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 149 - Drop Dead Fred
Welcome back to another exciting episode of Not A Bomb. This is the podcast where we go back and reexamine some of the biggest bombs in cinematic history and see if they deserve a second chance. On this week’s episode, the guys are joined by Justin from the Watch/Skip+ podcast to discuss 1991’s dark comedy - Drop Dead Fred. Tackling the topics of trauma, parental abuse, and absentee fathers, Drop Dead Fred was universally panned by critical upon its release but has become an audience favorite and cult hit. The guys find themselves providing personal accounts of mental illness, anxiety, and beliefs in imaginary friends as well as discussing the comedy hijinks of Rik Mayall. Is Drop Dead Fred, a misunderstood gem? Who the hell is this movie made for? How much did Brad hate this film? Listen and find out!
Timestamps: Intro - (0:59), Box Office Results and Critical Response - (4:22), People Involved - (7:42), Production and Development - (20:47), Why did it Bomb? - (24:34), Commerical Break - (33:02), Drop Dead Fred Discussion - (34:34), Is it a Bomb? - (92:10), Listener Feedback - (93:44), Robo Reviewer1000 - (98:04), Outro - (110:00)
Drop Dead Fred is directed by Ate de Jong and starts Phoebe Cates, Rik Mayall, Marsha Mason, Tim Matheson, and Carrie Fisher.
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.
Welcome back to another exciting episode of Not A Bomb. This is the podcast where we go back and reexamine some of the biggest bombs in cinematic history and see if they deserve a second chance. On this week’s episode, the guys are joined by Justin from the Watch/Skip+ podcast to discuss 1991’s dark comedy - Drop Dead Fred. Tackling the topics of trauma, parental abuse, and absentee fathers, Drop Dead Fred was universally panned by critical upon its release but has become an audience favorite and cult hit. The guys find themselves providing personal accounts of mental illness, anxiety, and beliefs in imaginary friends as well as discussing the comedy hijinks of Rik Mayall. Is Drop Dead Fred, a misunderstood gem? Who the hell is this movie made for? How much did Brad hate this film? Listen and find out!
Timestamps: Intro - (0:59), Box Office Results and Critical Response - (4:22), People Involved - (7:42), Production and Development - (20:47), Why did it Bomb? - (24:34), Commerical Break - (33:02), Drop Dead Fred Discussion - (34:34), Is it a Bomb? - (92:10), Listener Feedback - (93:44), Robo Reviewer1000 - (98:04), Outro - (110:00)
Drop Dead Fred is directed by Ate de Jong and starts Phoebe Cates, Rik Mayall, Marsha Mason, Tim Matheson, and Carrie Fisher.
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.