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On a landmark episode of WE DO OUR STUNTS we continue our chronological look at the career of Jackie Chan with his first great movie: 1978’s SNAKE & CRANE ARTS OF SHAOLIN! Directed by Chen Chi Hwa (who would later collaborate with Jackie on POLICE STORY), the film is about a marital arts student (played by Jackie) who is guarding “Eight Steps of the Snake and Crane”, a martial arts manual. Filled with excellent choreography and a sarcastic sense of humor, we’re inching ever closer to the combination of kung-fu and comedy that would turn Jackie into an international star. Check it out!

The post Episode 81 – We Do Our Own Stunts – Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin (1978) first appeared on Cinema Smorgasbord.

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It’s not only the return of ERIC ROBERTS IS THE (bad word) MAN, it’s also the return of the STALKED BY MY DOCTOR SERIES with 2021’s JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED. A return to the heady days of the original STALKED films, this time we have Dr. Albert Beck hiding out in an abandoned house.. but not for long! We also talk at length about a newly launched Eric Roberts-related podcast that WE ARE ANGRY ABOUT, the latest Eric Roberts tweets, and SO MUCH NEWS. We’re joined on our journey by musician and podcaster Mike Paulshock, who discusses his love for the STALKED series and its lead actor: ERIC ROBERTS. Time to start listening!

Check out Mike’s band SUN GOD at https://sungodpa.bandcamp.com/, and don’t forget to check out his Whine & Cheese podcast here https://cinepunx.com/podcast-episodes/whine-cheese/

You can also follow Mike on Twitter @ThePaulShark

The post Episode 80 – Eric Roberts is the Man – Just What the Doctor Ordered (2021) (/w Mike Paulshock) first appeared on Cinema Smorgasbord.

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On YOU DON’T KNOW DICK we look at the films and TV work of the beloved character actor Dick Miller! On this episode we’re joined by writer, producer and podcaster Scott Weinberg to discuss the legendary Roger Corman cheapie horror-comedy THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS! We look at the history of the legendarily threadbare production, the various remakes and tributes (including the celebrated musical!), and – of course – the flower-chomping performance by Dick Miller! CHECK IT OUT!

Follow Scott Weinberg on Twitter @ScottEMovieNerd and check out his newest podcast OVERHATED on his Patreon right here: https://www.patreon.com/scottEweinberg

The post Episode 79 – You Don’t Know Dick – The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) (/w Scott Weinberg) first appeared on Cinema Smorgasbord.

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What’s Steve Buscemi up to in the 1991 star-studded gangster film bomb BILLY BATHGATE? Not much! Despite a big budget, an incredible cast (Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Bruce Willis and.. uh.. Loren Dean!) and Tom Stoppard handling the script, it’s a lifeless and predictable slog. On this episode of HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS? we try to work out what went wrong, the moments we liked and, of course, we look closely at the Steve Buscemi content. CHECK IT OUT.

The post Episode 78 – How Do You Do, Fellow Kids? – Billy Bathgate (1991) first appeared on Cinema Smorgasbord.

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On the latest episode of FORGOTTEN GEMS? we’re traveling back to 2004 to check out Joshua Marston’s much lauded (particularly for its lead performance by Catalina Sandino Moreno) drug smuggling drama MARIA FULL OF GRACE. But aside from that dynamite lead, does the film hold up to our older – and somehow even MORE cynical – eyes? And does it even matter? Lots of talk about the drug war, hypocrisy, and all that good stuff. Check it out!

The post Episode 77 – Forgotten Gems? – Maria Full of Grace (2004) first appeared on Cinema Smorgasbord.

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Ken Russell tackles the life of “the great lover” Rudolph Valentino in 1977’s VALENTINO, an occasionally inspired bio-pic that fixates (and speculates) on the silent film star’s much-debated sexuality. On the latest episode of PRAISING KANE we’re looking at the film, its stars, and whether or not it’s Ken Russell-y enough to deserve rediscovery. Of course we also look at the performance of the great Carol Kane as Valentino’s first wife (and Fatty Arbuckle beau) Jean Acker. CHECK IT OUT.

As mentioned on the episode, here’s the 2021 Big Slick Virtually Talented Show

The post Episode 76 – Praising Kane – Valentino (1977) first appeared on Cinema Smorgasbord.

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Billed as “the screen’s first erotic kung-fu classic”, FIRECRACKER stars RAW FORCE’s Jillian Kesner as a butt-kicking karate expert who travels to Hong Kong (actually the Philippines) to track down her journalist sister who recently vanished. Featuring topless fight scenes, stick fighting and, of course, Vic Diaz as “Grip”. Essentially a remake of TNT JACKSON (which director Cirio H. Santiago would remake again in 1992 as ANGELFIST), FIRECRACKER is extremely silly, but is it any fun? Listen to the latest episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ and find out!

The post Episode 75 – Whatever Happened To Vic Diaz? – Firecracker (1981) first appeared on Cinema Smorgasbord.

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On this rip-roaring episode of Cinema Fantastica we’re traveling to the 2014 (premiere) edition of the Chattanooga Film Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee to pit two festival favs against each other: James Ward Byrkit’s low budget sci-fi mindbender COHERENCE vs Sion Sono’s epic tribute to filmmaking (and “mankind’s greatest achievement”) WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL? Which movie reigns supreme? Listen and find out!

The post Episode 74 – Cinema Fantastica – Coherence (2013) & Why Don’t You Play In Hell (2013) first appeared on Cinema Smorgasbord.

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On this heart-racing episode of WILD IN THE STREETS we’re looking at the seminal 1972 poliziottesco film EXECUTION SQUAD (aka La polizia ringrazia)! The film takes a surprisingly balanced look at the war between cops and criminals in Italy in the early 70s, with a sympathetic police commissioner (Enrico Maria Salerno) battling both violent psychopaths, as well as a group of vigilantes (the EXECUTION SQUAD) taking vengeance into their own hands. CHECK IT OUT!

The post Episode 73 – Wild In The Streets – Execution Squad (1972) first appeared on Cinema Smorgasbord.

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On this episode of WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS, a chronological Jackie Chan podcast, Jackie is still stuck in Korea with Lo Wei who is determined to make him a star. His next attempt is 1977’s TO KILL WITH INTRIGUE, an often baffling revenge film featuring Hsu Feng as a memorably sadistic villain who falls in love with Jackie’s Lei Shao-feng! There’s plenty of other twists and turns and both odd AND impressive martial arts. Check it out!

The post Episode 72 – We Do Our Own Stunts – To Kill With Intrigue (1977) first appeared on Cinema Smorgasbord.