The Next Reel Film Podcast

“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...

“All four with clean records. No police force in the world knows them or their work. In their fields, the very best.” Unveiling a Hidden Heist Film Gem from 1967 In 1967, Italian director Giuliano Montaldo brought together an international cast for an ambitious heist film co-production between Italy, Spain, and West Germany. Coming off his success with The Reckless , which was nominated for the Go...

“In films, either you’ve got a face or you don’t got a face. You've got a face. Can I have it, please?” A Comedic Heist Caper from an Unlikely Collaboration In 1966, Peter Sellers sought to work with renowned Italian neorealist director Vittorio De Sica, bringing aboard playwright Neil Simon to pen his first screenplay. Despite De Sica's reported gambling debts motivating his involvement, the coll...

“A perfect hit! And no pain for the target. Too bad the guy was only 38; just two years older, he'd have been worth three times the points.” Roger Corman's Vision of a Dystopian Future In 1974, Roger Corman learned about Norman Jewison's upcoming film Rollerball and decided to capitalize on its publicity by producing his own futuristic sports film. Based on a short story by Ib Melchior inspired by...

“This was not intended to be a book-of-the-month club lunch.” A British Heist Film That Set Early Genre Standards In 1958, John Boland published his novel The League of Gentlemen , which quickly caught the attention of British filmmakers. Director Basil Dearden, known for his work with Ealing Studios, saw potential in this story of ex-military men planning an elaborate bank robbery. Working with s...

“When I asked for your advice, I didn't mean that you should actually speak.” Rebooting the Jack Ryan Franchise After the success of Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger , Paramount Pictures aimed to continue the Jack Ryan franchise with an adaptation of The Sum of All Fears . Initially, Harrison Ford was set to reprise his role as Jack Ryan, but he and director Phillip Noyce dropped out due...

“The course of action I’d suggest is a course of action I can’t suggest.” The Road to Clear and Present Danger After the success of Patriot Games , Paramount Pictures was eager to continue the Jack Ryan series with another adaptation of a Tom Clancy novel. With Harrison Ford set to return as the intrepid CIA analyst and Phillip Noyce back in the director's chair, the stage was set for Clear and Pr...

“You walk into a bar, half of whose customers want you dead. You walk up to the IRA's bagman, and in front of his guys, you threaten him? You're not a field man, Jack. You never were. You are an analyst. Analyze that.” The Second Chapter in Jack Ryan's Journey After the success of The Hunt for Red October , Paramount Pictures faced challenges bringing the next Jack Ryan story to the screen. The si...

“You’re in a house of desperate women here, and a long, long way from home.” Roger Corman's Exploitation Cinema: The Story Behind Caged Heat In the early 1970s, Roger Corman was producing a slew of women-in-prison films, capitalizing on the exploitation genre that had been popular then. When wannabe director Jonathan Demme approached Corman with the idea for Caged Heat , Corman initially declined,...

“Andrei, you've lost another submarine?” From Novel to Box Office Success In 1984, Tom Clancy published his first novel The Hunt for Red October , which garnered attention from military officials for its technical accuracy. Despite the book's success, Hollywood struggled to adapt it. Producer Mace Neufeld optioned the rights but faced resistance from studios who considered the story too complicate...

“The heavens have never seen such an ignominious Patsak as you, Violinist. It grieves me deeply.” A Satirical Take on Soviet Society Kin-Dza-Dza! , a 1986 Soviet science fiction comedy film directed by Georgiy Daneliya, was initially met with skepticism by Soviet authorities due to its satirical nature. However, Daneliya persevered and managed to get the film made, despite the challenges of filmin...