Episode 248 – Wild in the Streets – Rulers of the City (1976) (aka Mister Scarface)

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A trio consisting of fun-loving Tony (Harry Baer), the more serious minded Ric (Al Cliver) and the bombastic Napoli (Vittorio Caprioli) take on the vicious Mazari (Jack Palance) in the 1976 Italian action film RULERS OF THE CITY (aka MISTER SCARFACE), another poliziottescho classic from genre master Fernando Di Leo which includes a surprising amount of comedy amongst the usual array of car (and foot!) chases, motorcycle stunts and gunfights. Tony years for a relaxing life in Brazil but gets on the bad side of the mob, while Ric wants revenge for the murder of his father, which means they have to stay one step ahead of baddies as they play pool, have group sex and get themselves in deeper and deeper trouble. It’s fun! All of this and a little introductory summary of our experience with Italian crime films over these last few years. Check it out!

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Episode 247 – Whatever Happened to Vic Diaz? – The Deathhead Virgin (1974)

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On this episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? we’re with two American lunkheads (played by Jock Gaynor and Larry Ward) exploring shipwrecks in the Philippines when one of them happens upon the skeleton of an ancient Moro princess.. UH OH! Soon we’ve got possession, murder, cock fighting, nude underwater photography and a whole lot more (including Vic Diaz)! It even has a fun twist thrown in for good measure. All that and a conversation about sexploitation films and how they make us feel (the answer may surprised you). ENJOY!

Watch THE DEATHHEAD VIRGIN right here:

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Episode 245 – Halloween Horror Special – Strange Darling (2023) & Daddy’s Head (2024)

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We were working in the lab, late one night.. recording a brand new HALLOWEEN HORROR PODCAST SPECIAL featuring two recent horror(ish) features to put HEAD TO HEAD! We start with a conversation about some of our recent favorite (and least favorite) horror films before moving onto a discussion on the twisty crime horror STRANGE DARLING from 2023 and ending with the moody British horror DADDY’S HEAD from 2024! CHECK IT OUT!

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Episode 244 – Praising Kane – Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)

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It’s the SPOOOoooOOOkiest month, so why not check out the surprisingly un-spooky (and, honestly, pretty unfunny) TRANSYLVANIA 6-5000 on the world’s finest chronological Carol Kane podcast PRAISING KANE? Starring Jeff Goldblum and Ed Begley Jr. as two hapless tabloid reporters forced to go to Transylvania to work on a story about monster sightings, the film has supporting performances from Joseph Bologna, John Byner, Michael Richards, Jeffrey Jones (ugh), an extremely underutilized Geena Davis and – of course – Carol Kane! Directed by frequent Mel Brooks collaborator Rudy De Luca and bankrolled by the Dow chemical company (?) it’s plenty weird. How weird? Let’s find out!

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Episode 243 – How Do You Do, Fellow Kids? – Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995)

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On a returning HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS? (the world’s finest Steve Buscemi-themed podcast) we’re looking at the stylized 90s crime caper THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU’RE DEAD, featuring a cast full of recognizable faces: including Andy Garcia, Christopher Lloyd, William Forsythe, Bill Nunn, Treat Williams, Christopher Walken, Fairuza Balk and – of course – Steve Buscemi as “Mr. Shhh”. But is it just a Tarantino rip-off, or does it have more to offer? LET’S FIND OUT! We also check out the latest Buscemi news because WHY THE HECK NOT?

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Episode 242 – George Kennedy is My Copilot – Earthquake (1974)

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What’s a George Kennedy-themed podcast without a DISASTER? On this episode of George Kennedy is My Co-Pilot California is hit by the BIG ONE in 1974’s EARTHQUAKE where an all-star cast (including Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, Richard Roundtree, Lorne Greene, Geneviève Bujold and – of course – George Kennedy) have to deal with the after-effects of a massive tremor that destroys most of California. Of course, before the quake hits there’s plenty of melodrama and complex relationships (script by Mario Puzo!), but once the earth starts to move things get properly apocalyptic. Our EARTHQUAKE talk is preceded by a short chat about a late-era episode of the television sitcom WINGS featuring George playing a put-upon version of himself! ENJOY!

https://x.com/CinemaSmorg/status/1837522129333403912

Check out Sarah Jane on Twitter @FookThis, as well as the White Slaves of Chinatown YouTube page. And check out her writing over at the Austin Chronicle right here.

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Episode 241 – We Do Our Own Stunts – Winners & Sinners (1983)

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CUT THE CRAP! We’re post-American excursion and post-Lo Wei scraps and things are about to POP OFF with the first of the Five Lucky Stars series WINNERS & SINNERS starring Sammo Hung, Richard Ng, Charlie Chin, Stanley Fung and John Shum. Oh, and Jackie Chan is here as well, reconnecting with his “big brother” (and Yuen Biao in a tiny part) for the first time in years and transitioning to martial arts/comedy hybrids with higher production values and bigger stunts. This one might lean a bit TOO heavily on the comedy, but you get roller skating stunts, car stunts, and some dynamite action to whet your appetite for what’s to come. Enjoy!

Here’s the Winners & Sinners outtakes:

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Episode 240 – Further Reeding – Women in Love (1969)

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You can’t have an Oliver Reed-themed podcast without eventually dipping into the works of the legendary Ken Russell, and we stick our toes in for the first time with his 1969 melodramatic adaptation of D. H. Lawrence’s beloved – and controversial – 1920 novel, Women in Love. Starring Reed alongside Alan Bates, Glenda Jackson and Jennie Linden, the film examines love, sex and death in all manner of permutations, and manages to fit in some notorious nude man-on-man grappling just for fun. We go deep on the film’s explicit queerness, the difficulty of working with temperamental actors (and directors) and so much more. ENJOY!

Further Reeding can be found on Twitter @FutherReeding!

Check out these WOMEN IN LOVE-related articles referenced in the episode:

Death and Marriage and Sex: On Ken Russell’s Women in Love by Bruce LaBruce

More is More: Lessons in Excess from Women in Love by Joe Talbot

Women in Love: Bohemian Rhapsody by Linda Ruth Williams

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Episode 239 – Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out – Rebel Ridge (2024)

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Jeremy Saulnier (MURDER PARTY, BLUE RUIN, GREEN ROOM) returns after a lengthy hiatus with the long-in-development Netflix original revenge movie REBEL RIDGE! Starring Aaron Pierre as a marine facing off against the corrupt law enforcement of a small Louisiana town, it’s not quite the FIRST BLOOD-riff that the initial trailers suggested, but its mix of crooked cops, a righteous cause, racial politics and a dynamite performance in the lead creates something very special. On this episode of CINEMA SMORGASBORD SELLS OUT we restrain ourselves from delving into spoilers while discussing the film, responding to some of the critiques we’ve heard since its release, and so much more. Check it out!

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Episode 238 – Wild in the Streets – The Suspicious Death of a Minor (1975)

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Claudio Cassinelli plays a man on the edge in Sergio Martino’s unique eurocrime oddity THE SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A MINOR which mixes comedic elements, the elaborate (and stylish) murder sequences from the popular giallo films of the time – including a knock-off Goblin-style score almost as good as the real thing – and the usual Poliziotteschi trappings of the era to create something a bit scattershot, but totally unique. Filled with odd flourishes and bizarre choices, it’s equally confusing and enthralling – just like our hosts! Check it out!

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