1559486906
Mary Versus the Movies

Advertise on podcast: Mary Versus the Movies

Rating
★★★★★
5
from
24 reviews
This podcast has
271 episodes
Language
English
Publisher
Mary Jones
Explicit
No
Date created
2021/03/22
Latest episode
2026/04/23
Average duration
57 min.
Release period
6 days

Description

Sure, the 1980s were a great decade for film. But have you seen all of them? No, neither has Mary. In fact, some pretty big films passed her by, what with being in kindergarten at the time: A Nightmare on Elm Street, Moonstruck, My Neighbor Totoro... So it's time to fix that. Artwork, opening and closing themes by Dennis Lingg Produced and edited by Mary Jones

Unlock Mary Versus the Movies podcast Email contact info,
Listeners & Audience details

Email contact information

Direct podcast contact details

Listeners

Audience numbers & engagement insights

Audience details

Podcast Insights

Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from Mary Versus the Movies podcast


Episode 231 - The Unbelievable Truth (1989) - with Stephen Cooke
2026/04/23
We welcome Canadian film critic and journalist Stephen Cooke to the show to talk about indie director Hal Hartley's debute film, the story of a misanthropic girl who falls in love with a mysterious ex-con in the lower-middle-class suburbs of Long Island. Starring Adrienne Shelly, Robert Burke, Christopher Cooke, and Edie Falco. Written and directed by Hal Hartley.
You Might Also Like: Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman
2026/04/23
Introducing Mike Milken: “Science could not move fast enough.” from Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman. Follow the show: Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman From the free market to medical research to philanthropy, Mike Milken has had an outsized impact on it all. In the 1970s he ushered in an explosive era of innovation that changed the world of business and even the world itself. By the ‘90s, when facing his own life-threatening cancer diagnosis, he was determined to accelerate medical research and produce faster cures. Over the decades his work has addressed a vast range of medical problems, public health concerns, economic challenges, and international issues. The Milken Institute is a powerhouse think tank driving research and dialogue and its Global Conference is a can’t miss event for leaders every year. In a rare interview, Mike reflects on his legacy, discusses the leaders he’s invested in, and speaks passionately about the future of the American Dream. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].
Episode 230 - Manhunter (1986)
2026/04/17
An FBI criminal profiler is on the trail of a serial killer, and enlists the help of a dangerous psychopath to track him down. No, it's not Silence of the Lambs, it's Michael Mann's thriller based on the Thomas Harris book The Red Dragon, the first work to introduce us to the infamous Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lector.  Starring William Petersen, Tom Noonan, Joan Allen, Brian Cox, and Dennis Farina. Written and directed by Michael Mann.
Episode 229 - Local Hero (1983)
2026/04/10
An American oil company offers to buy a Scottish village, but things don't go as planned in this comedic fairy tale about lonlieness, community, and the wonders of the natural world. Starring Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Peter Capaldi, Fulton Mackay, and Burt Lancaster. Written and directed by Bill Forsyth.
Episode 228 - All That Jazz (1979) - with Julie Klausner
2026/04/02
Grab the Visine and Dexedrine, folks, it's showtime! We welcome writer, actress, and comedian Julie Klausner to the show to discuss Bob Fosse's autobiographical exploration of death, sex, and creative obsession. We talk about musicals, the art of editing, and how charisma lets you get away with murder. Starring Roy Scheider, Jessica Lange, Ann Reinking, Leland Palmer, Cliff Gorman, and Ben Vereen. Written by Robert Alan Aurthur and Bob Fosse. Directed by Bob Fosse.
Hollywood Avalon, ep. 34 - Apocalypse Now (1979)
2026/04/01
Francis Ford Coppola's epic about the Vietnam War draws as much from J.G. Frazer's The Golden Bough and Jessie Weston's landmark Arthurian study From Ritual to Romance as it does from Joseph Conrad's novel of African colonialism Heart of Darkness. It's a grail quest with no grail, a pilgrimage with no relief. It's the end of kings, and the end of the world. Starring Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburn, and Dennis Hopper. Written by John Milius. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. This is a preview of the latest episode of our series Hollywood Avalon. To hear the entire episode, join the Mary Versus the Movies patreon for $3/month to hear this and the entire series Hollywood Avalon: https://www.patreon.com/maryvsmovies. 
Episode 227 - Network (1976)
2026/03/27
Never mess with the money.  Newscaster Howard Beale has been fired from television, but not before he has a mental breakdown live on-air. What could be better for ratings? One of the great satires of the 1970s is a film that meant a lot to our host Mary, but co-host Dennis has never seen before, so what better to cover for Dennis Versus the Movies month? Starring: William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall, Ned Beatty, and Beatrice Straight. Written by Paddy Chayefsky. Directed by Sidney Lumet.
Episode 226 - The NeverEnding Story (1984)
2026/03/19
A bullied boy finds a magic book, bringing him into a fantastical world under threat of annihilation.  Dennis Vs the Movies month continues with the movie that scarred millions of millennials. Starring Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, Tami Stronach, and Alan Oppenheimer. Written by Wolfgang Petersen and Herman Weigel. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
Episode 225 - An American Tail (1986)
2026/03/12
The story of a young Russian-Jewish mouse who emigrates to America, is separated from his family, and has to find his way in 1880s New York City is a lushly-animated, sometimes grim story about assimilation, discimination, and the promises the United States makes to the world and consistenty violates.  Starring Cathianne Blore, Dom DeLuise, John Finnegan, Phillip Glasser, Amy Green, Madeline Kahn, Pat Musick, Nehemiah Persoff, and Christopher Plummer. Written by Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss. Directed by Don Bluth.
Episode 224 - Mannequin (1987)
2026/03/06
Dennis Versus the Movies month kicks off with a favorite from Mary's childhood, the Philadelphia-set romantic comedy about a department-store window-dresser and the five-thousand-year-old Egyptian mummy spends her days as mannequin and nights as Kim Cattrall. Forget the haters, it's Pygmalion on the Schuykill. Starring Andrew McCarthy, Kim Cattrall, James Spader, Meshach Taylor, G. W. Baily, and Estelle Getty. Written by Edward Rugoff and Michael Gottlieb. Directed by Michael Gottlieb.
Episode 223 - The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
2026/02/27
We're back watching James Bond, this time teaming up with a sexy Russian spy to take down a deranged Swedish shipping magnate who wants to blow up the world so that he can live under the sea. Also, we get the first appearance of the henchman Jaws. Honestly, it's pretty fun, and half the movie was filmed in Egypt. Starring Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curt Jurgens, and Richard Kiel. Written by Christopher Wood, Richard Maibaum, and Tom Manciewicz. DIrected by Lewis Gilbert.
Episode 222 - Cool Runnings (1993)
2026/02/20
The story of the Jamaican bobslead team is a family-friendly comedy that hits all the hoary old sports movie underdog beats. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, though it means they have to completely fictionalize an historical event. Thankfully, it also has John Candy. Starring Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis, Malik Youba, and John Candy. Written by Lynn Siefert, Tommy Swerdlow, and Michael Goldberg. Directed by Jon Turteltaub.
Episode 221 - Animalympics (1980)
2026/02/13
It's sports! It's animals! It's animation! It's celebrity voices! It's... a weird riff on Lost Horizon and I guess Saturday Night Fever with an alligator? It's Animalypics! From the creator of Tron! And hosted by a turtle who sounds like Henry Kissinger! And music from 10cc! I'm sure it made sense in 1980. Starring Michael Fremer, Gilda Radner, Billy Crystal, and Harry Shearer. Written by Steven Lisberger, Michael Fremer, and Roger Allers. Directed by Steven Lisberger. Music by Graham Gouldman
Episode 220 - The Man from Snowy River (1982)
2026/02/06
A young man loses his father and home, is forced to work for a land baron, falls in love with his boss's daughter, and captures a rogue horse in this drama based on an Australian ballad. It's corny as a paperback romance, and has more horses than a twelve-year-old girl's notebook. We also have my sister Anne on to talk a bit about horses. Starring Tom Burlinson, Kirk Douglas, Sigrid Thornton, Jack Thompson, and Chris Haywood. Written by John Dixon and Fred Cullen from Banjo Paterson's poem. Directed by George T. Miller.
Episode 219 - Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979/1982)
2026/01/30
A bland office drone has an affair with his married coworker and becomes obsessed with her, while juggling his suicidal mother and unemployed best friend; did we mention it's a comedy? Starring John Heard, Mary Beth Hurt, Peter Riegert, Kenneth McMillan, and Gloria Grahame. Written and directed by Joan Micklin Silver

Podcast reviews

Read Mary Versus the Movies podcast reviews


5 out of 5
24 reviews
★★★★★
Sagedrum 2025/05/01
Over the Edge Episode was great!
I just stumbled upon this episode as I was looking for podcast discussing Over the Edge, and I found yours one of the best and spot on analysis of the...
★★★★★
Briarfae 2024/11/02
I’ve enjoyed this podcast for years!
Keep up the good work. 💙
★★★★★
LizbotBeep 2023/11/17
The only Gen X movie podcast you need!
Mary & Dennis strike an impressive and always entertaining balance of fun joking around and truly engaging film insight with Mary’s knowledge of old c...
★★★★★
rasputins rib 2023/01/23
My new favorite podcast of 2023
Fun jaunt down memory lane of some meh to great movies with 2 hosts that have a great rapport. 5 out of 5!
★★★★★
TheRealTavie 2022/09/01
Fun, film-literate takes on your 80s faves
As someone born in 1979, Mary’s POV mirrors my own in a lot of ways and I find her conversations with Dennis delightful. These two come at these films...
★★★★★
nebulis1966 2022/05/30
Gen X ftw
Five stars for the episode about “Slackers” alone!
★★★★★
Gatsg 2022/04/27
A great listen!
I was recently introduced to this podcast by my brother, and I really enjoy listening to it. I have not seen all of the movies they have covered, so I...
★★★★★
J_s_de_A 2022/02/20
Delightful!
Love Mary & Dennis! Since I began listening to the pod, I’ve gone back and rewatched so many movies from my childhood and seen many others that I’ve m...
★★★★★
Fripp’s Bar Stool Emporium 2022/02/11
Me vs Podcasts
This podcast is great. I heard about it on The Best Show and i’ve been really enjoying it. I feel like i’ve seen every movie ever but i’m not evange...
★★★★★
G Friday 2021/04/09
A delightful trip through the 80s
The opening episodes of this podcast have been a lot of fun to listen to! Mary, who is very much a cinema buff, never got around to watching some very...
check all reviews on apple podcasts

Podcast sponsorship advertising

Start advertising on Mary Versus the Movies relevant audience podcasts


What do you want to promote?