Donald Westlake — writing as Richard Stark — said only one movie made from a Parker novel "got the feeling right." That's John Flynn's The Outfit (1973), starring Robert Duvall as Earl Macklin, out of prison to find his brother murdered by the mob over a bank job. Rather than run, Macklin runs at them, hitting every vulnerable Outfit operation until they pay. Joe Don Baker and Karen Black co-star alongside a murderer's row of noir faces: Robert Ryan, Marie Windsor, Jane Greer, Timothy Carey, and Elisha Cook Jr.
Jedidiah Ayres and Gary Phillips join Mike to dig into Westlake's dual-track career, the Parker adaptations from Point Blank to Play Dirty, Flynn's flat-and-mean style, and the film's year-long crawl across America courtesy of MGM's "smiling cobra" James Aubrey. Released in celebration of Arrow Video's new Limited Edition Blu-ray — featuring a commentary track by Mike and Jedidiah.
Special Guests: Timothy Harris, Ebbe Roe Smith, Joel Schumacher Guest Co-Hosts: Jamey Duvall, Aaron Peterson
We're discussing the 1993 film from Joel Schumacher, Falling Down. Written by Ebbe Roe Smith, the film stars Michael Douglas as a white guy who's wound a little too tight and finally snaps.
Special Guest: Toby Roan Guest Co-Hosts: Paul Zimmerman, Jamey Duvall
Based on Charles Neider's book The Authentic Death of Hendry Jones, One-Eyed Jacks (1961) tells the tale of Rio AKA The Kid, played by Marlon Brando, and Dad Longsworth, played by Karl Malden. The two are outlaws who take very different paths, the Kid being a "noble" criminal while Dad eventually becomes a servant of the law. We watch them spar in the coastal Californian city of Monterrey where the tumultuous water serves as a metaphor for the raging emotions inside each man.
The film was originally supposed to have been a powerhouse production with Sam Peckinpah writing the adaptation, Stanley Kubrick directing, and Brando as the star. But things don't always work out the way they're supposed to. Instead, this became the first and only film that Brando directed.
Special Guest: James B. Harris Guest Co-Host: Heather Drain, Aaron Peterson
When Robert Troy (Zalman King) buys a "sleeping beauty" (Tisa Farrow) at a carnival and introduces her to the playscape of fantasy roleplay in which he lives every day, things don't necessarily work out in Some Call it Loving, a beautiful and unusual film from 1973.
Writer/director James B. Harris discusses the genesis of the film as well as his work with Stanley Kubrick on The Killing, Paths of Glory, One-Eyed Jacks, and more. He also compares the volatility of Timothy Carey to Richard Pryor.
Heather Drain and The Hollywood Outsider's Aaron Peterson join Mike in discussing the film as well as other interpretations of the Sleeping Beauty tale.
Music:
"The Very Thought of You" - Nat King Cole
"The Sleeping Beauty Waltz" - Tchaikovsky
"In Dreams" - Roy Orbison
"Sleeepwalk" - Santo & Johnny
"Once Upon a Dream" - Lana Del Rey
Special Guests: Michael C. Gwynne, Romeo Carey & John Easdale Guest Co-Host: Marisa Young
We're looking at Timothy Carey's pièce de résistance, World's Greatest Sinner, the story of one man's desire to be god. Watch as writer/director/editor/star Carey goes from mild-mannered insurance salesman to dogmatic punk rock zealot.
Can you dig it? It's The Monkees's 1968 movie that confounded critics and perplexed audiences, Bob Rafelson's Head. Mike and Mondo Justin talk about the history of Head and discuss its inception and perception.
We're joined one of the editors of Head, Monte Hellman, and the author of Monkee Business, Eric Lefcowitz.
Errata: Charles Manson never tried out for The Monkees
Guest Co-Hosts: Gary Phillips, Jedidiah Ayres
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Special Guests: Eric Lefcowitz & Monte Hellman