Finally, after over 2 years, J Dawg aka the Mummy and Spencer aka Gutter Cover get to the iconic Ikiru. Kurosawa's meditation on finding meaning in life while facing a death is as powerful now as it was in 1952 and will continue to be. This is

Farewell...For Now

Jan 4th, 2019 1h 35m

Welp, that's it. J Dawg and Spencer have covered every Kurosawa film (and several non-Kurosawa ones, including Red Sun with Charles Bronson and Toshiro Mifune!). The boys talk about their favorites films, actors, moments, and reminisce about th

Gate of Hell - Episode 55 - 1952/1953

Dec 22nd, 2018 1h 22m

J-Dawg and Spencer discuss the breakthrough Japanese film, Gate of Hell, with Colleen Wanglund! This was one of the first foreign films to win the Oscar in the Best Foreign Film category (not that Oscars matter but it opened up Japanese film to

Women of the Night - 1948 - Episode 54

Dec 9th, 2018 1h 10m

The Boys are back with yet another Mizoguchi film, Women of the Night! It's one of the more depressing and brutal films covered here. That being said, it's Mizoguchi and Kinuyo Tanaka working together so there is that wonderful chemistry of act

Drunken Angel - 1948 - Episode 53

Nov 24th, 2018 1h 15m

It Has Been 2 Years! The boys celebrate by discussing the seminal Kurosawa film that began his artistic relationship with Toshiro Mifune and with composer Fumio Hayasaka. This is the cornerstone for the next 45 years of his career. It's Spencer

Black River - 1957 - Episode 52

Nov 11th, 2018 1h 40m

John Cribbs of the Pink Smoke stops by to discuss the breakout film for both Tatsuya Nakadai and Masaki Kobayashi...Black River! The story of corruption in post war Japan, it does not shy away from all the ugly and uncomfortable aspects of that

Kinuyo Tanaka, A Special Episode

Nov 8th, 2018 1h 41m

Joel and Spencer FINALLY get around to discussing one of the most iconic Japanese actresses of all-time, Kinuyo Tanaka. She is one of the greats. Tanaka also directed a few films as well. She worked with everyone from Kinoshita to Kurosawa (the

Kuroneko, The Halloween Special

Oct 30th, 2018 1h 14m

Happy Halloween! The Boys are back together and brought a guest, Wendy Mays from the podcast Pet Cinematary. They talk about the atmospheric, ghost, cat-demon story tale 1968's Kuroneko. If you like cats, empowered women, and gorgeous visuals,

Throne of Blood - 1957 - Episode 51

1 Oct 28th, 2018 1h 33m

The ghosts of Spider Web castle have a story to tell and it sounds similar to MacBeth. Kurosawa made arguably the greatest Shakespeare adaptation with Throne of Blood. Taking the core of the MacBeth, He made it a slow burn, horror samurai film.

Tampopo - Episode 50 - 1985

Oct 15th, 2018 1h 32m

Martin Kessler stops by to discuss the finer aspects of what makes ramen so special. No Joel, he is on assignment to make the perfect bowl of Pork Scallion Ramen. The discussion ranges from Imamura to The Last Dragon to Food fetishes. Tampopo

Ran - Episode 49 - 1985

Oct 2nd, 2018 1h 31m

On this episode, the boys are joned by Ben Sunday. They discuss Kurosawa's epic King Lear adaptation, Ran (1985). It stars #NakadaiForever and Peter from Funeral Parade of Roses. If you know Kurosawa, you've probably seen Ran or at least famili

The Last Dance - Episode 48 - 1993

Sep 16th, 2018 1h 30m

On this episode, the boys get serious and discuss Juzo Itami's 1993 drama-comedy about a man dying of cancer, The Last Dance. Things personal and sad given the material and be careful who watch this with. It can be a little too close or too soo

Madadayo - Episode 47 - 1993

Sep 4th, 2018 1h 39m

Lauren Wilford and Ryan Stevenson join J-Dawg and Spencer for 1993's Madadayo. This ended up being Kurosawa's final film but he had at least more planned out. Even though it was not the planned final film, it has strong connections to his previ

Late Spring - Episode 46 - 1949

Aug 30th, 2018 2h 3m

Spencer and J-Dawg are joined by Dave Stone-Robb from the Ear Trumpet Podcast Network and the Reelist Podcast and By the Podcast of Grayskull to talk some classic Ozu. Late Spring is a classic for a reason.Jailhouse 701: Japanese Cult Cinema -

Tatsuya Nakadai #NakadaiForever, A Special Episode

Aug 24th, 2018 2h 4m

It's finally happened...the #NakadaiForever special. Tatsuya Nakadai is a favorite around here, to put it lightly. He is one of the greatest actors to grace the screen. Joel and Spencer join temporary 'host' Tony Stella in discussing the classi

Stray Dog - Episode 45 - 1949

Aug 10th, 2018 1h 51m

Spencer is tired this time, Joel is the opposite. The film this time around is Kurosawa's 1st take on the Noir, Stray Dog. Which is widel considered one of his best...for a reason. Go Watch It Now!https://pdsmiospod.podbean.com/ - Please Don't

47 Ronin (1941), A Special Episode

Aug 2nd, 2018 1h 42m

Joel and Spencer dedicate this episode to those defending the homes of greater film podcasts. Kenji Mizoguchi returns with a vengence (poor choice of words there) with his masterpiece epic, The 47 Ronin - Parts 1 and 2. It's a 4 hour epic that

Repast - Episode 44 - 1951

Jul 22nd, 2018 1h 34m

J-Dawg and Spencer close up their 1951 pairing with Mikio Naruse's Repast starring the legendary and eternally lovely, Setsuko Hara. Repast is a marriage in the style of Ozu but scaled down a bit. They discuss Naruse, Mizoguchi, Kinoshita, John

The Idiot aka Hakuchi - Episode 43 - 1951

Jul 8th, 2018 2h 14m

Alistair from Russophiles Unite! Movie Podcast returns to talk some Idiot stuff like the Kurosawa's adaptation of the Idiot from 1951. This episode is split into 2 separate segments, Part 1 with Allistair and Part 2 with Joel. They couldn't rec

Jo Shishido, A Special Episode

Jun 30th, 2018 1h 54m

6 months in the making...The Jo Shishido special episode is finally here. Mr. Chipmunk Cheeks himself gets the star treatment in this one. Joel and Spencer are joined by Mike Wood of The Grindbin Podcast to talk some modern horror, silly plots,

Snow Trail - Episode 42 - 1947

Jun 24th, 2018 1h 1m

Joel is on assignment, so Marcus Pinn of PINNLAND EMPIRE replaces him for the debut feature of Toshiro Mifune San. Snow Trail follows in the tradition of Hollywood heist films and tries for more, thanks to the script by Kurosawa. Spencer and Ma

A Taxing Woman, A Special Episode

Jun 17th, 2018 1h 43m

Megan from The Shining 237 podcast joins the boys to talk about the exciting career of being a tax inspector in 1980s Japan. They discuss the underrated Neo-Noir, A Taxing Woman, by Juzo Itami from 1987. This movie is more than the story of bei

One Wonderful Sunday - Episode 41 - 1947

Jun 10th, 2018 1h 45m

Man, this episode covers a lot. Joel and Spencer are joined again by Lauren Wilford and Ryan Stevenson from Bright Wall/Dark Room. Kurosawa's underrated and truly relatable romance, One Wonderful Sunday, is the topic at hand. In the overall sp

The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan - Episode 40 - 1970

May 27th, 2018 1h 38m

Show Favorite Nakadai Tatsuya Returns in the 1970 gem, The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan. The boys take a deep dive into this sleazy, bawdy, and comedic film. They both recommend it, if you love some Nakadai it's a must see. Let's be honest

Toshiro Mifune, A Special Episode

May 16th, 2018 1h 17m

Toshiro (April 1, 1920 - December 24, 1997) would have been 98 this year. J-Dawg and Spencer dedicate this special episode to the mythical Toshiro Mifune. They go through their favorite Mifune characters, moments, fights, and discuss 2 of his n