The boys are back with Gremlins – the iconic Christmas movie, creature feature, and Amblin classic. Joe Dante would later direct Small Soldiers, but his experience with Piranah and Twilight Zone: The Movie caught the attention of a young producer named Steven Spielberg. With future Harry Potter director Chris Columbus providing the screenplay, Dante, Columbus, and Spielberg create one of the biggest hits of the 1980s.
Beyond the fun little guys at the center of the film, Gremlins has an all-time great cast, excellent vocal performances, and some of the best craftsmen in the world. Not only does Gremlins thrive because of the talent involved, but its commitment to weird and absurdist humor. Drawing from inspirations as diverse as World War II folk tales, The Looney Tunes, and the creature features of the 1950s, Gremlins became an iconic film in every sense of the word. Its cast includes absolute legends of film and television, including Keye Luke, Glynn Turman, Don Steele, Howie Mendel, Phoebe Cates, and Dick Miller.
Perhaps most important of all, a small cameo from Chuck Jones tells you all you need to know about Dante and Gremlins. If there was an absurdist bit of physical humor with cartoonish special effects, Dante would chase it.
Time Stamps
00:00 – 7:20 – Intro to the Episode and Recap
7:20 – 16:20 – Joe Dante
16:20 – 41:15 – Discussion of Gremlins
41:15 – End – Awards and Gremlins 2: The New Batch preview for a future episode
