Sci-Fi Month continues with a look at the landmark 1968 film Planet of the Apes. Based on the novel by Pierre Boulle, it’s the story of a quartet of astronauts who arrive on a strange planet where three species of apes -- Orangutans, Chimpanzees, and Gorillas -- are the ruling species while bands of mute, primitive humans hide in the forests, occasionally stealing the apes’ crops, and generally being a nuisance.
Richard Hatem and Edward G. Pettit join Mike to discuss the original quintet of films, the Tim Burton misfire, and the more recent trilogy.
Special Guests: Noah Isenberg, Edward G. Pettit Guest Co-Host: Maitland McDonagh
The first big American studio film -- and last big American studio film - directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, The Black Cat is, uh, "inspired" by Edgar Allan Poe’s short story and stars Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff in a taut game of life and death.
We talk with Noah Isenberg, author of Edgar G. Ulmer: A Filmmaker at the Margins and the "Philly Poe Guy", Edward G. Pettit to compare the film with the Poe story. And, we're joined by special guest co-host Maitland McDonagh.
Special Guests: Dr. Philip Stone & Richard Loncraine Guest Co-Host: Ed Pettit
Shakespeare September continues with a look at the 1995 film Richard III. Directed by Richard Loncraine and based on the historical tragedy of the same name by William Shakespeare it tells the tale of a scheming hunchback with a bad arm played by Ian McKellen who, after the House of York’s victory over the House of Lancaster for the throne of England, works to set his brothers against each other and become king.
Special Guest: Jim Hunter Guest Co-Host: Ed Pettit
Shakespeare September continues with the 1990 film from writer/director Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Based upon Stoppard’s own award-winning mid-sixties play, the film tells the tale of Rosencrantz (Gary Oldman) and Guildenstern (Tim Roth), two supporting characters from Hamlet. We see them as characters in their own right as they interact with the goings-on of the melancholy Dane, questioning the meaning of life and their own existence. Sounds like pretty heady stuff but the play, and the film, are clever, witty, existential and amusing.
Special Guests: Julie Taymor & Harry Lennix Guest Co-Host: Edward Pettit
As Roman month comes to a close we look at the 1999 film Titus, directed by Julie Taymor and based on the bloody tragedy by William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus. The film tells to the story of a Roman general (Anthony Hopkins) who returns home following a battle to find a Rome in transition. It's about traditions, vengeance, race, and more.
Kathryn Bigelow's Near Dark is a hybrid vampire film in which "The V Word" is never uttered. We discuss this film, penned by screenwriter Eric Red, and other vampire flicks this episode.
Our special co-host, Edward G. Pettit, is a freelance writer, book reviewer, film presenter, professor and literary provocateur.
Guest Co-Hosts: Edward G. Pettit, Richard Hatem
Special Guests: 
Special Guests: 
Special Guest: 
Special Guests: Julie Taymor & Harry Lennix
Special Guests: Lance Henriksen & Mike Mayo
Special Guest: Mike Mayo