Mary Versus the Movies

Sure, the 1980s were a great decade for film. But have you seen all of them? No, neither has Mary. In fact, some pretty big films passed her by, what with being in kindergarten at the time: A Nightmare on Elm Street, Moonstruck, My Neighbor Totoro... So it's time to fix that. Artwork, opening and closing themes by Dennis Lingg Produced and edited by Mary Jones

Episode 195 - Supergirl (1984) 07/17/2025

Episode 195 - Supergirl (1984) Cautiously excited to see Superman (2025), we decided to check out part of the extended Supes cinematic universe with a film built around his cousin, Kara Zor-El, a.k.a. Supergirl. Not the worst superhero movie we've seen, but maybe one of the creepiest, what with all the adults making out with high school girls. Starring Faye Dunaway, Helen Slater, Peter O'Toole, Brenda Vaccaro and Peter Cook. Written by David Odell. Directed by Jeannot Szwarc. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/37408240

Episode 194 - Summer Rental (1985) 07/10/2025

Episode 194 - Summer Rental (1985) An overworked air traffic controller just wants to take a long vacation down the shore with his family? What could go wrong? Well, everything, of course. And then for some reason a boat race happens. Starring John Candy, Richard Crenna, Rip Torn, Karen Austin, Kerri Green, John Larroquette, and Joey Lawrence. Written by Mark Reisman and Jeremy Stevens. Directed by Carl Reiner. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/37342610

Episode 193 - The Big Picture (1989) 07/03/2025

Episode 193 - The Big Picture (1989) Nick Chapman is a film student who suddenly hits it big in Hollywood, and finds out how much of a curse that is. The directorial debut of Christopher Guest is a sly satire of filmmaking that has a surprisingly sweet center. Starring Keving Bacon, Jennifer Jason Leigh, J. T. Walsh, and Michael McKean. Written by Christopher Guest, Michal McKean, and Michal Varhol. Directed by Christopher Guest. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/37250375

Episode 192 - Field of Dreams (1989) 06/26/2025

Episode 192 - Field of Dreams (1989) A man turns his farm into a baseball diamond inhabited by the ghosts of disgraced ballplayers in what might be the most boomer dad film ever made. Starring Kevin Costner, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones, Amy Madigan, Burt Lancaster, and Timothy Busfield. Written and directed by Phil Alden Robinson. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/37128410

Episode 191 - Deathtrap (1982) 06/20/2025

Episode 191 - Deathtrap (1982) Sidney is a washed-up playwrite; Myra is his rich and sickly wife; Clifford is his younger lover and protégé. Let's just say they're not a happy trouple in this comedy-thriller adapted from the long-running stage play. Starring Michael Caine, Dyan Cannon, and Christopher Reeve. Written by Ira Levin and Jay Presson Allen. Directed by Sidney Lumet. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/37084625

Episode 190 - Butlerian Jihad Now 06/13/2025

Episode 190 - Butlerian Jihad Now My computer died, so you get a rant instead. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/36980280

Episode 189 - Twilight Zone: the Movie (1983) 06/06/2025

Episode 189 - Twilight Zone: the Movie (1983) Four directors remake several classic Twilight Zone episodes, as well adding as their own material. Does it work? Do anthology films work? Can this movie escape the tragedy that occured during production? Is this a movie, or just tv on a big screen? Starring Dan Ackroyd, Albert Brooks, Vic Morrow, Scatman Crothers, Kathleen Quinlan, and John Lithgow. Oh, and Dick Miller. Directed by John Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante, and George Miller. Written by John Landis, Richard Matheson, Melissa Mathison, George Clayton Johnson, Jerome Bixby, and Rod Serling. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/36881300

Episode 188 - Hangar 18 (1980) 05/30/2025

Episode 188 - Hangar 18 (1980) Aliens crash-land in the American southwest, and it's a race between NASA and the CIA over whether the truth is ever exposed. Also, it's a race between my attention and my eyelids--this is an incredibly soporific film. Starring Darren McGavin, Robert Vaughn, Gary Collins, James Hampton and Pamela Bellwood. Written by Thomas C. Chapman and James L. Conway. Directed by James L. Conway /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/36696400

Hollywood Avalon, ep. 25 - The Black Knight (1954) 05/29/2025

Hollywood Avalon, ep. 25 - The Black Knight (1954) A young blacksmith joins King Arthur's court and hopes to win the hand of the fair Linet, but first he must defeat Vikings, Druids, the villainous Sir Palamedies, King Mark, and a very burly guy in a turban. If it didn't feature brownface and a far-too-old Alan Ladd in the title role, it might have been a pretty good movie. Starring Alan Ladd, Patricia Medina, Peter Cushing, Patrick Troughton, Anthony Bushell, and Harry Andrews. Directed by Tay Garnett. Written by Alec Coppel, Bryan Forbes, and Dennis O'Keefe. This is a preview of the latest episode of our series Hollywood Avalon. To hear the entire episode, join the Mary Versus the Movies patreon for $3/month to hear this and the entire series Hollywood Avalon: . /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/36780400

Episode 187 - Threads (1984) 05/22/2025

Episode 187 - Threads (1984) It's the end of the world as we know it, and the living envy the dead. The threads of civilization are destroyed in a nuclear war, and Britain is thrust into a new dark age. And we don't even get to have any of the fun stuff like barbarians on motorcycles. Starring Karen Meagher, Reece Dinsdale, Steve Halliwell, and Jane Hazelgrove. Written by Barry Hines. Directed by Mick Jackson. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/36665545

Episode 186 - Earth Girls Are Easy (1989) 05/15/2025

Episode 186 - Earth Girls Are Easy (1989) A manicurist from The Valley dumps her cheating doctor fiance for a trio of hairy aliens in this campy sci-fi musical comedy that's better than its reputation. Starring Geena Davis, Julie Brown, Jeff Goldblum, Damon Wayans, Jim Carrey, and Charles Rocket. Written by Julie Brown, Charley Coffey, and Terrence E. McNally. Directed by Julien Temple. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/36573240

Episode 185 - Newsies (1992) 05/08/2025

Episode 185 - Newsies (1992) Newsboys of the streets unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains. We welcome back Anne Jones to talk about one of her favorite movies, Newsies, the story of the 1899 New York City newsboys strike, which Mary didn't know was a Disney musical. Life is full of surprises. Starring Christian Bale, Bill Pullman, Robert Duval, and Ann Margaret. Written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White. Directed by Kenny Ortega. Music by Alan Menkin, lyrics by J. A. C. Redford. Support the Philadelphia Avengers: /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/36500910

Episode 184 - All of Me (1984) 05/01/2025

Episode 184 - All of Me (1984) Steve Martin is a lawyer. Lily Thomlin is dead. Can two souls inhabit one body without driving each other crazy? We go back to the Steve Martin/Carl Reiner well for this screwball comedy about living your best life, and have a great time doing it. Starring Steve Martin, Lily Thomlin, Victoria Tennant, Richard Libertini, and Dana Elcar. Written by Phil Alden Robinson. Directed by Carl Reiner. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/36404230

Hollywood Avalon, ep. 24 - Good Knight MacGyver (1991) 04/30/2025

Hollywood Avalon, ep. 24 - Good Knight MacGyver (1991) We delve into some prime late 20th century nonsense when we watch a two-part episode of MacGyver, wherein our mulleted hero is conked on the head and wakes up in Camelot, uncovers an assassination plot against King Arthur, trades tips with Merlin, rescue a fair maiden, and does battle against Queen Morganna. Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Dana Elcar, Time Winters, Christopher Collet, Christopher Neame, Robin Strasser, and Colm Meany. Written by John Considine. Directed by Michael Vejar. This is a preview of the latest episode of our series Hollywood Avalon. To hear the entire episode, join the Mary Versus the Movies patreon for $3/month to hear this and the entire series Hollywood Avalon: . /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/36366970

Episode 183 - Burden of Dreams (1982) 04/24/2025

Episode 183 - Burden of Dreams (1982) Opera-loving director wants to make a movie about an opera-loving rubber baron who hauls a boat over a mountain in order to bring music to the jungle, and so he hauls an actual boat over a mountain. The lines between life and art, work and exploitation, madness and determination blur together in this documentary about the making of Fitzcarraldo. Starring Werner Herzog, Klaus Kinski, Jason Robards. Directed by Les Blank. Narrated by Michael Goodwin. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/36273145

Episode 182 - Top Secret! (1984) 04/17/2025

Episode 182 - Top Secret! (1984) An American rock star gets caught up in intrigue in Cold War East Germany. Or is it World War II? Nazis, Communists, whatever, right guys? Anyway, from the guys who made Airplane, it's "what if Elvis made a spy movie", and it's pretty good. Starring Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge, Omar Sharif, Michael Gough, Jeremy Kemp, and one very odd cameo from Peter Cushing. Written by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, and Martyn Burke. Directed by Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/36121015

Episode 181 - Porco Rosso (1992) 04/11/2025

Episode 181 - Porco Rosso (1992) A pig-headed pilot takes on air pirates and fascists while regaining his humanity in this adventure from Hayao Miyazaki. Set in 1929, it's a story of love, honor, pacifism, and resistance. For this, we watched the English dub from 2005; I know, I know, subs over dubs, but so it goes. Starring (in the dub) Michael Keaton, Cary Elwes, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Susan Egan, David Ogden Stiers, and Brad Garrett. Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/36078365

Hollywood Avalon, ep. 23 - Star Wars (1977) 04/01/2025

Hollywood Avalon, ep. 23 - Star Wars (1977) Look, I know it sounds crazy, but Star Wars has all kinds of Arthurian elements: an orphan boy with a secret destiny; a magic sword; a crazy magician; a princess who needs rescuing; and a big bad guy. Obviously the original film was influenced by all sorts of things (The Hidden Fortress; Lawrence of Arabia; Dune; even Lord of the Rings) but it’s no surprise that the stories of King Arthur are a pretty prominent influence on the original movie about a farm boy who wants to be a hero, takes up with a space-wizard and a pirate, and helps bring down an evil empire. Starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, and James Earl Jones. Written and directed by George Lucas. This is a preview of the latest episode of our series Hollywood Avalon. To hear the entire episode, join the Mary Versus the Movies patreon for $3/month to hear this and the entire series Hollywood Avalon: . /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/35953665

Episode 180 - Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (1977) 03/27/2025

Episode 180 - Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (1977) Toys come to life and encounter a hallucinating camel, a sentient taffy pit that eats itself, and a paranoid king who only grows big when torturing and humiliating other people. You know, a kids movie. "Dennis Versus the Movies" month comes to an end with a really, really strange movie that Mary was obsessed with as a kid. Starring Didi Conn, Mark Baker, Claire Williams, George S. Irving, Fred Stuthman, and Joe Silver. Written by Patricia Thackray and Mark Wilk. Directed by Richard Williams. Music by Joe Raposo. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/35856600

Episode 179 - The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) 03/21/2025

Episode 179 - The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) "Dennis versus the Movies" continues as we welcome back to the show puppeteer and children's entertainer Zach Woliner to talk about the third Muppets movie, an homage to the Broadway musical films of the 1930s. The Muppets head to Manhattan with stars in their eyes and a dream of Broadway stardom, only to break apart, Kermit to get amnesia, and Miss Piggy to face down a New York full of muggers, cruel bosses, and sexual harrassment. It's a family film. Starring Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson, Juliana Donald, Lonny Price, Louis Zorich, Dabney Coleman, and Art Carney. Written by Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses. Directed by Frank Oz /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/35784580

Episode 178 - Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) 03/14/2025

Episode 178 - Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) An ex-firefighter stuck in a dead-end job is offered a chance to live it up for a week if he jumps in a volcano and dies so a rich man can steal some natural resources from a tropical island. Well, who wouldn't say yes to that? Dennis Vs the Movies month continues, featuring an interview with Mary's mom! Starring Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Lloyd Bridges, Abe Vigoda, Robert Stack, Ossie Davis, Dan Hedaya, Amanda Plummer, and Nathan Lane. Written and directed by John Patrick Shanley. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/35680165

Episode 177 - The 'Burbs (1989) 03/07/2025

Episode 177 - The 'Burbs (1989) Ray just wants a peaceful staycation--why do his neighbors have to be so weird? We kick off Dennis Vs. the Movies Month with one of Mary's favorite movies from her childhood. Starring: Tom Hanks, Henry Gibson, Bruce Dern, Rick Ducommun, Corey Feldman, Brother Theodore, Wendy Schaal, and Carrie Fischer. Written by Dana Olsen. Directed by Joe Dante. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/35536700

Episode 176 - Chopping Mall (1986) 02/27/2025

Episode 176 - Chopping Mall (1986) Robot security guards go rogue and start killing people at the mall. Don't worry, it's 2025, all our malls are dead already, and I'm sure our robot security guards will treat us well. Starring Kelli Maroney, Tony O'Dell, John Terlesky, Russell Todd, and Barbara Crampton. Written by Jim Wynorski and Steve Mitchell. Directed by Jim Wynorski /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/35474245

Episode 175 - Wish You Were Here (1987) 02/21/2025

Episode 175 - Wish You Were Here (1987) A young woman coming of age in a seaside town challenges the stuffy sexual mores and hypocrisy of post-war Britain in this dramedy from the writer of Mona Lisa. Starring Emily Lloyd, Tom Bell, Geoffrey Hutchings, and Pat Heywood. Written and directed by David Leland. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/35322310

Episode 174 - Listen To Me (1989) 02/19/2025

Episode 174 - Listen To Me (1989) A standard college melodrama makes a hard-right turn into an anti-abortion screed in a move that's almost as bizarre as Kirk Cameron's horrible Southern accent. We welcome back Alana Phelan to the show with a movie she really loved as a kid, but viewing it as an adult, a few things suddenly stand out. Starring Kirk Cameron, Jamie Gertz, Roy Scheider, and Tim Quill. Written and directed by Douglass Day Stewart. Content warning: this episode discusses rape, abortion, and general sexual topics. The Indiegogo link to Alana and Kevin's book: /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/35265750

Episode 173 - The Beast / Beast of War (1988) 02/07/2025

Episode 173 - The Beast / Beast of War (1988) A Russian tank unit is lost during the Soviet-Afghan war, leading to a breakdown in order, attempted mutiny, and dessertion to the Mujahideen. Part Moby Dick, part Lawrence of Arabia, and a little bit Rambo, it's a meditation on war, revenge, and mercy. Starring George Dzundza, Jason Patric, Steven Bauer, Stephen Baldwin, Erick Avari, and Don Harvey. Written by William Mastrosimone. Directed by Kevin Reynolds /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/35186345

Hollywood Avalon, ep 21 - The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956) 02/04/2025

Hollywood Avalon, ep 21 - The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956) We took a look at a British tv series from the 1950s, dramatising the Arthurian story in a high-romance fashion. Believe it or not, it’s pretty good! Starring William Russell–who later played “Ian” on Doctor Who–it’s a fairly faithful rendering of the story, with Lancelot as an outsider who comes to Arthur’s court, Gawain as his rival, a belligerent Kay, and a Merlin who is part magician, part con-man. Lancelot isn’t just the best of knights here, he’s also a champion of underdogs, defying the more hierarchical standards of Camelot–it’s no surprise to find out that several of the writers for the show were Americans who were blacklisted during the Red Scare. Once again, the Arthurian world is used as a playground for utopian politics, not unlike Twain’s Connecticut Yankee and T.H. White’s Once and Future King. Starring William Russell, Cyril Smith, Ronald Leigh-Hunt, Robert Scroggins, and Jane Hylton. With various writers and directors depending on the episode. This is a preview of the latest episode of our series Hollywood Avalon. To hear the entire episode, join the Mary Versus the Movies patreon for $3/month to hear this and the entire series Hollywood Avalon: . /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/35139825

Episode 172 - Moonraker (1979) 01/31/2025

Episode 172 - Moonraker (1979) James Bond goes up against Hugo Drax, a billionaire with a private space rocket company who's secretly a eugenicist, plotting to kill everyone on earth and replace them with his idea of a master race who lives in space. I don't know why this sounds so familiar. Also, Jaws the Henchman shows up and goes through so many near-deaths, you'd think he was fighting Bugs Bunny. Starring Roger Moore, Michael Lonsdale, Richard Kiel, Lois Chiles, and Corrine Clery. Written by Christopher Wood from Ian Fleming's novel. Directed by Lewish Gilbert. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/35091445

Episode 171 - Eraserhead (1977) 01/24/2025

Episode 171 - Eraserhead (1977) David Lynch's first film is an exploration of the fear of fatherhood, set against a grim industrial backdrop, featuring surreal, nightmarish imagry that would reoccur throughout his career. An influential, landmark American film of the midnight movie scene, and ultimately, one hell of a bad trip. Starring Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Jeanne Bates, Judith Anna Roberts, and Robert Fisk. Written and directed by David Lynch. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/34987670

Episode 170 - The Boys From Brazil (1978) 01/17/2025

Episode 170 - The Boys From Brazil (1978) Nazis hiding in South America have been cloning Hitler, and one researcher is crossing the globe, trying to stop their plans to resurrect the Third Reich. A thriller from the writer of Rosemary's Baby and The Stepford Wives that culimates in two very old men slapfighting over the future. Starring Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, James Mason, Lilli Palmer, Steve Guttenberg, Uta Hagen, and Jeremy Black. Written by Ira Levin and Heywood Gould. Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. /episode/index/show/0392778c-f552-4f00-96ae-e3531da11ea3/id/34821160

Mary Versus the Movies

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