Film Stories with Simon Brew

Gladiator (2000) and its journey to the screen, plus director Morgan Matthews

2000's Gladiator might be regarded as a classic now, but heck, did it have some bumps on its way to the screen. A script that was a long way from finished. A leading man, er, 'not too thrilled' with the fact said screenplay was constantly in flux. The death of Oliver Reed before the end of filming. And the worries of a studio that happened to be making its biggest-ever film. The story is told in this episode. Plus, the second half is spent in the company of BAFTA-winning director Morgan Matthews, chatting about films such as 500 Miles (now in UK cinemas), The Railway Children Return, X+Y, and a £1 bet. Please leave a nice review and subscribe. Thank you for supporting this independent podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American Made (2017), and the Tom Cruise film that's fallen through the cracks

Just as Tom Cruise embarked on his run of Mission: Impossible and Top Gun sequels, he slipped in one of bolder choices too: an R-rated crime caper, based on a true story. Originally called Mena before being retitled American Made, the shoot saw the writer, director and star of the film living in the same house. It also saw wildly ambitious flying sequences, a tragic accident, a challenge when selling the film and a whole lot more.... Please subscribe to this show if you like it and leave a nice review. Support us at www.patreon.com/simonbrew Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with Sam Campbell - Make That Movie, bananas, VHS tapes, cinema and more

Sam Campbell - he of Taskmaster and Last One Laughing - has made a comedy series about films. In Make That Movie, he and his crew face a filmmaking challenge each episode. All six episodes are streaming now on 4. Sam joins Simon Brew for a conversation about the show, but it doesn't take long for it to go off track. Banana, VHS tapes, old films,a samurai sword? It's quite the chat... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fight Club (1999), plus the dig against Rupert Murdoch at the end

Outside of the very well known rules, there's a whole load of other stuff about 1999's Fight Club. There's the director who turned the book down, freely admitting they didn't get it. There's the moment when the budget was suddenly going to soar. There's the bit where the studio boss knew he was going to hit trouble for greenlighting the film (and boy, did he). And then there was a studio left with a film it didn't know how to market. The story is told in this episode. Please subscribe, leave nice reviews, and try not to punch us hard in an after hours fighting establishment... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with Paul Mercurio - Strictly Ballroom, Exit To Eden, and, er, homebrew beer

Over 30 years since its original release, Strictly Ballroom - the debut feature from Baz Luhrmann - is back in cinemas with a 4K remaster. In a Film Stories special, Simon chats to its star - Paul Mercurio - about the making of the film, and looking back on it now. Plus! Paul talks homebrew, cooking, and making Garry Marshall's S&M comedy, Exit To Eden... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices