Ross Melnick

Ross Melnick

Author: Edward Havens July 11, 2022 Duration: 1:23:28

On this episode, we speak with film historian, author and UCSB professor Ross Melnick about his new book, his 80s cinema class, and five films from the decade he thinks you should watch again.

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Ross Melnick was also named as a 2017 Academy Film Scholar, one of only two film scholars who were bestowed this honor by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. His new book, Hollywood Embassies: How Movie Theatres Projected American Power Around the World, has just been released by Columbia University Press, and it has been a great honor to have him guest on the show.

The movies we discussed on this episode include: A Better Tomorrow (1986, John Woo) Cruising (1980, William Freidkin) El Norte (1983, Gregory Nava) Escape from Liberty Cinema (1990, Wojciech Marczewski) Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986, John Hughes) Moscow on the Hudson (1984, Paul Mazursky) Radio Days (1987, Woody Allen) Reds (1981, Warren Beatty) Soul Man (1986, Steve Miner)* To Live and Die in L.A. (1985, William Freidkin)

*Although discussed during the episode, neither Mr. Havens nor Mr. Melnick condones the viewing of Soul Man.

 


Edward Havens, a film historian and former critic, hosts The 80s Movie Podcast, offering a deep and curated exploration of cinema from that decade. This isn't just a surface-level recap of famous blockbusters, though those certainly have their place. Instead, the podcast serves as a guided tour through the entire ecosystem of 1980s filmmaking. Listeners will hear episodes dedicated to the obscure distribution companies that once shaped what played in theaters, and rediscover movies that have slipped from popular memory. The conversation naturally expands to profile the iconic stars and visionary directors who defined the era's unique aesthetic. Havens draws on his background to provide context and insight, treating each film as a piece of a larger historical tapestry. Tuning into this podcast means gaining a richer understanding of why the 1980s remain such a distinct and influential period in visual storytelling. It’s for anyone who loves the texture of film history, from the forgotten gems to the cultural touchstones, all examined with a knowledgeable and engaging perspective. The show carefully balances nostalgia with revelation, ensuring every episode reveals something new about a seemingly familiar landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 137

The 80s Movie Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Threads (1984): British TV Nuclear War Drama Deep Dive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:37
Regular listener Lee Thompson of the UK was given the choice to pick any movie from the decade to be examined, and Lee chose the British television drama Threads. We examine its broadcast context and production, and expl…
Deep in the Heart (1984): Tony Garnett’s Lost Film Rediscovered [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:41
Edward Havens examines Tony Garnett’s Deep in the Heart (aka Handgun), a 1984 film reportedly buried by a major American distributor because it resembled an upcoming Clint Eastwood project of theirs. We trace the film’s…
UFOria: Obscure 80s Film Deep Dive & Review (Release Year Debated) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:43
We unpack John Binder's UFOria, a rare, well-reviewed obscurity with a disputed release year (1980? 1984? 1985? 1986?). This episode explains the release-history mystery, reviews contemporary critical response, and place…
The Orphans #6: Movies Released by One-Release Distributors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:27
Part 6 of The Orphans: a deep-dive into three obscure 80s films whose theatrical releases were the only ones for their distributors. We examine release histories, distributor context, and behind-the-scenes notes for Moth…
The Orphans #5: Movies Released by One-Release Distributors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:05
Part 6 of The Orphans series: a focused deep-dive into three obscure 1980s films and their single-release distributors. We trace release histories, distributor context, and behind-the-scenes notes for 1983's The Last Fig…
Miramax Films, Part Five: 1989, The Year Miramax Became Big [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:39
We finally complete our mini-series on the 1980s movies released by Miramax Films in 1989, a year that included sex, lies, and videotape, and My Left Foot. ----more---- TRANSCRIPT From Los Angeles, California, the Entert…
Miramax Films, Part Four: 1988, Miramax Is Here. Get Used To It. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:19
We continue our miniseries on the 1980s movies distributed by Miramax Films, with a look at the films released in 1988. ----more---- TRANSCRIPT From Los Angeles, California, the Entertainment Capital of the World, it’s T…