The Next Reel Film Podcast

“I got a better chance of handling him when he's pie-eyed. The front seat don't know it, but the back is still pulling the strings.” Racing Across America with Roger Corman's Cannonball In our latest member bonus episode, we dive into Paul Bartel's 1976 action comedy Cannonball , produced by Roger Corman's New World Pictures. Made with a modest budget of $780,000, this unauthorized take on the rea...

“All of us, proving what? That we can go faster, and perhaps remain alive?” Racing to Glory: John Frankenheimer's Grand Prix (1966) When director John Frankenheimer set out to make Grand Prix in 1966, he faced competition from Steve McQueen's planned racing film. Through strategic negotiations and groundbreaking technical innovations, Frankenheimer created what would become the definitive Formula...

“I just can’t accept the idea of universal disease.” When Science Meets Survival Vincent Price stars in the first adaptation of Richard Matheson's influential novel I Am Legend , bringing to screen a post-apocalyptic tale that would help define both vampire and zombie genres for decades to come. Directed by Sidney Salkow and Ubaldo Ragona, The Last Man on Earth follows Dr. Robert Morgan as he navi...

“You sure you thought this all the way through?” From UFC to the Big Screen: How Amazon's Remake Came to Be After years of development, Amazon Studios greenlit a modern remake of the 1989 cult classic Road House with Jake Gyllenhaal stepping into Patrick Swayze's shoes. Doug Liman signed on to direct, bringing his action expertise to the project. The production made headlines when they secured UFC...

“I want you to be nice, until it’s time to NOT be nice.” From Bar Fights to Box Office: The Making of a Cult Classic In the late 1980s, United Artists sought to capitalize on Patrick Swayze's rising star power following the success of Dirty Dancing . The studio paired him with director Rowdy Herrington for what was pitched as "the best drive-in movie ever made." The film's original casting include...

“What good is a sword against sorcery?” From Barbarian to Family-Friendly Fantasy After the success of Conan the Barbarian in 1982, producer Dino De Laurentiis wanted to create a more family-friendly sequel. He recruited director Richard Fleischer and turned to comic book writers Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway to craft a PG-rated story. With a screenplay by Stanley Mann, Universal Pictures aimed to b...

“Get it up or I’ll cut it off.” Roger Corman's Foray into Women in Prison Films In 1971, Roger Corman's New World Pictures sought to capitalize on the success of the women in prison film 99 Women . Working with a low budget, they brought on director Jack Hill who, dissatisfied with the original script, hired Don Spencer to create a new screenplay that would inject more humor into what he considere...

“Not a nick in the blade, I promise you. The butcher was like butter.” The Origin Story Nobody Asked For After the success of the Hannibal Lecter films, producer Dino De Laurentiis wanted to continue the franchise. When author Thomas Harris initially refused to write another story, De Laurentiis threatened to move forward with different writers. This ultimatum led Harris to craft both the novel an...

“Don’t you understand, Will? You caught me because we’re very much alike.” The Return to Hannibal Lecter's Origins After the box office success of Hannibal in 2001, producer Dino De Laurentiis quickly moved forward with another adaptation of Thomas Harris's work. With Anthony Hopkins agreeing to return one final time as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, they secured Ted Tally to adapt the screenplay and Brett...

“Bowels in or bowels out?” The Return of Dr. Lecter: A Sequel Ten Years in the Making When Jonathan Demme declined to direct the sequel to The Silence of the Lambs , producers Dino and Martha De Laurentiis began searching for a new director. After David Mamet's initial script was heavily rewritten by Steven Zaillian, Ridley Scott signed on to direct. Though Jodie Foster passed on reprising her rol...

“Quid pro quo.” The Birth of an Iconic Thriller After the commercial disappointment of Manhunter in 1986, producers Dino and Martha De Laurentiis were hesitant to pursue another adaptation of Thomas Harris's work. However, when The Silence of the Lambs was published in 1988, Gene Hackman initially optioned the rights with intentions to direct and star as Hannibal Lecter. When Hackman dropped out,...

“They didn't realize they'd be the slums of the future.” Penelope Spheeris Brings Punk to Roger Corman After completing her documentary The Decline of Western Civilization about the LA punk scene, director Penelope Spheeris wanted to tell a narrative story in that world. Roger Corman saw potential in her vision and agreed to match her $250,000 investment to make the film. Spheeris made the unconve...

“You want to know how he’s choosing them, don’t you?” The Birth of Cinema's Most Infamous Cannibal Before Anthony Hopkins donned the infamous mask as Hannibal Lecter, director Michael Mann brought Thomas Harris's novel Red Dragon to the screen in 1986. Working with a budget of $15 million, Mann cast William Petersen as FBI profiler Will Graham and Brian Cox as the imprisoned Dr. Hannibal Lecktor (...

“I saw you on TV. I love you!” A Reality TV Satire Takes on The Most Dangerous Game Before The Hunger Games and the reality TV boom of the 2000s, writer-director Daniel Minahan conceived Series 7: The Contenders as a TV show in the mid-90s. After networks passed on the concept, he developed it into a feature film that would serve as a prescient satire of reality television and American gun culture...

“Never underestimate a man who’s got nothing to lose.” The Most Dangerous Game Gets a 90s Action Makeover In 1994, director Ernest R. Dickerson took on his second feature film following his directorial debut with Juice . After years as Spike Lee's cinematographer, Dickerson was ready to tackle this action-thriller starring Ice-T as a homeless man hunted by wealthy thrill-seekers. The film drew ins...

“What I needed was not a new weapon, but a new animal.” Setting the Stage for the Ultimate Hunt In 1932, RKO Pictures produced The Most Dangerous Game while simultaneously building elaborate jungle sets for their upcoming production of King Kong . Based on Richard Connell's 1924 short story, the film became one of the earliest to explore the concept of humans hunting humans. Using the same jungle...

“We all have our devils, my dear.” Roger Corman's Exploitation Era in the Philippines In the early 1970s, Roger Corman discovered he could stretch his production dollars further by filming in the Philippines. He partnered with established Filipino director Gerardo de Leon, known for his award-winning films and work in the Filipino film industry since 1938. Despite de Leon's prestigious background,...

“You can make the world swear King Kong is ten stories tall and Mary Pickford a virgin at 40, yet you can’t convince starving voters that a turncoat socialist is a menace to everything California holds dear? You’re barely trying.” David Fincher's Personal Connection to Old Hollywood After decades of development, David Fincher finally brought his late father Jack Fincher's screenplay about Herman J...

“You must start thinking of the spiral, the spiral that’s coming into your head.” An Overlooked Horror Gem In 1987, Spanish filmmaker Bigas Luna ventured into the horror genre with an innovative approach to storytelling. Working with a budget of $2 million, Luna crafted a unique narrative that would blend psychological horror with commentary on cinema itself. Despite its limited theatrical release...

“Lucy Harbin was declared legally insane today.” William Castle Brings Joan Crawford Back to Horror In the early 1960s, William Castle was known for his theatrical gimmicks and B-movie horror films. After the success of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? , Castle saw an opportunity to work with Hollywood legend Joan Crawford. He enlisted acclaimed writer Robert Bloch, fresh off his success with Psych...

“You know what I like about amnesia?” A Psychological Thriller with Twisting Memories In 1991, psychological thrillers were hitting their stride, delivering increasingly complex narratives filled with shocking twists. Wolfgang Petersen's Shattered emerged during this period as a stylish entry in the genre, starring Tom Berenger and Greta Scacchi. The film would mark another step in Petersen's Holl...

“To be absolutely blunt about it, Nicholas believes that Elizabeth may have been interred... prematurely.” Roger Corman's Poe Adaptations Take Flight Following the success of House of Usher in 1960, American International Pictures eagerly greenlit another Edgar Allan Poe adaptation with Roger Corman at the helm. Richard Matheson returned to pen the screenplay, significantly expanding Poe's short s...

“You haven't got an ounce of understanding or emotion in your body. You died the moment you were born. And when your heart finally stops beating, it'll be a mere formality.” From Novel to Cold War Spy Thriller Derek Marlowe's first novel caught the attention of producers looking to capitalize on the success of spy thrillers in the 1960s. With Anthony Mann set to direct and Lawrence Harvey to star,...

“You're walking out on 85 grand?” MGM's Bold Step into R-Rated Territory In 1968, MGM was looking to break away from their family-friendly reputation and venture into more adult-oriented content. Based on Donald E. Westlake's Parker novel "The Seventh," they brought in Scottish director Gordon Flemyng fresh off his success with Great Catherine . With a stellar ensemble cast led by Jim Brown and a...

“It’s bad enough if he’s guilty, but what if he’s innocent and you push him over the edge?” Setting the Stage for a Controversial True Crime Adaptation In 1966, writer Gerald Frank published his bestselling book about the Boston Strangler case, catching the attention of 20th Century Fox and producer Richard D. Zanuck. Director Richard Fleischer, known for his genre work, was brought on to helm the...