Ep. 168: Maniac!

About this episode

The episode discusses the film 'MANIAC!' and its various titles, exploring its history and impact.

We kick off #MarchMadness 2: Let's Get Nuts! with a movie that has many titles: MANIAC!, ASSAULT ON PARADISE, THE TOWN THAT CRIED TERROR, and RANSOM! At one point in time, Roger Corman released the film with all these titles but kept the story the same: Oliver Reed (THE BROOD) goes to town to stop a madman (Paul Koslo, THE ANNIHILATORS) who is intent on killing a rich land owner (Stuart Whitman from New World's CRAZY MAMA) unless he coughs up millions of dollars! But will Reed's cool jacket help him catch this crossbow-wielding seeker of revenge? Aiding in the hunt is a local reporter played by Deborah Raffin (GOD TOLD ME TO), and a local tracker aptly named Tracker, played by James Mitchum of the MItchum family (and New World's BLACKOUT). We discuss the film's history, the different versions available, and how Corman added and subtracted from the film when he released the film in 1977. Dies it have one of the best opening scenes ever for a New World movie? Does it have one of the best theme songs ever for a New World movie? Did we love the film maybe? You'll have to listen to find out! For more about the New World Pictures Podcast, including previous episodes, t-shirts, mugs…

People in this episode

Host: The New World Pictures Podcast

Topics covered

• film history
• movie reviews
• New World Pictures
• March Madness
• thriller films

Keywords

• MANIAC!
• Roger Corman
• Oliver Reed
• thriller
• film review
• New World Pictures

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Roger Corman

Books & works: MANIAC!, ASSAULT ON PARADISE, THE TOWN THAT CRIED TERROR, RANSOM!, THE BROOD, GOD TOLD ME TO, CRAZY MAMA, BLACKOUT

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