Author page: Doug Tilley

Cinema Smorgasbord – Praising Kane – The Games of Countess Dolingen (1981)

We continue our chronological look at the career of Carol Kane on PRAISING KANE with the surreal 1981 French drama THE GAMES OF COUNTESS DOLINGEN, partially based on the works of Unica Zürn (with a bit of Bram Stoker thrown in for good measure). A complex, twisting and often quite shocking film, it puzzled and intrigued our hosts who came away from it with two very different perspectives, and sparked a conversation about how much knowledge (or research) should be expected from an audience before watching a film. It’s more fun that that sounds! CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Whatever Happened to Vic Diaz? – Savage (1973)

On this episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? we’re checking out the Phillipines-shot blaxploitation classic SAVAGE! from 1972, directed by Cirio H. Santiago and starring James Iglehart and Carol Speed! It’s full of explosions, knife throwing, inconsistent facial hair and a soundtrack full of jazz flute, so you KNOW it’s good. We also talk about our tricky history with the blaxploitation genre and, of course, all things Vic Diaz. CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – JodoWOWsky Part 8 – Santa Sangre (1989)

Alejandro Jodorowsky returns to filmmaking after a nearly ten year absence with the surreal horror of 1989’s SANTA SANGRE. Filled with wild, controversial imagery, our JodoWOWsky hosts trace its inception, the relationship between Jodorowsky and producer Claudio Argento, the involvement of four of the Jodorowsky children in the production, the taxing filmmaking process, the suggested involvement of Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston and SO MUCH MORE. We also discuss the feature length SANTA SANGRE documentary FORGET EVERYTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN: THE WORLD OF SANTA SANGRE from 2011, which brings much of the cast and crew together to recount some truly strange stories about the film’s inception and legacy. All this and the latest Jodorowsky news, so CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – George Kennedy is my Copilot – The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988)

On this episode of GEORGE KENNEDY IS MY COPILOT we’re getting spoofy with 1988’s THE NAKED GUN: FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD, starring Leslie Nielsen as Detective Frank Drebin, who is trying to uncover a plot to assassinate the Queen. It’s a big-screen adaptation of the short-lived TV spoof TV show from the creators of AIRPLANE! and TOP SECRET!, and BOY our hosts have differing opinions on its quality. We also go in-depth on the classic 70s game show MATCH GAME, and check out George Kennedy’s first appearance on it. It’s chock full o’ nuts, so check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Spiritual Kung Fu (1978)

On this episode of WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS, we continue our chronological look at the career of Jackie Chan and – surprise – Jackie is famous now! After the massive success of Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow and Drunken Master, Jackie returns to Lo Wei who decides to dust some unreleased Jackie features off the shelf and rush them into cinemas. The first is the supernatural kung fu comedy SPIRITUAL KUNG FU, which features five bright white “ghosts” in red fright wigs (who arrived on a meteor) teaching Jackie the five style fists, while a murder mystery plays out in the shaolin temple! Features Jackie shoving living animals down his pants and ghost busting (via urination). CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Eric Roberts is the Man – Top Gunner (2020) (/w Nick Spacek)

On a brand new episode of ERIC ROBERTS IS THE MAN we’re on a highway to the mockbuster danger zone with 2020’s TOP GUNNER, which was originally meant to be released alongside TOP GUN: MAVERICK until that film got pushed back two whole years! Filled with CG jets and not a lot else, is it worth your time? Maybe! We’re joined by The Carnage Report’s Nick Spacek to discuss Billy Joel, werewolves, redemption stories and – of course – all the latest Eric Roberts news. CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – How Do You Do, Fellow Kids? – Tales From The Darkside: The Movie (1990)

On this episode of HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS? we’re continuing our look at the life and career of Steve Buscemi with the big-screen adaptation of the anthology TV series TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE. It’s TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE MOVIE, which features adaptations of stories by Stephen King (adapted by George A Romero!) and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, alongside an all-star cast including Deborah Harry, Christian Slater, Julianne Moore, David Johansen, James Remar and – of course – STEVE BUSCEMI! How does it stack up to other anthology films? LISTEN AND FIND OUT. We also discuss Steve Buscemi’s favorite albums, whether mummies are scary, our recent health issues and SO MUCH MORE.

Cinema Smorgasbord – Praising Kane – La Sabina (1979)

Welcome to our least listened to episode of PRAISING KANE ever! On this episode, our chronological look at the career of the wonderful Carol Kane continues with 1979’s LA SABINA, a José Luis Borau film that is only partially available in English.. but we watched it anyway! It’s a drama filled with infidelity, regret, and a mysterious dragon lady that threatens to devour us all. FUN! But that’s not all! We decided to BEEF things up by also watching OUR FATHER’S HOUSES, a filmed version of Eve Merriam’s play adapted from actual letters by women in the 19th century. I know you’re quaking with anticipation, so it’s time to listen right… now!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Bartel Me Something Good – Private Parts (1972)

We continue our chronological look at the career of the great Paul Bartel with his feature length debut PRIVATE PARTS from 1972. Equal parts perverse and hilarious, it’s a film that is filled with twists and turns and set the blueprint for much of what was to come from the always unpredictable director. We’re also looking at Bartel’s 1969 short film NAUGHTY NURSE, which showed that Bartel’s taste for boundary pushing was something that came about very early in his career.