The Video Archives Podcast with Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary
Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary revisit classic and obscure films from the VHS era, drawing from their experiences working at the Video Archives video store in Manhattan Beach. Joined by producer Gala Avary, they discuss controversial James Bond films, exploitation flicks, and other hidden gems, awarding favorites and rating video transfer quality. The podcast offers a nostalgic deep dive into movie history from the perspective of two acclaimed filmmakers.
Episodes
Rest In Peace Robert Redford
Robert Redford's legacy is vast. To honor his passing, we're re-airing one of our favorite episodes: The Great Waldo Pepper. Fun fact: Roger, Gala, and Quentin viewed this movie on film at The New Beverly Cinema. It's co-hit, The Sting, was also supposed to be featured in this episode, but we ended up letting The Great Waldo Pepper stand alone. Here's to the dreamers. This episode was originally S
215 - The King and I & More
On the Season 2 finale of The Video Archives Podcast, Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary take you to see a show in The King and I. In the King and I, a widowed governess travels to Siam to tutor the wives and children of the stubborn King. She expects a challenge, but what she doesn't expect is to fall in love. Quentin and Roger talk about the chemistry between Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr, the
214 - The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training & More
On this episode of The Video Archives Podcast … the bases are loaded, and Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary are hoping for a grand slam home run in The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training. In this sequel to the smash hit, The Bad News Bears are back and on their way to Houston to play an exhibition game. The only problem? They have no coach! Quentin and Roger discuss how Jackie Earle Hailey earn
213 - The Hunt for Red October & More
On this episode of the Video Archives Podcast, Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary are on The Hunt for Red October. The soviets have developed a technologically-superior nuclear submarine that could begin World War III — and its heading straight for us. While the rest of the government is preparing for the attack, CIA analyst Jack Ryan has a different idea: he believes Captain Ramius is planning to
212 - 1941
On this episode of The Video Archives Podcast, Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary join the colorful eclectic cast of Steven Spielberg's 1941. In the days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, panic grips California as they believe that Japanese officers are everywhere. Turns out, they are! A wayward Japanese military submarine tries to make its way to Hollywood, and as it does, we get to see the sto
211 - The Last of the Mohicans (1936) & More
On this episode of the Video Archives Podcast Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary uncover Quentin's latest obsession: 1936's The Last of the Mohicans. In this classic tale written by James Fenimore Cooper, two sisters and a British commander are abducted by the Hurons and can only be rescued by the last of the Mohicans. What ensues is a romantic tale of epic proportions set in the midst of the Frenc
210 - Sword Of Lancelot & More
On this episode of the Video Archives Podcast Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary break format by bringing me in to the conversation early with Sword of Lancelot. Also known by the title Lancelot and Guinevere, Cornel Wild tells this classic Arthurian legend in a new light by focussing on Guinevere's character. We discuss Quentin and Roger's viewing of this movie, the dynamics that a husband and wif
209 - The Spoilers Special
On this episode of The Video Archives Podcast — Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary invite you in to the world of Rex Beach's The Spoilers. We aren't covering one version of this movie … we aren't even covering two versions of this movie — we are talking about The Spoilers in total: movies, books, and even spoofs! Join the gang as we traverse the harsh frontier of 1899 Alaska and stake claim on th
Preview of Two-Minute Warning
Missing Video Archives this week? The good news is you don't have to! Get your fix of Quentin and Roger every week by subscribing to our Patreon. Here's a short clip from Quentin and Roger's discussion of Two-Minute Warning. You can hear the rest of this conversation and this week's Aftershow by subscribing to our Patreon. PATREON MERCH TWITTER INSTAGRAM You can also write us a question by sen
208 - The Gold Rush & More
On this episode of The Video Archives Podcast, Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary strike rich in THE GOLD RUSH. A gold prospector, played by Charlie Chaplin, struggle to survive the elements while he tries to win the heart of a dance hall girl. Viewed all together at the New Beverly Cinema, Quentin and Roger discuss the reaction of the audience, the success of a physical silent comedy, and direct
207 - Of Unknown Origin & More... (with Matthew David Wilder)
Writer and Video Archives Cinema Club regular, Matthew David Wilder, joins Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary as they rip apart the house in George P. Cosmatos' Of Unknown Origin. A hard working businessman recently finally finished his townhouse renovations only to find that he's not the only one who moved in. What starts as a simple game of cat and mouse turns into obsession. Quentin, Roger, a
206 - The Andersonville Trial & More
Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary are on the jury in The Andersonville Trial. Based on the play by Saul Levitt, Quentin and Roger discuss Quentin's last viewing of the film with Floyd, how director George C. Scott's own performance in the stage play informed his direction of this testosterone filled powerhouse gang of actors, and the ethics of one's own morals. Would you have done different if y
205 - The Christmas Tree / Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
On this episode of the Video Archives Podcast Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary unpack the ornaments to decorate The Christmas Tree. Quentin and Roger share their perspectives watching this turgid tearjerker as fathers of sons, the cinematic moments they've never seen before, and Roger's personal connection to Terrence Young. Next up — we better get to sleep and put out the milk and cookies, beca
204 - The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) & More
Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary are partners in crime in 1968's The Thomas Crown Affair. Debonaire millionaire businessman Thomas Crown, played by Steve McQueen, is no longer satisfied with his luxurious lifestyle and decides to plan the perfect heist. When the robbery goes off without a hitch, the insurance agency calls in their best operative — the ruthless Vicki Anderson, played by Faye Dunaw
203 - The Substitute & More
Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary go back to class in The Substitute. When an inner city Miami school teacher gets kneecapped after standing up to the school's gang leader, her spec-ops boyfriend goes undercover as a substitue teacher to take down the punk. Quentin and Roger discuss how the on screen chemistry makes this movie work, the excellent extras casting, and how this flick has no right to
202 - The Love Bug & More
Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary join the race in The Love Bug. A down on his luck race car driver purchases a little VW Bug that leads him straight to victory, but he's the only one who doesn't realize that the little car has a mind of its own! In our first ever Disney clamshell title, Roger and Quentin discuss how Herbie honked his way into their hearts, how the Disney regular actors shined in
201 - Narrow Margin & More
On the Season 2 premiere of The Video Archives Podcast, Quentin & Roger catch their train -- but only by a Narrow Margin. Once comfortably in their cabin, they'll chat about where Gene Hackman and Anne Archer were in their careers, the gender role dynamics of the characters, and how their initial viewing of this movie influenced the future of film forever. Remember, folks: between the viewer and
124 - Day Of The Dalton Pt. 2: Operation Nam / Blastfighter / Jungle Raiders
On today's episode, we continue our memorial to Rick Dalton, the late actor best known for his roles in Bounty Law and the Fireman trilogy. We begin by focusing on Dalton's straight-to-video era with three Italian heavy hitters: Blastfighter, Jungle Raiders and Operation Nam. Later, Quentin concludes his interview with Dalton, shedding light on the career choices he made throughout his life, and t
123 - Day Of The Dalton Pt. 1: The Marshal Of Madrid / Manhunter
On May 19th, 2023, actor Rick Dalton passed away peacefully in his home in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is survived by his wife Francesca. Dalton was beloved by fans of Bounty Law, where he played bounty hunter Jake Cahill for five terrific seasons, and also for his iconic role as a flamethrower-wielding vigilante in The Fireman series of movies. But he was so much more than those well known parts, with a
122 - Rodan / The Quiller Memorandum / Treachery & Greed On The Planet Of The Apes (with Jules McLean)
Jules "Unruly Julie" McLean (The New Beverly's Director of Operations, former Video Archives employee) joins Quentin & Roger in the store this week! First off the shelves, the crimson monster bird Rodan emerges from a volcanic crater to terrorize Tokyo. Quentin breaks down the career of director Ishirō Honda, then Roger and Julie discuss Rodan's amazing practical effects and surprising, tragic end
121 - The Hospital / Ulzana's Raid / Steel
Dr. Quentin and Dr. Roger report to Arthur Hiller's The Hospital, where madness, murder and malpractice are running rampant! George C. Scott is the chief of medicine at a hospital in Manhattan, suicidal from his personal life collapsing and suspicious a murderer is on the loose in his facility. Quentin and Roger discuss writer Paddy Chayefsky's masterful storytelling, Scott's volcanic performance,
120 - Buster And Billie / Baxter / The Fast Kill
It should have been a love story…Quentin and Roger travel back in time to the rural South for Buster and Billie! Jan-Michael Vincent's Buster wants to get laid; his friends suggest he get it on with the 'easy' girl in school, Billie. Expecting only sex, the two fall into an unlikely romance destined to end in Southern fried tragedy. The Video Archives crew discuss the history of 70s tearjerkers, J
119 - The Great Waldo Pepper
High above the clouds flies the second greatest pilot who ever lived…The Great Waldo Pepper! A biplane pilot who missed his chance at glory in World War I takes up barnstorming in George Roy Hill's third collaboration with Robert Redford. Quentin and Roger discuss Hill as a great thematic filmmaker, the powerful use of music and silence, the crazy real-life plane stunts, and a scene so heart-wrenc
118 - The Last Run / Rustlers' Rhapsody / The Jet Benny Show
Roger & Quentin pull off one last job in The Last Run! On our very first bootleg tape of the show, George C. Scott returns to the screen as a former mob getaway driver who returns to his old life to see if he still has it. All he has to do is complete one last job. Quentin and Roger discuss the legendary director who planned to make the film before Richard Fleischer was brought on and find out wh
117 - The Choirboys / Hennessy / Amphibian Man
Quentin and Roger take a trip with the LAPD as the boys in blue blow off steam in The Choirboys, directed by Robert Aldrich and based on the outrageous best-selling novel. The Video Archives crew take a second look at the film, discussing Aldrich and his Associates, the big ensemble cast, and the scenes that work. Next up: the most intensive manhunt ever mounted. Hennessy is a gentle, peaceful man
116 - Straw Dogs
Sometimes, a man is forced to defend his honor; Quentin and Roger defend theirs in their discussion of Sam Peckinpah's 1971 Straw Dogs. Based on the book "The Siege Of Trencher's Farm," your hosts take a look at Peckinpah's intentions and where this sits in his filmography. Then, they'll discuss the film itself, covering Dustin Hoffman and Susan George's performances, the ugly nature of this movie
115 - The Fool Killer / The Young Nurses / My Nights With Susan, Sandra, Olga and Julie (ft. Joe Dante)
Director Joe Dante (Gremlins, Piranha, and The Movies That Made Me podcast) joins the Video Archives crew on a journey to find Servando González's The Fool Killer! Taking place shortly after the Civil War, a young Southern boy wanders the countryside, meeting various odd characters along the way. One of them tells him the story of the vengeful Fool Killer. Quentin, Roger & Joe discuss the history
114 - Sonny & Jed / Mister Scarface / American Nitro
Quentin & Roger get the sun in their eyes as they watch Sergio Corbucci's chaotic, mud-soaked Sonny & Jed. After a brief discussion of Corbucci's life and cinematic influence, they'll get into what makes Corbucci's villains unique, the skill of his camera operators, and Telly Savalas' role in the film. This movie is the reason the West was called wild! Next, in Fernando di Leo's Mister Scarface, a
113 - Busting / Little Darlings / Julia
Quentin & Roger join LAPD's Vice Squad with Peter Hyams' Busting! Starring Elliott Gould & Robert Blake, these two LA vice cops find themselves up against corrupt superiors when they try to bring a crime boss to justice. The duo discuss where Busting fits into Hyams' career, how the film walks the line, and how the action sequences predate 80s Hong Kong cinema. Next up, the bet is on in Little Dar
112 - Rage / The Loved One / Cry For Me Billy
They called it an accident; he called it a murder. Join Roger & Quentin as they're filled with rage after watching George C. Scott's Rage. The duo talks about what happens when the class system fails, Scott's connection to Kubrick, and what a main will do when he has nothing left to lose. Next, the motion picture with something to offend everyone - at least, in 1965. Tony Richardson's The Loved On
111 - The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes / The Light At The Edge Of The World / Hostages (with Jacqueline Coley)
Jacqueline Coley (awards editor for Rotten Tomatoes) joins Roger & Quentin as they unlock the secrets of Billy Wilder's The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes! Holmes & Watson take on the strange case of a beautiful woman whose husband has vanished, leading them on a journey of ballerinas, canaries, and even the Loch Ness Monster. Join the trio as they discuss Jacqueline's love for Wilder, Watson's r
110 - Lipstick / The One And Only / Slithis
Quentin and Roger enter the world of fashion with Lamont Johnson's revenge-a-matic Lipstick! A fashion model is raped by her sister's music teacher - after she takes him to court, she finds that she'll have to take justice into her own hands. We'll discuss the genius of casting real-life sisters Margaux and Mariel Hemingway, as well as the intensity a score can bring to a film. Next, we jump into
109 - Star 80
This week, Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary discuss one film and one film alone: Bob Fosse's Star 80. In 1980, Playboy Playmate of the Year Dorothy Stratten was murdered by her boyfriend Paul Snider. Three years later, Star 80 was released, a sensational retelling of Stratten's story that hit too close to home for some. Roger and Quentin have a serious, personal discussion on differentiating fact
108 - American Giallo Pt. 2: Alice, Sweet Alice / Happy Birthday To Me (with Eli Roth)
Quentin, Roger and Eli Roth continue their exploration of American Giallo with one of Eli's favorite films, 1976's Alice, Sweet Alice. When Alice's sister Karen is found brutally murdered in a church, suspicions turn towards Alice - but could a 12-year-old girl really be the killer? The group talks about the role that religion plays in giallo, how director Alfred Sole pulled off a period piece on
107 - American Giallo Pt. 1: Dressed To Kill / Eyes Of Laura Mars (with Eli Roth)
Quentin, Roger and guest customer Eli Roth (director of Hostel and Cabin Fever) kick off our first themed series: American Giallo! After outlining their thoughts on the genre, they start with Brian De Palma's Dressed To Kill. A mysterious tall blonde woman wearing sunglasses murders a psychiatrist's patient, and now she's after the prostitute who witnessed it. Quentin, Roger and Eli talk about how
106 - Coma / Mikey & Nicky / Piranha
Take a trip to Boston Memorial Hospital for Michael Crichton's Coma! People are falling into comas after routine procedures, and it's up to one doctor to uncover the mystery. Roger & Quentin discuss the main character overcoming chauvinistic expectations, and go in-depth on Crichton's talents as a writer and director. Next, travel to the streets of Philly for Elaine May's Mikey & Nicky. A small-ti
105 - The One Armed Executioner / Welcome To Blood City / Blind Rage
Quentin and Roger earn the right to take revenge in The One Armed Executioner! An Interpol agent is out for vengeance against the gangsters that cut off his arm and killed his bride. The crew discuss the palpable on-screen connection between stars Franco Guerrero and Jody Kay, the artful sound design of this film, and the trailers packaged with the Paragon Home Video tape. Next up: in Welcome To B
104 - The Illustrated Man / Dirty Hands / Demonoid
Join Roger Avary and Quentin Tarantino as they fall deep into the stories of The Illustrated Man! Two tramps meet on the side of the road; one of their bodies is almost completely covered in tattoos—er, skin illustrations. Quentin & Roger discuss the differences between the book and the movie, an unexpected canine star, and how a Rod Steiger performance can elevate a film. Next up, Claude Chabrol'
103 - The Keep / The Relic / Cafe Express
Roger & Quentin travel deep into Bavaria to unlock Michael Mann's The Keep! Originally running at 210 minutes, Mann's second film was notoriously cut down to half that length. Your hosts discuss their excitement at the time for Mann's rise as a director, his influence on future filmmakers, and where it all went wrong. Next, join us at the museum as we dig into Peter Hyams' 1997 film The Relic! A m
102 - Moonraker / Firefox / Delirium
Blast off to outer space with Roger and Quentin as they go toe to toe on Moonraker! Heavily influenced by the science fiction craze in the wake of Star Wars, Moonraker is one of the most polarizing Bond films of all time. Pick a side as Roger and Quentin debate Bond villains that hit too close to home, baddies that turn into goodies, and Roger Moore's Bond. Next, we'll return to Earth with Clint E
101 - Dark Star / Cocaine Cowboys
Join Roger and Quentin as they revisit one of Roger's favorite films, the 1974 cult classic Dark Star! Originally created by John Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon as a student film, buckle up for a ride amongst the stars as we follow a group of scientists on a mission to destroy unstable stellar bodies. Quentin and Roger discuss changing opinions from opening day, the impact the film had on future movie
Quentin & Roger Introduce Video Archives
The Video Archives Podcast premieres next week! Follow us now and get ready for the show's launch on July 19th.
Coming Soon: The Video Archives Podcast
Listen for a preview of The Video Archives Podcast with Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary, coming July 19!
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