Episode 736: Casablanca (1942)

We conclude our discussion about Ernst Lubitsch with a discussion of his 1942 film To Be or Not To Be, the story of Joseph and Maria Tura (Jack Benny and Carole Lombard), two actors in Poland who are in a current run of Shakespeare’s Hamlet though working on a new play called Gestapo. The new play never happens on stage but they’re able to act it out in real life after Poland falls to the Nazis. The film is one of the first films to openly lampoon Nazis, made in a time before Pearl Harbor -- though released afterward -- in a time when mocking Nazis wasn’t as acceptable as it should have been.Recorded at the studios of Podcast Detroit, Paula Guthat, Ken Stanley, and Lutz Bacher join Mike to talk about this stellar comedy of manners. In the first of a two-part interview, Joseph McBride talks about his latest book, How Did Lubitsch Do It?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

15 Jan 20192h 11min

The first of two episodes focusing on Ernst Lubitsch, this week we're discussing Trouble in Paradise (1932). The film stars Herbert Marshall as Gaston, a gentleman thief who initially connects with Lily (Miriam Hopkins), a highly skilled pickpocket, before the two begin the long con with Madame Mariette Colette (Kay Francis), the owner of a Parisian perfume company. Unfortunately for Gaston, and Lily, and Madame Colette, things aren’t so easy when it comes to the fleecing...Recorded at the studios of Podcast Detroit, Paula Guthat, Ken Stanley, and Lutz Bacher join Mike to talk about this stellar comedy of manners. In the first of a two-part interview, Joseph McBride talks about his latest book, How Did Lubitsch Do It?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

11 Jan 20192h 12min

John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China (1986) tells the story of Wang Chi (Dennis Dun), a restaurateur whose finance, Miao Lin (Suzee Pai), gets kidnapped by the nefarious forces of David Lo Pan (James Hong), a seemingly innocent old man who is actually the embodiment of the evil spirit of Lo Pan, a demon who needs a woman with green eyes in order to become corporeal again and begin his reign of terror on earth.And, there are some other white people involved in the story, too.Tony Black and Vincenzo Natali join Mike to discuss this bizarre mash-up of Chinese mysticism and American action that only W.D. Richter could write.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

8 Jan 20193h 5min

On this special episode of The Projection Booth, Mike talks with writer/actor/director Bill Duke about his new memoir, Bill Duke: My 40-Year Career on Screen and behind the Camera, as well as some of his roles in films such as Car Wash, Commando, Predator, Payback, and more.Learn more at https://amzn.to/2CF2azMLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

31 Des 201825min

On this special episode of The Projection Booth, Mike talks with actor/producer Vernon Wells about some of his classic roles -- Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Commando, Circuitry Man, Fortress -- as well as his recent work in City of Gold and the upcoming SOS.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

30 Des 201839min

Based on a book by and adapted by Leonard Gardner, Fat City (1972) was directed by John Huston and stars Stacy Keach as Tully, an over the hill fighter who says he wants to pick himself up and revive his career after he meets Ernie, played by Jeff Bridges, a kid who seems to have a lot of promise in the boxing world. We see their stories parallel and contrast one another as we watch Fat City unfold.Jedidiah Ayres and Heather Drain join Mike to discuss this wonderfully downbeat film.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

27 Des 20181h 37min

Timon Singh of The Bristol Bad Film Club joins Mike to discuss the 2018 film from writer/director/actor/producer/etc. Douglas Burke,Surfer: Teen Confronts Fear. It's the story of Sage (Sage Burke), a teen who confronts his fear of the ocean with help from the astral projection/squid + electricity incarnation of his father. There's military intrigue, inspirational monologues, and lots and lots of surfing.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

25 Des 20182h 25min

On this special episode, Mike talks to Alicia Malone about her book, The Female Gaze. Malone has curated an impressive list of films directed by female filmmakers over the first century of cinema.Buy it via Amazon at https://amzn.to/2LutD9VLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

22 Des 201830min