It's Del Toro Time!

How do you make the possibility of total global nuclear annihilation seem funny? You just sit down and tell the truth. Stanley Kubrick mined a lot of comedy out of the absurdity of the Cold War in 1964’s “Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb.” Do Ollie and I … Continue reading "058 – Dr. Strangelove (1964)"

This episode, Ollie and I are back in Kurosawa country with the multi-layered “High and Low.” We look at this seemingly innocuous kidnapping thriller and delve into what was happening in Japan that informed Kurosawa’s telling of the story. It’s quite a trip! https://ia903008.us.archive.org/3/items/DelToroHighAndLow/DelToro-HighAndLow.mp3

This week, I take a look at the unusual – and unusually neglected – film “The Fallen Idol” by the team that brought us “The Third Man” just a year later. It’s intense, frustrating and a wonderful film. https://ia803001.us.archive.org/21/items/DelToroFallenIdol/DelToro-FallenIdol.mp3

This episode, Ollie is bustling to finish the school year and, well, school in general, so you’re stuck with me as I take a quick look at 1948’s “The Red Shoes!” It’s a classic, y’all! https://ia801009.us.archive.org/27/items/DelToroRedShoes/DelToro-RedShoes.mp3

Oh boy! G-g-g-ghosts are back! Or, are they? Ollie and I talk about ghosts that may not be ghosts in 1963’s “The Haunting” by acclaimed director Robert Wise. Well, actually, we don’t talk about it much because I’m sick and Ollie is . . . Ollie. You know what I mean. https://ia903000.us.archive.org/3/items/DelToroTheHaunting/DelToro-TheHaunting.mp3

It’s rare that a movie comes along that I have absolutely no context for, but “The Leopard” from 1963 sure took me by surprise. A masterpiece by Italian director Luchino Visconti, “The Leopard” really took me and Ollie by surprise. It’s sumptuous, pensive, melancholy and very long. But not dull. Check it out! https://ia601008.us.archive.org/28/items/DelToroTheLeopard/DelToro-TheLeopard.mp3

This week, Ollie and I watch Fellini’s “8½” and . . . it’s not awkward at all. It’s actually a great conversation! https://ia600901.us.archive.org/14/items/DelToroEightAndAHalf/DelToro-EightAndAHalf.mp3

This episode, Ollie and I take a look at the 1962 witchcraft thriller “Burn Witch Burn” OR “Night of the Eagle!” Also, I do that terrible Austin Powers impression again and make Ollie very mad. https://ia803008.us.archive.org/16/items/DelToroBurnWitchBurn/DelToro-BurnWitchBurn.mp3

You want creepy kids? We got creepy kids! Ollie and I watch 1961’s incredible “The Innocents” based on the Henry James novel and written, in part, by Truman Capote. It’s spooky, gothicy, ghosty and great! https://ia800904.us.archive.org/26/items/DelToroTheInnocents/DelToro-TheInnocents.mp3

This episode, Ollie and I take a look at Hammer’s classic “The Curse of the Werewolf” starring everyone’s favorite problem drinker, Oliver Reed. I say “starring” but Reed doesn’t appear until late in the film and the werewolf doesn’t show up . . . but I’m getting ahead of myself. It’s wolfing time and we … Continue reading "051 – Curse of the Werewolf! (1961)"

This week I’M SPARTACUS! NO, I’M SPARTACUS! No . . . none of us are Spartacus. But, Ollie and I are *watching* Spartacus and it TAKES A WHILE. Because, it’s long. It’s one long movie. Good. But, long. https://ia600901.us.archive.org/28/items/DelToroSpartacus/DelToro-Spartacus.mp3

We’ve officially begun our two-part “Man, Isn’t Plastic Surgery Scary?” series. Plastic surgeons were the worst surgeons, according to filmmakers in the early sixties and “Circus of Horrors” is a prime example of that sentiment. It’s lucky it’s such a great movie! https://ia800907.us.archive.org/14/items/DelToroCircusHorrors/DelToro-CircusHorrors.mp3

This episode, Ollie and I get BAVAlous! That makes no sense, but I am leaving it in! Ollie and I watch Mario Bava’s classic witch(?) vampire(?) zombie(?) gothic(?) horror(?) movie(!) “Black Sunday!? https://ia800901.us.archive.org/28/items/DelToroBlackSunday/DelToro-BlackSunday.mp3

Do you like the beach? Do you like chess? How about Death? GOTCHA! Ollie and I talk death and chess and beaches and the Middle Ages as we tackle “The Seventh Seal!” https://ia800702.us.archive.org/17/items/DelToroSeventhSeal/DelToro-SeventhSeal.mp3

It’s about time we got some more of that Monster Man! Ollie and I are back to horror with Hammer’s “The Curse of Frankenstein!” In this movie, Victor IS the monster and the Monster is . . . well, just a monster. BUT. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee together for the first time? Magnificent. Check … Continue reading "046 – The Curse of Frankenstein! (1957)"

Ollie and I take a moment to talk about Guillermo del Toro’s list of 17 unproduced, yet finished, screenplays! For the original Tweets by del Toro, click here! https://ia800702.us.archive.org/13/items/DelToro17Screenplays/DelToro-17Screenplays.mp3

Wow, a war picture. About how terrible people are to each other. During war. That sounds like a real treat. Well, it *was* a real treat! At least for me! For Ollie? Maybe not so much. “Paths of Glory” is Stanley Kubrick’s first “Stanley Kubrick” film and, while it’s not the most cheerful thing in … Continue reading "045 – Paths of Glory (1957)!"

Who’s ready for some Akira Kurosawa!? NOT US! Ollie and I sit and chat about “Throne of Blood” a movie that liberally adapted from “MacBeth” but that goes its own way. I liked it a lot. Ollie . . . had thoughts. It’s pretty rad and pretty sad and everyone acts pretty bad. But, it’s … Continue reading "044 – Throne of Blood (1957)!"

Ollie and I finally get around to “The Night of the Hunter” which, I’ll be honest, is a profoundly strange movie. We cover a bit of the backstory, a bit of the symbolism and a LOT of the WTFism. It’s great. I mean, it’s really really great. https://ia800704.us.archive.org/7/items/DelToroNightHunter/DelToro-NightHunter.mp3

HEY EVERYONE! OLLIE IS BACK! In this episode, we get to the amazing and very misunderstood 1954 classic “Godzilla!” It’s not a monster mash! It’s not a cheesy goofy movie! It’s a serious mediation on the devastation wrought upon Japan and the nation’s steady slide into becoming active participants in that devastation. Also, a guy … Continue reading "042 – Godzilla!"