It's Del Toro Time!

Look, I’m not qualified to discuss Orson Welles! I don’t have a degree in . . . Wellesian Film History! I don’t get what’s going on in his head! But, a deal’s a deal. So, here’s “The Lady From Shanghai!” https://ia802901.us.archive.org/1/items/DelToroLadyFromShanghai/DelToro-LadyFromShanghai.mp3

Wow, I’ve been getting a lot of good movies, lately! “Nightmare Alley” is a . . . Circus Noir(?) from 1947 starring Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell and, man, is it something! It’s got crime and death and drinking and tarot cards and . . . what more do you want?! https://ia802903.us.archive.org/24/items/DelToroNightmareAlley/DelToro-NightmareAlley.mp3

Ollie is still adjust to life on the inside (of school) and so I’m here to talk about prison films, crime noir, HUAC and a bunch of other things I’m no expert on with 1947’s “Brute Force!” https://ia803102.us.archive.org/5/items/DelToroBruteForce/DelToro-BruteForce.mp3

This Twittersode, I’m taking a quick look at “The Best Years of Our Lives” from 1946. Wyler really upped his game with this one. The original Del Toro tweet is here. https://ia903108.us.archive.org/22/items/DelToroBestYears/DelToro-BestYears.mp3

I’m here with a new Twittersode, this one about 1942’s propagandastic film “Mrs. Miniver!” It’s got an agenda, and that agenda is DRAMA! I mean, it’s clearly a piece of pro-war propaganda, but it’s also really good! See Guillermo del Toro’s original tweet here! https://ia802809.us.archive.org/21/items/DelToroMiniver/DelToro-Miniver.mp3

You know what’s nice? To like a movie! And Ollie and I really liked this movie. Sure, we nitpick a bit, but “Creature From the Black Lagoon” is a solid monster flick. Check it out! https://ia802801.us.archive.org/16/items/DelToroCreatureLagoon/DelToro-CreatureLagoon.mp3

Get ready for some SCARRRY HORROR! It’s the most gruesome, frightening film ever made: “The Thing!” Oh, wait. Sorry. No. It’s “The Thing From Another World!” Not that gruesome. Not that frightening. Not scary. But, man, what a lot of talking there is! Ollie and I end up somewhat underwhelmed by this cinematic classic, but … Continue reading "040 – The Thing From Another World!"

Ollie and I delve into the post-surrealistic world of Second Wave Luis Buñel with 1950’s “Los Olvidados!” Along the way, we learn to pronounce Buñuel, get a lesson in Surrealism and debate the pros and cons of a relentlessly bleak narrative. It’s fun! https://ia903107.us.archive.org/35/items/DelToroOlvidados/DelToro-Olvidados.mp3

This week, we’re back with more Preston Sturges! Only, instead of taking a hard look at America and wealth and art, we’re taking a hard look at trying-to-kill-your-wife! Yes, it’s 1948’s “Unfaithfully Yours” where Rex Harrison really overreacts to a couple of lines in a detective’s report and plots to kill his maybe-not-actually-cheating wife and … Continue reading "038 – Unfaithfully Yours!"

This week, Phil is taking a quick peek at Jean Vigo’s 1934 masterpiece, “L’Atalante.” It was his greatest film. It was his lastest film. Read Guillermo del Toro’s original tweet here. https://ia802809.us.archive.org/33/items/DelToroLatalante/DelToro-Latalante.mp3

We are back with MOAR DICKENS! This time, it’s the literally ill-advised “Oliver Twist” from 1948. David Lean was told not to make this movie, but he did and oh boy here it is! It has a lot of problems with some sticky antisemitism issues, but it’s also a brilliantly made film in a lot … Continue reading "037 – Oliver Twist!"

In this Twittersode, Phil chats about James Whale’s “The Old Dark House” from 1932! It’s a hilarious creep-fest with that James Whale touch. It’s got murder, mystery, monsters, madness and much more! Del Toro’s original Tweet is here. https://ia903109.us.archive.org/22/items/OldHouse/Old%20House.mp3

One of these days we’ll get back to spooky scary movies with monsters and ghouls, I promise! Until then, however, we’re looking at David Lean’s cinematic classic “Great Expectations” from 1946. Del Toro himself said that Lean’s Dickens adaptations “skate[d] the line between poetry and horror.” It’s a beautiful film and really the only question … Continue reading "036 – Great Expectations!"

This Twittersode, Phil takes a look at the classic Laurel and Hardy short “The Music Box” from 1932! It’s short; it’s funny; it’s got a long staircase. What more do you want? Del Toro’s original Tweet is here. https://ia903100.us.archive.org/20/items/DelToroMusicBox/DelToro%20-%20MusicBox.mp3

This Twittersode, I look at “La Chienne” from 1931. It’s not fun, but it’s really really good. Guillermo del Toro’s original Tweet is here. https://ia803109.us.archive.org/29/items/DelToroLaChienne/DelToro%20-%20LaChienne.mp3

Ollie and I are delighted to be covering “Dragonwyck” from 1946! It’s got everything: creepy mansion, damsel in distress, brooding lord, mysterious ghosts – wait. Haven’t we done this one before? Nnnnnnnno? No. It’s “Dragonwyck!” https://ia803107.us.archive.org/2/items/DelToroDragonwyck/DelToro-Dragonwyck.mp3

In this teeny-tiny Twittersode, I look at Charlie Chaplin’s “City Lights!” Did it influence Guillermo del Toro? Uhhhhhhhhhhh, maybe? https://ia601005.us.archive.org/27/items/DelToroCityLights/DelToro-CityLights.mp3

This week, Ollie and I cover the beautiful and ethereal “La Belle et la Bête” from 1946. Jean Cocteau’s fairy tale masterpiece has captivated audiences for generations. Will it captivate us? Yes. I’ll just go ahead and say that, yes, it does. https://ia800105.us.archive.org/2/items/DelToro034BelleBete/DelToro%20-%20034%20BelleBete.mp3

Ollie and I do a hot wash recap of the movies we’ve explored so far in The Ecstasy of Influence! https://ia903107.us.archive.org/14/items/DelToro033HotWash/DelToro-%20033%20Hot%20Wash.mp3

Slotting in nicely bertween “Greed” and “Frankenstein” it’s Buster Keaton’s “The General!” It’s also only me talking about it! It’s also only 15-minutes long! Here is the link to Guillermo del Toro’s twitter film recommendations https://ia801000.us.archive.org/29/items/DelToroMini01/DelToro-Mini01.mp3