Episode 656: The Big Fix (1978)

Special Guests: Jeremy Kagan, Roger L. Simon
Guest Co-Hosts: Jedidiah Ayres, Andrew Nette

Jedidiah Ayres and Andrew Nette join Mike to look at Jeremy Kagan's The Big Fix. Released in 1978, the film stars Richard Dreyfuss as Moses Wine, a radical in the '60s who’s now a down-on-his-luck detective who gets put on a case that takes him back to his old stomping grounds.

Author of the Moses Wine books (and so much more), Roger L. Simon joins us to discuss writing the film while Kagan talks about his career.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 656: The Big Fix (1978)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Read more about Moses Wine
Learn more about the The near Death and Life of Jeremy Kagan
Learn about Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8

Music:
Original Soundtrack - Bill Conti

Watch:

CONSPIRACY The Trial of the Chicago 8 from Jeremy Kagan on Vimeo.

Special Report: Mad Dog Time (1996)

Special Guests: Larry Bishop, Dina Lipton
Guest Co-Hosts: Bryan Connolly, Andras Jones

On this special episode we’re looking at the 1996 film from writer/director/actor Larry Bishop, Mad Dog Time (AKA Trigger Happy). Released in the wake of Pulp Fiction, it’s something of a metaphysical gangster film with one of the most astounding casts ever put together.

The film stars Gabriel Byrne as Brass Balls Ben London, the man who’s been left in charge while his boss, Vic (Richard Dreyfuss) has been sent to the funny farm. Meanwhile, Mick (Jeff Goldblum) has Vic’s girl, Grace (Diane Lane) on ice.

Bryan Connolly and Andras Jones of The World is Wrong podcast join Mike to discuss this overlooked film. Filmmaker Larry Bishop and Production Designer Dina Lipton discuss the making of Mad Dog Time.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Mad Dog Time (1996)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Mad Dog Time on Blu-Ray
Listen to The World is Wrong episode on Mad Dog Time

Music:
"Shame of Things to Come" - Max Frost & the Troopers
"C'est Si Bon" - Dean Martin
"My Way" - Paul Anka

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Episode 525: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Special Guests: Joe Alves, Matthew Robbins, Jim Bloom, Douglas Trumbull
Guest Co-Hosts: Suzen Tekla Kruglnska, El Goro

Sci-Fi Month continues with a look at Steven Spielberg's 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It’s really three stories in one. In the first it’s former cartographer David Laughlin (Bob Balaban) who’s been recruited to help French scientist Claude Lacombe (Francois Truffaut) investigate a strange series of alien visitations. The second concerns Julian Guiler (Melinda Dillon) whose little boy, Barry, is kidnapped by aliens. And, the third follows Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), a man who’s disillusioned with his life until he witnesses a group of alien ships which plant an image in his head as kind of an invitation to join them.

Suzen Tekla Kruglnska and El Goro join Mike to discuss this landmark film. Interviews include production designer Joe Alves, screenwriter Matthew Robbins, second assistant director Jim Bloom, and special effects supervisor Douglas Trumbull.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 525: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Close Encounters of the Third Kind Blu-Ray
Buy the Close Encounters of the Third Kind novelization
Buy Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Ultimate Visual History by Michael Klastorin
Buy Close Encounters of the Third Kind Diary by Bob Balaban
Buy Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Making of Steven Spielberg's Classic Film by Ray Morton
Buy Close Encounters of the Third Kind by Jon Towlson

Music:
"Theme from 'Close Encounters'" - Meco
"Main Title And Mountain Visions" - The Electric Moog Orchestra
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" - The Ventures

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Special Report: Jaws (1975)

Special Guests: Carl Gottlieb, John LeMay
Guest Co-Hosts: Jamie Benning, Chris Sasser

Just when you thought it was safe to download a podcast...

On this special episode of The Projection Booth we are looking at Steven Spielberg's Jaws (1975). Based on the novel by Peter Benchley, Jaws is the story of Sheriff Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) -- a former New York City cop who’s moved to the idyllic island community of Amity. All is going well in his white picket world until a Great White Shark picks the waters around Amity as a feeding ground.

Jamie Benning (Filmumentaries) and Chris Sasser (Shark City) join Mike to discuss the film that defined what a "blockbuster summer hit" was. Screenwriter Carl Gottlieb (The Jaws Log) and John LeMay (Jaws Unmade) discuss the making of Jaws as well as the many sequels, rip-offs, and inspired films in Jaws's wake.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Jaws (1975)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Jaw on Blu-Ray
Buy Joe Alves: Designing Jaws by Dennis Prince
Buy Jaws: Memories from Martha's Vineyard: A Definitive Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Greatest Suspense Thriller of All Time by Matt Taylor
Visit The Daily Jaws
Read Joe Alves Sets the Record Straight on the Supposedly Inoperable Shark of 'Jaws' by Brad Gullickson

Music:
Original Soundtrack - John Williams
"Mr. Jaws" - Dickie Goodman

Watch:

Inside Jaws, A Filmumentary by @jamieswb (2013) from Filmumentaries - Jamie Benning on Vimeo.

Special Report: More American Graffiti (1979)

Special Guests: Bill Norton, Candy Clark Willard Huyck
Guest Co-Hosts: Terry Frost, Trevor Gumbel

Released in 1979, Bill Norton's More American Graffiti reunites most of the original cast of George Lucas's 1973 film (save Richard Dreyfus). Rather than looking at a single night, the film spans four New Years Eves across the lives of five main characters.

Discussion:
00:02:08: Terry Frost and Trevor Gumbel join Mike to discuss American Graffiti and More American Graffiti.

Interviews:
00:45:55: Writer/Director Bill Norton
01:26:43: Actress Candy Clark
01:51:11: Co-writer of American Graffiti Willard Huyck

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: More American Graffiti (1979)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy More American Graffiti on Blu-Ray
Buy American Graffiti on Blu-Ray

Music:
"Season of he Witch" - Donovan
"96 Tears" - ? and the Mysterians
"Hang on Sloopy" - The McCoys
"Pipeline" - The Chantays

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Episode 183: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990)

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.

Listen / Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 183: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead on DVD
Buy Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard
Buy Tom Stoppard: A Faber Critical Guide: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Jumpers, Travesties, Arcadia by Jim Hunter
Buy About Stoppard by Jim Hunter
Buy Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead: The Film by Tom Stoppard
Buy Rosencrantz & Guildenstern by William Schwenck Gilbert

Music:
"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" - Elvis Presley
"Hamlet" - ABBA
"Spirit" - Bauhaus
"Dang Me" - Roger Miller
"Money" - Sweet Little Band

Watch: