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:

Guest Spots!

Along with doing the various podcast Mike already host/co-hosts (The Projection Booth, The Shabby Detective, The Life & Times of Captain Barney Miller, Midnight Viewing, What No Fucking Ziti?!, Chasing Chevy Chase, etc), he occasionally gets asked to be on other podcasts. Here's a colleciton of the latest guest appearances he's made.

We start with Cinema Chat with David Heath where Mike joined David to discuss William Friedkin's The Night They Raided Minsky's, a period piece about the death of vaudville.

We continue with:

Cinematic Smorgasbord: Episode 267 - You Don’t Know Dick - Used Cars:

Love That Album Episode 184 - Record Store Memories Part 2:

The Quixote Podcast:

Episode 727: Being There (1979)

Special Guest: Aaron Hunter
Guest Co-Hosts: Suzen Tekla Kruglinska, Maurice Bursztynski

Mike White is joined by Maurice Bursztynski and Suzen Tekla Kruglinska to explore Hal Ashby's Being There (1979), a satirical masterpiece based on Jerzy Kosinski’s novel. This listener request from Patreon supporter Jordan Nash examines the story of Chance, played brilliantly by Peter Sellers, a sheltered, developmentally delayed man who steps out of isolation after his caretaker's death.

Wandering the streets of Washington, D.C., Chance is swept into the elite world of Benjamin and Eve Rand (Melvyn Douglas and Shirley MacLaine) and influential power players, including the President (Jack Warden), thanks to a series of misunderstandings. The trio delves into the film's themes of perception, power, and simplicity, discussing its layered satire, unforgettable performances, and enduring relevance.

Professor Aaron Hunter, author of Authoring Hal Ashby: The Myth of the New Hollywood Auteur, discusses the film's evolution from Kosinski's novel to the screenplays by Robert C. Jones to the final film.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 727: Being There (1979)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Being There on Blu-Ray
Buy Being There by Jerzy Kozinski
Read Trump, Chauncey Gardiner, And America’s Accidental Presidency by David Todd McCarty
Buy Being There and the Evolution of a Screenplay: 3 Draft Scripts with Commentary by Aaron Hunter

Music:
"Johnny's Garden" - Stephen Stills
"Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)" - Deodato

Watch:

Special Report: 35000 Watts - The Story of College Radio (2024)

Special Guest: Michael Millard
Guest Co-Hosts: Skizz Cyzyk, Maurice Bursztynski

Skizz Cyzyk and Maurice Bursztynski join Mike White to discuss Michael Millard's 2024 documentary, 35000 Watts: The Story of College Radio, a look at the history and impact of college radio, most notably in the 1990s and the advent of "alternative radio".

The two former (and one present) DJs discuss the documentary as well as their time on the air.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: 35000 Watts - The Story of College Radio (2024)" on Spreaker.

Isolated Music Mix:

The Projection Booth · 35000 Watts Mix

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy 35000 Watts for downkload
Listen to Mike's WCBN play list
More about WCBN's Brendan Gillen
More about WCBN's Craig Maki
Maurice recommends 106.7 PBS

Music:
"Mexican Radio" - Wall of Voodoo
"The Wait" - The Holy Cows
"You Just Like Me 'Cos I'm Good in Bed" - Skyhooks
"Clever Trever" - Ian Dury and The Blockheads
"Add It Up" - The Violent Femmes
"Signals" - Squalls
"16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought-Six" - Tom Waits
"Lawn Dart" - Ed's Redeeming Qualities
"Hey, Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We Had A Deal" - They Might Be Giants

Watch:

Special Report: Ego Fest XIII

Maurice Bursztynski joins Mike in the latest self-indulgent exercise in ego wherein Mike answers listener questions and goes off on meandering tangents.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Ego Fest XIII" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth

Music:
"Ego Is Not a Dirty Word"- Slyhooks
"Sleigh Ride" - Leroy Anderson
"Bill Hill Theme" - The Touch soundtrack

Watch:

Episode 568: My Man Godfrey (1936)

Guest Co-Hosts: Kat Ellinger. Maurice Bursztynski

Screwball month continues with a look at Gregory La Cava’s My Man Godfrey (1936). Based on the novel and co-written by Eric Hatch, the film stars William Powell as the titular Godfrey. He’s a forgotten man, living in a Hooverville in New York City where he’s picked up by a bunch of swells out on a scavenger hunt. Bringing in a forgotten man will net a lot of points and help Irene Bullock (Carole Lombard) win the game. In return, she hires Godfrey as a butler to the wacky Bullock family. And, of course, hilarity ensues...

Kat Ellinger and Maurice Bursztynski join Mike to discuss the original adaptation as well as the 1957 version with David Niven and June Allyson.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 568: My Man Godfrey (1936)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy My Man Godfrey on Blu-Ray

Music:
"Garbage Isn’t What It Used To Be" - Alan Jay Lerner and Gerard Kenny

Watch:

Episode 526: Time Bandits (1981)

Special Guests: Michael Palin, Mike Edmonds
Guest Co-Hosts: Eric J. Peterson, Maurice Bursztynski

We continue Sci-Fi Month with a look at the 1981 film from director Terry Gilliam, Time Bandits. It’s the story of a band of god’s workers who have stolen a map that allows them to travel through time. Along the way they meet a young lad named Kevin (Craig Warnock) whose parents ignore him. He joins the titular Time Bandits on their adventures as they run from god and into the arms of Satan.

Maurice Bursztynski and Eric J. Peterson join Mike to discuss this unusual family film. This episode also hosts the second part of our interview with co-writer and actor Michael Palin along with actor Mike Edmonds.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 526: Time Bandits (1981)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Time Bandits on Blu-Ray
Buy Very Naughty Boys by Robert Sellers
Buy Halfway to Hollywood: Diaries 1980--1988 by Michael Palin
Buy An Accidental Studio on Blu-Ray

Music:
"Dream Away" - George Harrison

Watch:

Guest Spot: The Sparks Brothers (2021)

Special Guest: Paul Trewartha

Edgar Wright has been known to use music to great effect in his narrative films, so it's only appropriate that he makes a music-related documentary. The Spark Brothers (2021) tells the tale of brothers Ron Mael and Russell Mael who, as Sparks, have been writing and recording albums for nearly 5 decades. Unlike so many musicians who had an initial creative flourish then lose sight of their muse, the Maels are still creating great music right up to today.

Due to a peculiar turn of events, Tim, Bernard and Maurice handed the keys to the See Hear car over to friends of the show Mike White of the Projection Booth Podcast and musician / documentarian Skizz Cyzyk. These guys are the best, and we felt completely comfortable leaving the show in their professional hands. As a bonus, Mike also presents an interview with the film's editor Paul Trewartha. Paul cut The Sparks Brothers using Adobe Premiere.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: The Sparks Brothers (2021)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Visit the Spark Brothers website

Watch:

Episode 513: A Buster Keaton Celebration

Special Guest: Gus Macmillan
Guest Co-Hosts: Heather Drain, Maurice Bursztynski

We are celebrating the great Buster Keaton with a handful of his films. Known as The Great Stone Face, Keaton was the director, writer, and star of dozens of two reel and feature films where he gained a well-deserved reputation for ingenuity, impeccable timing, and incredible stunts.

Maurice Bursztynski and Heather Drain join Mike to discuss a few of Buster Keaton's films from 1920 to 1928: One Week, Seven Chances, Sherlock Jr, Steamboat Bill Jr, and The General.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 513: A Buster Keaton Celebration" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Buster Keaton: The Shorts Collection 1917-1923 on Blu-Ray
Buy The General / Steamboat Bill, Jr. on Blu-Ray
Buy Sherlock Jr. / The Navigator on Blu-Ray
Buy Seven Chances / Battling Butler on Blu-Ray
Visit the official Blue Grassy Knoll website
Visit the Movies Silently website

Music:
"The Pursuit Prt. 1" - The Blue Grassy Knoll
"Shadowing Music" - The Blue Grassy Knoll
"Buster Keaton" - Pfs

Watch:

Episode 508: Mary & Max (2009)

Special Guest: Adam Elliot
Guest Co-Host: Maurice Bursztynski

We’re looking at the 2009 film from director Adam Elliot, Mary & Max, the story of two unlikely pen pals -- Mary Daisy Dinkle (Bethany Whitmore / Toni Collette) and Max Jerry Horovitz (Philip Seymour Hoffman) -- a lonely little girl from Australia and a middle aged man with Asperger's Syndrome in New York City.

Writer/director Adam Elliot discusses the origins of Mary & Max while Maurice Bursztynski joins Mike to discuss this amazing film.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 508: Mary & Max (2009)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Mary & Max on Blu-Ray
Learn more about the Mary & Max Musical

Music:
"Perpetuum Mobile" - Penguin Cafe Orchestra
"A Swinging Safari" - Bert Kaempfert

Watch:

Episode 504: Duets (2000)

Special Guests: John Byrum, Kevin Jones
Guest Co-Hosts: Emily Intravia, Maurice Bursztynski

Musical Month concludes with a look at Bruce Paltrow's Duets (2000). Written by John Byrum, the film stars Paul Giamatti, Huey Lewis, Maria Bello, Andre Braugher, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Scott Speedman in a drama about the world of karaoke.

Emily Intravia (The Feminine Critique) and Maurice Bursztynski (See Hear) join Mike to discuss the film's incredibly troubled production history. Our interview subjects, Byrum and producer Kevin Jones, give the behind-the-scenes scoop.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 504: Duets (2000)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Duets on Blu-Ray
Buy the Duets soundtrack

Music:
"Sweet dreams (are made of this)" - Maria Bello
"Hello, it's me" - Paul Giamatti
"Free bird" - Arnold McCuller
"Try a little tenderness" - Paul Giamatti & Arnold McCuller

Watch:

Special Report: The Ventures - Stars on Guitars (2020)

Special Guests: Staci Layne Wilson
Guest Co-Hosts: Maurice Bursztynski, Skizz Cyzyk

Maurice Bursztynski and Skizz Cyzyk join Mike to discuss Staci Layne Wilson's documentary The Ventures: Stars on Guitars (2020) about one of the best instrumental bands of the 20th Century. Formed in the late '50s and still going today, The Ventures are most famous for their versions of "Walk, Don't Run" and the Hawaii 5-0 theme. The documentary goes beyond the hits to show the influence that The Ventures have had for the last sixty years.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: The Ventures - Stars on Guitars (2020)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy The Ventures: Stars on Guitar on DVD
Get Garage Sales's Pointless Summer on CD
Read Josie Cotton meets The Ventures

Music:
"Penetration" - The Ventures
"Walk, Don't Run" - The Ventures

Watch:

Special Report: Suzi Q (2019)

Special Guests: Suzi Quatro, Liam Firmager, Tait Brady
Guest Co-Hosts: Maurice Bursztynski, Leon Chase

In a special cross-over with the See/Hear Podcast, we're discussing Suzi Q (2019), a documentary from Liam Firmager about Detroit's own Suzi Quatro, who left the States early in her career and became more of a rock star in the UK and Australia while not charting as high as she should in her home country. She became known more in the U.S. thanks to her many appearances on Happy Days as the character Leather Tuscadero. The film looks at her career overall, showing what a wild ride it’s been.

Leon Chase and Maurice Bursztynski join Mike to talk about the documentary, Quatro, and more.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Suzi Q (2019)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Suzi Q on DVD
Visit the official Suzi Q website
Visit the official Suzi Quatro website

Music:
"Gotta Get Away" - The Pleasure Seekers
"Girl From Detroit City" - Suqi Quatro
"Can the Can' - Suzi Quatro
"Devil Gate Drive" - Suzi Quatro
"Daytona Demon" - Suzi Quatro

Watch:

Episode 457: The Big Dig (1969)

Special Guest: Rafi Kishon
Guest Co-Hosts: Maurice Bursztynski, Yaniv Eidelstein

Our appreciation of 1969 continues with a look at The Big Dig. Also known as The Blaumilch Canal, the film was written and directed by Ephraim Kishon and stars Bomba Tzur as the titular Blaumilch, an escaped mental patient with a mania for digging. When he finds a jack hammer in downtown Tel Aviv he kicks off a chain of events that demonstrates the absurdity of bureaucracy.

Yaniv Eidelstein and Maurice Bursztynski join Mike to discuss this delightful Israeli film as well as other entries in Kishon's filmography. Special guest Rafi Kishon recounts growing up with his father's work.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 457: The Big Dig (1969)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy The Big Dig on DVD
Buy Look Back, Mrs Lot! or, Anything Can Happen in Israel by Ephraim Kishon
Read 5 films, short and satirical: Homage to Ephraim Kishon as he would have like
Read Book honors Israeli author Kishon decade after death

Music:
בלדה לאיש הפשוט - Edna Goren
דוגי-דיג - Edna Goren

Watch:

Blaumilch English preview from Yaniv Eidelstein on Vimeo.

Special Report: Die Laughing (1980)

Special Guests: Jeff Werner, Carel Struycken
Guest Co-Hosts: David Kittredge, Maurice Bursztynski

On this special episode, Maurice Bursztynski and David Kittredge join Mike to discuss the 1980 film from director Jeff Werner, Die Laughing. The film stars Robby Benson as Pinsky, a cab driver who is also an aspiring rock star. As most cab drivers do, he inadvertently gets mixed up in a web of international intrigue.

Director Jeff Werner and actor Carel Struycken discuss the behind-the-scenes of this unusual spy thriller comedy.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Die Laughing (1980)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Die Laughing on DVD
Buy Hit and Run by Nancy Griffin and Kim Masters

Music:
Grease Paint And Monkey Brains - White Zombie
Hot Rod Monkey - James Kochalka Superstar
Mr. Weinstein's Barber Shop - Robby Benson (and Rush Hour)
All I Want Is Love - Robby Benson (and Rush Hour)

Watch:

Episode 430: The Fall (2008)

Special Guest: Ged Clarke
Guest Co-Hosts: Maurice Bursztynski, Brian Hoyle

Released in 2008, Tarsem Singh's The Fall is a very loose remake of the 1981 Bulgarian film Yo Ho Ho. The film stars Lee Pace as Roy, a stunt man who’s had an accident that has left him paralyzed from the waist down. While at the hospital he befriends a little girl named Alexandria (Catinca Untaru). The film goes between the two of them at the hospital and a wild world of imagination crafted by the pair as a way to keep their minds off their boredom and pain.

Brian Hoyle (The Cinema of John Boorman) and Maurice Bursztynski join Mike to discuss the film. Production designer Ged Clarke talks about the long journey of The Fall's creation.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 430: The Fall (2008)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy The Fall on Blu-Ray

Music:
"The Attack" - Krishna Levy
"The Princess" - Krishna Levy

Watch:

Episode 400: The Rutles - All You Need is Cash (1978)

Special Guests: Greg Weis, Neil Innes
Guest Co-Hosts: Skizz Cyzyk, Maurice Bursztynski

For the 400th episode of The Projection Booth, Maurice Bursztynski and Skizz Cyzyk join Mike to discuss the 1978 made-for-TV movie The Rutles: All You Need is Cash. Directed by Gary Weis and Eric Idle, this mockumentary tells the tale of the incredible smash hit band The Rutles, their meteoric rise to fame and incredible influence on the music business.

The Rutles were the brainchild of writer/comedian Eric Idle of Monty Python, Rutland Weekend Television, (and more), and musician Neil Innes of The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 400: The Rutles - All You Need is Cash (1978)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy The Rutles: All You Need is Cash on DVD
Buy Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography by Eric Idle
Buy Rutles Highway Revisited on CD
Buy The Rutles: Archeology on CD
Listen to the See/Hear episode on The Rutles

Music:
"I Must Be in Love" - The Rutles
"How Sweet It Is To Be an Idiot" - Neil Innes
"Whatever" - Oasis
"Cheese and Onions" - The Rutles

Watch:

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

Watch:

Guest Spots: 20th Century Oz and House

Wrapping up 2016, Mike has been a guest on a few terrific shows...

See Hear Podcast

Mike joined the regular hosts of the See Hear Podcast to discuss the Australian musical, 20th Century Oz.

Radiodrome

On Radiodrome, Mike discussed the four films of the House series. The one with William Katt, not the Japanese House.

Episode 294: Pontypool (2008)

Special Guests: Bruce McDonald, Tony Burgess
Guest Co-Host: Maurice Bursztynski

Mrs. French's cat is missing.

In a rather different take on the typical zombie story, Bruce McDonald's Pontypool (2008) has the English language as the infectious agent which drives people mad. Written by Tony Burgess (and based on his novel, Pontypool Changes Everything), the film stars Stephen McHattie as Grant Mazzy, a shock jock from the big city now working in backwater Ontario with his audio engineer Laurel-Ann (Georgina Reilly) and producer Syndey Briar (Lisa Houle).

Mike discusses Pontypool with See Hear's Maurice Bursztynski.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 294: Pontypool (2008)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Pontypool on DVD
Buy Pontypool Changes Everything by Tony Burgess
Buy the audio version of Pontypool Changes Everything
Listen to the CBC Radio Play
Visit the official Claude Foisy website Visit the official Bruce McDonald website
Follow Tony Burgess on Twitter
Follow Bruce McDonald on Twitter
Listen to Maurice's band, the Ice Haloes
Listen to the Love That Album podcast
Listen to the See Hear podcast
Listen to the Faculty of Horror Pontypool episode

Music:
"English is Infected" - Claude Foisy
"Words" - Missing Persons
"Talk Talk" - Talk Talk
"No More Words" - Berlin

Watch: