The History on Film Podcast

Ross talks to Dr. Sarah Juliet Lauro about her book The Transatlantic Zombie: Slavery, Rebellion, and Living Death . They discuss where the zombie comes from, what it has represented historically, and how and why it continues to resonate. Happy Halloween! FURTHER READING: Lauro, Sarah Juliet. The Transatlantic Zombie: Slavery, Rebellion, and Living Death. FURTHER WATCHING: "Shaun of the Dead" "Atl...

Ross and Ryan are joined by returning guest Dr. Christopher Olson to talk about the career of filmmaker Charles Band! They discuss the director's filmography, his methods, and his influences. They also talk about the style and legacy of indie film-making in the era of home video. And make sure to check out our previous episode with Chris, all about his book on "Mystery Science Theater 3000"! Seaso...

And now for something completely different. Ross and Ryan are joined by Dr. Jeffrey Weinstock to discuss the cultural history of famed British comedy troupe Monty Python. They discuss the group's influences and output, English absurdist comedy, fandom as a language, and much more. FURTHER READING: Weinstock, Jeffrey (ed. with Kate Egan). And Now for Something Completely Different: Critical Approac...

Ross and Ryan are joined by friend of the show David Morton to talk with Chris Morgan about 90s Nickelodeon and his book "The Nickelodeon '90s: Cartoons, Game Shows, and a Whole Bunch of Slime". They discuss the origins of the network, cable network fandom, and how and why the network changed. They also discuss some of the shows from that era, and how they informed the network's sensibilities. Let...

Ross and Ryan speak with media historian Dr. Josh Shepperd about the founding of American public broadcasting and his book, Shadow of the New Deal: The Victory of Public Broadcasting. They look at how and why public media came to be, the value it has today, and why it is so important to protect. FURTHER READING: Shepperd, Josh. Shadow of the New Deal: The Victory of Public Broadcasting. CALL TO AC...

Ross and Ryan kick off the start of season 2 by welcoming on The Feral Historian! They discuss three iconic films oriented around "the end of history", how and why that concept came into being, and its legacy. Unfortunately, Ross had to leave this one early, but not before making some truly terrible jokes. We're back, y'all! FURTHER READING: Hoel, Erik. We Can't Imagine an "End of History" in Sci-...

Season 2 kicks off on September 22nd! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ross and Ryan celebrate summer break with an ALL-TIME great summertime, chill out, hang out, good vibes movie- "That Thing You Do!" (1996). They discuss making fake songs sound real, the movie's legacy as a millennial touchstone, the relationship between the music and film industries in the 1950s and 60s, Ross's love of rom-coms, and much more! Plus, HoFCast listeners share their thoughts on the f...

We're hitting the road this summer! Hear Ross and Ryan's guest appearances this month on "The Revisionist's Almanac" and "Deep Cuts: the Game"! Listen to our segment on Raiders of the Lost Ark for The Revisionist's Almanac on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube , or wherever else you get your podcasts! Hear Ryan play Deep Cuts: the Game on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube , or wherever else you g...

Ross and Ryan correct the record one last time as they triumphantly conclude the award-winning first season of The History on Film Podcast. There's also a call for submissions and guests, as well as a sneak peek at season two! And finally, we bring on an expert to answer the defining question of our times- "what the hell is a chicken jockey?" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

Season One of the History on Film Podcast comes to a thrilling conclusion! We talk briefly with Dr. Chris Kempshall, and then spend the rest of the episode speaking with historian and Galactic Civil War veteran Beaumont Kin about their latest book, The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire .What lessons can we take from a galaxy far, far away? FURTHER READING: Kempshall, Christopher. Star Wars: The...

Ross and Ryan are joined by filmmakers Derek Murphy and Mitchell Zemil, creators of the MeansTV documentary series "Preserving Worlds". They discuss the preservation of early, obsolete, or obscure online games, and the communities that are dedicated to their continuation. We look at the challenges of maintaining and documenting these games, why it's so important, pitch a Florida-based social netwo...

Ross and Ryan finish out Musical May 2025 with 2012's film adaptation of "Les Miserables". They discuss the enduring messages of the film/musical/book, how historians use culture to interrogate the past, and much more. Also, "Andor"! FURTHER READING: Darnton, Robert. The Great Cat Massacre. FURTHER WATCHING: "Les Miserables" (1998) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An incoming transmission from Darth Vader himself interrupts the show and our intrepid hosts are forced to make a deal to save their lives - and by enlisting some help, they may just be up to the task! In this trailer, we preview the Season One finale of The History on Film Podcast, which will premier on June 9th, where Ross and Ryan will give an in-universe look at Star Wars history and discuss t...

Ross and Ryan continue Musical May with 1980's "Xanadu"! I'll be honest, this one is less about history and more about good vibes, so enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the second week of Musical May, Ross and Ryan discuss 1972's "Cabaret". They discuss the fragility of interwar Germany and the rise of fascism, the artistic influences on the film, and why this film is painfully relevant still. FURTHER READING: Weitz, Eric. Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy. Swett, Pamela. Neighbors and Enemies: The Culture of Radicalism in Berlin, 1929-1933. Isherwood, Chri...

For the first-ever installment of Musical May, Ross and Ryan dig into 1961's "West Side Story"! They look at how the film depicts social anxieties around juvenile delinquency, reflects the Puerto Rican experiences of the Great Migration, and discuss some of the structural components of adapting a musical for the screen. FURTHER READING: Gilbert, James. A Cycle of Outrage: America's Reaction to the...

Welcome to Musical May 2025! Here is the release schedule for the month: May 5: "West Side Story" (1961) May 12: "Cabaret" (1971) May 19: "Xanadu" (1980) May 26: "Les Miserables" (2012) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ross talks with Dr. Claudia Calhoun about her recent book, Only the Names Have Been Changed and the history of Dragnet. They cover the show's reception, its multiple iterations, and how it reflected changes to American policing. They also discuss the show's legacy and its outsized role in shaping narratives around tv cops- from "Law and Order" to "Reno 911!". FURTHER READING: Calhoun, Claudia. Onl...

Ross and Ryan are joined by historian Max Felker-Kantor to talk all about anti-drug films and Max's new book on the history of the infamous D.A.R.E. program. Together, they look at how drug abuse awareness programs have changed in America, how they haven't, the role that these films have in shaping our relationships to policing, and which Teenage Mutant Nina Turtle is appropriate for a conversatio...

Ross and Ryan talk to author and podcast host David Moscrop about a few of his recent articles on the (dismal) state of the media industries. Topics include the dangers of digital "ownership" and the obsolescence of physical media, Netflix slop, what to order at the movie theater concession stand, and the battle over book access on the Internet Archive. FURTHER READING: Digital Ownership and the E...

Ross and Ryan are in office hours this week, discussing the last batch of episodes as well as what is coming up ahead. Ross talks about the production history of 2001's "Final Fantasy: the Spirits Within" and the impact it had on Hollywood despite flopping at the box office. And there's a fun trivia game! We want to hear how you did on the trivia game! Email or post your score on social media with...

Ross and Ryan are joined by award-winning actor/director/musician/writer/impressionist Stephen Sorrentino! We talk about his newest project, Amends of the Father, and so much more. Hear about what goes into running a film festival, the current state of independent moviemaking, Mr. Sorrentino's incredible life in the film industry, and so much more. NOTE: There are spoilers for Amends of the Father...

Ross and Ryan are joined by film and media scholar Paul Klein to discuss the 1936 classic, Modern Times. They talk about Chaplin and his politics, the ways in which the film reflects America during the Great Depression, and why the film itself is as relevant as ever. Further Reading: Voltaire. Candide, or Optimism. Eyman, Scott. Charlie Chaplin vs. America: When Art, Sex, and Politics Collided. Fu...

Ross and Ryan talk with Dr. William Tsutsui, historian, author, and leading expert on all things Godzilla. From the original film's anti-nuclear message to modern classics like "Godzilla Minus One", we cover everything from head to toes about the king of the monsters. Like literally, we talk about why Godzilla's toes are important to the tone of the films. FURTHER READING: Tsutsui, William. Godzil...