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

Christmas Special 2015

This podcast episode of "They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To" on Sunshine Radio at St Mary's hospital on the Isle of Wight features host Tosin Ajayi, joined in the studio by Sharon Bollen and Claudia Ajayi. With Christmas approaching, the team explores favorite holiday classics through interviews with hospital patients, staff, and friends of the show.

The episode features a festive mix of classic cinema and nostalgic music:

• The Muppet Magic: Caroline shares a touching story about recording "Silent Night" for her father, while the studio team debates the "sneaky classic" status of the Muppets' take on Dickens.

• The Great Remake Debate: Claudia and Sharon compare the 1947 and 1994 versions of Miracle on 34th Street, praising both Richard Attenborough and Edmund Gwenn for their "Grandpa Christmas" charm.

• The "Bah Humbug" Corner: For those tired of the tinsel, the show dives into the darker side of the holidays with horror picks like Black Christmas and the "Taxi Driver of Christmas movies," Christmas Evil.

• Holiday Staples: From the slapstick wish-fulfillment of Home Alone to the "realistic" redemption arc of Bad Santa, the episode covers the full spectrum of holiday emotions.

Host Note: "Whether you're looking for a tear-jerker or a slasher, remember—they don't make 'em like they used to!" — Tosin Ajayi

The Lineup

• Caroline, Alverston Ward Nurse,The Muppet Christmas Carol"Silent Night" (Choir of St John's College)

• Dave/Facebook Friend/It's a Wonderful LifeN/A

• Olive/Alverston Ward Patient/It's a Wonderful Life/"Fairytale of New York" (The Pogues)

• EddieAlverston Ward PatientWhite Christmas"Mistletoe and Wine" (Cliff Richard)

JohnFacebook FriendBlack Christmas (1974)N/A

KevinFacebook FriendChristmas EvilN/A

Peter/Luckham Ward PatientMiracle on 34th Street (1947)"I Believe in Father Christmas" (Greg Lake)

ClemSt. Mary's DoctorBad Santa"Last Christmas" (Wham!)

MonicaLuckham Ward PatientHome Alone"All I Want for Christmas Is You" (Mariah Carey)

Mickey/Luckham Ward Patient/Home Alone/"Jingle Bell Rock"

This week, we wonder what the chances of anything ever coming from Mars are, we get in a filmic muddle involving Paul Newman, Don Ameche, David Niven and Warren Beatty with some Chris Rock thrown in for good measure, ... and it had to happen at some point. we finally address the massive Elephant that has overshadowed the entire cinematic year of 2015 in the shape of a little space opera being released in December. Welcome to They Don’t Make ‘em Like they Used To.

Join Tosin Ajayi, Sharon Bollen, and Shaun Harris on Sunshine Radio as they take a nostalgic journey through cinematic history. This week, the team dives deep into the Martian landscape with the 1953 classic War of the Worlds, explores a "hidden gem" starring Paul Newman, and discusses the enduring appeal of the historical epic The Last of the Mohicans.

• Bonafide Classic: War of the Worlds (1953):

  • The team discusses this groundbreaking adaptation of H.G. Wells' novel, focusing on its innovative (for the time) special effects and its shift from Victorian England to 1950s rural America.

  • They explore the film's subtext, noting how it reflected the Cold War era's anxieties about "foreign invaders" and the rise of technological and nuclear power.

• Patient's Choice: Star Wars (1977):

  • Tracy, a patient from Alverston Ward at St. Mary's Hospital, shares her memories of seeing the original Star Wars at age 16.

  • The discussion touches upon the film's status as the quintessential "blockbuster" and George Lucas's long journey to getting it made.

• Hidden Gem: Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956):

  • Suggested by a listener on Facebook, this biopic stars Paul Newman as boxing legend Rocky Graziano.

  • The hosts examine Newman's transformative performance, his departure from his usual "confidently charming" persona, and the film's strong supporting cast, which includes early appearances by Robert Loggia and Steve McQueen.

• Exception to the Rule: The Last of the Mohicans (1992):

  • Shaun highlights this 1992 historical epic as a film made after 1980 that still holds up as a masterpiece.

  • The group praises the film's atmospheric direction by Michael Mann, Daniel Day-Lewis's immersive acting, and its powerful, wordless emotional sequences.

Please be aware that while various music tracks—including themes from War of the Worlds and Star Wars—were featured in the original broadcast, they have been edited out of this podcast version due to licensing and copyright restrictions.

Do you have a favourite old film or a "hidden gem" you think the team should discuss? Reach out on Facebook or visit us at Sunshine Radio at St. Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight!

"They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To" – Celebrating the magic of yesterday's cinema.

This week, we spend time with Anarchic yoofs in a non time specific London, hang around inside the predictably weird mind of the man who created The Exorcist, and I have a talk with someone whose lived through more eras of film than I can ever read about. Welcome to They Don't Make 'Em like they Used To.

This week on They Don't Make ‘Em Like They Used To, Tosin and the team at Sunshine Radio on the Isle of Wight dive into the psychological and the surreal. We explore a hidden gem from the creator of The Exorcist, discuss the lingering controversy of a Kubrick masterpiece, and hear from a listener who has witnessed the entire evolution of cinema.

Note: music tracks edited out due to licensing issues

In this Episode:

• A Clockwork Orange (1971): We examine Stanley Kubrick's once-banned adaptation of Anthony Burgess's novel. The team discusses its controversial history in the UK, its unique "Nadsat" slang, and its prophetic look at societal collapse and government manipulation.

• Cinematic History with Hazel: Hazel from the Alverston Ward shares her incredible memories of seeing The Jazz Singer—one of the first "talkies"—and experiencing the transition from black and white to Technicolor. She also requests a classic tune by Jimmy Young.

• The Ninth Configuration (1980): Recommended by listener Dave, this surreal film by William Peter Blatty is set in a Bavarian castle moved to the Pacific Northwest. We unravel its deep themes of faith, sacrifice, and the nature of good and evil within an asylum for traumatized servicemen.

• Island Movies - Lord of the Flies: We look back at the 1963 black-and-white classic and its various adaptations. The discussion centers on the thin veneer of civilization and the primal instincts that surface when children are left without adult supervision.

The Classic A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Hidden GemThe Ninth Configuration (1980)

Isle of Movies Lord of the Flies (1963)

Spine-tingling chills and cinematic thrills await in this special Halloween episode of They Don't Make Them Like They Used To!. From the airwaves of Sunshine Radio at St. Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight, host Tosin is joined by co-hosts Sean and Sharon (aka the "celluloid archaeologists") for a nostalgic trip through some of horror’s most iconic and overlooked masterpieces.

• The Bone-Fide Classic: A dive into George A. Romero's 1978 zombie landmark, Dawn of the Dead. The hosts explore its sharp social commentary on consumerism and how the mall setting became a haunting metaphor for modern life.

• The Hidden Gem: Tosin shares his personal childhood trauma of watching the visceral 1985 classic Re-Animator, famously featuring a reanimated head in a bag—an image that stays with you long after the credits roll.

• The Psychological Masterpiece: The team discusses Robert Wise's 1963 film The Haunting, based on the Shirley Jackson novel. The discussion highlights how the film masterfully crafts terror through sound and shadows rather than gore.

• The Modern Throwback: An analysis of the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead, directed by Zack Snyder with a script by James Gunn. The hosts discuss how this fast-paced update managed to stay true to the spirit of the original while redefining the genre for a new generation.

⚠️ NOTE: Due to licensing restrictions, the music tracks featured in this broadcast—including Johnny Cash’s "The Man Comes Around"—have been edited out.

Whether you're a hardcore horror fan or just in the mood for a spooky retrospective, join the team for an hour of wit, cinematic insight, and a few good screams. And remember—they don't make them like they used to!

In 2015, we have marked 200 years since the battle of Waterloo, On the 25th of October we mark 600 years since the battle of Agin court, sharing the same date as that battle is the Cahrge of the Light Brigade during the crimean war, and we also mark 100 years since the battle of Gallipoli. Welcome to the Battle marking special of They don’t make ‘em like they used to. Film's discussed - Henry V (1944), Charge of the Light Brigade, Charlie Chaplin, The Water Diviner

In this episode of They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To, the "celluloid archaeologists" at Sunshine Radio on the Isle of Wight commemorate a year of significant battle anniversaries by exploring historical epics and modern war dramas.

• The Bone-Fide Classic: A look at Laurence Olivier’s 1944 version of Shakespeare's Henry V. Produced during the height of WWII, this film served as a major propaganda effort to rally British troops before the push into Europe.

• The 600th Anniversary: The hosts discuss the Battle of Agincourt, providing a historical breakdown of King Henry V’s 1415 victory over the French, a battle famously won against overwhelming odds and immortalized by Shakespeare.

• The Hidden Gem: Shaun takes us into the Crimean War with a deep dive into the 1968 film The Charge of the Light Brigade. The discussion highlights the film’s unique animated titles and its stark portrayal of the military incompetence that led to a tragic slaughter.

• The Modern Throwback: An exploration of Russell Crowe’s 2014 directorial debut, The Water Diviner. Set in the aftermath of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli, the hosts reflect on this moving "passion play" about an Australian father searching for his missing sons in Turkey.

• A Special Dedication: The episode features a heartfelt musical request for Gladys Hooper, Britain’s oldest person at the time (112), who was recovering from an operation at St. Mary’s Hospital.

⚠️ NOTE: Due to licensing restrictions, the music tracks featured in this broadcast have been edited out.

Join Tosin, Shaun, and Sharon for a thoughtful and witty journey through the history of cinematic warfare! 🌟🍿

#SunshineRadio #FilmHistory #HenryV #Agincourt #TheWaterDiviner #LightBrigade

Inside This Episode: