Film Gold
A podcast where the host and guests explore some of their favorite films, many of which they consider among the pinnacles of cinematic achievement. Each episode offers a deep dive into the movies that have left a lasting impression on them, discussing what makes these films so special.
Episodes
Episode 45: Deathtrap (1982)
If we told you 'Deathtrap' was the poorer cousin of 'Sleuth' (see Episode 13), would that be a bad thing? It would certainly be a great double bill, and the film on the docket this time is full of surprises, deception and plot twists. It's not on a par with Hitchcock's 'Psycho' but does follow a similar structure as the viewer is engaged in one story before the film becomes something else entirely
Episode 44: Rocky III (1982) Part 2 of 2
We round off our look at Rocky III by going through theremaining scenes of the film. Without issuing too many spoilers, Rocky comes a cropper and his life goes seriously south, motivation all but gone. However, just as Clarence the Angel came to rescue George Bailey in our very first filmreview on this show, Rocky's old rival Apollo Creed swoops in with a two-word plan that could be said to be sli
Episode 43: Rocky III (1982) Part 1 of 2
Here's part one of another swapcast with 'The Stinking Pause',hosted by Scott Phipps. This time round, Antony and Scott tackle the middle film of the original 5-film Rocky franchise ('Rocky Balboa' aka Rocky VI would eventuallyarrive after a long hiatus), a subject dear to both their hearts. After the gritty 1970s fairytale that was the original film,followed by Rocky's redemptive rematch with Ap
Episode 42- Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) Part 2 of 2
Antony and Luke complete their look at the flawed smorgasbord of ideas that is 1983's 'Monty Python's The Meaning of Life', going through the remaining good, bad, ugly, extremely violent & completely gross scenes, and separating the top tier from the filler tracks. In this part, expect to hear discussion of galaxies,internal organs, death and anticlimax, not to mention the adventures of Mr Creos
Episode 41: Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) Part 1 of 2
More than a pleasure to 'get back' (see what I did there?) with friend and podcast comrade Luke Thompson to round off our sort-of trilogy of Monty Python films (originally recorded on video, see below). This time round, Antony and Luke look at the flawed smorgasbord of ideas that is 1983's 'Monty Python's The Meaning of Life', going scene-by-scene through the good, bad, ugly, extremely violent, c
Episode 40- Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) Part 2 of 2
Luke and Antony complete their look at the classic comedy 'Monty Python's Life of Brian', the talk originally recorded on video earlier this year (see below). It's hard to avoid the controversy that surrounded this filmwhen it came out, and you will hear a clip or two from the remarkable TV debate around the more contentious aspects of it, the like of which would surely not be seen these days. M
Episode 39- Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) Part 1 of 2
What more is there to say about Monty Python's Life ofBrian? Well, we may as well give it a bash. Luke Thompson takes on hosting duties for a swapcast between Film Gold and Luke's English Podcast, originally recorded on video earlier this year (see below). In this first part, Luke & Antony discuss among otherthings their histories with the film, the basic philosophy of the Python team regardin
Episode 38- U Turn (1997)
Among Oliver Stone's large and celebrated body of work is afilm from 1997 that was largely ignored and derided at the time but is a classic case of a rediscovered gem with cult appeal. Scott Phipps joins Antony to look at the dark and twisted 'U Turn'. Sean Penn leads an ensemble cast including the ultimate femme fatale Jennifer Lopez and many recognisable and renowned names at various stages of
Episode 37: Duel (1971)
This time round we present our second Steven Spielberg filmand one that was very much a forerunner to (and inspiration for) the more famous 'Jaws', as an ordinary man is forced to find inner resources and transcend his limitations in order to defeat a seemingly unstoppable force that can't be reasoned with. By kind permission of Julian Charles of The Mind Renewed,the recording used here is from
Episode 36- Citizen Kane (1941) Part 5 of 5
And so we say goodbye as Charles Foster Kane faces the final curtain… Antony wraps up Citizen Kane's final scenes, discusses the critical response to the film and its multi-decade legacy, and the final words -13 minutes of them- are given to the man himself, Orson Welles, aided by Huw Wheldon and Dick Cavett If you've listened through this series (and the previous3-parter on Orson), we sincere
Episode 35- Citizen Kane (1941) Part 4 of 5
Antony continues a scene-by-scene analysis of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane. As we enter the second half of the film, things are still going reasonably well with Charles Foster Kane, but the slow descent into despair and emptiness will soon begin with the famous 'breakfast table montage'. As you listen to this and/or watch the film, it's worth asking a fundamental question about acceptance of realit
Episode 34- Citizen Kane (1941) Part 3 of 5
Our continuing journey into the world of Orson Welles's Citizen Kane finds Antony beginning a scene-by-scene analysis, starting with the film's Gothic horror opening,possibly the best-known final word of a character in any film, and then the sudden and jarring segue into the newsreel obituary of the world-famous Charles Foster Kane. We try to make sense of the sometimes absurdly non-linear struct
Episode 33- Citizen Kane (1941) Part 2 of 5
We continue our multi-part series on Orson Welles's Citizen Kane, finishing our prelude to the main film by looking at the shooting, storytelling, special effects, editing and sound/music. We also detail its commercial performance and the pushback from William Randolph Hearst. In Part 3, Antony will begin going scene by scene through the film We hope you enjoy it! 'Film Gold' is on all the ma
Episode 32: Citizen Kane (1941) Part 1 of 5
Following on from Film Gold's Orson Welles special last time round, Antony this time tackles head-on, with another multi-parter, the grandaddy of American films, Citizen Kane. The first two parts look at the background and the making of the film before we go scene-by-scene through the film in later parts. This time round, Antony intros this deep dive and looks at Orson Welles's arrival in Hollyw
Episode 31- Orson Welles: Mercurial Magician (Part 3 of 3)
Just as Orson Welles finally bowed out in 1985, we must do the same. This time round Antony and Ghosty pick up Orson's film career from his acting gig in the sublime 'The Third Man', a couple of returns to Shakespeare territory and a trio of absolute masterworks of his own making, namely 'Touch of Evil', 'The Trial' and 'F For Fake' (plus a couple of other films along the way). Finally we look a
Episode 30- Orson Welles: Mercurial Magician (Part 2 of 3)
We continue our Orson Welles journey, accompanied by uberfan David 'Ghosty' Wills, with discussion of the big daddy of all films, 1941's Citizen Kane. Was this both a blessing and a curse for Orson's career? We also discuss Welles's forays into wartime politics and the films 'The Magnificent Ambersons',, 'The Stranger', 'The Lady From Shanghai' and 'Macbeth'. The final part will be out at the en
Episode 29- Orson Welles: Mercurial Magician (Part 1 of 3)
Following on from our Marlon Brando and Michael Caine deep dives in the last few years, this time Orson Welles gets the Film Gold treatment. David 'Ghosty' Wills joins Antony for a 3-parter looking at the great man's life, work and legacy. First up we discuss Orson's early life and the start of his theatre and radio careers, both of which Ghosty feels are somewhat undervalued when compared to his
Episode 28- Dr. Strangelove (1964)
We are delighted to bring you another swapcast with former Film Gold guest and my podcasting 'spiritual brother', Julian Charles of 'The Mind Renewed'. On the docket this time is a true classic from the master, Stanley Kubrick. It's a film that works beautifully on the level of pure comedy but is absolutely packed with layers of meaning, both overt and subtle, and is a showcase for the remarkable
Episode 27- Sorcerer (1977)
Antony and returning guest Luke Thompson of 'Luke's English Podcast' tackle William Friedkin's underrated 1977 thriller, starring Roy Scheider. This film wasn't a success in its day but has been reassessed over the decades and could now be considered a 'hidden masterpiece'. The plot is very simple but the film is marvellously evocative, and the production of the film is a story in itself... Hope
Episode 26- Requiem For A Dream (2000)
One of the films that ushered in the new century, Requiem For A Dream is a virtuoso powerhouse from director Darren Aronofsky, featuring a remarkable lead performance by Ellen Burstyn. Although primarily dealing with drug addiction, it hits all kinds of other points of social and emotional impact, such as the power of television, the pain of loss, the fragility of dreams and the human need for lov
Episode 25- Mutiny On The Bounty (1962)
The story of HMS Bounty and the mutiny that took place aboard it is a compelling narrative that has not surprisingly been the subject of many film adaptations and other creative endeavours. In this discussion from 2020 that originally went out on the Stinking Pause podcast, regular Film Gold collaborator Scott Phipps is joined by myself and Steven Byford for a long and expansive discussion of the
Episode 24- Deliverance (1972)
Antony joins frequent collaborator Scott Phipps to take a deep dive (sans canoe) into a true 1970s classic, as part of 'The Stinking Pause' 10th anniversary celebrations. The making of this film is almost as mind-blowing as the movie itself. Insurance, who needs it? Enjoy! The Cahulawassee River valley in Northern Georgia is one of the last natural pristine areas of the state, which will soon
Episode 23- Michael Caine: A British Icon (Part 2 of 2)
We complete our Michael Caine tribute, a joint presentation of the 'Film Gold' and 'The Stinking Pause' podcasts, as the great man turns 90. Antony Rotunno and Scott Phipps count down their top 5 Caine performances and also discuss his ultimate legacy after 60 years as a film star. There are audio clips galore to complement the conversation, including Michael reading from the first of his many mem
Episode 22- Michael Caine: A British Icon (Part 1 of 2)
Michael Caine, born as Maurice Micklewhite, has been acting for 70 years and been a star for nearly 60. This 2-part joint presentation of the 'Film Gold' and 'The Stinking Pause' podcasts celebrates the life and career of a true cinematic icon as he approaches his 90th birthday. In this first part, Antony Rotunno and Scott Phipps look at Caine's upbringing and give an overview of his career befor
Episode 21- Capricorn One (1978)
Originally recorded for 'The Mind Renewed' podcast and hosted by Julian Charles, this is a four-way discussion, also including Mark Campbell and Frank Johnson, about the 1978 conspiracy thriller Capricorn One, starring Elliott Gould, James Brolin, Branda Vaccaro and Hal Holbrook and written and directed by Peter Hyams. About to embark upon the first crewed mission to Mars, three NASA astronauts (
Episode 20- Raging Bull (1980)
We continue the boxing theme with a look at the black-and-white 'anti-Rocky', starring the dynamite team of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro. Based on the book by Jake La Motta and Pete Savage, this filmic masterpiece looks at La Motta's life and struggles in and out of the ring as well as the punishment he dishes out to those around him. In this film, boxing is the backdrop but 'the ring' is ev
Episode 19- Rocky (1976) and the sequels
The Rocky films, for better or worse, have become an instantly recognisable part of popular culture. The original 1976 film, as you will hear, went through a gradual period of evolution but Sylvester Stallone's script was born in a unique time of 'realistic' Hollywood films. The finished product was an unlikely success and a marriage of this gritty realism and crowd-pleasing triumphalism, all agai
Episode 18- Taxi Driver (1976)
Taxi Driver's master filmmaking and complex psychology have made it a key film in the classic 'Easy Riders/Raging Bulls' period dominated by the Hollywood of the 70s. Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese and writer Paul Schrader were, in Schrader's words, 'all looking for something', and along came this script and story and they embarked on a filmic and personal journey that would become a landmark in
Episode 17- Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Film analyst extraordinaire Rob Ager returns to 'Film Gold' podcast to help Antony pick through the many layers of the seminal 'zombie film' from 1968, which also has elements of horror & sci-fi and makes numerous comments on the society of the time We go through the plot, characters and themes of the film, talk about its influence and throw in a couple of tangents along the way... Links to Ro
Episode 16- Rear Window (1954)
Alfred Hitchcock, The Master of Suspense, makes his first appearance on the podcast as we take a look at his 1954 'limited setting' classic, starring Hitchcock regulars James Stewart and Grace Kelly in their only on-screen collaboration. Antony is joined by Matt Williamson, who has a highly recommended you tube channel called 'Pop Goes The 60s'. Antony and Matt work through the plot and dive into
Episode 15- Monty Python & The Holy Grail (1975)
For this episode, we take our first (but surely not last) trip into the surreal, anarchic world of the comedy group known as Monty Python. Luke Thompson, fellow English teacher and podcaster, helps Antony navigate the choppy but hilarious waters of King Arthur's somewhat pointless quest 'on horseback', aided by some eccentric knights, to seek the Holy Grail. We discuss and dissect favourite scenes
Episode 14- The Graduate (1967)
The groundbreaking Mike Nichols 'romantic comedy' (if it is that) from 1967, arguably the birth of the 'Easy Riders, Raging Bulls' period, sees Antony and the returning Jcrash covering another film starring Dustin Hoffman, with stellar support from Anne Bancroft and Katherine Ross. This is a multi-layered movie with a very interesting turn in the second half and layers of symbolism that we do our
Episode 13- Sleuth (1972)
We return to the 1970s for a fantastic film showcasing the formidable talents of two of Britain's finest ever, Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. For this task, I'm ably assisted by Film Gold veteran Scott Phipps (The Stinking Pause, Rainbow Valley, Talking Pictures TV podcast) and his 'Reel Britannia' co-host Steven Byford 'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms. Feedback to antony@anto
Episode 12- Marlon Brando: The Greatest (Part 2 of 2)
We conclude our 2-part look at the mercurial, infuriating but always compelling actor and cultural figure Marlon Brando. In this part, we look at some key books (including Brando's memoir 'Songs My Mother Taught Me'), documentaries and interviews as well as discussing Brando's turbulent personal life, the less well-known periods of his career and a few other things. There are many sound clips incl
Episode 11- Marlon Brando: The Greatest (Part 1 of 2)
I'm joined by radio host David 'Ghosty' Wills for this special 2-part look at the person we both consider the most compelling actor in cinema history, as well as a fascinating cultural figure. In this part, we don't get beyond going through our lists of top ten Brando performances, but there is information galore and some of Brando's less-known films are discussed here as well as the classics 'Fil
Episode 10- Jaws (1975) Audio Commentary
Antony is rejoined by fellow film podcaster and Jaws superfan Scott Phipps (see Episode 2) for an audio companion to the evergreen classic film from the 1970s along with some bonus material after the film discussing some other aspects of it, such as books, documentaries, sequels and recuts. The film is audible at low volume in the background but if you would like to follow along with your copy of
Episode 9- Snowtown (2011) Part 2 of 2 with Rob Ager
Rob Ager and Antony complete their discussion of the darkly compelling Australian film in the 'small-town horror' genre, which looks at the shocking real-life events that happened in a suburb of Adelaide in South Australia in the 1990s. Once again, we discuss the film and the real murder case, along with the many wider societal issues surrounding it (see Part 1 description for more details) Links
Episode 8- Snowtown (2011) Part 1 of 2 with Rob Ager
Rob Ager, filmmaker and film analyst extraordinaire, joins Antony to discuss an incredibly dark but incredibly compelling and well-made Australian film in the 'small-town horror' genre, which looks at the shocking real-life events that happened in a suburb of Adelaide in South Australia in the 1990s. As well as discussing the film and the real murder case, we discuss the wider issues of psychopath
Episode 7- Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982)
Antony is joined by Jcrash and podcast debutante Filippo to discuss Alan Parker's film adaptation of the Roger Waters-driven concept album by Pink Floyd. Among other things, we discuss the many themes of the film, our own experiences of state education, the film's animation by Gerald Scarfe and finally the incredible music that drives it all. Hope you enjoy it! 'Film Gold' is on all the main podca
Episode 6- Groundhog Day (1993)
Antony is joined by Jenifer Thyssen of jeniferthyssen.com and Julian Charles of themindrenewed.com to discuss what is on one level a romantic comedy but which, as you will hear, has many subtleties and offers endless points of discussion about life and existence. Hope you enjoy it! 'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms. Feedback to contrafib2001@gmail.com Facebook page- https://www.face
Episode 5- The Social Network (2010)
Antony is joined by his niece and film fan Olivia to discuss David Fincher's 2010 film about the formation of Facebook and all the legal ramifications and friendship challenges that surrounded it. We also discuss social media in general and its pros, cons and potential pitfalls 'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms. Feedback to contrafib2001@gmail.com Facebook page- https://www.facebook
Episode 4- 10 Rillington Place (1971) Audio Commentary
Antony is joined by Jonathan Oates, the most recent biographer of serial killer John Reginald Christie, for an unofficial audio commentary of the 1971 film '10 Rillington Place', starring Richard Attenborough and John Hurt and based on the book by Ludovic Kennedy, along with general discussion of the case, Since this is audio only, its worth following along with the film if you have it. This comm
Episode 3- Marathon Man (1976)
Antony and Jcrash reconvene to discuss the classic, multi-layered thriller from 1976, starring Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier and Roy Scheider. In case you're asking yourself 'is it safe?', it's very clear that nothing is safe in this incredible film! We are now on all the main podcast platforms. Feedback to contrafib2001@gmail.com Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod Twitter- @Fi
Episode 2- It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
For the first review of the podcast, Antony is joined by film podcast master Scott Phipps to discuss and dissect the perennial Xmas classic (Scott has also previously appeared on my other podcast 'Glass Onion: On John Lennon'). Among other things, we talk about key scenes, the themes of the film, marvel at Jimmy Stewart's characterisation of George Bailey and discuss alternative interpretations of
Episode 1- Introduction
If you've taken the decision to download and listen, welcome to the show! This is a short introduction in which host Antony and soon-to-be regular contributor Jcrash talk about some of their favourite films and discuss what will be coming when the regular episodes start. Hope you enjoy it!
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