AMERICAN PRESTIGE host, historian and author Daniel Bessner

The Movies That Made Me

SpectreVision Radio

Tv & Film, Film History

4.6 • 636 Ratings

🗓️ 2 December 2025

⏱️ 65 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Author/historian Daniel Bessner discusses his favorite dystopian films with Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Vanishing Point (1971) Mad Max (1971) Casablanca (1941) Looper (2012) Hollywood Boulevard (1976) Chronicle (2012) Fruitvale Station (2013) Black Panther (2018) Knives Out (2019) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) Children of Men (2010) Idiocracy (2006) The Matrix (1999) The Animatrix (2003) Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) They Live (1988) Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985) Minority Report (2002) Magnolia (1999) War of the Worlds (2005) Mission: Impossible (1996) Escape From LA (1996) Escape From New York (1981) Robocop (1987) The Warriors (1979) Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) 12 Monkeys (1995) Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1988) The Fisher King (1991) The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) Brazil (1985) Time Bandits (1981) V for Vendetta (2005) Gattaca (1997) Mad Max (1979) The Road Warrior (1981) Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985) Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) Other Notable Items Our Patreon! Our pals at Movies Unlimited The Hollywood Food Coalition The American Cinematheque in Los Angeles Spike Lee George Miller Steven Seagal Daniel’s American Prestige podcast Lawrence Summers Daniel’s “Life and Death of Hollywood" article in Harper’s Bazaar Rian Johnson Bruce Willis Joseph Gordon-Levitt Josh Trank Ryan Coogler Dante Alighieri Barack Obama Poker Face TV series (2023- ) Laura Dern Carrie Fisher Clive Owen Julianne Moore Lana Wachowski Lily Wachowski Slavoj Zizek Keith David Rowdy Roddy Piper Joe Pantoliano John Carpenter Harlan Ellison Tom Cruise The Mission: Impossible film franchise Philip K. Dick Steven Spielberg Max von Sydow Kurt Russell Peter Fonda “Theme From New York, New York” song by Frank Sinatra (1977) 12 Monkeys TV series (2015-18) Bruce Willis Brad Pitt Terry Gilliam Henry Jaglom The Occupy Wall Street movement V for Vendetta graphic novel series by Alan Moore and David Lloyd (1982-89) Ethan Hawke Jude Law Ernest Borgnine Nicholas Hoult Tom Hardy Charlize Theron George Miller Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road book by Kyle Buchanan (2022) The Star Wars franchise The Indiana Jones franchise Mel Gibson Daniel’s American Prestige interview with Glen Lowry This list is also available on Movies Unlimited. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	There's a reason we re-watch Home Alone every year.
0:09.0	Merry Christmas, you filthy animal.
0:11.0	It's because the best stories stay with you.
0:14.0	And Disney Plus is where you'll find your next great story.
0:18.0	Whether it's Fantastic Four First Steps.
0:20.0	We will protect you. High-power drama, All's Fair. Tell us your story. Whether it's fantastic four, first steps. We will protect you. High power drama,
0:22.8	all's fair. Tell us your story.
0:24.5	Or brand new Percy Jackson. That
0:26.6	is just the beginning. A lifetime
0:28.4	of great stories awaits
0:30.3	on Disney Plus. Now streaming
0:32.5	18 plus. Subscription required.
0:34.5	Teas and Cs apply. Think about cheese.
0:37.4	Make your thoughts cheesier. Now add 100% chicken breastfish. subscription required. Teas and Cs apply. Think about cheese.
0:38.8	Make your thoughts cheesier.
0:41.8	Now add 100% chicken breast fillet,
0:43.8	Chipotle sauce and Ameta Cheese Mel,
0:46.9	and it's giving the new cheesy chicken stack at McDonald's.
0:49.2	Did we mention it's cheesy?
0:49.8	Cheese!
0:53.7	Available to the 4th of Jan, 226 from 11am.
0:54.8	Price and participation may vary.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from SpectreVision Radio, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of SpectreVision Radio and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.