They Don't Make 'em Like They Used To - Movie Nostalgia

This evening, in one of the most slam dunk casting decisions in movie history, David Bowie is an Alien. In the wild, wild west, it’s cowboys vs …. dinosaurs? We hear of one lady's early cinema going life in Barbados, Let’s just say the King travels well, and we talk a film that gives Shaun that childhood feeling all over again. Welcome to They Don’t Make ‘em Like They Used To

This week, Tosin and the team at Sunshine Radio are broadcasting from St. Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight. We're exploring the intersection of sci-fi and reality with David Bowie's alien turn, witnessing the bizarre mash-up of cowboys and dinosaurs, and listening to a life story that spans decades of movie-going from Barbados to the UK.

Note: music tracks edited out due to licensing issues

In this Episode

• The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976): We discuss Nicolas Roeg's cult classic starring David Bowie. The team delves into the film’s themes of corruption, the human condition, and Bowie’s perfect casting as an otherworldly being.

• Cinematic Memories from Barbados: Brenda and Mary from the Alverston Ward share their early cinema experiences. Brenda reminisces about watching films upside-down in Barbados while sitting on Coke boxes and her teenage love for Elvis Presley.

• Hidden Gem - The Valley of Gwangi (1969): Recommended by Dan Fraser, we explore this unique "Cowboys vs. Dinosaurs" flick featuring Ray Harryhausen’s legendary stop-motion animation.

• Modern Classic - Fury (2014): Sean explains why this gritty WWII tank drama, starring Brad Pitt, earned its place as an "exception to the rule" for great modern cinema.

Featured Films & Figures

The ClassicThe Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

Hidden GemThe Valley of Gwangi (1969)

The ExceptionFury (2014)

Island Guest Brenda and Mary from Alverstone Ward

This evening, we pretend to be anybody who is anybody with Fat Sam, sing an ode to that great servant of cinema, The Cowboy, Follow two rogue soldiers attempting to become Afghani royalty and have a blast on the french riviera chasing old women’s money. Welcome to They Don’t Make ‘em Like They Used To.

In this episode of "They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To," host Tosin and co-hosts Shaun and Sharon broadcast from the Alverstone Ward at St. Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight. The team takes a deep dive into the world of cinematic tricksters, rogues, and the enduring charm of the Western genre.

• Bonafide Classic: We explore the 1976 musical-gangster mashup Bugsy Malone. The group discusses the film’s unique cast of child actors, its iconic "splurge guns," and the breakout performance of a young Jodie Foster.

• Hospital Patient Choice: Tosin chats with Doug Watson in Alverstone Ward about his early childhood memories of Saturday afternoon Westerns. They discuss the "escapism" of the classic cowboy and how the genre’s themes have persisted through film history, from John Wayne to Star Wars.

• The Hidden Gem: Inspired by a fan suggestion from Giles, the team reviews the 1975 adventure The Man Who Would Be King. Starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine, the film is praised for its epic storytelling and the brilliant chemistry between its legendary leads.

• Exception to the Rule: Our modern masterpiece for the night is the 1988 comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Tosin highlights the effortlessly funny performances of Michael Caine and Steve Martin as rival con artists on the French Riviera and discusses the film’s clever construction and surprising twists.

Please be aware that all music tracks discussed in this episode—including scores from Bugsy Malone and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels—have been edited out due to licensing issues.

Join us as we celebrate the scoundrels and gunslingers that remind us why they just don't make 'em like they used to.

This Evening Breakfast at the temple of diamonds with Audrey and Hannibal Smith, It’s the eighties ... That can’t be right, this is a show about old movies hmmm, anyway everything looks like a Duran Duran video. We have an movie by an Island boy done good who mixes with modern hollywood royalty and courtesy of Jean in our adopted ward alverstone, we bring some much needed class to the show. Welcome to They Don’t Make ‘Em Like they used to.

From St. Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight, host Tosin Ajayi and guest Sharon Bollen take listeners on a deep dive into the glamour, controversy, and grit of cinema history in this episode of They Don't Make Them Like They Used To.

Inside This Episode:

• The Bone-Fide Classic: A listener-selected look at the iconic Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). The hosts discuss Audrey Hepburn’s career-defining performance as Holly Golightly, the lush musical score by Henry Mancini, and the "yellow-face" controversy surrounding Mickey Rooney’s performance.

• A "Classy" Patient Choice: We visit Alverston Ward to hear from Jean, who reminisces about seeing The Great Caruso (1951) for the first time. The discussion explores Mario Lanza’s operatic prowess and how Hollywood often fictionalized life stories for dramatic effect.

• The Hidden Gem (with an 80s Twist): Sharon sneaks in the 1985 fantasy epic Ladyhawke. Despite its mid-80s synthesizer score, the hosts break down its medieval romantic curse and the standout performances of Michelle Pfeiffer, Rutger Hauer, and a young Matthew Broderick.

• The Exception to the Rule: A discussion of Anthony Minghella’s civil war drama Cold Mountain (2003). The hosts evaluate its sprawling romantic narrative, its standout soundtrack featuring Jack White, and the Oscar-winning performance of Renee Zellweger.

NOTE: Due to licensing restrictions, all music tracks featured in the original broadcast have been edited out of this recording.

Join us for a nostalgic journey through the silver screen's past, and remember—they don't make them like they used to!

Tonight on our re-make special we shall be looking at classic films that have been re-made, re-used and re-cycled. We will be saying Good Morning to Baltimore, You must remember this to San Antonio and Good Grief, I wasn’t expecting that in the antarctic. Welcome to They don’t re-make em like they used to.

In tonight's remake special of They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To, host Sharon and co-hosts Shaun and Joe delve into the world of film remakes, reuses, and re-imaginings. Broadcasting from St. Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight, the team brings a twist to their usual format by exploring how classic pre-1980s cinema compares to more recent adaptations.

• Hidden Gem – Hairspray: Sharon kicks off the show with her personal choice, comparing John Waters' 1988 cult classic with the 2007 musical remake. The group discusses the evolution of characters like Edna Turnblad, traditionally played by men in drag, from Divine to John Travolta. They also examine the film's deeper themes of racial integration and civil rights in 1962 America.

• Bonafide Classic – The Alamo: Shaun introduces the 1960 epic directed by and starring John Wayne. The team compares this legendary portrayal of the 1836 siege with the 2004 revisionist remake starring Billy Bob Thornton and Dennis Quaid. They discuss the historical accuracies, the legendary Davy Crockett, and the emotional resonance of the musical score "The Green Leaves of Summer".

• Sci-Fi/Horror Remakes – The Thing: Joe sets a chilling scene in the Antarctic with the 1982 version of The Thing, directed by John Carpenter. The discussion spans from the original 1951 film The Thing from Another World to Carpenter's masterpiece and the 2011 prequel/remake. They highlight the suspenseful "blood test" scene and the sheer mastery of Carpenter's atmospheric tension.

• The Quiz: Joe challenges the team with a cinematic trivia quiz centered around an Academy Award-winning legend whose career spanned six decades and who beat out icons like Frank Sinatra and James Dean for Best Actor.

Note: Please be aware that all music tracks discussed during this episode have been edited out due to licensing restrictions.

Join us as we explore why sometimes the classics are best, and other times, they don't remake 'em like they used to.

Tonight we’ll will be talking about the man who put the Special in Special Agent, his rival who took special and turned it up to eleven and not forgetting the boys from the United Network Command for Law Enforcement.

In this episode of They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To, Sharon and the team dive deep into the golden age of cinema, specifically focusing on films released before 1980. The spotlight tonight is on the legendary James Bond franchise, exploring its origins, its evolution, and what makes a "classic" Bond film.

• The Spy vs. The Gadget: The team debates the merits of the early Bond films. Shawny advocates for From Russia with Love (1963) as a definitive "proper spy movie" because of its gritty, Cold War atmosphere and lack of over-the-top gadgets.

• The Birth of an Icon: Joe argues that Dr. No (1962) is the greatest because it established the blueprints for the entire series—the themes, the Caribbean settings, and the iconic character tropes.

• The Bond Legacy: The guests discuss the different eras of Bond, comparing the charisma of Sean Connery to the more "smug" portrayal by Roger Moore, and the darker turn taken by Timothy Dalton and Daniel Craig.

• Bond’s Influence: The conversation extends to Bond spoofs like Our Man Flint (1965) and Austin Powers, as well as the franchise's influence on martial arts cinema and characters like Jason Bourne.

• The Music of 007: From John Barry's sweeping scores to Sam Smith's Writing's on the Wall, the team shares their favorite Bond themes and the importance of the music in telling the story.

Test your knowledge along with the hosts! Tonight’s clues for the "Screen Legend" include:

1. They wrote an autobiography in 1984 titled There Really Was a Hollywood.

2. They famously stated they would always take second billing to their husband.

3. Their career spanned from 1947 to 2000, and they were portrayed by Scarlett Johansson in a 2012 biopic.

4. They appeared on screen with their famous actress daughter in two films, including The Fog (1980) and Halloween H20 (1998).

Note: Please be advised that the music tracks originally featured in this broadcast (including tracks by Matt Monro and Shirley Bassey) have been edited out of this podcast version due to licensing and copyright restrictions.

Looking to volunteer?If you have a few hours a week to spare, Sunshine Radio is looking for volunteers! Contact Lorraine at the Friends of St. Mary’s for more information.

This week, Colin Fyrth!! Actually live Colin Fyrth on the show. Love or Duty, Love or Duty, that is the big question as we hang out in Casablanca, and we have what I’m hoping will be a heavyweight ding dong battle over the acceptance of a movie into the John Wayne Hall of Fame. Welcome to They Don’t Make ‘em Like They Used To.

Welcome to another nostalgic journey with They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To, broadcasting from St. Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight. This week, hosts Tosin, Shaun, and Sharon take a trip back to pre-1980s Hollywood, exploring romantic icons, legendary leading men, and the evolution of the war film.

• Bonafide Classic: The team dives into the 1942 masterpiece Casablanca. They discuss why this mid-war romantic thriller remains one of the most quotable films in history and its unique, non-propagandist approach to sacrifice and defiance.

• A "Dashing" Guest Choice: In a special segment, Colin Firth (who happens to be staying in the hospital's Alverstone Ward!) shares his earliest cinematic memories, including the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still.

• The Hidden Gem: Sharon introduces us to the 1965 Western The Sons of Katie Elder. Starring John Wayne and Dean Martin, this film explores family ties, revenge, and the lighter, comedic side of the classic Western genre.

• Exception to the Rule: Shaun selects the 1998 epic Saving Private Ryan as a modern masterpiece that fundamentally changed how war is depicted on screen. The hosts discuss the visceral impact of the Omaha Beach landing and the film's roots in real-life stories of family sacrifice during WWII.

• Legend Quiz: Shaun challenges the group with clues about a cinematic icon who was the first-ever actress to appear on a postage stamp, eventually revealing her as the legendary Grace Kelly.

Please note that all music tracks discussed in this episode—including the iconic scores of John Williams and Scott Joplin—have been edited out due to licensing issues.

Join us as we mine for cinematic gold and celebrate the films that truly stand the test of time.