POP ART 111 says SOAPY SALES: Join me and my guest Sam Homrig (attorney by day, murder mystery host by night as well as co-host of “The Cabot Cove Confab Podcast”, “The Columbo Confab Podcast”, and “The Best Picture Podcast”)   “We were just playing a game called Photography. You turn off the lights and see what develops.” Lies, deceit, adultery, murder, teen sex, drugs, abortion by proxy, incest by proxy, illegitimate children, coded gay characters…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 111 of Pop Art, the podcast where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie/foreign side of cinema with a connection to it.   For this episode, I am happy to welcome as my guest, Sean Homrig, who has chosen as his film Ang Lee’s dissection of suburban life in 1970s Connecticut, The Ice Storm, while I have chosen Mark Robson’s dissection of small town New England life in the 1940s, Peyton Place, both soap opera looks at small towns.     And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What scandal made Peyton Place one of the top grossing movies of that year? Why are soap operas so appealing? What rating from the Catholic Church was given to Peyton Place? What are the anachronisms and historical inaccuracies of both films? What Cannes award did The Ice Storm receive? What changes from the book did they make in bringing Peyton Place to the screen? What is inaccurate about the death in The Ice Story? How many Oscar acting nominations did Peyton Place receive?   Be sure and check out Sean’s various podcasts, “The Cabot Cove Confab Podcast”, “The Columbo Confab Podcast”, and “The Best Picture Podcast”.   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

HAPPY HALLOWEEN   NEW EPISODE: POP ART 110 says CURSES, FOILED AGAIN: Join me and my annual Halloween guest Lisa Leaheey as we talk The Ring and Curse of the Demon.   “Seven days.” Don’t you hate when this happens? You’re going about your day. Minding your own business. You watch a video and the phone rings telling you, you only have seven days to live. Or, someone secretly passes you a curse in runes giving you only a certain amount of time before you die. It is just so annoying…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 110 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie/foreign side of cinema with a connection to it. And this episode is my yearly Halloween one. For this episode, I am happy to welcome back film lover and horror enthusiast, and my annual guest for my Halloween episode, Lisa Leaheey, who has chosen as her film the American remake of the Japanese horror film The Ring, while I have chosen Jacques Tournier’s Night of the Demon, both films about an object that if passed to someone only gives that person a certain amount of time to live.   And in this episode, we answer such questions as: Which is better, suggesting a monster or showing it? What are the differences between the Japanese and American version of The Ring? What is the difference between the English and American release of Night of the Demon? What was the original ending to The Ring and what happened to it? Why is Night of the Demon called Curse of the Demon in the US? What did screenwriter Charles Bennett say he would do to the producer of Night of the Demon if he saw him in his driveway? Where do The film The Burbs, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Rear Window fit in? What does the name Samara reference?     Check out Lisa’s podcasting at The Rabbit Hole Podcast, including the new Rabbit Hole Book Club section https://rabbitholepodcasts.com/pictures-and-conversations/   And Lisa and Jason Soto’s podcast Between the Scares where they are covering every Blumhouse film https://rabbitholepodcasts.com/between-the-scares/   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss     Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

ANIMAL CRACKERS. Join me and screenwriter and book author C. Courtney Joyner as we talk Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and Byron Haskin’s The Naked Jungle, two nature horror films.   “They're coming! They're coming!” Sharks, Piranha, Spiders, Frogs, Snakes, Wolves, Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 109 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie/foreign side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome as my guest, screenwriter and book author C. Courtney Joyner, who has chosen as his film Alfred Hithcock’s classic The Birds, while I have chosen Byron Haskin’s guilty pleasure The Naked Jungle, both films about animals attacking humankind.   And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What is nature horror? How did they produce the sounds of the ants in The Naked Jungle? How do both films differ from their source material? Why did Eleanor Parker get top billing in The Naked Jungle? What is the best written scene in The Birds? Where was The Naked Jungle filmed? What did Daphne du Maurier think of The Birds? What was the Mad Magazine version of The Birds called?   Check out Courtney’s IMDB page at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003676/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 as well as his film commentaries and writings on film   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

PEEK A BOO: Join me and blogger and film lover James S. Wilson as we talk two masterpieces, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window and Krzysztof Kieslowski’s A Short Film About Love, two films about voyeurs and voyeurism.     “Why would a man leave his apartment three times on a rainy night with a suitcase and come back three times?” You’re alone in your own apartment. Doing your thing. Maybe you’ve murdered someone. Or maybe you’re having sex. When suddenly you get this feeling…Am I…being watched? Probably…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 108 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie/foreign side of cinema with a connection to it. Today, I am happy to welcome as my returning guest, blogger and film enthusiast, James S. Wilson, who has chosen as his film one of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpieces, Rear Window, while I have chosen one of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s masterpieces, A Short Film About Love, both films about voyeurs and voyeurism.   And in this episode, we answer such questions as: Who slept on the set of Rear Window while it was being made? Why did Kieslowski decide not to use different directors for each entry in The Dekalog? Who is Bess Flowers? Why did Kieslowski expand A Short Film About Love into a feature film? Who is Ross Bagdasarian and what is his contribution to children’s culture? How does both Hitchcock and Kieslowski’s Catholicism influence their films? Who played Jeff’s agent in Rear Window? What are the differences between the source materials and the final feature for both films?   Check out James’s blog Blogging by Cinema-light at http://bloggingbycinemalight.blogspot.com/   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/     My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

MATCHES, MATCHES, WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING MATCHES: Join me and filmmaker Elizabeth Blake-Thomas as we talk Amy Heckerling’s classic Clueless and George Cukor’s hidden gem, The Model and the Marriage Broker.   “As if”. Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match. Find me a find, catch me a catch…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 107 of Pop Art, the podcast where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome as my guest, director, writer, producer and actor Elizabeth Blake-Thomas, who has chosen as her film Clueless, while I have chosen The Model and the Marriage Broker, both films about matchmakers who may or may not be that good at their job.       And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What was Paul Rudd’s film debut? Why do we play matchmaker? What is it about these adaptations of classics of literature placed in high school? Why did Fox’s head Daryl F. Zanuck not push Model… preventing it from becoming more successful than it was? What did film execs at Warners want changed in the roles at first that put Clueless into turnaround? Who is the lead in The Model… and what is their billing? How much was the costume budget on Clueless? What TV star debuted in The Model…? Where does Amy Heckerling appear?     Check out Blake-Thomas’s IMDB page at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6230910/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_8_q_elizabeth%2520blake-thomas     And be on the lookout for Shadrach and Karma’s a Bitch.     Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

CHILDHOOD BATTLES: Join me and filmmaker Dianna Ippolito (The Obscured), as we talk Kramer v. Kramer and Marriage Story, two films about divorce and child custody battles.   “What law is it that says a woman is a better parent simply by virtue of her sex?” Groucho Marx is said to have said, “Marriage is the chief cause of divorce”…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 106 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie/foreign side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome as my guest, writer/director/producer Dianna Ippolito, who has chosen as her film Robert Benton’s groundbreaking Kramer vs.Kramer, while I have chosen Noah Baumbach’s more contemporary take, Marriage Story, both films about a couple going through a divorce and the custody battle that ensues.   And in this episode, we answer such questions as: Who was Laura Dern’s character based on? What was the relationship like between Streep and Hoffman on Kramer v. Kramer? What is it about Adam Driver’s looks anyway? How did Streep prevent Kramer v. Kramer from becoming misogynistic? What is incorrect when Charlie says he's "taken a residency at UCLA. I'm directing two plays at REDCAT”? Why did Meryl Streep wear a raincoat in the final scenes of Kramer v. Kramer? Whose marriage did Noah Baumbach base Marriage Story on? What is incorrect about the legal proceedings in Kramer v. Kramer? And what is it about these sorts of movies anyway?   Check out Dianna’s IMDB page at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2074778/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_5_q_dianna%2520ippolito   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

HOUSE HAUNTING: Join me and filmmaker Derek Wayne Johnson (the upcoming Bloodstreams, 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic, John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs), as we talk Poltergeist and House, two movies about, well, haunted houses.    First, I have to apologize to my audience and my guest. I was recording this on an old computer because my main computer got wet and couldn’t be used. I made a mistake and at about 11 minutes in, you can hear an echo when my guest speaks. I tried to erase it, but couldn’t figure out how, so I’ve just minimized it the best I can. So, please forgive me and I don’t think it’s so disruptive you can’t enjoy a really great discussion of these two seminal films.   “They’re here.” From Ghoulies and Ghoosties, long-leggety Beasties, and Things that go Bump in the Night, Good Lord, deliver us!…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 105 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome as my guest, Hollywood hyphenate, director, writer, editor, producer Derek Wayne Johnson, who has chosen as his film the Steven Spielberg produced haunted house movie Poltergeist, while I have chosen the cult classic Japanese haunted house movie Hausu or House, both films about, well, haunted houses.    And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What is it about haunted houses anyway? What changed when it came to where horror films took place in the 1960s and 70s in Hollywood and why? Just WTF is happening in this House movie anyway? Who directed Poltergeist: Hooper or Spielberg? How successful was House in Japan? What happened in Denver in the late 19th century that might have influenced the plot of Poltergeist; and what about that Twilight Zone episode? Where is the director’s daughter in House and what influence did she have on the film? Where is the Wilhelm Scream in Poltergeist?   Check out Derek’s IMDB page at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2361932/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_2_q_derek%2520wayne%2520johnson%2520   And be on the lookout for the upcoming Blood Streams   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   IT’S HARD TO BE THE BARD: Join me and filmmaker David Au (Eat With Me, Don’t Be Sorry), as we talk My Own Private Idaho and Chimes at Midnight, two adaptations of William Shakespeare’s Falstaff stories.   “I only have sex with a guy for money” What’s a father to do? You’re rich and powerful, maybe a king even—hey, it could happen; but your son, your heir, would rather become a male prostitute or hang out with some lazy ne’er do wells, drinking and bedding wenches. Sounds like it’s time for Episode 104 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie/foreign side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome back as my guest, filmmaker David Au, who has chosen as his film Gus Van Sant’s indie My Own Private Idaho, while I have chosen Orson Welles’ indie, Chimes at Midnight, both films that are based on some history plays by a guy named William Shakespeare.   And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What is it with adaptations of Shakespeare? What is the one scene in each film that helps the films achieve transcendence? What’s odd about the statue of the elk in Portland when the characters in …Idaho first arrive? Why did Welles have such a difficult time getting films made? Where can the director be seen in …Idaho? What do the titles mean? Why did Chimes at Midnight flop? What is the new queer cinema? What is historically incorrect about knights getting on their horses in Chimes at Midnight?     Check out David’s IMDB page at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1614404/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_5_tt_0_nm_8_q_david%2520au   And be on the lookout for his new short film Don’t Be Sorry   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   TOM AND JERRIES: Join me and editor, filmmaker and blogger David Brook (Blueprint Review), as we talk Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and The Enemy Below, both films about naval vessels playing cat and mouse with each other.   “To wives and sweethearts, may they never meet.” I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 103 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome as my guest, editor, filmmaker and blogger David Brook, who has chosen as his film the 18th century sea epic Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, while I have chosen the WWII drama, The Enemy Below, both films about naval vessels playing cat and mouse with each other.      And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What is the attraction of cat and mouse films? Why did Peter Weir retire from filmmaking? Why did Dick Powell only make four movies? What do the context of the times when both films were made tell us about the films? Why did Curd Jurgens flee Germany? Where does Star Trek come in? How do both movies differ from the books? Why did Russel Crowe sell the violin he purchased to play in the movie?     Check out David’s blog at https://blueprintreview.co.uk/author/david-brook/  And his IMDB page at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1986914/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_9_tt_0_nm_8_q_david%2520brook   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   DEVILICIOUS: Join me and producer, writer and Chairman of Here Media, Inc., Stephen Jarchow, as we talk Chinatown and The Third Man, two noirs with two of the most memorable villains of all time.   “Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown” Simon Wiesenthal once said, For evil to flourish, it only requires that good men do nothing. Is that true? Perhaps…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 102 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome as my guest, producer and writer and Chairman of Here Media Inc., Stephen Jarchow, who has chosen as his film the new Hollywood neo noir, Chinatown, while I have chosen the classic British noir, The Third Man, both films about people investigating a murder only to find out just how deep evil and corruption can run.   And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What is the attraction of evil and villains like this? Is Chinatown the perfect screenplay? Who is more influential on The Third Man, Hitchcock or Welles? What is odd about the depiction of Chinatown in Chinatown? How did Austria feel about The Third Man when it opened? Whose famous fathers appear in Chinatown? How did the Dutch angle get its name? What were the original endings to both movies and why were they changed? What happened to Polanski’s career?   Check out Here Media and their streaming services at https://www.heremedia.com/   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Meanwhile, like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   ARMYGEDDON: Join me and podcasters and film lovers Anna Keiser and Derek Dehanke (The 80s Movie Montage) as we talk Stripes and No Time for Sergeants, two comedies about basic training.   "Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do" “You’re in the army now, you’re not behind a plow, you’ll never get rich, a diggin’ a ditch, you’re in the army now.” Sounds like it’s time for Episode 101 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it.   For this episode, I am happy to welcome back as my guests for the third time, Anna Keiser and Derek Dehanke, who have chosen as their film, the new Hollywood army comedy, Stripes, while I have chosen what may be many a listener’s grandfather’s version of Stripes, No Time For Sergeants, both comedies about basic training.   And in this episode, we answer such questions as: Who was cast before Harold Ramis? Where was the n-word used in connection to No Time for Sergeants? What is it about war comedies anyway? What is the connection of …Sergeants to Invasion of the Body Snatchers? How does Bill Murray feel about making Stripes today? Who is Joseph X. Flaherty? What was the Country Broadcasting Network? What is it about toilets? Why did Andy Griffith get nominated as supporting actor at the Tonys rather than lead for the stage version of …Sergeants?   Check out Anna and Derek’s podcast, ‘80s Movie Montage, at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/80s-movie-montage/id1498851364 and other streaming platforms.   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   That’s right, it’s episode 100. I’ve reached a milestone.   WHAT A DRAG: Join me and filmmaker and podcaster Donald McKinney, III (The Real Short Box, The Blue Beetle) as we talk The Flight of Dragons and Dragonslayer,two films about young people fighting dragons.     “All hail Casiodorus Rex, dragonslayer!” Look. Up in the sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s super…No, it’s a…dragon?…   Sounds like it’s time for Episode 100 of Pop Art. Yes, you heard that right. This is the 100th episode of my podcast. Huzzah, huzzah. I can’t believe I got here, but here I am. It’s the podcast where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie/foreign side of cinema with a connection to it.   Today, I am happy to welcome as my guest, filmmaker and podcaster Donald McKinney, III, who was my very first guest on Pop Art and who showed me the ropes. Donald has chosen as his film the animated The Flight of Dragons, while I have chosen the more SFX spectacular Dragonslayer, both films about young people who have to battle a dragon.   And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What is it about dragons anyway? What are our favorite dragons? Nudity in a Disney film? What was it about the sexualization of teens in the 70s and 80s? Why was Flight of Dragons banned on Israeli TV? What does "Vermithrax Pejorative" translate as? What are the differences between the book The Dragon and the George and the film Flight of Dragons? What is the connection of Dragonslayer to the Star War series? What is a George? How did Peter MacNicol get this role?   Meanwhile, check out The Real Short Box on most streaming platforms like Apple, as well as on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+real+short+box   Donald’s website Rumblespoon Productions as http://www.rumblespoon.com/wp/index/   The web series The Blue Beetle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6a-L7kUfdE   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

THE WRONG MANS: Join me and filmmaker, podcaster, author and film scholar, Steven Jay Rubin (The James Bond Encyclopedia) as we talk North by Northwest and Tell No One, two films about men accused of a murder they didn’t commit and have to go on the run to prove their innocence.   “You gentlemen aren't REALLY trying to kill my son, are you?” It happens to the best of us. We’re just going our merry way when someone gets murdered. We get blamed for it when we’re totally innocent. So do we work with the authorities and hire a good lawyer and private investigator? Of course not. We do what any normal person would. We go on the run and find the murderer ourselves. Ah, fun times, fun times…   Sounds like it’s time for Episode 99 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie/foreign side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome as my guest, filmmaker, podcaster, author and film scholar, Steven Jay Rubin, who has chosen as his film the Alfred Hitchcock classic North By Northwest, while I have chosen Guillaume Canet’s Tell No One, both films about someone who has been accused of a murder they didn’t commit and have to go on the run to prove their innocence.   And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What is the appeal of wrong man films? Who is the murderer in the book as opposed to the film of Tell No One? What about that crop duster scene? What about that chase over the freeway and through the market scene? Whose idea was it to make Marin Landau’s character gay? What actor in Tell No One plays the lead in the French version of The Office? Why do the French adapt so many American and British authors of thrillers and mysteries? Where does the title North by Northwest come from? Is Hercule Poriot French? What is the age difference between Cary Grant and Jessie Royce Landis?   Check out Rubin’s IMDB profile at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0748169/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_1_q_steven%2520jay%2520rubin   His podcast Saturday Night at the Movies can be found at https://www.stevenjayrubin.com/podcast   And his books are available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=steven+jay+rubin&i=stripbooks&crid=3Q0CWCUZ3OQF1&sprefix=steven+jay+rubin%2Cstripbooks%2C186&ref=nb_sb_noss_1   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Meanwhile, like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. On ITUNES https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pop-art/id1511098925, Anchor: https://anchor.fm/howard-casner, and Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5jX4noVGArDJdmcFtmrQcG, Sticher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/pop-art, Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/..., Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/pop-art, Pocketcasts: https://pca.st/vfjqj6j6, Radiopublic: https://radiopublic.com/pop-art-GExxNb and other streaming sites --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   REBELS WITH AND WITHOUT A CAUSE: Join me and filmmaker Derek Nguyen (The Housemaid, now available on Amazon) as we talk Hair and No Regrets for Our Youth, two films about young people protesting a war.   “It’s the age of Aquarius.” War. What is it good for. Absolutely nothing, except maybe munitions manufacturers, politicians, war contractors, oh, and of course movies, can’t forget movies…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 98 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome as my guest, writer, director, producer Derek Nguyen, who has chosen as his film the Milos Foreman musical Hair, while I have chosen an early Akira Kurosawa film, No Regrets for Our Youth, both films about young people protesting war.   And in this episode we answer such questions: Why is there such a dearth of war protest films? What great songs did they leave out of Hair? What is the real history behind the events in No Regrets…? What did the authors of the original Broadway version of Hair think of the movie? Is Henry David Thoreau full of it? What musical pieces are played on piano in No Regrets…? Where is the lyric The Rest is Silence from? What doesn’t quite compute about the ending of Hair? Where does Nicholas Ray appear in Hair?   Check out Nguyen’s IMDB profile at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1532529/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_8_q_dereke%2520nguyen. The Housemaid can be seen on Amazon Prime.   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Meanwhile, like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   FATALE ATTRACTION: Join me and film enthusiast The Vern of Cinema Recall as we discuss two movies about film fatales, To Die For and Ossessione.   “You're not really anybody in America unless you're on TV.” You meet someone. You fall in love. She’s married. She manipulates you into killing her husband so you can be with her forever. She betrays you. Hey, it’s happened to the best of us…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 97 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome back as my guest, film enthusiast and podcaster The Vern, who has chosen as his film the dark comedy, Gus Van Sant’s To Die For, while I have chosen Luchino Visconti’s feature film debut, Ossessione, both films about woman manipulating men to commit murder for them. Fun times. Fun times.   And in this episode we answer the following questions: What did the writers get wrong about driving in New Hampshire? Why was Ossessione banned in Italy and then prohibited in the US after the war? What happened in real life that was different in To Die For? Who ran screaming from the film festival premier of Ossessione screaming—This is not Italy? What is the appeal of femme fatales? What is a homme fatale? Who is G. Clifford Prout? Why didn’t Anna Magani play the lead in Ossessione? Where does the author of the book To Die For appear in the movie? Is there a coded gay character in Ossessione? Why does Illeana Douglas have a cast on in the second half of the movie?   Meanwhile look up The Vern’s podcast CinemaRecall at Cinemarecall.net.   The Vern has been a previous guest on my podcast. For episode 6, we discussed two films revolving around roboticized police forces, Robocop and THX1138.   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Meanwhile, like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   TRAINSUBSTANTIATION: Join me and screenwriter Jordan Trippeer as we discuss two movies that take place on trains, Bullet Train and TransSiberian.   “You’re a diesel.” Oh, for the days when people traveled by train. The scenery, the comfort, the luxury, the smuggling, the murders, the crashes.…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 96 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome back as my guest, screenwriter Jordan Trippeer, who has chosen as her film the action packed Brad Pitt led comedy Bullet Train, while I have chosen the more indie Woody Harrelson/Emily Mortimer crime drama, TransSiberian, both films about criminal goings on a train.   And in this episode we answer such questions as:  What’s so great about train movies anyway? What are the different moral universes the two movies take place in? Why was Bullet Train accused of whitewashing? Why did a sign in TransSiberian read All Abroad? What is the character of Hello Kitty? What are the McGuffin in both films? Why was Bullet Train filmed on studio sound stages? What are some differences between the book and screenplay of Bullet Train?   Check out Jordan’s IMDB page https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4930599/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 and check out her films, as well as be on the look out for her upcoming projects.   Jordan has been a previous guest on my podcast. For episode 20, we discussed two films revolving around demons, Constantine and The Wailing. Check it out.   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Meanwhile, like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE. TIMELESS: Join me and podcaster and movie lover Nick Rehak of Rehak Radio as we discuss two time travel movies, Looper and Predestination. Nick was previous a guest of Pop Art for Ep 76 where we discussed two horror films revolving around hotels—The Shining and The Innkeepers—The guests check in, but do they check out. Check it out. Not happy with the way things are now? Would you like a change of pace? Of place? How about a change of time?…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 95 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. I am your “This time travel crap, just fries your brain like an egg” host, Howard Casner. For this episode, I am happy to welcome back, podcaster and movie lover Nick Rehak, who has chosen as his film the Rian Johnson time travel movie, Looper, while I have chosen the Spierig brothers time travel movie, Predestination, both films not just about time travel, but movies about people encountering themselves and ironically affecting their own lives. And in this episode we answer such questions as: What is it about time travel movies anyway, why are they so popular? Are both movies Greek tragedy? Is Rian Johnson a hipster? What are the basic themes explored by time travel movies and these movies in particular? How was Looper changed for release in China and why? What’s intriguing about the bathroom signs in Predestination? What happened on Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s 30th birthday? How does the Chernobyl Power Plant fit in? Be sure to look up Nick Rehak at Rehak Radio https://www.mixcloud.com/TheRehak/rehak-radio-the-first-episode-51121/ His podcast at French Toast Sunday https://frenchtoastsunday.com/podcasts Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/ My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss Meanwhile, like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

POP ART SAYS HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY--EP94 - VALENTINE'S DAY LOVE AND DEATH: Join podcast, movie lover, and critic Aaron Neuwirth and me as we discuss two love stories that take place, for the most part, in the afterlife, Defending Your Life/Orpheus. “Orphée. you can't spend your life in a talking car”. The singer Cher once asked “do you believe in life after love?” Perhaps the more important question is, do you believe in love after death?…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 94 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. For Pop Art’s Valentine’s Day episode, I am happy to welcome as my guest, podcaster, movie lover, and critic Aaron Neuwirth, who has chosen as his film the Albert Brooks love after death comedy, Defending Your Life, while I have chosen as my film Jean Cocteau’s love after death drama, Orpheus, or Orphee, if you are French, but I’m not, so Orpheus it is, both films about dealing with love after death. And in this episode, we deal with such questions as: Why is the afterlife so often dramatized as a huge bureaucracy? What is it about love after death movies? Who is Shirley MacLaine and why is she in the movie? Who gives the better performance in Orpheus—Jean Marais or his hair? Why hasn’t Albert Brooks made a movie lately? What are some problematical aspects of both films? How were the special effects done in Orpheus? What is the connection to Roger Corman’s The Trip? Where does Jean-Pierre Melville appear? Check out Aaron’s podcast Out Now with Aaron and Abe at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-now-with-aaron-and-abe/id646631453 And the blog We Live Entertainment at weliveentertainment.com Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/ My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss Meanwhile, like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE. OOPS, I DID IT AGAIN: Join me and my guest, playwright, director and screenwriter Steven Peros (The Cat’s Meow, Footprints), as we talk Psycho/Peeping Tom, two films about serial killers that changed movies forever. It happens to the best of us. You get these urges. You can’t help yourself. Someone dies. Then someone else dies. Then someone else dies. What’s a serial killer to do…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 93 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. I am your “A boy’s best friend is his mother” host, Howard Casner. Today, I am happy to welcome as my guest, playwright, director and screenwriter Steven Peros, who has chosen as his film the Alfred Hitchcock classic Psycho, while I have chosen the Michael Powell thriller Peeping Tom, both voyeuristic films about characters who go a little mad sometimes. And in this episode, we answer such questions as: Why was Psycho such a hit and Peeping Tom such a flop? What is it about serial killer movies anyway? Is Psycho postmodern? Why was Rebecca such an important film in Hitchcock’s history? Why did Peeping Tom get reevaluated? From a Freudian standpoint, what is interesting about the Bate’s House? Why does the central character in Peeping Tom have a German accent when he is supposed to be British? Was Psycho really responsible for Perkin’s and Leigh’s lackluster careers afterwards? Who was compared to the Marquis de Sade? Why does Psycho start on Friday, December 11th? Check out Steven’s IMDB page at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0674432/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3 The Cat’s Meow and Footprints are as of now available on Tubi And he can be contacted on Facebook (he is the only Steven Peros who is not a realtor); he can be found on twitter at @StevenGPeros; and his website is at https://stevenperos.com/. Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/ My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE. FILM FLAM: Join me and my guest, podcaster and film enthusiast Todd Liebenow, of the Forgotten Filmcast, as we talk Ed Wood/Sullivan’s Travels, two films about filmmakers trying to get their films made. “But with a little sex”: Don’t you hate it when this happens. You have an artistic vision. But no one else sees it. No one else will finance it. They call you crazy, a crackpot, or the worst insult possible—uncommercial. What do you do…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 92 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. This time, I am happy to welcome back as my guest, film enthusiast and podcaster, Todd Liebenow, who has chosen as his film Tim Burton’s comedy biopic, Ed Wood, while I have chosen the Preston Sturges farce, Sullivan’s Travels, both films about filmmakers trying to make movies that reflect their vision. And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What was inaccurate about the portrayal of Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood? Why did the NAACP write a letter to Preston Sturges after seeing Sullivan’s Travels? What is postmodern about both Ed Wood and Sullivan’s Travels? What did Raymond Chandler call Veronica Lake? Why was Ed Wood’s girlfriend the most successful of Wood’s entourage? Why is Preston Sturges so important in the history of screenwriting? What actors from Plan 9 From Outer Space appear in Ed Wood? Why is the cinematographer of Sullivan’s Travels so important in film history? And don’t forget to check out Todd’s podcast The Forgotten Filmcast at https://forgottenfilmcast.wordpress.com/ Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/ My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howard-casner/support