In 1966, Peter Sellers sought to work with renowned Italian neorealist director Vittorio De Sica, bringing aboard playwright Neil Simon to pen his first screenplay. Despite De Sica’s reported gambling debts motivating his involvement, the collaboration proved challenging. De Sica struggled with Simon’s script and Sellers’ performance style, while conflicts arose over casting choices, including Sellers’ then-wife Britt Ekland. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue the Heist Films series with a conversation about De Sica’s 1966 film After the Fox.

 

The film weaves together elements of heist capers and Hollywood satire, following master criminal Aldo “The Fox” Vanucci as he poses as an Italian film director to orchestrate a gold heist. While the premise shows—Hold on there! This is currently only available for members. It’ll be available to everyone else soon, but why not become a member so you can listen to it now? We’d love it if you became a member to support our show, but you’d love it because of everything you get. We have monthly member bonus episodes that only members can access. You also get access to members-only Discord channels, and early ad-free releases for every episode. Plus, you get to vote on the movies we discuss in our members only episodes! What can we say? It pays to be a member. Learn more about supporting The Next Reel film podcast through your own membership — visit TruStory FM.

 

In the early 1970s, Roger Corman was producing a slew of women-in-prison films, capitalizing on the exploitation genre that had been popular then. When wannabe director Jonathan Demme approached Corman with the idea for Caged Heat, Corman initially declined, believing the subgenre had run its course. Undeterred, Demme raised the funds independently and eventually secured Corman as the distributor. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our member bonusRoger Corman series with a conversation about Demme’s 1974 film Caged Heat.

In our discussion, we delve into the themes and statements Demme makes about institutional oppression, mental health, and unethical medical practices within the prison system. We also examine how the film attaches power to sexuality, potentially empowering the female characters in a way that was uncommon for the era. Additionally, we touch on the interesting casting choices, particularly Barbara Steele as the prison warden and Warren Miller as the sociopathic doctor, and how these decisions subvert audience expectations.

Throughout the episode, we discuss:

While Caged Heat may not be a perfect film, it offers an intriguing look at the women-in-prison subgenre through the lens of Jonathan Demme’s early directorial work. The movie’s exploration of serious themes, combined with its exploitation elements, makes for an engaging and thought-provoking viewing experience. Although we have some reservations about the film and the subgenre as a whole, we appreciate the conversations it sparks. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!