything.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joshbellhateseverything/ and on Twitter @signalbleedYou can find our producer David Rosen's Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod and the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook Group at
Patreon Justin has picked some gems and corkers before, like Blood Simple and Hard Eight, and this time he's chosen the little known 1992 comedy, Brain Donors."Brain Donors" was produced during a time when Hollywood was revisiting and paying homage to classic comedy styles, and its production was heavily influenced by the desire to recreate the Marx Brothers' iconic brand of humor. The film was written by Pat Proft, known for his work on the "Naked Gun" series, and produced by David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, and Jim Abrahams, the trio behind many successful comedies of the 1980s. Their involvement ensured that the film would be packed with rapid-fire jokes, slapstick, and absurdity, staying true to the spirit of the Marx Brothers while adding a modern twist. The project was initially conceived as a direct tribute to the Marx Brothers, with the working title "Lame Ducks," and the characters were loosely based on Groucho, Chico, and Harpo Marx.John Turturro, who played the Groucho-esque character Jacques, was a standout in the cast, bringing his unique energy and comedic timing to the role. The production faced challenges in balancing the homage to classic comedy with appealing to contemporary audiences, which led to mixed reactions upon its release. Despite its star-studded creative team and ambitious vision, the film struggled at the box office, partly due to limited marketing and the niche appeal of its humor. However, over time, "Brain Donors" has garnered a cult following, appreciated for its commitment to reviving the chaotic, irreverent spirit of the Marx Brothers. The making of the film reflects a passionate attempt to honor a bygone era of comedy, even if it didn't achieve mainstream success.If you enjoy the show we have a Patreon, so become a supporter.www.patreon.com/thevhsstrikesbackPlot SummaryRoland T Flakfixer, Jacques and Rocco, a trio of eccentric misfits, are hired by the wealthy widow Lillian Oglethorpe to establish a ballet company in honor of her late husband. Their mission quickly spirals into a series of absurd misadventures as they clash with the snobbish elite, outwit a scheming lawyer named Edmund Lazlo , and attempt to pull off a grand ballet performance.thevhsstrikesback@gmail.comhttps://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback
This is part of a series about overlooked movies from 2005. ***Referenced media:“Michael Clayton” (Tony Gilroy, 2007)“Up in the Air” (Jason Reitman, 2009)“Good Night, and Good Luck.” (George Clooney, 2005)“The Big Short” (Adam McKay, 2015)“The Godfather” (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)“The Godfather: Part II” (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)“Traffik” (Simon Moore, 1989)“Traffic” (Steven Soderbergh, 2000)“Paradise Now” (Hany Abu-Assad, 2005)“United 93” (Paul Greengrass, 2006)“Thank You for Smoking” (Jason Reitman, 2005)“Kick-Ass” (Matthew Vaughn, 2010)“Airplane!” (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, 1980)“The Constant Gardener” (Fernando Meirelles, 2005)“Everything Is Illuminated” (Liev Schreiber, 2005)“A History of Violence” (David Cronenberg, 2005)“Capote” (Bennett Miller, 2005)“North Country” (Niki Caro, 2005)“Jarhead” (Sam Mendes, 2005)“Walk the Line” (James Mangold, 2005)“Rent” (Chris Columbus, 2005)“The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada” (Tommy Lee Jones, 2005)“Munich” (Steven Spielberg, 2005)“The New World” (Terence Malick, 2005)Audio quotation:“Syriana” (Stephen Gaghan, 2005)
The great Jon Lovitz talks about comedy, acting, stand-up comedy, dogs, The Groundlings, Managers, A league of Their Own, The Simpsons, The Critic, and the serendipity of show business. Bio: Jon Lovitz has been one of the best known comedians for the last thirty years. He got his start acting in High School plays and developing his skills at the University of California, Irvine where he earned a B.A. in Drama. He also studied acting with Tony Barr at the Film Actors Workshop. At the advice of Tony Barr, Jon decided to concentrate solely on comedy. He began taking classes with the famous improv comedy group, “The Groundlings” in 1982. One year later, after being accepted into “The Sunday Company”, Jon got his first acting job on the television show “The Paper Chase: the Second Year”. Thinking he was on his way, he promptly quit his job at a clothing store…and became a messenger. The next three years – nothing!!! Then, in September of 1984, he was accepted into the main company at “The Groundlings”.On March 28, 1985, “The Groundlings” appeared on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” where Jon premiered his character “Tommy Flanagan of Pathological Liars Anonymous”. Following the introduction of this persona, Jon got an agent, and booked a movie, a series, a voice over for a cartoon, and “Saturday Night Live”. Jon has been working non-stop since. He was nominated for an Emmy his first two years on “Saturday Night Live”. While on SNL, he became known for his characters “Tommy Flanagan of the Pathological Liars Anonymous” (“Year, that's the ticket”), “Master Thespian”, “Hanukkah Harry”, and “the Devil”. He has appeared in over 40 films, including “Big”, “A League of Their Own”, “The Wedding Singer”, “High School High”, “Small Time Crooks”, “Rat Race”, “The Producers”, “Eight Crazy Nights”, “The Benchwarmers”, “Grown Ups 2”, “The Ridiculous 6”, among many others. He has also worked with acclaimed directors such as Penny Marshall, Rob Reiner, Jerry Zucker, and Woody Allen. He one of a handful of actors used regularly in almost all his movies by Adam Sandler.This year, in 2024, he just completed the lead character in the film “The Toast” and will be appearing in “Happy Gilmore 2” starring Adam Sandler.Along with his comedy, Jon is well known for his distinctive voice. He was the lead voice for the character “Jay Sherman” in the acclaimed cult cartoon series, “The Critic”. He has also appeared in twelve episodes of “The Simpsons”, even creating the character of Marge Simpson's boyfriend, “Artie Ziff” (who sounds suspiciously like Jay Sherman). Jon has also appeared on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre in Neil Simon's play “The Dinner Party”, taking over the lead role from Henry Winkler. He has sung (yes, he can sing!) at Carnegie Hall three times (including “Great Performances: Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall) and sung the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium and the U.S. Open. He also sang with English rock star, Robbie Williams at the Royal Alpert Hall and appears on his album, “Swing While You're Winning!”He currently is performing his new musical comedy show, “From the Shower to the Stage” with celebrated musical conductor and arranger, Randy Waldman. Randy has been Barbra Streisand's personal pianist for the last 36 years and is her current musical conductor as well.Jon has also had an illustrious television career. He was the first famous guest star on the hit show “Friends”. In the same week, he appeared on an episode of Seinfeld. Jon also has had recurring roles on “Hot in Cleveland”, “Las Vegas”, “Two and a Half Men”, “Hawaii Five-O”, and “New Girl”.Editing Notes: Jon Lovitz episode seem to go on and on. Jon won't stop talking. Interested in how you think it is. I think I talk too much about wanting to have sex with Kate Upton. I do it TWICE. (Kate Upton might not be famous anymore) Funny? If not, feel free to cut it.
Conocida como Super secreto en Hispanoamérica. 'Top Secret!' es una película estadounidense filmada en 1984, interpretada por Val Kilmer (en su primer largometraje), Lucy Gutteridge, Omar Sharif, Peter Cushing, entre otros, y dirigida por David Zucker, Jim Abrahams y Jerry Zucker. La película es una parodia de los musicales protagonizados por Elvis Presley y las películas de espías de la época de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Parodies are a lost art. What better way to dig in than putting two classics against each other (both starring Leslie Nielsen). We have David and Jerry Zucker's 1980 classic “Airplane!” Vs. David Zucker's 1988 “The Naked Gun”. Which one wins? Let's see! LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE.
Com o desafio de criar uma lista de sugestões de 15 filmes que (quase) ninguém viu, mas devia ver, a Mónica Moreira, o Miguel Tomar Nogueira e o Ricardo Correia escolheram 5 filmes cada, e a lista é a seguinte: 1 - "The Field", Jim Sheridan (1990) 2 - "La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano", Giuseppe Tornatore (1998) 3 - "Everything is illuminated", Liev Shreiber (2005) 4 - "Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada", Tommy Lee Jones (2005) 5 - "Et maintenant on va où?", Nadine Labaki (2011) 6 - “Top Secret!”, David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker (1984) 7 - “Wings of Desire”, Wim Wenders (1987) 8 - “Naked Lunch”, David Cronenberg (1991) 9 - “Dark City”, Alex Proyas (1998) 10 - “A Bittersweet Life”, Kim Jee-woon (2005) 11 - “Hedwig and The Angry Inch”, John Cameron Mitchell (2001) 12 - “In America”, Jim Sheridan (2002) 13 - “The Tree of Life”, Terrence Malick (2011) 14 - “Jagten/The Hunt”, Thomas Vinterberg (2012) 15 - “Relatos Salvajes”, Damián Szifron (2014) Música utilizada: naked Lunch, de Howard Shore.
David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, and Jim Abrahams, directors of “Airplane!” and authors of “Surely You Can’t Be Serious,” join John Landecker to talk about the creation of the movie, the movie, the book they wrote, and more!
The most rented video of 1991 came out the year previous in cinemas and is this week's pick for Dave. "Ghost" (1990) was a collaborative effort that blended romance, supernatural elements, and drama to create a timeless film. Directed by Jerry Zucker, known primarily for his work in comedy, the film marked a significant shift in his career. The screenplay, written by Bruce Joel Rubin, provided a compelling narrative that combined love and mystery, which attracted a strong cast including Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg. Swayze played Sam Wheat, a banker who is murdered and becomes a ghost, while Moore portrayed his grieving girlfriend, Molly Jensen. Goldberg's role as Oda Mae Brown, a psychic who helps Sam communicate with Molly, brought both comedic relief and emotional depth to the film. Her performance was particularly notable, earning her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Filming took place in various locations around New York City, capturing the vibrant and sometimes eerie backdrop that added to the film's atmospheric tension. The production faced challenges, particularly in creating believable special effects for the ghostly sequences. The use of then-state-of-the-art visual effects, combined with practical effects and creative cinematography by Adam Greenberg, helped bring the supernatural elements to life. The iconic scene featuring the Righteous Brothers' song "Unchained Melody" during a pottery-making session between Swayze and Moore became one of the most memorable moments in cinematic history. "Ghost" was released to critical and commercial success, grossing over $500 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film of 1990. Its unique blend of genres and strong performances have ensured its lasting legacy. If you enjoy the show we have a Patreon, so become a supporter. www.patreon.com/thevhsstrikesback Plot Summary: After an act of violence claims the life of Sam Wheat, his spirit remains tethered to the mortal realm, driven by an unyielding love for his bereaved partner, Molly Jensen. As Sam grapples with his newfound ethereal existence, he uncovers a nefarious plot behind his untimely demise. With the unlikely assistance of the vivacious and reluctant psychic, Oda Mae Brown, Sam endeavors to protect Molly from impending peril. thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thevhsstrikesback/support
Welcome back to Born to Watch, where we dive deep into the movies that have shaped our lives and the world of cinema. This week, we continue our Demi Moore Double Shot with a look at the 1990 supernatural romantic thriller, "Ghost." Directed by Jerry Zucker, "Ghost" has left an indelible mark on pop culture and remains a beloved classic. So, let's delve into the elements that make this film so unforgettable.Cinematography and Visuals"Ghost" is a visually stunning film that masterfully blends the ethereal with the everyday. The cinematography by Adam Greenberg captures the stark contrast between the vibrant life of New York City and the eerie, spectral world that Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) finds himself in after his untimely death. The film's lighting is particularly noteworthy; the scenes involving the ghosts are often bathed in a soft, otherworldly glow that enhances the supernatural elements without overwhelming the viewer.One of the most iconic visual sequences is the pottery wheel scene. The intimate, tactile nature of pottery-making, coupled with Sam's ghostly presence, creates a hauntingly beautiful moment that has been parodied and referenced countless times in popular culture. The use of practical effects, especially the translucent, glowing appearances of the ghosts, still holds up remarkably well and adds to the film's charm.Storytelling and Themes"Ghost" is a love story at its core, but it transcends the boundaries of life and death. The screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin perfectly blends romance, suspense, and supernatural elements. The narrative follows Sam Wheat, a banker who is murdered and becomes a ghost, unable to move on because of his deep love for his girlfriend, Molly Jensen (Demi Moore), and his need to protect her from danger.The film expertly weaves together themes of love, loss, and justice. Sam's journey from shock and confusion to acceptance and action is compelling, and his undying love for Molly is the emotional anchor of the story. The subplot involving Carl Bruner (Tony Goldwyn), Sam's treacherous friend, adds a layer of suspense and betrayal that keeps the audience on edge.One of the film's most profound themes is the idea of unfinished business and the quest for closure. Sam's interactions with other spirits, particularly the subway ghost (Vincent Schiavelli), highlight how people handle their unresolved issues. The film's resolution, with Sam finding peace and saying a final goodbye to Molly, is both heart-wrenching and uplifting.Character Development and PerformancesThe performances in "Ghost" are nothing short of stellar. Patrick Swayze delivers one of his best performances as Sam Wheat, capturing the character's desperation, determination, and undying love. Swayze's chemistry with Demi Moore is palpable, making their on-screen relationship believable and deeply moving.Demi Moore shines as Molly Jensen, bringing a perfect blend of vulnerability and strength to the role. Her portrayal of grief is raw and realistic, and her gradual acceptance of Sam's presence is beautifully handled. Moore's performance ensures that Molly is not just a damsel in distress but a fully realised character who finds her strength through her love for Sam.However, Whoopi Goldberg's performance as Oda Mae Brown steals the show. As a fraudulent psychic who suddenly finds herself genuinely communicating with the dead, Goldberg brings much-needed comic relief and heart to the film. Her scenes with Swayze are some of the film's highlights, and her transformation from a con artist to a true medium is humorous and touching. Goldberg's performance earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a testament to her outstanding work in the film.Historical and Cultural SignificanceUpon its release, "Ghost" was a box office phenomenon, grossing over $505 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film of 1990. Its success was a testament not only to its compelling story and strong performances but also to its universal themes of love and loss, which resonated with audiences around the world.The film's impact on popular culture is undeniable. The pottery scene set to The Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody" has become one of the most iconic moments in cinematic history. The film also brought the supernatural romance genre into the mainstream, paving the way for future films that explore similar themes."Ghost" also significantly influenced the portrayal of psychics and the afterlife in media. Whoopi Goldberg's Oda Mae Brown became a cultural icon, and the film's depiction of the afterlife as a place where spirits linger until they find peace has been echoed in subsequent films and TV shows.Relevance to Pop CultureEven decades after its release, "Ghost" holds a special place in pop culture. The film is often referenced and parodied, from sitcoms like "Friends" to movies like "Scary Movie 2." Its themes of undying love and the afterlife remain relevant, and its influence can be seen in a wide range of romantic and supernatural films that followed.The film's legacy is also evident in its adaptations. "Ghost: The Musical," premiered in 2011, brought the story to the stage with new songs and a fresh take on the beloved classic. The musical has enjoyed success in both the West End and Broadway, further cementing "Ghost's" enduring appeal."Ghost" is a timeless classic that masterfully combines romance, suspense, and supernatural elements into a compelling and emotionally resonant story. The film's strong performances, particularly by Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg, its stunning visuals, and its universal themes of love and loss have ensured its place in the pantheon of great films.As we continue our Demi Moore Double Shot on Born to Watch, "Ghost" is a perfect example of why Moore remains an enduring and beloved figure in Hollywood. Her performance and the film's lasting impact make "Ghost" a must-watch for any cinema fan. So, grab some tissues, sit back, and let yourself be swept away by this hauntingly beautiful tale of love that transcends time.Please follow the Podcast and join our community at https://linktr.ee/borntowatchpodcasthttps://www.borntowatch.com.au/
Director David Leitch discusses his new film, The Fall Guy, with fellow Director Jerry Zucker in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses striking a balance with the tension between jokes and action sequences, working with his actors to allow space for improvisation, and filming a meta-narrative feature that reveals how the magic tricks of movie stunts are accomplished. The film tells the story of Colt, a stuntman trying to win back his ex-girlfriend while recovering from a nearly career-ending accident. But after the star of her movie disappears, he'll have to search for the missing actor, solve a conspiracy and try to win back the love of his life, all while getting beat up at his day job. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/July2024/FallGuy_QnA_0524
You will believe, as the hosts dances to the Righteous Brothers's Unchained Melody and communicate to the spiritual side while they continue their new season format to review the 1990 blockbuster spooky romance, Ghost, starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, and directed Jerry Zucker. The film that still impacts generations of movie cinema was a phenomenon pop culture back in the 90's and during its time was the third highest-grossing movie of all time. The hosts paired the film with the Drunk Ghost Cocktail. So join the hosts as they explore the supernatural and celebrate this timeless romantic classic. Come listen and follow us on Instagram @the.gentlemenpodcast and our website thegentlemenpodcast.com
Today's poem is At My Funeral by Hélène Cardona.The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Major writes… “Ultimately, we do not know the experience of dying. We can only imagine. Artists, though, have fun playing with the mystery of what happens when we transition to no longer walking the earth in the flesh. From the Jerry Zucker movie “Ghost” to Dylan Thomas's poem “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night,” I have found special comfort in works that find a boldness in facing the inevitable.” Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp
What happens when you combine the directing trio (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker) behind the spoof smash Airplane , the on-screen debut of one of the beloved movie stars of his generation (Val Kilmer), one of the most acclaimed actors/movie stars of HIS generation (Omar Shariff), satire focusing on World War II spy dramas, musical numbers satirizing Elvis road comedies, one underwater Western saloon fight, AND one extended sequence playing on misperceptions of the Swedish language?? The result is one genuinely wacky comedy which came out just under forty years ago and there has been nothing like it since then. Also co-starring Lucy Gutteridge, Peter Cushing, and Michael Gough, it's time to go skeet surfing OR straighten the rug.....OR to shop at Macy's? :o Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon https://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/
David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker – together they created some truly classic comedies: Airplane!, Top Secret, and The Naked Gun. They recently wrote a book called Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!. We've got Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker on the latest episodes to talk about the book and the rules of comedy. They also dive into why they cast Leslie Nielsen in their projects and what it was like to work with him.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
We are joined by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, better known as the ZAZ team. And while we continue our deep dive into the making of “Airplane!,” we also discuss “Top Secret!,” “Police Squad,” “The Naked Gun” and – of course! – “Ghost,” which was directed by Jerry and became a phenomenon. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll question every decision you've ever made! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We are really joined by The Directors this week – directors Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, otherwise known as ZAZ. This week we dive deep into the making of their immortal comedy classic “Airplane!.” Learn about the movie's connection to “Mission: Impossible” and so much more. It's a gas! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa embrace a soap opera in the sky.***Referenced media:“Airplane!” (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, 1980)“Zero Hour!” (Hall Bartlett, 1957)“One on Top of the Other” (Lucio Fulci, 1969)“Stunt Rock” (Brian Trenchard-Smith, 1978)“The Twilight Zone” (Rod Serling, 1959-1964)“An Officer and a Gentleman” (Taylor Hackford, 1982)“All the President's Men” (Alan J. Pakula, 1976)“Hud” (Martin Ritt, 1963)“Cool Hand Luke” (Stuart Rosenberg, 1967)“M*A*S*H” (Robert Altman, 1970)“Patton” (Franklin L. Schaffner, 1970)“Zabriskie Point” (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1970)“The Boys in the Band” (William Friedkin, 1970)“The Ballad of Cable Hogue” (Sam Peckinpah, 1970)“The Liberation of L.B. Jones” (William Wyler, 1970)“Woodstock” (Michael Wadleigh, 1970)“Waterloo” (Sergei Bondarchuk, 1970)“Hi, Mom!” (Brian De Palma, 1970)“Greetings” (Brian De Palma, 1968)“A Man Called Horse” (Elliot Silverstein, 1970)“Let It Be” (Michael Lindsay-Hogg, 1970)“Beneath the Planet of the Apes” (Ted Post, 1970)“Cotton Comes to Harlem” (Ossie Davis, 1970)“The Out-of-Towners” (Arthur Hiller, 1970)“Watermelon Man” (Melvin Van Peebles, 1970)“Two Mules for Sister Sara” (Don Siegel, 1970)“Crimes of the Future” (David Cronenberg, 1970)“Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” (Russ Meyer, 1970)“Catch-22” (Mike Nichols, 1970)“Myra Breckinridge” (Michael Sarne, 1970)“Perry Mason” (Gail Patrick Jackson, 1957-1966)Audio quotation:“Airport” (George Seaton, 1970), including “Airport Love Theme”, “Airport (Main Title)”, “Joe Patroni Plane or Plows?”, “Ada Quonsett, Stowaway”, “Inez-Lost Forever”, and “Airport (End Title)”, written by Alfred Newman, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBQzJzvVCvI&list=PLkAUJkbhd-RhBK5_wKcr55aTy2erljUve&index=1Trailer for re-release of “Stunt Rock” (Brian Trenchard-Smith, 1978), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OkXef2leWA
The voice of the NYC Subway Bernie Wagenblast (Cranford Radio, ITE Talks Transportation) and the lads conquer their drinking problems and call each other Shirley as they cover the Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker comedy blockbuster Airplane!. Topics include the film's incredible joke variety, the brilliance of Leslie Nielson, and what it means to like gladiator movies and to have seen a grown man naked in the year of our lord 2024. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Bernie Wagenblast: Twitter // Instagram // TikTok Cranford Radio presents the sounds and voices of Cranford, New Jersey. Hosted by Bernie Wagenblast. Available on Apple Podcasts // Spotify ITE Talks Transportation is a collaboration between ITE and Bernie Wagenblast, founder and editor of the Transportation Communication Newsletter and host of Transportation Radio. Each month, a new podcast features a thought leader within the transportation industry. In keeping with #transportationtuesday, a new episode will be available the 4th Tuesday of every month. Available on Apple Podcasts // Spotify The Stream by AASHTO explores environmental topics important to people involved in transportation and infrastructure programs. Available on Apple Podcasts // Spotify The Transport Communications Newsletter Media Referenced in this Episode: Airplane! Dir. by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker. Paramount Pictures. 1980. Bernie Wagenblast, the voice of NYC subways, finding her true voice after sharing her transition by CBS. "Finger Flickin' Funny" by Rich Markey. UW Alumni Magazine, Spring 2007. “How We Made: Airplane!” by Simon Bland. The Guardian. May 25th, 2020. “Short Takes : Airport Announcer Is No Star” by the Los Angeles Times. Jan. 7th. 1991. Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! by David Zuker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zuker. St. Martin's Publishing Group. 2023. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com
"Surely You Can't Be Serious, The True Story of Airplane!" is the name of a new book by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker - the trio who wrote and directed "Airplane!"The book tells the true story of the 1980 hit comedy, the first-ever oral history of the making of Airplane! by the creators, and of the beginnings of the ZAZ trio (Zucker, Abrahams, Zucker) – charting the rise of their comedy troupe Kentucky Fried Theater in Madison, Wisconsin all the way to premiere night.Four decades after its release, "Airplane!" continues to make new generations laugh. Its many one-liners and visual gags have worked their way into the mainstream culture. We are joined by the ZA is ZAZ – David Zucker and Jim Abrahams.
In this episode, Jeffrey and Kait discuss his growing up in the South and starting his career young at the Carolina Ice Palace, the incredible legacy his parents bestowed on him, and lessons learned while being a young entrepreneur in hospitality. We talk about his work in cannabis, as well as his advocacy work in drug policy and criminal justice reform. We also cover his goals for this podcast and his forthcoming movie, The Late Game…episode 2 coming next week. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hC3BlY5QvKA Learn more: Host: Kait Grey Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 9/6/23 Personal: https://www.instagram.com/jeffzucker/ https://x.com/jeffzucker https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyzucker/ Companies: https://www.instagram.com/peoplearetheanswer/ https://www.instagram.com/dipdevices/ http://peoplearetheanswer.com http://saltshaker.com http://greenlionpartners.com https://www.bigsmits.com/ https://dipdevices.com/ https://www.thelategame.com/ TLG Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFVjH5SsQyc Other resources: https://www.mpp.org/ https://ssdp.org/ https://maps.org/about-maps/ https://rocketclub.com/ Ep 60 - Aloe Blacc - https://youtu.be/d4MqLu2WrKc?si=iKJtJP7HfUjHjyJz Fat Cuz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fw-kjbfGfo Bio: Jeffrey M. Zucker is a serial entrepreneur born and raised in Charleston, SC and currently living in Denver, CO. He graduated from Boston University's Questrom School of Business, where he founded multiple successful real estate businesses through Saltshaker Holdings, the operating company he founded and runs as President and CEO. Jeffrey's other endeavors include film production, cannabis, hospitality, tech, and more. His notable companies include Green Lion Partners and Big Smits Entertainment. Additionally, Jeffrey, who serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of the Marijuana Policy Project, is a philanthropist in the areas of Drug Policy and Criminal Justice Reform, healthcare, and education. His business decisions are determined not only based upon making a profit, but also—inspired by his late father's mission of Tikkun Olam (repair the world)—with the goal of improving the lives of others as much as possible. Additionally, Jeffrey hosts the podcast People are the Answer where he interviews innovators in social impact. Jeffrey is happy to get involved with projects, people, and ideas in which he believes. His business decisions are determined not only based upon making a profit, but also—inspired by his late father's mission of Tikkun Olam (repair of the world)—with the goal of improving the lives of others as much as possible. Episode 1 Chapters: 0:00 - Cannabis Consumption 4:12 - Intro 8:38 - Importance of Giving Back 11:50 - Jerry Zucker 16:15 - Early Career 23:22 - Carolina Ice Palace 30:03 - Education 37:08 - Internships 53:22 - Hodara Property Management 57:34 - Pizza Persona 1:10:00 - The InterTech Group 1:13:02 - Leaflist & the Cannabis Industry
My guests today are film directors, producers and screenwriters David and Jerry Zucker. David and Jerry have collaborating on several movies, including The Naked Gun and Airplane! We talk about their careers, and new book “Surely You Can't Be Serious” during this episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: How were you both […]
On the Saturday December 30, 2023 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we have at two movies to end your year with a smile. First, we'll meet Jon Heder, Jon Gries and Efren Ramirez, the stars of “Napoleon Dynamite,” the movie Jim Carrey said “changed comedy movies.” The story of a listless and alienated teenager who decides to help his new friend Pedro win the class presidency in their small western high school, while dealing with his bizarre family life back home, is one of the most quoted movies of all time. We go deep on the legacy of the movie. Then, I welcome brothers David and Jerry Zucker, and Jim Abrahams, the writers and co-directors of “Airplane!,” the 1980 hit spoof about which David Letterman said, “film comedy became different after that movie.” the Zuckers and Abrahams have a new book, “Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!,” available now wherever you buy fine books, will stop by in just a bit to tell all about the making of the movie and the film's lasting impact.
[00:00:00] Michael Allen [00:18:25] Peter Savodnik [00:36:47] Chris Christie [00:55:10] Gov. Chris Sununu [01:20:25] David & Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Steve interviews "Airplane" co-writer and co-director David Zucker, who, with his two partners Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, has written a terrific new book, "Surely You Can't be Serious: The True Story of 'Airplane.'
Hosted by Andrew Quinn and Darren Mooney, and this week with special guests Jenn Gannon and Jason Coyle, The 250 is a weekly trip through some of the best (and worst) movies ever made, as voted for by Internet Movie Database Users. New episodes are released Saturdays at 6pm GMT. So this week, Jerry Zucker's Ghost. Sam and Molly live a seemingly idyllic existence in New York city. Sam is an investment banker, Molly is a sculptor. However, a freak accident disrupts their seemingly perfect lives, leaving the pair separated across the mortal plane. Can the two find a way to reconnect across the void and can Sam finally telly Molly what she truly means to him before it's too late? At time of recording, it was not ranked on the list of the best movies of all time on the Internet Movie Database.
The Spandex King of L.A. is delighted when his wife is kidnapped by two bumbling criminals, less so when he's blackmailed by two even more incompent criminals. It's "The Ransom of Red Chief" in high 1980s Memphis-Milano decor. Starring Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold, Helen Slater, Anita Morris, and Bill Pullman. Directed by Jim Abrams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. Written by Dale Launer.
In conversation with comedian and author James "Murr" Murray Surely You Can't Be Serious is a behind-the-scenes making-of oral history of the 1980 comedy classic Airplane!, as told by its equally legendary writers and directors David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker. Featuring anecdotes by the film's stars, it also delves into the making of fan-favorite scenes and the organic (read: pre-Internet) evolution toward its place in the pop culture pantheon. Zucker and company, also the auteurs of the cultishly adored Kentucky Fried Movie and Top Secret!, each branched out into further film success. Zucker himself went on to direct a plethora of film comedies, including The Naked Gun franchise, BASEketball, Scary Movie 3 & 4, and many others, as well as writing and producing Scary Movie 5. He is also the author of the memoir Before the Invention of Smiling, an unconventional version of his family history. What can we make out of his books? Well, we can make a hat, or a brooch, or a pterodactyl.... James Murray is one of the hosts of the long-running and popular TruTV improv program Impractical Jokers. Also the co-author of the Awakened and Area 51 Interns series of sci-fi novels, he has toured solo as a standup comedian, starred in TBS's The Misery Index, and appeared in numerous other television shows and films. Because you love Author Events, please make a donation to keep our podcasts free for everyone. THANK YOU! (recorded 10/23/2023)
Episode 729 - David Zucker & Jim Abrahams are First Class Fathers, Writers and Directors of Airplane! Airplane is a cult comedy classic movie made by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker. Jim and David join me on First Class Fatherhood today to discuss their new book, Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! Surely You Can't Be Serious is an in-depth and hysterical look at the making of 1980's comedy classic Airplane! by the legendary writers and directors of the hit film. Jim and David share their Fatherhood journey's and discuss the process of making the movie that would go on to become one of the greatest comedy movies of all time. They describe what it was like working with legendary actors such as Leslie Nielsen and how they got Kareem Abdul Jabar to star in the film. Jim Abrahams talks about his work to bring awareness to the epidemic of epilepsy, which his son has suffered through for many years. They offer advice to aspiring filmmakers and give some great advice for new or soon-to-be dads. Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! - https://a.co/d/ewDWaSI First Class Fatherhood: Advice and Wisdom from High-Profile Dads - https://bit.ly/36XpXNp Watch First Class Fatherhood on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCD6cjYptutjJWYlM0Kk6cQ?sub_confirmation=1 More Ways To Listen - https://linktr.ee/alec_lace Follow me on instagram - https://instagram.com/alec_lace?igshid=ebfecg0yvbap For information about becoming a Sponsor of First Class Fatherhood please hit me with an email: AlecLace@FirstClassFatherhood.com
Four decades after its release, Airplane! continues to make new generations laugh. We talk with the classic film's three writers and directors - and Wisconsin natives - David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker about the making of the movie.
CA now has a law that prevents teachers from disciplining kids who disrupt school classrooms… Nobody spoke about a “cycle of violence” during World War II. Why do we speak about it now? Isn't the question, who started the war? Dennis takes a break from the news to talk to David Zucker, Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, the writers and directors of the classic comedy Airplane! Their new book is Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! Dennis encourages his listeners not to despair. We can't afford it… There has been some real soul-searching by liberals. Hamas is not about freedom; it's about killing Jews… Dennis talks to Aryeh Leifert, a senior editor at PragerU based in Jerusalem. He's also a certified Israel Tour guide. Thanks for listening to the Daily Dennis Prager Podcast. To hear the entire three hours of my radio show as a podcast, commercial-free every single day, become a member of Pragertopia. You'll also get access to 15 years' worth of archives, as well as daily show prep. Subscribe today at Pragertopia dot com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Surely You Can't be Serious - heard that before? Surely you have, if you have seen the movie Airplane! Made in 1980. The incredibly successful and popular movie was the brainchild of three guys from Milwaukee - then in their twenties - David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker. They called themselves ZAZ. And, improbably, they got their movie made against all odds. They admit they didn't have the slightest idea how to make a movie. Much less direct it. Much less convince Hollywood executives to invest in it. But they did and the rest is history and not to mention, a very funny book, just released. Surely You Can't be Serious is the story behind the story of one of the funniest movies ever made. Books mentioned in this week's podcast: Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro Ketogenic Diets: Treatments for Epilepsy and Other Disorders by Jon Freeman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, I'm thrilled to be joined by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker to discuss their new oral history, Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! In this episode we discuss, among other topics, what set the ZAZ style apart from other titans of the 1970s/1980s comedy boom, how the serious actors on set nailed their deadpan comic patter, trying to nail comic timing in test screenings that weren't generating many laughs, and how Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Eisner helped change the face of comedy by championing the movie during their tenure at Paramount. I cannot recommend this book enough if you love Airplane! and it'd make a great gift for the person in your life who never stops telling you they picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue. If you enjoyed this episode please share it with a friend!
Daniel and Harry are joined by comedian Eli Lebowicz to discuss the 1980 film "Airplane!" directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker.They discuss the film's layered, Talmudic approach to humor, uncover the Biblical origins of Jewish sarcasm, and consider how much longer the famous Jewish athletes leaflet would be in 2023!As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.Airplane! on IMdb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080339/Airplane! Trailer - https://youtu.be/JWNBROLN8OcConnect with Eli LeibowiczTwitter - https://twitter.com/EliLebowiczWebsite - http://www.elicomedy.com/Connect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod
Shirley, we are completely serious. The writer-director stops by for a rare interview about the making of two classics — one, a broad comedy, the other a supernatural romance that made pottery and the afterlife hot.
Joey, have you ever been in a... in a Turkish prison?Hey there, nice dudes! Thanks for stopping by and tuning into our podcast. Today we cover a very very highly requested movie for us to react to, Airplane! directed by David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, and Jim Abrahams, also starring Leslie Nielsen!We discuss our hesitance to cover this movie in podcast form, our subtle regret of watching it and not reacting to it on video, along with what we consider to be perfect spoof movies (or what Chris calls "f*ck you movies"). Then we get lots of the giggles out and cover our favorite and underappreciated quotes and jokes!Support the showPodcast theme song by Jaron Jon - https://www.instagram.com/jaron.jon/REACTION CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/nicedudemovienightVIDEO PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/@nicedudemoviepodcastMERCH: https://nicedudemovienight.com/PATREON (early access, exclusive podcasts and polls): https://www.patreon.com/nicedudemovienightTWITTER: https://twitter.com/nicedudemoviesINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/nicedudemovienightBUSINESS INQUIRIES: nicedudemovienight@thestation.io
"The Naked Gun" movies were huge in the late '80s to mid '90s but what most people don't know is that we first met Detective Frank Drebin years prior with the short lived show "Police Squad!". Police Squad! is a classic comedy television series that originally aired in 1982. Created by the renowned duo Jim Abrahams and brothers David and Jerry Zucker, the show parodies the popular police procedural genre. Starring Leslie Nielsen as the bumbling and clueless Detective Frank Drebin, the series follows his misadventures as he tries to solve various crimes alongside his eccentric colleagues. Known for its rapid-fire sight gags, slapstick humor, and absurd wordplay, "Police Squad!" embraces a zany and irreverent style of comedy. Despite its critical acclaim and loyal fanbase, the show was met with an early demise, with only six episodes produced. Will the S1E1 boys agree with the network's decision to end this show early? Listen as they deep dive Police Squad's pilot episode, "A Substantial Gift (The Broken Promise)" www.S1E1POD.com Starring: Leslie Nielsen, Alan North, Rex Hamilton, Lorne Greene, & Kathryn Leigh Scott Instagram & Twitter: @S1E1POD
Today's episode Matthew and Nort review the movie Airplane! (alternatively titled Flying High!) is a 1980 American comedy film written and directed by the brothers David and Jerry Zucker, and Jim Abrahams in their directorial debuts, and produced by Jon Davison. Grab some popcorn, crack open a sody pop, and sit down for some movie talk every other Thursday on The Encounter Co Network. We are a comedy movie review podcast where Matthew & Nort take turns watching and reviewing a movie the other host has not seen. They go over the entire plot with spoilers and discuss how they feel about the film. They also talk about fun facts, box office, actors, and how the movie impacted us. Join our Patreon to support the show and get ad-free podcast episodes, get access to a secret podcast called Flight School where we watch and review the pilots of TV shows! The TV shows are voted on by the Patrons. You get all of that for the low price of $5! Sources for this episode: Sources Support the lovely people who created stuff for the show: Art by: Meraki2019 Deep Voice by: Marlar Intro music by: Ozeyzin We are a part of The Encounter Co. network! Check out all the other awesome shows on the network! Check it out here! Follow us on Twitter at: Show: @SYFWPod Nort's Twitter: @NortSauwce Other Socials: Instagram: Soyoufinallywatchedpod Tik Tok: Syfwpodcast YouTube: So, You Finally Watched Podcast If you liked the show be sure to leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify so we can get the word out about our show! Also tell a friend or two! Thanks for listening! Nort has another podcast with his co-host and wife Anna called Reading isn't for Kids! The pair review and discuss children chapter books, YA books, and sometimes comics. Check it out here! If you want to check out Nort's actual play podcast click this link! The show is called Grim Encounters and it is a campy horror actual play podcast using the Chill 3rd Edition ruleset. Best place to start is Season 1 or Season 2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) vs. Batman (1989), Ghost (1990) vs. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)… Only two can advance. This week the boys continue their Summer Blockbuster Face-Off, the challenge to determine once and for all what the greatest summer blockbuster of all time! We take the highest grossing *summer* movie of every year from 1980-2019 (plus Jaws and Star Wars), and we have them battle to the death until only one remains! Our first two episodes were a doozy: Empire beat Raiders, E.T. beat Jedi, Back to the Future beat Ghostbusters, and Top Gun beat Beverly Hills Cop II. Damn! Please like and subscribe to keep up with our bracket! Find all of our Socials at: https://linktr.ee/theloveofcinema. Our phone number is 646-484-9298, it accepts texts or voice messages. 0:00 Intro; 6:00 Roger Rabbit vs. Batman; 46:42 Ghost vs. T2; 1:21:37 What You Been Watching. Cast/Crew: Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, Christopher Lloyd, Prince, Bob Hoskins, Tim Burton, Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Bob Kane, Robert Wuhl, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Lee Wallace, Jerry Zucker, Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Goldwyn, Stephen Root, Rick Aviles, James Cameron, Robert Patrick, T-1000, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, William Wisher, Edward Furlong, Joe Morton. Additional Tags: Batman, Superman, Disney, Warner Bros, Film Noir, Danny Elfman, Chinatown, Australia, Melbourne, Queensland, The Philippines, Writer's Strike, WGA, Adelaide, Spotify, residuals, Apple+, Apple TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, TikTok, Twitch, Concord, NC, New Jersey, Method Acting, Jeremy Strong, Brando, Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, Summer Movies, Star Wars, E.T., Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi, The Empire Strikes Back.
On this episode, we do our first deep dive into the John Landis filmography, to talk about one of his lesser celebrated film, the 1985 Jeff Goldblum/Michelle Pfeiffer morbid comedy Into the Night. ----more---- 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. Long time listeners to this show know that I am not the biggest fan of John Landis, the person. I've spoken about Landis, and especially about his irresponsibility and seeming callousness when it comes to the helicopter accident on the set of his segment for the 1983 film The Twilight Zone which took the lives of actors Vic Morrow, Myca Dinh Le and Renee Shin-Yi Chen, enough where I don't wish to rehash it once again. But when one does a podcast that celebrates the movies of the 1980s, every once in a while, one is going to have to talk about John Landis and his movies. He did direct eight movies, one documentary and a segment in an anthology film during the decade, and several of them, both before and after the 1982 helicopter accident, are actually pretty good films. For this episode, we're going to talk about one of his lesser known and celebrated films from the decade, despite its stacked cast. We're talking about 1985's Into the Night. But, as always, before we get to Into the Night, some backstory. John David Landis was born in Chicago in 1950, but his family moved to Los Angeles when he was four months old. While he grew up in the City of Angels, he still considers himself a Chicagoan, which is an important factoid to point out a little later in his life. After graduating from high school in 1968, Landis got his first job in the film industry the way many a young man and woman did in those days: through the mail room at a major studio, his being Twentieth Century-Fox. He wasn't all that fond of the mail room. Even since he had seen The 7th Voyage of Sinbad at the age of eight, he knew he wanted to be a filmmaker, and you're not going to become a filmmaker in the mail room. By chance, he would get a job as a production assistant on the Clint Eastwood/Telly Savalas World War II comedy/drama Kelly's Heroes, despite the fact that the film would be shooting in Yugoslavia. During the shoot, he would become friendly with the film's co-stars Don Rickles and Donald Sutherland. When the assistant director on the film got sick and had to go back to the United States, Landis positioned himself to be the logical, and readily available, replacement. Once Kelly's Heroes finished shooting, Landis would spend his time working on other films that were shooting in Italy and the United Kingdom. It is said he was a stuntman on Sergio Leone's The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, but I'm going to call shenanigans on that one, as the film was made in 1966, when Landis was only sixteen years old and not yet working in the film industry. I'm also going to call shenanigans on his working as a stunt performer on Leone's 1968 film Once Upon a Time in the West, and Tony Richardson's 1968 film The Charge of the Light Brigade, and Peter Collinson's 1969 film The Italian Job, which also were all filmed and released into theatres before Landis made his way to Europe the first time around. In 1971, Landis would write and direct his first film, a low-budget horror comedy called Schlock, which would star Landis as the title character, in an ape suit designed by master makeup creator Rick Baker. The $60k film was Landis's homage to the monster movies he grew up watching, and his crew would spend 12 days in production, stealing shots wherever they could because they could not afford filming permits. For more than a year, Landis would show the completed film to any distributor that would give him the time of day, but no one was interested in a very quirky comedy featuring a guy in a gorilla suit playing it very very straight. Somehow, Johnny Carson was able to screen a print of the film sometime in the fall of 1972, and the powerful talk show host loved it. On November 2nd, 1972, Carson would have Landis on The Tonight Show to talk about his movie. Landis was only 22 at the time, and the exposure on Carson would drive great interest in the film from a number of smaller independent distributors would wouldn't take his calls even a week earlier. Jack H. Harris Enterprises would be the victor, and they would first release Schlock on twenty screens in Los Angeles on December 12th, 1973, the top of a double bill alongside the truly schlocky Son of The Blob. The film would get a very good reception from the local press, including positive reviews from the notoriously prickly Los Angeles Times critic Kevin Thomas, and an unnamed critic in the pages of the industry trade publication Daily Variety. The film would move from market to market every few weeks, and the film would make a tidy little profit for everyone involved. But it would be four more years until Landis would make his follow-up film. The Kentucky Fried Movie originated not with Landis but with three guys from Madison, Wisconsin who started their own theatre troop while attending the University of Wisconsin before moving it to West Los Angeles in 1971. Those guys, brothers David and Jerry Zucker, and their high school friend Jim Abrahams, had written a number of sketches for their stage shows over a four year period, and felt a number of them could translate well to film, as long as they could come up with a way to link them all together. Although they would be aware of Ken Shapiro's 1974 comedy anthology movie The Groove Tube, a series of sketches shot on videotape shown in movie theatres on the East Coast at midnight on Saturday nights, it would finally hit them in 1976, when Neal Israel's anthology sketch comedy movie TunnelVision became a small hit in theatres. That movie featured Chevy Chase and Laraine Newman, two of the stars of NBC's hit show Saturday Night Live, which was the real reason the film was a hit, but that didn't matter to Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker. The Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker team decided they needed to not just tell potential backers about the film but show them what they would be getting. They would raise $35,000 to film a ten minute segment, but none of them had ever directed anything for film before, so they would start looking for an experienced director who would be willing to work on a movie like theirs for little to no money. Through mutual friend Bob Weiss, the trio would meet and get to know John Landis, who would come aboard to direct the presentation reel, if not the entire film should it get funded. That segment, if you've seen Kentucky Fried Movie, included the fake trailer for Cleopatra Schwartz, a parody of blaxploitation movies. The guys would screen the presentation reel first to Kim Jorgensen, the owner of the famed arthouse theatre the Nuart here in Los Angeles, and Jorgensen loved it. He would put up part of the $650k budget himself, and he would show the reel to his friends who also ran theatres, not just in Los Angeles, whenever they were in town, and it would be through a consortium of independent movie theatre owners that Kentucky Fried Movie would get financed. The movie would be released on August 10th, 1977, ironically the same day as another independent sketch comedy movie, Can I Do It Till I Need Glasses?, was released. But Kentucky Fried Movie would have the powerful United Artists Theatres behind them, as they would make the movie the very first release through their own distribution company, United Film Distribution. I did a three part series on UFDC back in 2021, if you'd like to learn more about them. Featuring such name actors as Bill Bixby, Henry Gibson, George Lazenby and Donald Sutherland, Kentucky Fried Movie would earn more than $7m in theatres, and would not only give John Landis the hit he needed to move up the ranks, but it would give Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker the opportunity to make their own movie. But we'll talk about Airplane! sometime in the future. Shortly after the release of Kentuck Fried Movie, Landis would get hired to direct Animal House, which would become the surprise success of 1978 and lead Landis into directing The Blues Brothers, which is probably the most John Landis movie that will ever be made. Big, loud, schizophrenic, a little too long for its own good, and filled with a load of in-jokes and cameos that are built only for film fanatics and/or John Landis fanatics. The success of The Blues Brothers would give Landis the chance to make his dream project, a horror comedy he had written more than a decade before. An American Werewolf in London was the right mix of comedy and horror, in-jokes and great needle drops, with some of the best practical makeup effects ever created for a movie. Makeup effects so good that, in fact, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences would make the occasionally given Best Makeup Effects Oscar a permanent category, and Werewolf would win that category's first competitive Oscar. In 1982, Landis would direct Coming Soon, one of the first direct-to-home video movies ever released. Narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis, Coming Soon was, essentially, edited clips from 34 old horror and thriller trailers for movies owned by Universal, from Frankenstein and Dracula to Psycho and The Birds. It's only 55 minutes long, but the video did help younger burgeoning cineasts learn more about the history of Universal's monster movies. And then, as previously mentioned, there was the accident during the filming of The Twilight Zone. Landis was able to recover enough emotionally from the tragedy to direct Trading Places with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd in the winter of 1982/83, another hit that maybe showed Hollywood the public wasn't as concerned about the Twilight Zone accident as they worried it would. The Twilight Zone movie would be released three weeks after Trading Places, and while it was not that big a hit, it wasn't quite the bomb it was expected to be because of the accident. Which brings us to Into the Night. While Landis was working on the final edit of Trading Places, the President of Universal Pictures, Sean Daniels, contacted Landis about what his next project might be. Universal was where Landis had made Animal House, The Blues Brothers and American Werewolf, so it would not be unusual for a studio head to check up on a filmmaker who had made three recent successful films for them. Specifically, Daniels wanted to pitch Landis on a screenplay the studio had in development called Into the Night. Ron Koslow, the writer of the 1976 Sam Elliott drama Lifeguard, had written the script on spec which the studio had picked up, about an average, ordinary guy who, upon discovering his wife is having an affair, who finds himself in the middle of an international incident involving jewel smuggling out of Iran. Maybe this might be something he would be interested in working on, as it would be both right up his alley, a comedy, and something he'd never done before, a romantic action thriller. Landis would agree to make the film, if he were allowed some leeway in casting. For the role of Ed Okin, an aerospace engineer whose insomnia leads him to the Los Angeles International Airport in search of some rest, Landis wanted Jeff Goldblum, who had made more than 15 films over the past decade, including Annie Hall, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Big Chill and The Right Stuff, but had never been the lead in a movie to this point. For Diana, the jewel smuggler who enlists the unwitting Ed into her strange world, Landis wanted Michelle Pfeiffer, the gorgeous star of Grease 2 and Scarface. But mostly, Landis wanted to fill as many of supporting roles with either actors he had worked with before, like Dan Aykroyd and Bruce McGill, or filmmakers who were either contemporaries of Landis and/or were filmmakers he had admired. Amongst those he would get would be Jack Arnold, Paul Bartel, David Cronenberg, Jonathan Demme, Richard Franklin, Amy Heckerling, Colin Higgins, Jim Henson, Lawrence Kasdan, Jonathan Lynn, Paul Mazursky, Don Siegel, and Roger Vadim, as well as Jaws screenwriter Carl Gottlieb, Midnight Cowboy writer Waldo Salt, personal trainer to the stars Jake Steinfeld, music legends David Bowie and Carl Perkins, and several recent Playboy Playmates. Landis himself would be featured as one of the four Iranian agents chasing Pfeiffer's character. While neither Perkins nor Bowie would appear on the soundtrack to the film, Landis was able to get blues legend B.B. King to perform three songs, two brand new songs as well as a cover of the Wilson Pickett classic In the Midnight Hour. Originally scheduled to be produced by Joel Douglas, brother of Michael and son of Kirk, Into the Night would go into production on April 2nd, 1984, under the leadership of first-time producer Ron Koslow and Landis's producing partner George Folsey, Jr. The movie would make great use of dozens of iconic Los Angeles locations, including the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the Shubert Theatre in Century City, the Ships Coffee Shot on La Cienega, the flagship Tiffanys and Company in Beverly Hills, Randy's Donuts, and the aforementioned airport. But on Monday, April 23rd, the start of the fourth week of shooting, the director was ordered to stand trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter due to the accident on the Twilight Zone set. But the trial would not start until months after Into the Night was scheduled to complete its shoot. In an article about the indictment printed in the Los Angeles Times two days later, Universal Studios head Sean Daniels was insistent the studio had made no special plans in the event of Landis' possible conviction. Had he been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, Landis was looking at up to six years in prison. The film would wrap production in early June, and Landis would spend the rest of the year in an editing bay on the Universal lot with his editor, Malcolm Campbell, who had also cut An American Werewolf in London, Trading Places, the Michael Jackson Thriller short film, and Landis's segment and the Landis-shot prologue to The Twilight Zone. During this time, Universal would set a February 22nd, 1985 release date for the film, an unusual move, as every movie Landis had made since Kentucky Fried Movie had been released during the summer movie season, and there was nothing about Into the Night that screamed late Winter. I've long been a proponent of certain movies having a right time to be released, and late February never felt like the right time to release a morbid comedy, especially one that takes place in sunny Los Angeles. When Into the Night opened in New York City, at the Loews New York Twin at Second Avenue and 66th Street, the high in the city was 43 degrees, after an overnight low of 25 degrees. What New Yorker wants to freeze his or her butt off to see Jeff Goldblum run around Los Angeles with Michelle Pfeiffer in a light red leather jacket and a thin white t-shirt, if she's wearing anything at all? Well, actually, that last part wasn't so bad. But still, a $40,000 opening weekend gross at the 525 seat New York Twin would be one of the better grosses for all of the city. In Los Angeles, where the weather was in the 60s all weekend, the film would gross $65,500 between the 424 seat Avco Cinema 2 in Westwood and the 915 seat Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. The reviews, like with many of Landis's films, were mixed. Richard Corliss of Time Magazine would find the film irresistible and a sparkling thriller, calling Goldblum and Pfeiffer two of the most engaging young actors working. Peter Travers, writing for People Magazine at the time, would anoint the film with a rarely used noun in film criticism, calling it a “pip.” Travers would also call Pfeiffer a knockout of the first order, with a newly uncovered flair for comedy. Guess he hadn't seen her in the 1979 ABC spin-off of Animal House, called Delta House, in which she played The Bombshell, or in Floyd Mutrix's 1980 comedy The Hollywood Knights. But the majority of critics would find plenty to fault with the film. The general critical feeling for the film was that it was too inside baseball for most people, as typified by Vincent Canby in his review for the New York Times. Canby would dismiss the film as having an insidey, which is not a word, manner of a movie made not for the rest of us but for the moviemakers on the Bel Air circuit who watch each other's films in their own screening room. After two weeks of exclusive engagements in New York and Los Angeles, Universal would expand the film to 1096 screens on March 8th, where the film would gross $2.57m, putting it in fifth place for the weekend, nearly a million dollars less than fellow Universal Pictures film The Breakfast Club, which was in its fourth week of release and in ninety fewer theatres. After a fourth weekend of release, where the film would come in fifth place again with $1.95m, now nearly a million and a half behind The Breakfast Club, Universal would start to migrate the film out of first run theatres and into dollar houses, in order to make room for another film of theirs, Peter Bogdanovich's comeback film Mask, which would be itself expanding from limited release to wide release on March 22nd. Into the Night would continue to play at the second-run theatres for months, but its final gross of $7.56m wouldn't even cover the film's $8m production budget. Despite the fact that it has both Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Pfeiffer as its leads, Into the Night would not become a cult film on home video the way that many films neglected by audiences in theatres would find a second life. I thought the film was good when I saw it opening night at the Aptos Twin. I enjoyed the obvious chemistry between the two leads, and I enjoyed the insidey manner in which there were so many famous filmmakers doing cameos in the film. I remember wishing there was more of David Bowie, since there were very few people, actors or musicians, who would fill the screen with so much charm and charisma, even when playing a bad guy. And I enjoyed listening to B.B. King on the soundtrack, as I had just started to get into the blues during my senior year of high school. I revisited the film, which you can rent or buy on Apple TV, Amazon and several other major streaming services, for the podcast, and although I didn't enjoy the film as much as I remember doing so in 1985, it was clear that these two actors were going to become big stars somewhere down the road. Goldblum, of course, would become a star the following year, thanks to his incredible work in David Cronenberg's The Fly. Incidentally, Goldblum and Cronenberg would meet for the first time on the set of Into the Night. And, of course, Michelle Pfeiffer would explode in 1987, thanks to her work with Susan Sarandon, Cher and Jack Nicholson in The Witches of Eastwick, which she would follow up with not one, not two but three powerhouse performances of completely different natures in 1988, in Jonathan Demme's Married to the Mob, Robert Towne's Tequila Sunrise, and her Oscar-nominated work in Stephen Frears' Dangerous Liaisons. Incidentally, Pfeiffer and Jonathan Demme would also meet for the first time on the set of Into the Night, so maybe it was kismet that all these things happened in part because of the unusual casting desires of John Landis. Thank you for joining us. We'll talk again soon, when Episode 108, on Martha Coolidge's Valley Girl, is released. Remember to visit this episode's page on our website, The80sMoviePodcast.com, for extra materials about Into the Night. The 80s Movies Podcast has been researched, written, narrated and edited by Edward Havens for Idiosyncratic Entertainment. Thank you again. Good night.
Surely, you've seen the 1980 disaster-movie parody, Airplane! But, have you seen it recently? (And don't call us "Shirley.") Written and directed by David and Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, the movie was a major hit thanks to all kinds of comedy: surreal and slapstick, sight gags and puns, and more than its share of scatalogical humor. But now, decades later, is any of this a laughing matter? A pedo-pervy pilot? A young girl in need of a transplant? Subtitled jive-talking passengers? They're just a few of the characters being looked at again, this time, through a middle-aged lens. The Old Roommates grab their one-way tickets and give it all a rewatch. Listen to this.Old Roommates can be reached via email at oldroommatespod@gmail.com.Follow Old Roommates on Instagram and YouTube @OldRoommates for bonus content and please give us a rating or review! Thanks for listening!#DavidZucker #JerryZucker #JimAbrahams #RobertHayes #JulieHagerty
Zo and special guest host Rocky from Pardon My Fandom and Audio Oddity podcasts follows the exploits of Police Squad Lieutenant Drebin as he bubbles his way to solve an attempted murder case of a police officer. Drugs are involved. Queen Elizabeth II is involved for some reason. The movie has a very important message about safe sex. The More You Know. Episode Segment Time StampsOpening Credits . . . . . . 00:11:10Favorite Parts . . . . . . . . 00:22:41Trivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .00:39:11Critics' Thoughts . . . . . 00:49:22 Pardon My Fandom Links:Pardon My Fandom on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4KEo3K4DvRuJuvtxQ9u3mqTwitter: @PardonMy_Fandom - https://twitter.com/PardonMy_FandomInstagram: @Pardon_MyFandom - https://www.instagram.com/pardon_myfandom/Facebook: @pardonmyfandom - https://www.facebook.com/pardonmyfandomGoodpods: @pardonmyfandom - https://goodpods.com/podcasts/202143email: pardonmyfandom@gmail.com Audio Oddity Podcast Links:Audio Oddity on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6wUCFWb5wfw2wBUqJus1Zb?si=75e397d758a54f11Twitter: @OddityAudio - https://twitter.com/OddityAudioInstagram: @audioodditypodcast - https://www.instagram.com/audioodditypodcast/TikTok: @audiooddditypodcast - https://www.tiktok.com/@audioodditypodcastFacebook: @audioodditypodcast - https://www.facebook.com/Audioodditypodcast/Goodpods: @audioodditypodcast - https://goodpods.com/podcasts/196988YouTube: Pardon My Fandom - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ08sKEgnBZ7wcfBCY8S2fAemail: audioodditypodcast@gmail.com Back Look Cinema: The Podcast Links:www.backlookcinema.comEmail: fanmail@backlookcinema.comTwitter: @BackLookCinema https://twitter.com/backlookcinemaFacebook: @BackLookCinemaPodcast https://www.facebook.com/backlookcinemapodcastInstagram: @backlookcinemapodcast https://instagram.com/backlookcinemapodcastTicTok: @backlookcinema https://www.tiktok.com/@backlookcinemaBack Look Cinema Merch at Teespring.com (https://back-look-cinema-merch.creator-spring.com/)Back Look Cinema Merch at Teepublic.com (https://www.teepublic.com/user/back-look-cinema-podcast-merch?utm_source=designer&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=G1VQNMthhSg) Other Podcasts MentionedMade-For-TV Movie Podcast - https://pod.link/1547103380 . . . #mftvmcpodcast on GoogleOpen Pike Night - https://pod.link/1613607488Green Shirt - https://pod.link/1289997191
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