The Essential Films Podcast

What an excellent day for an exorcism. On today’s Halloween podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1973 William Friedkin classic: THE EXORCIST! On this week’s show:

Alamo Drafthouse adventures
Has Edgar Wright ever made a bad film?
Halloween season movies
When did we first experience THE EXORCIST?
Terrifying even for a lapsed Catholic
The exorcism of Roland Doe
William Friedkin sounds like a more educated Donald Trump
William Peter Blatty’s power as producer
Friedkin making the cast and crew film in a freezer
The urban myths and legends of the film production
Mercedes McCambridge
The power of nitroglycerin
The prologue confuses first time viewers
The amazing make-up job on Max Von Sydow
The secret behind Captain Howdy’s subliminal messages
The banned trailer
Who owns a Ouija board?
How the parallel stories of Regan and Damien Karras intersect
The GREAT Lee J. Cobb
The “Exorcist” Steps
The Crucifix Scene
Audience reactions: fainting, barf bags, etc.
Friedkin, the sadist
Campbell’s Pea Soup
How Jason Miller got the role
The original Damien Karras
“Help Me”
The iconic shot of Merrin arriving at the McNeil house
“Why you do this to me, Dimi?”
Angering the crew by slapping a priest
Damien Karras’ story arc and crisis of faith
The differences between the Theatrical and Extended cuts
The Spider Walk
The massive box office success of the film
The disappointing sequels
REPOSSESSED does not hold up

FILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:

THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
ALL THE KING’S MEN (1949)
THE WAGES OF FEAR (1953)
ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
ROSEMARY’S BABY (1968)
THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
THE STING (1973)
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)
EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC (1977)
SORCERER (1977)
ALIEN (1979)
THE SHINING (1980)
AIRPLANE (1980)
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
THE THING (1982)
THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985)
THE NAKED GUN: FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD (1988)
REPOSSESSED (1990)
THE EXORCIST III (1990)
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)
FIGHT CLUB (1999)
THE ROOM (2003)
SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004)
EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING (2004)
DOMINION: A PREQUEL TO THE EXORCIST (2005)
HOT FUZZ (2007)
GRINDHOUSE (2007)
THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD (2010)
THE DARK KNIGHT (2012)
THE WORLD’S END (2013)
WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (2013)
OUIJA (2014)
BABY DRIVER (2017)

LINKS:
The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com

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

We’ll...be….right….HERE. On today’s podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1982 Steven Spielberg classic: E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL! On this week’s show:

More Alamo Drafthouse adventures from Mark
Unoriginal cosplayers
Our thoughts on the passings of Jerry Lewis, Harry Dean Stanton and Tobe Hooper
The infamous unreleased Jerry Lewis film THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED
Harry Dean Stanton should get a posthumous Academy Award nomination for LUCKY
“Avenge me!”
The 35th Anniversary of E.T.
When did we first experience E.T.
Probably the greatest family film of all time
Last day of school movies
The long stretches of time we went before rewatching the film
How the film is entrenched in pop culture
Experiencing it again for the “first time”
The movie still works on 2017 audiences
ET and Elliot going across the moon is the most iconic image in cinema
Kids smoking and swearing in family films
Why did you drop the pizza Elliot?!
The origins of E.T. from the mind of a young Steven Spielberg
How 1941’s production problems helped pave the way for E.T.
1941: Spielberg’s worst film
Columbia passed on E.T.
The tragic mistake of M&Ms
Reese’s Pieces!
Mark’s INCORRECT opinion on Reese’s Pieces VS M&Ms
E.T. taught kids how to play hooky from school
The cuteness of young Drew Barrymore
Why don’t we see the adult’s faces for half the film?
The trauma of frog dissection
Henry Thomas delivers one of the great child actor performances
Harrison Ford’s deleted cameo
TV versions of movies re-adding deleted scenes
The 20th Anniversary version
Walkie Talkies are not guns
Practical effects are always better than digital
Why the film was shot in chronological order
E.T. 2: NOCTURNAL FEARS
E.T.’s cameo in STAR WARS
The biggest movie of all time until 1993 when Spielberg beat the box office record again with JURASSIC PARK
E.T. The Atari Game
E.T. Adventure @ Universal Studios… kind of a lame ride.
“Penis breath!”
“Wolfman’s got nards!”
We’re not ready for 4K yet

FILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:

GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
CITIZEN KANE (1941)
THE QUIET MAN (1952)
ARTISTS AND MODELS (1955)
CINDERFELLA (1960)
PSYCHO (1960)
THE LADIES MAN (1961)
THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1963)
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
COOL HAND LUKE (1967)
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
THE GODFATHER (1972)
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)
JAWS (1975)
KING KONG (1976)
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
STAR WARS (1977)
HALLOWEEN (1978)
ALIEN (1979)
1941 (1979)
ALTERED STATES (1980)
THE SHINING (1980)
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981)
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
THE KING OF COMEDY (1982)
FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982)
POLTERGEIST (1982)
TRON (1982)
CHRISTINE (1983)
PARIS, TEXAS (1984)
RED DAWN (1984)
REPO MAN (1984)
INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984)
GREMLINS (1984)
FIRESTARTER (1984)
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985)
THE GOONIES (1985)
PRETTY IN PINK (1986)
FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF (1986)
STAND BY ME (1986)
THE MONSTER SQUAD (1987)
FULL METAL JACKET (1987)
BIG (1988)
STEPHEN KING’S IT (1990)
JURASSIC PARK (1993)
PULP FICTION (1994)
JINGLE ALL THE WAY (1996)
STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)
THE LADIES MAN (2000)
SUPER 8 (2011)
THE AVENGERS (2012)
MAX ROSE (2013)
STRANGER THINGS (TV Series, 2016)
IT (2017)
LUCKY (2017)
SPIDER-MAN HOMECOMING (2017)

LINKS:
The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com

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

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. On today’s podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1977 George Lucas classic: STAR WARS! On this week’s show:

Growing up Catholic as a Star Wars fan
More Alamo Drafthouse discussions
Christopher Nolan’s distaste for CGI
What’s the perfect date movie of 2017?
The Star Wars/San Diego Comic-Con connection
All the trailers coming out of Comic-Con 2017
Disney hunting down trailer leaks
Jeff Goldblum makes everything better
A tribute to Martin Landau, George Romero and John Heard
Star Wars’ 40th Anniversary
The many titles George Lucas went through before settling on “Star Wars”
Why is A New Hope so good? Was it a fluke?
George Lucas was not tested in a big budget environment
George Lucas, the world’s biggest independent filmmaker
Star Wars changed the movie licensing game
The complex ownership between 20th Century Fox and Disney
When did we first experience Star Wars?
The Special Edition releases in 1997
Star Wars action figures!
Fast Food Star Wars tie-ins
The multiple VHS releases
Star Wars as a holiday film
Why did Adolfo get in trouble when he saw Star Wars in theaters in 1997?
Who won that damn Star Wars Hummer?
When did “Star Wars” become “Episode IV: A New Hope”?
How the naming convention was inspired by the old chapter movies of the 30s and 40s
Serials were not meant to be watched all at once
How the film was plagued with multiple production problems
Hammer Horror icons Peter Cushing and his on-screen rival Christopher Lee both appeared as Star Wars villains
The use of CGI to bring back younger versions of older actors (or dead actors)
Empire of Dreams: the best documentary on Star Wars
How Star Wars changed the sci-fi game in the 70s
How the crew completely disrespected George Lucas
George Lucas: Control Freak
The New Hollywood directors
The director has final say on a film
What Brian De Palma and Steven Spielberg thought of the film when they saw the rough cut
“It rhymes.”
Why Jabba the Hutt isn’t needed in Star Wars Special Edition
Marcia Lucas is the real MVP
Star Wars: a space fairy tale
Did Lucas rip-off The Dam Busters?
David Prowse was not pleased he was dubbed over
The movie was really made in post-production
Ben Burtt: Sound genius
Inventing new technology just make the film
The birth of Industrial Light & Magic
How the Death Star trench run was filmed
The Prequels and their loyal defenders
The joint casting sessions for Star Wars and Carrie
Who was Mark Hammill’s competition for Luke Skywalker
The wacky names considered for Han Solo
Harrison Ford and Alec Guinness grew to resent the films
“I Was Going to Toshi Station to Pick Up Some Power Converters”
Is Princess Leia English?
Are you Luke Skywalker or Han Solo?
The great chemistry between Fisher, Ford and Hammil
Anthony Daniels does not have a career outside of C-3PO
The inspiration for C-3PO and R2D2
The second act problems of Return of the Jedi
Boba Fett: a great looking character without substance
What is the proper viewing order of the saga?
What Adolfo considers to be the WORST Star Wars movie
The most recognizable movie theme of all time
Star Wars launched a merchandising empire
Adolfo’s vintage Burger King Star Wars glasses
The “Empty Box” campaign
The Star Wars Holiday Special
Prequels, sequels, spin-offs and sequels
“When will then be now?” “Soon”
George Lucas can’t leave well enough alone
How can you watch the original theatrical versions (legally). Hint, it involves going on eBay and some outdated technology
The “De-Specialized” Editions
Han shoots first!

FILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:
FLASH GORDON (1936)
BATMAN (1943)
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1944)
BATMAN AND ROBIN (1949)
THE DAM BUSTERS (1955)
THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (1958)
NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)
PLANET OF THE APES (1968)
THX 1138 (1971)
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
JAWS (1975)
LOGAN’S RUN (1976)
CARRIE (1976)
DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)
SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978)
THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL (1978)
MAD MAX (1979)
STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979)
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO (TV Series, 1981-1983)
BLADE RUNNER (1982)
RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983)
THE A-TEAM (TV Series, 1983-1987)
SCARFACE (1983)
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
MUPPET BABIES (TV Series, 1984-1991)
BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985)
DAY OF THE DEAD (1985)
STAR WARS: DROIDS (TV Series, 1985-1986)
BIG (1988)
SPACEBALLS (1988)
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS (1989)
HOME ALONE (1990)
JURASSIC PARK (1993)
ED WOOD (1994)
PULP FICTION (1994)
BATMAN FOREVER (1995)
THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO (1996)
BATMAN & ROBIN (1997)
THE IRON GIANT (1999)
THE SOPRANOS (TV Series, 1999-2007)
STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE (2001)
STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002)
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (2003)
EMPIRE OF DREAMS: THE STORY OF THE STAR WARS TRILOGY (2004)
STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005)
STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED (Video Game, 2008)
THE WALKING DEAD (TV Series, 2010-Present)
THOR (2011)
THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2014)
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014)
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015)
ANT-MAN (2015)
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016)
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016)
DUNKIRK (2017)
WAR OF THE PLANET FOR THE APES (2017)
SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)
THE BIG SICK (2017)
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017)
READY PLAYER ONE (2018)
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)
JUSTICE LEAGUE (2018)
THOR: RAGNAROK (2018)

LINKS:
The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com
Star Wars glasses: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f3/4b/d1/f34bd1b1f58cbb9e586c826120a0c206.jpg
Harmy’s Despecialized Editions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmy%27s_Despecialized_Edition



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

On today’s podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1957 David Lean classic: THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI! On this week’s show:


Mark takes another EPIC trip to Alamo Drafthouse
Mark’s retweet from an 80’s icon
Jelly donuts
Toy guns
Korean exercise videos
2017 Summer Movies
Adolfo is done with Minions
Adolfo butchers Japanese and French
The benefits of Netflix Disc subscription
The slow start to Bridge
The David Lean Trilogy
Why William Holden was cast
William Holden’s record breaking salary
Why Alec Guinness thought the film was Anti-British
Why Adolfo trusts Alec Guinness without question
The anti-Japanese sentiment of the film
Does the film romanticize the building of the bridge?
The central conflict of Col. Nicholson
Major Shears’ redemption
Jack Hawkins: Bad Ass
Building an actual bridge for the film
Mark makes a Simpsons reference (SHOCKING)
Nicholson’s ambiguous finale
Women Bearers!
The hokey final words
The Hollywood Blacklist rears its ugly head
Masterful editing for the climax of the film

FILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:
THE GENERAL (1926)
BRIEF ENCOUNTER (1945)
OLIVER TWIST (1948)
WINCHESTER ‘73 (1950)
SUNSET BLVD. (1950)
STALAG 17 (1953)
PATHS OF GLORY (1957)
SLEEPING BEAUTY (1959)
SPARTACUS (1960)
WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963)
THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (1964)
THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY (1965)
DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
BATMAN: THE MOVIE (1966)
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
THE LOSERS (1970)
JAWS (1975)
NETWORK (1976)
ZOMBI (1979)
APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
MANIAC (1980)
AIRPLANE! (1980)
AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1982)
A PASSAGE TO INDIA (1984)
BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985)
FULL METAL JACKET (1987)
TOP GUN (1987)
BATMAN (1989)
PACIFIC HEIGHTS (1990)
HEARTS OF DARKNESS (1991)
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991)
FORREST GUMP (1994)
INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996)
MEN IN BLACK (1997)
ALI (2001)
HITCH (2005)
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (2006)
I AM LEGEND (2007)
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
THE AVENGERS (2012)
INTERSTELLAR (2014)
JUPITER ASCENDING (2015)
MINIONS (2015)
FURIOUS 7 (2015)
STRANGER THINGS [Netflix Series] (2016)
TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT (2017)
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES (2017)
COLOSSAL (2017)
LUCKY (2017)
DUNKIRK (2017)
ATOMIC BLONDE (2017)
SPIDER-MAN HOMECOMING (2017)
WAR OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2017)
THE EMOJI MOVIE (2017)
ANNABELLE CREATION (2017)
THE DARK TOWER (2017)
VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS (2017)
BABY DRIVER (2017)

LINKS:
The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com
The Losers (1970) - Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQU3cRBoWGo
GI Joe Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLL67CN2hnw
Paths of Glory (1957) - Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmDA60X-f_A
Nancy Sinatra “These Boots Are Made for Walking” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2fPkzJsMU8
R. Lee Ermey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPlKXBnLbK0


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

On today’s podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock classic: REAR WINDOW! On this week’s show:

An in-depth discussion of Disney World Parks
Jedis are gender neutral
Adolfo’s favorite Hitchcock film
Thelma Ritter: The MVP
The inevitable “Simpsons” discussion
How sound plays such an important role in the film
Hitchcock’s growing pains in cinema
The movie is completely set up in the first two minutes
The believable cast of characters in the courtyard
How the film turns the audience into voyeurs
Grace Kelly at the peak of her Grace Kelly
How Hitchcock places doubt in the viewer’s head
Lars Thorwald is more sinister being kind to a dog than being cruel to it
How long does it take to walk up a flight of stairs?
How Hitchcock makes you feel bad for the killer
Sacrificing realism for suspense
An exercise in reaction editing
Differences to the original short story
Hitchcock likes to get around the censors
Thorwald and Jeff mirror each other
“It’s almost as if it’s being written for us”
The camera as a phallic symbol
The made for TV Movie remake starring Christopher Reeve

PLUS CONVERSATIONS ON:
WINGS (1927)
THE LODGER: A STORY OF THE LONDON FOG (1928)
THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (1934)
THE 39 STEPS (1935)
SABOTAGE (1936)
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938)
THE LADY VANISHES (1938)
HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940)
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
IN A LONELY PLACE (1950)
DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954)
A MAN ESCAPED (1956)
VERTIGO (1958)
NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
PSYCHO (1960)
“THE SIMPSONS” BART OF DARKNESS (TV Episode 1994)
REAR WINDOW (1998)
DISTURBIA (2007)
AVATAR (2009)
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017)
LINKS:
The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com
Rear Window 1998 TV Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bqrzWLRNEw
Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUNZPHbwA-U

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

(NOTE: There are a few audio issues during this episode that unfortunately we could not fix. We apologize.)

Well, nobody’s perfect.

On today’s podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1959 Billy Wilder classic: SOME LIKE IT HOT! On today’s discussion:

AMC Best Picture Showcase
The Best way to watch a movie is to know nothing about it
Why Mark can’t drink Red Bull
Discussing the 2016 Oscar contenders
How we didn’t take notes for this screening
How open-minded Some Like It Hot is about “Alternative lifestyles”
How we first experienced Some Like It Hot
The funniest movie ever made
Joe E Brown & Jack Lemmon: The MVPs of the movie
Billy Wilder’s epic career
The unlikely origins of SOME LIKE IT HOT
A remake of a remake of a remake
Frank Sinatra in drag?
Marilyn Monroe’s delays to the production schedule
47 takes for 3 words
Why Tony Curtis had to be perfect on every take
Why Marilyn Monroe was underrated as an actress
That weird Cary Grant accent
How the film addressed multiple issues that are prevalent today: homosexuality, transgender issues and the objectification of women
The film is half a gangster movie
George Raft: Tango Dancer
Oh boy, am I a boy.
Our terrible Cary Grant impressions
Great gangster casting
Why the film was shot in black and white
Adolfo doesn’t get Jerry Lewis’ humor
More Simpsons references (of course)
The final line was almost cut
A discussion on Alamo Draught House and dine-in theaters.
Coke is better than Pepsi
Is there a funnier comedy than Some Like It Hot?
The Funniest movies of all time according to AFI

PLUS REFERENCES TO:
SAFETY LAST! (1923)
SCARFACE (1932)
DUCK SOUP (1933)
IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES (1938)
DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
MURDER MY SWEET (1944)
THE LOST WEEKEND (1945)
SUNSET BLVD. (1950)
ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
THE ASPHALT JUNGLE (1950)
ACE IN THE HOLE (1951)
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952)
STALAG 17 (1953)
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1953)
HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE (1953)
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
DUCK AMUCK (1953)
SABRINA (1954)
THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH (1955)
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1957)
RAINTREE COUNTY (1957)
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957)
BEN-HUR (1959)
THE APARTMENT (1960)
THE MISFITS (1961)
JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG (1961)
THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1963)
DR. STRANGELOVE: OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (1964)
MARY POPPINS (1964)
THE GRADUATE (1967)
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
M*A*S*H (1970)
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
THE GODFATHER (1972)
BLAZING SADDLES (1974)
ANNIE HALL (1977)
CADDYSHACK (1980)
MANIAC (1980)
THE SHINING (1980)
AIRPLANE! (1980)
GANDHI (1982)
TOOTSIE (1982)
FULL METAL JACKET (1987)
MAJOR LEAGUE (1989)
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (2011)
AMOUR (2012)
ZERO DARK THIRTY (2012)
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (2016)
LA LA LAND (2016)
LION (2016)
MOONLIGHT (2016)
HACKSAW RIDGE (2016)
SILENCE (2016)
LINKS:
The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com
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

Hot dog! Merry Christmas!

On today’s special holiday podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1946 holiday classic: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE! On today’s discussion:
Mall shopping on the last weekend before Christmas
The NES Classic
The movie that defines all Christmas movies
How the film touches even Adolfo’s cold heart
The miracle that is Mr. Pibb
How the sentimentality is earned
At which point we get teary eyed
“The Greatest Gift” Christmas card
How Cary Grant was all wrong for the role
A mini history of Liberty Films
Capra and Stewart’s favorite film
The secret origin of Jimmy Stewart
The Christmas Tree capital of the world
Why Lionel Barrymore was a perfect choice for Mr. Potter
Mr. Potter = Ebeneezer Scrooge without the redemption
The framing device of the film
Why does Mr. Gower even have a bottle of poison?
Apparently adults are allowed to slap children around in 1946
How many It’s a Wonderful Life references are there in The Simpsons?
A deleted scene where George meets Potter much earlier in life
Jimmy Stewart playing a teenager
Donna Reed’s beautiful introductory shot
“Aw pop, just a little.”
George’s constant sacrifices
Thomas Mitchell’s great adlib
“We’ll wait for ya, baby…”
The one-shot take of Reed and Stewart’s first kiss
Bert and Ernie!
Eyes swimming with tears
How many kids does Martini have?
How James Stewart didn’t want to glorify war on screen
When you finally see George break
A terrifying Santa mask
The innovative new “chemical snow” created for the film
The bridge guy!
The one flaw of the movie!
Not finding your true love means your vision fails
“Merry Christmas you old Building and Loan!”
“To my big brother George, the richest man in town!” ONIONS.
The film’s failure at the box office, with awards and with critics
The ridiculous copyright history
Why Paramount owns the rights even though the film itself is technically in the public domain
The Colorized version
The kick to the gut that was 2016

PLUS REFERENCES TO:
THE BISHOP’S WIFE (1947)
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU (1938)
FORREST GUMP (1994)
BRUCE ALMIGHTY (2003)
HOME ALONE (1990)
HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK (1992)
BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II (1989)
THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
JINGLE ALL THE WAY (1996)
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992)
SCROOGED (1988)
SCROOGE (1951)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1999)
DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2009)
MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1947)
SANTA CLAUS (1959)
SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS (1964)
A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)
BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)
WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954)
DIE HARD (1988)
BATMAN RETURNS (1992)
GREMLINS (1984)
LINKS:
Can You Survive Home Alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NhijmGTwwo
The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com
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

Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembered...


On today’s EPIC podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1939 Hollywood classic: GONE WITH THE WIND! On today’s discussion:
Hattie McDaniel becoming first African American to win an Academy Award
One of the earliest films to sweep the Oscars
The ups and down of respect amongst film critics
How much money has GONE WITH THE WIND made?
The Billion Dollar Club
Our hesitation to watch the film our first time
How Blockbuster didn’t carry anything older than the year 2000
How David O Selznick got the film made
#NotMyRhett
Why Gary Cooper turned down the role of Rhett Butler
“Selznick’s Follie”
The revolving door of directors
The most unlikeable protagonist in history
Mark can’t keep his potty mouth clean!
The search for Scarlett O’Hara
Leslie Howard’s least convincing southern accent
An appearance by Superman
The themes of masculinity throughout the film
No one ends up happy
How they faked Clark Gable dancing
How the film got around the Hayes Code
The best shot in the film
How the “burning of Atlanta” was filled
Uncle Billy!
Scarlett as a feminist icon
Survival as theme
The rewriting of history
A thinly veiled Ku Klux Klan raid
How Rhett carrying Scarlett up the stairs is NOT the romantic scene many people think it is
How Scarlett matures yet remains selfish
“Frankly, my dear…” has more impact in context
How Hattie McDaniel was not allowed to attend the Atlanta premiere
Why it took so long for Gone with the Wind to air on television


PLUS REFERENCES TO:
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
KING KONG (1933)
THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
BEN-HUR (1959)
GETTYSBURG (1993)
SCARLETT (1994)
TITANIC (1997)
THE LORD OF THE RINGS (2001-2003)
AVATAR (2009)
WATCHMEN (2009)
THE ARTIST (2011)
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY (2015)
SAN ANDREAS (2015)
THE HATEFUL EIGHT (2015)
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015)


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

Happy Halloween!

Just in time for Halloween, on today’s podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1978 John Carpenter classic: HALLOWEEN! On today’s discussion:

How Rob Zombie put his own spin on the much maligned remake
When did Adolfo and Mark experience Halloween?
How an iconic horror movie has little to no blood and gore
Elementary school book fairs!
Local video stores! (Shout out to the late Mr. Willie’s)
John Carpenter’s early film career before he got the HALLOWEEN job
Weird Al and Chris Hardwick in a HALLOWEEN movie?
The William Shatner connection
The film’s connection to PSYCHO
The POV murder sequence that opens the film
Slasher movies as morality plays
The “Final Girl” trope
Why we laugh at Tommy’s pain
The relatively low body count
Why you must always check the backseat of your car.
Who cares about the the motivation of Michael Myers?
Did the WWE rip off HALLOWEEN?
You can’t kill Evil
Carpenter’s excellent film score and how he can’t even read music.
The glory days of VHS tapes!
Is the film Misogynist or Feminist?
The nany sequels and remake
The ATARI 2600 video game!
This week in Film History
David Pumpkins (ANY QUESTIONS?)


PLUS REFERENCES TO:
• ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976)
• BATMAN RETURNS (1992)
• BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (1992)
• THE CABIN IN THE WOODS (2012)
• DARK STAR (1974)
• THE DEVIL’S REJECTS (2005)
• THE FRIDAY THE 13th Series
• HALLOWEEN (2007)
• HALLOWEEN II (1981)
• HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1983)
• HALLOWEEN H20 (1998)
• GRINDHOUSE (2007)
• MANIAC (2012)
• THE NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET Series
• THE PAGEMASTER (1993)
• PSYCHO (1960)
• THE THING (1982)
• THE THING (2011)
• THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951)
LINKS:
• www.essentialfilmspodcast.com
• https://www.facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms/
• https://twitter.com/Adolfo_Acosta
• https://twitter.com/EssentialFilms
• https://twitter.com/FPMoviePodcast
• https://twitter.com/SportsGuy515


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

On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark are going to need a bigger boat as they go back into the water for Steven Spielberg's classic blockbuster JAWS. On today's show they discuss:
• How did they first experience Jaws

• The perfect blockbuster film

• The Universal Studios Jaws Ride

• Richard D. Zanuck’s sweet mustache

• Steven Spielberg getting shut out for Best Director

• The iconic John Williams score and how it trained the audience to expect the shark

• The perfect use of jump scares

• The difference between PG in 1975 and PG in 2016

• How an unseen monster is more terrifying

• The greatest movie poster ever created

• How Peter Benchley didn’t think anyone could make the film

• The magic of movies in the 70s and 80s

• The film’s major production problems and why they were serendipitous
• Why Spielberg always skips the last day of shooting on every movie he does

• What parts were Lee Marvin, Robert Duvall and Sterling Hayden considered for?

• The Jaws tourism industry

• Bryan Singer’s connection to Jaws

• Perfect foreshadowing in the script

• A discussion on Mondo Posters

• Quint’s iconic entrance into the film

• “A Whaaaaat?”

• The real life fisherman Quint was based on

• Two different genre mash-ups: Horror and Adventure

• Why did Mark watch BASIC INSTINCT 2?

• How the most famous line in the film was improved

• How a little person helped film the real shark footage

• The story behind the Indianapolis speech
Quint’s manly death

• Spielberg’s brashness in thinking he could take this on as such an inexperienced director

• The unprecedented marketing campaign

• How Jaws started the summer blockbuster tradition

• The difference between “So Bad it’s Good” and just plain bad movies

• JAWS: The Video Game!

As always, we go off on tangents on:
•
VERTIGO (1958)

• DUEL (1971)

• THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS (1974)

• STAR WARS (1977)

• JAWS 2 (1978)

• PIRANHA (1978)

• 1941 (1979)

• CADDYSHACK (1980)

• JAWS 3D (1983)

• A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)

• JAWS THE REVENGE (1987)

• LETHAL WEAPON (1987)

• BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II (1989)

• TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991)

• BRAVEHEART (1995)

• THE MAKING OF ‘JAWS’ (1995)

• INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996)

• CHASING AMY (1997)

• THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (1997)

• STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)

• THE FAST AND FURIOUS Franchise (2001-Present)

• JOYRIDE (2001)

• THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001)

• SHARKNADO (2013)

• MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (2015)

LINKS:
essentialfilmspodcast.com
https://www.facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms/
https://mondotees.com/collections/archive/products/jaws-var-poster
https://mondotees.com/collections/archive/products/jaws-pcc-var-poster
http://www.slashfilm.com/ape-meets-girl-jaws-posters/

TWITTER
@EssentialFilms
@Adolfo_Acosta
@Sportsguy515

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