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
THE SECRET AGENT writer/director Kleber Mendonça Filho [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:15
THE SECRET AGENT director Kleber Mendonça Filho joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to break down the movies that made him! Kleber is fresh off winning this year's Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film for THE SEC…
TRAILER SHOW: Clint Bentley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:41
Highlighted trailers for movies discussed with TRAIN DREAMS writer/director Clint Bentley on this week’s episode of the pod. Check out Clint’s full conversation with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante ⁠here⁠! Learn more abou…
TRAILER SHOW: Kristen Stewart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:48
Highlighted trailers for movies discussed with THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER writer/director Kristen Stewart on this week’s episode of the pod. Check out Kristen’s conversation with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante here! Learn m…
THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER writer/director Kristen Stewart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:57
Movie star Kristen Stewart, who's making her directorial debut with THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER, unpacks the movies that made her with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Punch Drunk…
TRAIN DREAMS writer/director Clint Bentley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:51
Filmmaker Clint Bentley discusses a few of his favorite movies with Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Train Dreams (2025) Thief (1981) Heat (1995) *One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1…
TRAILER SHOW: Mary Bronstein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:34
Highlighted trailers for movies discussed with writer/director Mary Bronstein on this week’s episode of the pod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU writer/director Mary Bronstein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:43
Mary Bronstein discusses a few of her favorite formative films with Josh Olson. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode If You Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025) Repulsion (1965) Antichrist (2009) Raiders of the Lost Ark…
TRAILER SHOW: Bryan Fuller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:16
Featured trailers for films mentioned in the previous episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
DUST BUNNY writer/director Bryan Fuller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:37
DUST BUNNY writer/director Bryan Fuller discusses his favorite gateway horror films with Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Gremlins (1984) You Only Live Twice (1967) On Her Majesty’s…
TRAILER SHOW: Daniel Bessner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:10
Featured trailers for movies discussed with Daniel Bessner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices