Cinema Classics Number 26 - "Say, for five hundred dollars I'd climb to Heaven, an' hang by my heels from the pearly gates."

Welcome back film fans and podcast pals. In this Cinema Classics episode we're going back farther than we ever have before. 103 years back in fact, for a review and discussion about the 1923 silent-era comedy Safety Last! Host Michael is joined by co-host D.K, who selected this movie for review and begins by explaining his reasons, how this film came onto his radar, why he likes it and why he thinks it's a good fit for our analysis. He also shouts out a few more silent film favourites and laments the fading popularity of these seminal works. Then it's on to the main analysis. We get into a little about the Behind- the-Scenes making of the film, including that iconic clock-hanging stunt as well as the wall climbing techniques, tricks and skills used to bring it all to life. There's talk about the writing, dealing with relatable and effective comedy vs dated attitudes and some odd structural pacing. The direction and production design comes in for high praise, as does the majority of the acting. As ever the podcast wraps up with an overview of the critics' response to the film, personal favourite things, conclusions and scores. So make sure you catch the right trolley, check your back for "kick me" signs and maybe think twice before scaling any buildings. We promise not to leave you hanging, press play and dive straight into the discussion.

Links:

Find Mike and the podcast all over the internet via https://linktr.ee/mikespods

Follow Mike on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/g479

Follow the podcast on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/3xH6

Music Composed and Performed by Al Trotter

• Follow Al on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dap8b58TT/

• Follow Al on YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCENf_17-Bi8HitVg7w5rd9Q?si=3_7ZCmLXLAp4-f3F

Join the Silver Screen Podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/329752622011042/?ref=share E-mail us at mwilsonba1982@gmail.com

Created, Hosted and Written by Michael Wilson.

Co-hosted and Additional Material by D.K

Edited and Produced by Mike Wilson.

"Young man, don't you know you might fall and get hurt?"

AN INTERVIEW WITH MUSICIAN AL TROTTER

In this special Meet the Creators episode, Mike Wilson sits down with an old friend and the podcast’s newest composer, musician Al Trotter. In this in-depth conversation, Al reflects on his early experiences with music—both listening and playing—including some (slightly embarrassing) first albums. He shares his journey through school, the influences and supporters who shaped him, and how he discovered his natural ability to learn and reproduce music by ear. Throughout the interview, Al explores each of his six released tracks, including collaborations, the real-life and fictional inspirations behind them, and his creative process—from initial ideas to published work. He also opens up about his online success and overcoming a brief crisis of creative confidence. Of course, no conversation would be complete without discussing the TV and film scores that resonate most with him, as we put him on the spot to name a few favourites. This is a fascinating and insightful listen for anyone interested in music, creative journeys, or simply a relatable—and perhaps motivational—story about following your geeky passion.

TW: Suicide, road death, grieving - 27:04 to 32:40

TW: Potential domestic/child abuse - 1:18:01 to 1:20:38

Links:

• Follow Al on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dap8b58TT/

• Follow Al, and check out all of his tracks in full, on YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCENf_17-Bi8HitVg7w5rd9Q?si=3_7ZCmLXLAp4-f3F

• Follow Al on TikTok and view the Never Forget slideshows: https://www.tiktok.com/@abusesurvivor84?_r=1&_t=ZN-95XVHPCpJfK

• "Never Forget" is available to purchase on all good digital music platforms. Proceeds go to the 9/11 memorial fund.

Find Mike and the podcast all over the internet via https://linktr.ee/mikespods

Follow Mike on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/g479

Follow the podcast on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/3xH6

Join the Silver Screen Podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/329752622011042/?ref=share

E-mail us at mwilsonba1982@gmail.com

Created & Hosted by Michael Wilson.

Edited by Michael Wilson.

Produced by Mike Wilson.

Music composed and performed by Al Trotter.

D.K's Cult Classics Episode 51 - "Freedom? We have it! And fame? Nah. It's an empty purse. Count it, go broke. Eat it, go hungry. Seek it, go mad!"

Our Silver Screen fantasy season continues as DK and guests Neil and Michelle from Destination Yesterday take on the oft-derided British epic 'Krull'. How well does it hold up, forty years on? Grab your glaive and join them to find out.

Links:

• I is for Investigate: https://open.spotify.c...

• Destination Yesterday website: https://www.destination-yesterday.com/

• Destination Yesterday Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourdestinationisyesterday

Find the podcast all over the internet via https://linktr.ee/mikespods

Follow DK on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/4upxV

Follow the podcast on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/3xH61

Join the Silver Screen Podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/329752622011042/?ref=share

E-mail us at mwilsonba1982@gmail.com

Created, written & hosted by DK.

Produced by DK

Edited by Michael Wilson

Executively Produced by Mike Wilson

"If I had my wish I'd be out of this gloomy place right away. If I really had my wish I'd be sitting on top of a gooseberry pie as big as a mountain. No, that's a bit greedy. I'll settle for one as big as a house."

Series 2, Episode 8 - "They always get started. They happen everywhere there's people. Mondas, Telos, Earth, Planet 14, Marinus. Like sewage and smartphones and Donald Trump, some things are just inevitable."

Hello there, faithful friends… this is it (for now). We’re closing out this run of our Hit or Miss: Cybermen deep dives with a true epic—World Enough and Time / The Doctor Falls. A finale that somehow manages to feel like both an ending and a beginning, bringing us full circle from our very first Cyber review all the way back to the origins of the Mondasian Cybermen. Join Michael, D.K, and returning guest Tobi (plus a special guest appearance by returnee Lynn) as we head Into the Vortex one last time to tackle one of the most universally beloved stories in modern Doctor Who. Is this the definitive Cyberman story? Does Missy’s redemption arc truly stick the landing? And how does this finale balance so many moving parts without ever collapsing under its own weight? We dig into the genius (and science) behind the colony ship and time dilation, the long-awaited return of the Mondasian Cybermen, a masterclass in multi-Master storytelling, Bill’s devastating journey and unconventional resolution, Nardole’s quietly perfect send-off, Rachel Talalay’s cinematic direction, and that speech… you know the one. Plus all the usual features: Hit or Miss, behind-the-scenes insights, standout performances, favourite moments, and our final scores as we decide where this story truly lands. Is this a near-perfect send-off for the Twelfth Doctor? Or does anything hold it back? The Doctor falls… but does this story rise to a full Hit?

Links:

Follow Tobi on BlueSky - darksonic.bsky.social

Follow Mike and the podcasts all over the internet via linktr.ee/mikespods

Follow Mike on Discord: MikeOfSteel#2913

Hosted and written by Michael Wilson

Co-hosted and additional material by D.K

Editor/Producer - Michael K. Wilson

Created by Michael K. Wilson

Based on a format by Will Templar

"Does Moffat wanna bang himself?"

Series 2, Episode 7 - “We Cybermen are superior in every way. Except when it comes to navigating stairs.”

Welcome back, Doctor devotees and Cyber converts alike. This week our journey through all-time Cybermen stories takes us to the 26th Century, aboard a doomed freighter captained by an elderly British comedy legend, hurtling towards prehistoric Earth… and moments away from one of Doctor Who’s most shocking losses. Yes, it’s time for Earthshock. There’s a lot going on in this one, and our own ragtag crew are here to break it all down. Captain Michael is back in the host chair, with first officer D.K., returning guest Joshua (for the second week in a row), and HoM: DW first-timer Jenny rounding out the group with some impressive geek credentials — and maybe a surprising take on this particular adventure. We kick things off with the usual pre-amble, this time putting newbie Jenny through the Who initiation process: her introduction to the show, favourite stories so far, and her Cyber shout-outs. From there we briefly touch on the pleasantly surprising recent discovery of missing classic episodes and share our own excitement about what it could mean for fans. After that it’s a slightly shorter Hit or Miss section, where we debate a couple of big swings from the most recent series, a legendary antagonist, and a certain Sixth Doctor Cybermen encounter. As always, the final hour is devoted to the deep-dive review. D.K. talks through the behind-the-scenes decisions that shaped the story — including the secrecy around the return of the Cybermen and the devastating conclusion. We get into the Doctor and Adric’s surprisingly petulant behaviour in episode one, the effectiveness of the Cyber plan, some questionable stunt casting, issues with direction and effects, and the tension that still manages to land despite it all. There’s also a lively debate about pacing, nostalgia versus modern sensibilities, and whether the story still hits as hard today. As ever, we wrap up with audience opinions, our favourite moments, and final scores. So don’t just sit there watching old clips like the Cyber Leader — enjoy this podcast the way you’d enjoy a flower, a sunset, or a well-prepared meal. Hopefully it can be one of those small, beautiful things that life is all about. "Excellent!"

Links:

Josh:

• https://www.facebook.com/share/18EBd6kFwa/

• https://youtube.com/@InfiniteStudiosFL?si=xjlQUmgnhDVrOF0k

Check out the trailer for Josh's upcoming show "Solis": https://youtu.be/tm3mMcFaMVs?is=cmSazvwU3Ustckbq

Follow Mike and the podcasts all over the internet via linktr.ee/mikespods

Follow Mike on Discord: MikeOfSteel#2913

Hosted and written by Michael Wilson

Co-hosted and additional material by D.K

Editor/Producer - Michael K. Wilson

Created by Michael K. Wilson

Based on a format by Will Templar

“This one calls himself the Doctor, and he does nothing else but interfere.”

“That’s it. That’s the show."

D.K's Cult Classics Episode 50 - " I move the stars for no one"

For Cult Classics' 50th episode, DK is kicking off the 80s fantasy season with a trip to the undergound. He only has thirteen hours to solve the riddle of the Labyrinth. Join him and guests Vean, Sandy and Jenn as they brave the bog of eternal stench and the Goblin city to face off against the Goblin king, himself. There's plenty of discussion to be had so jump in on the podcast where everything seems possible and nothing is what it seems.

Links:

Vean:

• https://youtube.com/@vean_chevalier?si=0HZ-oHvt8dbnMnnh

Jenn:

• https://www.instagram.com/valinstarr?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== - - -
• https://share.google/ogoQXHi1pmR9wAM5s Find the podcast all over the internet via https://linktr.ee/mikespods Follow DK on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/4upxV Follow the podcast on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/3xH61 Join the Silver Screen Podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/329752622011042/?ref=share E-mail us at mwilsonba1982@gmail.com Created, written & hosted by DK. Produced by DK Edited by NickExecutively Produced by Mike Wilson"It's only forever, not long at all."

Series 2, Episode 6 - “My Sky Striker! My glory!”

Hold on to your time rings, faithful podcast fans, because this week we’re heading back into the Cyber-review fold on a course for Nerva Beacon and the fabled planet of gold, Voga, for a main-episode review of the… “divisive” Tom Baker serial Revenge of the Cybermen. Host Mike and co-host Companion D.K welcome back returning guests Cliff Chapman and Joshua Merkley to help untangle a messy web of intrigue, espionage, viruses, missile strikes, crash landings, and some rather uncharacteristic cyborgs. But first, we warm up with a chat about our favourite Tom Baker stories and the best seasons of classic Who. Then it’s the section as familiar as a reused set: Hit or Miss. This week we debate a somewhat maligned Matt Smith Cyber-encounter, Doctor Who’s own superhero, a classic Hartnell serial, and a very recent companion. Then things get intense as we confront mishandled viruses, civil war, fighting over gold, oddly behaved AI, and people with questionable loyalties. And no, that’s not just us reading the news from any random day over the last seven years. Camps begin to form between those who despise the story, those who passionately defend it, and those who let nostalgia triumph over logic. Along the way we explore how the script changed from genesis to final form, the spooky behind-the-scenes tales of the Wookey Hole curse, the location and studio filming, the electronic music, and how the story ultimately left each of us feeling. We round things off with critic and audience reactions, our favourite moments, and our final scores. So try not to cause any rock slides or detonate explosives, and definitely avoid any crash landings while you join us for another opinionated and entertaining episode. HARRY SULLIVAN IS AN IMBECILE — but you’re not. So press play now, and don’t disappoint the Doctor.

Links:

Cliff:

• facebook.com/cliff.chapman

• cliffchapman.bsky.social • https://ko-fi.com/clif...​

Josh:

• https://www.facebook.com/share/18EBd6kFwa/

• https://youtube.com/@infinitestudiosfl?si=xjlQUmgnhDVrOF0k

Check out the trailer for Josh's upcoming show "Solis":

https://youtu.be/tm3mMcFaMVs?is=cmSazvwU3Ustckbq

Follow Mike and the podcasts all over the internet via linktr.ee/mikespods

Follow Mike on Discord: MikeOfSteel#2913

Hosted and written by Michael Wilson

Co-hosted and additional material by D.K

Editor/Producer - Michael K. Wilson

Created by Michael K. Wilson

Based on a format by Will Templar "

Cybermen, that's right. Terribly bad on names."

Series 2, Episode 5 – “There was a dog pissing up against our tent, hold me Ianto.”

We’re back for the next in our Hit or Miss: Doctor Who Cyber Season, and we're heading to 2000s Cardiff and into our first Whoniverse spin-off review. Yes, we're tackling the infamous “Cyberwoman” from Torchwood — the episode that asks, “What if body horror… but make it awkward?” Host Michael is joined by returning favourites: Pasty Sheep maestro and semi-pro Matt Berry impressionist George White, plus Who mega-fan, voice actor and self-declared No.1 fan (with heavy sarcasm) of Chris Chibnall, Cliff Chapman. We kick off with a big-picture Torchwood chat — the highs, the lows, the why did they think that was a good idea? — plus favourite Cybermen stories from across all Doctor Who media. Then it’s time for “Hit or Miss,” where quick critiques fly at another Who spin-off, a Cyber sidekick, a controversial modern Doctor and a Third Doctor romp. And then… the main event. If you’ve ever accused Mike of being too generous — or too quick to defend Chibnall — this may shock you. What starts as critique slides rapidly into venting, then mutates into something resembling group therapy. We break down the episode’s wasted potential, the rare moments that shine, and a genuinely strong performance from Gareth David-Lloyd… but there’s no escaping the frustrations. From infamous costuming choices to clunky “adult” dialogue, muddled character motivations, dated direction, sloppy scripting and an astonishingly misguided climax — nothing is spared. We round out with critic and audience reactions (apologies to the fans), pick out our favourite scraps of goodness (we try), and deliver final scores. Could this be the lowest rating we’ve ever given? Don’t slather yourself in barbecue sauce and fight a pterodactyl. Tune in and find out. If you dare.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode's main review contains strong language, adult themes, and discussions of horror and sexuality. Like Torchwood, it is not intended for children. Listener discretion advised.

Links:

Cliff:

• facebook.com/cliff.chapman

• cliffchapman.bsky.social

• https://ko-fi.com/clif...​

George:

• instagram.com/georgewhite96

• instagram.com/pastysheep

• linktr.ee/pastysheep

Follow Mike and the podcasts all over the internet via linktr.ee/mikespods

Follow Mike on Discord: MikeOfSteel#2913

Hosted and written by Michael Wilson

Editor/Producer - Michael K. Wilson

Created by Michael K. Wilson

Based on a format by Will Templar

“Show some fucking mercy!”