Film Stories with Simon Brew

Simon Brew
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Jan 11, 2021 • 53min

Gangs Of New York (2002) and Crocodile Dundee II (1988)

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the film that was supposed to win Martin Scorsese an Oscar, and a sequel that originally wasn't going to happen. Back in the late 70s, Martin Scorsese took out an advert declaring Gangs Of New York to be his next film. When he finally got to make it, it'd be something of a nightmare production. Crocodile Dundee II was a happier ship - but it ran into a dispute of its own while shooting in New York. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 27, 2020 • 53min

In conversation with director John Badham: Drop Zone, Blue Thunder, Nick Of Time and more

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Saturday Night Fever and WarGames director John Badham for a special episode. They chat about Badham's updated book, and then explore films he's not asked about quite as much: Drop Zone, The Assassin/Point Of No Return, The Hard Way and Nick Of Time for instance. That, and stories of A Perfect World and So I Married An Axe Murderer too... Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. You can find the Film Stories website here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 21, 2020 • 57min

Home Alone (1990) and Get Santa (2014)

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the festive favourite realised on a slim budget, and a British Christmas film that had to battle to get to the screen. It's well known that Warner Bros passed on 1990's Home Alone, but even when Fox picked the project up, the budget was tight - leading to some neighbourhood disturbance. Get Santa was ready to go back in 2011 - but the overlooked, charming British festive film would take a few more years yet to make. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 17, 2020 • 25min

Bee Gees: How Do You Mend A Broken Heart (2020) and Congo (1995) with producer Nigel Sinclair and director Frank Marshall

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Frank Marshall and producer Nigel Sinclair. They chat about making Bee Gees: How Do You Mend A Broken Heart, and the challenges of narrowing down the story. Plus, who can resist asking Frank Marshall about directing Congo? Simon certainly couldn't... Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. You can find the Film Stories website here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 14, 2020 • 54min

Gremlins (1984) and In The Bleak Midwinter (1995)

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the practical challenges of bringing small creatures to life, and an overlooked Christmas movie. 1984's Gremlins was quietly groundbreaking, with effects work being cracked often just hours before it was needed. Plus, it caused ratings problems. In The Bleak Midwinter meanwhile soon found an American studio wanting to release it - but there was a sizeable condition attached. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 7, 2020 • 55min

Die Hard (1988) and Anna & The Apocalypse (2017)

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, how the world first met John McClane, and the world's only Christmas comedy horror musical. 1988's Die Hard got the greenlight quickly once Fox realised it was short on a summer release that year - but it had to negotiate a contractual obligation first. Anna & The Apocalypse meanwhile did something very different with the Christmas movie - and its origins lie in part with Ryan Gosling and some breakfast cereal. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Nov 30, 2020 • 56min

GoldenEye (1995) and The Commitments (1991)

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the return of James Bond after six years away, and a much-loved musical movie. The pressure was very much on GoldenEye to reinvent James Bond 007 for the 1990s - and it would have to do so on a surprisingly limited budget too. Not as limited as The Commitments, a film whose original financier disappeared leaving its makers to follow a low budget path. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Nov 23, 2020 • 53min

Planes Trains & Automobiles (1987) and Crank (2006)

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a comedy whose first cut was three times as long, and an action movie shot very much on the move! Planes, Trains And Automobiles wasn't originally set to be directed by John Hughes. But when the cast came together, he took over the film - and he'd have a race against time to make it. With Crank, directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor used guerilla filming tactics to shoot their movie - which nearly starred Nicolas Cage. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Nov 19, 2020 • 39min

Con Air (1997), Skyfire (2019) and more, with director Simon West

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Simon West for a chat about his new film, Skyfire. And, of course, the conversation moves onto Con Air, as well as The General's Daughter, Tomb Raider and a whole lot more. Plus: what's this about a Con Air musical?! Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. You can find the Film Stories website here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Nov 15, 2020 • 57min

Total Recall (1990) and Total Recall (2012)

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sci-fi film that nearly starred Patrick Swayze - and the attempt to reimagine it. 1990's Total Recall took over a decade to come together, and in the end it took a bankruptcy for Arnold Schwarzenegger to get his hands on it. And he wasn't cheap. After a sequel nearly happened, a 2012 new take on Total Recall followed - but this one faced a few different challenges. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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