World Cinema History

Eric Trommater
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  • Visual Arts
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The movies of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Latin and South America (and an occasional North American movie we like) discussed by a panel of (mostly) American wankers. Season One focuses on cinema of The UK. Help us stay Advertising Free by giving a one-time tip or by joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount.

  1. 1d ago

    Fellini's 'I Vitteloni' | "Let The Boys Be Boys."

    "All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster's autobiography," Federico Fellini. I Vitelloni (1953) This week the World Cinema History panel turns to Federico Fellini’s early classic I Vitelloni. After our “Road to Godard” series, we shift to 1950s Italy and the postwar Economic Miracle, a period when the central problem for many young men was not scarcity but a lack of direction. Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, Sila Blume, Koom Kankesan, and Jennifer Trujillo discuss the film’s influence on the hangout movie, its impact on Martin Scorsese (Mean Streets, Goodfellas), and Fellini’s mix of satire and sympathy for his idle protagonists. In this episode: • How Scorsese borrowed Fellini’s introductory tracking shots and group roll calls for his own street-corner crews • The 25–28mm lens and the “big head” effect: how wide-angle distortion makes the characters appear top-heavy and slightly grotesque • The final sequence and its departure from the film’s established reality as a journey through memory Nino Rota’s score and how it elevates ordinary provincial lives into something closer to tragedy • Placing I Vitelloni between the domestic focus of C’è ancora domani and the cynicism of the Years of Lead in Seven Beauties (00:00) A Goodfellas-Inspired Welcome and Panel Introductions (02:44) Jennifer's Strong Feminist Critique of I Vitelloni (05:35) Exploring Italian Machismo and the Issue of Consent (09:15) Kum's First Viewing and Scorsese's Satirical Influence (12:32) The Unlikable Fausto and Moraldo's Journey to Leave (15:09) I Vitelloni as a Bridge in Post-War Italian Cinema (19:08) Fausto's Character, Moraldo's Role, and the Narrator's Voice (26:44) Leopoldo's Artistic Dreams and Fellini's Unique Casting (29:10) Scorsese's Goodfellas and the Lively Filmmaking Parallels (33:54) Fellini's Unique Camera Work and Grotesque Character Faces (36:11) The Captivating Rhythm, Editing, and Fellini's Transition Point (40:23) Nino Rota's Evocative Score and Consent Discussion Revisited (45:22) Sila's Analysis of Character Names and Complex Bonds (50:02) Fellini's Evolution from Neo-Realism to Self-Parody (54:27) The Ambiguous Ending and Fellini's Early Career Path (01:01:40) Behind the Scenes: Production Secrets and I Vitelloni's Visual Style (01:07:25) The Panel's Final Reflections and Appreciating New Perspectives (01:12:21) How to Connect with Us and Next Week's Film Clips Used: Clips from Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas  Clips from Federico Fellini's I Vitteloni  https://youtu.be/6SPLEPdEBuo?si=rxrnuAMMCgMwSGd9 https://youtu.be/pct1uEhAqBQ?si=_oGY9oS4RcJKtTcc Nouth Jazz B. White (1920) https://youtu.be/aM5z0XLRdXc?si=MVf9MNChUIZ1h6E0 Christopher Romero Wilson as Charley from Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman https://youtu.be/mRe8J4scGtU?si=aOggHR4uOhDWMZlD https://youtu.be/zxtz-L6YLpk?si=XnPtrQG8d-7vSuc8 Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!)

    Fellini's 'I Vitteloni' | "Let The Boys Be Boys."

  2. Oct 20

    "Anthony Bourdain: Filmmaker" Author Todd Kennedy. Exclusive Interview.

    Was Anthony Bourdain more than just a brilliant television host and food writer? In this feature-length, 90-minute episode of World Cinema History, host Eric Trommater is joined by Todd Kennedy, Toups Endowed Professor of Cultural Studies at Nicholls State University and author of Anthony Bourdain, Filmmaker. ​Together with our panel, we explore Kennedy’s provocative thesis: that Bourdain functioned as a cinematic auteur, reshaping non-fiction television through radical creative autonomy, unreliable narration, and deep cinematic intertextuality. We also break down Matt Johnson’s 2026 feature film Tony (starring Dominic Sessa and Antonio Banderas)—getting Todd’s expert take on whether a fictionalized origin story does justice to Bourdain's early kitchen days. Plus, we tackle the heavy questions head-on: the collaborative friction of working with legendary DPs like Christopher Doyle and Vilmos Zsigmond, the risks of high-culture tourism, and whether applying "auteur theory" to a network travel show stretches the term too far.   For information on how to order the book, go to Todd Kennedy's X/Twitter profile and look in the bio. https://x.com/BayouFilmProf Chapters 0:00 Unpacking the Provocative Thesis: Bourdain as Cinematic Auteur 7:40 Bourdain's Unreliable Authorship and Cinematic Intertextuality 16:52 Defending Bourdain's Auteur Status Against Critiques 31:20 Bourdain's Unique Freedom and Accessible Academic Writing 39:05 From Grief to Guerrilla Art: Bourdain's Visual Storytelling 50:43 Deconstructing Authenticity: Privilege and the Camera's Lies 58:59 The Biopic "Tony" and Bourdain's Enduring Cultural Connection 1:10:21 Grief, Growth, and Bourdain's Lasting Cinematic Questions Meet the Panel ​Erin Brown YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pizzahorseproductions  ​Jen Trujillo Web: https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt/  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/gilbertbakerfilmfest/ Clips Used  https://youtu.be/-aH9mjIt1bw?is=CcWnpVd4p0lF1N6_ https://youtu.be/NgN2xJDJ3gQ?is=j8mwvSmxssye6Yrk  https://youtu.be/VoDIkaDgaf4?is=nYyXRtqna5EHe9IK https://youtu.be/aGkW-PJfP7I?is=o_Wa-ujm8NufoqJ3 https://youtu.be/FaYVk9lA0DU?is=8alyC3F2dsEn2-h3 https://youtu.be/LmtCfMncFSk?is=ApcnmqH7c0T3YJZU Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist  Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892  Spotify:   https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=_DmBMotVTSG4tnqY2mIM0Q&utm_source=copy-link https://substack.com/@etrommater?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2uupu5 Substack: https://substack.com/@etrommater?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2uupu5  X (Twitter): https://x.com/etrommater   Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: ​Bonus Episodes ​Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation ​Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) •Join us and Friend of the Show LUKE HIGGINSON on Discord, November 2nd at 2 PM EST where Luke will provide a Director's Commentary for his film "RELAX I'M FROM THE FUTURE."  https://discord.gg/DK4WX7UEsK

    "Anthony Bourdain: Filmmaker" Author Todd Kennedy. Exclusive Interview.

  3. Oct 19 ·  Bonus

    The Persona "Bootleg" Session (Unedited Vault Recording)

    The Persona "Bootleg" Session (Unedited Vault Recording) ​A bunch of American wankers taking on one of the most discussed films in history was a bad idea. Doing so when the host had an ear infection and couldn’t hear was an even worse idea. The results were cringe-inducing and no amount of editing could save it. So this is us, warts and all. Against our better judgment—and entirely due to public pressure—we are opening the vault. This is the completely raw, two-hour unedited audio of our attempt to analyze Ingmar Bergman's Persona. Consider this a release purely for its archival, high-camp curiosity value: a document of good intentions unraveling in real time against an impenetrable masterpiece. There is no editing, no audio polish, and zero producer oversight. You asked for it, you got it—listener discretion (and stamina) is advised. Chapters: 00:00 - Unedited Chaos: Retakes and Season Four Launch 08:10 - Panel's First Thoughts on Bergman's Persona 20:17 - Analyzing Bergman's Revolutionary Filmmaking Techniques in Persona 29:05 - Exploring Radicalism and Bergman's Deep Artistic Intent 43:40 - Unpacking Personal and Gendered Readings of Persona 58:50 - How Culture and Unconscious Shape Bergman's Art 1:15:01 - Debating Persona as a Sapphic or Queer Film 1:23:09 - Persona as Bergman's Critique of the Male Gaze 1:35:13 - Modern Perspectives on Bergman's Psychology and Intent 1:43:14 - The Frustration of Male-Centric Film Perspectives 1:46:23 - Persona's Lasting Legacy and Panel's Concluding Thoughts

    The Persona "Bootleg" Session (Unedited Vault Recording)

  4. Oct 7

    "The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) with Mike Corradi from A History of Italy

    "The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) | with Special Guest Mike Corradi. THE NOVEL: "The Leopard" (1958) (Il Gattopardo) by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. THE FILM: "The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) Directed by: Luchino Visconti Screenplay by: Suso Cecchi d'Amico Pasquale Festa Campanile Enrico Mediolib Massimo Franciosa Luchino Visconti Produced by: Goffredo Lombardo Starring: Burt Lancaster Claudia Cardinale Alain Delon Paolo Stoppa Rina Morelli Romolo Valli Serge Reggiani Cinematography: Giuseppe Rotunno Music by: Nino Rota THE HOST: Eric Trommater https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory SPECIAL GUEST: Mike Corradi, host of A History of Italy. https://ahistoryofitaly.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-history-of-italy/id1318925583 https://youtube.com/@ahistoryofitalypodcast9762?si=xLN2KYFtDmvrsoHB THE PANEL: Erin Brown https://youtube.com/@pizzahorseproductions?si=xktDoZK2qveXxOXl Sila Blume https://silablume.life/ Jennifer Trujillo https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt/ Koom Kankesan https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4953181.Koom_Kankesan THE CHAPTERS: (TBA) CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!)

    "The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) with Mike Corradi from A History of Italy

  5. Sep 21

    Oscar Winner Kevin Willmott Exclusive Interview: "CSA: Confederate States of America"

    Oscar winning screenwriter Kevin Willmott (with Spike Lee for "BlacKkKlansman") sits down with Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, Sila Blume and Jennifer Trujillo. The subject is his 2004 Mockumentary "CSA: Confederate States of America" which he wrote, produced and directed. It imagines the United States if the South had won The Civil War. Chapters: 0:00 - Oscar Winner Kevin Willmott Discusses "CSA: Confederate States of America" 3:14 - From "9th St." to "The 24th": Willmott's Indie Path 11:09 - Willmott's Fascination with History and "Appointment with Destiny" 15:29 - Frustration with Hollywood and the Reality of Slavery 18:34 - Mockumentary Style and Real Racist Product Commercials 24:52 - Collaborative Spirit of Low-Budget Filmmaking in Kansas 33:27 - Film's Controversy, Music, and the "Lost Cause" Narrative 38:37 - Why Films Must Challenge Audiences on American History 44:39 - USA vs. CSA: Expanding vs. Limiting Freedom 59:25 - How Fear and Hate Drive Political Decisions 1:15:45 - Are We Living in the Confederate States of America Today? 1:24:46 - The Paradox of Information and the Rise of Propaganda 1:34:28 - When Absurdity Outpaces the Power of Satire 1:39:28 - Social Media, Next Episode, and Community Discussion Music Used: Space Ambience by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com She Has Freckles on Her But, She is Nice https://youtu.be/pNcjs30BZTs?si=_7ouaQAX1hpDa7yO Lead Belly Midnight Special https://youtu.be/zIC2hVvKzVQ?si=XqFttfpnYknQR6Rr Elmer Bernstein Appointment with Destiny theme https://youtu.be/Qt6eKU3v1XE?si=7hjTnAQxiNPMlppU Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!)

    Oscar Winner Kevin Willmott Exclusive Interview: "CSA: Confederate States of America"

  6. Aug 6

    Kafka's "The Trial" on Film: Orson Welles vs Harold Pinter.

    The Novel: The Trial (Der Prozess) (1925) by Franz Kafka ​The Films: The Trial (Le Procès) (1962) ​Directed by: Orson Welles ​Screenplay by: Orson Welles ​Produced by: Alexander Salkind ​Starring: Anthony Perkins, Orson Welles, Jeanne Moreau, Romy Schneider, Akim Tamiroff and Elsa Martinelli ​The Trial (1993) ​British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) ​Directed by: David Jones ​Screenplay by: Harold Pinter Produced by: Louis Marks and Jan Balzer Starring: Kyle MacLachlan, Anthony Hopkins and Jason Robards ​The Panel: ​Host: Eric Trommater ​Guests: Erin Brown and Sila Blume ​Music Credits: Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: V. Chaconne by Johann Sebastian Bach. Performed live by Ben Goldstein. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. https://youtu.be/UaRrDZWhtWA?si=v_no8Gd_OZ3x5R0s ​The Chapters: (TBA) ​Connect With Us: ​YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz ​Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 ​Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA ​X (Twitter): @etrommater ​Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: ​Bonus Episodes ​Attending Live Recordings ​Our Love and Appreciation ​Future exclusive perks ​Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) ​Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!)

    Kafka's "The Trial" on Film: Orson Welles vs Harold Pinter.

  7. Jul 24

    WCH Rewind: The Jethro Waters Interview. "Gun Fighter Paradise."

    Writer-Director-Editor-Actor Jethro Waters sat down with us to discuss his film Gunfighter Paradise and the many hats he wore while making it. Eric Trommater leads a panel with Sila Blume, Erin Brown and Jennifer Trujillo to quiz Jethro on the movie's many mysteries. What's in the Suitcase? Who is Braz Cubas? Why is Braz Cubas? Music: Sci-Fi Music for YouTube Videos (No Copyright) https://youtu.be/2a-VL1VoHJ0?si=WXXv-vK9NlH0Czrr Sid Hemphil Complete Library of Congress Recordings 1941-1942 https://youtu.be/cTjA1a1CjQs?si=pVZ-EVN3pv9dXXpN Muddy Waters Field Recordings 1941-1942 https://youtu.be/co52GGV1SYc?si=-8EDa8W6CeD8Zv4V Nouth Jazz B. White (1920) https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQ?si=DXoxw4XMpnVwDVz8 Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!)

    WCH Rewind: The Jethro Waters Interview. "Gun Fighter Paradise."

  8. Jul 6

    "The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) | with Special Guest Mike Corradi.

    "The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) | with Special Guest Mike Corradi. THE NOVEL: "The Leopard" (1958) (Il Gattopardo) by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. THE FILM: "The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) Directed by: Luchino Visconti Screenplay by: Suso Cecchi d'Amico Pasquale Festa Campanile Enrico Medioli Massimo Franciosa Luchino Visconti Produced by: Goffredo Lombardo Starring: Burt Lancaster Claudia Cardinale Alain Delon Paolo Stoppa Rina Morelli Romolo Valli Serge Reggiani Cinematography: Giuseppe Rotunno Music by: Nino Rota THE HOST: Eric Trommater https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory SPECIAL GUEST: Mike Corradi, host of A History of Italy. https://ahistoryofitaly.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-history-of-italy/id1318925583 https://youtube.com/@ahistoryofitalypodcast9762?si=xLN2KYFtDmvrsoHB THE PANEL: Erin Brown https://youtube.com/@pizzahorseproductions?si=xktDoZK2qveXxOXl Sila Blume https://silablume.life/ Jennifer Trujillo https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt/ Koom Kankesan https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4953181.Koom_Kankesan THE CHAPTERS: Introducing Special Guest Mike Corradi (NOT Mike Duncan) 0:00 Unpacking the Historical Visconti Family 2:09 Luchino Visconti's Career and Film Choices 9:28 Initial Reactions to The Leopard Film 11:08 Comparing The Leopard Novel and Film 18:23 Brigantaggio and Southern Italy's Invasion 23:59 Analyzing The Leopard's Iconic Dance Sequence 28:57 Critiquing The Leopard's Character Portrayals 35:05 Portrayal of Organized Crime in Italy 40:13 The Leopard's Journey to American Audiences 43:23 Marxist Critique and Christian Democrats 50:59 Unpublished Chapters and The Dog's Significance 58:10 Enduring Political and Regional Challenges 1:03:30 Revisiting Unification, Mafia, and Reforms 1:05:19 Guest Mike Corradi's Last Words and Contact Info 1:08:16 CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!)

    "The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) | with Special Guest Mike Corradi.
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About

The movies of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Latin and South America (and an occasional North American movie we like) discussed by a panel of (mostly) American wankers. Season One focuses on cinema of The UK. Help us stay Advertising Free by giving a one-time tip or by joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount.

Information

  • Creator
    Eric Trommater
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    123
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Eric Trommater
  • Show Website
    World Cinema History

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