Cult Connections

Is this the darkest Star Wars has ever gone? Ian and Punk continue their review of The Bad Batch.

The Kommissar X  series was a distinctly 60s blend of action, travel, outlandish plots, lovely ladies and suave but tough heroes. I'm joined by Holger Haase to discuss it's pulp fiction origins and three of the films. 

Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill aka Kommissar X - Jagd auf Unbekannt (1966). Directed by Gianfranco Parolini. Starring Tony Kendall, Brad Harris and Maria Perschy

Death Trip aka Kommissar X - Drei grune Hunde (1967). Directed by Rudolf Zehetgruber. Starring Tony Kendall, Brad Harris, Olga Schoberova and Christa Linda. 

Kill Panther Kill aka Kommissar X - Drei blue Panther. Directed by Gianfranco Parolini. Starring Tony Kendall, Brad Harris, Corny Collins and Franco Fantasia

It's the debut of the iconic robot companion K9 but does his first story do justice to this lovable character. 

The Invisible Enemy (1977). Directed by Derrick Goodwin. Written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin. Starring Tom Baker, Louise Jamieson, Michael Sheard, Frederick Jaeger and John Leeson as K9

Diana Dors was  a unique figure in British film as her blend of glamour, personality and acting talent woved both the tabloids and cinemagoing public alike. Ian is joined by Dors biographer  Anna Cale to discuss her life, legacy and, of course, three of her best films. 

Tread Softly Stranger (1958). Directed by Gordon Parry. Written by George Minter and Denis O'Dell from the play by Jack Popplewell. Starring Diana Dors, George Baker and Terence Morgan

Value for Money (1955). Directed by Ken Annakin. Written by R.F. Delderfield and William Fairchild from the book by Derrick Boothroyd. Starring Diana Dors, John Gregson and Susan Stephen. 

Yield To The Night (1956). Directed by J. Lee Thompson. Written by Joan Henry and John cresswell. Based on the book by Joan Henrty. Starring Diana Dors, Yvonne Mitchell and Michael Craig. 

Anna Cale is an arts and culture writer who specialises in classic film and television. She has written for a number of publications and websites, including Little White Lies, Film Stories and the British Film Institute, and has also appeared on Radio 4 and Channel 5. Her writing subjects are wide ranging, but she has an interest in British cinema of the 1940s, 50s and 60s, and in particular showcasing the role of strong female voices in film culture.

In the first of a new occasional series Ian is joined by Mark Plant to celebrate the iconic British filmaker Michael Winner. This episode we cover his cinematic swansong Parting Shots. But is it a Winner Winner Chicken Dinner or a Dogs Breakfast

Parting Shots (1998). Directed by Michael Winner. Written by Winner and Nick Mead. Starring 
Chris Rea, Felicity Kendall, Diana Rigg, Bob Hoskins, Ben Kingsley, Oliver Reed

Punk and Ian shake off their hangovers to review the mid season finale of 
The Bad Batch and give their thoughts on The 
Acolyte trailer.

Ian and Nathan encounter the Cybermen in this classic Fifth Doctor story. 

Earthshock (1982). Directed by Peter Grimwade. Written by Eric Saward. Produced by John Nathan Turner. Starring Peter Davison, Matthew Waterhouse, Janet Feilding, Sarah Sutton and Beryl Reid.

Ian is joined by author Justin Lewis to take a journey through a year of pop music. From Johnny Cash to So Solid Crew, Lulu to Rappers Delight its a diverse and whirlwind ride through the past 70 years.

With entries for every day of the year, ranging from mini-essays to pithy and engaging sentences, Don’t Stop the Music is a novel musical companion – a way of charting your year through the major events and tiny incidents in the lives and careers of pop stars and recording artists.Whether it be when pop became newsworthy; when future stars attended notable gigs; when that K-Pop act issued their first single; or when Elvis Presley found himself on TV singing ‘Hound Dog’ to a basset hound, there are surprising and enlightening events from the history of popular music for every single day of the year. And esteemed music writer Justin Lewis has compiled them all for you, informatively and divertingly.

Ian and Punk return to review episodes four and five of Star Wars: The Bad Batch - A Different Approach and The Return.

Ian and Punk get their fingers out and review the first three episodes of The Bad Batch