Episode 750: Gloria (1980)

Guest Co-Hosts: Judith Mayne, Andrew Rausch

John Cassavetes may be known for his raw, improvisational indie dramas, but with Gloria (1980), he delivered something entirely different—a gritty urban thriller with a heart, starring the incomparable Gena Rowlands who plays the titular Gloria, a tough, no-nonsense woman with mob ties who suddenly finds herself the reluctant guardian of a young boy targeted by gangsters after his family’s brutal murder. Armed with nothing but attitude and a pistol, Gloria hauls the kid through the hostile streets of New York City, dodging bullets, hitmen, and her own complicated past.

Mike is joined by returning guests Judith Mayne and Andrew Rausch to explore the film’s unconventional blend of gangster tropes, maternal instinct, and Cassavetes’s offbeat sensibilities. We dig into Rowlands’s powerhouse performance, the film’s strange place in Cassavetes’s career, and its legacy as a cult favorite that paved the way for countless “reluctant protector” thrillers.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 750: Gloria (1980)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Gloria on Blu-Ray
Buy Cassavetes on Cassavetes by Ray Carney

Music:
"Gloria" - Laura Branigan

Watch:

2023 Holiday Gift Guide!

The Holiday season can be challenging to find the perfect gift for the movie-lover in your life. The Projection Booth is here to help with a gift guide that supports some of the folks that have been on the show.

Movies

• Arnold (1973)
• Benny's Bathtub
• Sex, Power, and Money: Films by Beth B
• Cinematic Journeys: Two Films by Juleen Compton
• RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop
• We Kill For Love
• The Cassandra Cat
• All My Good Countrymen
• Larks on a String
• The Party and the Guests
• Coach to Vienna
• Beauty and the Beast
• The Fifth Horseman is Fear
• Tomorrow I'll Wake Up and Scald Myself with Tea
• Distant Journey
• After Hours
• Rules of the Game

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Books: Fiction

• California Bear by Duane Swierczynski
• Orphan Road: A Chance Novel by Andrew Nette
• Tech by Vincenzo Natali

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Books: Nonfiction

• Return of the Jedi Unauthorized Timeline 1976-2023 by Justin Berger & Jamie Benning
• Conan the Barbarian: The Official Story of the Film by John Walsh
• I Want You Around: The Ramones and the Making of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School by Stephen Armstrong
• Melvin Van Peebles's Watermelon Man by Andrew Rausch
• Eyes Wide Shut: Stanley Kubrick and the Making of His Final Film by Robert P. Kolker and Nathan Abrams
  
  Listen to "Episode 605: Eyes Wide Shut Redux" on Spreaker.
  
  
• Junk Film: Why Bad Movies Matter by Katharine Coldiron
  
  Listen to "Special Report: Junk Film - Why Bad Movies Matter" on Spreaker.
  
  
• Harvard, Hollywood, Hitmen, and Holy Men: A Memoir by Paul W. Williams
  
  Listen to "Episode 634: November Men (1993)" on Spreaker.
  
  
• Killin' Generals: The Making of The Dirty Dozen, the Most Iconic WW II Movie of All Time by Dwayne Epstein
  
  Listen to "Special Report: Dwayne Epstein on "Killin' Generals"" on Spreaker.
  
  
• Sheldon Lettich: From Vietnam to Van Damme by Corey Danna
  
  Listen to "Special Report: Interview with Sheldon Lettich, Brian Thompson, & Corey Danna" on Spreaker.
  
  
• The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear by Nat Segaloff
  Listen to "Special Report: Nat Segaloff on The Exorcist Legacy" on Spreaker.
  
  
• The Exotic Ones: That Fabulous Film-Making Family from Music City, USA - The Ormonds by Jimmy McDonough
  
  Listen to "Special Report: Jimmy McDonough on The Exotic Ones" on Spreaker.
  
  
• Act Naturally: The Beatles On Film by Steve Matteo
  
  Listen to "Special Report: Act Naturally: The Beatles On Film" on Spreaker.
  
  
• Lost Federations: The Unofficial Unmade History of Star Trek by AJ Black
  
  Listen to "Special Report: AJ Black on Lost Federations" on Spreaker.
  
  
• Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer
  
  Listen to "Special Report: Matt Singer on Opposable Thumbs" on Spreaker.
  
  
• Hitchcock's Blondes: The Unforgettable Women Behind the Legendary Director's Dark Obsession by Lawrence Leamer
  
  Listen to "Special Report: Hitchcock's Blondes" on Spreaker.
  
  
• Cinema Ann Arbor: How Campus Rebels Forged a Singular Film Culture by Frank Uhle
  
  Listen to "Special Report: Frank Uhle on Cinema Ann Arbor" on Spreaker.

Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark

Special Guests: Frank Marshall, Howard Kazanjian
Guest Co-Hosts: Chris Stachiw, Andrew Rausch

On this special limited series, we read the story transcripts from the Raiders of the Lost Ark story conference wherein George Lucas (Chris Stachiw of The Kulturecast), Steven Spielberg (Author Andrew Rausch), and Lawrence Kasdan (Mike White) discuss the idea for a new adventure hero... Indiana Smith.... 

This series will be at least eight parts which include three parts reading, three parts discussion, at least one interview, and a discussion of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Artwork by Jim Steranko. Opening theme from Nottingham Music Excellence.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt 1" on Spreaker.

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 2" on Spreaker.

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 3" on Spreaker.

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 4" on Spreaker.

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 5" on Spreaker.

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 6" on Spreaker.

Interviews:

Listen to "Special Report: Frank Marshall" on Spreaker.

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 9" on Spreaker.

Dial of Destiny:

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 8" on Spreaker.

Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015:

Listen to "Special Report: Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Raiders of the Lost Ark on Blu-Ray
Buy Howard Kazanjian: A Producer's Life by J.W. Rinzler
Download the story conference from CinephiliaBeyond.org
Read Lawrence Kasdan's early script drafts
Buy books by Andrew Rausch
Hear podcasts by Chris Stachiw
Read Mike's article, When George Lucas Had Talent
Read Mike's article, Digging up the Bones of Indy Jones
Read The “Raiders” Story Conference by Mystery Man on Film
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy The Spear of Destiny: The Occult Power Behind the Spear which pierced the side of Christ by Trevor Ravenscroft

Music:
"Raiders Theme" - Nottingham Music Excellence
All other music by John Williams

Watch:

Raiding The Lost Ark: A Filmumentary By Jamie Benning from Filmumentaries - Jamie Benning on Vimeo.

Episode 632: True Romance (1993)

Guest Co-Hosts: Andrew J. Rausch, Kendall R. Phillips

Andrew J. Rausch and Kendall R. Phillips join Mike to look at Tony Scott’s 1993 film True Romance. Based on a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino, the film stars Christian Slater as Clarence, a comic book store clerk from a non-existent version of Detroit and Patricia Arquette as Alabama, a hooker with a heart of gold. After killing her pimp (Gary Oldman) the two go across country to Hollywood to sell a stolen suitcase of cocaine.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 632: True Romance (1993)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy True Romance on Blu-Ray
Buy True Romance: The Screenplay by Quentin Tarantino
Buy Conversations on Quentin Tarantino by Andrew Rausch

Music:
"A Little Tear" - Burl Ives

Watch:

Special Report: Andrew Rausch on My Best Friend's Birthday

Special Guests: Andrew Rausch

Mike speaks with Andrew J. Rausch about his 2019 book, My Best Friend's Birthday: The Making of a Quentin Tarantino Film. It's a look at Quentin Tarantino and Craig Hamann's first feature film from the early '80s. Told as an oral history, the book features the voices of Hamann, Tarantino, Roger Avary, Rand Vossler, and more.

Learn about how this "lost" film came to be and how it can be seen as a Rosetta Stone for Tarantino's themes and career.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: My Best Friend's Birthday" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Conversations on Quentin Tarantino by Andrew J. Rausch
See more of Andrew J. Rausch's work

Music:
"I Think I Love You" - Paranoiacs

Watch:

Episode 494: The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)

Guest Co-Hosts: Eric J. Peterson Andrew J. Rausch

We continue Noirvember 2020 with a look at Peter Yates's The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973). Based on the novel by George V. Higgins, the film stars Robert Mitchum as the titular Coyle, an over-the-hill small time crook who’s trying to get by in the milieu of Boston’s underground. The film is rich with incredible character actors like Peter Boyle, Richard Jordan, Alex Rocco, and more.

Andrew J. Rausch and Eric J. Peterson join Mike to discuss the film as well as crime writing and the Boston beat.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 494: The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy The Friends of Eddie Coyle on Blu-Ray
Buy The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins
Read the Cinephilia article on the film

Music:
"Jackie Blue" - Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Watch:

Special Report: Don's Plum (2001)

Special Guest: Dale Wheatley
Guest Co-Hosts: Andrew J. Rausch, Mike Sullivan

Bro, on this special episode of The Projection Booth we're looking at the 2001 movie from R. D. Robb, Don's Plum. The film remains officially unreleased in the U.S. while available legally in other parts of the world. It stars a group of young actors known as "The Pussy Posse" including Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio. It's about a group of guys who bring their dates to the titular diner where they talk, boast, and engage in bathroom-bound monologues.

Mike Sullivan (Shock Cinema, Cinema Sewer) and Andrew Rausch (My Best Friend's Birthday: The Making of a Tarantino Film) join Mike to boast, debase women, and talk about the history of the film. Producer Dale Wheatley provides insights from behind-the-scenes.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Don's Plum (2001)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Don's Plum on (Region 2) DVD
Read about different version of Don's Plum
Visit the Free Don's Plum website
Read The Untold Story of 'Don's Plum', The Leonardo DiCaprio Movie That Was Blocked From Being Shown In the U.S. by Zeynep Yenisey

Music:
"Mahna Mahna" - The Brass Action
"Do the Panic" - Phantom Planet

Watch:

Episode 266: Ed Wood (1994)

Special Guests: Larry Karaszewski, Mike Starr, Lydia Kavina, Andrew J. Rausch
Guest Co-Hosts: Rob St. Mary, Steve Sholtes

Can your heart stand the shocking truth about Ed Wood? This week's discussion focuses on Tim Burton's 1994 film starring Johnny Depp and Martin Landau about the hapless B-movie director Edward D. Wood Jr.

Guests include the film's co-writer, Larry Karaszewski, actor Mike Starr, musician Lydia Kavina, and author Andrew J. Rausch.

Rob St. Mary returns for the episode along with composer/musician Steve Sholtes

Errata:

• Mike mistakenly credited Roberta Findlay for Doris Wishman's Let Me Die a Woman.
• Yes, Bela Lugosi played Frankenstein in the 1943 Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man but definitely not in the more famous and successful 1931 Frankenstein.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 266: Ed Wood (1994)" on Spreaker.

Bonus: Geek Juice Episode on Tim Burton


Links:
Buy Ed Wood on Blu-Ray
Buy the Ed Wood DVD Box
Buy Nightmare in Ecstacy by Rudolph Grey
Buy The Cinematic Misadventures of Ed Wood by Andrew J. Rausch and Charles Pratt Jr.
Buy the Ed Wood screenplay by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski
Buy Ed Wood's Bride of the Monster by Gary D. Rhodes
Buy Ed Wood, Mad Genius: A Critical Study of the Films by Rob Craig
Buy the Ed Wood Soundtrack by Howard Shore
Buy Exotica 2000 by Korla Pandit
Buy Spellbound: Theremin by Lydia Kavina
Visit the official Lydia Kavina website
Visit the official Rob St Mary website
Watch The Cabining on Amazon Prime
Visit Larry Karaszewski's Trailers from Hell
Hear more about Lugosi (and Karloff) on the Black Cat episode
Hear more about Ed Wood on the Orgy of the Dead episode
Hear more about Tim Burton on the Batman Returns episode
Read the Dead 2 Rights Ed Wood Wednesdays series

Music:
"Backlot" - Howard Shore
"Bride of the Monster" - Howard Shore
"Kuba Mambo" - Howard Shore
"Eddie Takes a Bow" - Howard Shore
"Ed Wood" - Howard Shore
"Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus

Watch:

Episode 217: The Other Side of the Wind

Special Guests: Josh Karp & Joseph McBride
Guest Co-Host: Andrew Rausch

We’re kicking off “Maudit May” with a discussion of Orson Welles’s The Other Side of the Wind. A film some fifty years in the making, it has yet to be completed and released.

The film stars John Huston as Jake Hannaford, an aging film director who is working on an artsy fartsy film to try to stay relevant with New Hollywood. Most of the film takes place on Hannaford’s seventieth birthday where he’s surrounded by sycophants, critics, friends and former friends. Populated by a star-studded cast, the film is a treatise on filmmaking, aging, and machismo.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 217: The Other Side of the Wind" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Orson Welles's Last Movie by Josh Karp
Buy What Ever Happened to Orson Welles? by Joseph McBride
Buy Making Movies with Orson Welles by Gary Graver (with Andrew Rausch)
Read more about Other Side of the Wind at WellesNet
Buy the Other Side of the Wind script (in English and French)
Read more about Kael Vs. Kane
Buy Andrew Rausch's books
Hear more of Andrew Rausch on the show
Listen to our Saint Jack episode
Listen to our Magnificent Ambersons episode
Listen to our Othello episode
Read about the Netflix Acquisition
Hear Peter Jason's memories of working with Orson Welles on our They Live episode

Music:
"Cast Your Fate to the Wind" - Vince Guaraldi Trio

Watch:

Episode 151: Orgy of the Dead (1965)

Special Guest: Andrew Rausch

Can your heart stand a bevy of beautiful women who try to dance their way into the afterlife, judged by the Emperor of the Underworld (Criswell) and the Princess of Darkness (Fawn Silver)? Hear all about the damnation and jiggling as we discuss Stephen C. Apostolof's Orgy of the Dead with the Jordan Todorov, the director of Dad Made Dirty Movies, a documentary on Apostolof and his films.

Links:
Buy Orgy of the Dead on Blu
Buy the Orgy of the Dead soundtrack
Buy Dad Made Dirty Movies, The Book! by Jordan Todorov and Joe Blevins
Like Dad Made Dirty Movies on Facebook
Buy Nightmare of Ecstasy by Rudolph Grey
Read a great series of articles on Ed Wood films at Dead2Rights

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 151: Orgy of the Dead (1965)" on Spreaker.

Watch:

Episode 41: Straight Time (1978)

Dustin Hoffman stars as an ex-con in an adaptation of Edward Bunker's No Beast So Fierce

Along for the ride is author Andrew Rausch. We'll be talking Straight Time and his new crime novel, The Suicide Game.

Links:
Buy The Suicide Game
Buy No Beast So Fierce
Buy Straight Time on DVD

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 41: Straight Time (1978)" on Spreaker.

Watch: