It's Del Toro Time! – A Guillermo Del Toro-adjacent Podcast

You want creepy kids? We got creepy kids! Ollie and I watch 1961’s incredible “The Innocents” based on the Henry James novel and written, in part, by Truman Capote. It’s spooky, gothicy, ghosty and great! https://ia800904.us.archive.org/26/items/DelToroTheInnocents/DelToro-TheInnocents.mp3

This episode, Ollie and I take a look at Hammer’s classic “The Curse of the Werewolf” starring everyone’s favorite problem drinker, Oliver Reed. I say “starring” but Reed doesn’t appear until late in the film and the werewolf doesn’t show up . . . but I’m getting ahead of myself. It’s wolfing time and we … Continue reading "051 &#82...

This week I’M SPARTACUS! NO, I’M SPARTACUS! No . . . none of us are Spartacus. But, Ollie and I are *watching* Spartacus and it TAKES A WHILE. Because, it’s long. It’s one long movie. Good. But, long. https://ia600901.us.archive.org/28/items/DelToroSpartacus/DelToro-Spartacus.mp3

We’ve officially begun our two-part “Man, Isn’t Plastic Surgery Scary?” series. Plastic surgeons were the worst surgeons, according to filmmakers in the early sixties and “Circus of Horrors” is a prime example of that sentiment. It’s lucky it’s such a great movie! https://ia800907.us.archive.org/14/items/DelToroCircusHorrors/DelToro-CircusHorrors.mp3

This episode, Ollie and I get BAVAlous! That makes no sense, but I am leaving it in! Ollie and I watch Mario Bava’s classic witch(?) vampire(?) zombie(?) gothic(?) horror(?) movie(!) “Black Sunday!? https://ia800901.us.archive.org/28/items/DelToroBlackSunday/DelToro-BlackSunday.mp3

Do you like the beach? Do you like chess? How about Death? GOTCHA! Ollie and I talk death and chess and beaches and the Middle Ages as we tackle “The Seventh Seal!” https://ia800702.us.archive.org/17/items/DelToroSeventhSeal/DelToro-SeventhSeal.mp3

It’s about time we got some more of that Monster Man! Ollie and I are back to horror with Hammer’s “The Curse of Frankenstein!” In this movie, Victor IS the monster and the Monster is . . . well, just a monster. BUT. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee together for the first time? Magnificent. Check … Continue reading "046 – The Curse of Frankenstein! (1957)"

Ollie and I take a moment to talk about Guillermo del Toro’s list of 17 unproduced, yet finished, screenplays! For the original Tweets by del Toro, click here! https://ia800702.us.archive.org/13/items/DelToro17Screenplays/DelToro-17Screenplays.mp3

Wow, a war picture. About how terrible people are to each other. During war. That sounds like a real treat. Well, it *was* a real treat! At least for me! For Ollie? Maybe not so much. “Paths of Glory” is Stanley Kubrick’s first “Stanley Kubrick” film and, while it’s not the most cheerful thing in … Continue reading "045 – Paths of Glory (1957)!"

Who’s ready for some Akira Kurosawa!? NOT US! Ollie and I sit and chat about “Throne of Blood” a movie that liberally adapted from “MacBeth” but that goes its own way. I liked it a lot. Ollie . . . had thoughts. It’s pretty rad and pretty sad and everyone acts pretty bad. But, it’s … Continue reading "044 – Throne of Blood (1957)!"

Ollie and I finally get around to “The Night of the Hunter” which, I’ll be honest, is a profoundly strange movie. We cover a bit of the backstory, a bit of the symbolism and a LOT of the WTFism. It’s great. I mean, it’s really really great. https://ia800704.us.archive.org/7/items/DelToroNightHunter/DelToro-NightHunter.mp3

HEY EVERYONE! OLLIE IS BACK! In this episode, we get to the amazing and very misunderstood 1954 classic “Godzilla!” It’s not a monster mash! It’s not a cheesy goofy movie! It’s a serious mediation on the devastation wrought upon Japan and the nation’s steady slide into becoming active participants in that devastation. Also, a guy … Continue reading "042 &#...

Look, I’m not qualified to discuss Orson Welles! I don’t have a degree in . . . Wellesian Film History! I don’t get what’s going on in his head! But, a deal’s a deal. So, here’s “The Lady From Shanghai!” https://ia802901.us.archive.org/1/items/DelToroLadyFromShanghai/DelToro-LadyFromShanghai.mp3

Wow, I’ve been getting a lot of good movies, lately! “Nightmare Alley” is a . . . Circus Noir(?) from 1947 starring Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell and, man, is it something! It’s got crime and death and drinking and tarot cards and . . . what more do you want?! https://ia802903.us.archive.org/24/items/DelToroNightmareAlley/DelToro-NightmareAlley.mp3

Ollie is still adjust to life on the inside (of school) and so I’m here to talk about prison films, crime noir, HUAC and a bunch of other things I’m no expert on with 1947’s “Brute Force!” https://ia803102.us.archive.org/5/items/DelToroBruteForce/DelToro-BruteForce.mp3

This Twittersode, I’m taking a quick look at “The Best Years of Our Lives” from 1946. Wyler really upped his game with this one. The original Del Toro tweet is here. https://ia903108.us.archive.org/22/items/DelToroBestYears/DelToro-BestYears.mp3

I’m here with a new Twittersode, this one about 1942’s propagandastic film “Mrs. Miniver!” It’s got an agenda, and that agenda is DRAMA! I mean, it’s clearly a piece of pro-war propaganda, but it’s also really good! See Guillermo del Toro’s original tweet here! https://ia802809.us.archive.org/21/items/DelToroMiniver/DelToro-Miniver.mp3

You know what’s nice? To like a movie! And Ollie and I really liked this movie. Sure, we nitpick a bit, but “Creature From the Black Lagoon” is a solid monster flick. Check it out! https://ia802801.us.archive.org/16/items/DelToroCreatureLagoon/DelToro-CreatureLagoon.mp3

Get ready for some SCARRRY HORROR! It’s the most gruesome, frightening film ever made: “The Thing!” Oh, wait. Sorry. No. It’s “The Thing From Another World!” Not that gruesome. Not that frightening. Not scary. But, man, what a lot of talking there is! Ollie and I end up somewhat underwhelmed by this cinematic classic, but … Continue reading "040 – Th...

Ollie and I delve into the post-surrealistic world of Second Wave Luis Buñel with 1950’s “Los Olvidados!” Along the way, we learn to pronounce Buñuel, get a lesson in Surrealism and debate the pros and cons of a relentlessly bleak narrative. It’s fun! https://ia903107.us.archive.org/35/items/DelToroOlvidados/DelToro-Olvidados.mp3

This week, we’re back with more Preston Sturges! Only, instead of taking a hard look at America and wealth and art, we’re taking a hard look at trying-to-kill-your-wife! Yes, it’s 1948’s “Unfaithfully Yours” where Rex Harrison really overreacts to a couple of lines in a detective’s report and plots to kill his maybe-not-actually-cheating wife and … C...

This week, Phil is taking a quick peek at Jean Vigo’s 1934 masterpiece, “L’Atalante.” It was his greatest film. It was his lastest film. Read Guillermo del Toro’s original tweet here. https://ia802809.us.archive.org/33/items/DelToroLatalante/DelToro-Latalante.mp3

We are back with MOAR DICKENS! This time, it’s the literally ill-advised “Oliver Twist” from 1948. David Lean was told not to make this movie, but he did and oh boy here it is! It has a lot of problems with some sticky antisemitism issues, but it’s also a brilliantly made film in a lot … Continue reading "037 – Oliver Twist!"

In this Twittersode, Phil chats about James Whale’s “The Old Dark House” from 1932! It’s a hilarious creep-fest with that James Whale touch. It’s got murder, mystery, monsters, madness and much more! Del Toro’s original Tweet is here. https://ia903109.us.archive.org/22/items/OldHouse/Old%20House.mp3

One of these days we’ll get back to spooky scary movies with monsters and ghouls, I promise! Until then, however, we’re looking at David Lean’s cinematic classic “Great Expectations” from 1946. Del Toro himself said that Lean’s Dickens adaptations “skate[d] the line between poetry and horror.” It’s a beautiful film and really the only question...