Troy and David talk about three movies in this two-part episode:

Gremlins (1984)

Back to the Future (1985)

Howard the Duck (1986)

PT. 1 looks at Gremlins, and begins the discussion on Back to the Future.

PT. 2 finishes the discussion on Back to the Future, and then moves on to Howard the Duck.

PART 1: Gremlins & Back to the Future

Our first episode does cover how the three films are connected, in both screen talent, locations, producers, and directors. Each of the three films were expected to be box office smashes, following on the success of The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, E.T. in 1982, and The Return of the Jedi in 1983. Amblin Entertainment produced Gremlins & Back to the Future. In Gremlins, we see Mogwai playing mini-Donkey Kong. The films do not take themselves too seriously. We know, when the rules are mentioned, that these will be broken, and in imaginative, funny ways...

Chinese Boy: Look Mister, there’s three rules you've got to follow.

Rand Peltzer: Yeah, what kind of rules?

Chinese Boy: Keep him out of the light, he hates bright light, especially sunlight, it'll kill him. And, keep him away from water, don’t get him wet. But the most important rule, the rule you can never forget, no matter how much he cries, no matter how much he begs, never, never feed him after midnight. You got it?

Rand Peltzer: Sure kid, whatever you say. Hey, listen, thanks! And have a Merry Christmas!

Troy and David then move on to Back to the Future, which was originally cast with Eric Stoltz in the lead, and had a working title: Spaceman from Pluto. Stoltz was removed, and the title changed. A connection between the two films, is that both Back to the Future and Gremlins used the "Universal Studios Courthouse Square" backlot.

Troy recommends the book Future Boy, penned by Michael J. Fox. In it, Fox mentions that his replacing Stoltz was not welcomed by everyone, especially by Lea Thompson, but that changed. More discussion in part 2