Celluloid Days

15/01/2024

After a long break, I am back! This week, the take of Rondo Hatton!

Rondo Hatton was a reporter/sportswriter in Tampa, Florida but he had a problem. He suffered from the awful effects of acromegaly, which gave him unique facial features. He used his strange appearance to make a career in Hollywood. His films include The Pearl of Death, The Jungle Captive, The...

12/10/2023

OK, I'm a day late! This week, Spider Baby from 1967!

Jack Hill wrote and directed the classic American black comedy horror film, Spider Baby. This movie stars Lon Chaney Jr., Jill Banner, Carol Ohmart, Quinn Redeker, Beverly Washburn, Sid Haig, Mary Mitchel, Karl Schanzer, and Mantan Moreland. Learn more than you ever wanted to know about this...

04/10/2023

This week I talk about the life of female actor, Yvette Vickers. If you don't know her, she was in the films Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) and Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959).

Yvette Vickers was born Yvette Iola Vedder on August 26, 1928. She was an American actress, pin-up model, and singer. Her two most famous films were Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) as Honey Parker, and Liz Walker in Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959). She was also photographed by Russ Meyer...

27/09/2023

This week I reviewed the 1971 film, The Andromeda Strain.

How about we talk about the science-fiction from 1971 in the film adaption of Michael Crichton's novel, The Andromeda Strain? It was directed by Robert Wise and stars Arthur Hill, James Olson, Kate Reid, David Wayne, and Paula Kelly. It is the story of a team of scientists who investigate a...

20/09/2023

After missing a week, I am back with the review of Ferris Bueller's Day Off!

Today I talk about John Hughes’s film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. This film was from 1986 and stars Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, and Alan Ruck, with supporting roles from Jennifer Grey, Jeffrey Jones, Cindy Pickett, Edie McClurg, and Lyman Ward. Learn a little about the history of this classic!

07/09/2023

Hi all! This week I ramble on and on about the classic Citizen Kane from 1941.

It’s my 80th episode so I thought I’d talk about one of my favorite films, Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane. In this show, I will do a lot of rambling because there is so much to talk about. I could have made this show 10 times as long if I talked about everything I wanted to. I hope you enjoy it!

30/08/2023

Join me this week when I talk about The Psychotronic Man from 1979, a film entirely shot in Chicagoland without permits.

In this week’s show, I talk about The Psychotronic Man from 1979. This film was written, produced and starred Peter G. Spelson and was directed by Jack M. Sell, It is the story of a man who goes on a murder spree after getting psychotronic powers. It was filmed all in Chicago without permits. It.....

23/08/2023

Happy Wednesday! This week I tell the strange story of Madge Meredith, who, in the late 40s, was accused and convicted of kidnapping and assault!

In this episode, I talk about Madge Meredith, who, in the late 40s, was accused and convicted of kidnapping and assault and was sentenced to 5 to life in Tehachapi prison. Two and a half years later, the California State Assembly issued a report concluding: "The case of Miss Meredith, from...

16/08/2023

This week, Sam Peckinpah’s 1970 forgotten classic, The Ballad of Cable Hogue!

This thrilling episode, Sam Peckinpah’s 1970 forgotten classic, The Ballad of Cable Hogue. Starring Jason Robards, Stella Stevens, and David Warner, this was a change of pace for Peckinpah. Find out all about it by listening!

09/08/2023

This week, Sam Raimi's Evil Dead 2!

In this episode, I talk about the 1987 film, Evil Dead 2, Dead by Dawn. Of course, I also talk about Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and more. Join us, won't you?

02/08/2023

This week's podcast, Lucky Night, starring Robert Taylor and Myrna Loy from 1939.

In this episode, I talk about the 1939 film Lucky Night, starring Robert Taylor and Myrna Loy and directed by Norman Taurog. It is the story of two people who meet in a park, win a lot of money, get drunk, get married, and try to make their life together work.

25/07/2023

Good Tuesday morning! This week I look at a crazy film from 1979 called The Visitor!

If I told you we were going to watch a film that stars John Huston, Mel Ferrer, Glenn Ford, Lance Henriksen, and Shelley Winters, would you be interested? I would, after all, they all made great films back in the day. But The Visitor was from 1979! It is a science fiction horror film directed by...

17/07/2023

This week, Shaun of the Dead from 2004!! A delightful zombie comedy.

Today I look at the fantastic 2004 zombie comedy film, Shaun of the Dead. Directed by Edgar Wright and written by Wright and Simon Pegg, I am a big fan of this flick. Pegg stars as Shaun, a downtrodden salesman in London who is caught in a zombie apocalypse with his friend Ed (Nick Frost). The...

10/07/2023

In this episode, I look at the 1966 Czechoslovakian surrealist comedy-drama film Daisies! This masterpiece was written and directed by Věra Chytilová and stars Jitka Cerhová and Ivana Karbanová. It is regarded as a milestone of the Czechoslovak New Wave movement! Find out my thoughts on the bizarre little film! You can email me a [email protected]! https://share.transistor.fm/s/b81f7482

03/07/2023

I'm back! This episode in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

In this episode, I look at the bizarre film from 1971, the British dark comedy horror film, The Abominable Dr. Phibes. This film was directed by Robert Fuest and stars Vincent Price, Joseph Cotten, Peter Jeffrey, and Virginia North. It is the story of comic revenge! Find out more than you ever...

17/05/2023

This week I talk about the 2001 film, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra!

This week I look at the classic Larry Blamire film, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra from 2001. This delightful comedy is a parody of 1950s-style science fiction B films. Written and directed by Larry, it stars Fay Masterson, Andrew Parks, Susan McConnell, Brian Howe, and Jennifer Blaire. You don’t...

03/05/2023

This week I look at Hidden Figures from 2016!

In this episode, we look at another film based on a true story. This week, Hidden Figures from 2016. This is the story of Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), who worked at NASA during the Space Race. How much is real and.....

24/04/2023

Happy Monday! Something different today. This is the short biography of a troubled actor.

In this episode, I do something a little different. I talk about the sad life of child actor, Scotty Beckett. You might know Scotty as Winky, the comic sidekick in the popular TV show Rocky Jones, Space Ranger. He had a very troubled life.

18/04/2023

This week I talk about the film THX 1138, the first feature directed by George Lucas!

It’s time for me to watch a film I have not seen before, so today I watch the George Lucas directed Francis Ford Coppola produced 1971 American social science fiction film, THX 1138. This film started out as a student film called Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB and was the first film from...

11/04/2023

Ever seen the 1954 Godzilla film? The original Japanese version? It's better than you might think.

It is time to talk about one of my favorite films. This time, the original Godzilla from 1954. Directed by Ishirō Honda and starring Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata, and Takashi Shimura. If you have never seen this film before, it is a lot better than you might think!

04/04/2023

In another episode of 'What's Wrong With This Picture', I look at the 1960 film, Escape from Alcatraz.

In the stimulating episode, I look at the 1979 film, Escape from Alcatraz, the American prison action thriller film starring Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Fred Ward, Jack Thibeau, and Larry Hankin. Directed by Don Siegel, this film is based on the true story of Frank Morris and his buddies...

27/03/2023

It is Monday and that means another show! Nancy and I talk about the film Monster a Go-Go from 1965.

It is the final Monday of the month and that means that Nancy and I are going to talk about a film featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000. When is a movie not a movie? When it is Monster a Go-Go from 1965. I’ll give you a little history about the film and Nancy will have some fun reminiscing...

20/03/2023

Happy Monday morning! To make the start of the week and little more pleasurable, I present my take on the film Bombshell from 1933, staring the wonderful Jean Harlow!

This week I look at the 1933 film Bombshell. This classic was directed by Victor Fleming and stars Jean Harlow, Lee Tracy, Frank Morgan, Franchot Tone, Pat O'Brien, Una Merkel, and Ted Healy. This movie also gives me an excuse to talk about one of the defining figures of the pre-Code era, the one...

14/03/2023

This week, I talk about the 1946 film, The Big Sleep!

It’s time to talk about one of my favorite films, the 1946 American film noir, The Big Sleep. Directed by Howard Hawks and based on a novel by Raymond Chandler, this classic stars Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Martha Vickers, and Dorothy Malone. This wonderful but confusing film has a strange...

06/03/2023

This week, I talk about the wonderful film Apollo 13, directed by Ron Howard. What did this film get right and what is a fabrication of the filmmakers. Also, as a bonus, Russell talks us on a trip down memory lane and tells us of some other films that deal with voyages to the moon!

This week I look at the classic film Apollo 13 from 1995. I examine this film and separate the facts from the fabrications. This American space docudrama film was directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Ed Harris, and Gary Sinise. And Russell joins me and talks about...

27/02/2023

It is time to talk about another film from Mystery Science Theater 3000. This time, "12 to the Moon" from 1960. This episode features Nancy and her thoughts on Mike and the gang!

It is the last Monday of the month and that means that Nancy and I are going to talk about a film featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000. In this episode, we are talking about 12 to the Moon from 1960. I’ll give you a little history about the film and Nancy will have some fun reminiscing about.....

20/02/2023

In this episode, we look at the 1974 science fantasy film, Zardoz. This thrilling picture was written, produced, and directed by John Boorman and starred Sean Connery and Charlotte Rampling. Joining me today are Nancy, Gordon, and Russell. Find out what the four of us thought of this film!

In this episode, we look at the 1974 science fantasy film, Zardoz. This thrilling picture was written, produced, and directed by John Boorman and starred Sean Connery and Charlotte Rampling. Joining me today are Nancy, Gordon, and Russell. Find out what the four of us thought of this film!

19/02/2023

Tonight's movie homework. Buckle up, Brutals.

14/02/2023

This week (and I know I'm a day late), we look at one of my favorite films, Excalibur from 1981. Russell also joins me and talks a little bit about the Arthurian legend. https://share.transistor.fm/s/3ee9d770

06/02/2023

This week we look at the film, film Man of a Thousand Faces from 1957, the story of Lon Chaney, Just how much of this story is true? Also, Russell tells us a little about Lon Chaney Jr.

This week we look at the film Man of a Thousand Faces from 1957, starring James Cagney, Dorothy Malone, Jane Greer, and Jim Backus. It is the story of the life and times of silent screen actor, Lon Chaney. Or is it? Find out how accurate this film is. And as a bonus, Russell will tell you all...