Samm Deighan and Bill Ackerman join Mike to discuss 1984's box office smash Purple Rain which launched Prince's movie career and made him a household name. The film stars Prince as "The Kid", a musician from Minneapolis who struggles to find his place in the music scene while battling personal demons. Our episode features an interview with Alan Light, author of Let's Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Episode 675: Purple Rain (1984)

On this special episode of The Projection Booth we’re looking at John Schlesinger's Midnight Cowboy. It’s the story of Joe Buck (Jon Voight), a hick from Texas who goes to the big city to become a hustler. Instead, he’s hustled by everyone he meets including Ratso Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman). The two form an unlikely friendship as they try to survive in New York.Chris Stachiw (The Kulturecast) and Jon Towlson (author of the Queer Cinema Classics book on Midnight Cowboy) join Mike to discuss the movie. Author Glenn Frankel discusses his book, Shooting Midnight Cowboy: Art, Sex, Loneliness, Liberation, and the Making of a Dark Classic, and the documentary it inspired.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Episode 674: Midnight Cowboy (1969)

On this special episode, Mike talks with Mark Mori (Bettie Page Reveals All) about his latest project, The Baristas Vs. The Billionaire, which tells the story of the unionization of Starbucks. They also discuss Mark's first feature documentary, Building Bombs (1989), and his upcoming The Lost Print.Back The Baristas Vs. The Billionaire on Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/262713467/the-baristas-vs-the-billionaire?ref=thanks-tweet Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Special Report: The Baristas Vs. The Billionaire

We’re wrapping up Western Month with a look at William Wellman’s The Ox-Bow Incident. Released in 1943 the film is based on the 1940 novel from Walter Van Tilberg Clark and stars Henry Fonda and Henry Morgan as Gil and Art, two cowboys who ride into the town of Bridger’s Wells where a messenger brings news of the senseless murder of a local rancher Larry Kincaid and the rustling of his cattle.  Angela Mac and Ian Brownell join Mike to discuss this harrowing tale of vigilante justice while author Carl Rollyson discusses his book Hollywood Enigma: Dana Andrews. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Episode 673: The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)

Western Month continues with a look at Nicholas Ray’s Johnny Guitar. Released in 1954 the film stars Sterling Hayden as the titular Mr. Guitar. However, he’s outshone in the film by Joan Crawford as Vienna and Mercedes McCambridge as Emma, two women with a history.Andras Jones and David Kittredge join Mike to discuss this unusual Western.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Episode 672: Johnny Guitar (1954)

On this special episode, Mike talks with writer/producer/author Terry Hayes about a few of his films like The Road Warrior, Dead Calm, and From Hell, as well as his two novels, I Am Pilgrim and The Year of the Locust - now available at https://amzn.to/3uDPLtsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Special Report: Terry Hayes on The Year of the Locust

Mike speaks with director Dan Partland about his career including his latest film, God & Country, which looks at the history and tenets of Christian Nationalism, a political movement which cloaks itself in a perverse interpretation of Christianity while actually embracing fascistic politics.The film opens February 16, 2024. Find out more at https://godandcountrythemovie.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Special Report: God & Country (2024)

On this special episode, Mike talks to directors Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett along with subject Jennifer Weir of the documentary Finding Her Beat about a Taiko drum concert in Minnesota. Find out more at https://www.herbeatfilm.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Special Report: Finding Her Beat (2022)

Mike talks with filmmaker Hadley Austin about Demon Mineral, a feature documentary that looks at radioactive contamination of Navajo lands. The film recently played at the Slamdance Film Festival.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Special Report: Demon Mineral (2023)

Western Month continues with a look at Delmer Daves’s 3:10 to Yuma. Released in 1957, the film tells the tale of two men, outlaw Ben Wade (Glenn Ford) and innocent bystander Dan Evans (Van Heflin). Their fates are intertwined after Dan witnesses Ben and his outfit robbing a stagecoach.Jedidiah Ayres and Rob St. Mary join Mike to discuss the 1957 film and 2007 remake which are both based on a short story by Elmore "Dutch" Leonard. Mike spoke with filmmaker and author C. Courtney Joyner and Leonard's long-time researcher Gregg Sutter about the dozens of other films based on Leonard's work.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Episode 671: 3:10 to Yuma (1957)

As part of our Slamdance Film Festival coverage, Mike spoke with directors Stephan Peterson & Sonya Ballantyne about their documentary, The Death Tour (2024), in which a group of wrestlers cross the barren winter lands of Canada. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Special Report: The Death Tour (2024)

Mike talks with writer/director Roxine Helberg about her feature film debut, Cold Copy, a thriller set in the world of journalism.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Special Report: Cold Copy (2023)

Director Andrew Cumming discusses his feature film directorial debut, Out of Darkness, a horror film set in prehistory times. The film opens in the U.S. on February 9, 2024.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Special Report: Out of Darkness (2024)

Jonathan Penner and Otto Bruno join Mike to kick off a month of discussing American Westerns. We begin with one from German emigre Fritz Lang with his 1952 film Rancho Notorious. The film stars Arthur Kennedy as a ranch hand whose fiance is murdered in a tale of hate, murder and revenge.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Episode 670: Rancho Notorious (1952)

We're doing something unusual with a re-do of the third episode of The Projection Booth. Yes, we’re talking about Joseph Sargent's 1974 film The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. Based on the book by John Godey (pen name of Morton Freedgood) and brilliantly adapted by Peter Stone, the film stars Walter Matthau as Zach Garber, a transit transit cop whose train is taken hostage by Robert Shaw as Mr. Blue, and his three henchmen, Mr. Green, Mr. Grey, and Mr. Brown. Duane Swierczynski (California Bear) and Keith Gordon join Mike to discuss the film and its two remakes while actor Sal Viscuso talks about his role in the original film.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Episode 669: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

Slamdance 2024 coverage continues with a look at Darla in Space, an offbeat comedy about a woman whose mother put her in debt. Fortunately, relief comes in the form of a sentient kombucha scobi named "Mother" that provides counsel and mind-blowing orgasms.Mike speaks co-directors Eric Laplante and Susie Moon about their amazing debut feature. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Special Report: Darla in Space (2023)

Slamdance 2024 coverage continues with a look at Citizen Weiner a documentary about a media prank that actors/writers Zach Weiner, Joe Gallagher, and director Daniel Robbins put on where Weiner ran for New York City Council in 2020. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Special Report: Citizen Weiner (2024)

Kat Ellinger and El Goro join Mike to look at the Finnish folk horror film The White Reindeer. Directed by Erik Blomborg, the film was released in 1952 and it’s the story of Pirita -- played by the film’s co-writer Mirjami Kuosmanen. She’s a newlywed who misses her husband. When she goes to a shaman to have him craft a love potion for her, she becomes a dreaded were-reindeer.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Episode 668: The White Reindeer (1952)

Slamdance 2024 coverage continues with a discussion of On the Way Home with director Giorgi Kvelidze. It's a documentary about a pair of Georgian refugees and their struggles. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Special Report: On the Way Home (2024)

As part of our Slamdance 2024 coverage, Mike talks with director Joe Maggio and co-writers Faryl Amadeus and Clint Jordan about their 2024 film BLISS, a follow-up to the 2001 film Virgil Bliss. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

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