Concluding the horror anthology pairing is another from 1972, and a second from Amicus studios, who were responsible for over half a dozen other such anthologies in the 60s and 70s. This time, it's the anthology "Asylum!" When Dr. Martin arrives at his new position, he's greeted by Dr. Lionel Rutherford, a different administrator than he originally talked to, and subsequently finds out that the former head of the institution is now a patient. Rutherford announces that he'll still accept the offer made to Dr. Martin by his predecessor if Martin can identify the former head of the Asylum. Each patient's story is a vignette in the film. "Frozen Fear" stars Richard Todd, "The Weird Tailor" stars Peter Cushing (in a much more traditional role for him) and Barry Morse, "Lucy Come to Stay" features both Charlotte Rampling and Britt Ekland, and "Mannequins of Horror" stars Pink Panther-alum Herbert Lom! Jeff chose this one as an example of a very well-done connecting story that makes linking the vignettes make narrative sense! Plus, the trio reveal which two 80s college comedies make up the next pairing!
Something new for this pairing, we're doing anthology films! These are films that tell several stories with an over-arching connecting story that serves to link the other tales into a cohesive tale. First up is the start of a franchise, from Amicus studios, it's 1972's "Tales From the Crypt!" Featuring five different tales that all serve as visions for a group of people who've stopped to tour a historic crypt, and meet with the mysterious Crypt Keeper (played by Ralph Richardson), each story serves as a warning of sorts. "All Through the House" stars Joan Collins, "Reflection of Death" features Ian Hendry and Angela Grant, "Poetic Justice" stars horror legend Peter Cushing in a rare, sympathetic role, "Wish You Were Here" showcases Richard Greene and Barbara Murray in a modern take on the classic "Monkey's Paw" tale, and "Blind Alley" showcases the one and only Patrick Magee! Jeff chose this as one of the two horror anthologies in this pairing because it has, he believes, the single best vignette to be found in any anthology!
Wrapping up our salute to late producer/director Ivan Reitman is one of megastar Arnold Schwarzenegger's first forays into comedy, paired with action of course, in 1990's "Kindergarten Cop!" Arnold plays John Kimble, a veteran LAPD Detective, who heads to Oregon to try to find the wife of drug kingpin Cullen Crisp (played by Richard Tyson) so she can testify against him. Saddled with new partner Phoebe (Pamela Reed), he travels to Astoria, Oregon to support Phoebe as she goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher at Astoria Elementary School. Unfortunately, a severe bout of food poisoning means Kimble must take the reigns and assume the undercover teaching role, one he is woefully unprepared for. Watched like a hawk by Principle Miss Schlowski (Linda Hunt), and assisted by gorgeous fellow teacher Joyce (Penelope Ann Miller), Kimble must discover who Crisp's ex-wife is and convince her to help them! Unfortunately, along the way, the children worm their way into Kimble's heart, as does Joyce, so that when the various truths are revealed, a difficult decision must be made! Paired to a score by Randy Edelman, who brings out the best in both the action and comedy scenes, this film demonstrated that even the toughest action hero can have a softer side, and a funny side as well! And Geek Jeff finally names the two Horror Anthologies he'll be subjecting Buddy and Chad to for the next pairing!
For this pairing, we're saluting someone whose films we've reviewed several times on this podcast. We lost director/producer Ivan Reitman on February 12th of 2022. And so, we're dedicating this pairing to some of the few films Reitman has produced and directed that we haven't already reviewed! First up, the movie that established the tradition that would become known as the "Bill Murray speech," it's 1979's "Meatballs!" Directed by Reitman, and written by Len Blum, Daniel Goldberg, Janis Allen, and Harold Ramis, Murry stars as Tripper, the head counselor at Camp Northstar, who adopts a young loner, Rudy Gerner (played by Chris Makepeace) and helps him survive his first summer at camp. Also starring Harvey Atkin, Kate Lynch, Kristine DeBell, Sarah Torgov, Jack Blum, Keith Knight, Cindy Girling, Todd Hoffman, Margot Pinvidic, and Matt Craven, this film established the genre of the hijinks-filled screwball summer camp comedy! And with a fantastic score by renowned composer Elmer Bernstein, you have a classic that still stands as an entertaining and amusing story in the 21st century!
We're celebrating our 300th episode (last week) with a listener suggestion from Bennett Oberfeld, who commented that we had yet to pay tribute to the wonderful Hollywood director Billy Wilder, and so... now we are! This week it's Wilder's classic love story, set amidst the rampant infidelity of the corporate set, 1960's "The Apartment!" The film follows young insurance drone C. C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) whose apartment is constantly used by several of his higher-ups (David Lewis, Ray Walston, Willard Waterman, and Fred MacMurry) for their extra-marital trysts, leaving him to freeze outside. As his ship finally starts to come in, and he becomes a junior executive, he finds the confidence to begin trying to woo the lovely elevator operator Ms. Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine). Unfortunately, someone else has already been wooing her, and when that goes sour, she ends up in Baxter's apartment in a precarious health situation! Again, as is common for Wilder's films, there is a happy-ish ending, but one that definitely shows growth on the part of the two main characters! The film also features wonderful performances from character actors Jack Kruschen and Naomi Stevens as Dr. and Mrs. Dreyfuss, Baxter's next-door neighbors. The film netted a whopping TEN Oscar nominations, and took home five of them: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White, and Best Film Editing! Plus, the trio unveil which two Ivan Reitman films they'll be reviewing next as a tribute to the director who passed away on February 12th, 2022.
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