Episode 669: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

Special Guest: Sal Viscuso
Guest Co-Hosts: Keith Gordon, Duane Swierczynski

We're doing something unusual with a re-do of the third episode of The Projection Booth. Yes, we’re talking about Joseph Sargent's 1974 film The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. Based on the book by John Godey (pen name of Morton Freedgood) and brilliantly adapted by Peter Stone, the film stars Walter Matthau as Zach Garber, a transit transit cop whose train is taken hostage by Robert Shaw as Mr. Blue, and his three henchmen, Mr. Green, Mr. Grey, and Mr. Brown.

Duane Swierczynski (California Bear) and Keith Gordon join Mike to discuss the film and its two remakes while actor Sal Viscuso talks about his role in the original film.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 669: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) on Blu-Ray
Buy The Taking of Pelham 123 (1998) on DVD
Buy The Taking of Pelham 123 (2007) on Blu-Ray
Buy The Taking of Pelham One Two Three by John Godey

Music:
"Main Theme" - David Shire

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.

Episode 638: Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

Special Guest: Robert Longo
Guest Co-Hosts: Duane Swierczynski, Dahlia Schweitzer

We conclude Sci-Fi July with a look at Robert Longo's Johnny Mnemonic (1995). The film was based on a story by and adapted by William Gibson and stars Keanu Reeves as the titular Mr. Mnemonic, a data courier with an implant in his cranium. He’s hired by a trio of scientists who overload his hard drive with the cure for a disease of the future.

Duane Swierczynski and Dahlia Schweitzer join Mike to discuss the film while director Robert Longo dishes about the behind-the-scenes struggle to get the picture made.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 638: Johnny Mnemonic (1995)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Johnny Mnemonic in Black & White on Blu-Ray
Buy Johnny Mnemonic (Limited Edition) Blu-Ray
Buy Burning Chrome by William Gibson
Buy Shredder Orpheus on Blu-Ray
See the differences between the extended and movie releases
Watch the Longo MTV Spots

Music:
"Lo Tek" - Black Rain
"Memory Johnny" - Black Rain

Watch:

Episode 608: The Ice Pirates (1984)

Special Guests: Stewart Raffill, Bruce Vilanch
Guest Co-Hosts: Duane Swierczynski, Chris Stachiw

We’re discussing the 1984 film from Stewart Raffill, The Ice Pirates, which stars Robert Urich as Jason and Michael D. Rhodes as Roscoe. They’re two of titular Ice Pirates, intergalactic privateers who try to rob the ships of the Templars of their most precious cargo, Ice. Fresh water is at a premium and government overreach is at a maximum. Along with more of their crew and some really awful robots, the ice pirates cross paths with Mary Crosby as Princess Karina who eventually gives them a quest to find the mysterious Seventh Water where the water flows like wine...

Duane Swierczynski and Chris Stachiw join Mike to take a trip down memory lane with this film while writer/director Stewart Raffill and Bruce Vilanch shed light on the making of this space adventure/comedy.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 608: Ice Pirates (1984)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy The Ice Pirates on Blu-Ray

Music:
Ice Pirates Soundtrack by Bruce Broughton

Watch:

Episode 194: The Burglar (1957)

Guest Co-Host: Duane Swierczynski

Originally slated for release in 1955, Paul Wendkos's The Burglar didn't hit theaters until 1957 when one of it's stars, Jayne Mansfield, had gained popularity. The film stars Dan Duryea as Nat Harbin, our titular burglar. He and his crew rob Sister Sarah, a Philadelphia spiritualist, of a pricey necklace.

We'll be talking more about the film, it's screenwriter -- David Goodis -- and the 1971 adaptation, Le Casse.

Listen / Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 194: The Burglar (1957)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy The Burglar by David Goodis
Buy The Burglar as part of the Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics III
Buy The Burglar on DVD
Buy Le Casse / The Burglars on DVD
Visit the official Duane Swierczynski website
Buy some of Duane Swierczynski's books
Buy some of David Goodis's books
Listen to the Married with Clickers episode on The Burglar
Read more about the Cassidy's Girl movie
Visit a Jayne Mansfield fan site
Read more about the cinema of David Goodis
Buy David Goodis: A Life in Black and White by Philippe Garnier
Listen to our Shoot the Piano Player episode

Music:
"Le Casse" - Ennio Morricone
"Suey" - Jayne Mansfield
"Ma Non Troppo Erotico" - Ennio Morricone

Watch: