Tag: 1960’s

Mar 04 2019

Episode 127 – The Great Race

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The Great RaceWe followed Peter Paul from The Princess Bride to this farce by Blake Edwards. The Great Race stars Falk, Natalie Wood, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Keenan Wynn as they race across the world. Along the way, they get into a bar fight, escape a polar bear, and meet up with another version of Jack Lemmon! Our newbie for this film is…Melissa! Hard to believe there are any films she hasn’t seen but this was one of them. Join us for the silliness!

Up next, we are going to take another road trip with Mad Max: Fury Road!

The Great Race (1965)
The Great Race poster Rating: 7.2/10 (20,762 votes)
Director: Blake Edwards
Writer: Arthur A. Ross, Blake Edwards
Stars: Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmon
Runtime: 160 min
Rated: Approved
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Released: 17 Dec 1965
Plot: In the early 20th century, heroic Leslie Gallant and his despicable rival Professor Fate engage in an epic automobile race from New York to Paris while enthusiastic suffragette Maggie Dubois enters the race to report on every step...

Sep 01 2018

Episode 119 – The Producers (1967)

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The ProducersThis week, we begin working through a series of films by Mel Brooks. We start with our look at his first film, a movie Roger Ebert called “one of the funniest films ever made,” The Producers (1967)! Barb Lind joins us to discuss this film that dares to take on Hitler with comedy. Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder are the stars in what would later become a broadway musical that was adapted into a different film! That we will watch next!

Next up: The Producers (2005)!

The Producers (1967)
The Producers poster Rating: 7.5/10 (63,624 votes)
Director: Mel Brooks
Writer: Mel Brooks
Stars: Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn
Runtime: 88 min
Rated: PG
Genre: Comedy, Music
Released: 10 Nov 1968
Plot: A stage-play producer devises a plan to make money by producing a sure-fire flop.

 

Jun 01 2017

Episode 94 – The Haunting

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The HauntingOur next episode in the Bond series follows Lois Maxwell (Miss Moneypenny) because George Lazenby really didn’t make any other films of note after his turn as Bond.  Because of that, we used Maxwell’s small role as an excuse to watch The Haunting!  We are joined by returning guest Lana Rosario to watch this extremely creepy ghost story that doesn’t need to resort to anything as cheesy as jump scares to creep you out.  The film is helmed by the great and versatile Robert Wise and stars a group of character actors who you might not immediately recognize but who turn in spectacular performances in this great atmospheric horror film.

Next up, we take a look at the James Bond played by Sir Roger Moore in Live and Let Die!

The Haunting (1963)
The Haunting poster Rating: 7.4/10 (43,796 votes)
Director: Robert Wise
Writer: Nelson Gidding, Shirley Jackson
Stars: Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson
Runtime: 112 min
Rated: G
Genre: Horror
Released: 22 Aug 1963
Plot: Hill House has stood for about 90 years and appears haunted: its inhabitants have always met strange, tragic ends. Now Dr. John Markway has assembled a team of people who he thinks will prove whether or not the house is haunted.

May 15 2017

Episode 93 – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

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We continue our exploration of James Bond and the actors who played him with On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the first and only film featuring George Lazenby as Bond.  Our guest is once again Chrys VanDerKamp, who will be joining us for every bond film as the only two she has seen is Quantum of Solace (which is unfortunate) and Goldfinger (which we showed her.)  On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is a fascinating Bond film as it establishes the premise that Bond can be played by another actor but it begs the question “why this one?”  Also there is a lot of skiing (a lot of skiing), Diana Rigg, and Telly Savalas!

Next up, we will follow Lois Maxwell, the original Miss Moneypenny, to The Haunting!  Sorry – George Lazenby really didn’t make another decent film and The Haunting is FABULOUS!

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service poster Rating: 6.7/10 (105,183 votes)
Director: Peter R. Hunt
Writer: Simon Raven, Richard Maibaum, Ian Fleming
Stars: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas
Runtime: 142 min
Rated: PG
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Released: 19 Dec 1969
Plot: British agent James Bond goes undercover to pursue the villainous Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who is planning to hold the world to ransom.

Apr 15 2017

Episode 91 – Goldfinger

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Goldfinger

Our Bond project officially begins!  Over the next several episodes, we will be watching Bond movies featuring each of the actors who have played this film icon as well as other movies featuring the same actor!  We begin with what many consider the best of the Bond films, Goldfinger!  Our companion for this film was Chrys VanDerKamp, who has limited Bond knowledge and leaves our Educational podcast anxious to learn more about the film series.  Don’t worry – we gave her a list.

Up next, we will watch another of Sean Connery’s best performances when we see The Untouchables!

Goldfinger (1964)
Goldfinger poster Rating: 7.7/10 (211,423 votes)
Director: Guy Hamilton
Writer: Richard Maibaum, Paul Dehn, Ian Fleming
Stars: Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman
Runtime: 110 min
Rated: Approved
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Released: 09 Jan 1965
Plot: While investigating a gold magnate's smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.

Jan 15 2017

Episode 85 – La Dolce Vita

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La Dolce VitaThis episode is a return to the world of Federico Fellini with two guests as we all try to determine if Melissa’s hatred of the film is misplaced.  La Dolce Vita is considered one of Fellini’s masterpieces.  But is it? We watch the film and do our best to appreciate it as film geeks.  You can decide for yourself how well we do

Please note: this episode was hacked.  The episode is fine but the post itself was meddled with.  Sorry about that.

Our next episode will be about The Man Who Would be King!

La Dolce Vita (1960)
La Dolce Vita poster Rating: 8.0/10 (84,519 votes)
Director: Federico Fellini
Writer: Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli
Stars: Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimée
Runtime: 174 min
Rated: TV-14
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Released: 19 Apr 1961
Plot: A series of stories following a week in the life of a philandering tabloid journalist living in Rome.

Dec 27 2016

Episode 83 – A Hard Day’s Night

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A Hard Day's NightWe have a first this week – it is the first episode of our podcast that doesn’t feature Tim at all!  Instead, Melissa is joined by Lauren Haven and John Youker.  They are present to watch the classic Beatles Film, A Hard Day’s Night!  This rather light and frothy mixture of Beatles music and a rather limited plot proved to be far more popular than the producers had dreamed.  John, Lauren, and Melissa discuss reactions to the film as well as spending some time talking about Christmas movies!

Our next film will be Josie and the Pussycats!

A Hard Day's Night (1964)
A Hard Day's Night poster Rating: 7.5/10 (50,043 votes)
Director: Richard Lester
Writer: Alun Owen
Stars: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison
Runtime: 87 min
Rated: G
Genre: Comedy, Musical
Released: 07 Jul 1964
Plot: Over two "typical" days in the life of The Beatles, the boys struggle to keep themselves and Paul McCartney's mischievous grandfather in check while preparing for a live TV performance.

Nov 02 2016

Episode 80 – 2001: A Space Odyssey

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2001: A Space OdysseyToday, we return to the world of Stanley Kubrick to experience 2001: A Space Odyssey in 70mm glory.  We are joined by a panel of guests including regular Allee Ellingsburg, Scott Keever, and Richard Brantley.  Almost everyone had seen the film before but this was the first time most had seen it in a theater.  Few other movies are as transformed by sitting in a movie theater as 2001.  We talk about a lot of things but one thing we didn’t record is a pre-movie segment.  We just dive right into the film on this one so if you are used to listening to our opening segment and then watching the movie, look out!  Spoilers are right out of the gate!

Next up, we are going to shift gears and watch Stop Making Sense.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey poster Rating: 8.3/10 (765,944 votes)
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Writer: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke
Stars: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester
Runtime: 149 min
Rated: G
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi
Released: 12 May 1968
Plot: When a mysterious artifact is uncovered on the Moon, a spacecraft manned by two humans and one supercomputer is sent to Jupiter to find its origins.

Jul 15 2016

Episode 74 – The Lion in Winter

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The Lion in WinterThis week’s episode features another guest host from our sister podcast: A Reel Education – Noir.  Alee Elingsburg joins us to talk about The Lion in Winter, a classic historical drama about a fictional Christmas Henry II spent with his family.  It is full of political machinations, scenery chewing dialogue, and a very youthful Timothy Dalton & Anthony Hopkins.  Katherine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole are the stars who drive this whole acting train and they do a darn fine job.  We hope you enjoy the movie as much as we did!

Our next move will follow Hopkins to the peak of his career as we watch The Silence of the Lambs!

The Lion in Winter (1968)
The Lion in Winter poster Rating: 7.9/10 (34,837 votes)
Director: Anthony Harvey
Writer: James Goldman
Stars: Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins
Runtime: 134 min
Rated: PG
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Released: 30 Oct 1968
Plot: 1183 A.D.: King Henry II's three sons all want to inherit the throne, but he won't commit to a choice. When he allows his imprisoned wife Eleanor of Aquitaine out for a Christmas visit, they all variously plot to force him into a ...

Oct 01 2015

Episode 55 – A Fistful of Dollars

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A Fistful of DollarsHaving just watched Yojimbo, it is time for us to watch the same movie made by another director.  The style of Sergio Leone is vastly different from that of Akira Kurosawa but he brings his own flair to the story of one man trying to clean out a crooked town in A Fistful of Dollars!  Instead of Toshiro Mifune, our protagonist is played by Clint Eastwood.  We compare and contrast the directors and actors who brought this story to life twice.

For our next episode, we are going to watch the same story again! This time, the results are not quite so impressive.  We’ll be watching The Warrior and the Sorceress!

A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
A Fistful of Dollars poster Rating: 7.9/10 (246,616 votes)
Director: Sergio Leone
Writer: Adriano Bolzoni, Mark Lowell, Víctor Andrés Catena
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Gian Maria Volontè, Marianne Koch
Runtime: 99 min
Rated: R
Genre: Drama, Western
Released: 18 Jan 1967
Plot: A wandering gunfighter plays two rival families against each other in a town torn apart by greed, pride, and revenge.