Episode 603: Performance (1970)

Special Guests: Sam Umland, Keiron Pim
Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Ben Slater

We’re looking at Nic Roeg and Donald Cammell's Performance (1970), the story of a gangster (James Fox) who kills an old friend and goes into hiding at the chateau of a rock star (Mick Jagger).

Ben Slater and Maitland McDonagh join Mike to discuss the film and its themes of duality while Professor Sam Umland talks about Donald Cammell and Keiron Pim shines a light on the film's consultant, David Litvinoff.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 603: Performance (1970)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Performance on Blu-Ray
Buy Donald Cammell: A Life on the Wild Side by Rebecca A. Umland and Samuel J Umland
Buy Jumpin' Jack Flash: David Litvinoff and the Rock'n'Roll Underworld by Keiron Pim
Buy Performance by Jay Glennie
Buy Performance by Colin MacCabe
Buy Mick Brown on Performance by Mick Brown
Buy Performance: The Biography of a 60s Masterpiece by Paul Buck
Buy The Films of Nicolas Roeg: Myth and Mind by John Izod

Music:
"Performance" - Happy Mondays
"Jigsaw" - The Rolling Stones
"Memo to Turner" - Mick Jagger

Watch:

Episode 598: Cutter's Way (1981)

Special Guests: Jeffrey Alan Fiskin, Arthur Rosenberg, Ann Dusenberry, Lisa Eichhorn
Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Mike Watt

Noirvember 2022 continues with a look at Ivan Passser’s Cutter's Way (1981). Originally released as Cutter and Bone, the film is an adaptation of Newton Thornburg’s 1976 book and stars John Heard as Cutter and Jeff Bridges as Bone. They’re a pair of troubled souls who engage themselves in a mystery that may or may not be real.

Mike Watt and Maitland McDonagh join Mike to discuss this fascinating neo-noir. They're joined by screenwriter Jeffrey Alan Fiskin and actors Arthur Rosenberg, Ann Dusenberry, and Lisa Eichhorn.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 598: Cutter's Way (1981)" on Spreaker.

More with Lisa Eichhorn:

Listen to "Special Report: More with Lisa Eichhorn" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Cutter's Way on Blu-Ray
Buy Cutter and Bone by Newton Thornburg
Visit Rabbi Arthur Rosenberg's website

Music:
"Cutter's Way Soundtrack" - Jack Nitzche

Watch:

Hardcore Nitzsche from Kristian St. Clair on Vimeo.

Episode 588: Wise Blood (1979)

Special Guests: Jean W. Cash, Michael Fitzgerald, Dan Shor, Amy Wright
Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Philip Marinello

Maitland McDonagh and Philip Marinello join Mike to discuss the 1979 film from John Huston, Wise Blood. Based on the book by Flahnery O’Connor, the film stars Brad Dourif as Hazel Motes, a veteran who goes to the big city and decides to become a street preacher and he’s not out to make a quick buck though everyone else around him does.

Interviews on this episode include Prof. Jean W. Cash (author of Flahnery O'Connor: A Life), writer/producer Michael Fitzgerald, actor Dan Shor, and actress Amy Wright.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 588: Wise Blood (1979)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Wise Blood on Blu-Ray
Buy American Masters: Flannery on DVD

Music:
Wise Blood Soundtrack - Alex North

Watch:

Episode 567: Ball of Fire (1941)

Special Guest: Joseph McBride
Guest Co-Hosts: Kat Ellinger, Maitland McDonagh

We are kicking off a month of screwball comedy discussion with a look at Howard Hawks’s 1941 film Ball of Fire. Written by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett, the film stars Gary Cooper as one of an octet of professors who are writing an encyclopedia. Cooper is writing an article on slang only to find that he’s very deficient. In an effort to bolster his research he comes across Sugarpuss O’Shea (Barbara Stanwyck). The moll of a vicious gangster, she’s on the lamb and holes up with the professors. And, of course, hilarity ensues.

Kat Ellinger will be around all month. Maitland McDonagh guest hosts on this episode and Professor Joseph McBride dishes about his books on director Howard Hawks.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 567: Ball of Fire (1941)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Ball of Fire on DVD
Buy A Song is Born on DVD
Buy Hawks on Hawks by Joseph McBride
Buy Focus on Howard Hawks by Joseph McBride
Subscribe to Maitland McDonagh's substack

Music:
"Drum Boogie" - Gene Krupa

Watch:

Symphony in Slang from Lee Presson on Vimeo.

Episode 552: Black Christmas (1974)

Special Guests: Simon Fitzjohn, Art Hindle, Paul Downey, David Hastings
Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Mark Begley

Maitland McDonagh and Mark Begley join Mike to talk about Bob Clark’s 1974 film Black Christmas. It’s the story of a sorority house where a killer has sneaked into the attic and slowly picks off several of the sisters in-between harassing them with wild phone calls.

Interviews include actor Art Hindle, author Simon Fitzjohn (Bob Clark: I'm Going to Kill You!), Paul Downey & David Hastings (It's Me, Billy: Black Christmas Revisited).

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 552: Black Christmas (1974)" on Spreaker.

Listen to the Ormsby/Clark Series of Wake Up Heavy:

Wake Up Heavy · S5E2. Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things (1972)

Wake Up Heavy · S5E3. Deranged: Confessions of a Necrophile (1974)

Wake Up Heavy · S5E4. I died for you: Deathdream (1974)

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Black Christmas on Blu-Ray
Buy Black Christmas (2006) on Blu-Ray
Buy Black Christmas (2019) on Blu-Ray

Music:
"Black Christmas" - MDC

Sponsor:
Today's episode is sponsored by Tisch Pro/Online - a new way to learn filmmaking and screenwriting. Learn more at tischpro.smashcut.com/booth.

Watch:

Episode 551: Fight Club (1999)

Special Guests: Chuck Palahniuk, Ross Grayson Bell, Jim Uhls
Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Rob St. Mary

Rob St. Mary and Maitland McDonagh join Mike to look at the 1999 film from director David Fincher, Fight Club. Based on the book by Chuck Palahniuk, the film stars Edward Norton as an office drone who becomes addicted to self-help groups until he starts his own. However, we are not allowed to talk about it.

Interviews on this episode include author Chuck Palahniuk, producer Ross Grayson Bell, and screenwriter Jim Uhls.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 551: Fight Club (1999)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Fight Club on Blu-Ray Buy Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
Buy Fight Club 2 by Chuck Palahniuk
Buy Fight Club 3 by Chuck Palahniuk
Buy Expedition by Chuck Palahniuk
Buy Make Something Up: Stories You Can't Unread by Chuck Palahniuk

Music:
"Fight Club Soundtrack" - The Dust Brothers
"Where is My Mind?" - The Pixies

Sponsor:
This episode was brought you by Storyblocks

Watch:

Fight Club minus Tyler Durden from Richard Trammell on Vimeo.

Episode 528: The Great Silence (1968)

Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Ivo Ritzer

Spaghetti Western month continues with a look at Sergio Corbucci's The Great Silence (1968) which stars Jean-Louis Trintingant as the titular Silence, a mute gunfighter who shoots the thumbs off his enemies. He's pitted against the appropriately named Loco (Klaus Kinski) in a snow-bound Utah town in one of the most nihilistic films you may enjoy.

Maitland McDonagh and Professor Ivo Ritzer join Mike to discuss the film and, unfortunately, discuss how it still has such a powerful resonance even today.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 528: The Great Silence (1968)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy The Great Silence on Blu-Ray
Buy The Great Silence soundtrack

Music:
"Il Grande Silenzio" - Anima Morte

Watch:

Episode 472: Pink Narcissus (1971)

Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, David Kittredge

James Bidgood's Pink Narcissus (1971) is a wordless film which tells the story of a young hustler (Bobby Kendall) who engages in a series of fantasies throughout an evening. The film was shot on 8mm but still presents a lush, fantastic color palette and incredible sets that are even more incredible when the viewer remembers that this was all shot in Bidgood's Hell's Kitchen apartment.

Maitland McDonagh and David Kittredge join Mike to discuss lyrical pornography, New York real estate, and the importance of finishing projects.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 472: Pink Narcissus (1971)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Pink Narcissus on DVD
Buy James Bidgood by Bruce Benderson

Music:
"Toreador del Amor" - Tuxedomoon

Watch: (NSFW)

Episode 469: Lips of Blood (1973)

Guest Co-Hosts: Samm Deighan, Maitland McDonagh

French Month concludes with a look at Jean Rollin's Lips of Blood (1975). The film stars Jean-Loup Philippe as Frederic, a man who, one night at a party, sees a photograph of a gothic castle that triggers a memory. He suddenly recalls a time when he was young when a young woman gave him shelter for the night. After that he's plagued by visions of her and feels the need to reconnect. Meanwhile, four mysterious women help guide him along the way to this reunion, despite the best efforts of his overbearing mother. Who is the mysterious woman from his past? Why does his mother not want them to meet?

Maitland McDonagh (Broken Mirrors / Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento) and Samm Deighan (Lost Girls: The Phantasmagorical Cinema of Jean Rollin) join Mike to talk about Rollin, cinemafantastique, and Suck Me, Vampire.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 469: Lips of Blood (1973)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Lips of Vampire on Blu-Ray
Buy Lost Girls: The Phantasmagorical Cinema of Jean Rollin
Learn more about Riverdale Ave. Books

Music:
"Lèvres de Sang" - Demon Vendetta
"The Field Where I Died" - Gloria de Oliveira

Watch:

Special Report: Messiah of Evil (1973)

Special Guest: Willard Huyck
Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Bill Ackerman

Released under a number of titles (including The Second Coming), Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz's Messiah of Evil (1973) is a creepy, atmospheric horror film about a young woman (Marianna Hill) who goes in search of her father only to find something far-more-sinister than she could have ever imagined.

Bill Ackerman and Maitland McDonagh join Mike to discuss this atmospheric horror film.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Messiah of Evil (1973)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Messiah of Evil on DVD

Music:
"Hold on to Love" - Raun McKinnon
"Messiah of Evil" - Skitzo

Watch:

Episode 389: The Getaway (1972)

Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Aaron Carruthers

#Noirvember2018 kicks off with the 1972 film from director Sam Peckinpah, The Getaway. Based on the novel by Jim Thompson and adapted by Walter Hill, the film stars Steve McQueen as Doc McCoy and Ali MacGraw as Carol McCoy, two young lovers with nothing better to do than rob a bank with the duplicitous Rudy Butler (Al Lettieri) and the barely-a-character Jack Dodson (Bo Hopkins). Let’s just say that things don’t go as well as they should.

Maitland McDonagh and Aaron Carruthers join Mike to discuss the 1972 film, the 1994 remake.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 389: The Getaway (1972)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy The Getaway (1972) on DVD
Buy The Getaway (1994) on DVD
Buy The Getaway by Jim Thompson

Music:
"Fly Away" - Lenny Kravitz

Watch:

Episode 384: Suspiria (1977)

Special Guests: Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Clare Nina Norelli
Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Rob St Mary

We kick off #Shocktober2018 with a discussion of Dario Argento’s 1977 film Suspiria which stars Jessica Harper as Suzy Banyon, a young dancer who travels from New York to Germany to attend a prestigious dance academy to not do lot of dancing but, instead, to become embroiled in a mystery...

Maitland McDonagh (Broken Mirrors/Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento) and Rob St. Mary join Mike to discuss this classic, atmospheric horror tale. Authors Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (Suspiria) and Clare Nina Norelli help unravel the mystery of Argento's most note-worthy film.


Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 384: Suspiria (1977)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Visit Riverdale Ave Books
Read Alexandra Heller Nicholas's interview with Barbara Magnolfi
Read Alexandra Heller Nicholas's Three Mothers Redux: Kathy Acker, Pina Bausch, Tilda Swinton and Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria
Read Clare Nina Norelli's Scores on Screen column
Read about Stan Douglas's Suspiria installation

Music:
"Markos" - Goblin
"Suspiriorum" - Stan Douglas
"Suspiria (Celesta and Bells)" - Goblin
"Witch" - Goblin

Watch:

Episode 385: Fiend Without a Face (1958)

Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Troy Howarth

Shocktober 2018 begins with the 1958 film from director Arthur Crabtree, Fiend Without a Face . Written by Herbert J. Leder and based loosely on a story by Amelia Reynolds Long, the movie stars Marshall Thompson as Major Cummings, an Army officer stationed at that pivotal American/Canadian border where he’s investigating the strange goings on in and around his base. Unfortunately, he’s got a case of Brains Gone Wild...

Maitland McDonagh and Troy Howarth join Mike to discuss this classic sci-fi film as well as some other naughty brain movies.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 385: Fiend Without a Face (1958)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy The Brain from Planet Arous
Read Fiend Without A Face, and its surprising controversy by Ryan Lamble
Listen to our episode on The Brain that Wouldn't Die

Music:
"Fiend Without a Face" - The Misfits

Watch:

Special Report: Mission Caligula (2018)

Special Guests: Kelly Holland, Alexander Tuschinski
Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Rob St. Mary

On this special episode Maitland McDonagh and Rob St. Mary join Mike to discuss the latest developments to the continuing story of Tinto Brass & Bob Guccione's Caligula (1979) uncovered in the recent documentary Mission: Caligula (2018).

Director Alexander Tuschinski, working with Penthouse CEO Kelly Holland, have made some startling discoveries about the film that promise to thrill film fans.

Links:
Discover Maitland McDonagh's work at Riverdale Ave. Books
Give to Rob St. Mary's Detroit Punk Archive project

Music:
Score by Bruno Nicolai

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Mission Caligula (2018)" on Spreaker.

Listen to the Caligula episode:

Listen to "Episode 178: Caligula (1979)" on Spreaker.

Watch:

Mission: Caligula from Alexander Tuschinski on Vimeo.

Episode 348: Tom of Finland (2017)

Special Guests: Dome Karukoski, Pekka Strang, Seumas F. Sargent, Jessica Grabowsky
Guest Co-Host: Maitland McDonagh

Finnish artist Touko Laaksonen redefined gay erotica with his intricate, fetishistic drawings of muscle-bound uniformed men. Dome Karukoski's 2017 bio-pic Tom of Finland explores the life of Laaksonen (Pekka Strang) and his legacy.

Maitland McDonagh (120 Days Books) joins Mike to discuss Tom of Finland, Daddy and the Muscle Academy, and more.

Download Episode Now:

Listen to "Episode 348: Tom of Finland (2017)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Tom of Finland on (Region-Free) Blu-Ray
Buy Daddy and the Muscle Academy on DVD
Buy Tom of Finland by Dian Hanson
Buy The Complete Kake Comics
Learn about the Tom of Finland Foundation
Get the Tom of Finland emoji
Read more about the Tom of Finland emoji set
Order Man Eater by Dick Jones

Music:
"Tom of Finland" - Cat Rapes Dog
"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) - Sylvester

Watch:

Episode 319: The Red Shoes (1948)

Guest Co-Hosts: Daniel Bird, Maitland McDonagh

Daniel Bird and Maitland McDonagh join Mike to discuss the 1948 film from Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, The Red Shoes. The film centers on the tumultuous world of dance, namely ballet. We follow Julian Craster (Marius Goring) and Vicky Page (Moira Shearer) through triumphs and misfortunes.

A favorite of Martin Scorsese, the film is a triumph of melodrama and includes several breathtaking dance sequences, most notably an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's The Red Shoes.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 319: The Red Shoes (1948)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy The Red Shoes on DVD
Buy A Life in Movies by Michael Powell
Buy Michael Powell: International Perspectives on an English Film-maker by Ian Christie (Editor)
Buy the books of Maitland McDonagh
Buy Tenebrae on Blu-Ray
Read an interview with Daniel Bird by Samm Deighan

Music:
"Red Shoes" - Tom Waits
"The Red Shoes" - Kate Bush

Watch:

Episode 307: The Rocking Horse Winner (1949)

Special Guest: Maitland McDonagh

The 1949 adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's short story, The Rocking Horse Winner (adapted and directed by Anthony Pélissier) is an intense family melodrama shot like a horror film. The film stars John Howard Davies as Paul Grahame, a young boy desperate to bring his mother happiness.

Maitland McDonagh joins Mike to discuss this poignant work.

Links:
Buy The Rocking Horse Winner on DVD
Read The Rocking Horse Winner
Visit the official D.H. Lawrence website
Buy Maitland McDonagh's books

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 307: The Rocking Horse Winner (1949)" on Spreaker.

Music:
"The Rocking Horse Winner" - William Alwyn

Watch:

Episode 299: The Chase (1946)

Special Guest: Francis M. Nevins Jr.
Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Cullen Gallagher

Noirvember 2016 concludes with a look at Arthur D. Ripley's The Chase (1946). Adapted by Philip Yordan from a Cornell Woolrich novel, the film tells the tale of Chuck Scott (Robert Cummings) a down-on-his-luck veteran who ends up working for gangster Eddie Roman (Steve Cochran) before falling for Roman's wife (Michèle Morgan) and stealing away with her to Cuba.

Cullen Gallagher and Maitland McDonagh join Mike to discuss The Chase, Cornell Woolrich, and more.

Listen/Download Now:

Links:
Buy The Chase on Blu-Ray
Buy Cornell Woolrich: First You Dream, Then You Die by Francis M. Nevins Jr.
Buy books from Maitland McDonagh
Read more from Cullen at Pulp Serenade

Music:
"Peter Lorre" - Satan's Pilgrims
"Peter Lorre" - Tony Miracle

Watch:

Episode 298: Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)

Special Guest: Stephen D. Youngkin
Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Samm Deighan

Directed by Boris Ingster with a screenplay by Frank Partos , Stranger on the Third Floor (1940) defines the stylistic conventions that would come to be known as film noir. The movie stars John McGuire as a hot shot reporter and Margaret Tallichet as his best gal (who eventually becomes the protagonist). He's framed for a murder committed by the man only known as "The Stranger" (Peter Lorre).

Maitland McDonagh and Samm Deighan join Mike to discuss this first entry in the film noir pantheon as well as what it helped spawn. Author Stephen D. Youngkin joins the program to talk about the captivating Peter Lorre.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 298: Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Stranger on the Third Floor on DVD
Buy The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre by Stephen D. Youngkin
Buy books from Maitland McDonagh
Hear more from Samm Deighan on the Daughters of Darkness podcast
Visit the Diabolique Magazine website

Music:
"Peter Lorre" - The Jazz Butcher

Watch:

Episode 297: Decoy (1946)

Guest Co-Hosts: Maitland McDonagh, Christa Faust

Difficult to find on home video for many years, Jack Bernhard's Decoy (1946) stands as a highly off-beat film noir in which Margot Shelby (Jean Gillie) plays the consummate femme fatale with designs on the $400,000 her lover, Frankie (Robert Armstrong), has hidden. She needs to break him out of jail in order to get her hands on the money and does so by allowing him to be executed, only to bring him back from the dead...

Writers Christa Faust and Maitland McDonagh join Mike to discuss this usual film.

Download Episode Now:

Listen to "Episode 297: Decoy (1946)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Decoy on DVD (Film Noir Set)
Buy Decoy on DVD (Double Feature)
Read a great article about Decoy
Buy Maitland McDonagh's books
Visit the official Christa Faust website
Learn more about Peepland
Visit the Hard Case Crime website

Music:
"Femme Fatale" - The Velvet Underground & Nico

Watch: