Cracker Classics artwork

Cracker Classics

266 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago -

Two guys review old "classic" movies to see if they're still good. Or maybe they weren't any good to begin with?

Film Reviews TV & Film Society & Culture movies classics film review
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Episodes

Crash Clubs, Topple Empires

July 09, 2021 06:00 - 31 minutes - 30.3 MB

Today is Ian's birthday! To celebrate, we watch one of his all-time favorites, the original "Around the World in 80 Days." Will Ian regret his decision and ruin his birthday? Listen and find out whether he reveals his true age.

Scarmuni, Not Scarpacino

July 02, 2021 07:00 - 29 minutes - 18.8 MB

This week we watch the original "Scarface", starring the amazing Paul Muni. Just how much better than Al Pacino is he? And what makes this one a mob movie classic? 

Suddenly, Lickable Eyebrows

June 25, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 19.9 MB

This week it's the 1959 classic, "Suddenly, Last Summer". We wanted to check out Katherine Hepburn and Liz Taylor sharing the screen, but we got a little distracted. And mad. 

Dubbing and a Half

June 18, 2021 07:00 - 34 minutes - 24.4 MB

It's time for another language that isn't English, so we go all meta and watch Fellini's "8 1/2." Listen as we try to unravel the many metaphorical webs that surround the making of a movie and the having of an affair. And somewhere in there, maybe, lies reality.

Brian's Song

June 11, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 22.2 MB

No, not that one. This week we watch "Monty Python's Life of Brian." Yes, that song. We talk religion, misogyny, and death. Plus there's some humor and social commentary in there somewhere. 

Reagan Rocks Rivals, Ruins Reputation

June 04, 2021 07:00 - 31 minutes - 21.3 MB

Someone suggested Ronald Reagan, so we decided to re-examine his Gippering claim to fame and watch "Knute Rockne, All American". We finally find out who Knute Rockne is and ponder the meaninglessness of biopics.

Tap Dancing at Casa Bonita

May 28, 2021 07:00 - 30 minutes - 20.4 MB

This week, we finally ask that long-burning question: Who the hell is Fred Astaire? And isn't Ginger Rogers much better? We answer these questions and ask many more by watching their classic romp "Top Hat."

Real Men Wear Angora

May 21, 2021 07:00 - 31 minutes - 24.8 MB

We lean into the bad this week with some Ed Wood. We watch "Glen or Glenda" and see how well it really handles the subject of crossdressing. Plus we wonder what, if anything, Bela Lugosi has to do with it.

From Bugle to Bombing

May 14, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MB

In the search for something good, we watch the Oscar-winning "From Here to Eternity" and hope for the best. We ponder the context of infidelity and examine the secret gay love between Montgomery Clift and Burt Lancaster.

A Saddlebag of Dimes

May 07, 2021 07:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MB

We finally trudge into the iffy world of Mel Brooks and watch "Blazing Saddles." There may be tolls. And slurs. Hopefully some humor still.

Broccoli. Salty Broccoli.

April 30, 2021 07:00 - 29 minutes - 19.5 MB

We haven't done a Bond film yet. I know, right?! So we see where all the cringe began and watch the very first one, "Dr. No". A Broccoli/Saltzman production.

It Came From Rip Taylor's Pocket

April 23, 2021 07:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MB

Glitter is a type of confetti, and we experience the glitter of the future when we watch the 1953 sci-fi classic "It Came From Outer Space." Is it a moral allegory with an anti-Communist message, or just a glittery show of humanity's inability to play well with others?

It's a Long, Long, Long, Long Movie

April 16, 2021 07:00 - 30 minutes - 19.8 MB

Craving some outdated zaniness, Ian makes Joshua watch "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" for the first time. He had no idea how long it was before recording. I wonder how mad we really got watching this...

Invasion of the Professional Pod People

April 09, 2021 07:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MB

As podcasters, we are technically pod people. Therefore, we must pay homage and watch "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and give our totally unbiased opinion. Join us. Do not fear. It's wonderful.   

The Greatest Episode Ever Recorded

April 02, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 22.5 MB

Joshua and Ian, one a recovering Christian, the other a knotty anticleric, observe Good Friday by watching the 1965 epic "The Greatest Story Every Told." Sure, the story is great, but how great is their storytelling?

Zip-a-Dee-No-No

March 26, 2021 07:00 - 39 minutes - 26.2 MB

It's our 50th episode! We celebrate by watching the controversial "Song of the South." Joshua comes armed with research while Ian reminisces about our very first episode.

The Profligate Intrigue

March 19, 2021 07:00 - 31 minutes - 21 MB

This week it's "The Maltese Falcon" and all its intrigue. Or is it intrigue? Listen as Ian watches for the first time and tries really hard not to compare it to its countless parodies.

Run Lolita Run

March 12, 2021 08:00 - 37 minutes - 25.4 MB

To get our fix of both Kubrick and cringe, we watch the creeptastic classic "Lolita". Is it a well done film about garbage people corrupting youth, or just garbage?

Will There Be Ginger Pie?

March 05, 2021 08:00 - 34 minutes - 24.1 MB

We were kinda looking for a catharsis, so we watched "Harold and Maude" and discuss non-traditional romance and suicide. Also esoteric food. Spoilers: This is the first movie we've seen that made one of us cry.

17 Going On Dumbass

February 26, 2021 08:00 - 29 minutes - 23.4 MB

We finally sit down and watch "The Sound of Music" for the first time. Don't judge us. It's really long. And we're getting sick of Nazis.  

Grab-Ass Luke

February 19, 2021 08:00 - 34 minutes - 22.8 MB

We watch "Cool Hand Luke" and ponder criminal justice reform. Also Ian gets a bit distracted by all the skin and we might have to save Joshua from getting lost in Paul Newman's eyes.

Murder Most Mobbish

February 12, 2021 08:00 - 34 minutes - 18.9 MB

It's time for another movie not in English, so we tackle German and watch the 1931 murder-mystery "M". We look at the psychology of mobs, the dark magic of compulsion, and whistling. Kinda like the Senate this past week. 

Needs More Human

February 05, 2021 08:00 - 30 minutes - 20.2 MB

We watch the Bette Davis classic "Of Human Bondage" and count the number of whips and ball gags we see. Are we disappointed at the final number? Or do we just become deeply bound to these characters and their plight?

Filibuster? I Hardly Know Her!

January 29, 2021 08:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MB

Joe Biden has been president for about a week now, and we're cautiously optimistic. Still, we decided to watch "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" to try and get reacquainted with the whole concept of America. And maybe even figure out where it all went wrong.

Paint Your Production Code...with Blood

January 22, 2021 08:00 - 31 minutes - 19.4 MB

We've gone Western again but this time there's a lot more violence. Yay! We watch Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch" and claim to be experts in fake blood. Also Joshua reveals his hidden hatred for the railroads.

Flick-Stab!

January 15, 2021 08:00 - 33 minutes - 23.5 MB

Trials and justice have been on the mind lately, so we watched "12 Angry Men" to get an inside look at the jury process. We also confess our own judicial desires and discuss proper switchblade etiquette.

Ralph Kramden Licked My Envelope!

January 08, 2021 07:00 - 25 minutes - 18 MB

While craving some Carol Channing, we stumbled on the 1968 drug trip "Skidoo" and threw caution to the wind. How terrible is it really? Jackie Gleason tripping on acid in a prison cell terrible? Absolutely! 

As I Recall, I Think We Both Didn't Like It

January 01, 2021 08:08 - 34 minutes - 22.7 MB

It's New Year's Day, and this we resolved to finally make Joshua watch "Breakfast at Tiffany's". The result? Well, you're just going to have to listen...

It's a Quarantine Life

December 25, 2020 06:00 - 44 minutes - 29.1 MB

Merry Christmas! To celebrate this strangest of Yuletide seasons, we try to ruin your Christmas by ripping apart the classic "It's a Wonderful Life." Do we succeed? Maybe. But we at least try.

Cause Without an Effect

December 18, 2020 06:00 - 36 minutes - 27.3 MB

We watch the smoldering classic "Rebel Without a Cause" and analyze garbage teens and weak parents. Is it a fair evaluation of the struggles of youth, or just an excuse to treat your kids bad?

If We Were Men, We'd Resent This

December 11, 2020 06:00 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MB

We got a little meta this week. We watch the Marx Brothers classic "Animal Crackers" and wonder why there are no animal crackers in it. Plus we debate which is more cringey: Groucho's jokes or Harpo's hands.

Break Me Off a Piece of That Cabaret!

December 04, 2020 06:00 - 36 minutes - 24.7 MB

It's been a few episodes since we bashed some Nazis, so this week we watch the classic "Cabaret" and ponder history repeating itself. And maybe have a Kit Kat or two.

Did We Really Want Anything?

November 27, 2020 06:00 - 33 minutes - 22.6 MB

Happy belated Thanksgiving! We wanted to watch something that fit the holiday, but all we could come up with was "Alice's Restaurant." Is it a hippie nightmare, or just a big snooze?

The Chicken Fried Nudity

November 20, 2020 06:00 - 31 minutes - 21.3 MB

We look at sketch comedy with "The Kentucky Fried Movie." It's a teenage favorite of Joshua's, but will Ian be impressed? Join us as we count all the herbs and spices!

The Whitewater Jimmies

November 13, 2020 06:00 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MB

We finally watch some Katherine Hepburn with "The African Queen" and settle once and for all whether Bogie deserved that Oscar over Brando. 

The Brits on the River Denial

November 06, 2020 06:00 - 33 minutes - 22.6 MB

We had war on the mind so we watched "The Bridge on the River Kwai" and learned how empires dwindle. This is one of Joshua's favorite films. Will Ian agree or just make him cry?

Cracker Classics Election Special

October 30, 2020 04:30

Since the election is on Tuesday, we decided to watch the psychological classic "Gaslight" to study some tactics of the enemy. And Joshua gets distracted and confused by a young Angela Lansbury.

Cracker Classics Election Special

October 30, 2020 04:30 - 35 minutes - 27.7 MB

Since the election is on Tuesday, we decided to watch the psychological classic "Gaslight" to study some tactics of the enemy. And Joshua gets distracted and confused by a young Angela Lansbury.

Daddies Prefer Valets

October 23, 2020 05:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MB

We go on a cruise by watching Marilyn Monroe's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and hopefully don't wretch. Or maybe we just choose the brunette in the end? 

At Least the Baby's Honest

October 16, 2020 13:37 - 31 minutes - 22 MB

It's time for another film not in the English language, so we watch the Japanese classic "Rashomon" and have a nice discussion on perspective and outright lying. Spoilers, only the baby is honest.

Little Georgie Custer

October 09, 2020 05:00 - 34 minutes - 25.7 MB

We watch 1970's "Little Big Man" and wonder just how much we really know about Native tribes. Also, how bad was Custer really? The answer - bad.

Sloppy Joes at Xanadu

October 02, 2020 05:00 - 34 minutes - 24.3 MB

We made it to 25 episodes somehow! To celebrate, we watch the "greatest movie of all time," Citizen Kane. But is it really the greatest? Really? We might have some doubts.

Fishing For Sanity

September 25, 2020 05:00 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MB

That new "Ratched" series on Netflix got us wondering if she got a bad rap. So this week we watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and give our stilted view on mental health.

A Cougar Named Blanche

September 18, 2020 05:00 - 32 minutes - 24.5 MB

In which we both watch "A Streetcar Named Desire" for the first time, then act like we can analyze after just one viewing.

Monty's Two Cents

September 11, 2020 04:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MB

We look at capitalism and racial stereotypes with the 1945 Brewster's Millions. There's 14 different film versions of this trite tale and we had to pick one. Listen to see if we regret our choice.

The Adventures of Buckled Swash

September 04, 2020 12:41 - 33 minutes - 25.4 MB

We all know the story of Robin Hood and his tights, but everyone says the 1938 Errol Flynn version is the best one. Let's see if that's true or if it just makes Robin a cultish figure.

The Milkman Cometh

August 28, 2020 05:00 - 35 minutes - 26.3 MB

For our 20th episode, we naturally went controversy and watched Melvin van Peebles's Watermelon Man, whiteface and all. Is it offensive, or just too real?

Ayn Rand Was a Lizard People

August 21, 2020 12:34 - 31 minutes - 24.7 MB

We watch 1949's "The Fountainhead" and get all objectivist and a bit off-topic. Join us as we destroy Ayn Rand's philosophy and discover what it has really done for America. Spoilers, it's nothing. Objectively speaking, of course.

All the Lonely Peephole

August 14, 2020 13:30 - 32 minutes - 24.8 MB

We get all meta and voyeur this week as we watch Grace Kelly watch Jimmy Stewart watch the neighbors in Rear Window. Is it a tense thriller or just Hitchcock being creepy? 

Spanko

August 07, 2020 06:00 - 30 minutes - 23.3 MB

We're ruining your childhood this week with Spanko! We watch the original Dumbo and wonder why the hell it was remade. Also Ian discovers new uses for elephant trunks.