What's Going On With These Kids Today
Season 1: Episode 11
The Bad Seed (1956)
The Bad Seed tells the story of Rhoda Penmark, the picture perfect child who harbors a villainous demeanour.
The Bad Seed was a best selling book which was turned in to a Broadway sensation earning a Tony Award for Nancy Kelly in the part of Christine Penmark. It was also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1955. The film would bring almost the entire Broadway cast to the screen and would garner four Oscar nominations.
Examining the theme of nurture over nature, the film and book opens plenty of questions and leaves it to the audience to come up with their own conclusions.
Opening Titles (0.21); Introduction (2.30); Forming the Plot (7.45); Prologue (11.10); Page to Page (11.59); Commercial Break (1:05.30); Screen Testing/Casting (1:06.28); Commercial (1:09.46); Lights, Camera Action (1:10.22); Epilogue (2:07.27); End Credits (2:10.55)
Opening Credits – The Bad Seed – by Alex North from the album The Bad Seed (Original Soundtrack Recording)
Closing Credits – In These Shoes – by Kirsty MacColl from the album Tropical Brainstorm
All rights reserved.
All songs can be purchased through Amazon. Book and Film available through Amazon.
Season 1: Episode 12
Across the Universe (2004)
This 2007 film stars Rachel Evans Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, TV Carpio, Dana Fuchs and Martin Luther McCoy and special guest appearances by Bono, Eddie Izzard, Joe Cocker and Salma Hayek, amongst others.
The film was nominated for Golden Globe and Academy Awards. It would also make the top ten lists of the year by several film critics.
The story is told mostly through song and imagery with very little dialogue. All the actors would sing live to the music track whilst filming. Giving a view of life during the 60’s through to 1970 America gives the film scope and with Julie Taymor’s efficient eye delivers on all fronts. This exciting film pulls out all stop to give an audio and visual extravaganza.
Opening Credits (.21); Introduction (3.42); Spinning Off (3.57); Commercial (9.30); Film Trailer (10.03); Commercial (12.28); Critiquing the Spin (12.59); Closing Credits (53.29)
Opening Credits - Across the Universe - Jim Sturgess from the album Across the Universe (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Closing Credits - Happiness is a Warm Gun - Joe Anderson and Salma Hayek from the album Across the Universe (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
All rights reserved.
Soundtrack and film available on Amazon.
Season 1: Episode 13
Reefer Madness (1936)
Reefer Madness, 1936 American propaganda film revolving around the melodramatic events that ensue when high school students are lured by pushers to try marijuana—from a hit and run accident, to manslaughter, suicide, attempted rape, hallucinations, and descent into madness due to marijuana addiction. The film was directed by Louis Gasnier and featured a cast of mainly little-known actors.
Originally financed by a church group, the film was bought and shown on the exploitation circuit between 1938 – 39. The copyright fell by the wayside until 1970 when the film was rediscovered as an unintentional satire about marijuana use. Since then, the film is shown on the midnight madness circuit with even a colorized version made available which helps camp up the original film to another degree. It is known as one of the worst films every made and holds its crown up there with Plan 9 from Outer Space.
Reefer Madness The Musical (2005)
Reefer Madness The Musical started life in Los Angeles and moved to Off Broadway where it closed shortly after due to 9/11. The show was then filmed for Showtime in 2008 to critical acclaim. Filmed using three of the original Broadway cast which includes Kristen Bell, Christian Campbell and Robert Torti, it added Steven Weber, Neve Campbell, Ana Gasteyer, Alan Cummings and Amy Spanger. The film went on to win numerous awards and even a Emmy for best original song. It has since went on to be a cult favour and in turn, has given the stage show a new lease on life where it has premiered around the world to critical acclaim and earning multiple awards.
Opening Credits (.20); Introduction (3.18); Forming the Plot (9.18); Commercial (14.20) Reefer Madness 1936 Trailer (14.53); Prologue (16.47); Scene by Scene (17.44); Commercial (34.56); Reefer Madness The Musical 2004 Trailer (35.29); Lights, Camera, Action (37.29); Critics Choice (38.29); Epilogue (1:03.59); End Credits (1:10.42)
Opening Credits – Reefer Madness End Credits – from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Reefer Madness the Musical.
Closing Credits – Marahuana by Bette Midler from the album Songs From A New Depression
All Rights Reserved.
Music and films are available through Amazon.
