Episode 313 - 1941
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! — the podcast where we resurrect cinema's most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb?
This week, the guys march into the chaos of Steven Spielberg's 1979 war comedy 1941. Fresh off the unprecedented successes of Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg was handed the ultimate Hollywood blank check to make whatever he wanted. The result was an enormous, effects-driven comedy about panic erupting across Southern California in the days following Pearl Harbor. While 1941 wasn't a full-blown box office bomb, it fell well short of the massive expectations surrounding Spielberg's first comedy, becoming one of the earliest examples of how even Hollywood's hottest director wasn't immune to a stumble.
But was the film unfairly judged, or is 1941 simply too loud, too chaotic, and too overstuffed for its own good? Troy and Brad break down the film's incredible cast, jaw-dropping practical effects, and the fascinating production that saw Spielberg pushing his filmmaking ambitions to new heights. The hosts also discuss how the film's reputation has evolved over the decades, why it has developed a passionate cult following, and how its perceived failure may have helped shape Spielberg's remarkable run of classics that followed.
Sound the air raid sirens, keep an eye on the Ferris wheel, and join Not A Bomb as they revisit one of Hollywood's most fascinating near-misses, proving that sometimes even a box office disappointment can become an unforgettable piece of blockbuster history.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! — the podcast where we resurrect cinema's most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb?
This week, the guys march into the chaos of Steven Spielberg's 1979 war comedy 1941. Fresh off the unprecedented successes of Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg was handed the ultimate Hollywood blank check to make whatever he wanted. The result was an enormous, effects-driven comedy about panic erupting across Southern California in the days following Pearl Harbor. While 1941 wasn't a full-blown box office bomb, it fell well short of the massive expectations surrounding Spielberg's first comedy, becoming one of the earliest examples of how even Hollywood's hottest director wasn't immune to a stumble.
But was the film unfairly judged, or is 1941 simply too loud, too chaotic, and too overstuffed for its own good? Troy and Brad break down the film's incredible cast, jaw-dropping practical effects, and the fascinating production that saw Spielberg pushing his filmmaking ambitions to new heights. The hosts also discuss how the film's reputation has evolved over the decades, why it has developed a passionate cult following, and how its perceived failure may have helped shape Spielberg's remarkable run of classics that followed.
Sound the air raid sirens, keep an eye on the Ferris wheel, and join Not A Bomb as they revisit one of Hollywood's most fascinating near-misses, proving that sometimes even a box office disappointment can become an unforgettable piece of blockbuster history.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Episode 160 - Nothing but Trouble (with Mike McGranaghan)
Welcome back to Not A Bomb, the podcast that re-examines some of the biggest bombs in cinematic history! This week, the guys are excited to welcome Mike McGranaghan, friend of the show and online film critic from The Aisle Seat. For this episode, the gang travels to Valkenvania and tackles one of the weirdest comedies…or maybe horror movies… ever made - Nothing but Trouble. The movie started out as a passion project for Dan Akroyd after he went to a screening of Hellraiser. However, Nothing but Trouble was thrown into “Mr. Bonestripper” by the critics and failed to recoup its $45 million budget. Mike provides some much-needed context as Troy and Brad try to wrap their heads around the plot and all the zany, creepy characters.
Timestamps: Intro - (1:25), 5 Burning Questions - (7:15), Box Office Results and Critical Response - (13:49), People Involved - (16:27), Production and Development - (36:40), Commercial Break - (44:04), Nothing but Trouble Discussion - (46:15), Is it a Bomb? - (70:20), and Outro - (83:42)
Nothing but Trouble is directed by Dan Akroyd and stars Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, and Demi Moore.
Mike McGranaghan, is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Online Film Critics Society. His reviews appear weekly on the radio stations of Sunbury Broadcasting Corporation. His work also regularly appears at Ranker. He is the author of two books, Straight-Up Blatant and My Year of Chevy: One Guy's Journey Through the Filmography of Chevy Chase. You can also find all of Mike’s reviews over at www.aisleseat.com.
If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com or Contact Us - here. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Cast: Brad, Troy, Mike McGranaghan
Welcome back to Not A Bomb, the podcast that re-examines some of the biggest bombs in cinematic history! This week, the guys are excited to welcome Mike McGranaghan, friend of the show and online film critic from The Aisle Seat. For this episode, the gang travels to Valkenvania and tackles one of the weirdest comedies…or maybe horror movies… ever made - Nothing but Trouble. The movie started out as a passion project for Dan Akroyd after he went to a screening of Hellraiser. However, Nothing but Trouble was thrown into “Mr. Bonestripper” by the critics and failed to recoup its $45 million budget. Mike provides some much-needed context as Troy and Brad try to wrap their heads around the plot and all the zany, creepy characters.
Timestamps: Intro - (1:25), 5 Burning Questions - (7:15), Box Office Results and Critical Response - (13:49), People Involved - (16:27), Production and Development - (36:40), Commercial Break - (44:04), Nothing but Trouble Discussion - (46:15), Is it a Bomb? - (70:20), and Outro - (83:42)
Nothing but Trouble is directed by Dan Akroyd and stars Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, and Demi Moore.
Mike McGranaghan, is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Online Film Critics Society. His reviews appear weekly on the radio stations of Sunbury Broadcasting Corporation. His work also regularly appears at Ranker. He is the author of two books, Straight-Up Blatant and My Year of Chevy: One Guy's Journey Through the Filmography of Chevy Chase. You can also find all of Mike’s reviews over at www.aisleseat.com.
If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com or Contact Us - here. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Cast: Brad, Troy, Mike McGranaghan