The Video Archives Podcast with Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary

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, and what the versatile Hiller brings to the screen. Next up, we travel to the early American West in Ulzana’s Raid. Based on true events, fierce Apache war chief Ulzana and a contingent of warriors have jumped the reservation, and an inexperienced young lieutenant is sent to track him down with a top-notch scout and an Apache guide. We’ll discuss characters that confront hidden prejudices, surprising and brutal violence that mirrors the Vietnam War, and the working relationship between Robert Aldrich and Burt Lancaster. Finally, Quentin and Roger reach for an impossible dream and build a miracle in Steel! A building tycoon falls to his death, leaving his skyscraper unfinished. His daughter sets her sights on completing the building, assembling the Seven Samurai of the construction world to hang iron and get this job done. A remarkable movie about America coming together, the Video Archives crew discuss the unique way they watched Steel and the film’s fantastic cast. PATREON MERCH TWITTER INSTAGRAM You can also write us a question by sending a letter to The Video Archives Podcast, 1014 South Westlake Boulevard, Suite #14-1328, Westlake Village, CA 91361.  

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, Jan-Michael Vincent’s heartthrob status and how American Graffiti changed the coming of age story. Next up, beware of the dog who thinks in Baxter! Based on the novel Hell Hound, Baxter is a black comedy about a white bull terrier who moves from owner to owner, and the misfortunes that befall them. Quentin and Roger discuss Baxter’s incredible voiceover, the genre of dog movies, and the mystery of what happened to director Jérôme Boivin. Finally, the only way out is death in Lindsay Shonteff’s outlandish heist film The Fast Kill! A successful diamond robbery goes wrong when six criminals attempt to divvy up their earnings. The duo discuss the film’s economical filmmaking, groovy music, and heart-pounding heist sequence. PATREON MERCH TWITTER INSTAGRAM You can also write us a question by sending a letter to The Video Archives Podcast, 1014 South Westlake Boulevard, Suite #14-1328, Westlake Village, CA 91361.

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-wrenching, many viewers couldn’t recover. Then, they reach deep into the psyche of Waldo Pepper, discussing chasing your dreams and the consequences of living a lie. PATREON MERCH TWITTER INSTAGRAM You can also write us a question by sending a letter to The Video Archives Podcast, 1014 South Westlake Boulevard, Suite #14-1328, Westlake Village, CA 91361.

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 what makes this crime film work. Next up, the West goes wacko in Rustlers’ Rhapsody! Rex O’Herlihan (played by Tom Berenger) is a fast-drawing, silver-spurred singing cowboy, who slowly becomes aware that every town he rides into is the same as the last. For this ode to kiddie matinees, Quentin shares vivid stories of the genre from theaters long shuttered and both hosts praise the gorgeous cinematography and affectionate parody of the film. Finally, The Jet Benny Show is the oddest film we’ve covered on the podcast so far. Shot on Super 8, you’ll have to tune in to discover what this Jack Benny-themed spoof is all about… PATREON MERCH TWITTER INSTAGRAM You can also write us a question by sending a letter to The Video Archives Podcast, 1014 South Westlake Boulevard, Suite #14-1328, Westlake Village, CA 91361.

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 who’s been pushed too far, and carries in his right vest pocket the power to destroy a nation. Roger & Quentin sit on the edge of their seats as they cheer for Rod Steiger’s performance, the seamless documentary footage, and a surprising cameo. Finally, we travel to the sea for the beloved Russian fantasy film Amphibian Man. In this sci-fi fable, a pearl diver discovers the secret of Amphibian Man and desires to exploit it, not realizing that Amphibian Man has fallen in love with the pearl diver’s fiancée. A poignant story of love and loss, Quentin and Roger discuss the history of this popular movie and Soviet genre filmmaking. PATREON MERCH TWITTER INSTAGRAM You can also write us a question by sending a letter to The Video Archives Podcast, 1014 South Westlake Boulevard, Suite #14-1328, Westlake Village, CA 91361.

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, and whether Straw Dogs can be considered a Revengeamatic. Plus, our very first Magnetic Home Video box and an examination of IB Technicolor. PATREON MERCH TWITTER INSTAGRAM You can also write us a question by sending a letter to The Video Archives Podcast, 1014 South Westlake Boulevard, Suite #14-1328, Westlake Village, CA 91361.

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 of the film, the striking performances of the actors, and the director’s determination to push the boundaries on screen. Next up, The Young Nurses have their own brand of medicine, and in their hospital, patients always come first. In this New World picture, we follow three nurses and a candy striper as they navigate their day-to-day activities inside the hospital. Quentin, Roger & Joe discuss the genre of nurse films, the relationship between Julie and Roger Corman, and Joe’s involvement with the film. Finally, let’s spend a night in the countryside with Susan, Sandra, Olga and Julie, in My Nights With Susan, Sandra, Olga and Julie. Anton has been tasked with retrieving Susan, a famous fashion model, and bringing her back to the French Riviera. Susan has other ideas, however, and Anton becomes enchanted by the strange characters that live with Susan, and slowly ensnared in their web. PATREON MERCH TWITTER INSTAGRAM You can also write us a question by sending a letter to The Video Archives Podcast, 1014 South Westlake Boulevard, Suite #14-1328, Westlake Village, CA 91361.

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 mob loan collector hatches a plan to steal millions from Video Archives favorite Jack Palance. This is revenge, Italian style! Roger & Quentin talk sans spoilers about the movie, discussing the elaborate, strange and goofy action sequences. Finally, pulling into the finish line is the greatest funny car movie ever made, American Nitro! Featuring drivers like Don ‘The Snake’ Prudhomme and Shirley ‘Cha Cha’ Muldowney, this documentary puts rubber to the road with spectacular crashes and crazy cars. MERCH TWITTER INSTAGRAM You can also write us a question by sending a letter to The Video Archives Podcast, 1014 South Westlake Boulevard, Suite #14-1328, Westlake Village, CA 91361.

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 Darlings. Two fifteen year old girls from different walks of life compete to see who can lose their virginity first at summer camp. Tatum O’Neal and Kristy McNichol star in an unexpectedly realistic portrayal of female youth in the 1980s. We’ll explore what it means for a girl to become a woman, the anxieties of keeping up with your peers, and the beautiful Paramount Home Video box. Lastly, there’s more to do than ski in the Swiss Alps, especially when it comes to the psychosexual romp Julia. Roger & Quentin dive headfirst into the tale of a sexually frustrated young man named Patrick whose problems come to a head on his Swiss vacation. PATREON MERCH TWITTER INSTAGRAM You can also write us a question by sending a letter to The Video Archives Podcast, 1014 South Westlake Boulevard, Suite #14-1328, Westlake Village, CA 91361.

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 One is a blistering black comedy that pulls no punches with its portrayal of the mortuary business in Hollywood. Roger & Quentin discuss a star-studded supporting cast, the magic of a reel change, and the everlasting influence Richardson had on Roger. Remember kids, it’s not a rocket! Finally, Roger & Quentin sing a song for a little sparrow in 1972’s Cry For Me Billy. We’ll learn what makes a 70s Western unique and talk about the bravery of an actress who bares it all. PATREON MERCH TWITTER INSTAGRAM You can also write us a question by sending a letter to The Video Archives Podcast, 1014 South Westlake Boulevard, Suite #14-1328, Westlake Village, CA 91361.