.jpeg)
The B-Side Episode 167 – John Frankenheimer (featuring Blake Howard)
Welcome to The B-Side! Here, we focus on movie directors—not the films that made them well-known or maintained their fame, but the ones they created in between.
Today, we're exploring John Frankenheimer, a true master of filmmaking who could tackle any genre. Our B-Sides for today include Prophecy, 52 Pick-Up, Dead Bang, and the HBO Film Against the Wall, for which Frankenheimer received an Emmy!
Joining us today is the fantastic Blake Howard from One Heat Minute Productions. He’s currently finishing his podcast series Romin, where Blake delves into Frankenheimer’s later action classic (and certified A-Side) Ronin with brilliant film experts (and a couple of regular folks from The Film Stage). In this episode, I share an intriguing personal story about J.D. Zeik, the original screenwriter of Ronin!
We frequently reference the excellent interview book John Frankenheimer: A Conversation With Charles Champlin, as well as an interview with Ben Affleck, which includes a humorous anecdote about the temperamental Frankenheimer during the filming of Reindeer Games. We also touch on Frankenheimer’s BMW Films short featuring Clive Owen and highlight the oft-overlooked character actor Tim Reid.
We appreciate the intensity of 52 Pick-Up, the visual style of Against the Wall, and the ambitions of Prophecy, even if they didn’t fully achieve success. Then there’s Dead Bang, which had a troubled production and features a truly bizarre performance by William Forsythe.
Additionally, Frankenheimer began his career in live television, serving as the lead director for Playhouse 90. One episode we touch on is “Forbidden Area.”
Listen below and subscribe here. Don’t forget to follow us on Bluesky at @tfsbside.bsky.social. Enjoy!
Other articles
Initial poster and visuals for The Woman in Cabin 10 featuring Keira Knightley.
Netflix has unveiled a poster along with the initial images for The Woman in Cabin 10, an adaptation of Ruth Ware's popular novel directed by Simon Stone. The thriller features Keira Knightley in the lead role, supported by a cast that includes Guy Pearce, David Ajala, Art Malik, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Kaya Scodelario, David Morrissey, Daniel Ings, and Hannah Waddingham.
Edwin Hodge and Caitlin Bassett are set to join the cast of season 2 of The Terminal List.
The second season of Amazon MGM’s The Terminal List has welcomed two additional members to its cast. According to Deadline, Edwin Hodge (FBI: Most Wanted) and Caitlin Bassett (Quantum Leap) will be joining Chris Pratt in the series. The Terminal List is inspired by the thriller novels written by Jack Carr, with the second season drawing from True Believer. The roles […]
Exclusive Trailer for the Locarno Premiere of White Snail, by the Directors of Space Dogs
Following the captivating Space Dogs and Dreaming Dogs, directors Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter are broadening their focus beyond dogs with their upcoming drama-romance White Snail, set to premiere at the Locarno Film Festival. The film features performances by Marya Imbro, Mikhail Senkov, Olga Reptuh, and Andrei Sauchanka. We are excited to exclusively present the first trailer ahead of the film's release.
Samara Weaving takes the lead in the trailer for the fast-paced action thriller Eenie Meanie.
With just under a month remaining until Eenie Meanie arrives on Disney+, 20th Century Studios has released the initial trailer and poster for the forthcoming action thriller. The film, penned and directed by Shawn Simmons, features Samara Weaving in the role of Edie, a former getaway driver who is drawn back into her criminal history with the […]
Exclusive Trailer for the Quay Brothers’ Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass, Introduced by Christopher Nolan
In a significant cinematic occasion, the Quay Brothers are making their comeback with their first feature film since 2005. Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass, a blend of stop-motion and live-action inspired by the creations of Jewish-Polish writer and artist Bruno Schulz, has been acquired by KimStim and is set for a theatrical release starting on August 29 at Film Forum. With the
Iron Studios reveals a collectible diorama based on Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
Iron Studios has unveiled a tenth scale Gremlins diorama influenced by the 1990 comedy horror sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch. This collectible statue is now available for pre-order at a price of $80; you can view the promotional images here… Iron Studios proudly introduces the "Gremlins Diorama – Gremlins – Art Scale 1/10," a […]
The B-Side Episode 167 – John Frankenheimer (featuring Blake Howard)
Welcome to The B-Side! In this space, we focus on movie directors—not the films that brought them fame or sustained it, but rather the ones they created in between. Today, we shine a light on John Frankenheimer, a master of the craft capable of directing any genre. Our B-Sides for today feature Prophecy.