Episode 738: On the Beach (1959)

Guest Co-Hosts: Jonathan Melville, Maurice Bursztynski

Co-hosts Maurice Bursztynski and Jonathan Melville join Mike to take on a Patreon request from listener John Atom -- Nevil Shute’s On the Beach. They dive into both the 1959 Stanley Kramer film and the 2000 TV mini-series directed by Russell Mulcahy. Set in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, the story centers on a U.S. submarine that finds refuge in Melbourne, Australia, where residents face the grim reality that the fallout is heading their way.

The episode explores the emotional depth and existential dread of both adaptations, from the restrained melancholy of Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner to the more modern approach with Armand Assante and Rachel Ward. With perspectives shaped by different eras, the hosts unpack how each version captures the quiet devastation of waiting for the end.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 738: On the Beach (1959)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy On the Beach by Nevil Shute
Buy On The Beach (1959) on Blu-Ray
Buy On The Beach (2000) on DVD
Buy Hamish Macbeth: The Making of a BBC TV Classic by Jonathan Melville

Music:
"Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" - Ultravox
"Hot Pie and Tomato Sauce" - John Meillon

Watch:

Episode 600: Local Hero (1983)

Special Guest: Peter Riegert
Guest Co-Hosts: Jonathan Melville, Rob St. Mary

It’s the 600th episode of The Projection Booth and we’re celebrating with a special episode all about Bill Forsyth's Local Hero. Released in 1983, the film stars Peter Riegert as MacIntyre, a corporate exec who’s really more of a Telex man but gets sent to Scotland by his boss, Felix Happer (Burt Lancaster), to secure needed land for the Knox oil corporation.

Rob St. Mary and Jonathan Melville join Mike to discuss the film while Peter Riegert talks about his role in the film. 

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 600: Local Hero (1983)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Local Hero on Blu-Ray
Buy Local Hero: Making a Scottish Classic by Jonathan Melville

Music:
Original Soundtrack - Mark Knopfler

Watch:

Episode 548: Chameleon Street (1990)

Special Guests: Daniel Noga, Wendell B. Harris Jr.
Guest Co-Hosts: Jay Jackson, Jonathan Melville

#Noirvember 2021 continues with a look at Wendell B. Harris Jr.'s Chameleon Street (1990). After winning the Sundance film festival in 1990 the film took too long to come out theatrically and died a quick death after it did. It’s the story of Douglas Street played by Harris. He’s a man who goes from installing burglar alarms to extorting a Detroit Tiger to impersonating a doctor, student, lawyer, and more.

Jay Jackson and Jonathan Melville join Mike to discuss this thought-provoking film.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 548: Chameleon Street (1989)" on Spreaker.

Bonus: Interview with editor Matthew Mallison:

Listen to "Special Report: Interview with Matthew Mallison" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
BUy the Chameleon Street Blu-Ray

Music:
"Street Chameleon" - Curtis MacDonald

Watch:

Episode 545: The Silent Partner (1978)

Special Guest: Elliott Gould
Guest Co-Hosts: Jonathan Melville, Cullen Gallagher

Noirvember 2021 kicks off with a look at Daryl Duke’s The Silent Partner. Released in 1978, it was from a screenplay by Curtis Hanson and based on the book Think of a Number by Anders Bodelsen. The film stars Elliott Gould as Miles Cullen, a rather mild mannered bank teller -- and keeper of the vault -- who figures out that his bank has been targeted for a robbery. With this piece of information he decides to rob the bank himself and let the robber (Christopher Plummer) take the fall.

Jonathan Melville and Cullen Gallagher join Mike to discuss the film while Elliott Gould talks about his role as Miles Cullen.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 545: The Silent Partner (1978)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy The Silent Partner on Blu-Ray
Buy Think of a Number by Anders Bodelsen
Buy Think of a Number on DVDr

Music:
"The Silent Partner" - Original Soundtrack
"Tænk på et tal" - Bent Fabricius-Bjerre

Sponsor:
This episode was brought you by Storyblocks

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Episode 203: Tremors (1990)

Special Guest: Ron Underwood & S.S. Wilson
Guest Co-Host: Jonathan Melville

Tremors stars Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward as Val McKee and Earl Bassett, two handymen living in the desert valley town called Perfection. They’re hoping to get to greener pastures but, before they can, they have to save themselves -- and the town -- from some new residents of Perfection, huge, voracious worms which they dub "Graboids."

We talked to director Ron Underwood and co-screenwriter Steve Wilson and we're joined by Jonathan Melville, author of Seeking Perfection: The Unofficial Guide to Tremors

Poster image by DanKNorris

Links:
Buy Tremors on Blu-Ray
Buy the Tremors Action Pack on DVD
Buy Tremors: The Series on DVD
Buy Seeking Perfection: The Unofficial Guide to Tremors by Jonathan Melville
Visit the official Stampede Entertainment website
Visit the Seeking Perfection website
Read more about Short Circuit

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 203: Tremors (1990)" on Spreaker.

Music:
"On The Road" - Ernest Troost
"Going Fishin'" - Ernest Troost
"Why Not Tonight" - Reba McEntire

Watch:

Monstrous Wildlife from Frank Robnik on Vimeo.