The cast is incredible. The timing is precise. The sardines are missing.

This week on Forgotten Films, Jed and Ray revisit Noises Off (1992), Peter Bogdanovich’s backstage comedy starring Michael Caine, Carol Burnett, John Ritter, Christopher Reeve, and an ensemble whose job is to make a complete disaster look effortless.

Ray is watching for the first time, while Jed brings firsthand experience from performing the play as Gary—John Ritter’s character. Together, they dig into the physical comedy, silent backstage battles, and ridiculous amount of coordination required to get everything wrong at exactly the right moment. Jed also shares why the chaos feels awfully familiar to anyone who’s ever waited in the wings.

How does a comedy with this much talent slip through the cracks? And do you need to be a theatre person to enjoy watching a production come spectacularly unglued?

Plus: our favorite performances, Staff Picks, and Rewind Recommendations for more comic chaos.

Spoiler alert: This episode includes a detailed discussion of the film. Watch first if you want the backstage surprises left intact.

Crack a cold one and watch a forgotten one.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to 'Noises Off'
• 03:02 The Three-Act Structure
• 10:07 The Physical Demands of the Play
• 24:53 The Performances of Michael Caine and John Ritter
• 34:13 The Relatability of Actors
• 36:12 Influence of Classic Comedians
• 37:10 Challenges of Stage Performances
• 53:02 Trivia of 'Noises Off'
• 01:06:03 Analogies and Comedic Chaos
• 01:06:32 Watching a Movie for the Podcast
• 01:07:48 Humor, Characters, and Memorable Quotes
• 01:08:16 Forgotten Status and Reasons
• 01:28:48 Rewind Recommendations and Next Podcast Clue

In this episode of Forgotten Films, Jed and Ray revisit Alfonso Cuarón’s 2006 dystopian thriller Children of Men — a movie set in the distant future of… 2027.

Which, as it turns out, is next year.

Clive Owen stars as Theo, a disillusioned bureaucrat drifting through a collapsing Britain where no child has been born in nearly two decades. But when he’s pulled into a mission involving a young refugee carrying the first pregnancy anyone has seen in 18 years, Theo suddenly finds himself protecting the one thing humanity thought it had lost: hope.

We dig into the film’s incredible long takes, the unforgettable car ambush, the chaos of Bexhill, the eerie silence of a world without children, and the powerful moment when the sound of a newborn briefly stops a war.

We also talk about Michael Caine’s scene-stealing turn as Jasper, the film’s surprisingly great soundtrack, its political and social themes, its bleak vision of 2027, and the philosophical question at the heart of the movie: what happens to art, culture, and humanity when there’s no future left to preserve them for?

Ray considers Children of Men one of the best films of the 21st century.

Jed thinks it’s exceptionally well made… and may never want to watch it again.

So is Children of Men a forgotten masterpiece, or is there a reason people don’t revisit it very often?

Plus: Michael Caine impressions, questionable pronunciations, a Lone Star Beer break, and our rewind recommendations for what to watch next.

This episode contains full spoilers for Children of Men.

Forgotten Films is the podcast where we dust off the VHS boxes, crack open a cold one, and revisit movies time left behind to decide whether they’re forgotten… or forgotten for a reason.

In this episode of Forgotten Films, the hosts discuss the movie 'I Love You to Death' and delve into the true story behind the film. They analyze the characters, including Joey Boca, Rosalie Boca, and Nadja, and explore the ruthless plan to assassinate Joey. The failed assassination attempts and the unexpected turn of events add humor and intrigue to the plot, making for an entertaining and engaging discussion. The conversation delves into the unusual and darkly comedic plot of the film, highlighting the challenges in marketing and categorizing it. The ensemble cast and standout performances are discussed, along with behind-the-scenes insights and production challenges.

Takeaways

• Unlikely assassins
• Character actors steal the show Unusual and darkly comedic plot
• Ensemble cast with standout performances
• Unconventional and forgotten film
• Challenges in marketing and categorizing the film

Chapters

• 00:00 The Unexpected Turn of Events
• 31:45 The Unusual and Darkly Comedic Plot
• 36:23 The Ensemble Cast and Standout Performances
• 40:42 Behind the Scenes and Production Challenges