The Damn Dirty Geeks drop into Uncle Ira's Basement for another mini-podcast episode as Frank Dietz and Frank Woodward put their normal-sized heads together to discuss Universal's 1955 sci-fi classic THIS ISLAND EARTH, a fun iconic film with Metalunans, Mutants and interocitors.
Starring Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason and a pre-GILLGANS ISLAND Russell Johnson, this Technicolor adventure with bulbous brained aliens exploded across movie screens with a unique plot twist for 1950s science fiction films as the inhabitants of Metaluna seek help from humans on Earth -- at least, that's how it starts! What follows is a pinwheeling ride across the galaxy to a battle ravaged planet as a somewhat kooky cautionary tale about the excesses and apocalyptic cost of war, not to mention giant brain-headed aliens wearing futuristic pant suits.
Frank and Frank have a blast revisiting this classic yet somewhat campy sci-fi treasure, discussing the design crossover connection between THIS ISLAND EARTH and THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, 1950s heroine actresses and the peril of wearing giant alien head masks. For the record, Frank Dietz has not forgiven himself for confusing James Arness with James Whitmore in THEM! but he hopes you listeners will pardon him.
Delving into Uncle Ira's Basement once again, Frank Dietz and Frank Woodward also take a trip back in history to examine and enjoy fond memories of EXCALIBUR, John Boorman's 1981 glorious, violent, sexy vision of the King Arthur legends.
Starring Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicol Willamson and a round table of upcoming film stars including Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson and Patrick Stewart, EXCALIBUR imagines the tale of Arthur's Camelot as a bloody, down-in-the-dirt fantasy epic that forever raised the bar of expectations on the Sword and Sorcery film genre.
Woodward and Dietz relate seeing the film in 1981 as a highlight of their young moviegoing lives and libidos in its "Brian Blessed-level of acting" style during the new age of cable television. EXCALIBUR still holds a strong spell on audiences imaginations, and Boorman's armor-clad epic is very worth viewing today so check it out. One day, a King will come, and the Sword will rise... again!
This episode was a bit delayed by technical issues we're still having with iTunes (hang in there, subscribers!), but we're rolling with this new installment of Uncle Ira's Basement in which Frank, Frank and Jack discuss the recent release of news-grabbing movie trailers -- leading off with the blockbusting debut of the second teaser for STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS.
Our Damn Dirty Geeks trio also unspool their thoughts on the unfortunate timing of the BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE trailer leak and official release, an expanded trailer look at the dino-sized action in JURASSIC WORLD, the dynamic desert battles exploding in MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, and the AVENGERS enter the AGE OF ULTRON.
Finally, the Damn Dirty Geeks can reveal our newest podcast feature: Uncle Ira's Basement, a series of mini-podcast episodes -- oh, you might call them Seed Pods -- in which the Geeks discuss movies, TV and genre topics we love, hate or are indifferent to in short 10-minute shows.
In this debut Uncle Ira's Basement episode, resident DDG hosts Frank Dietz and Frank Woodward revisit the 1970 cult horror film TROG, directed by Hammer horror veteran Freddie Francis, starring Joan Crawford and Michael Gough.
Watch for more new installments of Uncle Ira's Basement coming soon, and be sure to subscribe to the Damn Dirty Geeks on iTunes. Please leave your review of our show to share with other genre entertainment fans!
Something for everyone, a comedy episode tonight! Damn Dirty Geeks -- Frank Dietz, Trish Geiger, Jack Bennett and Scott Weitz -- welcome the prolific comedy actors Brian Howe and Alison Martin, fresh off launching their hilarious project The Audio Adventurebook of Big Dan Frater Volume 1.
The Geeks discuss our collective origins, influences and favorites as comedy fans, plus Alison and Brian's work on the films of Larry Blamire including THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN and DARK AND STORMY NIGHT, along with Frank and Trish's mockumentary A ZOMBIE NEXT DOOR.
Now, from the minds of Blamire and Howe comes the comic audio adventures of Big Dan Frater (Brian Howe) and his cohorts Dutch 'the Swede' Anacrombie (Dan Conroy) and Millie Healey (Alison Martin), as this trio of hapless heroes tackle terrors and rescue the citizens of New Garden Hope City! If you enjoy the comedy of Monty Python, Steve Martin, Edgar Wright films and more, you'll dig this comedy-centric episode with the Damn Dirty Geeks.
With our talented producer/audio guru Justin Cruse away on another project for this recording, you may experience moments of audio level fluctuation on this episode. Just bump up the volume a bit and enjoy!
In our special podcast celebrating the first PLANET OF THE APES DAY, comedian and lifelong APES movie fan Dana Gould joins Frank, Jack, Trish and Scott to discuss the entertainment legacy and personal connections to the entire APES franchise, including the new generation of films RISE and DAWN. In short, the Damn Dirty Geeks GO APE at last!
Our podcast primates evaluate the evolution of the classic APES films, including the importance of Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowall in the series, and how the newer films' blend of actors and CG have changed the future of the franchise.
Collectively, we also link specific and fond memories of our first time seeing the APES films, and note how Taylor's mysterious leap into the far future influenced our lives as fans, professionals and Damn Dirty Geeks, of course.
These are the films that inspired the very name of our podcast, so be sure to subscribe to us in iTunes and leave your reviews of this special episode along with our entire collection of episodes.
In our fourth podcast, the Damn Dirty Geeks reveal their inmost selves unto the audience. With help from returning guest Mallory O'Meara and special guest makeup effects artist Frank Ippolito, the gang recalls their humble nerd beginnings and how they blossomed into hyphenates in the entertainment biz.
We reflect on our collective geek origins as inspired by Romero zombies, Mexican horror movies, classic radio dramas, werewolves and movie effects magazines, just to name a few. Plus Episode #004 celebrates the reunion of the Hot Dog Stand, the joys of audiobooks, the sound of balloons and other audible gems!
Our third podcast episode finds the Damn Dirty Geeks growling and howling under the full moon as we get under the skin of werewolf movies and mythology -- recorded on Lon Chaney Jr.'s birthday no less!
Frank, Jack, Frank and Scott are joined by special guest Mallory O'Meara, who dives right into the deep end of Damn Dirty Geekdom with great insights on our discussion of Universal's classic monster movie THE WOLF MAN, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, THE HOWLING, THE CURSE OF THE WERWOLF and more.
Episode #003 also delves into werewolf and horror fiction with Angela Carter's story THE COMPANY OF WOLVES later adapted into a unique werewolf film of the same name. Mallory also digs into the supersitions of the past to shed some moonlight on varying myths about lycanthropy, vampirism and the undead. It's our most monstrous episode yet!
And we promise that Damn Dirty Geek member Trish Geiger WILL finally be heard in an upcoming episode, so subscribe and keep listening for Trish's long-awaited debut.
In our second podcast episode, the Damn Dirty Geeks close out our year-end recap exploring the highlights and dangerous shadows of 2014's most notable TV terrors and dramas.
Frank, Jack, Frank and Scott retrace the path of THE WALKING DEAD to Terminus and beyond, revisit MAD MEN's landing on the PLANET OF THE APES, cradk down on BREAKING BAD'S finale, play a round of HBO's deadly GAME OF THRONES and much more!
Frank, Jack, Frank and Scott launch the Damn Dirty Geeks podcast with our review of 2014's big-budget genre film events like GODZILLA and its Kaiju-sized expectations, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY's box office blast, and DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES' evolutionary impact on the feature franchise.