Damn Good Movie Memories

Vampires, mullets, "modern" cover versions of classic songs, and a very enthusiastic saxophone player all filmed in Santa Cruz, CA!  What's not to like? Starring a young cast on the cusp of becoming stars: The Corey's, Kiefer Sutherland , Jami Gertz, and Jason Patric. Co-starring Dianne Wiest, Edward Herrmann, and Barnard Hughes.  Directed by Joel Schumacher.

A truly groundbreaking motion picture which influenced countless special-effects artists for decades to come.  Discover all the details about how the vision of Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack melded with the brilliance of Willis O'Brien's stop motion special effects to create the "8th Wonder of the World".  Starring Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong.

One of Brian's favorite movies of all-time.  Discover how the brilliant and hilarious short stories from Jean Shepherd turned into an iconic film classic.  Starring Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon.  Directed by Bob Clark.

Released a year prior to first Thin Man movie, we get a precursor of William Powell playing a suave crime solver named Philo Vance.  Also starring Mary Astor and directed by Michael Curtiz.

An absolutely beautiful and timeless film that gets better with every viewing. Discover all the history behind the making of the film and what turned a moderately successful initial release into a beloved cinematic classic.  Starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore.  Directed by Frank Capra.

The soundtrack was a huge hit for Neil Diamond and spawned three smash singles, but what about the film?  And why does Brian have this notoriously bad film in his collection?  We get into all that and more!  Co-starring Laurence Olivier and Lucie Arnaz.

A little known, but well done romantic comedy about a drifter who falls for a recently widowed mother of a little boy.  Starring Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, and Wendell Corey.

One of Alfred Hitchcock's last British films before jumping to Hollywood, about the mysterious disappearance of an elderly woman on a train.  Starring Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, and Dame May Whitty.

One of the funniest and most original comedies about the wildest trip to Las Vegas ever imagined.  Starring Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Ken Jeong, and Justin Bartha.  Directed by Todd Phillips.

One of the two major werewolf movies to be released in 1981 and both had comedic elements.  However, The Howling has twists on the traditional werewolf tale which make the film unique and memorable .  Starring Dee Wallace and directed by Joe Dante.

While Dracula was the first Universal monster movie, Frankenstein had the biggest impact on audiences when it was released nine months later.  Starring Boris Karloff as the terrifying iconic monster and Colin Clive as the mad scientist Henry Frankenstein. Co-starring Dwight Frye and Edward Van Sloan. Directed by James Whale.

James Cagney stars as a young lawyer who decides to join the FBI after the murder of his friend by gangsters.  Co-starring Robert Armstrong, Lloyd Nolan, Ann Dvorak, and Margaret Lindsay.

Based on the first film adaptation of a John Grisham novel, Tom Cruise stars as a young ambitious lawyer who quickly discovers the law firm that recruited him has major legal issues of their own.  Co-starring a stellar cast including Gene Hackman, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Ed Harris, Holly Hunter, and David Strathairn. Directed by Sydney Pollack.

The title of this comedy is a bit of a misnomer, as Fred MacMurray plays a college football coach (not a fullback!) whose family drama is worse than his winless team.  Co-starring Maureen O'Hara, Betty Lynn, Natalie Wood, and Thelma Ritter.

A fun, fast-paced comedy following a day in the life of a group of record store employees.  The film was a bomb at the box-office when it was first released, but now has a loyal cult following. Featuring Renee Zellweger and Liv Tyler in early film roles.  Also starring Anthony LaPaglia, Maxwell Caulfield, Rory Cochrane, Robin Tunney, and Ethan Embry.

Michael J. Fox stars in this fun romantic comedy about a young doctor who gets stuck in a small town in South Carolina while driving cross-country to Los Angeles.  Co-starring Julie Warner, Woody Harrelson, Bridget Fonda, Barnard Hughes, and David Ogden Stiers.

A terrific tale about the simple act of being kind to others, as an upbeat young girl brings her positive attitude to a new town after the death of her parents.  Starring Haley Mills, Jane Wyman, Karl Malden, Agnes Moorehead, Kevin Corcoran, Nancy Olson, and Adolphe Menjou. 

Though considered a "B-movie", the original D.O.A. is often touted as one of the top film noir's ever made.  Starring Edmond O'Brien as a notary who is on borrowed time to find out who poisoned him and why.

The second animated Disney film to be released after the massive success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs three years prior.  The tale of a marionette boy who attempts to become human and learn important life lessons along the way.

A truly wonderful film about what "really" happens after you die.  Written, directed, and starring Albert Brooks.  Co-starring Meryl Streep and Rip Torn.

Bill Murray bails on the sequel and is replaced by Bernie Mac.  Can the Angels and two new villains save the franchise?  Starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, Demi Moore, and Justin Theroux.  Directed by McG.

A throwback teen comedy about a new student trying to fit into a high school full of cliques.  Starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lizzy Caplan, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert.  Written by Tina Fey and directed by Mark Waters.

In a career full of memorable roles, this is easily in Paul Newman's top 5, as a Florida prison inmate who never plays by the rules.  Co-starring George Kennedy, Strother Martin, and Harry Dean Stanton.  Directed by Stuart Rosenberg.

Steven Michael and Sonny Pooni from the Growin' Up Rock Podcast join DGMM to discuss their top 5 favorite movie soundtracks. 

Brian gives his list of Top 5 favorite (at the time!) movie soundtracks.  We also hear from his merry gang of guests, as they divulge their favorites as well.