“Did you leave a cigarette burning?”

On this episode we look at one of classics of the disaster movie boom of the 1970s, The Towering Inferno (1974).

We’re joined by Nick Rehak to discuss the future of Faye Dunaway’s journalism career, how much water you can really store at the top of a skyscraper, and all the exploding helicopter action.

Episode 150.

“Get real Beavis – she’s just clearing her throat.”

On this episode we look at yet another volcano disaster movie that features an exploding helicopter, DANTE’S PEAK (1997).

There was really only one man for this job, so we’re joined once again by magma movie enthusiast Fred Andersson to discuss the alluring appeal of Pierce Brosnan, the gratuitous glory of grandmothers being dissolved in acid lakes, some of the best miniature work we’ve ever seen, and – of course – the exploding helicopter action. 

Episode 149.

Show notes

Dante’s Peak (1997)
Director: Roger Donaldson
Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton
Plot: A volcanologist arrives at a countryside town recently named the second-most desirable place to live in America, and discovers that a nearby long-dormant volcano may awaken at any moment.

"You're not going to kill anyone else are you?"

On this episode we're looking at the film that attempted to turn Sir Anthony Hopkins into the next James Bond, WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL (1971).

To see if we should award Old Tony a license to thrill is Richard Kirkham from the cryptically titled Kirkham A Movie A Day.

Episode 148.

NB - Unfortunately, this episode suffers from some audio issues. Hopefully, they're not too distracting. 

“Fifty bucks and the monkey can watch”

On this show we’re taking a look an animated film that celebrates the Eighties maverick cop genre, CHUCK STEEL: NIGHT OF THE TRAMPIRES (2018).

Our guest on this episode is a podcaster on the edge, a maverick broadcaster who plays by his own rules, is Matt Poirier from the DTV Connoisseur.

Episode 147

Twitter: @chopperfireball
Website: explodinghelicopter.com
Instagram: explodinghelicopter

“Most human problems can be solved with an appropriate charge of high explosive”

During the 1980s, it seemed as if Hollywood sent every one of its action stars on unsanctioned missions to Vietnam to rescue American POWs. But before Chuck Norris and Sylvester Stallone got in on the MIA rescuing act, it was the more unlikely figure of Gene Hackman who first went in to get ‘our boys’ back. So, on this show, we’re looking at the film that kicked off an entire sub-genre of the Eighties Namsploitation movie boom, UNCOMMON VALOR (1983).

We’re joined by Todd Liebenow from the Forgotten Filmcast to discuss Nam movie tropes, the film’s wildly eclectic cast, and whether America got to win this time.

Show notes

Director:  Ted Kotcheff
Cast: Gene Hackan, Patrick Swayze, Randall ‘Tex’ Cobb, Fred Ward, Reb Brown, Robert Stack, Tim Thomerson, Harold Sylvester
Plot: Ten years after his son went M.I.A. in Vietnam, U.S. Marine retired Colonel Jason Rhodes assembles a private rescue team to find Americans held in P.O.W. camps in Laos.

Episode 146.

Follow Exploding Helicopter

Twitter: @chopperfireball
Website: explodinghelicopter.com
Instagram: explodinghelicopter

“Strange... I seem to remember... that the cathedral was on the other side of the square.”

On this episode of Exploding Cable Car we take a look at the classic war epic WHERE EAGLES DARE (1968).

We discuss inept interrogation tactics, Richard Burton’s bad mood, and all the explosive cable transportation action.

Episode 145.

“It’s time to befriend the devil.”

On this episode we return to the world of Bollywood to look at Shah Rukh Khan’s action blockbuster PATHAAN (2023). We fire up the wind machine so Asim Burney from the Khandaan podcast can make a suitably dramatic return to the show.

We discuss screen bromances, scandalous bikinis, and whether it’s not too late for us to get a sculpted six pack.

Episode 144.

Show notes

Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Salman Khan, Dimple Kapadia
Plot: An Indian agent races against a doomsday clock as a ruthless mercenary, with a bitter vendetta, mounts an apocalyptic attack against the country.

Follow Asim Burney
Asim Burney Twitter/X
Khandaan – A Bollywood Podcast Twitter/X
Khandaan – A Bollywood Podcast YouTube
Khandaan - A Bollywood Podcast iTunes

“Gentlemen – cancel your turkey orders.”

On this show we rig for silent running and plunge below crush depth to review the French submarine thriller The Wolf’s Call (2019).

Show notes

The Wolf’s Call (2019)
Director: Antonin Baudry
Cast: Francois Civil, Omar Sy, Reda Kateb
Plot: In the near future, a French submarine finds itself in a crisis situation.

“You wouldn’t hit a lady would ya?”

Over a near 20-year period Clint Eastwood was one of the most popular box office stars in American cinema. On this episode we take a look at a film from Old Squint’s commercial pomp, THE GAUNTLET (1977).

We take a look at a film that appears to be just another run of the mill cop thriller from the Man With No Name, but under the surface turns out to be peculiarly odd.

Episode 142.

“She was as easy to crack as a raw egg.”

On this episode we take a look at one of the most important exploding helicopter scenes in film history. But before we do that, we discuss Narrow Margin (1990), Peter Hyams’ remake of a film noir classic.

Film notes

Narrow Margin (1990)
Director: Peter Hyams
Cast: Gene Hackman, Anne Archer, M Emmet Walsh, JT Walsh
Plot: A Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney is sent to protect a woman who accidentally witnessed a Mafia murder.

Episode 141.

Follow Exploding Helicopter

Twitter: @chopperfireball

Website: explodinghelicopter.com

Instagram: explodinghelicopter