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
TRAILER SHOW: The McManus Brothers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:51
Highlighted trailers for movies discussed with REDUX REDUX writers/directors Kevin and Matthew McManus on Friday's episode of The Movies That Made Me! Check out the full episode ⁠here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices.…
REDUX REDUX writers/directors The McManus Brothers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:07
The brother filmmaking tandem Kevin and Matthew McManus (REDUX REDUX) hop on the line to unpack, well, the movies that made them with help from podcast hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante! Show Notes: Movies Referenced In Thi…
SIRAT writer/director Óliver Laxe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:50
Writer/director Óliver Laxe (SIRAT) chops it up with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss the movies that made him! Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Sirat (2026) Wages of Fear (1953) Andrei Rublev (1966…
TRAILER SHOW: Dallas Goldtooth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:19
Highlighted trailers for movies discussed with FALLOUT star Dallas Goldtooth on this week’s episode of The Movies That Made Me! Check out the full episode here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi…
TRAILER SHOW: Walton Goggins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:17
Highlighted trailers for movies discussed with FALLOUT star Walton Goggins on this week’s episode of The Movies That Made Me! Check out Walton's full podcast episode here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon…
FALLOUT star Dallas Goldtooh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:24
FALLOUT star Dallas Goldtooth takes hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante through his favorite animated films. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Akira (1988) Batman: Gotham Knights (2008) The Dark Knight (2008) My N…
FALLOUT star Walton Goggins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:38
FALLOUT star Walton Goggins takes hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante through his favorite westerns. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode The Accountant (2001) The Apostle (1998) House of 1,000 Corpses (2003) Chrysta…
DEAD MAN'S WIRE director Gus Van Sant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:17
We've got auteur royalty on The Movies That Made Me today! The one and only GUS VAN SANT joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to talk about, yes, the movies that made him! Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode De…
THE RIP writer/director Joe Carnahan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:43
THE RIP writer/director Joe Carnahan returns to our podcast The Movies That Made Me. This time, Joe takes hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante on a sonic journey to unpack the John Williams scores that made him! Check out Joe'…
TRAILER SHOW: Kleber Mendonça Filho [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:39
Highlighted trailers for movies discussed with THE SECRET AGENT writer/director Kleber Mendonça Filho on this week’s episode of The Movies That Made Me! Catch up with the pod here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…