Explore every episode of the podcast The Cinephiles

This episode is on The Founder (2016), John Lee Hancock’s story on the evolution of McDonald’s from a pioneering fast food restaurant run by two brothers to the global juggernaut it later became. Centred on Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Ray Kroc, it follows him as he comes across the McDonald brothers’ place and their seminal Speedee system, upon which he has to get his hooks in and whore their creation out with gay abandon.

The episode includes sections on the story, cast and crew, production, history versus fact, release and reception, the film itself and 2016 in film. All that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

Making the Movie Sources

How Mark Knopfler Inspired Michael Keaton’s McDonald’s Movie, Dire Straits Blog, 2017.

https://direstraitsblog.com/blog/mark-knopfler-inspired-michael-keatons-mcdonalds-movie/

Between Tentpole Commitments, Jeremy Renner Builds His Producing Portfolio With John Lee Hancock’s ‘The Founder’, by Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2017.

https://deadline.com/2017/01/jeremy-renner-the-founder-don-handfield-the-weinstein-company-oscars-interview-1201880162/

John Lee Hancock in Talks to Direct McDonald’s Film ‘The Founder’, by Justin Kroll, Variety, 2014.

https://variety.com/2014/film/news/john-lee-hancock-in-talks-to-direct-mcdonalds-film-the-founder-1201376593/

How The Earliest McDonald’s Restaurants Were Recreated for Michael Keaton’s New Movie, by Jason Guerrasio. Business Insider, 2016.

https://www.businessinsider.com/original-mcdonalds-restaurants-the-founder-set-2016-12

Nick Offerman’s Character in “The Founder” Is Based on This Real Historical Figure, by Kat Eschner, Smithsonian Magazine, 2017.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nick-offermans-character-founder-based-real-historical-figure-180962147/

Nick Offerman, B. J. Novak & John Carroll Lynch on the Sour American Dream of The Founder, by Jon Lyus, HeyUGuys, 2017.

https://www.heyuguys.com/nick-offerman-b-j-novak-the-founder-interview/

Michael Keaton on the Kardashians, the Real American Dream & Batman Villains, by Jon Lyus, HeyUGuys, 2017.

https://www.heyuguys.com/michael-keaton-the-founder-interview/

Killer Kroc: Michael Keaton Q&A On Playing ‘The Founder’, by Mike Flemng Jr., Deadline, 2016.

https://deadline.com/2016/12/michael-keaton-ray-kroc-mcdonalds-the-founder-interview-1201866996/

The Founder Director John Lee Hancock on the Parallels with Trump, by Jon Lyus, HeyUGuys, 2017.

https://www.heyuguys.com/john-lee-hancock-trump-the-founder/

The Founder’s Director Wants You to Disagree About How Much of a Jerk Ray Kroc Is, by Kevin Lincoln, Vulture, 2017.

https://www.vulture.com/2017/01/john-lee-hancock-the-founder-michael-keaton.html

‘Founder’ Director John Lee Hancock Sees Parallels Between its Subject Ray Kroc and Donald Trump, by Kelly Scott, Los Angeles Times, 2017.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-ca-mn-john-lee-hancock-american-dream-20170110-story.html

Exploring the Grey Moral Territory of ‘The Founder’ with Director John Lee Hancock, by Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction, 2017.

https://freshfiction.tv/exploring-the-grey-moral-territory-of-the-founder-with-director-john-lee-hancock/

‘The Founder’ Director John Lee Hancock Explains Why John Carroll Lynch Is A Stone Cold Pro, by Jack Giroux, SlashFilm, 2017.

https://www.slashfilm.com/548828/interview-the-founder-director-john-lee-hancock-explains-why-john-carroll-lynch-is-a-stone-cold-pro/

Linda Cardellini Joins Michael Keaton in McDonald’s Drama ‘The Founder’, by Dave McNary, Variety, 2015.

https://variety.com/2015/film/news/linda-cardellini-michael-keaton-mcdonalds-founder-1201515935/

Nick Offerman Joins Michael Keaton in McDonald’s Mogul Biopic, by Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 2015.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/nick-offerman-joins-micheal-keaton-795025/

Weinstein Co. Buys Michael Keaton’s McDonald’s Movie ‘The Founder’, by Dave McNary, Variety, 2015.

https://variety.com/2015/film/news/weinstein-co-buys-michael-keatons-mcdonalds-movie-the-founder-1201443179/

The Weinstein Co. Sued Over Distribution Of ‘The Founder’ By FilmNation And Its Subsidiary, by Anita Busch, Anthony D’Alessandro, Deadline, 2017.

https://deadline.com/2017/02/the-weinstein-co-sued-over-distribution-of-the-founder-1201904600/

Weinstein Co. Sued Over Release Dates for ‘The Founder’ and ‘Gold’, by David Ng, Los Angeles Times, 2017.

https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-weinstein-lawsuit-founder-20170208-story.html

Dick McDonald; Began Burger Chain, by Myrna Oliver. Los Angeles Times, 1998.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jul-15-mn-3938-story.html

Grandson of McDonald’s Founder Sees Film on Restaurant Chain, by Ray Kelly, AP News, 2017.

https://apnews.com/general-news-3d349590025f4a7f825cc3a77a47f66e

How McDonald’s ‘founder’ Cheated the Brothers who Really Started Empire out of Hundreds of Millions, Wrote Them out of Company History - and Left one to Die of Heart Failure and the Other Barely a Millionaire, by Daniel Bates, Daily Mail, 2015.

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-3049644/How-McDonald-s-founder-cheated-brothers-REALLY-started-empire-300m-wrote-company-history-left-one-die-heart-failure-barely-millionaire.html?trk=public_post_comment-text

‘Catherine The Great’ Leads The Blacklist 2014: Full List, by David Bloom, Jen Yamato, Deadline, 2014.

https://deadline.com/2014/12/black-list-2014-winners-announcement-screenplays-1201325735/

Ray Kroc, Entrepreneur, 2008.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/ray-kroc/197544

The Burger That Conquered the Country, Time Magazine, 1973.

https://time.com/archive/6841754/food-the-burger-that-conquered-the-country/

Fact Checking The Founder, by Lisa Napoli, Ray & Joan.

https://rayandjoan.com/fact-checking-the-founder/

The Founder: History Vs. Hollywood, by Kevin Lang, History Vs. Hollywood, 2016.

https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/founder/

McDonald’s Official History

https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-company/who-we-are/our-history.html

This is the conclusion of the Die Hard (1988) episode. Part III is on the film itself, with favourite scenes and sequences and more behind the scenes stories.

This is the continuation of the Die Hard (1988) episode. Part II will include segments on: production - working relationships, the shoot; post-production – editing, the score; release and reception – screenings, reflection, legacy; 1988 in film; and a brief look at Bruce Willis’s career. All that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

This episode is on Die Hard (1988). John McTiernan completed his one-two punch on eighties action films here, with Bruce Willis starring as John McClane in his breakout big screen role. His flawed cop, only looking for a holiday reconciliation with his estranged lady, instead gets drawn into action when Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber and his crew take over Nakatomi Plaza, holding McClane’s wife and her colleagues hostage.

This first part of the episode will include segments on the making of the film, from: the story; the producers; assembling the crew and the cast. All that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles

Sources

Die Hard, An Oral History. By Brian Abrams.

https://www.brianlabrams.com/die-hard

The True Story Behind the Making of Die Hard, Collider. By Kelcie Mattson.

https://collider.com/die-hard-bruce-willis-true-story-explained/

Bruce Willis: “If I Hadn’t Done Die Hard, I’d Rip it Off.” Entertainment Weekly. By Chris Nashawaty.

https://ew.com/article/2007/06/14/bruce-willis-if-i-hadnt-done-die-hard-id-rip-it/

Die Hard 30th Anniversary: The Cast and Crew Reflect on the Making of an Action Classic, SlashFilm. By Ben Pearson.

https://www.slashfilm.com/559508/die-hard-interviews/

Sophisticated Visuals on Grand Scale for Die Hard, American Society of Cinematographers. AC Dec. 1988. By George E. Turner.

https://theasc.com/articles/sophisticated-visuals-on-grand-scale-for-die-hard

Die Hard Turns 30! Why Bruce Willis was ‘Concerned’ Making his First Blockbuster, People. By Alexia Fernandez.

https://people.com/movies/bruce-willis-very-committed-first-major-role-die-hard/

John McTiernan on Die Hard: “I Didn’t Set Out to Reinvent the Action Movie.” Radio Times. By Morgan Jeffrey.

https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/john-mctiernan-die-hard-rt-rewind/

Die Hard at 30: How the Every-Dude Action Movie Defied Expectations and Turned Bruce Willis into a Star. The Independent. By Ed Power.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/die-hard-at-30-anniversary-bruce-willis-john-mcclane-action-movie-christmas-john-mctiernan-a8642466.html

Alan Rickman on ‘Die Hard’ Role. The Hollywood Reporter. By Alex Ritman

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/alan-rickman-die-hard-role-789252/

Alan Rickman: The Empire Interview, Empire Magazine, by Nev Pierce

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/alan-rickman-interview/

Die Hard’s Director Breaks Down Bruce Willis’s Roof Jump. Vulture. By Simon Abrams.

https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/die-hards-director-breaks-down-bruce-williss-roof-jump.html

Kamen Hard. Film Score Monthly, June ‘95. By Will Shivers.

https://web.archive.org/web/20191226094801/https://www.filmscoremonthly.com/backissues/viewissue.cfm?issueID=163

The Science Project That Resulted in Die Hard’s Most Killer Stunt. Thrillist. By Ian Failes.

https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/die-hard-30th-anniversary

Why Die Hard Is A Christmas Movie: Director John McTiernan Explains. AFI Movie Club Rewind. American Film Institute.

https://www.afi.com/news/afi-movie-club-rewind-die-hard/

This is the final part of the Jaws (1975) episode. It’s on to the film itself. Segments will include: favourite scenes and sequences; 1975 in film; and as an added bonus, there’s an addendum with the true story of the USS Indianapolis. All that and more on Part III of Jaws.

This is the continuation of the Jaws (1975) episode. Part II will include segments on production through post to beyond the release of the film: the ocean shoot; plenty more shark stuff; delays and an increasing budget; cinematography; disasters on the ocean; some odds and ends; principal photographies eventual completion; a wild Robert Shaw interview; editing; John Williams’s amazing score; the release, reception and some later reflection. All that and a hell of a lot more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

This episode is on Jaws (1975), Spielberg’s career-defining masterpiece that pitched man against beast in a thrilling adventure out on the ocean. Roy Scheider’s reluctant Chief Brody and his motley crew of Robert Shaw’s old salt Quint and Richard Dreyfuss’s young and cocky Hooper will face the terrifying jaws (sorry) of a massive great white shark that is terrorising a small seaside town.

This first part of the episode will include segments on the making of the film: the story, cast and crew, pre-production, a whole bunch of shark stuff, and the land based portion of the shoot. All that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

Making the Movie Source Book, Articles and Documentary

The Jaws Log, by Carl Gottlieb.

“Jaws Became a Living Nightmare”: Steven Spielberg’s Ultimate Tell-All Interview, by Anthony Breznican, Vanity Fair, 2023.

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/07/jaws-making-of-spielberg-interview

AC Gallery: Jaws, by David E. Williams, American Cinematographer, March 1975.

https://theasc.com/articles/ac-gallery-jaws

On Location with Jaws, by Mik Cribben, American Cinematographer, March, 1975.

https://theasc.com/articles/on-location-with-jaws

Carl Gottlieb took a bit out of ‘Jaws’ script and created a monster hit, by Susan King, Los Angeles Times, 2015.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-gottlieb-jaws-20150326-story.html

‘Jaws’ and the Internal Debate Over Who Wrote the Iconic USS Indianapolis Speech, by Ryan Parker, The Hollywood Reporter, 2022.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/jaws-debate-over-who-wrote-uss-indianapolis-speech-1235168476/

USS Indianapolis: Survivor Accounts From the Worst Sea Disaster in US Naval History, by Lynn Vincent & Sara Vladic, History.com, 2018.

https://www.history.com/articles/uss-indianapolis-sinking-survivor-stories-sharks

The Making of Jaws, Director Laurent Bouzereau.

The Shark is Still Working, Director Erik Hollander.

This is the seventh and final part of the Blade Runner episode. It is on the remainder of the film, concluding favourite scenes and sequences. The episode closes out with a look at 1982 in film. All that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

This is the penultimate part of the Blade Runner (1982) episode. Part VI is on the film itself, getting into favourite scenes and sequences, with more behind the scenes stories.

This is the continuation of the Blade Runner (1982) episode. Part V will include segments on the multiple versions of the film - beyond the original - that were eventually released on home video and back in theatres: the international cut, the workprint, and director’s cuts – both pseudo and actual; retrospective final thoughts and some replicant discussion. All that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

This is the continuation of the Blade Runner (1982) episode. Part IV will include segments on post-production through to release and reception: editing, sneak previews, the voiceover and happy ending; the score, more sneaks and screenings; and the release, reception, legacy and reflection of and on the film. All that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

This is the continuation of the Blade Runner (1982) episode. Part III is on the special effects of the film and will include segments on the effects generally, scene specifics and reflections on the work. All that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

This is the continuation of the Blade Runner (1982) episode. Part II will include segments on the making of the film from the remainder of pre-production, through to the end of shooting principal photography: a fresh voice to the story, financial drama, Philip K Dick voicing his opinion, building the sets and the vehicles, then trouble on the shoot with – time and money, the actors, the crew, and a t shirt war, closing with the final days of the shoot and firings. All that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

This episode is on Blade Runner (1982). The future sci-fi neo noir starred Harrison Ford as a detective – or Blade Runner – charged with hunting and ‘retiring’ rogue slave labour synthetic humanoids known as replicants, who have dared to return to an Earth which has banished them, in search of answers. Led by Rutger Hauer’s Roy Batty, these replicants will not go quietly into that good night.

This first part of the episode will include segments on the film’s preproduction: story, finance, directors, deals, design and casting. All that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

Making the Movie Source Books, Articles and Documentary

Future Noir (Revised & Updated Edition): The Making of Blade Runner, by Paul M. Sammon

All Those Moments: Stories of Heroes, Villains, Replicants, and Blade Runners, by Rutger Hauer, with Patrick Quinlan

From the Blade Runner Special in the American Society of Cinematographers, July 1982 edition

Production Design and Photography, by Herb A. Lightman and Richard Patterson

https://theasc.com/articles/blade-runner-set-design

Special Photographic Effects, Excerpts from an Interview with David Dryer

https://theasc.com/articles/blade-runner-photographic-effects

Also from the American Society of Cinematographers, Beyond the Frame: Blade Runner, by David E. Williams,

https://theasc.com/articles/beyond-the-frame-blade-runner-1982

Ridley Scott Will Never Stop Directing: “Shut Up and Go Make Another Movie”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/ridley-scott-interview-gladiator-2-alien-blade-runner-1236049190/

Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner, Director Charles de Lauzirika

This episode is on Dirty Harry (1971). A cop and killer thriller, which saw Clint Eastwood’s obsessively determined title character go up against Andy Robinson’s psychotic Scorpio – even while a bureaucratic system does its best to hold him back.

The episode will include segments on the making of the film: story, casting, production to release and reception. Further making of stories will be included along with narratives of specific scenes and sequences. All of that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

Making the Movie Source Books and Articles

Clint Eastwood: A Biography, by Richard Schickel

Eastwood, Directing is Knowing the Concept you Want and Getting It.’ Kodak Professional Forum, 1982

An Interview with John Milius, by Ken Plume, IGN, 2003

An Interview with John Milius - IGN

Siegel at 59: Director, Rebel, ‘Star’, by Paul Gardner, New York Times, 1972

Siegel at 59: Director, Rebel, ‘Star’ - The New York Times

This episode is on The Terminator (1984). An action-thriller-horror-sci-fi-chase extravaganza that solidified star status for lead Arnold Schwarzenegger and put writer/director James Cameron definitively on the map.

The episode will include segments on the making of the film: story, casting, production, release and reception. Further making of stories will be included along with narratives of favourite scenes and sequences. All of that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

Making the Movie Source Books and Articles

BFI Film Classics, The Terminator, by Sean French

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/the-terminator-bfi-film-classics-paperback.html

Total Recall, My Unbelievably True Life Story, by Arnold Schwarzenegger

https://www.schwarzenegger.com/totalrecall

James Cameron Interview, Film Comment, Jan-Feb. 1985

https://www.filmcomment.com/issue/january-february-1985/

Terminator Feature, Cinefantastique, Oct. 1985

James Cameron, Films and Filming, Aug. 1986

The Low-Budget Hit that Made a Name for James Cameron, Martin Perlman

Creator James Cameron on Terminator’s Origins, Arnold as Robot, Machine Wars, Wired.com

https://www.wired.com/2009/03/ff-cameron/

The Terminator at 30: An Oral History, Entertainment Weekly

https://ew.com/article/2014/07/17/the-terminator-oral-history/  

The Terminator Came to me in a Dream: A New Interview with James Cameron, British Film Institute

https://www.bfi.org.uk/interviews/terminator-james-cameron

Adam Greenberg on The Terminator, American Society of Cinematographers.

https://theasc.com/articles/the-terminator

Big Effects from Small Packages, The L.A. Times

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-17-ca-11310-story.html

State of the Art of F/X, MovieMaker

https://www.moviemaker.com/state-of-the-art-of-fx-3271/

The Making of The Terminator’s Laser-Sighted .45 Pistol, Ars Technica

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2010/03/just-what-you-see-the-story-behind-the-45-long-slide-laser-siting/

This episode is on Rocky (1976). Though known for being the quintessential underdog sports movie, it’s as much a study of the main character and his struggle for relevance in a hard world. The episode will include segments on the making of the film: story, casting, production, release and reception. Further making of stories will be included along with favourite scenes and sequences. All of that and more on this episode of The Cinephiles.

Making the Movie Source Articles

“The Right Hook” (Entertainment Weekly)

https://ew.com/article/2002/02/19/how-rocky-nabbed-best-picture/

“Reel Life” (ESPN)

https://www.espn.com/page2/s/closer/020529.html

“’Rocky Isn’t Based on Me’ Says Stallone, ‘But We Both Went the Distance’” (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/1976/11/28/archives/rocky-isnt-based-on-me-says-stallone-but-we-both-went-the-distance.html

“Henry Winkler Revealed How the Fonz saved Rocky” (MeTV)

https://www.metv.com/stories/henry-winkler-revealed-how-the-fonz-saved-rocky

“The Photography of Rocky” – James Crabe (American Society of Cinematographers)

https://theasc.com/articles/the-photography-of-rocky

“Rocky – The Man Behind the Theme Tune” -Bill Conti (BBC News)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38381858

Steadicam Letter Vol 1, #3, from Dec. ’88; and Vol 1, #3, from Mar. 89

https://www.stabilizer-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/v1n3dec88.pdf

https://www.stabilizer-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/v1n4mar89.pdf

“The Invention That Shot Rocky Up Those Steps” (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/16/movies/steadicam-movies-garrett-brown.html

“Interview with Garrett Brown, Inventor of the Steadicam (The Wayback Machine)

https://web.archive.org/web/20091027051147/http://www.geocities.com/steadicamjr/garrettinterview.htm

Garrett Brown Interview (No Film School)

https://nofilmschool.com/2016/12/garrett-brown-steadicam-inventor-interview

“A Million to One: Remembering ‘Rocky’ on its 40th Anniversary” (The Digital Bits)

https://thedigitalbits.com/columns/history-legacy-showmanship/million-to-one-remembering-rocky-40th

This episodes film is 2003's Owning Mahowny, starring the late, great, Philip Seymour Hoffman.