Episode 365: Charley Varrick (1973)

Special Guest: Andy Robinson
Guest Co-Hosts: Heather Drain, Maurice Bursztynski

Loosely based on the novel The Looters by John Reese, Don Siegel's Charley Varrick (1973) stars Walter Matthau as the titular Varrick, who, when he robs a backwater bank, accidentally gets embroiled with the mob.

Actor Andy Robinson discusses his career from playing Scorpio in Dirty Harry to Larry Cotton in Hellraiser to Garak in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Co-hosts Maurice Bursztynski and Heather Drain talk about the appeal of Walter Matthau and Joe Don Baker, the films of Don Siegel, and much more.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 365: Charley Varrick (1973)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Charley Varrick on Blu-Ray (Region B)
Buy Stepping into the Light: Sources of an Actor's Craft by Andy Robinson

Music:
"Last of the Independents" - Rory Gallagher

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Episode 360: Man on a Swing (1974)

Special Guest: Justin Bozung
Guest Co-Hosts: Dennis Tafoya, Scout Tafoya

Directed by Frank Perry, the film was written by David Zelag Goodman and based on the book Girl on the Volkswagen Floor by William Arthur Clark, Man On A Swing (1974) stars Cliff Robertson as detective Lee Tucker who investigates the mysterious murder of a young woman. When things are at a stalemate with the case, he’s approached by Franklin Willis, played by Joel Grey, an alleged psychic with uncanny insights into the case.

Justin Bozung returns to The Projection Booth to discuss Frank Perry and the production of Man On A Swing while writer Dennis Tafoya and film scholar Scout Tafoya talk with Mike about this unusual film.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 360: Man On A Swing (1974)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Man On A Swing on DVD
Buy Girl on the Volkswagen Floor by William Arthur Clark
Buy Blue Pages by Eleanor Perry

Music:
Original Score by Lalo Schifrin

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Episode 336: THX-1138 (1971)

Special Guests: Brian Jay Jones, Matthew Robbins, Maggie McOmie, Bruce Chesse, Sid Haig
Guest Co-Hosts: Jay Bauman, Chris Bricklemyer

The first feature film from director George Lucas, THX-1138 (1971) features a world in which love is outlawed and mind-altering drugs are mandatory. The film stars Robert Duvall as the titular THX-1138 and Maggie McOmie as LUH-3417 as roommates who eventually develop into something much more despite the totalitarian regime in which they live.

Co-written by Walter Murch, the film ponders materialism, religion, and love.

Chris Bricklemyer (Outside the Cinema, Are You Serious?) and Jay Bauman (Red Letter Media) join Mike to discuss Lucas's freshman film, how its themes would echo in his other work, and how he revised it in the 2004 "director's cut."

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 336: THX-1138 (1971)" on Spreaker.

Promos:
The Kolchak Tapes
Popcorn Poops
After Movie Diner
Proudly Resents

Interviews:
Brian Jay Jones, author of George Lucas: A Life: 1:00:00
Music: "GVDT" - Front 242

Matthew Robbins, co-writer of Electronic Labyrinth: THX-1138 4EB: 1:53:00
Music: "First Escape" - Lalo Schifrin

Maggie McOmie, actress (LUH-3417): 2:19:00
Music: "I Need Something Stronger" - Unkle

Bruce Chesse, actor (Trial Pontifex): 2:33:00
Music: "Mr. Self-Destruct" - Nine Inch Nails

Sid Haig, actor (NCH): 2:46:00
Music: "Be Happy Again (Jingle Of The Future)" - Lalo Schifrin

Discussion 2: 3:16:00
Trailer: Intacto: 3:43:00

Outro Music:
"Crucify Me" - Moev
"Police State" - T-Power

Links:
Download the original version of THX-1138
Buy THX-1138 (Director's Cut) on Blu-Ray
Watch Electonic Labrynth: THX 1138 4EB
Read about the differences between the original and director's cut of THX-1138
Read You Have Nothing to Fear: Sound Montage and Alienation in THX-1138 from Gibson Notes
Read the THX-1138 script
Read The Talented Mr. Murch by Paula Parisi
Read On THX-1138 and George Lucas's Obsession with Erasing His Past by Supreme Being
Read John Kenneth Muir's review of THX-1138
Buy The Original Movie Game - Blockbuster Edition
Listen to the Sugar Hill episode
Listen to the Logan's Run episode
Listen to the Apocalypse Now episode
Listen to the Star Wars episode

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