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
STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS creator Jenny Lumet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:25
Writer/Producer Jenny Lumet discusses a few of her favorite wildly inappropriate summer kids movies from the 70s with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
ANOTHER SPECIAL PREVIEW: White Canon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:06
Another special preview of THE WHITE CANON. Trevor Beaulieu & Josh Olson host different guests every week for deep dive discussions about movies that are universally beloved amongst mainstream white film audiences, and r…
HEART EYES director Josh Ruben [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:41
Writer/Director/Actor Josh Ruben discusses a few of his favorite villainous henchmen with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SPECIAL PREVIEW: The White Canon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:34
A special preview of THE WHITE CANON. Trevor Beaulieu & Josh Olson host different guests every week for deep dive discussions about movies that are universally beloved amongst mainstream white film audiences, and relativ…
DONNIE DARKO writer/director Richard Kelly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:29
Filmmaker Richard Kelly discusses the films of Robert Zemeckis with Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
INHERITANCE writer/director Neil Burger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:17
Writer/Director Neil Burger discusses a few of his favorite films with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
COMPANION writer/director Drew Hancock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:44
Companion writer/director Drew Hancock discusses a few of his favorite films from his year working at a movie theater in 1999 with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch…
Remembering David Lynch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:07:48
Josh and Joe discuss the impact and importance of the late, great David Lynch, followed by reminiscences from several past guests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BABYGIRL writer/director Halina Reijn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:15
Babygirl writer/director Halina Reijn returns to the podcast and discusses a few of her favorite sexy movies with Josh Olson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
THE BRUTALIST actor Alessandro Nivola [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:53
Actor Alessandro Nivola discusses a few of his favorite films with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices