AMERICAN PRESTIGE host, historian and author Daniel Bessner

AMERICAN PRESTIGE host, historian and author Daniel Bessner

Author: SpectreVision Radio December 2, 2025 Duration: 1:06:17
Author/historian Daniel Bessner discusses his favorite dystopian films with Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Vanishing Point (1971) Mad Max (1971) Casablanca (1941) Looper (2012) Hollywood Boulevard (1976) Chronicle (2012) Fruitvale Station (2013) Black Panther (2018) Knives Out (2019) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) Children of Men (2010) Idiocracy (2006) The Matrix (1999) The Animatrix (2003) Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) They Live (1988) Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985) Minority Report (2002) Magnolia (1999) War of the Worlds (2005) Mission: Impossible (1996) Escape From LA (1996) Escape From New York (1981) Robocop (1987) The Warriors (1979) Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) 12 Monkeys (1995) Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1988) The Fisher King (1991) The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) Brazil (1985) Time Bandits (1981) V for Vendetta (2005) Gattaca (1997) Mad Max (1979) The Road Warrior (1981) Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985) Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) Other Notable Items Our Patreon! Our pals at Movies Unlimited The Hollywood Food Coalition The American Cinematheque in Los Angeles Spike Lee George Miller Steven Seagal Daniel’s American Prestige podcast Lawrence Summers  Daniel’s “Life and Death of Hollywood" article in Harper’s Bazaar Rian Johnson Bruce Willis Joseph Gordon-Levitt Josh Trank  Ryan Coogler Dante Alighieri Barack Obama Poker Face TV series (2023- ) Laura Dern Carrie Fisher Clive Owen Julianne Moore Lana Wachowski Lily Wachowski Slavoj Zizek Keith David Rowdy Roddy Piper Joe Pantoliano John Carpenter Harlan Ellison Tom Cruise The Mission: Impossible film franchise Philip K. Dick Steven Spielberg Max von Sydow Kurt Russell Peter Fonda “Theme From New York, New York” song by Frank Sinatra (1977) 12 Monkeys TV series (2015-18) Bruce Willis Brad Pitt Terry Gilliam Henry Jaglom The Occupy Wall Street movement V for Vendetta graphic novel series by Alan Moore and David Lloyd (1982-89) Ethan Hawke Jude Law Ernest Borgnine Nicholas Hoult Tom Hardy Charlize Theron George Miller Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road book by Kyle Buchanan (2022) The Star Wars franchise The Indiana Jones franchise Mel Gibson Daniel’s American Prestige interview with Glen Lowry This list is also available on Movies Unlimited. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a particular magic in hearing a great filmmaker talk not about their own work, but about the movies they love. That’s the heart of The Movies That Made Me. Each episode, hosts Josh Olson-an Oscar-nominated screenwriter and TFH Guru-and the legendary director Joe Dante sit down with fellow filmmakers and entertainers for deep, personal conversations about the films that shaped them. These aren’t dry academic critiques; they’re lively, passionate discussions recorded live in Hollywood, full of behind-the-scenes insight and genuine nostalgia. The atmosphere is further enriched by the technical craft of film composer Don Barrett, who engineers the sessions. This podcast, part of the SpectreVision Radio network, digs into the foundational cinema that inspires creators, spanning genres and eras. You’ll hear guests unpack the specific scenes, directors, and sometimes forgotten gems that ignited their imaginations and, ultimately, guided their careers. It’s a journey into the collective memory of storytelling, revealing how the movies we watch in the dark go on to light the way for new stories. Tune in for a series of unexpected connections and celebrated histories, all through the lens of those who make movies for a living.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Movies That Made Me
Podcast Episodes
SWARM co-creator/EP Janine Nabers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:31
SWARM co-creator/executive producer Janine Nabers runs hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante through the movies that made her that probably couldn't be made today! Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Birth of a Nation…
HOKUM writer/director Damian McCarthy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:15
HOKUM writer/director Damian McCarthy breaks down the movies that had a massive impact on him growing up in the '80s and '90s with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Hokum (2026…
ARROW UK's Neil Snowdon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:29
Arrow UK’s Neil Snowdon walks hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante through five movies he’s proud to have released via Arrow, and five he wishes he could release. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode The Warriors (197…
TRAILER SHOW: RZA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:22
Highlighted trailers for movies discussed with ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE director RZA on the latest episode of our podcast The Movies That Made Me! Check out the full episode ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke pod…
ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE writer/director RZA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:28
The RZA is BACK! He breaks down the 10 movies that inspired him while making his latest flick, One Spoon of Chocolate — in theaters this Friday! As a bonus, he and host Josh Olson cook up the perfect double feature pairi…
TRAILER SHOW: Severin Films' David Gregory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:12
Highlighted trailers for movies discussed with Severin Films head honcho David Gregory on a new episode of our podcast The Movies That Made Me! Watch the full episode ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast ne…
THE MUMMY writer/director Lee Cronin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:30
Writer/director Lee Cronin (THE MUMMY, EVIL DEAD RISE) breaks down the eight movies that made him before he turned 10 — plus movies he's seen since that deserve more shine. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode L…
Severin Films' David Gregory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:32
Severin Films co-founder David Gregory joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to break down five of his favorite movies that Severin has released in special restorations, and five that he wishes Severin could, one day, rel…
FOR ALL MANKIND visual effects maestro Todd Sheridan Perry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:46
Our podcast The Movies That Made Me returns from our post-Oscar hiatus with a brand-new guest! Visual effects supervisor and artist Todd Sheridan Perry breaks down the top 10 visual effects shots that made him with hosts…
The Movies That Made Me WILL RETURN [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:25
In case you haven't noticed, we've been off the last couple of weeks! We've been working double-time for a while, often bringing you two episodes a week as we plowed through this amazing recent awards season. Hosts Josh…