The Essential Films Podcast

On today’s adventure, Adolfo and Mark go a little mad for Alfred Hitchcock’s PSYCHO (1960)

On this week’s show:

• Discovering Hitchcock
• One of the earliest “slasher” films
• The Bernard Herrmann score and Mark’s uh… impression(?) of it.
• Hitchcock’s A-list B-Movie
• “No Bail for the Judge”
• How Hitchcock convinced Paramount to distribute the film
• The book by Robert Bloch
• Ed Gein and the on-screen villains he “inspired”
• The “Inside Psycho” podcast
• Setting a new level of violence
• The dissolving of the Production Code
• A flushing toilet!
• Hitchcock’s marketing strategy
• William Castle’s carnie antics
• Marion Crane has NO chill
• The differences between the book and the film
• Norman portrayed as a sympathetic character
• The Shower Scene
• How Bernard Herrmann earned double his salary
• Chocolate Syrup for blood
• Killing your main character halfway through the film.
• Martin Balsam’s underrated performance.
• “What the hell did I just see?”
• The psychiatrist sequence and why it’s a flaw of the film
• The Sequels and the horrible 1998 remake
• The death of Filmstruck
• Always buy physical media!

FILMS REFERENCED:

• REBECCA (1940)
• SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1944)
• SPELLBOUND (1945)
• NOTORIOUS (1946)
• REAR WINDOW (1954)
• DIABOLIQUE (1955)
• VERTIGO (1958)
• THE TINGLER (1959)
• NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
• HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959)
• THE BIRDS (1963)
• THE EXORCIST (1973)
• THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)
• HALLOWEEN (1978)
• DRESSED TO KILL (1980)
• ROCKY III (1982)
• ROCKY IV (1985)
• THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
• THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991)
• ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (1993)
• SCREAM (1996)
• GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997)
• ARMAGEDDON (1998)
• PSYCHO (1998)
• HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES (2003)
• THE DEVIL’S REJECTS (2005)
• HITCHCOCK (2012)
• CREED II (2018)

LINKS:
• INSIDE PSYCHO PODCAST: https://wondery.com/shows/inside-psycho/
• Alfred Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection: https://www.amazon.com/Alfred-Hitchcock-Masterpiece-Collection-Limited/dp/B008DCAG9M
• YouTube Page: youtube.com/adolfojacosta

SOCIAL MEDIA:
• TWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515
• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms/


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

NOTE: Watch Adolfo Acosta on Turner Classic Movies, introducing CITY LIGHTS with Ben Manciewicz, this Sunday, October 14 at 11 AM CT/12 PM ET

On today’s adventure, Adolfo and Mark go back to the silent era for Charles Chaplin’s CITY LIGHTS (1931)! The film that got Adolfo a fan programmer spot on TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES(!) On this week’s show:

Discovering Charlie Chaplin movies.
The best introduction to Chaplin
Silent films in the “Talkie” era
CITY LIGHTS isn’t really a “silent” film
Chaplin’s reluctance to transition to talking pictures
How the film was originally conceived
The hate-hate relationship between Chaplin and Virginia Cherrill
The butler is a jerk
Chaplin’s favorite scene in the film
“Can you see now?”



FILMS REFERENCED:

THE KID (1921)
THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
MODERN TIMES (1936)
GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
THE GREAT DICTATOR (1940)
MONSIEUR VERDOUX (1947)
BICYCLE THIEVES (1948)
LIMELIGHT (1952)
SALO OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM (1975)

LINKS:



SOCIAL MEDIA
TWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515
FACEBOOK: The Essential Films


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

BONUS FEATURES


Warning: The following is unedited raw audio with NSFW language.


In this episode:


Mark’s buried treasure

Vinegar Syndrome

Cult Movies

Mark’s film canister unboxing

Mark’s penchant for trash cinema

Does Cinemax exist?

Boutique Labels

Shedding some DVD weight


Films Referenced:


ORGY OF THE DEAD (1965)

THIS,THAT AND THE OTHER! (1970)

I DRINK YOUR BLOOD (1970)

SHAFT (1971)

SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAADASSSSS SONG (1971)

TROUBLE MAN (1972)

SUPER FLY (1972)

PETS (1973)

THE MACK (1973)

MASSAGE PARLOR MURDERS (1973)

BLACKENSTEIN (1973)

CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE PEANUT BUTTER FREAK (1975)

HER NAME WAS LISA (1979)

CANNIBAL FEROX (1981)

DEADLY DAPHNE’S REVENGE (1987)

ICE CREAM MAN (1995)

THE RUNDOWN (2003)

MR. & MRS. SMITH (2005)


LINKS:

Vinegar Syndrome - https://vinegarsyndrome.com/

“Million Dollar” Collection - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdjQ2lxHX6A

ICE CREAM MAN trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DwC5wshQwk

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

What is thy bidding, our masters? On today’s adventure, Adolfo and Mark learn about the ways of the force and resist the Dark Side as they discuss the 1980 STAR WARS epic: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK! On this week’s show: The lack of hype for SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY How we first experienced EMPIRE The 1995 THX Remastered VHS tapes The film’s most famous line is often misquoted George Lucas as an independent filmmaker Hiring Irvin Kershner as Director The early versions of the story The 1997 Special Editions The proper order to watch the Saga George Lucas is Kermit Who knew the twist ending ahead of filming? When did Lucas know Leia was Luke’s sister? How do you pronounce “AT-AT”? Switching out Emperors Why is talking to a Muppet NOT goofy? “I know.” The reaction from fans in the 1980s The differences of the original cut VS the special editions “Despecialized” Editions FILMS REFERENCED: STAR WARS (1977) SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978) RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983) ROBOCOP 2 (1990) CLERKS (1994) STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999) STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002) EMPIRE OF DREAMS (2004) STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005) STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015) ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016) STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (2017) SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (2018) BONUS CONVERSATION: THE WARRIORS (1979) AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018) LINKS: The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Alamo Drafthouse Menu: https://drafthouse.com/nyc/news/eats-assemble-avengers-infinity-war-specials-are-here HOW FANS REACTED TO EMPIRE STRIKES BACK IN 1980: https://io9.gizmodo.com/heres-how-fans-reacted-to-the-empire-strikes-back-in-19-1821551259 ISLE OF DOGS Alamo Drafthouse Menu: https://drafthouse.com/nyc/news/japanese-inspired-canine-approved-isle-of-dogs-specials-are-here


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

BONUS EPISODE!

Raw unproduced audio of Adolfo and Mark shooting the breeze. On today’s adventure:

Mark’s Alamo Drafthouse Adventures
SEVEN (1995)
70 MM of HOWARD THE DUCK (1986)
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986)
THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)
“This is what happens when you French a stranger in the Alps!”
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
VERTIGO (1958)
GREASE (1976)
THE LONG GOODBYE (1973)
GEMINI (2018)
Arnie’s mustache
PUMPING IRON (1977)
SSSSSSS (1973)
THE BIRDS II: LAND’S END (1994)
PHASE IV (1974)
OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN (1983)
COBRA (1986)
SHAKMA (1990)
BASKET CASE (1982)
FRANKEN HOOKER (1990)
BRAIN DAMAGE (1988)
80s trash
THE GARBAGE PAIL KIDS MOVIE (1987)
SECRET AGENT DOUBLE-O SOUL (1990)
BEST FRIENDS VOL. 1 (2018)
SCARFACE (1983)


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

We’re back from the Phantom Zone!On today’s adventure, Adolfo and Mark fight for Truth, Justice and the American way when they discuss the 1978 superhero movie pioneer SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE! On this week’s show:

Clamshell VHS Tapes
One of the first superhero films
Christopher Reeves: Adolfo’s childhood hero
Henry Cavill’s mustache
Brandon Routh’s Christopher Reeves impression
A time when Superhero films were non-existent
All superhero movies trace their origin to Superman
An important milestone for superhero films
How do you make someone fly?
The cheesiness of Can You Read My Mind
How long it takes to even see Superman
The long process of casting Superman
Marlon Brando at his laziest
Brando scored big
Green bagels
Christopher Reeves doesn’t get top billing
The wacky names considered to play the title part
Christopher Reeves’ amazing dual performance
“You’ve got me? Who’s got you?”
The electric chemistry between Reeves and Margot Kidder
Dual filming on Superman and Superman II
Krypton’s blowing up? FAKE NEWS
Lax adoption paperwork laws
The ludicrousness of Lex Luthor’s plan
Why Lex Luthor is awesome even though he differs from the comic book
Hackensack, New Jersey
Does Superman REALLY spin the Earth backwards?
“Head Canon”
The iconic score streak of John Williams
What’s missing from modern superhero films
Evil Superman flicking peanuts
The 3 Hour TV cut

FILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:

FLASH GORDON (1936)
THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL (1941)
BATMAN (1943)
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1944)
BATMAN AND ROBIN (1947)
SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE-MEN (1951)
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (TV Series, 1952-1958)
BATMAN (TV Series, 1966-1968)
THE GODFATHER (1972)
LAST TANGO IN PARIS (1972)
STAR WARS (1977)
SUPERMAN II (1980)
SUPERMAN III (1983)
SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE (1987)
BATMAN (1989)
DARKMAN (1990)
THE SHADOW (1994)
THE PHANTOM (1996)
SPAWN (1997)
STEEL (1997)
STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)
X-MEN (2000)
SMALLVILLE (TV Series, 2001-2011)
SPIDER-MAN (2002)
STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002)
STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005)
SUPERMAN RETURNS (2006)
IRON MAN (2008)
TED (2012)
THE AVENGERS (2012)
MAN OF STEEL (2013)
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015)
JUSTICE LEAGUE (2017)
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (2017)
KRYPTON (TV Series, 2018)
BLACK PANTHER (2018)
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)
RED SPARROW (2018)

LINKS:
The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com

SOCIAL MEDIA
TWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515
FACEBOOK: The Essential Films

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

In today's Short Subjects episode, Adolfo goes down the entire list of Academy Award nominees, announced on January 24th. From Best Picture to Best Visual Effects; From Get Out to Dunkirk he covers his thoughts, his predictions and why he thinks Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri is overrated.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

Join Adolfo on this solo adventure as he discusses some of the cherished Holiday Hollywood classics such as:

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938)
HOLIDAY INN (1942)
THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947)
SCROOGE (1951)
WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954)
A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)

and more!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

It's cold outside. A man's gotta do something to keep warm. On today's podcast adventure: Adolfo and Mark deck the halls and jingle them bells as they celebrate the holidays with MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1947). The duo are plastered...err--- feeling gay as they discuss the charming wonderfulness of this holiday classic as well as: Kris does NOT take any crap; Fred Gailey is a pimp; you couldn't make this film in 2017; Is Gimbels still in business?; the legal accuracy of the courtroom scenes; Russian princes; and "Mr. Macy." All this plus a conversation on STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, Alamo Draughthouse adventures, holiday movie classics, The Rankin Bass Holiday specials, HOLIDAY INN (1942), The many adaptations of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, including SCROOGE (1951), SCROOGED (1988) and THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992), HOME ALONE (1990) and ELF (2003). Do a wonderful thing and download now!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

There’s no place like home. On today’s Thanksgiving podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1939 MGM classic: THE WIZARD OF OZ! On this week’s show:

More Alamo Drafthouse!
Watching CASABLANCA on the big screen
It’s not an isosceles triangle!
What human being on this planet hasn’t seen Wizard of Oz?
A Thanksgiving tradition
The troubled production and box office woes of Oz
Dark Side of the Moon
The power of watching a movie on the big screen
The rotating door of directors
Wizard of Oz on stage
High school productions
The Jitterbug
A Thanksgiving tradition
Engrained in pop culture
Roseanne Barr as the Wicked Witch?
The bankability of Fantasy films in the 30s.
Why the film was a dream sequence
The darkness of RETURN TO OZ
“Over the Rainbow” was almost cut from the film
Dorothy and Scarecrow love connection?
The pros and cons of blu-ray
The amazing make-up artistry
Shirley Temple: The original Dorothy?
Ray Bolger originally cast as Scarecrow
Buddy Ebsen’s allergic reaction to the silver Tin Man make up, causing him to be recast by Jack Haley
Who were WC Fields and Ed Wynn considered to play?
Frank Morgan, the MGM character actor
Margaret Hamilton severely burned on a stunt
Juvenile Oscars
The television broadcast gave the film new life
Urban legends
Midgets groping Judy Garland
There is still one Munchkin left!
Sequels & spinoffs!
Wicked the Broadway Musical
The debut of the Random CHRISTMAS Movie Generator

FILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:

THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ (1910)
THE WIZARD OF OZ (1925)
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938)
GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)
CASABLANCA (1942)
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
THE BISHOP’S WIFE (1947)
ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951)
SCROOGE (1951)
REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (1959)
MARY POPPINS (1965)
BONNIE & CLYDE (1967)
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971)
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)
STAR WARS TRILOGY (1977-1983)
MOMENT BY MOMENT (1978)
THE WIZ (1978)
THE SHINING (1980)
BLOW OUT (1981)
THE THING (1982)
E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
MICHAEL JACKSON’S THRILLER (1982)
SCARFACE (1983)
A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)
GREMLINS (1984)
RETURN TO OZ (1985)
CAPTAIN EO (1986)
THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987)
THE LOST BOYS (1987)
MOONWALKER (1988)
DIE HARD (1988)
GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH (1990)
HOME ALONE (1990)
MGM WHEN THE LION ROARS (1992)
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992)
FALLING DOWN (1993)
ED WOOD (1994)
BATMAN & ROBIN (1997)
STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)
POKÉMON: THE MOVIE - I CHOOSE YOU! (2000)
THE ROOM (2002)
TIN MAN (2007)
500 DAYS OF SUMMER (2009)
THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY (2001-2003)
ROOM 237 (2012)
THE AVENGERS (2012)
THE HOBBIT TRILOGY (2012-2014)
OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (2013)
SPOTLIGHT (2015)
THOR: RAGNAROK (2017)
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (2017)
JUSTICE LEAGUE (2017)
AMERICAN ASSASSIN (2017)
KINGSMAN THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (2017)
THE DISASTER ARTIST (2017)
IRVING BERLIN’S HOLIDAY INN: THE MUSICAL (2017)
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (2017)
THE POST (2017)

LINKS:
The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com
Key & Peele: Gremlins 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x01l_jMhjVM
Moment by Moment TV Spot - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYyjvyvx6c0
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpV29YZ7Ksw
The Wizard of Oz (1925) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CBmDZjvjGs
Return to Oz Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CklyKCKFtwE
Maragaret Hamilton on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I89lklpp8cM
Michael Jackson in The Wiz (1978) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r1ssg1LIt4
Moonwalker Trailer (1988) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFoVHVeLk-M
Captain EO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONRTzWy26Ko
Tin Man trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUWyDjuHEC0

SOCIAL MEDIA
TWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Adolfo_Acosta, @Sportsguy515
FACEBOOK: The Essential Films: https://www.facebook.com/The-Essential-Films-130585803634489/?fref=ts


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com